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 VIII
Debut
Warnings: Character Death

Leo's training became even more intense, especially after the school year ended. He didn't have to worry about hiding any injuries from sparring sessions. Once he completed his training, he moved to the organization's base to spar against other people and encountered the Miyano Family who he hadn't seen for months. Akemi, Atsushi, and a very visibly pregnant Elena were shocked to see him in such a place.

"Leo-kun, what are you doing here?" Atsushi asked. "The Karasuma Group didn't kidnap you, did they?"

"No," Leo shook his head but couldn't bring himself to make eye contact with any of them. "I…I work here," 'Even though this was bound to happen, I should've stopped them. But if I had prevented them from joining, I would've been killed. I…I don't think I'm ready to accept death yet,'

"You need to leave immediately," Atsushi ordered. "These people are really shady just as the rumors said. It's better if you don't associate with these types of people,"

'It's too late for me. I've been associating with them since I was twelve,' Leo opened his mouth to speak. "If you follow the organization's orders, then everything will be fine," 'No…it won't be fine. But words of assurance are all that I can provide you. I…I doubt I can prevent your deaths. I want you all to live, but I know I'm in no position to be able to save you and your wife. I'll do my best to keep Akemi and Shiho safe in the future. If I'm able to intervene, I'll prevent Akemi's death,'

"Follow the organization's orders and everything will be fine?" Atsushi then noted the various wounds that Leo had suffered. "Did they do this to you!? This is child abuse! I'll—"

"It's from a sparring session," Leo claimed. "I'm fine,"

"Atsushi bring Akemi back to our apartment," Elena said. "I want to talk to Leo-kun," Atsushi nodded and the two left. Elena led Leo into her lab. "Leo-kun, what has the organization been doing to you?"

'I need to be careful of what I say,' Leo thought."They haven't been doing anything bad,"

"Leo-kun, I can see the brand on your arm," Elena lifted the boy's sleeve. "This isn't a wound that could be accidental,"

"The organization didn't do this," He answered truthfully. "Some bad people, very bad people did this," He pulled the sleeve back down. "The organization saved me," His words were genuine. 'Even though this is a criminal organization that kills, blackmails, and commits terrible crimes, I still owe my life to them. I owe Brendan and Harimanna's survival to them. If Jenever hadn't rescued us, we'd either still be suffering in Mad Dog Arena or we'd be dead,'

"Saved you from whom?" Elena asked.

"Mad Dog Arena," His voice was barely audible to her.

"Mad Dog Arena…" Elena stared at him with wide eyes. "Two years ago…I attended the funeral of my sister's son, one of my nephews whom I was unable to meet. I was told that he had been kidnapped by Mad Dog Arena two years ago when he was ten. They found the corpse of the boy's dog not long after the kidnapping,"

"So Sable really did die…" Leo's voice wavered and it was so soft that none of the bugs would be able to hear him. 'I never had time to mourn Sable. All that time in Mad Dog Arena, I was just trying to survive,'

"Sable?" Elena parroted. "How do you know the dog's name?"

"A black German shepherd with blue eyes," Leo whispered. "Sable…Sable is—was…my dog…" He looked at her with teary eyes. "My name…" He leaned close to her ear. "My name is Akai Senichi. Mary is my mother," He knew it was very risky because he didn't know the locations of any cameras or bugs in the room nor did he know how much audio they could pick up, but he just had to tell Elena. He didn't want to keep this to himself, not when she was his family.

"Se—"

"Please," Leo begged. "Please don't tell her. Don't drag them into the organization's sights,"

"I won't," Elena brought her nephew into a hug. "Atsushi and I can tell that it was a mistake accepting the offer from the Karasuma Group. It looks like they forced you to join too,"

"I wasn't lying when I said they rescued me," Leo admitted. "They saved me and Brendan and Harimanna. Auntie, the life I have now is better than life in Mad Dog Arena. I know that doesn't make them good people but…"

"Senichi, I want you to promise me," Elena said. "If anything happens to me and Atsushi…protect Akemi and Shiho,"

"I will," Leo agreed. 'I will not let Akemi die. I'll protect Brendan, Harimanna, Akemi, and Shiho. I swear on my life!'

