Agasa couldn't be happier when he heard the news about the marriage of his adopted daughter to the detective next door. Just from this simple news through the phone, he could conclude that the two had finally spoken to each other again. Even though he knew the real reason behind their marriage, but he hoped this would be a turning point in their relationship.
He was as happy as how he kept his grin on his mouth throughout the day. Even Fusae, who had became his wife– and the reason he moved to England two years ago, would only sigh at him. But of course, she too, was happy for their Ai-chan.
They just couldn't wait to return to Japan tomorrow to give consent for their marriage registration. She was still physically seventeen years old after all.
On the other side, it was Yukiko who made such a fuss at how her Shin-chan had grown up so fast, that he was ready to get into the commitment of being tied down to the same woman (or girl) for the rest of his life. She was so excitedly squealing when she was told that she would be a grandma soon.
It was clear she didn't listen to the whole story carefully.
Well, Shinichi would deal with it when they arrived at Japan tomorrow. At least his dad was there to explain it all to her before their landing.
"Hope for your happiness, Shinichi." Yusaku said nothing much, but he was giving his blessing.
"Thanks, dad."
And with that Shinichi ended the call.
He then turned his chair to the table and took the pen near him to cross out a point from their marriage preparation checklist. It was the last one. He never thought that preparing for a marriage would be this simple, while he saw many of his friends had their hard moments during this time. Or was their list too short?
It had only been three days since he proposed to her, and they hadn't talked much about it either. Their hands were already tight with adjusting their new schedules and new life as Chiharu's adoptive parents. Moreover, he would start going to work as soon as tomorrow since he had only few days left before his annual leave ran out. While Haibara still had her school to attend.
They were actually unsure to leave the baby alone in the day care during working days. But what more could they do? They hoped with the arrival of their parents tomorrow, it would lessened their worry even a bit.
Shinichi sighed while resting his head on the chair.
What would he do if he had let her walk away from his life again that day?
He didn't know how much he needed her until then.
As he closed his eyes and almost drifted to sleep, he heard his stomach grumbled in protest. He looked at the clock and it was nearing dinner time. So he walked out from his study and to the kitchen.
When he walked in, he found Chiharu sitting on her high chair and Haibara was beside her. She was teaching the baby how to feed herself. Both of them were laughing when the food was smudged all over her mouth and chest. He too, was also smiling.
It was such a lively atmosphere in the kitchen.
Guessed, he'd try to talk about it with her after dinner tonight.
.
.
.
"Did she already asleep?" Shinichi asked while washing the dishes.
"Yeah." Haibara replied as she tied her apron and walked to his side, helping him, "It is easier to lulled her out now than few days ago."
"Maybe she is starting to get familiar with us."
"Mhmm."
With that, they were washing the dishes in silence. Shinichi thought this might be his chance to brought up the discussion about their marriage preparation. He looked at her from the side, trying to find the right words to start. But how?
"What is it?" She turned her head, which surprised him.
"N-Nothing." He looked back to the dishes, flustered.
Was she a psychic?
"I just want to let you know that Professor, Fusae-san, and my parents will arrive tomorrow night." He continued, "Then the documents for our marriage registration can be submitted the day after."
She nodded.
"And..." He hesitated.
"And?"
"Ah, nothing." He decided not to continue.
Haibara stared at him in question. There must be something important he wanted to share, but she shrugged her suspicion off. She believed he would tell her when the time came.
Meanwhile, Shinichi decided not to push further because he knew she would decline, telling him this was enough. Considering the situation they were in right now, he was sure she won't bother with a grand ceremony or anything like that.
She even told him in the beginning not to trouble himself buying her a wedding ring. They couldn't wear it anyway since this was a secret to everyone. The only one who needed to know about this were their parents, and having dinner with them to celebrate it was more than enough.
But somehow, he didn't want to disappoint her by having such a lousy wedding.
From the years he was best friends with the deceased Ran and the two years with Ayumi (as Conan), he understood that having a wedding was every girl's dream.
So she must had been dreaming for it too, hadn't she?
Yet, she was stuck with him in this kind of situation.
He also wasn't sure if she really was fine to be with him since their marriage wasn't based on love. What he knew was they didn't hate each other, and despite of those blank years they had, they worked well together just like how they used to.
"I'll turn in for the night, Kudo-kun." Haibara said, snapping the detective from his deep thought.
