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Chapter 4

"Hakase?" Breathing out deeply, Ai checked her watch impatiently. It's been fifteen minutes already. "Hakase!"

In order to access the organization's mainframe, she needed to borrow Agasa Hakase's computer, to avoid giving him heart attack after seeing so many information on drugs and stuff, she decided to tell him everything. She had expected shock, but standing there open mouthed for fifteen minutes is a bit much.

"Hakase!" she yelled, snapping her fingers in front of his face. "Snap out of it!"

"...You say you're from the future?" Finally coming back down to earth, the professor asked weakly.

Ai nodded.

"Ten years later, an organization will use a drug to turn you and Shinichi into kids?"

"That's right."

"And you want to change the past to mend the future."

"Yep."

Hakase sighed, holding a hand over Ai's forehead. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm perfectly okay, Hakase. Really."

"……." Once again speechless, the professor just gaped at her.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"Of course I do! It's just…" By now, the professor is wondering if there's a good physiatrist around he could take the little girl to.

"Fine, I'll prove it." Switching on the computer, Ai opened a new file and quickly typed in everything she remembered about APTX4869. "Could a seven year old girl really manage all this?"

"!!!!"

Ai folded her arms and patiently waited for the professor to come to sense.

"So…what you said is really true?" he stammered at last.

"Yes."

"You're from ten years later?"

"And Shinichi's going to turn small? And you need to use my computer to see if you can somehow destroy the organization that did it?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!"

"But Ai-kun, despite who you really are, you still look like a little girl, how are you going to destroy a whole organization?"

Ai smiled lightly. "Then you'd better be thankful that this is the past. The password is still an old one, so I could get a hold of their plans before they're actually carried out. It shouldn't take more than two, three years before it's all finished."

Agasa Hakase stared at the screen thoughtfully. "So the organization won't be there anymore? And there'd be no APTX thingamajigs? You and Shinichi would never turn into kids?

Ai nodded, confirming all this.

"But…" the professor's tone suddenly turned grave. "Don't you know what the consequences will be?"

"Wha—what do you mean?" Everything would be fixed, wouldn't it? Kudo would grow up to be a famous detective, without having to share the credit with that drunken Kogoro, he could always be with Mouri-san, what could happen?

"But you've changed the past." Hakase said. "You would never have made APTX, never turn into Haibara Ai, which means you never would have made that wish, which means—." Clearing his throat, he continued. "You'll disappear!"

Silence seemed to stretch into hours, days.

"…Well, that's what'll have to happen then." Ai said finally. "There's always a price to pay for meddling with fate."

"But Ai-kun…" the professor began, eyes watering. He didn't want the little girl to disappear!

"You'll help me, won't you?" Ai demanded. "Promise you'll help."

"I can't let you go like that…" Hakase said uncertainly. "You're like my daughter now…"

Ai smiled, trying to reassure him. "Don't be like that. I won't be dead, I'll just, live another life. It's all for the best." It is, isn't it? Neechan wouldn't be killed, and she could have a normal life without all the pain and sorrow. Isn't that what she's always wished for? Then why is there a hollow ache in her heart that wouldn't go away?

"But…but…you won't know us anymore, me or Shinichi." The professor said tearfully.

"Hakase…" Forgetting them is something she would never want to do, but if it meant stopping the organization, then… "Promise." She said, ignoring the tears that found their way down her cheek.

"…" The professor saw the determination in Ai's eyes, and knew that nothing would be able to change her mind. Finally, he nodded.

"What are you guys doing?" The sudden voice made both of them jump. Shinichi stood in the doorway, eyes wide with curiosity. Ai quickly wiped the edge of her eyes with a sleeve. Had he heard anything?

"Nothing, just— just chatting with Hakase, that's all." Ai gave a warning look to the professor. After all, Shinichi was only a little kid, and he shouldn't be involved, burdened with a secret like that, even if he is going to grow up to be a famous detective.

Shinichi stared suspiciously at the professor's red eyes, raising an eyebrow.

"Ah, I… was watching a sitcom on TV, and the main character just died of cancer…" Hakase amended hastily.

"Really?"The TV wasn't on.

Ai almost fainted at the lame excuse. Is that all he could come up with? The professor looked apologetic. Anyway it's too late for another explanation now.

"Yeah, that's all." She said, smiling reassuringly. "Why are you here?"

"To remind Ai-chan I'm coming over tomorrow for breakfast!"

"Oh…" Can the kid think of anything else? "Okay."

"Thanks!! Oh, and we both got full marks for the exam, and we're in the same class! We can walk to school together, in case you couldn't find the classroom.

Ai bit back a sarcastic remark, and nodded.

Shinichi grinned. "See you tomorrow then!" He ran out the door.

"Bye…"

Once out the door, Shinichi's footsteps halted. What did Ai mean, saying she came from the future? Why did Hakase say Ai-chan would disappear? And what the heck is the organization?

The little detective sighed. Oh well, he'll ask Hakase about it some other time.

The important thing is, Ai-chan's in his class!

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A/N: Shinichi, be my little brother!