Starting Over
A/N: Okay, you guys: I've had some major writer's block writing this chapter! So to cure it, I forced myself to sit outside and listen to love songs over and over until I got an idea for this romance! (;
I have to say... it didn't really work as well as I hoped... but hey, at least I'm writing again!
NOTE: Thoughts are still in Italics!
NOTE #2: Thank you roankun (again!) for being like my unofficial editor! Always pointing out little details or mistakes that I missed (and will bug me for eternity if they aren't fixed)!
Disclaimer: I didn't own Detective Conan in the first chapter... I still don't own it now. (:
(3rd Person POV)
Never in his life had Shinichi ever felt reluctant to talk to Ran, his longtime childhood friend and crush. But there were no other words to describe the feeling. He simply didn't want to have to call her up and ask to speak to her, but... well, he had been waiting months for this moment, he couldn't let it slip now.
At last, he took a deep breath and, before he could change his mind, dialed her number on his cell phone. It rang once... twice... a third time... and just when he was about to hang up and try to forget about it, Ran picked up. "Hello?"
Shinichi gulped. Well, it's now or never..."Hi, Ran! Uh, it's me! Listen, are you busy right now?"
A pause. "No, I'm not, Shinichi... Why?"
Gripping the phone even tighter, he replies, "Well, can you come over..? I'm at my house right now. I... I need to tell you something." Another pause. This time, he could almost feel her start to smile slightly.
"Alright, Shinichi. Let me finish cooking dinner for my dad and I'll be over. Give me half an hour."
"Okay, Ran. Thanks. I'll talk to you later." She hung up. Shinichi let out a sigh of relief. Recently, just talking to Ran on the phone seemed much more strenuous than it should have been. He had no idea why.
Shrugging on a sweater, he has the sudden urge to head next door to Agasa's. There was certainly enough time. And he hasn't seen the professor since he was Conan at the airport. He should probably let him know how everything worked out for him. And...
Closing and locking the door behind him, he realized that despite not being at home for such a long period of time, he was somewhat eager to leave. Perhaps he was so accustomed to being at the Detective Agency and Agasa's that they now felt like second homes to him.
Making sure to close the gate, Shinichi walked across the street and rang the doorbell once to the Agasa residence once. Shiho let him in and began to make her way back inside.
Following her, he asked, "Where's the professor?"
"He took the kids out for ice cream," Shiho said with her back still turned towards him, walking towards the kitchen, "They were upset that Conan and Ai had left, so he took them to one of those revolving sushi stores they love so much. Now they're getting desert."
Shinichi nodded. "Ah, well, Ran's coming over soon." Shiho stopped, turning.
"Why are you telling me this?" Shinichi shrugged. Giving him a strange look, Shiho questioned, "So you're planning on telling her about Conan now?"
He shook his head. "No. I... I don't know. I just feel like maybe I've ruined her happiness enough lately... I don't wanna add anything extra to her load. She probably has a lot on her mind already. Maybe I'll tell her in the future... I just... I just want things to be like they used to be... Forget Black Organization." Shiho nodded, her eyes focused on the ground. Shinichi continued, "Plus... I feel like the less she knows the better. This should just be between the two of us... with the exception of my parents and Agasa."
Shiho smiled gently. "Our little secret," she said, quietly.
Shinichi grinned. "Yeah..." Suddenly, his cell phone buzzed loudly. Taking it out and flipping it open, he cursed inwardly.
"Hey, I need to go. Ran's going to be early." he told Shiho.
"Oh."
"I'll see you later."
"See you." Shinichi left.
Ran Mouri rang her childhood friend's doorbell for the fifth time. What onearthis taking him so long?Shinichi always had a habit of being tardy, and she had to admit, it was one of the many things that she found unbearable about him.
"Ran!" Shinichi called from behind her. Turning, she spotted him running towards her from the professor's home. What was he doing there?
"Shinichi!" Ran smiles, "Finally, you're back! And... for good this time, right?"
Grinning, Shinichi unlocks the front door and ushers Ran in. "Sit down. I'll explain everything..." Taking a seat, Ran gazes up at him expectantly.
"Water? Sorry, I haven't been back for long... that's all I have."
"Water's fine."
At last, Shinichi places two glasses in front of them and stands across from her. Suddenly (and very unexpectedly), Ran began to sob. Her tears streaked down her face as she attempted to wipe them all off. Shinichi, aghast, placed his hand on her shoulder.
Ran took a deep breath and managed to croak, "Why did you have to leave?"
Looking down, Shinichi answered, "I was on a case."
"But why did you have to leave for so long?"
"I..."
"I waited for you, Shinichi! I waited for months!" The tears were gushing out now.
"Ran..."
"But apparently your stupid casewas so much more important than me!"
"Never!"
"And I... I missed you!"
Shinichi sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Ran... I'm so sorry." Upon seeing her penetrating look, he continued. "I'm sorry for leaving. And for putting you through all that crap. For not being able to spend time with you for so long... I never wanted to put you through any pain, Ran. You should know that! It was out of my control... I tried to come back sooner! And it was for your own protection. But... It hurt so bad to be away from you, Ran... knowing you were waiting for me to come home..." She stopped crying, which prompted him to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Shinichi went on, managing to wipe a few of her tears. "You mean so much to me, Ran. More than you think. In fact..." He paused. Something didn't feel right.
"Yes, Shinichi?"
"I... I love you, Ran. That's what I meant to tell you that night at dinner... before we were interrupted... Um..." He trailed off. He wasn't quite sure what to do. The words sounded so foreign on his tongue and his own voice felt so far away. Suddenly, Ran sprung to her feet and hugged him, sniffing.
"Shinichi, I... I think I can forgive you.. And I... I love you too." And then she did something that (despite his confession) couldn't help but shock him slightly. She kissed him.
Shinichi was simply in shock. After a while, he began to respond. Her lips were soft, and she held onto him tightly... Yet...
No. This feels wrong...Why does this feel so wrong?
Shinichi broke off the kiss. Ran stared questioningly at him. "What's wrong, Shinichi?"
"I..." The young detective shook his head. "Nothing, it's just... I'm tired, Ran. Can I talk to you at school tomorrow?"
"Sure, Shinichi." Ran grabbed her bag and proceeded to leave. She paused, and turned. "You owe me a date, okay?" Shinichi nodded. "Bye Shinichi!"
At last, she was gone. Shinichi collapsed on the couch. He felt unusually exhausted. But why? Why wasn't he overjoyed? Finally, he and Ran were together! They had kissedfor goodness sakes! And yet... Perhaps he was just tired... Yes. That must be it. Tomorrow, reality would finally register and he'd be the happiest man alive.
But for now, he felt the sudden urge to go back to Professor Agasa's house.
"Hakase! You back yet?" Shinichi's voice echoed throughout the professor's home. He flopped lazily onto the couch and called again.
"Goodness, Kudo. And I thought you couldn't get much louder."
"Shiho," Shinichi flashed her a grin. "Where's Agasa?"
"Buying groceries," Shiho shook her head exasperatedly. "At this time of night too." Shinichi checked the clock. 9:28 PM,it read.
"And you're still up? You have school tomorrow!" he reprimanded. Shiho shot him an annoyed look.
"Then you shouldn't even be here," she retorted.
"Fair enough," he grinned once more, and motioned beside him for her to sit. She took a seat as he turned on the TV and began to flip through channels lazily. A comfortable silence settled between them. Eventually, Shiho yawned and began to stand.
"I think I'll call it a night," she said, already in an oversized T-shirt and sleep shorts. Abruptly, Shinichi reached out a hand and stopped her.
"No. Stay with me a little longer. Please." He didn't know what possessed him to say what he did. All he knew was that when he and Shiho had sat together, he felt a strange sense of contentment. It was a feeling he needed now, especially after the events of that day.
Shiho frowned. "Why?"
"I just... Let's just talk."
She raised an eyebrow. "About?"
He didn't know. "Well– Ran and I kissed." Shinichi confessed the one thing that came to mind – the one thing he wanted so badly to get off his chest. Unfortunately, it wasn't exactly the smartest thing to say. There was a strange flicker in Shiho's eyes.
"You want me to sit here all night just to listen to how you and your girlfriend got together?" Her eyes were incredibly stormy, and she quickly yanked her arm out of his grasp and began to walk away. Shinichi looked very distressed – and a little bit perplexed.
"Oi! No – come back!"
"What is it, Kudo?"
He winced, grabbing her shoulder and forcing her to turn. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to spend time with you! ...that's all. Geez…" He added the last bit under his breath.
Shiho was silent. She looked suspicious. "...what?" Shinichi tugged on her hand and steered her back towards the couch.
"First Ran, now you... What did I do wrong?" he complained.
Shiho studied him, and then began to smirk. "Not exactly the ladies' man you thought you were, are you Kudo-kun?" He shrugged, happy that she was no longer too upset at him.
"Why don't you ask my fan club?" he countered with a smirk of his own. "I'm sure you're familiar with it."
Shiho scoffed. "What youneed is to let some of the air out of that exceptionally large head of yours, tantei-san." They were both sitting again, sharing the space on the professor's couch.
"Aw, c'mon," Shinichi leaned back. "Don't pretend you don't love my 'exceptionally' big head. A lot of girls do, you know," he pointed out. Shiho made a disgusted face and made to scoot further away from him.
"Well, then I might be the only sane girl alive."
"Ouch," Shinichi said. "Alright, truce..." He watched her closely. "Are you nervous?" he asked after a while. Shiho glanced at him skeptically.
"What should I be nervous about?"
"You're starting school tomorrow!" The detective replied – a little bit too dramatically. "Tomorrow's your first day as a regular student! Aren't you at least a littlenervous that maybe you'll screw up and everyone will think you're some kind of freak?"
He was teasing and she knew it. But that didn't stop her from shooting him a nasty glare. "Kudo, I wouldn't give a care what you or any of your foolish friends think of me. Social rankings mean far too much in today's society."
Shinichi frowned, suddenly curious. "But doesn't it matter? Even a little? I mean, you've never been at a high school before, have you?"
"Kudo, you need to learn that the only people that shouldmatter are the ones who don't label you before truly understanding you." Her companion hesitated, thinking her words over.
"I suppose you're right," he said after a long pause, "But... you're not nervous at all?"
"Of course I'm nervous," she replied quietly. "But because I'm not quite sure what's in store for me. Living in the Organization's clutches for so long... my life would take a completely new direction once I become a high school student." Shinichi placed a reassuring hand upon her shoulder.
"The transition's easy enough," he stated very simply. "And you'll really enjoy high school. Some people say it's the best four years of a person's life. And I'm sure you'll fit in... I remember when I was still in high school –"
"You were a socially inept child who knew far too much for his own good?"
"No!" Shinichi shouted defensively. "Though you're right about knowing way too much. I tried too hard, too," he chuckled. "Once, my first year at high school, I had wanted so badly to impress Ran. We were all helping my teacher move classrooms and I offered to carry a particularly heavy bookshelf down the stairs. Well, somehow my pant leg got stuck beneath it on the way downstairs and I fell two stories down, dragging that stupid piece of furniture with me! 'Luckily', according the sensei, my body was able to cushion the shelf and it didn't break. They had to find the janitor to help get the hundred pound shelf off me and unstuck from my pants!" Shiho couldn't help it. She burst out laughing.
"Wow, the famous Kudo Shinichi is really a huge klutz!" she managed to gasp between her laughter. Shinichi, who certainly wasn't prepared for this reaction, stared at her with a wide-eyed, slightly pleased expression. Wow. I actually made her laugh. And it's not a bad sound.
This was the best they had ever gotten along. Not wishing for the moment to end, Shinichi racked his brain for other possibly funny (and rather embarrassing) stories he could share with her. They spent the next half hour sharing laughs at his expense. He had had more fun than he'd have liked to admit. At last, things began to quiet down and the two teenagers rested comfortably on the couch.
"You seem to have had an interesting youth," Shiho commented, turning her head to peer at Shinichi.
He chuckled and said without thinking, "It got a lot more interesting once I met you."
Well, that sounded weird.Shinichi was a little shocked at himself. Shiho looked at him strangely.
"My life was pretty bland before I met you as well," she smirked at him.
A pleasant silence settled around them once more. After what only seemed like minutes to him, Shinichi glanced at his watch to find that it was already 1:58 AM.
"Shoot," he muttered, sitting up. "Shiho, it's getting la–" Shinichi stared at the woman beside him. She was fast asleep. He felt a smile tug at his lips. Wow. She looks so calm... Almost like a real-life Sleeping Beauty.
Shinichi stood up, yawned, and picked her up, placing his arms beneath her and bringing her body to his torso. He slowly made his way upstairs to Shiho's room and placed her gently on her bed, making sure to drape two layers of blankets over her in case of the cold. Grinning softly to himself, he left the room.
A/N: DONE AT LAST! Sorry I took so long! In my defense, last week was the LAST week of school and I had finals to worry about! But on the bright side, SUMMER IS HERE AT LAST! Now, I'll devote MUCH more time to this story! Thanks to all my readers! PLEASE REVIEW!
There's a reference to my story, "Sleeping Beauty", in case you cared.
Btw, for all you Ran/Shinichi fans... YOUR WELCOME (:
For some of the Shiho/Shinichi moments in this chapter, I got inspiration from the novel "Beastly" by Alex Flinn. It's an AMAZING romance, and I suggest you read it if you have the chance!
Thanks~
[Edited as of May 22, 2012]