AN: Happy Holidays everyone! To be honest, I thought I'd never update this fic again. But I continued to receive messages and reviews and I was really touched by the support you give this story, thanks guys. So this update and the updates to come are my presents for you. You rock!
Rrrrrriiiinnngg. The classroom's buzz started to quiet down and everybody sat in their places.
"Good morning Atsuko-sensei!", greeted the class as a woman with graying hair entered the room.
"Good morning. Today, you will welcome a new classmate.", and the teacher gestured to the door signalling the entrance of a young lady with short auburn hair.
"Hey, doesn't she look like...", Sonoko whispered to Ran.
Atsuko-sensei asked the new student to introduce herself briefly. With her eyes staring right at the back wall, the lady spoke. "Ohayou gozaimasu. I'm Shiho Miyano. I'm pleased to meet you."
"Everyone help her be at ease.", announced the kindly teacher. "You can take the vacant seat Miyano-san."
The sound of hushed whispers filled the room as all eyes followed the new student to her seat. She sat at the back row nearest to the window. Ran looked back and thought, that's where Shinichi used to sit.
The children flocked to their lockers to get their shoes. Ayumi suggested going to the Professor's place and the others agreed. "Everyone, I...", started Ai. Everyone turned to her, especially Conan who she has been ignoring all morning.
"I..I'd like you to meet someone." They all went outside and saw a high school student who looks just like Ai. "This is my cousin Shiho-neechan. She just came to Japan from England. She will be living here now."
Conan studied the two of them carefully and Ai avoided his gaze. The others quickly introduced themselves and Mitsuhiko can't help but blush. Shiho looked at Ai as if nudging her to say more and Ai continued, "I..."
The others looked at her intently. "Are you alright Ai-chain?", Ayumi gently inquired.
"I'm actually not feeling very well. I can't go to the Professor's place with you." She couldn't look them in the eye and kept her head bent low. "I'm sorry."
Ai ran as fast as she could fighting back the tears. She'll never see them again, not as Haibara Ai anyway, and she knows it's all for the best. Conan ran after her and the others were confused.
"Don't worry about Ai. She'll be alright.", assured Shiho. "You were going to the Professor's right? I'd love to meet him. May I go with you?"
The children all shouted yes in unison and were in better spirits. Ayumi looked back to look for Ai but they were now surrounded by other children, all eager to go home. The four walked on to the Professor's place.
Ai got out of the restroom in her true form and saw Conan waiting outside for her. She looked completely fine, like the restroom was a magical machine that transformed her to a different person. She was also wearing a high school uniform. "So Haibara Ai is really gone now.", said Conan.
"She never was.", was Shiho's silent reply.
"You didn't give them a proper goodbye. The children will be devastated."
"Only the children?", Shiho quipped. Conan looked up with slight surprise.
Shiho smiled a little and said, "Follow me."
The two headed to the faculty office where Rin was seated texting. "Take your seat kids.", smiled the red-haired lady.
'I have a surprise for you Gin. See you.' *sent* She put down her phone and faced the two students.
"As you well know, I have organized a little mystery trip a la Sherlock Holmes. You two are invited to go."
"I'm busy.", was Shiho's simple reply and Conan said he has homework.
"I thought you'd say that.", Rin replied with a smile. "To make things interesting, I have taken the liberty of kidnapping your children friends and the overweight Professor they usually visit."
The two were surprised to hear this but Shiho masked hers better than Conan's. Still, Conan saw the faint stiffness in her features and knew she wasn't in on this herself. After snapping out of his shock, Conan got out his Detective Badge.
"I see I caught your interest now.", Rin continued. "There's no use trying to stop it from happening tantei-san. It already has. Sherry here understands that."
Conan looked to Shiho and saw that she was indeed just sitting calmly. "So. Is that a yes?", Rin asked with a grin.
"Heiji, I need your help. Are you free?", Conan's worried voice spoke on one end.
"Yeah sure. What's up Kudo?"
"Hop on the next shinkansen to Yuzawa."
"Nice! We going skiing?"
"The organization has the Professor and the children. You need to help me save them. No police involved. Don't tell your Dad." Conan's voice was all business.
"Got it." Conan could hear shuffling on the other end as Heiji grabs a bag and prepares his stuff. "How long d'ya think this will last? So no skiing? Do I have to bring ski gear?"
"Just get your ass on the train Heiji. I'll text you the details." And the call ended. Heiji sighed. These Tokyo people, always on the go.
The Professor's house was left in order, as though nothing out of the ordinary occurred there. The organization always does clean work, thought Shiho. Then her mind flitted to how the Professor and the kids could have been kidnapped and she quickly shut out the thought. I hope they weren't in pain, she sighed.
