*Sighs* It took me a week to think about the plotline for my ShinRan fanfic. I had to rethink over and over again if THIS plot should be alright (I experienced some doubts before because I wrote the original story for an English assignment) and I finally made my decision. So, read within your own accord, if that makes sense. Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer (Wow, this is the first disclaimer I've ever written. I guess.): I do not own Detective Conan. All characters present in this story are rightfully owned by Aoyama Gosho.

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She didn't expect for this to happen so soon. Surely he's been having fun while he stayed with her and her father, but to leave and go back to America? No. This isn't what she wanted. She doesn't want for him to go back yet. She wishes for him to stay with her for as long as he wanted. For as long as his parents wanted. Knowing that his presence will be gone forever, how can she live on every day without having to see him stand by the doorway, a fist nudging at his eye to get rid of the sleepiness?

She should be happy for him. Returning home to his family must have been what he wanted for so long. A child shouldn't be kept from his family away from them for nearly a year, let alone in the care of total strangers. But for Ran, Conan was no stranger. Conan, to her, had become her younger brother from another family. She should be happy he'll be going home soon.

But yet, she didn't want for him to go home yet.

. . .

"Ran – neechan? Can I talk to you for a bit?" Conan spoke, poking his head by Ran's door.

The day was normal. The sun shone brightly outside, few peeks of sunrays entering Ran's room as she wrote something on her notebook, books and pens scattered all over her desk. Ran smiled at Conan and placed her pen down, facing the little child with a bright smile she usually gives him.

"Sure, Conan – kun. What is it that you wanted to talk about?" she questioned him. Conan closed the door of her room and crossed the floor all the way to her bed. He sat ever so cautiously on the covered mattress, his actions timid and controlled – a weird thing for a child to do.

Ran waited for him to talk, but as the minutes passed by, the boy never spoke a word. His mouth was sealed shut, his eyes distant as if it were looking for something to complete the puzzle of a murder case. Ran frowned at him.

"Conan – kun? What's wrong?"

What he said next made her heart sting a thousand.

"My mom called this morning before you woke up. I'll be leaving for America the day after tomorrow."

. . .

It was as bad as she thought it was, her feelings. Ran had imagined Conan's stay lasted longer than a year. She once dreamt Conan grew up as a teenager in her home, entering their premises while wearing the Teitan High School uniform, saying 'Tadaima' with a smile on his face. He looked a lot like Shinichi during his teenage years minus the glasses. She'd smile back at him and replied 'Okaeri' as he settled himself for the couch.

Ran waited for that moment. She didn't mind if Conan would stay with them until he became an adult. She liked his company. It reminded her of Shinichi's company, the only person she's felt most comfortable with. She liked grasping onto the thought that Conan would stay with her forever, protecting her like how she'd protect him while Shinichi was away on his case. Even if Shinichi'd return home, she'd still want for Conan to stay with her longer.

Who knew that dream she'd kept hoping for would crash sooner than she thought?

. . .

Ran spent the whole day next day with Conan. By the time she had gotten up from bed, she put on a smile on her face and told herself to spend all her time with Conan. She wanted to remember the light and free feeling she'd give her. In a few hours he'll be packing his things, bringing all his items with him as he sets to prepare for his flight to America the next day. She wanted to make the last of his stay here special for both him and her.

. . .

"Do you really have to go Conan - kun? You do know you can stay here as long as you want. Just, please don't leave." Ran begged.

Today was the day of his leave. Conan had packed all of his belongings into a large suitcase he and Ran bought yesterday. He made extra sure none was left behind in order to make his absence from the Mouri threshold even more convincible. If one item was left behind, Ran would expect he'd come back to get it, and knowing Ran, she'd be bugging him to the max just so he can come back for it. He didn't want that to happen.

But it hurts him to see her like this. He'd expected a lesser holdback from Ran, much more less than what she did to him as he left her that day on Tropical Land. To say the least, leaving as Conan had hurt Ran even more than leaving as Shinichi.

"You know I can't do that, Ran – neechan. Mom wanted me to come home since things are going back to the way they used to be. And since she already booked my ticket, I can't pretty much ignore my flight."

"I know that. But, I'll miss you Conan – kun."

That brought a pang of guilt onto his chest. Definitely leaving as Conan hurts way more than leaving as Shinichi. Conan clenched onto the handle of the luggage tightly, the guilt continuing to eat out at him alive. He found it harder to breath and questioned if there was even enough air in the room. It felt so stuffy, and their emotions kept colliding onto one another. He sighed.

"I'll miss you too, Ran – neechan. I don't want to leave the agency too, but there's nothing I can do about it."

