AN: Anyways if I don't occasionally remind everyone that I'm Not Straight by writing really gay fic every once in awhile I'm pretty sure I would shrivel up and die, so here's some completely unprompted and very gay Aoran.

A Maiden's Admiration

Characters: Ran Mouri, Aoko Nakamori

Summary: Thinking back on it, it was probably love at first sight.

Thinking back on it, it was probably love at first sight.

At the time, she had always thought that it would be an unrequited love, something that would bubble up inside her chest, and eventually pass with time. After all, she saw the way that boy who often came to her matches- who looked a bit too much like Kaito for her tastes- looked at her. And she saw the way that she looked at him. There were feelings there, mutual ones, and that alone was enough to tell her that she didn't have a chance.

Nevermind that she didn't feel like she could match up to the likes of Mouri Ran to begin with. She was a cool and graceful karate master, and what was she? Frumpy and childish, something which her own childhood friend seemed to be keen on reminding her of every chance he got. Most of the time it didn't bother her- she didn't mind be a bit childish. But sometimes, it got to her more than she was willing to admit.

Not once did she ever think that she would have a chance at this love that was surely budding up in her chest. It wasn't the girl's strength that had her falling head over heels with her, the first time she had seen her in a match- but it was what caught her eye at first. She had gone to support one of her classmates, but before she had known it, she found her eyes trailing over towards one of the competition, finding herself drawn in by the graceful yet powerful way that she fought.

No, what had her falling in love was the kind, supportive smile that spread across her face as she reached a hand down to her fallen opponent once the match was over, telling them with the utmost sincerity that it had been a wonderful match. It was no wonder that she had fallen for her, really- she was like a angel.

She kept making up excuses to go and see her matches, even though no one ever asked for them. They went to different schools, lived in different cities- it was only like this that she could see her shine. Once or twice, she passed her on the street- and those moments were blissful, being able to see a glimpse of the one that had ensnared her heart with very little effort when she least expected it.

She didn't discuss these feelings with anyone. Kaito would probably only make fun of her, and Hakuba didn't seem the type you'd discuss something like this with anyways. She sometimes thought about talking it over with Akako, but for some reason, she never did. She was pretty sure Keiko had some suspicions- but she never breeched the topic with her easier. Maybe she thought it would pass sooner if she didn't give voice to it.

Then one day, she noticed it- that boy had stopped showing up at her matches. Sometimes, she would catch her looking for him- a clear look of disappointment in her eyes whenever she didn't find him there. Eventually, she stopped looking altogether, as if she had come to accept the fact that he wouldn't be there. She couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Had they fought? Maybe he had moved far away.

She was in pain- and it hurt Aoko's heart all the same to see her in that state.

She never so much as expected to ever have a chance to speak with her, having long since accepted the fact that she would only ever see her from afar. It was enough. It was more than enough, she told herself, knowing it was a lie from the moment such words left her mouth.

She wasn't suited to her anyways.

Fate, it seemed, had other ideas.

It was pure chance that they had crossed paths when they had. She had stepped out of the tournament venue to take a phone call from her father- telling her that he'd be coming home late tonight because of another Kid heist. It couldn't be helped, really- that sort of thing always happened. It wasn't as if she felt lonely, or abandoned- it was her father's job, after all, and she supported him with all of her heart.

She never expected to find Mouri Ran there, a towel draped over her shoulders, her hands slightly shaking as she lowered her own cellphone, hanging up on whoever it was who was calling her. It was a complicated expression that she wore on her face- but Aoko didn't miss the clear heartache that was contained within those eyes.

Something about that expression made Aoko swallow back her fears, speaking up.

"U-um!" Aoko called out, and for a moment, Ran blinked, half uncertain if she was the one being spoken to. When she realized that she was, she turned her way, a slightly apologetic look on her face for being so slow on the uptake. "Y-you know, Aoko's a fan of you, Mouri-san!"

"Eh, is that so?" The soft smile that spread across Ran's face was still tinged with whatever pain the phone call she had just gotten had formed within her heart- but it wasn't a forced expression, even with that. "Thank you. That means quite a lot to me, um..."

"Ah, Aoko is Aoko!" Aoko blurted out, her cheeks tinting red. Oh no! It must have seemed kind of creepy that she knew her name, when Ran didn't know her own. "Nakamori Aoko!"

"Nakamori?" Ran asked, blinking slightly. "Um, forgive me if this is an odd question, but do you have any relationship to that Inspector? You know, the one from the Kid task force?"

"Ah, yes!" Nodding her head, Aoko's eyes almost lit up, having not expected Ran of all people to pursue a conversation with her on her own. "He's Aoko's father! Ah, but how do you know dad?"

"My father's a detective." Ran told her with a small smile. "And you know, that boy that they keep calling the Kid Killer these days... we're looking after him at my place, actually. So I've met the Inspector a few times before."

"Eh, you've met dad?" Aoko blinked, before smiling. To think that they would have had something like that in common- it was a bit unexpected. "So that's how it is. Ah, then, are you going to the Kid heist tonight with that boy?"

"No." Ran said, shaking her head. "Conan-kun only goes to them when he gets invited by Sonoko's- ah, rather, Jirokichi-san in the first place. Tonight he's going camping with some friends, actually. Come to think of it, dad's going to be out tonight as well..." She noted the last part half to herself, as if it was something that she was only just now thinking about.

"Eh, is that so?" Aoko frowned a little, feeling the vague hints of an idea bubble up inside of her. "Actually, Aoko's dad won't be at home tonight either because of the heist, so..." Swallowing a little, she clenched her fists by her side, slowly building up her courage. "W-would you like to get dinner together with Aoko, Mouri-san? Aoko knows a good place near here!"

Ah, what was she asking of someone she had literally just met? Even if they did have something in common, wasn't she being a bit too forward?

In spite of that, Ran smiled. "I would love to, Nakamori-san." She told her, casting that same gentle expression that she had only seen her level at other people before. It was almost more than her heart could take. "Ah, but I have to get back inside before my next match starts... should we meet up here once the tournament is over, then?"

"Ah, yes!" Quickly nodding her head, Aoko couldn't help but suddenly feel that all at once, her world had almost seemed to gain far more color than had been there before. "Please do your best, Mouri-san!"

"Just Ran is fine." Ran told her, leveling that soft smile towards her once more. "Let's get along, Aoko-chan."

With her first name still lingering off of her lips, Ran left Aoko behind, ducking back inside the tournament venue. Slowly, with shaking hands, she lifted a hand to her heart, wondering how the loud pounding of it hadn't given her away- and found a smile blossoming on her own face.

Maybe she had a bit of a chance after all.