Hi everyone!! I didn't do so well on the exam, tenth place in my class, and my dear mother is cutting down my time on the computer, so I'll stop chatting and get the disclaimer over with, shall I?

Disclaimer: I really, really wish I own DC, but the sad truth is, I don't.

Chapter 16

"Come on already..." Ai muttered, clicking the mouse impatiently. She was trying to read her mail, to see how Hakase was doing with the FBI, but it seems that the computer wasn't in the mood to cooperate today.

Swearing darkly under her breath, Ai fought the urge to hammer the computer and switched it off altogether.

Behind her, the door opened. "Hey, Ai-chan."

"I thought I told you not to come over anymore." Ai said lightly, not able to make her words sound serious enough for him to actually listen.

Shinichi only grinned at her.

"Why are there leaves in your hair?" she asked instead, leaning over to pick them out.

"I climbed out a window." Shinichi explained sheepishly, smoothing down his hair. "Mom caught me yesterday, and I'm grounded."

Checking her watch, Ai stood. "I have dinner to make."

"Can I help?" Shinichi asked eagerly.

"No." Ai knew from past experiences that letting Shinichi in the kitchen meant certain disaster.

Another thing that she's certain of though, is that Shinichi is unlikely going to listen to her. And so...

"What are you doing? That's sugar, the salt is over there!"...

"Put that knife down!"...

"You can't put that in yet, the water hasn't boiled!"

And half an hour later, Ai dragged Shinichi out of the kitchen, saying that if he wanted to see anything edible on the talble tonight, he would do well to stop 'helping'.

"Fine, fine... Gee Ai-chan, I was just trying to help..." Shinichi complained.

"..."

"You didn't have to be mean about it..."

Still no reply.

"Ai-chan?"

Silence.

A sense of dread bubbled up in his stomach, Shinichi turned on the spot to see Ai standing there, eyes wide, staring at her own hands, now translucent, fading slowly but surely before her.

"Ai!" He ran over to her and threw his arms around the her. There was no surprise on his face, just the determination of making her stay. It was then when Ai finally realized what the look on his face when he woke her up everyday was.

It was relief, and worry. Relief that she still slept safely under the covers, and worry that she would disappear from his life.

He knew... all long... and he never told her, never asked for an explaination, but instead tried to protect her in his own way. Ai smiled. So that's why he insists on walking her home everyday, even if he had soccer practice, why he always had to follow her around, why...

Ai felt tears in her eyes. "Baka..." she whispered.

"Don't go, Ai-chan!" Shinichi said, obvoius panic in his voice. He pulled her closer, but it was no use. Ai could feel her strength leaving her; she could barely feel him.

So this is it. Hakase must be successful in defeating them. They'll all be safe now, no organization, no APTX, and everything the way it should have been...

Her vision blurred. Ai closed her eyes.

"Bye... Shinichi..."

A/N: Nooooooooo!! It happened!! (sobs)

I hope you all liked this, sorry it took so long to finish. Gomen.

As always, cookies for the reviewers!