Conan's Last Day

After dinner, Meguri drove them home. Ayumi and Kogoro ran inside to catch the end of the Yoko concert. Sadly for Ayumi, it was already past her and Conan's bedtime. After some pouting Ran agreed to let her stay up late.

Later, after their seperate baths, the two children got into their pajamas and brushed their teeth. Ayumi got a sleeping bag out of her backpack, along with her teddy bear.

"Good night, Conan-kun."

"Good night, Ayumi-chan."

Later that night Conan awoke to the sound of someone crying. At first he thought it was Ran crying over Shinichi again, but then realized it was Ayumi.

"What's wrong, Ayumi-chan?"

He was answered by a flash of lightning and a thunderclap. Ayumi covered her ears and sobbed into her pillow.

Conan crawled over to Ayumi and hugged her.

"It's okay. It's only lightning. " he said as he rocked her. Another thunderclap sounded, driving Ayumi further into Conan's arms.

"I...I'm sorry." she sniffeled. "I've been afraid of lightning since I was little."

Conan held her tight as more lightning flashed. When it was done he gently urged her to continue.

"I was only four. My mommy and daddy took me out of the city to visit my aunt. She lives in a big house with lots of land. I was playing outside when suddenly a storm came up from out of nowhere. I was so scared. Then lightning hit a tree really close to me. I thought I was going to die. I've never been more scared in my life. Ever since, I've been afraid of lightning and thunder."

Conan knew what had happened. Ayumi had been tramatised at a very young age. She needed reassurance and support from her best friend.

"It's alright. It's nothing more then an electrical discharge. You'll be okay."

By the time the storm was over Ayumi had fallen asleep in Conan's arms. He gently laid her down and lifted her arm to give her her teddy bear. He would later learn that the bear was named Conan, much to his embaressment.

The next morning Ran came in to wake them up. She found a scene that had her racing for her camera.

Conan and Ayumi snuggled together in her sleeping bag. From the look of them Ayumi had been scared by the storm and Conan had comforted her.

Soon, two groggy children found their way to the kitchen. Ran had made breakfast, and they needed to hurry or Kogoro might eat it all.

Conan ate in silence. He knew it was wrong. The right thing to do was to be cruel to Ayumi. To make her hate him. Then when he became Shinichi again it wouldn't break her heart.

But he couldn't do that. He didn't know exactly how, but Ayumi had become his friend. Not just her, but Genta and Mitsuhiko too. Conan Edogawa had three wonderful friends that he would eventually have to hurt badly.

But he couldn't just choose to remain Conan. He had a life and obligations as Shinichi Kudo. Not to mention Ran. He didn't know if she could take much more of his absence.

Life was so unfair.

"What's wrong Conan-kun?" Ran asked him, maternal concern showing on her face.

"It's nothing." he reassured her, smiling and rubbing the back of his head.

After breakfast Ayumi, Conan, and Ran walked to school. Conan held Ayumi's hand during the walk. Genta and Mitsuhiko soon joined them, and they continued their death stares at Conan from yesterday.

Since Conan was not really an elementary school student, he often had plenty of time to think during class. And today he focused all of his thoughts towards a solution to his problems. But nothing came and he eventually gave up. He would have to deeply hurt someone dear to him. He just didn't know who.

Later that night he got a call from Hiabara. She claimed to at last have perfected the antidote. He was both releaved and heartbroken at the same time. He knew what he had to do.

That saturday he asked Ran to take himself and Ayumi to the amusment park. She agreed, telling him how cute it was that he and Ayumi were going on a date.

He got Ayumi cotton candy, and rode every ride twice with her. He held her in the haunted house, the roller coster, and the fairis wheel when the seat they were in stopped at the top. He let her bump him on the bumper cars. He did everything he could think of to make this one last night as magical as he could.

Yet he couldn't bring himself to tell her that this was the last time she would ever see him.

Later, after more cotton candy and peanuts and popcorn, they watched the fireworks together. Ayumi kissed Conan on the lips, and he kissed her back.

When it was over and the hour had grown late, Conan said goodbye for the last time. Tomarrow he would take the antidote and become Shinichi again, forever.

That night he cried into his pillow.