Detective Conan Chapter 15, Part 16

Kiss of Death

"Desires"

A/N: Okay, this chapter will be a little steamy. LOL. As indicated by the chapter title. Relax, no one is going to do anything but there's a lot of implications (which is why it is rated T).

"There's no mistaken..." the man donned in jet black coat muttered. An image of a boy in spectacles flashed in Gin's memory.

That brat in glasses... The resemblance is uncanny. There's not a doubt, he is Kudo Shinichi. Why did that poison shrunk him?

Gin started to mentally place the pieces together- Kudo Shinichi's disappearance, Sherry's miraculous escape, the boy with the glasses that almost caught him...

To add cherry to the ice-cream of revelation, he remembered walking past that same boy with spectacles, with a girl. Her reddish-brown hair was unmistakable, her fearful expression when he pointed the gun at her, and worst of all - the manner she clutched onto the boy tightly. It's all pouring into a complete jigsaw puzzle:

Sherry and Kudo Shinichi are still alive, shrunk by the APTX 4869. The likelihood of them living together is very high. Since they will be living under the same roof and with uncontrollable hormones, only heavens know what the shrunken teens are doing.

He innerly smashed his incompetency for not noticing this. To think Kudo Shinichi would still be alive.

He remembered clearly like it was yesterday. That day when he almost had Sherry all to himself, but the brat of a detective ruined it all. He remembered vividly and heard his words clearly alright. The very sentence that makes Gin quiver in jealousy:

"Gin, you lost. I already have her. I've seen the whole of her. I've seen all that you didn't" -while unknown to him, this was just a phrase to aggravate and distort his concentration, Gin couldn't bear to fathom the possibility of Sherry clutching onto the intrusive detective's shirt, smearing her tears with it and the boy whispering sweet nothings while taking her to his chamber. He growled in anger at the thought of Shinichi's unworthy hands touching the forbidden softness of Sherry's back and whiffing her natural feminine scent. If Sherry did spend the night in passionate flames with that detective, the toxic jealousy would have murdered Gin. Sherry was his unattained desire, and if Shinichi grabs hold of it, Gin had already lost the battle.

Sherry was his. No one else can have her.

Then there Gin was, standing outside the Agasa residence. There was no one in the Kudo residence, he'd double checked on it. Although unknown to Gin, Akai did reside there temporarily years back, only to move out once the operation to take down the Black Organization was done 5 years ago.

"There's no doubt about it... Sherry is here, I can feel herself shivering alone," he said, looking at the Agasa residence like an animal to prey on. Gin certainly did some research, quickly finding out that the neighbour next door is a friend of the Kudo family. Knowing Sherry, she would've stay in this place. Gin smirked, sensing imaginary trumpets of triumph once she finds her. But no, he will not be merciful and murder her just yet. He'll use her to lure the detective out and torture him while she watches.

While his desire for Sherry was as thunderous as an incoming storm, the thirst for Shinichi's blood was the powerful typhoon. There were a list of treatments he had in mind already, too many to even make a list. But what will he start off first? Electrocution? Caning? Wait- there's a plier to tear off his nails, right? Gin's eyes flickered in excitement at the image of a screaming Sherry upon the detective's battered cadaver.

I wonder how much this detective can take before he breaks. Maybe hammer his face? Give daily beatings? Scald him in hot water? Force him to drink water and compress it out of him? Oh, the list is endless! It's either he dies in disgrace or he lives long enough to be driven to madness. Wait-what the-!

The smile on his face disappeared, upon seeing Vermouth approaching the Agasa residence.

It's past 10 in the evening.

Ai drummed her fingers on the coffee table, Cedric and Conan had yet to return. Agasa's snores can be heard from the other room. In fact, she shouldn't be worrying so much about Conan, but with the ominous presence of the organization she'd been feeling these days, the possibility of anyone being in danger increased. She sighed in defeat, staring at the moon.

I guess nothing can beat mankind's curiosity.

A small tear slipped from her cheeks, glistening like diamonds under the bluish-white moonlight. The luminescence of the moon seemed to be extraordinary tonight, someone was either having the significance of a sugary-coated candlelit dinner or the howls of bloody canines. But she wasn't that individual who believed in such fantastic escapades, she was the latter. If a poem was written by her, it would be metaphorical lone wolf running away by the vehement pack. But their shadows were always lurking on the ground she ran on.

