Kiss of Death

Chapter 6

"Fear"

A/N: Thank you for the wait. Happy New Year people!

Reply to guest reviews: (Pls create a fanfic acc so that I can reply a PM)

Runa: Well, part of it is Conan is dense, but it's also because he denies it. Guest: Pls PM me some grammatical mistakes I've missed? And the focus of the wedding is supposed to be Ran & Conan. So it doesn't really matter where Ai was because it'll lose the purpose of Conan's pain at seeing Ran's wedding.

"Are you kidding? Cisson's dead?" Conan gasped in disbelief, his eyes squinting.

Damn it! We didn't even get to touch the chessboard!

"Dead?" Genta's head popped out of the door like a worm out of its hole.

"Is it a murder case?!" Mitsuhiko exclaimed.

"Haibara! Make sure you keep an eye on them! Hattori! Let's go!"

"Oi, Ku-Conan! You can't drive!"

Conan had no time to answer. As obsessed with his detective cases as always, he sped off towards the car that Heiji rented for his Tokyo trip. After him was Heiji.

"-Wait! Heiji! Conan..." Ran's voice trailed off, knowing that it would be futile as she witnessed the two detectives dashing out of her house. Shaking her head, she turned to the rest of the Detective Boys, well, former. "They never change, did they?" she asked sweetly, while the rest nodded.

"What about you guys? Don't you all like detective work anymore?" she asked once again, trying to strike up a conversation with the mid-teens. Ayumi looked away in humiliation, while Genta could only sheepishly grin. Ran gave a knowing smile, understanding that they might have outgrown in that detective eagerness and had other interests.

Genta chuckled embarrassingly, a little hesitant in replying to the older woman, "well... You see... I wasn't good in solving much of the cases. It was always Conan, so I got tired of it. I took up baking and grew fond of it because it really seemed to work out for me."

"As for my case, I got interested in dance and I'm hooked on it. Before I knew it, it's been like 5 years since I got involved in investigating a case, I think I've lost interest in it," Ayumi added, her tone as cheerful as ever.

"Is that why you lost interest in Conan?" Genta teased, while Ayumi punched his arm playfully.

"Before, I had this huge crush on Conan. It was until middle school that I grew out of that infatuation because Conan's so clueless about romance. He was like a detective geek but a really good looking one. Besides, he was much closer to Ai-chan. So I never really stood a chance either," Ayumi quickly explained to Ran, fearing that she may have misunderstood Genta's words.

Ran laughed, always getting excited when it comes to the topic of teenage love, which somehow reminds her of her youthful days. "Well, I used to be like you, Ayumi-chan! I had a major crush on my childhood friend. He was also engrossed with detective work and was so dense. But don't worry Ayumi, you'll find someone who suits you."

"So neechan," Genta chirped happily, with hope sparkling in his eyes, "does that mean bakers are better boyfriends than detectives?"

Ran thought for a moment. What was she going to advise the teenagers? Ran replied reluctantly, "I wouldn't say that...Just treat your date well like how you want to be treated. Different people will show it differently. Since you like baking, why don't you bake sweet treats for the girl you like?"

"That's a good idea!"

"And what about you, Ai-chan do you like-"

Ran halted in her mid-sentence, noticing that the strawberry blonde was nowhere to be found.

As well as Mitsuhiko.

"So Hattori? What was the cause of death?" the bespectacled boy questioned in a dead serious tone. Heiji knew that his friend was frustrated, probably because Jim's death was unexpected. Unknowingly to them, Mitsuhiko and Haibara were behind, hiding beneath the passenger seats.

"Apparently, brutal. Someone contaminated his food with Magnesium and his stomach blew up."

At this, Conan heard an audible gasp of horror and its owner was clearly recognizable.

"Eh, Kudo, did you hear something?" Heiji questioned, his eyes fixed on the road.

"Yeah... Mitsuhiko, you can come out now. I know it's you."

"Goddamn it," Mitsuhiko cursed as he crawled out of his hiding place, "why did he call you Kudo anyway?"

Heiji's eyes widened and he almost lost his control in maneuvering the car. Busted! With beads of sweat cascading down his forehead, he anxiously explained, "ciao ciao! I call him that because he reminds me of my friend Shinichi Kudo. He's like the mini version of him," and gave a nervous laugh. Conan could only shot a glare at him.

Hattori you damned moron.

His expression changed at the sight of the strawberry blonde from the reflection of the car mirror. "Eh? Haibara! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, his heart palpitating.

