Disclaimer: Charries don't belong to me, so sorry Fyl, can't give them to you.

A/N: I've had someone ask what time period this is supposed to take place in. Well...in all honesty, I can't really answer that ;; There's going to be a mishmash of various things from different time periods, but nothing after the 19th century, so there isn't really a definite, set time period.

Chapter Two

"I can't believe it," Shinichi moaned, head in his hands. "My one and only chance to talk to her and not only was I just disgraced…I continue to make an idiot of myself…"

After his meeting with Ran had time to completely sink in, along with its timing, Shinichi had bolted back to Agasa's place to let the shock wear off.

"You'll just have to make sure you aren't caught by surprise next time you see her," the older man suggested.

Shinichi rolled his eyes. "Weren't you listening? I said this was my only chance to-"

"I'm old, but I'm not going deaf," Agasa interrupted, rummaging through the shelves that held many interesting and foreign items he'd accumulated through his years as a traveling merchant. "You thought the same thing when you were little didn't you? Considering the fact that you found her again despite the increased gap in rank, I'd say you two might be fated for each other."

Shinichi lifted his head and glared at Agasa's grin. "You know I don't believe in fate and spirits and all those superstitions."

Agasa shrugged and brought over to the table a long, narrow wooden box. Sitting down across from Shinichi, he placed it in between them. "Whether or not you do or do not believe in it, it couldn't hurt to have something nice to give her should you meet up again."

Shinichi wanted to open his mouth and explain again why his chances of running into Ran again were zero, but nevertheless he pulled the box over and opened it. Blinking, he pulled out a long stemmed, red petaled flower. "This is your nice gift? A soon to be dead plant?"

Agasa shook his head, amused by Shinichi's reaction. "Women happen to like flowers as gifts, but that's not why I picked it out. But first, with all your knowledge, tell me the name of that particular blossom."

"Um…" Taking a closer look, Shinichi realized he'd never seen, or even heard of, a plant with flowers like these.

"It's called a rose," Agasa explained when he saw the young man's stumped expression. "I've heard they're common in Europe, but this one," he leaned over to tap the box it had been in, "I found it when I was traveling up north-"

"Some European visitors must have dropped some seeds then," Shinichi interrupted with a shrug, "not that unusual."

"Ah, but this trip was a good twenty or so years ago." Agasa pointed out. "And yet it is as healthy as ever. No water, little sun…It would make the perfect gift because it's a rare flower that your lovely lady friend would be able to enjoy forever." He gave a bit of a smirk, "And it will last a while in your care since you are so insistent that you won't see her again."

"I'm insistent because I know I'm right," Shinichi retorted, while placing the rose back in the box and pocketing it anyways. Eh…worst comes to worst I guess I could always sell it, especially if it is as rare in Japan as he claims.

"Now are you still going to stay here and mope all day?"

Shinichi shook his head as he stood up. "I heard some rumors that there're quite a few people looking for cheep workers. Maybe I can go earn a bit of money before leaving again."

"My offer still stands for you to stay here."

He shook his head again. "I've gotten used to this life, and if I get out of it, it'll be on my own."

"Oi…as stubborn as ever, Shinichi," Agasa laughed slightly, "but I guess you are old enough to make your own decisions aren't you? Well then, you know you're welcome here whenever you need something."

Shinichi gave a slight bow before heading towards the doorway. "Thanks for everything as always."

Several hours later, Shinichi was walking along the empty alleyways of the city. He'd just been turned down from yet another one of those who'd been looking for extra hired help. He was in the alleyways because a brawl had broken out nearby, and someone had called for the guard to help break it up.

He didn't want to risk being ridiculed or humiliated again.

This has been far from my best day ever. Leaning against a wall, he felt something bump against him and he remembered the rose. Pulling it out and opening the lid, he lifted the flower out in order to have a good look at it again. If he didn't know any better, he might have sworn the petal edges were glowing slightly in the dim light of the alley.

Heh…pretty thing. It really would make a good gift for her. He frowned slightly as he noticed one of the petals seemed to have a slightly wilted look. So much for Agasa's 'enjoy forever' theory, he thought, reaching up to pluck the offending petal away from the others.

Carelessly letting it float towards the ground, Shinichi hardly paid attention to the discarded petal. Even if he had, he would have decided he was seeing things because if the rose had been glowing earlier, it was nothing compared to the radiant glow coming from the petal. Then there was the fact it didn't touch the ground. Instead, it slowed then started floating upwards, growing larger as it did so.

Of course this didn't remain unnoticed forever. Shinichi realized something odd was going on when it was about the size of a child's fist and almost level with his eyes. "What the…I must be seeing things…"

However, rubbing his eyes didn't help at all.

The petal grew a few more inches before disappearing in an even larger puff of smoke, which floated over to obscure Shinichi's vision.

Coughing and trying to wave it away with one hand, he reached his other to his side to draw his katana, just incase this was an attack.

"This is what happens when one isn't unsealed for who knows how long…" a voice muttered from somewhere in front of Shinichi.

Squinting, he thought he saw a grinning face peering through the smoke.

"You the new rose owner? Name's Kuroba Kaito, spirit thief."