Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan, Gundam Wing, nor any other copyrights that were mentioned in this story, directly and otherwise. They all belong to their respective owners. If there's anything I actually own here, its just the creative input and output I've put into this. Any criticism discussed and made in this story, while it does have its bases, are subject to my opinion and how I see the characters interpret them. If it bears any resemblance to real-life topics and events, it is purely coincidental.
Notes: As promised, Shiho's chapter.
If there's a lie that could be said about the life of one Shiho Miyano, saying that its "normal" would be among the biggest ones. Yes, she may have what can be called a simple life based on her everyday routine alone, but Shiho knew, along with a select few that she either counts on with her life, or gravely despises, that this is all a facade...
She was born from a Japanese father and a British mother, both of which she was separated from before she could store memories into her brain and recognize them perfectly. Her family, as far as she could remember and from what she had been told, has been tied up with society's dark side even before her older sister was born. She grew up looking at a raven-colored world, from an angle that made man look like the cretins they prove to be at times. She possessed the same keen intellect as her father's - a chemist by profession or so she had been told by her then-benefactors, and for over 19 years, all she was ever allowed to do was to tap into that potential, even studying overseas under the best teachers money could afford and those who are likely under the group's influence, and use it to continue her father's "unfinished work", and clean up his mess while at it. And that was it. No life under the warm sunlight, no learning of "unnecessary" things commonly found in normal schools. Nothing else but what she's being tasked to accomplish. At first, she won't deny that she was fine with simply living in the underworld with her family. But soon enough, the set-up went sour, and eventually, bitter. She wanted out, and somehow, she got what she wanted, but she had to pay a hefty price first. She wanted payback for that loss, but she's not as courageous and capable as she imagined herself to be. In the end, she's just cold, stuck-up, arrogant and clever, but it stops there.
Shiho was lucky enough to find a place to lay low, and meet people who actually cares about what she thinks and feels and tries their best to understand her. There was even someone who promised to help her with her problems. To guide her steps until she's able to cross the jagged terrain. For her, that person was the one who understood her mindset the most. In such a short period of time, she had come to trust him with her life. It even came to a point when she wanted more from that person, for him to be the one who'd share her fate all the way through the end. But she knew all too well that it will never happen no matter how hard she wished for it. He could only understand her to an extent and it could and would never go further than that. She didn't deserve for it to evolve into something deeper. After all, she was among those who, intentional or otherwise, made too many mistakes and botched her only shot at being an average Jane, and now she's practically making up for lost time. A hard journey, especially if one has to worry about her estranged life haunting her every now and then. Setting all the transgressions and her overall negativity aside, its been a fun ride so far. She's been spending her days caring for her guardian's health while trying to let her newfound life bloom under the radiant light. But, living life on the run, only time will tell how long can this lost flower stay in the sun, before night falls and she would once again have to face the skulls that are locked shut in her basement... Which is why she tries her best to find enjoyment every step of the way; its the first time she even had an opportunity to do so anyway...
Presently, she resides at a simple community in Beika with a chubby inventor in his 50's. Definitely, he has a good heart, selflessly adopting her in spite of her black-painted background and would usually come up with games and toys for children and the children at heart, some of which she helps designing if she happens to find the mood. He's also quite energetic and carefree for his age, and would often treat her and her newfound friends to camping trips and restaurant-hopping, though frankly, the professor's just doing it with the ulterior motive of having the chance to indulge himself. If there's one thing about the professor that gets her riled-up, its his constantly-increasing weight. But looks like she'll have to make an exception today, as the professor just closed another deal on one of his works, as he excitedly announced over the phone. Nowadays, with fast-buck artists afloat and companies repackaging their items after a small upgrade or two, she could definitely empathize with the struggles of a scientist who's still looking for that major breakthrough.
It was roughly 6PM when she got off her computer desk. On a slow, rainy day like today, she'd either rummage through the professor's library, going through all sorts of reading paraphernalia ranging from science textbooks to even fashion magazines in an attempt to amuse herself, or settle in front her desktop, navigate the network and continue with her research - one of the remnants of her past self and one that takes up most of her time. It was a recreation, a necessity for the soul, and a double-edged sword altogether. But as far as being a form of recreation goes, it tires itself easily. Especially for someone like her who passionately refuses having to put up with that popular gig called "social media" where everything she hated about society roll up like a ball of plastic every second of the day. Even if she's not on the run from her ghosts, she'd probably still refuse to succumb to the idea of promulgating herself especially for the silliest of reasons, no doubt about it – She had too much pride and love for her own privacy for that. To Hell with people who believe taking part in social media is an integral part of everyday life.
All things considered, Shiho does have her reservations for old-school methods of getting information. She wouldn't mind signing up for message boards and chatrooms if she finds the place likable enough, and would sometimes go through blogs, photo-journals or stories, of course trying to avoid the Comments section as much as possible as to not spoil her indulgence, or magnify her disappointment further. In fact, she's been trying to channel her eccentricity in literary form as of late, though none of her work ever escaped the boundaries of her personal hard drive and would usually get deleted shortly after its completion. She was on-line just now, multi-tasking between reading a story she particularly liked, looking some things up for future reference, and hanging around a social joint that's not flooded with people, but she had to cut her session short to make dinner.
