Characters: Gosho Aoyama

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Let Go

So…this is my life. Here I am, eighteen-year-old 'Edogawa Conan,' and I am finally going to let go of this twelve-year crush.

"Well, Kudou," Conan said aloud, "took you long enough." As he walked down the steps, he could feel Ai watching from the top of the banister.

Good luck, Edogawa-kun. She thought, walking to her own room to let go of a picture and old data on her computer.

Ran, meanwhile, fidgeted as she waited impatiently downstairs. How long will it take him? She held on tightly to her pendant. I'm ready to let go, already.

With a little trepidation, Ran got up, ready to leave.

"Are you okay, Ran?" She suddenly heard form the foyer.

Her first thought, which surprised both her and Conan, was, "Conan!" Smiling widely, Ran nodded her head, "Yes, I'm fine. How are you?"

Conan shook his head, "We had this conversation earlier today, remember, Ran?"

"Right." Said Ran, looking down, self-conscious, holding on to her locket. "Actually," she said, eyes nervously darting back and forth from Conan and the floor, "I wanted to talk to you about this."

Conan walked closer to see what Ran was addressing. With care, Ran unhooked her necklace and held it out.

"That's the necklace Shin'ichi-niichan wanted you to have." Conan said, as if he forgot about it. He took it, smirking like Shin'ichi.

How could I possibly forget? I picked it out and inscribed it, myself.

"Yes," she said holding his hands with the locket in between. "When Shin'ichi gave it to you, did he tell you the meaning behind it?"

Smiling inside, Conan asked, "The meaning behind the locket? Yeah, he said it was because he-"

"No," she cut off, "Not the locket, but the inscription."

He looked at their hands together. It seems like she hasn't forgotten, either.

"No," he partly lied. "Shin'ichi-niichan never told me what it meant."

As she smiled with a tear, she sighed, "Good. Thank you, Conan."

At this point, Conan was earnestly set aback. "Why did you-"

Again, Ran cut him off, except, this time, with a tight, subtle hug.

"Ran…?" This isn't honest. He gently pushed Ran away from his body and acknowledged that she was crying.

"Hey, come on," he said, mindful of her situation. I have to choose my words carefully, but the only thing I can think to say is…

"Ran…" he lifted her chin with the hand he held the necklace in, "Come on." Looking her in the eyes with the smile that Shin'ichi once owned, he said, "Give me your smile."

With wide eyes, Ran didn't know what to say. How did he…? was all she could think. She couldn't face him with Shini'chi's face, but she managed to wipe her tears and nod.

"Thank you, Conan…" she said, taking reach of his face. "Thank you…" Spontaneously, she brought him in for a small kiss. Scared by her own actions, she pushed him away. She turned her back to him, "I'm so sorry, I never should have come. I just…I just wanted to let go of him."

Placing his hand on her shoulder, he turned her around. "Thank you," he said, bringing her in for another kiss. "'Thank you for your smile.'"

With more tears in her eyes, Ran nodded, touched at the fact that Conan had quoted the gift Shin'ichi had given her.

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Okay, that's it, no more, I quit. -Dire Moonstone-