Ch20
"Speech"
'Thought'
Winds of the Cold Chilling Night
The sun made it's way over the city buildings, bleaching its ray into the young detective's window, coloring it with its golden radiance that 'miraged' the scenery outside. The boy lay still, resting his eyes but not asleep. Throughout the night, he had tried to but even if he did drift off at times, he would awaken no longer than an hour later. His mind was split between two thoughts. The obvious fact that Ran is still under intensive care was one. The other…
'Haibara was acting more depressed then usual…Could she be thinking of…'
A figure stood by the door interrupted his thoughts. "Heiji!" Shinichi gasped. His rival made his way down the quiet room with a strange focus and determination in his eyes.
"You know?" Shinichi whispered and watched Heiji nod as a reply.
"But I still believe his innocent," said Heiji.
"Look, I know what you saw might be hard to believe but…"
"No, it's not that" Hattori cut in, "I may not know much about this black organization of yours but, usually, the head of such a crime syndicate is more…tougher. When I spoke with him, I didn't feel like I was talking to the mastermind behind such a huge organization but as my father. There was a certain uncertainty in his voice,"
"Are you saying that…"
"Yea, I think this whole thing was a set up."
Silence
"Hattori…I think this whole thing has just been a shock to you. That's why you're having such a difficult time accepting reality," Shinichi consoled.
"No, I'm not! I know my father better than anyone in the world! He isn't a man capable of such acts!" Hattori shouted.
"We caught him red handed! Even if he wasn't, he would be arrested for being a part of it!"
"…"
"Fine, I'll tell Ms. Jodie to keep an eye on things. That's the best I can do now."
"…alright…"
Shinichi got to his feet and took his jacket from the coat hanger. Giving a quick pat upon his pocket, he gave a bright smile. Hattori looked at the young man with questions in his eyes and was about to ask a question when he was cut off by Kudou's abrupt, "Let's go look for Ran."
(Haibara's Room)
"Miyano-san…Miyano-san!" a whispering call came as Ai opened her sleepy eyes slowly.
"Ms. Jodie?" she sat up and greeted her.
"Hi, how you feeling?" she asked.
"I'm fine, I was caught in that fire but I managed to escape," then a sudden memory shot back into her mind. "Shuichi! Where's Shuichi!" she exclaimed.
Jodie gave her a difficult look and took a deep breath. "He..didn't make it…" Ai's heart skipped a beat as her eyes grew wide with her mouth. "I have something for you," Jodie continued as she pulled out a small slightly burnt rose, "We found him lying on the floor. Cause of death was a lack of oxygen used by the fire and he himself was never burnt. He held this in his hand"
Ai took the flower to her hand. Looking upon the flower, two stream of tears strolled from the corner of her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.
"I'm going to check up on Shinichi-kun and Ran-san," Jodie said, raising from her seat.
'It's all my fault…' "wait…I'll come with you," Ai said as she placed the rose on the table beside the bed and got to her feet.
The two walked down the halls. Jodie turned occasionally, shooting Ai with a concerned look as she gazed at the sad expression on the tiny girl's face. "Miyano-san, will you excuse me for a moment? I just remembered something. Ran-san's room should be just down the hall to the right so wait for me there, I'll come in a sec," she said, trying to be cheerful as they approached a split in the path.
"Alright…" Ai replied with a completely neutral voice.
Jodie gave a small smile and nod and walked off the other hall. Taking a glance back to make sure that the girl was gone, she turned the corner where a figure folded his arms and gave a sigh at her arrival.
"You told her?" he asked.
"Yea…", she replied shifting her glance to the side, "Are you sure this was for the best? I mean, why can't you two…"
"I and her has too much past," he cut in, "It's best for the both of us if we just moved on. I don't wish to be in her life, and…I don't wish for her to be in mine."
"So where are you going now?" Jodie said, changing the mood with a change of her voice.
"Me? I still have something I need to check on," he answered.
"They assigned you to a new case already?" Jodie asked raising an eyebrow.
"No, no, just some post-case research that I want to do," he replied as he turned his back and motioned for the door, "Besides, there's still something that's stuck in my mind." He inhaled and exited the door before Jodie could ask anymore questions.
