GOMEN NASAI! I'm truly sorry for the long update… And sorry I cut this chapter in half… Um, sorry? He, this was a month late from my set deadline… And I can't even blame it on schoolwork since I did so much other stuff to my pleasure…Just pretend I died, 'k? It's always better that way…
Enjoy... Disclaimer: Not my story and not my characters… Sorry to disappoint you, though you can discourage me into crying a bit longer. And I know I deserve it, so shut up...
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Miracle
Translated by: Oniki-chan
Originated by: …
Owned by: The oh so great Gosho Aoyoma
There is no doubt in love. 'Cause in love, there's miracles everywhere.
Chapter II part I: Return
In the detective boys' classroom one sunny morning:
Ayumi's hand suddenly slammed against the table, "I can't stand it anymore! Conan-kun's so sick that he wasn't even able to come to school for the past week! I have to visit him!"
"Yea, yea! I'm a little worried, too!" Mitsuhiko added with a thoughtful look.
"Don't go. Even if you did, he won't get better. Not to mention Edogawa-kun is full of energy. He won't die that easily." The calm voice of Haibara Ai reasoned in a very ai-ish attempt to get them to stay.
"Oi! You can't say that! Conan-kun is our friend! It's settled, let's go to his house this afternoon!" Genta stood up and shouted for the whole class to hear.
Haibara shook her head slowly. "If you guys really want to…"
"Really?!" Ayumi grabbed both of Haibara's hands, "Hooray! You said it's okay!"
"You didn't need my permission to go there the first place," Haibara muttered.
Ayumi paid her no attention, "then it's settled! We'll go and visit him today after school!"
"Hai!" Genta and Mitsuhiko agreed wholeheartedly.
Haibara sighed and whispered for no partially person to hear. "Gomen Kudou-kun, I tried. Really, I tried."
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Ayumi seemed pleased the whole school day. Seeing her like that, Haibara's conscience started screaming at her. But Ayumi was destined to get hurt by her one love someday. The same goes who herself, though is was her that was insisting on getting hurt...
Everyone knows that ever since Mouri Ran died, Conan-kun moved into the Kodou residence. But they already thought of the old quaint house as Conan-kun's.After school, the formed clique started toward their destination. With each step, Haibara tensed more and more.
It wasn't really her fault that she was on Ayumi's side, Ayumi was there with her all through the last decade. Even if she was cold blooded, she'll still have developed some feelings for her.
Besides, she wasn't cold blooded to begin with.
She really… didn't want to see her get hurt…On the other hand, there was really nothing she could do about it…
Whether it was fate or not, they met Conan, wearing casual jeans and a white sweatshirt and looking relieved like he never had before, on the way there. In his hands was a bulgy grocery bag. He seemed to radiate an aura that was filled with strength and happiness.
That was so unlike his usual self…
Upon recognizing them, Conan was surprised. He regained his composure quickly and glared at Haibara. She shrugged. No point in hiding it any longer. She wasn't a god and she definitely cannot keep the little curious brats on the line.
"Co-conan-kun! I, weren't, I mean, don't you have a cold? Wha? What's going on?" Mitsuhiko was the first one to recover and he looked quite faint.
"Come on, I'll tell you at my house." Conan turned around and started walking away, the aura he had on him before vanished and he was like his old self again. He can care less about them. Really, he can.
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In the spring, the former garden belonging to the Kudou family was home to white petals surrounded by green, healthy grass, attracting many fluttering butterflies.
They attracted a girl who was wearing a white dress, also…
She knelt before an innocent flower, its scent filling her nose and she sighed. Then, a radiant smile found its way and settled on her face. Under the sun, her shiny black hair cascaded down to the front of her dress and unto the green floor. Even a butterfly came down to rest their tired wings on her pale, manicured nail. She was surprise before laughing. The butterfly set about its way, twisting and and dancing in the sky, she laughed a bit more before standing up to follow suit.
The dress' hem barely touched the grass as it spun around and around.
Finally, she stopped, and the butterfly came to rest on her hand once more. Her face mirrored her own delight.
People that just came around the garden stared with wide eyes that rose with questions.
Except for one person... Conan saw Ran, and he bit his lower lip to restrain his desire to chastise. He opened the Iron Gate with one hand and walked slowly, as if to reassure people around him that he was not angry.
Ran turned once more and her head met Conan's chest. She backed away and smiled nervously.
"I…That is to say…uh…, 'cause it was really sunny, today, and uh, the flowers were really pretty so I, um, I…" She started to stutter endlessly.
Ran swore inwardly, he told her before he left that she couldn't come out! But, oh, it was so beautiful outside! And the temptation was so hard to resist!
He didn't listen to one word she said.
Conan's left hand came to meet Ran's back while his right hand lifted her knees up, he heaved her up and now was carrying her bridal style.
"AHH! OI! OI! What!? What are you doing?!"
Ran screamed at him, and tried to hit him with her hands.
"Go inside and lie down!" Conan met her eyes and ordered.
"Oi…you're so annoying! Let, let me down!" At this exact moment, Ran glanced up to the crowd of people outside the house. Their uniforms was the same ones he had in his room…
Oh…Boy…
Her face flushed with embarrassment. "Oi!!! You have classmates here! Let me go!"
