Hey Guys before you get started there are some things I want to address.
This is a Re-write, meaning more information has been added, so I suggest re-reading this if you been following from the start.
There will be a few times skips as we go along but they will be made clear so no worries.
The rating has gone up. I will also put any warnings I feel are necessary before any chapter, so you have prior warning.
I have worked my ass off to make this better and flow easier. If you want to leave encouraging comments, or little fact you know or even to point out something that effects the flow then that very much apricated and welcome. However, if you're just going to point out every mistake, even when they don't really affect the reading then I will tell you this now. Fuck off. I don't mind if your point out things that disrupt the flow off the story, but if you're just going to point them out to be difficult then please keep them to yourself. That said, please enjoy.
Ai leaned back in her chair, the lights in the lab glaring of the computer screen in front of her. Hardly daring to believe the results it showed. She had checked, double checked, triple checked even but still the results remained the same, testing positive for a long-lasting cure.
After two years of nonstop experimenting, researching and failures, she had finally finished the antidote. A pleased laugh left her lips, this meant that after all this time, she could now, officially, thank her saviour properly.
She looked up at her ceiling with glazed eyes, mind wandering back to what happened six months ago. So much time had passed and yet she still had a hard time believing they were really gone, that the organisation was no longer terrorizing Japan's good citizens.
She remembered with such clarity when Conan came over to tell her the news of the takedown. At the time it had come as such a surprise but now, as time had passed and she filled in the blanks she realised on some level she knew all along he'd had something planned. The vague comments and mysterious phone calls should have clued her in but alas she had been blind to them, perhaps on a subconscious level, she had intentionally missed the signs in fear of building her hopes too high for them only to be dashed again.
It had all be done with such deadly precision she wondered why she ever doubted him the first place, not a shred of evidence was left unfound. It was almost scary how well-informed Conan had been, somehow knowing every hidey hole, every name of their associates, knew the exact areas in where their off-shore accounts would be. It was almost as if he knew what they were going to do before they even did it. Now she thought about it, the circumstances had been rather odd in themselves, they had gone from knowing nothing about them to suddenly knowing everything, right down to their favoured candle scent.
A small part of her wanted to ask the teen stuck child how he knew it all, how he got so well versed in the movement of a criminal organisation she had worked for, for the better part of her life and still didn't even know quarter of the information he provided, but something stopped her. A little voice in her head that would warn her of danger whispered her to hold her tongue.
There was just something about the teen she didn't want to cross. A mystery clocked him, a secret so closely hidden it had shaped who he was, and she found herself afraid of what he would do the moment she uncovered it. No, she would just have to be content with what she knew and not question it further she told herself.
All she knew on the raid was that he had coordinated it all through the use of Shinichi and it was a success, not one man or women in black had gotten away, and she only knew this because he had to explain his urgent need for the antidote after the fact. Speaking of antidote, she had a detective geek to inform of her progress. With her thinking back on track she picked up her mobile and pressed the first number on speed dial.
She felt her heart rate accelerate slightly as a nervous excitement lit in the pit of her stomach when she heard the calling dial. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when she tells him that his long wait was finally over. Although she was excited about it she was also nervous. Despite her test results proving it to be a positive, long-lasting antidote, she couldn't ignore the little niggling doubt that told her it may not work. Before she could let the doubts begin to fester and eat away at her the call connected and a child's voice filtered through.
"Hey Haibara, do you need something?" A smile tugged at the corner of her lips at his brisk question, always to the point with him.
"Kudo-kun could you come over please?" she asked, deciding the conversation was best done in person.
There was the sound of movement on the other end of the phone, a murmured conversation spoken too far away for her to decipher, she assumed he was asking for permission from his legal guardian, Ran. Knowing from experience that it could take a while she held the pill up to the light, tipping her head at an angle while she looked at it, cradling the phone against her neck as she traced the intercut patterns the veins made on the pill with her eyes.
"Sure, are you able to tell me what this is about?" The boy replied, the sound of clothing rustling as he did something, most likely putting his shoes on she theorized.
