Four points of the same star
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Detective Conan.
FOUR POINTS OF THE SAME STAR Chapter 19: Preparations and a confession.
"Shinichi, Ryu, wake up!"
The two boys woke up with a start.
Someone was knocking hard on the door and calling them. Ryu managed to get up and went to open the door, still half asleep.
"Rei?" he said, recognising the person in front of him. "For heaven's sake.. Do you know what time is it? And, by the way, what do you want?"
The girl stared at him.
"What do I want?" she repeated, "Your memory's deceiving you, Ryu."
The boy looked at her blankly. In the meanwhile, Shinichi had got up too and he approached to the door with a sleepy look.
"What's going on?" he asked, stifling a yawn.
"'Ni- chan? Do you remember what we have to do?" Rei asked, turning to him.
"Well... ehm..." Shinichi stammered, ".. No."
Rei shook her head in disbelief.
"I don't believe it. And to think that you were the one that decided everything." she said, "Anyway, since it seems that your brains are still unplugged, I'll refresh your memories.
Today is Monday and a week ago, Matt, Yukiko-san and Kuroba-kun had been here to talk with us. Ryu, you decided to wait a few days before doing anything and Shinichi, you said that we could wait a week and then.."
"Move to my house." he finished, his mind clearing "Yeah, I said that. Sorry, I forgot."
"Oh, yes, we had to clean the house today." Ryu said.
"Finally! Your memories are back." Rei remarked sarcastically, "Anyway, Shiho is up too and we have just made breakfast. So, if you two hurry up, we can leave before nine."
"All right." the two boys mumbled, "See you downstairs."
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"Are they coming?" Shiho asked as Rei came in the kitchen.
"Yes, they'll be down in a few minutes." she replied, "You know, they didn't even remember what we had to do today. When I woke them up, they looked at me blankly: I had to explain them everything."
Shiho smirked and took a sip of coffee. Rei was just helping herself to a piece of toast, when Shinichi came in, followed by Ryu who was carrying a bundle of newspapers.
"Good morning." they said as they sat down.
"Good morning." the girls replied.
"They have just delivered these." Ryu said, dividing the newspapers: two were Japanese and the other two were American. He handed the local papers to Shinichi and Shiho while he took a foreign paper and handed the other to Rei. They had decided to buy so many newspapers only to be informed of everything and to see how Matt's work was going in America.
Shinichi quickly flipped through the pages but he didn't find anything that he could call strange. There was the usual news, nothing manifest or suspicious. He put the paper down and started to have breakfast. Shiho followed him suite: there wasn't anything on her paper either. Ryu and Rei, instead were still reading.
"Miyano, where's Agase?" Shinichi asked.
"He's fast asleep." Shiho replied, "I heard him mutter something like -I'm tired- and -I'm not young like you-."
Shinichi grinned, imagining the old scientist when he said this, and went on eating breakfast.
Shiho glanced at Rei.
"Anything interesting?" she asked.
"A few bank robberies that have been prevented by the police..." Rei replied, "And a gang of drug dealers that has been caught."
"And two police officers that have been arrested because they were selling out information about local police's activities." Ryu added, "Matt's working well."
"Yeah, that's the second gang that is caught in New York." Shinichi remarked, "FBI caught a group of counterfeits a few days ago."
"I wonder if the Organization has realized what's going on." Shiho said, "The activities that make them receive money are slowing falling down."
"And their informers' system is going to fall too." Rei said, "Matt has his suspects and in another couple of weeks, all the double crossers will be caught."
"I won't be so overhasty." Ryu remarked, "Matt knows the risks he's go against and, since he's not the only one to be involved, he'll take it slow."
"In other words, it's useless to hope that we'll be pulled in action now." Rei said, drinking her coffee, "We will have to wait a few months as Matt has said."
Ryu smiled slightly and nodded.
"Yeah and we've got to go to school and behave as normal transfer students." he said, "By the way, has anyone come up with a good story to explain why we are here, where we're from and everything?"
"Well, since nearly everyone knows that I'm a detective and they think I've been in America working on cases for the past months, we could say that we've worked together -without mentioning FBI or the Organization of course- and, as for who you are..." Shinichi said, thoughtfully, "We can say that Ryu and Miyano have always lived in America because of their parents' work, while Rei can say that she moved to America from Europe because she wanted to improve her studies. You see, truth mixed with a bit of falsehood." He had said this very fast and a blank silence greeted his words. Shinichi looked up and saw that the other three were staring at him. "Well... I thought it was a good story.. But.. if you don't want.."
"You should write a book, 'Ni-chan." Rei remarked.
"That's quite a story." Ryu said, finishing his breakfast.
"Yes." Shiho agreed.
Shinichi grinned, glad that his idea was good.
"Write a book?" he said, standing up, "No way! Dad's enough for that."
The girls and Ryu smiled and got up too. They cleared everything, leaving Agase's breakfast on the table, and left the kitchen.
"I hope the house isn't in very bad conditions." Shinichi said, as he got the keys, "It's been months since I've cleaned it up."
"Well, we're in four." Ryu remarked, "It shouldn't take us a lot of time to do it."
"You're wrong." Rei said, "Shinichi's house is enormous: believe me, it will take us two days, at the very least to clean it properly."
"Really? I didn't look around when I was inside, last time." Ryu admitted, "I just put some of my things in a room and left."
"We'll see now." Shiho said, "Anyway, Kudo-kun, something wrong?
Shinichi was staring at Rei and her. He looked up when she made the question.
"No, it's just, that... Are you two coming like that?" he asked, pointing to their clothes.
"What's wrong with them?" Rei asked, looking down at herself and at Shiho. She was wearing a pair of jeans, her usual white blouse and her denim jacket, that she had turned into a waistcoat, after that Scotch's shot had torn her right sleeve. Shiho was wearing a pair of dark navy pants and a sleeveless shirt.
"Nothing, but we're going to clean my house and your clothes won't last very long inside." Shinichi replied. He pointed to Ryu and himself. They were both wearing old clothes: a pair of faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt (Shinichi), black jeans and the old white shirt he used at the bar (Ryu).
Understanding what he meant, Rei nodded.
"Well, you may be right but I didn't bring any old clothes along with me." she said.
"And I haven't got any clothes with me." Shiho said, "Neither old or new: I'm still borrowing Rei's things."
"You should go shopping one of these days." Shinichi remarked, "My mom left you three a credit card and you should use it."
"A step at a time. We're transfer students, remember?" Shiho said, sarcastically, "First we have to settle ourselves, then I'll think about my garments."
Shinichi shrugged.
"Wait a second, then." he said.
He went upstairs, leaving the other three at the door. He returned a few moments later with some of his clothes and handed them to the two girls.
