Disclaimer: Characters from DC belong to their respective owners; I don't own them, except Masako, and Bourbon.

Chapter 9: Meeting Again

"Kudo, I think I may have the permanent antidote for APTX4869."

Conan was speechless. What did she say? Did she really say that? He just stared at Ai, unable to move or say anything.

"Kudo, are you okay?" Ai's tone was soft and warm, so unlike the cold person she had been during the interrogation.

"I...I'm fine. I'm just surprised that....you....well, I didn't....I mean, I don't....." Conan knew he was stuttering, but he couldn't seem to form a complete sentence.

"Kudo, calm down, I didn't mean to get you all worked up." Ai looked at him worriedly.

"No, no, you didn't. I'm just a bit confused." Conan put his hand on his head and sighed.

"How?" Ai tilted her head to the side, looking at the boy in front of her.

"I thought you told me Kudo was dead. How can he come back to life after being dead for ten years?" Conan looked at her, eyes questioning.

"I thought so too, Kudo, but I knew that no matter how hard you try and what anyone does, you'd never be happy without returning to your normal body." Ai smiled. "So I spent these years experimenting with the information I had left. I think I finally came up with the antidote." She held out a capsule in her hand.

"Why? Why would you do that? You wouldn't do this for me, just because you want to. Why?" Conan didn't reach for the capsule, just sat there, looking at her with questioning eyes.

"I...........I......" Ai looked away from his gaze. "I......because I love you, Kudo." She looked back into his eyes, which was now complete shock. "I love you."

"What, why, but, you...I....I....don't, can't, no, wait, but you, you don't, you can't, I mean, you said, but what about, I don't...." Conan started stuttering again.

Ai sighed. "I fell in love with you when I first met you. I didn't work on the antidote too much because if you were Conan, you'd be around more, and I was afraid that when you....you.....returned as Kudo, you'd forget me....and.....and.....I didn't want that.....I know I was being selfish...I just didn't want....you to leave me.....and....." Ai knew there were tears in her forming in her eyes now. But Miyano Shiho doesn't cry, she's never cried. But I'm not Shiho anymore, I'm Haibara Ai. So, I guess Haibara can cry.*

Ai let the tears go, but continued to speak. "When you decided to leave Japan in fear of hurting those around you and to start over with a new life, I was sad....I was afraid you wouldn't be happy.....no, I knew you wouldn't be happy with Mouri-san, so I wanted to make you happy, so I worked to make this antidote." Ai held out her hand again. "I know that forcing you to love me would never work out.....and that would only cause you to hate me, more if not already, so I just wanted to let you know." Ai wiped her eyes with the hand not holding the pill.

Conan hopped off the bed and handed her a tissue from the tissue box on his desk. "Here, don't cry anymore."

"Thanks." Ai blew her nose and wiped away the tears. She didn't look at all like she had been crying. She threw away the tissue in the wastebasket by the desk and then turned of face Conan again. He had on that smile again. That smile that always warms my heart. Ai smiled. "Here."

Conan took the pill from her and said, "But I'm already where Shinichi used to be, what difference would it make?"

Ai nodded. "I know, there won't be a significant difference in your size, but your voice, and well, you soul will once again return to Kudo Shinichi's."

"Thanks, but I didn't know my voice wasn't mature enough yet." He grinned and took off his glasses.

Ai raised an eyebrow. "Hmm."

"We're getting back to the old times."

"I know, go get some larger and looser clothes, in case you get a bit bigger." Ai opened the door. "I'm leaving in about an hour for Japan."

Conan nodded. "Thanks, again, Ai, and for coming just to get me this."

Ai just nodded as she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Just before the door clicked shut, she heard Conan say, "We'll meet again."

~12:30pm, at the airport~

Haibara Ai checked her purse to make sure her wallet, boarding pass, plane ticket, passport and all the other important documentaries where still with her. She had just eaten a quick lunch at the airport and was preparing to board her flight back to Japan. She was leaving early because there was an exam coming up, and she didn't want to miss it, not like missing would ruin her grade, she had 100% anyway.

