Chapter 62
The calm before the storm
"Who are you!" Genta exclaims, the chubby boy about to charge forward if Mitsuhiko hadn't held him back. The freckled-faced boy glared sharply at them.
"What have you done with Conan-kun, Ai-chan, and Hakase!" Ayumi demanded.
In their teenage forms, Shiho and Shinichi blinked at them in stunned silence. The detective stood, in an instant, shoving the children out of the basement and slamming the doors shut. As he turned around, facing her with wide-eyed panic, Shiho sighed heavily.
How did it come to this?
Birds were chirping loudly; she might add, at an ungodly hour. Typically found in early winter, magpies rested on the bare branches of an old maple tree outside the professor's house. Though Shiho liked most animals, some tested her patience. Groaning, she rose from the bed, rubbing her hair before squinting at the boy beside her. He wasn't there when she slept, and she could only assume he had stumbled into her bed after a late-night discussion with Akai-san. A bad habit that had gotten so frequent that the children were no longer bothered. Even the teases they got from Genta had died down.
She resisted the urge to push Shinichi out of bed and turned to the kitchen instead. On the stove, there was a kettle brewing. The professor was up earlier than usual, humming off-tune while he prepared the dishes. When Shiho caught a whiff of breakfast eggs and toast, she yawned before approaching him curiously.
The professor wore a formal suit. His white buttoned blouse was paired with a gray jacket and a red tie she had bought him months earlier. Shiho recalls he had only worn suits like this on special occasions but doesn't recall him having to attend any upcoming conferences.
"Good morning, Ai-kun," he chirped in an unusually positive mood. He placed an over-cooked semi-side up on her plate, and two toasts slathered in jam. Those weren't the kinds of things Shiho would eat for breakfast, but she wouldn't let his effort go to waste. Observing the professor's routine, she picked up a toast and nibbled on it. Shinichi joins them a few minutes later.
As he groaned, the shrunken detective rested his head on the table. He was in bad shape. His hair is messy, his blue coat is unbuttoned, and he has bags under his eyes. At that moment, Shiho was reminded of Gollum from Lord of the Rings. It was a movie series that the children forced a shrunken detective and her to watch. By the end of the nine-hour marathon, they were exhausted. The children took great amusement in watching Shinichi and her bickering about the English subtitles and possible mistranslations.
As Shiho remembered the experience, she smirked before turning to the professor. "Hakase, I think we need to call the police."
"Why?" the professor asked in confusion, and she pointed to Shinichi in jest.
"I smell something bad. There might be a corpse in here."
Shinichi groans again as he waves her statement away, having no strength to argue with her. The professor chuckles before offering the shrunken detective a cup of coffee." Now, now, kids," he said, "try to behave when I'm out, ok?"
At the professor's mention, Shinichi sits up in his seat, studies the professor closely, and then raises an eyebrow at Shiho. Likewise, the detective was perplexed by the old man's behavior.
"A conference?" Shinichi whispered to Shiho, who shrugged.
"Probably a date," she suggested, and Shinichi glanced at the humming professor. Whenever he walked around the kitchen, he had a little skip in his step and a twinkle in his eyes. After another bite of toast, Shiho's suspicions solidified.
"It is a date," she confirmed.
"Huh? Why?"
"He's up early," Shiho points out, "dressed well, wearing cologne, and his hair, well, what's left of it, has been neatly gelled and brushed. The man even brushed his teeth. Do I need to elaborate?"
"You're right," Shinichi muses, "He isn't as sloppy as he usually is."
"You know," the professor slaps Shinichi's plate down on the table, losing his good mood, "I can hear you both."
"So, Hakase," Shinichi inquired, "where are you headed?"
"Well, believe it or not," said the professor with the biggest grin, "I have a date!"
"Oh?" Shinichi regarded the old man with mild surprise, "And who might this lucky lady be?"
"That's for you to figure out," the professor hums, "I'm not telling you."
"Fusae-san?" Shiho guessed, and the old man's smile dropped.
"That's—"
"I mean, who else can it be," she continued.
"I see…she was smitten by our egg-headed professor, wasn't she?" Shinichi caught on, teasing the old man, who scowled.
"Congratulations, Hakase," Shinichi raised his coffee cup to the professor.
"You finally worked up the courage to ask her out," Shiho continued, and the professor narrowed his eyes.
"That's it," he said and took off his apron. In a rather childish manner, he marched to the main door, opened it, and turned to them. "No treats for the both of you!"
"Remember your curfew, Hakase," Shiho pipes. "Don't stay out too long."
"Curfew!?"
"No hugging," Shinichi joins in, taking revenge on the professor who had also teased them on multiple occasions. "And definitely no kissing, young man."
"Young man!? Kissing!? That's it!" the professor cried out before slamming the doors shut. "No souvenirs for the both of you!"
"Was that really necessary?" Shinichi rubs his eyes from laughing too hard.
"Et tu, Brute?" Shiho regards him with a smirk.
"Ok, well…" Shinichi chuckled some more, "I'm glad for him."
Shiho snorted before agreeing with his sentiments. The professor deserved it. A break from all the stress she had caused him during her previous runaway attempt. She treasured the old man as a father, and he had willingly volunteered himself for this operation. Hence, Shiho hoped from the bottom of her heart that he would find his own happiness.
"Besides," she joked as they discussed the professor's future partner, "maybe I'll get first-hand VIP access to those Fusae handbags."
"Ah, I see engaging in bribery now?"
"I believe it is," she said, as they continued their breakfast, descending into light-hearted banter, "Nepotism."