She remembered one of those nights, where Conan and her would just sit by the coffee table, enjoying their cup of warm beverage and having long conversations. If they are lucky, the moonlight would serve as a light source so that they wouldn't stumble by the dark. Then there was those nights, she'd spent silently crying in her room whenever they give each other the pain of silent treatment. She sighed once more, glancing up at the moon.

Akemi-neechan, why is it so painful and difficult to love a man like him? Is desire that sinful?

A crease drew on her forehead. Just what exactly made her desire him so much?

The modern Sherlock Holmes has always been pulling the heartstrings of girls -be it as Shinichi or Conan. Even the eyes of the ever-sardonic queen of icicles is captivated by him. True that he was attractive and charming. Was it like how the fangirls love him, swarming to him like hungry bees to look for sweet nectar, brushing up his ego? That may had caught her attention, but she guessed that's not the reason. Or was it like Ayumi, his confidence and accurate crime-solving skills that resulted on her first crush. Ai may have gotten smitten by him that way, but it may be a minor reason. How about similar to Ran's. A childhood friend of Shinichi's, knew him long enough that the diamond had rough and sharp edges of denseness, impulsiveness and slight lasciviousness; yet accepted it because he was a friend that cared for her. Ai is a childhood friend of Conan, knew him all too well in such a short time that she could read his mind like his skull was transparent to her. That might be a partial reason.

But no. If those were her reasons, then she'd might as well love another guy -Heiji, Kaito, Hakuba. They are too, all imperfect yet intellectually good-looking men with a potential capacity for love, so what made Conan so different?

Meanwhile, a doll-like woman clad in black attire was observing her outside the Agasa residence. Vermouth's luscious lips that had a tinge of dark purple colouring smirked, at the sight of "Sherry".

"Well, I should stop calling her that," Vermouth chuckled, "Haibara Ai, eh? "Hai" for grey, "bara" for rose. The rose often had her days with greyish skies, developing the APTX4869 in a dark laboratory. Such a fitting name for a fragile flower. Well, I guess that's what little "Haibara" stands for. What about "Ai"?"

She gave a tantalising laugh once more, clicking her gun, "what will happen if I take away the sunlight of our little Grey Rose?"

Ai was reminiscing through her days working for the syndicate. But she stopped. Why did they have to take away her only sister? Having no choice, she took the very poison she created, hoping to end the pains in her greyish skies. Ironically, fate extended her life by de-aging and met the silver bullet the organization feared for. They should dislike each other, in fact, they initially did. Him for getting his perfect life stolen and her for blaming him on failing to save her sister. But never underestimate the power of time, it can do magical outcomes. She fell for him. How come? Despite the hairline escape, the rose continued to flee from the never-ending wolves that hunt for her blood, so she wanted to do the job for them. Yet, he didn't want her to escape her destiny. He had given her a new insight, that fate indeed gave her a second chance and to throw it away, would be rendered a waste. Because how can you let such a beautiful flower die? He was like the Sun that penetrates through the cracks of the darkened skies, making the withering rose receive the rays of happiness once more. A flower only blooms when it is cared for, and she did, gradually. Even though the rose that built a wall of thorns to shield herself away from the cruel world, the Sun rays still stubbornly shone through it. And for that, she loved her very own light of happiness.

CLICK.

The sound of a gun pointing barely at her reddish-brown hair surprised her. Fearfully, she turned around, taking in the sight of a smirking Vermouth. "It's been a long time, Sherry, make one move and the old man sleeping in his room won't wake up by morning," she greeted, her thin lips tugging at one side. It satisfied her seeing Ai in such a helpless state.

How could Vermouth still be alive when she was reported that she was murdered?

"What?" she asked, "you thought I was dead?" The older woman gave another smile, "silver bullet-kun is a great detective, he'll figure it out."

Ai fumbled, numerous of jolted impulses sent blaring in her nerves. "How did you... why?" she trembled, the incoherence in her speech making it dead obvious that she was indeed afraid of the woman before her. Vermouth placed her index finger on her lip, whispering her infamous line in English, "I can't tell you... It's a secret. A secret makes a woman, woman. I'm pretty sure a clandestine girl like you would know that principle, Sherry." Again, Ai could only respond in obvious tremor. Mustering her courage, she stiffened up, regaining her poker face.

"What do you want?" she asked tersely.

