CHAPTER 2

Shinichi remembered him.

He had met him once when he was Conan, and he wasn't too bad as a detective. But he was far from reaching his or Heiji's standards, he thought with a sort of superior pride. Hakuba smiled pleasantly at him, and his eyes drifted to Shiho. He smiled at her, which she did not return.

" Who are you?" he asked. " Are you new?"

" Yes." She said flatly. There was one thing that she hated, and that was playboys. This man had it all over his face, and she noticed several girls glaring at her with jealousy.

The teacher entered the class and they returned to their seats. Except for Shinichi and Shiho. Shinichi was welcomed back with huge applause. He was indeed famous in this school, Shiho thought in amusement as she noticed several girls peering from the window to get a glimpse of him.

Shiho was introduced with winks by guys and several whispers of the girls. She blinked. The reaction was totally different from University. She got glares and was ignored there. Looks like life was about to change. Shinichi was seated near Yoko and his friends and Shiho was given a seat near Hakuba.

Furious but having nothing to say, Shinichi kept quiet, and got to his seat.

She got to her seat, smiling at some girls who had welcomed her as she passed, but got ominous glares from some apparent Hakuba fanclub.

" Welcome," Hakuba said, winking at her.

She gave him a brief smile and put down her bag.

This was a lot different from Primary school.

-----------------------

Shiho got along rather nicely with the classmates. Although she was overall very cold to most of them and gave them sarcastic comments when they asked about her past, most of them liked and admired her cool character and she made quite a few friends. But finally, it was time to go, and Shiho and Shinichi packed their things and got ready to return home.

They had just reached the front gate when they noticed Hakuba walked home alone, a pet eagle on his shoulder. Shinichi raised his eyebrows as he saw Shiho smile. " Isn't that an eagle?" she asked.

" More like a pigeon." He said flatly.

Hakuba noticed them and turned around.

" Hey," he said.

" Hey," Shiho said, with a rare smile on her face. " Is that an eagle? It's really majestic."

" Thanks." He said. " Name's Watson."

Shiho had always been fond of animals since young. She didn't seem much of it, but she adored them. Even Gin noticed her care for them and on her birthday as the first year to be in the Organization, he bought her a pet mouse. It was nothing much. In fact, he hadn't bought, and merely found it wriggling in Vodka's shirt. It wasn't much. But she kept it.

" Watson?" she asked, eyebrows raised. " And what are you, Holmes?"

" I agree that I am up to standards." He said proudly.

Shinichi pretended to vomit.

" Are you free today?" he asked, ignoring Shinichi completely.

Shiho bit her lip.

" Sorry," she said. " I'm not."

He raised his eyebrows before smiling at her and walking off.

" What the HELL was that?" he hissed to her, jabbing her in the ribs.

" What the Hell was what?" she asked, rubbing her painful ribs.

" THAT!" he hissed again, poking her in the ribs again.

" You jabbing me to my death?" she asked angrily, taking a step away from him.

" Since when did you like to flirt with guys? I thought you said you hated playboys!"

" Flirt?" she hissed, face flushed. " That was flirting? Saying no to a date was FLIRTING? Then what's accepting it? Rejection?"

" No," he said hesitantly.

" Then?" she asked.

He wanted to say something smart like he always did. He usually lost their arguments because she was so good at agrumenting, but he always lost slightly. All of a sudden he wanted to say he loved her. Say---he---loved her.

He loved her---?

" Well?" she asked, hands on her hips, ready to spite back a comeback.

He hung his head.

" Let's just get back." She said, rolling her eyes.

He watched her back. Why did he think that? Was he really falling in love with her? He shook himself lightly before running after her.

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Gin was sick of the jail food.

He glared down at the pile of rubbish before him.

Vodka sat down next to him, yawning.

" 'Morning, boss." He said.

" Yeah." Gin said, drawing a spoon through what seemed like gasoline fluid. He had been stuck in here for God knows how long. And he wanted to get out. He wanted to get out. He took a sip of it and coughed.

" God in Heaven! What's this?"

" That's the soup, sir." Vodka said, peering into his plate. " They change it weekly. If we're lucky, I think I can tip the cook to get us mushroom soup or something."

" Forget it." Gin said.

He looked around. More than a quarter of the people in the Black Organization had already been prosecuted or acclaimed to life imprisonment, and he was sure that sooner or later it would be his or Vodka's turn. He needed to get out. All he needed was a helper. Fast.

Vodka stared at him.

" What?" he asked.

-----------------------

Dinner was quiet.

The professor made put in extra effort into the food, but it still couldn't compare to Ran's specially cooked tempura. The professor looked like he had a lot on his mind, as he ate, cleaned his dishes and headed to his room.

Shiho watched Shinichi eat quietly, looking down at his bowl.

She smiled softly.

" You still miss her, don't you?" she whispered.