Shiho held a prototype antidote a few hours later. In the newly renovated basement laboratory, she spins the prototype antidote in her fingers for the hundredth time. As she examined the test results on her computer, she contemplated before glancing at the healthy mice she had experimented on the day before. Neither showed any signs of illness, and their vitals were good. Having verified that the data was sufficient, Shiho peeked out of the basement.
She had heard the click of the main door followed by the light footsteps of Shinichi leaving for the Kudou mansion. It was a daily routine he had taken these past few weeks in preparation for the coming operation. Now that he was gone and she was alone, she prepared a cup of water.
"Again, Shiho!" She could almost hear the nagging she would receive from Shinichi later, "What did I tell you about testing the antidote on yourself!"
He had been livid after she fell into a bout of fever a few months ago. Her calculations, off by a few margins, had resulted in toxin. After that, she was prohibited from testing the antidote on herself. Shinichi even threatened to destroy her equipment if she continued to do so.
Despite this, he could not stop her. Although Shiho knew it carried a risk of death, someone had to test it. She wasn't going to be giving Shinichi poison. She refused to. Thus, she had secretly taken the prototypes while telling a white lie.
Preoccupied with preparations, she failed to notice the main door opening and the footsteps descending the stairs. Just as she was about to pop the pill into her mouth, the basement doors opened, and Shinichi strolled in. He was mulling over something. A file was in his hand, and was scratching his head.
"Hey, Shiho, could you check on somethi—"
The red-white pill in Shiho's fingers caught his attention.
She really should have locked the door.
"Oh no, you don't!" As she popped the pill in her mouth, he grabbed her cheeks and squeezed them, preventing her from swallowing.
"Spit it out," he demanded.
She glares at him as he continues squeezing her cheeks.
"Shiho!"
She remained stubbornly rooted, motioning to the test mice and to the data in the computer before looking at him. "How else am I supposed to test this?"
"I told you to wait for me. I could test it for you. Why are you so stubborn?"
"Oh, so it's ok for you to do it, but not me?!" She jabs at his chest.
"Yes!"
Annoyed, she reaches out and pinches his cheek in an attempt to escape.
"Ow! Shiho, stop being so childish and—"
He stops, and Shiho sees the screws turning in his head, probably forming some dumb plan.
"You asked for it."
He leans in, and Shiho gasps at the contact of his lips on hers. She shoves him back, placing her hand over her lips as he grins at her slyly. The pill she had taken earlier was now in between his teeth.
"Got it," he says with his chest puffed up.
"Pervert."
"Pervert? I wouldn't have to go to such lengths if you weren't so stubborn!"
A little peeved, Shiho was about to snatch back the drug when he swallowed it.
"How matured, Kudou," Shiho folds her arms.
"I did ask you to notify me when you planned to test the drug, didn't I?" he commented, and she elbowed him aside and reached into her cabinet.
"Hey, Shiho…what are you—"
He paused at the sight of another prototype antidote in her hand, and before he could stop her, she swallowed it too.
"What was the point of this?" he protested, and she smirked.
"Well, two outcomes are better than one, isn't it?"
"You—"
Shinichi could not finish and collapsed to the ground clutching his chest. Shiho felt the effect a little later. Pain rippled through her body as horribly as she remembered. She sank to her knees, the symptoms worse than ever. Before she knew it, the world had gone black.
She woke to the voice of a buzzing fly. Grumbling, she opened her eyes to see an adult Kudou Shinichi standing over her. Relief flooded Azure pools, and he embraced her immediately. Shiho realized he was wearing a bathrobe the professor had stored in the basement for safe-keeping purposes.
"What happened?" she muttered, feeling a little dizzy. Her lips were dry, and she felt like she had swallowed a thousand needles.
"Idiot," Shinichi chided, "You were out for at least 10 minutes."
Shiho sighed, noting to add some painkillers to a future prototype. Wincing, Shiho realized she was wearing a bathrobe similar to Shinichi's.
"I had to," Shinichi realized, his ears turning red, "You were..." he coughed lightly, "well..."
"Naked?"
"I was trying to be tactful."
"Pervert."
"I do not appreciate such insinuations."
"Says the person that forced his lips against mine."
"It was called a kiss, Shiho, and you were being unreasonable. I had no choice."
"The evidence has been presented, your honor."
Scowling, Shinichi stepped closer to her and stopped when he saw her fidgeting with her robe, pulling down her sleeves to cover her wrists. Feeling more than a little exposed, Shiho stiffened when his gaze softened.
"I don't mind them, Shiho," he whispered, reading her thoughts. "I'll give you some space," he said wryly as he headed towards the doorway.
Shiho grabs his sleeves. Her heart was beating a little faster than usual. It must be the antidote, she speculates, cursing a little. The heat raced into her cheeks as she tried to contain it. Despite being undressed, vulnerable, and with her scars exposed—she wasn't afraid; no, she could never be.
Not with him.
"You can stay," she murmured, letting go of his sleeves, "I need to check on your vitals."
"Y…yes," Shinichi stuttered, "Vitals."
Shiho noticed the giant beam on his face. There was a goofy grin on his face, his eyes bright, filled with a childlike joy that stunned her momentarily. Averting her gaze quickly, she tries to calm her racing heart. It didn't help that he was, as usual, rather good-looking—annoyingly so.
"Should I change?" he chuckled sheepishly.
"Well, if you don't want to be labeled a stripper," Shiho quipped curtly, "I suggest you do."
"Right…hey," he was unusually flustered and was approaching her when he winced. Shiho turns around to see Shinichi falling toward her. The detective, in all manner of cliche scenarios, had managed to trip over a stool.
Shiho couldn't dodge him, and they landed painfully on the ground.
