(no subject)

[singlefaith]

Ran Mouri rmzepar@applenet.net
Shared the following message below:

I had a few questions to ask, if anyone can help:

1. Has it ever happened before that someone hasn’t completely Awakened? I mean . . . they remember some of their memories, but not all of them, and they never made a pact and never had anything appear like everyone else?

Is there a way to get them to Awaken completely?

2. Has anyone seen someone named Shinichi? He's been on the app before. I don’t know how to contact him otherwise. I don’t even know who he’s supposed to be in this place. He told me a few days ago he’d talk to me, and he left the app abruptly, and I haven’t seen him since. Is there a way to find out where he is?

(Shinichi, if you see this, you’d better say something!! You’re making me worried.)

3. Not quite as serious, but still important –- I need a place to practice karate. I guess I never learned it here, but if things are going to happen like that last battle, I need to make sure I practice and keep getting better. Does anyone else practice too? Having a partner –- or partners –- would be good!

Thank you!

Comments

Shinichi Kudo ☸ Andromalius

[spoilsfun]

[Not good. if Ran kept asking questions like this, it could lead other people to start asking questions. ]

Sorry about hanging up on you that other time. I'm still here.

[singlefaith]

[Relief. Immediate and absolute relief, flooding in like water from a broken dam.]

I'm glad you're okay. Why haven't you reached out? And what were you saying about a case?

I'll give you my information; maybe we can figure out a place to meet.

I need to see you.

[If only for her own benefit. She needs to see him for herself, needs to see he's safe. And Shinichi knows her best. She can give the fears she hasn't dared speak aloud to him -- things she can't voice to anyone else. If he's here, things will be okay. All of it will be okay.]

[spoilsfun]

Sorry about that. Some things came up.

[She wanted to meet? He panics a little. There was no way he'd be able to pull off a meeting as he was right now.]

Ah, today isn't a good time to meet. Maybe some other time?

[singlefaith]

Some things?

[It sounded so weak. Vague. Distant.]

[. . . The distant part might be the worst. She feels her heart flutter, tries to quell it.]

It doesn't have to be today. Tomorrow?

[spoilsfun]

Tomorrow won't work either.

[singlefaith]

[Frustration wells up next, because this feels like home all over again -- but worse in some ways. He's bound here like the rest of them, after all, so he has to be in the city. And the way he refuses . . . she doesn't want to think badly of it, but it's hard not to. Still he seems vague. Distant.]

When?

[One last chance effort to get him to commit.]

[He . . . wants to see her. Right?]

[spoilsfun]

[He had to tell her something. Saying he was away on a case wouldn't work when she knew he couldn't leave the city. And he didn't want to lie more than he had to. Maybe... ]

I want to see you again, Ran. But I can't. It isn't safe.

[singlefaith]

[The first part swipes away that fear, and she feels the clench of her stomach lessen.]

[And then a new one sweeps in and tightens it times twenty.]

Not safe? What do you mean?

[spoilsfun]

I ended up in a bad situation here, and I can't leave yet.

[singlefaith]

What do you mean, "ended up?"

What happened?

[Worry levels rising.]

[spoilsfun]

I can't give any details, but I'm handling it.

[singlefaith]

That's not good enough, Shinichi! You can't just tell me that and just say you're "handling it." That's not how it works. Or should work.

[What exactly "it" remains unclear. Possibly Ran herself couldn't immediately say.]

Give me something. I can't -- this can't be like home. I can't do it.

[spoilsfun]

[There is a long silence before he responds.]

It's the false memories. The people around who have them of me. It isn't a good situation. I'd rather not draw their attention to any changes in my behavior.

[He felt awful creating a fictional situation for her to worry over. But it was better than her running into the real dangers that his real situation presented. ]

[singlefaith]

[She's losing patience with this fast. It isn't as though he really has reasons not to tell her on here; this app disappears as soon as anyone else is in near proximity. He's withholding from her, and there must be a reason why -- more than what he's giving her.]

That still doesn't explain why you couldn't meet me. It's not as though they don't let you out. Right?

Spill it.

[spoilsfun]

Because I don't want you involved! If they realize that I know you, it could put you in danger.

[He couldn't help but allow some of the truth to fall inside the lie. ]

[singlefaith]

And it makes it better if you are?

[She'd typed the words barely even thinking, shooting them back at him just as she might have if they'd been face to face. Her eyes are stinging.]

Shinichi. Hattori-kun is here too. If you're really in trouble, we'll help you. Let us help.

[spoilsfun]

I'm already involved.

[It hurt to push her away like this, but he had to. Hadn't he already resolved that he'd keep her away from the danger in his life, even it meant that she hated him? This was a lie, but there was too much truth in it.]

Just... stay with Hattori. And be careful.

[singlefaith]

That doesn't mean it's good.

How can you expect me to just watch?

I'm not going to. Even if you say that. Not this time.

[spoilsfun]

I won't ask you to put yourself in danger! Here, at long last, some of his emotions begin to show. ] Don't ask that of me, Ran. Please.

[singlefaith]

I'm not asking for permission.

I can't wait knowing you're here and you're in trouble. Especially not with everything going on. I'll find you.

It's important to me.

[spoilsfun]

It's important to me that you can stay out of this mess.

[singlefaith]

I don't want to be out of a mess when you're in it.

That's not how love works anyway. Right?

[Rhetorical question -- he'd better not answer it.]

Again, I'm not asking for permission. You don't get to decide for me, and I've already made up my mind.

[spoilsfun]

[He freezes for a moment, too flustered to answer. Did she realize what she'd just implied? Or was it just the stress of the moment?]

You're such a troublesome case sometimes. What am I supposed to say to that?

[singlefaith]

[She doesn't realize it -- and probably won't until later. Then there will likely be all the mental flailing.]

[Those words, though, echo what he said before in London, and bring a small flush.]

You could just tell me where to find you. It would make it easier, and I wouldn't have to be "troublesome."

[She doesn't expect it. But that won't stop her from saying it.]

[spoilsfun]

You already know that I won't.

[If he'd been free to come to her as his real self... But there was no use in speculating on that.]