Archive of Our Own

Haibara looks up with her typical unreadable face.

Looks behind her , police officers entering the scene. A room in a worn out falling apart industrial building. The type that children would like to explore in the morning sun, and teenagers would dare each other to enter under the darkness of the night.

“What is it this time?”
“Another dead body, you children are really always so busy”
“Tell me about it , can’t you ever find a nice ausgang without attracting a case?”

As they case the area they guide her out of the way, still within the view of the old , yet well preserved, corpse.

“Who do we have here.. any identifications on him? Can’t find his wallet “

“Miyano Atsushi”

“Ooh? Card with you Ai-kun?”

“…”

“Got to meet him before his demise?”

“… a couple of times”

When Megure gave up finding the victim’s belongings himself, he left the other to continue the search as he gave Haibara his full attention, notebook out and pen clicked.

“Miyano Atsushi then… what else can you recall?”

“… “ Megure wasn’t sure if that she was even trying to think hard. Still, even though this is her usual demeanor, he can’t help but find the usual composed, wise child with the most self-perseverance among her group, seems to be a bit out of it. Could she be perhaps on the edge of a flu perhaps? It is that season after all…

“Nothing comes to mind? Odd… you alright Ai-kun? Let’s us move from here first -“

“Here is fine”

“Ai- kun…”

“Just ask, I’ll answer what I can. There isn’t much anyways”

The police around today were a mixed cast from around Japan’s districts, and with the Detective Boy’s notorious tendencies to get caught up in a crime, even if they wouldn’t be able to recall her name from the top of their minds, they were still familiar faces.

“Well then, let’s start from the top. You were alone when you found him?”

“The children were here too. Edogawa is off with Kogoro-san, as is the case with bored children taking a walk around the city we ended up here. In a game of Hide and seek I found him. Sent the rest to keep watchand had Yoshida call you without letting them in.”

‘Children? You are a child too yourself you know ‘

“Great job, thanks for preserving the scene for us and dealing well with the situation you found yourself in. It must not have been easy. You did well, Ai-kun” That was such a Haiabra thing to do and act. Megure is getting doubtful that there is anything off with her. Just in case, a little praise won’t hurt.

“Of course, how long have we been doing this? Or what, you only think Edogawa is competent?”

Oh, never mind, that’s definitely Haibara being on her A-game. He shouldn’t have worried.
“Ehhm, back to the victim. How do you know him?”

“… as I said, met him a couple of times here and there.”

“.. Where and when?”

“No where or time specific, can’t remember “

Shouldn’t be surprising from a child, but somehow between her and Conan-kun, Megure wonders if he ever heard such a non-informative answer. He chocked it up for a good memory to begin with, and then got too used to it, to hear anything less that a fully detailed description of everything throws him off now.

“It’s alright, then what about where he frequents, what he does?”

“… a Scientist? , not sure of the specifics “

“Ah then perhaps was he an acquaintance of Agasa-san?”

“… maybe. He might have mentioned something or else about knowing him”

Megure wonder if she is being difficult on purpose or truly just a vague memory

“Then could you perhaps tell me at least what kind of impression he left on you ?”

“A Scientist.”

“Yes we established that-“

“Engrossed in his subject of study… but”

Patience Meguire patience, forget the usual Ai-kun attitude, and just be easy on this version, like you’d treat any child.
At least she isn’t crying like on their first meeting. “Yes?”

“.. He .. I wouldn’t associate him with the word ‘Evil’ “

Where did that come from? “Who would?”

“A Mad Scientist, was the name following him”

“….wait, now I’m confused Ai-kun. I thought you didn’t know him well enough to get to that info”

“…” No answer , typical Ai-kun. Answers what she likes, and silent treatment on other. Guess it’s better that a long winded conversation with misleading or information of no use.

“Then, do you know if he has any enemies, perhaps those that named his as such?”

“Many”

“Hm…. Ai-kun are you alrght? It feels like pulling teeth talking to you today… “

“.. Nothing of note”

“Any names you can tell me?”

“A huge list, not sure it’ll be of use though, …or if you’d be able to reach any “

“It’s okay, as you said , you know the drill, We might find his killer among them”

“But they aren’t”

“Hm? Who isn’t what?”

“The Killer isn’t among the list of his haters”

“.. Ai-kun!” Megure held her steady by the shoulders and her face him properly , straight eye contact. “Do you know the killer?”

“…. “ a slight nod from a resigned face.

“Ai-kun, I feel like there is something I am missing here… help me out. Why do you know this man?”

“… my father “

There the whole police force had frozen in place. Dead silence as all ears where hyper focused.