"Kudou Shinichi, what are you trying to d—"
She paused. Something was different. Kneeling over her awkwardly, his vibrant blue takes on a new intensity, sparkling with an inner light, mirroring within a depth of emotion. Azure pools shimmer with tenderness.
"Shiho," he whispered breathlessly, his fingers trailing down her face and her neck, coming to rest on the locket on her chest.
They were close. Her senses are heightened by their proximity, and she takes everything in. From the ticking of a wall clock to the bubbling of a flask on a bunsen burner to the soft breaths emitted from his lips. From the curves of his chin to the faint redness on his cheeks, the broad silhouette of his shoulders, the lean muscles along his chest, and the intense piercing look in his cerulean eyes.
Shiho inhales sharply, so distracted by his gaze that she forgets to breathe. Slowly, Shinichi leans in, and time seems to stop. A desire erupts, her ears ringing with the furious beats of her heart. Warmth envelops her completely.
"Ah!"
They were interrupted by screams, and the scientist and detective turned to the opened basement door. Mitsuhiko and Ayumi, following Genta, were glaring at them with open-jawed shock and accusing fingers.
"Who are you!"
Shiho sighed.
She really should have locked the door.
"After that experiment, I sorted professionals, detectives, police officials, politicians, activists, TV stars, artists; it didn't matter who," a woman explained, her voice emitting from a recording Shinichi had given him.
Taking a puff of smoke, Shuichi dangles the cigar before pressing the earpiece against his ear. In the background of the recording, a life support machine beeped, making it difficult to discern her words. Her confession would not have been possible without Ran Mouri's assistance. It was clear that Vermouth had a soft spot for that girl.
Drawing another whiff of his cigar, Shuichi surveys the scene around him. Wet puddles covered the ground. It had rained the night before, leaving fallen leaves and mud stuck to the bottom of his boots. Shuichi stops before a yellow tape after traversing the forested woods just a few miles from the small city of Kiryu.
The area had been cordoned off. Throughout the scene, forensics officers and special operations officers were busy. As they dug around the ground, some took photos, others placed evidence in bags, and others held shovels. Standing in the forested clearing surrounded by pine and cedar trees was a crumbling skeletal church structure. Rotted wood held up beams that were infested with maggots and termites. Upon entering, Shuichi had to take great precautions to avoid sinking floorboards. There were what looked like pews, but he wasn't sure. They were covered with dead leaves, lichen, and moss and barely recognizable.
The humid climate of Mount Akagi did nothing to preserve the structure that had clearly burned down. Some remnants remain, and locals occasionally use it as a rest spot for one of their main hiking trails. At least 4 years ago, it was marked on the tourist map.
There was no way they could have known that it once housed an elusive cult. Shuichi wouldn't have figured it out if Shinichi hadn't extracted those revelations from that woman.
"The professionals I sought were mostly useless," the woman continued, the recording playing as Shuichi studied the church ruins. "I had tried my best to provide them with clues regarding that man's secret organization, but none had even come close to understanding his motivations, and I was forced to get rid of them. Rum was shrewd, you see," she explains nonchalantly, "and some of these men were careless."
Leaning against the rough bark of a fallen tree, Shuichi sighed as he rubbed his temples. The recording revealed the circumstances surrounding Andrew and Grace Starling's deaths. Jodie's parents. They were famous prosecutors. Vermouth left discreet clues without disclosing her identity. Curious about the letters and documents they received about many closed cases, they began investigating, eventually discovering the truth. Like many before them, they were not warned, and they were led like sheep into a wolf's den by a deranged woman bent on revenge.
As always, Rum found out and sent orders to kill them. Vermouth, who couldn't risk being found out, volunteered to take them out—every time. The vicious cycle lasted decades. A path his father had also taken.
"I had almost given up, but they seemed different," Vermouth said. "A smug-faced M16 agent and a magician. For a period, I had placed my hopes in them."
After stepping on a raised mount, Shuichi looks at the file in his hands. He received it from his mother, Mary Sera. It was the last piece of evidence his father left behind. Drawn on it was the familiar marking of a top-hat thief. A master of his craft, the symbol belonged to a moonlight magician who vanished ten years ago, only to resurface recently—as the Kaitou Kid.
"That agent was in a league of his own. A bloodhound, he worked relentlessly and even surpassed Rum at times. I observed while maintaining my own operations of sabotage," Vermouth elaborated, "Eventually, I was able to entice Toichi Kuroba, my disguise teacher in the acting academy. By spreading rumors about Pandora's Gem, I attracted many collectors, treasure hunters, and antique dealers looking for a quick buck. Obviously, the gem was nothing more than a prop used by Rum to manipulate his followers, but they trusted him anyway."
"Shuu," Jodie declares, emerging from the thicket in a navy raincoat. While walking toward him, she held an umbrella above his head. A drizzle had begun. He hadn't even noticed. Smirking, he ran a hand over his black hair. He must have felt overwhelmed by the new revelations. After pondering over the information for countless nights, he wasn't sure what to tell his family.
"Shuu," Jodie nudges him. "Are you sure?"
"It's the only way," he muttered. "I need to—"
"That's it," Jodie snapped, "I'll take over from here, for now…"
With surprising strength, the woman drags him toward the makeshift tent set up beyond the yellow tape. He was welcomed by several junior officers who made room for him. After forcing him onto a bench, Jodie offers him coffee. "Stay here like a good boy and rest."
He was unable to protest. Shuichi had indeed been feeling a little lightheaded. Sleepless nights did nothing for his health. A change of plans suggested by Rei Furuya added to his workload. Smirking, he felt the recorder in his pocket. Well, he'll take Jodie's advice, but a little multitasking wouldn't hurt.
