KudoEdogawa presents...

""Always""

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Chapter 11::

February 11

The new year has arrived, but this past month was surprisingly uneventful. I haven't seen Shinichi or Shiho ever since Christmas, and Heiji and Kazuha went back to Osaka on New Year's Day. I hope all four of them are save and happy; I sure am! I've learned to control my tears and emotions now, and I've found I job!

Tantei High School hasn't won a single karate match ever since I left, so the new principal hired me to train the current karate team. It sure is enjoyable watching these promising teens grow. and there's also some really cute couples in the school nowadays...kind of reminds me of certain someones...

Something else has happened as well.... I'm going to be a sister!! Mom's pregnant with a boy, and we've decided to name him Conan. Although Dad strongly disagreed with us, he shut up after mom starts to threaten him. Ha ha ha, I love my family.

~*~

February 18

Today was not a pleasant day. I met Shinichi and Akira on the streets today, I re-introduced Akira to Shinichi, and they started talking. I invited them to lunch and Akira said that he was going to call his family to let them know...

Shinichi was attacked again.

It happened a while after Akira had hung up, Kageoni appeared on the roof of a nearby building. The bullet missed Shinichi by an inch, I told Shinichi to run and Kageoni continued to shoot until the police came. Akira disappeared as well. In the end, Officer Megure said that the entire Japan police force is doing all they can to track down Kageoni.

I just hope that Shinichi got back to Shiho's house safely...

~*~

February 19

Shiho called me today. It seems like Kageoni attempted to kill Shinichi yet again. Shiho said that Shinichi was grocery shopping when it happened. Apparently Kageoni was trying to run Shinichi over in the parking lot. Then Akira sort of came into the scene and ran away with Shinichi.

Two attacks in a row, I'm really worried.

Tomorrow's a Sunday, Shiho invited me to spend the day with her and Shinichi. I said I'd gladly go. I'm not sure why..., perhaps because I wanted to see how Shinichi is doing.

~*~

Ran woke up in the morning and rubbed her eyes. For a brief second she was hoping to hear a cheerful "Good morning, Ran-neechan." But she remembered that Conan wasn't with her anymore, and..., neither was Shinichi. She got dressed and headed for the living room where she greeted her parents. She told Eri that she'll be spending the day with her friends so there's no need to make meals for her, and with that she left the house.

Ran went to the pancake shop that Shiho told her about, and about five minutes later, Shiho and Shinichi came in.

"Good morning, Shinichi-kun, Shiho-chan!" Ran called out them.

"Ran-chan!" Shiho said, running towards Ran and gave her a hug. Shinichi walked up to them.

"Hello, Shinichi!" Ran said with a smile, it's so good to see that he's alright.

"H-hi..." Shinichi said shyly. I have to ask her today.., I have to know who she is.

"You weren't injured during those attacks, were you?" Ran asked, breaking his thoughts.

"No, no, I'm fine, thanks."

The three of them sat down and ordered their breakfasts. After the delicious breakfast they decided to watch a movie, both Ran and Shiho suggested to watch the new Meikyuu no Crossroads, and all Shinichi can do is follow them into the theatre, careful not to say anything about the movie that can end his life. The sun was shining brightly in the sky as the three of them approached the mall opposite of the theatre, there they ate their lunch at the food court where Ran and Shiho first met. Shinichi was surprised how much the two young ladies can absorb, not only that, he had to pay for it! Then came the torture, Shinichi followed the girls around the mall, watching as their credit cards gets handled by this cashier and then the other. By the end of the day, Shinichi had no possible way of carrying anymore bags. There were bags of clothing hanging down from each arm, and his hands holding four bags each, He bought ropes and scissors and tied bags around his legs and his body, and his mouth painfully biting onto two particularly large bags. They went to a small Italian parlor for dinner, where Shinichi collapsed, dropping the 29 bags hanging from his body.

"Man, he's really buff, isn't he?" Shiho giggled.

"Well, he has been working out since junior high." Ran told Shiho, remembering the day when Shinichi flexed proudly in front of Ran, showing off his muscles.

Dinner was quite pleasant until hours later, when Shiho claimed that she must use the restroom, leaving Shinichi and Ran together. It was really awkward, and neither of them know not what to say, until Shinichi broke the silence.

"So um..., who are you?" He asked, surprising Ran.

"What do you mean?" Ran is confused.

"Well, ever since I lost my memory...your image keeps on popping into my mind, more than ever now I've seen you. And it's been bothering me..., I need to know who you are."

"I'm just your friend..., that's all," Ran lied.

"Oh..." Shinichi sounded disappointed. "Alright then, it's been fun spending time with you, tell Shiho I'll wait for her outside." A man was outside the parlor, observing them. The man took out his cell phone and called someone. He looked back into the restaurant, and quickly ran away at Shinichi's movements.

Shinichi got up from his seat and started to head out.

"Shinichi..."

Shinichi stopped at the door of the restaurant.

"I'm your girlfriend." Shiho had just came out of the restroom and shock surged through her body. She hid behind the wine display.

Shinichi was silent, then he ran out of the parlor.

"Shinichi, wait!" Ran cried, chasing after him. He stopped. "Don't you remember me at all?" Ran said through tears and sobs. "It's me, your Ran!!"

Shinichi stayed where he was, not daring to turn around, or to look at Ran, who continued. "Don't you remember? You told me that you will always love me, will always give your love to me. You told me that when you lose your loyalty, you end life. You still love me right? Because you're still here, breathing, living. Please Shinichi, think hard..., I know you still love me." It had started to snow..., Ran's tears dropping onto the thin, white blanket.

"I may be still alive...physically. But my mind and soul have died along with that car crash..." And he ran, tears falling, not looking back, disappearing behind the falling flakes.

Shiho exited the place silently, careful not to attract Ran's attention......

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Next Chapter:: Kageoni makes an appearance, Shinichi recovers his memory, and someone gets injured!!