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Chapter 14

Shiho explained to Ayumi, Shinichi's and her situation in brief, regarding the organization. She evaded the details.

She told her that her sister and she were born in the organization and that she lost her parents, in her very early age. Shiho also mentioned that she was ordered to make the drug for the organization, but after her sister was killed, she ceased the project and she was closed in the gas chamber, where she took the pill that she created, which shrank her body and then ran away from the organization. She told Ayumi about her first meeting with Conan and that he was the victim of the drug, as well.

Shiho told that the organization that was recently arrested was the same organization that made Shinichi and her hiding their identities in their child forms, but luckily it was over now.

Almost, Shiho thought.

Ayumi cried on Shiho's story and she felt very sorry for her friend and Conan that they needed to live in the fear, because of those bad guys.

It was hard to convince Ayumi, not to tell the truth to Mitsuhiko and Genta.

"They are your friends! They deserve to now!" Ayumi gave her point.

"If more people will know that Kudo-kun and I were shrunk into children once, then it will definitely hit the headlines and we need to, no we must avoid it. I don't want to think of what would happen, if media would find out about it," Shiho tried to convince Ayumi.

"Yes, Ayumi-kun, their lives would be over, if the truth would see the light of day," Agasa added.

"But, we're not gonna say it to anyone, we promise!" Ayumi had determined expression on her face.

Shiho sighed. She needed to convince that little girl that she must be quiet.

"I know, you won't, but accidently, you may slip out or someone may hear you, when you will discuss it. Honestly, talking about it with Kudo-kun in the store was the most careless thing-" Shiho looked at the wall remembering the other 'most careless' thing that Shinichi and she did, which was much more careless from talking about the drug shrinking people in the store.

She hated to think that, but if they didn't do, that careless thing, which was totally stupid, then she wouldn't feel that horrible and Shinichi wouldn't be fulfilled with the guilt.

"Ai-chan? Are you all right?" Ayumi looked worried at Shiho.

"Huh? Yea, I'm fine, I'm fine." She turned away from the wall and glanced at Ayumi.

"Listen Ayumi-chan, I know it will be hard for you to lie to your friends, but it's for the best. Neither Shinichi nor I can risk that our secret will be revealed."

Ayumi seemed to be convinced, but Shiho noticed the doubt in Ayumi's eyes. Shiho decided to give her few more minutes to think through it. Agasa was going to say something, but she inhibited him from it. Ayumi needed her time.

She looked much focused; her eyes were putted on the floor as she was going to see the answer on it, of what was the most right thing to do.

"All right, Ayumi won't tell."

The relief smile appeared on Shiho's face.

"But you need to promise that it will not last forever and someday Ayumi can tell her friends about you and Conan-kun," she eyed Shiho, who looked little concerned. If she would promise her that then Ayumi would tell the boys the truth, whenever she wanted.

It seemed that Ayumi noticed that doubt in Shiho's eyes, because she said, "Ayumi means that she will first ask Ai-chan."

"Thank you," Shiho's lips corners went up.

"All right, Ayumi needs to go. I'm going to the park with Mitsuhiko-kun and Genta-kun. Do you want us to join, Ai-chan?"

"I'd love to, but not today, maybe next time," Shiho gave her apologetic smile, but then she realized something, "Oh and one more thing, don't call me Ai-chan, instead call me by my real name, Shiho."

"Okay, Ayumi-chan will remember, Shiho-neechan."

Ayumi was about to leave, but she remembered something, "Ah! You also said something about hiding something from Ran-neechan, what is it?"

"Err, nothing, uhm, you should go, boys probably waiting for you."

"But."

"Don't worry about it," Shiho said.

"All right, bye then," she waved at Shiho and Agasa, then left.

Shiho sighed, if she would start to press this subject, then it would be bad. Of course, she wouldn't reveal what they were hiding, but if she would tell it to Ran, then it would be bad.

"Something tells me that Shinichi-kun won't be happy about it," Agasa noticed.

"He has bigger things in his head than this," Shiho responded.

