Oh my, here we are at the 25th chapter. I didn't think we would make it this far to be honest. Don't worry, I still have quite a few more chapters to write.

We are moving out of canon now and doing the movies. This will be movie 18, the Interdimensional Sniper. Should be fun. I loved this movie because it was the one that had Akai's voice in it, and it was so nice to hear him again.

I scrolled through the newsfeed with concern. This didn't look good. Rumor on the internet was that there was a 'sniper' indiscriminately killing anyone on the street. As a sniper myself, I take offense to that.

A true sniper is not so callous as to kill random civilians. There is a sense of honor among all snipers to not abuse our power by killing innocent people. This sniper is good too, from the shots I have seen in the news, so he must have that honor. He wouldn't kill people unless he was ordered to, or if he went rogue was killing it would be people for a specific reason. They had to be connected somehow.

There were four murders so far. Hmm, I wonder if the FBI is investigating this. The third victim is Timothy Hunter, the supposed suspect. I remember his name; his reputation as a sniper proceeded him. He was a SEAL, and an American soldier on Japanese soil causing havoc would definitely catch the FBI's attention. If so, I might need to contact James and ask what is going on. If there was a sniper out there killing people, and four were already dead, then the best course of action would be to consult another sniper; we are the best at hunting our own. We need to wrap this up, before more people panic.

I opened my phone and sent an email to my previous boss, short and sweet.

This sniper case. Need me to look into it?

I sit back in my seat and relax, scrolling through more news posts. Apparently one of the murders happened today, on a moving train no less. How interesting. Apparently there was a woman injured by the sniper. That would only cement the idea that this is an indiscriminate attack…

Hold on a second? The name of the woman was Masumi Sera.

I sucked in a breath as I scrolled through the article. She was shot through the shoulder, protecting a young boy, and from the picture, it could only be one boy that wore glasses like that.

I raise my eyebrows. Conan huh? Not surprising he was knee deep in this case. After the Mystery Train incident I haven't had much contact with him, because according to him, Bourbon was still hanging around for some unknown reason. If he was having doubts about my death again, I wasn't going to draw attention to myself.

The only time we had had any contact was when some delivery men showed up at my door with a coded message on the shipping slip that the Detective Boys were trapped in the delivery van with a corpse. I had managed to smuggle them a phone, which theirs died, to call the police, when Bourbon had showed up and had taken care of the situation thankfully before I could step in. Other than that, I had definitely kept my distance.

Putting that aside, it sounds like Masumi and Conan might be working together on this case, probably outside of police eyes and FBI ones as well if the FBI was involved. Although, this truly is a testament as to how good this guy is; evading both of them and committing multiple murders in front of them and they haven't caught him yet must mean he is a professional. Not to mention, he injured Masumi… I stood up from my chair in the study. I am going to go check on her myself. These news feeds are way too vague. I need to make sure she is ok, maybe take her some flowers.

It was almost dark when I drove into the hospital parking lot, that ending of twilight that still had enough light to see where you were going. I crept through the halls, intent of not asking where to find my sister, instead exploring until I could find her; I didn't need to be remembered by anyone, and have her connected back to Okiya Subaru. If I was smart, I would stay away, but this is my sister I am talking about. I need to see if she was ok. Finally, room 406 yielded the answer I sought.

I knocked softly, and when receiving no answer, I slid the door open quietly. She looked so pale and lifeless lying on that hospital bed, probably still under anesthesia. I stepped closer to the bed, laying the bouquet of flowers on a nearby table on my way. I stared down at her with a frown as I slowly slid back the covers to assess her injuries. A clean shot through the shoulder…so not life threatening then. It will be painful, and take a bit of rehab to get back into shape, but she should be all right.

I felt a small twinge of anger settle in my stomach. Where was Conan? She protected him right? The least he can do is visit her in the hospital. Immediately after the thought crossed my mind I dismissed it. Conan wasn't the type to mope around when something went wrong, especially something as dangerous as this. The best thing he could be doing right now was investigating this case and to catch the culprit instead of sitting here doing nothing. That seemed more like the Boya's style anyway.

