Life, Her Hell That Holds Love
Word Count: 3050 words
A/N: Sorry for this belated update. I'm kind of busy with some other things and I just had my monthly test. I know it's cruel to leave you guys a huge cliffhanger like that for this long, so I'm giving you guys an extra-long chapter. Hope it'll make up.
By the way, there is a VERY special guest (perhaps two, it depends on personal prospective) in this chapter. Unexpected plot is guaranteed!
Thanks for continuing support! R&R Please!
And here we are, back to Ai's POV.
Chapter 10: Skyfall
As if my day is getting worse, the male doctor falls backward into my arms as I enter the room; a cry is barely heard as he falls. I am annoyed to his sudden fall that makes me lose my balance and fall as well, until I see blood oozing out from where his heart lies. I move his body aside to see mine stained with his crimson blood.
My still functioning logic mind tells me to look up to see what is happening, but deep down I know I shouldn't. Instead, I should just let my reflective reaction takes over and run. A suddenly approaching strong aura freezes me just as I was about to get up and run away.
"Move a finger and lover boy will die," a cold, emotionless yet demanding female voice comes closer, together with the crisp sound of heels in slow pace. A pair of shining black stilettos slowly enters my field of vision; I can't bring myself to look up who's the owner.
"It can't be..." I heard myself whisper quietly yet heavily under my breath. That aura... That voice... I can't help but shiver, and it's getting worse as she comes closer. Before crouching in front of me, she closes and locks the door carefully. This is the end...
"Surprise," I'm at the edge when she holds my chin and forces me to look at her. She looks exactly like Vermouth! Exactly! My senses remind me that Vermouth is already dead, and the one wearing a white coat, crouching, smiling in front of me is an older version. I can feel the aura she emits is much more dangerous than Vermouth's.
Noticing the doubt in my frown, her smile broadens, "I see, you are indeed very bright. Frankly speaking, I'm not Vermouth, at least not the one you have in your mind," I tense as I listen, having a feeling that whoever she is, she is a worse nightmare compared to Vermouth.
"I'm That Person's wife," the seemingly harmless beam fractures my mind. I can't help but to hold my breath.
I can't react to her words at all, knowing not a reaction is needed and none of any can lead to any good. She stands up and walks away slowly; I'm glad she's no longer in my tunnel vision, until I find out her motive. Behind where she was crouching, Shinichi is lying unconsciously on the floor; a pool of blood forming under his shoulder.
"Shi... Shinichi..." I manage to say, though meaningless, while my lips and teeth are trembling badly. I almost feel tears welling up in my eyes, almost. I know, despite how unbearable the pain seeing the only one left for me is suffering, I cannot show it, not in front of her. I don't want to give her that pleasure; besides, I need to stay sensible for whatever's coming next.
Feeling her studying gaze fixed on me, I suppress my fear and ask, "What do you want from me?"
"Me? No, I don't need anything from you, my dear. It's just that," her pause feels like eternity before the judgement day falls. She leans closer to me and says into my ear, "That Person wants every traitor dead."
"Then kill me," I was astonished by my own bravery, "why make the others suffer?"
"Interesting," she murmurs, amusement is clearly shown as she raises one of her eyebrows. "You see, unlike That Person, I believe in second chances. I'm here to give you a chance, not taking anything away from you. In fact I've given more second chances than necessary to Vermouth, though she was stubborn and still go against orders."
"And your brilliant mind is too valuable for the organisation to lose, not to mention plenty of million dollar projects are suspended because of your absent. But I do know that it is almost impossible to make you work under the BO again, unless, we have something you treasure the most as an exchange."
"So, do you want to see those who you hold dear suffer because of you?" Once again, her icy cold finger tips touch my chin and make me look into her eyes. I frown, not because of the disgusting sensation, but her word 'those'.
As if she's able to see through me, she says indifferently, "just to confirm your suspicion, we have Professor Agasa tied in his house, and men tailing your little friends."