(Another place in the hospital)
"Excuse me, could you tell me where Ran Mouri's room is?" Shinichi asked.
"Uh…that would be…room 106, it's down the hall, take your first right, and go straight down and you should find it," the nurse replied politely.
"Thank you," Shinichi gave a short bow, forgetting about his wound and squinted his face when pain shot from his abdomen as he bent down. He raised his head with a weak laugh. The nurse giggled and walked away.
Normally, Hattori would have said some mocking jokes at the idiotic behavior to the teenage detective but he was too busy thinking about the past night that he didn't even notice. He had been subconsciously following Shinichi as he was led all over the hospital before the boy finally decided to ask someone for directions.
Making his way down, Shinichi mumbled to the boy behind him, "Hey, don't do anything rash."
"Huh, what do you mean?" Hattori asked, flipping to attention.
"I mean, just leave the rest to the FBI and the police. There's nothing you could have done to prevent this from happening, so it's not up to you to go flip over world trying to track down every member of B.O." Shinichi said in a casual voice.
"I know…but I still have the feeling that perhaps I could have done something to change this…I just can't get rid of it. Maybe if I contacted a close officers of mine when I found out about you or maybe if I…"
"See, now you're just losing it. You couldn't have done that and you know why."
Hattori shut his mouth and looked out the window.
"The first right down the hall," Shinichi said, changing the subject as he stepped around the corner. A crowed of people looked over at his approach. "Inspector Megure? And detective Mouri!"
Everyone was there. Takagi, Satou, Eri, Kogorou. The only ones that wasn't there was the detective boys and Sonoko, who probably hasn't yet come because she hadn't heard of it yet.
"Kudou-kun!" Megure called as he waved the boy over.
"Inspector, what are you doing here? The words travels fast?" Kudou asked.
"No, I came because I heard Mouri-kun here got shot," Megure answered.
Shinichi glanced to the old detective who sat on the wall bench with his arms folded and eyes closed. "Are you okay, detective Mouri?"
"You…how could you let this happen to Ran!" Kogorou demanded with rage.
"Dear, calm yourself," Eri pushed him down.
"You were suppose to protect her from this! You even promised me that no harm would come to her!" he exclaimed.
"I'm…sorry," Shinichi said looking down.
""My daughter is in critical condition in there! Three shots? How did she get shot three times! What were you doing!" Kogorou would have jumped the lad if his wound didn't prevent him each time he prepared for a lunge.
"The only words I can say to you is I'm sorry. If I could switch place with her right now, I would do it without a second's thought," Shinichi replied.
"YO…u…" Kogorou was about to blunt a few more words when he noticed the clenched trembling fist that the boy clutched and leaned his back against the wall with a humph.
Ai stood by the door, staring into the window on top of the door. Because of her size, she had to tilt her head which revealed the concerned look upon her face that Shinichi had only rarely seen.
'The face behind the mask,' he thought as he gave a sigh and lowered his brow at the tiny girl. There was something in her gaze that went beyond concern. Something that he just couldn't put his fingers on. Something that he had never seen through the Mask of Haibara. "H..Hey…Hai…"
"is there a Kudou Shinichi here?" a nurse whispered as she slid the door open.
"I'm Kudou Shinichi," Shinichi replied.
"She's awake and she wants to see you, and also…uh…Haibara Ai-san as well," the nurse announced.
"Me?" Ai looked up with surprise.
"Yes, please come in. The rest of you, she's still a bit weak so I would appreciate it if you all could wait patiently outside.
A round of nods answered her plea.
The room was dim. The beeping of the heart monitor held a constant tempo as the rays of the high noon sun entered softly, shaded by the curtains at the windows on the upper side of the wall. The two made their way into the room quietly as they looked at the young woman, laying upon the bed in the center. Tubes and wires attached to her arms shuffled as she turned her head to see the two approaching figures.
"Shinichi?" she asked in a whisper.
"I'm here…Ran…" Shinichi whispered back. Ai followed closely behind with her mask placed upon her face.
"Shinichi…" a smile found its way upon the girls lips.
"How you doin?" he asked.
