Disclaimer: Detective conan is the property of Gosho Aoyama. I do not own it.

Chapter Two

Distorted Chains

Some parts of me really want to cry. Except that I forgot how.

-0-

He put the picture inside of his uniform coat as he made his way out of the house. A girl with shoulder-length black hair and innocent brown eyes was waiting for him.

"Conan-kun, you look really weird. Did you eat breakfast?"

"A-Ah, good morning, Ayumi-chan." He tried to compose his face and fixed his glasses on his nose.

"Let's go before we are too late, shall we?" He put a simple smile on his face and walked with her to school.

Even though he started to wait for something at 4:30 am at his house, nothing happened so far. He hoped for something like meeting her casually at the street, or she might have bursted into the classroom, or even have visited him at dawn. But Christ. Nothing happened throughtout the whole day.

Classes were boring. Even though he has been going through this for almost 10 years, he still couldn't get used to learning everything once more. Sigh. But he assumed that today was even worse to concentrate because of her.

Where is she, anyway? So you still keep it bottled up…

The promises they had made seemed to become more and more absurd to him. However, he knew a bit about Haibara. And something of his instincts were telling him that today would be special. That she was still living fine. That she would be somewhere near him…

"…Edogawa-kun!"

What? Was he dreaming?

"Edogawa-kun!" As he heard the voice once more, he slapped his hand to check. Hard. He wasn't dreaming. When he was about to get up and look around, there was a burst of laughter.

"Edogawa-kun, if you can't answer my problem, just tell me. You don't have to hit yourself.

"Ah…Hai!" Soooo…It was the teacher then. The bell rang, and he just put his head on the desk, a bit frustrated.

"Oi, Conan. What was that before, eh?" asked Genta.

"Yeah, it looked like you were daydreaming…maybe about the teacher's body!" added Mitsuhiko. Both of them laughed at Conan's disbelieving face.

Hey, hey. "Shut up, you two." Jeez, its weird to be with these guys when they are so old now.

"Leave me alone, I'm sleepy."

"Why? You can't sleep right now." said Genta.

"Why?"

"Cuz, it is the most important moment for everyone."

"Huh?...It's lunch time, isn't it." For a second, his mind was somewhere else. He was frustrated for the second time. Now it's getting annoying.

"I think I'll just skip lunch today, guys. You go and eat." He couldn't help but smiling at what he just said. It was so much like her. What was wrong with him? Thinking so much of her.

"Well…We'll leave you alone then." Mitsuhiko smirked. Maybe he noticed. Genta and Mitsuhiko walked away.

Some silence, please. His thought was ruined when he heard,

"Hey Conan, do you remember Ai-chan?"

"Yeah…" Haha. As if I hadn't been thinking about her for the last few minutes.

"I wish we were all together…It's already been years since she left to America."

"True. Well, time passes kinda quickly."

"Well. Do you remember the promise she made to us 10 years ago?"

She looked pretty expectant, smiling and all. Due to some incomprehensible embarrassment, he decided to play dumb.

"Eh…"

"Don't tell me you don't know! She said she'll be back in exactly 10 years…today!" She sighed. "Hey, the exams are coming up…want to study together?"

It looked like she was a bit disappointed, so he said OK. She walked out of the class instead of asking him to come with her.

What she said was pretty ridiculous. He thought. Of course he knew and remembered. But…something was not right to him. Instead of being happy, he somehow thought it would be a bit uncomfortable for him. He tried to get some Z's, but it was quite impossible to control his train of thoughts.

Gosh, today is a drag, Conan thought as he got up. He started to walk aimlessly around the school. Then, he imagined how he would look by the others. He chuckled unconciously. I bet I look really stupid. He was thinking along these lines, trying to somehow break out of this pointless hope. After all, she is one of those kinds of girls. The ones that just keep a cool face and say 'whoops' or 'sorry' without even meaning it when they didn't keep a silly promise.

Yeah, it's better forget about all this bull. He ended up facing the door leading to the top floor of the school when he made his final decision. What the heck, might as well as enjoy the wind.

I will forget.

-0-

He opened the door. Then-

"Ha-Haibara?"

Conan just froze. There stood a girl with reddish-brown hair with slight waves that fell around her shoulders. She was as tall as him, and was also wearing the blue high school uniform. As her face turned, he could see every bit of her that he had imagined today. The turquoise, piercing eyes, the thin pink lips that were now converting into a little smile, everything was still the same. Except that something was different. Was she…beautiful? As much as Conan didn't want to think of the word, he had to admit it.