Taking another whiff from his cigar, Shuichi started the recording again.
"A month had passed since the experiment. There were rumors that the Miaynos were dead," the woman recounted. "They had tried to escape. Amanda Hughes, a close contact with the FBI, helped, but Rum was faster, killing Amanda Hughes and her unfortunate chess partner. This incident caused a huge stir in the community, and Tsutomu Akai, a close confidant of Amanda Hughes, put the dots together."
It had been a snowy night. A teenage Shuichi remembers playing chess with his brother and his father kissing his mother lovingly. His gaze rested on her swollen belly. Smiling gently, he took his coat and promised to return, exiting the house for the last time. It was a normal occurrence. Shuichi had never thought to say goodbye.
"He was able to infiltrate one of their secret meetings. This was not something I expected. Despite being led to many wrong ends, he was relentless in his pursuit and finally found a lead in the coverup cases the Takizaki family were notorious for. While pretending to be a member of the cult, he joined many of their sessions, and at the last one, he sneaked a camera to capture proof of their existence."
It had been a mistake.
"He had become too bold. When Rum learned of his whereabouts, he ordered his execution. Tsutomu Akai had only managed to snap a few photos before he was apprehended by the group. However, I could never have imagined that a phantom thief would be in their midst that night."
It would be his last night.
"Injured from a gunshot wound to the stomach, Tsutomu barely escaped. He was aided by the thief as they were chased through the woods. When Tsutomu realized that time was up, he handed his camera to the thief, asking him to escape and send the photos to his wife, Mary-Sera. In response, the thief obliges, and Tsutomu...well, he was captured and disposed of. The thief fulfilled his promise, escaped for a while, but was also eventually hunted down," Vermouth pauses briefly before chuckling menacingly. "A pity, really. I had such high expectations from them."
Shuichi smiles bitterly. The FBI agent could only speculate what happened after that. Vermouth did not provide any more details.
After Vermouth's revelations, Shinichi arranged a meeting with a Kaitou Kid at Kudou Mansion. Shuichi was surprised when a teenage boy greeted him with a sly smirk. The young man bears similar characteristics to a Kudou Shinichi. It was a long meeting that ended with a handshake. The moonlight thief possesses the same determination. A partnership forms between the FBI agent and the moonlight thief—carrying with it the purpose. A task their fathers had failed to finish 17 years ago.
"We can't risk contamination," an officer shouted, bringing Shuichi back to reality. When Shuichi exited the tent, he was greeted by a morbid sight. There was a pit about 20 meters wide dug at least 3 meters deep, next to which were the bodies of two of his best agents killed in action eight hours previously.
"They were shot at the back of their heads," an officer reported when Shuichi asked about the cause of death. Standing over the bodies of his fallen comrades, Shuichi grimaces a bit. It was inevitable. Such casualties occur every day. Over the past few months, The FBI has conducted missions across Japan. An attempt was made to track down Rum's numerous hiding spots. The bases masquerade as factories, businesses, places of worship, restaurants, and sheds in woods and forests. Despite the high risk, the extensive search led them closer to the sinister one-eyed demon.
Though they were mostly successful and had taken great steps to keep their agents safe, Rum and his followers were sometimes unpredictable, leading to some screw-ups.
"We've managed to apprehend our attackers," Samuel Baker, the agent in charge of this particular reconnaissance, stands beside Shuichi, "but they got two of our guys."
"A state funeral will be held for them," Shuichi promised Samuel, who was wearing a cast on his arm.
"At least they'll get a proper send-off," Samuel whispered, peering into the dark pit. Shuichi spots the slight tremor that passes through the agent's hands. "Some don't."
Facing him, Samuel gave Shuichi a few firms taps on his shoulder. "I heard from Jodie," he muttered, "Don't worry. You'll find him."
"Yes," Shuichi replied, stubbing his cigar on the muddy ground and focusing on the skeletal remains deep within the pit. There is a mass grave next to the razed church-like building. Bodies left to rot, long forgotten. Pieces of decaying clothing hanging from what appeared to be rib cages and leg bones. Innumerable, Shuichi could not count them all.
"I hope I do."
Shinichi had never changed so quickly in his life. He barely had time to register that Shiho was changing alongside him. As he struggled to zip his jeans, he glanced at Shiho, who was in the process of wearing a dark red blouse with blue denim pants. His attention was drawn to the way it hugged her figure.
"Skinny…jeans, really, Shinichi?" she mocks.
Ran and Sonoko had purchased it for him years ago as a joke. Since he couldn't throw it away, he stuffed it in the unwanted pile and stored it in the professor's basement. His gaze narrowed at her teasing glint, and he gestured toward the door.
"In case you haven't noticed, we are facing a crisis," he snapped. The children were still banging on the doors. They were relentless, and Shinichi could only shudder at the thought of them bombarding him with questions. The last time this happened, he'd been Edogawa Conan and was pounced on. The children, like ravaging piranhas hungry for information.
"A crisis?" Shiho drawled, "This?"
"Never dealt with them, have you?"
"I have. It's easy."
"You," he warned, glaring at her, "Are not leaving me with them again."
"There goes the plan."
"Shiho!"
"Look, just open the door," Shiho says smugly. "When they see your skinny jeans, they'll be left speechless. We'll be able to escape then."
"That is," he snorts, "A horrible plan."
Taking a deep breath, he prepares himself before opening the doors. He was ambushed almost immediately. Genta and Mitsuhiko sprang on him as Ayumi ran in, hands gripping onto a pan they probably retrieved from the kitchen. The little girl waved the weapon at Shiho, who raised her hands in mock surrender.
