Global Disclaimer: Disclaimed. © Gosho Aoyama.
Standard Notice: An Alternate Universe (AU) fic. No reference to the anime or manga.
Author's Note: My first try in writing a multi-chapter story about Shinichi and Shiho. This is dedicated to all readers that love this pairing like I do. Since this is an AU fic, expect the unexpected.

Reviews are highly appreciated. ^^

A person's life is really mysterious...

"Nii-san, we will stay together forever right?"

"Yeah, you're my little sister so nothing can separate us."

"Promise?"

"Of course! Your big brother will be always at your side to protect you!"

"I love you Shinichi-nii-san."

"Me too… Shiho-chan."

…sometimes, there are things we aren't supposed to know, yet we discover,

"Shinichi, they are Yuusaku and Yukiko Kudo."

He stared at the two figures in front of him. A tall man in his 30's, behind his rounded eyeglass was those twinkling cerulean eyes and a under his pointed nose was a thin line of moustache and beside him was a beautiful woman with curly brown hair and teary azure eyes.

"Uh, who are they, okaa-san?"

"Shinichi…" She started, in the verge of crying. "They are your real parents."

…there are also things we need to know, yet it takes a long time to accept it,

"Shiho-chan…"

"You promise that we will stay forever Nii-san!"

"I'm sorry, but my real parents… they are here to get me…"

". . . "

"Shiho-chan, listen to me, whatever happens, I'll still be your nii-san. We can still be together even if we're not really blood-related. I'll always visit you. It's a promise."

"Don't break your promises to me… Nii-san."

"Don't worry, I won't."

...and there are some things that we need to know, yet we never know.

"He already left the country, Shiho-chan."

"He… lied to me! He said we will stay together forever but… he… left me!"

"Shiho!"

"I hate him!"

…

Broken Strings of Fate

…

Chapter 1: Not a Coincidence
.

Reminisce. She stared at the photo that she hid at the innermost part of her wallet. A smiling nine years old boy with dark russet hair and cheerful cobalt eyes and sitting beside him was a happy eight years old girl with brownish blond hair and jovial light blue eyes that was resting her head on the boy's shoulder. Happy memories of the past flooded her head as she remembered their moments together – together when they still believe that they were siblings. Mortified, she heaved a sigh and closed her wallet.

'He didn't even say goodbye to me.'

Hate. She scrutinized her surroundings. Peaceful, calm and relaxing. The mere sight of the falling leaves of the cherry blossoms tree made her heart felt happy and sad at the same time. This was their favorite place when they were still kids, under the shade of their special cherry blossom tree. She leaned her back at the trunk of the tree, thinking that he was still beside her. She closed her eyes and felt the cool breeze of the summer air. He was not with her anymore but no matter how hard she wanted, she couldn't hate him for leaving her without a formal goodbye. It was like she would fool herself if she did. He, after all, became a great brotherly figure for her way back then.

Change. She must face the reality. She was already a seventeen years old teen with a simple and average life. Currently, she's a high school student, with friends that loved and accept her despite of her imperfections and enemies that hated her for whatever reasons.

Surprise. The feeling she hates the most. All her thoughts were cut when she felt someone's hands covered her eyes. Her heart beats rapidly – thinking that it was him.

'Nii-san…'

"Guess who?" a familiar voice challenged.

She was laughing inside her head for her silliness. He was in a faraway place yet she still hoped that someday, he might return. Pathetic.

"Kaito-kun." She answered lazily. The hands that were covering her eyes pulled away. She turned her gaze behind and saw a grinning seventeen years old teen with messy chocolate colored hair. His blazing deep blue eyes were looking intently at her.

Coincidence. She didn't know if fate was playing with her. The man that standing behind her – the way he look, the way he smile, the way he talk and the way he treat her – he was almost an identical figure of him.

"You really know me a lot Shiho." The male teen chirped happily as he made his way beside her and sat.

