The sun greet them cheerily as it lifted from beyond the capital of Tokyo. It shined brightly upon the awakening city. People were already on the street, headed for work, shopping, or just out for their own random reasons.
As the day marched on and turned into early afternoon, a car drove up to the front of a café. It was black, and out of it stepped a woman. She stepped up to a staircase that was connected to the café. Up those stairs she climbed and then knocked on the door at the top of the staircase, bypassing the first door.
A moment or two later it was answered by Ran. She stood at the door, blinking at the visitor. "Oh. Ohayou, Edogawa-san." she bowed respectably.
"Ohayou, Ran-chan." The woman smiled warmly. Ran stepped aside,
"Please, come in." Edogawa-san walked in and Ran led her to the couch where she took a seat.
"Conan-kun's... almost completely ready. I'll go get him." The teen started to Conan's room where she first knocked and then opened the door and stepped in.
"Conan-kun? Your okaa-sama is here.."
Conan, who had been apparently currently working on packing up, looked up with a smile. "Yay!" He closed his bag up and darted out past Ran.
The girl took a moment, staring into the now empty room before turning around and following Conan back to the couch. She noticed how he put his bag on the table and looked to his mother, grinning broadly. He didn't hug her.
"Konnichiwa, Okaa-sama!!" he exclaimed with a giddiness she hadn't seen him have often. Ran moved over and smiled as she watched the duo have a quick, all-smiles reunion. Conan looked back to Ran with a now-delicate smile etched on his face. "Ran-neechan, where's Kogoro-ojiisan?"
"He's.. out... it seems he... wasn't too interested in seeing you off. Gomen nasai, Conan-kun." Ran felt a faint memory associated with that phrase attack her suddenly, something that seemed like a far-off dream and she couldn't quite grasp it.
"Daijoubu, Ran." Conan responded, keeping that delicate smile. "I'm going to go with my Okaa-san now, okay? I'm going to go.. home." he kept that smile as he and his mother started for the door, his mother picking up the bag. Ran immediately grabbed the bag away, insisting she would carry it.
They all walked down the staircase and out to the car. Ran put the bag into the back while Edogawa-san opened the passenger's door. There came a moment where Conan turned away from the car, staring back up at the agency. Ran wiped her forehead after she had deposited the bag in the back and then looked to Conan, her eyes softening as he stared at the agency. She walked around and then kneeled in front of him. He watched her do this.
Ran gripped Conan tightly in her arms. Her arms squeezed him tightly and she clenched her eyes shut when she felt tears threatening to fall.
For a long time they stayed like that. Ran actually completely lost track of how long they were like that. Time seemed to stop and speed up all at the same time. It was too soon for Ran when Conan pulled away. But then again, anytime would have been too soon. If it were a year later, it would have been too soon. Just too soon.
"Ja ne, Ran-neechan." Conan murmured to the brunette, that delicate smile resuming its position on his face.
"...Ja, Conan-kun. Good bye." Ran replied softly, closing her eyes.
Something soft pressed against her cheek and by the time Ran had opened her eyes, Conan was quickly retreating into the passenger's seat, his mother already in the driver's. He closed the door, and sat up, poking his head out of the open window. "I love you, Ran-neechan!" He exclaimed, face slightly red. The car pulled out as he sat back down and began to put on his seatbelt. He put his head out the window and with a bright smile he waved back at Ran, the car driving along the road now.
This all happened way too fast for Ran to react. She put her hand to her cheek, Conan leaving her blinking and watching after the car as it left. Her heart broke in half as he disappeared down into the distance, but couldn't help and feel slight curiosity. Did Conan-kun kiss me?
Ran turned back around and heaved a sigh. She caught herself glancing back down the street before she went back up the staircase and entered her father's office. The desk was littered in ashes, cigarette butts, and empty beer cans and sake bottles.
For a long time she stared at that desk. Literally no thoughts crossed her mind. She just stared at it, everything gone from her. Absolutely everything. Finally, she walked to the desk. But instead of beginning to clean it off, she walked around it and to the window. Ran opened the window up and then sat on the sill, staring down the street.
The door to the Agency opened and a man with black hair slicked back and a small mustache stepped into the office. He wore a regular blue suit, except the blazer was over his shoulder and his white shirt could be seen very clearly. He had a different shade blue tie around his neck. He brought a hand up and put it behind the tie but over his shirt, pulling down and moving it slightly, loosening it so he could breath a bit better. With tired eyes he put the blazer down right near the door and approached the desk slowly after flipping on the light.
The man didn't take time to look around the room, so he assumed a certain teenager was possibly upstairs or maybe even in the room with him.
"Raaan," he moaned, "I need some food. Ran, make me some food.." his stomach growled. He walked around his desk and sat in his roll-around chair, demanding tiredly for food once more, groaning the high-schooler's name.
When no response came he realized he might have to go all the way upstairs to the living area. He rubbed his sinuses and then his eyes before opening them to look around the lit room.
