And here's chapter 6 of this story. Thank you for all the reviews and I hope you enjoy the story. Again please excuse the grammar, spelling and sentence structuring I would improve :D

Chapter 6

The man from the past

"Sherry," the man greeted her. He was taller than most of the people she had seen. What made him stand out more was his hair colour. It was unusual and it gleamed silver in the bright fluorescent light situated above the room they were in. The room was small and barren; all that was in it was a table and two chairs. Shiho sat in one and the man proceeded to take the other.

He wore a black trench coat, a black hat covering part of his silver hair. A feeling of fear arose in Shiho but she held her emotions. The man before her smelt of iron, of danger.

"10 years old huh," he said, looking at the file that was on the table. It contained her data. A data that defined an individual in the organization. The man reached for the file and grabbing it before grinning.

"Daughter of Doctor Miyano and Elena…a child prodigy unlike your sister, oh-ho…a major in organic chemistry…" he whistled and then placed the file back on the table, his cold eyes glaring at her.

Shiho gulped but kept her expressionless expression. Whiskey had trained her to do so. The training he drilled into her had to put into use now. The man before her was not like the rest…he was the real thing. The monster of the organization. The man named Gin.

"So Sherry do you know the reason as to why you've been called here today?" the man asked.

"To work," Sherry answered. Her answer, short plain and simple; this seemed to interest the man and he smirked.

"Yes, but unfortunately you are too young. Therefore we'll be sending you to America to study."

"America?"

"Yes, you are to study there for six years before coming back."

Shiho frowned. She had never heard of this before. Beside won't sending a 10 year old alone to a foreign country be a little bit too much.

"Are you upset?"

Shiho tensed and glanced at the man before her. He wasn't smiling anymore; instead there was a mad glint in his eyes. An aura emerged from him, an aura that penetrated the room with death. It was hard to breathe; Shiho felt her heart hammering in her chest.

"No," she whispered.

The aura disappeared and the man smiled again.

"I like you," he said, leaning back into the chair, "Obedient kids like you."

Reaching into his pockets he pulled out a gun before placing it on the table. "Remember Sherry," he said and pushed the gun towards her. "Every order handed out in this organization is rule. To betray it means death. Do you understand?"

Shiho nodded her gaze fixed to the gun before her. It was small, black, something Shiho had been taught to handle since young. It was of nothing significant to her, she had seen it so many times. However it seemed to hold significance today.

"Shoot yourself with that," Gin whispered. Shiho tensed and she looked at the man before her. He wasn't joking, there was no smile on his face, his eyes were dead and they were telling her to do it.

"That is an order, Sherry."

"But-"Shiho whispered.

The man lunged at her suddenly, his big hands wrapped around her lips, the gun on the table now in his hands was pointed at her head. Shiho froze, fear rooted in her body. An intense never before felt fear. It was an emotion so painful so deep that it made Shiho's head hurt. Her breath quickened and sweat sprouted from her skin.

"This is death Sherry," he growled and Sherry shivered slightly under his grip. He shifted the gun away from her head and then aimed it towards her left shoulder.

"This is a pact that we all have to make. Obedience and nothing else, do you understand?"

"Shoot yourself Sherry, here," he forced the gun into her shoulder and she winced. The man released her and she fell to the ground gasping for air. A gun dropped beside her and she reached out for it. The fear she felt willing her to obey the man. She had to do it…she had to do it or she would be killed.

"Obedience is law Sherry," Gin whispered. "My sweet Sherry."

Gun in her hand, Sherry wrapped her finger round the trigger and she pointed it at her shoulder. "Shoot."

There was an intense pain and then numbness. She collapsed on the ground, blood leaking from her left shoulder. A soft chuckle echoed above her and she glanced at the source. Gin was glaring at her, a sadistic expression on his face. He raised his feet and slowly stepped on her wound and she cried out.