Ran was sitting in her room having her head occupied with thousands of thoughts regarding Shinichi. She noticed that something was wrong with Shinichi, since she found out that Conan and Shinichi was the same person, but she couldn't tell what it was.

Every time, Ran was spending time with Shinichi, she had the feeling that he was somewhere else and not with her. She didn't see the spark in Shinichi's eyes, anymore, and she couldn't remember when the last time she saw his smile of excitement on his face. There was something that he was hiding and Ran needed to know it.

However, she felt that it might have some relation with Shiho. Ran felt very jealous of that girl with the reddish blond hair. Why Shinichi preferred to spend his time with Shiho than her? Was he in love with Shiho?

Many different questions like that appeared in Ran's head, but if it was truth, then why Shinichi wouldn't just look into her eyes and tell her that he didn't love her anymore. Was he afraid of her reaction?

Ran reminded herself that she was the one, who went after him and kissed him. However, she asked him, if they were a couple and his respond was 'yes'. So, why he was avoiding her and was spending so much time with Shiho.

Maybe, Shinichi didn't have just guts to admit his feelings.

"God!" Ran shouted. She had enough of thinking about this. She decided that it was about time to have an honest talk with Shinichi. She needed to know what he was hiding from her.

Ran had to admit it, but she was afraid of the answer. She had this feeling that it was something very bad. Regardless of what the truth was, she had to know. It was better to know the truth, no matter how much it would hurt her, than live in a lie.

"How could you tell her?" dissatisfaction appeared on Shinichi's face.

Shiho came to Shinichi's house and told him about Ayumi.

"I try to convince her, but she was really stubborn and besides, she won't tell anyone," Shiho tried to calm down Shinichi.

He looked pessimistic at her, "Right, she's a kid, I bet, she would the boys about it sooner than we think."

"Trust me, she won't," Shiho assured Shinichi.

"I hope you're right."

Shinichi clutched his head, "God, we're so stupid."

He let his hands fall down, "How, we could talk about the drug in the store and," Shinichi's eyes widened with the realization, "We talked about it in the school and we also talked about what are keeping from Ran."

"Don't panic. We always keep our voices low and besides we only talked briefly about it."

"If someone would find out, what we're hiding, then it would be a disaster," Shinichi said.

Shiho observed as his face becoming paler and his eyes fixed at one point of the wall.

"Shinichi," Shiho putted her hand on Shinichi's arm, looking worried at him, "Are you all right?"

"You know, I never will be all right and Ran, too, if she will find out about the truth."

"Look, don't put blame on yourself," She looked into his eyes.

Shinichi moved back from Shiho, "Don't put blame on myself? Are you serious?"

"You're blaming yourself for everything, but it's not your fault. I also could prevent it."

"No, you couldn't, but I could. I want to be alone," he said

"Shinichi," she looked concerned at him.

"I want to be alone!" he repeated raising his voice.

Shiho didn't see any other choice decided to leave. She hoped that Shinichi would be all right, even if he claimed differently.

Ran stood in front of the Shinichi's front door and she was about to knock, when the door opened and she saw Shiho in it.

"Shiho," Ran looked at her. A smile didn't show on Ran's face, as it always did.

"Ran, I, I was just leaving," Shiho moved quickly away from the house, not even turning back. Ran observed her for few more seconds, before she entered the house.

Shinichi stood in his library, wearing an angry face.

Is he angry, because I came? Ran thought.

"Ran, what are you doing here?" he asked.

His expression seemed to be less angry, but Ran could tell that he would prefer for her not to be here.

"I came to visit my boyfriend. It's Saturday, maybe we could go out somewhere. Just two of us, we actually never did, since we started dating." Ran decided to start the conversation in the civilized way.

It was hard for her, considering that she just saw Shiho leaving his house. It also didn't help all the pictures that popped into her head with Shinichi and Shiho together embraced and kissing.

However, she didn't want to start arguing with Shinichi. She only wanted the answer.

"Sorry, I can't, I," he looked around his shelves with the books, "I need to sort out the books, they are in the wrong order."

