He had been having this weird feeling ever since Shinichi realized there might be boys who try to get close to Ai.
He knew so much how attractive she was, and he didn't deny it when he, as a man, would sometimes had the urge to touch her. Especially when she acted adorably, just like few months ago on the sofa; or when she looked so angelic in her sleep, just like that one time during the break of the second half of their favourite teams midnight soccer match.
It would be a lie if he said it wasn't getting harder to hold his desire nowadays– she was that close physically with him. And it frustrated him more because Ai herself didn't aware she had done those things that would make him like this.
However, it never crossed even once in his mind that there might be other boys who would be interested in her too.
Perhaps marrying her and living their marriage like a real couple with a baby under the same roof had made him forget that their marriage was only built on a sand. It was baseless and weak.
Perhaps he got carried away by the little family act that he forgot there was only one very thin string connecting them together; and it was Chiharu. He knew as much as she did that if it wasn't for the little girl, they won't go as far as becoming a family. Heck, he won't even have any single reason to hold her back that day.
That was why he felt this sudden weird big hole in his heart upon discovering the probability of some boys who might snatch her away from him. The hole was widened even more as he saw a certain boy getting so close to her by each passing day.
He wasn't really surprised when Ai said he was feeling jealous. He was indeed jealous of him. If it wasn't that, then how could he explain all the things he did and felt every time he heard that boy's name? Even so, he was sure enough this emotion he had was much deeper than a mere jealousy.
Because he also felt an inexpressible anger within his heart.
He brushed it off at first, thinking it might only be him being overly reacting. Still and all, it arose again when he realized how powerless he was that she had to rely on another guy to protect her on the day she hurt her right arm. He even lost control of his own mind due to that; it was unlike the normal him who always thought things thoroughly before moving.
Clearly, he was pissed off seeing someone trying to get so close to her. He was vexed he could do nothing about it, because, who was he to her? He was her husband only on papers. Once the string connecting them was snapped, once the sand was washed away by the sea, their marriage would crumble just with a flick of a finger.
He gritted his teeth every time such images got into his head. He didn't know exactly since when he felt that way about her. But he knew precisely he couldn't let her go once he held her hand that night. He was afraid of losing her that he couldn't bring himself at the thought of her leaving him.
And the day of the study group confirmed everything of his insecurities.
His feeling was so indescribably mixed up. Everything seemed so messed up inside his head. It upset him. He couldn't even think properly the moment she came so close to him, cornering the cat to get out of the bag. Eventually it did escaped and once again, he did something worth a slap or two in the face. Worst of all, some unthinkable words almost slipped out of his mouth if Chiharu didn't wake up at that second.
He cursed himself afterward. She was married to him, for God's sake. But she wasn't his.
Just as soon as he anticipated the awkwardness between them the next day after that incident, he was surprised Ai greeted him with her usual good morning like nothing happened. Although he was relieved she was actually taking his odds better than he thought, yet he knew that she knew in some way or another, they needed to talk about it soon.
A month had passed in the blink of an eye. The school exam week had came to an end and today marked the start of the summer holiday. Nonetheless, they hadn't touched that particular subject at all; no one dared to.
It actually amazed him how they could keep their mouth shut for this long about the peculiarity of that one fine late afternoon. Even so, it left his mind restless.
As if his problems weren't enough, Shinichi was, at the moment, tortured by how tempting Ai looked like. She was now dressing up in a yukata– beautifully and elegantly.
Even though her hair was originally short but she had her way to make it into an updo, so she could wear a simple kanzashi that matched with the red yukata she wore. Of course, as a fashion enthusiast she would have done this much.
The detective was blushing seeing how stunning his wife was. He was surprised the old yukata his mom had kept, fitted perfectly on Ai's frame. His blush deepened when his eyes fell on her revealing slender porcelain neck.
"You've got nosebleed, Shinichi." Ai smirked.
He growled when he realized she was just teasing him.
Screw Ayumi for making Ai wore such alluring clothing to the summer firework festival. She was also inviting Shinichi although he declined because it would be a hassle if he brought Chiharu along too. She was still too small while the festival would be so crowded with people. Moreover, it started quiet late while it was her time to sleep. Both him and Ai were afraid she would turn cranky if she came along.
If only Chiharu were a bit older, Ai would definitely put her on a yukata too and she would look pretty in it. Then the three of them would enjoy the festival together.
"Shouldn't you be going now?" Shinichi reminded her it was almost time for the meeting time.
