Naoko

Hi all...I got no reviews for last chapter...not sure if you didnt read it or it was so horrible you couldnt bear to review...hopefully this one will be better...

Chapter Sixteen: The End

Kaito lay on his side in bed, staring at the wall. He blinked back tears and sniffed loudly, sighing through his mouth. He shifted, finding a cooler spot on his pillow. He sighed again, a depressed sort of sigh that would make anyone feel like crying. He didn't hear the person entering the room quietly. He started when the unknown person lay down next to him on the bed, wrapping their arm around his waist.

"Shhh... it's okay," Aoko whispered in his ear. He relaxed slightly, letting his head drop back onto the pillow.

"What are you doing?" he asked as her hand gently caressed his bare stomach. Her fingers lightly grazing his bellybutton, making him shudder slightly.

"I'm sorry about what I said," she whispered. "I was just angry. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he whispered back. "It doesn't matter anymore. I was wrong; I should've told you about me."

"No," she shook her head. "I was wrong! When I found out I was just so angry I couldn't think straight. I just didn't want to hear what you had to say. I should've listened. But now I understand." He smiled slightly.

"I don't think I ever told you," he said quietly, "That I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered in his ear. She pulled the blanket over her and then replaced her arms around his waist. Her fingers fiddled with the button on his blue jeans. He rolled over to face her, placing his hands on her hips. She kissed his healing bullet wound gently. Her fingers found the zipper of his jeans and undid it slowly. He pulled her into a kiss, slipping his tongue gently into her mouth.

---

"You're beautiful, Ran," Shinichi said, gazing at his girlfriend across the table. She reddened.

"Thank you," she muttered.

"Am I embarrassing you?" he asked.

"No," she answered. She paused for a few seconds, gazing deeply into his eyes. "I love you, Shinichi." He smiled.

"I love you more," he teased.

"No, I love you more," she said grinning slyly.

"No I love you more," he said.

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yeah-huh!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"I love you more infinity!" Ran said smugly, kissing his lips.

"You win this round," he grinned, kissing her back.

"Do you still want to be a detective, Shinichi?" Ran asked after a while.

"Yeah, I really do," he said honestly. She smiled gently.

"Well if it's what you want, I'm all for it," she said quietly, placing her hand over his bandaged one. He looked up into her eyes. They were filled with honesty and love. He smiled widely.

"Thanks Ran," he whispered. "That means a lot to me."

"Whatever you want, Shinichi. You've missed out on almost three years of your life. This is your time." Ran said. She smiled, eyes twinkling. "Anything for my boy."

---

Heiji blinked blearily as the sun shone across his face, prodding him out of his slumber. He groaned quietly, stretching. He looked over at the sleeping figure curled up next to him and smiled. Kazuha buried her face in his side and moaned quietly.

"Morning already?" she asked tiredly, eyes still closed.

"Yeah," he yawned. She ruffled her hair and made a sleepy noise from the back of her throat.

"Do we have to get up?" she asked groggily.

"Mm hmm..." he moaned. She sighed and slumped against the mattress. "I'll go make coffee," he said, starting to sit up.

"Uh-uh," she protested, pulling him back down. "Warm."

"We have to get up sometime. It's already," he checked his watch. "Eleven o'clock!?"

"What?!" Kazuha bolted upright as well.

"Wow we slept late," Heiji said shocked.

"Yeah. And I didn't have any nightmares!" Kazuha smiled. Heiji frowned.

"You've been having nightmares?" he asked. She blushed.

"A few," she mumbled.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked. She shook her head.

"No. Thanks though," she said. "It's weird though, Heiji."

"What is?" he asked curiously.

"I never have nightmares when I'm with you," she said smiling at him. He smiled back at her. "You make me feel safe."

"That's what happens when you love someone. You always feel safe. In that storm last night, I felt safer than I ever had. My parents never held me like that during a storm," he said, looking down at his hands. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. He linked his fingers with hers.

"I'll always be here to hold you," she whispered.

---

When Kaito woke up the next morning, he couldn't remember when he'd gotten a better night's sleep. He was on his side, arms wrapped securely around Aoko's bare waist under the sheet covering them. He thought she looked beautiful, lying next to him, hair all askew and a peaceful smile on her face. She was still asleep. He kissed her bare shoulder gently, caressing her smooth skin with his lips.

Aoko opened her eyes a crack and turned her head. Kaito stroked the inside of her thigh gently with his knuckles. She moaned softly and turned to face him. She gazed into his loving eyes for a while, fingers tracing soft circles around his bellybutton. He shuddered slightly and grasped her hand, laying it flat on his stomach. Her hand felt warm on his cool skin.

"I love you Kaito," she whispered to him. He pulled her closer, pulling her head to his chest. He caressed her hair gently with his free hand and smiled.

"I love you, Aoko," he whispered. "More than anything, ever."

