Question About Recently Discussed Theory (Spoiler Here)

[LymphatusDjarno]

There has been some discussion about the possibility that

A. Akai Shuichi is still alive

or

B. Akai Shuuichi is still alive and is Okiya

I don't have any problem with the details behind these theories and think that there is reasonable evidence that either could be correct.

But,

Am I the only one who would be a little disappointed if it turned out to be true?

I think having Mizunashi Rena kill him for the sake of her mission and so that her father wouldn't have died in vain is much more powerful from a storytelling point-of-view than the whole faked death idea. Bringing him back would certainly be a crowd-pleaser but I appreciate an author who knows when to kill off a well-liked character for the benefit of the overall story.

I certainly don't dislike Akai Shuuichi's character and wouldn't mind if he came back at some point but I think it would be better if he were dead. Not to mention it's going to require a lot of artifice to satisfyingly example how he survived. For those who have read/seen Misery, "He didn't get out of the cockadoody car!"

Anyway, what's your take?

[Raso]

wouldnt it be better if you just posted this in the thread called Akai (SPOILERS)

[Aluecard]

Akai Shuuichi's    i dont think his Dead but  at the same time  i think he is 
   
      i think he wus 2 smart  2 walk into his own grave..  8)
or he just did like  Matsuda


By aluecard at 2008-06-24

[TanteiRené]

For the whole discussion, read Akai (SPOILERS).

My opinion? I REALLY REALLY want him to be alive. That said...he got his brains blown out. He's dead, guys. No other way to go at it. I think Burbon (Okiya, Blondie, what ever you call him--I'm bad with names!) was sent in to make sure he didn't fake his death.

I REALLY want Okiya=Akai, but there's a loophole in that theory. Akai took a bullet in his lung. As far as I know, there is no freaking way he could get a lung transplant and be totally okay in the time period between Akai's "death" and Okiya's appearance. That is, IF his head was okay. I'm 100% certain that a lung transplant would leave the person out of breath at the slightest amount of work for a very long time after the operation. Physical therapy would help, but I seriously doubt even Akai could be that bada**: out of the sickbed in a matter of a few weeks.
(It would be cool if Rena faked the bullet into Akai's lung, but I doubt it.)

Someone suggested that Vermouth is disguised as Okiya/Burbon. I could believe that. All we know is Ran said, "I have the feeling I've seen him somewhere before." So either 1. we're going to get another flashback like the New York (golden apple) case and be introduced to a new character, or 2. Okiya is really Akai or Vermouth. (We're pretty sure that Okiya is Burbon because of the blatant case of foreshadowing: him drinking burbon in Shinichi's library. The only black org/FBI members Ran has meet is Vermouth and Akai. So, I believe that narrows down the possibilities.) We'll just have to see, I guess.

[Quiet Lurker]

My opinion? I REALLY REALLY want him to be alive. That said...he got his brains blown out. He's dead, guys. No other way to go at it. I think Burbon (Okiya, Blondie, what ever you call him--I'm bad with names!) was sent in to make sure he didn't fake his death.

I REALLY want Okiya=Akai, but there's a loophole in that theory. Akai took a bullet in his lung. As far as I know, there is no freaking way he could get a lung transplant and be totally okay in the time period between Akai's "death" and Okiya's appearance. That is, IF his head was okay. I'm 100% certain that a lung transplant would leave the person out of breath at the slightest amount of work for a very long time after the operation. Physical therapy would help, but I seriously doubt even Akai could be that bada**: out of the sickbed in a matter of a few weeks.
(It would be cool if Rena faked the bullet into Akai's lung, but I doubt it.)

First of all, you are assuming the gun fires real bullets instead of blanks. 

Second of all, even if it fires real bullets there are ways around it:
1) Bulletproof vest: Vermouth wore one in File 434, so can Akai. Added with some fake blood, it would make it seem like Akai's lung was punctured without any real damage.
If Rena, Akai and Conan planned to fake Akai's death in the "planning session" at the end of File 604 (which we don't see), Akai doesn't even need to wear a full vest, merely some plates at the designated "shooting locations"

2) Akai's cap: We've seen in File 296 that fake blood can be hidden in a compartment as small as the hilt of a fake knife, it is not inconceivable to have similar set up underneath Akai's cap. Given the point-blank nature of the second shot, the hidden compartment doesn't even have to be very big.