XXX

Leo participated in assassination and reconnaissance missions with Vermouth and other organization members. He was actually quite skilled in his job by then and was numb to all the deaths. Murder was not unfamiliar to him as he had been forced to kill in Mad Dog Arena. Whether it was men, women, elderly, or children, he killed without discrimination while wearing a neutral and uncaring expression. They were not anyone important to him so their lives did not matter.

At fifteen years old, he was transferred to the American branch and he and Vermouth moved to the United States. Vermouth continued her acting career while Leo started preparing for his debut. He suffered through dozens of vocal lessons by a multitude of vocal coaches. Since Leo Vineyard was Sharon Vineyard's son, he had to be skilled enough to uphold the family name.

When he wasn't practicing singing for his debut or training his skills for missions, Leo was spending his free time in the city. Although he still hated large crowds, he kept his poker face on. He would be interacting with crowds more in the future, especially when he gains a large fanbase. He paused once he saw his reflection in a store window.

'I've changed a lot,' Although his hair and eye color remained the same, that was a common combination. Even his voice was different from the child he used to be. He didn't really resemble the ten year old Akai Senichi that was kidnapped five years prior. 'I didn't change just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. Ten years ago, I hated killing and would have never thought that I'd be joining the organization. Now, I'm soon going to be given a codename,'

"Excuse me boy," A voice called in English, though he had a Japanese accent. "Are you alright?"

Leo turned and came face to face with Kohji Haneda. "W-What?"

"Oh, you speak Japanese?" Kohji asked. "I'm wondering if you're alright. You stopped in the middle of the street for a while,"

"I-I'm fine," Leo smiled. 'Kohji…why is Kohji here? If I recall correctly, he doesn't come to the US except for chess tournaments—I'm fifteen years old. Akai Shuichi is fifteen years old. This is the tournament that the organization murders him! Please…please successfully fake your death, Kohji. Please tell me that you and Dad and your guys' contacts came up with a way to fool the organization!'

"Are you sure?" Kohji inquired.

"Yes," Leo nodded. "I was just lost in thought," 'It's feels so painful to be near you. You're right next to me, yet you feel so distant. I'm just a stranger to you. You do not know me as Leo Field. You only know me as Akai Senichi,'

"Have I seen you before?" Kohji questioned. "Your face seems familiar,"

'How!?' Leo mentally exclaimed. "Maybe you've seen me at a talent agency. I'm debuting as a singer soon,"

"No, I don't think it's a talent agency," Kohji narrowed his eyes.

"Then maybe I'm just a look alike," Leo shrugged. "Anyway, I should get going. I have a meeting," It was a lie but he had hoped he managed to keep his poker face long enough for Kohji to believe that lie.

XXX

It was that night that news of Haneda Kohji's death was shown to the world. Leo watched it on his TV in his hotel room. Silent tears fell. 'Please be alive…Please…survive. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you with the actual plans. Please…don't be dead…You can't be dead! I warned you of your impending doom years prior!'

XXX

In England, the Akai Family received news of Kohji's death from Yasuharu and Ichiyo. "No…" Shuichi whispered. "No, you're lying! Kohji's not dead!"

"His corpse was found in his hotel room," Tsutomu told him solemnly. "It was perfectly identifiable. You can't deny his death, Shuichi,"

"First Sable and Senichi," Shukichi, now eleven years old, cried. "Now Kohji?"

"Yasuharu asked me to investigate Kohji's death," Tsutomu said. "I'm going to the US. I might be able to reveal the murderer and bring justice upon them,"

"Be careful, Tsutomu," Mary warned.

"I'll be fine," Tsutomu smiled.

Days later, Mary received an email from her husband.

Listen, think of me as someone who does not exist from now on. It looks like I made enemies with some really horrible people.

XXX

Leo Field debuted as a singer. The song he decided to sing at his first concert was The Pounding of My Heart which, in the Real World, was by THE HIGH-LOWS and was the very first opening of Detective Conan. The version he sang was the original English Dub. Although he sang with a smile on his face, it was a mask. His heart was heavy and full of tears.

END OF ARC III

Did Kohji and Tsutomu succeed? Maybe yes, maybe not. Who knows?

Guest:
Yes! Leo killed those kidnappers!

Skai:
Yep, those kidnappers deserved to die.