This is the last chapter I swear.

Disclaimer: Gosho Aoyama is the creator of DC. I'm just a mere fan.

Chapter 8

Shinichi's group was running non-stop just as long as they're still hearing gunshots they won't stop. Unfortunately, the gunshots got even closer and closer. They found themselves in another intersection and just turned right and then turned left. They didn't stop running until they reached a destroyed path. It seemed very hard to move the large debris of the tunnel out of the way but they still did it because they were pretty desperate to get out. Shinichi just stayed put in one corner and watched over the injured.

He sighed, "You okay, Ran?"

"I'm—fine." She answered in between deep breaths.

"Of course, what am I thinking? That was a stupid question! There's no way that you would be fine in a condition like that! You just got shot right at the chest! That was pretty stupid I gotta say."

"Say everything you want right this second—because I might not be able to hear your voice again." Ran said weakly.

"No Ran! Don't say things like that. We're gonna get out of here and we're taking you to a hospital. Everything will be normal after that."

"Does that mean that you're going to—" Ran paused to swallow and breathe deeply. "You're going to come back to me?"

Shinichi's eyes just grew wide and he answered, "Ran—you know very well that I can't." he said, shaking his head.

"Why not?"

"It's just—I'll tell you later."

"Now is the best time. You might not be able to talk to me face to face later." Ran started coughing and coughed out blood. Shinichi helped her sit up and gave her water from Sato's bottle to gargle off the blood. "Thank you."

"Shh! Don't speak. You'll just waste your breath." Shinichi said, desperately trying to stop Ran speaking.

"Hey! Kudo! We can use a little bit of help from you! We're not super people you know!" Sato screamed in anger.

"I can see the police cars coming!" Ryoko blurted. "HEY! WE NEED HELP! OVER HERE!" Ryoko shouted as loud as she can.

"I don't think they can hear you; not with this ruble in front of us." Sato informed. "Here, let me help you get these things out of the way so we can get Ran to the hospital already."

"I don't think that you can do that quick enough to save my life."

"Don't say things like that Ran." Shinichi said.

"Humph! You underestimate us Ran." Sato added.

"I'm serious! You—or rather—I won't make it on time."

"Ran?" Ryoko and Sato said in unison.

"Hurry up! We need to save her!" Sato shouted.

"Stop being so stubborn. I might as well say it to you now, there doesn't seem to be any better time." Ran's voice was weaker and softer than ever. Ran quickly grabbed Shinichi's jacket and whispered something in his ear. She managed to place her hands on his cheek and Shinichi grabbed it as soon as it was placed. He did this just because of what Ran had told him. Everything seemed fast for him later on.

A few moments after Shinichi grabbed Ran's hand, hers grew weaker until she finally became lifeless. She suddenly became lighter, her eyes closed and her head was tilted back. Sato, Ryoko and Mamoru can't believe what they were seeing after that. The great Shinichi Kudo—crying? No way! But it was true; he was crying and just when the rest weren't looking at them he kissed Ran on the lips for one—last—time.

The police took them a few minutes more until they got the ruble out of the way and saved them. They captured the kidnappers in the tunnel and their allies were still somewhere hidden in the old factory. Well—all in all, the entire mission was an almost success. Almost you say? You see—the mission was all about capturing the kidnappers and rescuing the hostages alive. No one among the police felt happy at all after they received the dreadful news, especially Mr. Mouri. He was making a scene screaming as to who was responsible for his precious daughter's death. Shinichi felt guilty after Mr. Mouri shouted all of that. He said to himself, 'If I didn't decide to stop then—none of this would've happened.' He balled his hands into fists. 'Ran—Ran would—Ran would still be alive if I didn't decide to do that.'

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It was a fine Saturday morning; surely everybody should be happy right? Well—not everybody was happy during this day. Today is Ran's funeral. A lot of police officers that knew her well went there. Of course, since it was her funeral her friends were also there, including Kazuha and Heiji. Her friends from the karate team were also there, in fact the one who replaced her for her absence was the one who won the championships. But that doesn't matter.

