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aaliyahcrosses · 5 years

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The Art of Letting Go

Most of the time, a good story is a straightforward one. On rare occasions, it comes in loops. This one - well, it isn’t exactly good, but it’s one that goes backwards.

Or: Calendar girl who is lost to the world / Stay(s) alive

notes:

made for coai week 2019

may incredibly be confusing at times

barring the prologue and epilogue, the chronological timeline of this fic actually starts from the last one, going up. (If you feel confused, you can give the fic a read on its chronological order. It might make better sense for you.)

PROLOGUE

“No, no, no.” A man groans as soon as he was pushed out of the blue doors. He tries to open them, even with keys, but to no avail. “You can’t do that to me! You can’t lock me out!”

There was no reply.

Nearby, there was a huge building, where he most definitely can hear gunshots.

He huffed.

“Fine. But it’s just this one time. One time.”

SEVEN

Time

"Happy ever after doesn’t mean forever. It just means time. A little time.”

“Come on,” the girl says, “Come with me.”

Stupefied by the shock, all Conan can really do is take her offered hand and let himself be led. She leads him in through the Aquarium.

Ai's safe , she didn’t die. She’s okay . But he has so many questions, all of them at the tip of his tongue. He just doesn’t know where to start.

The take down of the Organization happened two days ago, and Haibara had been missing since then. He remembered it. Everything was going wrong. The full force of the authorities wasn’t cutting it, and he was desperate to save Ran to even do a thing about their enemies when Haibara volunteered on “bringing them down to their knees.” He really didn’t know what it meant. He hadn’t even said anything in reply when she ran off.

A few minutes later and there was a huge explosion, with Haibara Ai nowhere to be found. He’d expected the worst.

Earlier today he received a text from her phone, and he scrambled to go. Only to find her unharmed.

“How did you survive?” was the first question that left his mouth.

She laughs - a real, real laugh - and he doesn’t know how to deal with that. “Why?” she replies coyly. “Didn’t want me to?”

“Haibara,” he practically growls the name in warning.

He asks her more questions - where she was, what happened - all of them she evaded easily.

And then she lets go of his hand and stops walking, only to stare at the huge display of jellyfish.

“Do you know,” she said after a while, “why I called you here?”

He shakes his head - he really has no idea. For the past few days everyone had believed her to be dead, the only one who can find the cure to the drug. He was thinking about coming clean to Ran.

She turns to him. The lights from the jellyfish aquarium illuminate her face. She was smiling, in a sort of bittersweet way.

“Because I wanted to say I love you.”

Everything after that felt like a blur. The next thing he knows, he’s standing in his room - Kudo Shinichi’s room - all alone, with the gateway back to his former life, the cure to the apotoxin, on his hand.

On his cheek, a kiss mark leftover by a lipstick.

SIX

Wish/Dream

“You don’t run out of the people you care about. Wish I was more like that.”

When Haibara Ai… no, when Miyano Shiho was young, so young, she had a cot - a crib, and a mobile over it filled with stars. Maybe it was a memory, or maybe it’s just her imagination, but she remembers it. She remembers a sister, looking at her with a smile, remembers a father, patting her fondly, and remembers a mother humming a song until she falls asleep. She remembers, and sometimes she dreams of these memories.

But there are days she remembers something else . She remembers a father, leaving the house much more frequently, until he rarely ever does come back. She remembers a mother doing the exact same. Little Miyanos, left by their parents to fend for their own. And so Miyano Shiho began to devote herself to studying.

It was the wrong choice. Because everything her parents had been preventing to happen she managed to do within just months. She’s sent to America, to do what she’s good at.

Miyano Shiho was merely seven when she realized the mistake she had made. She was ten when her parents were killed. And thirteen when she decided to keep her sister only partially informed on what she does in the Organization. Pushed Akemi away, bit by bit, and only realized it too late when they told her about the death of her sister.

When she heard about her sister’s death, she’d decided to run away die. She was set on it. But she didn’t die. Fate was cruel like that, she supposed. And so she does the one thing she knows: she runs.

But then. But then she’s met him. An impossible boy.

Don’t run away from your fate.

“Are you sure about this?” The man asks her worriedly, wringing his hands. He's at the door, hesitant.

With her were things she’s collected from their travels, and the cure for APTX4869.

She smiles. “You told me, didn’t you? And he did too, I suppose. But you showed me. Rule number seven.”

He grins in remembrance. “Never run when you’re scared.”

She nods, and echoes, “Never run when you’re scared.”

"See you around, Ai Haibara."

She stays there until he's fully out of sight.