She continued to struggle against his strong hold. Conan didn't mind a word she said, and he carried her up until the doorsteps. Gradually, Ran calmed down, she knew she was no match for him. But, Ran reasoned thoughtfully, she must have been teased by him a lot before for him to have done something this wild.
Ran was right, of course. Before, he did tease her lots, but the teasing never came that far. Of course, the Ran before would have beaten him up.
But now…
Ran could see his evil face, glaring down at her. She sighed as Conan carried her into her bedroom on the second floor.
Ran pouted.
"Oi, why don't you let me go outside?" Conan merely stole a glance at her, then knelt down beside her. Ran stiffened, they were so close! If he just slid down a bit further, then their noses will be touching!
Against her will, her heart sped up.
He didn't go down, but only held his position as their breaths mingled. Suddenly, with a swift movement, he brought her hand up to the front of his face. Ran could feel her cheek reddening and, if it was humanly possible, her heart beat faster. Then, Conan turned her hand around so now she could see a faint scar.
"If you get hurt at home, what would you do to yourself outside?" Conan's light ironic tone, mixed with an unknown care, spoke against the silence of the room.
Ran's face was blank. The surprise and astonishment came over her face. When Conan saw this, he chuckled slightly.
Her reaction was what he wanted.
But his smile stunned Ran.
He can laugh, too! If her memory was lying to her, she can only remember once when he smiled.
That was when she woke up from the darkness… The kind of smile that showed the owner excited and ecstatic. Only once, had he ever smiled to her. Coldness had become a habit in those ten years of hell. But, he smiled, again!
And because of her…
That kind of smile, brings happiness and something else into the room. What the latter is, though, Ran cannot grasp its definition…
Conan stood up, and gave her her space. Ran's head began to think rationally…
'Oh my god…'
What did he do?! What was he intending to do?! What was she thinking?!
The faint rosy color was still on her cheeks, leaving a faint trace of the near embarrassment.
"So, you cannot go outside." Conan concluded with an almost shinichi-ish manner, and he stood and left the room.
"Lie down!" His voice was heard through the doorway once again and Ran suddenly had her dignity back.
"Oi! What kinda person are you? Why should I listen to you, of all people? Oi! OI!!!"
Downstairs:
A queue of people entered the house with looks as if they have seen a ghost. (T.N.: 'Cept for Haibara, ' course!)
In some ways they had…
Everyone knew the oneechan called Mouri Ran died in an accident ten years ago, but how could that explain who they had seen in Conan's yard? More suspiciously, she was still the same, as she had been ten years ago! There is only one logical explanation to this:
They had seen a…
GHOST!
Each of them shuddered as they thought about it.
Now, they had been explained to that, that person, was not Mouri Ran. She was Amesoki Ran.
But, they were too similar!
At this exact moment, Conan-kun walked down the stairs, Haibara nodded to him, indicating that they knew at least, the basics.
Conan walked up to face the lot.
"That's so unbelievable!" Genta shook his head fervently, as if trying to make the past hour vanish.
"Conan-kun, it's almost scientifically impossible to save a person that looked like Ran-neechan!" Mitsuhiko added.
"Maybe," Ayumi smiled slightly, "She is Ran-neechan's spirit, coming back to earth to protect Conan-kun!"
After hearing this, Conan figured out practically what Haibara told them.
She must have said he was on a case (fat chance, ever since Ran's death, he thought,) and saved a random girl from nowhere that lost her memory. So she could only stay here until she regains her memory.
And about the similarities of her and Ran, it was only a coincidence.
It's sorta weird, how these brats had seen so much stuff already, to believe in such a wild story like that.
"Okay, now you know, would you go home now?" Conan commanded.
"Conan-kun's still like this!" Genta muttered darkly, clearly not satisfied with the results.
After five minutes, company was gone, and only Haibara and Conan remained in the living room.
"This is for you."
"Nani?"
Conan stared bewildered at the package of clothing with a piece of written paper on top.
"This is…"
Haibara shoved the piece of paper into his awaiting hands.
"This is the confirmation, with the help of the Professor, that Amesoki Ran is cleared of obstacles for school. She will be, ironically, in your class."
"You mean, she can go to school?" Conan's whole face lit up.
"You can't hid her anymore, and you have to go to school tomorrow, leaving her home isn't really an option for you so why not make her go with you?" Haibara replied, as if this was the simplest solution in the world.
"Thank you…" Conan's voice gained warmth, strangely, he meant it.
"No, she was shot because of me. I have some responsibilities, too. This is her uniform, you should let her try it, in case it doesn't fit."
"Hai." Even though there was no smiles, his face was softened by a great deal.
Haibara gave him some important facts before leaving the Kudou house herself. Holding the familiar garment, Conan walked upstairs. He was anxious to see Ran in a school uniform.
After all, he hadn't for ten years.
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In Ran's room:
Ran was still mad at him.
How come he ordered her around? How come he can?
Serisiously!
Ran used all her strength and she punched into her pillow. She was imagining the pillow to be his face.
