(Before reading, please press the (3/4) story width button above for easier viewing pleasure.)

Author's Note: So, I'm back. Sorry for the long wait, but trust me, I will make it up to you. A little catch up though, I'm now a college engineering freshman. Balancing my life as a student, campus journalist, and a creative writer is hard. I have so little time now, and my social life is intact too which makes it all the more difficult. I'm still adjusting, but that won't be an excuse to ignore this. My writing got a whole lot better too. I hope some of you notice that. I used to be a whining brat in the past chapters. Enough of myself, let's go back to the story! The Reminiscence arc is over! Let's start to a new along with the New Year!

Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan. How many times should I mention this?

The Moment Where Everything Was Lost

Part I: The Eclipse

"Things change. And friends leave. And life doesn't stop for anybody."

Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower)

Chapter XXVI: Beginnings and Endings

The night sky was at peace, but as the moon revolved slowly up to the point where the sun would rise, the winds grew stronger with every wave that crashed through the rocks. Like any ending would come out of a beginning, a new start from an untimely end inched its way out, signaling the tides to start changing.

The sea breeze engulfed the remnants of an abandoned sea shore. Nothing remained but the ruins of old wood shacks and worn-out cottages. The ocean beside the left-out of what used to be a tourist attraction was full of trash of all sorts, drifting along its edge, going back and forth with the clashes of the current.

Watching all of these, a woman in black stared far away to the stretch of the horizon, waiting for the sun to shower the dark shores with its light.

"The tides are changing," a voice behind her whispered.

"I'm well aware of it," she replied. The man in black approached her, meaning only to assure his presence beside her.

The first rays of light made its way to them, reflecting through the waters, creating a line of dancing lights that fluttered as the waters danced with the current. It was a beautiful sight. She gave off a smile and said, "This used to be the most beautiful place in Japan. It was never crowded which made me enjoy it more, but what grabbed my attention long before setting foot on the waters and its fine sad was the sunrise that could only be seen here."

"What happened to this place?"

"It was discovered," her voice shifted to a melancholic tone. "They noticed how it could be internationally acclaimed as a tourist spot. And, it eventually did become one. In the end, fame itself brought its demise. It lost its luster and warmth, but even so, the beauty of the sunrise still remained," she smiled continuing her story.

"Is that why you come here all the time? To feel nostalgic of the past?"

"I don't need nostalgia. The reason why I go here is to remember the entire purpose of what we are doing."

"Regrets?"

"None, so far. Regrets are for weak people. I'd rather not show any sign of weakness. We've gone too long and went through so much to get where we are right now. We won't anymore stop. Too much have said and done already."

Silence came after she spoke. It only broke when the man reminded her, "It's time."

She let out a long relieve sigh, "Being boss never has its perks."

"You control your subordinates," he stated. "It's more of a duty than a privilege. They obey without doubt, but of course, this organization is known to have brains. Most of our agents are thick-headed, conceited pricks. Obey me or not, they all have an underlying reason,"

"But, they are still afraid of you."

"It's rather fascinating. I've never done anything for them to fear me actually."

"It's because you're our boss. It's automatic to think that you're something else underneath your sweet smile. What's wrong with playing safe?"

"Elementary, my dear Rum," she said turning her back and walking away. Rum ended up being confused, but after the long thought that went through his head, he looked once more at the half risen sun. Sure enough, the tides were changing, and now was their right time to move.

Author's Note: Just a little recap, a few days has passed since the infiltration in the past chapters. Shinichi's still in his older form. Ran knows that there is a case concerning Shinichi and her, but the secret of Conan being Shinichi is still as it is.

"Kudo-kun, if you keep taking the new antidote, it'll build up immunity against it. The effects of the new prototype are too good to be true," Haibara explained over breakfast that morning at the professor's house. "Haibaraaa, give me a break. If there were any downsides, don't you think that a week would be enough for it to show?" Shinichi pointed out.

"I just don't want to spend my precious time making you tons of the antidote just for you to use it for flirting with Ran," her dead glare, eyeing on Shinichi.

"You know it's not like that," he lied. "Be careful Kudo-kun. You know things aren't going to be easy starting now."

"I know which is why I should maintain this form. Being Conan has its limit. I could do more with me as it is."

The doorbell rang and Shinichi ran right through without waiting for Haibara's reply. It was Ran, waiting at the doorstep, in her uniform. "Idiot! We're going to be late!" she shouted right off the bat.

"Okay, okay, you're so annoying."

He slung his bag behind him and grabbed Ran's hand and ran off to walk. Ran was caught off guard. She was not accustomed to Shinichi showing any signs of affection. A walk was all she wanted to experience again. "What's wrong with you? We are a couple," he chuckled. Ran remained silent, looking flushed with redness.

The school welcomed Shinichi with open arms. People from other rooms went out the corridor just look at him. Most were happy to see him once more, some even clapped. His usual girl admirers lined up and cheered in high pitch tones. Shinichi, being the arrogant man he really was, laughed in triumph and pride, all while holding Ran's hand.

He opened his classroom's door and shouted, "Good morning everyone! I'm back!"