No one could hear voices form each other. They just heard the sad music that kept on playing as they laid down the roses for her. Mr. Mouri and Eri Kisaki were the ones who stayed there the longest. They just stood there frozen to the ground while looking at their daughter's lifeless but peaceful body and her latest picture just on top of her coffin.

"We disappointed her, Eri." Mr. Mouri said.

"How come?"

"She always wanted us to go back together and that wish of hers never really came true."

"We have to move—there are others waiting." Eri pointed out as she grabbed hold of her husband's arm and gently pulled him away of the coffin.

After the dedications from her family and friends were said, it was time for her burial. Eri was literally crying on her husband's shoulder while Mr. Mouri was holding her in his arms, trying to comfort her. Eri thought, 'Don't worry Ran. I'll be sure to forgive your father. I won't make up any more excuses.' "Why'd you have to be taken away from us at such a young age?" she whispered that Mr. Mouri seemed to hear.

"We can't bring her back to life, Eri. We're no deity. We just have to accept this tragedy."

After the coffin was lowered and covered, the guests all left for their homes. Mr. Mouri and Eri Kisaki were the only ones standing in front of their daughter's grave.

Heiji and Kazuha were just walking in a nearby park and happened to bump into Shinichi. Kazuha, knowing everything that happened between them suddenly got angry with him and started to scream at him and hit him in the process even though Heiji tried to stop her.

"Yeah, yeah. You have the right to be angry with me." Shinichi gloomily said as he stood up.

"Don't act all high and mighty!" Kazuha screamed.

"Hey! I feel just as bad as you feel, okay?" Shinichi shouted back. "You can hat me all you want and blame me for her death. You don't have to make me guiltier about the matter. If you're satisfied with beating me up now, you can go home." Shinichi said as he started to walk away.

"I just have two things to ask—is that okay?" Kazuha asked, her voice gloomier than ever. Heiji started to comfort by embracing her from her back.

"Why did you break up with her?"

Shinichi answered, "I broke up with her because I didn't want her to get into any more trouble."

"I don't understand." Kazuha and Heiji said in unison.

"Well—I am a famous detective right? Not that I'm boasting about it. Since the criminals know that I'm going out with her, they will kidnap her to use her bait for me. They'll also do all sorts of torture to her just I would do anything they say. So I thought if I dumped her—they'll leave her alone and think that she is o no value to me anymore."

"I see. Does she know about that?" Heiji asked.

"Unfortunately, I hadn't had the chance to tell her."

"Oh—sorry"

"Anyway—did she say anything before she—died?" Kazuha asked.

"Yeah. Actually, she did." Shinichi replied. "She said—'I'm glad I had the chance to meet you and my friends. Please tell them this: You've been my constant companion these past years. You've been there for me when I needed someone and you never asked anything in return."

Kazuha bent her head down. "I see. Thanks." She started to walk away but Heiji stopped her.

"Did she say anything to you?" Heiji blurted.

"HEIJI! That's a little personal don't you think?" Kazuha said.

"Well—she thought that Shinichi had broken up with her for real. What else could she possibly say to him?"

"Hei—"

"It's fine. If he wants to know it that badly I'm afraid I can't do anything about it. She said: Even though I know that these words won't come out of your mouth for me, I'll still say it anyway. I—" Shinichi paused. "I love you, Shinichi."

Heiji and Kazuha were just surprised. "Oh—I'm sorry. We'll go now, Kudo. We'll see you someday."

"Yeah. Bye guys. Take care."

"You too." Kazuha and Heiji said in unison.

A lot of years passed and Ran's parents got married again and had another baby. Heiji and Kazuha also got married a few years later. Shinichi's parents stayed in Japan after Ran's death just so they can comfort and spend more time with their son. And Shinichi—well—he never got married nor did he have another girlfriend. Ran was the one and only girl for him and he never loved any other girl but her. His family and friends thought that his situation is very sad. Although, they didn't think like that for long, because Shinichi and Ran got to be together again after some very long years of waiting.

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Okay—that was the story… Hehehe. Umm—I would like to know what you thought about this. Anyway, hope you liked it!