I broke out of my thinking when I felt the familiar buzz of an email in my pocket. I opened it up to see an email from James.

Here is everything I have. I am counting on you. With an attachment that read 'report'. Perfect, I can start this investigation on my terms. This sniper made the worst mistake of his life; he made this personal to me. He took aim and fired a bullet meant for one person I deeply care for and have sworn to keep safe, while it hit another person I cherish that I also want to keep from harm. He was going down if it was the last thing I did.

I left with purpose in my stride; it was time to put this case into a new perspective, of one that has the same kind of eyes as the sniper himself.

Out in the parking lot, I glanced up at the room one last time, before heading home to check the files that James sent me. It was almost too late to head out and do anything rash tonight, so I will spend it by briefing myself on the case.

First I read over Timothy Hunter's file, the person that seemed to connect all of these murders together. Man…what a terrible run of luck. He was stripped of honors, got shot in the head, and lost his loved ones, as well as his money almost all at once. Apparently there are four people on his supposed hit list. Three are already dead. The first victim, Hiroaki Fujinami, was shot from a nearby building into the Bell Tree tower, and was connected to Hunter by selling him terrible property and bankrupting him. The second, Hitoshi Moriyama, was shot in his driveway when he was leaving his resident from a skyscraper, who was responsible for Timothy Hunter's daughter's suicide. Both were incredible shots, over five hundred meters so it could be possible if it was him. Both of those crime scenes had a bullet casing of the bullet used in the shooting, as well as a dice, the number four exposed for the first, and three for the second.

Then there was Hunter's death, with the third dice placed, as the number two. Apparently both him and the sniper exchanged bullets, the offender two while Hunter one, both missing at first and then the perp got the last hit in through the brain. Although, through an autopsy suggested by Conan-kun, of course, it was discovered that Hunter couldn't see due to a fragment of the bullet still left in his brain, and the other sniper was hired by him to kill him and the other murders as well.

Which then points to Bill Murphy's death. He was shot from Komagata Bridge to the railway bridge. Apparently Conan had set up something to block the sniper's point of view on the bridge in between the two bridges. The sniper, probably angry at the boy trying to block the shot, tried to kill him, but Masumi jumped in the way, shielding the boy with her own body. She got shot, and so did Murphy, so it was almost pointless. The die left at that seen was a five, instead of the normal countdown that I had originally assumed.

Then there was a list of people that Hunter might have contacted: a former SEAL sniper teacher, a former marine turned weapons dealer, and a former admiral some US military officers contact while in Japan.

So who was this sniper? It would be impossible for anyone normal to take these shots, probably ex-military or police sniper, although I am leaning toward military. Police snipers are known for their close range and precision, while military is known for their distance. Apparently according to James, there was a spotter with the sniper at the first shooting, and considering that SEALs didn't use spotters, that eliminated the SEAL teacher. Could it be the ex-marine? And the former admiral has a secretary that was a sniper in the Middle East as well. Hmm, well this was convoluted.

Also, what was with the dice? It wasn't a countdown, considering the last one was five, but it was definitely there for a reason. Could the criminal be counting the specific sniping points for a reason? I need to investigate the different places myself, but not now. It was late, and I can't exactly waltz into a crime scene without it being considered trespassing? I go to bed that night, intent on getting an early start in the morning. If this pattern continues, there is only one more target left, which means only one more chance to catch this perp.

In the morning I just had a piece of toast before heading out around seven, ready to get this investigation underway, armed only with binoculars and my phone.

The first stop was the top of a high rise building. I stare off at the Bell Tree Tower, whistling underneath my breath. Nice shot, even if it was a murder. The angle would be difficult, but the distance was manageable at about six hundred meters. The second shot was also difficult, possibly even more then the first. It was done at an angle, when the driver was coming out of an underground parking lot at around five hundred and fifty meters and at night. I look carefully through the binoculars. I see.

