I make it short: THANKS A LOT for all the reviews, love you all (ne, pinky?)and no, dearCherry-chan, I am not going to take your story away ;) Would never dare, I like living, hehe
Chapter two
A phone call, stunned faces and lots of… what the- ?? Part II
She had been sitting like this for a whole while now, her neck was already aching but she did not really care. She was way too sunk and shocked to care about anything right now. Shocked was really the word. Never would she have thought to get this kind of phone call from her friend, especially not this soon! In a couple of years maybe, yes, but certainly not only one week after the other shocking thing that had taken place.
Back then, as Heiji had called to tell her he had something very important he needed to tell her. She still rememberd how anxious she had been waiting for him to come over that day. Kazuha did not know what she had expected. Or hoped for. She only knew she had argued with herself for a long moment to stop imaging the wildest things he could tell her.
After his arriving, his face had surprised her endlessly. It was not often that he had been constantly smiling like that.
"Heiji?? Whats going on? What happened?"
His grin widened at her question and she lead him inside her house, even more confused.
"Maybe you should sit down!"
"Me? Why? Heiji, whats wrong?" she started getting concerned.
"Dont worry, nothing bad has happened. Just sit down." His voice was calm and his grin never left his face, thats why she followed his suggestion without starting an arguement.
"Its about Kudo!"
"Kudo? What is with him?"
"Guess!!" he grinned wider.
"Heiji!!" her voice was strict and warning.
"He returned! He came back for good!"
It took a few seconds for Kazuha to comprehend his words and she was indeed glad she was sitting. But as the shock had vanished, her face lit up immediately and she stood up with a jump, hitting the chair backwards.
"WHAT? REALLY??"
"YES!!"
"Aaaaahhhhhhhhh, thats so great, so great!! Oh Heiji!! I cant believe he finally came back!!" it surprised him that she was talking this way about Kudo since she had hardly seen him. Actually only one time but he guessed he knew the reason she was so happy about this news.
"Does Ran- chan know??"
He grinned wider at the confirmation of his theory. She had such a predictable good heart.
"Of course she knows!" he nodded. "and guess what!"
"There is more???" she looked surprised at him and stopped in mid- jump on the couch.
"They want us to visit them tomorrow-"
"YEII! Thats great!!" she went on jumping.
"-and!!" he looked at her.
"And??" her eyes were huge as she looked at him in surprise and anticipation.
"They are together!"
"You are JOKING!!!"
"NO I am completely serious!!"
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!! THATS SO GREAT SO GREAT!! RAN MUST BE SO HAPPY!!!AAAHHHHH!!!" she jumped some more then suddenly turned to look at Heijis warm face in confusion.
"When did you say he returned?"
"Yesterday."
Her eyes widened as she hopped off the couch and plopped down again.
"Wow, are you serious?"
"Yes."
"He really is not wasting any time, is he?" she looked amazed.
Heiji only laughed.
"I told him well go tomorrow with the train in the late morning and return the evening. Is that okay with you?"
"Sure! Thats great!"
She sat silent for a moment and tried to catch her breath, the smile on her lips never leaving her features, not minding Heiji looking intensly at her with his grin that seemed to be plastered on his face today.
"Oh thats so great! I am so happy for Ran. Oh how great, how great!"
"Yes, it is!"
"Did he call you?"
"Yes."
"Did he say anything else?"
"Only that they talked long about it and everything is alright between them. And that it had been worth it, all the waiting. From his point of view of course."
"Aww." She made a small noise and clapped her hands, her face shining brightly. "Thats sooo great!!"
"Yeah!"
They sat there in silence for a moment until she broke it.
"Gee, Heiji! I did not even ask you if you want some tea!"
She asked shocked and he grinned.
"Sure!"
"Good! Will be back in a minute!" she said, standing up and he nodded, watching with warm expression her dancing away towards the kitchen, wishing he could tell her more often such great news only to see her react like this.
---
When we went the next day to visit our friends, I could not keep myself on my chair anymore. As soon as we saw Tokyo approach, I stood up and stared out of the window. Heiji only joined me as the station was in sight. The thing we saw as we arrived outburst all my expectations. There I saw my dear friend Ran, standing but not with little Conan, or her father, but with Kudo! And that hand in hand! I was so happy at this moment I can not explain it. I only beamed at Heiji who grinned back. I guess he knew exactly what I was smiling about and from his grin I know he found it just as cute.
We descended and I immediately ran to Ran and hugged her. I was so happy I must have clung on her for around a minute or two. We all smiled, especially I did, as we saw Heiji stare at Kudo with disbeliving features. As he briefly hugged him and then patted his back really hard that it made him choke we all laughed loudly. It must be some kind of guys thing, I guessed. Maybe some kind of ritual. But whos going to ever comprehend guys?
