A/N 1 - Hello folks. Another short fanfic for ShinRan, cause I have withdrawals of this lovely couple.
A/N 2 - Do let me know what you guys think about it.
A/N 3 - The images used are NOT mine. All the credits to the original artists
Shinichi glanced at his watch.
I still have ten more minutes till I meet up with her.
It was quite a chilly and a cloudy winter afternoon and him and Ran had decided to meet up to go for a New Year's shrine visit.
They were soon going to be third years, and life was going to change tracks as they would officially become adults, followed by pursuing careers, which would change so many dynamics in their lives.
However, a vague sense of unease and discomfort was nagging Shinichi. It was more of a reality staring at him and his growing realisation of how many times he had been lucky in taking down the black organisation.
It had been a few weeks since he had returned to his 'normalcy' but he had received quite multiple warnings and heads-up for his future.
The FBI operatives were the first ones to warn him about his whispered name in the underworld.
It was followed by a very grave warning from Mizunashi Rena-san,
"However it turned out to be young detective, you were terribly lucky that you found them first rather than them hunting for you."
She used the word 'hunt', if that was not the hard slap of truth, then Shinichi did not know what was.
This word had sent a chill down his spine, especially after fully uncovering how ruthless and cruel the black organisation truly was.
In hindsight, so many things had coincidentally worked out for him that it was almost laughable.
A drug which was supposed to kill him shrank him instead, the first person to discover his identity did not reveal it to the organisation, moreover, she ended up using the same drug for her own escape and become one of his greatest allies.
Then the other person who deduced his identity was Vermouth, who kept his secret intact.
So many undercover agents were revealed to him, who all turned out to be extremely valuable and trustworthy allies.
In all honesty, for the majority of his showdown, the ball was in his court. It was the black organisation who were dealing with a concealed enemy, a fact that Conan took full advantage of.
"As you are a minor, no official report has your name and contribution."
"We will not be including your involvement for your own good."
"Even without that, please know, how truly grateful we are for your support."
Amuro-san, Mitzunashi Rena-san, Jodie-san James-san and even Akai-san's mother had vowed to keep his involvement a complete secret.
"Young man, believe me, crossing the threshold of organised criminal organisations at such a young age will be far more painful than you can even imagine."
"We have lost too many loved ones in the process already."
"The guilt and the pain are far too heavy to bear. I do not wish for someone as young as you to go through it."
Shinichi had agreed with their words, he had a proper cover of Edogawa Conan and even the name of Kogorou Mouri to shield himself and his loved ones from lethal dangers but things will be far more different now.
"However, your name is already quite well known my dear silver bullet-kun."
"Be sure to protect your precious angel."
Shinichi felt suffocated as soon as he recalled Vermouth's last words, the warning of her words was far too real and omnious.
'Childhood friends' was a safe lable for them at that time.
But now, it was 'Girlfriend', 'Lover' and eventually 'Fiancée', 'Wife.'
There was already a target on his back, but now, because of him, Ran will have one too.
The panic and the unease in his chest just kept increasing.
He jerked up and looked in the direction of the voice calling him.
His heart responded faster than his brain.
The scene in front of him pulled him in a trance.
The clouds had cleared up to let a few beams of sunlight pass through, and through those shining beams of light Ran came jogging towards him.
Her eyes were shining, and a joyous smile had lit up her entire being as if she had blended with the soft, warm winter sun itself. She was wearing a thick white coat jacket with a red scarf and her matching red gloves, which were the gift given to her by him. As she ran her hoodie fell back, freeing her inky black hair, which was a stark contrast against her coat and the snowy backdrop in general.
"Don't run, you can slip and fall," Shinichi called out worriedly as he moved towards her.
Ran just giggled and, on reaching him, without slowing down, threw herself in his arms, burying herself all warm and cozy.
She was on time, but the moment she saw him waiting, a wave of joy washed over her and for some reason, she had to clear this distance as soon as possible.
Although slightly surprised and elated, Shinichi automatically hugged her back.
"This is my apology. I am warming you up, since you had to wait in the cold for me," said Ran, burying her face deeper in his chest.
"Silly girl, I didn't have to wait for long," said Shinichi as he fixed her hoodie back on her head to keep her warm.
Although it reminded him of the time when Ran had waited three hours in the snow, outside his home for him.
He felt a distantant pang of that painful moment and hugged Ran tighter.