The third spot wasn't hard at all, the shortest out of the three at around one hundred and fifty. Hmm, interesting how both of them missed. Hunter obviously did because of the pressure on his optic nerve from the bullet fragment, but this other sniper had proved his skill. Could he have known Hunter, and hesitated killing him? Possibly. Now for the last one.

I stared across the bridges to the railway line, humming. Ah, this is about five hundred meters and relatively close to the last shooting point. Why would this one be five, instead of one? I could easily see how Conan could have possibly blocked the shot from the bridge in between the sniper and target. I clenched the binoculars with my fingers and I take a deep relaxing breath. Akai Shuuichi doesn't get riled up from something like this, but it sure was difficult. In any case, now that I have seen all the points. It was time to go home and figure out this dice riddle.

Once home I turned on the television as background noise and possible news updates as I compiled all of the shots taken onto a map, complete with the different dice marking each point. I found a dice in the Kudo's house, used in a board game, and I studied it meticulously. Could it be the bottom number instead of the top one? Which could mean three, four, five, and then two. No, that didn't make sense either. These numbers had to have a connection though. The dice were used because Hunter loved dice games, and had a tattoo of them on his arm. By using dice though it limits the numbers up to six, so this thing that the sniper was trying to do has to only include five to six steps.

"And now for some breaking news. Bill Murphy-san, who was sniped to death aboard the Tohto Railways Oruri express yesterday at 11 A.M has been linked to the previously murdered Timothy Hunter. Also, the girl who was injured in the sniping is also expected to make a full recovery. That is the end of the breaking news."

Ah, nothing new then; all of that I had already gathered. Although, that will stop the panic that had been spreading in the streets over the past few days about a sniper murdering anyone, which was good. Now then, about these shootings. The one that honestly bothered me the most was Hunter's death. I am still not entirely convinced about the sniper's missed shot. There had to have been an ulterior motive there. Also, if Hunter wanted to derail the investigation, it would have been simple if he just committed suicide instead of doing that shootout with the sniper he hired.

Wait a moment…could all of this be a test? The first shooting, was taken with a MK11, Hunter's favorite rifle. The maximum range of that gun was six hundred meters. So the first test was skill based on range. The second shot was a moving target at night. Again, a difficult shot; another test to pass. The third test…the sniper must have known Hunter personally. The third test was to get rid of any feelings, and turn that sniper into a cold blooded killer, without any emotional baggage getting in the way and testing his resolve.

Then the people he really wanted to murder, was Waltz and Murphy. They must have done something to Hunter that he wanted revenge for, but what? I flicked through the papers I had printed out, searching for…there. Murphy was a witness at the hearing to strip Hunter of the Silver Star, and Waltz was the one who brought up the charges in the first place. Hmm.

I sit back in my chair and close my eyes, thinking. So we know who will be shot next, Waltz, but we don't know where or who will do it. I sit up and go over the prospective suspects. The secretary of the admiral has an alibi for at least one of the murders, and if he was training someone, there could only be one person it can be. Kevin Yoshino, the ex-marine. If that was the case, we should probably…no, according to his file, he has been missing since yesterday. Probably trying to prepare for his last trick.

I grab the map and a tablet that I recently bought. I am going to try to go out and try to look at the spots again. Maybe if I look at them from a different point…huh? Why did I think that? Was that something worth pursuing? On second thought, I grab my sniper rifle as well, just in case it is needed. He will be making his move soon. Waltz has disappeared, making things more complicated then it needed to be. All we need now is the last location on him.

I drive around for a little bit, mostly unconsciously as I wrack my brain for possible answers to our problem, mostly the dice mystery and the future sniping location. It has to be from a specific place.

Wait a moment…I park my car and pull out my tablet. On a map, they don't look very connected at all, but what if it wasn't meant to be looked at on a map. The first and second shooting spots are both around the same height, as well as the third and fourth shots were taken from the same level as well. could that mean that this was meant to be looked at with a 3D perspective, instead of 2D? I pull up the skyline on the tablet, measuring it out. Yes, the first two and the last two shots match up. In that case, it makes a trapezoid. That doesn't make sense, but that is four out of five possible shootings. I scroll up to see that Bell Tree tower is right in the center. That can't be just a coincidence.