I gasp. No... Why am I the one who get everyone I care suffering because of me? Why can't I bear all the punishment because of what I've done instead of letting others? Ran... I don't want any other dies because of me...
Shinichi panting in his unconscious state reminds me of something, the reason... Why did I run away? Because I know what I did for the BO is wrong. Why did Shinichi and Professor Agasa help me despite how bad I was? It's because they don't want me to go back to the wrong path other than to make sure my wellbeing.
"What's your decision?" she asks again, smiling gently, almost genuinely. The wrinkles at her eyes deepen a little.
I need to say no but I can't. Shinichi's life, Professor Agasa's safety and the Detective Boys' wellbeing are dependent on my decision after all... I know they'll want me to say no, neglecting themselves, but I can't bring myself to harm anyone any more, especially them.
"Ca... Can you explain something to me before that?" I say absently, in the hope to buy more time. Perhaps Akai or Jodie and the FBI or CIA or WHOEVER has kept an eye on me or her for whatever reason, and knows what is about to happen and will soon come to save us.
Besides, I really want somebody to tell me what the hell everything means. I thought That Person was arrested, together with the entire BO...
"Wrong answer," the woman sneers as she takes out her cell phone to make a call. "Beat that old fart. Don't be too harsh; make sure he's still alive."
"Don't!" I yell, feeling my pupils dilate in fear. Feeling my cheeks ache in agony, I realize I've been slapped, hard. Despite what she just did to me, her gaze is still as cold as stone.
"Would you mind to shut up?" Keeping her politeness that seems no more than mere cold blooded, she continues, "If you can't, I'll have to ask my men to kill anyone who hear a thing. You know, I don't mind, but it's a little troublesome."
I hold back a swear word forming in my throat, knowing the more I struggle, more innocents would be involved and eventually lose their lives. Silence seems to be the best resolution when nothing verbal can be right.
I can't help but gasp when the cell phone is suddenly held near to my ears. I hear punches and slaps and kicks and... Professor Agasa groans and yelps in agony. "Please, stop..." I plead, hearing my voice low and shaky. I pray with all my might that the woman I'm facing would be merciful.
"Enough," she gives her order through the phone, apparently pleased to see me begging. Putting her cell phone back to her white coat, she holds my chin once again, fixing her gaze to my now aquiver eyes.
"Very well, I see you've finally learn to obey," that woman smirks in victory; I wish I have the strength to look away, or to look bold, but I can't do neither of them. I fail to conquer the fear that stained me. She studies her wristwatch a while, then turns to me and says, "We still have time I see. So, in return, I shall answer your qualms."
"You know... my qualms?" I ask out of uncertainty, and I immediately realize what an absurd question I've asked. Of course, she knows. What had ever escaped from the BO's knowing for long? The more important question should be, time, for what?
"Hng," a low hum escaped from her throat, ignoring my pointless question, she started, "Vermouth, was my codename, until it's taken by her. My real name, is Sharon Vineyard, while hers, naturally, would be Chris Vineyard. She is my daughter though our relationship is not how the traditional definition of mother-and-daughter."
"She was the product of biological experiment; in short, she was a clone," noticing my doubtful expression, nonchalantly, she continues, "So we share nothing in common other than 100% identical DNA. To be accurate, she was the only successful experiment after many. She's fortunate to have all her limbs and organs in place, and her intelligence level and physical abilities competent to mine."
Can't help of it, I shiver. For the first time in my life, I feel sorry for Vermouth. She is merely an experiment... No, Sharon Vineyard thinks her as nothing more than a guinea pig that inherits her DNA. Almost in a blink of eye, I am aware of the reason behind her hatred towards me... The reason fated and related to...
"Your parents, Atsushi Miyano and Elena Miyano, the most capable scientists in the organisation, I doubt, the world, back then, were the ones who carried out the experiment. I voluntarily offer my DNA to be used, approved by That Person. This can't be help, since this is the highest secrecy that needs to be kept among the four of us. Up until now, no one other than the dead and That Person and me know."
