DISCLAIMER: I do not own Detective Conan.

-08-

Everything will work out in the end

Haibara solemnly waits for him in the darkness of her laboratory. In her hands is a clear case containing one unmistakable white pill - the completed antidote to the drug that shrunk both her and him. She has finished making the pill a long time ago but has decided to postpone giving it to him until they officially take down the syndicate. It has been a month since the downfall of what they call the Black Organization, and Haibara finally gathers enough courage to let go of the man she has come to care.

The door suddenly opens and the distinctive voice of Edogawa Conan reverberates in the small room. "Woah, what's with the lights off, Haibara?" Conan promptly flicks the switch and light immediately floods the basement-laboratory.

Haibara cringes a little at the sudden change of view. She turns her swivel chair around to face him. There stands Conan who is casually flipping through her files on the other table.

"Don't touch my papers, Kudo," Haibara emotionlessly says.

"I was only looking, geez." Conan turns to her and with a questioning look, asks, "So, what brought up this urgent meeting?"

Turning to her desk so her back faces him, Haibara nonchalantly tells him, "You should start preparing."

Confused, Conan asks, "Prepare for what?" "For Edogawa Conan's departure from Beika."
"What?"

"I suggest you ask help from your parents so the process will go smooth," Haibara says casually as she types something on her keyboard. "And I suggest you do it as soon as possible. The longer you postpone this, the longer your princess is going to wait for you."

Stammering and extremely confused this time, Conan replies, "Wait, wai- what? Why?"

Haibara sighs and turns back to face him once more. Conan looks genuinely lost so to sum up the situation, she tosses the clear case to him, which he easily catches.

Conan examines the case. Albeit already knowing what it is (Haibara knows based on his serious expression), he still asks. "What's this?"

"What do you think?"

"Th- Is this the permanent antidote?" Conan's expression is unreadable. Haibara simply hums her confirmation.

Silence falls between them. If it has not been for to the ticking clock, she may have thought time has stopped. She counts the ticking, 20 seconds has passed and still no visible reaction from him. On the 28th tick, Conan's face breaks into a happy grin and he runs to Haibara. He hugs her tight while exclaiming 'yes' over and over again. He is so happy that Haibara cannot help but smile too.

When he breaks the hug, he starts to blabber merrily. "I already have a plan in mind. I'm going to call mom as soon as I get out. I'm going to ask for Ms. Jodie's help too." He looks contemplative for a moment. "I guess I'll also call Hattori. The idiot's going to complain if I don't tell him about this." He continues to tell Haibara of his plans, while the former merely sits and stays silent.

Awhile later, he notices his partner's silence and her lack of enthusiasm. Warily, he asks her. "How about you Haibara?"

The shrunk scientist just shrugs her shoulders and promptly turns back to her computer.

"You're taking the pill too, right?"

Haibara stops whatever she is doing and nonchalantly says without facing him ,"I only made one pill."

"What?" Conan exclaims. "Why?"

"I don't really need it, Kudo-kun. Unlike you, I have nothing and no one to go back to as Miyano Shiho. As Haibara Ai, I have the Professor and the kids."

"But... You'll have me," he says quietly. "You'll have Kudo Shinichi."

Haibara once again turns to face him, a rueful and somewhat sad smile on her face. "As far as the world knows, Kudo Shinichi and Miyano Shiho do not know each other."

"The hell with what the world knows!" He yells. "After everything, I can't just ignore you, Haibara."

"Exactly. You can't just ignore Haibara, but you can forget about Miyano."

Conan starts to protest but Haibara continues.

"It's fine, Kudo. Just focus on going back to your angel and everything will work out in the end." Haibara for the last time turns her back on him, not wanting him to see her vulnerable and tearing up.