Story actually does not belong to me anymore, hehe. I made this one ONLY for Cherry- chan for her 18th birthday and its all hers now (better dont try to get it from her or shell bite your head off!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART! (Big special about iton my hp!)
Unforeseen, destined
by jojo
Chapter one
A phone call, stunned faces and lots of… what the- ?? Part I
"Yes…. yes I got it… hum hum… yes…. noo, don't worry, we will.. exactly. Yeah, never would want to miss that.. I know… yes man. Yeah. Congratulations again… yes… you deserve all the luck you can get.. I know I said that again.. no I am serious! Why would I make fun of you? Oh.. HA-HA! Veeeery funny! Baka! Haha ok. Yes, well just do it this way then. Oh, shes telling her? Great… No, thats fine… Okay… Got it… okay, bye man."
He stood up of the ground and hung up, staring a little at the receiver while adjusting his clothes. Heiji was unusual quiet. He walked to his room, sat down on his bed, supporting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, taking a deep, deep breath, hardly able to comprehend what had just happened.
---
"Sorry for asking again, but you really mean it? Yes… I see, guessed so… I just.. needed to make sure I guess… no no dont worry dear, you did not shock me. Surprise yes… haha yes I know… oh I am so happy for you! Really, you can not believe how much! Yes… we will come as soon as possible. You know, next week is the birthday of the stupid baka and … yes? What do you want to say?"
It was quiet for some time, dead quiet. The speaker clenched the receiver tighter in her hand, feeling her heart pick up speed.
"No no, I am still here… no not shock- ok I admit I am shocked but I guess.. no.. but listen.. ok, I will think good about your words…yes promise. See you then… yes .. I will… and greet your future husband for me…thanks… bye bye, I love you, too. Yes… Byeee."
There was a quiet click and the receiver on the phone again. The girl standing next to it with racing heart and weak knees felt like they would give away any second so she searched for the nearest chair and fell down on it. Kazuha leaned her head back, face looking towards the sky but eyes closed. She took a deep breath, trying to catch herself.
---
Heiji was laying on his bed, looking outside the window. He saw the birds flying outside but his thoughts were already in Tokyo. With his friend. With the only detective he knew that could compare with himself. He reflected on the talk he just had had with exactly this detective.
Heiji gave a small laugh full of irony. Immediately he regretted it. It was not ironically that his best friend was about to marry. He guessed it only surprised him, thats all, because his friend had returned only last week. He could still remember his immense surprise, one week ago as he had received a phone call from him.
I could still remember it like as if it had been only one hour ago instead of one whole week.
"Hello?"
"Hattori? Hey man, its me."
"Kudo?? Whats up, man!"
"Oh nothing… just wanted to chat."
"Oh.. okay. Ha, never knew you could call to just 'chat'! How funny."
"Isnt it?" his slightly amused voice muttered with an audible grin.
"Um.. is neechan around? She must not be near right now, huh?"
"Howd you know?" he answered me and I could almost see the grin that was plastered on his lips.
"Since you are obviously using your great voice machine at the moment and are talking with your grown up voice. And I am after all a detective as well, big head. Forgot that already?"
I heard him chuckle and it only irritated me.
"Hattori?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe you want to sit down?"
"Huh? Why? I dont need to sit down!"
"Um.. Hattori?"
"What?"
"I am not using my voice machine."
Silence followed. I tried to comprehend his words but for some reason I remember it was kind of hard for me to do. Then I remember this time he had suddenly appeared in his own school to the schoolplay and I figured he might have found another temporary pill.
"So you are big again?" it surprised me my voice was so steady. I guess it was because I really believed it to be a temporary solution.
"Yep." Was his quick answer.
"For how long?" I just could not help this question rolling over my tongue.
"Well, lets hope forever, ne?"
A long, and I mean very long silence followed this time and I could not bring myself to go on talking. I was confused by his words and my mouth opened even moved but no sound was coming out. I must have took a very long while for I heard his voice speak again.
"Hattori? Hello? Are you alright? Hey man?!" concern was swinging in his voice.
"No no… I am fine.. what the hell do you mean, 'forever'?"
"Well, what does it sound like?"