"I know that they're not your size but, since we're just cleaning, who cares, right?" he said.
Shiho and Rei nodded and went upstairs to change.
Ryu, in the meanwhile, was flipping through the pages of a magazine that was on the hall's cupboard. He put it away and looked up.
"Hey, Shinichi, do still want to buy a motorbike?" he asked.
"Well, I'm not sure." the other replied, "Why?"
"I was thinking that we could ride to school instead of walking. It would be faster and safer, since we would be wearing the helmets. No one could recognize us."
"That's an idea." Shinichi said, "Wait, what about Rei's scooter? We could use that."
Ryu shook his head.
"It's totally useless: it broke down because nobody used it for months." he said, "I think Professor tried to repair it but without success."
"Well, I think I should buy a motorbike, then." Shinichi said, "But what about the driving license?"
"That's not a problem. You just have to give a test: it's easy, don't worry." Ryu said, "You can give and pass the test and buy the bike, all in the same day."
"The girls want to do some shopping. I'll do it when they decide the day. By the way, you'll have to come with me: someone has to help choose the right motorbike."
"No problem." Ryu replied.
Just then, Shiho and Rei came down. They were both wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. The two boys couldn't help thinking that they looked pretty even with those baggy clothes.
"Shall we go?" Rei said as she approached them, "It's already a quarter past nine."
"Sure." Shinichi said, tossing his keys and catching them in midair. He opened the front door and stepped out, followed by the others.
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'Oh, my...'
This was Shinichi's first thought when they went inside his house and opened the windows. The last time he had been there, it was when he thought Rei had died: he hadn't bothered to look around or notice his house's state since he had other things in his mind but now...
They were all standing in the hall and Shiho, Ryu and Rei had Shinichi's same look.
"Just two days?" Shiho asked Rei, "You're still sure of that?"
"Ehm... not really." she replied.
Ryu walked over to a table and wiped a huge speck of dust with his index finger.
"Ehm.. I think it's better if we get started." he said, hastily cleaning his hand, "There's quite a lot to do in here."
"Yeah, by the way, how do we set to work?" Shinichi asked, "We divide the house in four parts and each of us cleans one?"
"Sounds good to me." Rei said. Shiho nodded in agreement.
"It's all right for me, too." Ryu said, "But, first you'll have to you'll have to... ehm... give us a tour of the house. Rei was right: it's enormous."
"Sure. Follow me." Shinichi said and guided the others around, "Ok, this is the hall. On the right, there's the kitchen: there are brooms, dusting clothes and other things in that tall cupboard in the corner. Whoever gets to clean the kitchen will have a hard time cleaning the fridge... Anyway, on the left, there's the living room and the studio, behind those glass doors."
"Wow." Ryu said, under his breath, as he looked around. The living room was large with the door-window that gave onto the lawn but the studio was even bigger. It had a well-supplied library, two desks with as much chairs and a small couch.
"Are these all your father's?" Ryu asked Shinichi, pointing to the many books' shelves.
"Well not everything. There's a bit of my stuff, too." he replied, "All the books that couldn't in my room."
"What's that?" Shiho asked, pointing to a small room, right under the staircase.
"It's a bathroom, though no one really uses it except for the washing machine. We can say that it's a.. laundry room." Shinichi replied, "Well, that's all for downstairs. Let's go up."
They went up the stairs and found themselves in front of a long corridor. The only source of light came from the window behind them, so Shinichi switched the light on.
"There are only rooms here, right?" Rei said, looking around, "Coming to think of it, does everyone gets a single room or should we share a room in two?"
"There are plenty of rooms. You can each take one for yourselves." Shinichi said. He walked in front of the others. "Well, this is mine." He stopped in front of the first room on the right and opened the door.
"Ugh, this place needs quite a cleaning." he said with a grimace as he stepped in and opened the window to let some fresh air come in. He turned around. "You can choose the room you want. Go ahead."
There were other two rooms on the right after Shinichi's one and three were on the left side. Ryu stopped in front of the first room on the left, opposite Shinichi's.
"I'll take this one." he said, "I've stored my things here."
Rei walked to his side.
"I've put my things in this one." she said, "So, I'll take this."
"Ok. What about you, Miyano?" Shinichi asked.
"It's the same for me. Anyway, I choose this one." she said, pointing to the room right next to his.
"All right. So, you're all settled up, now. The last room on the right is my parents' one while the on the left is another guest room." Shinichi continued with his tour, "While down there, in the center, that's the bathroom and next to it, that small room, it's a storeroom. And that's all... no, there's also the lawn and the terrace.
"Quite enough." Ryu said, "Where do we start from?"
"Let's start from upstairs: the rooms are smaller than the ones that are downstairs." Rei suggested, "We should finish earlier."
"All right, then." Shinichi said, "Everyone to work."
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It was nearly one o'clock when the four teenagers had finished cleaning their rooms.
Shinichi had remembered that there was a vacuum cleaner and a vaporizer in the house: he searched in the storeroom and found them. In this way, they cleaned the rooms thoroughly.
"Phew. Well, that's better." Shinichi said, looking at his room. "One can live here now."
He had made his bed and changed the sheets. He had dusted every inch of his shelves, desk and furniture. He had broomed and mopped the floor. He had also cleaned the windows.
'Yeah, that's lots better.' he thought, 'By the way, I've got to remember to bring my computer
back. I can't leave it in Agase's lab.'
"'Ni-chan, have you done?" Rei asked, peeking in the room.
"Yes. I've just finished." he replied, "What about you?"
"We've done, too. Shiho and Ryu have gone down to Agase's to get something for lunch: sandwiches and something to drink, I think. In this way, we could get to work soon."
"I hope we'll finish this floor before afternoon. The down floor will take lots more of time."
"I hope so too." Rei agreed, "Anyway, there's a bundle of sheets, blankets and pillow cases out here: we've all changed the sheets in our rooms but what about the old ones?"
"I'll put the washing machine tomorrow. Just leave them in my room and I'll do it when we finish the cleaning of the house."
"All right." Rei said, dropping the stack of sheets on Shinichi's chair. She slowly looked around the room and smiled slightly to herself.
"You know.." she said, "It's nearly four years since I've been in here."
"But nothing has changed." Shinichi remarked.
"Yes, it's all the same and you're still obsessed by Holmes and soccer." Rei said teasingly.
Shinichi grimaced at her and she grinned. Suddenly, she tilted her head.
"I think they're back." she remarked, "I heard the door."
"Well, let's go then." Shinichi said, cleaning his hands on a cloth, "I'm starving."
The two quickly washed their hands in the bathroom and went downstairs to join the others.
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Shiho and Ryu had gone back to Agase's house.
As they opened the door, Professor greeted them.