The real reason she was leaving early was because she knew that Kudo would like to have time with Ran alone, so she didn't want to ruin that. Besides, he was happy, so she could be happy. Ai smiled a true, but a bit sad, smile as she gave the attendant her boarding pass and walked through the ramp to the plane. As she looked around for her window seat, she thought of all the times she and Conan had been together. She had chosen not take the antidote so that those happy memories could remain with her forever. Also, this way, the Detective Boys, excluding Conan, would still be her closest friends. Even that way, she was as tall as she would be ten years later, and it wouldn't matter.

As Ai sat down, she looked out the window. Good-bye, Kudo. Thank you, for all you've done for me, and I hope we will meet again someday. She turned when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around in her seat to find a man, with brown hair looking at her.

"Is this your seat?" He asked pointing to the empty seat next to her.

Ai shook her head. "No, but that seat is G24."

"Really, cool, then that's my seat." The boy smiled as he stuffed his duffel bag in the overhead compartment and sat down next to her.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Hakuba Saguru," he said as he held out his hand.

Ai blinked. Hakuba Saguru? Nice name. She shook hands with the boy and said, "My name is Haibara Ai. It's nice to meet you too."

"Ai....I like that name. It's cute. How old are you?"

"Uh...."

"Well, you don't have answer that if you don't want to. I'm 26." Hakuba buckled his seat belt and leaned back in his seat, still looking at her.

"Oh, well I'm.....27." I'm not, but should be. Oh well, I look that way, don't I?

"Really? Wow, you look so young, and I thought I was an old man." Hakuba laughed.

Ai chuckled lightly. He's got a nice sense of humor. He's cute too. I think this will be an even better flight than I expected.

~12:00 pm, back at Masako's house~

Conan was going through the pain of turning back into Shinichi when Ran knocked on his door.

"Shin-, I mean, Conan, what's going on? Are you okay? Ai left an hour ago and you still haven't come out. She told us you needed time to think. I don't know what you two have talking about, but are you okay, Shinichi?"

"Yeah, fine. I'll be out in a few minutes. I'm changing. Can you tell Takashiki that we're going to go to the restaurant that I always go to?"

"But I don't know what that is."

"It's okay, she'll know."

"Okay, I'll wait for you in the living room."

"'Kay, thanks. I'll be out in just a minute."

Shinichi pulled on his socks and pulled a sweater over his head. Wow, I'm back, really back. Everything is a bit small, but I'll get new stuff later. Haibara, thank you.

Shinichi took one last look at himself in the mirror and then opened the door to his room. He skipped down the hallway and almost knocked over Ran, who was waiting by the door.

"Hey, thanks for waiting, Ran."

"Shinichi, I mean, Conan, no problem. Masako-san is waiting outside. Whoa, you're not wearing your glasses, and if I'm not mistaken, your voice is deeper."

"Ai found the antidote and I have finally returned to my true form."

Ran gasped. "Shinichi....that's wonderful....." She hugged him with such force that he almost lost his balance.

"Ran....."

"I never thought we would meet again...." Ran said in his sweater.

Shinichi was surprised for a second, then smiled and answered, "Of course, I did not think it was possible either, but you never know. I guess it's because of the red thread tied to our pinkies!" Shinichi held up his pinky as Ran let go of him and winked. He grabbed Ran and led out of the door.

"Come on, we don't want to starve our stomachs!" And the two adults ran off, united once again.

~to be continued~

Okay, so this one is a sort of, well, really romantic, so yeah.....Okay, anyways, this is basic the end. I'm writing an epilogue so don't go yet. Keep reviewing!!!! ^^ More on Haibara/Hakuba, Ran/Shinichi, maybe Heiji/Kazuha or Kaito/Aoko later, but it will all be in the epilogue, which might take while if I were to include them all, but I want to get the cute couples together! See you all in the last chapter and review!!!! ^_-

* Okay, so you might say that I completely got Haibara's character wrong, but think about it. She's had ten years to chill out and what if she did like Conan/Shinichi? She might act differently after going through a second childhood and not having the one person she loved with her. Who knows? So, please don't flame me.....I like it this way. ^^