A/N: I hope you like it :)
Shinichi smiled slightly while he watched the scenery fly by. Heiji had invited him to Osaka and Shinichi was more than happy to visit. Despite that they were rivals in a way, Heiji was also his best friend and Osaka had beautiful places that he hadn't seen yet. There was also another reason why he wanted to go. Said reason sat next to him, reading the newest issue of ComCom. Shiho had never been to Osaka as her true self and Shinichi knew that she would like it there. He hadn't said anything to her, but he planned to take her to the famous cat cafe. Knowing her love for animals, he was sure that she would enjoy it immensely.
They both deserved to have a little break after everything they had been going through the last few months. The fall of the Black Organization had triggered other stressful events and Shinichi knew that Shiho was still getting used to living a normal life. She went to school with him now and without the ghost of the Black Organization looming over her, she could enjoy her life. When Heiji had invited him, Shinichi had asked Shiho to come with him. After a few sarcastic remarks she had agreed and Shinichi couldn't have been happier about it because he found himself wanting to spend even more time with her.
When Shinichi and Shiho finally arrived in Osaka, they went to their hotel and check into their rooms. After they had settled in, they met in the lobby. It was already afternoon but for Shinichi that was the perfect opportunity to take her to the cat cafe which was nearby. Osaka was busy at this time of day and the streets were quite small for the mass of people. Gently taking Shiho's hand in his, Shinichi pulled her closer to himself. At her raised eyebrow he spoke up.
"I don't want you to get lost."
"It's more likely that we'll run into a case." She replied sarcastically, but didn't pull her hand out of his.
Smiling he tightened his hand around hers. For a moment he could swear that he saw her blush, but before he could make sure that his observation was correct, she looked away from him.
A few minutes later they arrived at their destination and Shinichi smiled brightly at her.
"We're here."
"You brought me to a cat cafe?" Shiho whispered softly.
Shinichi was about to worry that he had offended her in some way, but when he saw the look in her eyes he realized that she wasn't upset at all. Since the fall of the Black Organization Shiho had become more carefree and happier, but the look in her eyes was so full of joy that it took Shinichi's breath away. Never before had her eyes shone like this and it made her even more beautiful. Gently leading her into the cafe and to a table, Shinichi's heart beat wildly in his chest. It almost felt like they were on a date.
After they had ordered Shinichi watched the cats around them until he noticed one that hopped on their table. Smiling slightly Shinichi reached out to pet the cat. However when he touched the cat instead of fur he felt another hand. Looking to the side he saw that Shiho must have had the same intention because it was her hand that now lay under his. The look in her eyes was just as surprised as his, but she didn't pull away or smirked at him. His heartbeat picked up again and he could feel himself blush. It wasn't like he wasn't aware of how beautiful Shiho was or that she cared for animals, but seeing her like this and spending time with only her, confused his sharp mind. Their moment was broken when the cat began mewling loudly, probably wondering why none of them was stroking her. At the noise Shinichi pulled his hand away and the cat moved into Shiho's lap to be stroked there. If Shinichi was honest with himself, he was disappoint that their moment was broken, but watching Shiho lovingly pet the cat made it better.
They spent a few hours in the cat cafe and even had dinner there before they left. On the way back to their hotel Shinichi took a hold of Shiho's hand again, the streets were still busy after all. At least that was what he was telling himself and Shiho. However his heart knew better and beat faster when they walked along the streets hand in hand.
The next day they met Kazuha and Heiji, who wanted to give them a tour. However with Heiji and Shinichi at the same place together, they ran into a case. Both detectives immediately began the investigation and Shiho would have stayed back if it hadn't been for Kazuha. Of course did Shiho know that Kazuha and Ran were friends, but feeling the not so friendly looks that Kazuha was giving her, made her uncomfortable. Considering that, she preferred helping Shinichi and Heiji with the case.
