Word count: 1682 words
A/N: Hello dear readers. I know I've been a jerk for making you wait. I apologize for that. Please understand that it's not in my favour because I had just finished my Semester 1 exam and some other important stuff. Anyway, thank you for still supporting the story.
I know you are eager, so let's skip my thoughts and back to the story. It's Ai's POV now.
Chapter 11: Wake Me Up
What is KID showing to Sharon Vineyard? What is it that makes her looks agitated and fearful? I haven't got the slightest idea until I steal a glance from beside. What I see makes me astonish at first, but I feel the corners of my lips curve upwards the next second.
Seeing the end of my hopelessness, I slowly move to the side table in the room, where a glass vase is available. Knowing her attention is fully focus on KID, I grab the vase and decide to find the perfect timing to give my first and last blow on her head, and that's when I'll carry Shinichi out of here.
"How... how is that possible?" the cold voice of hers sounds shaky, which makes me sure that she can't hold herself together any more. Even the coldest stone is unable to stay cool under the enormous heat.
"Amazed?" KID, in his disguise as a wounded doctor, smirks. Upon seeing her fierce glare, his sneer disappears, "guess you are not."
"How on earth they manage to track him?" she manages to say the emotional words emotionlessly, but it can't intimidate KID. I start wondering why I found Vermouth intimidating as well.
That is not really something surprising. With Akai's brilliant mind and Jodie's high spirit, finding That Person is something natural, especially when the BO had actually just experienced a great loss in terms of man-power and assets. What amazes me was how the man, that apparently to be That Person, has lost his dignity against the duo.
The one who is known as That Person, the one who is probably the most undefeatable criminal in Japan, the one who ruined lives for the sake of himself, the one who ruined me... Now, he's stripped naked, being interrogated by the FBI elites using who-knows-what-it-is technics.
"Magic," he answers nonchalantly. "Another reason I'm here is because detective-kun asked me to save his girlfriend," he says while looking at me, giving me signal to bring Shinichi out of here and leave the doppelganger to him, "now it's between you and me, Sharon Vineyard."
My instinct tells me that this is the best choice for me, so I put the vase down and dash to Shinichi. I doubt if there's a need to rush as everything seems to be under KID's control now, until I hear Sharon Vineyard saying, "Do you really think you can get out of here, safe and sound?"
That's when I get reminded, the BO is still active, and there are always snipers hiding around the area, waiting to get the escaped killed without dirtying their filthy hands.
My heart is burnt in desperate flames. I'm on the edge again, but I can't just let myself fall. Because other than my damned life, I need to keep Shinichi alive, I need to keep Professor Agasa alive; I need to keep everyone alive... No matter what it takes.
"Don't be a fool! Just take Kudou and run!" I must be looking damn helpless for him to remind me. No... I can't fail it. No matter what it takes, I'll keep Shinichi alive, even it takes my life.
"No, you don't be a fool," Sharon Vineyard, definitely regaining her confidence upon seeing my expression, sneers at KID, "she, together with lover boy, will be as good as dead once they step out of this building. I assure you, the only cops left here is lured out of the area already."
"No one is there to help you, so don't be foolish thinking of doing the right thing. The only right thing to do now is to come with me, and then all the ones you love can be safe. Even if That Person falls into their hand, I still have enough money and power to make things happen. Most importantly," she gives a victorious smile that doesn't reach her eyes as she continues, "I never fail to get what I want."
"Shut up, bitch," KID looks more than annoyed by her lecture, because he's pointing his gun to her head now, "one more hiss I hear from you, your brain will be blown together with your ugly face."
"Go ahead," she points her gun to his head as well, even more cold-blooded than before as to intimidate him, "I'll meet you down there at hell, and the two of them will join our reunion soon enough."
"Wait," I whisper, hearing myself sounding small and innocent, "you don't have to die for me, KID." I give out a small, dry yet ironic laugh as I walk slowly closer to Shinichi. I half-kneel beside him, caressing his hair with my shivering fingers, trailing my fingers from the back of his ears to his lips, his neck, and his chest and all the way down.
