Darkness Off shots.

Because the original fiction did not intend to have a sequel! Thank you Luna-kitsune-blu! (smile)
First of three. (Name changes not at the bottom of first part will be under the part they first appear in.)

- Off shot one: Obscurity. -

There is a coolness inside the house. A negative coolness, that speaks of the heat outside.
The shutters are pulled down, protecting the cool air inside. Try as they might, the harsh rays of the sun are unable to reach in and turn the cool house into just another oven.

The still, cool air surrounds me as I lean back, my eyes closed, on the settee.
My thoughts blank, I strain my ears. I listen. I listen for the sounds from the house.

I frown.

Outside, I can hear the hum of insects.
From outside, I can hear the odd note of birdsong. I can even hear the cries of the neighbourhood children as they play, and the odd grumble of cars from the more busy districts of town.

Where, in this panorama of quiet sound, is my house?

Ah! Now I hear it.

-Drip-

A conspicuous little sound.

The fall of a drop of water into a bigger body of water.
The cry for mercy of that little drop, as it is pulled away from it's " hanging-from-the-tap " individuality into anonymity.
After a few minutes, it is followed by another.

That is the only sound my house makes.

-Drip- Silence -Drip-

Slowly I open my weary eyes.
I am not going to fix that leak.

Listening to the strangely comforting drips, I scan the room with my eyes.

Grey, everything looks grey.

The sun must have started to go down while I had my eyes closed. The already subdued light dwindling, I find myself in an unsettling half-obscurity.

Why? I ask myself. Why does my home feel so empty!

I know the answer why.
I've been trying to forget it on a monthly basis...
Yet each time I think that I'm rid of the notion, I sit down and notice it all over again.

... She's not here...

Stupid, stupid... Of course she's not here!
You didn't try to stop her when she left. It was her decision.
You optimistically thought she would come back, but why should she? What reason has she to come back?

I sigh. Of course, it would have come to this situation whichever way I look at it.

Yet still... It feels wrong.

'It has been a while since I felt this strongly about it...' I think to myself. 'It's the children. They are the ones who reminded me...'

The ones who reminded me how lively this house used to be...

Yes, it was mostly me who put life into it, but she had, during her stay, added a particular flavour to that livelihood, defined it more with her taste for order and her, well, mostly honest and very straight-forward remarks.

I shake my head. No good to dawdle on the past.

As if to help me out of my reverie, the door bell rings.

'Odd...' I think. I remember I locked the door for once. I usually leave it unlocked when I'm in...
'Boy did that use to annoy her...' And I shouldn't be thinking that... Especially with her going to call tonight.

Muttering under my breath about stupid phone calls and empty homes, I stand up, reach out for the lamp switch, and groan when the overly bright light hits my eyes.

"I'm coming!" I call out to the door, as I jerkily make my way to it, rubbing my eyelids.

I must have been rubbing too hard, because when I opened the door, I can swear I thought I saw her there.

-

-Obscurity gap.

-

I must have gone quiet and stared at them in a strange fashion.
The taller girl shifts uneasily on her feet.

" Can we come in, professor? " She asks, tentatively.

Shaking my head once again, I step back.
" Sure! Come on in... " I say apologetically, letting them come through.

As we go towards the lounge area, I unsuccessfully try to sort out my thoughts. This is most unexpected... How in the world...?

" Would you like a cold drink? " I offer, hoping to be able to rally my senses while in the kitchen.

" No thank you. " Says the first girl. Her companion simply shakes her head.

" Oh... Okay. " Defeated, I sit down on the settee opposite them, laughing nervously.

'It's Her. Did something happen...?' I wonder.

I notice that the first girl is shifting uncomfortably. The situation was definitely awkward. Of course, -She- doesn't seem affected, although I do notice Her looking around in Her pensive manner.

" Ayumi... " I begin. The girl stops me.

" Would you mind taking her back in? " She asks me guiltily, sneaking a look at Her.
She didn't even look up... Was She being shy?

" Of course not... " I answer straight away, without thinking.
Curses. Why don't I ever think before I talk? Of course I didn't mind... But would She?

Totally oblivious, Ayumi stands up. " So it's okay then? Do you want me to go tell Fusae? It's just on my way... "

I stutter, try to stand up, sigh as my brain works out what she just said, and thank her. She smiles her sweet smile at me, and waves me back to my seat when I try to see her out to the door.

" See you tomorrow perhaps? " She winks at Her, before departing.

