Act 3 Scene 11 水 [Mizu] 'Water'
Warm. Wet. What was that? Water. He was being washed. Why?
Conan's eyes opened slowly. Then closed and opened again, to make sure he was seeing reality. Vermouth was holding a sponge, and she was scrubbing rusty brown marks off his skin. That's right – blood. He'd been trapped in a room by Gin, and killed with everyone else by Okiagari. Nausea churned his stomach, and he could taste bile. The bitter cold air, the frozen concrete, warm liquid that was… that was…
He slumped headfirst into the hot bath, like a flimsy doll. The echoes of women's curses drifted to him like a dream. Why were they so mad? Wait, wasn't he dying? Then what was this?
His head was wrenched from the warm water by a hand grasping his hair. Choking, he opened his eyes again. "Good morning shaman," Vermouth greeted him.
"How…" he didn't know if that was the right place to start. He tried again. "Why?"
"Because that's how twisted and kind the world is," a high voice from behind him answered. "Don't think about it too much, Kudou."
Haibara?
"Ver- I mean, Samantha kidnapped me."
Samantha laughed lightly. "Don't be so dramatic. I told Haibara that I'd rescued you and Areku, but needed her help. She practically begged me to let her come along."
He blinked again. "You two are working together?" pulling himself into a sitting position, he peeked over the edge of the tub. They were in a Western-style bathroom. It looked like it hadn't been lived in much, as most of the surfaces shined too much.
Haibara poured a bucket of water over Conan's head, propping the end of the bucket up with her bright red cast. "I can't smell the organization on her anymore."
"I don't need to get revenge on Sherry. She committed suicide two years ago," Samantha reasoned.
"You did hospitalize me."
Conan remembered that and looked away. There should have been something he could have done to stop it.
As though she read his mind, Haibara added, "It's not your fault. Stop wallowing in self-pity."
But, there was something else that bothered him more. He shuddered as another bucket of hot water was poured over his head. "It really happened," he whispered. "I thought I was dreaming… there was still drugs in my system… or am I dreaming now, and I'm really still in that room dying?"
They were silent, unsure of what to do. Conan's reality was shattering before their eyes. Dreams can only be told apart from reality because dreams you can wake up from. Until then, you're trapped, reacting to the world you perceive.
"I saw it too, Cool Guy," Samantha said softly. "It happened, but you weren't killed. Everyone else though…"
"Why?" he mumbled into the soapy, mirky water. "Why did I survive?"
Haibara sucked air through the gaps in her little-kid smile, making it whistle. "Probably APTX 4869. Zombie recognized you as part of it, I think, and protected you. I probably could survive touching Zombie too, and we know that Ver- I mean, Samantha can." She stroked her chin, already putting together countless theories about the nature of the toxin and Zombie's connection to it. Suddenly she snapped her head up, eyes narrowed with determination. "Enough! Reminding him of what happened isn't what he needs right now; he needs to feel safe again." She reached over and pinched his raw, soapy arm. "See? This is real. You really survived, and you're really safe, far away from Gin."
Conan started trembling. The protestations of the nerves in his arm told him that this had to be real. He couldn't remember dreaming being in pain, but then again, most dreams he'd forgotten.
"You never have to worry about Gin, ever again," Samantha added. "I murdered him myself."
Conan's head jerked up, his eyes wide with disbelief.
She chuckled at his serious expression. "Don't worry, he's my last kill, most likely. No promises." She looked down to the floor by the tub, where Conan couldn't see. "My little brother has a knack for getting in trouble. I'll do whatever it takes to keep him out of it." She turned back to Conan, holding up her sponge. "We still have much work to do. Grab a sponge and help; you reek."
Conan drooped his head, letting them get back to work. He even grabbed a sponge floating in the water and used it to clean off the more tender skin. Washing away the evidence of that room felt surprisingly good. He felt relief, wrapped in his pink, floral-scented skin.
They unplugged the tub and let it drain. As the cool air enveloped him, he realized then that he was naked, and his cheeks blushed a deep red. He snatched up the towel Samantha offered and wrapped it quickly about himself.
"How cute," Samantha giggled. "He's shy in front of his other half!"
"What are you talking about anyways?" Conan asked, climbing out of the tub. He almost landed on Okiagari, who was lying on the floor of the bathroom, still partially covered in a slick red membrane. His lax, bloody jaw was in the open air, the membrane cut clear from his mouth. Conan recoiled in terror, throwing himself towards the door, his whole body shaking. The monster wasn't awake. It was hibernating.
When he'd gotten control over himself again, he rewrapped his towel. "Zombie had a few things to tell us when we separated you from him," Samantha said, handing him a pile of neatly folded clothes. "There's a bedroom behind the door to your right."
