Back where he belongs

by jojo

SPOILER/TIMELINE:Only if you havent read Volume 26/Takes part in Volume 26,file 5 right after Shinichi opens the door for Ran, only without Conan by Rans side (means Ai)

DISCLAIMER/DEDICATION:Never would claim I was THIS kind of a genius to have been able to imagine such a great show!They all sprung out of the mind of the great Gosho!!(-fall to my knees-)/As much as I would like to dedicate this to everybody,I dedicate this my special story to Ran and Shinichi themselves.I think they deserve this.Special thanks to all my sweet reviews!For now, please ENJOY this one!

Shinichi and Ran forever!!Love you all,Your jojo

Chapter one

Returning home

He walked back inside his house after opening the gate for her, half dressed and yawning, his toast he had made for breakfast hanging half out from one corner of his mouth. Walking up the stairs he opened the door to his bedroom and stood in front of his bed, trying to decide what to wear. Actually it was a weird thing to do since he had to wear his usual school uniform, but for him it was special! He had not been able to wear his own clothes for a long time!

He never realized the girl walking quietly in after him.

She had been following him, maybe because she wanted to make sure he wouldnt disappear again. She was standing behind his bedroom door, observing his movements.

Ran was overwhelmed with every kind of emotion. Shinichi, her Shinichi was finally back!!! He finally came back to her! It was almost like Christmas and her birthday were suddenly celebrated on the same day, only WAY better! She still could hardly believe it. He was indeed standing there, only a few meters away from her, but it still felt so unreal, although he seemed as easy accessible as never before. All she had to do was reach out and....

Shinichis eyes widened in surprise. All of a sudden he felt a warm hand on his back, making his muscles twitch. He stopped short, thinking it might me someone trying to attack him, but before he could turn around to check the situation, he felt another hand joining the first one.

Rans hand stopped in midair as she watched the muscled on his back move as he paced around and something inside her snapped. It felt like as if reality and real world crashed down on one another and one main question remained for her:

Was he real?

It seemed like a dream. All this time she had been waiting for him to come back and suddenly he was standing here, right in front of her, as gorgeous as ever. After such a long time, did he really came back to her? It was not another of her dreams. Or was it?? Suddenly panic overwhelmed her. Was this really real? Can it be real? Could she dare believe?

She felt the strong urge to touch him, to see if he indeed was real. She had to be sure, so she ever so slowly reached out, carefully testing. Her hand touched a solid texture which felt like pure velvet to her. It felt so good, she couldnt get enough of it.

The hands on his back slowly started to move, stroking lightly up and down his shoulders. You could actually see the tension leave his body and suddenly the hands slowly wind their way around to his front, enveloping his body in a gentle hug.

Ever so slowly she brought her other hand into play and touched him now with both hands, testing if he was not just another imagination of her mind. He wasnt, for it felt so real and felt so wonderful and he just must be real because her heart couldnt bare another disappointment.

One of the hands on his front lay itself over his heart, the other rested on his stomach and a head pressed itself tightly against his shoulders. At the latest at this point, Shinichi had no doubt about who the person behind him was. It was the only person on this world he would allow to touch him in this kind of intimate way.

The only special someone that was, and ever since then, had been able to reach him like this.

Suddenly she came back to herself and all her pent up emotion rushed back to her. The unbelievable joy of having him back for good was mixed with reminders of her time without him, when she had been alone. Ran remembered all the fears she had had about him and the by now countless times she had cried herself to sleep out of fear or out of lack of information about his condition. Night after night she had had this horrible nightmares! Nightmares about Shinichi in grave danger, about something terrible happening to him and terrible nightmares of never seeing him again.

Never again being able to look into this eyes... Eyes that made her heart beat faster whenever she lost herself in them and made her insides sing a song of joy. Never again seeing his smile, the smile she adored so much and that made her and her knees weak in an instant. Or simply never again having the opportunity to hug or tease him...

'God!'

Her eyes started burning and tears formed in the corners. Ran stopped caressing him and in order to never lose him again, hugged him tightly from behind. Laying one hand on his chest, right over his heart like as to verify herself of his existing heartbeat, and one on his flat stomach. She closed her eyes and pressed her head tightly to him, right between his shoulder blades and pulled him to herself as tightly as she could manage without hurting one of them in the progress. His warmth and his smell surrounded her and fogged her senses as she closed her eyes, breathing him in deeply, trying a last time to fight the tears that were about to spill but failed miserably.