We walked to Kudos house, for me it had been the first time, and talked happily. The mood was very cheery and light. I was amazed by the size of his house. Inside, me and Ran let the guys sit on the table and went to the kitchen to prepare tea and cake. Of course, I used this opportunity to talk to her.
"Its so good to see you, Ran- chan!"
"Its also very good to see you, Kazuha- chan!"
I looked after her as she turned and took a kettle and tea out of different shelves. Inwardly I grinned at her familiarity with this house, finding it really cute and I only wondered how long it will take her to call this house her home and herself the woman in the house, as Misses Kudo.
"So, hes here again!"
"Yeah!"
"Thats so great!"
"Yeah, it really is!"
"Its amazing, though!"
"What?" Ran asked innocently, looking up from her cubs to me.
"I only mean the effects his return has on you! He hardly returned and you are already not able to stop smiling!" I enjoyed the effect my words had on Ran, which were in this case her red cheeks.
"Ah, dont be foolish!" Ran retorted with red cheeks. Then she grinned wickedly at laughing me while preparing the tea tray.
"And what about you two? Dont you think its time you got together?"
"Wh- huh?? What do you mean??" my cheeks blushed a deep red.
"Oh you know what I mean!!"
We had our things ready, Ran with the tea tray and I with the lemon cake she had made and we were walking back to the guys.
"Haha, I really dont! I have NO idea!" I replied lamely. She only laughed more.
We were laughing and grinning as we returned to the guys who looked with smiles at us.
I realized with a smile, that Ran had sat immediately down next to Kudo as close as she could without bothering him or her in their freedom of moveing. It was so sweet!! Its been forever Ive seen my friend this happy and I did not want to destroy anything for her so I went on chatting with her as I cut the cake.
It was so peaceful I was wondering when something unadvancing may happen. And like as if he could read my thoughts, Heiji sure enough looked after the unadvancing thing.
"So guys, whens the wedding?"
Everybody went immediately silent at his joke and for a second I cursed my childhood friend and my cheeks colored red. But as I saw Kudos and Rans beet red faced looking shocked at him, I had mixed feelings whirling inside me. Out of loyality to Ran I elbowed Heiji slightly in his ribs for his stupid joke, looking at him somewhat delighted but also full of horror, I could not choose which one was the right one right now because I did find it funny as well.
"Oh stop being funny, idiot!"
I just had to say that and instead of fighting with me, he, to my surprise, only grinned at me. I dont know but I could only reply to this grin with a grin of my own. Tea party quickly went by and we were already on our way to the park nearby.
It was way too nice outside to stay in. Immediately I saw the little pond glimmering in the sun and out of nowhere a beautiful swan appeared. I always had a great likeness for swans. I grinned and pulled Ran towards it so we could take a closer look and talk. After all, I still had a few questions.
"The swan must be a she! Look at all the little baby duckies swimming around it!!"
"Yeah!! So kawaii!!!"
"Aaaaaaawwww!" we both made and laughed.
"Hey, Ran- chan!" I leaned a little closer to my friend and talked in a low voice for our childhoodfriends not to hear.
"Yes?"
"He can hardly keep his eyes off you!" I giggled, needing to say no more, less a name for her to understand me and who I meant.
"Really?" she answered in a quiet voice, her cheeks burning.
"Yes!! So sweet!! So will you tell me what happened???"
I saw her taking a quick gaze at Kudo and then look at the swan again, somehow hesitating with her answer. It seemed to me like as if she was thinking hard about her words.
"What can I say… he came back to me. I had waited so long for him and my hopes were slowly drifting, at least until he would call again, as he suddenly appeared in front of my door. It was a strange feeling, seeing him stand in front of me like he had so often in my dreams. It felt so unreal I had to reach out and touch him to see if he was truly standing there! He was. I let him in and due to the fact that my father was off to some case we had the whole night to talk. I was so afraid he might disappear at some point but he did not. Well, to make it short, I screamed at him, I cried, he apologized and told me about his cases and in the end I forgave him, having been way too… overwhelmed about his return. Then, to my big surprise he confesed his love to me. I was… I cant decribe this feeling…"
"I can imagine what you mean!" I added quietly, listening with big eyes at my friend.
"Well, I… I told him I loved him, too and, honestly, Ive never seen his face lit up this much this quickly. And then he…" she blushed even more before going on, "..he kissed me."
I looked at her shy smile with warm eyes, not being able to help myself as I reached out and hugged her. She smiled and hugged me back.
"And? How was it??"
Ran smiled.
"There are no words for all the feelings he awakes in me. Its like absolute peace and absolute bliss only way better. So much bliss I have never known existed."
I looked with huuuge eyes at my friend.
"Well, and the next day he called you two. And now, here we are."
"Thats so great!! I am so happy for you!! But Ran, all the waiting… was it really worth it?"