He nodded and fled. With two doors between himself and Okiagari, he felt safer. The clothes she'd given him fit alright, even though he didn't recognize them. Her disguise expertise had likely given her an eye for estimating clothing sizes.
A bittersweet puff of air brushed gently against his raw skin. Curious, he climbed onto the window ledge and looked out. This was the third floor, he figured by counting the levels of windows. Forest stretched out before him, and he couldn't see the end of it. The shadows were small, the sun high in the sky. It must be near noon.
"Zombie said we shrunk when we ingested the poison because we're each only half of a person called 'Shaman.'" He turned around. Haibara was leaning against the doorway, blushing. "It's nonsense, of course. I'm pretty certain it has something to do with a mutation in the genes dealing with our…" She paused, looking up. "It's pointless to think about it; there's no way I'll ever pursue that research ever again."
"Oh, what happened to Ran? Is she okay?" Conan said, remembering Ran's desperate fight when he'd been kidnapped.
"She's okay, last I checked," Haibara said. "But her girlfriend is having a rough time. Sonoko and her sister disowned their family. Sonoko's moved in with her sister." Seeing Conan's confusion, she added, "The boss of the organization turned out to be Sonoko's grandparents."
A shudder zipped up his spine. He'd been so close to them, only a month or so ago. It seemed like dumb luck that everything hadn't fallen apart in those few days.
"And Kuroba? Last I heard he'd been shot."
Haibara shrugged. "He survived. Inspector Nakamori and he have been planning a sting operation for that ridiculous jewel cult. Seriously, moonlight is just reflected sunlight. They must be a special brand delusional nutcase to think that moonlight would have any affect that sunlight wouldn't have, and that's assuming that such a ridiculous notion as a magic crying immortality jewel exists in the first place!" She stopped, blushing from her rant, suddenly a little self-conscious.
"Ah, he's out of hibernation!" a male voice exclaimed from behind Haibara. It was the doctor that had administered the scholastic aptitude tests.
"So, I take it from how happy everyone is, we won?" he asked, eyeing the doctor with suspicion. His skin still remembered the feel of the restraints.
"You could say that," the doctor laughed. "My name is Kei Aono, by the way. I don't think I ever introduced myself properly. Names are a big deal among us at the moment. What will we be calling you?"
Conan opened his mouth, almost saying "Shinichi Kudou" right away, but something stopped him. Shinichi Kudou was an arrogant jackass. He took foolish risks and thought he was invincible. He rode his wave of fame with confidence. He wasn't that person anymore, and he didn't really want to be either. On the other hand, Conan Edogawa was a snake in the grass. He lied too easily. His fellow humans were tools, broken down to their usefulness with elegant cruelty. He could go to almost any length to win, and he had. He was battle-scarred and broken and weary of being Conan Edogawa. "I'm not sure."
"I doubt I'll be able to make a permanent antidote with any expedience," Haibara said. "If that affects anything."
"Why don't you combine your names?" Dr. Aono suggested. "If you can't return to the way you were, then you could be 'adopted' by your parents."
"Conan Kudou," he tasted the name. Not bad. "I'm Conan Kudou, nice to meet you!" He climbed down and bowed to the man who used to be his enemy.
Samantha joined the doctor at the crowded doorway. "Let's go downstairs and eat. Now that Conan's awake, there's something I need to discuss with you."
They filed down the hall and some impressively narrow, polished wood stairs. Dr. Aono had been the one to cook, as he'd lived alone so long he'd gotten quite good at it. It felt odd, eating a traditional Japanese meal in such a western house.
"I have a proposal for Conan and Ai," she began, setting aside her chopsticks. "Stay here with me. You've been through a lot, and this house is a good place to heal. There may be a few of the organization's members that managed to escape, and they may be after your blood. No one but us knows you're here, so you'll be safe. Also, Areku could use the company. Whatever Zombie's reasons for choosing to leave people alive, I don't think it has bad judgment. What do you say? The four people who break nature's laws living in nature, what could be more perfect?"
Ai and Conan sat, staring into their empty bowls. It was tempting. The air here was pure. The doors to the outside had been left open, letting the pine perfume permeate everything. Nature seemed to be trying to invade the house. The frenzied noise of multitudes of people was missing here.
But… a calming atmosphere isn't all that's needed to heal. Ai missed Agasa. Conan missed his parents, Ran, and Kogorou. They both missed the Detective Boys.
"No," they both said, at the same time. "We have lives to get back to," Ai went on. "And people who miss us," Conan added.
Samantha looked down. "I don't think you two really understand the danger you'll be walking into. Have you asked yourself why the American government had an interest in the organization?"