"It's best we have this discussion in person" She answered vaguely, putting the pill back in its box for safe keeping.
"All right" he conceded "I'll be there in ten," he told her, not even waiting for a reply before hanging up.
She looked down at the disconnected call, tutting. 'Rude' she thought to herself, amused at his antics, having already gotten used to his abrupt endings. All though it was fair to say, he had gotten better on cutting back on the amount of hanging up he did. At one point he would cut the call in the middle of a conversation thinking it was done, resulting a lot of angry, worried phone callers who had thought something bad had happened to make him end the call. Safe to say he got the message.
Knowing it would be a few minutes before he arrived, she went back to her research. The steady rhythmic tap-tapping of the keyboard floated around the room, giving her the feeling of comfort at the familiarity of it. The low hum of her computer adding to the peacefulness.
Minutes ticked by while she worked, making steady process on a thesis she had been working on, every now and then the click of the mouse breaking her rhythmic typing as she researched facts to back up her claim.
Ai was reading through an article published by University of East Anglia titled Shape of DNA can be changed with a range of triggers including copper and oxygen. She had just gotten to the most fascinating part of it all and was reading reverently mouthing the words as she went along. 'The team added copper salts to DNA in oxygen-free conditions in order to change its shape to an i-motif. By exposing the i-motif to oxygen in the air, it then changed from in i-motif into a hairpin.
The shape can then be changed from a hairpin back to an i-motif by adding sodium ascorbate, which is similar to vitamin C, and back to an unfolded state using a chelating agent. "This research means that now we can not only change the shape of DNA using a change in pH, we-" The sound of the front door opening broke her concentration.
"Hello?" A child's voice echoed down the stairway to the lab.
"Down here Kudo-Kun" The little scientist hollered back, marking the tab before closing it, intent on returning to it a little later in the day.
The sound of small feet descending the stairs filled the room. The owner of those footsteps appearing around the corner a short few moments later, Conan Edogawa.
"So, what was so important that you needed me here for?" The miniature detective questioned taking a seat in front of her, a mixture of worry and curiosity on display in his expressive blue eyes.
"Oh nothing" She teased, twirling around to face him. "Just thought you might be interested in this," She said casually. Holding up a white and red capsule.
"No way." His eyes widened as he took in the rather commercial looking pill. This couldn't be real, nothing in his life ever went right, there was no way she had actually done it, there was simply no way Haibara completed the antidote. She had to be joking with him, the pill in front of him had to be another prototype like the rest, it just had to be a temporary cure because if it wasn't then that meant. "You didn't-" he breathed, not sure if he was ready to complete the sentence and get the inevitable answer that, no, he's getting ahead of himself, that this was all an elaborate plan to get back at him for something he had no recollection of doing. But he had to ask, he needed to know. "Is this-?"
"Yes, it is, genius," she said, her voice dry and sarcastic. "I see that they don't call you the Heisei Holmes for nothing." A triumphant smirk graced her face.
Conan reached out but hesitated. Cure or not, things weren't as simple as popping the pill and returning to his life today, as much as it pained him to admit. The connection between Conan and Shinichi had to be protected at all costs, if for nothing else but for the sake of Haibara's own disguise. Too many questions would be asked now, and all the wrong conclusions garnered, tongues wag on the best of days, no reason to stoke the fire anymore. He let he hand drop, arm flopping back down to his side uselessly.
"What's wrong? Isn't this what you have waited two years for? To be able to return to the life of Kudo Shinichi?" She inquired perplexed, the earlier worry beginning to surface once more. Had she gotten it all wrong, he did want to return to his original life, right? Had she missed some big announcement he was going to remain Conan? She frowned to herself while she thought, pursing her lips slightly. No that couldn't be it, all the boy would talk about since they met was returning to his old life, so it must be something else. The only thing she could think of that would cause such a reaction was if he didn't believe her. Surely, he must know she wouldn't set him up for another fall, he'd had enough to last a lifetime, she certainly wasn't going to be the result of another. Before she could get ahead of herself and let the thoughts lead her astray Conan answered.
