This chapter is dedicated to my friend, Tian Tian, whose birthday is coming and a avid fan of comics and anime.
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Detective Conan because they all belonged to Aoyama Gosho
*~*~*~*~*~( Chapter 9: Undying love )~*~*~*~*~*
They were as quiet as mice, huddling together in the dark. Outside, about five people in black were waiting. Finally, one of them grew impatient and yelled at them to come out.
" What should we do now, Kudo? Contact Ai and Professor?" Heji whispered. Kazuha held his arm more tightly and he could feel her fears and trembling body. I will get you safely out if that's the last thing I do. Heji vowed silently, waiting for an answer from Shinichi.
" There's no time for it. Get the guns ready. We will barge our way out of here." Shinichi said and took out the gun he had taken from the guards. " Here's Plan A. Heji and I will distract them and both of you escape during the confusion. Got it, Ran? Kazuha?" He said as casually as he could. Shinichi took out his transmitter and gave it to Kazuha, trying to avoid Ran. " Take this and call Haibara for directions out of here."
They got up from their hiding place and prepared for action. Kazuha gave the transmitter to Ran. She took it and passed her the gun they took. Kazuha was surprised and tried to give it back. " It's okay, I got my karate skills. Remember? I was the Tokyo champion. You have nothing to protect yourself, take it." Ran assured her, flexing her arms. It was obvious that Shinichi wanted her to stay out of this weird business, but she will interfere whether he liked it or not. She still have stuff to question him and this time, he would not escape again, Ran thought furiously, shooting a glance at Shinichi. But her blue eyes softened at the sight of him.
Tell me why, will you? Tell me the truth...
Heji opened the door and light filled the doorway, blinding them for a moment for they had grew accustomed to the darkness. A woman with long blond hair was there to welcome them.
" Cool guy and Angel! What a surprise. Are you fine?" Vermouth asked, smiling at them. Four men in black stood behind her like bodyguards.
" Cut the crap." Shinichi replied, moving his arm protectively in front of Ran, just like he did on a snowy night when Shuichi appeared. Ran was touched by his action but she showed nothing on her face. She studied Vermouth's face. Her mouth formed a small O. The lady in black looked just like Sharon Vineyard's daughter, Chris.
" I am not she, my sweet angel." Vermouth took a step closer. " Look closely."
" Get away from her, Chris Vineyard." Shinichi growled, warning her to stay away or else.
If you dare to touch or hurt Ran, I will take you to hell itself.
" Cool down, high school detective. You are suppose to be cool guy, aren't you? " She chuckled, this time showing menace. " But tell me one thing before you die. How did you turn back into Shinichi Kudo, Conan Edogawa?"
~ Van, outside ruined building
Ai grabbed a gun from a nearby officer and dashed into the building. " Wait for us, Ai!" Yukiko and Yusaku followed suit and rushed after her. " Is Ai really Shiho, Professor?" Shuichi asked for confirmation from Agasa before he left. " I do not know. I think it'll be best you ask her." Agasa answered, for it was true that Ai never revealed her true name or much of her past. Maybe this man before him was related to her concealed past? He did not ask, for it was his nature not to probe into things that does not concern him. " Be careful!" He yelled after them.
Taking a sharp left turn, she nearly slammed into a pillar. " Are you all right?" Yukiko shouted breathlessly behind her. Ai did not reply and continued to sprint. Right, left, down the stairs, right. She stopped suddenly, looking around. Pillars, doors and walls loomed ominously above Ai, threatening to drag her into unfathomable depth of darkness . This was an unfamiliar part of the building she had not went before. Beads of perspiration rolled down her flushed face. In her anxiousness to get to them, she had lost her way.
" This way." Jodie appeared suddenly, startling her. Yukiko and Yusaku followed her without objection. Shuichi just stared at her and chased after Jodie. Several FBI agents were behind him as well. Overcame by the need to save the person she cared, Ai ignored her screaming sixth sense and dashed after them, her head in confusion.
Please, sister. Protect him from harm... She prayed fearfully.
" You should know." Shinichi replied coolly. I need to calm down in this situation. " Let me guess..." She paused to look for the answer on his face which calmed down suddenly. " Sherry? Or should I say Ai, helped you?" Vermouth finished triumphantly. " She could only be the only person who helped since she was the inventor of APTX- 4896 and knew how to make it. Grenache, her other partner and the only other person on earth who knew, is already silenced." She smiled, and raised her own gun. " Let's end this game, shall we?"
" Right." Shinichi knocked the gun out of her hand and both sides began war with gunfire and fists.
" Hhiiiyeeee!!!!" Ran punched another man in the stomach and knocked him out. Another was already on the dusty floor, the result of her powerful kick. " Get out of here!" Shinichi yelled at Ran, firing at Vermouth who dodged the bullets and ran. Heji and Kazuha blocked her exit, guns pointing at her threateningly.
" You underestimate me, fools." Vermouth sneered. About ten men appeared and surrounded the four of them. Among them was Gin, who walked to Vermouth's side. His colourless lips formed a thin satisfied line, and ordered Vodka to tie Ran and Kazuha up.
" Game over, kids. We will let the girls die first. Is that all right?" He asked, holding his own revolver to Kazuha's head. Although she was bound, Kazuha stared defiantly at Gin.
" Who do you want to die first? She or she?" Gin moved his gun between the two girls' heads.
" None." Heji and Shinichi lunged at him, pinning him to the ground. War once more broke out but this time, the four of them were on the losing side.
With a bang, the door was kicked open and Jodie and the others rushed in.