Not just that, Shinichi's mind simply kept racing through different scenarios where Ran would become the main victim of any dangerous situation he encounters.
There would be people watching, observing and studying her movements to find weaknesses, blind spots, and locations she would frequent. Of course he knew Ran was strong and could fend for herself but having to deal with systematic organised criminal syndicates who would have no rules in harming her.
The prospects terrified him. What could he do to always protect her? What steps could he take to keep her safe? Things he could do so as not to disturb her peace.
Am I the danger to you Ran?
Do I have to go away to keep you safe?
NOOOOOO!!! Absolutely NOT!
Not this. Anything but this.
Even the thought of it felt like a death sentence to Shinichi.
However, this time, his mind failed him; instead of calming down, his panic inflated, he kept thinking of the worst possible scenarios.
In the future, if they are in different places, pursuing different careers, following their own paths and some other opportunistic unlawful syndicate takes advantage of this distance.
No place, no cafe, no convenience store, no neighbourhood will be safe.
He recalled how conveniently the black organisation would set up snipers Korn and Chianti in the middle of the day in the busy streets of Beika City. They had managed to assassinate Tequila and Pisco without leaving any traces. They had even cause a bomb panic in a freaking hospital, rigged an entire train coach with explosives just to get rid of Haibara.
All these actions were done by them without even knowing that Kudou Shinichi himself was the enemy in the dark. Had they known about his survival?
It would have been a catastrophe, like the time they had immediately mobilised to assassinate Occhan on the slightest suspicion.
His name was being whispered in the same abyss, from 'the silver bullet', his name was now referred to as the 'silver hunter', 'lethal silver.'
The warnings were a sugar coat; they were simply a reality check that Kudou Shinichi was no longer capable of living the life of an ordinary citizen. The target on his back was bold and clear.
His righteous self was up and ready for this challenge but what of his heart? His beloved?
He obviously couldn't just choose to randomly appear and disappear, go into hiding as he pleased and lie about himself.
The act of 'Edogawa Conan' was not something he wanted to put Ran through ever again.
I can't hurt her again. Never again!
"Shinichi~ Are you listening to me??
Shinichi gasped and loosened his hold on Ran. He pulled back but didnt let her go.
Ran looked up to him. His face was quite pale and serious, but his eyes showed a rare trace of fear and vulnerability.
Shinichi looked away, unable to stand the weight of her gaze
He took a few deep breaths to calm down.
I am here, and she is here with me too.
Suddenly he felt warm hands applying gentle pressure at the sides of his face which slowly brought him face to face with Ran.
"Look at me, Shinichi," Ran whispered softly.
Her gaze was gentle yet steady.
His mind stilled. All the panic, paranoia which was raging like a storm, clouding his judgement had now simply surrendered to the warm blue eyes in front of him.
"Shinichi, please listen to me very, very carefully." Her voice gentle and cooing
"I will always choose you."
Her thumbs drew small circular patterns on his cheeks.
"You are all that my heart yearns for."
"Wherever you are, no matter where, I will be there too."
"Take me with you wherever you want to go. No matter how far, no matter how distant, if you are there I will be there too."
A slight rosy hue had painted her cheeks, her eyes were unburdened and joyous, her voice, although shaky with emotion, was clear and reassuring.
The moment stilled in time for both of them. Shinichi was flooded with emotions he could not identify.
He exhaled a deep breath and hugged Ran again, but unlike the previous hug, which taut and full of anxiety this hug was warm, soft and cuddly.
In the sea of emotions, he was finally able to pinpoint gratitude but Ran's words and actions were the highest form of mercy on his heart.
He pulled back and rested their foreheads together.
Only three words were coming to his mind.
The words were so long-drawn, overused, and repeated so many times that they did not even feel meaningful; however, that was all he could say to Ran.
Ran smiled back warmly and a tiny snow flake landed on her nose.
Ran looked up to see that the sky had gotten gloomy again but it had started to snow.
"First snowfall of the year, that too seeing with my precious person." Ran giggled as Shinichi put her gloves back on her hands.
"No, leave this one," said Ran, pulling back her left hand.
Shinichi looked puzzled as Ran looked at him cheekily, but then a light bulb went on in his head.
He entwined his hand with hers and pulled it into his coat pockets.
A/N - Once again, the image is not mine. All the credit to the original artist.
A bonus ShinRan pic caue I thought it fits with the theme of the chapter :)