A disquieting silence falls upon us as we hear her shut the door. The dripping of the tap makes itself conspicuously known.

" Fusae? " She finally asks, lifting an eyebrow.

Embarrassed, I try to mumble inaudibly the explanation. I knew she would have had to find out some day...

" Sorry? "

I give in. " She's now my wife. "

'I can see you smirk!'
I blush... visibly. She raises both eyebrows now.

" Why didn't you tell us? "

'That...' I think '...should be obvious.'

" I didn't want to make Shinichi feel worse... " I answer truthfully.

" Oh... " I see Her smile fade and Her eyes grow dark.
Pain. There is no other word for the emotion I see written on Her face.
Unwillingly, I recall the state she was in... When she had discovered the truth.

Shinichi had been unnaturally withdrawn and quiet at the news... She...

She had been unnaturally and openly distressed. I had never seen her so baffled, so out of control.
For one who usually concealed her feelings behind a dull or sarcastic mask, it was surprising to see her display so many different and alarming emotions at the same time.

Disbelief had been the most present.
Refusal, fear, anger, betrayal, regret and disorientation had mixed into her features.
It seemed she had forgotten the relief she had felt at seeing the organisation go down...
She had tried to hide it behind scepticism at the time, but I had seen her shoulders relax, her smile broaden...
Seeing her obviously break down that day had really unnerved me...
I nearly thought that the organisation had survived and struck us back. Never did I imagine what had really occurred.
She hadn't thought of it either. That was one of the reasons it hit her so hard.

Shinichi had taken the news badly too.
At first he didn't understand, he asked for proof...
She gave him proof. She gave him the proof that rattled her so.
He stared at it... And then clammed up. Tight.
That night Ran had called me to ask how come Conan was so... quiet. I didn't know what to say...

And the following morning, Conan was gone...
And so was She.

Had it not been for the note she left on her bed, I would surely have panicked. In fact, I did panic...
I just didn't have the courage to go to the police. Or anyone else for that matter... It was only when she called shortly afterwards that I calmed down.
She politely listened to my fretting and relief, before explaining their situation more clearly. Upon hearing that they didn't want to be found, I immediately made sure they were to call me at least once a month. I couldn't argue with their wish, but I didn't like thinking that they might go and do something stupid.

And now, seeing her once again don her mask that hides emotion, I am somewhat reassured.
Yes, She is still suffering, but her pain is no longer sharper than her self-control. She now accepts their situation...

" And how is He? " I ask, wondering about her fellow in despair.

" He's beginning to accept it... I think. " She answers. " Somehow... It seems that being found will do us both some good. " She smiles ironically.

" Sorry about that... " I apologise. I know they had counted on me to prevent such a situation. " They were so determined to find you... Even Hattori couldn't dissuade them. When they understood we weren't going to help them, they just went off to search by themselves... I never thought that they would... "

She interrupts me.
" Hattori knows? "

" You try and fool a genius detective some time! " I say that with feeling. Hattori had given me quite a run for my secrets.

She chuckles. Of course, she knows what it's like. I sigh.

" Your bed is made, if you want it. I think I've still got some of your pyjamas somewhere... " I lie. I know very well that all the clothes she left are still there. I had made a point of it to Fusae.

" Thanks professor, but at the moment, I'm more interested in something to eat... "
I hesitate. Something to eat? Sure, there should be some leftovers in the fridge. They can't be that difficult to reheat, yet...

" What, you haven't eaten yet! " It was already past ten pm.

She shrugs.
" Ayumi and I... Had a lot of catching up to do... "

She could say that again. I get up and head towards the kitchen.

" Professor Agasa? " She stops me.

I turn. She has her hand up, she seems to be hesitating. I smile.
" It's nice to have you back Ai-kun. "

Haibara Ai relaxes and smiles sweetly back.
" Thank you... It is nice to be back. "

- Obscurity End -

Yes. Shamelessly Ai-centric.

- Professor Agasa is Doctor Agasa who is Agasa-Hakase.
Don't ask me why I use Professor over Doctor, I don't know.
- Fusae is a reference to the case of Agasa's first love. Book 40 if you really want to know.
- As for my use of -kun ... I think I might use -kun -chan and so on at particular moments in some of the next few off shots to come. It's not to flaunt my meek knowledge of Japanese suffixes, it's just that I actually believe they hint at something more... Used in the right context. Usually endearment.