"Shiho-kun, Ryu-kun, welcome back." he said, "I thought it would have taken you much more time to clean out Shinichi-kun's house..." He stopped and stared at two teenagers and hastily tried to hide the smile that was creeping on his face.
But the blondes noticed it and, looking at each other, they understood the reason.
"We're pretty messed up, aren't we?" Ryu said with a slight smile, noticing the specks of dust and the traces of cobwebs on Shiho's shirt.
"Yes, quite a bit." she replied, noticing that Ryu's white shirt was now light gray.
"So, how is the cleaning going on?" Agase asked as they dusted themselves.
"We're still doing the first floor." Shiho said, "We just did our rooms."
"We just came here to get something for lunch." Ryu added.
"I knew that you would have come, so I made some sandwiches and there are two bottles of lemonade in the fridge." Agase said before disappearing in the lab.
"Thanks, Professor." Shiho said, as she and Ryu went in the kitchen. There was a plastic box full of sandwiches and four plastic glasses on the table. Ryu opened the fridge and got the lemonades while Shiho found a bag and put everything in.
"What's in the sandwiches?" Ryu asked, handing her the bottles.
Shiho opened the box.
"Chicken and some are with ham and also sliced hard-boiled eggs." she replied.
"Really? Wait a second then..." he said and walked to the pantry, opened it and started searching for something. Shiho looked at him with mild curiosity.
"What are you looking for?" she asked.
"I thought I saw it the other day..." he said to himself, "Oh, here it is."
Ryu approached her and handed her a small bottle. Shiho stared at it.
"What's this?" she asked, taking it, "Tabasco sauce?"
He looked at her.
"I like strong flavours." he said simply.
"Where are you going to put it anyway?
"On the hard boiled eggs." he replied, "Where else?"
"You eat hard boiled eggs with Tabasco sauce?"
"Yes and they're good. You should try."
"No, thanks. I'll take your word."
Ryu grinned, seeing Shiho's expression. It was one of the rare times she showed her real emotions.
"All right, I won't insist." he said, "But you don't know what you're missing."
"What a pity.." Shiho muttered under her breath but Ryu heard her.
"You know, if I get to do some cooking I could slip some of the sauce in your share." he said, "Then, you'll see that it doesn't taste bad.
"But, thanks God, it will never happen." she remarked.
"Why not? Since we're moving next door, we can't come here everyday for lunch and dinner. We'll have to manage ourselves. And that means doing our own cooking."
"So, I'll have to be careful and check my plate every time you prepare something."
Ryu grinned again and took the bag. They both left the house after having said goodbye to Agase. As they were walking next door, the conversation went back to their previous subject.
"Ryu-nichan?" Shiho asked suddenly, "Who taught you how to cook?"
"Huh? Well, I mainly learned by myself but Mrs. Xanders showed me how to do a few things."
"What about your mother?"
"My mother? No, I watched her cook many times but I never really asked her how to do it." Ryu said. Then he glanced at the girl, "What about you?"
"Well, One-chan showed me how to do a few things but I mainly learned alone too."
Noticing that the conversation was coming to a painful point, Ryu tried to go astray.
"What do you think?" he asked with a slight smile, "Will Shinichi or Rei try the Tabasco sauce or will they be spice haters like you?"
"We'll see it soon." Shiho said, opening the front door. They had hardly got in the kitchen that the other two were down.
"What did you bring?" Shinichi asked, as he shifted a chair.
"Agase made some sandwiches and there's lemonade to drink." Shiho replied.
"Sounds good." Rei said, sitting on a chair. She then noticed the small bottle inside the bag and took it out. After having read the label, she turned to Ryu.
"It's for you, I suppose?" she asked, putting it back on the table, "How can you eat this?"
"I'm not the only one then." Shiho remarked softly so that Ryu was the only one to hear her. He looked at her slightly annoyed.
"Why? It's not bad." Shinichi stated, helping himself to a hard-boiled egg sandwich and putting some sauce on it. Ryu grinned and shot Shiho a -there you are!- look.
"Here's a sensible person." he said, sitting down on a chair and taking a glass of lemonade.
"Maybe you two are the mad ones and we are sensible." Rei remarked.
The boys frowned at her while Shiho smirked.
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The cleaning went on all till eight o'clock.
They had finished the first floor and had also cleaned the living room and the small laundry room. The only things left were the studio, the kitchen, the hall and the lawn. When they went back to Agase's house, they only had one thought: take a shower and go to bed. And also eat something if they still had the strength.
The next day, they decided to work in couples: it would have been less tiring. The girls got to do the kitchen and the hall while the boys had to do the studio and the lawn.
"A really equal division..." Shinichi muttered as he climbed the ladder and removed a stack of books from the library and handed it down to Ryu. He then took the dusting cloth and cleaned the shelf. When he finished , he threw the cloth on a desk and looked down at his friend.
"How come we've got to do the biggest room and the lawn?" he asked.
Ryu just shrugged and handed him the books.
"I have no idea. Maybe we're too soft or maybe we're two gentlemen or we're just two fools that didn't dare to say no to the girls." he said, "Anyway, we have to do it."
'Good answer..' Shinichi thought sarcastically, as he put the books away.
"Anyway, we've got to hurry up and finish this room soon." Ryu added, "We should do the lawn before evening."
"Why?" Shinichi asked with sarcasm, "You don't like to work in the dark?"
"It's not that. But I wouldn't fancy to work when it gets too cold. We're in winter, remember?"
Shinichi turned around and looked out of the window: the sky was gray and it was pretty windy too. Not exactly the finest time to clean out the lawn...
"If we're lucky, we will be working under a pouring rain." he said, arranging another stack of books, "Or worse.."
"Don't be so cheerful." Ryu remarked sarcastically.
"I'm just realistic." Shinichi retorted.
Ryu looked out of the window.
"Well, let's split then: one goes on working here while the other goes out." he said, "In this way, we won't risk to finish too late."
Shinichi jumped down from the ladder and landed on Ryu's side.
"Ok, how do we decide who does what?" he asked.
Ryu slipped his hand in his jeans pocket and drew out a coin.
"We'll do it the old way." he replied, "Heads or tails?"
"Ehm.. tails."
"All right, heads. Let's see who's the lucky one."
Ryu tossed the coin: it went up for a meter and then landed on the ground. The two boys looked down at it. Shinichi grinned while Ryu frowned.
"Damn it.." he said as he picked up the coin.
"Have a good time." Shinichi teased.
"Very funny." Ryu remarked as he headed to the door.
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The girls had nearly finished with the kitchen.
They had worked in that methodical way that demonstrated why girls were cleverer than boys when it came to houseworks. They had cleaned the fridge, the oven, the pantries, the table and the cupboards; they had thrown away all the food that had gone bad and had filled two dustbin bags. The only thing left now was the floor.