Shinichi closed his eyes and sighed contently. He placed his arms on those on his front, hugging her also tightly, pulling her as close to him as he could. The couple stood like this for a little eternity, simply enjoying the closeness between them. Closeness of which they were deprived of for so long and everything around them seemed totally irrelevant and unimportant.

He opened his eyes in wonder as he heard a very quiet sob coming from behind him. Letting go of her arms he turned around, facing the girl in front of him. She had her head down, trying to hide her face, her arms hanging down on her sides as tears run quietly down her cheeks.

Shinichi felt really bad. After all, he could never see a girl cry and especially not this girl. Slowly he reached out and cupped her face in his hand, gently forcing her to look him in the eyes. He was very gentle and care full, since he didnt want to have her kick him with one of her special karate moves but especially because he now was very sure of his feelings for her.

That was the only good thing he could find on his transforming to Conan Edogawa. Still, he expected her to fight him off any moment but she didnt. In fact she didnt move at all nor did she say anything. They just continued to stare into each others eyes, communicating the way only lovers can. Like couples with a very strong bound and a deep connection.

He could lose himself in her beautiful, gentle eyes and time seemed to freeze for a moment.

After some time, her tears were dried and she felt a shiver run down her back at the intensity of his eyes diving deep into hers, as if trying to reach and soothe the very bottom of her soul.

"Whats wrong?" he asked her quietly, not daring to speak louder in order to not disturb the magic of the moment and the pleasant silence of the room. She just continued staring into his eyes for a while, never wanting to miss them again. How could she have forgotten how beautiful they are?

All of the sudden she felt very stupid. He had only returned half a day ago and there she was, crying in front of him like a baby and as if that was not bad enough, she suddenly remembered her latest nightmare: him laying half-dead somewhere in a dark forest, covered in blood and calling out for her to help him..but she couldnt hear him...

New tears were running down her cheeks of their own and she never saw them coming. Ran had to catch her breath through her sobbing and she whispered a barely audible:

"I-Its nothing.... I.. I just...you...and..." she couldnt continue. Starting to tremble she had a total break down and collapsed into his arms, sobbing strongly, not able to control her tears and held on to him as hard as she could as if it was a matter of life and dead.

'Somehow it is, isnt it?!'

Shinichi hugged her form which was clinging to him tightly, letting her cry on his chest, trying to calm her down and give her comfort, showing her he understood. He tried to give her the comfort he wasnt able to give her for so long. For too long...

After some time he swooped her up in his arms, carrying her over to his bed. Turning, he sat down, so that he was sitting in the middle of his bed with his back leaning against the wall, and placed her carefully on his lap. Rocking her gently back and forth, he stroked her hair, pressing her tightly but softly to him, whispering sweet things of comfort into her ear, while he was still tenderly stroking her hair in order to calm her down a little.

"Ssshhh, its gonna be ok....sshhh...Im here...I.. am.. here...sshhh....its ok..."

To his surprise (and great pleasure) Ran didnt fight him off, denying her weakness like she always did. Instead she leaned against his chest and cuddled closer to him, as if trying to hide from the rest of the world. The trust she was still having in him caused a turmoil of emotions whirl inside of him. He just held her tighter, cursing himself silently for the pain he knew he had caused this... HIS... pure, sweet, innocent angel in his arms.

'But still,' he thought, 'if not for Conan, I would have never admitted my feelings for her to myself, not the way I do now, nor would I know how she feels about me, being as stupid and blind in those things as I am, and.... and having her in my arms like this is nothing I could- would have done so easily before. Being close to her like this again... its undescribeable.. the way she is letting her guard down, is trusting me this much and bares herself to me like she would never dare baring herself to somebody else, even after the long time I have left her alone... its a feeling you cant ever hope of being able to describe. Its as close to heaven as I can imagine, not to mention her smell that intoxicates me, her warmth and her beauty that is boiling my blood... she is incomparable and unique and leaves me breathless every time I am allowed to lay my eyes upon her.... God, how Ive missed her! Missed really being with her, near her, close to her. I was away and missing from home for so long. But now I finally came back. Back home. Am, at last, right back where I belong.'

Ran slowly calmed down and lay still on Shinichis lap, enjoying the tenderness he was showing her. Much to her pleasure he didnt stop stroking her hair after she had stopped crying but held her closer. She felt so safe here, like absolutely nothing on earth could ever harm her as long as she was with him. It felt so right being here with him, in his arms. It just felt so right... Slowly she pulled her head away from his chest and looked up into his face. Thats when he realized that her sobbing had stopped. Looking down at her, he gave her a warm smile.