FIVE

Blood/Weapon

“The man who abhors violence, never carrying a gun. But this is the truth [...] You take ordinary people and you fashion them into weapons.”

For a long, long time, this is what she’d believed: that in order to protect the people she cared for, she should pull away from them, before they get hurt. That’s what her parents had done, and that’s the only thing she knows how to do.

But today she was given a chance. Today, she’s standing in front of Karasuma .

She might have looked small and tiny and very young, but Haibara Ai is also Miyano Shiho, who is not someone small and tiny and very young.

Truth be told, all she wanted to do was leave him there. Let him die underneath the rubble when the place explodes.

But killing him would make him succeed. Make it seem like he’s controlled her, much more than she originally thought.

She speaks. Measured and calm and clear. She doesn’t shout. She asks about her parents, about why they had to die.

She hears the police sirens outside.

She stares at him. One. Two. Three. Four -

“Haibara,” she remembers what that man said when he took her back here. This was something not to be done. Dangers of the universe imploding and all that. But she’d begged and pleaded and here she is now, in front of the Boss, explosion coming, and the chance to bump into a younger version of herself increasing, all within a few minutes. “Whatever you do, I won’t think any less of you. I won’t blame you. You’re forgiven. Always and completely.”

And in that instant. She knows what she’ll do.

“I’ll show you mercy,” she whispers to this cruel man - the cause of the deaths of her family, the cause of the deaths of a million other people. “I’ll show you mercy, because that’s the one thing you’ll never understand.”

Haibara Ai makes sure Karasuma Renya lives .

FOUR

Song/Dance

“Always… When you need it the most… There is a song.”

She'd woken up to find no one around, and had run to the doors in a worry. Finding the door open, she peeked out, and found, to her surprise, a party.

She walks out, cautiously, at first - for all she sees are adults everywhere, and Ai looks like a child. She tries to blend in.

It wasn’t long before she found herself arguing with someone.

“Of course someday, we’ll have the answers. That’s why science's there,” she points out, “to answer the unanswerable. That’s how it works.”

The person she was arguing with - a tall man with a tousled mop of silver-grey hair and an aging thin-laced face - shakes his head. He leans down, and whispers, “Why? Is gravity really the reason you fall in love?”

She pauses. In the same exact moment, she sees him across the crowd.

He was dancing with a woman. The woman might not see him, for she had her head on his shoulder as they swayed, but Ai can. And she sees his eyes. All sorts of feelings on his eyes.

A lovely couple. A picture perfect one. He wore a formal tailcoat with a white bow tie, while the woman wore a long black dress. They make quite the pair.

Beside her, she noticed the old man look on at the two fondly. “She’s the wife,” he whispers almost conspiratorially to her, as if telling her a secret.

“What, her ?” She gestures to the female half of the dancing couple they’d been watching.

He nods with a smile. “And here’s a gift from me.” He hands her a box. “More from the missus, really, but -”

“But I don’t know you.”

His eyes twinkle. “Oh, but you do.” He laughs. “Goodbye, Ai Haibara.”

She watches him leave, and was surprised to see herself , well, at least someone who looked an awful lot like her older self - like Shiho , but with longer hair - falling into step with him.

She figures she was just imagining things, and carefully opens her gift. It was a lipstick, with a note on it. It’s hallucinogenic , it reads, Do take care when you use it, sweetie.

She looks at the leaving duo again - but they were already gone.

And then all of a sudden, she was being engulfed in a hug.

“Ai. Ai Haibara!” He’d just been kissed on the lips, if the stains were any indication. Not to mention his bow tie is missing. He laughs - the one where you seem to giddy to even feel anything else. “Never trust wives. Never, ever! Went and drugged me, she did! And just after I caught her from falling off a ship too!”

Later on, after she’d managed to get the drugged man out of the party and asleep on a bed, she thinks of the argument she had with the old man. She thinks, gravity might not have been the exact reason one falls, but it still causes a pull. You gravitate towards the one you love, after all. Although that isn’t really the important thing, is it?

Why one falls usually isn’t the relevant question, when it comes to such things. The important question would be: would someone catch you if you do?

THREE

Choice

“The name you choose, is like… it’s like a promise you make.”

"You." He looks at her closely, and she glares, because when will he learn personal space? Does he just not have a concept of one? He's impossible. And infuriating. She managed to save the day, hadn't she? "You were about to let yourself just die. Ai Haibara. The little girl who's not a little girl. Why? Why'd you do that?" "Because it was safer," she says. "No!" He snaps. He moves away from her, begins walking back and forth. "No it wasn't! You could have waited for me. Could have listened, maybe. I had a plan. One that didn't involve anyone getting hurt." "No you didn't!" "I had! But you went and had to ruin it. You could have waited, or you could have asked me for help..." he paused. And then he's back at looking closely at her again. She hates that. "You did that too, before. When I met you. You were doing that too, weren't you? You were just sitting there, waiting for the explosion..." "So what if I was?" She challenges. He stops, sighs. And then sits on a chair. "Your name. What does it mean?" "What?" "Me, I chose my name. A promise of sorts. Never cruel, never cowardly. Never giving up or giving in. A promise," he repeats. "Your name. Ai. Sadness. Why?" "I chose it," she replied simply. "The person who gave me the name - the professor - he'd wanted to make it to mean love. But I don't think..." She huffs, looks down, mulling on what to say. And then: "I'm a criminal." She looks at him, gauging his reaction. "I've helped in the killing of so many people. Been the cause of their deaths." He smiles wryly. "What?" "Oh, Ai Haibara. Haibara Ai. You've yet to realize lots of things," he says in reply instead. And his eyes were so full of emotions that she had to look away.

TWO

Stars/Space

“You and me, time and space.”

He's a madman and a genius, which means - and she knows this by experience through another boy - that he's also a huge idiot. She realizes this fully ten minutes later, after he spoke in technobabble that she could barely comprehend, and then walks out of the door with only a screwdriver in hand. This is their first adventure. It's full of running and solving and speeches against enemies, and at the end of it all, Ai feels exhilarated. She feels the adrenaline. They end up back inside his ship with their back at its doors. She finds herself laughing. "You... you should know... I'm not really... I'm not really a little girl." The man smiles at her. "So what do you say, not-so-little girl?" He wears a bow tie and loves the color blue. Wears glasses too (he tells her earlier he doesn't need them, not really). Loves puzzles, loves mysteries, and takes her along to solve them. "Travel with me?" He asks. "Where?" Of course Ai sees the similarities - "We're in a time travelling spaceship!" He runs around the console like a child, pressing buttons and flipping switches. He stops back in front of her. "Where and when do you think?" - it's just there's a lot of differences too for her to ignore them. "Okay." She nods. "Okay."

ONE

Crossover/AU

“Think about that. Impressionable young girl, and then suddenly this man drops out of the sky.”

She meets him - a ridiculous man who's both brilliant and mad and has a penchant for bowties - the day they’d stormed the Organization headquarters. A good explosion would let her die, save her newly acquired friends - family too, sort of - and everything the Organization held dear. But instead of death, there is a grip on her wrist, and a man. "Hello, little girl. No time to explain," he said, "but run." And run they did. He leads her to a blue... phone booth? - she briefly reads the word 'police' atop it (So, a police box, huh?) while he struggles with the key; and then she's dragged inside. Inside, was big. Very big. Impossibly so. Police boxes as big as telephone booths shouldn't be this big inside, right? There are lights and sounds and it's all very odd. The man, who has already let go of her was at the center of the room, pressing knobs and pulling this and that. He stopped to turn and grin at her. "Go on then," the man wearing a bowtie said, "say it." She grinned back. "It's an alternate dimension. A pocket one." The man gaped, and then frowned. "You weren't supposed to say it that way!" he protested. "You were supposed to go," he continued in a higher voice, 'it's bigger on the inside!'" She only laughed in reply. He tells her his name is the Doctor. She tells him her name is Ai Haibara. They look at each other and know they both kinda lied.

EPILOGUE

She travelled, for awhile. Germany and Belarus and Egypt and Thailand and Netherlands and Canada and much, much more. She sends postcards to the professor, every once in a while.

She likes the uncertainty of moving. (Or maybe she’d missed the travel, or maybe she just missed him.)

One day, however, while she sat alone at a park in London, the sound of wheezing and groaning, and she knows.

She runs, and finds herself staring at the face of the old man she’d argued with about science and the pull of love at the party she’d accidentally attended. He was standing just outside his TARDIS.

“It’s you,” she said breathlessly. “You’re him.” She laughs in wonder. “You’ve changed.”

He smiles. “Guess I did. But so did you, Ai Haibara - or should I say, Shiho Miyano?”

She smiles.

Once upon a time, she hurts when she hears that name. She feels scared, because one mention of that name might bring destruction to the people she’d held dear. This time, she just feels incredibly thankful. This was her family’s first gift to her: her name. And she’s so glad that finally, she can use it again with nothing burdening her.

“Yes,” she says in reply, “I think Shiho Miyano will do, Doctor.”