Conan nodded "It is, but like you said, it's been two years. I can't just Vanish off the face of the earth while the real me just pops back into existence in the same timeline." He pointed out. "It would raise far too much suspicion and would be putting both our lives in danger"
Haibara considered what the detective was saying and could see where he was coming from. She felt a little silly that she hadn't thought of it herself. Ruthlessly she beat back the doubt that had reared its ugly head.
"I take it you have a plan then" She presumed, getting up and placing the antidote into a labelled bottle, popping that into the safe she had installed in the lab. Locking it before making her way back to the boy.
"Don't I always?" He smirked "I'm going to wait a month before taking it. That way I've got enough time to prepare and say goodbye to everyone, make a believable story out of it. Once I've taken the antidote I will hide away for a while, build up a solid case of evidence that will put a stop to any doubt people may have, after that all I have left to do is reintegrate myself back into society."
While he gave a brief explanation of his plan Conan sat back, his legs dangling off the chair as he swung them back and forth unconsciously, looking like the eight-year-old he currently was. More detailed Plan already formulating in his mind as her voice drifted away, snapping back just in time to hear her latest question.
"Are you going to stay in touch with the detective boys once you 'leave' or do you have another plan in mind for that too?" She asked curiously, an image of him laughing with them rising unbidden in her mind.
"I don't know yet," The boy said thoughtfully, looking off into space "Part of me would like to stay in touch with them, to send them letters and whatnot, but the other part of me, the logical side. Tells me to just vanish, to not drag it on any longer than necessary and give them false hope." Seeing the look on her face he realised he would have to give her more than that.
"I won't be able to visit them, and they will never be able to visit me like they will want to, so I think its best that once I'm gone I stay gone." He stated a little sadly. No matter how much he wished he could tell them, in the end, he knew it was safer for them not to know. When it came down to it, it didn't matter whether it would break his heart or not, the risk was just too great to take, but that didn't mean he couldn't see them again. Brightening at the knowledge he would still have a friendship with them, even if I was a little different, he rushed on to tell her his idea.
"I will befriend them as Shinichi though. Just because they can't have Conan doesn't mean I'm going to move on and leave them to it, not with the amount of trouble, you lot get into" He teased "it wouldn't be right to just up and leave without leaving them any help" he thought back on all trouble they seemed to get themselves into even when he wasn't with them. He'd lost count of the scared phones calls he had gotten from one of them, having witnessed something and had willingly put themselves in danger. No, he couldn't leave them now knowing what he knew about them and their love for mysteries.
Ai smiled- a rare treat from her. A sincere edge in her teasing voice, she retorted, "Admit it, you'll just miss them."
"You know what," said Shinichi softly, "I think I will." He scratched his cheek nervously. " All the more reason to keep them safe. It's not like I'm going to forget them now that I'm Shinichi- We really are friends, even if they are annoying, troublemaking six-year-olds" He admitted softly, a fond look in his eyes. He loved those kids dearly and would miss the closeness they had with Conan, but it was time to move on. The kids will still be there, he'd just have to start from scratch and create new memories with them as he built up the trust once more.
After his confession, there was a lull conversation, both thinking over how much it was all going to change in a months' time. With Conan no longer attending Teitan Elementary and no longer having to fight for the attention and proof of recognition to his supreme intellect. It will be hard leaving the life he had built for himself as Conan, leaving the amazing friendships he had created and cultivated during his time as a child. He knew he could try and get them back as Shinichi, but it wouldn't be the same, he was going to miss being Conan, but it was time, time for Shinichi to take the limelight once again.
"Go on, get out of here. I know your itching to start putting your plan into action" Ai shooed, turning back to her work in an excuse not to look at him, she had a vague feeling as to where his thoughts had been and didn't want to broach the subject right now. It will be hard watching him grow to his original size again, it felt she was losing her best friend and her confidant. Logically she knew he would still be there, after all, Shinichi's mind never changed just his physical attributes, but that didn't stop the shiver of loneliness as it swept through her.
