Secret Rivalry

[ran_mouri82]

Title: Secret Rivalry
Author: ran_mouri82
Word Count: 2350
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Aoyama-sensei, we salute you!
Characters: Mouri Ran, Suzuki Sonoko, Miyano Shiho, and Kudou Shin’ichi
Notes: 30 Kisses: #16 - invincible; unrivaled; manycases1truth: #2 - Rivals

Secret Rivalry

Armed with a strawberry layer cake, Mouri Ran stared at Professor Agasa’s front door with shaky determination. If anyone were to have spied Ran on their noonday travels as they passed the large, modern house, they might have mistaken her for a ding-dong-dasher; she took a step forward, then back, and then started to run away, and then ran back to the door. Ran knit her forehead as she remembered how Sonoko’s warning led her to this.

“I don’t trust her,” Sonoko said, leveling a glare at Miyano Shiho as the latter led Shin’ichi away from Teitan High.

“Sonoko-chan, don’t be silly!” Ran watched them depart with a fond smile. “She’s not with that organization anymore, remember? Besides, I know she’s a good person.”

Sonoko twitched. “You seriously think I was talking about that? Don’t you get it? Those two are way too close for a scientist and her walking experiment.”

“S-Sonoko!” Ran peered at them again as they retreated. The way they bickered was almost intimate. But she shook her head. “They’re just good friends. After all, Miyano-san was in danger for so long, and she didn’t have anyone, and—and….”

Ran gaped, her imagination suddenly assaulted by a barrage of kisses, touches, and low whispers between Shiho and the detective she loved.

“Now you get it,” Sonoko replied, hands on her hips in vindication. “Hurry after them and get your husband back!”

But Ran did not hurry after them that day or the next. When the weekend arrived and Shin’ichi postponed their date so he could catch up on case files with Inspector Megure, however, Ran’s fingers itched with the sudden urge to bake. Now, here she was, feeling very much like a shameful coward. This was a stupid idea!

Just as Ran turned to leave one last time, the door flew open, and from the darkened threshold emerged a disgruntled young woman. In sharp contrast to Ran, who was dressed for her date in a frilly, rose skirt, peach blouse, and espadrille wedges, Shiho wore a fitness tunic, leggings, and an acidic scowl. In the cheerful sunlight, her hair flamed an angry shade of red.

Ran gulped.

“Ah, good day, Miyano-san! I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by. Sorry for showing up uninvited,” Ran said, bowing. She held out the cake container and did her best to smile. “But I guess you’re going for a jog, right?”

“No, not yet. Please come in,” she replied, her expression blank as she ushered Ran into the foyer. “The professor’s not home, but I have to stay just in case.”

Just in case of what? Ran thought, but did not ask. She halted in the doorway, facing a confrontation unlike any karate tournament. Her opponent would not take a stance in front of her, would not block or deliver blows that she could see. But Ran took a breath and followed Shiho inside. If this is a challenge, I’ll accept it.

“You didn’t have to go through the trouble,” Shiho said, taking the cake from Ran. She examined it through its clear, plastic cover as if she were looking for ants. “Why were you in the neighborhood?”

“Well, I was supposed to meet Shin’ichi this morning, but he had some consulting to do at police headquarters,” Ran replied, her nerves failing as she pasted another smile on her face.

“Is that so?” Shiho muttered, walking ahead into the kitchen area.

Frowning, Ran changed into house slippers and followed Shiho. Though Ran found it awkward to think of her as a rival, she knew Shin’ichi had poured much time and energy into keeping the girl safe. She would be shocked if Shiho had not fallen for him. But her memories of Ai trembling with fear pitted suspicion against guilt. It was enough to wrench her stomach.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll invite those children over later and give them the rest,” Shiho said, setting a kettle on the stove to boil. “The professor shouldn’t be eating cake.”

“Sure, that’s fine!” While taking over the cake slicing, Ran stole furtive glances at Shiho and, against her better instincts, tried to compare their measurements. Through the lens of her anxious mind, she more than lost the fight.

Shiho paused from reaching into the cupboard for a canister of tea. “Are you alright?”

“Huh?” Ran snapped to attention and stopped short of slicing her own fingers along with the cake. She cleared her dry throat and lifted the knife that she held in a white-knuckled grip. “Oh, yes! Thank you very much!”

