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 III
Chapter VI
Leo
Warnings: None

Leo fidgeted in his seat nervously as the twin blades came near him. "Don't move around too much or you might end up cut," Vermouth ordered as she snipped at Leo's hair. "Honestly, when was the last time you had a haircut?"

"Three years ago," Leo mumbled. 'They didn't cut our hair in Mad Dog Arena nor in Crow Academy, so you can't really blame me,'

"I can't have you soiling the name of Sharon Vineyard now, can I?" Vermouth hummed as she finished up giving Leo a haircut.

"Sharon…Vineyard?" Leo asked as if he didn't know the aliases Vermouth went by. "And who is Chris Vineyard?" 'I hope my act is convincing enough. Vermouth is sneaky and I don't' want her having any leverage against me,'

"Both are aliases I am currently going by," Vermouth answered. "Sharon Vineyard is an American actress who is your 'mother' from now on. Chris is your younger sister by three years,"

"How can you play the role of Chris if you're supposed to be younger than me?" Leo questioned with genuine curiosity. 'How did you accomplish that task?'

"Chris has never been in the limelight because her father wants her to live a normal life," Vermouth revealed the fake story to the boy. "Leo Vineyard will be kept out of the limelight for the same reason for now. Hmm, what skills do you have? I might have you become an actor too. Acting could be something that runs in the Vineyard family,"

"I'd rather not…" Leo muttered. "But I don't have a choice though, do I?"

"Depends on if you have any better ideas," Vermouth replied.

"I…I can sing," Leo hesitated. "Won't it be better to have a bit of diversity among family occupations? I don't really want to have to deal with long hours of acting,"

"Singing isn't that bad of an option," Vermouth said. "Before that, we need to improve your acting skills and your disguising techniques. You'll also need to keep up with your marksmanship and combat skills too. Leo Vineyard can debut sometime in the future. We'll cover all of your scars with makeup of course,"

'With this haircut and the fact that I'd be older than when they last saw me, I doubt my family would recognize me,' Leo thought. 'Besides, they have no reason to pay attention to a random American singer. I can probably sing Detective Conan opening and ending songs for 'original' songs since they don't exist in this world. I know it's an asshole move, but I'm not a lyricist,'

XXX

Training with Vermouth was harsh. She was a very strict instructor and whenever Leo's performance for the day did not meet her standards, he was punished with no lunch or dinner. During those punishments, he was only provided a small breakfast to ensure that he did not die from starvation and was allowed to drink water throughout the day. Despite her appearance, Vermouth was very skilled in hand to hand combat and caused several bruises to bloom during each training session.

Leo slept in the other bedroom at Vermouth's hotel room. Although the bed was really soft and comfortable, the room itself was cold and lonely. He often stayed up for hours thinking about Harimanna and Brendan. His thoughts sometimes went to his family but he would quickly shake them away. He had to learn to forget about them. Thinking about them only brought pain and sorrows. At least with Harimanna and Brendan, or rather Aya and Jin, he would eventually meet them sometime in the future.

Leo found out that by slightly focusing on using his polar bear traits to certain parts, he could increase his defense. This lessened the amount of bruises he received from Vermouth but took up more stamina. Along with the sparring sessions and acting and disguising lessons, Leo also had to keep up with his studies and attended a public school.

He felt nervous at first since he was in public for long period of time with people he didn't know. His urge with people who were in close proximity were to attack them like he had done in Mad Dog Arena, but he forced that urge down. The thirteen year old kept to himself and avoided speaking unless the teacher called on him. He had no friends, not that he wanted anyone to be involved with him.

His hair color also set him apart from the other bullies and was a target for bullying. Leo just ignored their insults and when they confronted him physically, he easily fought back and won. After a few fights where he got off unscathed, no bullies dared to approach him.

XXX

A few months later, he received his first mission. He had to befriend Miyano Akemi in order to observe her parents, Miyano Elena and Miyano Atsushi. While trying to come up with a way to get close to her during the walk home from school, he ended up tripping and fell down some stairs. He stood up and dusted his clothes, noting that he had a scrape on his elbow. He was about to continue home when he felt a small hand grab his.

"Oniisan, your arm is bleeding!" Six year old Akemi exclaimed.

"It's nothing," Leo smiled. 'Wait, if I remember correctly, the Miyano's own a clinic. This could be my chance to get close to them,'

"My parents are doctors," Akemi tugged on his uninjured arm. "Follow me. They can treat you,"

"Do you always approach strangers like this?" Leo inquired as he followed Akemi.

"Do you always follow strangers like this?" Akemi shot back.

Leo was caught off guard by that remark. "Touché,"

"I'm Miyano Akemi," Akemi introduced herself.

"My name's Leo Vineyard," He replied.

"Akemi, who is this?" Elena asked once the two kids arrived to her clinic.

"Leo-niisan fell down some stairs and scraped his arm," Akemi pointed to the thirteen year old's elbow.