'God he is still as handsome as I remember him and if not, even more. Still, I wonder what changed! The Shinichi I knew would never have dared to touch me this way, he was way to shy for that, I could see it every time we were close. But suddenly he knows exactly what he wants and what he does, like as if he had found to himself somehow. However, I cant believe how right it feels being in his arms. As though somehow, in some way, this was meant to be.

I am so glad he came back to me healthy and alright and somehow everything is alright now... alright because during his absence, Ive realized how I really feel about him, how much he means to me. Ive missed him so much, I wonder if he knows that?! Wonder if he ever thought of that. Man, this smell...its HIS smell! The smell that makes me crazy for him. Funny, Ive never realized I have missed his scent so much. But all those things dont matter, all the lonely days dont matter anymore, because he is back. He came back to me like he had promised me and thats all that counts.

Youve disappeared from home for so long and have left me alone. You were away and missed for even longer, but now, you came back to me. You are back home, are, at least, right where you belong. My Shinichi finally returned home.'

He dried her cheeks with the back of his hand slowly, carefully, as if afraid she might break, stroking them gently in progress, smiling down at her warmly. Ran was ashamed of her breakdown. She didnt want him of all persons to see her like that, to think she was weak and helpless. She suddenly wanted to get away. Far far away.

But he didnt let her go. Instead he just tightened his hold on her. Surprised, she looked back into his face and her eyes widened. At this moment she could read so much in his face, in his eyes. For example she read understanding and acceptance. He didnt feel uncomfortable because of her explosion. His eyes were telling her that it was ok, that she shouldnt worry about it and that he was there for her.

She should have known better, after all it was her Shinichi she was talking about. The tenderness she could read further in his eyes mixed with something else she couldnt place just yet confused her a little, but all in one she thought for a second she was looking at the face of an angel. Of course, after all he was her guarding angel and he always had been. Ever since they were little, they always had been taking care of each other.

How she had missed those eyes, this little smile of his which he was showing her at this very moment. Not laughing at her, just letting her know hes happy to be here with her.

Shinichi smiled at her with his typical one corner smile. He knew her just too well. He knew she was embarrassed to show her emotions like that in front of somebody, knew that she didnt want to look weak. But he hoped he had shown her clear enough, that she didnt have to hide from him or act like a different person. He accepted her the way she was. He loved her for what she was and not for what she pretended to be.

Rans body relaxed once again and she leaned back against him. His hand went back to stroking her hair, her cheeks, her forehead and she closed her eyes, purring quietly and leaning into his touch, craving for more, like a little cat. Shinichi looked at her and smiled as his heart filled with warmth once again. Hes never seen something this beautiful, sweet and incredibly cute in his whole life. She really was an angel.

Ran felt as good and happy as she hadnt for a very long time. Being near him again, so very close to him and having him being this tender to her.... it was just... perfect. She hugged him now the best it was possible from her position, rubbed her cheek against his chest, and sighed, content with the world and closed her eyes.

He placed his head on top of hers and sighed, also content with the world. Life was definitely good to him again.

From her position against his chest she could hear his heartbeat clearly. It was a strong and soothing sound and she liked it. It was slowly lulling her to sleep.....

He felt her body relax to it´s limits, and he could practically feel the smile against his chest. It was so cute how she was leaning against him, listening to his heartbeat and smiling contently to herself because of him. His feelings towards the girl in his arms scared him. They were so deep and strong... and he finally admitted them to himself and let them fully happen. He knew they had to talk later. He had to know if she was willing to make him the happiest man on earth. He just had to tell her no matter what her answer will be. But as he heard her breath coming deeper and felt her heartbeat even, he didnt know if it was possible to be any happier.

'Yeah, life is definitely good to us.'

He thought for a moment about waking her up, since they had school and she actually came to pick him up and walk together to school as they were used to do, but he didnt want to. He simply held her closer, kissed her forehead, then her hair and lay his own head on top of hers, letting sleep take over with a sweet and content smile on his lips, eager to see what will happen after they wake up.

Why not find out?

After all they had their whole lives ahead of themselves

End Chapter One

AUTHORS NOTE:Due to some 'misunderstandings' this story was deleted but not by me... I am sorry and am apologizing to everybody.I promise I will take care for this to never happen again.For now I am only happy to put my most special baby online again. I ask for every fan of mine and this story to help me reach the same amount of reviews once again.The more,the faster I can upload the new Chapters.Thank you all lots already