Disclaimer : I don't own Detective Conan

Apologize for any grammatical errors

The journey home they took from Kamiya Dojo in Kyoto to Osaka was long, boring and also uh, very stressful, especially for Prince Heiji.

During the trip, Kazuha remained silent. Either she intentionally gave him a silent treatment or she really doesn't want to talk, Heiji doesn't know for sure. However, after asking her three times and Kazuha only answering briefly between 'yes', 'no' and 'I don't know', Heiji gave up and decided to be quiet.

However, when finally they arrived at the palace where Heiji thought he could finally be free from this tension, they received an unexpected welcome.

"Wel-welcome home, Young Master!" Sakata, one of the butlers greeted, but with a slightly trembling voice.

At first, Heiji didn't pay much attention since he was busy helping Kazuha get out of the car. However, as he walked into the palace, while holding Kazuha, he saw a row of servants who stood up to welcome their arrival, all looking pale and scared, even though they all bowed respectfully.

Feeling something's wrong, Heiji asked "What's the matter? Why are you all pale and scared?".

No one dared to answer, of course, but now Heiji can see clearly, some maids are even began to trembling.

Heiji raised an eyebrow questioningly "Sakata? What happened?".

"Ah ... You see, Sir, you were asked to meet your father as soon as you returned home".

Heiji didn't ask again. However, hearing Sakata answer nervously and his voice trembling slightly, he immediately knew, that his father was enrage!

Heiji took a deep breath. It seems like he could have guessed that his father would be furious, he already knew the reason.

He glanced briefly at Kazuha and saw that the girl looked tired now. While gently squeezing Kazuha's hand that he was holding, Heiji finally answered "Is that so? Then, please tell Dad, I'll meet him later after taking Kazuha to her room!".

Either Sakata was surprised because Prince Heiji Hattori had just asked him politely, he even said the word 'please', or because the Prince's answer, he dared to postpone meeting his father, or maybe for both reasons, it was clear Sakata had tried to persuade the Prince to immediately meet his father as soon as he enters the palace.

"Young Master, please! Your father told you to meet him as soon as possible ..."

"I said later!" This time Heiji yelled at him, Sakata immediately relented. "Ha-Hai, Your Highness".

Hmph! Let his father be angry with him, he still will be scolded, anyway! What's more important now is that he must immediately bring Kazuha to her room, she needs to rest!

But apparently, after all, Heiji did have to meet his father first, since he was waiting for him in the doorway.

"Dad? Uh, sorry, but I'll see you soon after taking Kazuha to her room. She needs some re ..."

Before Heiji could finish his words, Prince Heizo Hattori pulled his son's collar, then slapped him, very hard, causing him to fall to the floor, shocking Kazuha and all the servants there.

"Son of a bitch! Look at what you did! You caused her to be kidnapped!". Kazuha just found out how scary Heiji's father was when he was angry, when in fact, Heizo Hattori was defending her. No wonder the servants are scared.

"I don't remember raising my son as a bastard!" In a dashing and very intimidating step, Heizo started walking towards Heiji who was still on his back while holding his cheek and grimacing in pain.

It must hurt a lot. Kazuha also grimaced, she could see bruises starting to appear on it.

But then, consciousness kicked her. Half running, Kazuha stopped the step of the enrage father, and put herself between Heizo and Heiji.

"Uncle, please, that's enough".

Heizo's narrow eyes gazed at Kazuha eerily, giving her goosebumps.

"Move! I have to teach my son!".

"Please, that's enough. I'm fine ..."

"I said MOVE, GIRL!".

Heiji watched with horror, disbelief, but also admiration. Kazuha bravely "challenged" his super-terrible father, to defend him, even though he was wrong.

"But... But, this is not Heiji's fault!".

Heiji spontaneously gasped at Kazuha's lie, his cheek twitched in pain.

"I'm the one who wants to try taking the bus to school! Ahahaha ... I'm really pretentious".

Meanwhile Heizo, staring at Kazuha fixedly, before finally grinning frighteningly, made Heiji glared, he knew what the grin meant.

"Is that so? You are the one who want to take the bus?" Heizo knew that Kazuha was lying to him, but he's still trying to give her a chance.

Unknowingly, Kazuha gulped, her body trembling. This man in front of her is really scary! His authority was truly extraordinary!

Her brain was screaming at her to tell the truth. However, her heart said differently. Heiji will be beaten by his father if she tells the truth and no one dared to help him.

For unknown reason, she wasn't willing to let that happen.

No, she wouldn't let that happen! Even though Heiji was wrong, but Kazuha knew, he already regretted his actions and tried to fix it, though in his own awkward and strange way.

"Well?" Heizo reminded her, because she took too long to give him the answer.

"Huh? Oh yes. Yes, that's right Uncle! I was the one who wanted to take the bus, then I was kidnapped. So this is all my fault, my responsibility, not Heiji's!".

If Heiji didn't hear with his own ears, maybe he also wouldn't believe it. Never before (he himself wouldn't do it, he's not that good) there were people who defended him like that! Despite the fact, it's he who is wrong!

Not even his mother! Because indeed if his father scolded him, he was indeed wrong. Moreover now! Again, this is his mistake, and it is fatal! But, Kazuha even lied to defend him!

If likened, perhaps this is the moment that really brought Heiji 'fall to his knees' to Kazuha.

"I see. In that case, Miss, then I must slap you too, because you lied to me! Educating liar and naughty kids is the duty of every parent!".

