Starting Over
A/N: HOLY GUACAMOLE YOU GUYS! I posted the first chapter for this fiction at night, woke up the next morning, and had 8 reviews already? I don't know, maybe fan fiction users prefer these kind of stories to my others..? But that's really great! Thanks SO much!
Well, just about ALL of my reviews told me to update faster... here's chapter 2! I hope I don't disappoint... LOL (:
NOTE: Thanks SOOO much to roankun for pointing out that if 2 years have indeed passed, then Shinichi would be 19-years old, and therefore OUT of high school! I'll try to make the adjustments! My mistake!
NOTE #2: Every in Italics are thoughts!
Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan! [:
(3rd Person POV)
A young, handsome, dark-haired man stepped out of the Tokyo Narita International Airport men's public restroom, pulling a navy blue baseball cap over his head, and hiding his face. He seemed around 17-years old and was wearing a simple dark blue suit jacket, over a white button-up shirt and tie, and slacks – his signature outfit, if you knew him long enough.
A small, carry-on bag was slung over his shoulder – it seemed light enough for a child to carry. If anyone had bothered to inspect it, they would find a strange assortment of child's clothing – almost identical to the man's carrying it, but of course, they would obviously be too small for him.
As he stepped into the bright sunlight, he smiled – a barely noticeable, thoughtful grin.
Kudo Shinichi had returned to Japan.
The last time Miyano Shiho looked into a mirror, she saw a small, 8-year old girl looking back at her with large blue-green eyes. Now, as she glimpsed into the airport's nearly broken mirror, she saw a woman in her late teens, with golden blonde, shoulder length hair and a delicately shaped face... Never had she bothered to think of herself as particularly pretty – but she was rather aware that she wasn't completely hideous. Despite her interest in fashion magazines, in the Black Organization, you never really thought about whether or not you looked nice... you were too busy trying to staying alive.
As she stepped out of the woman's restroom, she inconspicuously removed an "Out of Order" sign from the door. She and Shinichi were careful enough to make sure they would not be interrupted during the transformation. It would have been somewhat awkward for someone to walk in and witness it.
Shiho glanced around at her surroundings. She wore some of the brand new clothes Agasa had graciously given to her as a "farewell" gift (he had bought her an entire new wardrobe to wear as a teenager). Luckily for her, he had picked them out specially from the fashion magazines she constantly read, and the clothes were just to her tastes. Immediately after reverting back to her teenaged self, Shiho slipped on a white designer blouse, black A-line skirt, and heels.
Feeling a strange sense of excitement, she swung a handbag over her shoulder and smirked.
Her new life had begun at last.
Shinichi checked his watch for what felt like the twentieth time. How could that woman possibly take so long? At last, he caught of glimpse of blonde hair in the sea of brown. He quickly made his way through the crowd of people and grabbed Shiho's shoulder, causing her to spin around.
"Hey, about time you fin– !" There was an obvious pause. Whoa.Shinichi's mouth was slightly agape.
"What?" Shiho demanded, defensively.
"I –" Shinichi, blunt as ever, said the first thing that came to mind, "Hey, you're actually really pretty!"
While he hurriedly tried to correct his rather embarrassing statement (which came out a lot more surprised than necessary), Shiho's face went from shocked to offended, and to somewhat flattered, until she at last settled on an amused expression.
"Why thank you, Kudo... And I suppose you were under the impression I was some kind of troll?" She somehow managed to raise an eyebrow and glare at the same time.
"What? No! N – not at all!" The red-faced detective laughed sheepishly. "I – er, well... just forget I said anything!"
Shiho scoffed, and continued walking. Shinichi, still blushing, followed her, muttering something along of the lines of "stupid hormones..."
Once they exited the airport and waited for a cab, Shinichi asked, "So where do you wanna go?"
Shiho gave him a questioning look. "I thought you'd want to go find Ran immediately after you got your body back."
"Nah," her companion shrugged, "I think I'm gonna surprise her! Do you think she'll enjoy that? But, man, I can't wait to finally see her again!" And he went on and on about ways to make up for his long absence to Ran. Shiho let out an unnoticed sigh and shifted her gaze, trying to allow something else to occupy her mind. Across the street, she noticed a foreign looking teenager her age, instructing the taxi driver where to place a rather large pet cage. Focusing her eyes on him, she attempted to block out all of Shinichi's plans to confess to Ran. If it hurts so much, she thought to herself, why do I even bother? Why am I still here?
Suddenly, the young foreign man noticed her looking at him, and shoots her a smirk and a wink. Disgusted, Shiho only glares back.
"Miyano? Oi! Shiho?" Shinichi was waving his hand in front of her face.
"Yes?" She whipped around to face him.
Her friend gave her a strange look. "I said, should I take her out for dinner again or should I ask to speak to her in private? I mean, I always thought dinner would be more romantic, but considering it didn't exactly work out last t–"
"Kudo, why are you asking me this?" Shiho asks softly. Shinichi looks genuinely surprised. "You've never talked to me much about these things before..."
"C'mon, Shiho! ...I can call you that now, right?" Shinichi frowns, "We're more or less best friends. I'd only tell people I'm close to stuff about Ran." He blushed slightly. "I mean, it's not exactly the most comfortable subject for me..."
Shiho felt numb. Shinichi had no idea the impact his words had on her. "Kudo...," she begins.
"Shinichi," he corrected, frowning once more.
"I...," Shiho paused, as if it pained her greatly to say it, but then smiles ever so slightly, "Thank you."
Shinichi beamed.
"Let's go get some lunch."