Shinichi falls painfully to the ground. The boys were surprisingly strong, and Genta was pulling on the little hair he had left.
"Haiba—" he stops himself, "Shiho, help me!"
"Can't you see I have my own problems?" Shiho quipped, gesturing at Ayumi, who was waving a pan.
"Yes, but they are—ouch!" Shinichi shouted as Genta pulled a handful of hair strands.
"Who are you!?" Ayumi demanded. "Where are Conan-kun and Ai-chan!?"
"Yeah! We've already called Ran-nee-chan! So you better tell us if you don't want to get your butts kicked!"
Shinichi scowled, knowing that no Ran-nee-chan was coming to their rescue. There is no doubt that his childhood friend found amusement in their plight.
"First, put down the pan, Ayumi-chan," Shiho instructed calmly but sternly. The children flinched, probably unsure of why the two unknown adults knew their names. "We're not your enemies."
"But...but..." Genta argued, still clutching Shinichi's hair.
"You're making assumptions," Shiho reprimanded them, "and that isn't very detective boys-like of you."
Genta and Mitsuhiko shared sheepish glances and immediately released Shinichi. "Now," Shiho continued gently, squatting to face Ayumi. Her ability to coerce the children amazes Shinichi. "May we introduce ourselves properly?"
Her soft smile stunned the children, who blushed. Shinichi, too, was enchanted by the sight and had to turn away, cursing softly under his breath. He didn't want to admit it, but he appreciated the children's intervention. Shinichi could still recall the girl's crystal green eyes, the slick sweat against her supple skin, and the locket peeking from her half-covered chest. As he swallowed, he forced down his desires.
"Are you..." Mitsuhiko interrupts, eyes wide as saucers, "The lady who saved us from the burning shed!?"
Ayumi shrieked excitedly as recognition flooded their features.
"You're that onee-chan, aren't you!" Ayumi embraced Shiho around the knees.
"Is it really you?" Mitsuhiko asked, eyes sparkling, looking at Shiho with red cheeks.
"Well…" Shiho hesitates, and Shinichi steps in.
"Yes, she is."
Shiho eyes him with irritation, and he smirks.
As expected, the children clamored for her attention. Shiho barely had time to answer their questions.
"What are you doing here?"
"Who are you?"
"Who is this Onii-chan?"
"Are you guys dating?"
"Why were you wearing bathrobes?"
"Where did you go after you rescued us?"
"We were searching for you. Did you see the videos we put out?"
"What is your name Onee-chan?"
Shiho's flustered expression made Shinichi chuckle.
Then—
"What are these?"
Genta, who had taken to exploring the basement, had picked up ripped children's clothing from the floor. They were clothes worn by Haibara Ai and Edogawa Conan before they transformed. Shinichi marched over, snatching the clothes away from the little boy, who backed away.
Ayumi and Mitsuhiko look at them with questioning eyes.
"Why…are Conan's and Haibara's clothes torn?" Genta asked. The chubby boy could be sharp if he wanted to.
"Erm…" Shinichi struggles to answer, and Shiho cuts in.
"I was helping to repair it," Shiho pulled out a sewing kit from a drawer, "Ai-chan and Edoga—Conan-kun damaged it during an experiment."
"Oh?"
"Yes," Shinichi responded, "Anyway," he pushed the children out of the basement, Shiho following behind, locking the door. "Let's get you some snacks. I'm sure you're hungry."
"Yes!" Genta exclaimed, forgetting the incident, as Ayumi and Mitsuhiko followed him. Shiho sighed heavily as Shinichi glanced at her slyly.
"Easy, you said?"
"Easier," she huffs, "Then looking at your skinny jeans."
"Don't lie. You like how it accentuates my thighs."
"You mean your big…bottom?"
"Muscular, you mean."
"I think flabby was the word."
"How would you know," he teased as she paused.
"Women's," she eyed him as he chuckled, "Intuition."
"So, you're Conan-kun's and Ai-chan's relatives?" Ayumi asked later at the kitchen counter. Swinging their legs on high-raised chairs, Shiho placed cookies between them. Genta wolfed them down as Ayumi and Mitsuhiko sipped from their cups of hot chocolate.
"And Conan and Haibara are attending an event with the professor?" Genta confirmed.
"Yes, and we're just house-sitting for the professor," Shinichi lied.
"But Haibara and Conan didn't mention any relatives," Mitsuhiko spotted the loophole, and Shinichi turned to Shiho for help. The scientist simply shrugged and he sighed.
"Stupid, anyone can have relatives," it was Ayumi who came to Shinichi's rescue. The girl gave Shinichi a wide grin, her cheeks red, when he smiled at her.
"Thank you, Ayumi-chan."
She giggled before sipping her hot chocolate again.
"Should I be concerned?" Shiho whispered to him. Confused, Shinichi faces her, and she motions to Ayumil. "Pea-do-phile?"
Shinichi folds his arm, gesturing at Mitsuhiko, who is stealing glances at Shiho. Those innocent puppy dog eyes carried with them—adoration.
"I could say the same," he snapped, and she scowled.
"What were you doing in that burning shed that day, Shiho-onee-chan?" Mitsuhiko asked after they had finished their cookies. The boy still had questions and seemed skeptical.
"I wanted to meet with my cousin," Shiho explained, "Ai-chan told me she was going camping, so I followed her."
"Oh?" Ayumi chimed in, "You wanted to surprise her, didn't you?"
"That—" Shiho started, but Shinichi intervened.
"Yes, she wanted to."
"That's so nice!" Ayumi continued, and Mitsuhiko nodded, beaming widely, suspicions gone.