Since becoming a child Conan had always been by her side, a constant in the whirlwind of chaos and now he was leaving her, leaving her to drift in the unknown, to venture the world alone but most of all, he was abandoning her when she needs him, needed him to muddle through living out her life in reverse, taking away the option of having someone to talk to who would understand her predicament like nobody else ever could. She wasn't sure if she resented him for that fact or not.
"You're not going to be alone you know" Conan stated, having been watching her closely, recognising the signs of her upset and correctly deducing the cause. "I'll be a few inches taller but I'm still going to be me. We can still do all we do now and have our weekly discussions on the latest scientific discovery, none of that is going to change." He shifted in his chair, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the topic. He wasn't very good with feelings and had many points to back up his claim, but he was going to try because she was important to him and he needed her to understand that.
Ai turned to look at him "You don't know that Kudo-Kun. You don't know that you won't get distracted by a case and forget me" She held up her hand to stop him, a look of resignation on her face "maybe not at first but it will happen. Intentionally or unintentionally, it doesn't matter, we both know how invested you get when working, losing all track of time" her shoulders slumped, a look of defeat on her face. She knew it would happen, the boy couldn't even remember his own birthday for Christ sake, how was he going to remember her?
"No, you're right, I can't know that" he agreed, eyes narrowing slightly, a crease forming in his brow as a small frown worked its way into its face "But I do know that I will never forget you, I can't promise there won't be moments where I can't do our weekly meets or pick you up from school so we can go to that coffee place they wouldn't let us in without an adult, but I can promise you that I will always come back to you" he slid off the plastic chair and made his way over to her. "You are a very important person to me Ai and I treasure our friendship, I'm not going to throw that away just because I'm big again" he took out a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her.
The little scientist sniffed as a few traitorous tears slipped through the damn holding them in place. Thanking him in a croaky voice as she took the offered tissue, using it to wipe her eyes. Heart-warming as she heard the sincerity in those words. She felt daft for doubting him but couldn't help having them. Shinichi, the detective boys and the professor were all that she had left now and losing one felt like losing a limb. She had already lost her sister, she didn't want to lose her brother too.
However, after his passionate declaration, she felt those fears begin to dissipate, the feeling of familiar love taking it place. Never let it be said that this daft goofball of a detective didn't know how to accurately get his point across.
"Thank you" she whispered voice cracking "and you better keep your promise, I really want to go to La beauté du café" she laughed weakly at her own joke, slowly beginning to relax.
Conan watched as the last of the tension drained out of her with a relieved smile. Sometimes he forgot she had a heart and could feel just like everyone else. It was easy to overlook that with her because of the cold front she projects out to the world, thinking not for the first time how beautiful she looked when smiling and indevoured to try and make it happen more often.
"Ah La beauté du café or better known as The beauty of coffee, you have my word, the first chance we get we will go, I will even let you buy whatever you want off the menu, my treat" he winked, shifting from one foot to the other as a feeling of restlessness began to make itself known. Now that he had cheered her up, that feeling of needing to do something was demanding his attention once more.
"Ooh dangerous game Kudo-Kun, you should never tell a child they can get whatever they want" she gave him a shark like grin, eyes gleaming in mischief as she saw his horrified look, face paling as it sunk in what he had just done.
"Oh god, I'm going to go bankrupt" he uttered wide-eyed, staring at her in trepidation. He took that back, she wasn't beautiful she was evil, pure evil. A demon hiding in a skin suit, masquerading as a human. A menace who used up people's money like it was water.
A laugh of either pure delight or a cackle of wickedness left the child's lips. A bolt of fear shot down his spine. Feeling very much like he had just made a deal with the devil, fighting the instinct to run the hell out of dodge. A restless tick beginning to show the longer he was there.
Picking up on his now obvious agitation and desire to do something she decided to cut the talk short. "Go on mister hotshot detective, go make the calls you need to make. We can pick this conversation up later if need be" A smile tugging at the corner of her mouth when she saw his hand twitch, itching to go into his pocket and whip out his phone. If she knew him like she thinks she does, then she knew there were some people he wanted to call.