"I KNOW what it sounds like but.. I mean… dont tell me you… that cant…" I stopped babbling, feeling kind of stupid. I guess I really needed a seat, so I sat down on the next chair I could find.
"You mean.. yooouuu?"
"Yeah!"
"How is that possible? I thought it wont work? And what about the blackies'? And neechan or.. god… KUDO WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??"
"You better sit down!"
"I AM SITTING!" I heard myself scream. Dont really know where that scream came from. I guess I was too stunned and surprised and anxious to hear how the hell he was able to return to his usual form and how he could sound so cool about it. Did he win over the black organization? I felt stupid for screaming.
"Sorry…" I muttered.
"Its okay. I called you Hattori, to tell you that I was able to return to my body. Yesterday, that is. I just thought you might want to know."
"Kudo, thats… thats… oh man… let me breath!" I stopped talking and took a deep breath, trying to catch myself and to come down a little. I felt somehow happy and honored he cared to call me but shocked, confused and even more confused at the same time. Thats why I could not stop the word I uttered next. "How?"
And Kudo started telling me the whole story. Starting with the incident that I had helped with him on the helloween party ship, where he was able to get the cellphone number from the boss of the syndicate. Slowly he could solve this last puzzle and was directly leaded to the syndicate. Of course, the very smart detective found a way to trick them all. From everything I understood, it must have been a real showdown.
"Why didnt you call me to help you?"
"Sorry man, but everything happened so fast and unforeseen, I had hardly time prepare everything myself. It was so dangerous its a wonder nothing happened to me or my loved ones."
"I can imagine. Speaking of those… how did 'she' find out?"
"I really dont know. It was the biggest surprise Ive had in my whole life, seeing her standing there in front of me at the moment everything was about to start! She did find me out and she was so certain of it like last time, as she knew we had the same type of blood." My friend stopped his telling and I heard him breath deeply. I can imagine it was still bothering him that he had to lie to her. And that he could have drawn her in danger, especially this last night.
"I was so shocked I could not react this moment. I tried of course to deny everything but it was useless, I knew it. I could feel it. And what surprised me even more was her insisting to help me. I could not change her mind, no matter how I tried. And you know the rest. We won, Ai got the drug and could solve the mystery she needed for the antidote. The ingredients for the Apoptoxin 4869. And that was yesterday morning. Here I am now, not believing all of this really happened."
"Oh Kudo, thats unbelieveable! I still cant… you mean you are really.. yourself a- again?"
"As tall as always have been!" he answered with a grin.
I could not believe any of this. My body was feeling really warm and my stomach was clenching and tuning in excitement. I had to know if this was true.
"Kudo… I want.. I mean…how about…"
"Could you guys come and visit? I guess it would be good to see you guys now." In his voice I could feel he was not only thinking about himself but also of Ran. It must be even harder on her, the whole story.
"Yeah, of course. Kazuha and I will be there tomorrow around eleven if we can catch the train. And we need to return the evening for school starts the next day… But I think that will be no problem. "
"Thanks man."
"No, I thank you. It was really good you called and told me everything. Wow, you really did it! You really won, Kudo! I am so proud of you." I heard my friend laugh.
"Thanks." He chuckled some more.
"And how is she now?"
"Ran? She is… okay! I spent the whole day with her and we talked the whole time. There were a lot of tears and screams but eventually she forgave me, if thats what you want to know. She understood I had to lie to her for her own sake and protection. Although I still feel bad about it…"
"Stop it. You know she would have let you know if it was really not okay with her."
"I know. Her good heart always surprises me endlessly." My friend went quiet and I could feel his pain myself.
"Did you…" was it smart to ask him something like that?
"Did I what?"
"Tell.. her.. how you feel… about her?" I felt stupid asking such questions. But I knew his feelings, I could see them clearly on his face every time I visited him. They were so clearly written upon his face I wondered how she could not see them. Maybe she could. Maybe thats why she had these suspicions un the first place. Maybe thats how she discovered his true identity in the end.
"I…" I knew that my friend knew he could not lie about it. "I did."
"And??" my question was filled with curiosity. I heard him chuckle.
"Positive!"
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH, thats so great man!!! Congrats!!!"
