Starting Over

A/N: Hi again! First of all, I want to say HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I started this chapter on November 25, 2010 (and Thanksgiving Day in the United States, where I live) and finished two months later (February 14, 2011)! I think it's a great holiday (both of them, really) – and I'm going to take this chance to thank all of my readers and reviewers for devoting some of your time to my stories! It means more than you would think. I love you guys! (;

Anyways, back to the main topic! Starting Over is beginning to end! I'm getting ready to wrap up the story... Sorry, but it has to end eventually. ):

Thanks to those of you who took the time to review Chapter 9! I'll admit, it wasn't the best chapter. I'm working on it!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Detective Conan/Case Closed. ;D

(3rd Person POV)

At that very moment, Shinichi couldn't help but marvel at how unfair life was. Of course, he had no reason to think so. He was, after all, the Great Detective of the East, with wealthy, caring parents, many friends, and a very pretty girlfriend. And yet, here he was... staring blatantly at the young couple across the room with a flagrant look of shock and... disgust? Ran was eying him curiously. It suddenly occurred to him that he had just asked her to dance and she was waiting for him to lead.

"Oh, Ran, sorry, I just spaced out for a second," Shinichi chuckled. Just laugh it off...

He placed both hands gently on her waist, giving her a confident smile. They began to sway slowly to the music. It was a little awkward, yes, but he told himself that he was enjoying it.

The dance gave him some time to think. Ran still didn't seem particularly keen on starting a conversation, and truthfully, neither was he. They settled into a familiar silence. Shinichi couldn't help but sneak a glance at Shiho and Saguru. To his surprise, the young blonde chemist was looking right back at him. Shiho smirked, causing Shinichi to falter and nearly trip Ran, forcing the both of them to bump into another couple.

Apologizing profusely, the two hurried off the dance floor. When Shinichi looked back, Shiho was in deep conversation with Hakuba. He blinked, starting to smirk slowly.

"Shinichi?" Ran tapped his shoulder, "I'm going to the ladies' room, okay?"

"Sure, Ran," the young detective smiled. He headed over to an empty table in the back and proceeded to observe the ball. Well, actually, he proceeded to observe the couple across the room. Hakuba seems to be enjoying himself greatly, Shinichi thought, grimacing. Shiho, on the other hand... well, knowing her, she'd probably rather be anywhere else. I'll bet the sneaky detective talked her into this against her will! Shinichi paused. Well, it's not like Shiho would be the type to be talked into anything she truly doesn't want to do... So... does that mean she wanted to come to the ball with Hakuba? Shinichi's frown deepened unintentionally. Nah, of course not! I mean, why w –

"Kudo!"

"Huh?" Shinichi started, nearly toppling out of his chair. "Sh-Shiho!" he glared at her. "Don't do that!"

"What's wrong with you? I called your name three times," the blonde had already taken the seat besides his.

"It's nothing," Shinichi replied. He wasn't unaware of the huge smile that had made it's way to his lips. He felt relieved... no, content. It was an awfully disturbing feeling.

Shiho had also noticed. "Seriously, Kudo. What's wrong? You're glowing."

"Am I?" the detective replied, still smiling, "Thank you."

"It wasn't a compliment, you arrogant – "

"My, aren't we a little too mature for insults?" Shinichi cut in with a bored expression, faintly noting how the strange feeling seemed to be growing as he watched her hand twitch, as if it itched to make contact with his face.

"Oh, yeah, because you're so mature – "

"Ah, Miyano-san?" Saguru interrupted the two teenagers. He was rewarded with death glares from the both of them. "Eh, bad time?"

Shiho forced herself to take a deep breath. "Not at all," she replied calmly to a rather amused Saguru.

"Well, then," the blonde detective smiled, holding out his arm for her to take. "May I have this dance?"

No. Shiho's thoughts came out instinctively. No, you may not. But she reconsidered. He had, after all, had the courtesy to take her to the dance... and keep up an intelligent conversation without trying to make a move on her. She supposed she owed him that much. Gosh, I'm going soft... I got to stop spending too much time with Kudo.

"Well, alright, then," Shiho responded, taking his hand and letting him guide her towards the center of the gym. Shinichi was left sitting alone with a slight frown on his face. The feeling was gone. Abruptly, the young detective stood up and quickly weaved his way through the crowd of students, making a beeline for the doors.

"Shinichi! Where are you going?" Ran was suddenly in front of him, having just come back from the restroom.

"Nowhere, Ran," her date replied not unkindly, and continued to gently push past her and the other students. At last, he was outside of the school, walking briskly along a familiar path, deep in thought.

Why am I...? What–? I – why...? Oi, I can't even think today! Shinichi smiled shamefully up at the moon. It's Shiho, he thought to himself simply.