He blinked. The office was still a complete mess. Nothing had been cleaned. His desk was still littered with empty beer cans and the like. The floor had a good bit of trash, especially around the trash can. It was almost comical because there was no trash actually in the trash can. The cause for the mess was due to his lack of aim when he was drunk.
"Ran didn't clean..?" He questioned himself aloud. He turned the chair the opposite from which he had got on it and stopped, staring in shock. "Ran!?"
Ran sat upon the windowsill right next to him. She was still staring off down the street. She was facing the other direction, so the man couldn't see her face.
"Ran?!" The man exclaimed once more, going to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Ran!"
"Ne, Otou-san?" Ran's voice came softly.
"E-eh? N-Nani, Ran??"
"Did Okaa-sama ever wait for you?"
The man blinked, perplexed, "Nanda? Daijoubu, Ran??"
Ran slowly turned herself to look back at the man, her eyes filled with tears, falling down her cheeks quickly. Her face was red and slightly swollen. Tear streaks were stained on her face. It was clear she had been crying for a long, long time. "I wanted to know if Okaa-sama ever waited for you.. If she ever had to... wait..."
The man's dark eyes softened deeply as he stared at Ran with a touch of concern. "Ran..."
More tears boiled in Ran's eyes and slid down. She moved forward and grabbed a hold of her father, burying her face in his chest. "Otou-san...! It's not fair!! He promised! HE PROMISED!" the girl sobbed.
Her father's eyes became hurt and even more concerned. He carefully wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer as she clutched onto his shirt tightly, bawling harder. "Ran..."
"Oi, Ran. Ran.. Ran, wake up. Oh wake up already! Takku, Ran, I swear, if a bomb were to go off in the Poirot Café you probably wouldn't wake up!"
The voice sounded familiar. She couldn't quite place it.
"Ran, come ON! Wake up!!"
It suddenly clicked. Ran's eyes snapped open and she sat up abruptly.
"SHINICHI!?"
It took a moment for Ran's eyes to adjust from being completely unused not even a moment ago. Colors greeted her first and then became clearer and sharper until she realized her face was right up next to a brunette teenager's face, his breath softly coating her lips.
He stood behind the couch, leant over it slightly. His and her lips weren't even a millimeter away from each other.
Ran's soft blue eyes grew wide and her face went bright red. She stumbled back and away from the boy, staring up at him. "Sh-Sh-Shinichi..!!!"
The other teen's, Shinichi's, face was also a deep red color but he quickly shook it off and flashed Ran a grin. "Konban wa!"
Ran stared at him for a long time. "D-D-Don't 'Konban wa' me, Shinichi! What time is it!? It's got to be really late, you–" She cut herself off when Shinichi threw his head back and laughed.
"It's not late. Look, Ran." He gestured towards the Agency's window. The sun could be seen far-off in the distance, just setting behind the group of buildings.
She looked to where he gestured and blinked. "N-n-nani??"
"Kogoro said you were asleep for the whole day. I don't know, I feel sort of bad for making you wait. Sumimasen. I told you I would be here yesterday, but instead it took me another day to file everything. You'll forgive me, won't you?" Shinichi continued to grin as Ran looked back to him.
She hesitated for a long time, trying to believe her eyes. She wondered if he was really standing in front of her. "E-eh?" Ran was silent for a minute more until she finally declared, "F-FORGIVE YOU!? FORGIVE YOU?! WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE YOU!! I SEE NO REASON TO FORGIVE YOU!!" she howled, turning herself away and folding her arms.
"Aw, Ran, don't be like that.." Shinichi murmured, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
Ran's shoulders shook. "Do you realize... do you realize how long I waited for you, Shinichi?" she whispered.
Shinichi's eyes softened. He gripped her shoulder a tad tighter. "Ran..."
The compassion in his voice caused her to look back to him. "...Shinichi?"
Shinichi's face was now shadowed. "Ran... Gomen nasai. Demo... I'm back now! And I... and I..." his eyes brightened and moved up to stare deeply at her, his face covered with a slight blush.
Ran blinked, her eyes widening as her face too became a tad flushed. "Sh-Shinichi..."
"I love you, Ran." Shinichi moved forward and allowed their lips to meet.
Ran... Ran... Raaan... Ran... Raaan... wake up, Ran...
"RAN!!!!"
Ran abruptly sat up, her face beet red. Her breath was erratic and her heartbeat was similar.
A face was in front of hers, grinning broadly. "Konban wa, Ran!"
She panted and blinked, staring at the face in front of her. It was dark-skinned. The male teen had black hair and a white baseball cap on backwards. She blinked once more once her breath began to slow, "H-Hattori...kun...??" she inquired.
"Haaiiii!" The teen stood straight and now she could see his green jacket and grey T-shirt underneath and blue jeans. He was standing behind the couch.
"Ohayou, Ran-chan." A voice softly came. Ran blinked once more and turned her head the other way to see another brunette female.
"And Kazuha-chan?" Ran stared as the girl, Kazuha, nodded firmly back and offered a smile.
