BWAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm going crazy! Really crazy!!! Read this chapter I really love it!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

Disclaimer: Haibara Ai is the Goddess of my life. Too bad I don't own her.

~~~~CHAPTER 7: BECAUSE OF THIS~~~~

"Kudo-kun, the Professor had to attend a convention, so he won't be home for a few days. Chotto, Kudo-kun? Are you listening?"

Haibara put down her bag next to his, then looked around in the kitchen. Seeing a piece of paper that wasn't there this morning, she approached it and read the note. So he won't be eating dinner... Well, I was planning on making him eat alone, since I already ate with Hakase before he left.

Hmmm... she thought, with a slight smile on her lips, I do wonder what he's going to do about that little rumor that he started. By tomorrow, it probably won't be so little anymore. That's probably what he's thinking about right now. "Surprise me, Kudo Shinichi," she whispered to herself.

She climbed the stairs, wondering what to do. When she arrived at the top, she saw Conan's door slightly open. She peeked inside and saw the shrunken detective sitting cross-legged on his bed, his back facing the door. Unconsciously, she walked inside, not making a sound, closing the door with an inaudible 'click' and sat behind the shounen.

"H-Haibara? What are you doing here?"

I could ask that myself, the little scientist thought, inwardly scolding herself. What am I doing here? She was a bit unnerved by her sudden impulse but quickly regained her composure.

~~~~A FEW MINUTES EARLIER CONAN'S ROOM~CONAN'S POV~~~~

Ayumi confessed to me... But even though she did, I don't like her... Not that way... Even if I did, there's no way we can be together... I'm a 22-year-old detective and she's just a normal 12-year-old girl. And then there's the matter with Haibara...

Sigh... Haibara... What should I do with that rumor? Haibara is extremely popular and if I say yes, the guys in class will probably kill me. But wait! It wasn't me who kissed her! It was HER who kissed ME! ... But there's no way they'll believe that... Ice Queen Haibara Ai kissing me, it's just too absurd a thought. Argh!!! I have WAY too many problems, dammit. There's Ayumi's question, too...

Do you love Ai-chan?

Do I love her? Ran said "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." I don't really get all fluttery when I see her. We argue all the time and I always seem to lose. How could I possibly be happy with that? She... She...

I only realized it now... But even though I lose in our arguments, I have fun fighting with her. The times when we don't fight make me feel like something's missing, like there's a hole in my heart that needs filling. I felt the same way when Haibara agreed to eat lunch with Mitsuhiko... Is it possible that I was... jealous?

Goddammit... I don't understand a thing anymore. What happened to the days when I would just think about it and things will fall into place? Sigh... But... If... And only if... If I do love her... Then... Everything makes sense...

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I was startled to sense someone leaning on my back. My eyes, which were closed, snapped open with surprise; my mouth opened to ask who was there, when a faint fragrance wafted towards my nose and I instantly recognized the person sitting behind me. "H-Haibara? What are you doing here?" Damn. I forgot that the locks are broken.

There was a slight pause, then she said,"So? What are going to do about that little rumor you started?"

"I-I didn't-" I denied, my cheeks tainted slightly pink, "I didn't start it!"

"And I suppose it would have started by itself if you hadn't said that at the rooftop?"

"I didn't-"

"How did it go again?" she said. I couldn't see her face, but I could definitely sense her smirking. "You hug me, kiss me, make my heart pound like crazy, was it?"

I was about to object, was about to tell her to shut up when I suddenly had this thought. I took a deep breath and smiled at my brilliant idea. "It was beat," I said.

"Excuse me?"

"What I said was, 'You hug me, kiss me, make my heart beat like crazy." As I said this, I covered her hand with mine.

I heard her gasp in surprise, perhaps at my change of attitude or maybe because of me holding her hand. Either way, we sat there, back-to-back, and I was happy she wasn't pulling away.

"Ne, Haibara..."

"What is it, Kudo-kun?"

"Can you call me Shinichi now?"

"I'm not incapable of saying your name, Kudo Shinichi."

"No... Not like that..." I started, smiling at the fact that she could still tease me at a time like this. "I mean, instead of calling me Kudo, could you call me Shinichi?"

"And why should I? Shinichi is one syllable longer than Kudo."

I chuckled a little. "So the great scientist Miyano Shiho is actually so lazy as to say a name just one syllable longer than the other?"

I could feel her smile. "Fine then. I'll call you by your first name, Shinichi."