"Remember this pain Sherry; this is the pain you would feel if you betray the organization. This is the pact we all take to work here. You are one of us now Sherry." He said. The pain was harsh filled with nothing but cold blooded feelings. It had no comfort, no lesson.

That intense pain filled with fear.

Fear…

"HAIBARA! Oi Haibara, wake up!"

Shiho groaned. The voice was like an annoying fly, a fly that wouldn't stop buzzing. The voice was familiar, comforting yet gave her a sense of bittersweet sadness that she could not explain.

"Haibara, hey!"

Leave her alone…stupid fly…let her rest. Let her stay here in this eternal darkness where there was nothing to fear…where there was no pain…no anguish…no gut wrenching-

"Don't run away from your fate."

Shiho gasped and her eyes snapped open. The world above her spun and she moaned. Everything was throbbing; everything hurt, the world blurred and then a face of a boy came into focus. His spectacles were cracked, blood streamed down his forehead, his clothes slightly torn and blackened by soot.

"Kudo…kun?" Shiho whispered and the boy gave her a wide smile. He reached out and hugged her tightly and she gasped in shock and surprise.

"What are you doing Edogawa Conan!" she snapped. The boy pulled away and Shiho realised that he was wiping away tears from his eyes. "I thought you were dead," he snapped and Shiho frowned.

"Why would I be dead idiot?"

"You mean you don't remember idiot?" the boy responded in annoyance. Remember? What should she remember? Pain ripped through her and she groaned, then she remembered the blast, the fiery hot explosion that seemed to rock through the mansion. The mansion!

"What happened!" she exclaimed sitting up. She gasped, realizing that the burning kitchen which had exploded was just a few feet away from them. Heat emitted from the burning fire lit up the surrounding area around them. Part of the huge mansion was gone, burnt black by the blaze. They were lying on the maple forest just beside the mansion. The reddish orange evening sky was blocked out by the black smog given off by the burning kitchen beside them.

"We need to get out of here first," Shinichi said with urgency and Shiho nodded. She pulled herself up and felt pain wrecking through her body again. The ache was sharp abnormal and seem to come from within her chest. She collapsed and panted.

"Haibara!" the boy exclaimed and she held out her hand to stop him.

"Stop shouting my name will you, I'm fine, I'm just a little bit shaky," she said, lying to him and the boy grabs her hand ignoring her protest.

"You can stumble for all I care later, but right now, I'm helping you." He said.

Shiho couldn't help but smile for a bit and she followed him, pushing the pain she felt in her chest to the back of her mind. Yes…she'll let him help her for a bit.

The kitchen was burning, destroyed by the explosion. Shinichi gritted his teeth as he held on to Haibara's hand. The fire was beginning to spread and Shinichi cursed. He had to find the professor and the others. Were they even alright? He shook his head…no they should be alright, unlike Haibara and him they weren't caught in the blast. He led Haibara down the edge of the maple forest surrounding the mansion before sighing in relief.

There were a series of firemen and policemen who were crowding around the main entrance. They're vehicles parked at the front in a chaotic messy manner. The firemen were setting up hoses and running to and fro, trying to stop the fire that was still burning in the kitchen. The policemen were cordoning the area with yellow tapes. Some of them had already begun to collect evidence.

In the middle of this mess was the professor, Jiru Wataya, Kazuya Wataya and their housekeeper, Mary. The professor must have called the police after the incident. He must have been so worried, after all Haibara and him were caught up in the blast. He winced as the wound on his forehead throbbed.

The scene in the kitchen replayed in his mind and he grimaced. A family had been dead in that kitchen. Shibuya Wataya and his family all dead when he had reached them. Poisoned by gas.

"A suicide?" Haibara whispered and Shinichi frowned. Something was bugging him, something about the case that did not seem right. He felt something nudge him and he turned. Haibara had leaned into him. For some reason she seemed to be in pain.

"Hey are you alright Haibara?"

The girl nodded. "Just let me…rest here for a while." She whispered.