Shiho traced the edge of the coffee table and sat on the couch. She could clearly imagine the Professor drinking coffee and reading the newspaper in front of her while she read a magazine herself. This made her smile. I will never be able to visit this place as Haibara Ai again, she thought. My feet can reach the floor now, she noted as she grazed them on the carpet. I can never bury my face in the Professor's warm stomach. He can never carry me around like a little girl.
Shiho was on the verge of tears as every corner of the house brought to her mind the sweet memories she had as Haibara Ai with the professor. The memory train came to a halt when the doorbell rang. Shiho smiled, got up and opened the door. It was Subaru catching his breath. "I came as soon as I read your text.", he said with a gasp.
"Did you run all the way here?", asked Shiho.
"Yes Princess.", Subaru's breathing was starting to normalize now. He entered the house and sat down. "I didn't want to get tangled up in rush hour traffic."
Shiho got some drinks from the kitchen and joined him on the couch. "Are you free for the weekend?"
Subaru took a sip and answered in a cheerful tone, "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"I guess.", Shiho leaned in closer to him and looked him in the eyes. "Will you be my Sherlock Holmes?"
Ran and Sonoko are walking home from school. Sonoko is discussing her winter plans and Ran absentmindedly nods while her mind is adrift. That new girl is filling her mind. She's a stranger but she feels so familiar. And the fact that she sits in Shinichi's seat now makes her feel like they are connected somehow. Bzzzzzttt. She is jolted from her daydreaming by a phone call. She was a little surprised when she saw the caller ID and she picked up, "Kazuha-chan. How are you?"
Sonoko was listening in on the other side of the phone. "Hello Ran-chan. I'm sorry, did I disturb you? I need your help!", her voice sounded tense.
"Yes, yes. How may I help you? Are you alright?"
"It's Heiji. He... He's off somewhere and I can't follow him because I'm going out with family.", Kazuha began to explain.
"I'm sure he'll be fine Kazuha-chan. Don't worry about him." was Ran's simple reassurance.
"B-but... It sounds really serious Ran-chan. I have a bad feeling about it. And he said he's going with Kudo-kun too. Has he told you anything?"
Hearing Kudo jolted a whole new level of attention in Ran and Sonoko was pressing her ear harder than ever. "Shinichi? He's with Shinichi you say?" Maybe that's why I've been having this uneasy feeling all day, thought Ran.
"Yes, they're together. I don't know much but I know they're headed to a ski resort in Yuzawa. I really have a bad feeling about this Ran-chan. Can you go there instead and update me? Heiji is no longer responding to me." Kazuha was obviously upset.
"Yes!", was Sonoko's loud reply before Ran could even answer. She grabbed Ran's phone and continued, "No problem Kazuha-chan. Ran and I can go to Yuzawa in your place. We'll keep you updated!"
Kazuha thanked them profusely and ended the call. "We're going?", asked Ran.
"Of course we are!", was Sonoko's exuberant reply. "I know you want to see Kudo-kun.", she teased.
"But what about oto-san..."
Sonoko dragged Ran to the detective agency and assured her that she will help Ran ask for permission. She will also shoulder all expenses so he has nothing to worry about. The two reached the agency and it was empty. Kogoro was not there. Sonoko started packing for Ran while Ran tried to call her father. "He's not picking up.", she said slightly worried.
"He's probably drunk somewhere or betting on horses. Don't worry about him.", and Sonoko started zipping the bag. "Let's go. I'm ready to go skiing."
"I don't think I should go without letting him know Sonoko. I haven't even prepared dinner yet."
"Oh please. Your dad is a grown man Ran. He can take care of himself. Just leave him a note or something. He'll pick up sooner or later.", Sonoko assured her. Ran was still hesitant to move on.
Sonoko looked at Ran intently. "Look, you always care for the old man. Don't you want to have some fun yourself?" She slung the bag in one arm and headed for the door. "I know you're dying to see your boyfriend. Let's go!"
Ran scribbled a note, took a last sweep of the room, a deep breath, and followed Sonoko outside.
"Keep your eyes on the road Mr. Holmes.", Shiho teased as she caught her pink-haired driver peering from the side.
Subaru gave a slight chuckle. "I just want to make sure you're alright. The game is afoot Dr. Watson."
Shiho was not okay. She was worried but it was pointless getting engulfed in all that. She had to have her wits about her. "I'm okay. I'm pretty confident Spirytus won't do any serious damage."
"But there's always this slight chance that everything crashes and burns and you're scared of that happening.", Subaru said in a sure tone which made Shiho look at him intently. This man, she thought. How can he read my mind?
Subaru smiled at her and she looked out the window. "Don't worry about it. I'm with you in this. Try to catch some sleep. It's a long drive and you need your energy."
"Can you really drive the whole way? I'm sorry I can't drive."
"It's alright Princess.", Subaru replied. "Why did you choose to drive instead of riding the shinkansen though?"
Shiho closed her eyes and smiled. Because I'd like to spend as much peace as I can with you before going to battle Mr. Holmes, she thought.