"Haibara-san would be so happy if she'd heard it," he agreed.
"Oh, oh, we would like to hear more about Ai-chan if you could tell us!"
"Yeah, that Haibara never tells us anything about herself!"
As the children pulled on her sleeves, Shiho looked to Shinichi for help.
"You should tell them, Shiho," Shinichi chuckles as she purses her lips. A bright smile spread across his face as he faced the children. "I'm sure she has many interesting stories to tell you guys. Onii-chan, on the other hand, has some business to attend to, so I'll join you guys later."
"Shinichi," Shiho warned as he stood.
"Have fun," he waves, "Shiho."
Ignoring her scowl, he sniggered as the children pounced on her. Shinichi chuckles as Shiho tries to calm them down. It was only fair payback for when she'd left him alone to deal with the children. Proud of himself, Shinichi half-skipped to the temporary office on the 2nd floor, whistling off-key while locking the doors.
Well, he wasn't lying—he did have a business to attend to. As he dialed the number, he made arrangements with a PSB agent who was leading an important task. A mission that would leverage the success of an operation.
The phone calls ended two hours later, and Shinichi exited his office, curious as to what happened to Shiho and the children. After rubbing his tired eyes, he grimaced, remembering the conversation he just had with Rei Furuya and Akai Shuichi. In detail, the two agents described the vehicles that would be involved and their routes. A date had been set. It will be a week from now, only seven days away. Following Rum's attack on the high-security prison, it was decided that Gin would be transferred to another undisclosed facility.
A risky mission; Shinichi knew many things could go wrong and could only hope that his plans would align with his predictions. However, despite Akai's assurances, Shinichi couldn't help but doubt himself. The shipyard's operations months ago resulted in casualties, and Shinichi was determined to reduce them. No one should die anymore, especially not for the cause of a madman.
Shinichi sighs as he walks down the stairs, pausing at the sight of children playing in the backyard. Dappled rays of an afternoon sun shone through bare-leaf trees, casting a soft amorphous glow on freshly mowed grass. A gentle autumn breeze blew passed through, tickling their bangs. Their laughter filled the air as they watched a plastic bottle take flight like a rocket. It soared high, water spurting from it, gracing the children with a light drizzle as they chased after it.
The plastic bottle rocket landed on the grass patch. Shiho holding the air pump she had set up, smiling softly at the children waving at her. Joy was etched on their faces as they celebrated its successful launch.
Shinichi was captivated by the scene. The moment was perfect, and he wanted it to last. In his chest, happiness spreads like a warm toasty fire, filling his heart with contentment.
"Nothing lasts forever, boy," Vermouth had warned when he left the private ward with Ran. Cuffed to her hospital bed, the woman smirked bitterly. "As the saying goes, the more you have, the more you lose."
Once again, anxiety returns. A looming operation threatened to ruin the peace, and he clenched his fist. "No," he whispered, remembering his promise to an auburn-haired scientist. A conscious decision is made as he stares at her slim silhouette. He lingered before realizing the time.
Pulling up his sleeves, he headed for the kitchen. Shiho had prepared beef patties the night before. Soon, the children and Shiho would be hungry. As he wore an apron, he nodded to himself before taking out a pan and placing it on the stove.
At the very least, he could prepare lunch.
After all, how hard could it be to fry hamburgers?
"What is this?" Genta prodded the charred patty. "A rock?"
The air was filled with the bitter stench of burnt beef. Using an extinguisher, the detective extinguished a fire that had burst from the stove. There were four round patties served on individual plates. A haphazardly made salad was dumped on top to hide the burnt parts. Brown sauce was drizzled over, Shinichi making an effort, at least, to cut the cherry tomatoes that were arranged by the side.
"No, Genta," Mitsuhiko interjects, "It's clearly a sort of exotic dish!"
"Or from a Michelin-star restaurant," Shiho could not help but jest, and Shinichi eyed her with disdain.
"You're all wrong," Ayumi examines it by picking it up, "It's hamburger patties!"
"Thank you," Shinichi said, setting down the extinguisher, "Ayumi-chan."
The girl beamed before taking a bite of the dish. Ayumi cried out, dropping her fork in horror. As tears roll down her face, Shiho hands the girl a cup of water. Ayumi then looked to Shinichi with newfound revelations.
"Shinichi-nii-chan," she choked, "What is this?"
"It looks like the slime monster we defeated in Hakase's RPG game," Mitsuhiko pokes at the patty wearily, losing his courage to try it after Ayumi's intense reaction.
"It tastes like one, too," Genta chewed on the patty, eyebrows raised, before pushing the plate away. Shiho passed the water again, and the chubby boy downed the glass.
"Come on. It can't be that bad?" Shinichi frowns.
Shiho shoves a piece of the meat into his mouth, and he gags, immediately reaching for the water.
"Ever tried sewage?" she teased, and he pointed at her in defiance.
"Hey, it's the thought that counts! I just wanted to…"
He trailed off when she started on the dish. It was awful. The bitterness of the meat, combined with some undercooked parts, created an unpleasant texture. Shiho ate it with the salad and tomatoes, which were at least palatable.
"Hey, Shiho," Shinichi tries to stop her, "You don't have to…"
Finishing it, she props her elbow against the counter and rests her chin against her hand.
"Maybe," she suggested, "try not to burn the meat next time."
After gawking at her, he takes her empty plate.
"There won't be a next time," he snaps, but the faint blush on his cheeks suggests otherwise.
It did not go unnoticed.
"Are you guys dating~" Genta started, grinning cheekily, showing teeth. He looked at them mischievously. The children's lips curl into an impish smile.