"Are you sure you will be okay with Chiharu alone?" She was hesitated to go. This would be her first time leaving the detective home alone with the baby.
"She was asleep now, so I will be okay." He replied, but his eyes told the opposite.
He clearly wouldn't be okay once she stepped out from the door. His insecurities were eating his mind away. There would be so many wolves out there while she looked like a red riding hood here. Not to mention, that boy would be there too.
He wanted so badly to tell her not to go, but it would be unfair for her. She was reliving her seventeen years old life, so she had to enjoy whatever her previous ones couldn't offer. This was her last summer as a high school student after all.
And however hard Shinichi tried to hide his mind, Ai would always easily read it. This time was no exception. She noticed he was troubled by something which made her worried too. He looked nothing like himself this way.
She clenched her hands to the chain strap of her clutch, thinking for the umpteenth time before she brought it to cup his cheek. She hoped it would give him a bit peace of mind. He took the hand and gave a lingering kiss on her palm. He closed his eyes, enjoying their last touch before he really let her go.
Ai blushed without complaining. She knew he needed this to calm himself even though it hurt her inside so much. If he continued to give her this much affection, someday for sure, her heart won't be enough to contain it anymore.
She was already as restless as Shinichi did with the thing happened between them last month. She was just having it better when it came to covering her emotions up. The truth was her heart was having a great dispute since then with her logic and her consciences, but the first always won in the end whenever she felt his affection. Precisely just like this instant.
"I'll be fine, really." He grinned sheepishly to assure her, "Just promise me you'll be back safely later."
She softened her gaze and smiled.
"I will."
So, he watched her go as the door closed.
Shinichi sighed when she was nowhere in sight. He didn't believe himself he could make it through with sending her off tonight. She was only going to the festival, damn it. Why did his chest feel so tight?
He went to his study to read a book. It was Saturday night, so it was his time to spend doing whatever things he liked, might as well tried to dismiss his troubled thoughts. He couldn't concentrate in the end, and drifted to sleep the moment he leaned his head on the chair headrest. He was exhausted from all the things he had in his mind.
Without him knowing, he was crying in his sleep. Perhaps his stress had burnt him out.
Shinichi didn't hear the front door was unlocked an hour later. It was Ai. She had came back from the festival. She was going to go upstairs when she saw the door to the study room was slightly opened.
She entered the room to let him know she was back, instead she found him sleeping on the chair with his book on his chest. She approached him to wake him up except she was shocked by a tear that fell down his cheek. She then heard him murmured her name in his sleep. Was he having a nightmare about her?
She tried again to wake him up, nudging him gently on his shoulder. Shinichi woke up with a jerk and he felt his forehead banged into something abruptly. The book on his chest fell to the floor. He grunted while touching his forehead. He lifted up his head to see what he had knocked, and was surprised to see Ai. She was leaning on the desk, also grunting in pain and touching her forehead.
He walked closer to her and apologized in panic. He didn't expect to see her this soon. It was still too early for her to be home after all. He knew this wasn't a dream either; he felt pain just now and so did she.
But he somehow was glad she came back. He could feel at least more than half of his troubles and stresses were gone in a second.
"It was so crowded and I got separated from the rest, so I decided to go home." She said.
She didn't like crowded places anyway.
"Besides," she continued, "I'm worried about you. You didn't look like yourself when I left."
Then she brought her fingers to wipe his remaining tear from his cheek. With the obvious evidence, Shinichi knew he had been crying in his sleep. He smiled however, as he gripped her wrist and pulled Ai in a tight embrace.
Strangely, the tear she wiped away had led him to find the only name to the identity of his mind eater– it was his own ego of wanting to solely monopolize her.
That was why it explained so much the reasons he was jealous and felt inexplicably angry at the sight of someone else getting closer to her. It justified his great insecurities that made him lose his rationalities whenever the thought of her getting away got inside his head.
Because he knew the rings that bound them together right now weren't strong enough to keep her. He needed something else. Something that was more than that to keep her at his side. Something that would make him believe he wouldn't lose her– not for the second time now.
He needed to create a new string that was stronger than the one they had right now. He wanted to claim her as his and his alone, so no one would take her away from him. He had to tie her not only with the word marriage, but also love.
For that reason, he decided to tell her his true feeling.
Ai yelped when she was pulled in his tight embrace. She tried to free herself, but Shinichi was too strong. He nuzzled his head deeper, inhaling her sweet scent, while she blushed when she felt the tickling sensation his breath gave on her neck.
"Will you stay with me, Ai?" He asked.
