I know I'm repeating this over and over but just in case. I don't own Detective Conan/Case Closed and the characters contained within; I don't make money out of anything I wrote. I'm beginning to work on this story a bit more seriously right now after the exams. I'm still sticking to most of the notes I made previously which would form the bulk of the story till the end but I really hope this is one of those that gets better as it goes. I'm adamant of giving Ai an adventure on just to balance those, y'know, the ConanxAi...

Again, thoughts, feedback, instructive input, comments, flaming, kisses welcomed.

Oh, I want to take this opportunity to wish you guys Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Chapter 3: I See You, si?

Lying on her bed, Ai stared hazily at her own reflection on the glassy windowpane, disinterested with the scenic morning view outside which would have made other people feel otherwise. She looked as grumpy as a grouch, unable to liberate herself from the slavery of deep contemplation. The cup of coffee didn't help. One might claim this as the ideal setting for a Nescafe commercial shoot and the perfect model to boot...

Her attention turned to her clothes. Ms Areyoume had kindly spared hers while offering to take care of Ai's polluted clothes. Guess what Ai's wearing?

"Now I look like Alice…," she sighed. She moved closer to the window, closed her eyes for a few seconds and let the light morning ray shine on her face. Not a routine thing but somehow she felt at peace knowing she was still alive, greeting the warmth that surged through her, taking out any traces of lazy, rheumatic cells with it.

Ai slipped off her bed and walked slowly towards the door. She was still feeling a little weak, but she wasn't used to lying on the bed all day.

Ms Areyoume lived alone in that little house. She had told Ai to make herself comfortable as she went to discuss town matters with the rest of the council. Taking a seat on a medievalish looking grey sofa Ai's mind slowly wandered back to what happened last night.

"We were from a costume party," laughed Ms Areyoume when Ai started with the interrogation. "How could we have been Cinder-sized (synthesized…) magical creatures?" she asked.

Ai learned of the annual costume party which was a tradition of the town of Greywood, feeling stupid as Ms Areyoume cleared up the confusion. Michi, being the gentleman he was, offered to walk her home after the party, and they were surprised to see a foreign face in the pile of hay not far from Ms Areyoume's house. The hay was supposed to be for some future roof work but this time it proved to be a lifesaver.

The previous night's question and answer session didn't go too well. While Ai relentlessly brought up the subject of being in an imaginary land and the strange occurrences she experienced along the way, she never realized that Michi would take exception to it; he excused himself as soon as he was unable to bear with being regarded as Ai's fancy thoughts. Trying to prevent further awkwardness, Areyoume apologized for Michi, asking Ai to rest and let the questions rest for the night.

While Ms Areyoume gave her assurances, Ai saw hints of disappointment behind Ms Areyoume's weak smile. Alone in the room after Ms Areyoume walked out, a shallow sense of guiltiness pervaded her, all the time taken aback by the big maturity leap shown by the two. It may be wide of the mark to use the term maturity leap, but Ai still associated Ms Areyoume and Michi to the two people she knew.

Her thoughts snapped back to the present when, from the corner of her eyes, spotted through the window someone standing outside next to one of the small trees. On any other circumstance she knew that such a sight would make her tremble with fear. For once, she thought, what else could get worse?

Already outside, Ai took slow steps nearer towards the trees, never losing sight of the pair of eyes which was staring right back at her. She thought she saw a close likeness to a photo from one of Georgio Armani's latest model shoot (hmm, I think she reads em…); she couldn't remember which month but…

"Gin…,"

What else would she say? Good morning?

Even with her form, there was a feeling that, somehow, the person in front of her knew everything…

He let out a breath; the light smoke faded away slowly as the leisurely morning wind blew it away. I can hear orchestral groans already so I'll refrain from relating to you how Gin stood there handsomely with—

"Gin?"

"Well, aren't you?" Ai asked.

"In these parts, I'm known as the Cheshire Grin and—hmm, that dress looks nice on you…"

"If this is a parody it isn't funny…," Ai broke his talk as soon as she knew where he was going. While everything was far from being susceptible to any analysis, playing along in this world only made Ai inch nearer to her boiling point.

The Cheshire Grin (yes, that's what we're going to call him from now on) finally eked out the grin he was known for, obviously amused by her frustration.

"I know what you're looking for," he smiled.

"Then give it to me," she responded, her voice came out almost voluntarily.

"The Eighth Square—"

"STOP PLAYING WITH ME!" Ai yelled. "Don't tell me I have to walk through all eight squares, become queen, and have tea with the other queen before being able to get back!"

"You know, Alice didn't have such a temper," sniffed the displeasured Cheshire Grin. He looked to have shown a fiery temper just through the look of his eyes but they were contrasted by his ever-widening grin.

"I told you I know what you're looking for but you sound like you think I don't," he added. "The formula it is that you seek, is it not?"

"Are you speaking of the counter-agent?" she started, caught off guard by the sudden return to matters of the real world.

"Alice, Alice…, don't rush. You have this little child enigma, looking for quick answers, always underestimating ways to answer things that need time to free itself from the blinding clouds that bind, or so Confucius said…," he paused, "well, at least something like that."

"Why do I have a feeling that you're not going to be much of a help?" Ai asked, noticing his grin getting ever wider.

"Oh, I might," he said rather sarcastically.

"You could at least tell me where I should go from here…,"

He raised one arm and pointed to a path that went west of Miss Areyoume's house.

"There, you will find the Mad Chatter," he said without looking at her, "and the other path (which clearly was the only other path on the east) will take you to the April Hare."

Ai was beginning to feel rather ticklish with the cheap rip-offs…

"Ai!"

It was Ms Areyoume calling out in the distance.

Immediately the Cheshire Grin started to vanish. What started out as a solid vision began to die out. He ultimately disappeared and, just as Ai expected, left his grin behind. But under close examination, it was somewhat glossier than one would expect of a heavy smoker…

"Urgh, he needn't use too much Colgate…," Ai thought, referring to the extra shine.

But when the grin finally vanished, he forgot something…

"…"

"Well, aren't you going?"

"Uh…you can still see me?"

"Your cigarette's still sticking out," Ai pointed out.

"Oh…"

The cigarette fell onto the ground, and with that, her brief encounter with the Cheshire Grin was brought to an end; bringing speculation that there's some contact with reality…