Author's Note: I guess I owe you readers an explanation. First, I think I'll apologize for not updating for more than a month. I wasn't able to update due to the fact that school has started. Trust me, Senior Year is hard and time consuming. Only a few days can I actually take a rest and write. I've been busy with so much stuff. One is the entrance exams for the college I'm going in and another reason for the delay is my academics. I need to maintain a proper high grade. Also, I'm part of our school's newspaper group, so I need to be there also. I'm sorry for updating late, but please keep on reading. Ever since, I got in our newspaper, I got really better at writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan.
The Moment Where Everything Was Lost
Part I: The Eclipse
"I try to believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
-Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
Chapter XXIII: Reminiscence Part IV
Author's Note: In the midst of distraught, all draws to a close.
It was raining hard on a damp afternoon. A shadow kept hiding behind a tree and moving at a nimble state. It was Ayesagawa wearing a black jacket with a hood covering his head. He was behind a tree beside the ruins of an old house. He seemed to be waiting for a signal to appear. And suddenly, two voices came from inside the ruins. Ayesagawa stepped back to remain unseen.
"It's always raining these days," one of them said. "I know what you mean. It seems like an omen," the other one said. "I hope not, the boss said that I don't develop the drug, I'll end up like Ayesagawa and Ichiro," the first man said.
"Don't think like that, you can still make it in time," the other one encourage. "Let's not fool ourselves. There's no more way for me to make it. I just hope they'll be easy on me," the first one said. "Nagasaki! Don't say that! They won't kill you; Ayesagawa got killed not over this matter, but because of his traitorship. Everyone knows they tried to escape here," the other one encouraged.
"I know, but every one of us here wants to escape too. I honor their bravery. The same goes to the late Dr. Sunohara who committed suicide," Nagasaki said. "Come let's go home already," the other one suggested. Nagasaki fell silent and went along Ayesagawa who was eaves dropping followed Nagasaki home.
Ayesagawa ended up beside Nagasaki's house, waiting for an opportunity to show up.
"I need to convince him to take credit for my drug," he murmured to himself. He waited despite the hours that flew by. When the sun started to set, Nagasaki went out his house and stood looking at the rain pelting from the sky.
"What will I do?" he said. He seemed troubled more than ever. Ayesagawa, lurking behind the shadow, took the initiative and grasped the opportunity that came by. He put on his hood and went out to speak to him. Nagasaki saw Ayesagawa's shadow from behind and panicked.
"Who're you!" he screamed in shock. "I'm her to help you," Ayesagawa said disguising his voice. "What do you mean? What help?" he replied jittering. "Don't play dumb. I know your life's intrepid end is coming nearer every second that I don't help you," Ayesagawa said looking assured he got his attention.
He stepped back and got devoured by his thoughts, and soon enough, he fell into Ayesagawa and to his own despair. "What do you have in mind?" he finally gave in. "I'm willing to give you my life's work; it's a drug I created. I'm confident that it is what the organization is looking for," Ayesagawa explained.
"Why are you helping?" he asked. "Because you and I are alike in one way or another, I don't want you to experience the same hell I and my friend experienced when we were in your situation," Ayesagawa clarified. "Just who are you?" he questioned.
Due to the rain at night, he was never able to grasp a clear view of Ayesagawa's face thus keeping him hidden. "It isn't important; what's important is making you survive," Ayesagawa whispered handing out a small cardboard box. Hesitation was evident on Nagasaki's face; he kept on looking at the box.
"So, do you want to save your life?" Ayesagawa fancied him a question.
He bit his lip and took the box while his eyes were close. Ayesagwa let off a dysfunctional grin under his hood and said, "All you have to say is that you need a specimen to test it on and a team of medical experts to keep track of what's happening. Oh and suggest that it must be tested in an open wide space and not in a trapped cell."
"Okay, but what does this do?" he asked. "Just wait and see. Don't worry you won't fail. You have nothing to lose either way," Ayesagawa said. "Okay, I'll trust you on this," he said. Ayesagawa, completing his mission, turned around and walked away.
Thunder was roaring throughout the heaves, but Ayesagawa kept walking under the pelting rain with a grin on his face. He ignored any aspects of life and kept laughing menacingly inside himself, for he knew that everything was going his way.
"We mustn't give up," Saiko encouraged. "I know, but the trail has gone cold. We looked everywhere in this city, and everyone we asked never caught a glimpse of him," Mashiro said. The two of them were cruising across the entire city in search of Ayesagawa.
"Maybe we missed something," Mashiro suggested. "Maybe, let's go back to the hospital then," Saiko approved. "Okay," he followed.
