79 - Forever
Yes, if it takes longer again ...
But now the time has come. The third cape is here. At last.
I wish you happy reading.

Thank you also for the clerks on the last chapter.

LG Lorelai
__________________________________________________________________________________
It has been a long time since they were last here. Neither of them knew the reason, it was simply said: This is where the tickets come over. And that in the week in which he still had big plans. Why did they always have to thwart him?

“Can you tell me why we are here?” Shinichi tried to stretch, but it wasn't really possible in this taxi. Annoyed, he sagged and looked at Ran.
Ran laughed. "You ask me that? It's your parents. Maybe they just want to see you again." She looked out the window. "As often as I've been here, but it's always fascinating. Especially at night."
Shinichi closed his eyes. She was right. Los Angeles is a great city. He just didn't want to be here. Not this week, not now. Not with his parents. And woe to Ran is right and his parents brought her here for something irrelevant. Then they could really experience something.
Shinichi sighed and checked his watch. If he didn't get out of that taxi soon, he was going to be crazy. Only the traffic on Monday evening wasn't exactly what you could call it good. He was tired and hadn't closed his eyes on the plane.
"We are there."
Ran's anticipation was almost cruel. If she knew what he was up to, she would talk differently. He was sure of that. Well, maybe there would be an opportunity here too.
After an eternity, the taxi finally stopped.

Yukiko, who had been standing at the window for almost an hour, grinned. She wondered what the two of them would say when she found out the reason for this short-term visit.
"You are there Yusaku," she yelled through the house and went to the door. All she could hear was Yusaku saying that she shouldn't be so loud this late.
“There you are at last.” Beaming with joy, she walked up to her.
Shinichi, who was just taking the suitcase out of the taxi, looked at her annoyed. "Mother please. Not in such a good mood. I'm tired and just want to go to bed." He walked past her into the house. All they heard was a bang.
Yukiko winced. "Either he's so tired that he fell over or he just dropped the suitcase."
Ran giggled. "It could well be that he fell over. He hasn't slept much since you invited us. Something seems to be bothering him, he just tosses back and forth."
Yukiko stopped short. What did she say He tosses and turns? How should she know? She knew that the two of them shared the bed from time to time, but they didn't live together.Or maybe yes?
“Are you coming in today or do you want to sleep outside?” Yusaku actually managed to break away from his work. No wonder, after all, they still had to get rid of something.
The two women looked at each other shortly before going into the house.

Shinichi sat casually on the couch and wondered why they wouldn't just let him go to bed. They used to send him to bed when he was still awake at that time. And now that he wanted to sleep he was not allowed. Injustice, he thought. You'd think that as a 19-year-old, he'd be able to decide for himself. But apparently that was not the case.
"So?" He began. "What's up? Why do you keep me from sleeping? And the question of all questions, why the hell are we here?"
He was in a really bad mood. Yukiko just looked at him while Yusaku leaned forward. "Please pull yourself together. Just because you're in a bad mood, you don't need to talk to us like that." He watched Shinichi roll his eyes and waited to see if he would say anything else. After a few seconds he leaned back. "You're here because there is going to be a big party at the weekend in which you both will play a role. If you don't mind, of course."
Shinichi and Ran looked at each other questioningly. What kind of celebration should that be where you should play a role? It couldn't be an engagement party. They weren't engaged. And their wedding was impossible too, his parents wouldn't.
"In order not to keep you in suspense," Yusaku began again, "Your mother and I plan to marry again on Saturday ..."
"Yes, with everything that goes with it." Yukiko had interrupted him.
Shinichi raised an eyebrow. Had he just heard right? That should be a joke. He would definitely have to throw overboard every opportunity that would present itself to him.
"And what part should we play in this?" asked Ran. Another question that Shinichi wanted answered.
"Well, as Yukiko said, it will be a wedding with everything that goes with it. That means we need groomsmen. That's why you're here. We wanted to ask you, Shinichi, my best man and you Ran Yukiko's first bridesmaid." He looked at the two alternately. Ran beamed and nodded straight away, but Shinichi looked bored. "Fine, if that's all I'll go to bed now." That was the only thing he said before he disappeared. The three remaining only shook their heads.