The detective smiled at the little scientist's casual dismissal "Thanks Ai" he called rushing up the stairs, phone in hand. He'd had plans in place for a while now he just never thought he would get the chance to use them. With a spring in his step and a smile plastered across his face, he ran up the stairs and out the door, slowing his pace once he's reached the walkway.
The first person he called was Hattori, the reason being was because the detective had been by his side pretty much since the beginning of it all. He knew more than anyone else just what he had gone through to get those criminals were they rightly deserved to be, behind bars. If anyone deserved to hear the good news first it was Hattori. The boy had practically invested his life almost in getting Conan returned to Shinichi.
It only took two rings before the Osakian answered the phone, not really surprising the other with his quickness. Detectives had to be quick to respond to calls in case it was a new case they were needed on. The quick answering of the phone was so ingrained in them now, it was physically impossible to ignore the call, they simply had to answer.
"Ku-Conan-Kun what'd ya wan'?" Conan rolled his eyes at the botched-up name. No matter how many times he instilled the 'Do NOT say my real name' rule the detective still messed it up. The amount of times Ran had almost caught him on that fact alone, he shuddered, he didn't even want to think what would have happened if both his mother and -inadvertently- Kid hadn't come to his rescue.
Conan opened his mouth, about to reveal his news when he stopped, clamping his mouth shut. He thought back to all the times they had said something pretty revealing and how someone always ended up either being in the room or walking in just at the right or in this case wrong moment. It was best to play it safe, especially if Hattori had corrected himself, that usually meant someone who knew Conan and would see his name flash up on the screen was there. "You alone?" he finally asked, playing it safe, slightly confused when he heard a train announcement in the background.
"No, Kazuha and I 'ave come ta Beika for the day, we just got off the train. Why, do ya need som'ing?" Ah, that explained the train noises. He thought about asking them to meet somewhere so he could tell him but thought better of it. He hadn't even told Ran yet and for Hattori to have a plausible reason to leave Kazuha's side they would need Ran, plus that also meant Hattori would have yet another lie he'd have to tell Kazuha when they got back, he didn't want to add that to their still new relationship.
"It's nothing important. You go and enjoy your date and ring me back at the nearest convenience" he replied, squeezing through the crowded streets as he navigated his way back "home".
"Oi" he heard the other growl causing him to chuckle, it didn't take much to embarrass the tan teen "Ya sure?" he heard the slight worry in the question and hurried to ease the other, momentarily forgetting all the times he had said something wasn't important and it ended up being exactly that.
"Yeah, I'm sure. It can wait until your free" he reassured, seeing the Mori flat coming into view.
"Alright, talk later," Hattori said, sounding slightly distracted. Over the line Conan could make out the sound of Kazuha rambling something excitedly on the other side, most likely over a piece of vegetation of some disruption, the girl had a fascination with flowers -not that he could blame her, flowers were awesome- before the phone cut dead.
Which was just as well because he had made it to the stairs of the agency and was just about to go in. He took a moment, dawdling as he hyped himself up for what he was about to do. He hated lying to her, especially when he knew it would make her sad, but he had to do this. As much as it would be easier in some ways to remain a child in her care, he had to face facts, changing or not changing would end in the same result, Ran would be hurt either way. At least doing it this way she regains her childhood friend, even if it was at the loss of her little brother.
Knowing and doing where two different things though, despite what his mother said, ripping a band-aid off hurt just as much if you slowly pulled at it over time as it did when pulled quickly. Looking at his watch he saw it was close to curfew, it was time to face the music. He took a fortifying breath, bracing himself before plastering on a wide smile often found on a child's face and rushed in.
"Ran-neechan! Ran-neechan! Guess what?!" Conan's excited voice called as he ran into the agency. Having already determined she was home by listening to her movements in the hallway beforehand.
"What is it Conan- Kun?" She kneeled in front of the little boy. Feeling her own smile widen as she felt the happiness radiating off him. Whatever happened over at the professor's place must have been good for child to smile this widely.