Just hearing her call my name made my heart beat a little faster. Not that it wasn't beating fast enough, what with me holding her hand and all.

"Then... May I call you Ai? Or should it be Shiho?"

"I threw away my past identity when we caught the Black Organization three years ago, Shinichi. And no, you may not."

"Awww... Come on, why not? We're housemates after all. And you let Ayumi-chan and Ran."

At the mention of Ran, she stiffened a little. I wonder why?, I thought, gripping her hand a little bit tighter, just in case she would go away.

"Mouri-san is physically older than me. There's nothing I can do about it. And Yoshida-san is a friend."

"Are you saying I'm not your friend?" I asked in a teasing tone.

"... I guess you are. But I will not let my name be called by male brutes."

"I'm not a brute! I'm very gentle." I chuckled. "Come on, Ai, please?" I sensed that she was about to start another argument, but then felt her sigh as if she realized I wasn't backing down and said, "Fine. I don't think I can change your mind tonight."

"Great! Then I can proudly add my name to the list of privileged people who call you by your first name. Hmmm... There's Hakase, Ayumi-chan, Takagi-keji, Ran, Ran's mom... There's very few people who call you Ai, huh?"

She stiffened once again and pulled back her hand. She stood up and took a few steps towards the door, as if she was going to leave. What did I do wrong? Why is she leaving? I don't understand a thing... But I don't want her to leave.

I caught up to her and held her by the wrist. She resisted a little, trying to pull it away but I didn't let go. "What do you want, Shinichi?"

I opened my mouth to tell her not to leave, to tell her I wanted her to stay, but something completely different slipped from my tongue. "Ayumi-chan confessed to me on the way home."

She stopped resisting, looked at me from the corner of her eyes and said, "Is that so?" She smiled. "If you break Yoshida-san's heart, I won't forgive you." (hehe ^_^ this line is from the end of movie 5)

In my surprise, my grip on her loosened and she was able to take a few more steps. I snapped out of it and caught up to her once again, and gripped her shoulders, this time turning her around to face me. "Is that all you have to say?"

"Why should I say more, tantei-kun?" Her face was completely emotionless. But I could swear that just a moment ago, I saw hurt in her eyes.

"Because... Because..." I didn't know what made me do it, just that it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

"Because of this." I pulled her towards me, pressing my lips against hers. Her eyes widened as she felt my lips crashing against hers. My hand grazed her cheek gently and the other pulled her closer to me. I backed her up against the wall, hitting my dresser in the process, and making my alarm clock fall down with a clang. I ignored it and continued kissing her, only breaking apart to gasp for air.

The moment we broke apart, I already missed it, the feeling of her lips pressing against mine. I was about to kiss her again, when she said, "...Shinichi..?" That made me look at her and I saw the vulnerability in her eyes, but that only made me want her more. My left hand continued caressing her face, my other dropping down to her thigh. I kissed her lightly on the lips and said, "Let me..."

She whimpered in reply, her eyes fluttering closed and I took that as consent. I pushed her gently down towards the bed and followed suit. My tongue traced her lips before slithering inside her mouth, tangling with her tongue, enjoying the sweet taste taste that was uniquely her. She moaned and something stirred inside of me. I stopped, pulled back and we stared at each other for a while. "Ai, I..."

I didn't really know what I was gonna say then, but I guess it doesn't really matter, considering I never got to say it. I was cut off by the door suddenly opening and the Professor saying, "Shinichi? I heard something fall. Are you al... right..." before dropping the glass he was holding, making it crash on the floor, breaking into little pieces.

~~~~CHAPTER 7: BECAUSE OF THIS end~~~~

Hakase!!! You're such a kill-joy!!! Why are you home!?!? I thought you were at a convention!!! What's gonna happen in the next chapter??? How will Conan explain the very, very questionable position they are in!?!?!? And what about that rumor with Mitsuhiko!?!?! The answers are in the next chapter!!! (I hope) (And there's too much exclamation points and question marks here.)

Anyway, read and review anyone. I mean, everyone. You guys are the inspiration of my life. Whenever I see your reviews, my grin is totally splitting my face. Haha ^_^

P.S. I really AM going crazy...

P.P.S. I know that the part in Conan's thoughts, the one that goes: 'It wasn't me who kissed her! It was HER who kissed ME!' I know it's wrong grammar but I like it. It should go 'It wasn't I who kissed her! It was SHE who kissed ME!'