Being Second

Part 2

by SoulsFire (PulsingSoul)

Thanks for the reviews, and don´t forget to leave me new ones! Yep, the fic is based on a case of the manga, I watched the anime that day with that exact episode. Anyway, to answer Sn Galatea 1987 A- yes, Gin was walking alone in the woods, at night, near their camp...

don´t worry I´ll explain later. On with the story!

His cases ... I will always be second to your cases.

Those words seemed to haunt him, they seemed destined to torment him, and what was worse, he could not help to think that to some extent she had been right.

A year had passed, and he had never seen Ran since, and what impressed him was that he did not seem to suffer like he thought he would. It was like he knew that his love for her was a part of him, it was the first idealistic love, and it would always be there.

It was like a pyramid. Somewhere, a stone was keeping a level in place, and that stone, was her love. But then you progress, you move forward, and even though that stone never moves, you leave it behind, the feelings go back, and they will remain only there, in that one, lonely stone.

He was alright. He strangely, was more than alright. He became one of the best FBI agents there were, solved cases no one even dared to go near, and he did not crumble, he did not even have the feeling he ,could" crumble.

Only that one sentence kept haunting him.

will always be second to your cases. "

It was true, he was a workaholic, many of his colleagues told him so, but he loved it. Not the killing, but the fact that he made a difference. The fact, that while he was still alive, at least some lies would not be told, and if they were told, he would damn well make sure no one would fall for them. And besides he loved the chase, he was something like a hunter, a mystery the prey.

It was who he was. He had priorities, he could pinpoint them, but once you ask someone to dedicate his life to you, do you expect for that someone to stop being who he was, just to be with you?

Was the love of the detective Shinichi Kudo, not the same love, he would have given her, had he been only Shinichi Kudo?

, Shinichi . " He looked up, his eyes falling onto one of his colleagues, Chris Malone. As head of the investigation group in the FBI everyone knew him, and Chris was one of the few agents who were with Shinichi from day one, both becoming great friends in time. Of course, this gave Chris some advantages, like the fact that he could rush into his office at any time, not caring about the secretary which always said ,you need an appointment " .

,Yes Chris? " His voice was calm, nothing indicating how tired he really felt. Sure he loved his job, but there were no such things as stable working hours.

,The scientist I told you about is here to meet you. And man,

did I ever tell you how lucky you are? "

Shinichi could n´t help but think that something was wrong. Chris was a very good detective and nothing else but a truly gorgeous woman could make him loose his cool, the fact that he was looking like a drooling idiot now, somehow made Shinichi wonder.

,Send her in." He told Chris, turning around in his chair, looking outside. The Sacramento was glittering in the hot burning sun of San Francisco. These were days he really wished he would not have to dress in a suit.

,Detective Kudo. " A startling familiar voice suddenly said, making him turn around, his lips instantly curving into a smile once he recognized just who exactly had entered his office.

She was more stunning than the last time he had seen her, her hair a little bit longer, but still the same unusual strawberry-blond color, her white tight silk blouse contrasting to the dark purple of her knee-length shirt. She still had a figure a model would be envious of, and again he found himself yearning to touch the skin which was visible . . . so soft and creamy.

She smiled at him, his interest in her still clear, and she could n´t help but think that the year which had passed had been very good to him. Now he seemed ... still over cocky, arrogant, and incredibly smart, but not as vulnerable as before. He had become somehow wise, and balanced. To think one year could bring this kind of change was a little bit unnerving to all those who tried for years to change something in their lives.

He looked good. The light blue shirt he wore complimenting his eyes, the black pants showing off his trained muscles. She had already heard from Chris that both he and Shinichi played soccer. In fact, she was already invited to one of their games, and the more she looked at the team captain in front of her, the more she wanted to go.

,Hello Shiho. " He said softly, motioning for her to have a seat.

,You know, this is truly unfair of you. "

Shiho blinked, what was he talking about.

,Well you knew you were going to meet me and decided to look even more astounding than usually, and poor me, didn´t even have a chance to look good. "

She smiled at him, the icy barrier surrounding her eyes and heart falling, only with him though, only with him.

,You look good anyway Shinichi. But as you know, I´m not here to talk about fashion. "

Shinichi sighed. Yes, of course, back to business, no fun. When was the last time he had fun, outside of a case?

,Yes of course. Well then, Miss Myano, tell me, why are you here?"

A few hours later, many things about a mysterious Black Organization having been discussed, he looked down at his watch.

It was already late afternoon, they had been in this office for at least 3 hours. Looking up at the woman opposite of him, who was now downloading some data from a disk to his pc, he realized those were the most relaxing hours he had spent in a long time.

She noticed his eyes on her, and normally she would have snapped at whom ever was so rudely staring at her, but this time, she did not. She felt quite relaxed, and his company made her feel strangely at ease, comfortable, and safe ...

,Shiho ... " She heard his whisper, turning around to him.

,Come to dinner with me. "

She was mesmerized by his eyes, the same eyes that haunted her night for night, telling her it had been a mistake to leave Tokyo in such a rush last year. Now she had the chance to make it up, and suddenly, she felt that he was a man she could actually trust.

Nodding her head, she saw him smile, her smile being an answer to his question, if you could call that a question anyway.

One hour later they were sitting in a nice cozy restaurant, taking small sips of their wine.

,You grew up Shinichi. " She told him with a smile.

detect that somehow I should feel offended by that. " He smiled sheepishly at her, for the first time feeling the muscles in his back and shoulders relax.

,Why are you usually so tense ? " She asked him softly, although she knew the answer to well, considering she did it for the same reason. They were people who´s job was to distrust, she distrusted chemical elements, he distrusted people.

Suddenly, not even regarding her question, he stood, and bowed down in front of her, his hand outstretched towards her.

,May I have this dance, Milady? "

She smiled at him, the game and taunts they shared being truly a good alternative to the secretive and stressful life she was used to.

,Of course My lord. "

It was a wonderful feeling, a feeling of electric warmth spreading through both their bodies once they touched. He held her closer than he probably should have, but she did not mind one bit, on the contrary, she leaned into him, resting her head in the crook of his neck, inhaling the fresh scent of sandalwoods which accompanied him. Secretly, he was doing the same, getting lost into the smell of her hair, the smell of freshly cut oranges, her oriental flower perfume completing it perfectly. She fit so well into his arms . . .

,Shiho ... " he whispered softly against the skin of her neck, laying a small kiss on it, trailing his lips up until they reached her ear.

,Hmm ... "

,Stay with me ... "

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his, trying to find the meaning of his words. Stay with him ... for tonight? For longer? For the moment ?

And what she saw, she liked. It did not matter how long she stayed as long as she did, with her whole being.

She smiled up at him, her eyes locking onto his, before her lips gently touched his ...