"Haha, thank you!" he smiled at my enthusiasm.
"Okay, we will see each other then tomorrow."
"Yeah!"
"Kudo?"
"Yes?"
"Was it worth it? The waiting and the fighting?" I knew he understood what I was talking about.
"Absolutely." It was all he said and all he needed to say.
"Good."
"Yeah."
"Great man. Ill see you then tomorrow!"
"Yep! Till then!"
"Yes. Bye!"
"Bye!"
And we both hung up. That was, without exaggerating, the most exiting and surprising phone call Ive ever had to this point. I could hardly believe it and I could not wait to see it with my own eyes. The miracle of Tokyo.
I remembered with amusing delight the face of Kazuha as I told her the news. She was so shocked but immediately started jumping around, singing and chanting how glad she was for Ran, for her love finally returned to her. I could only stare at the girl in front of me. Could do nothing but stare at the proof of her endless good heart.
Even today, one week later, I am thinking back with a smile on our trip to Tokyo.
Kudo and Ran were standing there on the station, waiting for us to arrive. I smiled and Kazuha beamed a little at me as we saw them holding hands. Descending, we were greeted warmly and I could only stare for a second at the detective that was now my own size. He grinned at me and I grinned soon back, hugging him briefly before patting his back, rather hard, making him jump and choke a little. We smiled and the girls laughed.
Our plan was to go to Kudos house, have tea and talk a little. In the afternoon we wanted to go to the park or the movies until we were to catch our train back in the evening, considering we had school the next day. Gee, Kudo just had to call on a Saturday.
In his house we sat all around the table, the atmosphere was light and merry. Everybody was happy and relaxed. We guys were allowed to remain on the table as the girls went to make tea and bring the cake Ran had made. Of course, I used this change for small talk.
"Neechan is really happy!"
"Yeah."
"Yo man, this is all so great! I have waited for this day so long!"
"Oh you have no idea how much I have longed for this day to come!"
I smiled at him and his cheeks colored with the slightest rose.
"Guess so."
The girls returned soon, giggling and with a tray full of tea and cake. I noticed that Ran sat immediately next to Shinichi, close to him and started pouring tea in the cubs while Kazuha, next to me, started cutting the cake, all the while chatting happily with Ran.
"So guys, whens the wedding?"
Everybody went immediately silent at my joke. I could not help but laugh long and hard as I saw Kudos and Rans beet red faces looking shocked at me. I almost choked as the also blushing Kazuha elbowed me in my rips with a strange face. It was somewhere between funny delight and pure horror. Like as if she could not decide which emotion was appropriate at this moment.
"Oh stop being funny, idiot!"
Usually I would have started fighting with her, but I was so delighted by Kudos beet red face that I could not start arguing with her right now. I only grinned at Kazuha and I am almost sure I received a secret, hidden grin from her as well. Almost like as if the hidden grin was telling me a slight: "Well done!"
I remember not a lot of what happened afterwards, only that we were at some point going to the park instead of the cinema for the weather was way too warm and good as to stay inside.
"The weather is so nice!" Ran said happily in the round. I hardly remember any time I have seen her this happy. I guess the last time was back then, as Kudo had transformed for one day to his own self. Exactly, it had been after he had awoken in the hospital wing that I have seen her really happy and relieved, somehow relaxed for the last time.
"Yeah!" Kazuha agreed, obviously just as glad as I was to see her so happy and carefree.
"Oh look, Ran- chan! Over there, isnt that a swan??"
"Oh yes! Its so beautiful!" Ran said but Kazuha had already dragged her over to the little pond where they kneeled down and admired the swan that was swimming there, surrounded by little ducks.
"The swan must be a she! Look at all the little baby duckies swimming around it!!"
"Yeah!! So kawaii!!!"
The girls made loud 'aaaaawwww' noises and laughed gently.
Heiji looked at them for a second, inwardly looking at the kneeling shape of his childhood friend, her hair swaying in the afternoon breeze. The girls seemed to be talking quietly, and he saw Rans cheeks darken a little. At some point Kazuha giggled with Ran joining her. He cast a look at his friend who was standing next to him, hands in his pockets, looking at his girl in open admiration. Heiji grinned.