The pages keep turning, I'll mark off each day with a cross And I'll laugh about all that we've lost Calendar Girl who is lost to the world Stay alive

#coaiweek2019 #coai #conai #aicon #shinshi #ai haibara #haibara ai #shiho miyano #miyano shiho #conan edogawa #edogawa conan #shinichi kudo #kudo shinichi #detective conan #case closed #doctor who #the doctor

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multiverseanimecrossover · 5 years

Text

Untitled Story (BSD Inspired Story)

18 years old Li Zheng waited around the station nervously as someone bumps into him and he bows his head. “Sorry! A thousand pardons!” He said loudly. However, the person moved passed him without any acknowledging his presence. “Well, that was rude.” Thought Li Zheng. “Hey there Zheng!” A voice called out. Li Zheng jumps and turns to see a boy with a big smile on his face. “Yuan Can? Is—is that you?” Li Zheng asked. With a flourish swept of his arms out in a dramatic pose; Yuan Can announced, “The one and only~! How’s it hanging?” Li Zheng forced a tiny smile. “Oh, you know—Been here, been there. I’m doing well.” He replied. “Awesome, let’s go! We’re going an adventure from here~!” Yuan Can said, leading his best friend down to the escalators to the city. “So…You know your way around here?” Li Zheng asked. Yuan had a hand behind his head, “Yeah, I’m no expert. I just know most of the cool places but still be around here OK?” He warned. They walked into the sidewalk to see there was four people standing around with books and reading but saw Yuan Can as they waved to him. “Sup Yuan.” The boy greeted. “Nothing much, Naota. How you guys been?” Yuan Can asked. “Hanging around, who’s your friend?” The other guy asked. “Ah, sorry! My name is Li Zheng.” Li Zheng introduced. The second guy was surprised. “Crap, did I say something wrong?” Li Zheng wondered. “Is that, like, the name of a monk?” The second guy inquired. “Maybe it’s an alias or a pen name, he probably doesn’t like to reveal his real name.” The girl with glasses suggested. “No, no, no—that is my real name.” Li Zheng confirmed. The four of them looked shocked. “What? Seriously?” asked the girl in glasses. The first guy was excited, “Wow, sound like the name of an anime character or something!” He claimed. “Ah, where are my manners? Li Zheng, these are my friends—Naota Makioka, Iwase Sugimoto, Tomiko Goldfield and Opula Coldmoon. By the way, Naota and Tomiko are lovers---Spoilers~!” Yuan Can clarified teasingly. Iwase looked irked, Opula laughed while Naota and Tomiko blushed. “Shut up, virgin ass! You’re just jealous ‘cause you don’t have a girlfriend!” Naota retorted. “Not yet but soon I will.” Bragged Yuan Can. “Uh-huh, in your dreams!” snapped Iwase. Opula and Naota laughed but not Tomiko. She glanced at Li Zheng carefully. “You’re Li Zheng right? You must be named after the protagonist from one of Atsushi Nakajima’s works.” Tomiko clarified. Li Zheng was astonished by this, “Atsushi Nakajima? Who’s that?” He asked. “You know, the author. He wrote ‘The Tiger Poet’ and ‘Moon Over the Mountain’, he’s quite talented.” Tomiko explained. “Oh, I never seen his work but I have heard of Dazai Osamu, Ryonosuke Akutagawa and Akiko Yosano.” Li Zheng clarified. That got Noata’s attention, “Really? You heard of Dazai Osamu? Have you heard of ‘No Longer Human’?” He said. “Have I? It’s one of my favorites!” Li Zheng exclaimed eagerly.

