Author's Note: Hello everybody! Recently I have been getting reviews that there are parts where you can't understand my writing. Please as you say that tell me what part it is because it may just have a mistake I made. I present to you the seventeenth chapter! The West Imperial Stronghold arc isn't over yet so stay tuned.

Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan in any way possible.

The Moment Where Everything Was Lost

Part I: The Eclipse

"I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game."

-Defying Gravity

Chapter XVII: Sacrifice

Ran's point of view

I'm finally kissing Shinichi so why am I crying? I should be happy even if it's my last kiss. I laid my hands behind his neck and continued to kiss him like there's no tomorrow. After a few moments our lips parted. I looked at his calm face one more time and walked away.

I faced Vermouth determined to accept my fate. "So are you ready?" Vermouth asked. "Go on, I've already did what I wanted to do." I said. "Before I kill you I want you to know that I've always been jealous of you." Vermouth sincerely said.

"Jealous of what?" I quietly asked. "Of everything. You may have a broken family at least you have one. You also have friends that help you whenever you have problems. You also have the one thing I always wanted." Vermouth said. "What?" I curiously asked. "To have a man who truly loves you and for you to love him back." Vermouth said. "With your beauty how can you not have a lover?" I asked.

"There are many who confessed their love to me but I always reject them because they don't love me because of me. They love me because of my over bearing body. That's why I retain my beautiful body because one day I want to find a man who loves me because I'm me and not anybody's dream girl." Vermouth said.

"So that's why you envy anyone who has a perfect lover." I said. "If I won't get my own happy ever after than I won't let others have one either." Vermouth said pulling out her gun and pointing it directly to my skull. "Go on ahead and shoot me I won't cheat our deal." I said. "This is pretty noble for you. I promise you I will let them free. Now goodbye Ran, I'll always remember you." Vermouth said.

I showed a faint smile and closed my eyes. Up to my last breath I was still thinking of Shinichi. "STOP THIS!" a familiar voice shouted. I opened my eyes and saw Shinichi with his eyes wide awake. My tears started flowing again. "It would be better if you close your eyes." Vermouth said. "She's right Shinichi!" I said smiling at him.

"Ran, don't do this! There may be another way!" Shinichi shouted. "No! I heard everything Ran! I was awake the moment you touched my cheek." Shinichi said. "Then you were awake the time I kissed you?" I asked. "I was I awake from the moment it began and from when it ended." Shinichi said.

"That's a great relief to me. Thank you Shinichi, I love you so much." I said smiling. "Idiot! Stop saying things like that!" Shinichi shouted. "But Shinichi I can't stand it if you die because of me." I said. "Don't you get it? You're here because of me. If I wasn't a deduction freak I would be with you right now somewhere out there. I can't lose you Ran. It'll destroy me. If you truly love me you should have known that if you die. I'll live without having a reason and I'll be dead inside. I love you too much, Ran." Shinichi said.

A part of me suddenly awakened when I heard those words lingered into my ear. My heart leaped in joy when Shinichi finally confessed his true feelings. Despite the situation, this moment was the happiest I ever had. At that moment I finally figured out that I must not die because I have a mission. A mission to be by Shinichi's side forever.

"Shinichi I want to be by our side so much but at this situation I have no choice." I said. "Sorry to cut your conversation but it's time, Ran." Vermouth said. "Shinichi, I'm sorry." I said. "Vermouth! Don't pour your anger to Ran just because no one's stupid enough to fall in love with you!" Shinichi shouted angrily.

Vermouth put his her hand down and went slowly towards me. Vermouth slapped me in the face. "Why don't you just accept that!" Shinichi shouted. "Shinichi stop that!" I said. "You fool! Do you think you know how I feel?" Vermouth said punching Shinichi in the face. Vermouth now grabbed Shinichi by the collar.

"No, unlike you I already found my princess. Sorry Ran you know I love you." Shinichi said. I didn't know what he was saying but it didn't feel good. Shinichi spat in Vermouth's body and suddenly the two of them exploded. The explosion wasn't that powerful; but at that distance it might cost Shinichi's life.

"Shinichi!!" I cried. When the smoke cleared I saw Vermouth laying on the floor and Shinichi on the other side. I ran quickly towards him and laid him on my lap. I hugged him with my tears falling on his face.

"Shinichi this wasn't supposed to happen! Why did you do this? I'm the one who's supposed to be in your position. You didn't have to do that. There could have been another way. Don't leave me Shinichi! You promised me that we'll be together!" I pleaded. Now I know how it feels to live but you're dead inside." His body went cold and started to not move.

I pressed my ears in his chest and started to find any heart beat. I was desperately pressing my ear harder to his chest but still there was no beat to be found. My tears fell onto his chest. Please don't die. Reviving him was the only possible way. I tore his shirt and started to pump his heart.

I was pumping and pressing his chest repeatedly finding a chance for him to live. "SHINICHI!" I shouted pressing his chest one last time. I was too late. It's my entire fault. Forgive me, Shinichi. I laid my head on his chest and was sobbing like crazy. When I thought all hope was lost, I heard a faint beat emitting from his chest.

"Idiot! Don't crush me like that!" Shinichi faintly said. I hugged him and showered him with kisses. "I thought I lost you for good." I said. "Idiot! Like I'll leave you behind and stop crying! I'm not yet dead!" Shinichi shouted. "Don't you ever do something stupid like that ever again!" I shouted. "The same goes for you!" Shinichi replied. After Shinichi spoke I realized I was with Shinichi face to face. I blushed and saw Shinichi's lips slowly getting closer and closer to mine.