Most think of him as rather intelligent in deductive reasoning and criminal cases, but completely dense when it comes to romance. Which, he supposed, was somewhat true...But Shinichi wasn't a complete idiot. No, he had noticed Ran's odd behavior recently. And yes, he realized that his romantic feelings for her seemed to be diminishing. And, believe it or not, he even recognized that whenever Shiho was around, that feeling of belonging would come to him and he'd have a strange desire to impress – to please her. He also knew that if Sonoko heard his thoughts, she'd immediately claim he had fallen deeply and unconditionally in love with Shiho, and they were bound to spend a lifetime pining after one another, caught up in a love triangle filled with heated passion and intensity. After all, what kind of detective would he be if he did not know these things? If he could not observe even the simplest of details? A rather stupid tantei-san, as Shiho would've said. Shinichi chuckled to himself.

But being the detective he was, he could not help but consider all of the possibilities. Even Sonoko's. (Well, not really Sonoko's.) And being the detective that he was, he could not help but wonder, why? Why was he drifting away from Ran, his only childhood friend and crush, whom he never let another girl get in the way of his relationship with? What was it about Shiho that made her an exception? Scratch that, Shinichi thought, What isn't it about Shiho that makes her an exception? She's just plain different.

Yes, different. But was that necessarily a bad thing?

No, of course not. He continued his pondering. But honestly, I can't love Ran one minute, get over her the next, and suddenly fall for Shiho! It's impossible! It's always been Ran! I always believed she was perfect for me –

"Gah! ...Shinichi!"

"Eh? Oh, Hakase! Sorry," Shinichi laughed, helping the professor pick up dropped groceries. He had been so deep in thought, he had barely noticed as he walked straight into the old man.

"It's alright, it's alright. I should have been paying more attention... Something wrong, Shinichi? Shouldn't you be at the dance?" Agasa questioned, scooping up the rest of the fallen groceries.

"I... just needed some fresh air," the teenager said simply, glancing off towards the general direction of the school. He had walked a lot further than he thought – he couldn't even see the high school anymore.

"Are you sure you're okay? You seem awfully distracted," the professor pressed on.

"Well, no..," Shinichi began, before slowly drifting off. Observing the two large paper bags Agasa was holding, he changed the subject. "Need help with those, Hakase? I got time."

"No, no, Shinichi," the Professor brushed him off quickly, blushing slightly for whatever reason, "I've got it fine!" The next second, however, his arms gave away and all the contents in the bags spilled out once more, covering the sidewalk with cans of soup, jars of various sauces, and a nice, fat chicken. The detective bent over to help pick up said items once more.

Holding up what appeared to be a wheel of Italian cheese, Shinichi frowned. "What's all this for, Hakase? Didn't Shiho already buy groceries? It looks like you're about to cook a huge, fancy dinner, or something." Agasa blushed again.

"Really? You are, aren't you," Shinichi was taken back, "Why are you blushing? Wait – don't tell me... You're on a date!" The Professor's face reddened further.

"Oh, look at the time!" he pointed hastily to an imaginary watch on his wrist, "Better get back home! Well, see you later, Shinichi!" And he tried to make a run for it. The detective, however, was not finished with him.

"Oi, hold up!" he pulled the professor back towards him, swiftly catching one of the bags before it hit the ground once more. "You are on a date! With whom? Don't tell me it's that fashion designer lady*!"

"Shh!" Agasa silenced him quickly, blushing so deeply, the hair (or rather, the lack of hair) on his head stood out vividly against his beet red face. He looked behind him frantically, as if he was worried someone would overhear. "Okay, okay, you got me! I'm preparing dinner later tonight, since you and Shiho are going to be gone for the whole evening! Except, someone isn't at school like they're supposed to be!"

"Well, maybe I'd just rather not be at the dance right now," Shinichi stated simply.

"Hm, why?" The Professor asked, his eyes widening curiously. "Ah, girl problems?"

Shinichi frowned. "No. That's not it."

"Hm, alright then," Agasa responded with a shrug. "By the way, did you notice Ai-kun's dress tonight?"

"Eh?" Shinichi started, "Wh-Why should I? What about it?"

"Oh, nothing!" the Professor said unconvincingly. "Just.. um, go back to the dance and.. er, dance.. and stuff.." Agasa laughed sheepishly, "See you later, Shinichi!" And he headed off with his groceries, leaving a flustered detective behind.

Shinichi sighed. No use staying out here any longer..

He headed back to school. Within minutes, the blasting music reached his ears again. He stood almost twenty feet from the door, not yet ready to go in.

"Shinichi?" a timid voice spoke up from behind him.

"Ran?" Shinichi turned, surprised to see his childhood friend outside. "Shouldn't you be inside?"

Ran scoffed, "Shouldn't you, Shinichi?" The detective laughed.

"Okay, fine. Let's go in then."

