Don't kill me! I didn't mean to leave for so long! Anyway thanks to Uninspired Author for bringing me back. He brought Ai-chan out (read his new fic if you don't know what I'm talking about), and I couldn't refuse Ai-chan. Anyway I hope you don't beat me up too bad for my long absence, and I hope you all haven't given up on me. *hopeful smile*

Chapter 6

I couldn't concentrate on the movie. Dimly I'm aware that there's a girl somehow crying her heart out on the screen, but I can barely remember her name, let alone even beginning to register the reason.

"Poor Matsuko-chan…" Ran murmured, wiping her eyes. I gave a nod, hoping not to appear too confused. As it happened, she was too focused on the screen to pay attention to me anyways.

I let my gaze examine the theater instead. For a weekend, it is surprisingly empty, and everyone seemed to be sitting in couples. Several guys looked just as bored as I felt. I don't know why girls seem to love these movies so much. Or most girls anyways, Shiho would probably scoff at the summary.

But it's not the movie that matters. It's been so long since the last time I was able to go out with Ran as Shinichi. So long since I can be with her without worrying about hurting her because I know I'll have to leave again in a matter of hours...

"Isn't it a great movie?" Ran said, depositing the empty popcorn bag in the trash bin. "Sonoko would be dying to hear about it. She's wanted to go see it since it came out last week—"

I nodded, trying to remember as much of the movie as I can so it wouldn't seem too obvious that I had been spacing out the whole while.

"You weren't concentrating though…" Ran said slowly, a smile tugging at the edge of her lips.

"Eh?"

"I know because Shinichi-kun could never concentrate on something that doesn't require mystery solving for more than five minutes!"

"That's not true… I think..." I said, smiling in defeat.

"But it's really nice of you to sit through it with me, I know you don't like these love stories…"

"They're not that bad…" I lied, as we sat down at a diner near the theater.

We were interrupted by a gasp.

"Ah, you're Kudo Shinichi, right? That detective?" The waitress taking our order exclaimed, her eyes wide. "I heard rumors saying that you were dead!"

"Shh!" I looked around. Thankfully there were a lot of people in the diner, and her voice did not carry over the loud conversations of the other customers. "I need to keep a low profile for a case I'm working on."

"Oh, sorry." The waitress nodded understandingly, her voice immediately lowering.

She took our order and left promising not to tell anyone she had seen me should anyone suspicious ask around.

"You're not still involved in anything dangerous, are you?" Ran asked, the worry clear in her voice.

"Of course not," I lied uneasily.

"But you're so careful of staying out of the news lately…"

"It's just…"

"You're not going to go away again, are you?

"When I was away, a hitter sent by the mafia that had close connections to a murderer we put behind bars attacked Shiho and me in revenge. The attack harmed many officers as well, and we decided to be more careful from then on, that's all." I said, making a mental note to remind Shiho of this story when I get home.

"Oh…"

"It sounds so dangerous, the case… I'm glad you're back now." Ran said, the smile slowly returning. "I guess I'm just not used to Shinichi-kun not bragging about all the cases he's solved for once!"

"Oi…"

"Ne Shinichi… Where's Shiho-chan from? I keep getting the feeling that I've met her before…"

I shrugged, paying way more attention than necessary to the bowl of ramen before me.

"She looks a lot like Ai-chan, don't you think?"

"Yeah I guess…" I mumbled.

"Speaking of Ai-chan, she and Conan-kun hasn't called yet. I wonder how they're doing in America?"

I nearly choked upon hearing the name Conan. Right, I'd promised that I'd call. And I'd already forgotten where I left the bowtie.

It was already dark by the time I walked her home, after a very disgruntled call from Occhan. I caught phrases like 'that detective brat' and 'this late into the night' and also something about missing the show hosted about Okino Yoko.

"Anyway, thanks for tonight, I had a great time." She said with a smile.

Then she hugged me.

My brain went on overdrive. I wonder if I'd die from too much blood rushing up to my head.

"Yokatta ne, Shinichi-kun's really back… I keep thinking that you'll disappear again…"

"Ran…" Before I can think of something to say, Ran leaned forward, and…

I think my brain's officially stopped working.

The living room was empty when I got home. Dishes were already washed and stacked neatly by the sink. Sounds of metal clanging can be heard from the library, which served as Hakase's temporary laboratory.

I could hear people talking in my room. Frowning, I turned the doorknob, brain just starting to register the familiar voices.

"Hattori!"

The trespassing detective ignored me completely.

"How do you do it!" He exclaimed in disbelief as Shiho, who was sitting across from him, calmly knocked the white king off the ancient chessboard with her rook.

"Checkmate." She said lightly.

"Five times in a row… and I haven't lost since junior high…" Heiji grumbled. "Kudo, you're finally home!" He frowned "...What's wrong with your face?"

"W-what?"

"Ran-san kissed him, I expect." Shiho said with a smirk.

"Really!" Hattori jumped up, an eager grin on his face. "You sure act fast, didn't you just turn back yesterday?—Wait, don't clear that up, I want a rematch later – So? Did she?"

I nodded, head still buzzing a little.

Hattori laughed for a full minute, before going on to ask about details relentlessly.

"Did the metantei's brain short-circuit because of his first kiss?" Shiho remarked when I couldn't summon a coherent reply. I glared at her. She smirked.

"What are you doing here anyways?" I demanded, effectively directing the subject from myself.

"I heard the antidote's done." He replied matter-of-factly. "Kazuha went out to shop when she heard you and Ran are out. Ah, she doesn't know about 'the kiss' yet, I'll call and let her kno—"

"Oi, that's none of your business—" I said loudly, attempting to grab the phone from him.

"I'll leave you two kindergarteners alone then," Shiho said, standing up with a yawn. "Kudo-kun, I'll be borrowing your laptop then."

"Again? What are you researching anyways?" I ask, as she shrugged off my question and left, taking the laptop with her.

"What about my rematch?" Hattori asked, suspending the fight over the phone as well.

"You've lost five times in a row already. Another game isn't going to get you any closer to winning." Shiho smirked. "Oyasumi."

"Oi, Shiho—!" We said in unison, but she closed the door with an offhand shrug.

"How could you stand living with her?" Hattori asked, aghast.

"Don't let her hear that, she'll murder you." I said darkly.

"Heiji!" I heard the door open and close. "Heiji, is Kudo-kun and Ran-chan back yet?"

"Ah, Kazuha! Guess what, Kudo kis—"

"Oi, you two!" Since when do people start barging into other people's homes without permission?

I looked at my watch. It wasn't even nine yet.

Kazuha was already looking ready to bombard me with questions. I remembered the half-finished detective novel in the bedside table.

"I'm going to bed." I announced flatly.

A/N: Whew I'm done! It's so hard for me to write ShinRan stuff, hope I did okay… so r&r please! And I would like to remind everyone that voting for the drabble contest ends on July 31st, so if you haven't voted yet, please go vote for your favorites! The poll is on Uninspired Author's profile page, thx! :)