They stared blankly at Samantha. Other than stopping the organization's dangerous fund-raising efforts, nothing came to mind.
"Do either of you know what Kir's mission was? If ending the organization was her goal, she could have succeeded easily, long ago. I think…" Vermouth trailed off, looking over their heads, to where Areku slept unseen. "I think they were looking for Silver Bullet. I think they want your research, Haibara."
Haibara blanched. "I destroyed it all when I left."
"Surely, if they knew the human cost, they wouldn't dare!" Conan added.
"Wouldn't they though?" Samantha countered. "It's been my experience, that with the chance of discovering the secrets to eternal life dangled before us, we'll go to any length, any cost to grasp it. The organization wasn't the first to try. Ask Alex when he wakes up. He's been trapped many times before." She reached forward, and grasped their small hands in hers. "What do you think will happen to you two when they discover that you regressed a full decade?"
Conan bit his lip, fear building in him again. "I think that they may already know. I don't know if Akai told anyone else, but Agent Jodie Starling definitely suspects it, though she's never pressed the issue. I don't think Kir knows, but she knows that I'm not a normal kid."
"Maybe it's a good thing that I turned down their offer for witness protection," Haibara said, rubbing her chin, using the same gesture that Conan did without realizing it.
The first touch of chill crept in from the outside. It was still spring, and high in the mountains, the days were still brief and cool. Samantha got up to close the door.
When she got back, she slid back into her chair, tucking one of her legs underneath her. "We can make our own witness protection," she said. "I have all of the skills and contacts needed to do it, and I've embezzled enough money from the organization to keep us comfortable. I wasn't expecting to need to bring you all along with me, but I can easily."
"What about my parents?" Conan asked. "They're both famous; they can't hide like I could."
Samantha looked away, frowning. "You'll have to leave them behind. It's safer if it's just the four of us."
"We'll take our chances back in Beika," Haibara said, her arms crossed. "I'm not giving up another life because of the organization. If people come after me again, I'll contact you. Until then, I'm Ai Haibara, and I live with my grampa."
Seeing her resolution, Conan nodded in agreement. "I'll be Conan Kudou, and I'll be 'adopted' by my parents. They'll probably take me to California to live with them there."
Observing their concerned faces, she said, "If that's what you want, then so be it. We'll make preparations tonight, and Dr. Aono can drive you back to Tokyo at first light."
"Thank you," Ai said.
"Then it's settled," said Dr. Aono. "I have something special for desert."
After packing clothes and food for their journey into the back of an old, gray sedan, they went to bed. The next morning they rose early. As they drove off, Conan let Ai sleep on his shoulder as they rolled slowly down the old mountain road in the early morning light. He pulled out the spare pair of glasses that Ai had given him the night before, and put them on.
Author's Note
I went about writing this story a lot differently than I've written any story in the past, and I think that if I share with you how I managed to write this fanfic in one month (Yes, this really was my NaNoWriMo project!) that it could help people get past writer's block and make more complex stories without losing any plot threads or opening up any plot-holes.
What I usually do is start with a cool opening scene, and let my inspiration guide me, with only a vague idea what I'll have happen in the future. This method is wonderful for making characters, because as a writer, you are getting to know the new characters at the same time that the reader would be. It's also really good for soap-opera style stories. The problem with it though, is that you end up with a story that has very little internal structure. It's much, much harder to build up to a climax. Also, if you're writing a mystery, since you basically are solving it at the same time that the readers and characters would be, you run the risk of making an impossible mystery, full of plot-holes. Also, this method is really, really hard to use when writing a story with a non-linear timeline.
The method I used this time was much, much different. I planned everything. The first week of November I spent planning all of the plot threads, designing the climaxes, gathering information. I built the story to have 3 climaxes, and labeled them Act 1, 2, and 3. After all of that, I started writing, but I didn't write it linearly. I wrote the climaxes first, then the rising action.
This had several interesting affects on the story. Normally my stories have a strong opening but a weak middle, and if I've got a lot of inspiration, I can write an end to the story. This gave the opposite affect: I had a weak beginning and strong climaxes. It also meant that individual chapters weren't as regularly sized, and they weren't as strong on their own, with their own little climaxes. The linking material ended up being much, much weaker too – though that may be more because of the 1 month time constraint. Another cool effect was the foreshadowing and red herrings were really, really easy to plant. The hope is that this would make rereading the fanfic fun – let me know if that worked!
So, in a fandom with lots and lots of mystery writing going on, I think that this method ought to be promoted, because it makes writing complex mysteries much easier and really fast.
After this, all that's left is the epilogue.
また来週！ (See you next week!)
dreamingfifi