Sitting at a table outside a small cafe, Shinichi couldn't help but feel rather delighted to be in his original body. Although being Conan had it's advantages, he honestly missed being a famous detective. Of course, his experiences as Conan would not be forgotten – no doubt he learned a lot in the process, things that changed who he was, and things he was doubtful he'd ever forget. And of course, there was the people he had met on his quest to defeat Black Organization. The Detective Boys, for example... Jodie Saintemillion and the FBI... And, of course... he grinned at the woman sitting across from him with her legs crossed, sipping a cold cup of coffee.
He knew he would miss Ai, with all her witty remarks and death glares (which could burn a hole through the back of his head!), but of course, having Shiho was no different... well, except in height... and...
He stole another glance at his companion. Her blondish hair seemed to glow in the sunlight. Naturally light hair was something you'd learn to appreciate in Japan, and Shinichi always thought Shiho's was perhaps the most natural of all. Of course, her eyes were another rarity. Her iris's almost seemed to change with her moods. Shinichi chuckled silently to himself. Whenever she's angry, he can pretty much guarantee they'll turn an icy blue on him. And when she's thinking about her sister, they'll seem to diminish into a darker greenish-gray. And (this one was his favorite) when she'd smile, almost identically to the smile she showed him just recently, her eyes would glow – the brightest cerulean eyes Shinichi had ever had the pleasure of seeing.
"Why are you staring at me?" Now her eyes were a deep blue (her "suspicious" look, Shinichi smiled to himself.)
Grinning at her, he replied. "No reason. Just picturing what you'd be like as a high school student." This caused her to roll her eyes at him.
"Hopefully, not as immature and dense as the rest of you," she retorted with a slight smile. "Or is that just you, Kudo?"
"Oi!"
Chuckling, Shiho continued to sip her drink. "Kidding."
Shinichi's gaze softened. "I've already had Agasa order you a uniform, so you should receive it today. Oh, and you'd be in the same class as me and Ran. I gotta warn you though, the kids are rather... foolish..."
Shiho scoffed. "I've known you for months, Kudo. I shouldn't have a problem dealing with that."
"Wow, you're just on a roll today aren't you?" Shinichi looked half-annoyed, half-amused. "Just be careful not to talk to the boys that way. I know they wouldn't be quite as tolerant as I am... and that's no way to get a boyfriend – if that's what you're looking for." He smiled broadly.
Shiho shot him a dirty look. "As a matter of fact –"
"Shinichi!"
Another voice interrupted their conversation. Both heads turned to find a rather anxious looking Ran dragging her best friend Sonoko towards them.
"Shoot." muttered Shinichi.
Shiho raised an eyebrow. "And here I was thinking you'd be happy to see her."
"Well, yeah," Shinichi actually looked slightly agitated at the sight of his longtime friend and love interest. "So much for surprising her though."
"Shinichi!" Ran called again, before reaching their table at last. "Shinichi! You're b– " She looked at Shiho in surprise. "Shinichi, who is this?"
"What?" Sonoko Suzuki exclaimed, her face nearly red with anger, "Shinichi, you're girlfriend waits months for you to come home, and here you are with another girl? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Ran's face turned pink, and she mumbles quietly, "I'm not his girlfriend..." Shinichi looks rather uncomfortable. Shiho, taking pity on the two, took over.
"Miyano Shiho," she extended her hand to Ran, who shook it hesitantly. "Kudo and I met on a case. Now that it's been cleared up, I've decided to move to Beika. Rest assured, nothing the least bit romantic is going on between the two of us. Besides, I'm sure he has his heart set on you..." Her last statement was much quieter, but it still managed to cause large amounts of blushing from both Ran and Shinichi. Sonoko, however, wasn't pleased.
"Well, then why aren't you with your girlfriend? Why are you eating out with another girl?" she asked, accusingly.
Shinichi scowled and stood up, "Geez, Sonoko! Give a guy some rest! Can't I spend some time with Shiho? Just because I'm friends with a girl does not mean she's my girlfriend!"
Sonoko wouldn't back down. "But shouldn't Ran be your first priority?"
Shinichi looked furious. "I think it's quite clear who my first priority is!" Sonoko gasped. Shinichi looked abashed. That did not come out the way he intended. All three girls looked at him with varying expressions: anger, hurt, jealousy... and just plain shock. "I – no, Ran – I didn't mean it that way!"
His childhood friend shook her head, and smiled in a way she hoped was understanding. "It's alright. I know you didn't mean it... you were just angry." She didn't know if she was trying to convince him, or herself. "I... I'll talk to you later, Shinichi." Giving him one last feeble wave, she pulled Sonoko by the hand and left.
Shinichi slumped in his chair, horror-stricken. "Oh gosh. I blew it."
He seemed so defeated. Although part of Shiho wanted to agree and tell him how horribly wrong he was... well, she decided he'd had enough of that for the day. And he just didn't deserve to be treated harshly. Instead she placed her hand over his and for the second time that day, gave him a warm and sincere smile.
"I'm sorry, Shinichi."
Somehow, his day began to seem a little more worthwhile.
A/N: Omg! Done at LAST! Took me three days! I made sure to spend at least an hour each day! (JUST for you guys!) A couple last concerns though...
I tried to keep everyone in character... had a little trouble with that though... Yikes. I didn't want Shinichi to seem to... wimpy... LOL. Or like such a dork, so I made him sound at least a little cool... I hope...
Oh, was it still too short? Sorry... I tried to make it longer ): It's just a little hard to tell until you actually upload it...
I don't know... Maybe I was too dramatic? Especially during the fight between Shinichi and Sonoko towards the end...? Please give me your thoughts! I STILL am not sure where to take this story... I normally just write whatever I feel like. [:
Thanks SO much for those of you who reviewed... if you haven't, PLEASE REVIEW!
Your kind and loving author. (: