Starting Over

A/N: Hello again! Finally, chapter 5 is here! I had some major writer's block for this chapter.. still do, as a matter of fact! I'll get over it eventually! (I hope...)

First of all, thanks for all of you who reviewed! I really appreciate it! The more people review, the more motivated I am to update sooner! Remember that!

Secondly, I want to thank my wonderful friend roankun once more for being ever so helpful in correcting my work! (I think I'll just include a thanks for roankun in every chapter! Haha.)

And lastly, I've gotten one or two concerned reviews about the last chapter about the Saguru/Shiho relationship. I believe I included a quick little note at the end saying that this fiction is 100% focused upon Shinichi/Shiho! Don't freak out guys! Just wanted to add some drama! Okay? LOL.

Alright, here we go! Hope you enjoy~

Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan/Case Closed. (:

(3rd Person POV)

"Shiho! Hakase! I'm home!" Kudo Shinichi's voice echoed throughout the professor's residence. Although it was not truly his house, Shinichi felt Agasa's was the closest thing he had to home. He already dropped his school things off at his own mansion no less than 5 minutes ago, after he was finally able to shoo off a large group of his old friends.

"Hakase?" Shinichi called again. There was no answer. He shrugged off his jacket and proceeded to the kitchen, where muffled voices could be heard. He poked his head through the doorway, "Shih–?" He immediately stopped. Shiho was in the kitchen, alright. And so was..

"Hakuba!" Shinichi growled, his eyes narrowing. The young, blonde detective grinned at him. Why, that little–!

"Ah, we heard you come in, Kudo," Saguru said. He was seated at the table directly across from Shiho, who was mid-way through taking a sip out of her coffee. Her face registered an emotionless expression, although Saguru was still grinning in a rather annoyingly superior way.

"Well, I'm sorry if I interrupted something," Shinichi apologized, not sounding the least bit sorry at all. Shiho frowned. Saguru started looking rather uncomfortably back and forth from the two.

"I hope you don't mind me asking," the very angry detective continued, "but what exactly is your business here, Hakuba?"

"I –"

"He was having a drink with me," Shiho interrupted, speaking for the first time. Her eyes were flashing dangerously. Why is he acting this way? "Nothing illegal about that, is there? Tantei-san?"

"No." Shinichi bit his lip, unaware of the source or reason for this newly found anger. "But I'd much rather you stay away from him." Shiho scoffed.

"Oh!" Saguru stood up abruptly, as if in sudden realization. He was gaze was locked intently with Shinichi's, and he seemed... apologetic? "I'm deeply sorry, Kudo... I didn't realize at all that you two were together."

"I –What?"

"No, we are definitely not."

"Well, then...," their guest looked extremely confused. "I wouldn't see why..."

Shiho sighed. "Kudo is just being dense. We are not dating. We never were. He is with Ran," she stated a little firmer than needed. Shinichi winced. No, I'm not... he wanted to say. But it was absolutely true. Instead, he nodded his head in agreement.

"I see." Saguru seemed unconvinced. Nevertheless, he turned to Shiho, smiling once more. "Well, in that case, how would you like to go out with me, Shiho?" Shiho looked somewhat surprised.

"No!" Shinichi cried all of a sudden. Did I just say that? He slowly turned his head, preparing himself to meet Shiho's burning eyes. However, what he saw intrigued him. She wasn't mad. At least, she wasn't glaring. Instead, the young blonde scientist was giving him a strange look. Was it... confusion? Or amusement?

"Why is that, Kudo-kun?" she asked softly, without a hint of anger in her voice.

"I..." At a loss for words, Shinichi shook his head, defeated. "Never mind. I'll just... I'll just leave then." He exited the kitchen, leaving behind a bewildered Saguru and a frowning Shiho.

I can't believe I just blurted that out! Shinichi thought to himself, taking a seat on the couch in which he and Shiho talked upon only last night. I must be losing every last bit of rational thought left inside me..

His instinctive sleuthing abilities kicked in as he attempted to listen closely to the conversing pair in the kitchen – but to no avail. All he heard were faint voices. At last, after what seemed like hours, Saguru entered the living room, heading for the front door. He gave Shinichi one last smirk before putting on his shoes and leaving.

Still glaring, the young teenager quickly turned, making his way back into the kitchen. Shiho's back was turned to him, but he could hear the water running in the sink. She was washing the dishes.

"That Hakuba guy seems pretty rude," Shinichi muttered, trying to get her attention. To his amazement, he heard a stifled chuckle. "What?"

"Nothing." Shiho turned to face him. "He seemed pretty nice to me." She cocked her head slightly to the right, smirking.

"Well, of course, you'd think so."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

"Considering the fact that he was completely flirting with you –" Shinichi said fiercely.

Shiho raised an eyebrow. "Well –"

"And you were flirting back!"

"I –"

"Now that he asked you out –"

"Kudo-kun–"

"I can't believe you two are dating!"

"KUDO!" Shiho shouted. "Be quiet!" Shinichi shut up. Rolling her eyes in exasperation, his companion turned once more, and continued to wash the dishes. "Not up to your usual standards, I'm afraid. Only 2 out of 4 correct." Still smirking, Shiho went on, "Yes, he was rather romantically interested in me. And yes, Hakuba-kun did indeed ask me to go on a date with him. However.." She glanced back at the baffled detective. "I do not recall 'flirting' with him, nor do I remember ever agreeing to go out with him."

"...What?" Shinichi stared at her, wide-eyed. "You said no?"

"Correct."

"But.. why?"

Shiho glared at him, and began placing the cups back on their proper shelves. "Because I am not attracted to him in the way you are thinking."

"But–"

"Kudo, what is this sudden interest in my love life?" That question alone was enough to surprise Shinichi into silence. She's completely right... Why...?

He shrugged truthfully, flashing his trademark grin. "I don't know. Detective instincts, I guess?"

"I see."

"Shiho...?"

"Yes, Kudo-kun?"

Shinichi frowned. "Shinichi," he corrected.

"Shinichi," Shiho sighed. "What is it?"

"Well – if you aren't attracted to Hakuba... then... who are you attracted to?" Shinichi cursed himself at the way he squeaked the last part of the question.

Shiho looked genuinely taken back. "I – what's it to you?"

"Nothing! I just... wanna know."

She smiled ruefully. "Well... I believe it to be waste of time to be meddling with things such as the human heart."

"How come?" Shinichi pressed on.

"Well," Shiho sighed, " 'Love' is indefinite... Vague, undependable, and ambiguous.. However, it is also inevitable... And quite unconditional." Shinichi only stared. What! "If we seek after something as evasive as 'love', we are likely to end up either searching forever, or emotionally wounded."

The young man let out a nervous chuckle. "C'mon, Shiho. It's only love. Wouldn't you think... that if you care enough for someone, the pain is worth it?"

"Absolutely."

"But I thought you said –"

"I meant what I said, Kudo. Only the foolish fall in love."

"So you've never been in love?" Shinichi asked insistently, "Wouldn't you think that it's a great feeling, though?"

She chose to ignore the first question, smiling remorsefully and stating very clearly, despite the softness in her voice, "I believe that the greatest love is the kind that can never happen." And she left the kitchen, leaving a perplexed Shinichi to his very confused thoughts.

Only the foolish fall in love? Shiho thought to herself sadly, with a slight trace of the same sorrowful smile left upon her lips. Then I suppose I am nothing more than a fool.

A/N: Short? So sorry! I just felt that it was a good place to leave off. I also apologize for the late update! My excuse? I was camping for 3 days where there was absolutely no internet connection! (:

Anyways, I thought this chapter was a little weird... I've just had this idea in my head where Shiho and Shinichi debate over love and well... here it is! I'm sorry it's very irrelevant to the plot... And um, very soap-opera-ish... Okay, overall, it was a bad chapter. My apologies.

Chapter 6 will (hopefully) include the Detective Boys (have you been wondering what happened to them?)! I just wanted to provide a little closure for our favorite 7-year old kids! Chapter 6 should also include Shinichi's date with Ran! DON'T WORRY! I am NOT a ShinRan fan! Just gotta add something about their relationship right? Otherwise, the story wouldn't make much sense...

Thanks again! PLEASE REVIEW! [;