Hello! I can't believe that I'm writing again after 10 years of my last Detective Conan fanfiction. I used to publish my work on by the name TBR97 back in 2010-2014, but sadly I forgot my password and wasn't able to log in again. I don't expect anyone to know my work since it's been a while, but the most famous story I have written was "Meeting Again". I'm not sure whether I will be interested in either continuing my old stories or revamping Meeting Again, but what is important now is for you to enjoy this new story I have created just for you.

This is a light story that I wanted to start with to ease myself into more intense storylines. It will be around 20+ chapters but expect weekly releases as I have the entire story outlined. Finally, I want to declare that [ChatGPT and Sudowrite] helped me in building the story and made it possible for me to write while doing my dual degree in Design and Business. I hope this doesn't bother any of the readers as I have put a lot of effort into writing it as well.

Now, let's enjoy this week's chapter. Let's begin!

Chapter 1: The Quite Vortex

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting warm hues of gold and orange over the rolling hills of the English countryside. Shinichi, or Conan as he was known now, sat on a worn stone bench in the garden of the safe house, his eyes drawn to the vibrant greenery that stretched out before him. It was a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind in Japan. Beside him, Shiho—known as Haibara—She idly skimmed through the pages of a book about genetics.

"Haibara…" Conan murmured, his gaze shifting from the picturesque landscape to her face.

[Flashback]

Six months ago, Conan's heart raced as he stared at the coded message on his phone. The symbols were familiar, but it took him a while to realize the gravity of their meaning. The organization was getting closer—too close—to knowing his real identity, and everyone around him was in danger. He clenched his fists, feeling a sense of urgency that he hadn't experienced since he first transformed into Conan.

His thoughts were interrupted by Shuichi Akai, who entered the room with a solemn expression. "We need to talk," he said, his voice steady despite the concern in his eyes.

"About what?" Conan asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Japan is no longer safe for you and your her, especially now that the Black Organization is inching closer to identifying your shrinking. We must act quick." Shuichi's words hung heavy in the air, emphasizing the direness of their situation.

Conan frowned. He had no other choice, but he couldn't bring himself to give up on bringing the organization just yet. "Akai," he said quietly, "is there really no other solution than leaving?"

"Shinichi," Yusaku interjects. Conan turned to face him, his heart heavy with the knowledge that this conversation would not be an easy one.

"Listen, son," There was an edge to his father's voice, a gravitas that demanded attention. "I know you don't want to leave Japan, but it's no longer safe for you here."

"Can't I stay and help bring down the organization?" Conan pleaded, but his father's expression remained resolute.

"Your safety is our top priority," Yusaku voice sharpened. "You'll only put yourself and those around you in more danger if you stay."

Akai nod his head slowly agreeing with Yusaka silently "I'm sorry boy," he said gently but firmly, "But for now this is the only way."

"Where do we go from here?" Conan asked, his mind racing with the implications of leaving everything behind.

"England," Yusaku replied without hesitation. "My friend from Interpol will ensure your safety and hers."

"England..." Conan murmured, trying to wrap his head around the idea. The thought of leaving Japan, his friends, and Ran behind was almost too much to bear.

"Yukiko and I will be accompanying there." Yusaku added.

"Trust me, this is for the best," Shuichi said, placing a reassuring hand on Conan's shoulder. "We'll make sure you're and your loved ones are protected until it's safe for you to return."

The room suddenly felt too tight on his chest so he turned away from the room and moved quickly towards his bedroom. Each breath sent a sharp ache to his lungs, but when he tried to take deeper breaths they seemed hard to come by. He stumbled past the doorway and into the darkness of his bedroom, trying desperately for air that had become suddenly thin in the homely atmosphere of moments ago.

His feet dragged on cold carpet until eventually made it to bed where fell heavily onto its soft mattress in search of oxygen that was not there. He hung his head, feeling a sudden surge of grief swell inside his chest. Ran's face flashed on the screen of his mind – her half-laugh smile when she had broken into song as they'd walked their favorite path down to the riverbank, their last night together at home before he moved away forever.

[End Flashback]

The memory lingered in Conan's mind, he couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for Ran and Tokyo, where he would have been hot on the trail of the Black Organization.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees grounding him back to reality."Do you wonder what it will be like if we were still in Japan?" he asked, the question catching in his throat.

Her fingers paused mid-way as she is about to flip to the next page, She glanced over and met Conan's eyes. His expression was heavy with regret, with a deep hurting sadness that she could feel in her chest as she looked at him.

She felt the desire to reach out to his face and caress his cheeks to comfort him but instead, bit down on her lip trying to bottle up these emotions inside of herself until this moment passed by without any lasting effects from either of them. She considered his words for a moment before shaking her head.