In the end the case wasn't that difficult to solve. With two detectives and a scientist involved it shouldn't have surprised anyone. Despite not taking long to solve the case it was already evening so Kazuha suggested that they could eat at one of her favorite restaurants. During the walk there Kazuha asked Shinichi about Ran. Not wanting to interrupt them, Shiho let herself fall back a little bit. Ran and Shinichi had agreed to be just friends after they had gone on a few dates and it was obvious that Kazuha wasn't happy about that. Shiho would even go as far as to suspect that Heiji's girlfriend thought that she was the reason that a relationship between Ran and Shinichi didn't work out, which was ridiculous. No matter what her own feelings were, Shiho had supported Shinichi and Ran as best she had been able to. There were just some things that weren't meant to be and for a long time Shiho had thought that her and Shinichi didn't have a chance. However for a while now Shinichi had been almost affectionate to her, especially since they had arrived in Osaka.
"Not all childhood friends are meant to end up together." Heiji's voice broke her out of her thoughts, almost as if he knew what she was thinking about.
"This coming from you is nothing short of amusing." Shiho smirked at Heiji, who was now walking next to her.
"Just because it worked for me doesn't meant that it should have worked for him." Heiji turned to Shiho with a smile on his face. "I'm sure that thanks to Kudo you have seen quite a few cases already and you know that feelings are often the reason for a crime. Feelings can change based on what we experience. You and Kudo have been through a lot together and you're his partner. There is no one who is more important to a detective than his partner."
"Except for his girlfriend." Shiho said and averted her eyes.
"A partner and a girlfriend don't have to be different people. Shinichi knows that too. I'm guessing that you can see where my deduction goes."
"I hate to break it to you, but conclusions can be wrong, even the ones of another arrogant high school detective." A smirk had found its way back to Shiho's face, but Heiji could feel that it wasn't genuine.
Before Heiji could said anything else, Kazuha pulled him away because the four had arrived at the restaurant.
When they had settled down at the table, Shinichi gently took a hold of Shiho's hand. These small touches had become more frequently between them, but none of them addressed it.
After they had order their drinks, Heiji fell into a deep conversation with Shiho about the case that they had just solved. Kazuha, who had been holding her jealousy back since she had seen them talk earlier, clenched her fists and finally voiced her thoughts to Shiho.
"It seems that taking Shinichi away from Ran isn't enough for you. With your track record of breaking up childhood friends, Heiji might be the next."
For a moment there was a deafening silence at the table.
"Kazuha, you need to apologize. That was uncalled for." Heiji finally found his voice again.
"There is no need to apologize. She is right. If I hadn't created APTX 4869 Shinichi and Mouri-san would have become a couple. I know that it's my fault."
There was so much pain and guilt in Shiho's eyes that Kazuha's heart squeezed at the sight. She should have never said that. From Heiji she knew about Shiho's past and of course did she know that Ran and Shinichi had broken up because it just didn't work. Ran had told her that if anything, Shiho had made sure to stay away from Shinichi when they had given dating a try. However for a moment her jealousy of Shiho had taken a hold of her heart. Heiji had been so fascinated by Shiho's knowledge and on top of that Shiho was nothing short of beautiful. Heiji was a guy after all so he had noticed, but Kazuha was deep down in her heart sure that he loved her. He was her boyfriend and she was sure of his love for her, but sometimes she still felt insecure and unknowingly Shiho had made her feel that way. She had to apologize to Shiho and was about to do so when Shiho spoke up.
"It has been a long day. I'll go back to the hotel." Shiho pulled her now trembling hand out of Shinichi's from under the table and stood up.
"I'll bring you to the hotel." Shinichi offered and was about to get up when Shiho stopped him.
"Don't bother. Stay here and talk about the case with Heiji, I know you can't wait to do that. I can take care of myself. Good night everyone." With that she took her purse and left the restaurant.
The walk to the hotel was short, but for Shiho it couldn't be short enough. After she was in her room she closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. So far their trip had been nothing short of freeing. Shinichi and her had gotten closer and it had seemed that with the change in scenery Shinichi had become even more open to them getting together. She had never pushed him and slowly he had seemed to realize that there could be more between them. In some moments he had been downright affectionate and even if she wasn't one for showing her feelings openly, she had been happy when he spontaneously took her hand or lay an arm around her. Shiho smiled sadly at her reflection. It had been a nice dream, but she had to wake up now.