Finally in bed. He could finally sleep if it hadn't been for this oh-so-good news. Shinichi sighed and folded her arms behind her head. What was that supposed to mean? You are already married. So why do the stress a second time? He was torn from his thoughts when someone opened the door.
"What's wrong with you?"Asked Ran as she sat down next to him on the bed.
"What should be? Apart from the fact that I find what you are up to pointless." With every word he had become quieter. He took an arm out and stroked Ran's cheek. He gently grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her down onto the bed. Ran let it happen and put her head on his shoulder.
"Why do you think it's pointless? I think it's beautiful. That's an expression of love that not everyone makes. Something special."
"Mh, maybe." He gently stroked her back. "Still, it's pointless and absolutely inappropriate."
Ran closed his eyes. "I don't think so. I would be happy if my parents would do something like that."
He took a deep breath. “It's pointless, absolutely useless and complete bullshit.” He was slowly getting angry. Which, of course, Ran did not miss. She straightened up and looked him straight in the eye.
“Can you tell me what's wrong with you?” She didn't understand him. Otherwise he wasn't like that either.
“You really want to know what's going on?” Now he too sat up. Saw Ran nod. "They thwart my plans, a huge one and mess everything up. I have to overturn everything I had planned because of this nonsense."
“You only think about yourself, don't you?” Ran couldn't believe that it was all about him again. Even if she had already thought of something like that, she had hoped it wasn't this time. Thought wrong.
Shinichi rubbed his face. He wasn't just thinking of himself. He didn't want her to think it was either. Should he maybe ...
"It's not just about me. It's about us." He spoke the words softly, looked at her.
Now she really didn't understand him anymore. What did his parents' second wedding have to do with them? Only one thing helped. "What do you mean by that?"
“Do you really want to know?” He would tell her. But not any more. He didn't wait for her answer, but opened the drawer on the bedside table, took out a small box, opened it and held it under her nose.
A ring in blue velvet gleamed against her in silver. Should it mean what she thought.
"Shinichi what ...?" She couldn't say more, just looked at him questioningly.
“You can guess that, right?” He watched her run across the ring and smiled. That was how he had imagined it. That is how she should react. But the next moment his smile faded again. He pulled the box away and closed it again and wanted to put it away again. However, Ran stopped him.
"What is that supposed to be now? You can't ..." She got no further.
"Thank my parents. You owe it to both of them that you don't get it." He put the ring back where he had taken it and lay down. “Good night sweetheart.” That was the last thing he said before rolling over on his side and closing his eyes.Ran sighed, got up and went into the adjoining bathroom with a few things. So that was it. That wretched idiot. Couldn't he just go ahead with his plan? The place didn't really matter. The deed was what mattered. She took a deep breath, changed her clothes, and went back into the bedroom. When she saw him sleeping calmly, she had to smile. Maybe he changed his mind about the romantic mood that would prevail at the wedding. Yukiko had told her a few more details earlier when Shinichi had already disappeared. As quietly as possible she lay down next to him and snuggled up against him.

The week had passed so quickly that no one had really noticed. The ceremony was over and the guests found themselves in a large hall in a hotel. Shinichi's parents really spared no expense or effort. It was downright a dream wedding. Ran wished hers would be the same. Only a certain Shinichi Kudo had to pull out the ring first. They hadn't said a word about it since he had shown her the ring. And today he didn't seem to be making any move. Ran looked at him. He looked bored. Even yawned. She just shook her head. Slowly she wondered if he had thrown his plan completely overboard. After all, in the last week he had mentioned over and over again that a wedding was pointless. He hadn't referred to these specifically but to weddings in general. She sighed. Tried to shake off her thoughts. It wasn't about her but about Yukiko and Yusaku. Only the two counted today.
"Shall we go?" Ran was so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed Shinichi stepping behind her. Startled, she turned to him. At first she looked at him blankly, but then nodded after glancing around the room. Nobody would miss her. Besides, they could come back later.
Ran hacked into Shinichi and together they left the room. They didn't go far, only into the small park that