“Hate to cut this short but we should get going.” Yuan Can said. “Oh yeah, my bad! It’s nice talking to you.” Li Zheng called. “You too, Li Zheng, bye!” Tomiko hollered, waving. “Catcha later! Stay safe!” Naota exclaimed. “See you soon~!” Opula piped up. “Take care!” Iwase hollered. Li Zheng waved as he walked alongside his friend. That’s when they saw something strange: There was a cheerful boy handing out flyers when he noticed Yuan Can and Li Zheng approaching. “Hey Yuan, how are you doing?” He asked. “Great, and yourself?” Yuan Can asked. “Splendid actually.” The boy said. “Cool, I want you to meet someone. Gianni? This is my best friend, Li Zheng. Zheng? Meet Gianni.” Yuan Can introduced. Gianni’s eyes twinkled, “The same one you grew up in the orphanage with?” He said. “Mmm hmm, that’s him.” Yuan Can validated. Gianni gave a polite bow, “I’m Gianni Rivera. As a member of a respected family; I welcome the lonely and battle scarred.” He addressed. This made Li Zheng smile a bit. “Thanks.” He replied. They bid him goodbye and were on their way. “Never realized you were friends with such cool people around here.” Li Zheng noted. “Yeah, they can be weird but if you’re cool with them—they’re cool with you.” Yuan Can reassured. “Very funny.” Li Zheng rejoined. “I’m not kidding, there’s some people you really should stay away from.” Yuan Can cautioned. “Like who?” Li Zheng questioned, curious by his comment. “Hmm, let’s see…” Yuan Can said. He was quiet for a moment, then he replied: “....People who aren’t terrible however you don’t want to piss hem off. There’s Shosaku Katsura, polite to a fault but he’s got a temper so bad—you’ll be begging for mercy! As long as you keep your nose clean, you’ll be fine. And then there’s a guy name Yozora Obari.” That name threw Li Zheng off! “Yozora Obari?” He asked. “Yeah, I don’t know much about his past though he’s a pretty chilled dude however make him your enemy and he’s bad news to ya. He’s the strongest guy you’ve ever met.” Yuan Can informed. “Wow, sounds cool.” Li Zheng managed to say. “Uh huh, just be wary of them all right?” Yuan Can requested. Li Zheng nodded, “Got it.” He replied. Once they were done having a good time; Yuan Can walked Li Zheng to his apartment. “You had fun Zheng?” Yuan Can asked. Li Zheng grinned, “Yeah, thanks man.” He said. They fist bump each other when all of a sudden, there was a loud piercing sound that made Li Zheng covered his ears. The noise stopped, Li Zheng dropped his hands and glanced over to a horrifying scene: His best friend on the ground, his throat torn open. Tears filled Li Zheng’s eyes and looked up to see his adoptive guardian standing over with an insidious grin! “WHY?! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!” demanded Li Zheng. “You can’t escape from your past, he can’t escape from his past…No one can! You’re too weak!” His guardian spat. “YUAN CAN!!!” Li Zheng screamed, tears dropping to the ground.

As he was working at the coffee shop; Li Zheng was reading the poem of Akiko Yosano’s Thou Shall Not Die as a way to cope: “O my young brother, I cry for you. Don't you understand you must not die! You who were born the last of all, Command a special store of parents' love. Would parents place a blade in children's hands? Teaching them to murder other men. Teaching them to kill and then to die? Have you so learned and grown to twenty-four? O my brother, you must not die! Could it be the Emperor His Grace Exposeth not to jeopardy of war. But urgeth men to spilling human blood, And dying in the way of wild beasts, Calling such death the path to glory? If His Grace possesseth noble heart, What must be the thoughts that linger there?” He placed the poem back in his pocket as he wondered to himself, “The poem is ‘Thou Shall Not Die’, it sounds like it’s from the Ten Commandments in the Bible. It should be one of the Commandments, it’s a sin to die but would it be a crime to live forever?” wondered Li Zheng. Just then, the door opens. This triggers the chiming of the bell attached to the door. Li Zheng looked up and smiled. “Can I help you?” Li Zheng asked. “Yes, I’d like a coffee. Make it black.” Said the man. “Cream or sugar?” Li Zheng said. “Cream, please.” The man replied. Li Zheng nodded. “Coming right up.” He answered politely. He managed to get the cream and coffee ready. Li Zheng gives the coffee cup, but Yozora stops him. “Kid, I’m not going to cause a scene but…I heard what happened to your best friend, Yuan Can. I’m so sorry.” He said. Li Zheng was terrified, he remembered the memories of his best friend! It was then Yozora tells him there’s twelve houses out there, he is from the Venus Orchestra Agency, known as Twelfth House. He tells him there’s others out there such as the Beast of Shadows Mafia that consisted of the most dangerous members within it: Tajomaru Ryosai, Michio Tayne, Chinatsu Midorikawa, Zenkichi Hirata, Akemi Naigu, Kanaya Ryosai, Remon Sakurano, Ichiro Kure, Omiya Kwanichi and their leader—Elisha Sumeru! Beast of Shadows is known as First House. Then, there is the Nighthawk Star Guild that include of Jaythan ‘Jayin’ Gatz as their leader and the rest of the crew—Valda Sherman, Geomar Kino, Hatim Milovan, Courtney Jimeno, Edison Canty, Perseus Simpson, Amaya Barnard and Ishmael Redburn. Nighthawk Star Guild is known as Second House! Also there was a guy who went by the name of Rodion Rashard of the Dreadful Hollows Army. His crew consists of Demetri Vruyx, Arkady Luzhin, Fyodor Karam, Dunya Rashard and Sonora Amaram. Chinno Kurami is from the Spider Needle Government and his second in command, Akagi, works under him. Just before Li Zheng could ask anymore, a member of the Beast of Shadows name Sohar attacks Li Zheng! He appeared behind, Sohar then had Li Zheng on the floor. “You little bastard! You think you can get away from me that easily?” She yelled. Li Zheng blocks his punches but could feel them pressing on his face. “You have no idea how much Yozora screwed you over! He’s just rucking with you! When I bring you to the boss, he’s gonna rip you a new one!” Sohar exclaimed. He peers over to Li Zheng with a grin. “Any last words you die? Because Yozora is going to pay for rucking us over!” Sohar said with a laugh. “Please no! Please!” Li Zheng begged. Yozora saves him when he took out a gun and shot Diana in the shoulder! He screamed when Yozora pushed him on the ground and had the gun at his head. “Sorry, did I step on your moment? Give the boss my regards, farewell.” Yozora remarked as he pulled the trigger, killing Sohar! Li Zheng couldn’t believe what Yozora done. “You…You’re Yozora?” He managed to say. Yozora turns to him and smile, “I won’t hurt you, I promise kid. I treat Yuan Can as if he were my son. And I will treat you the same, now come along Zheng.” He said.