Just then they heard a faint noise coming from outside: it was like a small engine working.
Rei went to the window and looked out.
"Don't tell me that they've already finished the studio and they're starting the garden." she said, "I've got to change my opinion on them: I never thought they'd be so quick."
Shiho walked out of the kitchen and peeked into the studio: there was only Shinichi in the room and he was busy. She quietly walked back.
"I think they have decided to divide the work." she said to Rei, "Shi.. Kudo-kun, is still in the studio. I suppose Ryu's outside."
"They'll never change, will they? We decided to work in couples so it wouldn't have been tiring.." Rei remarked, "Maybe they just want to finish earlier." She then smiled mischievously, "Look, you can call him with his first name if you like. You don't have to worry about me: I won't go and tell him, you know?"
Shiho blushed slightly and Rei's smile widened.
"Come on, let's finish soon." she said, taking the broom.
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It was nearly six o'clock when the four teenagers had finished.
They were tired, sweaty and covered in dust but it was worth: the house looked great and it was finally clean. As the girls went back to Agase's house, Shinichi and Ryu took the five dustbin bags that they had left outside the front door and threw them in the trashcans. When they came back to Agase's, their only thought was to take a nice, warm shower and change their dusty clothes.
"That's better." Shinichi said as he entered the room he shared with Ryu and Agase, rubbing his hair with a towel. He stopped near the door as he saw Ryu busy packing up.
"Do you want some help?" he asked, sitting on his bed.
"No, thanks. I've nearly finished." Ryu replied, "I didn't bring too many clothes. I might need some help with the stuff in the lab."
"We can do it after dinner. I have to take my computer too."
Just then, Rei appeared at the door frame.
"Oh, Shinichi, you've done with the bathroom." she remarked.
"Yeah. I've just finished but I thought I was the last one." he said.
"You are." she replied, "I'm going to put the washing machine, so if either of you have got some clothes to wash, give them to me."
The boys gave her the jeans and shirts they had wore during the cleaning and thanked her. Rei just waved her hand and left. Shortly after, Ryu finished packing his things in his sports bag and Shinichi zipped the bag carrying his own clothes.
"We're ready to move." Ryu remarked, looking at the empty room.
"Yeah." the other said.
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After dinner, the four teenagers were all packing their things in the lab.
They had decided to move to Shinichi's place the next day and they didn't have much time. Yukiko had called Teitan High School to inform them that her son would have come back: after the usual excuses to explain his long, very long absence ("he was working on some cases here in America."), she said that he would have come back the following Monday with three transfer students. Of course, she didn't mention that the four of them already had their school-leaving certificate, or that the three new students had already graduated.
They were all busy putting their computers, laptops and notes in cardboard boxes, when Ryu suddenly looked up at them.
"Listen, since we still have to work together with our computers, what do you think if we use a room in Shinichi's house as our working station?" he asked.
"Working station?" Rei asked, slightly amused, "The FBI agent that's in you is coming out again."
"Very funny.." he remarked, "Anyway, what do you think? We can't use Agase's lab anymore, even though it's a great place to work in and I don't think it would be practical if we worked in our rooms. Separately, I mean."
"We could use the studio, then." Shinichi suggested, "It has two desks, books, plenty of space and it's well lit."
"And it can be locked with a key." Ryu added, "I noticed it yesterday."
"You want to keep the room locked?" Shiho asked, "Why? Only our computers will be there and each of us has a password."
"Well, do you remember the radar I was working on? While I was injured, I managed to finish it and I also made another one." he replied, "The first can be fixed inside a laptop but the second one is bigger and more far-fetched."
"So, you need space to hide it." Rei said, "Logical, it would be a bit hard to explain if somebody saw it. You can't it's a radar."
"Exactly. So, will we use the studio as our working station?" Ryu asked.
"Sure." the other replied.
"All right. We can set it up tomorrow after we settle in our rooms." he said.
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The next day was another day of work.
Well, at least for Rei and Ryu. They were the ones with more things to unpack: Rei had all the things her guardian had sent her while Ryu had all the boxes he had brought from America. The other two finished quite soon.
Shinichi just had a sports bag with a few clothes that he quickly put away while Shiho just had her laptop, the lab coat Agase had given her and a small box with some notes and books. Nothing else.
'I have to buy some clothes and some other.. things, too.' she thought as she stood in her new room. There was nothing inside besides the lab coat, hanging on a hook behind the door, the lamps on the desk and the bedside table and her books neatly arranged on the shelves. 'Bare desk, empty wardrobe... nearly empty room. Quite depressing... At least, since I have to go to school with the others, I'll have some stationery material to put on the desk.'
She quickly put the empty box under her bed and left the room, heading to the studio.
'Since they're all busy, I could start setting up... How did Ryu call it? Yes, our working station. From what I've understood, we just have to help Matt when he wants information. There's not much to do. Besides going to school... School. I never thought I'd be going back to school. Last time I even heard that word, I was fifteen and I had just finished high school.'
Shiho was still brooding on the thought that she would have to follow lessons she had already done years ago when she realized that she had left her laptop in her room. She abruptly turned around and bumped into Shinichi that was right behind her, carrying a pile of sheets, blankets and pillowcases, totally oblivious that someone was in front of him since his load had blocked his frontal vision.
"Argh..." Shinichi managed to gasp just before his brain worked and told his body to react automatically. He stepped back while his hands dropped the load they were carrying and moved outwards on its own record, catching the person who had bumped into him. Shinichi looked down.
"Are you o...?" he asked automatically.
His whole body froze as he recognized the person in front of him. Shiho looked up and when they made eye contact, she froze, too.
"Oh, it's you Kudo-kun." she managed to say, straightening up.
"Sorry, Miyano." he said, "I... I didn't see you. That pile of sheets... you know.."
'Why am I stammering?' he thought furiously, 'Great behavior, Kudo. Really great..'
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. I didn't notice you either." she replied and Shinichi smiled in spite of himself as he bent down to pick up all the sheets. Shiho noticed it.
"What?" she asked but he didn't answer but, noticing the slight tremor of his arms under the load that covered his face, she knew he was shaking with mirth. Slightly annoyed, she stepped up to him, squashed the bundle of sheets with her hands so that she could see his face.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Shinichi grinned sheepishly.
"I was just noticing that the great scientist, ex trained member of the Organization as well as brilliant seventeen year old, didn't notice me." he said.
Shiho stared at him.
"Very amusing, Kudo-kun." she remarked, "I was only thinking."
"What about?"
"Going back to high school, searching information for FBI, going downstairs to set up the computers since I don't have anything to unpack. Then, I noticed I didn't have my laptop and I crashed into you."
