Thx for all the reviews! I had fun writing this story! Shinichi is so adorable! XD

Disclaimer: I don't own DC

Chapter 5

The bell rang, and gradually, students began to make their way out of the school building. They walked in groups, joking with each other, laughing, and deciding with each other where they would go after school.

One lone figure walked among the crowd, her raven black hair fanning out behind her as she walked. She hugged her school bag close to herself, averting the gazes of everyone around her. Her name was Akemi Miyano.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the black car, following her, watching. She dared not make contact with her classmates, in fear of endangering anyone.

But around the corner, someone else was watching her, a small strawberry blonde girl, a cap pulled low over her face.

Ai's thoughts were on her sister all night, tossing and turning in her sleep. She longed to see her again, but she knew that she couldn't allow herself to be recognized.

But still, without realizing at first, she left as soon as the last class was dismissed, ignoring Shinichi's voice calling for her to wait for him, and the next thing she knew, she was standing in front of her sister's school.

Once she realized where she was, it was impossible for her to turn back. I won't let Neechan see me, Ai told herself, trying to put conviction into her own thoughts.

But Akemi noticed. She felt someone's gaze, someone other that the organization's spies. Looking into direction of the gaze, her mouth dropped open in surprise. "Shiho?" she breathed. It couldn't be, her little sister is in America, taken away by the organization. But still she made her way to the little girl, pretending to be interested in the shop next to the strawberry blonde.

Ai's heart was seized with panic as she realized her sister had recognized her, but she couldn't bring herself to walk away, she wanted to talk to Neechan again, to act like a little girl, ignorant of all troubles, to forget everything, and simply feel safe in her sister's arms.

"Shiho?" Akemi's voice was hesitant. She hoped with all her heart that it's really her, and this is not simply a hallucination because she missed her sister so much. They hadn't been able to talk, really talk since she'd been away, with the organization monitoring their calls, but she can tell that Shiho's a little sadder, weaker each time they called each other, and she wished she could be there to take care of her.

Ai was on the brink of answering when someone grabbed her arm. "Ai-chan, what are you doing?" Shinichi had evidently been following her.

"Shinichi? What are you doing here?" Ai asked sharply, whirling around.

"You disappeared after school, so I…" Shinichi mumbled guiltily, taken aback at the furious look in her eyes.

Akemi drew back a step, but her eyes are still filled with hope. "Shiho, is it you?"

"Her name is Haibara Ai, neechan." Shinichi pointed out in a polite voice before Ai could speak.

But it seems like Akemi didn't hear him. She was waiting for Ai's reply.

Forcing herself to break eye contact, Ai lowered her head. "Sorry. You've mistaken me for someone else." She said in a low voice, desperately trying to keep her tears from streaming out. "Let's go, Kudo."

You wouldn't let me run away, no matter what time we're in, would you, Kudo? Ai thought bitterly, keeping her gaze on the ground. She could just feel Akemi's disappointment, as her own words crushed her. She didn't turn back, knowing the hurt in her sister's eyes will make her crumble.

Shinichi followed her in silence, realizing she's mad at him, but not knowing why.

"…Ai-chan, who was that?" he asked tentatively. "Who did she think you were?"

Can't he see she's not in the mood to talk? Ai didn't reply, only quickened her footsteps.

Shinichi ran to keep up with her. "…Ai-chan?" He reached to take her hand as he always does, but she pulled away from him.

"…Ai?"

"Just leave me alone, Kudo." She said coldly before running down the street. She didn't stop until she reached the professor's house, ignoring his questioning look, and slamming the door shut in her own room. Breathing heavily in the silence, Ai threw herself onto her bed and broke down into tears.

Back on the street, a group of curious (and nosy) old ladies shopping nearby gawked at Shinichi sympathetically. "Aww, what a cute little couple…what'd you think he's done…the little girl was crying!" They murmured none too quietly.

"…" What had he done to make her mad like that? Ignoring them, Shinichi trudged dully back to the professor's

Shinichi raced over to Ai's room. He would have knocked, except Hakase grabbed him around the collar and pulled him back. "Give her some time alone, Shinichi." Although he didn't know what happened, the professor knew she wouldn't want to be disturbed.

Sighing, Shinichi hung his head.

Ai came out of the room to make dinner soon afterward. Shinichi went over to talk to her, only to shrink back when he saw the cold look in her eyes.

Dinner was finished in silence, with Hakase's gaze traveling between them, trying to ease the tension in the air.

"…I'm sorry…" Shinichi said at last, in a small voice.

Ai glanced at him, but didn't reply.

"…If you're mad at me for following you, I'm really sorry… it's just… if you got into any danger, I wanted to be there to protect you…"

Ai froze at the words, only to familiar, in the exact same tone as he had said it in the future.

But she wouldn't hear the words in the future anymore, not if everything worked out. There'd only be two people with no connection whatsoever, Kudo Shinichi and Shiho Miyano.

"Idiot, I could take care of myself. That girl just… she just looked like someone I knew once… it's not your fault." Ai said finally, smiling at relief in Shinichi's bright eyes. "I guess I just needed to blame someone…" She can't exactly blame him for stopping her, when he had no idea what's happened. Besides, Akemi was never supposed to see her in the first place.

Shinichi nodded. "So you're coming to Tropical Land with me this Saturday? My mom said I could invite someone." He asked eagerly, the afternoon's events completely forgotten.

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Man, Shinichi has a short attention span. XD At the risk of repeating myself, please reiew!!