---

Ran spooned the cold cereal into her mouth slowly, staring out the window at the cool blue sky. She pondered going outside, but didn't feel like changing out of what she was currently wearing; one of Shinichi's T-shirts and a pair of his plaid boxers. She looked up as Shinichi walked in, rubbing sleep out of his eyes wearily. He scratched his neck and sat next to Ran at the table.

"So that's where my shirt went," he grumbled, squinting at Ran. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. She giggled as he rubbed his uncovered chest. He was dressed just in faded baggy jeans. "And there are my boxers," he observed smirking.

"Morning babe," she laughed. He slung his arm over her shoulders. She held out a spoonful of cereal to him. He ate it, grinning widely. Their lips met again, his free hand traveling down and resting on her inner thigh. He pressed his forehead against hers and looked into her eyes. She smiled at him. The door burst open and Kogoro entered. He looked at them and made a face.

"Put a shirt on, Kudou," he said shaking his head. Shinichi grinned.

"I would but your daughter stole it." He said. Kogoro blinked and looked over at Ran, who grinned. Kogoro shook his head and poured himself a cup of coffee. He drained it quickly and wiped his mouth.

"I'm going down to the station. Don't do anything stupid and don't wreck the house," he said. He set down his cup and left the room. But before he left, he called, "And DON'T YOU DARE HAVE SEX!" and slammed the door. Shinichi looked over at Ran, a big grin on his face.

"Well he's ruined my plan for the day, what did you want to do?" he joked.

"I don't know. Did you have anything else in mind?" she asked giggling. He shrugged. They sat in silence fir a while, then Shinichi grinned mischievously and dove at Ran. She squealed and fell to the floor, giggling.

"Stop!" she shrieked as he tickled her mercilessly. "Shinichi!" she pushed him off and jumped on top of him, straddling his waist and grabbed his wrists, pinning them above his head. They lay there panting on the kitchen tile for a few minutes, just laughing and panting.

"Wow Ran," he said. "You've changed."

"You know what they say, 'People do crazy things, when their in love.' And I love you, Kudou Shinichi," she said.

"I love you more infinity," he said playfully. He sat up slightly, kissing her lips gently. They kissed deeply for a while then broke away for air.

"You win this time," she breathed.

---

Kazuha was sitting in Heiji's lap. Kaito was sitting on the floor in front of a chair, which Aoko was sitting in. her fingers were entangled in his already messy hair. Ran was resting her head on Shinichi's shoulder. They were currently watching a movie in the living room of the Kudou residence. It ended and they all stretched.

"That was a great movie, don't you think?" Aoko asked.

"It was good," Kaito agreed.

"Yeah," Ran said.

"I'd see it again," Kazuha said. They all paused.

"It sucked," Heiji said, giving them odd looks.

"Yeah," they all said at once. "But Shinichi picked it out!"

Shinichi was asleep. His head was tipped over, cheek resting upon his shoulder. Ran beamed.

"Aw, that's so cute!" she cooed. Kaito scratched his head. Heiji rolled his eyes. Kazuha snuggled up to Heiji. Aoko rested her head on Kaito's shoulder.

"Well we' better head home," Heiji said, his arm wrapping around Kazuha.

"Yeah. Us too," Aoko said. She intertwined her fingers with Kaito's and headed for the door.

"See you guys later," Heiji waved, heading out, Kazuha following.

"Bye!" Kaito and Aoko called.

"Bye!" Ran whispered quietly so not to wake Shinichi. She was left alone with her sleeping boyfriend. She sat next to him on the sofa and leaned up against him. He shifted slightly but didn't wake up. After a while, he started to stir. But he wasn't waking up. Ran sighed and maneuvered him so his head was on her lap. He was having another nightmare.

Nightmares had been frequently plaguing his mind ever since the deaths of Gin and Vodka. She cupped his face in her hands to cool his gradually warming face. He was flinching and thrashing now. He whimpered and arched his back. She pushed him down gently, stroking his face. He calmed down slightly and laid still, cold sweat on his face. She sang quietly to him, trying to pull him out of the nightmare.

Donna toki de mo
Anata ha hitori ja nai yo

Dakishimeteta itami
Koboreochita shunkan ni
Yasashisa tabane arashi no naka he kakedasu
Yakusoku-shite koko he kaeru to
Hateshinaku tooku he ittemo

Donna toki de mo
Anata ha hitori ja nai yo
Tsunaida te ha hanasanai
Shinjiteru ano hi no kizuna
Tsuyoi omoi ga onaji yume wo sagashitsudzuketeru

As she finished, his eyes fluttered open. He gazed at her blearily and smiled.

"Ran..." he whispered.

"What is it Shinichi?" she asked curiously.

"I wanted to say..." he said quietly.

"Say?" she asked.

"I wanted to say...I love you. And I want you to know that no matter what happens, I always will love you," he said.

"I love you too, Shinichi," she said smiling devotedly down at him. He smiled back.

-

"But I love you more infinity."

The End

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Epilogue Next Chapter!