He looked up, shocked.

" Who?" he asked.

She didn't say anything, but stare at him with that usual cold glare of hers, her chopsticks still in her hand.

He sighed and dropped his chopsticks.

" Yeah." He whispered. " For every second of my life."

For once that cool mask broke off from her face, revealing a genuinely concerned Shiho. She had been trained, taught, tortured, to not let emotions escape her. And for once she was going to break that rule.

" Hey Kudo," she started.

He rubbed his eyes.

" I'm fine." He said. " I'm fine."

The way he said it reminded herself so forcefully of herself that her eyes widened. She got up from the table softly and walked over to him. He was still looking down, not noticing her presence. She lifted out her hand to touch him, but thought again. She regained her composure once again.

" Get some sleep Kudo," she said coolly, looking away.

He sat there for God knows how long, and only decided to sleep as he saw through the mirror Shiho's room's light flicker off.

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The next day was dark and gloomy. Just fit for Shiho's mood. She dearly hoped that Shinichi's mood had brightened up or else she would have to cook for him again. The Professor had a special roster for them, and today was Shinichi's turn to cook. As the Professor usually took over when Shiho was feeling gloomy, she guessed she should once in a while.

But she got a huge surprise to hear singing as she opened the door to her room. It was extremely bad and all she wanted to do was to slam the door shut and cover her ears with her pillow. But the voice sounded familiar---and it sounded happy. She walked onwards towards the noise and saw Shinichi flipping pancakes. His back was facing hers, but she knew that he was smiling.

She smiled amusingly.

" Careful with those pipes, Kudo." She said. " Or you'll break the porcelain."

He yelped and turned around.

" Haibara!" he said.

" Shiho now," she said warningly, and sat down. There was a huge pile of pancakes in front of her and she raised her eyebrows.

" Wow---you've been busy." She said.

" Yeah," he said sheepishly, flipping another pancake. " It's something I learnt from Ran." She raised her eyebrows at him when he said her name without a flicker of hesitation. " When you have something troubling you, do the think you love the best. I can't solve a mystery at the moment, so---,"

He grinned at Shiho.

" I'll just cook!" he said happily.

Shiho smirked.

" But are you good?" she asked, cutting off a slice from the pancake and popping it into her mouth. He watched her closely; from the moment she cut the piece of pancake to the moment she put it in her mouth to the moment she chewed to the moment she swallowed.

She smirked at him.

" It isn't that bad," she said, and his face lit up like a Christmas tree. " But it's far from anything else I tasted."

He raised his eyebrows at her.

" Oh yeah? Why don't you give it a try?"

She hesitated for a moment before getting to a feet, smirking once again. " Alright," she said. " But I'll be making something that exceeds your cooking intellect."

" Like what?" he asked. "Waffles."

" Yes," she said, rolling her eyes sarcastically. " They're almost worlds apart."

He grumbled under his breath before heading to his room to change.

" Oh yeah, Kudo?" she called out to him.

He turned, expecting another insult thrown at him.

But instead she smiled.

" It's great to have you back."

He blushed, and grinned back, before running into his room. He closed the door behind him. It was a public holiday today, and he sure was not going to pass off his opportunity. He didn't know what he was passing, but he had this sudden urge to ask Shiho out.

He hadn't had this urge in a long time now, and that was years ago when he had wanted to go with Ran to the latest opening to the amusement park. But that was Ran, who was a much less sarcastic and dark person. Ran was a girl who liked going out as long as she had the chance, and for Haibara, Conan had to practically drag her away from her computer.

He had taken much longer than he ordinarily would, and came out to find that the Professor had already reached the table, and was shoveling himself with food. He saw Shinichi and gave him a wave.

" Why did you take so long in there?" she asked, smirking. " Allowing me to have more time to make my dish look more appetizing?"

He frowned at her before sitting down.

" You made Takoyaki?" he asked.

" Yes," she said simply, sitting herself down.

" How is it?" he asked the Professor.

" I'll tell you after I get the delicious fabulous taste out of my mouth." He said.

" Why, thank you." Shiho and Shinichi said at the same time.

They looked at each other.

" Who are you implying to?" Shinichi asked, eyebrows raised.

" Er---ah," the Professor stammered, but said nothing else.

Shinichi raised his eyebrows at him another time before looking at Shiho. She had a magazine in one hand, and was eating slowly, clearing not caring anymore about the subject. He blushed and looked down.

" Hey, Shiho---," he said.

She looked up.

" Are you doing anything today?'

She shrugged.

" Nothing much. I'm going to be on my computer I guess."

His eyes widened.

" Again? What for? Aren't we back to our original state already?" he asked. " What else are you searching for?"

She shrugged.

" Just random stuff. I dunno. Why?"

" I---er---," Shinichi stammered, blushing. What was wrong with him today? He wasn't acting like his usual fast talking self at all.

The Professor gave a cough and drew from the table.

" If anybody needs me, I'll be in the lab." He said.

Shiho raised her eyebrows.

" Well?" she asked. " There's no crime to it, is there?"

He blushed.

" Shiho---will you go out with me today?"

Her face reddened ever so slightly but she regained her composure almost immediately, meeting his offer with a cool smirk. " Sorry, Kudo. I already told you I don't date playboys."

He flushed an angry red.

" A---a what? But---But I don't---,"

He stopped when he found out she was laughing. He smiled softly and sat down. He had never heard her laugh before, and it was almost like music to his ears.

She stopped soon enough.

" Just kidding," she said, smiling. Then she bit her lip. " I---I---I've just never been on a date before." She ended, blushing.

" What are you talking about?" he asked, shocked by the news. " Haven't we been out together to look for news about Gin and the others?"

" Yes, Kudo." She said sarcastically. " SO romantic."

He didn't' say anything for a while.

Then he grinned.

" So why don't you?" he said.

" What?"

" Come out with me. Better than staying at your computer all day long."

She bit her lip and looked sideways.

" Kudo---," she said.

" Come on," he said, grinning.

She seemed to consider for a moment, and then smirked.

" Okay then," she said. " But you have to do something for me."

" What?" he asked uneasily.

" It's going to be simple this time," she said, noticing his breath a sigh of relief at her words. " All you have to do is to get my three diskettes from downstairs and bring them up while I change. But NO peaking at my research, got it?"

" Yeah," he said, relieved. " Okay."

But why was she so secretive about her research? What else could she be looking up besides APTX 4869? Before he knew it he was downstairs at the computer. He gulped. Why did she have to say that? She knew that that sentence always made people want to see it even more----

He rubbed his chin.

Wait a minute. He knew that girls usually took slightly longer than males to change, roughly at about 20 minutes, which gave him some time. Taking a quick look around him to make sure there was nobody around before switching on the computer. It took a short time to load, as Shiho downloaded quite a lot of Internet Speed-Up Wizards, and it reached the screen in seconds.

Gulping and taking another look behind him, he went into Internet files and searched the History.

There were three image blogs. One had almost every member of the Black Organization's face on it, followed by a profile and the place they were at. Most had the word JAIL or DEAD on it, but a few had the word ESCAPED. He sighed and opened the other blog. There were all of her sister and her, laughing and smiling. He smiled softly.

Typical Shiho.

To keep everything bottled up inside.

He opened up the final one somewhat restlessly, and his eyes widened at what he saw. There were pictures of her and the detective boys and him at various places. He smiled. To think that Haibara would keep something as this. Looks like she wasn't so stone-cold after all.

He opened up Windows Microsoft Word somewhat guiltily. There was a lot of files in there, and she had been at it for quite some time now. It was ever since the first time she came here, he realized, opening the first one. The date was the name of the document.

(I have moved into a new household and met Kudo Shinichi, the young man that sister was talking about. Isn't as bad as one would think of, I half thought he was some sort of nerd. Fantastic actor I have to say, being able to outwit some bimbo within seconds. Professor Agasha is a fantastic, kind person. I thank him dearly for taking me in.)

He smiled inwardly and opened several others, and his eyes opened at a certain one.

(Went to the beach with Kudo and the Professor. I do not like to go on outings much, but as Kudo insisted me continuously, I agreed. Met Ran for the first time on the beach, and I don't know how I can suppress my hatred for her. I do not know why. I am not one who has many feelings, but that is just one that it is. I also found out one of a newfound deadly secret.)

His eyes widened as he read the next sentence.

(I think I am beginning to fall for Kudo Shinichi)

Shinichi stared at the screen.

Shiho---was in love with him?

He opened another.

(Kudo Shinichi solved another case today, and I cannot suppress my admiration for his brilliance of solving mysteries. Hoping to curb my feelings for him. I know that I am a person with few friends and a lot of enemies, and I cannot allow him to get hurt in any way.)

He opened one after another, and before he knew it, he had reached a full stop.

(I have given up on him. He told me his feelings for Ran. I must say it grieved me badly, but it did help me in one thing. My feelings for Kudo Shinichi are no more.) And that was three years ago. The few days just before the two of them had a quarrel about Ran. His eyes filled with unknowing tears. She had been loving him secretly for years, and it took her five to get over him.

Why was he so stupid as not to realize? But then again, Haibara always wore a mask wherever she went. Everywhere. He wiped his tears. He knew that she would be getting ready any minute now, and he had been banned to read this. Now he knew why. He prepared to greet her with his usual charming smile, grabbed the discs and ran up the stairs.

----------------------

Shiho got dressed finally, and walked out, only to find Shinichi sprawled on a couch, reading a book. She smirked slightly.