She looked a long moment at the baby duckies and I did not know whether her gaze was soft because of them or maybe because of something else. Then she looked in my eyes and smiled warmly, telling me with soft voice her answer.
"It was worth everything. His return is worth everything."
I looked at her and understood. Knowing it had been more than hard for her while he was away, meant that she was now even happier! I was so glad for my friend, from the depths of my heart.
We returned to the guys soon after were she quickly took the spot next to Kudos side and gently entwined their fingers. I think it was really cute, that she was hardly able to stay seperated from him for long. But that is what it must be like after you were seperated for so long from your loved one. I wont know, luckily I can see Heiji every day… not that I… like… Heiji.. or something… why had I just start thinking about Heiji?
The look the two love birds cast each other almost would have made me scream out a loud "Aaawwww" again but I contented myself with simply smiling. Then she turned to me and told me about this new dress shed seen until she turned her head to Kudo again, thinking he had talked to her. Well, he had not but instead he bend down and gave her a sweet kiss.
My cheeks colored red almost as crimson as Rans. Once again I was flooded with all kind of different emotions, going from embarrassment over happiness and jealousy to sadness. I was so overwhelming happy for my friend but in the same time I felt embarrassed that another
thought creeped inside my mind.
'Why wont such things ever happen to me?'
I know that is not likely to happen, at least not in the couple of hundred years to follow. Where would I find my prince charming? Maybe in a fairy- tale. Heiji sneezed. I looked at him and as an unspeakable thought crossed my mind for a second, I blushed and turned to look at the suddenly very appealing ground.
'Why did I just…'
I looked again at my childhood friend, cheeks burning. Even if it would be him I wanted, he was way too shy. There was no way… and I am sure I am not his type…
"So, what about you two?" I heard Rans voice tearing me out of my thoughts. Heijis and mine beet red faces shot up and we were looking bewildered at her. Finally Heiji could gather himself enough to stammer out the word that had to be said.
"What??"
Before she could answer or react in any way, I started waving my hands quickly in front of me, pushing any idea that lead in this direction away, knowing thats what he wanted.
"Dont be stupid, Ran- chan!" was all I could say before Ran started giggling wildly, making me blush even more. The more grateful I was for the change of topic.
The afternoon soon passed, way too quickly, that is for sure, and we soon had to drive back. I really left Ran very reluctantely, but school… sigh
Regrettfully I watched our friends shrink more and more as the train started moving faster and faster. Even in the distance I saw Kudo lay his arm around her shoulders and her lean into his side. My insides filled with warmth at the sweet scene we were leaving behind, sending a small prayer to the heavens that my friends will spend their lives in bliss together and never have to part again.
The drive back was rather quiet. While the drive to Tokyo had been quiet but filled with exitement and anticipation at seeing our friends, the drive back felt somehow strange to me. The atmosphere in our cabin was somewhat unpleasant heavy. The closeness of Ran and Kudo had irritated my and his relatio- I mean friendship. It was not easy to explain. Even during the following week I observed our behaviour to be a little stiff. We did not tease each other too badly and took great care to not come too close or touch the other the wrong way, afraid something mighty and unstoppable might break lose. Not sure if necessarily pleasant.
The week went by like nothing and I was getting more and more despressed about Heijis strange behaviour towards me. Some times I caught myself staring at him and studying his attitude and behaviour, trying to read some hidden message behind it or trying to indentify his jokes, his looks, the way he looks at other people… but that only confused me more.
Often I thought at my friends content face whenever she looked at her boyfriend and it made me feel warm inside. Again I was poked by an embarrassing feeling of jealousy. Embarrassing because I feel like I should be completely happy for my friend and let those other emotions outside my heart.
While walking back from school one day, I thought about something Ran had told me a year ago. She told me that a friend of Conan, the boy who was staying with her, had once asked her how she did it. How she could go from childhood friend to boy- and girlfriend. Then I had smirked at the little kids innocent question, but right now I was wondering.
'How, indeed?'
It was a miracle.
And besides, it was not like I have any feelings left for my friend except.. friendship, right? What else could there be? There could be nothing more between us, I guess I am too much of a nuisance to him. That would never work. Not that I… want it to… do I?
I sighed and went on, having stopped while thinking in front of a shop, looking at my reflection in the mirror.
---
One week later, today, Ran had called and told me that Kudo had proposed to her. Well, was it a wonder I let the phone drop and had to seat down immediately? After all, these were news I would not have expected for about… years!! I mean, he only returned last week to her!! This guy wont lose any time, will he? I was so shocked and overwhelmed I hardly remember her exact words, although this particular phone call had been only one hour ago. All I can remember and all I will never forget was said after the bomb of Ran had exploded. I still feel warm and cold remembering it.
"Oh I am so happy for you! Really, you can not believe how much!"
"Will you two come again to visit us?" her voice asked.