He turned the car and went towards the hospital. The silence between became so awkward. Mashiro looked beside him and saw Saiko staring at his face. "Is there something wrong with my face?" he found himself asking.
Saiko blushed and turned her head around. "It's just you look so different right now," she said. "Different?" he said. "Well, at work you always look so strict and grumpy. Now, you look serious and dedicated," she complimented.
"Was that sarcasm or what?" he chuckled. "It's a compliment. You look cute either way anyway," she said. "So, that's how nurses see me," he said laughing. "Yeah, every nurse know you're cute, but you're too mysterious and hot-headed to get along with," Saiko said. "It's not my fault; I'm always busy," he explained smiling.
"Then, lighten up and smile once in a while. You'll look a lot cuter," she said giggling. "I'll keep that in mind," he noted. "Don't you have a girlfriend?" she asked. "I don't have time for that; I'm too busy," I replied back.
"What a waste, you don't have to be like that," she complained. "Easy for you to say, you have a boyfriend already," he said. "Boyfriend? You serious? I don't," she forced with finality. "Really? I thought you were together with Yoshino," he guessed.
"No! Why in the fi- WATCH OUT!" she shouted pointing at the front rear of the car. Mashiro acted fast and turned the steering wheel in a 360 degree turn. The car slammed face front into a near fruit stand. The adrenaline left the two of them gasping for air. Saiko went out and stormed the man who caused the car to swerve.
"Are you suicidal!" she shouted in dismay. "I'm sorry. I was just out of focus," the man explained. He couldn't confront them. The shame he acquired led him running out of sight. "I thought we were done for," Mashiro sighed in relief. "What's that?" Saiko asked pointing at a suspicious thing on the ground. It was a piece of paper with nothing written except the tiny header it showed.
"Intelligence Department? Black Organization? Something's weird here," Mashiro blurted out. "I know. Let's follow him. Something tells me that he's headed to where Ayesagawa is," Saiko commanded. They did not restrain, and the chase commenced. Neglecting everything aside, their goal was clear. The blur that faced them slowly dissipates into something clearer.
They were following the only remaining trace they discovered. Each mystery unravels with every step they make. Soon, they faced an abandoned building where life ceased to exist. "There he is. He's going down under," Mashiro said.
The two of them followed the man as quietly as possible. Tip-toed they strode down staircase and into the doorway that remained open. "I think he turned that way," he guessed. A voice echoed as they stepped close to the first room that came across them.
"Boss, I created it, the drug that everyone will fear. I myself created it," the man bellowed. "I'm the one to decide that. Give it to me this instant," he ordered.
"I'll test it this afternoon. Be sure to be there," the man ordered.
Mashiro and Saiko retreated outside and discussed what they heard. "I didn't get a single word they said," Saiko blurted out. "Neither did I," Mashiro replied. "I mean just what is–," he stopped and harshly changed to something behind me. Before I knew it, he pinned down a man wearing a black jacket with his head covered with a hood.
Mashiro pulled he the hood revealing his face. "Ayesagawa!" Saiko shrieked. "You're too late. Catching me is meaningless. Anytime soon, the damage will be done, and my vengeance will be complete," Ayesagawa shouted with glee.
"What did you do?" Mashiro interrogated. "Since everything will soon come to a close, let me explain what I did," Ayesagawa started narrating.
"There's this drug that can kill millions if people without breaking a sweat. All you do is infect a population, and by the next day, 75% of that population would be dead. Impossible? I think not. This drug will annihilate the very roots that destroyed my life. Now, that drug is in the hands of a person who know not what it really does. If you were listening to me than you know what will happen next," he laughed menacingly.
"Wait, does he mean…" Saiko fell into silence and merely closed her eyes.
Mashiro lost grip of Ayesagawa and fell spaced out on the ground. He tried to calm down, but what came to his mind overflowed him with fear.
Losing hope, he finally said what may be, "By tomorrow, half of the city's population will be dead."
Author's Note: The Reminiscence arc will finally end in the next chapter so stay tuned! This time I won't update very late. I assure you, in two weeks a new chapter will be out, might be even sooner than you think.
Coming Soon: Chapter 24: Reminiscence Part V
UPDATE: I'm so sorry; because, I have to admit that I won't be updating so early as I promised. I'm a graduating student in High School, and I need to settle my papers in college. I also have academics to worry on. I'm running for honors for graduation, so I really need to study. Don't worry, I won't be leaving the series. I'm also not going to take updating too long. I'll update but just not as early as I assumed it will be. :)