I look at the map, just to make sure, and back at the tablet. All of the other 'random' shooting spots were carefully calculated, which means the Bell Tree tower one is also perfectly calculated. If we add in that, it makes a pentagon. Pentagon…like the building in America that is the department of defense? Or could it be…a star. I see, so that's what it is. I throw the car in drive again, speeding off. I now have a possible shooting location: the Bell Tree Tower. Not only that, but he will lure Waltz into a trap so that he can see the brilliance behind the shooting spree, to remind him of the sin he committed before killing him.

Should I call James and inform him of everything I had deduced? I was about to call, when I remember, I am not the only one with brilliant deductive abilities looking for this guy. I was betting money that Conan had figured it out and had already contacted the FBI about the possible sniping location. Heck, he might be headed there himself to stop the sniper. I don't need to worry about what they can do; I need to worry about what I can do as a sniper, which was take this guy out.

If that is the case, I need to get the drop on this guy. He has proven to shoot up to six hundred meters, but if he needed a spotter for that, that must be his limit. I need some place high up in order to shoot back at him; any place lower will not get the trajectory I need.

My eyes fall on the unfinished Asakusa sky court. It was tall, now was it tall enough? It was easily the tallest thing in this direction, the direction he will be firing in. I have a little time to scope it out, and I have to be quick about it. I don't know when he will fire, and I need to be ready.

I park next to the building, staring up at the structure. This could work. I grab my binoculars and my sniper case, before heading up the stairs. I reach the top, among blinking red lights, plastic tarps, and metal beams and set up on the concrete floor. I look out over the city, and there in the distance of about a thousand meters, was the Bell Tree Tower. Perfect. It would be a bit of a stretch with my abilities, but it will be good practice.

Since I had become Okiya Subaru, I had practiced sniping on my own time, in the early hours in the morning when no one could see me, just to keep my skills sharp in case they were ever needed. Now, I carefully put together my sniper rifle, loving the feel of screwing together the metal pieces, looking through the scope and checking to make sure everything was in perfect working order. Now, we wait. I lie down in a position only a sniper would find comfortable and use my binoculars to see if I could see anything from here.

Now then, to see the star, Waltz would have to be at a lower height. Suddenly I see two things. The first was a small muzzle flash from the top of the Bell Tree tower, and the glint of a bullet travelling across the city's skyline. The second was a sparking orb, much bigger than a bullet streaking toward the same destination as the bullet. A soccer ball I realize and I point my binoculars toward the source. Conan was set up on a lower building, staring up at a building only a little taller than the one he was on. Ah, so he was trying to prevent the sniping that way huh? I can't really tell if he succeeded or not from here. In any case, it looks like I am up.

I pick up my rifle and nestle it gently against my shoulder, relaxing at the sheer familiarity of it. I open my eye fully into the scope, using my full vision to stare directly at the target. It takes me a precious two seconds to find him. Ah, he looks pissed. Immediately he shoots another round. I stiffen slightly. Who was he aiming at? Waltz should be out of the way, either by his own bullet or Conan by kicking that soccer ball to move him out of the way. The answer immediately came up in my mind. It had to be Conan. He must be tired of him trying to interfere and was going to kill the Boya.

Anger rushed through me before I stifled it unwillingly. A sniper has to have calm nerves, if he wants to shoot his target at least. I can't see anything of what is going on. I don't know if Conan is dead or alive based on my limited vision through the scope, although I am betting he is alive, based on the look of anger and another round being shot out. I take a deep breath and steady the rifle in my hands. The Boya will stay alive; he has survived countless life or death situations. Now all I can do is protect him the best way I can. Hold on just a little longer Conan.

I breathe out easily as I place my finger on the trigger. I see the look of fury on the man's face, but ignore it. He is readying to shoot again, taking longer which means he probably has a good shot, but I can't let him take it. The more bullets I let him fire off the better chance he has at killing the Boya. I aim right for the man's scope, planning to at least incapacitate him.

