Hey all! I'm pretty new to writing fanfiction. I've read a whole lot though. Some of my favourite ShinRan/CoRan fics are When Pandora's Box Is Opened by mangaluva and the I'm Already There series by Becky Tailweaver.

Thanks for your interest in this story. It's an idea I've had for ages… I started writing it back in 2013, let it sit for two years and only now am I beginning to publish it!

I've always loved the the 9th OVA "Stranger after Ten Years", and I wished that it showed more of what the future would be like for the characters if things had gone as Haibara had said. Thus, this fic was born.

I did change a few things, though, such as in this AU the Black Organisation has already been taken down.

I hope you enjoy! If you do, shoot me a short review, it always makes my day. :)

Obligatory disclaimer, for tradition's sake: I don't own Detective Conan. This is a purely fan-made work that does not intend to breach copyright etc. etc.

"Because…"

His hands trembled across his cursed glasses.

"Because…"

Through the reflections in the glass, he could see Ran's tearstained face.

Violently, he ripped the glasses from his face.

He had made up his mind. He would no longer let them separate him from the girl… the woman he loved.

"Because I'm Kudo Shinichi!" A mix of desperation and conviction rushing through his veins, he continued.

"So please, don't get married!"

The room stood still for what seemed like an eternity. Shinichi felt himself shudder at what he had just done.

Against every instinct, he had shed the one mask that he had vowed never to take off. Especially not in front of Ran. She was the reason he started this masquerade in the first place. But oddly enough, she was now the one with the most to gain by knowing the truth… or so Shinichi had hoped.

Shinichi couldn't let Ran marry Dr. Araide. It was a mistake. Yes, he was intelligent, rich and sensitive, all amiable qualities, but he wasn't supposed to marry Ran.

She was supposed to marry Kudo Shinichi… right?

Just this once, Shinichi let himself be selfish.

"Ever since you became a high-schooler, you've really started to look just like him…" Ran smiled bitterly.

"I don't just look like him, I am him!" Shinichi protested.

"Thank you…" Ran gazed at him distantly. "Thank you for saying that to make me feel better."

"But…" She brushed past his hand, gently taking his glasses. "I've made up my mind." She carefully slid his glasses off.

"I've waited for him for ten years, after all. I can wait another ten just fine. Tomorrow, I'll go tell Dr. Araide that I won't be marrying him."

Shinichi felt the breath catch in his throat. Time had treated Ran well. She was just as beautiful as he remembered, but her voice had a softer, more mature quality that he had never heard from her before. Ran smiled genuinely into his eyes.

After all these years, she was still loyal to him.

Shinichi fell in love all over again.

It was too late to go back; he needed to tell Ran who he really is. He was never going back to the torture of lying to her face every day. She had waited ten years for him. Being honest now was the least he could do.

"Ran, I really am-"

A bolt of pain screamed through his chest, stopping his words mid-sentence. He clasped at his chest, toppling down onto the floor. This pain was familiar…

Shinichi heard Ran calling his other name as he drifted unconscious.

When Shinichi opened his eyes, he found himself in a soft bed… Although his head ached, he managed to recognise his surroundings as his old bedroom. Light softly streamed in through the gaps in the curtains. He could hear birds in the trees below, and the faint hum of cars in the distance. He hadn't slept here in a long time.

Still wearing his glasses and school uniform, he sat up slowly. His body ached all over. Yesterday had been a big day…

Yesterday?

Shinichi quickly tried to remember what had happened. He had taken a trial antidote to the Apotoxin, and had somehow ended up in the future. He had run around looking for Ran all day, then found her back at his old house and collapsed.

Could the antidote have worn off? He quickly held up his hands in front of his face. No, these weren't children's hands. He was still himself.

Shinichi smiled briefly, before remembering what had happened between him and Ran.

He had told her who he was. She knew the truth.

Shinichi was both terrified and jubilant at that thought. She hadn't believed him, but Shinichi didn't mind.

That could be easily remedied.