Detective Conan Fanfiction

Kiss of Death

Chapter 24, Part 25

"Cape"

"Even Clark Kent will be surprised at your disguise," he remarked. The girl, now wearing his glasses, was taken by surprise. "So, I guess you, now having your glasses of, makes you superman?" she recovered quickly with a smart sarcastic remark, hiding the faint redness on her cheeks. He chuckled at this, commenting about her cuteness.

And it was true. He was the charming hero that had saved her from Gin and the burning flames of inferno. She was sceptical that she would make it out alive, yet he proved her wrong. Maybe it was the glasses that was a lucky charm? Perhaps. True he didn't have a scarlet cape, or an S letter engraved on a suit or flying abilities, but he was still the boy in shining armour. He dashed to her aid, wrapping his valiant jacket and carried her to safety. Indeed, he was her hero.

Yet, one question was embedded in her mind: Was she his Lois Lane?

"Haven't I told you? That we should deal with this when it is all over," Akai Shuichi stated, puffing out a smoke from his cigarette.

"But Shu..."

"What is it? This isn't like you," he turned to face Jodie.

The woman before him was near to tears. She was indeed a beautiful blonde, yet Akai didn't seem to have the same jolt of admiration upon gazing such an art as he did before. They were on a rooftop, the cool atmosphere complementing the view of the city landscape of Tokyo.

She had her head low. "There's just something I want to ask... but I was always afraid of the answer..."

"Then ask away-"

"So I've investigated the Miyano family. And apparently, Shiho Miyano and Akemi Miyano share the same father, but they have different mothers. That's why they don't resemble one another at all. Shiho was the only child of Elena Miyano, while Akemi had a different mother. Akemi's biological Japanese mother passed away, then 8 years later Atsushi Miyano married Elena and had Shiho," Jodie spoke softy, yet audible enough for him to hear.

He lighted another cigarette. He knew where this was going.

"So, what are you trying to say?" he asked, though he had the idea of Jodie's implication.

"Shu..." she said, "you're only related to the Miyano family because Elena Miyano is your mother's sister."

"And-?"

"Only one of the Miyano sisters is your real cousin-"

Akai replied, "then you'd know why I tried so hard to protect Shiho. She's my family."

"Bullshit-"

"What-?"

"It's not just because she's your cousin," the blonde said spitefully, hating how Akai dodged the issue, "it's because you'd think Akemi's life was sacrificed to save Shiho. And you'd think her sacrifice will be a waste if Shiho were to die."

"You knew Akemi wasn't blood-related to you, don't you?"

She was in paralysis due to sheer shock.

Genta's dead. Because of them.

After what seemed like forever, she appeared out of her hiding place.

"Let me go to them..." she whispered, crying.

"Ai-kun!" Agasa stood up, concerned for the girl he viewed as his daughter. It was evident that she had heard everything.

"Please, Hakase! Let me go to the Boss, then perhaps many lives won't be lost!" she rambled on, "then... then maybe we can bargain with Belmot so that they don't have to die. You... Ran-san... Ayumi-chan...and Kudo-kun won't have to di-"

She was cut off when Jodie gave her a tight slap on the cheek. "Don't ever say that," she said tersely, glaring at the strawberry blonde. Ai was beyond shocked that Jodie responded in such a hostile manner.

"While it's admirable for you to be altruistic and willing to sacrifice yourself," Jodie began, "don't you think it's being ironically conceited as well?!"

Ai was flabbergasted. What did Jodie ever mean? Her intent was pure.

"You... your life, in exchange for the rest of us? Don't joke with me! Do you honestly think your life is equivalent to the whole of others?! Shu went through lengthy measures to protect you! Don't you dare throw his efforts away!" she reprimanded.

"But... I'm a traitor. Because I'm here, the ones dear to me are dying. I don't want to lose them-!" Ai was hysterical.

Jodie placed her hand on her forehead. "Don't be silly, even if they do find and kill you, they won't just be satisfied with that. The syndicate is out for blood. He won't be content until everyone's annihilated. If you do anything reckless, it's just a wasted effort because the outcome will remain the same. Do you understand?" her tone was milder now.

Jodie walked over to the emotionally turbulent girl. She placed her palm on top of Ai's head, "little red riding hood, your sister sacrificed her life to set you free. That's why Shu has been protecting you. He doesn't want Akemi-san's efforts to go down the drain. By throwing your life away, you're disregarding Akemi-san's memory. You have to fight to live the next day, do you understand?"

She pulled out her gun and pointed it at Ai's forehead.

"Jodie-!" Agasa screamed, alarmed.

"Now, after what I said to you, are you still going to pull a stunt that will cause you to die? Because if so, then perhaps you should pull the trigger and end this miserable tragedy of yours. Do consider what happens after you decided to waltz with the Grim Reaper," she challenged, removing the safety lock on the gun.

"So... are you gonna shoot?!" she said harshly, the gun still pointing at her head.

Ai gently shook her head, the cool metal touching her skin.

Jodie withdrew the gun away from Ai. "Good girl," she said, both of her hands on the girl's shoulders, "Now...I don't want Akai's work to be in vain as well. For that to happen, I'd protect you, even if it costs my life. Yet, you'd have to help me by defending yourself too."

"But... how-?"

"Brie Rose, you know how to hold a gun, right? This is yours now," she activated the safety once more before handing it over to Ai.

Ai slightly became nervous at the touch of the weapon. It has been a while since she held such a deadly flower.

This didn't go unnoticed. Jodie sighed. She continued, "but of course, I'd probably teach you some hand-to-hand combat just in case, with the little time left. Also..."

"You know how to use your knowledge to make weapons, right?" she asked.

"Maybe-"

"Then all set! I'll leave that idea up to you!" Jodie clasped her hands excitedly.

"Remember Cool Kid's words..." she added, "don't escape from fate."

Ai nodded.

"I'm sorry. Kudo-kun, I won't escape anymore-"

She wasn't just a Lois Lane. She would have her own cape to save him as well, because that is what partners do.

A/N: Sorry for the very late update and also a short one. Like I said, I'm busy working. I need to work a month more so that I can earn more allowance before I enter university in August. Once I resign, I'll be able to write longer chapters and update more frequently.

Also, this is canon-divergence. I am not up-to-date with the current series, so the Akemi/Akai relationship is hazy for me. People argue that in Japanese culture, cousins can marry (?) and that there will be no issue. But here's the thing: the offspring will have a high chance of having genetic problems. My theory is either Akai and Akemi never knew they were cousins, but fell in love anyway. My other theory will be from what I wrote, which Akemi and Shiho are only half-siblings and therefore, Akai and Akemi are not blood related (but there was a script interview of Gosho saying they are cousins? Can somebody PM me to confirm about this?). The last theory will be that they knew that they were cousins and just faked the relationship so that Akai could get into the organisation, which is highly unlikely because we had a whole arc of them telling the story of falling in love and whatnot. Even to the point of breaking up with Jodie.

So, since the series has not ended, lots of stuff I might write here might be proven wrong in the future. Just accept this as canon-divergence or an alternate version (whatever you call it). I think it's possible for Akemi and Shiho to be only half-siblings since their age gaps are far apart and they really don't resemble one another. You can argue that Shiho got her looks from her British mother, but normally half-Asian half-Western children tend to have obvious Western features. Yet Akemi looks like a pure-blooded Japanese woman.