A/N: Thank you, faiz1996 and korenai-chan for leaving reviews! You guys kept me up while I had to study for my exams at the same time And also thank you for the others who read my story! But I'm sorry to tell you that this chapter…may be poorly written. I tried as much as I could, but somehow, it wouldn't come out right :( Please review and I might be able to patch things up later if you don't like it.

Disclaimer: Gosho Aoyama owns Detective Conan. I own the story.

Chapter Eleven

Juliet

Every time the sun shines, I realize. Life is beautiful.

-0-

(Ai's POV)

I just clambered out of the endless tunnel. The exasperating darkness. I opened my eyes.

Everything was still unknown.

As I looked around the walls, I saw the photos all lined up as if making a timeline. From a 7 year old kid to an 18 year old student. They showed the pictures of him. Sometimes smiling, sometimes sarcastic. And I saw the last photo, which was a woman. About 28 years old. And I realized where I was.

Before my trembling foot could touch the floor, the door opened.

"Ai-chan…"

"…Ran-san."

…Interesting situation.

She smiled at me. "I haven't seen you for a while. Conan-kun told me you were back, but too busy."

I really thanked him. "Yes, I was…"

"Are you okay?"

"Ah-I am better." My words were scrambled.

Her eyes narrowed. She examined my face with her eyes for a moment. "I didn't really mean that."

She stared at my blank eyes for a while. Then, she sat next to me. She carefully ran her hand across my forehead.

"Your face is telling me that you've had a lot of things to deal with."

I didn't respond. She sighed, and continued.

.

I saw him lying across a bench near his house, covering his eyes with his arm, his hand grabbing his glasses. His uniform was carelessly worn. It seemed like he had a tantrum. I stopped and started to walk slowly towards him. Usually he would have noticed, but this time, he didn't.

"Conan-kun?"

He put his arm down and peeked a look. "Ah, Ran-nee-chan."

I sat beside his head. "Is there something that's bothering you?"

"No." He closed his eyes and smiled. However, I noticed that his smile was painful. Untrue. "It's nothing…"

His face…

'Shinichi…'

A tear dropped between his eyebrows, which startled him. It took me a second to realize that it was mine.

He sat up. "Ran-nee-chan, are you crying?"

"No, it's just dirt in my eye." I rubbed my eyes quickly. "Anyway, how was New Year's-"

I noticed something, and his eyes widened. Then, we gasped at the same time. However, he didn't notice me.

"It was really good. Thanks! " He quickly stalked off towards his house. I tried to hold onto him, but pulled back.

Because what I saw…was pretty much expected.

.

"…And?" I asked, curious. "What was it?"

Suddenly, her smile grew wider. "It is something very special to him."

I tried to think about it, but the pain prevented me from doing so. Before I could ask once more, however, she said it for me.

"It was a locket."

She didn't need to explain more.

My eyes snapped up. Her eyes were unreadable, yet she was still smiling. It wasn't even a sad one. It was kind. And warm.

"I knew this for a long time. I knew it, even much before you did."

"Huh?" My voice trembled a bit.

She smiled again. "You should know it by now." It reminded me so much of…my sister.

"Your existence…is his happiness. As long as you are next to him, he is happy."

I froze. It was as if I had been electrocuted.

Really.

It was somewhat obvious.

What was the purpose for me to come back? For the antidote? For paying my sins? For punishment?

It was to make him…happy, after all.

"So…" She ignored my shocked expression. "What do you think of him, Ai-chan?"

"What-" I stuttered and blushed a little. "I-I-" Then, my head spun a little, and my body swayed.

"Shh…" She fluttered her hand gently on my forehead.

Then, my body shut down. My backbone felt like water. I fell back onto the bed. My head started to hurt worse. Just like the dream. As my sight swirled, I barely heard her talk, a bit concerned.

"Just rest for now. We'll have time to talk to each other."

"Ok…" My words were slurred. And again, I was dropped into the darkness. The sudden knowledge, the sudden recognition, did not surprise me as much. I thought my body felt lighter.

-0-

I slowly opened my eyes, my head still throbbing a little.

Once more, there was a towel and a bag of ice on my head. I was lying on the bed carelessly, inside various blankets. Then, memories flooded through my head.

Ran…

I recalled where I was and snapped my eyes open, sitting up straight. The towel and the bag fell onto the bed…Or did it?

"UWA-!" Something shouted and moved next to me as the bag of ice scattered across the floor by the movement.

I stared as the thing that was at the edge of the bed, hopelessly trying to maneuver its way out of the blankets and the bed sheets. I pulled the blankets here and there, and a face popped out. The eyes were looking like triangles as they looked up, a bit sarcastic.

I leaked out some chuckles at his foolish look, and he yawned hugely.

"Jeez. You've got to learn how to sleep more soundly."

Wha-"Wait-You were sleeping there, right?" I pointed at the edge of the bed. I noticed how dry and rasp my voice was.

"Well, I tried to sleep next to you, but-" Then, he realized what kind of things I was talking about.

His face turned a little pink. "Re-Relax. I did sleep there." However, I was doubtful as he turned his eyes somewhere else.

He missed my glares and instead reached the desk, where there were a pair of glasses, some pills and a glass of water. "Here." He handed me the medicine and the glass. I took them thankfully, as my head was still in pain. He watched me while I drank the water with the pills.

Halfway through the water, I remembered where I was. I spewed a bit of water as it went up my nose. I coughed while he thumped my back, amused.

