Disclaimer : Gosho Aoyama is the rightful owner of the Detective Conan series and not me. Wish I did though.

PROLOGUE

Darkness.

My surroundings are consumed by utter darkness. Not even a single lux of light can be recognized. It was as if I was in a black hole, only that I am not being spaghettified. I blinked and I suddenly found myself atop a 'hill' overlooking a lake. It was a nice view. Pine trees surrounded the lake as the gentle breeze softly caressed my face. This was what I've always aspired for. To have nothing to fear, to lie for, and to run away from. Just being able to appreciate the good things life throws at me, which certainly is not often. It was the most relaxing scene I have ever seen in my life. Makes me wish to just stay in this moment forever.

How I envy these animals. I looked up at the birds and envied their freedom, I saw monkeys and envied just how free they are to mess around, I looked at the young fawns and I too envied their situation, how they can just chase each other and play and be free from harm's way. I would've smiled and just watched them if I didn't know what is to come.

Because for some reason, danger always finds a way to reach me.

As I watched the scene unfolding before my eyes, I couldn't help but be frustrated. Just a moment and the trees are now on fire, while some of them are chopped off already. The lake is now polluted. The sky is filled with smoke. The birds are now flocking together to find a new home, the monkeys has nothing to mess around with, the fawns are being hunted.

This is life. This is truth. This is how balance is maintained. This is our world's harsh reality. There is always a price to pay. But I can't help but be frustrated at how the events turned. And this is why I keep on fighting. For the people I cherish. For them to be able to experience the nicest things in life that was kept on being taken away from them. From us. From me.

I closed my eyes and… I felt like I'm falling.

I'm back into the dark void. With nothing to appreciate once more, I had this bitter smile on my face. I have now an idea on how she views the world. How she views life. How she doesn't allow herself to be blinded by the idea of having a life with nothing to worry about. She knows that life is the very epitome of equilibrium.

I stared at nothingness. It felt like it was consuming me. Sucking me into its barren land. I felt weird. I felt like something is about to happen. I felt like the fawn. I knew it. Something is coming.

"Kudo Shinichi."

I stopped. I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was a tingling sensation. I know that voice! That cold, menacing voice. It could only come from someone so bottled up with hatred inside. No one else than…

"Gin!"

I frantically looked around in hopes to find any sign of the silver haired monster. But there was nothing to be found. I panicked, and panic is never a good sign. I felt my anger boiling. I was just about to scream when I heard voices. They were faint, but they were gradually getting louder the more distance I covered by running. I heard the nearest one, and oh boy did I not like it.

"Conan!"
Genta

"Conan-kun!"
Mitsuhiko

I can hear their voices but they are nowhere to be found. There was nothing that could be done, so I kept on running.

"Conan-kun! Help!"
Ayumi

"Shinichi-kun! Save the kids!"
Hakase!

I didn't know what to feel at the time. But in a few moments, I felt the tears sting my eyes. They didn't even spare the professor. I felt anger, hate, despise, sadness and hopelessness. But still, I knew that nothing could be done If I cannot see even their silhouettes. I kept on doing what I am doing. Run.

"Kudo!"
Hattori

"Brat!"
Uncle

I ran, and ran as fast as I could. My legs grew tired, but I cannot stop. Hot tears streamed down my face. I wasn't ready for this. But here it is and I cannot change what happened and is happening. I could only change what could happen. Their fate relies on me. It's like I'm holding half of their life essence in my hand. So I kept on running. I've feared the worst. And the worst is coming.

"Conan-kun.."

That's it. My legs collapsed and I could do nothing but mope. "Why?! Why?! Why is this happening?! Gin! Show yourself!" Woah, I never thought I had it in me. I heard him. He was laughing. A spotlight suddenly shone on him. He was the same as ever. From his black hat to his black boots, everything was black except for his silver hair. The beast's hair. He has come.