"Why are you here… again?" She asked quizzically. True, he always appeared whenever she was at that place. It was like he knew that she needed someone beside her, when she felt lonely and blue.

"Summer vacation will end soon. Is it wrong to be with my bestfriend in the remaining days of it?" Kaito pointed out. He rested his head to the trunk of the tree and stared at the tranquil sky. His lips formed a small smile. "No wonder that you're always at this place, it's so peaceful and relaxing."

"Yeah. I can't believe that you could actually say something nice." She replied sarcastically with a teasing smirk.

He took off his gaze from the magnificent view in the sky to glance at the girl beside her. He knew what she felt every time she went at this special place of hers – yearning for his return even though she always said that she hated him. Denial.

"I'm always nice you know." He started and winked at her. "That's why girls go crazy over me." He added conceitedly.

"Well, not me." She informed in disagreement.

Kaito frowned. "I know and that's a problem."

She shot him a questioning look. "Why?"

"Because I always wish that you'll be my future slave… Oops!" He covered his mouth and laughed comically. "I mean wife." He jested with a meaningful smile.

Shiho rolled her eyes. "Like that will happen."

"No one knew the future my bestfriend, you might really end up with me. Don't you like the idea? You will be lucky to have the hottest guy ever alive."

"Cocky bastard." She muttered.

"I heard that!"

"I don't care."

Kaito didn't answer for a while. He stared and examined his bestfriend. She is beautiful like a majestic star in the sky, with her alluring sapphire colored pools, pointed nose and marvelous light-tinted scarlet lips. In their five years of being bestfriends, he already knew most of the things about her, especially about this brother of hers. He knew how much she loved and cared for that guy – and he didn't like that fact.

"Kaito… is there something on my face?" Shiho asked as she noticed him staring at her for a long time.

"You're beautiful, that's it." Kaito remarked unconsciously. Shiho puckered her lips and narrowed her eyes on him.

"I know that. It's a general truth." She replied derisively and crossed her arms in her chest.

Kaito laughed merrily. "Well, for me you're really gorgeous." He twisted his body so he was now facing her side. "So… do you think we already fit each other?" He added excitedly.

Shiho sighed inwardly. "Kaito… sometimes I think that you're not joking anymore."

"What if I'm really not joking anymore?" He stated with outmost seriousness. Shiho turned her head and stared at him, her mouth opened, gaping at him.

Kaito observed her expression. She was shocked. Feeling of guilt traveled inside of him. She shooed all his thoughts away. He grinned and hollered. "Gotcha!"

Shiho punched him playfully at his chest. "That was a sick joke, Kaito."

"Why? Everything can happen! Don't you like me to be your future partner?" He demanded.

"You're my bestfriend Kaito that will never happen."

"Is it forbidden to fall in love with your bestfriend?"

"Why? Are you in love with me?"

Kaito stood up, inserted his hands inside his pocket and inhaled the fresh scent of air. She stooped and moved his face closer to her. "No idea. But anything can happen, my dear bestfriend." He stood straight and stretched his hands. "So, how about you treat me for lunch?"

"Look who's talking." Shiho also stood up and faced the brown haired teen. "Let's go."

They started walking and Kaito started to blabber some things again. She didn't pay attention to what he was saying; instead, she stared at his face with a small smile.

She always thanked God for giving her someone like him.

…

"Tadaima." Shiho entered the door of their house expecting her mother to greet her. But it didn't happen. Wondering, she looked around their house; it was still the same. She walked inside and looked for her mother in the kitchen. Unfortunately, she was not there. Few moments later, she heard someone cough. Worried, she dashed to the place where the coughing came from – to her mother's bedroom.

"Okaa-san!" She called as she entered the said room. There she saw her mother, lying on the bed, looking miserable. The old woman was covering her mouth to suppress her coughing. Shiho immediately ran to the bed and kneeled, holding her mother's hand. Her eyes gazed to her mother's weak orbs. Feeling of worry and fear ran through her body.