"Now what's wrong?"

"Why-What happened?" I was still coughing away. "Why am I here?"

His eyes widened. "That's exactly what I want to know. What happened?"

"…I don't know. You tell me."

He was frustrated by my answer. However, he sighed and gave in. "Hakase called me when your literature club was about to end. He told me that you forgot about the weather forecast that there would be heavy rain. So he asked me to come by and get the umbrella for you. But on my way…" He looked at me expectantly, as if hoping I'd spill out something.

"I saw you."

"Hm?"

"You were leaning against a lamppost, all pale and trembling. Your breathing was like a sandpaper."

"…And?"

"The closest place I knew was the old Detective Agency here. I had to carry you and run. It was really bad." His eyes were far away. "It might have been fatal if your body had been left to the wind for even 5 more minutes."

"…And Ran…" He looked at me. "She let me in?"

"Yeah." He seemed confused my my question. "Why wouldn't she?"

I was wordless.

But she would've known…that I took him away from her…

Then, he blinked, as if he had just remembered something.

"So." I looked up at him. He was staring at my face so intensely that he could have singed a hole through it. His eyes were burning as he continued. "Why were you there?"

I really didn't know. "Haibara?" He saw my thoughtful expression and seemed to be a bit surprised by the fact.

"O-Oi, Don't tell me-" I barely heard him. He knew it, too, because he suddenly stopped talking.

"Ah-" I gasped.

"Haibara?"

I grabbed my head. The pain reached its peak. I couldn't feel anything.

Because my brain was complaining, at the cruel memory of yesterday that was yet to be discovered.

-0-

I was surrounded. By some blue objects. They formed a circle around me, and there was no way to get out. When I turned around once, they fizzled, as if starting a video tape. I touched one of the blue things, whatever it was.

It was as if a spark of electricity had been there. I flinched at the sudden pain that lashed throughout my whole body. But I didn't remove my hand.

Because something flashed behind me.

I didn't dare to move. Then, a voice was heard. It was too low to be able to hear what it was saying, but I thought it was…mine. I slowly turned my head around.

Two. Three. The screens were loading slowly. The background was soon buzzing with voices.

I took a look around, and I knew what these things were.

Memories.

And they were mine.

"Wow…" What is this? A dream? Probably.

This was like a sci-fi or a fantasy movie. I slowly watched them one by one. The treasure hunting island, the ivory castle, the football stadium…

Then, the screen I was touching caught my attention. I didn't realize it was the only one that hadn't been turned on. When I leaned in to get a better look, the images flashed through. Both through my mind and across the screen.

Then, immeasurable pain flared up.

Somebody pushed me. "You lied to me." I staggered, trying not to fall into one of the ponds.

"Why am I so special? Do you want to know?" My voice was hollow. Blank.

I fell down on my knees, grasping my head. As soon as my hand lost contact with the screen, I heard everywhere buzz.

"I cannot be perfect, and I never will be!"

Those words were familiar enough…

"He forgot his past. Because of me."

"Ah-" I felt the ground shaking.

I noticed somebody walking toward us. "My sin." I whispered, and began to walk quickly. Somebody called me. I kept walking.

I opened my eyes minutely. The images were fading away. Along with the ground beneath me. I felt no gravity, and I closed my eyes, waiting for it to end.

.

My pain subdued when I stopped thinking. My breathing was rough. My hands were gripping my hair to the point of tearing it off. There was moisture in my eyes from the pain. My body still trembled. I could feel myself. I could move.

I heard someone sigh. Oh right, he was there. Now I felt his hands grasping my shoulders. I could tell he was tensed.

"…I'm sorry." I mumbled. I didn't want him to see me like this. I was sick of this. Sick of being weak. Sick of worrying him.

He sighed again. "No." He was whispering right at my ear. It was much closer than I thought. I froze instantly. "It's my fault. You don't have to force it. I'm good with it-"

I opened my eyes slowly. "Ah-" I gasped a little when I felt his hand run through my hair, keeping it out of my eyes. I saw his face, as close as I had imagined, his shining eyes melting my mind, his lips curved into a smooth smile that made anyone attached. His hand held my chin gently now.

"-As long as you're okay." Then, I blinked. A few tears ran out, but I smiled.

Our eyes connected. Subconsciously, I leaned in. He did the same.

His bangs tickled my skin. I still stared at his half-closed eyes. I moved my arms around his neck, while he held my chin up. It looked like neither of us could control our thoughts anymore. It was much like the last time. Except that I didn't feel any objection. Except that there were no interruptions.

Our lips softly met together. His mint-like scent was fresh in my mouth as our tongues glided next to each other. The kiss deepened as we pressed ourselves more firmly, and I was almost out of my mind. I closed my eyes.

And we stayed just like that, for what seemed like forever.

.

We broke out when I parted for the air. I buried my face in his shoulder, realizing what had happened. My face was burning, and I could tell he was feeling uncomfortable, too. He stroked my back silently while I tried to calm myself.

I pulled back, and settled myself a bit further. I looked up when I had the courage, and saw his pink face, his expression dazed.

"Um…" What should I say?

"I-I'll get you lunch." He stammered, and got up. He tripped on one of the blankets and gripped the desk for support. I watched him go out of the room. Then, my body slumped on the bed.

-0-

-End of Chapter Eleven-

A/N: So there you go…Tell me how you felt about it, please. I really have no clue how it turned out to be.