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 IV
Tsutomu
Warnings: Mentions of Stuff from Arc II
"Sen-chan?"
'That voice…it sounds so, oh so familiar,' Senichi closed his eyes. 'The one who calls me by that nickname…' He stood up and wiped his eyes.
"You are Sen-chan, aren't you?"
Senichi didn't turn to face his father. When he felt a hand on his shoulder, he jerked away and sprinted in the opposite direction. 'It's all a lie! It's not real! I'm just hallucinating!'
"Senichi wait!" As he entered an alley, Tsutomu grabbed his son's arm. "Please…don't run away from me, Akai Soren Senichi,"
'His touch…it's real. I'm not dreaming,' Senichi finally turned around. "Hi Papa," His voice was even more broken than when he was crying at Sable's grave.
Tsutomu had aged as the years passed by. His face looked so tired and weary yet his blue eyes held happiness from reuniting with his long lost child. "Senichi…you're alive…"
They heard the sound of two things clattering to the ground. Standing behind Tsutomu at the entrance of the alley was none other than Akai Shuichi, his box of freshly bought cigarettes and a lighter at his feet. His eyes were wide and his jaw had dropped, having eavesdropped their conversation and saw Tsutomu's face. "Dad? Senichi?"
Senichi looked to him. "Hi Shuichi,"
XXX
They had gone to Tsutomu's apartment which was a few blocks away from the hotel so they'd be able to return to their suite quickly. "Do you guys want water, tea, or alcohol?"
"Got any bourbon or scotch?" Senichi asked. "I'm gonna need it,"
Tsutomu took out a bottle of Baker's Mark bourbon whiskey and three glasses, pouring even amounts into each. "So…"
"Both of you died," Akai spoke up. "How…how are you alive? Am I dreaming? Am I high? Am I hallucinating? Am I dead?"
"You better not be high or dead," Tsutomu chastised. "But no, you're wide awake Shuu-chan. I'm still alive and…" He paused for a moment and blinked away tears that were forming. "And Senichi…he's here with us. He's really here…"
"How!?" Akai asked, finally allowing his calm composure to disappear. "How are you both alive? Dad, you disappeared off the face of Earth thirteen years ago! Senichi, we held your funeral after Mad Dog Arena was destroyed!"
'Even Akai cries,' Senichi thought. 'He is still human. Even though in the anime and manga, he is always calm and composed, he still has weaknesses and breaking points. He still feels sadness and sorrow. He still has emotions,'
"We anticipated Kohji's death so with the help of my connections, we faked it," Tsutomu informed. "Since I found out about the organization's existence, I also needed to fake my death,"
"Why didn't you tell us!?" Akai demanded.
"To fool the enemy, one must fool their friends and family," Tsutomu said quietly.
"And you!" Akai turned to his twin brother. "If you were alive…why didn't you come home after Mad Dog Arena was destroyed!?"
"Why the fuck are you pissed off at me!?" Senichi grew angry at the tone Akai was using. "Did you think that I didn't want to go home!? Of course I wanted to go home! I had been crying for help for the two years I suffered in that hellhole! You have no fucking idea what I've been through!" He took off his jacket and shirt, revealing the various scars across his body. "Nearly all of these scars are from Mad Dog Arena, not from the organization!" He pointed at his shoulder where the brand still stayed. "I was branded like I was some cattle and not a human! I was forced to kill other children! I had to kill my own friend! I was poked and prodded with needles and experimented on!"
"Experimented on?" Tsutomu whispered.
"Look at me! I'm a monster! I'm a freak! I'm an abomination!" Senichi activated his polar bear traits. His mouth became wider and filled with sharp teeth. His entire muscle mass increased. He kicked off his shoes as his hands and feet became larger, clawed, and covered in white fur. He grabbed Akai by his throat and brought him close to his face. "Nobody wants a monster in their family!" He dropped Akai and returned to his full human form.
"You're not a monster, nor are you a freak or an abomination," Akai pulled him into a hug. "You're my brother,"
"Each and every night there, I begged for you guys to find and save me," Senichi leaned into Akai's arms, resting his head on his twin brother's shoulder. "Each and every night, that plea was never answered. When Brendan, Harimanna, and I were finally rescued…it wasn't family, nor was it friends, nor was it any law enforcement at all. It was Jenever, a member of the organization. He singlehandedly destroyed Mad Dog Arena and saved us. Do you know how that feels? My own family failed to save me and instead a criminal organization did,"
"I'm so sorry," Tsutomu hugged both of his sons. "I should've tried harder,"
"It was either join the organization or die," Senichi sobbed. "I didn't want to die. I couldn't die yet. I made a promise to Ahren to protect Brendan and Harimanna. As we grew older, our hearts started to become corrupted. I became Absinthe while those two became Gin and Curacao. I want to leave the organization and be Senichi Akai once again, but I can't. I can't leave Bren and Manna behind. And besides, I'm already a high ranking member. I want to destroy the organization from the inside,"
"I'm kinda glad that I'm part of the organization," His lips curled into a bloodthirsty grin and Absinthe took control. "I can personally exact revenge on those bastards at Mad Dog Arena! I'll make them pay! I'll make them regret ever being born! They caused so much pain and so much grief! They tore me away from my family! They killed Sable! They killed Ahren!"
"Senichi…I don't want Absinthe here right now…" Akai requested softly. "Please…even if it's for a couple more minutes…be Senichi, be my younger twin brother…"
XXX
"You understand that you can't tell the rest of our family, right?" Senichi asked Akai. "They need to believe that Papa, Kohji, and I are dead or else they'll go looking for us which could potential put them in danger,"
"Yeah," Akai nodded. "I think we should head back to the hotel before Bourbon and Scotch get suspicious,"
"You go on ahead," Senichi said. "If anything, tell them I went to a strip club. I want to talk with Papa for a bit,"
Akai stared at his brother. "A…strip club?"
"I've only been to one once because Vermouth wanted to see my reaction," Senichi mumbled. "I don't like strip clubs. They do serve pretty decent booze though,"
Akai hugged both his father and brother once again before reluctantly leaving. Tsutomu poured another glass of whiskey for his son. "So…"
"I'm glad you're alive," Senichi said. "I'm glad that both you and Kohji managed to fake your deaths, even without me being there,"
"I'm glad that you're alive and healthy too, Sen-chan," Tsutomu responded.
"Even though I joined the organization, most things are still going according to the canon timeline," Senichi took a sip of his fresh glass of alcohol. "I…I wanted to save Aunt Elena and Uncle Atsushi but…but I couldn't. I was in the US and they were in Japan,"
"You can't save everyone," Tsutomu told him sadly. "Death is inevitable for us all, but we won't be able to control when we die,"
"I know," Senichi nodded. "I know but it's still so painful," There was a moment of silence between them. "Do you know what name I go by in public?"
"What?"
"Leo Vineyard," Senichi informed. "I…I'm the son of Sharon Vineyard and the older brother of Chris Vineyard. I…you can watch my performances either live or online,"
"I will," Tsutomu smiled. "Even if it's through a screen, I'll be happy to watch you knowing that my son is well,"
Guest:
I think it's Akai who tailed him after Senichi left the hotel.
Skai:
I mean, you were partially right. It is Akai, just not Akai Shuichi. It was Akai Tsutomu.