No... This can't be happening... I'm seeing things, I must be. She laughed a little hysterically. If I close my eyes and count to three, it would be different.
Ran closed her eyes.
One... Her heart thumped.
Two... Her palms started perspiring.
Three... She dreaded the moment. Deep down, she knew what she saw, but she was not willing to accept the facts. It seemed like forever as she gradually unlocked her eyes.
Nothing had changed. There was still the amorous duo, snogging each other so heatedly as if it was no one else's business. Every millisecond Ran faced them, a razor-sharp dagger was thrust deeper into her broken heart. It was incredibly difficult to breathe. Ran wished to cry her heart out, but even her tears failed her. Only a trickle ran down her pallid cheek, one full of devastation and forlorn. Feeling extremely vulnerable, she seeked desperately for a place to hide, but it was as if even God was against her, for the multitude of people roaming around even thinned, and she was unbearably exposed to the harrowing scene before her. For a moment, it felt like the limelight was shining over the three of them and everyone else was just backdrop. Ran felt so alone and forsaken. All she wanted was to escape from everyone, from Shinichi...
With a burst of energy, she bolted away. The anticipated tears which had eluded her so finally came pouring out, trailing sideways beside her puffy eyes as she sprinted at high-speed away from it all. Shinichi! So that's why he's been missing! So he can make out with another girl! I'm nothing to him! Nobody, zilch! And I was so worried for him...
She did not know where to go. All she knew was that she had to flee from Shinichi. She ran and ran, tears blurring her vision. Suddenly, a glaring light travelled at full tilt towards her. It was a car, and it was going to smash into her!
SHINICHI!!
--
"Kiss me!" Akako had ordered as soon as she caught sight of Ran coming into the theatre. Rapidly, she pulled Tenichi towards her and pressed her lips onto Tenichi's. Tenichi was surprised but nevertheless gratified. They started to tongue-kiss in the presence of the public.
The kiss maintained for some more time but anguish began to inundate Tenichi's heart for some reason. He felt like he should not be doing this, that he had to rescue someone, someone tremendously important and dear to him. His mind told him to prolong the kiss, but his heart pounded furiously against it. Fighting his mind's command with a massive amount of willpower, he wrenched himself away from Akako and dashed out of the theatre, following the directions his heart notified him.
Akako stared at his receding silhouette and smiled ironically. I should have known, the love potion is nothing against true love...
Meanwhile, Tenichi ran faster and faster. The angst in his heart augmented every second until it was paramount. Tears streamed down his eyes incomprehensibly as his heart was about to explode at the overwhelming emotions. There seemed to be nothing wrong, but his heart told him a terrible tragedy was about to happen. Abruptly, he saw the appalling scene. The girl in his dreams, his angel, was about to be collided into by a car!
He leaped with every ounce of energy he had towards the girl and lugged her away from the fatal pathway of the car. It whooshed hazardously near them. Shinichi gasped for air and anxiously asked, "Daijobu?"
Ran looked up, more than a bit shaken. The sight of Shinichi brought back all the tears again.
"Shinichi, why, why must you save me? Why do you always show up when I need you most? Why don't you just be cruel to me? How am I supposed to forget you like this..."
Tenichi continued to heave unusually. His memories had started to return fervently as soon as he touched Ran's velvety skin. "Shinichi, you always look out for me." "Ran, go back home first! I'll catch up with you later!" "You're Kudo, aren't you?" "Wh-what are you saying? Look at me, I'm just a kid!" "If only you were Shinichi, Conan-kun..." "Shinichi has only been gone for three days and I already can't eat and sleep. I'm hopeless..." "Yeah, I really am..." "Shinichi-nichan said he will be back, even if it costs his life! So... So... So please wait for him!" "Wait! Don't go, Shinichi! I also have a lot of questions to ask you..." "Ran..."
His brain felt like burning and his chest excruciatingly painful. He could not support himself any longer and fell into Ran's lap, barely conscious. Struggling, he opened his eyes an inch to look at Ran's lovely face.
"I'm so glad you're ok," he gasped out, "Ran."
The moment he said that, he fell into a deep deep sleep.
"Shinichi! Shinichi! What's wrong with you? SHINICHI!!"
Suddenly, their surroundings orbitted around them. It was like being in the centre of a typhoon. Ran, hugging Shinichi tightly, looked around in fright.
"Shinichi, what's going on?" asked Ran in panic. There was no response.
As impulsively as it started, everything came to a halt. Ran found Shinichi and herself in a luxurious yet gloomy room. They were not the only ones there; Kaitou Kid and the girl who was with Shinichi were there too.
--
Kaitou Kid had penetrated every line of security placed around the sparkly amethyst residing on a cushioned platform. He reached out his gloved hand and was about to extract the precious gem when all of a sudden things began gyrating around him.