As for why the theory holds water:
1) Readily available fake body: Kusada Rikumichi's body File 598, who has a similar built to Akai.

2) Identity established only by fingerprints: Akai's identity is established via fingerprints, the body in File 609 had both hands in pockets to protect them from the flames, the bomb was placed near the head to obscure facial identity.

3) Coincidental malfunction of Jodie's cellphone: "Akai"'s fingerprints were taken from the cellphone Conan lent to Jodie in File 607. Coincidentally, Jodie's cellphone ceased to function shortly after the "planning session" between Rena, Akai and Conan.
Also note Conan's comment when he lent Jodie his cellphone: "They have completely different shapes on the outside, but on the inside it's the familiar cell phone we're used to having."

4) Precedence: This is not the first time Akai used a Black Organization bomb to fake a death, Agent Camel in File 603 successfully escaped from right under the Black Organization's sniper scope with only minor injuries to his face. Akai could definitely escape unscathed, especially if the body in the car isn't his (i.e. he has a running start).
This is also not the first time Akai carried out a plan without notifying his colleagues or superiors. In File 604, Akai told Jodie and James Black about the plan only after Rena has been handed over to the Black Organization. In the case of faking his own death, it wouldn't be surprising if even Agent Camel doesn't know about it (since he doesn't NEED to know).


As for why Okiya may be Akai, there is Ran's Deja Vu reaction with Okiya you mentioned.
But also note that Okiya is able to stand up as if nothing happened after receiving a kick to the face that would incapacitate most people. This makes it less likely for Okiya to be Vermouth, as evidenced by File 354 and File 434, she doesn't have a high tolerance for damage.

As for whether the Okiya=Akai theory is too obvious for Gosho, the fact that we are even debating it proves that it's not. 

[TanteiRené]

First of all, you are assuming the gun fires real bullets instead of blanks. 

Second of all, even if it fires real bullets there are ways around it:
1) Bulletproof vest: Vermouth wore one in File 434, so can Akai. Added with some fake blood, it would make it seem like Akai's lung was punctured without any real damage.
If Rena, Akai and Conan planned to fake Akai's death in the "planning session" at the end of File 604 (which we don't see), Akai doesn't even need to wear a full vest, merely some plates at the designated "shooting locations"

2) Akai's cap: We've seen in File 296 that fake blood can be hidden in a compartment as small as the hilt of a fake knife, it is not inconceivable to have similar set up underneath Akai's cap. Given the point-blank nature of the second shot, the hidden compartment doesn't even have to be very big.


As for why the theory holds water:
1) Readily available fake body: Kusada Rikumichi's body File 598, who has a similar built to Akai.

2) Identity established only by fingerprints: Akai's identity is established via fingerprints, the body in File 609 had both hands in pockets to protect them from the flames, the bomb was placed near the head to obscure facial identity.

3) Coincidental malfunction of Jodie's cellphone: "Akai"'s fingerprints were taken from the cellphone Conan lent to Jodie in File 607. Coincidentally, Jodie's cellphone ceased to function shortly after the "planning session" between Rena, Akai and Conan.
Also note Conan's comment when he lent Jodie his cellphone: "They have completely different shapes on the outside, but on the inside it's the familiar cell phone we're used to having."

4) Precedence: This is not the first time Akai used a Black Organization bomb to fake a death, Agent Camel in File 603 successfully escaped from right under the Black Organization's sniper scope with only minor injuries to his face. Akai could definitely escape unscathed, especially if the body in the car isn't his (i.e. he has a running start).
This is also not the first time Akai carried out a plan without notifying his colleagues or superiors. In File 604, Akai told Jodie and James Black about the plan only after Rena has been handed over to the Black Organization. In the case of faking his own death, it wouldn't be surprising if even Agent Camel doesn't know about it (since he doesn't NEED to know).