"Yes… we will come as soon as possible. You know, next week is the birthday of the stupid baka and …"
"Kazuha…" the strict but compassionate voice of my friend stopped me in my ranting.
"Yes? What do you want to say?"
She took a deep breath, before starting to tell me the words that would in some way change my life.
"I really think it is time you stop swearing about him like this. I really dont know how long you two plan ignoring your feelings for each other! Like as if they dont exist although it is obvious to everybody that you two have something special." She stopped and I looked shocked.
"Ran, I really dont know what-"
"No, just listen to me. Tell me, Kazuha, remember that time after the K3 murder case? Remember what you told me? You told me to hit straight balls, to say everything out open for him to understand my feelings for him. I really really think it is time you listened to you own advise. He may be a detective, but he cant see certain things that are in front of his eyes, especially concerning his feelings. I guess that is common between detectives.
You should know, that Shinichi could only confess his feelings to me, because he saw himself 'forced to'. He told me he had felt for me the way he does now even before his departure but he had been way too shy to admit it then, even to himself. It was while he was away from me that made him realize his feelings and as he saw me he could not waste his chance, again. What I want to say is that there are things even the greatest detective cant figure out, no matter how long you wait or how many hints you leave. You see, there is a time when you have to take some risc upon you in order to achieve something. To win and reach your goal, and everything you risced will turn out for the best and more. Its absolute bliss, Kazuha, like I told you before. I just thought it was time somebody told you that. No, there is no need to respond to that. Just promise me you will think about what I said, okay?"
It was dead quiet. I felt my hand tighten around the receiver as I listened to her little speech which had moved me so much that my heartbeat had increased.
"Kazuha? Are you away?"
"No no, I am still here…"
"Did I shock you?"
"No not shock-"
"No?" I could see her raise her eye brown in disbelief.
"Ok I admit I am shocked but I guess.."
"I am sorry!"
"No.. listen.."
"No, its okay. You will think about my words?"
"Yes."
"Promise?"
"Yes promise. See you then…"
"Yup and greet everybody from me."
"Yes, I will… and you greet your futur husband for me…"
"I w-will!"
I giggled.
"Okay, bye bye!"
"Bye, love you!"
"I love you, too."
"Take care!"
"Yes… Byeee."
"Bye!"
And my friend hung up.
Here I am, heart still beating fast and deep sunk in thoughts, still shocked my friend had just told me what she did. One sentence rang in my head over and over again.
"You cant wait forever for him to open his eyes." Ran had said.
Forever? Me waiting forever for Heiji?? How would that look like??
In my inner eye an alternative Universe slowly formed. I saw Tokyo sixty year in the future. There was I, walking with a stick, black clothes and my face full of wrinkles. I had white hair and not my own teeth anymore, seeing the fake ones clapper while talking. Slowly I was walking down the road, doing carefully one step after the other.
I jumped a little as something tipped my back. Slowly but as fast as I could, I turned, seeing an older man trying to ran away, being as fast as I was that was indeed too slow. He saw me and started laughing.
"Hahahahahaha!!" he laughed.
My wrinkled face distored a little more as I tightned my eyes and spoke.
"Wont you ever grow up?? You are such a kid, Heiji!! You would think you are grown up by now!"
"Haha, it is still funny."
I shook my head.
"So, what´s your news?" he looked at me. "Any man in sight, yet?"
"What was that for a stupid question?" I retorted with dark face.
"Nothing. Only that I never would have thought youd end up unmarried."
"Look whos talking!!"
"Well, I have an excuse!! I gotta look after my cases."
"Although you are kind of useless in your age!" I laughed.
"Thats not true!! Take that back!!"
I laughed louder and he growled loudly as well and we both suddenly started coughing strongly. After the attack ceased, we looked at each other.
"Come, Ill walk you home!"
And together we started almost crawling at home, our steps little and slow. I knew nothing would happen once we were by me, all this years nothing had happened. I was only waiting for him to open his eyes and see me as a woman, not a buddy.
Kazuha sprang off the bed, standing tall next to it. Her hands came to her face, feeling it. A great sigh of relief escaped her as she felt her skin was still sleek and smooth, without wrinkles. She paced around her room, the image of herself in the future making her stomach turn and causing her to start sweat. She could indeed not wait for this stubborn idiot to open his eyes. Shes have to help him and damn the consequences.
But how?
Shed find something. Something smart. She was a woman after all.
A little relieved she intended now to take actions in her own hands, and that she would not end up like in her dream, one way or the other, her beartbeat slowly went back to normal.
Did she just really thought what she thinks she thought? Kazuha sat down, thinking about everything and eventually she gave up, defeated. It was clear that she really cared for this baka. That for her whole life he had been the only one in her heart.
It felt good, having admit it to herself at least.
Now, all she had to do was to find out about Heijis feelings. Find out if she would end up like in her daydream or not.