"I just got off the phone with mommy and she said that I'm going home, isn't that great! I get to see daddy again." He grinned, child's mask fully in place. In the deep recess of his mind, he spared a thought to those who take care of other people's children, wondered if the pain he felt just saying this to her was even on the same level as theirs when they hear this.
A sad look entered the karate champions eye's, a matching smile joining it.
She would be sad to see the boy she had grown to love like a little brother go away, but this wasn't about her. It was more important he grew up with his own parents than with her and her alcoholic father. She wasn't blind to her old man's faults and realised early on that taking in a child hadn't been the best idea, but she had gotten attached and thought if she had a more watchful eye on him and kept him out her father's way it would be fine, so she never told his parents when they phoned weekly to ask how he was and how she was coping. Instead, she kept it secret and little by little she slowly realised things couldn't remain this way forever. In some small way, she was relieved the decision was taken out of her hands and had been made for her.
"That's brilliant Conan. I'm so happy for you. Do you know when you leave?" she asked putting on a brave face. What's done is done, all she could do now was accept it and move on. She would hold her tears until she had the privacy her room had to offer, away from prying eyes and little children. She would be strong for Conan and see him off with a smile, she would not let him see her tears.
"Un!" he nodded his head excitedly "Daddy said that James was going to come to get me at the end of the month since they will be busy setting up a surprise for me." The child lied, jumping on the balls of his feet as he swung back and forth, hands clasped excitedly in front of him. Eyes wide in that childish excitement all kids seemed to have.
"Well, I guess we better make the most of our time left together" She cheered, straightening, clapping her hands together as a fake smile was painted brittlely across her face. Mind racing with things she had to do with him before the clock ran out and he was out of her reach forever.
The shrunken detective watched his childhood friend tried to hide her pain, listing of things they had to do before he left. His heart felt heavy with the weight of the lies he was telling, eventually, it became too much seeing her forced smile and had to look away, the light reflecting off his glasses, hiding his eyes from view.
Later that night he tossed and turned. Listening to Ran's muffled sobs. Wrestling with his mind on what to do, not wanting to hurt people anymore, but knowing it was all that kept them alive. Even with the Org gone, there was still evil out there. Ones who would use the secrets he had against him and kill all who knew. No matter how upset people became it wasn't worth the cost of their life by telling them.
Anyway, it wouldn't be his first big secret he had to keep, he'd plenty of practice of doing that over the years and was no stranger to telling lies, despite what other people thought, he could act with the best of them, he just chooses not to on such small matters. Speaking of secrets, Hattori never did get back in touch, the other mused, starting off a whole new chain of thought.
'Shin-Chan' A soft voice spoke telepathically, startling him from his thoughts as he rolled over for the nth time that night.
'What up Pan-Chan?' He thought back. Pulling the necklace out from under his top, stroking the large sapphire jewel around his neck in a loving caress. Speak of the devil he shall appear or in this case secrets. Pandora was his longest and darkest kept secret. Nobody but himself, his parents and the original owner of the gem knew that he had her and he intended for it to remain that way.
'I'm worried about you. Even with the threat gone your still stressed and your thoughts are in disarray. Is taking the antidote really such a big deal?' Pandora asked curiously, worry coating her tone. Her charges mind was always buzzing with ideas, but it wasn't normally as disorganised as it was at this very moment. Thoughts were coming up left right and centre with no real connection, the majority of them being negative and had tangible feelings of fear and panic behind them.
'I'm scared' Shinichi confessed after a beat of silence. Not really knowing what else to say, he knew she had been reading into his thoughts so she most likely knew what exactly he was thinking as well as feeling, she just wanted him to express himself in the belief that speaking the problem out loud would make the person feel better, he had yet to find proof this technique works but he would humour her anyway.
'What are you scared of?' The gem questioned, lightly. Giving Shinichi the illusion he didn't have to answer when they both knew she would push until he did. She was famed for her curiosity and the lengths she would go to satisfy it. The only reason she phrased it that way was because Shinichi had been teaching her a thing or two about etiquette. Knowing he had no way out he answered.
