Chapter 4
I stand surveillance over the little detective as he slumbers in my spare bedroom due to the medicine for the bone infection that put his life in critical condition for about seven months. He is out of the danger zone and heading toward a full recovery if his temperature, little signs of pain, and the gaining of awareness tales the truth of his condition. His bones have all healed over the nine month period and he has no more bruises and scars that the fallen angel inflicted upon my dear Silver Bullet, but his mental stability is questionable since he has not awaken yet.
It makes me depressed that my Angel is no more than a demon of hell, but at least Silver Bullet still is my savior of light and protector of humans. I smile dejectedly since I feel responsible for not doing something sooner to help my little detective when I noticed the changes to his levelheadedness since the organization that destroyed many lives disbanded. He has helped me break free from that organization and recreate a place for me as Chris Vineyard instead of going to jail as Vermouth.
I reverenced Angel and Silver Bullet until I unearthed information about him being abused by a twisted Angel who has fallen into madness due to the events that the organization has brought over time. It felt like I'm the one to blame because I was the first to make contact with him from the Black organization, but it was mainly Gin's fault for giving him the APTX-4869 that Hell's Angel recreated for the organization. If the organization did not exist, Silver Bullet would be safe with Angel while living happily ever after in their perfect world.
I move a few bangs out of his face as I wonder how Yukiko is doing lately. I called her a few months back when I knew that her son would pull through the darkness and back into reality of the living. She calls me once a week to check on him and to see if he has awaken yet. I also know that she has not told her husband yet since I have not had to talk to him or Yukiko would warn me if he was nearby. It is interesting that the rival of the original KID could not even read his own wife's poker face very well when it deals with secrets about their son. Therefore, I am glad that my best friend trusts me with her son or else I would have an angry writer after me for another reason beside Sensei's death.
I suspire, looked down at the dormant child with concerned eyes, and rest in a wooden chair by his bed as I reminiscence of how we came here to the present time. I noticed him running from something as I figured that someone must have tried to kill or kidnap him. Unfortunately, he gave out after an hour of running in the shadows like some animal looking for a place to die. As I walked up to the unconscious detective, that one thought worried me since he would never do that unless something was seriously wrong. I reach him and carefully pick him up from the ground as I noticed alarming signs of physical abuse that only Angel could give him. At that point, I made up my mind and brought him to a temporary hideout that I used in the past to care for him as I collected information secretly from KID and Sherry since they helped with the Black Organization becoming disbanded.
I simper remembering how Sherry squeaked over the phone due to hearing my voice coming from the other end. I almost laughed, but due to the danger of him dying at that time, I told her about his condition as she stated what I should do. She knew it was Kudou Shinichi that I was talking about because she would only help me if she found it necessary or a benefit to herself or others. I told her about the fever, chills, and pain that his body revealed to me as Sherry responded with the type of treatment I should give him and what to do while she researched the possibilities and recovery stages for the symptoms.
I know Sherry and I had our difference due to the organization, but she knows I would help him if I had to. We both are protective over our dear detective who has done so much for us in the past. I smile knowing that Silver Bullet is our link to being friends, but before Sherry hangs up the phone, she replies, "Thank you, Vermouth, for saving Kudou-kun." With that, she sounded sincere and promised not to tell anyone about him due to the fallen angel. Of course, it would also mean getting him out of the country until he recovered enough to handle things on his own but it was the only option at that time.
After the treatment started and he showed signs of making a full recovery, I called Touichi-Sensei's house to see if I could reach KID personally instead of going to a heist that would alarm the attorneys. Leave it to luck as he answered the phone on the third ring as he probably wondered who was calling the house at two o'clock in the morning after a KID heist. I stated the situation as he remained silent just like Touichi-Sensei would have when I told him about a few things in the past. He stated that he trusted me since his Tantei-kun did as well, but he did warn me that if I did anything to harm him, he will make sure that I paid for it later. I smiled knowing that he would stay away from us as he would keep a careful watch over the fallen angel that Silver Bullet still cared for as a sister.
Over the following weeks, I became pissed when Sherry and KID each told me that he never said anything about the physical abuse but, I know Silver Bullet would keep quiet about this if he thought it was his fault which means he would not want everyone to panic or worry. They also stated that they secretly vigilant over him so he would not be alarmed into thinking too brusquely about things due to the signs of change in their dear detective friend. I was happy that they tried to help protect him by different ways of keeping him away from the fallen angel, but there is so much they could do without Angel finding out about their secret mission. If she caught on to them, he could have been dead due to someone knowing what she did to him or be in a coma for the rest of his life.