"Kudo! The rumors were right!" a man said. Whispers and laughter filled the room. "Kudoooo! You're just right on time! There's a new hot teacher! We never got to peeked at hot girls the same way we did when we were with you!" one enthusiastic classmate of Shinichi exclaimed which as accompanied by a cheer afterwards.

"Idiot, are you blind? Sorry guys, already-," he pulled in Ran to his arms until she fell slightly towards him, "-taken." He finished, giving her a small kiss on the cheek.

The kiss became too much of a shock that left her all red and speechless. With her big eyes glaring at Shinichi, she just stayed in his arms and remained silent, shuddering occasionally and checking if reality was still intact with her.

"Ohhhhh, took you long enough. Ran-chan's been waiting forever," one of his girl classmates pointed out. "I know, so to make up for the loss time, I'm going to be beside her 24/7!" he laughed, giving of a devious smile towards Ran. "Idiot! What are you fantasizing! You pervert!" she smacked him with her back and chased him around the room.

The years that passed without Shinichi felt nothing now. Running around the classroom and laughing, it was back to when everything began. With this new start, Ran prayed nothing more than to have more time with him, for she knew that one day, something will make them part ways once more.

The door opened to a full slam. A woman with dark red hair entered; she wore the usual teacher uniform, but her presence was different. Shinichi fell silent at her sight. She wore glasses and the gleam from her eyes was different from the start. She stared at him with piercing intent.

"You must be Kudo-kun?"

"Yeah,"

"The famous High School detective, well, I believe we haven't met. I'm Yami Furukawa, your homeroom teacher," she fixed her glasses and walked on behind the teacher's desk. All of the other people took their seats leaving him the only standing.

"Yami, as in darkness?"

She gave an agreeing nod and pointed him to his seat. The rest of the period went on with Shinichi eyeing on the new teacher. He was sure that something was wrong with her. He could sense it. She may look innocent, but as a detective, he knew better than to judge a book by its cover.

"Ran, when did that teacher come here?" he asked during lunch.

"Just before when I was kidnapped. I've only seen her for three times counting today. Why, is something wrong?"

"I have a bad feeling about her."

"She looks strict, but I think she's nice all in all. Maybe you're overthinking."

"I hope so."

Before lunch could end, a scream echoed through the entire hallway, reaching everyone in the classroom. Shinichi acted quickly and didn't waste a second. He ran towards the far end of the hallway where the scream came from.

It came from the laboratory head personnel's office. It was their lab professor and in there lying motionless in chair was his old laboratory professor. He grabbed the handle of the door and slid it to a close.

"Nobody come near. Sensei, please move away from the door," he ordered. "Shinichi! What's going on?" Ran asked, running towards him.

He didn't reply. He was busy turning his head, looking for something out of place, something that felt wrong. "What are we doing! Let's rush him to the hospital!" the teacher near the door said.

"You were the one who saw the body. Didn't you notice? His lips were in a violet shade. Veins were visible near the collar of his neck. Scratch marks were also noticeable below his jaw. He's been poisoned."

"We were looking for him for a long time now, and since the doors were locked, we were worried that something might happen to him, so we called the janitor to open the door. That's when we saw him like this."

"Where's the original key?"

"There, beside his mug on the table," pointing on the key on the table. "Suicide?" one whisper came from the crowd that was forming.

"No, I fear this is a-,"

"A locked room murder case, I'm a right, Mr. High School Detective?" It was his homeroom teacher.

The tension shifted; Shinichi felt that there really was something different about his teacher. He was sure of it. "Who are you?" he asked, ignoring the crowd.

"Me? I'm your homeroom teacher," acting innocently while she played with her long dark red hair.

"You came here late yet we were only a few rooms away. I saw you going upstairs. There's nothing on the third floor other than the faculty room for the senior teachers. You checked the window didn't you? And there, you looked if there was a possibility for the culprit using the window to escape. You have traces of dust on the waistline of your uniform. Judging from the shape, it could only be from leaning on the window sill to look far down. How'd you know that it was a murder after hearing the scream?"

"You carry your name with such passion, Mr. High School Detective. I heard the door shut. Being near the door, I heard it shut then came a scream after a couple of seconds. From that, one could easily deduce that the scream was…fake. You came here with the doors opened, but I heard the door shut before, so why was it opened twice?" smirking as she finished her explanation.

Shinichi ran to the third floor to look outside from the view there. "Who is she? How could she be two steps ahead of me? She isn't the murdered either?" he thought.

"The window wasn't used," it was her again. They were alone in the faculty room.

"Who are you?" he asked one more time.

Step by step, she walked slowly towards Shinichi and leaned towards his ear, whispering, "I'm the boss of the Black Organization, E-do-ga-wa-kun." And Shinichi froze there, unable to move, shocked from what he heard.

Coming out of the shadows and into the main stage, the prelude ended. The Black Organization has started to move.

Author's Note: I hope you liked this chapter! Mark your calendars everybody! Next chapter comes out January 16, 2012! Reviews everyone!

Coming Soon: Chapter 27: Retaliation