"Somehow, Vermouth managed to find out. I don't know how she managed and when, but the two most brilliant minds in the organisation were then killed in a forged accident. I pretended not to know about her deed, even covering her from That Person. You know, it's just too interesting to study how an identical being like me would do under that kind of situations."
"Apparently, she is not entirely the same like me. She's gone too far when pursuing you. Instead of reporting her findings about you, the missing scientist who should be executed, she wanted you suffering and tortured and caused dead by her. I did some investigation privately, and figured you were shrinked by APTX, so was that infamous detective."
"Personally, I approached to Vermouth and made a deal with her. She could do whatever she wanted to you, but only after you finish the projects that you left. This is, of course, for the sake of the organisation. But I had miscalculated and overlooked one thing, Vermouth didn't only want you dead, she wanted the BO end as well."
"In the end, she was used to trick the police officers and intelligence. The tracker she left was indeed in the temporary hideout of BO, but all the people left there were the loyal underlings who sworn to sacrifice for the organisation. One of them even claimed to be That Person, and made confession of the crimes KNOWN to be done by BO, while the real mastermind was still planning more crimes against the governments of hundreds of countries."
"Sherry," studying my lifeless face, the doppelganger says, "the reason I'm telling you all these, is because we need your full cooperation with us." She then points me to Shinichi who is still lying unconscious, bleeding heavily, "If you want to put an end to their suffering, just nod."
I clench my fists, hopelessness befalls. Why isn't anyone coming yet? Where is Akai? Where is the FBI? Or the CIA? Or just ANYONE?
Oh, busily interrogating the fake boss...
At the edge of despair, I nod; though reluctant, I nod. I know the only thing to do in order to keep everyone safe if to give in. I never leave my gaze from Shinichi... Oh, Shinichi! He'll be very disappointed with this, but that's the only thing I can do. Does it matter if it's right or wrong, anymore?
The right side never sided with me anyway...
"Uhm? Just like that? You give up just like that?" out of the blue, an unfamiliar voice is heard right beside me. Both Sharon Vineyard and I are dumbfounded, immediately turning to check the source of the voice.
"Why looking at me like that?" the other lying body in the room creeps up, the other body... which received the shot that should had killed him, "I'm not dead yet."
That mischievous smirk on that face... Why do I feel like I know it?
"Who the hell are you?" the forever-amused and know-it-all sneer on the woman's face disappears. Apparently, she's learnt the lesson that the 'doctor' is wearing a bulletproof vest, the gun she held is now pointing at his forehead, "Move a finger, you're as good as dead."
"Me? Call me the Magician of the Moonlight, ma'am."
-Kaito's POV-
"Me? Call me the Magician of the Moonlight, ma'am." I am pleased to see that woman get a little bewildered by my words, as the confident sneer fades away at once.
Good. Show your fangs behind that fake smile already, killer!
"What on earth you are doing here?" she composes herself once again, together with her feigned smile. In fact she's more aware of her position now, which probably makes her grasps the gun tighter. She should be, after all, I swore, she'd end up nowhere but jail, if not, hell, when I finally encounter her.
"Part of it, is because the detective-kun lying on the floor," I pause, reminded once again of the findings about my father's death that I can never forget, "But the real reason I'm here gladly fighting against you, is your unforgiveable crimes. I bet, the name of my late father, Toichi Koruba, sounds nostalgic to you."
"You, The Forum, are the one who gave the order to have my father killed," without giving her the chance to reply, I manage to finish my sentence without a hint of emotion.
-Kaito's flashback-
-2 days ago-
"Kaito," a voice that I once known to be cocky and lively called me via the phone, in a weak and hoarse manner, "I need your help." Not the usual you-are-in-debt tone. Things must have gone wrong.