"Your reasoning works a bit randomly, you know?" he remarked.
"What are you doing?" she asked, ignoring his sarcasm, "I thought you were unpacking, too."
"I just had a few clothes in a bag, nothing else. I thought I could put these old sheets in the washing machine and then set up my computer, too."
"All right." she said. Just then, she noticed that they were merely 5 cm away from each other. Shinichi noticed it too because he stepped back, blushing slightly.
"Ehm... see you later... downstairs." he said nervously, "In the studio."
"Yes." Shiho replied shortly, going upstairs, glad that her bangs hid her reddened face. She quickly went to her room, got the laptop and went back downstairs. She didn't notice the two shadows next to the staircase...
"Will those two ever get through this?"
"It's up to them."
Ryu and Rei leaned on the banisters and looked down.
"By the way, how did you know there was something between them?" Rei asked.
"Shinichi told me how he felt for Shiho and, believe me, his really desperately in love with her. I noticed some of Shiho's attitudes so I just supposed." Ryu said, "Let me guess: you knew everything from the beginning, right?"
"I noticed a few things, too and Shiho just confirmed them. As for Shinichi, I guessed." she replied, I think you're right: he really cares for her and she cares for him, too."
"So, what are they waiting for?"
"The right moment. You should know that."
"Huh?"
"We had feelings for each other for years but never said anything until four months ago. We're not the most suitable people to blame them."
Ryu grinned sheepishly and nodded.
"You're right and their situation is different from ours." he said, "Anyway, let's get back to work: this break has taken lots of time."
"Yes, we'll have to finish soon or they'll think that we're doing it on purpose." she remarked.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea." Ryu said thoughtfully.
"Come on.." Rei said with a smile, pushing him in his room, "Back to work. And don't interfere with them. They'll sort it out on their own."
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That night, the four teenagers definitely moved to the Kudo's house.
They only had dinner at Agase's house: there wasn't anything in the their fridge. They decided to the all the shopping the next day. They needed the car and Professor said that he would lend them his.
They had all gone to bed early since they would have out the next day. The whole house was quiet and it seemed that everyone was asleep.
Well, nearly everyone.
It was nearly midnight but Shinichi was totally restless. He hadn't even changed his clothes: he was just lying on his bed in the dark and looking at the ceiling. Two thoughts were dueling in his head. Tell her everything and Just keep it to yourself.
He sighed.
At the beginning, when he realized his feelings for Shiho, he had decided to keep them to himself. Their friendship had deepened after the encounter with Scotch and he didn't want to ruin everything, confessing her feelings that she might not return. For all he knew, Shiho considered him a friend. And it was enough for him... till now.
His feelings were slowly overcoming him. He had noticed it today when Shiho bumped into him on the stairs. At the beginning, it was all normal: they just talked... well, teased each other, as usual and then, he noticed their closeness.
'How much was it? 5-10 cm?' he thought, 'I didn't even realize it immediately.'
When he realized it, his heart told him to get closer, hoping that she would understand and maybe, return but his head told him to step back, to keep everything as it was without ruining something so important for him.
'That's what I was thinking?' he thought, 'Is it really worth to ruin everything without a clue or a hint that she could feel something for me? Why am I always so rational? Maybe my attitude as a detective is influencing my own life. Damn it, I have to find a solution, especially now that we're going to go to school...'
School meant facing Ran and Shinichi was dreading that moment. From what she had told him when he was Conan, she wasn't going to give up on him. Her exact words were clear in his mind.
"I'm going to fight for Shinichi. He's in love with a girl but he might not be returned. I will always be there for him. I'll wait."
He could already imagine what would happen when he was back to school: Ran, trying to talk to him while he gently tried to make her reason, Sonoko glaring and shouting at him because he betrayed Ran and Shiho, in order with her character that hates excessive noise or disturbance, would be ignoring him. Not a very attractive prospective...
Shinichi sighed again.
He didn't know what to do. His feelings were clear... too bad, he didn't have the courage to risk.
'They're just three words..' he thought, 'Just three simple words... and I don't know how to tell them to her. Oh, God I'll go crazy if I go on brooding over this.'
He got up, walked across the dark room to the window and opened it. Just then, he noticed that it was raining. Shinichi leant on the sill, enjoying the cool air on his face. In front of his window, there was a big oak tree: when he was smaller, he liked climbing it.
'Mom always got mad because she said it was dangerous but I didn't care.' he thought, smiling to himself, 'I only wanted to reach the higher branches and see the view from up there... And use the tree as a way out, too.'
He grinned, remembering that he had tied a rope to a branch and then to a peg in his room, under the window. He used it to get out of his room, without being noticed by his parents and slip in the lawn. He liked to sit on the grass, looking at the stars or just stay outside at night even when it rained. His mother discovered him months later and only after her scolding, he had stopped doing it.
Shinichi looked in front of him: the tree's branches were large and near to his window. For a seven year old, it could have been dangerous but a seventeen year old could have reached it with a jump.
'Well, why not?' he thought.
He checked the time: it was twelve thirty. The others were probably fast asleep. Ryu and Rei wouldn't have noticed anything but Shiho could. Her room was just next to his.
'It's raining and she will be sleeping.. She'll never notice.'
He opened the window wide, climbed on the sill and jumped on the nearest branch. It took him less than a minute to get to the ground. It was still raining: a light cool rain.
Shinichi threw his head back allowing the rain to fall onto his face. He had always loved the rain, not the storms like but this light one. It had a comforting element that he liked: he felt as though the rain could just wash away all his feelings, problems and pains. And when he was little he would run out and stand in it, his arms spread out wide. He had gotten ill on numerous occasions because of this. 'The number of times Mom told me off for that..' he thought with a smile. He put his hands in his pockets and stared at cloudy sky as the light raindrops fell on his face.
The rain didn't have its usual effect on him.
There were still feelings flowing inside him, something so strong that the rain couldn't wash away. His love for Shiho, his guilt towards Ran, his worry for his friends if the Organisation showed up again but most of all, hidden inside his soul, his insecurity.
That was his main problem: if he solved it, everything else would be easier.
He was the problem.
'If I were more resolute ... if I followed my heart sometimes and if were less rational..' he thought, 'If I had a bit more of self-confidence.. Yes, the Organization is dangerous but if I trusted myself as much as I trust the others, it would be better. I've learned a lot in these last months: I'm not totally useless like when we met Scotch. I am... trained now. I know what to do if we face a danger. Then what? Why am I so unsure?'
He looked up again, allowing the rain to trickle over his body, as he stood there motionless. It took him a while to realise what the answer to his question was: it was easy and he always knew it.