They also told me that the officers, Mouri-Tantei, and many others have guarded him as well. It seems that everyone around him knew about his suffering of physical and mental state in some way, but that also means they could not do anything about it unless he said something to them first or hinted in some way. Knowing Silver Bullet, he would rather be abused than tell a single soul about his misfortune in life.
When they stated that his parents were also in the dark about his condition and mistreatment, it offended me. His parent did not know about the abuse, but they knew something with up with him since the disbandment showed in the newspapers. We know that Silver Bullet cared for his parents, but he did not want them to hurt Angel or go crazy about it since his parents are the most unpredictable people I know beside the Kurobas.
After finding out the information, they stated that they were trying to discover where he ensconced in Japan. When I stated we were not in Japan, they became satisfied since he was at least safe while promising never telling anyone that information. They still had search parties for him, but the ones in the know never had to worry since they stayed out of the search because the knowledge of not looking for a dead body settled their fears for the time being. The only difference is they made sure they stayed in Japan unless someone else said something about searching outside of Japan.
I see Silver Bullet stir in his sleep, but he never wakes up from his unconscious state. This worried me for a while until Sherry stated that coma victims will be like that until they have recovered enough to survive physically and mentally. She also stated that osteomyelitis, or bone infection in human speak, has signs of unbearable pain and tenderness over an affected bone which meant that Silver Bullet would not be able to move the infected limbs easily. Sherry replied that chills, fevers, and redness at the site of the infection would also make him stir sometimes due to the delusions of the mind. After telling me what antibiotics to use and how to make sure that food and liquid entered into his body for nutrients, he started to get better each day. One the other hand, he still is in a coma state as his awareness is strengthening slowly.
I know he'll wake up as that day has not come, but I know it will be soon enough. I know he would want to live with the fallen angel due to the way he thinks, yet I will have a say in that along with Sherry, KID, and his mother. We will make sure that he never gets abused by her ever again even if I have to break my promise of never killing just so he is safe from her. If Silver Bullet does go back to living with her, I fear that she will kill him if he is not the one she seeks for happiness and comfort of love in her twisted fantasy.
I get up from my wooden chair as I know darkness will start to cover my dear Silver Bullet in the future once more. I can hear him now telling me how I should not break the promise I made long ago since I never broke the promise of never killing Sherry. I smile at the thoughts roaming through my mind because I would do anything to protect him from the danger I see in front of him. He taught me so much about how a human life is not meaningless as killing another human is.
I still remember the day he saved me in New York. Silver Bullet told me, "Is a reason necessary? I don't know why you would kill someone but as for saving someone… a logical mind isn't needed, right?" He astonished me since that day and I watched him grow into a great detective by staying in touch with his mother and reading newspapers. I still wonder how this one person becomes so dense into thinking that he is not important if everyone cares for him as a person, friend, rival, and so on. Maybe he needs KID and Sherry to show him that life is worth living if you have someone to share it with.
I stop in front of an opened window which shows the view of the Hudson River in New York. I already called Yukiko, KID, and Sherry so the antidote for his poison is ready within two months and he can begin a new life as Edogawa Conan and Kudou Shinichi when me finally awakens. I know he be sad since he is away from everyone, but at least he is safe from harm for the time being. After all, he saved me from the darkness so it would be fitting if I save him from it as well due to all the trouble I have caused for my dear Silver Bullet.
I sigh as I turn away from the window and look at him once more. He still keeps secrets within his subconscious, but KID, Sherry, and I are secretly watching over him in case of threats from the shadows. We knew he changed for some reason since he no longer played the leading man, but it worried me enough to going back to being Vermouth so I could watch out for signs of getting him out of being Edogawa Conan. He never was good at poker face, but he is never an open-book either which reminded me of Touichi-Sensei and Yukiko.
I walk out of the spare bedroom and into the kitchen that was ten feet from his place so I could fix some food for us to enjoy except he never eats it since he sleeps all day long. Sometimes I wonder if he fakes sleeping, but soon decided against it when the sheets never move too much due to the bone infection. It makes me discouraged to know that his life has no importance to him as everyone else could not do anything to stop him from punishing himself for something that was not his fault. It is the Black Organization's fault for his predicament as he is a person who follows his heart to the truth that becomes wrapped in a puzzle. I smile a little as I should have warned him about the men in black coats when I first met him in New York.
I heat some leftover chicken noodle soup as I wonder about what should happen next. I know he will wake up and freak out seeing me in a strange house alone. He probably would try to leave or stay put depending on the way he thinks, but he would be unpredictable for the moment.
I eat the soup as I know that he is at least okay for the time being, but he is a detective that searches for the truth due to the fun of it. I know that a life is precious to him as murderers should pay for their crimes in his opinion but where does the line stop for him being reckless? Who is willing to help him if he cries out for it so silently?
