I try to make it a point to make each chapter at least a thousand words. It's kinda hard if you want to keep the next scene for the next chapter...

Disclaimer: The day I own Detective Conan will be the day I hate Haibara Ai. In other words, never.

~~~~CHAPTER 6: KOI WA NANI?~~~~

"Conan-kun, don't avoid the question!"

"Sou yo, Conan-kun! It's just a yes or no!"

Conan just smiled at their attempts to make him answer the big question, "Did he kiss Haibara or not?" He was about to chuckle at how desperate they were to know when Ayumi-chan's words earlier ran through his mind. Do you love Ai-chan?

This made him stop walking, frown at the ground at he remembered what his answer was. There's no way!

There's no way I love her... There's no way... How could I? She's the one who made that drug. But... wasn't she a victim, too? A victim of the Organization... Argh! Why am I even thinking about this!? We trashed the Organization three years ago. Sure, there might be some agents left but they can't do much, right? Besides, Jodie-sensei said they'll catch them all... His thoughts were getting farther and farther off-topic when Ayumi-chan's words echoed through his mind again.

Do you love Ai-chan?

The small detective, confused with himself thought, Why would I love her? How could I love her? I mean, love is... Love is, what I used to feel for Ran, right? So love is... Love is... What..? What did I feel for Ran?

The two girls beside where looking at him curiously, wondering why he suddenly stopped. They were about to ask him what was wrong when he said, "Ne... Ran-neechan..."

"What is it, Conan-kun?" asked a worried Ran.

He looked at her straight in the eyes as he quietly said, "Koi wa... nani? (What is love?)"

"Koi wa..." she repeated, as if unsure whether the question had been asked. She looked at his eyes, and felt a pang in her heart. He really has replaced me with Ai-chan... Shinichi... How could you..? she thought. I must be going crazy... Believing that Conan-kun really is Shinichi...

She smiled sadly, looking at his sincere yet confused eyes. "Love is... What I felt for Shinichi... What I still feel for him..." She said those words, hoping to get some sort of reaction, but the 12-year-old boy only kept staring at her, waiting for an answer. She sighed, knowing that she had lost to a certain cool, mysterious girl. She then thought about his question, and answered,

"Love is... that fluttery feeling you get when you look at someone you like. It differs from person to person so I can't really explain it, but you'll know love when you see it."

The little detective looked at her for a second more, then seemed to accept her answer and started walking.

"Conan-kun!" shouted an angry Ayumi.

Surprised, Conan stopped and turned around to face her. "What is it, Ayumi-chan?"

"Why... why don't... why didn't..." she started haltingly, then took a big breath and let it all out, "Why didn't you ask ME, Conan-kun? I can tell you was love is!!!"

Ran seemed a little surprised at that. Her gaze went from Conan to Ayumi and back again. The shounen (boy), however, started to laugh. "Yeah, right, Ayumi-chan. You're only twelve. How could you know what love is?"

Ayumi was hurt, and very, very angry. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes seemed to be burning a hole in Conan's eyes. "I know what love is, because I've loved you for the last five years!!!"

The little detective was speechless at her outburst. He was staring at her, surprise evident in his eyes. Perhaps he didn't know about her unrequited love. Or, perhaps he did, but didn't expect her to confess. Either way, the he didn't know what to do.

At his lack of movement, tears pooled in her eyes. "Conan-kun wa baka!" She turned around and ran away.

Conan took one step forward, as if to chase after her, but then changed his mind and just looked down at his feet. Ran looked at him worriedly. "Won't you go after her?"

He was silent for a moment, seeming to consider the question, then shook his head slowly. "Even if I did, I wouldn't know what to say to her." He started to walk again, Ran at his side.

"Conan-kun..." she started gently.

Silence greeted her. But she was sure that the shounen beside her was listening. She continued, "Rejection hurts, Conan-kun."

He still didn't speak, but she could feel that he was paying more attention now. "It doesn't matter on what side you are. Whether you're the one rejecting, or the one being rejected. Especially if that person is someone close to you. But you know what? Sometimes it just has to be done. You can't keep that person hanging forever."

As she said this, they arrived at the Professor's front gate.

Conan still looked uncertain, then he raised his head and said, "Ran-neechan, I-"

She pressed her finger to her lips, telling him to stop. "Think about it, okay? Don't make rash decisions." She took a few steps away, waved a goodbye and said a cheerful "Ja ne, Conan-kun." With that she turned around, not wanting him to see the tears in her eyes. "Rejection hurts," she whispered. "Especially if you didn't want to reject that person in the first place..."

Conan, not hearing her words, gave a wave and said, "Ja ne... Ran-neechan..."

He was about to open the gate, when a certain reddish brown-haired girl entered his mind. Haibara... How am I going to face her... After my outburst in the rooftop, it's embarrassing just to look at her... Not to mention, she's no help. 'You started this. You handle it' my ass! I can't believe she got away that easily. Thank God Ran came along.

He sighed, ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. Fine! If I see her, I'll just act normal. Although I do wonder what normal is... Let's just hope she's not home yet...

'Yeah, right,' a nagging voice in his head said, 'She left earlier than you, of course she's home.'

He frowned at that and thought, Stay out of my head.

He took another deep breath and opened the gate. He carefully approached the front door and tried the door knob. He was surprised that the door was locked. Yes! This means she isn't home yet! But then... neither is Hakase. Well anyway, this works for my favor.

He took out his key and opened the lock with it. Stepping inside, he threw his bag down at the sofa and wrote a note. It says, "I'm not going to eat dinner. Please don't bother me. -Conan" He would have written 'Shinichi' but for fear that someone else might see it, he changed his mind. He left the note at the kitchen table, sure that one of his two housemates would notice it.

He then went to his room, making sure to lock the door. He then sat cross-legged on his bed, ready to think about the day's events. He didn't hear the sound of the front door opening, didn't notice the arrival of the girl in his thoughts, didn't hear her say,

"Tadaima."

~~~~CHAPTER 6: KOI WA NANI? end~~~~

Is it just me, or is there too much romaji on this chapter? Anyway read and review everyone! You'll have my eternal gratitude. By the way, I enable anonymous reviews ^_^.

Argh! Why is Ran appearing too much in this story!? RAN, of all people!!! Sigh... Not to mention... OMG I just noticed this, but the only appearance Haibara made is that one little line in the end!!! AAAAHHHH!!! Just wait! In the next chapter, Conan x Ai moments!!!

P.S. 'Tadaima' means 'I'm home' while 'Okaeri' means 'Welcome home.'