" Surrender! You are already surrounded by the FBI!" She tackled a man, rendering him unconscious on the ground and picked up his gun. FBI agents soon filled the narrow passage way, pinning down the members of the Black Organisation.
Seeing all was lost, Vermouth sprinted, this time firing at Kazuha who was blocking her way out. She slumped to the ground, dark red blood began to gush out of the wound. Jodie appeared suddenly and with a quick move, pinioned her against the wall. " How does it feel to get caught?" She asked as she slapped a handcuff onto Vermouth's hands.
" Kazuha!" Heji flew to her side, picking her up carefully. Kazuha opened her eyes and smiled weakly. " Don't die, Kazuha!" He yelled, wrapping his coat over her. " Why?" She asked, moving her hand to his bloody face. They were now going up the stairs, a few meters from freedom.
" Because......I need you. I love you, Kazuha" Heji said, holding her more tightly and kissed her. " I love...you...too." Kazuha smiled and closed her eyes in bliss. Standing in the rays of the setting sun, he cried, the tears of love. " Don't sleep, baka! Wake up! Talk to me!" Heji yelled desperately, clinging on to her when the ambulance crew came to take Kazuha away. Agasa came over to pull him away but he would not bulge. They herded the two of them into the ambulance and sped to the hospital. Raindrops began falling from the grey clouds.
" You will not escape this time." Bruised and battered, Shinichi raised his gun at him." I should have kill you at Tropical Land." Gin fired at Ran who was standing behind Shinichi.
" Damn! Get out of the way, Kudo! Mouri! " Ai shot at him in attempt to stop Gin but missed. Another bullet sped out from Gin's gun and struck her.
Shinichi took the bullet for Ran and went down. " Shinichi!" Ran cried out, bending down. The pool of blood was getting bigger by the second and she could do nothing to stop it. Yusaku and Yukiko went over upon seeing their fallen son, trying in vain to stop the blood flow.
The bullet let flew and hit on the target. Three FBI agents grabbed him and knocked him out with sleeping gas.
~ Ambulance
" Ran-neechan..." Shinichi murmured through his oxygen mask. " I'm here." Ran answered through her tears. Yusaku and Yukiko were waiting anxiously beside him. Yukiko was crying in her husband's arms. Outside the red and white van, the rain hit against the window mercilessly.
" I am...sorry...Ran" He opened his tired eyes a little bigger to see her more clearly. Maybe it would be the last time he saw her. "..for my lies...for breaking my promise... for leaving you at Tropical Land and the restaurant...and deceiving you..." Ran just kept on crying. " Will you... forgive me?" Shinichi was getting more and more tired by the minute. Ran touched his face and smiled bitterly. " Of course I will, you deducing fanatic."
Don't die now... I can't lose you... I survive each day on thoughts on you coming back... now you are back, I won't let you leave again...
"You look awful...crying like that...." Ran tried to hold back her tears. I must be brave for Shinichi. "I'm going to...tell you...something...after the operation... Wait for me, Ran..." Shinichi shut his eyes and his hand, held by Ran's hastily bandaged hand all the time, went limp.
" Shinichi!"
She called out. Fresh tears came in torrents. This time, she knew. He won't be coming back, not even as Conan to console her, to accompany her and call her Ran-neechan again.
~ Beika City Hospital
Kogoro rushed to Beika Grand Hospital immediately upon notice that Ran was hurt. Eri was already there, fresh from the court, comforting the inconsolable Ran.
" Eri?" He stopped in his tracks when he saw her. Kogoro did not expect to see her there.
" Kogoro?" Eri lifted her head, hearing his gruff voice. She was also equally surprised. Gentleness flickered for a moment before letting way to steel cold hardness.
He shifted his eyes and sat down on the other side of Ran.
" What happened?" He asked, choosing his words carefully.
" I have no idea. She would not say a thing." Eri answered, trying to dry Ran's tears with a tissue. " It must be someone important or else she wouldn't cry like this."
On the other side of the waiting room, Heji was all silence. He had refused to let his wounds be treated and insisted to wait for Kazuha. His face was blank, devoid of feelings. Cap pulled low over his hair, he was lost in his own thoughts.
In another operation room, she was fighting for her life. The bullet was finally taken out but Ai was oblivious to the pain and the doctors around her.
Opening her eyes, she found herself in a corridor. Getting up, Ai started to walk, trying to get to the end of the corridor.
Am I in heaven? It's so white around here... It couldn't be, can it? I am a fallen one...
" Shiho."
She turned around and saw Akemi just right behind her. " Sis? Is that you?" Ai reached out for her, but Akemi stepped back, smiling at her.
" Shiho, listen." Akemi requested, bright light illuminating her slim figure, looking like the statue of Virgin Mary she saw years ago. Ai did not reply, trying to take all this in amid of her swirling thoughts.
" It's not the time yet. You must got back, Shiho. There's something important left for you to do. You must end everything." Ai stared blankly at her sister. What did she mean by that?
Then, she felt herself being pulled away by some mysterious force she could not see and stop. She saw Akemi fading into the growing darkness and Ai knew no more.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thalia: I admit this chapter isn't well-written. First, I had some very bad writer block and headache writing this, plus some very upsetting events, so it turned out this way. Gomen for that! Anyway, the next chapter will be the last one and perhaps, I saying perhaps, there will be a sequel. A small request here, if you want to leave comment, reviews and etc, please do not use any dirty/crude language. Personally, I do not object the usage to it, but I don't feel like making a bad example to the underage kids. I still thank the people who still use time to review my fic. Domo arigato!