"Haibara-san told me…(Egh)…"
"Ran!"
"I'm fine… Haibara-san told me that you do love me and you never meant to hurt me back at that lab."
"I…" Shinichi blushed slightly.
Ran gave a weak giggle, "and now I think I know the true meaning of what she said." Ai narrowed her eyes.
"The true meaning?" Shinichi asked.
"Where did you get that ball Shinichi?" Ran asked.
"Huh, what are you talking about?"
"The rock ball that you through up back at the cliff to divert the fire. Where did you get it from?"
"I…I got it from…
"Here Conan-kun, I won it at the department store. You know, those things where if you buy their goods, you get a chance to win a prize. That was the please try again reward." Ran laughed, "I thought you might like it, kids always like shiny round things don't they?"
I got it from a department store lottery."
Ran gave a small smirk. "That's what I thought you'd say. I gave a similar ball to Conan-kun about 10days ago. I told him that I got it from a department store lottery but it was the professor who really gave it to me. A few month ago, he found me crying at your front door and he gave me that ball, saying rub that ball to relieve your anger jokingly. He invited me in for a cup of coffee and we had a little chat."
"…" (eyes slightly widens)
"The professor made that 'ball' himself as he told me... You're Conan-kun…aren't you…"
"Ran…" 'The case is over now…right? There's no harm in telling her right?' he wondered as he looked at Haibara who stood calmly on her spot.
Noticing his look, Ai turned away as thought to say, 'don't ask me'
"Haibara-san knew about this…right?" Ran asked, turning her attention to the tiny girl beside, "Was that not why you told me what you did?" Ai didn't turn her face away; it wasn't her who should be telling the story.
(Beep…..Beep…..Beep…)
"Shinichi?" Ran asked again.
(Beep…Beep…Beep)
"Ran…I…"
(Beep Beep…Beep…Beep…..Beep…..Beep)
"I see," Ran said before Shinichi finished his sentence, "Thank you…for always being there for me…" her eyes closed, "Conan-kun," she whispered with a soft smile before her body relaxed upon the bed.
"Ran?" Shinichi's eyes widened as did Ai's, "Ran, RAN!"
The nurses pushed him aside and began some medical procedures. Outside the door, the crowed overheard the calls of Shinichi and had glued their faces to the door to hear what was happening inside. Shinichi wanted to help but he didn't know what to do. His mind was going into a blank as he watched the scene with horror. Sticking his hand in his pocket, he swallowed loudly, watching the unconscious girl.
The first thing that brought him back from insanity was Ai, as she dashed to the side of the nurses. "Go page a doctor, NOW!" she ordered as she placed two fingers upon the girl's wrist. "Damn it, her heart rate is all screwed up. You!" she pointed to one of the nurse who watched not knowing what to do, "Get me 5 cc of esmolol, Stat!"
"What?" the nurse hesitated as she looked at the tiny girl.
"Hurry up!" Ai ordered again. The nurse got the medicine requested but still wasn't sure if she should give it to such a young girl. "Do you want her to die!" she exclaimed. Looking down at the unconscious girl, the nurse did as she was told. Ai grasped the needle and inserted into Ran's arm. "Esmolol, commonly known as Brevibloc. It's used to stablize heart from irregular heart rhythn," she explained as the nurses in the room watched with awe, "Damn it, it's not working! Get me 5, no, 10cc of propranolol. She's too tense, we gotta relieve her, this medicine may not be as strong but if I can get her heart to loosen up a bit the maybe I can get it stabilized." The nurse did as told. The girl knew what she was talking about, heck they didn't have a clue to some of the words she used but they didn't care. Right now, she was the best chance the patient had and they weren't going to wait for the doctor to arrive cause it didn't take a doctor to know that the patient was losing life, and fast.
"Haibara…" Shinichi gasped. 'She's so focused that she seem almost desperate…'
"Come on…Come on…Stay with me Ran-san! Stay with me!" she shouted as she kept her fingers on her pulse and her eyes on the heart monitor.
(Beep…Beep.…..Beep…..Beep………….beep…beeeeeeeeeeeeeee………)
"No…we're going to have to do CPR!" Ai called as she took the defibrillator to her hands and began to rub them together, "CLEAR!" (Zap!)