"Are you Shiho-onee-chan?" Ayumi continued.
"Shinichi-nii-chan?" Mitsuhiko sang.
"Nee-chan and Nii-chan, sitting on a tree," Genta sang the same tune he had teased Haibara Ai and Edogawa Conan with. "Sitting on a tree. K.I.S.S.I.N.G—"
"Come here, you brats!" Shinichi stripped off his apron and chased after the children shrieking with delight.
Chuckling slightly, Shiho watches Shinichi's rare moments of childishness with amusement. He caught them eventually, and they tumbled to the ground in loud laughter. Genta asked if they could order some lunch from a fast food restaurant, and Shinichi obliged. As the children teased him again, he threatened not to make the order. Shiho observed Shinichi's carefree demeanor as the children pleaded.
It was a stark contrast to the unease he showed two nights earlier. Seated in the newly renovated basement, the detective played her recordings of a woman who had tormented her. The shocking revelation Vermouth made threatened to pull Shiho under. Again, anger boils in her blood, but she doesn't break, not this time. While Shinichi held her hands, Shiho clutched the locket hanging from her neck.
It was a senseless motive. Shiho couldn't believe her family had died for something so absurd. It was a hard pill to swallow, but—
"Shiho!" Shinichi cried out, pulling her out of her thoughts. The detective was on the ground, wrestling with the children. "Help me!"
They were tugging on his hair, making playful remarks. Shiho couldn't help but chuckle.
"What are you waiting for?" Shinichi demanded.
"Come join us, Nee-chan!" Genta exclaimed.
"He needs to be punished," Ayumi agreed.
"For burning our lunch!"
The sight was heartwarming, and peace settled in her heart. Yes, apprehension gradually turns into determination.
I would protect this.
"I'm still paying for your meals!" Shinichi protested.
No matter what.
Walking over to the detective struggling with the children still tugging at his hair, she stands over them.
"Can I," She smirks as the children laugh, "Join in?"
"Shiho!"
A bright light filled the clearing. Agents and forensic officers alike scurried about the scene. In the confines of a makeshift tent, Shuichi stands. It had been set up privately, requested by Jodie herself.
A blonde-haired woman he had known for 10 years had stubbornly insisted. Standing beside him, she watches carefully, giving him time to process. Among the skeletons buried in the pit, one was found buried among the rest. On the examination table, it lay. A wedding ring adorned his bony fingers, and a signature flat cap was found beside him. Although its fibers were frayed and damaged by soil and time, Shuichi would recognize it anywhere.
Holding it in his gloved hands, Shuichi turns it around to inspect it. He finds it embroidered with the name of his father. He remembered it like it was yesterday. It was one of the few childhood memories he had of the man.
Not one with words, Tsutomu had taken him to a park in his bid to be closer to his son. They spent hours people-watching there. Through Tsutomu's example, his son gains valuable observational skills. The memory was precious to Shuichi, who was just seven then. As Shuichi correctly deduces the occupation of the people passing by, his father beams with pride.
Mary, his mother, arrived later, carrying a flat cap. She thought it would suit Tsutomu, and when Shuichi scanned his father's stoic features, he noticed—affection. Since then, his father had worn the cap everywhere he went.
"DNA tests will be conducted," Jodie informed Shuu after communicating with the forensics officers. He felt his partner squeeze his shoulder gently as he rests a hand over hers.
"Do you need a smoke?" she asked, eyes softening as she spotted the cigar he was holding.
I found you.
"No," he whispered, realizing the urge was gone. He passes his cigar pack to the woman, who looks at him, puzzled.
"Shuu?"
"There are healthier ways to cope," he murmured as Jodie studied him carefully. Putting her hands on her hips, she sighs, frowning.
"There would be withdrawal symptoms. You won't be feeling your best, and right now, amid an important operation...you never had the best timing, don't you, Shuu," she chided, though a bright smile graced her lips. "But I guess..." she tucks the cigar packet into her pocket, "I can help you. Are you ok with that?"
Shuichi exhales deeply before returning to the skeleton. It's been 17 years. The constant search for the truth—an obsession, mellows out to contentment. The answers he had been seeking were found in a mass grave. Despite the morbid circumstances, a strange calm settles over him.
"More than I have ever been," he smiles, facing the woman, "Jodie."
While groaning slightly, Shinichi struggled to lift the load on his chest. It was heavy. Something was weighing him down. He couldn't move.
Upon opening his eyes, he was faced with three midgets. They were curled up around him, and a blanket was draped over them. Ayumi grabbed his left arm, Mitsuhiko his right, and Genta his legs.
What happened?
He faintly recalled the dinner that Shiho prepared and the chaos that ensued when Shinichi accidentally called Shiho, Haibara. The children bombarded them with questions until Shiho pulled up a movie that distracted them. It was a stupid action film that was well-received by children. Upon witnessing the giant dinosaur intent on destroying the town being launched into space with a flying kick by a grown man in a costume, Genta, Mitsuhiko, and Ayumi burst into laughter. A snide remark Shiho made at the scene prompted Mitsuhiko's suspicions.
"You sound like Haibara, Shiho-onee-san," the freckled boy glanced at her with the same cryptic look he had given this afternoon.
"Where do you think Ai-chan gets her wicked sense of humor?" Shinichi comes to her rescue, and Shiho eyes him with a glare. Though Mitsuhiko was still suspicious, he let it go. As the night wore on, Shinichi's last memory was the faint smile Shiho had on her lips as she draped the blanket over them.
