003. Ends.

Conan stared down at the cell phone in his hand. This was the one phone call he had never thought he would make, but he had to tell her. It wouldn't be fair to either of them if he didn't, and he cared for her far too much to lie to her like that. But he didn't want to break her heart either, and he knew this phone call would do just that. Bracing himself, he dialed the number and put the phone to his hear.

"Moshi moshi. Mouri Detective Agency."

"Hi Ran. It's me."

"Shinichi! Where have you been? I've read all about that huge case in the papers, how you orchestrated the takedown of one of the largest criminal organizations ever. Now that your big case is done, why haven't you come home? How long do you think I've been waiting for you?"

"I can't come home just yet. There's still something I have to do before I can. And honestly, I'm hoping the media coverage dies down quite a bit before I do. But Ran, that's not why I called…" He paused then, not quite sure how to break the news to her.

"Shinichi? What's wrong? Shinichi? Why can't you come home yet?" Her voice sounded worried, not even a trace of sadness was in her voice, and he already felt like the worst person in the world.

"Ran, I don't know how to tell you this, but I don't…Ran, please don't wait for me anymore…Find someone else… I still love you, just not…"

"Shinichi, no, please no." Her voice was quivering, and even though he couldn't see her, he knew that tears were already streaming down her face. "Why? I thought that you...I mean, you always call. And what you told me in London…Two years. I've been waiting for over two years for you, only you."

"I know, Ran. And I'm sorry. I loved you more than anything else in the world, but I've fallen for someone else. I couldn't lie to you about something like this. I'm sorry."

"Shinichi, I hope you never come back. I don't ever want to see you again!"

And with those parting words, she hung up. Well, he should have expected that. Everything she had said was true after all. She probably didn't mean those parting words, but Conan knew it would be a long time before she forgave him. And somewhere deep down, that was somewhat of a relief. He didn't want her forgiveness, not when he'd never forgive himself for breaking her heart like that.