"Didn't you tell me to take care of 'them'? Mitsuhiko dashed out after you and I had to follow so that nothing happened. Besides, I don't want anything like the incident in the Bell Tree Express," she explained in a composed manner, crossing her arms and looked away.

Scratching his head, Mitsuhiko gave a nervous chuckle, "aren't you both a little mean? I'm not a kid anymore and besides, we're both the same age."

"Why are you here?" Conan asked, accusingly. Not like he blamed the boy for his curiosity, but it was foiling the smoothness of that plan. Now he have to be extra cautious in protecting Mitsuhiko and Ai.

"Because... I miss solving cases like we used to..." he whispered, his head lowering in shame, "Genta and Ayumi no longer are interested in mysteries and solving crimes. But I still do! Even though you're much smarter than me, I still want to help. Why? Can't I be of use?"

"Look-"

"Keep quiet you kids. I didn't rent this car to babysit in Tokyo and when I'm working on the case, you can help but don't get in the way," Heiji cut in, his voice clearly indicated that he was rather irritated.

Geez, you mean your case or mine?

"Mitsuhiko, this is not a game," Conan said sternly, "it's not like other cases. You can tag along since we're too much in a hurry to drop you out. But don't do anything spontaneous. The murderer is still lurking about."

"Same to you too, Haibara," he added.

"I understand, Conan. I'll listen to you this time," Mitsuhiko said, placing his hand on Conan's shoulder, "how would Magnesium kill someone?"

"Think Chemistry," the young female chemist answered quickly, with a hint of pride, "the human's digestive juice in the stomach consists of Hydrochloric acid. What do you think happens when a reactive metal like Magnesium gets in contact with acid?"

The freckled boy had his eyes wide open, mouth agape in horror, "then... The person will explode internally! That's brutal."

"Which is why, we're warning you kid," Heiji added.

"Conan, I think I'm going out. My nose is getting sensitive to the smell," Mitsuhiko pinched his nose. A strong hint that he hasn't been involved in investigating a murder case for a long time. What happened to the young Mitsuhiko that didn't flinch at the sight of a cadaver? He looked at the dead body and shivered involuntarily. Jim's face was twisted in horror, as if it was a portrait of a man screaming, with his mouth containing the remains of the bread he seemingly choked on. The eyes were rolled at the back of the old man's head, showing all white, no irises. His arms were covering his protruding belly that was now ripped open. His small intestines and other bloody contents were spilled out on the floor surrounding his body, the liquid alkaline components resembled some viscous tomato soup that was mixed with dung and rotting meat that emitted a foul stench. Mitsuhiko could hardly imagine how ghoulish the murder was.

"Alright," Conan nodded, his eyes concentrated on Jim's dead body, "wait in the car. Take Haibara with you."

"I'm not going anywhere," Ai said, indignantly, "so, any suspects? Hints?"

"Jim Cisson's only living kin is his daughter-in-law and ex-wife. He was the only child. In addition his only son and granddaughter died mysteriously. While there can be a connection between the 3 deaths, I still can't figure that out," he stated in that matter-of-fact tone when he's in cases. Ai smirked at the change of his mood. She enjoyed watching the young detective investigate, he wouldn't care less about anything else. She observed how he cups his chin when he's in deep thought, like the world ceased to exist for him.

He is quite an impressive detective, he'll figure something out.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Conan asked, perplexed by her just staring at him blankly. Ai's heart skipped a beat and felt her cheeks heating up, "Haibara, are you ill? Your face is burning up." He moved his face closer to her and made contact of her forehead with his palm. The decreasing space between them made her uneasy, yet she didn't flinch.

Shit. His observation skills can be intimidating. It's getting difficult to conceal my inner emotions and intentions. I'm just lucky that he's dense sometimes.

"Oi Kudo! Focus on the investigation or get a room," Heiji teased mischievously, but Ai could tell that he was slightly annoyed.

Conan shook his head quickly, explaining, "it's not that! I was just checking if Haibara was sick," he turned to Haibara and placed his hand on her shoulder, "Haibara if you're sick, please just rest in the car."

This time, Ai visibly cringed, but let his hand stay there. "I'm fine," she said tersely, cold and straightforward as always.

How does she manage to pretend that she's okay?

How can his touch be so warm?

"Anyway Hattori, I need to talk to you for a moment," he whispered, dragging the detective of the West out of Ai's earshot, "don't disclose to Haibara that this case has possible ties to the Black Organization. Also, keep an eye on her. Help me protect her." His friend nodded, a sign of comprehension.

