AN: Sorry it took me forever to update, guys. Been really busy. I hope you are all ready for this chapter, since it is the last one. I'm going to try to make it as long as I can, so I hope you all enjoy it and won't kill me for being so late! Anyways, I'll do replies at the end, again, so you don't have to wait longer! Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from Case Closed/Detective Conan
Even in Darkness, I Will Love You: Chapter Seven: Forever Will My Love Stay
"Here, try these on," Rachel said, handing Conan a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt under the dressing room door.
"This is the fifteenth one, Rachel!" Conan announced, with more playfulness in his voice than annoyance. "You're going to make me try on the whole store!"
"If I have to find something that fits, then so be it!" Rachel said back, a smile on her face as she walked back to a rack of shirts and picked something out. "Now, hurry and try it on so I can see."
The door opened with a creak, and Conan stepped out. Rachel turned and gasped at the young boy in front of her. "You look so cute!" She announced, kneeling down in front of him to fasten his belt, and fix his mixed up buttons on his shirt. "This is so much better than your blue suit look."
"Can I at least keep the bowtie?"
Rachel frowned, "Why? That thing is so old, it looks bigger than you, too!"
Conan pouted, "But it's my favorite!"
"Fine," caved Rachel, standing up. "You can keep it."
Conan smiled, and went into the dressing room to put it on with his new clothes. I can't believe it all happened, he thought, returning to his thoughts of Jimmy Kudo instead of the young boy he now became. It's hard to imagine that I actually declared my love to Rachel… and that she declared it back to me. Would she remember what she said if I ask her?
He looked carefully around the door, seeing Rachel picking out some more shirts from the rack. She looked as though nothing had happened, as if they were just going on a normal shopping trip. But the slight flicker in her eyes said enough. She remembered, all she needed was another push of reality.
Should I say something? Conan thought, attempting to put his bowtie on. If I do, will she just say I'm too little to understand? Well… only one way to find out.
He swallowed his fear, and slowly crept towards her, gently pulling on her skirt. "Rachel, can I ask you something?"
She looked down at him, "yes, what?"
"Um… what happened today… were you really scared?"
Rachel knelt down, her smile gone, replaced with a more serene look. "Of course I was scared, I was terrified."
"Of loosing Jimmy?" There, I said it, now give me an answer.
"I was more than terrified of loosing Jimmy, and even loosing you, Conan. I don't know what I'd do without either of you."
"But, what if, one day I go away? Will you be able to make it?"
She hesitated, "I guess I'll have to. I mean, we can't stay together forever, can we?" She laughed lightly.
Conan smiled, "And you'll be happy when Jimmy returns again?"
"I'll be more than happy, I'll be ecstatic!"
"Why is that?"
"Because I love Jimmy, and when he returns, I know everything will be okay."
Conan's smile grew, "You know, when he gave me his clothes, he told me to tell you something."
"What?" She asked, anxiety growing in her.
"He said that he will return one day, and when he does, he'll stay for you. And something else I thought you should hear."
"What?" She asked, almost grabbing his shoulders to shake it out of him.
"He said that his love for you would forever stay."
Rachel smiled, her cheeks turning a bright pink, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Conan," She reached and pulled him into a hug as she gently cried. "Thank you for being here with me. Thank you for telling me of Jimmy, and reminding me of my love for him."
Conan hugged back, "Your welcome, Rachel. It's what I do."
"Rachel!" Serena said, wrapping her arms around her friend's neck as she made her way inside. "I heard about Jimmy, and I wanted to hear how you were doing."
Rachel smiled, shutting the door slowly. "I'm fine, Serena, really. Now I'm not so worried as I used to be." She blushed, and she hid it by walking into the kitchen, getting a soft drink from the fridge for her friend.
"That's great news, Rachel! But, I heard that something happened between you guys. I want all the details!"
Rachel shrugged, "What's there to tell? In Jimmy's message he said he loved me, and in my message to him, I said I loved him, too. That's really it."