'I'm scared.' he thought simply, 'My life had changed completely since I crossed the Organisation. I always have to be careful... But now, it's going to be different: we're all working to bring it down and we'll risk to be seen. It's like a challenge: it's them or us. We've finally come to the final stage and I'm not sure of myself. I'm scared not to be up to face them and protect the ones I love.'
Shinichi shook his head, showering water all around him. It wasn't the time to have second thoughts. Maybe, he could have pulled himself out the plan months ago but not now.
'Get a grip, Kudo.' he lectured himself, 'Ever since they shrank me, I've been thinking of bringing them down. And now that we're going to do it, I want to give up... NO WAY!'
He had learned how to work on computers, he had learned how to shoot and fight and he had learned what it meant to work as a team. He couldn't give up: for himself but most of all, for his friends' efforts. They had started the plan as a team and, they would have finished together, too.
He took a deep breath and smiled to himself.
'If I had this same self-confidence on my feelings, I could have confessed her when I was still Conan...' he thought.
"Shinichi Kudo, you're the world biggest fool." he said loudly.
"I agree with you."
Shinichi quickly turned around as he recognised the voice.
"Miyano?" he asked, "What are you doing here?"
Shiho was standing by the tree, holding an umbrella and she was looking at him with a half amused and half worried expression.
Shinichi approached her and stood under the tree, leaning on the trunk.
"What are you doing here?" he asked again, "I thought you were asleep."
Shiho glanced at him.
"It takes me a while to get used to new environments." she replied simply, "I knew I couldn't sleep so, I just read a book."
"Ok, but how did you know I was here?"
"I heard you jump on the branch. Even though it's raining, there isn't a breath of wind. At the beginning, I thought it was somebody spying us but then I noticed that your window was open, so I guessed it was you."
She smirked as she saw the red lines on his face. She closed her umbrella and went under the tree that was quite a good shelter since it didn't let the rain through.
"By the way, what were you doing?" she asked, "You jumped on the tree from your window and climbed down because..."
"Ehm... I just wanted to think." he replied.
"Oh sure, you were thinking under the rain... after having jumped on a tree from your window." she remarked, "It was obvious."
Shinichi turned to her.
"Do I hear a hint of sarcasm in your words?" he asked.
"Yes and I'm also starting to think that you're going insane." Shiho replied.
"Why? Just because I was standing under the rain?"
"Well, I have a difficulty in understanding why a normal person would like to think under pouring rain instead of being comfortably in his own room."
"I just wanted to think freely and have a breath of fresh air. As for the rain... well, I've always liked to stand under it. You should try once: it's relieving. It makes you forget all your problems as thought they were washed away."
Shiho was slightly surprised by his words.
'He talks as if he had many problems and thoughts in his mind..' she thought, 'Why though? If we don't count the Organisation, his life should be perfect again. He has his body back, his house, his identity and... he can go back to Mouri. Why should he be worried or even sad?'
She turned to look at him: even though it was raining lightly, he was soaked. His hair and his shirt were wet and clung to his body. Small raindrops fell from the tips of his bangs.
Shiho couldn't help thinking that he looked cute even in this version.
Shinichi, in the meantime, was looking at the rain fall in front of him but he was actually trying to be calm. His heart was beating at a speed he didn't think was possible.
'Calm down, Kudo.' he kept saying himself, 'Oh God, I've been thinking of her the whole night, wondering how to tell her my feelings and when I try to clear my ideas, she appears!'
He closed his eyes for a moment, not knowing that Shiho was observing him, and took a deep breath. Since they were there, he could try to talk to her.
But Shiho was faster.
"Kudo-kun? Is there something wrong?" she asked.
Shinichi turned and saw her staring at him. Feeling his cheeks turn red, he managed to smile, making her heart skip a beat.
"Well, it's nothing. I was just thinking of a few things that I have to sort out." he replied.
"You look worried."
"Ehm.. let's say that these.. things are a bit difficult to sort out."
"Is it about the Organisation?"
"That's the only thing I've really sorted out." he replied without thinking. He then saw her surprised face. "I was a bit unsure of myself. Scared, to tell the truth. But I got over it and got a bit of self- confidence thanks to this.. midnight shower."
"So, the rain had some good effects on you." she said with a small smile.
"I've told you." he remarked.
But still, she could see that there was something else. There was something that was troubling him.
'Could it be Mouri?' she thought, 'He went to talk to her that day after his exam.. There's only one way to find out...'
"Well, what else?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"You said that you had a few things to sort out. The Organisation is just one."
Shinichi swallowed. Was it really time to tell her? He was still thinking how to start when Shiho said something that surprised him.
"Do your problems have something to do with Mouri?"
Shinichi stared at her while a thousand questions went through his mind.
'How does she know? Or better, how much does she know? Who told her? Ryu? No, he gave me his word... Then how..?'
His thought must have been pretty evident because Shiho gave one look at his face and smirked.
"Seems that I've guessed right." she remarked.
Shinichi sighed inwardly with relief as he heard her say this. She didn't know what had happened and, most of all, why it happened. Shiho, on the other hand, felt her heart wrench.
'Mouri is his only thought, then...'
She had decided to be a friend to him and a friend helps you if you have a problem. Gives you advice and helps you.
She had to help him, even though it meant tearing, breaking her heart to bits.
Struggling to keep her voice even and calm, she turned to look at him.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Ehm.. well... I had a talk with Ran..." he started.
"The day you gave your exam." she said without thinking.
Shinichi looked at her in surprise again.
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"I overheard Ryu saying this to Rei."
"Oh... ok, well.. we had a talk and I... I told her something that hurt her a lot but instead of.. hating me, she wants to give me a second chance."
"What?"
He turned and saw an expression of pure confusion on Shiho's face. If he wasn't so nervous, he would have laughed.
"I was not very clear, was I?" he asked.
"Not at all." she agreed.
Shinichi swallowed for the second time.
'It's now or never.' he thought, 'I can't draw back this time. I have to tell her. For once in your life, risk Kudo, risk.' He took a deep breath and went on.
"That day, I wanted to talk to Ran because I had to tell her something very important." he said. Shiho was dreading to hear the rest: she knew what he must have said.
'You told her that you loved her and she returns your feelings.' she thought, feeling as though a stone had been dropped inside her body, 'Why are you worried then? What...?'
"I told her that she's a very dear friend to me but nothing more and that I've fallen in love with another girl."
He had said this fast. It took a few seconds for Shiho to take in his words. She turned to him with a stunned expression.
"You told her you were what?" she asked.
"I told her that I was in love with another girl." he answered, his eyes covered by his bangs.
'Another girl? Not Mouri?' she thought, 'Who is she?'
