For Time's Sake

How the hell did he get himself into this?

Heiji contemplated his fate as he sat in the designated "boyfriend-chair" outside of the woman's dressing room. Kazuha had wanted to go shopping. He probably should have picked up on this as a danger sign but he had missed a movie with her last week for a case felt he owed it to her.

Perhaps he didn't owe it to her that much, though. He sent a glare towards the stack of bags and boxes he had been carrying for the past three hours. Did she realize how much work it was cleaning up after her with this stuff?

"Oi, Ahou!" he called towards the dressing room door. "How long does it take you to figure out that nothing looks good on you?" He grinned as he heard her huff behind the door. He loved to tick her off; the look on her face was always priceless.

"I'll come out when I'm good and ready, Ahou," was the response from the behind the beige door. "Why don't you call Kudo or something? Chat about that case last week. Well, gloat more like it, knowing you." Heiji blinked. Calling Kudo did sound like a good idea.He enjoyedshowing up that eastern detective, even if they were good friends by now. In the back of his mind, he wondered why Kazuha had mentioned it. Perhaps she wanted to talk to Neechan. Yes, that was probably it. She and Shinichi had been inseparable ever since he had returned to himself and Kazuha was betting on that, he figured. Well, he had nothing better to do. He pulled out his cell and dialed Kudo's number.

"Hello?" Ran's voice answered. Heiji blinked again. He hadn't expected her to answer the phone.

"Neechan?" he questioned.

"Heiji, is that you?"

"Yeah. I was just calling Kudo…" He heard a sigh on the other end of the line.

"Well, he's not here right now. Should I tell him you called?"

"No, that's alright. I didn't really have anything important to say. But is everything alright over there? Where's Kudo?"

"Where is he always? Technically, we're still out to dinner. But we heard a scream and you know that he was out. I know that they need him. He'll come back soon enough." Heiji could hear the sad smile in Ran's voice and could almost imagine her sitting at a table, dressed prettily as she stared out the window, simply waiting. He should knock Kudo upside the head next time he saw him.

"Of course he'll be back," Heiji joked. "He just got back to you. He's not going anywhere for awhile." Ran's nervous laugh rang over the line. He could tell she was blushing.

"Oh, no. I mean, his dinner's getting cold is all. What about you?" she changed the subject. "What's Kazuha up to today?"

"Why would I care what that ahou is doing?" he muttered, fully aware that he said it only to cover his own back. Ran seemed to realize this, as well.

"Oh? Is she there?" Heiji almost sputtered and fumbled with the cell phone.

"Oh, no. She, um, she had—"

"Heiji? Is Ran on the phone?" Kazuha's voice broke through his stupor. 'Damn, caught', he thought. He'd better say something.

"Yeah. I called Kudo but –" He hadn't really thought about where they were beyond the fact that it was a store. A clothing store. But since when was it a dress store?

There she stood, dressed all in blue, up to the ribbon in her hair. Off the shoulder, down to her ankles, stylishly cut. Heiji took it all in but didn't notice any of it. All he could comprehend was that she looked stunning.

"Heiji?" She looked at him, confused. Was something behind her? He was staring awfully intently in that direction. She turned to look but found nothing. Well then, why was he staring in that direction with all the blood rushing to his face? He blinked when he heard her voice.

"Oh, yes. Ran. On phone," he managed to sputter out as he handed the phone (or, more specifically, held it out in her general direction). She took it with a smile.

"Ran? Hi! Yeah, Heiji took me shopping today. I'm looking for a dress for my neighbor's wedding. You? Aw, well, I'm sure he'll be back as soon as he solves it."

Heiji was listening half-heartedly. He knew about that wedding, was invited even, but this was the first time he considered going, just to see her dressed like this again.

"What? Oh, I actually heard Heiji on the phone with you and stepped out to say hi. Ha, yeah, I'm still wearing the dress I was trying on. Huh? Um, it's blue, longish? I don't know about i—"

"—you should get it." Heiji cut her off. She whirled around to look him in the eye, a blush rising to her cheeks.

"What?" She asked in anticipation. At the look on her face, Heiji seemed to realize himself.

"Well, I mean, nothing could make a girl with no legs like you look good, so might as well go with what you have on. You know, for time's sake." He groaned at the look on her face. She saw right through that.

"Ran, I think we found a keeper," she murmured back into the phone as she turned her back to him. "I'll call you later, okay? Have a good time with Kudo!" She hung up and twirled around to face him again, a grin on her face and a light blush on her cheeks.

"Alright. This one, then. For time's sake."

Author's Note: The longest of the fics thus far. But the plunnies seem to be attacking me more and more each day, so don't fear. I have ideas for at least two more (no rest for those wicked plot rabbits. The shower. The bed. They never leave one be). Here's to updating again soon.