"Ah, okay." He looked at her and replied, "Good night."
He returned to the book he was holding, as he heard her steps going up the stairs and the quiet sound of her bedroom door closing.
Shinichi sighed for the second time today. Tonight would surely be a long night for him to think.
What should he do about her, eh?
.
.
.
"It's nice to see you again, Kudo-kun." The now chief inspector Megure greeted him.
"Thank you, chief inspector." He greeted back, "I apologize for taking such a long leave."
"Ah, it's okay. I know it was hard on you to take the news about Ran-kun."
Shinichi nodded. It wasn't the only reason he took his leave though.
"Oh, you're back Kudo-kun." The female inspector Takagi (formerly sergeant Sato) greeted him.
"Yes, thank you for taking over my work for the whole week." He said.
"Don't mention it." She replied while waving her hand.
Shinichi couldn't help it but glanced at the wedding band she wore on her ring finger.
And he couldn't help it but to ponder for the whole day how nice it would be if she could wear it too.
.
.
.
It was night time and they had just finished their dinner while Chiharu was already asleep in her room. It seemed she was too tired from spending her first day at the new day care. Thankfully she didn't get overstimulated by it, so they didn't have to deal with her crankiness tonight.
They were now sitting in the living room, doing their own things in silence. The TV was on, but no one was actually watching and no one was bothered by its noise.
Once in a while, Shinichi would take a peek from the edge of the book he read (more like he held it) at Haibara who was sitting on the floor. Although he could only get to see her back from the position he was in, but he could imagine how she looked so much like a real high schooler with the piles of papers and some textbooks scattered on top of the coffee table.
Looked like he was anxious as he carelessly hardened his grip on his book.
He tried to gather his courage.
Tsk. Where had the courage he got that day gone to?
The detective had just realized how jumpy his stomach could get when the thing he wanted to do was just to give her that thing.
He took a big gulp.
It was now or never, he thought.
Haibara was too focused doing her school assignments when she felt something fell around her neck. She tried to feel what it was by tracing her nape with her hand. It felt cold like a metal, but thin in size and long. She gripped it lightly with her fingers, afraid to break it, and brought it into her view.
It was a necklace with a gold wedding ring as the pendant. The ring had a small diamond on it, but not too extravagant.
It suited her well. Simple yet elegant.
She widened her eyes in surprise. She turned her head to ask him what this was all about but before she could say anything, he showed his pair of wedding ring pendant that was dangling on his neck too, with his hand.
"I know you have clearly said it before to not bother with buying a wedding ring." He started, "But since due to our circumstances we can't arrange for a dream wedding, so this is the least I can give to you that closest to it."
He finished his sentence with a blush, and with that Haibara also felt her cheeks burned up. But she clearly got his message behind those words. He meant to apologize for having her life tangled up in this mess.
And since they couldn't wear it in public, Shinichi had made their wedding rings into pendant.
How considerate he is, she thought while observing the ring necklace.
When she looked back, it seemed their lives would always find their way to intertwine with each other.
First it was with the pill she created,
and now it was with the baby.
Perhaps fate wouldn't let them stay apart.
"Thank you." She replied with a warm smile.
Shinichi smiled back at her. He never felt this content before. Maybe seeing her happy was the cause.
If this was truly their fate to be together,
hopefully fate would also help them find the lost feeling they once had years ago,
the one they didn't admit before,
and to let it grow again in no time.
.
.
.
"So, when can we get in and give them a surprise, Yu-chan?" Yukiko asked in a whisper while peeking at the living room through the door.
She felt annoyed because her husband stopped her from barking in.
"Just wait for a bit more." Yusaku whispered back, smiling.
It seemed Shinichi's parents had arrived sometime ago but he and Haibara were too busy caught up in their own moment. They didn't even notice the sound of the main door opened and closed.
They didn't realize their presence until tomorrow morning though.
"Ugh." Yukiko grunted.
Author's note: I know it was cheesy, but ever since I was in high school I somehow had a kind of 'fetish' with wedding ring pendant necklace. In my eyes, it gives off secretive feeling and being secretive makes me thrill (haha). I couldn't get it for real though, so why not give it to my favourite couple?
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Disclaimer: All characters of Detective Conan are belong to Aoyama Gosho. I don't own any single of them.