She didn't say anything for a second because she knew what he asked was much deeper than his words. Why did he always ask her things unpredictably? Her insides were far from the word done with their own struggle, and now she had to give him an answer to this. But how could she say no? Every part of her did in fact realize she had been waiting for him, just like before, to reached out to her.
And he did, right now.
Did this mean it would be alright for her to keep this feeling and stay by his side?
She felt her own tear dribbled down her cheek and she sobbed without thinking. Shinichi was panicking again. He released her from his embrace and caressed her forehead. Did the spot he knocked into still hurt so much?
Ai laughed deliberately when she saw how panic he was. The last time she sobbed like this was on the day she knew his credibility as the great detective and it was also in front of him. But unlike before, this time she cried because she was elated.
He smiled at her in relief. He understood instantly her answer to his question even without her telling him with intelligible words. He felt his heart thumping in frenzied rhythm. When was the last time he felt this contentment?
He cupped her cheeks carefully and looked intensely into her eyes, as if he was asking her permission to make a move. She returned it with a teary but loving stare, silently telling him to go ahead with anything he was planning to do. Getting his pass, he then kissed her forehead as the last teardrop rolled down when she closed her eyes. His lips slowly moved to her cheek to kiss its wet trail before he finally claimed her lips.
The kiss tasted salty, yet it felt so sweet.
It surprised him how her lips tasted so perfect for him– it was the same for her too. It was supposed to take a long time to catch things up for their void of eight years, and it would obviously take longer to patch the things in their hearts. Yet, they themselves proved it that four months were more than enough time to complete their puzzle.
Or was it because this feeling had originally been there even way before they encountered each other that day? Well, no one knew and no one cared enough to ask at this moment.
Shinichi slipped his arms around her waist to shorten the gap between them more. He opened his mouth a bit which Ai understood immediately what he meant. She obliged as she circled her arms around his neck and went along with him. They parted only to grasp some air before they joined again.
Ai squealed when she felt his arms lifted her. He seated her on the desk without breaking their kiss, and used this chance to deepen it. He caressed her nape; pulling out the kanzashi she wore while at it, disentangling her short hair.
He traced the sweet spots on her exposed neck, nibbling the sweetest one; she whimpered at his touches. His breath was getting hotter as his needs for her intensified– hers too was getting heavier. Yet Shinichi took his time slow, tasting each part of her with tenderness.
His hands trailed to the knot of her yukata obi, then loosened it to grant him more of her skin to explore. She hissed at the sudden cool breeze on her newly exposed skin. He chuckled lightly at that as he brushed his hands on it, emitting hot sensations all through her inside.
It was summer and it was hot outside, but it was boiling in the study.
Shinichi stopped his assault when his hand reached the ring on her chest. Disappointed with the sudden loss of his warmth, she opened her eyes slowly only to hear her heart beating louder as soon as she saw him brought the ring closer to his mouth to kiss it.
It was the ring that symbolized their marriage. Their union.
He then whispered sweet words to her reddened ear.
"You're mine, Ai."
Before she could react, he kissed her lips again as he called her name sweetly, over and over in between. She responded to his husky voice with tremble as their fingers firmly intertwined with each other.
Shinichi felt the big hole in his heart was closing little by little with each moan that escaped from her mouth. It closed completely without any remains the first time she said his name enticingly tonight. He gave out a smile of satisfaction as he looked at her disheveled state and said the words that had been on the tip of his tongue since a month ago.
The corners of her mouth turned upwards. Her heart was fluttered with happiness. Ai grabbed him by the t-shirt collar and brought his face closer to her. He staggered a bit but his lips met with hers in a sweet peck as she gave her only reply to his confession. Bet, he was the luckiest man on Earth right now.
He turned her sweet peck into another heated kisses and she sighed in pleasure. He couldn't get enough of the tempting honey taste of hers.
As the clinking sound of his dangling golden ring pendant met with hers and made their own music,
as his musky fragrance mixed with her sweetness filled the room and created their own amorous scents,
at last, Shinichi claimed her as his and she complied.
Author's note: Rating changed! Did I write the story progress too fast? (Haha). Well, they were in their late twenties anyway, so I don't think a teenage kind of heart-thumping story would fit with them. As I wrote in the last chapter, this is my first T rated story so please go easy on me (Sob). I was dying inside when writing the last scene, and it amazed me I'm survived.
I do hope you all like this chapter. Do not forget to give your comments and reviews.
Happy reading!
Disclaimer: All characters of Detective Conan are belong to Aoyama Gosho. I don't own any single of them.