Memento Mori
PyroKid
30.06.04, 12:41 AM

"Um… no." Haibara replied, pointedly avoiding Conan's pleading gaze.

"But…I-"

"No." Ai interrupted, unzipping the sleeping bag.

"Come on… this is awkward for me, too!" Conan wheedled. "I mean, asking a girl…" he broke off, face burning, and turned away, unable to finish.

"Shinichi, we are '16'." Haibara muttered through clenched teeth, willing her face to stay clear in spite of the direction the conversation was traveling.

"What? I…not like that…" Conan replied, blushing. "I…I'm not saying… I wouldn't…I…" seeing that his argument was obviously not convincing his friend, Conan changed angles. "Well, no one would ever know…"

"Now you speak as if you're thinking about it the wrong way," Ai muttered.

"Please? I'm cold," Conan begged.

"You're wet," Ai replied flatly, referring to her jacket that was now soaked. "There is no way I'm going to share my bag with a wet cross-dresser!"

"Well, no problem; I'll just take it off… it's not like I enjoy wearing this," Conan answered.

Ai paused and considered this for a moment. "Okay."

Conan shrugged the jacket off, wringing it out before turning back to Ai.

Ai looked up, keeping her head still upon the pillow as she swept her eyes over Conan's body, eyes lingering on his for a moment before turning on her side, back facing him.

"Hey-" Conan began.

"I said I didn't care whether you kept the jacket on, but I said nothing about sharing my sleeping bag."

"But…either way, I'm neither wet nor a cross-dresser now."

"Um… what makes you think I'll be more accepting of a naked boy?" Haibara asked, training her gaze on an ant climbing a blade of grass.

"I…" Conan's face was already red, reminiscent of a tomato, and he trailed off before continuing in a teasing voice, "What about a hot naked guy?"

"I.said.no.strippers." Haibara answered deliberately without turning around.

"Come on… I'm freezing," Conan pleaded, totally serious. "It's not like I'm enjoying this, not like I'm not embarrassed to have to say to a girl, "Hey, in order to survive the night, I have to sleep with you. Would you rather me be a wet cross-dresser or dry but shirtless? I-"

"I would rather," Ai interrupted, turning on her back and transferring her gaze to the treetops. "that you found a tree, stuffed your mouth with leaves, climbed up, and spent the night there."

"Come on, Ai… I'll freeze and fall."

"…fine. But cover yourself with that blanket first, or you're not coming anywhere near me." Haibara warned.

Turning, Conan picked up the blanket and wrapped it around himself before walking up to Ai. Haibara raised an eyebrow.

"What? I have to leave my hands free." Conan defended himself.

"Really…" It was as statement more than a question. "For what purpose?"

Conan turned so red that he looked ready to spontaneously combust. "I… it's awkward being bound like that, I'll feel like a mummy, I'll have cramps in the morning, and it's impossible to wrap a blanket around yourself that way."

"I'll do it, then." Ai stood and stepped closer.

"Would you just trust me?" Conan asked, clearly unwilling to submit to the uncomfortable position.

"Fine. You should thank the fates that I brought the professor's bag since I don't own one, and for the same I'll be cursing them." Conan couldn't tell whether she was joking or not. "You're sleeping on your side." Ai announced as she slid in.

Conan followed without argument until he realized the sleeping bag was large enough for the both of them. "Why?"

"No reason. I'm just enjoying abusing my authority, that's all." Ai replied jokingly, lacing her fingers behind her head and looking up at the stars. "Don't say it, Kudo…" she warned suddenly.

It was too good to pass up. "So, I never knew that Ai Haibara, brilliant, ingenious 'I-have-a-PhD' scientist, resourceful, daring 'bad girl' betrayer of a highly illegal, incredibly well hidden underground organization was this edgy when it came to saving a good friend from freezing in the cold." He teased.

"Shinichi… I have problems with physical contact and extreme proximity." She turned her head to the side, studying Conan. "I hope for your reputation and success as a detective you figured that out already." In the darkness, she saw his mouth form a small smile as he lay on his back.

"Beautiful, huh?" she asked after a few moments of silence, turning her face back to the sky.

"Yeah," Conan agreed. But he was staring at Ai.

"I… I watch them all the time." Haibara confessed.

"I know." Conan replied calmly.