(Beep…beep..beeeeeeeeeeeee….)
"Come on…CLEAR!" (Zap)
(Beep…Beeeeeee…..)
"Come back to us, Ran-san! CELAR!" (Zap) 'No, don't die. Please…'
(Beep…beeeeee…)
"No…"
Two doctors ran into the room loudly but came to an abrupt stop hearing the long stationary tone of the heart monitor. Shinichi stared dumb founded. "Ran…" he called out, "ran…RAN!" He dragged himself to her side and lowered his head to her shoulders. A few quiet sobs were the only sound left in the room now that the doctor had turned off the equipments. Inside his pocket, his hand clutched into a fist. 'Why…' he thought.
Haibara bit her lips as her hands began to tremble, dropping the two paddles on the bed. She took a few steps back from the bed with eyes filled with anger and shock before she dashed out the door and through the crowed. The professor called to her but she was already gone. 'It's all my fault!' she thought as she made her way out of the hospital doors. She no longer felt the headache she had, nor the pain from her wound as it reopened under the bandages from her sudden movements.
Shinichi walked out from the room, only to find the eager faces of the crowed staring back at him. Nearly everyone in the crowed had guessed what had happened but did not wish to believe it until they heard it directly from his lips. "Ran is…" he chocked, "Ran's gone…"
A gasp waved across the crowed. Even Heiji had broken from his train of thought at the horrifying news.
"R..Ran…Ran's…" Kogorou mumbled in his seat. Every part of his body was shaking, even his eyelids, flickered madly until he shut them to prevent them from going out of control. With everything he had, he got to his feet and jumped at Shinichi, forcing the boy against the wall as he grasped the boy's collar. "You…You killed her!" he snarled viciously, "You killed Ran!"
Shinichi said nothing. He couldn't say anything, to him, that was true.
"You bastard, I'm going to kill you! I'm gonna…You..!" Kogorou roared forcing the boy further up against the wall. Shinichi gave a grumble as his back hit, putting shock upon his wound.
"Mouri-kun! Calm yourself!" Megure jumped in, as he held the angry father and attempted to pull him away.
(That night)
Winds of the cold chilling night,
Oh, how cold are thee.
Through the skin,
through the veins,
to the cores of my bones thy piercing blows strikes.
Yee shrieks pain upon this star-crossed heart.
Conan sat alone against the side of the wall in his room. His tiny body had returned late that afternoon in the secrecy of doctor Agasa's living room. There was a depressing quietness in the room which was broken momentarily by the small boy's sigh. No tears have come to his eyes since he had returned from the hospital. An old album lay in his hands, brining back the smile he missed already. Each picture brought back a short moment of relief as its memories pushed away the sadness. But memories are only a drug of heart for him. It may seem to relieve the pains for the moment but only more pain awaits its departure.
"Do you have anyone you like, Conan-kun? A girlfriend or something like that?"
"No, nothing like that,"
"I do…someone that I really like. Ever since we were kids, he was mean and so full of himself, and a deduction nerd, but when the time comes, he's brave and reliable and so cool. I REALLY like Shinichi!"
"Heh," he spat with a mocking smile. 'Was hiding my identity all for nothing?'
"Wow, Youko-san sure is strong. Her old boyfriend was killed in her room and she's bounced back already…I guess I'm just not like that…I can't even sleep at night because Shinichi's disappeared…"
'All the times I made Ran suffer,
"You're all words…"all the sadness I made her feel,
"You're always not here on the important times and all you do is call!"all the tears I made her shed…'
"Always…always…leaving me behind alone. Who do you think I am?
I…
I love you Shinichi…"
"WERE THEY ALL FOR NOTHING!" he demanded to an invisible figure above raising his fist high into the air. Then, as the soundless state returned to the room, he slammed his fist against his wall with a burst of rage. As he moved to the window, looking at the flickering streetlight, a small shape caught his eye as it sneaked its way out of the next-door gates.