"D-don't worry Shiho-chan," The old woman said between coughs. "Okaa-san is fine."

"You're not fine, okaa-san! I'll call a doctor now. Wait here." Shiho stated in concerned tone. She was about to stand up but her mother grip her hand tightly.

"Don't. I'm okay, rest is all I need." Her mother pleaded. "I promise, tomorrow, I will be alright."

Shiho shot her mother a playful glare. "Don't promise anything Okaa-san, if you didn't get any better tomorrow, I'll send you to the hospital." She said in commanding tone.

Her mother managed to laugh between coughs. She knew that her daughter hate promises because she believed that it's just meant to be broken. "Hai, little princess. I will."

Shiho sat at the edge of the bed and began stroking her mother's hair. Her beloved mother was sick and she didn't know what to do. She always refused to go to the hospital because of hospital bills. They were not rich enough to afford the fees in the hospitals so taking care of her was the least she could do.

…

"I hope you can run past Shiho-chan because I'm going to get you!"

"Oh really, let me see you try, Nii-san!"

Laughter filled the surrounding as the two children tried to chase each other.

"Caught you!" The nine years old kid howled as he embraced the eight years old sister from behind. The little girl continued to laugh merrily as her brother embraced her fragile body tightly.

"Nii-san, I believe you can let me go now."

"Your body, it's warm. I feel comfortable. Can we stay like this for a while?" The little boy pleaded innocently and rested his chin on her shoulder.

A soft chuckle escaped the little girl's mouth. "Sure."

"I'm so happy to be with you Shiho-chan. I don't want to be separated with you."

"Silly Nii-san. We will stay together, forever right?"

…

Her eyes snapped open from her deep slumber. She stared at the ceiling, feeling lightheaded. The last two words from her dream echoed clearly inside her head.

"Forever huh? Such a meaningless word." She mumbled under her breath. She sat up and realized that she fell asleep at her mother's room. She glanced beside her and saw that her mother was not beside her anymore. Feeling anxious, she immediately stood up and searched for her mother.

She saw her outside, sweeping the dead leaves in their mini garden. Her mother caught a glimpse of her and flashed a smile of assurance.

Shiho sighed in relief. Her mother's face looked better now than yesterday. She watched her mother continued sweeping the ground. With a final glance at her mother, she entered their house to do her daily routine.

When the old woman was sure that Shiho was totally inside the house, she began to cough again. She immediately took a handkerchief out of her pocket and covered it to her mouth.

Her sight was spinning and used the long broomstick to remained standing. She breathes rapidly and squint her eyes repeatedly like she's trying to remain conscious. After few minutes, she stared at the handkerchief in her hand. She almost broke in tears. In the white cloth in her hand were traces of red substance.

"Please don't take me away from Shiho too." She muttered weakly. "She still needs me." She stared at the sky, tears forming in the side of her eyes.

…

Shiho made sure that her mother ate properly and took her medicine before leaving the house. Only the two of them are left to take care of each other. She didn't want to leave her mother alone, but it seems like it became her habit to spend some time in her favorite place.

She was on her way to her beloved cherry blossom tree when she saw someone standing in front it. Examining at the back of the figure, it had a dark russet hair and wearing a blue blazer. She narrowed her eyes and stomped her way to closer to it. Judging from the built and hair color of the figure, she assumed that it was her bestfriend.

"Kaito, why are you here again?" She asked to the figure icily. She saw the figure shivered a little before turning around smoothly.

Her light sapphire eyes met his cool cobalt one. Her eyes widen and she could feel familiar electricity flowed in her body.

The figure smiled sadly at her. "Shiho-chan, is that you?" the figure asked, his voice caused butterflies in her stomach and her heart to beat rapidly.

'Those sad blue eyes, somehow charming and yet so mature...'

-TBC-

End of Chapter 1