[Attn: karatesdoors! This apology has your name on it.]
The heady exhiliration of talking and being talked too (not to mention the rush of the energy Shinichi had borrowed from his counterpart) had long worn off, and the strain of maintaining a visible presence told. Shinichi had moped in the shadows of the study he'd appropriated as a resting place, enjoying the incense that had conveniently appeared in the breakfast hall, until finally he realised his headache had faded and he was feeling considerably more solid.
He reached for the cap that he and the Conan-who-was-his-cousin (as opposed to the him-who-was-Conan, the Conan-who-was-him and the pervey-him -- if he didn't find better ways of referring to them all, he was going to give himself another headache. Codenames, maybe?) had found under the tree, thinking bleakly of the reason he'd wanted it in the first place. Ran--
It had been days and he'd not seen her, not since she'd realised and the memory of her, shocked, appalled, afraid was never far from his thoughts. Even when meeting the guy Ran, his thoughts had never been far away from her. If only she'd come out of her room, let him know she was all right--
And if she wasn't all right?
He'd told her she wouldn't see him again, and he'd meant it ... but this was his fault. If he didn't do something, who would?
Shinichi shut his eyes. He'd had this argument with himself how many times now? And it always came down to the same thing -- risk scaring Ran again or remain like this, not knowing--
He sighed pulling the cap on and drifting towards the door. He wasn't exactly good at the not knowing.
The knock on Ran's door was muted, hesitant. Shinichi was even sure he'd been heard. He cleared his throat. "Ran?"
He reached for the cap that he and the Conan-who-was-his-cousin (as opposed to the him-who-was-Conan, the Conan-who-was-him and the pervey-him -- if he didn't find better ways of referring to them all, he was going to give himself another headache. Codenames, maybe?) had found under the tree, thinking bleakly of the reason he'd wanted it in the first place. Ran--
It had been days and he'd not seen her, not since she'd realised and the memory of her, shocked, appalled, afraid was never far from his thoughts. Even when meeting the guy Ran, his thoughts had never been far away from her. If only she'd come out of her room, let him know she was all right--
And if she wasn't all right?
He'd told her she wouldn't see him again, and he'd meant it ... but this was his fault. If he didn't do something, who would?
Shinichi shut his eyes. He'd had this argument with himself how many times now? And it always came down to the same thing -- risk scaring Ran again or remain like this, not knowing--
He sighed pulling the cap on and drifting towards the door. He wasn't exactly good at the not knowing.
The knock on Ran's door was muted, hesitant. Shinichi was even sure he'd been heard. He cleared his throat. "Ran?"