Teitan Elementary School:

Grief and guilt surged with every breath he took. 'I should have never let your hand go in the first place.' Shinichi blamed himself. Crimson blood oozed out mercilessly from the exposed wound on Shiho's head as he held Shiho's cold and stiff body. Scarlet liquid stained his white shirt and hands.

"Hurry! Bring the stretcher!" Inspector Megure commanded the paramedics team.

The loud piercing sound of the siren on the ambulance echoed in the neighbourhood.

Beika General Hospital:

Shinichi watched silently as Shiho sleep lied unconscious on the hospital bed. The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest corresponded with her slow and shallow breaths.

*Gasp*

Shiho jolted up from her bed. The repulsive smell of bleach and disinfectant invaded her nasal passageway. The walls are a blatant white, completely devoid color. The violent expulsion of air from her body rendered Shiho lightheaded.

"Miyano?" Shinichi wore a concerned expression.

Shiho's body coiled from the stinging at the back of her skull. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. "Ayumi!" Shiho exclaimed in despair as the events of the evening swamped Shiho's mind.

Before Shinichi could explain anything, he was interrupted by a certain 7 year old's high pitched voice.

"Onee-chan!"

Ayumi, Mitsuhiko and Genta leaped into Shiho's ward. Their eyes glistered with joy when they saw Shiho.

The Detective Boys' appearance startled Shiho.

"How…?" Shiho stumbled with her words. She stared at the three children while frantically trying to connect the dots in her brain.

Just then, Heiji entered the room. At first glance, Shiho noticed his sweat-stained shirt and his ripped jeans. He sheepishly scratched his head.

"We heard you saved us again!*" Mitsuhiko expressed his gratitude towards Shiho.

"Together with Heiji nii-chan and Shinichi nii-chan!" Genta quickly agreed.

"Hattori managed to find them and get them out of the school… But he was not able to detonate the bombs," Shinichi explained as his shoulders slumped into the chair.

Upon hearing the about the state of Teitan Elementary School, tears welled up in Ayumi's eyes, "Our school…"

Shiho flinched. It is her fault that Vermouth appeared in Teitan Elementary School, blew it up and almost got the Detective boys hurt.

"Vermouth is apprehended. Everything is fine now." Shinichi sensed Shiho self-deprecation. He assured her as he laid his hand lightly on her shoulder.

Shiho felt herself calming down gradually at his touch.

The contact of Shinichi's hand was warmer than she had expected. Regardless how many times she felt his body temperature, it never fails to send a tingling sensation through her body,

As if embarrassed, Shiho subtly avoided the eye contact with Shinichi.

After the Detective Boys leave the room, Shinichi turned to Shiho and said, "Miyano, I have an idea that will make them feel better." His confidence was exuded with the wide grin spread over his face.

"Hello guys."

"Ai-chan!" "Haibara!" the Detective boys blared in unison. A month has passed since they last saw Conan and Ai after they left for America. They had been waiting eagerly for their phone call.

Their deafening voices reverberated in Shinichi and Shiho's ears like a trumpet. They had used the Voice-Changing Bowtie to emulate Conan and Ai's voices.

"Ouch," Shinichi winced in Conan's voice.

"Conan!" Ayumi, Mitsuhiko and Genta were extremely ecstatic to hear the familiar voice again.

"We heard about today. Are you guys okay?" Ai's soothing voice had a calming effect on everyone.

"We are unharmed. But our school…" Ayumi's voice shook with anguish. It was apparent from her voice that she had been crying.

"You're not telling me the Detective Boys can't do anything about it?" Conan's usual snooty tone sounded slightly provoking to the children.

Shooting Shinichi a glare, Shiho encouragingly said, "I am sure Teitan Elementary School need the Detective Boys to help put it back together." Although deep down, she knew it was Shinichi/Conan's peculiar way of cheering the team up.

"Looks like it's a job for the Detective Boys!" Ayumi, Mitsuhiko and Genta cheered. Their voices radiated with infectious elation. There was no way they were going to let Conan think they are weak without his presence.

Shiho's heart swelled with pride and joy.

"Take care of yourselves in America!" Ayumi added.

Mitsuhiko asked timidly, "When will we... see you again?"

Shinichi eyed Shiho before he said, "We'll meet when you guys are 17."

'We will tell you guys everything at that time,' Shiho thought. 'After all, we're friends.'

"10 years from now… It's a promise!" Ayumi earnestly said.

"Promise," Shiho assured.

"We have to go now," Shinichi said.

"We will call again when we are free," Shiho added.

*Beep* The phone call between the Detective Boys and the two teenagers ended.

"It seems like they are back to their old selves again," Shiho smiled to Shinichi.

The right side of Shinichi's lip tugged upwards slightly in a triumphant smile.

A flood of relief overwhelmed Shiho and Shinichi. The two basked in the comfortable silence and the glow of the streetlights creeping through the window while reminiscing the memories they have made with the Detective Boys in the past year.

'10 years from now,' Shiho wondered. 'Will I still be by your side, Kudo?'

Beika General Hospital:

After the phone call with the Detective Boys, Shinichi followed Inspector Megure to record his statement. Before returning home, he had wanted to check on Shiho again.

Carefully, he opened the door into Shiho's ward.

The half drawn curtains allowed the night sky to peak through. The hushed glow of the moonlight gently brushed across Shiho's sleeping face, emanating her sophisticated features.

With each step he took, his mind became cloudier. Shinichi slowed down as he approached Shiho. There was a sense of inexplicable attraction that drew him towards Shiho.

His eyes lingered on her.

"Goodnight…" he breathed as he walked towards her bed. Shinichi pulled the blankets further up to cover her shoulders. "Shiho."

Before he exited the room, Shinichi stole another glance at Shiho.

'It has been a long day.' The happenings that day trudged through his brain. 'But it's alright now.' His lips curled upwards in a relieved smile as he exited Shiho's ward.

Shiho peeped her eyes opened. The truth is she was not asleep yet. Scanning the room, she ensured that Shinichi had left.

"Shi-ho?" she enunciated the two syllabus carefully. It seems like eternity since anyone called her that. Only her family members ever did. She fought the smile threatening to surface on her face. She gently placed her hand over her chest to silent the rhythmic beatings but to no avail. The pounding of her heart was irrefutable.

Her eyelids felt heavy and they drooped down slowly. Within no time at all, she fell into a deep but soothing slumber.

A/N: *-The Shadow Approaching Haibara's Secret, where Haibara Ai returned to her adult body to save the Detective Boys. So technically, they have met the adult version of Ai/Shiho!

Thank you for the reviews :) Next chapter will be geared towards Ran's insecurity. Hopefully.