"You are brave tantei. Ho, let me rephrase that. Reckless is what fits you." He had this smirk on his face that spells D-A-N-G-E-R. His cold glare is piercing my body, as if I could feel it. Even with my teary face, I glared at him. Huh, reckless, I truly am. "Stop this nonsense! If you want revenge then here I am! Face me! Kill me!"

"Ohoho. But that would make it boring wouldn't it? I didn't kill off those baits just to kill you painlessly you know?" "He killed them!" This just boosted my already overflowing hatred for the man. "Oh you're gonna feel it. You just wait." I had this look on my face that's practically daring him to fight me.

"You see, I want you to suffer. I want you to feel the excruciating pain that you would have to endure. And you won't feel it physically, mind you." He took out his pistol from his trench coat and pointed it at me. I closed my eyes in anticipation of the bullet.

BANG
I feel it.
BANG

Damn was it painful. I needed all my 'tough guy powers' to endure the pain. This wasn't the first time I was shot but it felt all the more painful nonetheless. "Heh, I thought you weren't going to make me feel it physically, bastard!" He looked at me with that wide grin plastered on his face. "Oh, that was but a safety precaution. Here's the real deal, I'd let you choose between two people. One lives while the other one dies. Sounds like a fucking television drama doesn't it?" Damn right it does. I would've laughed if not for the grave situation.

He smirked at me and this time, nothing felt right. He turned around and walked off, disappearing from my eyes. I braced myself for what may come. This would be the hardest part of 'this' or even my whole life. I remembered, my choice determines their fate. I thought life would be easy if we can take a hold of everyone else's lives. Guess not.

"I'm giving you 1 minute to choose Kudo Shinichi. A life in exchange for another." He tossed something, or rather, someone in front of me. My eyes widened, This can't be happening! No!

Ran.

I felt my anger hitting top notch now, but I was panicking, if he chose Ran in 2 people, this can never be good. Oh, how I would love to just strangle this bastard.

"Angel."

Gin announced, he still had this big smirk on his face that I would gladly tear apart to avoid seeing that annoying smirk. "Bastard! I will make you pay!" He scoffed at me and calmly said "Can you, now?" I was fuming that I even growled at him.

"Or."

He threw another person in front of me and time just stopped. This is not happening, This is definitely not happening. Not fucking happening! I stared wide eyed at who the other person is. I couldn't even recognize what I'm feeling anymore. Disbelief? That's gotta be one. I felt my body go numb. I was deprived of all emotions except for some. I am not choosing from this am I? I didn't even feel my own fresh tears soaking my blazer. FUCK! Why?! It can't be…

"Sherry."

"The clock is ticking. You got 50 seconds left. Better make up your mind." Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck! Fuck! I seriously am not doing this crap!

"40"

Hell fucking no! "Release them coward! Face me!"

"30"

Shit! I can't even come up with a plan to end this without anyone dying. Plus, my goddamn legs hurt. I looked at them both, they were both bloody, exhaustion visible in their sleeping faces.

"20"

Shit. I don't think I even have a choice but to abide the rules. With tears streaming down my face, I did my best to crawl up to them. They both have this pained expression on their faces. Ran was visibly crying before passing out. She was still beautiful despite the circumstances. And.. Haibara. I never noticed just how gorgeous she was until this moment. My very own Watson.

"10"

"Kudo-kun.."
"Haibara! What the-"
"Ch..oose. her.."
"Tell me why the fuck is this happening!"
"I made… your life mis….erable. You must… do the right… thing"

"3"

She pushed me.

"2"

"No! Haibara wait!"

"Goodbye, Ku..do-kun.."

"1"

Fuck.

BANG

EOC
Hell yeah! So after a long long time, I finally found myself writing again. Finally overcame my first writer's block! So uhh, this story would definitely have STRONG and EXCESSIVE cursing, mind you. And uhh I'm not sure when I would be able to update or even in I would be able to update regularly because of some issues regarding life and so on. But I won't abandon this like I did with my very first stories.

So long, Ciao~.