Inhale. Finger on trigger. Exhale. Squeeze finger.

Back off of the Boya, Kevin Yoshino.

I barely feel the recoil as the bullet spirals away. I watch its progress and approximately ten seconds later, I see the man jerk in pain, the rifle spinning up and out of his hands, ruined. I smirk with satisfaction. Good, he can no longer target Conan with a broken scope, and it had to have injured him based on the blood now dripping down his face.

I keep my rifle at the ready, but I take out my binoculars to check the building that I last saw Conan. I needed to make sure I had made it in town. I relax significantly when I see he is banged up but free of bullet holes. That was great. Way to scare me Boya. He seemed to realize someone had sniped the sniper and was looking in my direction. We lock eyes for a second, and I see the smirk tug at his lips. I couldn't help but give one of my own. Pleasure to be working with you again Boya. Now then, I should probably follow up and make sure our sniper friend is really down for the count.

I refocus my scope only to be met with an unpleasant surprise. I grit my teeth as Kevin Yoshino is nowhere to be seen. I mutter to myself.

"So that shot wasn't enough to neutralize him huh?"

It just showed how determined he is to see this through. Come on man, stand down. You are out sniped here; I am the best the US has. You can't hope to compete with me. Now though, he will probably try to escape. I refocus my scope on the observation deck, the only place he could be heading now, only to freeze. What? The Detective Boys, Mouri Ran, and Sonoko were there. Why? Why now? I tched under my breath, bringing the rifle up. I bet Boya is trying to contact them, or the FBI to hurry. I can't worry about what they are doing, only hope for a chance to kill the man before he has a chance to hurt anyone. Shoot, they ran back, out of my field of vision.

This sucks. My hands are tied at this point, and I know Boya must hate his life about now too. He is too far away to do anything, but can see everything from his vantage point, while I can do something, but can't see what is going on. I stiffen as I see muzzle flashes sparking behind the windows. Crap, he must have gotten a hostage. I tighten my grip on the rifle, getting my finger ready to shoot. I mutter.

"Don't let him go around the back. Bring him this way."

I gritted my teeth as I dug around in my rifle case blindly, looking for the earpiece I always kept there, that was programmed directly to James. I found it and shoved it in my ear.

"James."

Immediately I heard a reply.

"Yes?"

"I am shooting at target in Bell Tree Tower. Where are Jodie and Camel?"

I need them to be up there right now. Two teenagers and four children are not going to be able to stop an ex-marine like Yoshino.

"They went to the Bell Tree Tower a while ago from a hint from Conan."

I paused. So they must already be there then. Good, that evens the odds a lot more. With two FBI agents there, a karate master, and me backing them up as a sniper, we have a pretty good chance.

"Report later then."

I turn off the earpiece; I don't need James giving me a play by play and distracting me. I just need to focus on what I can do. Suddenly, the top of the Bell Tree Tower combusted with smoke and flame, and the whole building went dark. After a few moments, the bottom half of the tower flickered back on with emergency lights, but the observation deck remained black as night. I murmur.

"I see, he is trying to escape under the cover of darkness."

He has effectively shut me down as a threat. I cannot shoot into a building with multiple friendlies and one hostile and hope to hit the hostile one. In the meantime, it is obvious he planned for this, so he must have night vision goggles. If that is the case, he can escape, and possibly take out Jodie and Camel as well, if not the other hostages. Kuso…this was the worst possible outcome. He will get away at this rate.

"What should I do?"

Should I call James and ask him to have the police surround the building? No, if he has a hostage it won't matter they will have to let them through, and is there even a police sniper available to take that shot? Should I go myself and stake out the entrance? No, it would take too long to get there and he would be gone. I see another burst of muzzle flash and bite my lip. I can't do anything.

No, I can, I just need to wait. A good sniper is a patient sniper. I just need to bide my time and stay here, where the more opportunities will arise. Wait a moment, I have forgotten, there is one more ally in this fight. I smirk inwardly as I ready myself.

I will get one more chance. I can count on that Boya.