Her eyebrows went up. "Hey, Kudou-kun. It's been a long time."

Conan could not say a word yet.

"You know, it still makes you a pervert if you stare at a girl for too long."

He disregarded that. "Why are you here?"

"Well, after I took the entrance exam, I thought I'd look around the school and recall some memories-"

"You know I don't mean that."

Pause.

"Didn't you make me promise?"

He blinked.

"I will always be here, no matter what happens. I thought I told you that clearly."

She sighed. "It's time, isn't it? I heard it on the news…" When Conan didn't interrupt, she continued. "…that the organization was finally down." She sighed again before going on. "Good thing I met you here alone. I'm back to finish what I began. I finally made the antidote." She reached inside of her pocket, took out a handkerchief with a red pill inside it, and gave it to him.

"This is…"

"Yeah, it is your role's final end." He was so concentrated on the medicine that he didn't catch a streak of sadness that flashed for a moment across her face.

As I thought…The memories still exist here. I do indeed belong in this place. I won't, no, can't get out of this situation. Meanwhile, Kudou-kun…continue with your previous life. It is probably the first and last gift I will give you.

"What are you doing? Take it already." She urged the examining boy.

"By the way, was it nice in America?" He blurted out.

"Yeah, it was. But why? Is your brain too old to catch up now?" She smirked a little, as she realized that this could be some of the last moments she would have with him.

Then he was almost shouting.

"So was I! I've been filling up Shinichi's place all this long! Do I even need to take the antidote now?"

"Still, you want to end it, don't you? You need to go back. To the present, remember? You cannot fight against time. It is up to your choice, though." I know what you are thinking, Kudou-kun…Just take it…let me break this connection…His expression was unreadable. It reminded her of the little kid that was telling her to leave to America 10 years ago. Geez.

To her great surprise, he put the medicine back on her hand and wrapped it like a fist.

"So I'm free to do this. I'm happy right now, and I think it is enough." He smiled gently, looking at her shocked expression.

Although she had been expecting this a little, she was truly taken aback.

"What are you saying, fool? I've been working hard on this for the last years."

"I appreciate your work, Haibara…but I can't let go. I can't let Edogawa Conan disappear now."

With that, he turned to the door and said,

"Now I'm gonna let the others know that you came." His smile wasn't fake…Was he really happy about this decision?

Haibara leaned against the wall next to the door. What just happened? So…the memories still exist. The chains aren't broken yet, huh?

She slid down to the floor. She put her arms around her legs. Tears were reflecting the sunlight. I can't understand. Hakase…my friends…even him…they still exist as they did 10 years ago. They are near me. I AM happy. Happy enough.

But…Why do I feel so much pain?

-0-

When she descended the stairs in a few minutes, she was spotted by the detectives.

"Heey! Ai-chan!" Ayumi cried, while two boys gasped.

Ayumi hugged her, while the boys just gaped.

"It's so good to see you again! Will you be staying?"

"Yeah, I guess for a while…"

"Conan told us you were back, but since he is a bit of a joker, we couldn't really believe it" said Genta. When was I a darn joker? Thought Conan.

"I'm sorry to surprise you all out of sudden." She answered with a tiny smile.

"N-No, I like surprises!" Mitsuhiko, still in his dreams. Conan's face was a little pinched from this hilarity. Yet it was a bit sad at the same time. He'd never imagine Haibara as a 28 year old woman.

The bell rang.

"Say, why don't we celebrate tomorrow at hakase's house?" Everyone agreed to Mitsuhiko's suggestion.

"Well, I can wait for you guys to finish school. I wanted to look around this place." The boys went back to the class, while Ayumi lingered a bit.

"Ne, Ai-chan…"

"What is it?"

"Our detective club still exists…You will join, right?"

An unexpected question. However, the answer slipped without thinking.

"No."

"But can you think out about it once more? Plee-ase?" Ayumi still looked cute, huh. She smiled despite herself.

"Ok, I'll think about it."

"Thanks!" With that, she happily ran into her classroom.

Why do I feel so uncertain?

There were just too many things to handle at this point.

What should I do?

-0-

-End of Chapter Two-

A/N: Longer than I've expected…plz review and tell me ur thoughts abt the story. Everything is welcome.