A girl name Ayana Yukisada sat in the first row of the boss with a book in her lap as she mumbled the words to herself. Then, the bus stops and Ayana gets off. The man trails behind Ayana, a smile plastered on his face. He readies himself when he toppled over legs first and looked up to see Ayana standing over him with a smirk. “You’d think I was that stupid? Hm? You underestimated me? What do you think Melor?” She asked to the shadows. There was a low growl coming from the darkness. Ayana sighed, “Fine, have it your way. Now hurry up—I’m itching to see blood flying everywhere.” She said, her voice dripped with malice. Meanwhile; Li Zheng and Yozora met up with the others at the hotel for they were on a mission. Just then, something caught his eye; Li Zheng looked over to see the girl staring out at the ocean, she seemed to be fourteen years old, wore an embroider kimono. A hand touched Li Zheng’s shoulder as he turned to see Yozora. “It’s your lucky day, Zheng~! You and I are going to be sharing a room together.” He stated. Li Zheng managed to smile. They settled into the room with Li Zheng wanting to read when Yozora was still concern about him. “So, you want to tell me what’s bothering you?” Yozora asked. “I saw a girl, she looked sad and lost.” Li Zheng said. “Why are you so worried about her?” Yozora inquired, concerned. “Well, I was wondering…Do you think she’s like me? A surviving victim of a vice ring?” Li Zheng speculated. Yozora was determined, “Don’t worry, we’ll find this girl and rescue her. I promise you that.” He vowed. “Thanks, Mr. Obari.” Said Li Zheng. “Anytime kid~!” Yozora answered. And that’s when they went into their own bed to get some sleep however Li Zheng couldn’t sleep so he decided to walk around the hotel. While walking; Li Zheng heard a voice singing a song, he looked over to see that same girl again! She was balancing on the wall. The girl then noticed Li Zheng watching so she slowly ascend towards him, floating against the dark sky twinkling with stars. The girl reached over although Li Zheng shrieked and fainted. The girl, Ayana, looks over him. She reached over to nudge him. As he opened his eyes; Li Zheng gasped but Ayana put a finger to her lips. “Hi, are you Li Zheng?” The girl asked. “Who are you?” stammered Li Zheng. “Ayana Yukisada.” The girl said. Li Zheng was shaken in fear. “Don’t be scared, I won’t hurt you.” Ayana reassured. “Wha—What do you want?” Li Zheng insisted apprehensively. “I was wondering if you’ll be my friend.” Ayana said. “That’s all you want?” Li Zheng inquired. “Yeah…I also want to know if you want to go to the Magic Carnival with me?” Ayana requested. “I…I don’t know.” Li Zheng said. “Are you sure? I just want you to see something beautiful, that’s all. I mean no harm really.” Ayana reassured him. Li Zheng wasn’t sure but he was curious so he takes Ayana’s hand as they glide to the Magic Carnival that twinkled like a theme park as they got on the Ferris wheel! “Isn’t it beautiful?” Ayana asked. “Mmm, it is.” Li Zheng responded. They had a wonderful time before they head back to the hotel. “I had a fun time, thanks.” Li Zheng said. “I’m glad, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ayana promised. “OK, have a good night.” Li Zheng replied, waving goodbye as she glided away into the night.