As for why Okiya may be Akai, there is Ran's Deja Vu reaction with Okiya you mentioned.
But also note that Okiya is able to stand up as if nothing happened after receiving a kick to the face that would incapacitate most people. This makes it less likely for Okiya to be Vermouth, as evidenced by File 354 and File 434, she doesn't have a high tolerance for damage.

YAY!!!! Someone proved me wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[Quiet Lurker]

As an added bonus to the Okiya=Akai theory, faking his own death is perhaps the only way for Akai to re-infiltrate the Black Organization:
- Gin is extremely perceptive on disguises, he is one of the few people who could see through Vermouth's disguises. (File 287)
- While Vermouth is good at disguises, she is not so good at recognizing disguises. She didn't see through Conan disguising as Ai in File 433.

Thus, out of the Black Organization higher-ups, Gin is the one most likely to recognize Akai should he try to re-infiltrate the Black Organization. Gin is also VERY good at recognizing traces of his recognized enemies: he can determine Haibara's presence from a single hair (File 238). Hence if Gin were actively looking for signs of Akai, there is NO way for Akai to re-infiltrate the Organization.

However, Gin has an Achilles Heel: He does not remember the faces of those he killed. (File 434: "The face and name of the brat I killed, I try to forget them"). If Gin believes Akai to be dead, then Akai could get back into the Organization right under their very noses.
During his first time with the Organization, Akai most likely recognized this feature in Gin (Akai is familiar enough with Gin to call him "his old foe"), and purposely planned to fake his death from the very beginning.

[Jd-]

I'm on the Akai=Okiya side, and I think it was only so that he could protect Rena while simultaneously allowing her to delve deeper into the organization. It certainly cannot be for him to re-infiltrate the organization himself. It's obviously easier for him to make his moves without being tied to the FBI (directly, at least) and while under a different identity. We can only assume that he, Conan, and Rena formulated a plan for contact to reach him prior to the faked death.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it here (I know I have on IRC), but a plot line that I think would really satisfy fans and Gosho himself would be something like... Akai appears again--but, naturally, with Bourbon in disguise. Somehow, he gets involved in a case, which would lead to Ran seeing him and remembering him from back then. This is how I, if I were Gosho, would introduce Bourbon into the story. How it would unfold from there is anyone's guess.

That said, I do look forward to Bourbon's first actual appearance (in that, I really doubt Okiya = Bourbon ).

[kat1214young]

Before I read that Gosho killed Akai because he doesn't want him anymore. Then again, that's the same reason Doyle killed holmes right? After that he made it that Holmes faked his death. So it is possible that he is Okia because Haibara had the same reaction after seeing him.

[phantom_neechan]

The theory that Gosho create just like Sherlock Holmes story. Sherlock was fight with the Professor Maurady and fall to the waterfall. Many people guess the Sherlock Holmes was dead but Conan Doyle revive the character back. The main character was dead and then after the long stroy it retuns back... Just like a ghost.. Heheh

[Pocky]

I don't believe that Akai is Okiya.
But I do believe that he is alive.

His body has moved since he was shot and bleeding in the car, but when Kir put the bomb in, his head position moved.
This can be observed in the manga.

Okiya does look similar to Akai, but Akai's a heavy smoker. I don't believe that he could quit that fast. I do hope that Okiya is Akai. ^^ <3

[Rellik]

i'm pretty neutral

even though i've been arguing Akai isn't Okiya, i just like debating

i find the switchin body quite strange, after Rena shot Akai, this is where you say they did a body switch, but no matter where the fake body is, it would still take some time to transfer it to the front seat and peg it (i say at least 10 seconds considering his position and how hard it is to move an adult body), so wat is Rena doing in that time, admire the scenery for awhile? Surely Gin would get suspicious during the 10 seconds of inactivity.

[SkyVenger]

B all the way... All my reasons are posted in other posts... 

[jason]

My opinion? I REALLY REALLY want him to be alive. That said...he got his brains blown out. He's dead, guys. No other way to go at it. I think Burbon (Okiya, Blondie, what ever you call him--I'm bad with names!) was sent in to make sure he didn't fake his death.

