A deafening screech of agony escaped my lips as I suddenly found it becoming increasingly difficult to remain conscious. I struggled to crane my neck as I saw in utter disbelief and shock that Kudo had impaled my shoulder with a knife I didn't realize he even had.

Kudo-kun... actually hurt me?

He watches in indulgence as I squirm in anguish. A maniacal laughter consumes him. I have never seen him look like that before... "Ahhh, yes~!" The psychotic detective sang with a lick of his lips. "That's a perfect look for you!" His behavior is so unfamiliar and out of character that it really makes me question if the person before me really is Kudo-kun and if I really am stuck in some nightmare.

But, this isn't a dream. This pain I'm feeling is proof enough. This is real... this is reality... albeit an extreme, harsh, and twisted reality.

...but why? Why is this happening? Why is he doing this to me? It's hard to swallow that I've been kidnapped by Kudo, of all people, out of the blue and for such an... unsettling reason. Just yesterday, we were at the elementary school with Ayumi-chan and the others enjoying each other's company while indulging in our usual conversations about crimes. The last time I saw him, he was still in his infantilized form. Nothing in his behavior was out of the ordinary... right?

Wait... now that I think about it, he did say something rather strange...

***One Day Ago***

(3rd P.O.V)

The white couch beneath him squeaked when the small boy sat down. "Oi, Haibara," Conan beckoned with a look of indifference. His eyes were locked into the cup of coffee in his hand as if he were in some sort of daze.

Similarly to Conan, Ai's eyes were glued to the laptop screen in front of her. Her fingers typing away. "What is it?"

Conan's grip on the mug tightens. "Are... are you interested in anyone?" He suddenly blurts out in hesitation.

Ai's hands instantly cease all action as she looks up at him, staring with an eyebrow raised. "Not in particular..." She responds with uncertainly after a brief moment of thought. "...Why do you ask?"

His head lowers, resulting in a glare on his glasses that shadowed his expression. The coffee in his hand wobbles at the intensity of his hold. Ignoring her query, he continues. "I thought you were interested in Higo."

Although she was still curious as to why the dense, hopeless romantic was asking her all people such questions, she decides not to pester him. "Well it is true that I admire him, but it's nothing like that."

For some reason, Conan's tight grip finally loosened as his figure relaxed. A warm smile lit up his face as he lifted his head. "Ah... I see..." It was weird of him to talk about anything involving romance, hence the small scientist's curiosity was at its peak.

Before she could question him however, he hopped off the couch. Without so much as another word, he took a sip of his coffe and left the room, leaving a confused Haibara Ai behind.

*** PRESENT ***

(Shiho's P.O.V)

That's right... he seemed to be worried that I did have someone in mind, judging by the way he became relieved at my answer. What I don't understand is why. Didn't he say something about cutting me up just before he... well, did?

The fact that he really has just been pretending all this time to care about me and be by my side makes my stomach churn. I just don't believe it... The same Kudo who saved me countless times from the hands of Gin, from Vermouth, and from myself... This is his true nature?

I don't accept this... I can't... This can't be true!

"...K...Ku...do..." It hurts... it hurts so much. I can barely breathe. "...Why...?" When he yanked the knife out of my shoulder, a trail of blood stained the left side of my face, followed by another shriek from the intensity of the pain. My eyes squeezed shut from the anguish.

Kudo's laughter soon subsided, but his grin remained. With a shrug of his shoulders, he said, "I suppose that I should enlighten you, at the very least. It's not very fun when the only thing that comes out of my doll's mouth is the same question over and over again. I'm not very fond of broken dolls, you see." His 'doll'...? Why does he keep referring to me as such?

He's so different... Nothing at all like the arrogant, yet kind Kudo Shinichi that I know. It's like he's an entirely different person. I already knew he had a talent for acting... but this is on a whole other level. And... all this time, he's been...? Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes, threatening to fall at the unbelievable thought.

The only person that understood me... the only person I could believe in. The only person that I could put all my trust in and rely on without hesitation... had been a fabrication all along?

It seemed that he noticed my angst, judging by the way his deranged expression twisted into one of pity. "Aww, don't cry now, Haibara!" His sardonic taunt somehow hurt just as much as my throbbing wound. After what appeared to be a sudden moment of realization, he snorted. "Were you actually hoping I was going to kiss you?" A snicker followed his words, causing me to feel somewhat annoyed, yet also embarrassed.

"Or perhaps..." Kudo whispered in a low, husky voice as he leaned in to my ear, causing my body to shiver from the closeness. "...you were hoping I'd do something more to you?" His seductive tone sent a warm chill up my spine as the blood rushed to my face once again.

"O–Of course not!" I barked out, gasping for breath at the loss of my strength from speaking. Clearly, Kudo has gone completely insane. How does anyone derive pleasure in torturing someone both physically and mentally?

"I can do that if you want me to..." Kudo offered in the same alluring tone as he ran his gloved hand along my neck, then down to my waist, and finally, to my thighs. My body grew hot at the invasive contact.

My nervous eyes followed his hands fondling with my thighs. "S...Stop..." I breathed out. He's right... I do want him to, and I hate myself for it. It's wrong. It's very wrong. We were never supposed to be close like this. It was always supposed to be Kudo-kun and Mouri-san... I set aside my feelings for Kudo and tried focusing on someone else, like Higo, instead because of this very reason. Kudo had seemed to have his eyes set on only her. Poor Mouri-san... what would she think if she saw him like this? Well, I suppose it is I who should be pitied.

The sound of the chains jingling from our movements blocked out the sound of the clock. "I've wanted you since the moment I first laid eyes on your beautiful figure..." He purred as a sudden warmth ran along my neck causing my body to shiver at the strange sensation. Upon realizing it to be his tongue, I couldn't contain myself from being completely and utterly aroused.

"A–All of this time... y–your plan was to...kill me?" I faltered through my ragged breaths. Kudo's eyebrows lifted at my words as he looked as if he were genuinely bewildered by my question.

"Kill you?" Said he with a frown. "What ever gave you that idea? I would never want to kill my precious doll..." The expression on his face seems to be one of hurt.

I stare at him with ambivalence. "If you truly see me as your 'precious' doll..." I paused to gather my strength to speak. "...then why 'cut' me up?" All of a sudden, he turned around and began pacing back and forth leisurely with his eyes locked on the floor, appearing to be in deep thought.

After around a minute, he strode behind the armchair I was chained to and leaned in behind my neck, just above where he had injured me. My eyes follow his actions. "Haibara..." He began in a comforting tone. Though, I found it more uncanny and deranged if anything. "I've always yearned for you..." I want to understand all of you... From what color your blood is to how much pain you can withstand... Everything about you is so intoxicatingly captivating to me that I just can't control myself any longer!" My eyes widened as I found myself appalled by this strange revelation.

Kudo-kun is attracted to me for a psychotic and inhumane reason, yet why is it that my feelings for him haven't changed? It's all wrong. So very wrong.

Unable to find words, I sit still in a stunned silence.

"Oh, that's right!" The detective clad in black abruptly cried out. "I almost forgot to show you your gift!~" He sang in a distorted harmony as he sauntered over to the large cabinet just below the clock. I never noticed it since it had been behind me, and I was really only focusing on the door in front of me.

After pulling it open, the gruesome contents inside were now in full sight.

Oh god... Oh god...

The corner of his lips stretched inhumanly wide. "You should thank me!" Kudo suggested as he pulled out a dismembered head by the hair dangling in his grip. You could tell that it was quite fresh judging by the vibrant crimson blood still dripping down. And, It wasn't just any head..

It was Higo's...

"Now there's no one to get in between us!"