A/N: So much for being more active in updates. I'll at least try to add in a chapter once a week. I might as well note that I'll be using Shiho and Shinichi for their adult forms and Conan and Ai for their shrunken forms.

And I'd like to thank those who have put this little project of mine in your follows and faves. It really means a lot to me. :) Enjoy this little chapter and don't forget to leave a review!

First Practice

It was a sunny morning when Rose decided that they should start practicing their lessons in her studio. After they'd eaten breakfast, she quickly led them to their dressing rooms for them to wear their practicing attire and dance shoes.

When they finished dressing, they entered through the back door, as per Rose's instructions, in order to avoid the stream of people nearby. They barely slipped past a bunch of photographers waiting out by the window and got to where Rose was waiting for them.

"Took you long enough," she said.

Rose led them to a series of hallways filled with images of various celebrities. A few were holding out trophies while a few, Shiho noticed, were famous celebrities who won dance competitions shown on TV.

"I've got the best room in this studio all to ourselves for the next couple of weeks or so. It'll give you guys the privacy you need," the agent said as she led them to the farthest room. She opened the doors and gestured for them to enter inside.

The studio she took them had ten foot long mirrors lined up on one side of the room and framed pictures of her students' accomplishments on the other. There was a small set of platform stairs placed on the back of the room. Shinichi looked up to see that the windows were placed high enough for them to observe the view but low enough to hide them from onlookers.

While Shinichi was examining the room, Shiho was staring at herself in the mirror. She felt more at ease in her original form and it showed. Though her bangs still cover up her eyes and most of her face, she didn't need to act like a child for now. She can walk in strides without people worrying if she was lonely or needed to be attended to. She didn't have to worry about people wondering how a small child could act so mature.

At the corner of her eye, she can sense that Shinichi, too, was staring at her from afar. It was also her first time to observe him in his adult form. He held himself with an aura of confidence and arrogance, yet the expressions on his face were those of a gentle nature.

"Okay, guys," Rose called out while adjusting the sound system at the far corner of the room, "I need you to stand side by side."

The scientist released her grip on the balance beam by the mirrors and walked over to Shinichi at the center of the room. He looked at her with curious eyes, taking in the scent of strawberries she always smelled of.

"Are you familiar with the proper posture in ballroom dancing?" she asked walking over to them, remote in hand.

"A bit," Shiho replied, "I did a bit of dance when I studied here, after all."

"None at all," Shinchi said, "I'm very new to this."

"No stepping on my toes, please."

"Oi!"

Rose clapped her hands, "We'll start on the frame, then. It's important that you guys get to master this since it's practically the very basic facet in standard ballroom. Now, hold your hands together and do as I say."

Shinichi thought that what Rose just told them was simple enough to do so he took his partner's hands in his and faced her with a stern look.

"Yep, you're a beginner alright," Shiho remarked, as she straightened out her shoulders and held her neck higher.

"You have a very good frame, Shiho-chan," Rose said with a little emphasis to her student's name, "but you still have a lot of things to consider. Hold that pose together while I polish up your frame."

The blonde then proceeded to fix their frame one little aspect at a time. She straightened both their elbows and elevated their arms to adjust their hold. Shoulders down, neck high, body straight. Every now and then she'd remind them to keep their frame as she slowly worked out the little tweaks. By the time she was satisfied with them, both their arms were growing heavy and they wanted to sit down.

"But we're just beginning," Rose said, "and it's just the frame! You still have to learn how to keep that up while walking and performing the steps."

Shinichi gave out another heavy sigh as he broke his hold off Shiho to stretch his limbs. He noticed, however, that she was taking the lesson well. Maybe too well.

"Oi," he called out to her, "you're actually enjoying this?"

"You really think I enjoyed holding your sweaty hands in such close proximity?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I just think you're taking this a little bit too well."

She looked back at him with her dark, turquoise eyes. "Trying something new doesn't seem to be so bad after all."

Rose called them again to furnish on their hold. This time, Conan had to bend his knees so that their height would be level with each other.

"There you go! Now you have to hold that posture while we do the walk, alright? Just focus on your frame and follow my instructions." Rose waited for them to reply. With all the shapes and poses they were trying to maintain, the pair could only nod in response.

"Okay, walk over to the mirror slowly in five, six, seven, eight…"

It was going to be a long day for the two of them, alright.

But, Shinichi thought as he held on firmly to Shiho's hand, careful not to let go of her grip, at least he wasn't alone in this journey.

He had his partner with him, after all.