"That's not all I heard," Serena said, a mocking sparkle in her young eyes. "I also heard you were the one to dive into the water to rescue him."
Rachel nodded quickly, sitting down on the couch. "Yeah, well, that's true, too."
Serena smiled, "I knew it!"
"Knew what?"
"That the next time that Kudo showed up you two would get together! I knew it! I just knew it!"
Rachel blushed, "Well, it's not official, yet."
"Come on, don't give me that! You guys announced your love to each other! Of course you guys are a couple now!"
Rachel laughed, her cheeks still pink, "Yeah… I guess that's true."
Serena then pouted, taking a seat next to her friend a gulping down soda.
Rachel frowned, "Serena? What are you doing?"
Serena just looked at her, and slowly said, "Now you're a girlfriend, which means I don't get to take you one my guy-hunting days!"
Rachel laughed, "I'm sorry, Serena. I'll go along for moral support!"
Serena huffed, "like I need moral support."
Rachel laughed, "Yeah, I know. I was kidding. But, listen, I can still go with you, if you want. Because Jimmy and I aren't official yet."
"Rachel!" Richard shouted from the other room, walking inside with the phone in his hand. "Phone for you."
Rachel nodded to Serena before taking the phone from her father. "Hello?"
"Rachel!" Jimmy said, his voice sounding excited. "How are you?"
"Jimmy, hey," Rachel said, smiling over to Serena. "I'm good, how are you?"
"I'm doing a lot better," he said softly. "Well, okay, I lied."
Rachel's smile turned to a frown, "What's wrong?"
"I miss you," he said.
Rachel blushed, "I miss you, too, Jimmy."
"Hey, listen," He sounded more anxious now. "I was wondering… since we both, uh… have the same feelings and all… how about we…"
Rachel covered the bottom of the phone, and whispered over to Serena, "he's asking me!"
"How about we, you know, become a…" He sounded as though he was having a hard time.
She laughed, "A couple?"
"Yeah," she could just imagine his blushing face.
"Oh, Jimmy Kudo, you know I'm going to say yes!"
Jimmy laughed, "That's great! Oh, I need to go, but I'll call you later, okay?"
"Okay, bye Jimmy," Rachel said, and hung up, feeling lightheaded. Flumping onto the couch, Serena laughed. "I told you! It's about time, too!"
Rachel only smiled.
Conan hung up the phone slowly, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. "I finally asked her," he whispered, a giant grin on his face. No longer did he have to fumble for the words every time he saw her, no longer did he have to run away before he made a fool of himself. He finally asked her, and she said yes! His heart soared, but he tried to remain calm.
He was back in the body of a young boy. And, even though he was technically her boyfriend, he would have to act the same way a young boy would. A pinch of sorrow filled him, but he didn't let it bother him too much. He was still glad that, even though himself as Jimmy Kudo would take a while to return, he knew that she would welcome him with open arms.
He could only hope that that day will come sooner rather than later.
AN: What do you guys think? Sorry it took me forever to update! There's been a lot of problems with my computer lately, so, while I'm on now, I'm going to update as many stories as I can! Anyways, here's the replies!
Replies!
Ninalee-chan: I hope you liked how I put this chapter, and thank you for the luck in my contest! I finished both of my entries, but I might re-write one of them. Good thing it's not till June, otherwise I'd be pushing it! Thanks again, and I hope you've enjoyed this story!
Denebola Topas: Awww thank you! I feel so honored that you think it's the best! You are so sweet! I hope you liked how I wrote this last chapter, and I hope you like my many other stories yet to come!
Samiechanshinichiluver: I'm sorry you hate short chapters! I Hope this was long enough for you!
Silver Sky Magician: Lol, yes, that was one of the best parts! I'm glad I made you laugh! Anyways, I'm sorry you had to wait so long! I hope it was worth the wait!