She smiled at him painfully, and she couldn't agree more to that. There was nothing they can do now and just let the flow of events happen to them naturally. If this was what God had planned for to happen, then she'll gladly welcome it with open arms and let fate do the rest.

. . .

"Shinichi – niichan will come back for you. I know that." The bespectacled boy told her earnestly, as Agasa – hakase hoisted his luggage onto his car. Ai – chan sat at the front seat, watching the two from the inside as Ran and Conan said their goodbyes.

Ran smiled at him one last time and gave him a hug. This was the last time she'll ever get to feel him by her side, and Ran felt her chest tighten with more hurt and sadness. His arms went around her neck as well, though it was more of a child's embrace rather than the teenage longing of a hug that Shinichi gave her.

The two broke up their embrace, and stared at each other. One last look in the eyes before saying goodbye.

"Goodbye, Conan – kun."

Conan gave Ran a kiss on the cheek before making his way to Agasa – hakase's car.

"Goodbye, Ran – neechan. Thank you for everything. I enjoyed my stay at your place."

The car sped down the highway by the time Conan had closed the door. She imagined the car as Shinichi, running away to a certain direction as he waved at her.

She promised herself not to cry the other night, but she just couldn't hold herself. The tears came down before she can even register her tears had already made its way down her cheeks.

"Please, don't leave me."

It was already too late for that.

. . .

The first night had to be the hardest. Ran couldn't stop crying. It was quiet now that Conan is gone. Mouri Kogoro didn't seem to mind, seeing as how he always refers to Conan as a 'freeloader'.

"Oi Ran, you shouldn't feel bad. Conan is back with his family. You should be happy for the brat."

If only it were that easy.

. . .

She laid in bed as soon as her chores were done. There was nothing left to do after, and she didn't want to watch TV. Seeing one of her favorite night dramas would only mean more tears, and Ran hated crying so much. Though it's ironic to say how much she hates to cry when in fact she is the one who cries a lot on some cases.

Staring at her ceiling was a certain habit she'd do when something made her sad or lonely. She'd stare at the blank ceiling above her for an hour, reflecting on what made her feel that way. Today was one of the days she's decided to stare.

Ran let all the memories of Conan flash on her head, remembering every tiny little detail of his stay here. All the adventures they've been through, the laughs, the pain – physical pain like getting hurt because of a wound. It was amazing how a little child could bring so much excitement into her life. She'd give him credit for that. A soft smile emerged beneath her tears.

"This will pass. I'll just let it happen today before forgetting all about it tomorrow."

. . .

Hours turned into weeks, days turned into weeks. Slowly, Ran let it all pass her and soon forgot all about Conan's leave. She'd giggle quietly amongst herself and think how stupid it was to be sad over a child's leave. Although it did hurt her a bit, Ran realized it was only normal to feel that way. She was glad Conan went back home to America, where his real home is at.

. . .

The Detective Boys were distressed when they heard the news from him after he had told Ran he will take his leave soon. Genta and Mitsuhiko said how they'll miss him and the cases he'll ever bring to them. Everything will be different now that Conan wouldn't be there to lead them and help them with their oncoming cases, but they wouldn't let that get in the way from ever stopping the Detective Boys.

Ai – chan was well. She never spoke about his leave that much. It never bothered her, because she knew it was for the best.

"Edogawa – kun will be fine now that he is back in America. He's back at his real home, though I'd consider the fact that the Mouri Detective Agency was more of his real home than back there." She'd said when the Detective Boys came to visit.

Ayumi, however, was a whole different story. It's best if we don't go deeper into her feelings. But as you'd expect, she took Conan's leave the worst. She cried all the way to the agency, and Ran could see the emotions and expressions Ayumi gave out where nearly identical to what she had to go through with Shinichi's and Conan's leave.

All the children right in front of her were very special to him. Ran has seen how much Conan had changed them; bringing out the inner detectives in them while having to balance their childhood was hard even for her to do. She was proud of all of them, and she couldn't wait to see what they would be like in the future. All thanks to a boy named Edogawa Conan.

She vowed to herself she will never forget Conan Edogawa. She will always place him deep within her heart, and be a memory she will forever cherish and hold.

. . .

"Yo, Ran."

"Shinichi, is that you?"

"Yeah. I'm calling to tell you that I'm back. I've finished my case already."

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Wew! That took longer than I expected. So, first chapter's done! Ooohhh, I just love to leave cliffhangers for you readers. I will be taking my leave as well. Ja ne!

Oi Conan! Wait for me! I'm coming with you!