The light from the fireplace flickered and the woods cracked shooting out tiny sparks. Outside, a storm was coming with raindrops battering relentlessly against the window.

Thunder sounded in the distance and it woke her. She turned to her side, saw him gone. She reached over to confirm her suspicion. The spot he vacated was still warm; he just recently got up. Slowly, she pulled herself up using the white sheets as cover for her naked frame. Then getting off the bed, she proceeded down the stairs with the blankets wrapped around her slender body.

It was dark downstairs but she knew where to look. Walking confidently toward the door to his studies, she could see a band of light from underneath said door. She brought up her hand and rapped her knuckles gently against it.

A soft voice told her to come in. She opened the door and stepped in.

He was sitting in his chair, all curled up, with a book in his hands. The fireplace provided him with warmth and comfort. A mug of some sort of drink was laid close by. She looked at him.

"It's 3 A.M.," she said.

"I know." He smiled tiredly. "I couldn't sleep so I figured I should use my time wisely."

She glanced around his library. "How many times have you reread these books?" she asked.

"More than I can count."

"Don't you get bored?"

"Not really. These are all my favorites. I can read them over and over again with no problem."

"You really are a detective freak," she said chuckling.

But he wasn't amused. He stared at her before returning to his book.

She knew she'd said the wrong thing.

"Shinichi-"

"It's alright," he said then suddenly closed his book. "It's just that she used to call me the exact same thing."

She didn't know what to say.

"Once in a while, she'd come here and clean the shelves. I didn't ask her to but she said if she didn't do it then who would?" he said. His eyes had a faraway look as he inspected the red sparks flying from the fireplace.

She stepped closer to him, touched his mug. It's still warm. Bringing it to her lips, she took sips. It was pineapple juice.

"Come back to bed, Shinichi," she said touching his arm. "You have a long day tomorrow."

He turned to look at her, offered a soft smile and said, "I think I'm going to read for a bit more. I'll join you soon."

She nodded, put down his mug and walked out. She knew he wasn't coming back to bed and in the morning when the storm's over and the sun's shining brightly, he'd be gone.

A fellow scientist who'd had a crush on her since forever decided to ask her out for dinner.

Her girlfriend encouraged her to accept it. "He's so cute," Yuna cooed as if she's talking to a baby. "You got to accept it!"

"I don't feel that way toward him," Shiho said matter-of-factly.

"You never know. Your feeling might change. What if you found a common interest over dinner? What if he made a perfect companion? You never know what the future holds," Yuna said grinning.

Shiho turned back to her monitor. "I don't have time for that," she said.

Yuna pursed her lips. "Please, Shiho. You have to live a little! You can't bury your life in the lab forever."

"I'm so close to making a breakthrough. I need to be focused, Yuna."

"Well, that can wait. You're still young and beautiful so enjoy your youth while it lasts."

Shiho pondered for a moment. She wondered what Shinichi's doing tonight. Would he be free to have dinner or would he stay late at work again leaving her all by herself?

She also couldn't help wondering if any girl made a move on the famous detective. After all, he's handsome, intelligent, charming and single. Definitely a target for his female colleagues.

"Shiho?" Yuna called, snapping her back to reality.

"I'll give it a try," Shiho said and her friend gave her a hug and a huge grin.

"You have to show me what you're wearing tonight!"

A simple black dress that hugged her slender frame in a way that it flattered her curve. The lace back gave a sensual feel and the low-cut in front drew eyes to her defined collarbones. She turned in front of the mirror to have a better look at herself. She was beautiful, she knew. Her emerald-green eyes shone brightly. Her short reddish-brown hair was put in a loose bun that was kept in place by a jade pin. She was in the process of putting on a diamond necklace when he walked past their room.

He stopped short in the hallway. The door was left ajar so he pushed it open further.

She glanced back, saw him and a couple of folders tucked in the crook of his elbow. She turned back to her task.

"Keeping yourself busy tonight, my detective?" she asked. The necklace looked good on her. It complimented the dark dress so she decided to use it but she was having problem with the clasp.

"Here, let me," he offered. Putting the folders down on their bed, he stepped behind her, took the necklace from her hand and worked the clasp.

She titled her head down to give him better lightning and closed her eyes at the feel of his hands on her skin.

"This clasp is so small," he muttered.

She chuckled. "Come on, don't let a clasp defeat you," she said. Then she heard a tiny click! sound. He got it.

"You look beautiful," he said staring at her reflection.

She looked up.

Together, they were beautiful. He was a head taller than her. His dark, soft, slightly disheveled hair complimented his bright azure eyes. He had high cheekbones just like her. And she had foreign features thanks to her mother. Her unnatural reddish-brown hair along with her green eyes set her apart. Together, they would make a beautiful family.

But that would never, ever happen.

He let his hands rest on her small shoulders. She wanted to stay that way. Suddenly, she didn't want to go to dinner with the fellow scientist at all.

"He's a lucky guy," Shinichi said, grinning. He dropped his hand. Her heart skipped a beat.

Shinichi turned and picked up his folders. "Have fun," he said before walking out. "Don't stay out too late or I'm going to find you."

"Please, I can take care of myself," she said.

He grinned again. "I know." The door closed behind him.