Kazuha was shocked because it turned out that Uncle Heizo knew she was lying, in order to protect Heiji. So, if Uncle Heizo slaps her, she mustn't avoid it.

Her father would have hit her too if she dared to lie to him!

The last thing Kazuha saw was when Uncle Heizo raised his hand, and she immediately closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to invade her cheek.

But ... it never happened.

The pain ... never came.

The pain, instead, was replaced with something warm and solid.

Huh?

Warm and solid?

What's that?

Curious, Kazuha opened her eyes. She was quite surprised, she could not see Heizo Hattori again in front of her.

Instead, her vision was blocked by ... Heiji's back!

"He-Heiji?".

Ignoring her, Heiji's now boldly willing to take responsibility for his actions.

"If you want to hit, just hit me! It's true that I am the one guilty. This is all my fault, not her! Though I also don't know why she lied to defend me".

Either must be touched or feel upset, because it means indirectly Heiji confirmed that she had lied to Uncle Heizo, but Heiji's words just now, made Kazuha feel warm. Moreover, clearly visible from his trembling back, Heiji was actually afraid of facing his father. But still, he's trying to protect her.

Just like his promise in front of Kenshin ...

Heizo Hattori said nothing. But still with his fierce face and sharp eyes, he once again raised his hand.

Kazuha could see Heiji's shoulders tightened.

Spontaneously she put her dainty hand on his shoulder, squeezed it gently to calm and support him, which miraculously worked. He became more relaxed and more resigned to accepting punishment from his father, which also apparently never happened.

Heizo Hattori put his big, sturdy hand on his son's shoulder, patted him, at the same time with Kazuha's hand which was still on Heiji's shoulder.

"I can't justify the deeds of the two of you!" His narrow eyes glanced at the girl behind his son who was now cowering herself in fear behind Heiji's back.

Heizo now stroked his son's head "But I appreciate your courage to defend each other. Only, lying is still not allowed, do you understand?!".

Unconsciously, Kazuha gripped Heiji's back while biting her lips when Heizo quipped her.

"Enough for now. Don't let it happen again! Sakata!".

"Ha-Hai, Your Highness?".

"Call the palace doctor to treat the wound on my son's cheek!".

Then Prince Heizo Hattori walked off leaving the two teenagers away while shaking his head.

Young, hot-blooded teens! Really troublesome!

Especially when they are in love!

"Aw, aw, aw, aw, auuwwhh! That hurts! Auwh!".

Kazuha rolled her eyes.

Such a baby!

"Auuwwhh! Oi! Careful! Ka-zu-ha!" Heiji is really noisy, whining like a baby!

"Hang on, don't be like a spoiled baby! Hold still, don't keep moving! It's hard for me to apply the ointment!".

"It-hurts!" In a shitty style, Heiji made every word clear.

Kazuha sighed. If she knew he would be annoying like this, she would let the palace doctor take care of him.

Yes, it was Kazuha who finally treated the wound on Heiji's cheek, because she felt guilty.

Wait, hold on sec! Why does she even feel guilty?

She is innocent!

She's actually a victim here!

"Anoo ... Kazuha?".

'What now?' Kazuha grumbled to herself.

Amazingly, Heiji seems to be able to read her mind, he continued his question "Why did you help me? Why ... did you even lie to defend me?".

Kazuha could only stare at Heiji, since she also didn't know why.

Come to think of it, now she herself was surprised by her own actions. At that time, she just acted instinctively and that felt right, she had to do it!

Well, well ... Good question, Hattori!

Heiji 1

Kazuha 0

Instead of answering, Kazuha asked Heiji the same question, so that she wouldn't appear to lose.

"What about you? You're still trying to protect me too, though I know you are actually afraid of your father, don't you?".

Heiji's eyes narrowed suspiciously "You didn't answer my question. Of course I have to protect you! Isn't this all my fault?".

Damn it! His answer does make sense!

However, Kazuha was completely unprepared when she heard Heiji's next answer.

"Besides, I think ..."

Heiji's eyes stared straight into Kazuha's eyes.

"I think, I've fallen for you!".

A/N : Hello everyone, how are you? Thank you very much for still willing to take the time to read the continuation of my stories.

Honestly, the last few chapters are impromptu ideas, different from my original story plan. But I hope you all enjoy reading it!

Well, how come this far? Is the story getting more interesting? Please, let me know!

Oh, by the way, yesterday I just got enlightened that the song "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran, apparently really, really perfect to describe the relationship between Heiji and Kazuha!

In my wild imagination, it's their wedding song!

So, the impromptu ideas for the last two chapters, I wrote from the inspiration I got after a full day of listening to the song "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran. I hope you can also hear the song (as if) playing softly as you read this story. Trust me, it's truly perfect!

Warning : Below are some of the lyrics from the song "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran that have been quoted by the author, which shows why this song is the perfect song for Heiji and Kazuha, especially for their wedding song! (Please Mr. Aoyama Gosho, please make a scene where Heiji confesses to Kazuha as soon as possible! We have waited too long!).

'I found a love for me,

Well I found a girl beautiful and sweet ,
I never knew you were the someone waiting for me,
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love,

Not knowing what it was,
I will not give you up this time,

Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know,
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home,
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets,
To carry love, to carry children of our own,
We are still kids, but we're so in love,
Fighting against all odds,
I know we'll be alright this time,
Darling, just hold my hand,
Be my girl, I'll be your man,
I see my future in your eyes,

**And the author is lost somewhere in her own perfect imaginary world**

Then, see you in the next chapter (I don't know which title, tee-hee).