Final Author's Note: I can't believe it, but this story is finished! It was a lot of fun writing it, and it will be even better writing the sequel when the time comes! I would normally include this note after the chapter, but I felt like it should be here instead to leave a better impression with that last line... I know a few of you will be upset, but don't forget there will be a sequel; no need to worry!
As for future plans with the fanfics, I am uploading Preventing the Truth starting on August 4th. I've mentioned it already, but I will be away for two months visiting my father and as a result cannot upload anything. I can check reviews and reply to them, but that's about it. Like with this story, I will be uploading every Friday until I start running out of time (I like to complete the stories before I leave on May 31st...and yes, I do this every year). After Preventing the Truth is completed, I will probably upload I'll Be There for You since it should be completed by then and includes all four Gosho Boys (even if I hate Hakuba...).
[I know, readers that have finished the story already, that there are lots of plot holes in this! That's one reason why I'm making a sequel to this: so I can fix the plot holes! I think perhaps the biggest one is the entire "Kenichi" story since there are so many questions. As a result, I will make Kenichi's story a huge part of the sequel since Kaito is going to be the protagonist instead of Shinichi. We will all learn many things, including why Mitsuhiko/Koichi decided to join the Organization and become a murderer... I can't wait~!]
I have wanted to say this, so I guess I can say it now that the story's done:
See you next illusion~
Epilogue
The trial came a week later, and in the stands anxiously watching were Shinichi, Kaito, Ran, Ai, Agasa, the Hattoris, and the Kudou parents. It took the jury three whole days before coming to a final decision.
"We find the defendant Shimada Koichi…guilty for six counts of attempted murder and three counts of first-degree murder. He will be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole." The gavel pounded, forever closing the case.
"Well, ya finally finished it, Kudou!" Heiji patted his friend on the back with a laugh. "I was gettin' worried that ya couldn't do it, but ya surprised me! So it was that Koichi guy from the ship that was tryin' to kill ya the whole time?"
Shinichi nodded as they exited the courthouse to eat at an expensive restaurant in celebration. "Yeah, it turned out he was actually a victim of the apoptoxin as well. He managed to come here under the disguise of Tsubaraya Mitsuhiko and soon met with 'Edogawa Conan.' Even if he was an awful detective, he could tell that I was hiding something. Once Haibara came along and found out he was a victim, she kept it a secret from everyone and would meet with him in the middle of the night to examine him. After all, he was given an earlier prototype of the poison, and she didn't know what exactly it did in comparison with her and me.
"Then came the day she made the antidote. I still don't know how she managed to do it with insufficient data involving the actual poison's chemical makeup, but she still did it. Since Mitsuhiko wasn't there when I said farewell to the Detective Boys, we can assume he was given the antidote before me so he could return to his home in America and plot his revenge against me and Haibara."
"Oh, so you don't know all of it then~" Ai smirked. "Because there are a few important facts you're missing. While he did plan on returning to America at first, he found it to be worthless since he had no family there anymore, and his house would have been either destroyed or bought by someone else. Instead, he disappeared for a little under a year, returning at a rather odd time…"
Shinichi's eyebrows furrowed. "Just under a year after the antidote was made…?" He froze as realization hit. "Hang on, that's when you finished getting rid of the Organization!"
Ai agreed. "It is. My guess is that he joined their rankings for a short time to learn about poisons so he could dispose of those in his way. However, even I don't know why he had to join the ones that killed his family and almost killed him."
Exasperated, Shinichi threw his hands in the air. "It just makes no sense; there's something crucial missing that none of us know. Since he only admitted doing a few of the crimes and attacks, I'm certain about that."
Heiji ruffled Shinichi's hair. "Oi, we're not goin' out just fer ya to get worked up again! He's in prison fer the rest o' his life—ain't that enough fer ya?"
Shinichi glared at Heiji. "Hattori, since when have you been satisfied with a case when you're still missing facts?" He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "But I guess now isn't really the time to think about this, is it? I just have to wait until I feel I should speak with him in person." Ignoring Heiji's protest, he ran ahead to speak with Ran. "So how are you feeling, Ran? Weren't you just released from the hospital yesterday?"
Ran smiled. "I was fully released, yes. I've been out for about four days under close supervision in case I collapsed." She suddenly grabbed Shinichi's arm and leaned against him, making him blush. "I'm really glad you solved the case, Shinichi; I was worried something would happen again like before."
Shinichi averted his gaze. "Um, yeah, I am too, but my health wasn't near as important as you or Kaito or Hattori. I think the worst part of the case was that Koichi didn't care who he hurt; as long as he made me suffer, he was happy."
