A/N: Once again, I've been busy for a while. My brain's going wild with all my studies :(

Anyways, thanks a LOT to Maltrazz, Kudo2315, Enji86, and purebloodragdoll for leaving reviews! I really appreciated the motivation and the criticism. I'll try to think more before writing.

Disclaimer: All of DC belongs to Gosho Aoyama.


Doomsday

By: GenuineProdigy


Expected

If I could know what would happen in the future, I'd rather not live.

-0-

He opened his eyes.

The cloudy sky obscuring the sun was the first to be seen.

The second was a girl with strawberry blonde hair with a light shock perm sitting on the bench besides his bed with her face hidden behind a magazine.

Surprised, he sat up quickly. The towel fell on his laps. His stomach hurt a little from hunger. It reminded him of that day. When he was almost killed by a gunshot.

He automatically grimaced.

"You're awake."

"Uh-" His voice was brisk with sleep. He had some questions in his mind, but the first was, "-Why are you still here?"

He quickly added before it sounded offending. "I mean, you should be tired from last night."

She stared at him.

"What?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She put down the magazine. "A little baby with a cold shouldn't be kept alone."

Conan narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, right. Really, what's up with all this?" He pointed at the towel on his laps.

"The doctor recommended doing that."

"Yeah...But, why did you do it? For me, I mean."

"You were only awake when Ran went to the bathroom."

"Ran?" He looked around. "Where is she?"

"Detective Agency. This morning, her father was found drunk at the street again."

"..." Still, something still didn't quite fit for him. Noticing it, Ai continued.

"The professor's snow-shoveling machine exploded last night, and I didn't feel like sleeping in a room with a giant hole in it."

Conan laughed out loud. "And the professor?"

"He says the wall's filled already, and it needs to dry before anybody can sleep. Looks like he has to sleep on the couch for the next few days."

"And you?"

"Simple." She walked over, facing him. Suddenly, Conan was very aware that her face was very close to his, her eyes an exotic swirl of electric blue. "I'll sleep with-" He put his hands on her shoulder in alarm, but she leaned in until his red-faced head touched the wall. "You." She whispered, not an inch away.

"WHA-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?" The grip on her shoulders tightened. His face became redder, if possible.

"I don't know. But it's certainly not what you've been thinking, I'm sure." She smirked evilly.

Conan growled.

The door opened, and Ai quickly pulled back.

It was Ran, with a kind of an anxious face.

"What were you doing?" Ai raised an eyebrow at Sonoko, who was starting to grin.

-0-

"Conan-kun, how are you?"

"Ah, I'm fine. Really."

"You shouldn't beg so much to go outside when you have a cold."

"That-That's right." He scowled at Ai, who was reading the magazine.

"Well, anyway..." Ran glanced at the girl sitting at the edge of the bed. "...I'll leave you guys alone." She winked.

At the same time, Conan's cheeks turned pink and Ai narrowed her eyes.

"Tha-Wha-No-"

"It's fine." Ran put a finger on Conan's blubbering mouth. "I've gotta go and see how Dad's doing anyways. See ya!"

She stood up and left.

Conan sighed and lied flat on the bed.

"These kids were doing something! Wow, I should've left a hidden camera in here! Who knows, they might have been things just suitable for little husband and wife-"

He shuddered at Sonoko's blabbering mouth from 10 minutes ago. Ai noticed and smirked.

"So, the problem?"

"Great. Now even Ran thinks I'm going out with you."

"It's just a matter of time."

"Still." He sighed again and sat up once more. "I wasn't really ready for it." He felt kind of sorry, even though this was nothing but an act.

"So, you were not that hesitant about almost kissing, but now you're throwing a hyper about going out with a little girl."

"T-That's just because it had its situations!"

"You're weird." She turned her eyes back to her magazine.

He glared at her for a few seconds and stood up. "I think I need a walk."

Ai merely tilted her head forward as a nod and Conan left.

"Jeez...That is some nice-" Mid-grumble, he found the girls to be right in front of him, currently unnoticed.

"He ran out on you again?"

"Not exactly...or sort of." Ran sighed.

"Hm." Sonoko grinned slyly. "Sooo...Did he say anything for New Year's?"

Ran frowned. "Nope. And if he shows his stupid face, I'll kick it right inside his neck."

Conan shuddered.

-0-

It was Friday, and school was over. The kids ran out of the school, excited.

A pint of snowflake fell on top of the candy. Conan rubbed it off with his finger, and again took a penetrating look at it.

"So what's the big deal about this candy?"

Conan glanced at the three kids, who were suppressing laughters to the point of burning his curiosity. Ai stood at the back of those three, uninterested.

"Just eat it, Conan-kun!"

"Yeah. You're not even as brave as us." Mitsuhiko stated, almost prideful.

And that really did set him off. Conan tossed the candy in his mouth.

"It's good...What's the matter with it?"

"Just keep eating!" Genta snickered and the three kids continued to stare.

"Hmm...The taste is changing...This is one of the professor's invention, right?"

"Yep."

"Hm. Strawberry...Watermelon...Mint...Grape..." Conan stated the taste out loud every time the flavor changed. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he spit the candy out of his mouth. "What the hell is this?"

The kids roared with laughter. Even Ai showed a small smile. Conan spat several times again on the ground.

"That was disgusting..."

"We don't know what it is. Ask the professor, he said there was a mistake in the last flavor." Ai stated, since the kids were too busy laughing.

"Right. He got me." He continued spitting. "It's a good one, though. You should try one."

"Try what?"

Conan looked above to find Ran looking at the candy he spat at the ground.

"What is this?"

"Professor's invention. You shouldn't try one." He quickly whispered, looking at the gleeful kids.

"Hey, speaking about candy, I heard something great!" Sonoko popped out of nowhere.

"Huh?"

"You should hear this, Ran. It's called 'the chocolate letter'. You have to make a love letter and some handmade chocolate, and encase the letter inside the chocolate! Imagine Makoto biting into the chocolate, and being mesmerized next second by my letter!"

"That's a great idea!"

"So, Ran. What are you going to prepare for Shinichi?"

"Eh?" Conan absentmindedly stated, but nobody noticed.

"Don't be like last time, he didn't even get the message of the heart."

"What? No-That was just because-because there were only chocolates made out of those shapes."

"Pssh. Whatever, then. Help me make one, Ran! It's already the tenth of February!"

The kids watched while Sonoko pulled Ran towards the supermarket.

"Maybe somebody's going to be hopeful for a love chocolate." Ai whispered at his ears, which made Conan jump.

"Shut up."

"Ai-chan."

They both turned around to see Ayumi looking at the ground.

"What is it?"

"Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Ai walked away from Conan, and together, Ayumi and Ai went far away from the boys.

Hesitantly, Ayumi spoke.

"Can you help me?"

"S-Sure. What is it?"

"I, I want to make chocolate for the Detective Boys." When Ai didn't speak, she continued. "Could-Could you help me make some? Because, it'd be easier...Can you?"

Ai blinked at Ayumi's apologetic expression. "Of course, it's fine." She smiled.

Ayumi also grinned happily. "Thanks! I'll go to your house tomorrow!"

After they reached the crossroads, the kids separated.

Conan asked curiously. "What did Ayumi want?"

Ai smirked. "I don't know. But it's certainly not what you'd think, I'm sure."

Conan grimaced at the memory, and said no more.

-0-

-End of Expected-