Disclaimer: I don't own DC.

A/N: Great. It seems like you all are curious to see what happens next. Thank you all. That really satisfied me. I fulfilled my promise and updated as fast as I could. Get ready and read! ;)

Better Late than Never

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Chapter 10

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Shinichi hurried after Shiho who left him abruptly heading for her bedroom. For the first time, he couldn't understand her. Her attitude was just vague to him. He knew now something was absolutely wrong with her. For God's sake, she told him to escape! Has she gone mad? What was she hiding from him? He knew it was definitely something concerning Them. She didn't even say a word after he confessed his feelings for her. Nevertheless, he saw her face softening and looking at him in disbelief. He never saw this facade of her. It was most likely as... Love?

Anxiously, he watched Shiho as she opened her bedside table fast, pulling out of it something. Little did he know it was a gun. He couldn't blink or manage to think of what she was up to at this moment. It was just too staggering for him to take.

"Shiho, what are—?" he couldn't complete his words as he found her loading the gun like a profession. It happened all in a second when he found her pointing the gun to herself.

"Shiho, NOOO!" It was all he could say before hearing the loud gunshot breaking the common silence in the house.

Streams of blood flew down Shiho's white blouse turning its color into a red one. Her arms were covered in blood. She stepped backwards a few steps sticking to the wall behind her due to the effect of the gunfire. Shiho has shot her arm. Opening her shut eyes from the sudden outburst, she held her arm with her healthy hand. Shiho smiled faintly at Shinichi who was standing all stunned by the last scene he had seen. When he recognized what was going on, he shrugged off all his thoughts rushing toward the injured blonde before him.

"Why?" the only word he could come up to as he reached her. Shiho was breathing hardly. She was losing her blood gradually.

Shiho ignored his first question and brought the first cloth she found beside her and wrapped her injured arm steadily concealing her pain.

"You don't have time. Listen!" she began as she held the gun back from the ground.

"They know everything right now. And by everything... yes, I mean everything including our shrunken forms. No, please listen to me first." she spoke racing her breath tiredly as he tried to interrupt her with his questions.

"They wanted me to kill you. But I know, I won't so please do what I tell you. Take this gun and hurry to the nearest airport. Travel to London or anywhere else besides here. It's not safe here anymore!" she paused taking her breath as Shinichi managed to speak; he was totally shocked by the sudden turning of events.

"What about you? And why the hell would you shoot yourself? Are you crazy?" he exclaimed.

"I shot myself because I will tell them that you shot me and escaped before I could kill you. Do you understand now?" she replied ignoring his first question.

Shinichi was flabbergasted by her calm attitude.

'How can she be so calm in such a condition? They know her identity and even asked her to kill me and she's just talking as if it were nothing!'

"You have to leave NOW!" Shiho declared. Shinichi looked at her startled.

"What are you talking about? I won't leave you. It will never happen!" he retorted disbelieving that she wanted him actually to leave her behind.

"It's not an option, Shinichi. You have to... You have to; to protect everyone you love and care about." Shiho said again looking at his eyes. She held back her urging tears which fought to leave her stranded eyes. Technically, it was the first time she called Shinichi by his first name. Shinichi felt a thrill running deep inside his heart as he heard her words.

"But I love—" his words were cut off by a delicate lips pressing on his. Shinichi was taken aback by her action. His eyes widened then shut as her sweet scent lingered through his lips. He caressed her cheek tenderly kissing her back. Abruptly, Shiho broke the kiss. Her face was hugely flushed as the tears overtook her and broke free abruptly. Shinichi took her in a deep warm embrace caressing her hair smoothly as Shiho put her single healthy arm around his neck enjoying his soothing embrace just for once.

"I love you so much..." she whispered in his ears softly.

"Please do what I told you. I will be just fine." she completed her words in his ears. However, she knew she will never be.

"I know you promised to protect me... Now I release you from this promise. I won't let you risk everybody's life for me. Hakase... Mouri-san... the Detective boys... and everyone else." she stated as she parted from his embrace.

Shinichi looked at her turquoise pure eyes. He saw a glint of sincerity. She was really frightened about the others' safety while she, the one who was extremely in danger, didn't even talk about herself. His head was full of fights; a part tells him that he shouldn't leave the one he loves like this. He couldn't even think of Shiho apart of him again. She was his partner, best friend, sister and soul mate. Another part tells him that she will never forgive herself if she was the reason of any other one's death. She will be living dead -that if she already lived-. She will be torturing herself just as the condition she had been soon after her sister's death. Mind you, she tried to kill herself with her own poison but fortunately, she ended up like Conan.

"I can't afford to lose you!" Shinichi said as his eyes were full of a mingled expression of pain and concern.

Shiho smiled gently at him and spoke quietly.

"Sometimes sacrifice is an inevitable responsibility, meitantei-san."

Making his decision instead of his struggling thoughts, Shiho handed him the gun stuttering quietly, "Goodbye, Shinichi."

"I love you, Shiho." he looked at her fragile smile hiding her painful eyes for the last time.

I love you too.

To Be Continued...

What do you think? A little romance doesn't bother beside suspense, right?

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