Disclaimer: Gosho owns DC, not me... Darn.

Arigato

By DreamingFantasy

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It was that day again.

Only this time, it was not a day filled with smiles and laughter but one full of tears and bittersweet reminiscence. It used to be the day two sisters could forget about their worries and enjoy their time together. Now, it was a day spent in solitude with the gap between worlds separating the two.

She sat by herself in her basement laboratory, choosing isolation over companionship. She didn't want him to notice. He would try to comfort her, and she didn't want that. For once, she wanted to just sit back and sulk. She would not allow anyone, even him, to stop her sulking.

She remembered how she and Akemi would always go out and celebrate at Ai's favorite restaurant. Even on her own birthday, Akemi would always be so considerate of Ai and always play her role as big sister. To her, it didn't make a difference whose birthday it was, as long as they were together. It would always be a reunion full of tears and gifts, one of the only occasions they could find time to be with one another. It was one of the only times she would smile.

But now… Akemi was gone… This day would always bring her tears, not of joy but of sadness. Even with all her knowledge of science, she couldn't turn back time. She couldn't bring back Akemi.

Ai looked down at the object in her hand, a silver chain that had reminded her of their bond. She imagined the look Akemi would have after seeing it, the way her eyes would twinkle merrily, full of surprise and affection. And then she would let Ai help her put it on…

Just as tears were threatening to fall, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw that it was him. The tears quickly disappeared as grief turned into annoyance.

"What are you doing here, Kudo?"

He didn't say anything, only looked at her knowingly.

"You don't even know what I'm going through. Just because you're some great detective doesn't mean that you can see right through me."

"I know. I can't. But that doesn't mean I'm blind. This has to do with Akemi, doesn't it?"

She didn't reply. She simply sat there, reminiscing again.

"Of course. Why else would you smile slightly for just a moment and then…" He broke off as she walked past him and up the stairs.

She yanked open the door and ran out into the pouring rain. The whips of water lashed against her skin as she knelt down. She welcomed it, hoping that the rain could provide physical pain to help her forget. The water streaked down her face, mingling with the tears that finally came out. The chill seeped into her body, all the way to her very core, and she felt colder than she had ever before. And yet, she just stayed where she was, staring out into the rain. It was as though the earth, with its downpour and thunder, was crying and raging along beside her, all for Akemi.

She heard footsteps behind her as the lightning flashed, and suddenly she couldn't feel the rain anymore. She turned around and saw him holding an umbrella above her, his eyes filled with a tenderness that had never been directed towards her before, something that had always been reserved for Mouri.

They stared at each other for a long time before he suddenly dropped the umbrella and enveloped his arms around her. He didn't say anything, but she knew. The heat from his body melted the ice inside of her. Even though the freezing rain beat against the two of them, she felt warm and… happy?

She finally understood. A friend in him, she would always have. He was Akemi's gift to her. She smiled as she hugged him back.

Thank you and happy birthday, Neechan.

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-Fin

A/N: I know that was incredibly short... Anyways, ay or nay?