Akako, on the other hand, had been resting on a bench dolefully, awaiting the momentous moment. As she had expected, she arrived at her home after the tornado-like experience.
Ran blinked in perplexity. She had no idea what was going on at all.
"Shinichi?" Ran asked, staring at the duo who had just turned up. Getting still no response, she looked down. Conan was lying there instead of Shinichi, his face as white as sheet. Then she noticed the blood-spattered spot on Conan's chest.
"Conan-kun? Conan!" Ran screamed. A hunch tugged at the back of her brain. Their same birthdays, same brilliance, same lack of knowledge in music, their near-identical faces... And sometimes, Conan would look at me with sadness that wasn't supposed to appear on a 6-year-old's face. There are moments when Conan would solemnly say he had a different identity but he was always interrupted... Masaka... He was trying to tell me that h-he was Shinichi?
"Conan! Shinichi! Wake up!" Ran quivered all over at the horrifying sight before her eyes, "Please wake up... Please..."
Now the tears were unstoppable. They flowed freely down Ran's smooth cheeks. Kaito took off his hat and monocle and patted Ran gently on the back. Akako hung her head dejectedly.
"Someone please tell me what's going on!" Ran screeched frantically.
With as consoling a voice as Kaito could muster, he knelt down beside Ran and briefly enlightened her. Ran listened in shock to how Conan had met up with the Black Organisation, how he was shrunk, how he had secretly protected Ran and carried the humongous burden alone, how he had died in Gin's hands and then revived and how he had lived after that.
"Shinichi died... Because of me? Because I brought back his memories?" Ran wheezed in a shrill voice.
"No, no! It's not your fault. It's his fate after all..." Kaito replied in a resigned tone.
Akako finally spoke up. "I can buy him three more hours of living," she said. Kaito detected a subdued tone in her voice.
"What's the snag this time?" he asked vigilantly. It could not be so simple.
"I-I have to give up my po-power in exchange for that," Akako stammered out. Kaito and Ran both gasped.
"Akako-"
"I've made up my mind," Akako stated peremptorily. Kaito and Ran stared at her in silence.
Quickly, as if she was afraid she would change her mind a second later, she set her right hand on Conan's wound and recited some tune. Light shone from her hand and when it was gone, so was Conan's wound. Abruptly, Conan opened his twinkling blue eyes.
"Ran," Conan gasped, "Kid!"
"Glad to have you back, kiddo, but there's no time to lose." Kaito clarified the situation succinctly.
"Arigatou gozaimasu!" Conan directed at Akako. Akako, who was slumped in a chair, smiled slightly in reply.
"Go! Spend some quality time with your girlfriend!" Akako urged. Ran and Conan gave her one last look of gratefulness before leaving hand in hand.
--
The setting sun blazed golden in the glorious sky, its magnificent rays illuminating a sweet couple on the grassy hills. Only they did not look much like a couple because it was a young woman with a boy of 6 years. However, they were as loving as any couple could be.
"It's beautiful, Shinichi. It has always been my dream to watch the sunset with you," Ran said softly. Although it was Conan beside her, in Ran's eyes Shinichi was as tangible as the ground beneath her. The same determined eyes, the same jaw line, perhaps a little chubbier. But to Ran, it made no difference.
"It is beautiful, but not as beautiful as you," Conan said. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he blushed fiercely.
Ran was surprised. Shinichi had never said anything that romantic to her. And she was very pleased.
"Shinichi?"
Conan turned to her wonderingly. "Yes?"
"Do you remember what you told me when I lost my memory? When we were running away from the murderer?" Ran asked, reddening herself.
"What I said? Which one?"
"You know, the one otousan said when he proposed to okasan? Can you repeat it to me?" Ran flushed as red as beetroot.
"Oh, that one..." Conan recalled with a blush, "Ahehem. Ran Mouri, I love you more than anyone in this world!"
Ran looked into Conan's eyes adoringly. "I love you more than anyone in this world too, Shinichi Kudo."
The few remaining rays barely lighted their faces as they affirmed their love with sugary kiss.
What finally jolted them apart was a loud bang in the sky followed by showering sparks. It was fireworks! With each flowery flicker the darkening sky lit up. Ran and Conan basked in it with relish. Although they did not say anything, they both grasped what was in each other's mind – the fireworks symbolised their passion which brightened their lives. Ran, I hope that every time you see fireworks, you will remember me...
Suddenly, Conan felt something warm seeping into his shirt. He did not have to look down to know what it was. He glimpsed at his watch. His three hour limit was almost up.
Summoning every bit of energy he had left suffering from the agonising ache in his chest, he said, possibly a little weakly, "Ran, I have to go to the restroom, ok? Wait for me here."
"Ok," Ran replied, totally unaware of the fact he was dying - she could not see clearly in the dark and she was not wearing a watch.
