All names I use are the Japanese ones. I can't stand the dub names or the dub. That's what happens when you discover the series a year and a half before it's even licensed. :p


Haunted
Conan slipped his bow tie back around his neck. He heard Kogoro stretch and yawn as he awoke from another wristwatch induced sleep.

"Ahhh! That was another amazing deduction, Mouri-kun!" Megure praised.

Kogoro gave Megure a slightly clueless look but then plastered a smile on his face and began laughing, "Hahahaha! Of course it was! I'm a great detective, after all! This sort of thing is nothing but a game for me!"

'Idiot,' thought Conan, giving Kogoro a 'look.' Sighing and shaking his head, Conan turned away from Megure and the laughing Kogoro. He walked over to the body of the sheet-covered victim.

'A game?' Conan's eyes glazed over as he stared at the body. The world around him disappeared. 'Does this mean we've won?' He focused his eyes on body again. 'What about the victim?'

'I know the murder is under arrest but that doesn't help this person,' he sadly thought. The memory of the victim only an hour before he was murdered sprang unbidden into Conan's mind.

Conan closed his eyes and let his head fall until his chin rested on his chest. 'It's not just this person. So many I've met the person before they were murdered. Every time I knew something was up but was powerless to prevent it!'

Seemingly, the image of every person he had ever found murdered flashed through his mind. Conan sank down to the ground and tightly wrapped his arms around his spindly legs.

'Why does this bother me now? I've never had a problem before……………why do I now. What should I do?' He stared with unseeing eyes at the body of the man, the face contorted in the pain of dying death roes.

'I'm not really a very good detective. If I were, I would be able to prevent some of their deaths! Instead, I fail each and every one of them! I'm worthless!' He pounded a fist against his head in anger and frustration.

A hand came down gently to rest on his shoulder. Letting out a startled squeak, Conan jumped and fell backwards on to his rear-end.

He looked up to see who had startled him. "Ran-neechan…," he said, his voice almost questioning who it was.

She extended a hand to him to help in stand. "Don't dwell on it, Conan-kun. Dad's not perfect. He can't save everyone. A single person can't stop everything from happening." She gave him a smile, "At least, the murderer didn't get away with killing."

Conan looked up at her, contemplating what she told him. They walked away from the corpse in silence. When they reached the door of the room, Conan told Ran with a fake tone that sounded like he was cheering up, "I guess you're right, Ran-neechan, jisan (uncle) can't do everything."

Together, they climbed into a cab, following Kogoro, who was still laughing a little over his "victory."

Conan looked back at the building through the car window as the cab drove off. He continued to stare in its direction long after it had disappeared from sight.

'Ran is right. A single person can't prevent everything. But I still wish I could do more for all those people.'


I am embarrassed with self. Started writing this back in Nov/Dec. The ending only came together today. :p

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4-17-05