She thought she was going to faint. She knew the date was necessary; something, a catalyst to help her move on. She couldn't be stuck in this limbo state. He might be okay with it only because he wasn't taking this seriously. She was.

She felt like crying but Shiho never cried easily.

Small talks were passed over the still candlelight. Food was great. Steak was well done. Wine was on point. He was well-dressed. His dark brown hair was slicked back stylishly, unlike the unruly look he often donned in lab. He wore a dark pink shirt with black tie and black trousers. His shoes were shining as if he'd spent hours polishing them, something he'd shyly admitted.

It was casual conversation in a four-stars restaurant. He complimented her and said he felt inspired by her. She didn't know why. She asked and he said it's because she's a capable woman and in the science field, she could stand on her own feet. She was confident in every theory she proposed.

He fell in love with her the first time he saw her argue for her theory.

While he was talking, confessing his love to her on their first date, knowing that it's way too early for that but he did it anyway, she sat up straight with her emerald-green eyes glued to his dark almond eyes. Her hand elegantly held the glass of red wine. She felt light-headed but she liked it. Her silence encouraged him on. But the whole time, she was imagining Shinichi speaking those words, not her date.

When he was confessing, it was Shinichi's face and mouth that spoke them. Suddenly, she felt sick. She put up her hand and said, "Excuse me. I need to use the ladies' room."

"Is everything okay?" her date asked worriedly but she waved him off.

"Yeah. It's probably just the wine."

Staring at her image in the mirror, she saw how beautiful she looked that night. She felt irresistible. Was that why he said he loved her right on the spot? She could feel many eyes befall her on she walked in.

She held many men's interest, just not the one she truly wanted.

"Hello?"

"What are you doing?"

"At home, working on my case. What's wrong, Shiho? Aren't you supposed to be on a date?" Shinichi's voice sounded concerned over the phone.

She turned herself sideway and leaned against the wall next to the bathroom's door.

"I was," she said. "I don't feel good anymore so I want to go home."

"Is he not able to drive you back?" Logical question. He'd picked her up so he could drive her back.

Shiho played with the hem of her short, tight-fitting dress. She didn't want to say the words but if she didn't then he wouldn't come.

After all, she wasn't that important to him.

"The date is technically not over yet," she said. "He might be upset that I want to leave early. And to be frank, I'm kind of afraid to go back with him."

A pause.

"Wait there. I'm coming."

She had never felt more relieved in her life.

Her date threw Shinichi a nasty look as the latter got out of the car, took off his dark leather jacket and wrapped it around Shiho's naked shoulders.

"I could've driven her back," he barked.

Shiho turned and smiled softly at him. "I didn't want to bother you. You have work tomorrow, right? Go home and rest. Thank you for the dinner." Shinichi opened the door and she got in, still feeling the pierced look that her date's giving her.

She could tell that whatever love he had for her was going down the drain.

As they were cruising on the highway, Shiho pulled his jacket closer to her and rested her head on the seat. The radio was on, some soft music was playing in the background. As she was closing her eyes, he spoke, "Wanna talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about," she answered.

"Shiho, you're talking to a detective."

"Exactly. That's why there's nothing to talk about."

A pause.

"Did something happen?"

She sighed, slightly moving about in her seat. "Why would you assume that?"

"You cut the date short. He didn't seem bad. Quite gentlemanly, if you ask me. He seem genuinely upset, though, that another guy had to come pick up his date while it was his duty to take her back safe and sound."

"Wow, sounds like you should date him then. I still have his number, you know."

He chuckled. "So you're alright?" He turned the wheel. They were turning into an exit.

"I am," she replied. "Nothing happened. I wasn't into it, that's all."

"Poor guy."

From the lighting on his profile, she couldn't tell if he were really feeling sorry for the guy or relieved. She didn't want to play that game.

She woke up two hours before her alarm went off. Turning to her left, she was glad to find him lying there by her side. His breathing was shallow. He looked peaceful when sleeping. She tenderly reached out a hand and touched his face. Letting her long finger trail down his cheek, over the subtle bump of his high cheekbone, she allowed herself a smile.

He was indeed a handsome man.

She made some coffee, poured herself some and let the rest brew in the pot. He should be up soon.

Glancing around with the warm mug safely cupped in her hands, she realized with a start that they had been living together for more than two years. Third year was approaching. Together, they had been living like a couple. They acted like a couple. They ate together. They shared household duties. They would occasionally go out to eat, on dates, to the theater. They would hold hands. They would kiss. They would make love.

But they never talked about their feelings. They never talked about what the future held. They never knew what exactly the other was feeling.

That was the pact they had made after bringing the Syndicate down. After all the members were put away for good. After Professor Agasa had been killed. After Ayumi and Mitsuhiko were caught in the explosion. After Kogoro Mori caught the bullet for his daughter and wife and died in their place. After Ran cursed Shinichi, slapped him more than once, eyes filled with tears and hatred, and swore to never see him again. After she moved away with her mother.

After Shinichi and Shiho realized they had no one left. Shinichi's parents wanted him to move to America but he declined. Japan was his home. That's when she moved in. She had no where to go. He had no company. Together, they promised to become friends with benefits to relieve them of their lonesome.

No strings attached.