"Hey man!" he said loudly, grinning and making Shinichi jump a little.
"Huh? What is it?"
Heijis face softened a little and his grin vanished to make space for a sweet smile.
"Are you happy, oh great meitantei- san?"
Shinichi looked at him with one raised eyebrow.
"Was that a serious question?"
We grinned at each other.
Just at this moment, the girls returned, still giggling. Ran immediately took the spot on Shinichis free side and while giggling laced her fingers through his, taking possession of his hand. I could see the rosy color on her cheeks deepen a little, just as his did. She was looking for a second at him, smiling sweetly then turned her head to continue her talk with Kazuha.
I saw my best friends expression as he looked down at her. I never thought he could look like this. So absolutely happy and content and carefree. Every time I had visited him, he had something hidden in his eyes. Not only the huge burden he had been carrying with him all the time, but also the pain that came with being Conan. The constant fear of having to take care of and worry about his loved ones and his own life.
All this hidden emotion have almost vanished completely from his eyes. I was so glad for him. He truly deserved it. He turned his face away from her and looked at me.
"How about more than I have ever been? More than I have ever thought I could be?"
I looked a long moment at my friend. This was all I could do at this moment.
Suddenly Ran turned and looked at Shinichi with questioning eyes.
"Did you just say something?"
He looked at her, shaking his head slightly, smiling then did something that surprised the hell out of me. He pulled his other hand from his pocket and placed it on her cheek. Then he bend down and gave her a kiss. My cheeks burned as I looked discretely at my feet. He then pulled away from her and said in a low voice.
"Nope, it was nothing!" If possible, the red face of Ran was beaming even brighter up at him than it had already the whole day.
We walked on and I looked over to my childhood friend involuntarily to see Kazuhas sad smile. I wondered what she was thinking. How often had I wished for some kind of mental powers, only to be able to read her thoughts? Countless times.
"So, what about you two?" Ran asked with a grin and both our tomato red heads shot immediately up, looking at her in pure shock.
"Nani??" was all I could stammer out and Kazuha was swaying her hands in front of her in protection, as if trying to push the mere thought of us together far far away. Maybe it did hurt this instant but I really dont know why. Its not like I actually like her… no, certainly not. Not at all…
"Dont be stupid, Ran- chan!" were Kazuhas only words. Catching Kudos gaze I looked away at the other direction. I knew what his gaze told me and I really did not want to hear it.
Ran only giggled and thankfully they changed topic.
"I am so looking forward to the faces of our class tomorrow, Shinichi!" Ran smiled up at him.
"Right! You did not go yet, did you? Since you returned only on Friday, right?"
"Yeah!" he answered.
Our trip ended soon for the train would depart in about half an hour. I was really glad we had come to visit our friends. It had been something very special and I could not wait for the next time we would come together.
---
I sat in my chair, grinning slightly at the memories of the previous week. Never would I have thought back then what was to happen only one week later, no matter how happy my friends seemed. What only happened a few minutes ago as I got this phone call from Kudo.
"Hello?"
"Hey man!"
"Ah, Kudo! Yo, whats up, man?"
"Nothing. Just wanted to chat!"
I laughed, making him laugh as well.
"Just spill it!"
"Fine, but you should better sit down!"
Suddenly I had a bad thought, that made my heart almost stop beating for a second.
"Oh god… you dont mean to tell me the curse stopped working, do you??"
"What? OH, no no, cool down. I am still as tall as last week!"
I let out a sigh of relief.
"Then I dont see why I would need a chair! Come on, tell me already."
"Fine! Remember your joke last week?"
"Joke? What joke? I have been so funny, you should be more concrete!"
I heard him chuckle.
"On the table while tea, you lame brain!"
"Haha, oh you mean the wedding thing!"
'Course I could remember. What do detectives have their wondrous brain for, anyway?'
"Yes!"
"Yes, what about it? I know I have been so funny but there is really no need congratulating me one week after because I have made such a great j-"
"Hattori! I just wanted to ask you, if you needed a concrete date."
Silence.
"What? How?"
"Oh I dont know. What do you think?"