"Sorry for the bother," Leo apologized. "Your daughter insisted that I have you treat it,"

"It's not a serious injury," Elena noted. "But since you're here, let's get it cleaned and wrapped up,"

Leo was brought into the exam room and Elena gently dabbed at the scrape with some rubbing alcohol before adding some an antibiotic and covering it with a band aid. Leo couldn't help but stared at Elena and noted the similarities between her and Mary. 'They have the same hair color and eye color, though Elena lacks the eye bags that Mom and Akai have. Elena is my aunt but…as much as I want to call her auntie, I can't. I can't let her know that I am Akai Senichi. I know that Elena and Mary are estranged sisters, but Elena could know about me if she hears my real name,'

"Is something wrong?" Elena asked. "You've been silent all this time,"

"I'm fine," Leo smiled. "Thank you for treating me. How much is the bill?"

"It was nothing," Elena shook her head. "I didn't do much. Besides, it was a minor scrape. Just be careful and pay attention to your surroundings, okay?"

"Yes ma'am," Leo nodded.

XXX

Leo returned day after day and eventually started acting as an assistant at the Miyano Clinic. He would help tend to minor injuries and helped with cleaning up the clinic as well as organizing files. On more than one occasions Leo stayed over for dinner. The familial presence was a great change from the loneliness of his bedroom.

He hated how he was fooling them into thinking he was a normal middle schooler. He was actually just spying on them, using his friendship to find any weaknesses that the organization could use. However, he knew that this was probably done by someone else in canon so either way, the Miyano's joining the organization was inevitable.

Leo was fourteen years old when he first met eleven year old Furuya Rei after seven year old Akemi dragged him to the clinic. The boy was covered in several wounds so both Elena and Leo tended to them to get him patched up quicker. Rei came back a few days later and after that he returned another few days later. "I told you I'm fine!" He jerked his arm free from Akemi who had once again dragged him there.

"With a wound like this, I could just lick it and it'd be fine!" Rei claimed.

"We're not like animals so I suggest properly cleaning your injuries, Rei-kun," Leo scolded. "Who knows how much bacteria are in your mouth?"

"Ah, you again?" Elena said to Rei. "You sure like fighting, huh?"

"No! It's not my fault that my hair color is weird!" Rei yelled. "I was born and raised in Japan. I'm Japanese and yet…"

"Your hair color isn't weird," Leo told him. "Blond is a natural color just as brown, black, and ginger,"

"Could it be that one of your parents is a foreigner?" Elena asked.

"S-So what!?" Rei wiped furiously at the tears that threatened to fall.

"In that case, you should tell whatever friend you fought with that even though people look different, everyone is ultimately just a lump of meat and blood when you cut them open and remove their skin," Elena informed. "Everyone has red blood running through their veins! That's what you ought to tell them! Got it?"

"Y-Yes…" Rei nodded.

"Also, if they still continue to bully you, get better friends," 'If only everyone believed in those words, Aunt Elena,' Leo thought as they treated Rei's wounds. 'The world would be much peaceful,'

"What a rare sight," Atsushi commented to his wife. "You're usually afraid of strangers and you don't speak to patients beyond saying all necessary information. The only exception is Leo-kun but we've known him for months. Talking so friendly with an unknown boy is so unlike you,"

"Dear, those two boys are special," Elena said, referring to both Leo and Rei. "They're half-bloods, just like me. Anyway, any news in regard to moving to the institution that offered to back up your research?"

'Institution?' Leo's ears perked up though he pretended not to be eavesdropping. 'So the boss already sent them an offer. If they refuse, I'll have to be the one to threaten them. However, I've already read this chapter and watched this scene play out in the anime. They're going to accept,'

"Yeah, I think I'll decline their offer," Atsushi answered. "Besides, I couldn't bear leaving you and Akemi. Also, your sister said to us that they're shady,"

'Sister?' Leo tried not to act like he knew who the mysterious sister was. 'Mom…'

"But the sponsor is that Karasuma Group, right?" Elena inquired.

"Yes, but there are a lot of bad rumors going around about them," Atsushi reminded. "Besides, I wouldn't really want to be branded as some kind of 'Mad Scientist' in the scientific world,"

"But…your research isn't the kind of work that can be conducted in your spare time while working in a private practice," Elena pointed out. "And if they pay well, we could close this clinic and I could join you to help with your research,"

"It's fine," Atsushi replied. "We're earning more than enough to support the three of us,"

"The four of us!" Elena put a hand to her stomach. "I'm already three months along!"

"Ah, I see!" Atsushi responded at the news of his wife's pregnancy. "Well, then I'll reconsider the offer,"

"Well, I'll go home now," Rei said after Akemi was done putting band aids on him. "C-Can I come here the next time I get into a fight?"

"No!" Elena refused with a smile. "We reject children that get into fights. But if whatever pride of yours might be wounded in the process of reconciling with whoever you fought with, I' will put a band aid on it, okay?"

'My mission is complete,' Leo thought bitterly. 'I'm going to inform Vermouth that I overheard them saying that they'll accept. Then…then I won't need to come to this clinic anymore. It's not like they'll keep it open anyway,'

So Leo has met the Miyano Family and Rei.

Guest:
So Senichi already met Rum…

Skai:
Yes, but he doesn't know Rum's face or voice.