We Will Meet Again

"Akemi, you're here," said Shuichi, more to himself than to her.

"Yes, Shuichi, I'm here." Akemi was no longer that high school girl. No more glasses or freckles. Her hair was let down to her shoulders in a wave of brown. She was dressed in black, wearing a pair of sunglasses. Even her voice was more mature and deep.

"Akemi," Shuichi whispered in awe. This was the real Akemi, the Akemi that was hidden underneath the costume. He knew about her identity, but at least she was flesh and blood. But how could she be so cold, so dark? He could not help but say out loud, "Who are you? You're not the Akemi I know."

"No, I'm not that cute Akemi with the freckles," said Akemi as she took off her sunglasses. "You would wish you never know me if you know who I truly am."

"I've never expected the cute Akemi with the freckles, but I've expected the Akemi who would at least have the tiniest scintilla of warmth in her eyes, not the frozen Akemi."

Yes, he knew already. Akemi confirmed that. That's even better. At least she can be captured by the police than to be tortured under the Organization.

"So you know who I am. You know where I come from. I'm a cold-blooded, frozen killer who would kill you if I have the chance. I would even kill the whole world and not be one bit sorry. Then why meet me here? Perhaps you have some friends around, waiting to trap me. Then come right now. Isn't this the right time—me, here, empty handed?"

"Do you believe I would disclose you?" Shuichi spoke this so sorrowfully. Akemi grasped a breath.

After a while, she replied, "You are a police. I am a bandit. Why wouldn't you disclose me?"

Shuichi quickly shouted, "Because you are a human, and I am a human as well. Akemi, I love you."

Akemi looked down at the ground. She wanted to a cup of coffee right then—the bitter taste would drown out her tears right there. Yes, her tears that speckled the ground she was standing on. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that he was a police and she was a murderer. It wasn't fair that she could never be together with him. Either she or he will have to die. And Shiho--

In her determined voice, as she looked back up and shook away her tears, Akemi said, "But I'm sorry, I do not know love. I could not possibly know love."

"Akemi, you love me. You know you do, or you won't be crying."

"I'm not crying!" Akemi shouted, only to bring up more tears.

"Akemi, run away from the organization. Start a new life with me." Said Shuichi as took her in his arms. Akemi rested her head and cried on his shoulder. She can't.

If she left, Shiho would be dead immediately, she would be tracked down, and Shuichi would be killed as well along with her. Right now, either Shuichi or herself will die, and if the Organization find out this, both of them will. So why not let one die instead of two?

Akemi slowly reached into her bag for that gun that she prepared for him. There was a new target for that gun now. Only her death could save him. If the Organization heard of her death, it would assume that Shuichi killed her. Quickly, she drew it to her chest.

She only heard Shuichi shout her name, and three gun shots. Soon, she only saw Shuichi.

"Why, Akemi, why? Why not just run away with me?" Shuichi was in tears.

Akemi smiled. "You already know the answer to that question. You're too smart to not know that one of us will have to die. The power of the Organization is too mighty, " whispered Akemi. "But also, there's another reason why. If I run from the Organization, who will take care of Shiho, my sister in the Organization? What prevents the Organization from killing her?"

"Akemi, stop talking, I'm going to get you to a hospital." Said Shuichi as he wrapped his coat around her.

"Don't try. I know the bullet did not go through my lung as I planned, but it is enough to kill me. First listen to me."

"No Akemi. Even if I die, I will let you live."

"But what about my sister? Would you let her die?" Shuichi froze. Akemi continued. "My sister is an innocent girl who creates poisons without knowing what she is doing. I'd rather let her create poisons for the Organizations and let her lead her innocent life than to bring her into the reality of the Organization. The last thing I beg of you: if you promise me this, I will die happily. Take care of her for me."

"Don't worry, Akemi, I will."

"Now, go. For my sister, for me, please go," begged the dying Akemi.

Shuichi did not know what to do. He knew it was impossible to try to save Akemi. Three gun shots into the chest? But he had to at least try, and he would have, but to think that for his own self, he would risk the life of an innocent girl who has been in the Organization since her birth, living in hell?

Shuichi took off his jacket from Akemi, stood up, and turned around, walking away without turning his back.

He only heard a weak "thank you," and then stopped. Still without turning around, he said, "We will meet again, Akemi. I know it." And then, he walked down, never stopping again.

Somebody was following her. Ai sensed it already as she walked down the lonely streets of dark Tokyo. It was two am in the morning. For the last few the days, the Organization didn't seem to have noticed her, but now, could they have possibly--? Ai shuddered. This was why she went away—so she would not endanger Kudo or Agasa. She wanted to find a quite place to work, and she did, by making up an identity and renting an apartment using that identity, working on that antidote since. But now—could her few days of peace be disturbed by the Organization?

There was no use running. If the Organization discovered her already, there was no point in running. She stopped. She could sense the person hiding somewhere, waiting for her to move again. Ai turned around, and said, "You could come out now."

A man came out of the shadows of a building from an alleyway. A man in black, but somehow, Ai knew, he wasn't from the Organization.

"Shiho, it's about time you go see your sister."

End Chapter 6

You'll understand what Shuichi means by "seeing your sister" by next chapter. Also by next chapter, you will see the story of Shinichi and Ran and the rest of the story of Shuichi and Akemi revealed.

Next chapter: Last Wish Fufilled