"Say it," I answered straight away, without any teasing. In any case, he had not exchange information with me for two days. After telling me Vermouth broke into his house, two days went by without answering my calls and messages was just unnatural and suspicious.
"I'm at Beika Hospital right now," I raised an eyebrow, surprised at my level of concern for his wellbeing, "It is difficult for me to keep an eye to trace the organisation right now," before I was able to give my opinion, he stole my thunder, "I assume you have heard the BO members together with That Person were arrested, but I suspect he was just a counterfeit."
"I suspect that too, but like you, I have no proof," I knew he wouldn't be doing nothing if he could already prove it, "while tracing Snake and the others, I found they're acting suspiciously active and organized. This is the hint that The Forum is still alive and giving orders behind the curtains."
I still found the unusual codename amusing but strangely fit for the mastermind. By chance, I figured the codename of the unknown mastermind 10 days ago, and immediately contacted Shinichi Kudou, the great detective once known as Edogawa Conan. We were more frequently in aid of each other after our real identities became no secret to the other.
"The Forum..." I remembered hearing his analysis over the phone, "The Forum... Vermouth! The Forum is Vermouth! It has to be her!" Ignoring my complain about his arrogant tone, he continued, "When the letter are swept in their orders, Vermouth, can be spelled as 'the vorum'. And Japanese often mispronounce 'v' as 'f'. Automatically, it'll be heard as 'the forum'."
"But she has to be dead already..." the uncomfortable silence over the phone makes me feeling even more uneasy.
"Anyway, what do you want me to do?" Skipping the usual teasing, I just went straight to the point.
"Keep an eye on the hospital especially room 37 and 291, report to me immediately if you find a trace of suspicious people," he ordered. His voice that was becoming even huskier suggested that his condition is bad.
"Which room are you staying in?" I inquired, assuming he's injured badly and staying in one of the two.
"None," he replied briefly.
"Then who are the ones staying in the two rooms?" raising an eyebrow, I asked out of pure curiousity.
"Ran and Ai respectively," hesitated a little, he answered.
"Oh," what could I say more? Lover boy is in a huge trouble.
"And here are two persons who you should keep in touch with," the sudden change of topic startled me a little, "Akai Shuichi, Jodie Starling, FBI. I'll send you their contact information."
"FBI?" I frowned, why should I get involved with them? But almost on the spot, I changed my mind, it just can't be helped. And I have enough trust in detective-kun; he must have made a promise with that Akai-san or Miss Starling to not investigate my background.
"Yes," he insisted, "the two are the only ones in the police forces that agree with my point of view and willingly aid us in our investigation personally.
Well, am I in the middle watching a FBI movie? Why are they taking things personally? But consider Kudou-kun's charm, it is explainable.
"All right then," considering the possibility and the need to tease him, I added, "If the two rooms are broken in by suspicious people at the same time, who do you want me to save?"
"Both," he said in hurry, hanging up the phone. I see, I just added his burden.
-End of flashback-
"I'm impressed," that woman exclaims, her stone-cold eyes glimmer in the desire to kill me at once, "But you hold nothing against me, and your bad timing got on my nerves."
"Really? I apologise for that. Anyway, I'm pretty sure you would change your mind after you see this," grinning in confidence and victory, I get my cell phone out of my pocket, with my gaze glued to the now frowning Sherry Vineyard.
Reply to Dear Guest Reviewers:
Someone Else,
I hope this chapter gives you hope that our beloved Ai would stay safe and sound. Sadly, we all know how Conan will end up being with Ran in DC. It's indeed ironic how a person whom you're expected to hate understand you the best and makes you want to protect her so desperately. But again, that is the stupidity or flaw or whatever you call it in human being that makes a human, human.
Lust is the best reflection of one's inner desire after all :)
So do I. Thank you!
Grace Chin aka Guava,
Being personally closed to me you know exactly how erotic I am. Mwahaha~ Thank you anyway for reading and reviewing! More to come (not cum) in the next chapter!