Chapter 11: Heartache

The sun was slowly surpassing the horizon, slowly reaching every corner of the mountain side with its bright orange-yellow rays, falling through the huge window front, enlightening the dining room in which a teenage girl was sitting on the coach, sipping her smoothie while gazing out at the rising sun.

Ran woke up early this morning, not exactly knowing the reason, but she remembers some pictures from the dream she had this night and even though she couldn't exactly recall it, she knew the dream was different. In fact, her dreams in general have evolved from the lustful and haunting nightmares with Conan to more tranquil and harmonic ones. She rarely dreamed nowadays of passion and physical craving, but more of pleasing conversation, romantic dinners and beautiful walks. Maybe it was because she has somewhat accepted them, maybe it was because her affection for Conan has evolved from a crush to true love. Yet she knew that pondering over such things was futile and would neither change her feelings nor her current situation. For now, all she could do was live with it and figure out what was actually happening inside of her.

"Maybe schizophrenia would make it easier, at least I could ask myself what is wrong.", she chuckled lightly over the thought of having a conversation with herself, as disturbing as this may be.

But her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a silent creak, followed by soft and light footsteps, which she recognizes immediately as the ones of Conan. Hakase would be unable to walk that silently, considering his age and weight, Ayumi, Genta and Mitsuhiko would either shuffle or trample, depending on how awake they were and Ai, well if it had been Ai, Ran surely wouldn't have noticed the steps, the girl was just way to stealthily, even in the early morning or the late night.

"Ran-neechan?" Conan's voice piped through the silent room, while his footsteps stopped besides the coach Ran sat in.

"Good morning Conan-kun," she answered, slightly turning her head to look at the sky-blue eyes, "It is a beautiful sunrise, isn't it?"

"Yeah" the small boy answered, respecting the quiet atmosphere he lifted himself up on the coach and took a seat beside Ran, admire the view together with her. Ran reached over and pulled the boy a bit closer to her, while resting her cheek on his head and much to her surprise, the boy didn't even tense up. It seemed that he enjoyed her comforting warmth as much as she enjoyed his.

They sat like this, both not moving much, till they heard the shuffling steps and yawning voices of the remaining members of the detective boys coming up the floor. Ran stood up in order to prepare breakfast for all of them and much to her delight, her little brother followed her, grabbed a stool, dragged it over to the kitchen and climbed on top of it to help Ran, even if it wasn't much Ran would let him do. The small gesture really touched Ran and she couldn't help but think of her dreams, which were filled with scenes like this. But then realization dawned upon her, realization that it could never be like in her dreams. Conan would never live alone with her, he would never kiss her in the morning and he will never wait at the altar for her. As much as she tried to banish the bad thoughts, as much as she tried to stay cheerful, sadness overcome her in the end. It was not the sadness that crushed her lungs, drugged her mind and numbed her senses, it fel like cold water was slowly flooding over her, stinging and scratch like small shards of eyes in her heart. It was painful, even more that before, but this time she was still in control, it hurt but she was still here, here with Conan.

"Ran-neechan?" the little voice reached her, like it always reached her, but this time it didn't take the pain away. "Are you crying?" he then asked, his voice tainted by a mixture of worry, uncertainty and surprise.

"I'm fine Conan-kun" Ran said, "these are only tears from the onions", she assured him whipping them away with a towel and holding back the rest. Most surprisingly, the dam didn't break this time and like her true feelings, her tears didn't come out.

Still not completely ride of her sadness, Ran was at least distracted enough by the noisy children at the breakfast table, to temporarily forget her sadness. Laughing over Genta's stupid grimaces, be astonished by Mitsuhiko's knowledge and slightly embarrassed by Ayumi's girly questions masked her pain and grief nearly perfectly, but even if it would have been a perfect mask, Conan would still have known that something wasn't right. After the meal, Ran excused herself to go and take a shower and when she left the room, Conan couldn't else but notice her slightly hanging shoulders and dragging steps.

"What has happened?" a monotone voice asked him from behind, paying careful attention to keep the volume low.

"I don't know Haibara, it didn't seem to me like anything happened and still, she started to cry.", Conan answered in a concerned tone, "she really is my biggest mystery to solve." He then added, his voice heavy with fondness and a little pride.

"Please spare me the overly romantic part," the small scientist replied, her face showing clear irritation over the detective's comment.

But her face quickly turned to a serious expression, "You know, sometimes asking is the best way to solve a mystery.", she then remarked, while slowly turning on her heel, following the remaining kids in the sun yard and leaving Conan behind in the shadow of the coach.

"I know, Haibara," Conan whispered faintly, "but I am scared of the answer."


As always all right go to Gosho Aoyama, the original creator of the Detective Conan Universe.

Questions and review are highly requested and if you want to know how the story continues leave a follow.

I hope you liked it so far and are thrilled for more.

Farewell