Won't mean a thing if you're not here

[is_not_watson]

Seven weeks.

Seven weeks.

A month and a half. Forty nine days. Seven weeks since the last time Ran had seen either of his best friends in the Mansion, since he'd woken up one morning to find the bed empty of its patient and Sonoko's room completely vacant.

Seven weeks of wondering where they'd gone, whether it was home, and why he hadn't gone

Comments

[are_too_holmes]

And then one day, Ran came back from his morning jog to find that the sheets of the bed he'd left perfectly made, were rumpled.

Lights were on and there was the sound of running water in the bathroom.

[is_not_watson]

Ran stopped dead in the doorway, not entirely sure if he could believe it at first - it wouldn't be the first time he'd been tricked into thinking Shinichi was back. Having so many lookalikes in the Mansion was a huge downside when it came to that.

Still, it wasn't like he could not check.

"...Shinichi?" The question was cautiously hopeful as Ran-kun made his way into the room.

[are_too_holmes]

"Mm." The reply was muffled, the reason for that readily apparent as Conan pushed the door open. He had a toothbrush in his mouth, hair clearly sleep ruffled. Conan blinked, quickly registering that there was something -- off -- in Ran's tone. He pulled the toothbrush out. "Ah ..."

[is_not_watson]

It was the Shinichi he knew. Shinichi was back from their world. Which meant--

Relief came flooding through, and annoyance came close on its heels.

"You're-- you jerk, why didn't you come get me when you got back?! Did you get sent home? Where's Sonoko?"

[just_add_aptx]

This one might not be - certainly was not - the Conan he was looking for, but it was a Conan nonetheless. A rather bored Conan, kicking a soccer ball at exact points on the wall of the gym, 41, 42, 43 times in a row, hitting exactly each time (damn, he was good). Kick number 44 went - with a twist and as much force as this child-body could provide - directly over Ran's head, aimed to miss actually hitting the taller by centimetres.

[is_not_watson]

Ran yelped and ducked anyway, caught off-guard by the sudden soccer ball whizzing towards his head. The solid smack of its impact with the wall behind him gave lie to just how hard Conan had kicked it, and after a moment the karateka cautiously raised his head to glare at the shrunken detective.

"What was that for?!"

[just_add_aptx]

"I wasn't going to hit you."

[is_not_watson]

"It could have! Jeez..."

Grumping, the taller boy retrieved the ball, ungracefully toeing it up with one foot before kicking it in Conan's direction. "Which Conan are you?"

[so_too_rival]

[Apologies Ran -- your tete-a-tete with your best friend is being rudely interrupted as Sonoko opens the door to the bedroom, arms still laden with shopping bags.]

--no it's true, I -- hello? Hello?

... geez, what's with the reception here?

[is_not_watson]

[--perfect timing for the woman of the hour. Ran blinks at Sonoko, having been ready to go out the door in search of her, then breaks into a relieved grin]

Sonoko!

[to be honest, he missed her. It's probably selfish when she should be back home with their family and all the amenities she's so used to, but he can't help but be glad that she's here]

[so_too_rival]

R-Ran-kun? [Sonoko's surprised too -- but she recovers quickly!]

Perfect timing! I've got a present for you!

[is_not_watson]

It looks like you've got presents for half the Mansion.

[geez that's a lot of bags. He takes a few to help her put them down, and for the moment at least the city-wide date announcements are forgotten]