She quickly thought of the few people she knew here: leaving out Suzuki for obvious reasons, her guess went to Rei. No, she was with Ryu and she and Shinichi were just good friends. Who then?
She didn't even think of herself. She didn't believe it could be possible. It would be too good to be true.
Too good.
Impossible.
She looked up and saw that he was glancing at her. Feeling a surge of heat attacking her face, she looked back down.
"Ehm.. how did Mouri take it?" she asked after a few moments of silence.
"She just ran out of the bar where we were." he said, "I told her the truth because I didn't want her to suffer pointlessly. I thought she would hate me or forget me but she doesn't. She told me... well, she told Conan that she wasn't going to give up. She would have tried again with me."
"Even after your... confession?"
"Well, I told her I was in love but the girl in question doesn't know my feelings. And I told Ran this, too. So, before going back to school, I have to tell this.. girl, what I feel for her."
"Why didn't you do this before?" Shiho asked, "Why haven't you still told her?
"I'm afraid. Her friendship is important for me and I don't want to ruin everything.."
'Just like my feelings towards you..' she thought sadly, 'I can't believe I'm going to tell him this but as a friend, I have to help him.'
"Well, you'll never know unless you tell her." she said softly, "And even if she doesn't return your feelings, if she really cares for your friendship, it won't end so easily."
Shinichi looked at her. His dark blue eyes were fixed on her.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes." Shiho replied, feeling as though she was tearing her heart into bits with her own hands.
He thought this over for a moment. Shiho, on the other hand, just looked down, unable to see his face. The only noise came from the light raindrops on the leaves.
Then...
"Well, here I go then..."
Shiho looked up in surprise and saw that he was facing her.
'What?' she thought, 'No... it's impossible..'
"All right, Miyano... no... Shiho." Shinichi started and blushed.
She felt a jolt through her heart when Shinichi had called her by her first name.
It made her feel almost special.
After a few seconds, he stepped closer to her and bent down a little till their eyes were on the same level. Shiho felt as though someone had just ignited something inside her body as he looked straight in her eyes from that brief distance. She couldn't do anything but stare back.
'Now or never..' he thought.
"Shiho... I.. love you." he said softly and, nearly without realising it, he kissed her lightly on the lips. "Please, don't hate me..." he whispered as he drew back and waited.
He waited for an answer or for any reaction. He just wanted to know... He looked at her but he just saw surprise on her face. Or was it shock?
'What have I done?' he cursed himself.
For the first time in her life, Shiho didn't know what to do: she was completely lost.
Shinichi's confession first and his kiss later, especially the latter, seemed to have turned off all her senses and her reasoning ability. Slowly, her mind cleared out.
'Shiho, I love you.
He really told me this: it's not a dream or an hallucination. He.. Shinichi.. loves... me. Me instead of Mouri. He chose me. I don't know what... I was never so...'
A mixture of different feelings surged inside her. Emotions she thought had disappeared when she was still in the Organisation and after her sister's death. Joy, happiness mixed with a bit of incredulity. But most of all, she loved and was loved back. And as she thought this, she also realised that he was probably waiting an answer from her.
She looked up and saw that Shinichi was still staring at her. Just then, she noticed a gleam of sadness mixed with pain flash in his eyes. One look at his face and she realised that he had misunderstood her long silence.
"Ehm.." she started, "Kudo-kun...I..."
"Don't worry." he said, cutting through her sentence, "I understand... It.. it doesn't matter."
Shiho's eyes widened as his words sank in.
'He thinks I don't...'
"No, wait..." she retorted, "You don't.."
But once again, she couldn't finish.
"Don't worry." he said again, "I'm just sorry. I didn't mean to offend you in any way."
Even though his voice was even, she could sense the pain hidden behind it.
He was suffering and it was her fault.
Shinichi looked at her and smiled slightly. He had hoped that his feelings would be returned but, even though, it was painful for him, he could still count on her friendship.
"I think it's nearly one o'clock." he said, "It's better if we go back to sleep: we have to go out tomorrow. Well, goodnight."
He slowly walked towards the front door. Shiho just stood there trying to sort out the mixed feelings brewing inside her and struggling to bring them out.
For her whole life, she had guarded her emotions, leaving no room for any feelings. They were considered unnecessary or, at least this was what they had taught as a child at the Organisation.
But now...
"You're not a member of the Organisation anymore.. You're just like us."
His words came back to his mind.
It was true: she wasn't one of them anymore.
'I can't let them influence my life forever.' she thought, 'I can't...'
She turned around and ran after Shinichi, not bothering of the rain. She grabbed his hand and stopped him. Shinichi turned around and looked at her with a slightly quizzical expression.
"Yes...?" he asked uncertainly.
Shiho looked at him.
Embarrassment was slowly surging inside her and it was forcing her to give up on her tentative, along with the invisible walls she had built around herself for all those years.
'Forget them.' she imposed herself, 'Forget the Organization for once. Forget its rules and its teachings. For once, live without being influenced by them and behave without being conditioned by reason.'
She stepped closer to him, their hands still together. They both blushed furiously as they were a few inches away from each other.
"Sh.. Shinichi..." she whispered softly in his ear, "I can't hate you.. because.."
He looked down at her as a spark of hope appeared in his eyes. Shiho gathered all her courage: she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. A sweet, tender kiss on the lips.
".. because I love you, too." she finished when they broke apart, "From a long time."
Shinichi just looked at her.
After the initial shock wore off, he felt as though some kind of explosion was taking place inside his heart: the bitterness and the sadness that he had been feeling less than five minutes ago, had vanished and a warm joyful sensation washed through him.
Not knowing what to say, he smiled at her and brought her closer to him with one arm. Shiho just let him do and found herself in his arms, enjoying his warm touch for the first time.
They stayed in this position for a while until Shinichi bent down to her, touching her forehead with his and stroking her cheek with his hand.
"Sorry." he said.
"What for?" she asked, looking up.
"I soaked you more." he said, flashing his trademark smile.
Shiho looked down at herself and then back to him and smiled sincerely.
"It doesn't matter." she said, "It was worth it."
They headed to the front door and went back inside the house. The lights were out since Shiho hadn't switched them on when she came down. It was all pitch black.
"I'll get a towel." Shinichi whispered, "Just wait here."
"Don't wake up the others." Shiho warned him.
She had hardly said this that the lights went on.
Shinichi and Shiho closed their eyes at the sudden brightness.
"Too late. We're already up."
They squinted at the voice's direction and saw Ryu standing next to the living room door. He grinned at their surprised faces. Before they could speak he pointed to the stairs.
"After the questions." he said, "First, turn there."
Shinichi and Shiho turned automatically and they saw two towels flying in their direction; as they caught them, they heard another voice.
"It's better if you dry yourselves. You'll catch a cold."