I know I have to make it. I need to keep all of us alive. I can't tell where the journey will end, but I know where to start.
"I wish I know your real name, KID, because not many would die for a person like me," I stay where I am but turn to look at KID's confused eyes. Sharon Vineyard, thinking she sees a sign of victory, smirks with a gleam in her cunning eyes.
"Kaito, Kaito Koruba, that's my real name" despite his confusion, he answers genuinely.
"Koruba-kun, thank you for everything you've done for me and Shinichi. Please take care of him for the time being. For now, I'll do what I have to do, because I failed to do so, and I'll not fail it again. It is my destiny," I look down to the floor before looking at him again, "please understand this."
He nods, with certainty in his eyes. Apparently, he got what I mean. I smile lightly, knowing I can now do what I failed to accomplish.
"Sharon Vineyard," I say after looking at Shinichi who had already lost a mass amount of blood. I walk steadily to her direction, gripping my fists tight, "I'll go with you."
"Oh, it's nice to hear that you've made up your mind," I see a ghost of killing aura emits from her eyes, "but sadly, change of plan. You'll remain part of us, Sherry, till the day of your death, and today it is."
She immediately switches the direction of her gun to me and shoots for a good few times. I try to dodge, but the moment when I feel unbearable pain from my abdomen, I know I've failed. Two or three bullets pierce through me, maybe breaking a rib or two.
KID shoots at her just a second later. The bullet hits her right hand which is holding the damn gun, which makes her drops the gun immediately. He has bought me time and I know this is the only chance I'd get. Despite the pain, I dash to that woman who is screaming in agony, knock her down and pierce the needle into her neck. For some reason, I'm sure I got it in her vein.
-Ai's flashback-
-Two weeks ago-
"Hey, Shiho." I hear him from behind as he closed the door of his room. "Thanks for the antidote."
"Why do you call me Shiho?" ignoring his verbal gratitude, which is totally out of politeness, I question out of annoyance. A small voice in my mind whispers, you are the cause of his misfortune, it's only natural that you have to be responsible, and that is the way he thinks of it.
"Err, because now you are in your adult form and calling you by your real name is only natural," he answers carefully, obviously having no idea for the cause of my annoyance.
"Shiho is dead. Haibara Ai is my real name," I demand, hiding the greater part of the reason. It's you, silly. I never knew what it is like to live; I only knew how to survive as Sherry when I was Shiho. It's you, Kudou Shinichi, and your miniature form, Edogawa Conan, who had thought me how to live.
"Oh," not knowing what to say, he replies simply. "Anyway, I really appreciate your antidote. You haven't been sleeping for the past few nights to work on it."
His warm smile makes me almost believe what he says about how he feels is real, but I know it can't be. Even if it is, it has no meaning now. A comfortable current goes through my spine to the end of my hair when he holds my arms.
"Hey, Haibara, cheer up, it's over now. Even if the remains of the BO come for you, I'm here to protect you," his charming voice darkens the cloud in my eyes. He looks as if he's still the innocent, childish, forever-so-carefree kid I knew back then in his teenager form. I really wish he is...
"Why?" I asked wryly, trying to hide the fact that I'm touched by his words. He always got a way with words, unlike me, unattractive, boring and self-conscious.
"Because you are my friend," he laughs a little, "in fact, probably one of the best friends I ever made."
"Here," changing the topic is always the best solution when things are awkward, "The antidote, just in case," I say as I hand him the syringe in its case. I am pretty confident with the effect of the antidote I made, but who knows? Shit happens.
He understands my worry, thus put the syringe into the pocket of his blazer. Almost at instance, I hear the vibration of his cell phone. After checking the message, he explains briefly, "I have to go now. Ran is waiting for me in the cafe."
Of course, he called to tell Mouri-san that he's back from investigation as soon as he got his adult form back. "Just a second," I say as he walks swiftly to the door, "don't ever inject yourself when you're still in your adult form. It may be the cure for APTX, but to normal person, it's a deadly poison like APTX, or even worse."
-End of flashback-
"Farewell, Sharon Vineyard," I'm greatly amazed that I'm still speaking before I go black out.