Fade to Darkness

Title: Fade to Darkness
Rating: M
Fandom: Detective Conan
Summary: Reincarnation only existed in fanfiction, yet Michael Leo Field was reborn as Akai Senichi, the younger twin brother of Akai Shuichi. However, his new life takes a dark turn; at the age of ten he is kidnapped and at twelve, he is forced to join the organization. [OC Insert as Akai Sibling] [Family/Angst/Drama/Crime]


Arc IV
Chapter XXI
Brothers
Warnings: Why do you wish to read such a terribly written chapter?

"Hey, to pass time, let's spar," Alistair suggested. "You said you wanted to see how strong I am, right Sen?"

"There's still a while until the others arrive," Senichi glanced at his watch. "We'll spar out in the front then,"

Everyone moved outside and kept their distance from the two to not get caught up in the battle. "The rules are simple," Tsutomu, who acted as referee, said. "First to pin the other down for five seconds wins. Ready? Begin!"

Alistair made the first move, lunging forward to roundhouse kick his head. Senichi leaned forward to dodge and delivered multiple open palm thrusts to Alistair's chest, knocking him off balance. Alistair stumbled back but quickly regained his balance. He then sent several jabs Senichi's way to which the latter easily dodged. Senichi grabbed Alistair's wrist and flipped him over. He placed a transformed hand over Alistair's throat and pinned him down.

"Holy shit!" Alistair exclaimed at sight of the larger hand and the claws.

"Senichi wins," Tsutomu declared.

"Tsk, tsk, I am disappointed in you NFL," Jenever came out of the shadows of nearby trees. "I expected you to have defeated him instantly with a single hit,"

Akai aimed his gun at Jenever's head. "What are you doing here?"

"I called him here," Senichi informed. "He, Vermouth, and Cognac are going to be part of the plan,"

"Here," Jenever shoved a white tiger plushy into Senichi's arms. "I bought it to cheer up MLB since NBA died, but he just threatened to kill me,"

"Have you not learned our names in the twenty years we've been part of the organization?" Senichi sighed. "Gin doesn't care about anyone or anything except for the organization. Why would he be saddened over Harimanna's death? He wanted her to die! He…" His voice became quieter. "He doesn't care about family or friends anymore. All he cares about is the organization,"

"By the way, Cognac isn't going to come here," Jenever told him. "He was killed during a mission,"

"Meh, I could care less about him," Senichi shrugged. "He was too obsessed with me and it was starting to get annoying,"

"Sen-nii," Masumi couldn't believe those words came out of her brother's mouth. "How could you be so indifferent to someone's death like that?"

"Masumi," Senichi reminded. "I'm a murderer. I'm a killer. I'm an assassin. I have killed people, even before I joined the organization. In Mad Dog Arena…children were forced to kill other children. The dead children were…turned into food. If I'm affected by every single death I come across, the organization would think I'm too soft. When I first killed, I vomited and was disgusted with myself. But I've learned to be indifferent,"

'She doesn't want a murderer for a brother,'

"You killed in self-defense," Akai said.

"When I joined the organization, I killed because I was ordered to," Senichi pointed out.

"Because you would've been killed if you didn't," Kohji added. "You did criminal acts under duress. If you weren't being threatened, you wouldn't have killed,"

'You don't deserve your family,'

"You're wrong," Senichi put his mask on to lie convincingly. "I would've killed if I had grown up normally. This is my true personality," 'I'm dying either way. Mind as well cut off any emotional attachments. It'll be easier on them too,'

"You're wrong!" Akemi shouted. "This isn't your true personality! Do you remember all the time you spent with my parents and me? The time you spent with Shiho and me when we weren't involved with organization business? You may have been using the name Leo Vineyard, but the person we grew up with was Senichi!"

"It was all an act," Senichi claimed. "My orders were to get close to you and Sherry so that you're emotionally reliant on my. That way I could keep tabs on you guys,"

"That is completely false," Jenever corrected. "Seriously NFL, did you forget that I'm here?"

"Why the hell are you even betraying the organization?" Senichi faced the man who had rescued him from Mad Dog Arena.

"Oh, I've just grown tired with the organization," Jenever shrugged. "I want to see the organization fall since it'll be a new experience,"

"You would most likely not be completely pardoned of your crimes," Senichi reminded. "You'd go to jail,"

"At least it's a change of pace," Jenever grinned.

