Say 'Goodbye'

Try so hard to say 'goodbye…'

'Just take it.' She said, holding back tears. Her stern-like act stood still like a podium holding up a concrete roof. However, the child in front of her wasn't as strong.

Just those three words made the other child further put his suspicions at ease. With the smirk she had grown to love, he looked down, shadow covering his eyes.

'You know I can't do that. I said I'd protect you…and I will…' He looked up, slight glare against his glasses.

Her eyes widened, a tear rolling down her cheek, despite herself. She shook her head solemnly, 'No, I'll be fine; you belong to her. Here: take it.' She held out the object of his desire in her hands.

He continued to smirk as he reached up and pushed her bangs away from her face. Her face grew hot at his touch. He took out a small tissue from his pocket and wiped the wet trail her tear had made on her face.

Hesitantly, he brushed her face with the back of her hand. She tilted her head and pushed against his hand tenderly as if he were petting a cat. Her senses came back to her.

'No,' she pulled back from him, 'just take it, Kudo-kun. Just take it and forget!'

He frowned, 'You think I can just take it, leaving you, and forget anything that has ever happened?'

'You use to believe you could…' she whispered turning her face away from his.

He nodded, looking away, 'I use to believe in a lot of things…' he smiled bitterly, 'I use to believe she was the only one who could ever…whom I could ever…'

He turned back to her and grabbed her by the chin making her face him, 'But I guess I was wrong…'

She bit her lip. She shook her head, smiling angrily, 'No, you weren't wrong. It can end here and now. All you have to do,' she gently pushed his hand away and held out her own hand again, 'is take it.'

He pushed out his hand to the item she held in her hands. In between his fingers, so small, it gave the impression of being so insignificant. He knew the importance of the item, both to him and the girl who made it. Feeling it, he thought of crushing it. Doing as the girl told him: forget. But he knew if he destroyed it, neither would ever forget. Her work would seem futile and his life would never feel complete.

He brought it close to his lips. The girl looked at him longingly, awaiting the final moment of them together like that. Before he placed it in his mouth, he stopped abruptly.

'What's wrong?' she searched his eyes for the answer.

Looking at the pill placed in front of him, he thought of how she called him over. She feigned sickness, worrying him half to death. With a small chuckle, she allowed him to look at what he needed. Finally facing reality, she looked at him with a broken smile, 'Just take it.'

He looked at her eyes, causing her to clench her fists. 'Tell me those words.'

She held her breath. 'What words?'

He frowned, 'The ones I know you really want to say. Tell me and I'll reply.'

Her hands loosened their grip. With more tears falling from her eyes, she looked down and said, 'I…I…'

He waited, pill forgotten in his grasp. Finally, she whispered, 'Just take it.'

She pushed him out of the way and ran to the door.

'Haibara!' he reached out for her. She stopped, hand on the knob, door slightly open.

'W-what?' she sobbed, turning her head to look over her shoulder.

He looked away from her, 'I…I'll protect you.'

She nodded her head, rubbed her eyes, and ran out of the room, never to see 'Edogawa Conan' again.

-Dire Moonstone-