I couldn't resist his offer of kissing in fact I want him badly. I closed my eyes and my lips did the rest. This kiss was much passionate that the other ones Shinichi gave. I've never saw him like this before. He's making up all the days he had been gone in one kiss. Even in kissing Shinichi was overwhelming and dominant.

Our lips parted and both of us went gasping for breath. Shinichi looked up at me and gave off a smile. "I love you," I whispered in his ear. "I love you too," he replied back. We stood holding each other's hand. "Wait here I'll untie all of them." Shinichi said. "Don't worry I'll help." Shinichi went to the other side and started to untie the others while I go to the opposite side and untie the others.

I can't believe that there are so many of them who came to rescue me. I didn't even know some of them. Shinichi was indeed the only one awake. All the others were still unconscious. A few moments passed and we were able to untie them all.

"Now let's just wake them up." Shinichi said. "How? If we weren't able to wake them up using the explosion, then how?" I said. "We have to shock them." I said. "Shock?!" I said. "Hattori has a taser in his pocket. Get it while I connect their hands." Shinichi instructed. "Okay," I said.

Just as I was to go to Hattori, Shinichi said. "By the way, you look cute when you're confused." I replied back by blushing and smiling back. Shinichi now dragged the others closer to one another and made all of them hold hands. I went to Hattori and looked for the taser but I can't find it. "Shinichi I can't find it." I said.

"I forgot to tell you it's disguised as a comb." Shinichi said. I looked and found a red comb. "Here's the comb. Why are you making them hold hands?" I asked. "I'm going to shock them in one go. Since they're all holding hands and somewhat sweaty once I electrocute Hattori. The shock will flow through each of them." Shinichi explained.

"Wait a minute I don't get it. How can they be asleep?" I asked. "It must be the time those lung coolers started suffocating us. We must have inhaled sleeping gas from it." Shinichi explained. "Lung coolers?" I said. "It's something you need to breath in Level Two. They must contain a strong sleeping drug." Shinichi said.

"If they contain a strong sleeping drug w-w-why did you wake up when I kissed you?" I embarrassingly asked. "When I was unconscious I can only see nothing but darkness but I heard a sudden voice despite the nothingness. I looked around but could see nothing then a few moments passed and I heard the voice getting louder and louder until I came in focus. The darkness became bright and a way appeared in front of me. I followed the way and woke up with Vermouth pointing a gun at you. Since I heard everything in the darkness I stopped." Shinichi said.

"So I saved you?" Ran asked blushing. "You didn't save me…I'm alive because of you." Shinichi sincerely said. "Uhm Shinichi can you promise me something?" I said walking closer to him. "What?" he asked. My feelings took control and I laid my head on his chest. "Shinichi please promise me that you'll never ever leave me again. If you leave again take me with you." I said starting to cry.

"I'm sorry Ran. I'll never leave you." Shinichi replied holding me tight between his arms. I parted from out hug and gave him a smile. "After we get out of here finally Shinichi we can be together and have a normal relationship." I said taking his hand.

"Now let's wake them up first. Where's the taser?" Shinichi asked. "Hear it is." I said handing him the taser. "Stay back, Ran." Shinichi ordered. I backed away and watched Shinichi slowly making the taser closer and closer to Hattori's skin. The taser touched his skin and woke up screaming. The same goes for the others. "The hell was that!?" Kaito shouted. "I still feel electricity running through my veins." Jodie said.

"Those blasted lung coolers were a trap!" Ryujin shouted. "Yeah, I was confused when I couldn't breathe." Agasa said. "At least we accomplished our mission." Haibara said. Accomplished the mission?" Shuuichi said. Before they could see me I took the chance to thank them. "EVERYBODY THANK YOU!" I shouted behind them. "Ran!" all of them shouted. "How?" Sato said. "I can't believe it! How did this happen?" Jodie questioned.

"It's a really long story. To sum it all up Vermouth unconscious, Ran's been rescued and now she's officially my girlfriend." Shinichi said smiling towards them. My heart skipped a beat with what he said. Mu face blushed like crazy. "Knew someday you would end up together." Jodie said.

"No surprise there. I already knew this would happen." Hattori said. "So we just need to worry about how to get out of here." Ryujin said. "So how do we get out of here?" Takagi said. "That would be technically impossible right now." Shuuichi said. "Why?" Ran asked. 'Well everything didn't go as we planned. We did too much chaos from the start." Haibara said.

"If it's technically impossible than how do we get out of here?" Agasa asked. "If there is way than the only one who know it is her." Shinichi said pointing at Vermouth. "Why is she unconscious?" Kaito asked. "Once we get out of here I'll explain. I'll try and wake her up." Shinichi said. "How will you wake her up?" Takagi asked.

'I don't have to. Stop pretending Vermouth! I know you're awake." Shinichi said. Vermouth's face smiled and opened her eyes. "I only pretended because I can't move. My whole chest took full impact. It was amazing of you to notice me faking it." Vermouth said.

"I only noticed it when I realized the blood on your palm was slightly wiped off. Now tell us where is the other way to get out of here?" Shinichi said. "I'll tell you where it is on one condition." Vermouth said. "What?" Shinichi replied. "Take me with to you." Vermouth replied.

Author's Note: Hope you liked the chapter!! Reviews people! Just don't force me to change the story because it my story not yours.

Coming Soon: Chapter 18: Conditions