The next day; Li Zheng saw Ayana at the tea gardens, dancing under the cherry blossom trees. He made an excuse as he hurries off to see Ayana but then, the tea gardens were under attack by Lotus Eaters! Everyone was in fear, Li Zheng was terrified as he tried to get away when he saw Ayana slaying the monster! He cowers but the sight of blood. Then, Li Zheng looked up to see the Maniken at his feet and saw Ayana standing before him. She smiled sweetly. “Don’t worry, you’re safe now.” Said Ayana. Later, Li Zheng was sitting across the table from Ayana. “You’re staring again.” Ayana reminded. Li Zheng glanced away, “Sorry.” He apologized. There was an awkward silence. Li Zheng took a bite of an apple he brought to snack on. “What did Yozora told you that made you upset?” He inquired. “Next question.” Ayana said. “That’s the easiest one!” Li Zheng protested. “Next. Question!” snapped Ayana. Li Zheng sighed, this girl was difficult but he really didn’t like confrontation. “I think this makes us even, guess we can start trusting each other.” Li Zheng reminded. “True but…” Ayana said. She reached over and took a bite of his apple and put it in the middle for them to share. “…But you’re too curious. What do you want to know? Why are you so interested in me?” Ayana asked. “I—I was wondering if you were part of a vice ring, maybe a victim.” Li Zheng replied anxiously. Ayana was quiet for a moment. It was like she was taking her sweet time. “Perhaps, but I don’t want to talk about it if that’s all right.” She finally responded. “Sure.” Li Zheng said with a nod. “Where are your parents?” Ayana asked. “I don’t know, I don’t remember them…They died when I was born, I was an orphan. And then I was raised by someone I thought I could trust…” Li Zheng replied. “He hurt you?” guessed Ayana. “Mmm hmm, and he hurt another boy name Yuan Can….He was my best friend….” Uttered Li Zheng, his voice was choked up that he could muster out those words. “I’m sorry. I think…that’s something you and I have in common.” Remarked Ayana. Li Zheng is surprised by this comment, he looks down. “I don’t know why I’m even here, I’m not special.” Li Zheng assessed. “You may not think you are but I know you are. The problem is that some hapless, wreteched creature made you think you are worthless and destroyed your innocence. Would you like to know why I’m here?” Ayana explained. Something in Ayana’s eyes screamed predator, it’s like her face was saying, “Walk into my trap little boy”. He knew asking anymore questions would make him regret this. “No….Why are you here?” Li Zheng whispered. Her chair fell back as she stood up. “I’m here because….I’m out for revenge.” Ayana rasped. Her appearance changed as Li Zheng bite his tongue from screaming. “Pray that the Beast of Shadows don’t find us, you’re the one they want.” Ayana hissed in that sweet, lovely voice of hers.

“You’re new here.” Remarked the girl. “So are you, I’m Li Zheng.” Li Zheng introduced. The girl smiled, “Valda Sherman, people call me ‘Val’.” She replied. “Nice to meet you, Val.” Li Zheng said. Valda circles around him. “What?” Li Zheng asked. “You’re the weirdest guy I’ve ever met!” remarked Valda.“Yozora told me you’re from the Nightwalk Star Guild.” Li Zheng stated. Valda shrugged, “So?” She said. “What’s the building like?” Li Zheng asked. “Not as quiet as here.” Valda said, gesturing to the building of Venus Orchestra. Li Zheng smiled at that, Valda noticed his grin. “What? You want to be my sweetheart?” teased Valda. Li Zheng shook his head, “No thank you.” He said politely. Valda nodded, “Let’s keep things honest between us.” She suggested. Their friendship grew stronger as Li Zheng wanted to help Valda but then, she got moody by his cheerfulness. “Why? Because I’m this privileged, lonely hearts girl?” mocked Valda. Li Zheng was taken aback by her moody behavior. “I thought we were friends.” He reminded. Valda scoffed, “I lied.” She retorted. Li Zheng was hurt, “That was heartless you know that?” He snapped. Valda smiled that didn’t reach her eyes. “Yup.” She managed to say. She then went to the roof and dared Li Zheng to jump across. He hesitated however Valda mocks him, “I knew you were such a coward!” This triggered Li Zheng as he runs back, ready to jump over. This horrified Valda! “NO! DON’T! YOU’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT!!!” hollered Valda. But it was too late, Li Zheng leaped over as he nearly fell from the roof but Valda caught him in time. She helped Li Zheng get on the roof safely but her eyes were widened with surprise. “You’re crazy…” stated Valda. “Easy, I’m out of breath.” Panted Li Zheng. Valda sighed, “All right, boy. But it’s my roof, my rules! Got it?” She clarified firmly. Li Zheng nodded, catching his breath finally as he made his way with her. Li Zheng could see Valda having violent fits as he tried to calm her down however she wouldn’t. “KILL ME!!!” screamed Valda, attacking him but Li Zheng dodges her as she continued to ranted loudly while attacking him. “KILL ME! KILL ME! KILL ME!!!” Li Zheng finally stopped her. “No…You’re afraid of dying aren’t you?” He asked. Valda gasped. “It’s OK, I’m scared too.” Li Zheng reassured. Meanwhile; leaders from different organizations are coming together for a private conference assembly. There was Hansuke Sancho from the Venus Orchestra Company, Elisah Sumeru from the Beast of Shadows Gang, Jaythan ‘Jayin’ Gatz from the Nighthawk Star Guild and Chinno Kushami as his second in command assistant name Akagi was in the room!

