Chapter 1

By Crystal Snowflakes

Author's Notes: Yay! I've decided that this is not going to be a one-shot... And I'm so surprised that I had so many reviews... Thank you all! This should be a Conan/Ai, Shinichi/Shiho. Not for sure yet.

Disclaimers: Detective Conan does not belong to me.


Twelve year old Edogawa Conan sneezed as he wrapped the thick blankets around himself.

"Seriously Kudo-kun. I've been gone for only a day and you're sick." Ai disciplined the young man softly, amusement sparkling on the surface.

Someone standing behind her sniggered, "Yeah squirt. Your girlfriend was only gone for a day..."

Conan shot a glare at the man, "Shut up Kuroba." He sneezed again, causing both his friends to chuckled again at his expense. "For the last time, stop calling me a squirt! I'm just as old as you are."

"I know you are. It's fun teasing you though." Kaito glanced at the young scientist, "It's even better teasing you about Ai."

At that comment, the young girl shot him a look, clearly saying I-am-not-participating-in-this-childish-debate. "I'm going to go see if Agasa has anything he wants me to pick up for him at the store." She turned around and walked away.

The magician whistled, "You'd figure that after six years, she'd be less of a pain about everything."

Conan snorted, "She simply doesn't like you."

"So how are you guys?" He asked, his eyes shining with amusement and curiosity. "It's been years! What are you waiting for Shinichi?"

The young boy snuggled into his blankets, "I don't want to think about a relationship right now, especially when we're still stuck as kids..."

"Is it really that? Or do you still miss someone?"

The boy scowled, "None of your business."

"Tell me."

He sighed resignedly, knowing he'd tell him sooner or later. "Well, It's not that I think of Ran like that anymore... But I feel as if I really lied to her and betrayed her. I mean... After everything's she's done for me..."

Kaito snorted, "You did lie and betray her."

Another scowl, "Shut up Kuroba." He frowned, "What are you doing here anyways?"

"Saw your girlfriend on the way and decided to tag along..."

"She's not my girlfriend."

Kaito rolled his eyes, "Fine. Your best friend that is inseparable from you that you will soon ask out so that she will be your future girlfriend. Happy?"

"How's your girlfriend?" The young 'man' asked, changing the topic.

The famous performer snorted, "Same as usual. She's still chasing me around with a bloody mop half the time."

Conan chuckled, "I can't believe you guys still haven't married yet."

He shrugged, "I'm still surprised she hasn't sent me to jail yet. Maybe I'll marry her later, I've got something to do still, and you know that I'm not going to stop."

"I know." The boy replied as another sneeze attempted to escape from his mouth. "I have yet to get rid of them for this life that I have." He sighed softly, "It's really not so bad these days, but I can't help but wonder what would happen to me if I never followed them that night..." He chuckled softly as another thought came to his mind, "I can't believe Hattori's getting married first."

Kaito chuckled as he patted the kid's head. "It's Heiji-niichan for you." He teased. "But yeah, I know what you mean... I always thought you'd get married first."

Conan nodded, "Same... Funny, cause I'm the only one with no one..."

A silence filled the room temporarily.

Kaito glanced at the boy, "So have you seen her lately? How is she?"

"Engaged." He replied curtly, "I saw her once on the street after school just for a little while. She said things I expected her to say... Something along the lines that I look very much like my so-called-cousin Kudo Shinichi." He made a disgusted sound at the back of his throat, "Then she asked me to go to her wedding... I still haven't decided on whether to go or not."

"Why? You have Ai now... It shouldn't make a difference."

"I know." Conan replied, "I don't love Ran the way I used to... It's more of a brotherly love now... But still, I wanted to tell her what happened. I just wanted her to know... It's really the least I can do, after so many years of pain I've caused..."

"What if she wants you back?" Kaito asked suddenly. "What will happen to Ai then? Will you toss away the woman you have vowed to protect hastily or will you let the woman that you've loved for the majority of your life go away?"

The young boy stared at his look-alike figure. Then he looked down at his feet. "I don't know."

Unbeknown to the both of them, a shadow disappeared as their conversation came to an end.


"I still can't believe I'm off to Osaka for Hattori's wedding." Kaito grumbled.

"He didn't force you to go." Conan snorted, "Stop being such a whiner."

The magician shot his young friend a glare, "I don't mind going, it's just that I'm going to be alone."

Conan and Ai raised their eyebrows. "Alone?"

"Well... with decent company." He grinned downwards at them. "You guys are kids."

"I swear Kuroba. One more joke about me being a kid and I will seriously consider strangling you." The young detective hissed quietly.

Kaito chuckled again, "You can't even reach my neck with those short arms of yours!"

Growling, Conan gave him a swift kick in the shins. "Next time, you won't be so lucky. I'll get a kickable object and you get to have a taste of my shoes on full."

The playful man raised his hands in defense. "All right, all right. No kid jokes."

Conan gave a satisfied grin as Ai rolled her eyes at the two's childish antics.


"Kudo!" Heiji grinned as he weaved through crowds of people. "Kuroba! Haibara!" He ruffled Conan's hair and gave a light punch to his older friend, "Where's your girlfriend?" He winked at the younger two as the older one started flushing red.

"She's—"

"Shinichi!" A girl's voice shouted in surprise. When they saw her approach, they glanced at each other.

Heiji gave an uneasy smile, "I forgot to tell you, Ran was coming too. But I guess you figured that out."

"Thanks Hattori." Conan gritted out sarcastically.

Ran approached the four of them, "Conan-kun! You're here too. And you too Ai-chan!" She looked up at the famous detective-look-alike. "I'm surprised you're here though... Shinichi."

Kaito's eyes widened just barely, then glanced at Conan from the corner of his eyes.

The young detective, knowing what had just happened, turned around, "Shinichi-niichan promised Heiji-niichan he'd come. And obasan made Shinichi-niichan bring me!" He smiled up at his 'cousin' childishly. "Right Shinichi-niichan?"

The magician, understanding immediately, nodded at Ran. "Yeah..." He scratched his head in a very Shinichi-like manner, his voice immediately different. "Okaachan made me bring the squirt." He patted the young boy's head affectionately.

"I see..." She smiled, "So... I heard something about girlfriends." Ran said, her eyes darkened slightly, but noticed by all. "Who's your girlfriend? Is she here?" She looked straight at Kaito.

Heiji, who had asked Kaito about Aoko, sniggered softly.

Kaito on the other hand, instead of stuttering like a fool, started blushing again. "Well..." He glanced at the two 'children' next to him, and then looked back at Heiji. His eyes flickered with playfulness. He cleared his throat, "Her name's Miyano Shiho..."

At this, Conan had shot him a look that could murder and Ai raised her eyebrow calmly, her eyes turning darker than usual.

"...She's not here today." He continued, "She's in America taking care of things..."

Ran nodded, "I see... Is she nice to you, Conan-kun?"

Grinning immaturely again, Conan nodded, "Shiho-neechan is so nice! She always buys me toys!"

"That's good! So Conan-kun, what about you, where's your little girlfriend? Ayumi-chan?"

At this, both Heiji and Kaito started chuckling.

Conan flushed red, "Shut up." He hissed.

Kaito shook his head, "Twerp here doesn't like Ayumi-chan. He likes Ai, right Conan-kun?"

A smile formed on her lips, "Ai-chan? Conan-kun? That's so cute!" She laughed softly, "How about this Conan-kun... I'll bring you to my fiancé!"

The laughter on their faces disappeared.

The four-eyed detective nodded, somewhat solemnly, "Okay, Ran-neechan."

She smiled and was about to bend down to grab her little 'brother''s hand for old time's sake when he shrank away from her. Her smile faded away. "...Conan-kun?" Both Heiji and Kaito looked ill at ease now.

The young man shook his head, "I'll hold Ai-chan's hand, Ran-neechan." Without permission, he grabbed onto the reddish blonde's hand.

Ran nodded, "Well, come on then!"

Conan dragged Ai along, behind Kaito and Heiji who were following Ran. Ai raised her eyebrow, "You owe me for this, Kudo-kun."

He glanced back at the girl, "I'll owe you anything if I can stay alive tonight without her getting suspicious about anything." He groaned softly, "I can't believe Kuroba made Shiho Shinichi's girlfriend!" He almost smacked his head in frustration.

"What? Is she not good enough for you?" She asked.

Conan scowled.

"Just teasing. Loosen up, Kudo-kun."

He rolled his eyes. "Look who's talking, Ai." He glanced at the two adults in front of them, "I'm sure they're both out to get me tonight."

Ai shrugged, "Not my problem."

"Ai..." He whined childishly. "Help."

The corner of her lips quirked up slightly as her eyes brightened considerably, "I like to see you suffer."

"You're a horrible friend."

Her lips curved upwards even more, "I know."


Author's Notes: Hope you guys enjoyed that! Review:) Thanks for the support! It's a little short, by the way :P

-Crystal Snowflakes

Sunday, February 20, 2005