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She was never in denial that she liked him – well, not out loud and of course to Sonoko, even though her teasing is not subtle. She and Shinichi were childhood friends and very close with each other, so the teasing really isn't a problem anyway now that she thought about it. It was probably getting to her due to her knowledge that Sonoko actually knows. She wasn't really expecting much, but she found she couldn't stop even if she tried to.
She believed that was how destiny told her that he was the one. She always felt a strong loyalty towards him; always felt the faith that if he were on her side, they could overcome anything; the trust that he'd save her when he discerns she needs it; and she always could lean on him whenever she had troubles – and she always knew; she knew he'd listen, she knew he'd know what to do and what to say to calm her down or to lift her spirits, to appease her.
She couldn't explain why and she'd rather not but she knew there had to be an explanation. The only reason she could think of is that they were meant to be. This intensified once she admitted to herself that no, he's no longer just her Sherlock Holmes obsessed childhood friend who likes solving cases and being called a high school detective. He genuinely became someone she could see having a future with. Sonoko teasing him, calling him her husband had basis but she'd stay quiet so no one else piles on (even though their homeroom class picked up on the teasing real quick).
All the while she was trying to get him to realize how she felt about him, dropping clues (because you know, he liked mysteries) hoping he'd get the hint – making sure she'd be around in his soccer tournaments, helping him clean his house since his parents flew off to New York, taking care of him when he gets sick, supporting his dreams and goals of becoming a detective, organizing her schedule so she could make time for him.
Until London. No more hints. She remembers it vividly.
"Then why don't you deduce what's in my heart?" Ran angrily cried, preparing to run from him. She felt a hand grab her wrist. She locked eyes with him, never had she seen such determination before.
"Deduce what's in your heart? No matter if I am a good detective, I can't properly deduce what's in the heart of the woman I love!"
That's when the world seemed to have stopped. Did she hear that correctly? She wanted to talk to him more but of course, as always, he had places to be.
Not only until when they were in Osaka, where their school trip was held, when they both finally clarified to each other what their feelings were and the development to their relationship. She should be happy, yes? She got her dream man, right?
Everything was going well, they've been together for months. Until a certain case, Ran was reminded that even though she was happily dating Shinichi now, it could end in heartbreak – it was through a case – a woman was furious that her childhood sweetheart broke up with her once he found who was at the end of his string.
"He said we'll make it work," she narrated, silent tears trickling down her face as she tried to keep her breathing even. "That it didn't matter if he wasn't at my end of my red string. As long as we were happy."
No one really knew what to say. Soulmates were a dream come true; a fantasy come to life and yet through all these fairytale stories about them, no one dares speak of the nightmare it could bring. How strings break, those never finding the other end of their string, when their soulmate dies after spending so long with them... or in this case, when you thought someone you've been with for so long does not turn out to be your destined one.
"How old are you?"
Ran turned to see the suspect eyeing her and Shinichi and kept her questioning eyes at her. "I... I'm 17 going 18 tomorrow."
"Aah. A day before you see your red string, I see." The woman told her in a whisper, "You should get over your puppy love while it's early and save your heart for when you find your soulmate. It's less painful that way."
She tried not to let it get to her but when she tried glancing over to Shinichi, he was still busy talking to Inspector Megure. No doubt she was the only one who heard it. Should she tell him? No. He'll probably only get angry. But then, he always knew what to say to make her feel better. On the other hand, he might actually tell her he agrees and to make their moments happy while it lasts. Ugh! She hated thinking too much. One thing's for sure though, Shinichi is someone who always keeps his promises and he can't promise she's the destined one for him. Not without proof, stubbornly enough.
What would he think about this? She needed him right now. What should she do?
"Something's bothering you." It wasn't a question. He really knew her so well.
Ran just nodded and looked away. Should she?
"What did she tell you?"
Okay, she had to admit. That was pretty good. "How did you – ?"
"You were looking at her weird when they drove away." He stopped walking, took her hand in his and turned to look at her, a silent request for her to look at him.
"She just told me to save my heart for my soulmate since it's less painful that way."
He nodded, seemingly thinking of what to say next. "And who is that?"
She can't believe she's doing this but hey, she's confessed once and had the audacity to kiss him – on the cheek. Because a kiss on the lips is a sacred form of agreement that yes, you've found your soulmate at the other end of your string and you're both now devoted to loving each other. She still didn't have the guts to do that when she believed her soulmate was Shinichi and she couldn't do it now with what she just witnessed.
"I was hoping that'd be you."
Shinichi smiled. "Do you think it's me?"
"Knowing you, you'd need proof."
"Knowing you, you'd need to feel it in you."
Yes. She did. She always believed it was him. Wasn't that why she was drawn to him? She had always been convinced. So, what was wrong now?
She sighed, not knowing what was wrong.
"Well, it's my fault – again – that our date got interrupted by a case I just couldn't ignore."
She laughed, remembering that one instance she had to stay alone in the table at a restaurant while he solved a case.
"Let's spend some time together, just you and me. Not outside because there might be another case and we'll never get this date done."
"Or we could go home? Train ride takes about 45 minutes until we get to Beika Station. You can make it up to me some other time."
He looked at his watch. "You're right it's gotten pretty late." He wore a smirk as he took her hand and tried keeping the mood light, talking about detective novels on the ride back home while she talked about her trainings. He walked her towards her apartment as they got to Beika Station. The Mouri Detective Agency had the lights turned on, so her father was most likely still awake, watching Okino Yoko's latest movie.
Before going up the stairs, she saw him look at his watch again. He squeezed her hand, she felt his fingers warm her palm as he asked, "Just please answer honestly. Do you believe it's me?"
She nodded. "I've always believed it was. That's why I was scared that there's a possibility I might wake up tomorrow, see my red string and find out it doesn't lead to you. I've seen it today and I don't want to be that sad love story."
"You've always been like that." Shinichi tried to stop chuckling but it came out as snorts instead. "Managing to relate what you see to your own life."
"Well then, what would you have done if you found out that the other side of your string wasn't me?"
His answer was quick, as if it was the most obvious answer ever. "I'd still pick you."
She... wow... she didn't know how to respond to that. "And if I was?"
Now he really didn't hold back his laughter. "I already told you I'd choose you even if you weren't on the other end. What more if you and I are tied together with a red string?"
"I still want an answer – from you."
He wasn't holding back his smug grin. He laced his fingers with hers and said only one word. "This."
He raised their laced hands to his lips and planted a soft kiss to the back of her hand. Here she saw a vibrant red string on his right pinky finger leading to – hers?
She let out a small gasp. "You knew."
"So did you."
"You saw the red string first on your birthday."
"You didn't need to see that red string before you believed it was me." He ran his fingers through her hair and let his hand cradle the back of her head. "I only knew I had feelings for you and I planned on telling you and I did. So once I saw the string, I was even happier that we'd met sooner. It was only a matter of waiting for you to find out as well."
She didn't even realize she was crying until he brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I've been worried about nothing," she managed to giggle.
"Yes. Yes, you were."
She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down to kiss his cheek and smiled.
"You – You can't just kiss me. Not like that!"
"What do you mean?"
He placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned in so very close, his eyes shone with the very same determination he showed to her that time they were in London. "M-May I?"
She didn't answer. She just wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her as they shared their first proper kiss – as they prepared themselves for their shared future.