Unbeknownst to her, Conan was already standing at the doorway fighting an urge to laugh at loud.
Her face is still so adorable even if she is angry!
How come he never noticed before?
Ran glanced at the shadow in her doorway. Damn…
Conan walked over and threw the package of clothing unto her bed.
"Try it."
Kuso, is he ordering her around again?
Ran flung her head back ready to give him what he deserved before her eyes fell on her package.
That's…
A school uniform?!
He wants her to try on a school uniform?!
That means….
"I can go outside?!"
Ran leaped up to clung on his arms, eyes glittering like stars.
Conan nodded. He didn't smile, but his gaze was smiling, and that was enough.
"YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!" Ran shouted, loud enough for Haibara who was reaching the professors' door, to know that Conan had given Ran her present. Ran bounced on her bed happily, and even Conan, who witnessed this, suppressed an oblivious smile, even to himself.
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Ten minutes later, Ran descended down the stairs.
Conan, who was waiting patiently at the bottom of the stairs, froze.
The sky blue uniform brought out her well kept form. Her face was spotlessly clean, her cute features were shining at him. Her hands were at her front and so was her flowing, dark hair, and for the life of him, he couldn't do anything but stare.
And her shiny ruby lips that formed an angelic smile.
All was too much, and he found himself thinking back to ten years ago.
When he was the arrogant detective Kudou Shinichi, and when she was that innocent, beautiful Mouri Ran. When their lives were totally in perfect harmony. No Conan-kun, no evil organization on their tails. She would wait for him in front of his house with a brilliant smile, while he would tell her endlessly about Sherlock Holmes. They occasionally would argue because she would tell him to shut up. She always put a cap to his endless bragging. When he was in a soccer match, she would cheer. When he was hurt physically, she would take care of him. And when she was in a Karate match, he wouldn't cheer like she did, instead he would worry in the crowd of her safety. They would act together in a play. He was the knight and she was the princess.
And on and on it went…
"PON!"
The happy scenes vanished form his mind and he heard the gunshot, as clear as it had been ten years ago.
The starless night…
The familiar silhouette, the scent around the air.
The dress that was now bloodstained… The blue eyes that had gone out of fuel… The lifeless hand, slipping away from his… And the bloodstained leaves flowing around them.
The nightmare resurfaced in Conan's mind and he felt himself go. Forever trapped in that depth of darkness. The only thing he could feel was his ripping heart.
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Ran stared at Conan's expression, isn't that a little weird?
First it was surprise, then a smile, then a horrible emotion came upon his face. His head dropped and he was silent.
"Are you okay?" Ran walked up to him. As her hand touched his elbow, she was surprised he was shaking… His consciousness had already slipped away and all that left was an empty shell.
Without knowing why, Ran felt her heart squeeze, as if she caused him so much grief…
Ran took hold of his arms, and tried to bring him back to earth.
"Conan-kun! Conan-kun! Conan-kun!"
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He had fallen into a dark abyss… Falling, falling, falling…
His ears played tricks on him, and he heard what she had said before she left.
"Help...help me…Tell….Shinichi, I probably can't wait for him, any longer… Tell him… Gomen nasai, and tell him… I love him…"
"I love him."
"I… love… him…"
"I… love… him…"
….
'Don't! Don't leave me behind like this! Don't you ever leave! I love you! I really love you! You don't even know yet! I haven't even properly showed you how much I really love you! How can you? How can you leave me like this?'
The darkness surrounded him.
He was afraid, truly afraid…
The darkness continued to consume him.
His heart hurt so much… So, so much…
Then… let me die! He stopped struggling against the darkness.
If he died, he won't hurt anymore…
If he died, he could see her!
Then he could tell her how much he actually loved her… Then he could hold her hand and never let go!
He was left with nothing except for despair… Darkness overwhelmed his senses…
Suddenly, a voice out of nowhere alerted him…
"Conan-kun…"
Who is it?
"Conan-kun, Conan-kun, Conan-kun!"
The familiar worried tone, like the one he had heard ten years ago…
He could feel warmth on his hands! Who's holding them?
Conan's eyes were suddenly in focus as a confused Ran faced him.
"Oh my god, you're finally awake! Are you okay? What happened?"
Sweat trickled down his forehand…He could only see her, and he couldn't figure out if it was a dream or not... The girl wearing the blue uniform…
"What happened to you?" Ran waved her hand in front of his face.
Without thinking, Conan grabbed it. Ran immediately tried to pull her hand back. But, his hold was too strong, it seemed to her that he was holding the most important thing in his life, if he let go, it would vanish, and he would never find it again…
After feeling her hand's warmth, his pulse slowed and he was pulled back from that awful panic attack. Conan let her hand go and he walked upstairs to his room…Without a word. Ran stared until he was in his room with his door closed…
His heart was clouded with that awful memory… The kind that you never forget…
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Sorry it was so short, and sorry if it was a long wait… Um…Leave…A…Review…? Please? Since I, uh, died?
Ja, Love, and I hope the next one is longer and more satisfying, Oniki （XD, you guys know why I even remembered to update all of a sudden? It was 'cause of suddenly a large train appears and blocks out what I was saying! ）