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Transparency

Chapter Eleven

Moon Kitty 2005

June 30th, 2006

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After Sonoko and her son had left, both with a whispered word of farewell and a promise from Shinichi to go visit again some time soon, the two friends parted and the boy was left outside to steam over what Ran had just announced.

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"It's good that everyone's here and you were finally able to see me, Sonoko... because I have an announcement to make."

Shinichi's eyes narrowed, Yoshi was still in a state of shock, but looked interested, and Sonoko leaned forward. "What is it, Ran?"

She heaved a big sigh. "I'm sorry, but... recently I've been able to talk to my parents and I wanted to let you all know that I'm going to be leaving soon... probably at the end of this week or maybe in a couple days."

"Leaving?" Shinichi asked densely, staring at Sonoko, who had started to get tears in her eyes.

"To the other side..." Ran explained. "Remember when I told you a while ago that I couldn't leave because I hadn't found what I was looking for? That's because... Well, I'm leaving because I found it."

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Shinichi still couldn't believe that she was leaving. She couldn't leave. He... he didn't want her to. He entered the house again, looking around for Ran. "You still here?" he called out, relieved when he saw her come from the living room, wiping tears off her cheeks.

"Shinichi... I just want you to know that I don't want to leave, either. But I don't have a choice."

"Why not?" he demanded.

"Because I'm starting to lose... I'm starting to lose... Shinichi, I can see through myself at times. That's a sign that I'm going to be leaving this earth soon. Look... this is what I'm crying over. Look for yourself if you don't believe me." Ran raised her hand, the light from the living room shining into the entryway, and Shinichi's eyes widened as he saw directly through both her hand and her forearm.

"W-what's going on?"

She smiled. "I told you, I found what I was looking for."

Shinichi shook his head. "I still don't understand any of this, Ran. I don't understand why you're leaving, I don't understand why I can see through you, I don't understand what it is that you found, and I don't understand..." Here he stopped himself, a light blush covering his cheeks.

"What else don't you understand?" she asked gently.

"Nothing. Just tell me... what was it that you were looking for? What did you find that is making you leave?"

A flush covered her cheeks as well and she put her hands behind her back, staring down at her feet. "I found..."

"Yes?" he asked anxiously, his heart pounding fiercely.

"I found... love."

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Authoress Notes

Well, I wonder if this is the end of the story. I think it is. But I think this next chapter is the final chapter, and then there will be the epilogue. I believe I will have already have those two written, but I'm gonna wait. (lol) I want to keep you in suspense. Anyways, I'm off to write the next chapter.