Chapter 15 my friends! I'll try my best to speed up in chapters so keep reading and reviewing! HOORAH! HOORAH! Plus, thank you very much to YumeTakato for adding this story to her C2, Memory For You. Thanks a lot! By the way, my grandfather. . .one of the people I respect the most in this world. . .might have cancer, and has to go for an operation soon. Please help me pray for him everyone, I would appreciate it a lot. Thanks!

CHAPTER 15

" Aw, come on, nee-san. . ."

Akemi looked at her sister dreamily.

" What's wrong?" she asked, her legs high up in the air, kicking against the mattress below her, her body sprawled up upon her bed, watching Shiho try on the dress that she had bought for her. " I think that it fits you pretty well."

" Nee-san, it's appallingly low-cut." Shiho said, flushing. " You can't possibly think that I would wear this kind of dress to the school dance in front of the student and fellow teachers. . ."

" And why not?" Akemi said coyly. " The main thing is that you likecoyly. " The main thing is that you like it, right?"

Shiho bit her lip and looked herself in the mirror. Akemi had made her bundle up her hair in a tight bun, which went along fine with her purple gown that followed downwards, which seemed to split in the lower half of the dress, showing her left leg up until her upper thighs. " It isn't that horrific to look at," Shiho caught herself saying; something which most people would take as an insult desperately trying to sound like a compliment. Akemi, however, saw it differently.

" I knew you'd like it!" she exclaimed, bouncing up from the bed, overjoyed.

" Nee-san. . ." Shiho started slowly, but stopped in mid-sentence as Akemi clasped her hands into hers tightly.

" So." Akemi said. " Who are you going with?"

" Kudo Shinichi." Shiho said flatly, adjusting her hair in the mirror for a moment. When she received no reply from her sister, she sighed depressingly and turned around. " Nee-san. . ." she started, meeting with Akemi's gleaming eyes. " It's no big deal. He asked me before anyone else, so as I said before, I would go with the first person that asks me to the dance, remember?"

" Yes, but still. . ." Akemi started slowly, sounding rather disappointed by her sister's factual answer. " You're still kind of glad that he asked you over the many guys in the school, right?"

" I don't know what you�9 away, yet she was unable to hide the red stains appearing on her cheeks, which was something that her sister never missed.

" I'm eating lunch with some friends." Akemi said, turning her heel slowly and purpously, and started to make her way out of her room. " Sorry if I can't make it today."

" It's alright." Shiho said simply. " I'll just. . ."

She caught herself in time, noticing Akemi's sly grin.

" Nice try." Shiho said wearily. " See you later."

Akemi gave Shiho one last smile before disappearing behind the door.

Shiho sighed and looked at her alarm clock. " It's one-fifteen." She muttered to herself, looking out the window. She took the handphone found on her nightstand and looked at it, almost accusingly. " I wonder what Kudo's doing now?" she said to herself, pressing the number on speed dial 3.

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Shinichi sighed, taking another glance at the homework on his bedside table and groaned. " This is going to take me forever." He said, glaring at the worksheets angrily before taking another sheet in the pile. His eyebrows raised as he heard the soft ringing of his house phone. " Go away!" he yelled out to it, before starting on the homework before him.

" Oh crap, it's Shiho's homework." He groaned, slapping his forehead. " She's a good teacher and person and all, but her homework stinks to the deepest pits of. . ."

Ring Ring. . .

" Go away!" Shinichi yelled at the phone again, and this time, as if on his command, it stopped abruptly. He grinned triumphantly, and was about to get on with the work before him once again, when this time his handphone rang. He groaned and ignored it, getting back to his work. " Damn, so many darn calculations. . ." he muttered to himself, gnawing on the pencil. " Why is she such a sadistic person in the workroom. . .why won't you leave?" he yelled at the phone.

It didn't stop ringing.

It was torturous.

It was like a mosquito in a room.

Why on earth did he choose to have a guitar solo as his ringtone?

He sighed in defeat and pressed the phone against his ear.

" Whoever this may be, this better be important." He said irritatibly.

" In that case, I'd be better off hanging up." Came an amused voice at the other end.

He sat up upright, heart beating fast. " Shiho?" he said feebly.

" No." she said sarcastically. " It's Santa Clause. Listen. . .Are you free for lunch?"

" Like. . .as in. . .a date?" Shinichi asked, heart thumping against his chest, sounding much more cocky than he was feeling at the moment.

" Don't try to be cute." She snapped. " I was just wondering if you were free."

His heart lifted, and was close to agree, before he remembered the huge pile of homework on his table. He looked at it for a short while before sighing and smiling.

" Yep." He said cheerfully. " Free as a bird."

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It was two days after that when the students heard of the position of the principal had been given off to the vice-principal for the meantime while their current one was in the hospital due to severe back injuries. There was a buzz at that, but they accepted it after some time.

It was on that day when Shuichi called for Shinichi once more. The message was stuffed in one of the shoes found in his shoe cabinet, deep inside the sole of it. The shoe, I meant, not the cabinet. Shinichi raised an eyebrow and opened it deftly, reading it.

Kudo, see me in the PE storeroom during your recess.