Ai was not a fool. She noticed the two males were acting suspicious, whispering secrets. She was uncertain what they were conspiring, but she was sure that they were keeping it from her. Like a cat in the night, she approached the bespectacled detective steadily and soundlessly such that they did not notice her creeping up behind them. With one of her eyebrow arching, she asked, "So? What is it that you two do not want me to know?"

This made Conan jump slightly and he involuntarily shivered. Giving a nervous laugh, he stuttered, "no...nothing Haibara!" He placed his two hands behind his back and gave a charming smile, as if his charm would enchant her to forget that they had ever had this conversation. His anxious behaviour had made him suspicious and Ai did not take the bait. She moved closer to him and caused him to back a few steps till a circular pillar met his back.

"You better not be keeping me in the dark, Kudo-kun," she warned icily, placing her hand on her hips, "the incident at Bell Tree Express better not happen again," squinting her eyes, moving such that their lips were barely touching, "I don't like to be played with." Conan could feel the warmth of her breath and it was like a candle that heated up his face, his heartbeat palpated once more, just like how it did earlier.

Damn it, what is this evil yawny-eyed girl doing to me?

"Nothing..." he stammered awkwardly and laughed anxiously once more. She leaned in even closer, such that their chests had zero distance. The proximity and their body heat made Conan's stomach lurch. Were there butterflies in his stomach fluttering?

It's probably adrenaline because I get really worked up when she's interrogating me...We're so close yet so far...Shit. Am I liking the sensation of this?

Mitsuhiko could only give a discontented sigh as he plodded back to the backseat of Heiji's rental car. Even though it was an atrocious murder, the gore had gotten to the pits of his guts. Images of the corpse flashed in his memories, the splattered intestines, the anguish expression on the victim's face, the splattered dried blood. He pondered if this would haunt him in his dreams. Was this the reason why Ayumi and Genta had become disinterested in solving crimes? As children, it was all thrill and "playing detective" to them, but his matured mind would've thought otherwise. The animosity, the sadness of such diabolical murders. Who would've thought that we're capable of such acts?

Worst still, he couldn't handle it. But Conan, Edogawa Conan could.

"I'm such a loser," he sighed again and looked out of the window. He would've continued his disheartened contemplation if it wasn't for something that had caught his eye- a car seemed to be following them. His breath hitched as the realization struck him like thousands of bricks. He quickly looked away, unsure of what to do.

This red Porsche, it was here outside Ran-neechan's house...and now, after parking, it's still here? Shit. I gotta find Conan. There's someone inside the car, watching. But I can't see! How do I look at him without him knowing? Think, think! What did Conan teach before?

Then, like a lightbulb on his head, he got it. Recalling Conan's demonstration, he remembered using a mirror or reflections to watch someone instead of staring at them directly. He spotted the rear-view mirror on the front of the car. Tilting his head, he got a good angle and the mirror was able to give him a small sight of the mysterious man. Black hat, grayish eyes -that's all he could see from there. He squinted his eyes harder to notice any other specific features of the man, when the man grinned devilishly. It was as if the man knew that he was being watched. At this, Mitsuhiko panicked.

Shit. I think he saw me! From this angle? I have to tell Co-

"You're from Teitan Middle School, right?" someone, who was fluent in English, spoke. Mitsuhiko almost jumped, startled at the sight of a golden-haired boy with emerald eyes. The foreign boy was wearing a uniform, certainly not from Tokyo - it has the words "Moriarty Academy" embroidered next to the school crest. The school crest had an image of a lady with hair strands made of snakes. She held an ebony staff with blue flames for its head. Mitsuhiko had never seen anything like it.

"Yeah..." that was all Mitsuhiko can stammer. He could only look at the golden boy with awe and felt a little insecure.

"The names Cedric Doleres, from class A" the boy said, outstretching his hand through the opened car window, "nice to meet you. Your name is?"

Mitsuhiko took his hand reluctantly, "Tsuburaya Mitsuhiko, class B. Nice to meet you too." He looked at Cedric with both envy and admiration like an immortal God. For a young mid-teen boy, Cedric was attractive, that even Conan would look like an average Joe if they were to stand in comparison. He had heard of the foreign boy's name before, because it has been whispered across the corridors among the girls of Teitan Middle School.

"My school happened to be having a foreign exchange programme with yours? Is a boy named Edogawa Conan in your class too? He's supposed to paired up for my friend, Tyler. And mine is Kojima Genta, he was the one that baked the crane-shaped cookies for the foreign exchange students. Happen to know him?" Cedric questioned, showing the expression of slight uncertainness.