" Did I take long?" she asked.

His eyes widened. She had merely worn a white no-sleeved blouse with a mini skirt, but she looked gorgeous. " Yeah, quite," he said, grinning cheekily. " But it was all worth it."

She raised her eyebrows.

" Where did you get that? From some cheesy romance movie?"

" Days Of Our Lives episode 4567," he said, grinning. " Eri and Ran made me watch it with them."

" Eh," she said, grinning. " Never thought they were Soap Opera nuts."

He smiled as he watched her walk out the door first. His smile faded as the computer incident entered his mind. What was she thinking behind that cool smirk plastered on her face? He mentally shook himself. Come on. You're supposed to have fun. He grinned at her.

" What movie do you want to watch?" he asked.

She looked puzzled.

" Movie?" she asked.

" Yeah," he grinned. " As in---a theater?"

She glared at him. " I didn't mean that, I just---,"

" Yeah," he grinned. " I know."

All in all, the day went along rather smoothly. They watched Ocean's Eleven which even Shiho commented to be rather extraordinary. For one of the very few times in all those years of him knowing her, he hadn't heard a sarcastic comment from her all day, and she finally was acting like a regular 17 year old.

And he didn't know how many God knows times he blushed every time she looked at him.

He had been in a somewhat painful decision from his feelings for Ran to his new feelings for Shiho.

" Well, goodnight," she said, smiling at him as they entered the house. It was nearly past midnight, and it was almost definite that the Professor was already asleep.

" Shiho." He whispered.

She stopped and turned, and he jumped.

" Yeah, that's my name." She said amusingly.

" You heard me?" he said, amazed.

" Yeah, you said it out loud." She said, grinning.

But at the look on his face, her smile faded.

" What's wrong?" she asked. " Are you okay?"

He had never heard her speak to him in that tone of voice before, an his blush reddened and looked up and almost screamed when he found out that they were barely noses apart.

" Shiho, I---," he started.

She didn't say anything.

" I love you."

Her eyes widened in shock, and was about to say something when she felt Shinichi's lips press against hers. A sudden rush of emotions flooded him as he pressed his lips on hers, cupping her cheek and pushing her into the kiss. She should be furious, she thought to herself. But anger swept away from her and wrapped her arms around his neck and accepted his kiss.

Bolder now, his hands drifted to her waist, placing it there, pulling her closer to his. Gasping into the kiss, she tripped slightly and fell, her hands placed on his chest. He opened his mouth slightly to prod at her firmly shut lips, feeling her trembling lips open to allow him to gain access and he dashed in, licking her, tasting the sweet taste of her mouth.

She whimpered out loud and clung dearly onto him, feeling extremely weak in the knees all of a sudden. His lips left hers, and pressed them against her neck, nibbling on it slightly. She whimpered softly, biting her lower lip.

Suddenly Gin came into her mind.

She gasped and pushed him away, hearing him stumble backwards.

He was breathing hard. She was breathing hard, but she got hold of herself in time.

" Shiho," he whispered her name, looking up at her.

She said nothing.

" I love you, Shiho. Don't you love me back?" he asked.

" I---," she started, and for once Shinichi saw the true side of her. She was trembling from head to toe, her hands clutching on her dress, " I---I don't."

His eyes widened.

" Shiho," he stated out, taking a step towards her.

She took a step backwards.

" Are you afraid that I'd get hurt by the Organization?" he asked and he saw her bite her lip. " Shiho." He went on, taking another step closer. " I love you. I don't give a damn about them. They're in jail. And even if they weren't I still wouldn't care. I love you more than I ever did for Ran."

His expression softened.

" And you know that."

She almost gave in. A sudden rush of feelings flooded her, and would have accepted him when she bit her lip and looked away. " I don't, Kudo." She whispered. " I never did in the first place."

His eyes widened.

" But you said so!" he insisted. " In the---,"

Then he mentally cursed himself, stopping in time.

But she knew.

Her eyes turned from confusion to realization to anger.

She was angry.

For a long time now, she was angry.

" Kudo," she whispered. " I TOLD you, NOT to look at my PERSONAL things,"

" Shiho, I---" he said meekly.

" I trusted you, Kudo!" she yelled out, tears forming in her eyes. His eyes widened and he took a step backwards.

" I trusted you, and what the Hell do you do? You take advantage of that!! Why, Kudo? Why???"

" Shiho! I!"

She whipped her hand across his face and he fell back a few steps.

" I hate you, Kudo Shinichi!" she whispered. " I hate you."

And she ran to her room and slammed the door.

He stood there.

" Shiho," he whispered.

END OF CHAPTER 2

Okay, forgive me. I used the whole fight scene again. I don't know why, I HAD to put it in my story! I wrote another story called ' Sherlock's message'. Another Haibara/Conan story. Please read and review both of my stories!!! Thank you!!!