Disclaimer: See chapter 5

Okay, I know I said that Chapter 6 was the last chapter, but… look, this is NOT a chapter. This is an Epilogue…

An Epilogue is kinda like the opposite of prologue. This tells you what happened AFTER the story. Alright? Okay. Now, that's settled, let the Epilogue commence!

EPILOGUE: Strings of the Next Generation

Nine months after chapter 6…

Shiho goes out of the operating room smiling, within her embrace she held a bloody baby boy in her hands. She walked towards Shinichi and showed him the baby.

Shiho was STILL wearing the necklace.

"Kudo-kun…" Shiho started in monotone while reaching out the baby. "…he looks like you."

Shinichi's smile grew into a hilariously huge grin when he saw the cute baby boy Shiho held.

"He's so cute…isn't he?" Shiho told him while smiling a little. "The operation was a success."

"Shiho-san… how's Ran?" Shinichi asked worriedly.

"Ran-san's fine." She assured him. "It was good that she wasn't allergic to the anesthesia, or, she could have been in pain. She's now sleeping inside the recovery room. You may see her after an hour, for now, just wait her outside."

Shinichi smiled at Shiho and asked. "Can…I can I carry him?"

Shiho's smile softened and said. "Sure. But, I should warn you, he's bloody. You might get stained."

"That's alright." Shinichi told her and took the baby into his arms.

The baby boy was smiling at him so very adorably.

"Hey, thanks for everything, Shiho-san…" Shinichi thanked.

"No problem." She answered. "We're friends, aren't we? And you helped me before; it's just the matter of give and take…"

Shinichi said to her. "Yeah, but are you sure that you won't charge us any amount of money for this surgery?! That's embarrassing!"

Shiho patted Shinichi's back and said. "Ran-san's my friend, too. No need to pay nay amount of money, the operation I did on her was for free, Kudo-kun. This necklace is enough payment."

Shinichi protested. "No! Shiho-san! That necklace didn't cost that much money!"

Shiho laughed at Shinichi's naivety and explained.

"I didn't mean the necklace… I meant the friendship you gave me… and when you stood by my side all those years back… as Conan… the times you protected me from Gin… all those years when you tried to understand me…"

Shinichi laughed and said. "Ah…" And laughed again, running out of words to say.

"Ah," Shinichi inserted. "But you know… you have changed a lot…"

Shiho smiled. "Well, I guess time heals the wounds…" Then, her face fell. "But… time can never erase the memories."

"I'm glad you are happy now, Shiho-san…" Shinichi told her. "So many things happened in our life… and now, we're not running away from fate anymore…"

Shiho nodded then asked. "What will you name your son, then? He looks a lot like you."

Shinichi grinned and asked. "What did you name your daughter, then?"

Shiho answered with surprise. "I never mentioned I have a child…did I? How did you know?"

Shinichi said with a smile. "That time…nine months ago… when we visited your clinic for the first time… I noticed a picture of you and another man…" He laughed. "…I think he must be Hakuba Saguru, ne? He's the British-Japanese detective in England, right?"

Shiho let out a short laugh and nodded. "Yes, he's my husband."

"…and in that photo…you were carrying a baby girl… it was obvious it was your child, Shiho."

Shiho laughed. "Actually, they're twins… one boy, one girl…"

"Whoa…" Shinichi gasped. "You mean Fraternal Twins… instead of identical twins?"

Shiho nodded. "Yeah, they're fraternal twins."

"You're lucky! Congratulations, Shiho-san!" Shinichi said in a jolly tone.

Shiho just grinned. "Thanks."

"What are their names?" Shinichi asked curiously.

"You might ridicule me…" Shiho said. "I rather not say."

"Oh…come on, Shiho-san! Tell me! I won't laugh, promise!" Shinichi begged chibi (small and cute anime) style.

Shiho sighed. "The boy's name is Hiroshi…"

Then, Shinichi started to laugh a little. "That's Agasa hakase's first name…"

"See…" Shiho frowned. "I knew you'd laugh…"

Trying to stop his laughter, Shinichi said. "Alright…alright…I'm sorry! What is the girl's name?"

Shiho looked at him with mistrusting eyes. "Do I really have to tell you…?"

Shinichi nodded continuously, his weird smile still plastered on his face.

"Okay…" Shiho sighed, surrendering. "It's Ai-chan."

Shinichi's eyes blinked twice, then, he started laughing hard again, clutching his stomach.

Shiho hit him hard on the head with her fists.

POINK!

"Aw…" Shinichi whimpered while massaging his bruised forehead. "What was that for?"

"You're in a hospital! Keep quiet!" She warned, pointing at the "silence" sign on the wall.

Shinichi took a step backward and stammered, scratching his head uneasily. "I'm sorry…"

"Ne, Kudo-kun…" Shiho asked, leaning close to him. "What will you name your little boy?"

Shinichi smiled. "Mochiron (of course) I'll name him just as baka (idiotic) as you did…"

"Huh?! Nani (What)…" Shiho didn't finish her sentence and Shinichi gave an answer.

"Since he looks a lot like me… then, he'll be named Conan." He grinned childishly.

This time, Shiho burst out in laughter again… and this was the second time Shinichi heard her melodious laughter since the day when they transformed back to their normal bodies. Her voice didn't change one bit. Her laughter was like an angel's laughter, so sweet and so delicate. Shinichi still remembered, now almost five years ago… when he admitted to Shiho that he was an idiot, and with that thought in mind, he couldn't help but smile again.

_ _ _ _ _

Ne (so…), what do you think minna (everyone)?! Comments will be MUCH appreciated!

Oh… just so you know, there will be a part two epilogue… so… don't leave just yet…

This is not yet the end… MWAHAHA! I sound SO evil…! Eh, no…? I DON'T sound evil? *sobs*

I'm getting addicted to this particular story… demo…I've got a LOT of other fics to finish… *sniffs* Ja, ne! *runs towards other stories to finish and starts typing* LOL

Started: 12:40 noon Tuesday December 30, 2008

Ended: 1:25 pm Tuesday December 30, 2008