"You've gone senile over the years," Senichi shook his head. "I can't believe you're the same guy who destroyed Mad Dog Arena,"

"Technically you also helped," Jenever mumbled, upset that one person had escaped death. "If that mad doctor hadn't escaped, it would've been a complete annihilation,"

"I swear I would've killed you if it wasn't for the fact that I owe my life to you," Senichi muttered under his breath. "I'm gonna go for a walk. Call me when the others arrive," Without another word, he ran off.

"Shuichi, go after him," Tsutomu ordered. "I think you understand him the most,"

XXX

"Senichi!" Akai called as he chased after his brother. "Senichi!"

'Why won't he just leave me alone!?' He amplified his speed…only to trip on a log. He coughed up some blood and cursed as he heard his brother catch up to him.

"S—is that blood?" Akai knelt down beside his twin.

"Just leave me alone…" Senichi sat up and wiped the blood on his sleeve.

"Why are you coughing up blood?" Akai asked with concern. "Why didn't you go to the organization's medical wing or a hospital?"

"They won't be able to do anything!" Senichi shoved him away. "Just leave me alone, Shuichi! Why won't you leave me alone!?"

"Because I don't want to lose you again," Akai answered. "What do you mean the organization's medical wing can't do anything? I know their technology is more advanced than the ones in hospitals. They should be able to do at least something,"

"I hate you…I hate you…" Senichi leaned his head against his brother's chest and weakly started punching him. "I hate how you and the rest of our family have broken down the walls that I kept around my heart. I hate how I've become more emotional because of you guys. I tried to keep up a poker face, but your guys' presence shattered it…"

"I'm here for you," Akai wrapped his arms around him. "We're all here for you,"

'Don't tell him. It will only cause him to worry even more. It will be bothering him during the final battle. You'll only be a distraction,'

'No…' Senichi decided to go against his dark thoughts. 'I want to handle all this alone but…but I don't have to. I want to but I don't have to. I have people I can rely on,' "Shuichi…don't tell the others…Don't tell Mom or Dad or Shukichi or Masumi…"

"You're coughing up blood," Akai pointed out.

"Please…" Senichi sounded so broken.

'It's better that only I know rather than no one at all,' Akai nodded. "I won't tell them,"

"My body…it's been clashing with the polar bear DNA that I was injected with in Mad Dog Arena…Every time I use my polar bear traits, I'm slowly killing myself…" He clenched his brother's shirt. "Gin and Curacao had an older brother in Mad Dog Arena, Ahren Klein…" Tears started to well up and he began to trembled upon remembering his other friend. "He had black mamba DNA and his own venom was killing him. I…the reason why Gin and Curacao weren't affected as much as me…I used my polar bear traits way more often,"

"You're—"

"I'm dying…" It hurt to say that. "I'm dying and there's nothing that can be done…"

"No…" Akai hugged him even tighter. "No, no, no! Y-You're not dying!" He wasn't going to lose his brother again! "Y-You're going to be fine! Just don't use your polar bear traits!"

"I've already damaged my body too much…" Senichi shook his head. "By my calculation, I have three years max. Probably less…" He weakly smiled, though it wasn't much of an effort. "Why are you crying? From what I've read on the wiki, Akai Shuichi is a tenacious but stoic agent. Even in personal matters, he remains cool, even detached, from anyone, but his redeeming value is a great sense of loyalty to anyone he knows. You shouldn't be crying over someone like me,"

"Someone like you?" Akai parroted. "Idiot. You're my brother,"

"Don't tell anyone else," Senichi repeated. "I…I don't want them to be distracted during the final battle. If they're too worried about me, they might end up making a mistake that could cost them their life,"

"I won't," Akai promised. "But after…you have to tell them,"

"I will," 'I won't,'


Cognac may or may not make an appearance in Scar(red)let Crow.

Velgamidragon:
Gotta say, I really liked this chapter. I always get pulled into stories by family and friendship bonds, whether they're broken and trying to fix things or slowly crumbling apart and I thought you pulled off both feelings very well in this chapter: the former with Senichi and his blood family, and the latter with Senichi trying to come to terms with how his friendship with Gin is ending/ended.

Skai:
The bonds will be even stronger in the revamped version… I
really am resisting the urge to say why the bond is stronger but let's just say, it's a MAJOR difference from Fade to Darkness.