Yes, Conan was out there. He was watching the passing events, and he is the one who knows that I am here and can be used, while also keeping tabs on the situation inside the tower. He has the best view, and I know that right now, his brain must be going into overdrive to figure out ways to catch this sniper. The only thing I can gather right now is that he is also waiting on something that is why he hasn't made a move. Nevertheless, he will move. Edogawa Conan has faced overwhelming odds again and again, and has always succeeded against them. He gauges the danger, the risk, the possible harm, and yet moves to prevent it, and triumphs through it. I just have to be ready for the chance he will, not may, give. I believe in him.

I suddenly see artificial light, like from a cellphone light up part of the observation deck, but it is gone way too swiftly for me to get a lock on the target. I narrow my eyes as more muzzle flash lights up the darkness, but not bright enough to illuminate what I need to shoot. Come on… there has to be something I can do. I grit my teeth. I can trust the Boya; that's what I can do.

The main issue is the lights. If I could just have a light source, I could shoot this son of a-

No sooner had I thought it, as if he could hear my silent plea from across the distance between us, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, the one not trained in the scope, something out of the ordinary from the building Conan was on. A streak, like reverse lightning, shooting off into the sky. Conan, on his skateboard I realized. At his peak, which was as high as I was, I saw him flip in the air, ejecting a soccer ball out of his belt. A sudden flashback snapped into my mind.

Late at night a few days ago. Detective boys on Agasa Hakase's roof. The boya kicking a soccer ball into the sky, only for it to explode in a beautiful fireball. Ah, fireworks. Another invention of Hakase's huh.

Light, the Boya is giving me light. I see the split second before the ball streaks off like a meteor through the skyline.

Now! I ready my trigger finger, tensed and prepared to shoot. this was the chance he was giving me, handing it to me on a silver platter. I couldn't screw this up. I take a moment to think of how the Boya was almost a sniper himself, with such a precision shot from so far away when the ball exploded into blue, green, and red light right in front of the Bell Tree Tower.

I see everything light up in a split second, and instantly my scope finds Kevin Yoshino. He had night vision goggles on, so I am sure he is howling in pain due to the blinding light. Well crap, he still has some presence of mind, to duck behind Mouri Ran. Was it instinct, or was it a possible shield from me? Either way, it was annoying. I grit my teeth as I aim, and fire.

The last one was for trying to hurt Conan, my companion, partner, and friend that you tried to shoot multiple times.

This one was for my sister who you shot down.

You thought you could get away from me. No such luck. I watch with immense satisfaction as the bullet curves up, through the firework and the glass, knocking the machine gun out of Yoshino's hands. I ready another bullet, only to realize I didn't need to. Mouri Ran took care of it without much effort, beating the ever living crap out of him. I can't help the smirk as I watched the beat down, only to watch Camel save him from falling and hurting himself.

I relax finally, uncurling myself from my sniper position. I will let Jodie and Camel get him into custody. I flick back on the earpiece.

"Target silenced. All clear."

James replied.

"Right, I just heard from Jodie-kun. Good work. I will be in contact again."

I stood up surveying the city underneath me, before making a split second decision. When was the last time James had heard my voice? I reached up and flicked off my voice changer and took a deep breath, before replying.

"Roger."

It was nice, hearing Akai Shuuichi again, saying a phrase that he used to say very frequently, up here where no one could hear him except the wind and night air. James seemed to sense it as well.

"Ah, welcome back Akai-kun."

With that he hung up. I quickly disassemble my rifle and put it in the case, hurrying down the stairs to my car. I believe Waltz will be picked up by the police if the sirens in the distance are any indication. I even passed the police cars on the way to my next destination. I have another stop to make however. If I remember correctly, it was right around here.h e couldn't have gotten far.

There, in the almost deserted street, there was Conan, limping along holding his broken and battered skateboard under his arm, a phone to his ear. I pull up next to him and roll down the window.

"Need a ride?"

Conan smiled tiredly at me, and I notice he was covered in dust, scrapes, and bruises, but his eyes seemed as lively as ever even though he was beaten up pretty bad.