Haibara took a deep breath of the cool night air before turning back to see the place she became accustomed to calling it her home. A trail of dried tear that carved down her cheeks was the only sign of her sorrow. She shut the gate gently, careful not to make any sound so not to wake the sleeping man inside. Turning back to the road, she began to walk. She did not know consciously to where she was headed, she just walked.
Her steps led her to a river. Standing at the bank, she gazed at her reflection created by the opposite bank's lights from the bars. 'How many lives have I ruined…' she wondered and watched her reflection of Shiho Miyano in the river. 'How many lives did I plunder into a world of misery… Kahlil Gibran was right, death would have probably be more sweeter and beloved for me…' she thought then splashed her hand into the water from disgust, 'I think I know what that means now' Slowly, she got to her feet, then looking around at her surrounding, she took a step toward the water.
"Don't do it!" a voice called from behind.
Ai jolted back. "Kudou-kun?" she gasped.
"What were you thinking! I thought something was wrong with your behaviour since last night. Ran's death was something you desperately wanted to prevent, not because of Ran, but for yourself was it not? Not that I wanted her to die, but seeing your actions in that hospital, it was clear. You were pushed to the limit emotionally by guilt." he said calmly, walking out of the shade.
"Why did you stop me…" Ai questioned, "It's my life and it's my decision." She wasn't going to deny her attempt. What for, it was obvious, especially in Kudou's eyes.
"I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that this whole thing was your fault, aren't you?"
"…"
"Yea…You and every other person that was involved in this case. Why should you alone get the privilege of relieving yourself through death?" Shinichi gave a small chuckle, trying to change the mood despite the state he himself was in. "Come on, come home with me, we can talk in the morning."
"There's nothing to talk about! Don't B.S. with me about how it wasn't my fault. I know damn well that you believe it's my fault as well. It's not only you, all those countless innocent people that died from APTX4869, the APTX4869 that I developed." She shouted.
"No, I don't! and you shouldn't either!" Shinichi opposed.
"There's nothing for me to live for anymore, don't you see! My reason for existence was to help you with your 'Quest' but now that's over, I have nothing left. I tried to help you Kudou-kun, I really did! But in the end, I still couldn't," a new stream of warm tears shot out from her eyes, "For once, I wanted to prove to myself that I can make someone's life better.
Ai's eyes opened slightly, "Why…I'm the one person in the world that you should be hating more than anyone now. There is no more need for me to exist. Before, I had a purpose and that purpose was to help you. Now, I don't have a purpose so then tell me why I should still exist!"
"Exist…for me…I vowed my life to protect you…, " Conan whispered, "so I won't leave your side until you choose to come back with me." Their eyes met, only for a moment, but within that moment, hours of words seemed to have exchanged between the two.
"Kudou-kun…" Haibara's wide open eyes came back to it's usual size. Without a word, she turned and headed back the way she came, sliding past the boy in silence. With a sigh of relief, Kudou followed.
Something happened that night, something had changed. It wasn't anything phenotypic, no, eyes alone could not tell. The two walked solemnly, against the sad trickles of the river, gliding upon the winds of this cold chilling night.
(Following Day)
A group of people had gathered at the cemetery where a new coffin was being lowered into the grave. Everything was silent except for the weeps and moans that sounded under the light overcast. Ai glanced across to the woman next to her, "Where is Shuichi-san going to be buried?"
"We're going to bring him back to America. That is where he would want to be," Jodie answered.
"I see…" said Ai, slightly disappointed as she watched the coffin lowering to the ground.
The ceremony was over and people began to take their leaves. Megure bent down before the tiny figure and put his hands upon the small boy's shoulders. 'I guess Kudou-kun didn't come.' He thought taking a quick look at the moustached man a few paces down, then returning his eyes to the boy before him. "Are you going to be okay Conan-kun?" he asked.
A silent nod came as an answer. The tubby inspector gave a concerning look before turning his attention to a different figure. "Are YOU going to be okay Mouri-kun?" he asked.
The old detective gave a grimly glare at the tiny boy which disappeared with a sorrowful frown. "Yes," he answered.
"Take it easy alright," he said as he patted the man on his back.
"I will Megure-dono…from this day forward, I'm retired," he sighed as he motioned to the car.
"You what!" Megure jolted as he chased after Kogorou.