Li Zheng felt dizzy in the head as he tried to compose himself and stands up, brushing the dust away. Li Zheng decides to explore but she didn't see the shadowy figure until she bump straight into it. "Hey, what the--" Li Zheng started to say but he was stunt to see that it was a tall, teenage boy with light complexion, brown hair, and he had such dark eyes. "Where did you come from, big guy?" Li Zheng asked in amazement. The tall boy turned and looked down to see the young strange boy, "Who are you?" asked the boy. "My name is Li Zheng, who are you?" introduced Li Zheng. "I'm Kenren Taishou." said the tall teenager. "Do you know where we are?" Li Zheng asked. "Uh, no. I'm not sure where we are....Let's look around and see what we can find." replied Kenren. "'Us'? Together? Sure! Let’s go!" beamed Li Zheng, "I like to get to know you, Kenren Taishou." He grinned with earnest interest. And so, Li Zheng and Kenren started to explore around. In the meantime; another teenage boy and his friend was wandering around the strange world that wasn't their home. "Um Alyosha?" The first guy asked. "Yes, Nedran?" The other boy asked. "I don't think we're in our world anymore." answered Nedran. "Nope, we're not." agreed Alyosha. Just then, something pop out and jump scared them! It was Rokuzo. "AH-HA! GOT YA!" He exclaimed. Nedran and Alyosha jump back in fear however they were astonished by the boy's apparel. "What are you man?" Nedran asked. Rokuzo look a little, "I'm Rokuzo Taguchi, I'm a--" He started to say. "Oh! I know! I know! You're a ninja!" exclaimed Nedran. "Uh...Yes." said Rokuzo. Nedran glomped him happily, "Oh my! That is so cool, Finally! We get to meet a real life ninja, Alyosha!" exclaimed Nedran. "Get off! Get off!" gasped Rokuzo, he and Alyosha managed to get Nedran off him. He then panted and tried to catch his breath. "Geez! Tryin' to kill me or something?" snapped Rokuzo. "But we never met a ninja in all of our miserable lives!" complained Nedran, dramatically. “I’m sorry, Nedran. I know that excites you but you could’ve crushed him.” Reminded Alyosha politely. Rozuko stared at them when all of a sudden, there was a torpedo force that caused Rokuzo, Nedran and Alyosha to levitate in the air. "Ahhhh! What the heck is going on here?" cried Nedran. "I don't know!" shouted Alyosha. "Get us down from here!" yelled Rokuzo. There was laughter, it comes from a young man who appeared out of the shadows. He was the one responsible for all this! "I'm Cyrus, I’m an alchemist." But saw the others don’t look pleased. "Hey, can you get us down from here?" Rokuzo said, impatiently. "Sure can." Cyrus said. As Cyrus let the three go, they fell, there was confusion. Nedran and Alyosha stared at the other two, "How in the world did we get stuck with these weirdos?" wondered Nedran. “I wouldn’t know.” Alyosha admitted. Cyrus and Rokuzo turned on him: "WHAT?!" And they attack him until a voice cry out to break up the fight. “HOLD IT!!!” Rokuzo, Nedran and Cyrus stopped to see Li Zheng and Kenren standing there; looking out of place at the scenario. "What are you idiots doing?" asked Kenren. "Who are you guys?" asked Alyosha. "Kenren Taishou." answered Kenren. "And I’m Li Zheng." replied Li Zheng.

There was silence in the air when Nedran blurts out, "How did I get stuck with a bunch of freaks?!" Kenren, Rokuzo and Cyrus turned on him, crying out: "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A FREAK?!" Then, Round 2 of the battle starts. Li Zheng and Alyosha stared at them before Li Zheng sighed deeply. He dashed in and used his powers to impede the battle while shouting, “STOP!” The boys were on the ground. Kenren, Nedran, Rokuzo and Cyrus stared at the strange boy. Li Zheng planted his hands on his hips, "So, do you wish to continue or would you want to talk this out?" he asked. The other boys stared at him in awe, "Whoa..." they chorused.

#anime #manga #my writing #story #fantasy #bungou stray dogs

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