“… Ai-kun.. Are you Alright?! No stupid, of course you aren’t . Let’s get out of here first , get you something to drink-“

“It’s alright, as I said.. only met him a couple of times.”

He couldn’t believe it.. Even after the quiet admission her expression has only fallen more resigned.

Of course Megure doesn’t need the Forensics to tell him that the man was dead for a while now, a year at the very least. If not a more. And with all the preservatives in the air, it’ll surely miss up with the time of death and will cause them to riot for a raise.. to at least wish to do so.
He is well aware of the mismatching family names. With the victim and Agasa-san.
And even when the question of her parentage comes up as a second thought during discussions and assumptions on the parentage of a certain bespectacled child, no answers were ever reached ( to either children )
And that Ai-kun had always had an Air around her, one that an adult may wish to emulate, and that of it’s self is odd , sure.
And then this confession.
And This FACE

Maybe he should’ve seen the signs of this way to well composed child and had immediately put her through counseling

NO Child has any right to have that controlled composure in from of their Father’s Dead body

Oh God, she knows the killer …

“The Killer …?!”

A single index finger points. Without any sign of hesitation she holds his gaze.

“Huh ..?”

“His Killer, “ and she points again “ Here “

She points at herself.

. . . .

the act of keeping up privacy was dropped.

“ Wh..What?”

“Lucky you,” She smiles “ you don’t have to go searching high and low, “

She points again , this time at the dead body.

“His Killer” she drags the pointer finger towards her, voice louder, clearer “is Me” No place for miscommunication.

“….”

“Wa… was it an accident? Was he abusing you? Was it something you said? you shouldn’t be hard on yourself Ai-kun, If something happened after you told him something rude or that made him sad, doesn’t mean his death is your responsibility ..!”

“None of that, as I keep saying, only met him a couple of time. Never had a personal conversation with him to cause any of the drama you’re thinking” She says matter of factly. “A gunshot to his head, and another two to his chest, one of which straight through his heart” she added, a little dead smirk pulling on her mouth.

“What will you do now that you caught the culprit, juvenile as I am?”

Suddenly it flashed through his mind - Their first meeting.

Megure was obviously unable to process it. Takagi slowly pulled him up and steered him towards where the other officers where standing flabbergasted as well.

Taking his place crouching in front of her, he cleared his throat Trying to continued the questioning in the Inspector’s stead, her eyes that where following Megure focused on him.

With the gentlest voice he could muster through the shock “ .. Why ?”

She looked him straight in the eye. “Cause , Time was up.”

Takagi knew he was always thought of as incompetent, too inexperience, too naive, too soft. But he hopes, his years know her knowing said traits of his would help get through this thick Ice she had built around her heart.

No wonder her face is expressionless, if she had locked everything up, words won’t come out easily. It’s a blessing he’ll be thankful for later, that she even is talking about this at all!
He know Ai-kun is well devised in the art of misdirection and plain out Ignoring people till they gave up and left her be. He must make the most out of this while he could, before she decides she doesn’t want to share it anymore. He knows its heartless on his side
But counseling for all available at the moment can be done later.

“I’m sorry Ai-chan. I can’t seem to imagine the circumstances you were in..” He gently holds her face in his hands as he slides down to the ground. Looking up at her without any filters, with all the companion he has in him “How did you get to the situation where you pulled a gun on your father , who you have not had much contact with, If I understood that correctly ?”

“Don’t worry Takagi-keiji, It’s neither sad nor complicated” She hold his hands without pulling them away from her face, and with a gentle smile she says “I was told to, so I did “

Perhaps Takagi is too soft for this job, but his colleagues around him will surely excuse him the tears spilling from his eyes.

“It’s okay Takagi-keiji, He too knew it was nothing personal on my part. I don’t believe he holds a grudge”

Takagi nor Megure and rest can tell which is more heartbreaking that that admission.

“But.. since he’s out here “ She continues, pulling a hand out of the way to give the corpse another critical look.

“'Found you' must be what it means” she says in a mesmerized tone, her eyes lit up up as she adds “ Guess I’ll be gone soon, too.”

Her face face brightens as she turns “It was great getting to know you!”

And the prettiest smile since they’ve known her shines across to all the available force around her.

Needless to say, havoc erupted when she went missing before the end of the day.
Yet no one was too surprised when she was found not long after, perhaps they were a little by the fancy outrageous morbidly beautiful display. But not with the cold child lying in the middle of rose petals in her new eternal bed.

Megure wonders, as do Takagi, Chiba, Satou and Shiratori if the fact the she was lowered down the ground with the very same casket she was found in was a peace offering, or a curse to follow her beyond the grave.