It was rare to see Haibara this vulnerable and Shinichi immediately felt something amiss. He set her down on the ground.

"I'll get the professor, stay here," he ordered and the girl nodded.

She was unusually obedient too.

"Haibara?" Shinichi whispered. The girl with the blue eyes and auburn hair glanced at him. Her face was paled, sweat glistened her face, she was panting and her hand was clutching her chest.

"I'm ok," she said and he ignored her. The girl was clearly not alright. She looked like she was about to faint. "Stay here!" he ordered and he ran towards the professor who was surrounded by police and firemen each trying to regain order from the mansion.

"Hakase!" he yelled. The old man turned, shock and relief fitted into his face. "Shinichi!" he yelled. "You're ok!"

"Oh I'm so glad!"

"There's no time!" Shinichi snapped, "Come!"

"Where's Ai-kun?"

"Follow me," Shinichi snapped, taking a hold of the professor's hand and dragging him.

'What is going on Shinichi, after the explosion, everything was in turmoil, Jiru and Kazuya Wataya were hysterical, Mary kept praying. I had to call the firemen and the police…and I thought you two were dead!" the professor explained.

"No time for answers now, I think Haibara's hurt."

"Ai-kun?"

Shinichi's heart pounded. Yes something was definitely wrong with this case. Why did Shibuya die? How did he die? Why was he killed along with his whole family? Did they know…did the organization know about the item Itakura gave Shibuya? Questions and more questions…

"Dammit!" he whispered.

"Ai-kun!" the professor exclaimed. The girl whom was sitting on the ground glanced up and a faint smirk crossed her lips. "I'm here." She said and the professor reached out to hug her. Shinichi observed her flinching, her expression barely changing but he caught it.

"Hakase put her down," he snapped and the professor gave him a confused look.

"You're hurt aren't you Haibara," Shinichi said and the girl shrugged. "It's nothing," she said, "Compared to yours."

Shinichi sighed and he bends down grabbing her hand. She cried out as he touches her chest. Sure enough the girl bundled over, gasping.

"Oui Shinichi what are you doing?" the professor asked nervously.

"She's broken her ribs…sheeze why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I'm going to kill you Kudo-kun," the girl whispered, panting in pain and clutching her chest.

"If you knew I was hurt why did you touch it!" she snapped.

"Because you would refuse to admit it, idiot," he said and the girl turned away from him. He sighed. Really, this was one difficult girl to deal with…

"I'm telling you I'm really ok!"

He ignored her and placed her on his back, holding her close to him. Haibara struggled for a bit, telling him that she could walk on her own but he refused to let her go. She was light, far lighter than Ran was. It was weird to be carrying Haibara and he was surprised that she let him. Well…she was in a lot of agony.

"I don't really need your help you know," she muttered in his ear, her face leaning on his shoulder.

"Now, now Ai-kun," the professor said. "You should learn how to accept assistance from others."

"Yeah," Shinichi retorted.

The girl was silent; probably sulking and Shinichi couldn't help but give a cynical chuckle. Difficult and sullen, she was definitely different from all the other girls he had to deal with in his life time. What was frightening about this girl...was that she could have gone through this agonizing pain without informing anybody.

"We should get you two to the ambulance, I called one just in case," the professor said and pointed to a white van parked in front of the mansion.

They walked through the firemen who were putting out the fires that had engulfed the kitchen. Policemen who were inspecting the debris and taking down notes of the crime scene. The idyllic grand house from the afternoon before was transformed into a disordered zone. A zone from hell.

"Conan-kun! Ai-chan?! Agasa Hakase!" a familiar voice broke through the crowd of policemen.

"Inspector Takagi," Shinichi exclaimed in surprised. The man in his late 20's, dressed in a grey suit, with kind eyes and a handsome looking face, walked out of the maple leave forest surrounding the area and ran towards them. "Why are you here?" he asked.

"We had an appointment with Shibuya Wataya today," the professor explained nervously.