Ran shook her head. Shinichi paused, confused. "I need to talk to you," she spoke quietly, almost nervously. She began towards the back of the school without another word.

"Er, okay," Shinichi followed. Ran stopped under a huge oak tree, and placed her right palm on the trunk of the tree. She smiled briefly, before turning to face her date once more.

"Remember this tree, Shinichi?" she asked.

Her friend was rather startled at the question. "Um, should I?" he responded, wondering why she would bring up the subject.

Ran sighed. "Of course you don't. But I'm a little surprised. It was only three years ago, compared to the whole childhood we spent together."

Shinichi was still confused. "What's so special about this tree?"

Ran whipped around to face him, and for a second, he thought that she was going to hit him. But the anger quickly evaporated from her pretty face, only to be replaced by sadness.

"You see?" She spoke up after what seemed to be a long silence. But it was as if she was talking to the tree, rather than him. "He doesn't remember. He doesn't remember how he gave me that rose on Valentine's Day** and told me..." Ran trailed off, and laughed softly.

Shinichi frowned. Oh, I remember now... that day three years ago, in our first year of high school.. He recalled buying the rose from a local florist, and asking her to meet him "at the big oak tree" before school... How could he forget? He had been planning to confess to her, but instead, blushing madly, only handed her the rose and said "Here you go, you big crybaby. I-I figured you be mad if I didn't get you some stupid gift, so.. so here." And as an afterthought, added "Happy Valentine's Day, Ran" and dashed off as quickly as he can.

How could he forget such a thing? Any fond childhood memory involving Ran was usually stored in a special place in his brain, so that he was able to easily look back at them affectionately. But ever since he became Conan and met Ai, those childhood memories were replaced by memories from his second childhood.. and memories of Ai – their little "debates", those rare images of her smiling fondly at the Detective Boys, and so much more.

"Well, it doesn't matter." Ran's statement brought him back to reality. "It was only a little thing.. but.. then again, it's all the little things that matter, isn't it?" Shinichi only stared back solemnly, absolutely unsure of what to say.

"Shinichi, I have to tell you something." Ran sounded beyond nervous. She sighed, again. "While you were gone – and you were gone a long time – I.. I met a guy on one of Dad's cases."

Shinichi continued to stare. Ran looked at him for a moment, and continued, "I want to be honest with you, Shinichi. But I was absolutely smitten." She smiled at the tree again. "He's a great guy. He studies hard and plans to go to medical school. He respects my space, and even acknowledged that I had feelings for you... And don't look at me like that, Shinichi, I didn't cheat on you!" She cut him off before he could begin angrily. "But Shinichi, you need to understand. Even if I did pursue some kind of relationship with the guy, I wouldn't be cheating on you." She paused.

"And best of all, he listened. He listened to every one of my problems. He was there, Shinichi, something, I'm sorry to say, you did not fulfill one hundred percent. Do you get it?"

Of course he got it. She wasn't just telling him that she was pretty much over him. She was telling him that their time apart had interfered with their relationship. She was telling him that it was okay to move on. She did.

Shinichi nodded. "Thanks, Ran," he smiled, causing the girl to blink in surprise of how easy it had been. "I understand. But, one question.. where was Conan?"

Ran stopped to think. "I think, he was off somewhere with his friend, Ai-chan."

Shinichi blinked, and almost laughed out loud. "Alright. Well, Ran, I'll.. I'll see you later, okay? Good luck with your guy." He winked at her, knowing that she probably still kept in contact with him.

Ran blushed, and winked back, "Good luck with your girl." She laughed, and went back inside, leaving Shinichi to deal with his own thoughts.

Somehow, the fact that Ran had basically told him that she was choosing someone else over him did not bother Shinichi quite so much. There was no jealousy, no bitterness. It was clear to him that Ran wasn't the only one who had changed.

He was there, Shinichi. Ran had said. She was right. She deserved someone who was there for her, all the way. Everyone deserved that. And now that he thought about it, Shiho (or Ai) was the only one who was always there for him, whether he needed help on a particularly difficult case, or just some companionship. And now that he thought about it, he hadn't exactly done the same for her.. always running off with Ran while he was still Conan and ignoring most of her needs... leaving her alone in a high school where she had almost no friends...

Well, no time to dwell on the past, Shinichi thought to himself as he practically sprinted back to the dance.

He needed to talk to a certain scientist.

A/N: Yay! Done! Anyways, sorry for the long update, blah blah blah.. You get the idea. Lol. Um, please review! And have a great Valentine's Day! I love you guys!

* Fusae Campbell Kinoshita, Agasa's supposed love interest. (;

** Okay, so maybe Japan celebrates White Day instead of Valentine's Day... Or maybe they celebrate both? Well, make it whatever you want!

Always,

AnnieAltman88