Conan walked as steadily as he could until he was out of Ran's sight. Then, he tumbled down behind a thick bush. I can't let Ran see me die! It's too harsh on her!
Conan experienced the same pain he felt when Gin shot him. Then his eyes closed.
--
Ran waited for a full five minutes before she started wondering where Conan had gone. Then she suddenly knew.
"Shinichi! Come out, Shinichi! Don't hide from me!" Ran shouted, her anxiety accumulating quickly.
"Shinichi! If you don't come out now I'll let you have a taste of my back kick! SHINICHI!"
Ran searched around frenetically, her gradually tearful eyes sweeping the area for any sign of Conan. She looked behind bushes after bushes and tears began streaming down her face once more that day.
Shinichi, please don't leave me again! I want to see your face. I need you. Please don't leave me... Why? Why do you always leave me behind? I won't forgive you, Shinichi!
She was at the verge of giving up when she at last discovered Conan's figure behind a bush.
"Shinichi!" Ran scrambled down beside him and hugged him frenziedly. She could not really believe Conan was dead until she touched his icy hand. As it struck her, she almost fainted and collapsed onto the grass. However, through her hazy eyes she noticed something written down in blood beside her. It read: Be strong, Ran. Shinichi...
Something purely white arrived out of the blue. It was Kaitou Kid, holding the glittering purple amethyst in his hand.
"Quick! Legend says that there's a gem called Pandora which could grant immortality if someone consumes the single drop of water flowing from it when he puts it under moonlight. It should be true; my otousan died looking for it. It could save Kudo-kun's life!"
The new hope spurred Ran back to full consciousness. Looking expectantly at the gem as Kaitou exposed it to full moonlight, they waited. And waited.
"It's no use!" Ran cried in despair. Her tears dripped onto Conan's pasty face. The moonlight shone on the both of them, and on Ran's ruby brooch. Suddenly, a drop of water appeared on the glossy surface and dripped directly into Conan's mouth.
Light emanated from Conan supernaturally and before their eyes he expanded into Shinichi, much to everyone's astonishment! Shinichi coughed and opened his eyes wide.
"Hey, I'm not dead!"
"Baro! Can't you say something a little more optimistic?" Ran admonished amidst tears and laughter. With joy, she pounced into Shinichi's arms.
"So the ruby is Pandora!" Kaito exclaimed, "Man, you really won't die!"
"That's the welcome I get from my 'twin brother'?" Shinichi snorted. Then he turned meaningfully to Ran, "You saved my life."
Their face drew together and they were about to kiss when Kaitou annoyingly butted in. "Ahem, should we go now?"
Shinichi and Ran shot icy daggers at him. And disregarding him, their face pressed together and they sealed their lips with a sizzling kiss.
--
Shinichi, Ran, Kaito and Akako were standing in Shinichi's manor catching up with each other.
"Thank you, guys, for saving my life. Doumo," Shinichi bowed at Kaito and Akako.
"Hey," Kaito said, "Does this mean you'll stop chasing after me?"
"Not on your life! I'll give you a month's time of freedom, and then we're back to the pursuit part."
"Hey, no fair! I saved your life!"
"So Akako," Shinichi ignored Kaito, "Are you fine without your powers?"
"Sure! In fact, ever since I renounced my powers, I started noticing that there are many other terrific guys other than you two. I found someone new," Akako said happily. The doorbell rang.
"Ah, that should be him right now," Akako went to unfasten the door to reveal -- Hakuba Saguru!
"A charming rose to match my luscious queen," Hakuba bowed and presented a crimson rose to Akako who accepted it in elation. Everyone else vomitted at the gross remark.
"So Kaito, you're the only one single now," Shinichi teased.
"Um, well, you made me realise how short life can be. And so I sort of started dating someone. You repaid me for my hard work after all, Kudo."
"Let me guess. It's Aoko, right?" Ran interjected. Kaito stared at her in amazement. "How did you know?"
That got everyone snickering. Kaito was approximately the only one who did not realise how obvious it was.
The bell rang again. Shinichi wondered, "Who could it be?"
He opened the door. Who should be standing there but Heiji Hattori and Kazuha Toyoma – holding hands!
"Hey, how can you leave me out of all the fun?" Heiji said.
"You two... started dating?" Ran asked exultantly. Both the newcomers became scarlet immediately.
"You two made us grasp the fact that we should enjoy every moment of our lives while we can. So we decided to... Anyway, I couldn't find anyone better and so I have to contend with her," Heiji said. Kazuha positively glowered at him.
"I'm the one who has to contend with you, you idiot!" Kazuha shrieked. That was the tell-tale sign that a full-blown argument was about to erupt.
"Some things never change," Ran smiled, "So what's next?"
Everyone turned to her at the question. Shinichi declared with a gleam in his eyes, "What else? Complete our unaccomplished mission. Defeat the Black Organisation!"
