This is chapter 3. Thank you for the reviews everybody!

CHAPTER 3

" She's gone?"

Agasa's face had suddenly turned a pale, chalky gray, eyes almost bulging out of its sockets. Shinichi looked away, not wanting to meet his expressions.

" It's all your fault!" the usually calm Agasa said, rubbing his sore temples. " Why did you hurt her when it was not even her fault? Do you know that I've never ever seen such pain in her eyes before? Do you- - -"

" Yes," Shinichi interrupted. " I know."

Silence.

" So what are you going to do?" the professor asked, in a more gentle tone. " Are you going to look for her?"

Shinichi bit his lip.

" I can't do that." he whispered.

The professor nodded, sitting down on the chair behind him. " Did you talk to her already?"

There was a gap in the conversation for a few seconds before Shinichi filled it.

" Yeah."

Agasa heaved a sigh, and looked up at the dark clouds in the sky.

" It has been raining for hours, now." the professor said.

Shinichi, not even looking up, replied. " Yeah."

Agasa was thinking with all his might now, pushing locations into his head when something cliked. " Shinichi," he said, and Shinichi looked up, being the fact that that was his name. " When was the last time you talked to Ai-kun?"

Shinihci, not even bothering to correct the professor's 'Ai-kun' to 'Shiho', said dully. " About two hours ago, then I went to her place just to make sure. . ."

The professor lept to his feet. " Stay here." he said.

Shinichi's eyes widened. " You know where she is?"

" Yep," the professor said proudly. " As a matter of fact, I do."

" Let me follow you!" Shinichi yelled, grabbing his coat, but Agasa stopped him firmly.

" Shinichi. . ." he said. " I heard what you said to her from the helicopter."

Shinichi looked away.

" Don't you know what she did for Ran-kun when Gin shot- - -"

" I know." he said. " She took the bullet."

There was silence once again.

" She's dead inside now." the professor said. " Just like she was before."

And he walked out of the door, Shinichi left alone in the room.

And the rain continued to fall.

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Shiho sat on the swings, rocking herself back and forth gently, ignoring her already soaked through clothes.

The perimeter around her was pitch dark except for the dim lampost above her.

" I can't beleive that I just did that. . ." she whispered, bowing her head, feeling the rain splatter on her back.

And suddenly it was gone.

She looked up, and saw the professor, smiling down at her.

" I knew you'd be here, Ai-kun." he said, grinning.

She didn't return it.

" What are you doing here, professor?" she asked.

" That's what I should be asking you." the professor answered.

She turned around, looking away.

And the professor didn't speak, waiting for her.

" I'm going away, professor." she said silently.

Silence, expect for the pattering of raindrops on Agasa's umbrella.

" Where to?" he asked.

She remained silent for a while.

" I don't know." she said.

He stayed quiet.

This had to be the longest conversation with the most gaps in it, but for the moment the btoh of them didn't mind it at all. They just stayed there, enjoying each other's presence.

" Then stay here." he said.

She got off the swing.

" I can't." she said, making motion to leave.

" Because of Shinichi?" the professor asked, and she stopped in mid-step.

Then she walked on. " Yeah."

The professor watched her leave until he almost broke down.

" Don't go." he whispered, almost soundlessly, but she heard it.

" I'll be fine." she said reassuringly.

" But I won't." he said.

She paused.

" After all, my cholestrol's off the charts." he said jokingly, trying to laugh the pain away. Then he stopped. " You're like my daughter, Ai-kun."

And you're like my father.

But she knew that she wouldn't say that out loud.

The professor suddenly felt her gentle touch on his shoulder.

He looked up, a small smile on her face.

He hugged her.

Then all of a sudden her presence was away from him, the smile leaving her face.

" I'm sorry, Agasa." she whispered.

As she walked away, the professor felt a pain in his heart.

" Will you come back to visit me?" he called out.

She stopped for a moment, and without answering, she walked off, disappearing down the long, winding pathway away from the playground.

Agasa shut his eyes.

So it was true.

Haibara Ai was dead.

And Shiho Miyano was gone.

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Shiho walked downwards, and was about to reach the road below when a person in front of her blocked her path.

His eyes were full of sorrow, sadness, almost pleading for forgiveness.

" Hello, Shiho." the man whispered.

The man by the name of Kudo Shinichi.

END CHAPTER 3

Chapter 4 will be up as soon as possible. The next chapter to The Teacher will be up in 2 to 3 days time.