Chapter 2: Forced Marriage

Ran is now caught in a place where she is stuck with all the memories of the days she spent with Conan and everything else just does not matter much to her. She had hugged Conan a couple of time on impulse as she had missed Shinichi. Sometimes she cried in front of Conan as she had been missing Shinichi so much so that she thought Shinichi had hated her and so he left. Other times, whenever Conan saved Ran, she would think of Shinichi, as he had always been there to protect her. All in all, Ran just could not live without Shinichi. Looking back all these memories, Ran flushed. So if Conan is actually Shinichi...

"Earth to Ran Mouri!" Prof. Agasa called her for the third time. Ran shook her head to bring her attention back to him. "So actually he did not tell you because he did not want the Black Organization to chase after you. It will put your life in great danger. Surely he won't let you risk you life because of him, will he?" Ran's face turned to tomato red.

"But now, there is some sad news that I had to break to you."

"The real reason for telling me the truth of Conan's identity?"

"Yeah. The thing is that I had just received a note from Ai. It said that the Black Organization had caught her after she had found an antidote to change Shinichi back. And now they were holding her as captive and there is nothing we can do except to think of way to get Ai back so that she can give us the antidote."

"Great, so let's go demand Ai from the Black Organization now!" Ran suggested jumpily but she knew it was a stupid idea as there is no way they are going to let a captive go just like that. "Err. On second thought I don't think it will work. Hee hee"

"However, I have thought of one way," Professor Agasa replied, "That is you have to risk your life for Shinichi. As in your one-in-a-life-time marriage."

"What!" Ran screamed. The storm outside began to subside.

"Two weeks from now, there will be a new leader introduced to the Black Organization, according to some reliable sources, and he is looking for a wife. Someone around his age high-school kid had someone with strength as he did not like dainty ladies and someone pretty --- someone like you. If you can attend the ball and get proposed by him to be his lovely wife. He will let Ai go on your account." Professor Agasa said and heaved a sigh of relief. "So what's your decision?"

"Wait a minute! YOU MEAN I HAVE TO MARRY HIM? No way! I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to marry anyone else other than Shinichi." Ran sobbed silently. She knew what the reply would be. She had to marry the leader no matter what in order to save Shinichi and Ai. She just had to. She is obliged to. Even though she did not want to.

"It seems that I have no choice, do I?" Tears began swelling up in her beautiful eyes. She covered her face with her hands and cried sorrowfully. She had to do that for the sake of Shinichi. It is a risk she is willing to take for him. She will sacrifice her marriage for him. She knew she will for her love for him gave her the determination and courage she needed. "So I just have to get selected and proposed by the new leader of Black Organization and beg sweetly him to let Ai go? Will he let her go for sure?" Ran ranted on and on.

"He will. He promised he would fulfil his new wife one wish if she accepts his proposal. He stated on some notice that he will fulfil any wish. Really." Professor Agasa was not sure if he will really keep to his promise or not but he could not care anymore. He had to get Shinichi back so that he can capture the Black Organization at one go during the wedding of Ran and the new leader. He's trying to take advantage of the wedding, but Ran was oblivious to it

Ran braced herself up. "I will go and prepare myself now. Meet you at the ball in two weeks' time." Ran forced a smile as she grabbed the piece of paper on the table near her. She left the house immediately. She was depressed, helpless, dying, hurt. She walked past Shinichi's house and took one long glance at the house. She recalled several cheerful memories that happened in that house. It had been a long time since she stepped into the house. But she could not enter it anymore. She had to learn to let go of the past and move on. She is going to be proposed by the new leader. She had to forget Shinichi. Forget everything she knew about him. She knows it's hard but she has to.

--- Back at home

"Ran-neechan, what happened to you? Why are you crying?" Conan went forward. Ran gazed into his eyes. Indeed it was the same color as Shinichi's. Professor Agasa had not lied to me. Conan is really Shinichi. Sigh. "Ran-neechan, are you okay? Why are you staring at me?" Conan asked with a tiny bit of suspicious tone. Ran did not notice it. "Nothing much. I just went to watch a touching movie at Kazuha's house only." She replied calmly.

'Kazuha?' Conan thought. Isn't she on holiday with Heiji and family? Why had Ran lied to him? Why?

Author's note:

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