Hang in there! Ran encouraged herself, steadying her hands to plate the cake.

Returning to her work of brewing the tea, Shiho said nothing.

Not good, Ran thought. Ai had been unusually formal, but now she was intimidating. I’ve got to take the offensive. “Miyano-san? Shin’ichi said that you’re starting a new job soon. Is that true?”

Ran wanted to kick herself. So much for the offensive.

“Yes,” Shiho replied, setting teacups and saucers onto a metal tray. “It seems Kudou Yuusaku-san managed to convince certain professors in the Institute of Medical Science that I’m not going to poison anyone. I’ll start working in the Division of Cancer Cell Research next week.”

“Really?” True excitement seized Ran for the first time since she arrived. “I’m so happy for you! Do your best!” But Ran’s burst of happiness was cut short by her tightening knot of worry. Of course she’ll succeed. She’s a prodigy, like Shin’ichi. Ran sighed as soon as Shiho turned around and walked past the kitchen counter into the sitting area. I almost forgot about that.

Tense quiet settled between them as they sat on opposite couches. To Ran, the oppressive atmosphere was palpable enough to make beads of sweat slide down her neck as she watched Shiho take her first bite of cake. The meager forkfuls Ran ate informed her that the cake was baked to perfection, but the frosting could use another pinch of sugar. As ridiculous as it seemed, Ran’s jealousy declared that she might score a crucial point if her rival enjoyed her dessert. Maybe it was the memory of lemon pie.

But Shiho gave Ran no smile or murmur of pleasure, just tolerance. Two bites later, she stopped. “Mouri-san?”

Ran winced. “Yes?”

“You have something to tell me.” Though Shiho spoke in a calm, reserved manner, it was not a question.

Caught off-guard, Ran blinked. Shiho had just given her an opening—and she had no idea what to do with it.

Then the truth hit.

Shiho was not the one fighting her. I’m doing it to myself. My feelings…I’m just letting them confuse me. Ran clenched a fist. Though she had arrived with a purpose, she was allowing insecurity to distract her left and right. A distracted fighter might as well throw in the towel. But that was not a mistake she would make anymore, not for something this important.

Not for someone this important.

“Actually,” Ran said, setting her cake down and looking Shiho in the eye, “there’s something I need to know.”

“What is it?”

“Do you love Shin’ichi?” Ran poised herself on the edge of her seat and squared her shoulders. “Because if you do, you should know that I love him with all my heart. So be prepared.”

For a second, Shiho sat, stone silent. The stillness between the two of them was magnified by the sheer size of the living room, and it made Ran’s question hang uncomfortably in the air like the midday heat. Then, Shiho set down her cake, wiped her mouth, and drew herself up with her hands properly folded.

“Since meeting Kudou-kun,” Shiho began, “I’ve learned many things about him, but three things stand out the most.”

Puzzled—it was a yes-or-no question, after all—Ran held her breath and waited for Shiho to continue.

“First,” Shiho said, holding up her index finger, “Kudou-kun is hopeless when it comes to respecting what other people want. Though he saved my life by ignoring my wishes, it drives me insane.”

What is she trying to say—?

“Second,” she continued, raising another finger, “while I don’t mind that he’s a deduction addict, he’s always running headlong into danger. Frankly, I don’t know how anyone around him maintains a healthy blood pressure.”

Before Ran could speak, Shiho silenced her with a pointed look.

“And third, for him, in this world there’s only one woman. It’s amazing, really,” she said, lifting her teacup and regarding Ran with the beginnings of a smile. “That idiot was always trying to make me give him the temporary antidote. Even if it risked our necks, he was that intent on getting back to you.”

Ran’s heartbeat skipped. “What?”

“Now do you understand? Going after such a person would be nothing but an annoying waste of time. So don’t worry.” Shiho took a sip as if she had just made an observation about the weather. “He’s not my type.”

Though Ran had gripped her cup at the warmth woven through Shiho’s clipped words, she knew the other girl was being honest. Grinning back at her, Ran said, “Being stuck with Shin’ichi must’ve been very annoying, right?”

“I’ve seen better and worse days,” Shiho said, shrugging as she crossed her legs, “but at least he’s your problem.”