Ran hummed and removed herself from Shinichi with a chuckle. "I think someone's getting jealous." She gestured behind her, where Yukiko wore a huge pout.
"Shin-chan!" She rushed up to her son and tightly hugged him, making many laugh. "I should be all over you too since I've been gone so much! I'm so sorry that Yu-chan and I couldn't be there to help you solve the case faster; there shouldn't have been so many attacks and murders!"
Shinichi tried to shove his mom away, but she was persistent. "Kaa-san, it's not your fault. Besides, I think it was better that you and Tou-san were gone in case you were considered targets by Koichi."
"Oh, Shin-chan!" Yukiko wailed, squeezing her son more than humanly possible.
"Yukiko, you may want to stop hugging him so tightly," Yusaku pointed out, for he could tell his son was having a bit of trouble breathing.
Yukiko released the hug but still held his hand as they entered the restaurant and found a table big enough for all ten of them. Shinichi and Kaito sat at each of the ends with the Hattoris and Ran on one side and the Kudou parents, Ai, and Agasa on the other. As they got up to enter the gourmet buffet line, Kazuha noticed Kaito wasn't getting up from his seat.
"Kaito, is somethin' wrong? Ain'tcha gonna eat somethin'?" She picked up the bubbly Akemi and eyed the magician with concern.
Kaito jumped. "Oh, nothing's wrong, Kazuha-san! I'm just not very hungry, that's all."
Kazuha narrowed her eyes. "Then why did ya offer to pay fer all our meals if yer not eatin' in the first place? Somethin's botherin' ya, ain't it?"
Kaito bit his lip. He wanted to voice his worries to someone, but he didn't want everyone to know about it, especially Shinichi. "Just make sure to not tell anyone, okay?" He sighed. "I feel like this case isn't completely finished yet; there's someone else we haven't put in prison."
Kazuha rolled her eyes. "Well, ya still got some o' those men in black left to get rid of, don'tcha? Maybe that's what's botherin' ya." She grabbed Kaito's hand and forced him to stand. "Ya shouldn't be worryin' anyway since I know Shinichi an' Heiji are gonna help ya get those nasty men outta here!"
Kaito quietly thanked her, and they joined the line. After a filling meal, they spent the rest of the day driving around Tokyo and chatting. Eventually, some were ready to return home.
"Heiji, we gotta go," Kazuha nudged her dozing husband. "I have to work tomorrow, an' ya gotta go to that interview in place o' yer dad."
Heiji yawned. "Ah, that's right. Sorry everyone, but can ya drop us off at the airport? We got a lotta stuff to do."
After a quick trip to the airport, only Shinichi, Kaito, Ran, and Ai remained. "Well, we should be going home, shouldn't we?" Ran started the car and looked through the rearview mirror with a smile. She knew how Shinichi acted during the time of a trial, so it was no surprise that he was asleep in the backseat. "Since I have to return this van, would you guys mind walking from the train station? If I remember right, it's close to both of your houses."
The others didn't care, so Ran began to drive while Kaito began waking Shinichi. "Oi, Shin-shin, time to get up~" He kissed Shinichi on the cheek.
"I fell asleep?" Shinichi mumbled as he slowly opened his eyes. "I thought I told you guys not to let me do that." He took a moment to wake up more and noticed many people missing. "Hey, where are the others anyway?"
Kaito snickered. "We just dropped them off at the airport since they all had things to do tomorrow. As for you, we need to get home so you can get some sleep for your classes! You've been gone for a little while now, and I don't think the teachers really like that."
Ran stopped the car in front of the train station. "Okay, we're here! Thanks for all the fun today, Shinichi!" The other three stepped out of the car, and Ran drove away with a small wave.
"Well, let's get going!" Kaito grinned. They began walking and after twenty minutes came to a branching path. "That's your path, isn't it, Scientist-san? Make sure to call the professor and monitor his diet!" Kaito began to lead Shinichi down the other path when Ai suddenly spoke.
"Kudou-kun, Kuroba-kun…there's something I should tell you two."
Feeling Shinichi tense, Kaito frowned. "What do you mean? Does it have anything to do with the case?"
Ai closed her eyes. "It does. I've been wondering if I should tell you, but it's probably best if I do so judging that you think there's something you're missing."
"I knew it," Shinichi whispered his thought aloud, surprising Kaito. "I knew you were still hiding something, Haibara. What is it?"
Ai mysteriously smiled. "Well, let's just say it has something to do with my attacker's identity. It wasn't Koichi-san…it was someone else."
TO BE CONTINUED
