Angel

Chapter 4

It was amazing. There was no better word to describe the scene that was unfolding before his eyes. It had been days since Eri Kisaki had returned and much transformation had taken place since the day the devastating news was shattered upon them. Was it a mother's love? Was it the strength of a woman who had experienced much? He didn't ask. Yet she gazed gently at him, patting him softly on the back in the brightly lit corridor of the cold hospital, with an answer, "If the people around falter, who can the drowning person, hang onto?"

He had no answer to that. The meaning and intentions behind those words were clearly a bid for him to be strong – having been wandering in that hazy gloom ever since the day in the doctor's office, he felt somewhat lightened.

And Conan was not the only one who heard that. Kogoro and Sonoko had too. The beautiful metamorphosis that drew out the strength in them led to a great change in the events that took place. Ran who had retreated into the safety of her room and had became all but an empty shell of the vibrant cheerful girl she once was, finally broke free of the dazed stupor too, accepting treatment just to cling onto every strand of hope that hung limply in these dark days, glistening faintly with a weak promise. Yet still a promise nonetheless, a promise of life.

The school had organized several fundraising events under Sonoko's lead. Donations poured in from people who knew them and people who didn't. Meanwhile visitors streamed into the ward she had been admitted into. There was rarely a moment she was left alone.

And every visitor who walked in never shed a single tear. They were all smiles and cheers. Yet strangely every time they exit the room, Ran would hear the faint muffled sobs. Each would bring with them paper cranes. They said they folded the cranes and wrote their well wishes on them. The cranes would be the messengers, angels bearing their prayers for her to heaven. And she looked at their shiny eyes and the chains of colorful cranes that decorated the ceiling, seeing angels in their stead.

A week later, enough money was raised for her operation, and it was that week that the renowned doctor who was Yukiko's contact, was available. The operation was scheduled to be two days later.

Two days before the operation…

Warm golden light from the setting sun streamed into the room bringing smiles to the flowers that beamed their well wishes upon the girl lying on the bed. Together with the little boy next to her, they thumbed through the heavy photo album thick with nostalgia as they giggled over the beautiful comfort these memories had to offer. When they had first opened it, she had pointed at every single photo, telling him the story encased in the picture. Then after awhile, she grew tired, they flipped through the pages and pages still, she spoke less and less… and eventually not at all. But the smiles were still there on their faces. She did not speak and there he was, excitedly jabbing at the pretty pictures, rambling fondly of the happy times that were. She didn't question his knowing and he didn't stop either. There was a sort of conscious knowing and comfortable familiarity between them in the cold room lit up with the warmth of the compassionate hearts around.

He stopped when he realized she was asleep.

Then he held her cold hands in his warm little ones. Tears ran down his cheek.

The door swung opened silently as Heiji strode over to awaken the sleeping child before whispering softly that he had to go. The visiting hours were over. Conan made no motion to leave, frozen as if trapped in a place no one else could enter but the two of them. A world ruled by idealism and hope, where fairy tales were reality. In that world she would be the sleeping princess, waiting for her prince to break the sleeping enchantment and breathe life into her once more. Pale and serene, she was encased in glass for all her frailty. Then the stifled sobs of Kazuha pulled him back to the world of reality that had decided upon the fate of the girl sleeping before him. Kissing her hands gently, he followed Heiji out of the room.

In the dark room, now by herself, Ran opened her eyes that were wet with tears. They didn't fall out. She did not cry.

She started writing.

"Why do you cry?"

"I can't… believe that this would happen to her… Why? Why her of all people? She… She's always been healthy and cheerful… so kind… I can't understand why… Why Sonoko? Why must this happen to her?"

"Why do you speak as if this is a hopeless situation?" Smiling, Sonoko hugged the crying Kazuha.

"Believe in her. Have faith, Kazuha…" Her voice trembled a little and the tears threatened to fall. "Don't break down… We must be strong for her… Ran can do it!"

They had left the girls back in the apartment which was dark except for the light that seeped through the tiny space under the door of Kogoro's room. And down the street Conan and Heiji walked, both quiet for sometime, with their hands stuffed deep into their pockets.

"So…will you tell her?"

The lenses of his spectacles gleamed under the lights of the streetlamps that lined the lonely streets. "I love her."

Heiji did not respond. By this time, they were sitting on the park bench. Conan's reply was not an answer to his question but he understood.

If he like Kudo, was reduced to the little boy known to everyone now as Edogawa Conan, and it was Kazuha who was lying in the hospital. He would not reveal his identity. The truth would threaten her life. To tell her his true identity would mean his lack of faith in her, that he did not believe she would live on until he could come back to her someday in his proper form and tell her.

Perhaps it was a child's idealism. Blind optimism maybe? Yet it was undeniably the sweetest sincerity in his feelings for her. There is always only one truth. Certain things never needed to be said outright. There are known in the heart.

The three words were his answer… He would never tell her.

A/N: Hi! It's been a really long while since the previous chapter and thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Exams are finally over! It's quite a short chapter but the next one, which is the last, will be much longer. Please feel free to comment on anything! Thanks!

And yep Eri's line here was taken from Honey and Clover II. I love that anime.