Chapter 2- Struggling with Hope

Hello! This is the second chapter to "I Would Have". Please note that although I did do some research as to the causes of a coma, I am no doctor. I may have exaggerated some things.

Hope you enjoy it!

WisteriaReads

It had been four weeks since the day the Black Organisation had been taken down. Four weeks since Ran had been shot. Shinichi watched from the hospital seat as sakura petals floated down, the sunlight being bent and refracted into a multitude of colours. Normally, he would find this soothing or somewhat intriguing, but at the moment, he didn't care. All his concerns and cares were solely focused on the person that lay on the bed. Despite his protests, his parents had insisted with soft smiles that he should attend school to make up for the lost years as Conan. However, he hadn't missed out on much, because when he had disappeared, he had often snuck peeks at Ran's neat annotations or the extensive set of notes which Ran had meticulously complied during his leave. Ran…. He thought with a pang in his heart. As school as school was done, he always rushed back to the hospital and resumed his seat by her bed, in the hope that she would wake up, taking her hand in his. He often began talking to her, as if she might hear him in the deep abyss of sleep that she was in. He often told her about his days as Conan, how school went and chuckle softly at these memories. Since it was now the Easter break, he had resolved to dedicate the rest of his time in which he wasn't studying to be by her side.

He remembered the horrific day in which Ran had been shot. He gripped the arm rest of the chair in an attempt to try to alieve some of the pain that came with the memories, but in vain. He remembered how the medics had rushed in and proclaimed that the head trauma she had suffered when she hit the ground had caused her to not only go into shock but also caused a swelling in her brain, causing anoxia to some extent. Shut up… Shut up… I don't need to be reminded. He cried out mentally, his knuckles turning white as his head bowed in the process. He remembered how pale she looked and how the light dimmed from her eyes as she entered the coma, becoming unable to respond to any stimuli. Dammit! Dammit!

He quickly got up and treaded slowly towards her bed, looking down at her with unhidden tenderness. It's not as if she's dead…. She's fine…. He chided himself mentally as he brushed a few stray strands from her pale ivory face, smiling gently as he cupped one side of her face in his hand.

"Ughhh… If I stare at this any longer, I may just die from all this mushiness…" came a familiar voice from the doorway. Shinichi stood up as he sighed tiredly, already knowing who would be waiting at the door. He watched as the detective of the West strode into a room, grinning like the blatantly oblivious idiot he sometimes was.

"Says you…" he muttered, fishing out his voice changer bowtie from his pocket. He cleared his throat before semi-yelling "whatcha doin to my Kazuha?!" into it. The Tokyolite watched with a slight mirth as he watched his Western counterpart blush profusely, stuttering out a response along the lines of "Ahou! I never said that… Don't put words in my mouth!" However, his mirth soon disappeared as he looked back at Ran. Heiji seemed to notice this and his face turned serious.

"It's fine, Kudo. It's not as if she's dead." He said, realising too late that that wasn't a great thing to say. Shinichi glared at him and Heiji blanched slightly, putting his hands up as if to appease the angered detective.

"Fine… but she's still in a coma and there is nothing I can do to help her! How would you feel if our places were switched? Knowing that Kazuha was in a coma which she may or may not wake up from? How would you feel if you had shrunk, separating you and Kazuha for two years and just when you think everything is going to be okay, the person who you love the most is suddenly taken away?" he asked, his voice becoming increasingly loud, jabbing the other detective on the chest. He saw his best friend's eyes darken, knowing he struck a sensitive chord. He couldn't stop himself, releasing all his suppressed emotions all at once. All of his anger, hate, fear, worry and loneliness cascaded out, like how the ash cloud continues to spread out from the volcano even after the eruption has finished. He dropped his arms to his side, his hands still balled into fists as he took in deep breaths to try and calm himself down.

"Okay. I get it. That was rude of me, I'm sorry." The Osakan hesitantly said, an encouraging smile across his face. "I think that's why girls keep diaries. To just rant and rant to their hearts' desire. You should do the same." He replied lightly, his eyes twinkling in amusement. Shinichi knew he was trying to keep the subject light and he let himself smile briefly.

"Sorry about that… Pent up emotions…. Thanks Hattori." He mumbled, raking his hair with one hand. He realised belatedly that the other hand was holding Ran's, his thumb making circular movements against the back of her hand. He didn't want the Osakan to think that he needed help. After all, he still had to uphold his reputation.

"Ahou. That's what friends are for, right? To support each other." He replied, patting Shinichi on the back. "She is going to be okay."

"And how do you know she'll be okay?" he asked tentatively. He saw the Osakan's eyes as they softened. Heiji put his hands behind his head and smirked.

"I don't know." He replied, earning him a deep scowl from Shinichi. "But hope is a powerful thing. Just have faith in her to find her way back." He replied, looking at Shinichi pointedly, as if to indicate the hidden message. Back to you, that is…

"Speaking of friends, when was the last time you slept properly? No, scrap that. When was the last time you ate? I'm starving!" he cried, rubbing his belly ruefully. Shinichi shot his best friend a deadpan stare, only for his own stomach to rumble in unison.

"That's it. Cafeteria, here we come!" Heiji announce proudly, dragging Shinichi out of the door by the wrist, despite his protests. The corridor soon resounded with the sound of chatter and laughter as the two boys marched to the hospital cafeteria. Few minutes after they left, Ran's heart monitor started peaking, rapidly increasing in rate. Had the two boys stayed a couple of minutes, they would have seen Ran's fingers twitch very slightly, as if in response to the contact she had earlier.

End

Sorry for the exceedingly long chapter. I'll be updating another chapter soon, so lucky you!