"Subaru-san. Nice shooting."

He climbed into the passenger seat. I notice the wince as his he moved his left leg.

"Did you get hurt?"

He frowned at his leg irritably.

"Yeah, Kevin Yoshino shot the board right out from under me, and when I kicked the soccer ball I didn't exactly have a great landing."

I saw him look at me out of the corner of my eye.

"But it was worth it. We got him. Thanks for your help."

I smirked at him, while still keeping my eyes on the road. I had missed him truly, missed working with him. With Bourbon keeping him under a watchful eye, and me staying away, I had missed talking with the intelligent young man, and it was so nice for us to fall back into the routine of blind trust in each other. We both knew that no matter what happened we both knew that the other would be capable enough to take care of the situation. He kicked that soccer ball of light to help me get the criminal, and I shot because of his chance that I knew he would give me. It was a wonderful feeling that I was glad I got to feel again.

"Ah, Subaru-san."

Oh, what's this? The Boya doesn't sound like his usual self. I haven't heard this tone of voice since when he apologized about Akemi. I glance over at him and notice how tense his young face looked. I had a feeling what he wanted trying to say.

"Is this about Sera-san?"

He jerked in his seat, but was silent for a moment, before he stated softly.

"You didn't tell me that she was—"

"I didn't find any reason to."

I interrupted. It was true. The knowledge was more dangerous known then not known. I just didn't find a reason to tell the Boya that Masumi was my sister, and if he found out on his own, well that's his prerogative as a detective.

"Sorry. I was reckless, and because of that Sera-san..."

I gripped the wheel in between my fingers as I turned, keeping the car in control.

"If she hadn't Boya, what would have happened?"

He blinked up at me.

"You would have died right? He was aiming right at your head."

I would rather it be this ending, where Masumi is mildly injured then me having to attend the Boya's funeral. He sighed.

"Still, I didn't expect the sniper to shoot at me. I was just trying to get Murphy-san to look and save him instead."

That was mostly Conan's problem. He was so focused on saving others that he didn't focus on his own well-being and safety. That was why he needed people like me and Masumi watching his back, because he couldn't watch his own.

"As an agent of a federal law agency Boya, here is a piece of advice that you need to learn."

I take the time to look over at him. His blue eyes sparkled with curiosity and knowledge, intrigued by the wisdom I was about to impart.

"You have seen the darkness of this world, with ordinary criminals, and the black organization. There are criminals everywhere. Always be aware of your surroundings, so that someone doesn't get the drop on you."

Hopefully he will learn from his mistake this time since someone was injured. There won't always be someone there to protect him, especially since he usually likes to work alone, trying to protect others more than himself. However, if the law enforcement lost Kudo Shinichi, the whole criminal world would rejoice at having one of the silver bullets against them vanquished, and that cannot happen. He nodded seriously.

"I understand, Akai-san."

I nodded at him. He was wise, but still so inexperienced. Ah well, he will learn. He has already learned much from the time I first met him at the hospital.

"Where are we headed Boya?"

He sat back and closed his eyes.

"The hospital. I want to tell Sera-san all that happened. Ran-neechan and the rest of them are headed there too."

I nodded. That was a good fifteen minutes away. I drove carefully and in silence, not really needing to speak. Besides, it looked like the Boya needed a good rest. He probably hasn't slept much dealing with this case. Sure enough, when we arrive at the hospital, he was dozing peacefully. I shut the car off and was about to shake him awake when his eyes opened, alert as always.

"Thank you Subaru-san."

He opened the door, before he thought better of it, closing it again.

"Bourbon is still lurking around. I am not sure what his motive is, but I will try to keep you from getting involved in cases from now on just in case."

I nod in agreement and smile.

"It was nice to see you again, Conan."

He smiled genuinely back, before he got out of the car and half ran half limped into the hospital. I shake my head, a small ache in my chest at seeing him go. Who knows when I will see him again. I pull down the gear shift and exit the small parking lot. A successful end to a dangerous case.