'I've been gone so long, missed so much. I was never able to return to school and even though I graduated with my class I never got to go to the graduation ceremony. I'm afraid I have been left behind.' His eyes grew distant and sad, focusing on nothing particular in the dark room.
'I am under no illusions that time has stood still, rather it has moved on. People have changed and the way of doing things and what had been popular then are not popular now. I suppose even I have changed, but I worry that with all these changes, there will be no place for me.' He swallowed roughly, fingers trembling slightly as he continued to do the slow repetitive stroking of the gem, trying to stop the onslaught of emotions that were threatening to swallow him whole.
'I'm so afraid that their Shinichi has been forgotten and the ties I once had, are now broken. That the "new" Shinichi will be cast aside. During my time as Conan I met so many people and made so many friends, friends I would never have had the opportunity of meeting before as Shinichi, and because of that, I have been surrounded by people since I moved in with Ran. I guess what I'm really afraid of is to be alone again' sighed the detective, rolling over and clutching his necklace, as if it was the only tether trying him to this earth and without it, he would just float away.
It was hard for the detective to articulate his thoughts in a manner that correctly expressed what he wanted to say. Often, he found himself downplaying his feeling or not expressing them correctly, feeling silly afterword's because he made things sound so petty when in his head, they were monumental.
He knew what he'd said sounded childish, but he honestly felt that way. He didn't want to be left alone, forgotten while everyone else had moved on with their lives, just being a passing mention in the story of their life. For the last two years, he had been surrounded by people and had grown accustomed to it.
What had started out as a bother or an inconvenience had turned out to be something he greatly enjoyed and hadn't known he previously needed. He discovered over the eighteen months that he loved having people who understood him and could follow his tangents when he went on one. Wherever he turned someone was there to offer a smile and shoulder for support. Now, he didn't know if that would remain the same, or even if he could go back to the way things had been before.
Back to a time where he had missing parents and few friends, back to a time where he would go days without seeing a soul to talk to other then his bodies. Where people were more interested in what he could do for you rather then he himself. He didn't think he could live that isolated life now that he'd had a taste of what a life could be like, filled with people who love you and want to talk to you.
'Oh Shin-Chan, you're a silly boy. Surely in that big old head of yours you know that you will never be alone, I shall always be with you, keeping you company. So what if the world has left no place for you, we will just have to force people to remember how amazing you are and make you a new place, one even better than the last. There are over seven billion people on this planet Shinichi, if these ones don't want ya we will just find some that will' Chirped the stone, causing her guardian to release a light giggle.
She didn't understand humans, they were complex creatures, and while she could emulate human feelings and create an echo using an example from their own, she would never be able to fully grasp concepts such as being alone or the fear of being forgotten, but that didn't stop her from trying. She loved her human and wanted him happy and if being alone scares him then she will do everything in her power to make sure it never happens, that's a promise.
'Thanks Pan-Chan, that makes me feel a little better' The young boy thanked, kissing the magical stone, feeling its cool glass surface against his lips. His worries and fears weren't gone, they were still there, lurking just below the surface but he had faith in Pandora and if she said he wouldn't be alone then he believed her. He felt doubt trying to sink its claws into him, logic telling him that it was impossible to know what will happen in the future and if that will remain true, but he ignored it, instead focusing on relaxing his body, allowing the sleepiness to creep in.
'Anything for my bezzie' she grumbled bashfully, giving the boy the impression, she was a mixture of pleased and embarrassed. There was nothing she could do now about his fears, not with him falling asleep so she stored the information away for another day, having a hunch that one day it may need to be addressed again.
'Night detective Geek' the magical being whispered fondly. Already feeling the haziness of sleep clouding their bond. Content to let things be, just sending over calm soothing waves in the hopes it would help him sleep better.
'Night Rudolph's nose' he slurred back, finally able to fall asleep, welcoming the dark embrace with open arms, knowing tomorrow would be a busy day.