Vermouth chuckled, amused. "It's not what I want, it's what you want. A woman's heart is surrounded in the sandstorm of secrets and I know your secret. A very, very open secret. Your desire, it's ever so evident in the sparkle of your rare smile."

"I... Don't know what you're saying..."

"Aren't you being silly? It's obvious, you want him, but even though you play the part of being a good Watson, but can you do the role of Irene's?" Vermouth mocked, but Ai didn't spend any effort to retaliate.

"How pathetic. It's so easy for you to get Gin obsessed without even speaking a word to him or lifting a finger, but can't even attract the Silver Bullet for 8 years. The Silver Bullet must've shot you in your lone wolf's eye. Now, isn't that such a sorrowful love story? Ai for sorrow. Ai, for love. So which one are you? Ai-ai-ai! "Ai"-rene..." now Vermouth was just chanting her name, formulating a pun on her and Irene Adler's name, "poor Irene can't let him go..."

"And you're here to...?" Ai questioned, struggling not to shiver.

"Well, the question is, does Silver Bullet-kun wants you? He saved you from the exploding bus and even went through the lengths of disguising himself to protect you from me. You've been such a good friend, but you're itching to find out if he truly cares about you. You know how much he likes Angel," Vermouth said casually, "do you sometimes ever wonder what he wants from you?"

That struck a nerve for her. Vermouth had crossed the line. What did he want? Companionship from her? Assistance? Was she just someone to fill the space of a woman in his life?

"I'll tell you what," Vermouth leaned dangerously close to her ear, "give him a test, give him the antidote. If he leaves, you'll know why he's protecting you."

Ai hung her head low. No matter how much fearful she is to Vermouth's hatred for her, she was right. It was strange for Vermouth to be advising and mocking her simultaneously, but she was absolutely correct about it.

Deep down, she knew. It would've been naive for her to think that Conan & Ai would stay like this forever. Each time she is a step closer in completing the antidote, she knows that Conan will no longer be there. To him, being Shinichi is living a dream come true. He wants his fame and lovelife back, unlike her, who had nothing to return to. It never occurred to him how much Edogawa Conan is valued by his friends. The detective boys, Ran and maybe even Kogoro will be upset once he leaves. Conan was the Detective Boys' leader and even was like a father figure to them. Losing him would be a downfall to the group. Ran would lose a little brother she never had, and Kogoro would lose a son that he got because his wife divorced him before they had a second child. Through Conan, he met other friends like Heiji and Sera, which may have been just rivals to him if he had met them in another way. And most of all, Conan met her. He wouldn't have it if he was Shinichi. She kept pondering, how she'll cope with the loss. Conan and Ai, were indeed like Sherlock and Irene, they were like a pair of swans in a lake. If a swan of the two were to die, what will happen to the other? She wanted him to stay, but knew he would choose his childhood friend in a heartbeat. Though Ai may not be Shinichi's childhood friend, she definitely is Conan's childhood friend, is she not? He's so blind, to notice the depth of void he'll leave in her soul once he's gone. Yet, she'll be a fool to think that this charade of theirs would continue forever. Because nothing's ever built to last.

I couldn't let him go, even if he has eyes on someone else. I wanted to give up, but that bus hijacking case did miracles to me. The way he held on tight to me as the bus exploded right behind us, paralleled to the explosion that was occurring in my bloodstream - my heart was palpitating so madly that I thought it'll burst. But it didn't. It felt such joy that I first thought it was a dream before I ascended to the heavens as the bus swallowed me in flames. Though the wiping on your blood onto me- that electrical jolt as the scarlet slime slicked onto my thigh, it indicated that it was not a fantasy. He was hurt, but somehow the situation distracts him. The only thing on his mind was for me to not get found by one of those crows. He gave me hope- not to run from my fate. I tried not to smile, my blood pumping with joy, like a reservoir of oxygen reviving my deprived dead cells. Then reality dawned. What fate, exactly? As the police car took me away to the hospital, I knew why I had to go there. Being with him is nearly impossible- an illusion that can never be captured. Yet, who am I to blame for such strong desires? Desires is the opposite of death- it motivates one to live on. I needed to be in a hospital for treatment. It wasn't the blood on my thigh though, it was my aching heart. Though desires are the opposite of death, it eventually leads to death.

A shiver interrupted her thoughts. She looked up, but it was too late. She was met with Vermouth's petrifying stare and mischievous eyes, an electric tranquilliser in her hand.

"Goodnight, Sherry," she says, placing the device on Ai and shocking her to sleep. She carried the sleeping girl and tucked her in, like a loving mother Ai never had. Huskily, she began to sing:

"They escape through the abyssal madness, sense lost and chests' numbness, man so loveless; so fearless, abandoning all complains. Only his sadistic laughter remains..."

"Man, if I had brought my skateboard along, I would have gotten here sooner. I knew that I would find you here," a serious voice stunned her, but Vermouth remained calm.

"Ah, silver bullet-kun. It's been awhile since I've seen you," she spoke softly, but maintained the feminine ferocity in her tone. She turned, and as expected, the boy already had his stun-gun watch aimed at her. So she kept her gun pointed at Ai, "look Silver Bullet, I would like to have a friendly chit-chat with you, but if you don't behave, I would erase her from existence. Which one is faster? Your tranquilliser or my gun? Think about it."

The detective growled in defeat, she was right- Vermouth had the upper hand. "Alright, I'll lower my watch if you hand over your gun," Conan commanded and Vermouth did as she was told. The gun skittered away to the side of the room, out of reach to both parties. Conan took off the watch from his wrist and Vermouth motioned him to do the same. "Now, step away from Haibara," he continued, with an increasing demand. Vermouth moved closer to him, but Conan moved towards Ai and sat on her bed, shielding her from Vermouth. The woman in black laughed at his territorial behaviour.

"It's been awhile, Belmot. I never thought it would be possible, but I guess the Organization have no boundaries," the boy spoke lowly, "the FBI didn't catch you to begin with."

"Ah-ra, you've figured it out. As expected of the Silver Bullet," Vermouth complimented, a smile tugging on her face, "how?"

Before answering, Conan glanced over to the sleeping figure and caressed her cheek once. His softened gaze at Ai did not go unnoticed to Vermouth. It amused her to see the formidable Silver Bullet having a soft spot for a woman she dislikes. Then, within seconds, he tore his soft gaze away to face Vermouth, eyeing on her with sharp vision. His deduction began, "Violette Cisson, infiltrated the organization to avenge her father's death. You were never caught by the police in the first place. Violette's mother didn't abandon her, you took her away and forced her to undergo surgery to look exactly like you. Then, in the process of the police pursuing you, you got one of the members to hack the database and replace all the identification and fingerprints of Violette's mother to yours. So no matter how much she begged for her innocence in that prison cell, no one ever believed her. Then, on that night, she was murdered by one of the members. Isn't that right?"

The blonde clapped, entertained by his stunning flawless deduction. She nodded her head, confirming that it was true. "It was Gin, to be exact," Vermouth added, taunting him further. There was a quick glint of disgust on Conan's face. Gin- the merciless man who murdered Akemi Miyano and forced him that damned drug.

"What's the deal with you? After 8 years, why show up now? You could've gone scott-free and live a non-syndicate life. Don't you want to be free?" Conan inquired. The motives of the woman standing before him were as shady as ever.

"No crow, is ever free. Even if they have ebony wings and sharp claws, the sky is the cage. The bird doesn't run. Or perhaps you can't comprehend. Once you're in the abyss, you can't turn back. Like Sherry, you can hide and run, but you can never escape!" she spoke, with anxiety, "but I'm pretty sure someone so sheltered from reality as you are can't understand. Scarecrows often repel the crows away to protect the crops, without noticing they themselves are staying in one place. Similarly, you're stuck as Edogawa Conan, and never return to Angel. How pathetic."

At this, Conan visibly cringed. Another victory for Vermouth to unravel him out of his composure. Insulting his failure to get Ran and his happiness was an offending blow to him. Vermouth sure knows how to play with her cards. "Enough with the bullshit. You and your fancy words, trying to divert men's intrusion of your secrecy and deceit. You can't pull a wool over my eyes. I'm a detective, if you can't tell me the truth then I'll uncover them myself. I'll tear your syndicate to pieces!" he growled again, only this time with higher intensity.

"You want to uncover my secrets? But you can't even reveal hers," she replied, referring to Ai. Conan stared back at her, puzzled. At this, Vermouth smirked. "Still don't get it? Why do you think Gin can identify her just by a single hair strand of hers? He even knows her favourite colour and predicts her next response to a situation accurately. Yet, don't you find it weird? They are in different departments, but Gin seems to know Sherry well."

It was like a shower of ice being poured on his back. The detective's stomach lurched, like her revelation made him sick. He felt the urge to purge out whatever information he had digested. "You still don't get it? Do you want me to spell it out for you? You know, he's very, very passionate in hunting and killing her," she added, emphasizing on Gin's dedication to seek Sherry.

Of course. He understood what Vermouth was trying to insinuate. After the Pisco case at the Haido Hotel, he wanted to ask Ai about her strange connection with Gin, but he was too afraid. The implied message was difficult for him to fathom. Could it be that Gin and Sherry had a relation outside of syndicate means? He gazed at the sleeping Ai. All those years of seeming to know her well, the girl Conan knew- seems to fade into the unknown.

But she feared Gin greatly, how could it be? No, Haibara wouldn't- she couldn't! To bear affections for someone as disgusting as Gin? It's not possible! And yet... And yet...

He shook his head violently. Thinking of the likelihood and mystery of Ai's past contracts his heart. He thought Ai was difficult to get, the fact that having her to had loved him was an honour to Conan. She said she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, and only him right? It was her jokes, but she did meant it right? Or was the last part of him being the only one was the joke? However this new revelation shattered it. He thought he was the only man Ai ever had loved. He didn't like it. He disliked it if anyone had some romantic aspects with her. It should only be him, not the other boys in his school that fancied her or Mitsuhiko, and definitely not Gin.

Gin, with Sherry?

He hated that thought.

"What's with this?" a yawn came from the background. Cedric, clueless as he was, craned his neck towards the scene. "Conan-kun? Who's this woman?"

Crap! I forgot that Cedric is here!

Vermouth wasted no time to react, she swiftly moved towards the gun and had Cedric locked on her. Conan also responded by activated his power-kicking shoes, but Vermouth already had the golden-haired boy at gunpoint. "Now Silver Bullet, don't do anything funny or I'll blow his brains off." She moved stealthily backwards with Cedric still on her vice-grip. When she was near the door, she pushed him towards Conan and disappeared. The detective tried to run after her, but she was nowhere to be found.

"I'll get you next time!" he hissed vehemently, punching the door in frustration.

CLICK.

A gun was held near Gin's head.

"Ah, Vermouth-"

"I told you, the Boss doesn't want you to do anything stupid. He gave me the permission to kill you if you did anything that will intervene his plans," she said, with eyes as cold as ice, "now, don't try to do anything Sherry-related. That is no longer your task."

"She's just in that house! With that detective! You think I'm that stupid to not figure it out? And the Boss, what is he doing? The former Boss wasn't like this," Gin rebuked.

The woman could only laugh, amused, "I'd love to see what you can do. Since your partner was already disposed of. Listen, don't be a child rebelling against his authorities. You screw up, you pay for it with your life. The Boss... Stop comparing him with the old one that died. This one, this one's quite an actor. He likes to do all the undercover things instead of us."

"But how long! How long can I get that detective!" Gin exclaimed, "now look! Look!" He pointed out to the incoming red car. Jodie and Akai emerged from the car, entering the Agasa's residence. "I had the chance to grab either Sherry or that detective brat. Now I can't!"

"Just be patient, Gin," Vermouth coaxed, "you'll get what you want someday."

"I better be-"

The man with cold eyes scoffed, returning to his car and drove off. Vermouth looked back at the Agasa residence, her facial expression bearing all the concern for the safety of her favourite detective.

Stay safe, Silver Bullet. This is going to be a tough war.

A/N: Don't get me wrong guys. I love Vermouth. She's so mysterious, but got to stick to the fact that she dislikes Ai. Hmm, there is a motive behind why she asked Ai to test him. But it'll come in handy after a few chapters. And no, Shinichi & Shiho did not "do it". It is only Gin's jealousy that is making him think that way. This chapter is a little darker than the rest. Has a lot to do with desire, particularly Gin, Ai and Conan's. There's also jealousy as well (Gin and Conan), haha, I like to write how Conan seems possessive and not liking the fact about Gin's affiliation with Sherry's past. But yeah, my take is that Sherry doesn't like Gin at all. I think Gin just have some weird obsession with her. I may not be able to update further unless my exams are over. Please do be patient with the next update.