"We thought we might come n' visit." She smiled. "Heiji was all for it a'course."
Ran looked back to the dark-skinned Osaka-jin who nodded and shrugged. "Felt it might be a good idea."
"...Arigatou, demo..." Ran's expression became disheartened and she stared off. "Conan-kun..."
"Yeah." Heiji shrugged, "We heard. Ojii-san told us." He thrust a thumb back at Ran's father who was sitting behind his desk.
Ran was silent for a moment before she rubbed her eyes of a pained tiredness. Oh. That... that must have been a dream... about Shinichi...
There was a longer silence that Heiji felt he had to break, "Oi! Why don't we head over 'ta see a movie or somethin'?" He suggested. "We could see..."
"We could see that new drama!" Kazuha exclaimed excitedly.
"N-Nani!? D-Drama!?" Heiji declared. "D-Demo...!"
"Heiji wouldn't mind. Would ya, Heiji?" Kazuha smiled expectantly at Heiji who blinked back and then breathed a sigh.
"I guess not..." He moped, turning his head away, expression annoyed. Ran gave a sympathetic look.
"Heiji-kun doesn't have to come." She smiled. Heiji blinked, looking back at Ran. He smiled and laughed lightly, waving his hands.
"Maa, maa. That's alright. I'll come. I need a break in the excitement anyway, a drama'd do me some good." Heiji nodded. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Kazuha who had a glare on him, but it turned into a smile when he accepted to join them.
Ran looked towards her father's desk and then out the window. She stared at the setting sun beyond the many buildings. Did I sleep for a whole day...?
Heiji followed her gaze and then looked back at her, seemingly reading her mind. "Aa. Kogoro-ojiisan said ya slept all night and all day today." he put his hands in his pockets as he said this, closing his eyes and adapting a deductive face, "you had stayed up until about midnight and were probably very tired from stayin' up late every night, worryin' about Kudou. An' of course, Conan leavin' added to yer slight case of insomnia. You were probably just so exhausted that ya ended up sleepin' until that late." he nodded as he finished his explanation. Ran stared at him and a slight smile picked itself up on her face. It was a pained, longing smile.
Kazuha eyed Ran and then looked fiercely to Heiji, grabbing his arm roughly. "OI!" She growled, pulling him slightly. "Can I talk to you for a minute??" She whispered. "Sumimasen, Ran-chan," she smiled politely to Ran and then pulled Heiji off and out the door.
Ran could vaguely hear Kazuha yelling at Heiji. Her eyes stared off into a far-off distance that wasn't really there. Her thoughts were muddled and confusing. She didn't want to be in the pain she was, but there was nothing she could do. It hurt so bad. So bad, to be the way she was. Both of the most important people to her were gone. And it didn't seem like they were coming back anytime soon. Not only that, it infuriated Ran that Shinichi had lied. He said he was going to come the day Conan left, and he never...
Wait a minute? The day Conan left? Could it... she hesitated for a long moment while her eyes filled with more life but then, recalling all of the times she suspected him to be Shinichi; all the times she had been let down in realizing it wasn't truly him, all of the times she had been proved wrong, the many times she had impulsively suspected him and every time been wrong, she shook it off quickly. Bakabakashi.
A hand was placed on her shoulder and he jumped, looking to who had come up to her. It was Kazuha, so she gave a feigned smile and Kazuha smiled back.
"Why don't ya go get dressed and ready? Heiji and I'll wait." she continued to smile. Ran nodded and got up, a distant look on her face as she headed out and upstairs to change.
She came back down the stairs, purse under her arm. She was checking her cell phone messages and sighed when there was nothing. She came at the bottom of the stairs and looked to Heiji and Kazuha who were arguing. Kazuha had snagged Heiji's hat and was wearing it backwards now. When she approached however, Heiji quickly stopped the argument and looked to her.
"Let's get goin', ne?" He smiled and started off after putting his hands in his pockets once more.
"Gomen ne, Ran-kun. I haven't seen Shinichi-kun."
"Mou... Sou ka. Thanks anyway, Hakase." Ran stared at the floor. "Call me if you see him!" she brought the phone down and placed it in the cradle, collapsing on the couch.
It had been days. Days she had gone without Shinichi and Conan. It was beginning to numb within her. The fact that Shinichi had lied and now virtually disappeared to her knowledge made everything so numb. Conan hadn't called her or anything either. She hadn't even gotten up to clean in those last few days. At school she was lifeless and didn't really listen to Sonoko much. Everyone was worried about her because all she could do was sit in her father's office and stare at the telephone.
Shinichi. Shinichi... Shinichi... Shinichi, where are you, Shinichi? Why haven't you called me, Shinichi? Tears filled her eyes. Oh, please, Shinichi... don't be... please don't be...
The phone rang. Ran snatched it up.
"Hai!? Mouri Tantei Agency!"
"Ran?"
Ran didn't respond, her eyes widening.
"Ran. It's me."
Sh...Shinichi...