They were locked in silence, neither of them saying a word, stuck in a staring contest that would have no winner.
Conan was staring at her, Shiho Miyano, the woman Haibara once was. A woman who had once upon a time caused his current state of being (or non-being, if one was referring to Shinichi Kudo), and yet who also had become a close friend, a partner. She had saved their friends just a few hours ago – saved them when he should have been able to, and for that he was grateful.
But what could one say on such occasions?
Sherry stared back. She knew she had the upper hand in a battle of wits with the mini detective, but felt that she was being appraised and did not know how to react. Her attitude towards him had not changed – would not change, as she knew that – whichever body he was in – the spirit of the detective would shine through. She was stuck, for now, in her clothes, in a tent, exchanging the metaphorical prison of her primary school body for the very real prison of her need to hide and be safe. And he was at her side. Watching. Staring.
She turned to pick a book from her backpack.
"You can keep your need to observe people for the next case. In the meantime, I am going to read"
"You look 18."
It was a statement. One meant to remind her of a time, months ago when he had been told she was 80.
"The antidote must be imperfect."
"It isn't."
"I thank you for your faith in my abilities Kudo, but…"
"You are clearly comfortable with that body. Every move is planned and executed easily, and you react easily to your surroundings."
"I'm a good actress" She added with a smirk.
"That and you also knew that with your body back, you would be able to break down the door with that axe – I doubt an 80 year old woman could have."
"I'm a healthy 80 years old."
The smirk did not leave her face, and there was a glint of amusement in her eyes.
"If you say so".
No longer amused by the way the conversation was going, and uninterested in debating her age with the mini detective for the time she had left as herself today, she decided to turn the questions on him.
"What are you doing here anyhow – shouldn't you be with the others for the police questioning?"
"I'd rather stay here – someone will have to distract them if they get back before "Haibara" returns."
"I see."
And she did. It would be so easy for her to get lost in her book, only to be surprised by the detective boys – she might even let slip their names before realizing that she is in her adult form.
"… Thank you." And she meant it.
Conan observed her some more, seeing the ease with which she relaxed in this body, and the calm that radiated off her. In this body, she was strong, despite being hunted. She could fight, and that allowed her to relax. In some ways, she seemed more at ease even, then when she was Ai Haibara, simply playing with the detective boys.
"Do you miss her?"
The question had slipped out, almost before he could think it. And he realized he wanted to know.
"Who?"
"Shiho Miyano."
"Sometimes."
She missed Shiho Miyano often but she would not admit it. Shiho Miyano did not look in a mirror and see a stranger. She did not spend her life in fear. She lived, both for herself and for her sister. She had a purpose, one that had been handed down within the family, and a goal which she originally thought to be good.
But that Shiho Miyano no longer existed. She had died when Akemi Miyano had been killed.
They settled back into silence. He kept watch, as she turned a page in her book.
Time seemed to stand still, flexible in its length, and sudden in its passing.
Suddenly, they heard a car – a beetle, and they knew the professor and the kids were back.
"I'll go. See you Miyano!"
Conan left, and she sat there, staring unseeing at the pages of her book. He had not called her Haibara, but Miyano and she knew she had missed that too.
"Thank you, Kudo."