" Well, that's good to know." Shinichi said, grinning broadly.

He was actually looking forward to having a good chat with Shuichi, and was worried when he hadn't contacted him the last few days. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, ready to make his way up the steps when he was stopped by three blushing schoolgirls just below his grade. " Er. . .can I help you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

They paused for a moment before running away, screaming and crying.

Shinichi sweatdropped, scratching the back of his head.

" What the Heck was that?" he asked himself.

" I guess they wanted to ask you out, kiddo." Came Yoro's voice beside him, humming a tune happily. Shinichi turned, a confused look on his face. Yoro said nothing else but pointed in the direction of Ran. Shinichi looked, and his eyes widened as he noticed a huge amount of guys crowding around Ran, who was apologizing to each and every one profusely.

" Yep, every single one of her admirers." Yoro said. He was smiling, but his eyes were iced with jealousy. " I was pushed away from the crowd when we arrived, and they almost pounced on her in the process of asking her out. Hey Kudo. . .check that out, there's a girl trying to ask her out. . ."

They stared, slack-jawed, before shivering, and made their way up the stairs.

" Didn't anyone ask you to the dance, Yoro?" Shinichi asked curiously.

" Not ever since I confessed my love for Ran in the middle of class." Yoro said, laughing as two girls bowed at him, congratulating him for ending up with Ran. " I swear, it was just total silence for ten whole minutes."

" Did she give you a reply yet?" Shinichi asked.

" Not yet." Yoro said, sighing. " But I have a feeling she will."

Shinichi nodded at him before he froze in mid-step.

" What's wrong?" Yoro asked him, before noticing what Shinichi saw.

There were boys crowding around Shiho Miyano, asking her out at the same time. She was biting her lip and saying something to them, seemingly in a forced politeness.

" I guess really Miyano-sensei's too." Yoro muttered, looking at Shinichi, and his eyes widened as he noticed something strange in his eyes. There was pride inside it, almost proud of his taste, but there was a strange flicker of jealousy and rage that dwelled inside, his teeth clenched at the sight.

" Kudo?" Yoro asked, and Shinichi was brought back forcefully to earth.

" It's nothing." He muttered, turning his heel. " Come on. Let's take a short cut."

He walked off, and Yoro stared at his back.

" Kudo. . ." he muttered silently, almost to himself. " Do you love Miyano-sensei?"

Shinichi heard it.

Every word.

And as they walked on silently, his head nodded a fraction of an inch, his back still facing Yoro. " I do, Yoro." He whispered to himself. " I do."

And Yoro heard him too.

He smiled.

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Recess.

The four teachers sat together once more, grins on their faces.

" Show us the grades, Ayako-san." Mizakan said pleasantly. " Although until now, I still can't believe that you managed to count every single one of the fans of each of them at the same time."

" Certainly. And my friend helped me out with it. She's a mathematics teacher anyway." Ayako said, opening up the book and raised her eyebrows at it. "Hey, this certainly is strange. Miss Miyano won in votes, but Ran won her in popularity of asking out. Shiho got sixty nine boys who asked her out, while Ran got seventy four. . .including a girl."

The others raised their eyebrows.

" That's disgusting." Takato said, pursing her lips.

" That's lovely." Baki said, licking his lips.

" In any case, I was wondering who would win in the auction." Ayako said, shutting the book.

" Better not let Miyano hear you say that." Mizakan said mildly.

" She hates being speaken of like a painting, right?" Takato said.

" I wouldn't mind a. . ." Baki started.

" . . .Nude painting." Ayako ended for him, slapping him on the head. " Is that all that goes through your mind?"

" You could say that." Baki said cheekily.

" Which reminds me," Mizakan said, stopping Ayako from slapping Baki once more. " There's this whole question about who would be better together with Shiho Miyano, Yoro, Sanshriyuki or Shinichi."

The others stayed silent, thinking.

" That's an interesting question, Mizakan." Takato said thoughtfully.

" Thank you." Mizakan said good-naturedly.

" I think Yoro's definitely out of the question." Ayako said. " He's in love with Ran Mouri. He yelled out his love for her in the middle of my class."

" No way!" Baki exclaimed. " How did she react?"

" She was in the toilet." Ayako said, and the rest burst out laughing.

" Since that puts Yoro out of the picture. . ." Mizakan said slowly. " That would have to mean that either Shinichi or Sanshriyuki would be the one who ends up with her."

" What if it's someone besides the two of them?" Takato asked.

" Let's just put these two in the contexture for the time being." Mizakan said.

" Alright." Baki said, sounding interested. " I think it should be Sanshriyuki, because both of them have nice bodies."

There was absolute, total silence that followed that.

" I think it should be Shinichi." Takato said dreamily, breaking the eerie silence. " They do look really cute together."

" I agree with that." Ayako said. " But aren't teacher-student relationships banned?"

" That's just some stereotyped thought." Mizakan said calmly. " As long as we keep it under out hats, everything would be alright."

" So who do you side, Mizakan?" Baki asked.

Mizakan just lifted his coffee cup from its saucer, and sipped it quietly, a small smile on his lips. And nobody had a further doubt on who he thought she would end up with.