"I'm getting to my age now too inspector. After what I've been through, 'and realised' in the past few days, I just feel rather tired now," he said, "Those days…were a wonderful dream. Now, it's time for me to wake up." He gave a quick smile before stepping into his car and driving off without much chance for the stunned inspector to attempt to change his mind.
(5 year later)
"and with these factors, I can say that YOU!" a young boy pointed confidently at a sweating figure in the crowed, "Mr. Sakiota is the culprit!"
…
"Wow, I must say you amaze me in every case," inspector Megure laughed heartily as he patted the young boy on his shoulders.
"It was nothing," Conan replied with a smile, walking calmly out the mansion doors as the culprit entered the police car outside with his hands cuffed and head slouched down.
"I guess when you learn from the best, you become the best," Megure complimented, "You've been solving cases for 4 and a half years now and so far you've solved every case! You're were the world's youngest detective you know, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, haha"
"you say too much inspector Megure," Conan sweat dropped and continued down the path leading to the mansion gates.
The antidote was made but Shinichi never took it. Why return to a life where you've already lost everything? Where will you go when there is nothing ahead? HE still remembers the day in the FBI lab when he announced his news. All were surprised, all but one. Ai knew, she understood his reasons for it was the same as her own.
"Oh, how is Kudou-kun doing lately? I haven't heard from him since he moved to America with his parents 5 years ago when he gave you the right to his house."
"Oh, I'm sure his doing fine."
"Another case solved, Edogawa-kun?" a girl smiled knowingly from behind the bars of the gates, folding her arms with an ominous look in her eyes.
"Oh, Ai-chan, how are you doing?" Megure greeted cheerfully.
"I'm fine," she smiled and gave a nod.
"Your generation is amazing. You're the head scientist in the Medical research centre right? And to think that you're still only 17, it's amazing." He congratulated.
"Thank you," Ai smiled.
"Ai, what are you doing here?" Conan asked with surprise.
"Nothing in particular, just on the way back from the lab and saw these police cars so decided to drop by. I knew you would be involved in it somehow," she replied.
"Sorry to barge in," Megure cut in, "but Kudou-kun, are you going to join us for the questioning? If you are, I can get you a ride down to the station with me right now."
"No, thank you. I…still have a place I want to stop by," he said softly, switching his eyes to the ground.
"Right…" Megure gave a difficult look, "well, I'll be off then. If you need anything, just give me a call." He said and gave two short slaps on the boy's shoulders before walking to his car.
Ai and Conan watched the cars fade into the distance before they began their steps.
"Kudou-kun, you going to the cemetery?" Ai asked.
"Yea…" Conan answered.
"…I'll come with you…"
"…sure…"
Conan rose slowly after a few mumbling words before the stone. Ai put a hand upon the young man's shoulder with a concerned look on her face. She opened her mouth but was cut off before she could speak by Conan. "It's not your fault."
Then with a grin, he continued, "Every time you come here with me, you say I'm sorry. You got nothing to be sorry about."
Ai bit her lips and shuffled away slightly, "Perhaps, but…"
"You said to me once," Conan said quietly, "that you ruined my life."
"I…"
"Perhaps there was a time that I even thought that that was true. But times have changed, you've even changed."
"Me?"
"You went from making drugs to kill people to making drugs to save people now haven't you?" Shakes his head, "…Haibara…"
"Yes?"
His face was beginning to flourish with a tiny hint of pink. "Do you think that…that there is a chance for us?"
Something came over the young girl. A strange feeling as thought she had been waiting for such a comment, yet there was something more to that and at that time she didn't know what it was.
"I've been feeling a strange pull to you for sometime now. For the longest time, I believed it was because of the promise I made to you, that I was just being protective of you. But after Ran died and the case was over, I still had the pull I had from before. It's been five years now for me to finally be able to say this to you. Ai…will you…marry me?"
A look of surprise grew upon her face as she looked upon the boy's sincere face. "You're serious…" she gasped. "I…I…" she took a few steps back before running off down the street.
"Haibara!" Conan reached his arm but she was gone. He started walking with a sad frown upon his face. Giving one last look at the disappearing figure, lowered his head and paced home.