Rei was leaning on the banisters at the bottom of the stairs and smiled at their surprised faces.
"What are you two doing here?" Shinichi asked, looking at both.
"It's your fault." Ryu said, "You woke me up."
"Yes, I was in my rooms and you woke me up." Rei agreed.
Shinichi arched an eyebrow.
"Oh really? And since when do you go to sleep fully dressed?" he asked, looking at their clothes. Ryu and Rei looked at each other, smiling sheepishly.
"Well, all right, I was reading. I couldn't sleep."
"Me, too."
"It seems that no one felt like sleeping tonight." Shiho remarked, "How did you know we were here, anyway?"
"Shinichi left his window open." Ryu replied, "It started banging because of the wind and we both came out of our rooms to see what was wrong. And we also noticed that your room was empty."
"I guessed you were outside." Rei added, "Shinichi always liked to do crazy things like standing in the rain. And the open window only confirmed my suspects."
Then, they exchanged a mischievous look and looked back at the two still in front of the door.
"Well, it seems that you've finally told her, haven't you?" Ryu asked Shinichi.
"And you finally got over your reticence." Rei told Shiho.
Shinichi and Shiho blushed, making the other two grin more.
"How do you know?" Shiho asked the other girl.
"Yeah, were you spying us or something?" Shinichi asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Come on, you know we'd never do that." Rei said, looking at him, "It was a guess. An obvious guess, since we both knew your mutual feelings. You told us everything after all."
"And as an evidence, you're holding hands." Ryu pitched in, "It's something you'd never do."
Shinichi and Shiho blushed again but they didn't let go: their hands were still entwined. They looked at each other and smiled sheepishly.
Rei smiled to herself.
'Finally...' he thought.
Ryu thought the same. He walked towards the staircase.
"Well, it's nearly half past one." he said, "I think we'd better go to sleep: we have to go out tomorrow."
"Yes, we've got to buy plenty of things." Rei agreed, "We'll have to leave early. All right, then goodnight."
"Goodnight." Ryu said and they went back upstairs, after the other two bade them goodnight, too.
Shiho walked in the hall, drying her hair with the towel while Shinichi, noticing the small puddle of water around him, stayed at the entrance squeezing his clothes.
They stayed in silence for a few minutes.
"Ehm... Shiho?"
The girl looked up and saw Shinichi looking at her, blushing slightly. She felt that jolt in her heart again. It would take her a bit to get used to hear him call her with her first name. And it seemed that he was in her same situation.
"Yes?" she said.
"When you said... ehm.. From a long time..." he said rather embarrassed, "Before, when we were outside... How much time did you mean?"
Shiho looked at him and smiled. A sincere smile that made Shinichi's heart skip a beat.
"I don't know exactly the date.." she said, "..but it must have been a few months after we met."
Shinichi stared at her.
'So long?' he thought incredulously, 'And I never noticed it?'
His thoughts must have been clearly written on his face because Shiho stifled a laugh. He understood immediately.
"Don't say it." he warned approaching her but she didn't even bother at him.
"You are really clueless, Shinichi." she remarked, teasingly, "Great detective but clueless when it comes to feelings."
He grimaced but then a smile spread on his face.
"For this time, I agree." he said, "But remember, only for this time. Anyway, it's better if we go to sleep otherwise we won't be able to do anything tomorrow."
They went upstairs and they stopped in front of their bedrooms' doors.
"Goodnight Shiho." he said with a smile, rubbing his hair with a towel.
"Goodnight, Shinichi." she replied and went inside her room. When she closed the door behind her and was finally alone in her room, Shiho really realized what had happened that night.
She leaned on the door as the wave of feelings washed through her.
Shinichi loved her: he confessed his feelings and she confessed hers. And then... She touched her lips and smiled slightly. She felt happiness surge inside her: she had felt a similar joyful sensation only when she was with Akemi.
As she thought of her sister, Shiho remembered something she had said during their last meeting.
FLASHBACK
Akemi and Shiho were sitting at the table of a bar.
It had been a long time since they had met each other but, unfortunately, they couldn't spend a lot of time together. Shiho had to go back to work on her project while Akemi had been assigned to a work with two other agents. The blonde girl noticed a strange worried look in her sister's eyes that contrasted her cheerful tone.
"One-chan, are you sure you're all right?" Shiho asked her elder sister, after they had been talking for a while, "I've heard you had a few problems.."
Akemi smiled.
"Yes, I'm fine, don't worry." she reassured her, "I know what I'm doing."
She looked up and saw that her sister was still concerned. She didn't show it openly because she the Organisation had taught her to guard her feelings but Akemi could see her real emotions. Always. And now, she could see a glint of concern in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Shiho. I'm fine. But what about you?" she asked, "You know, I think you should stop thinking of that poison for once and start living as a normal girl."
She checked the time.
"Do you have to go?" Shiho asked.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I wish I could stay a bit more but I can't be late today." Akemi said, "Anyway, you should take my advise seriously, sis." Shiho arched an eyebrow. This made Akemi smile again. "I'm serious. I don't know... make friends with someone or find yourself a boyfriend.."
Akemi got up and took the bill that was on their table. Then, she turned around.
"Really, sis, you should have fun." she said with a wink, "You're only seventeen after all."
END FLASHBACK
That had been the last time she had met her sister: Akemi died shortly after, killed by Gin.
However, Shiho couldn't help thinking of that last words.
'Make friends with someone... find a boyfriend... have fun... stop thinking of the poison' she thought, 'Well, it's happening now and... all thanks to you, One-chan.'
All thanks to her.
Thanks to Akemi.
She was the one that contacted Ryu, pleading him to help her younger sister out of the Black Organisation and starting the operation called MYSTERY, in which she was working now, too.
Ryu that has become a friend and a brother to her.
And with her death, Akemi brought Shinichi and Rei in Shiho's life. Shinichi, the one who could have saved Akemi and that witnessed her last moments of life.
Shinichi, the boy Shiho loved with all her heart. Then, Rei, the one that looks so much like her sister and that was involved in MYSTERY from the beginning.
Rei that has become her best friend.
Thanks to Akemi, Shiho had found friendship, love but also a family. It was something she had never had before.
"Thanks, one-chan..." she said softly.
And she got ready to go to bed.
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Chapter 19 is finished. I hope you liked it: a few reviewers have been asking for a romantic scene between Shiho and Shinichi and.. here it is! I know you had to wait a lot for this to happen but I had to sort out all the other things and then put the romance. I've got the story plan in my head and it has to go on in this way.
Anyway, I might upload the last three chapters again: I uploaded them as HTML documents and the paragraphs are inexistent. I think I'll use WordPad again...
REVIEW!
Bye!
A.N: corrections made