No questions asked.

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" So you came." Shuichi said.

Shinichi locked the door behind him, and grinned at Shuichi.

" Good afternoon." He said.

" Yeah." Shuichi said, leaning against the wall behind him, wincing at the contact with his open wound. Shinichi looked at him worriedly, but Shuichi just shrugged it off. " I'm alright." He just said plainly, clearly not wanting to go further into the facts. " Just a little accident that's all. But screw that, did Shiho agree to go with you?"

Shinichi blushed, and nodded.

Shuichi smiled.

" That's good to know." He said quietly.

They stayed in silence for a short while.

" Did you want to talk to me about something?" Shinichi asked him.

" Yeah. . ." Shuichi said heavily, sounding depressed all of a sudden. " I don't think I can appear before you for some time. Or anyone, for that matter."

" Why?" Shinichi asked, concerned.

" Do you remember the principal being in hospital?" he asked.

" Yeah." Shinichi said.

Silence.

Shinichi's eyes widened.

" It was YOU?" Shinichi gasped.

" Yes." Shuichi said impatiently. " But he started it." He added, sounding incredibly childish. " In any case, I cannot be seen by anyone, but I'll try to have one last chat with you sooner or later."

Shinichi looked at him, dumb-struck.

" Shuichi. . ." he started. " How could you. . .?"

" He's Shiho's father." Shuichi said to him. " He dumped her when she was a kid."

Silence once again.

" That asshole." Shinichi growled.

Shuichi smirked.

" I believe thanks are in order?" he asked, and Shinichi smiled.

" Yeah. I forgive you for that." He said.

" I'm glad." Shuichi said, making his way out.

" Shuichi." Shinichi called out, and he stopped.

" Yeah?" he muttered.

Shinichi bit his lip.

" Come visit me again, alright?" he said.

Shuichi's eyes widened before smiling at him.

" Yeah." He said. " You can bet on that."

And he left.

Shinichi just stayed in that PE cabinet for a while before sighing and sinking down onto the ground. " Please don't get caught." He whispered to himself.

Shuichi stood by the other side of the door and smiled.

" That's got to be the only person who cared for me besides Shiho." He said, touching out gently to reach Shinichi, only to be stopped by the door.

He walked away.

" You two are really meant for each other, Shinichi." he said, tears brimming in his eyes. " And I feel happy for you, not as her lover. . .but as a brother to you, and a friend of hers."

END CHAPTER 15

What do you think? The next two or three chapters would be the last ones before the dance. This story would end at the dance, in case some of you were wondering. Please read and review! By the way, if you were interested, The speed dials on Shiho's phone are. . .One is Akai Shuichi. Two is Akemi Miyano. Three is Kudo Shinichi. Four is the school. Five is her fellow teacher in the school.

ReWiEw ReSpOnSeS

anime-obsession260- - -Thanks, I like Shuichi a lot too. And sorry for your loved ones, may they rest in peace. Please update your story when you have the time and mood.

That Guy- - -Your wish is my command Grins Thanks for the compliment, it made me really happy when I read it. Whoa, one hour? I thought it would at least take two. . .how fast can you read a Harry Potter book anyway? Lolz.

death88- - - Aw, thanks! But yeah, I'm not fond of the dubbed version. Haibara's voice sounds so. . .weird. Dammit. Anyway, thanks for adding me to your favourites!

SN 1987A- - -Haha. Yes, I got the name from there. I wanted a name, so I go Shishio. I wanted to get Aoshi, but it would be an insult to his name, wouldn't it? Lolz. ( Soujiro rocks!) Hey, I have a question. When you said update, were you talking to the radio too? Hahaha. . .sorry, corny pun. Please continue to update your story!

First Silvera- - -Yeah, I plan to. In any case, I thank you for reading my story all this long. Because the way you writer yours. . .Encounter In Venice is SO FREAKING COOL! And the way you name your chapters and characterize them in ways of books. . .Sorry, I'm rambling. Please continue to update yours story and read mine!

AmazonChick73- - -Mmm, in the mindsight of Shuichi eh? Lolz. Thanks for the review.

Kris- - -Mm? Oh, sure. They're kinda old school though. There's Milkshake by Kelis, My Secret Love by JoJo, Going Crazy by Natalie, What Makes you Different Makes you beautiful.

Vash- - -Hey, no harm done. Thanks for the reviews.

ShinichixShiho- - -Yeah, beat him to death! But, I need him alive in the story, so I guess I'll let him live. Thanks for all you guys for cheering Shuichi on. I love him a lot too. They were having the karaoke in school, one of them brought the karaoke box, remember? And thanks for being a fan. That makes me feel so warm inside. (Awww. . .) I'm thinking of making Shinichi to confess to her faster than that, I guess. I want to get to that part too. Grins The next chapter might take some time. I'm on it, the first quarter of it 's completed. Just need to think of how to continue that. . . (sheepish grin)

YumeTakato- - -Lolz. Yeah, he is.

. . . - - -Yeah, that's true. But I like that song, so I wanted to write it down. I just pictured the scene to be everyone just staring slack-jawed at him while he sings or something.