Ai shut the door to her room as she dashed down the hall, not even answering to professor's call. Her heart was pounding, and not because of the run she just had. 'Why did I run away like that…' she wondered as she made her way to the drawers. Pulling out an old shoe box, she opened the lid. The tear drop pendant lay in the centre with 2 roses, one on each side. The light of the room reflected off the shiny surface of the pendant and danced across the room. She took the pendant to her hand and gazed at its content of two smiling figures. She stood there for the next 30minutes, her eyes fixed upon the photo as memories flashed through her mind. Then, with a smile and a long pensive sigh, she laid the pendent upon the cabinet, opened, and faced down.
She exited the house once more as the confused professor watched, scratching his balding head. Ai's steps took her back to the river where she had once wanted to end her life at. Looking down at the rose in her hand, she grasped them tightly to her chest before gliding them through the air, into the trickling river. She stayed there watching the two symbol for her love fade away to the distance, while feeling the gentle breeze of the wind of the cold chilling night. 'good bye…' she whispered to distant darkness.
Conan sat on the couch with his back in a hunch, fidgeting with the ring that he was going to present earlier that day. For many years, he had kept that ring. It was a symbol of his trust, of this bond, of he himself. He griped the ring in his palm in a tight hold as though to strangle the tiny metallic item.
The doorbell rang, startling the boy a few feet to the air. The bell rang again. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" he called to the door.
Ai stood outside and watched the door open. She could see a look of surprise in the young detective. Without a word, she leaned over and pressed her lips upon his. It took Kudou a few seconds to click back to the what was happening, but when he finally did, he closed his eyes and kissed back, relaxing the grip in his hand.
End…
Epilogue
"Dad, guess what!" A teenage girl ran in through the gates of the mansion. Her face sparkling with a proud smile Her light brown eyes contrasted her orange cinnamon hair, extending to just short of her back.. In her hands, she carried her Karate uniform, bundled together by the black belt. With a cheerful wink, she finished off, "I won the city Karate tournament!"
"Great job, I'm proud of you!" replied the mid-aged man.
"Wait a go Hanako, now go upstairs and get cleaned up. We'll go to that restaurant you liked so much as a celebration," a woman called from the door as she made her way out to greet her child.
"Really, YES!" Ran giggled and ran up the stairs.
"How you doin," Ai asked, giving a quick peck upon his cheek.
"I'm not bad, she's growing up," Conan replied with a smile, "You look like you're doing pretty good."
"She reminds you of her, doesn't she."
"Yea…"
Ai glanced down with an understanding smile and walked back in the house.
(That night, in the restaurant)
Hanako looked out the window excitedly as the sparkles of the city lights danced glamorously below. "Dad," she whispered.
"Yes?" Conan looked up from the menu booklet.
"Hajime-kun said he would bring me to tropical land if I won the tournament. Can I go with him this Sunday?" she asked.
Conan's eyes widened, "No! Abosultely not!" he exclaimed.
"But dad!" Hanako persisted.
Ai gave a sigh, "Let her go Conan," she said.
"Hajime-kun and I are chilhood friends, you can trust him dad, and his just as great a detective as you are," with a gasp, she quickly slapped her hands to her mouth.
"But…" he caught himself when he noticed a glare in Ai's eyes, "Yea, guess you're right. Alright, but I want you home before 9:00, is that clear!"
"As crystal, thanks dad, I love you too," she giggled and returned to the view.
'Tsuburaya Haijime…geeze…'
The End.
Thanks for reading this story, I hope you've enjoyed it. I may write a sequel to this and that's why I left a few open ends to this. For those of you that didn't know the meaning of wind; winds are used to symbolize a change. The Indians believed that each time a gust of wind blew, a change would come..
#1 CC lover: lol, no harm done. Glad you like it.
Anime Obsession: Final chapter, hope you liked it.
Tantei: Long enough for ya? Lol
Crystal Snowflake: I couldn't make it SS right off the bat. Their two "Loved" ones just died. But hey, Shiho lost her guy and Shinichi lost his girl. But Conan can still have his girl and Ai can still have her guy right? Lol.