"You do?" she asked, turning to face him.

"Yeah… eight years, Ai. I'd be some pathetic detective if I hadn't realized that my best friend enjoys stargazing, especially if we lived under the same roof." Conan smiled, knowing she could see. Thanks for helping me out today… I knew about your dislike of physical contact or proximity, but I really didn't want to die of something like the cold… Sorry, Shiho.

"Every night, I try to guess which one my family's on; where they are, what they want me to do. I… I don't know. I mean, I know I have to bring the Organization down to avenge my family, but I don't know how. And other than that, what… what am I living for? It's like there's nothing for me. I feel so lost sometimes…" When I don't feel like I'm drowning, at least.

"What would you do?" she asked suddenly.

"Family or no, personal grudge or no, I'd take them out based purely on the fact that it's an illegal organization that can and will do evil; it's a good enough reason for me."

"Why, Kudo? Why do you always have to be so righteous? Why would you risk your life for those of complete strangers?" Haibara wondered, trying to understand Conan's mind.

"…just…I…It's just the right thing to do, and even if I fail, I'll be remembered."

"For fame you'd risk your life?" Ai asked incredulously.

"Truth, fame, justice, and glory." Conan corrected, smiling to himself.

" 'The paths of glory lead but to the grave', Shinichi," Ai quoted softly.

Conan paused for a moment, staring into the darkness above him before answering in a quiet voice, " 'Memento mori'."

Ai made a puzzled face. Of course she knew Latin, but what was 'memento mori' supposed to mean? " 'Remember death'?" she asked.

"The life span of a human is limited; we'll all die someday, so why not go doing what's right?" Conan asked, explaining the phrase.

Haibara turned from the stars to face Conan, and lightly ran her fingers over a patch of grass. "Sometimes… sometimes it's hard to tell what's right, what's wrong…and sometimes, no… no matter how much you've planned, how long you've calculated, there are things beyond your grasp that you just can't control. No… no matter how hard you try, how… how much you want it…"

Conan felt a drop of water touch his face and groaned internally. Great, it's raining again. He opened his eyes, but it wasn't raining. He looked over at Ai and was shocked to see tears on her face. "Ai..." he began quietly, but stopped, unsure of what to say. Impulsively, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her in a hug, and was surprised when she didn't pull away. He held her gently, struggling to stay awake as unconsciousness snatched away his last coherent thoughts.

Ai woke to the sounds of birds chirping and found herself snugly ensconced in a pair of strong arms. Turning around, she found herself face-to-face with Conan, who seemed to have just awoken as well. He flashed her a sleepy smile and closed his eyes but gave no other indication that he was awake.

"Uh…Shinichi… can you… let go?" Haibara asked haltingly.

Conan's eyes snapped open, and he quickly loosened his grip. "Sorry…" he muttered.

Laughing, Haibara stood and retrieved a toothbrush, washcloth, and a tube of toothpaste from her bag, and walked to the river. Conan quickly followed suit, thanking his stars that he still had his toothbrush. He found Ai sitting on a rock by the river, and sat down beside her. "So what… what are you planning to do after the organization falls and we get the APTX-4869 data?" he asked after he finished brushing his teeth.

"I… there's nothing for me even if I do return to Shiho Miyano, so I'll stay as Ai." Haibara answered slowly; she really hadn't thought of that before, preferring to deal with the present and its reality.

"I was thinking the same. So why don't we stick together? We're two of a kind that the world will never see again, since we both plan to stay this way.

Ai considered this for a moment before answering, "Okay, let's give it a shot."

They rose together and headed back to collect their belongings.

"Hey, Ai…" Conan called. "Since we're best friends, promise me one thing, okay?"

Haibara watched him silently, waiting for him to elaborate.

"The jacket thing… don't ever tell anyone about the pink jacket, okay?" Conan said in a rush, a red tint appearing on his face.

"Sure. I won't say a word," Ai smiled innocently, tucking a disposable camera into her back pocket.

R&R Please!

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Anna: Yeah! Another C/A fan that knows English! ::laugh:: ...This soon enough for you?
Me: Thanks for your nice comments! (they really pushed me to finish and publish this last chapter today)
WithoutMorals-Revived: Thanks! This one isn't as drawn out or as serious as any of my other fics, just my first attempt at humor fics...