With a soft chuckle, Ran stood up, deciding that what she had said to Sonoko about Shiho being a good person was wrong. She’s a wonderful person. Holding out her hand, she said, “Thank you for watching out for him, Shiho-san.”

“It’s nothing. I owe you, anyway,” Shiho said, likewise standing and shaking her hand. A glint of mischief sparkled in her eyes. “If he breaks your heart, I’ll never forgive him.” Suddenly, to Ran’s surprise, a vein pulsed on Shiho’s forehead as she raised her voice and said, “Heard enough, Kudou-kun?”

When Shin’ichi stepped into the living room from the basement staircase, trying to act cool even as he blushed deep red, a blazing heat rose to the very top of Ran’s head. Ran rushed toward him and, by her tone, warned Shin’ichi to answer the next question very carefully—or else. “What are you doing here?”

“Simple,” Shiho answered, crossing her arms. “He was supposed to arrive two hours ago for our biweekly examination. Thank you, Mouri-san, for letting me know he had forgotten and scheduled other things instead.” She thrust her smartphone in Shin’ichi’s face and said, “I don’t know how you got in here without my noticing, but your phone has a calendar function, doesn’t it? Use it.”

Ah! Ran thought. So that’s why she opened the door like that earlier.

“My phone died at police headquarters, okay?” Shin’ichi said, still blushing. He turned to Ran and added, “And relax, it’s not like I planned on spying on you. The door was open, but nobody was here, and since I’d kept Miyano waiting, I checked the lab first.”

So you conveniently waited there and got an earful? Ran thought, but was far too embarrassed to ask. She decided she would rather not know how much he had heard.

“In any event, let’s go ahead. Not everyone’s willing to live by your timetable,” Shiho said, pocketing her phone. “This won’t take long, Mouri-san. Mostly, it’s venipuncture for a series of blood tests. You’re free to watch, if you want.”

“No, that’s okay,” Ran said, shaking her head. The thought of Shin’ichi being poked with needles made her shudder, but she smiled at the awkward invitation. “I’ll just clear away the cake before the professor returns.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll go down and get everything ready—again,” Shiho said, shooting a glare at Shin’ichi before descending the staircase leading to the basement lab.

“I’ll be right there,” Shin’ichi replied. He stayed at the top of the stairs with his hands in his pockets and watched Shiho as she left.

Ran stared at his back. “Shin’ichi?”

At first, he did not move. Then, he nodded, as if confirming something, and turned to face Ran. His intense, piercing gaze struck her just like it did a few short weeks ago when they were reunited. That was when she asked him why, as Conan, he had stayed at the Mouri Detective Agency.

“I mean, it makes sense that you wanted to use Dad’s office to investigate, but wouldn’t your dad have been a better choice?”

“You want to know the truth?”

She nodded.

“I wanted to stay by your side. …Is that okay?”

Her tears spilled out then. “Yes.”

Before Ran could think, do, or say anything, Shin’ichi bridged the space between them, took her by the arms, and kissed her.

She gasped, her heart leaping to her throat as her eyes flew wide open in shock. But when that wave passed, her resistance slipped away, and she clung to him as tightly as he held her close. In that moment, the last of her worry disappeared, replaced by the warmth of an embrace meant just for her.

When they parted, Shin’ichi said, “Hey, you still free after this?”

Ran smiled and nodded. “Mm hmm. But isn’t that my line?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Shin’ichi said, giving her a puckish grin. “I’ve still got to get this over with, but,” he added, winking as he bounded downstairs, “it’s a small price to pay.”

“Cooperate with Shiho-san,” Ran called after him. “She was right about your timetable!”

She made her way back to the coffee table and hummed a tune until she overheard a pair of muffled voices—“Kudou-kun, wipe off that frosting.” “Huh? Oh! I, uh, didn’t notice.” “I’m sure you didn’t.” “Hey, now—” “Be sure to tell her for me that the cake was delicious.” “Tell her yourself—ow!”

Ran grabbed her napkin and wiped the corners of her mouth. Don’t tell me…! She cringed at the trace of frosting left behind on the cloth, and yet she could not help but giggle. She had expected to find a rival. Instead, she found an ally and, in the heart of a very old friend, unrivaled love.