Shiho took the thick slice of beef she's marinating for about three hours and went on to cook it medium-rare. After all, her guardian had just caught a big game and it wouldn't hurt to let him enjoy one juicy steak once in a while. But, living with someone as stern as she is, once in a while meant once in a blue moon. She just finished making mashed potatoes to pair the beef with when the healthy inventor got home. They talked about his day for a while as she was clearing up the coffee table in the living room where they usually dine over TV and receive the occasional guests. After serving his freshly-cooked steak, she didn't feel enticed to celebrate with him and opted to pass on dinner for bed. Nothing new from the girl, nor for her housemate who's now under the spell of the tearful meal he craved for a while now that it was all he cared about at the time. However, she seemed quite spirited to hit the sack early - Surely not what an insomniac like her would do. Before she went to sleep, she took a quick bath then went back to her computer to confirm some details for her itinerary tomorrow. A trip she decided on her own volition – yet another uncharacteristic act for the mysterious young woman who at times has to be dragged outside for trips. But, if one's keen mind would subject her actions into a perspective befitting a typical woman her age, its safe to say that she has special plans for tomorrow.
Shiho, or Ai, the name her some of her friends and affiliates call her, woke up at around 4:30 AM, somehow rejuvenated after a streak of sleepless nights. She had a lot of time to spare before her appointment, but opted not to take yet another leap from the cliff called luck, mindful of how inconsiderate traffic can be. Having said that, she did take some time bathing and getting dressed – More or less typical vanity. She bore the current weather in mind with her selection of garments, opting not to wear anything too fancy. Ai donned a black long-sleeved turtle-neck, a pair of pale denim jeans and completed it with the sturdy pair of boots she often wears during camp-outs or out-of-town trips. Its still raining hard outside, leading her to wearing a pine green hooded fleece jacket, a pair of clear glasses to cover her eyes, and bringing a handy umbrella along as well. She was no girl scout, but she had a hunch that she'll probably get bored waiting in case the rain screws things up and will most likely need the extra items anyway. Not wanting to make a fuss out of her sudden departure nor the undetermined duration of her absence, she left a note on the very same coffee table she cleared up last night saying that she'll be over at a friend's house to help with some sort of project, of course leaving strong emphasis on her strict privacy conditions and that she'll be fine. And in a few minutes past 5-quarter, she was out of the house.
Ai stretched her arms and legs a bit, first thing after stepping out of the house. She then pulled her umbrella up along with her hood while going through the imaginary map she had drawn inside her head last night. First, she would have to take a bus to Beika Station, board the train until it stops at Tokyo Station, and finally transferring to the monorail, which leads straight to her actual destination. Not too hard to recall and follow even for someone who prefers to stay home and confide to herself like an old hermit, secluded from the rest. As she made her way to the nearest bus stop, she whiled herself from the desolate walk by looking at the world around her.
In a bustling city like Tokyo, there's never a moment when life mellows down. Everywhere she turned, she could see birds of different breeds - Larks soaring, eagerly roaming the civilized jungle. Owls darting back to their nests to hibernate after exhausting themselves through the night. Migratory birds still readjusting their niche after moving to a new habitat. All with the common purpose of flapping their wings until they find the refuge they seek. But if she were to liken herself to a bird as well, she would probably be a jet-black raven from land that's better off removed from the map, perhaps trying to find a flock where she could feel at home. Even if she's being cared for in an ornithological reserve among a variety of livelier birds, both in color and behavior, perhaps it is nothing but pure animal instinct to long for kin. There will always be that void in her heart that longs for someone who'd look past the facades she had created and see who she really is, and love her for it...
Today was no different from your average morning, save the fact that a storm seems to have struck since two days ago and yet the reports keep denying the speculation. It was a tough debate, since its a relatively-known fact that Japan owns some of the best forecasting equipment in the world. It only proves that no matter how sophisticated technology get, Mother Nature is so unpredictable a landlady that her residents are left with no choice but to deal with her mood swings, especially when she nags about the rent. The rain fell hard, making sounds closely resembling a thousand marbles hitting and bouncing all over the floor, loud enough that she hardly heard any other sound than that. Ai could see one or two people making a run for it on both sides of the street, with their business coats stretched over their heads and briefcases serving as makeshift roofs, seeking either shelter or a more formidable shield. Bystanders flock the convenience stores for handy umbrellas and a hot disposable cup of morning coffee to brush off the extra numbness the humid winds brought in their sleep. While it seemed tempting to get some warm refreshments, Ai, eager to get on the station, decided that breakfast will have to wait until its late enough to be called brunch and headed straight to the bus stop. Upon boarding the bus, she took the seat farthest from the driver and tensed herself looking through the window beside her. She just couldn't wait to get to Beika Station...
Beika Station was pretty much what she was expecting when she arrived. Lines culminating in front of the teller and people already waiting for the next train, though not as many had it been any sunnier. While the line was still convenient enough, she fell in it in a heartbeat and purchased a ticket to Tokyo Station, then rushed towards the stream people looking to get on the upcoming car. It wasn't unusual for the mysterious woman to move frantically. Just that, if one's gutsy enough to try her shoes on for size, that person may not live long enough to understand. Even as the locomotive arrived, her fast movements were a constant, occupying a seat ahead of passengers who waited even before she got down from the bus. Her eyes shifted from left to right, taking note of her surrounding and the lot boarding with her while making sure her stealth remains undetected. Ai put a pair of earpieces on her, dreading the idea of tuning in to the snores of the fellow just across her, apparently still drowsed due to the chill, and to keep herself wild awake during the ride.
When she got off the train and from the station, the rain had momentarily ceased. Momentarily, since the possibility of an encore is high with a herd of black sheep still occupying the skies. The streets were smeared with puddles all over like an archipelago and were hard to avoid as she made her ascent towards the monorail. Luckily, the weather wasn't strong enough to put it out of commission, otherwise delaying her well-calculated travel plan. She finally cut herself some slack once boarded inside the monorail, as this ride will not only take some time, enough for her to catch ample rest, but will also take her straight to her destination – the airport...
Chapter End.