"No, I have nothing that ties me to Japan anymore." she answered firmly. "Yes, it was hard parting with the Detective Boys knowing that we will cut ties with them once we leave, but I know we did what was necessary." she added, breaking the companionable silence between them.

"Mmm," Conan hummed, a soft yet sad smile paints his lips. Haibara had to say goodbye once to the people she knew, but Conan had to do it twice to the girl he loved the most.

[Flashback]

Two months after moving to the UK, Conan decided that it was time to break things off with Ran. The room was silent as he rose, a silence that seemed to amplify the turmoil within him. With each step towards the phone, the gravity of what he was about to do seemed to swell. And there it was, the instrument of his confession, his farewell—his phone, looking innocuous on the nightstand, yet in that moment, it was anything but.

Conan hesitated, the phone in his hand a leaden weight. The air around him was heavy, thick with the unspoken and the unknown. He could hear the gentle rhythm of the safe house, the distant murmur of life beyond his room, yet it all felt distant, as if he were already a world away. He dialed the number, one he knew as well as his own heartbeat, a number that had always promised connection but now was a harbinger of separation.

"Hello?" The voice on the other end was light, familiar, and filled with the warmth he yearned for.

"Ran... It's me," he began, his voice a low timbre of forced calmness, belying the turmoil within. "I need you to listen to me, okay?"

Ran's voice wavered with a sudden unease. "Shinichi, is that you? Where have you been? Why did you stop replying to my messages and calls?!"

He closed his eyes, imagining her face, the crease of concern that would now be marking her brow. "I... I can't explain everything. But I have to go away for a while. We can't communicate... not until I return."

"But why, Shinichi? Why can't you tell me where you're going? What's happening?" Ran's said with a silent plea for the truth.

Conan felt the grip on his phone tighten. "I wish I could tell you more. But please, trust me. This is for your safety as much as it is for mine. It won't be forever. I promise you."

A pause stretched between them, laden with unasked questions and unshed tears. "I... I will always trust you, Shinichi. Just, please, be safe."

"I will. And Ran... I'm sorry, very sorry." With those final words, he ended the call, severing the last open line to the life he was leaving behind, his heart heavy with the weight of his unsaid goodbye.

[End of Flashback]

"Sometimes, finding a safe haven in the storm is worth more than any adventure," Haibara mused, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Maybe you're right," Conan admitted, his gaze lingering on the horizon as the sun finally disappeared from view. "Still, I can't help but feel restless at times, this, me being on standby until I'm released, it feels suffocating."

Haibara nodded, understanding his sentiment. "I believe that's just a part of who you are, Kudo-kun. You spent lots of effort seeking answers and fighting for justice. It's not easy to let go of that drive, even when circumstances force you to."

"Maybe," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But I know that we can't stay hidden forever. One day, we'll have to face the Black Organization again. And when that day comes, I want to be ready."

Haibara disregarded the warnings from her inner voice, knowing that she is already deep into her feelings for him. Taking his hand in hers, she looked into his eyes and said softly. "We have no choice but to be patient – this fight is much bigger than us."

Conan stared at Haibara as she hesitantly placed her small hand on top of his. He could feel the warmth radiating from her hands to his and suddenly felt the worry in his heart began to ease away. The world around them melted away and it was only the two of them - connected by one touch, looking into each other's eyes.

Despite all the darkness and uncertainty, one thing he came to appreciate overtime – their bond that had grown unbreakable over time and he knew that whatever came next he at least had Haibara by his side.

His grip tightens over her "Thank you, Haibara," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "For everything."

In this quiet moment, away from the chaos and danger they had left behind, Haibara smiles and redirected her attention to the tranquil English countryside surrounding them, the pair found solace in the stillness.

"Ah, there you two are," Yukiko teased, her voice light and playful. "You're looking quite cozy together, like an old married couple. It's nice to see how close you've become." Her teasing was light-hearted, but there was a hint of maternal warmth beneath her words.

Conan removed his hand from Ai "Mom!" Conan protested, embarrassment coloring his cheeks as he shifted uncomfortably on the bench. Ai averted her eyes but couldn't hide the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. "At least he finally learned how to appreciate the quiet moments," Ai said softly.

"Hey! Which side are you on now?" Conan was torn between the two ladies' teasing. His heart raced and his head swam as he looked from one woman to another in turn.

"Relax, I'm only teasing," Yukiko assured them, her tone softening. "But in all seriousness, the bond you've formed is beautiful, and it's important to cherish those moments." Her expression turned bittersweet as she added, 'Because there will come a day where you will miss all of this…' Yukiko thought to herself.