A single tear made its way down her cheek. Her heart hurt. She didn't belong here or in his life in general. Kazuha had made her old insecurities appear again, but then again they had never been completely gone. Despite that Shinichi and her had defeated the Black Organization and she had made the antidote and had given him back his old life, there was still so much guilt. She didn't belong in his life. With her mind set she brushed the tear away harshly and began packing.
Back at the restaurant, Kazuha looked guiltily at her clenched hands.
"I shouldn't have said that. I need to apologize to her."
"Do that tomorrow, I don't think she would want to see you right now." Despite his words, Heiji gently took a hold of her hands and squeezed them reassuringly.
Shinichi watched the couple in front of him. Childhood friends who turned into lovers. He had always thought that Ran and him would be like that, but since he had turned back to his old self, his thoughts had changed. Ran and him had tried dating, but it hadn't felt right for him or her. They had both decided to stay friends and after that decision he had felt a new freedom. With their relationship finally concluded Shinichi had tried to solve his own case and it turned out that his heart had known all along. There was already someone in his life who his heart had decided to choose. That someone was his partner, Miyano Shiho. At first he hadn't been sure if he could trust his heart. A detective was basing his conclusions on facts. However the more he tried to analyze his relationship to Shiho the more proof he found. There was a clear deduction his mind and heart had and it was that he was in love with Shiho and had been for quite some time.
It felt like they had known each other for ages despite it only being over a year. She was his partner and completed him. There was no one he would rather have by his side during a case. She knew his thoughts and their conclusions could solve any case. There was no one who knew him better than Shiho and he knew her better than anyone. However with that thought came an awful realization. He knew her and he knew what she was about to do now.
"She will leave." Shinichi said suddenly and his eyes widened at this realization. There was no way he would let that happen after he had finally found out about his feelings for her. "I have to see her."
"As predicted." Heiji smiled slightly. "Good luck."
With a nod in thanks Shinichi left in a rush.
Heiji watched his best friend and rival go. If he was honest with himself, he had already deduced that ending. When it came to love he was dense, but since Kazuha and him had gotten together he had become more observant in that aspect. Back when Shinichi and Shiho had lived under the disguise of Conan and Ai he had seen a glimpse of their feelings for each other already. It had been so obvious how deeply they cared for each other during their last visit before they had gone to fight the Black Organization. Now that they were back to their true selves and Shinichi had finally made peace with Ran, they could finally be together. Heiji wished for his friend and Shiho to be happy and if they wouldn't get there on their own he would help them along, because for all the genius they were, they were quite dense when it came to each other.
Shinichi couldn't remember the last time when he had ran that fast. With cases always on his way, he was used to being quick at the place of action, but now with his own personal case on the line it was even more important that he got there fast. When the hotel finally came into view, Shinichi didn't even take the time to greet the doorman and rushed up to the room where Shiho was staying. He knocked on her door and wasn't surprised that when she opened the door, she was wearing her everyday clothes instead of her sleep wear. Behind her he could see her already packed suitcase.
"You were about to leave." It wasn't a question, just a statement.
"As you already concluded." Her smirk didn't hold the normal cockiness in it and quickly changed into a sad smile. "We both know that Toyama-san is right. I don't belong into your life."
"You're wrong. I want you in my life and I can't imagine having you not with me. I know we haven't known each other for that long, but to me it feels like it. We have been through so much, as Conan and Ai and as Shinichi and Shiho. Please don't walk out of my life." He was holding her hands now and his eyes were so full of an emotion that Shiho was too afraid to voice.
"I destroyed your life." She whispered softly.
"No, you didn't. The Black Organization tried to destroy our lives, but they didn't succeed. They're gone and we're here. Together."
"You want me to stay with you?" Shiho tried to suppress the hope that was welling up in her, but it still laced her voice.
"Of course, but there is a change I would like to make." Smiling he looked deeply into her eyes. "When I introduce you to someone I always say that you're my partner and I mean it. You'll always be my Watson, but I want to introduce you as someone else as well. Would you become my girlfriend?"
There was a wonderful warmth that filled Shiho's heart at his words and a beautiful smile stole its way on her lips.
"Your Watson and Irene Adler in one. Not quite like Homes, but close enough." With that she moved closer to him and he got the hint, he was a detective after all.
When their lips met Shinichi couldn't help but think that this had been his favorite case to solve.
A/N: Please review and tell what you think :)