"Kudo I… okay, wait Wait WAIT! Lets go slowly for the stupid ones here. I asked, as far as I remember only when the wedding is, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. So what about that?"
"Nothing! I just remembered I had not given you an answer."
And this was the moment I decided I might need a chair. Knowing where one was I made a move to sit down on it. It did not matter to me at that moment that I missed out for about ten inches. Nor did I really care I was sitting now on the ground with huge eyes and losing the grip on the receiver I had clutched to my ear. Fumbling on the ground I picked it up again quickly, pressing it once more to my ear. I heard my friend laugh, he must have known what had just happened to me, but I did not care about that as well.
"W-what do you mean?"
"Just what I said!"
I paused, insides turning wildly, mind fighting to figure out what he meant although I knew it already deep down.
"You… you did not….?" I asked with unsteady voice.
"Sure did!"
"YOU DID WHAT???" I heard myself scream and him laugh. He could not mean.. he must make fun of me! He did WHAT??
"Keep cool, man!"
"Do you mean you really… you really…..?" I never will know why I was not able to finish my sentence.
"You mean if I proposed to her? Yup, I did!"
My mouth fell open and the poor receiver once more made contact with the ground. Fumbling to get a grip on it, I pressed it once again to my ear.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I just could not wait anymore. Having her the whole week around me only proved me right in my suspicion that I want her and need only her in my life and thats why I refused to wait for even another day."
I said nothing, only listened to him.
"Dont be so shocked man! Remember I had to life with her for so long, always being near her but not close to her the way I yearned to? I have been denied my happiness and been denying hers for so long! Why should I keep her waiting for something I know is inevitable? Especially since she said yes without serious hesitation. She really did accept me. Can you imagine how I felt? How I am still feeling?"
I felt that my friend really needed to get these words out to somebody. It must have been really hard on him and for some reason I understood him, although another way than he played at.
"No I can not imagine. But I know that I am unending happy for you two! Thats so great and you deserve all the luck you can get! OH man! CONGRATULATIONS!!"
"Haha, thank you, thank you!!"
"Aaaahhhhhh, thats just soooo great!"
"I know. I can hardly believe it myself!"
Almost like in trance I declared him another and another time how happy I am for him and her and that everything is just so unbelievable and so great and everything. He said they would celebrate their engagement in about three weeks and marry right after school, which was not so far anymore. I promised to go and visit them soon, of course with Kazuha, and he said as well that Ran would have already told her the amazing news.
"I still cant believe that the little Kudo is going to marry!"
"I, too, still feel as if I was dreaming! And quit calling me little!! I am just as tall as you are, big head! And an even greater detective!"
"Oh Ha-Ha! You are right, you ARE still dreaming!"
We laughed loudly, feeling relieved somehow and eventually hang up. Thats how I ended up here, thinking about everything that had happened since I got this fateful call of Kudo Shinichi, the now not so small detective. I rolled over to lay on my stomach, thinking about Kudo in a tuxedo and Ran in a velvet, long and white bridal dress. It was an awfully beautiful picture. In my mind the picture was slowly zoomed, zooming on the figure of the bride to Rans face but suddenly it was not Ran anymore I was looking at, but the face of Kazuha, smiling brightly with closed eyes.
I sat up like as if touched by a lightening. What was I thinking about? What did that mean? I stood up quickly, walking around the room, shaking my head in order to get rid of the image in my mind. But I did not quite succeed. Do I really want it to vanish?
Yes.. yes I guess I do and why would I even think about Kazuha this way? I mean, its really, not like I… I mean honestly! I tried to convince myself as I searched desperately for a reason this had just happened and could only come to one conclusion. I had been thinking too much the last hour. Right, thats what had happened. Stupid me, overdose brooding. Can only happen to be. Stupid, stupid but she had looked really amazing. Ahh what am I thinking again? Stupid me! Gee, I really need a glass of water. Yes, water sounds indeed great!
And with that he walked out of his room and walked downstairs, taking a glass of water to cool himself down and wash away the bright image that had burned itself deep into his mind and that he could not forget since that day.
Not that he would ever admit it.
End Chapter one.
Next Chapters will follow soon if you liked this one! Let me know!