Ran knew it was the lie; he just didn't want to spend time with her.

"Why are you avoiding me?" she asked calmly.

"I'm not avoiding you," he responded.

"You do! Are you hiding something from me?"

"No!" he responded quickly, not looking at Ran, what she noticed.

"You cannot even look at me," she shook her head.

She decided to ask Shinichi about him and Shiho.

"Is there something going on between Shiho and you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend to be stupid. I mean, do you have feelings for her."

"What? No!" Shinichi denied.

"Then why are you spending so much time with her and don't try to deny it." Tears flowed down on Ran's cheeks.

Shinichi looked away, not answering Ran's question.

"I know you're hiding something and whether it has some relation with Shiho or not, I won't leave this house, before you tell me what it is!" Ran looked determined. She didn't want this conversation end up with a quarrel, but at that moment, it was the only way to know the truth.

Shinichi still didn't respond, instead he glanced at his books.

"Look at me!" she demanded.

After few seconds, Shinichi slowly turned towards Ran, though his eyes were fixed on the floor.

"I told you before that I wouldn't stand lies and you responded that there's nothing more, but I know there is and now it's your chance to tell me, what it is," Ran tried to keep her voice composed.

Shinichi raised his head and looked at Ran. He slightly opened his mouth, but no word came from it. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't find right words to it.

In a moment, he turned away, again.

"Either you will tell me or I will find out on my own and I will do everything in my power to know what are you hiding from me, so it's your choice," tears still shined in Ran's eyes.

Shinichi didn't move an inch. He just looked on the floor, ignoring Ran.

"I guess I have my answer. However, we're over. I cannot be with someone, who lies to me."

Ran approached the door and when she stretched her hand toward the handle, she heard Shinichi saying, "Wait!"

"Are you going tell me, the truth or not?" Ran asked pressing the handle.

"I will," he responded.

Ran took her hand off the handle and turned toward Shinichi waiting for him to reveal of what he was hiding.

"You're right thinking that there's something between Shiho and me, I," Shinichi fixed his eyes into Ran's; "I'm in love with her."

Ran stood stunned of what he just heard. She suspected it before, but hearing it from Shinichi's mouth, just confirmed her suspicious. She felt more tears flowing down on her cheeks.

"You, how could you! How could you play with me and my feelings?"

Shinichi didn't respond. He even didn't look at her. He just let Ran shouting at him.

"I was so stupid! I thought that you loved me, but it was just a lie! Why were you even with me? Did you think that I will never find out?"

"Ran," Shinichi's voice sounded almost as a whisper. He had his eyes fixed somewhere in the space of the room.

"You're disgusting me. To betray me and play with my feelings is the worst thing that you could do."

After these words Ran left.

She was moving quickly, ignoring people on the streets and letting her tears flowing on her face. She felt so miserable. She couldn't believe that Shinichi could lie to her like this. Why didn't he tell her about his feelings to Shiho, before? He was nothing but a coward.

Ran tried to stop her tears, before entering her house. She didn't want her dad to see her like this. He didn't know about Shinichi and her and it was better to leave things like this. Who knows, what Kogoro would do, if he would find out that Shinichi, again, hurt his daughter?

She wiped her tears and came into her house.

Kogoro was sitting upon the sofa, flipping between the channels. Hearing his daughter, he turned.

"Oh Ran, you back, what is it?" he asked. He must noticed Ran's red face and her swollen eyes.

"It's nothing," Ran tried to smile. She noticed that her father didn't seem to be happy, as well.

"Actually, I should ask you this question. Did something happen?"

"Happen? Your mother called and guess what, she decided to return from Paris and she will live with us for some time," Kogoro said annoyed.

Ran's face glowed, "Really? When is mum coming back?" she asked excited.

"Tomorrow."

Ran thought that nothing good will happen in this day, but she was wrong. News on her mum coming back and what's more, she would live with her and Kogoro was the best news she could get.

She already felt the determination to get her parents together and she knew that she would succeed in it.