"You had business with the deceased?"

"Aye yes…"

"He was already dead when we arrived though," Haibara muttered and Shinichi sighed.

"D…dead…what happened to the both of you?" Takagi asked noticing Shinichi's bloodied forehead and Haibara's sorry position on Shinichi's back. "We were caught in the blast," Shinichi explained and the man's eyes widened in horror.

"So…the blast wasn't an accident after all?"

"No," Shinichi whispered. He remembered the cigarette butt and realized something. "Ah…I know that stupid look," Haibara muttered and Shinichi frowned.

"It's not stupid," he retorted.

"Ok, I'll have to question the two of you later. Get some treatment first." Takagi said before turning to the professor. "I would need to ask you some questions now."

"Aye…but shouldn't I remain with the children…"

"There's no need Hakase," Shinichi said before pulling the old man close. "Just look out for Jiru Wataya, Kazuya Wataya and Mary."

"W…why?"

"Cause they're suspects that's why," Haibara answered and Shinichi grinned.

"You figured something out haven't you Tantei-san," she whispered when the professor was led away by Inspector Takagi. Shinichi's gaze fell upon the blackened part of the mansion, the fires had been put out but it was still smoking. He smirked.

"I might have."

"Anyway before some busy body goes on meddling in other people's cases…can we get some treatment?"

"You're really not cute you know, Haibara," he retorted before heading towards the ambulance. Looks like his detective work had to wait.

Walking towards the white van parked at the edge of the maple forest, Shinichi felt Haibara's lips near his ear.

"Thank you," she had whispered. Her voice was soft, yet it contained a gentleness that Shinichi thought the girl never possessed.

Chills went down his spine as she whispered to him. He felt his face growing hot and his heart beating faster. This unknown feeling was something he never felt before. It was different and his feelings to protect the girl he was carrying grew stronger.

"I would care for you Haibara…no matter what," he whispered. He felt embarrassed after saying it but could only smile when the girl responded by tightening her grip on his back. Ah…he thought to himself…I'm probably…already…

"5 broken ribs!" the boy exclaimed, over reacting as usual and Shiho shrugged. The nurse in the ambulance had wrapped her up good and had given her some painkillers. The sharp pain she had felt just now was almost gone and it had been replaced with soft throbbing.

"I'm telling you I'm alright," she said and the detective rolled his eyes.

"Anyway you should stay here," he told her and it was her turn to roll her eyes. "I'm coming whether you like it or not," she said.

"No, you're hurt, are you crazy?"

Annoyance ripped through Shiho and she snapped at her. "You're hurt too aren't you?"

"Yes but it's just a cut," he told her and Shiho raised her eyebrows. So what if it's just a cut, you're still hurt stupid…and you got that from protecting me…she thought to herself and she shook her head.

"Anyway I'm coming whether you like it or not," she said calmly and watched amused when the boy stamped his feet in frustration.

It was always fun to see him react, after all, emotions like that were always new to her. They never occurred in the organization.

"Suit yourself," the boy muttered and Haibara smirked.

They thanked the confused nurse and exited the ambulance before she could have done anything. They then started for the grand white mansion with its partly blackened side. The fires that had raged through it earlier had done its damage.

"Family suicide wasn't it," Haibara said. Remembering the bodies in the kitchen made Haibara smile sadly. Shibuya Wataya…he had gotten himself involved in the black organization and because he was involved…they might have-

"They might have done it…right," she whispered. "That is why one shouldn't get involve with them."

Shinichi was cupping his chin and a serious look crossed his face. Haibara sighed. He was deep in thought and no matter what anyone did, the boy would not respond. So she decided to wait and sure enough that trademark smirk of his appeared.

"It's not a suicide," he whispered, "It was murder."

Haibara raised her hands in defeat. "Why am I not surprise," she muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Shiho shrugged.

"Sah, who knows, you dead body magnet."

"Whaaattt..."

Next Conan Hint: Air Vent