I breathe loudly as I finish my soup and place the empty bowl in the sink for washing later. I close my eyes wishing that my angel was perfect again so Silver Bullet is happy before the poison stopped that. I replied to the skies above while hoping for a miracle and keeping my eyes closed, "I wish that there was a way to fix his problems so that he is cheerful for once in his life instead of being downhearted and secluded."
"There always a way to do that, but it just takes a bit of luck and the right moves, Vermouth. At least, that is what a phantom thief named Kaitou 1412 taught me over the years of being Edogawa Conan."
I snap my eyes open, face the voice in the door way, and see Silver Bullet standing there like nothing ever happened with a genuine smile on his face which surprised me. I blink a few times before going to his side and hugging him for all he was worth since he was finally alive and well enough to walk. I believe that him walking was a good sign for him and that my wish could come true after all, but he was right about the right moves being played if luck goes in his favor.
"You know," I moved back some as he looked at me with curious eyes of a detective while speaking in a childish voice, "I never would have thought that you were my guardian angel. I thought it was KID or Haibara when I wake up a few minute ago, but I never knew that you would save me from Ran-neechan. That actually surprised for once and I'm glad for that due to you only telling a select few about me being okay while hiding me from them as well."
I laugh knowing that he was not back completely since he acted like a child and an adult, but at least he trusts me due to the circumstances. I stand up and walk toward the refrigerator to get him something to eat. I heat up some of the soup and give it to him as he eats it like a starving child. Well, he did not eat in a few months so it is understandable, but it also worries me since he trusts me so easily unlike the Silver Bullet I knew before. Maybe this physical abuse changed him in more ways than one or Sherry was right about the apotoxin affecting his cells a little at a time as the abuse added to mental torture.
From my point of view, he seemed aware of everything around him, but at the same time, he did not. He seemed childish but adult-like as he finished eating and gave me the empty bowl since he could not place it in the sink with mine. It was like having two different people within his mind yet he is a teenager in a child's body. Maybe this new antidote would be the answer but he will have to take it in two months due to Sherry wanting me to witness him for mental stability. I wonder if life can become light instead of the darkness which surrounds the detective called Kudou Shinichi and Edogawa Conan.
"We can be both of God and the Devil. Since we're trying to raise the dead against the stream of time." I replied as I wonder what is going through his mind. I know that we are good and bad as we destroy or create, but can we fix the problems of what humanity destroyed? Only time will tell until humanity has fixed the imperfections on this Earth as the protectors come together to save the savior of man.
I look at Silver Bullet as he explores my New York apartment with curiosity of a detective and a child. It looks like I have a few phone calls to make to Yukiko, KID, and Sherry if we want to help him get better but it would be a long stretch. Maybe life would be better, but one thing is certain, a secret makes a woman, woman. With the fallen angel, it would be best to keep him hidden as both people until the darkness weakens enough for him to survive. That is my promise as your guardian angel; Kudou Shinichi and Edogawa Conan, I promise to keep the darkness at bay since you were my guardian angel a few years back in New York.
A/N: Chapter four compete. Who would have thought Vermouth had him. Reason being is that she was the best bet and it ensured that dark Ran did not find him and kill him off too easily. Haibara was too close and so was Kaito since Ran has been known to go toward either place or at least near. I did have to make him disappear and she was the only person on the list to do just that while telling certain people as well. Vermouth might be out of character but this is how I see her. Hope everyone like my version of Vermouth.
I also want everyone to state their opinion for the outcome of the antidote for Conan and Shinichi. The choices are as followed: good, bad, or surprise me. Each has side effects since this chapter hints it some, but depending on the readers, which one does everyone want. This is for chapter six and seven mainly, but eight might go into that as well. Let me know what everyone thinks because the readers have the power.
Chapter five will be in Mouri Kogoro's POV as he reflects on a few people, the past months, and meets KID's true face due to his daughter. It will be four days or more until I can work on it for everyone. So I figured that I give a small hints in this chapter and note for what is to come in the future for the readers.
The poll will continue until November 7, 2012 at midnight so please state your opinions until that time.
Also, sorry for being late as well. Blame school and a new story called Abducted Innocence, but mostly school. I am hoping for time off to relax so I can write some more, but a Statistics test worth thirty percent of my grade comes first. I will try to post as soon as possible. I had to at least tell about Conan for everyone or else I would see angry reader soon enough. Anyway, I will try to update the others as well, but no promises there either. Sorry in advance for being late on my stories.
Let me know if anyone has any questions, ideas, opinions, or constructive criticism.
~K. M.
Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan.