Kiss of Death

Author's Notes and Sneak Peek of Ai's reaction

Hello! Sorry if this was a false chapter. I will clear it up once I've updated. There was just this recent review that I immediately wanted to clear up, and because of my part-time work, I am unable to update.

So, there was this guest "Nalu" who reviewed. Well, first off, thanks for the review & since I cannot reply to your review, I wanted to say it here.

I highly disagree that Ai plays the Damsel in Distress while Ran doesn't.

If you have paid attention to the DC franchise, you can tell that both actually plays the Damsel in Distress, and both saves people as well.

Ai plays the Damsel in Distress whenever there is an incident of the Black Organisation because she becomes a target for them, given that she has betrayed the syndicate. However, there are times where she risks her life to save Conan & the others, like the time where Conan gets kidnapped and she went to look for him. There are other moments where she bargained her life to Vermouth, in exchange of the safety of others. Because she has limited physical strength, she can only think of ways to sacrifice or use her intelligence in order to save the people she's sincere of.

On the other hand, since Ran is supposedly the main interest of the series, she gets in trouble and Shinichi saves her. Yet, she also attempts to save people, like Sonoko in Movie 9 and Ai in the Vermouth arc. But because she can only depend on her physical strength, she gets overpowered when people use non-combat skills against her.

Don't worry, I will create moments where Ran and Ai gets to save people, but it'll take a lot of character interactions & development in the story. So please be patient. For that to happen in this Fanfic, I will need to create scenes where Ai actually overcomes her fear & for Ran to absorb the facts that people kept her in the dark about. So it might need to take up more chapters for it to happen.

As for Ran being an important character in the series, I can say that she is important and the main because she has deep ties with Shinichi, but frankly speaking, she's not that essential to the BO plot. A lot of characters (Detective Boys, Sonoko etc.) are not completely tied to the BO, and the BO plot can be easily progressed without them in it. I feel that it was a good idea to get Ran involved with Vermouth seeing her as an "angel" in the plot, because that can create a lot of involvement with her in the BO. But the problem with placing her in such a dangerous situation would have been too risky and heartbreaking. But on this Fanfic, I will make her interact with Vermouth & also get her involved (because I feel that it is her character to just disobey the rules & try to save someone, even though it's against a formidable person).

I just wanted to clear this out.

I'm getting sick of the comments where people argue about "Ran is weak vs Ran is strong" & "Ai is always scared vs Ai is so fearless". Both have their pros and cons okay, they both have weaknesses & strengths. The only issue that people compare them a lot are because they are complete polar opposites. Personally, I feel that people just debate on the whole Ran vs Ai stuff without actually analysing & considering the characters objectively. They just get too biased over their favourites to actually consider some characters. I just like Ai more because she's more relateable for me & her past is really mysterious.

Anyway, I would like to thank the reviewer for stating her/his likeness of the story. I just wanted to clear this misunderstanding up.

To make it up for those who wanted an update, here's a sneak peek of Ai's reaction!

Ai woke up, her mind jabbering her like an annoying alarm clock. She looked around her surroundings, was she kidnapped?

Wait.

No. The place she was in was comfortable.

The instant memory of hers came back: the boy drugged her to sleep.

How could Kudo-kun have done this to me? But, I guess it's for my own good, yet still, he's probably doing something dangerous. I need to get out of here quick and find him. I hope... everyone's alright. -Ai thought bitterly.

She crept out of the bed and slowly walked across the corridor. There was a light that peeked out from a semi-closed door and she heard voices. Crouching, she went closer to the source, having able to distinguish who the voices belonged to.

Jodie-sensei and Hakase. What are they talking about?

"I don't know how to break the news off to Ai-kun," Ai heard Agasa said, "the poor girl's suffered so much loss."

"I'm aware of that..." Jodie replied with a discontented sigh, "but we can't hide the truth forever. Someone's got to tell her. I've already informed Ayumi and Mitsuhiko about this. They can't contact her now as it might be too dangerous. As for Cool Kid, he's extremely disheartened right now, as I've heard from Rei. They are trying to pluck us out like white feathers from a dove. At this rate, if we don't stop the syndicate's momentum, all of us will be 6 feet under. Professor Agasa, I suggest that you yourself, not to volunteer getting involved further. I am unsure why you're so adamant, but I may not guarantee everyone's safety."

What bad news? Did..someone die? Why is Kudo-kun so upset about something?

"I'm aware of that! It's frightening, and I'm just an old man who invents gadgets. But those kids... I was like a grandfather to them, I treated Shinichi and Ai-kun as my own children, if I cower while someone has died because of the syndicate, I won't be able to forgive myself. I will protect the remaining ones, to my own ability, however limited. I know for you, it's just because of your occupation as an FBI officer, but to me, it's out of my duty as an adult. And adult has the obligation to care for children," Agasa told her with a frown.

No Hakase... I'm not...worth protecting.

Jodie nodded in comprehension. "I see," the blonde replied with determination, adjusting her glasses, "I understand, not as a parental figure, but as a person. Yet, there's one thing to clear out. Actually... I want to protect Haibara Ai, even if I have to die. Not because of my job, but also because a person's life would have been in vain. She died to keep her safe, that Miyano Akemi -well, she's cherished by someone important to me. Of course, I'd have to teach her how to survive in the meantime, in the event where I don't make it."

My sister? I've always wanted to ask why Gin killed her, even though I continued working for them. I didn't get the a single answer. If she died for me... I should've been the one killed, not her.

"Thank you... Jodie, for saying that," the aged man commented, his voice was shaky now, "I don't want to lose Ai-kun, it'll be losing like a daughter."

Ai could hear Agasa sobbing.

"Jodie... They are capable of anything- I mean..." Agasa hesitated.

"I mean- they murdered Genta,"

At this, the girl had her pupils constricted. In contrast to Conan's wailing, her mind immediately went blank. The dryness of her throat made her impaired to speak -it was like a bitter vomit that couldn't be swallowed.

They murdered Genta.

That phrase echoed in her thoughts.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

These two words kept ringing in her ears, but it was her own conscience -like a chant that were splashed in a white wall of her blank brain. If visualised, these words would have been inscripted in deep red paint, as of how an insane person would have doodled "I'm sorry" numerous times on his canvas.

She had to do something instead of remaining here. But as of now, no solutions. Conan for sure, wouldn't tell her his plans. They definitely wouldn't tell her if she asked. She couldn't jump on the gun, even if she might have wanted to do something - she needed a clue as to where and what was going on clearly. Otherwise, it would be a suicide mission.

And the girl just stood there, continuing to do nothing but scribble a bunch of "I'm sorry" in her head, much like the devil's whisper.