I REALLY want Okiya=Akai, but there's a loophole in that theory. Akai took a bullet in his lung. As far as I know, there is no freaking way he could get a lung transplant and be totally okay in the time period between Akai's "death" and Okiya's appearance. That is, IF his head was okay. I'm 100% certain that a lung transplant would leave the person out of breath at the slightest amount of work for a very long time after the operation. Physical therapy would help, but I seriously doubt even Akai could be that bada**: out of the sickbed in a matter of a few weeks.
(It would be cool if Rena faked the bullet into Akai's lung, but I doubt it.)

First of all, you are assuming the gun fires real bullets instead of blanks. 

Second of all, even if it fires real bullets there are ways around it:
1) Bulletproof vest: Vermouth wore one in File 434, so can Akai. Added with some fake blood, it would make it seem like Akai's lung was punctured without any real damage.
If Rena, Akai and Conan planned to fake Akai's death in the "planning session" at the end of File 604 (which we don't see), Akai doesn't even need to wear a full vest, merely some plates at the designated "shooting locations"

2) Akai's cap: We've seen in File 296 that fake blood can be hidden in a compartment as small as the hilt of a fake knife, it is not inconceivable to have similar set up underneath Akai's cap. Given the point-blank nature of the second shot, the hidden compartment doesn't even have to be very big.


As for why the theory holds water:
1) Readily available fake body: Kusada Rikumichi's body File 598, who has a similar built to Akai.

2) Identity established only by fingerprints: Akai's identity is established via fingerprints, the body in File 609 had both hands in pockets to protect them from the flames, the bomb was placed near the head to obscure facial identity.

3) Coincidental malfunction of Jodie's cellphone: "Akai"'s fingerprints were taken from the cellphone Conan lent to Jodie in File 607. Coincidentally, Jodie's cellphone ceased to function shortly after the "planning session" between Rena, Akai and Conan.
Also note Conan's comment when he lent Jodie his cellphone: "They have completely different shapes on the outside, but on the inside it's the familiar cell phone we're used to having."

4) Precedence: This is not the first time Akai used a Black Organization bomb to fake a death, Agent Camel in File 603 successfully escaped from right under the Black Organization's sniper scope with only minor injuries to his face. Akai could definitely escape unscathed, especially if the body in the car isn't his (i.e. he has a running start).
This is also not the first time Akai carried out a plan without notifying his colleagues or superiors. In File 604, Akai told Jodie and James Black about the plan only after Rena has been handed over to the Black Organization. In the case of faking his own death, it wouldn't be surprising if even Agent Camel doesn't know about it (since he doesn't NEED to know).


As for why Okiya may be Akai, there is Ran's Deja Vu reaction with Okiya you mentioned.
But also note that Okiya is able to stand up as if nothing happened after receiving a kick to the face that would incapacitate most people. This makes it less likely for Okiya to be Vermouth, as evidenced by File 354 and File 434, she doesn't have a high tolerance for damage.

As for whether the Okiya=Akai theory is too obvious for Gosho, the fact that we are even debating it proves that it's not. 

Wow... you just took the words out of my mouth, lol.

[SkyVenger]

The gunshot in Akai's head might be blank or shot in slightly another direction because even if blood packs fit in the cap, I doubt a bulletproof coating thick enough to withstand a close-range headshot would fit without being noticeable. Maybe it's shot through the window so Gin sees the gun flash to approximately Akai's direction (fails when window is closed, gunshot may be blank after all). Though the lung shot is certain to fail with bulletproof; Vermouth got shot by a shotgun at quite a close range, yet survived (could this happen in real life?).

The biggest reason why we aren't sure if Akai is alive because the fingerprint scan wasn't confirmed by the FBI because they just can't say that the burnt body was one of them, so the Kusumichi fingerprint plan (if it is real) would succeed. 

Last of all, the "deja vu" thingy of Ran and Haibara is not as reliable as a factor in itself... but usually speculations and rumors start from this...
Haibara's deja vu reaction indicates that Okiya might be a BO member, most likely Bourbon or Akai (or both ).
Ran's deja vu reaction indicates that Okiya might be Akai or some other person whom she met once or twice in her life.

Summing it up, the highest probability is (B) Okiya being Akai. Though it's highly probable, we still don't know .