Mitsuhiko lowered his head and answered, "Conan is in class A. Genta is in class D," still upset that he ended up in class "B" instead of "A" due to his incompetent academic aspects. The distribution of the Detective Boys among other classes had him disheartened as well, but luckily he was still in the same class as Ayumi and Chemistry classes that he shares with Ai and Conan.

"Alright," Cedric flashed a bright smile that made his green eyes glimmer in the Sunlight. Mitsuhiko was certain that many girls would keep their eyes on the golden boy. Cedric went off, back to the hotel he was staying in.

Focusing on the task at hand, Mitsuhiko glanced out of the window -the crimson Porsche was nowhere to be found.

Conan couldn't take it anymore. The proximity of space they had was driving him insane. "But whatever it is, you'll protect me right?" she asked, her voice was soft, husky and calm. He could feel Haibara's deep breathing against him, but strangely, he wanted to stay this way forever.

"Of course Haibara," he answered, not stammering this time. He caressed a lock of a strawberry blonde hair and moved closer to her face. With their nose touching, he whispered, "I wouldn't want to lose you, partner."

"Kudo-kun..." she was rendered speechless, at this whole sudden gesture, sudden admittance, sudden gestures of utter sincerity. She failed to meet his eyes, what was she supposed to say?

"Haibara..." he whispered, touching her chin, "look at me in the eyes. After all these years as being friends, don't tell me, that you're not afraid of losing me?"

Then there.

The moment their eyes met, Haibara knew that she couldn't lie. It was as if their eye contact had enchanted her to be transparent of her vulnerability that she had always desperately wanted to conceal.

"My greatest fear...is losing you..." she whispered as she closed her eyes, finally blurting out the fear that she had always harboured, but were buried within her.

Conan felt warmth in the words of her voice, knowing that she too, have this irrational fear of losing one another. For the first time, she actually acknowledged that he meant something to her. All those moments of shutting him out of her door that he had been knocking, banging, crying out onto - she finally opened it. He could only stare at how close their lips were. Should he claim it? He was unsure. He placed his hand on the back of her head to pull her closer to him, to see if she would flinch. She didn't. Surprisingly, she moved her hands to wrap around his neck.

Haibara, what are you doing to me? What are we doing? It's not like we haven't kissed anyway.

Reluctantly, he lowered his head to meet her lips such that their lips brushed against one another. All they could do is to anticipate the warmth that they were about to feel when suddenly-

"Conan! There's someone who is really after us! He's gone now, but I'm sure of it!" Mitsuhiko screamed through the Detective Badge. This made the pair jump in surprise.

Damn it! Talk about wrong timing.

"Alright, Mitsuhiko, I'll be right there!" Conan answered and walked off, being so engrossed with the mystery in question as if nothing happened.

Ai stared at him in mixture of shock, admiration and disbelief. As much as she liked seeing him in his focused state, the quickness of his disentanglement from her grip gave a spiteful pain on her ribs. She outstretched her hand, seeing the distance of them between their worlds. It hurts to face the inevitable truth -they don't belong in the same world.

Soundlessly, she lowered her face that her eyes were obscured by her bangs as she sees her surroundings dimmed in loneliness. She'd always feel empty, dissatisfied and alone, despite the people around her. With a bittersweet smile, she watched Sherlock Holmes ran off with the case in his mind. Nevertheless, it warmed her heart to see the man she cares about, doing something he loves -being a detective.

For once she knew, that there was one thing she could offer that Ran could not. And that is that she could approve his passion for solving cases. In fact, she loves observing him this way. The way he brilliantly decipher every mystery with acute observation skills to his deduction show.

Always an almost, right tantei-kun?

The strawberry blonde pondered, grazing her lips with her fingertips that lingered his presence.

A/N: And that's a cut! My Biology lecturer did mention she was watching CSI and they used Magnesium and the stomach's Hydrochloric acid to burst the victim open. Anyway, I suck at names so Cedric was the first name that popped into my head. I know it's deviating from the original story, it'll only make a curve at chapter 15. I kinda think that Ai is more interested in Conan's personality than Ran ever did in Shinichi's cases. Ai is more attentive to his passion of being a detective while Ran usually just dismisses it. Which is why I ship them better. But that's just my opinion.

Thank you for those who continue to support this story! Let us begin 2016 with the beautiful AiCon pairing! Don't forget to review.