Rubbing his tired eyes, Shinichi scans the scene. The movie was still playing, but the sound was muted, and faint glows could be seen across the dark living room. Shinichi yawned, shifting the sleeping children gently. As he adjusted the blanket over them, he exhaled softly.
He didn't remember falling asleep, and the auburn-haired scientist's absence told him everything he needed to know. Her mug was missing from the coffee table, so was the scarf that she often hung from the foyer. As Shinichi climbs the stairs, he finds her in her usual spot. Glancing at the stars from the roof's edge, Shiho sat with a blue sheet draped over her shoulders.
"Again, Shinichi," she remarked as he settled beside her. "Can't you leave me alone for a minute?"
He realized she was holding her sister's photograph, squeezing it tight, shadows masking the features of her face.
"Never," he quips, "I'll stick to you like a leech."
"Sucking my blood dry?"
"Well," he teased, "There are other parts to…su—"
She slapped the back of his head.
"Pervert," she muttered, and he caught her hand with a light chuckle.
"You don't hate it."
"Wanna bet?"
"I'll bet," Shinichi smirks, and she grumbles. He moves closer to her, and Shiho eventually shares her blanket with him. As they conversed, a soft breeze caressed their bangs. Shiho made fun of his height, followed by Shinichi asking about the antidote's effectiveness, and finally, the science experiment that she had done with the children that afternoon.
"What were you expecting me to do then?" she asked.
"Something with rats? Or you know…an autopsy?"
"Beats finding a corpse," she snorted, and he scowled. "Besides…"
A wry smile graced her lips. Shinichi noticed that she was tightening her grip over her sister's photograph, creasing the article with her fingers.
"Besides?" he squeezed her hand reassuringly, and she relaxed, sighing softly.
"It was something Akemi did with me," Shiho wasn't prone to talking about her sister, and it was probably the first time Shinichi was hearing about Akemi's quirks. "She was twelve, I was six," Shiho chuckled, "and Onee-chan came home carrying some bottles from school. She had learned about the experiment and was eager to demonstrate it to me."
Shiho glanced at the sky, eyes carrying a certain melancholy.
"We were not permitted out of the house. So, Akemi disobeyed those black suits. She carried the materials needed for the experiment into our room, hid the keys, and locked the door," Shiho recounted the memory fondly. "As they banged on the doors, screaming threats, Onee-chan launched the bottled rocket at the wall, creating a watery mess."
Shinichi laughed. Akemi's antics got to him, and he could only imagine the members' flabbergasted looks as they opened the room to find a rocket bottled being launched into their faces.
"We receive an ear shelling after that," Shiho continued, "but Onee-chan said it was..."
"Was?"
"Worth it," she finished, falling silent.
"Shiho?" Shinichi nudged her gently, and she faced him.
"I miss her, Shinichi."
"I know," he whispered. An ache developed in his chest as Shinichi attempted to pull her closer, but she held him back, placing a hand over his chest.
"I miss her," she admitted, "I probably would...for the rest of my life."
"Shih—"
She rests a finger on his lips, stopping him. "However, I have met someone who cares," she begins, "and though I might be eating burnt, charred hamburgers all my life," she smiles warmly at him, "I wouldn't trade them for anything else."
Breathing deeply, he remained still. His heart swelled at her implication, sending pleasant tingles throughout his body. Resisting the uncontrollable urge to hug her, he instead eyed her with a raised brow. "When did you learn to say something so cheesy?"
"Ara, I learned from the very best."
"You really," he scoffs, cupping her soft cheeks, "aren't cute at all."
"Really?" she settled into his touch, "Is it that bad?"
"No," Shinichi, entranced by emerald pools, traced a thumb across her lips. A soft gasp escapes her, and he chuckles, unable to hold back anymore, "I might just get used to this."
He leans forward, catching her lips in his.
"Idiot."
Their banters continued through the night as they lay casually on the roof with Shiho against him.
"How many more hours till we turn back?" Shinichi asked.
"Three more," Shiho calculated, tracing mock calculations on his chest. "Four if we're lucky."
"Think we can escape the children before then?"
"Probably," and she jabs at him.
"Ouch, what's that for?"
"You're not leaving me with them again," she quipped.
"It's called an eye for an eye," he protested, gulping nervously when she glared at him.
"Ok, fine," he grumbled, "We'll deal with them together."
"Together?"
It was his turn to face her with contempt. "That is hardly fair."
"But I thought the great detective could handle everything?"
"Have you seen them!"
She chuckled before falling still. When Shinichi notices her sudden silence, he gently prods her.
"Shiho?"
He realized that she was clutching the locket he'd given her. As she tightened her grip, she faced him. Green eyes radiate a stubborn determination. "We'll protect this," she declared. The buzzing anxiety he had been feeling all afternoon ebbed away, soothed by her words. Wrapping his arms around her again, he buries his face in her hair, taking in her scent.
"We will. We'll prepare for it," he whispered. Though uncertain, he had to believe in it. "My plan, it'll work. I promise, Shiho."
"Confident…much?" she mocked, and he pouted.
"Hell would freeze over if I'm wrong, right?"
She paused, pinching his arm.
"Hey, it's the truth," he protested.
"Narcissist," she quipped.
He scowled before grinning slyly.
"That you won't trade for anything else."
"..."
"Right?" he teased, "Shi-ho."
"Shut up."
And this is a prelude to what is to come next :D. I hope I don't disappoint. Again, thank you for your constant support, reviews, and feedback. I will be taking a four-week break to deal with some family stuff :D, but don't worry I'll be back with the chapters of all chapters. Thanks again for sticking with me, and I wish you guys a great week ahead.
P.S. If you're confused about anything, feel free to PM me, I will be glad to answer any questions. :D