1: An Innocent Article

The headline of that morning's paper caught Kaito's attention as he dashed about his home to gather supplies for school. 'Return of Kudo Shinichi Marks the End of the Organization' was proclaimed boldly across the first page. Intrigued, Kaito grabbed it and ran out the door, planning to read it before the first bell rang.

It was a beautiful day. Hakuba Saguru reflected as he entered the classroom. The sun shone, the flowers in full bloom, and… Kuroba Kaito dodging Nakamori Aoko as she tried to take his head off with a mop. Yet it would seem that Kuroba was attempting to appease her more quickly than usual. In the past this was done so he could read the news before class. The half-Brit detective dropped smoothly into his chair, pulling out a magazine. It seems that Spider's tour is over, he noticed with some relief. That meant the assassin wasn't in Tokyo to go after a certain showy thief.

A loud 'whack' drew Saguru's gaze back to the class clown and his childhood friend. Kaito had blocked Aoko's mop with a textbook. "Maa, maa, Aoko…" he admonished, "class is about to start!" Hakuba smirked, if there was anyone who didn't care about class, it was Kaito. Nevertheless, Aoko sat in her seat with a huff. "Aoko would expect Kaito to become more mature in college." She complained. "And I would have expected you to get some curves", Kaito shot back. Before she could respond, the magician 'poofed' a newspaper into existence and settled down to read it. Hakuba felt vaguely satisfied that his earlier deductions were correct.

The sound of paper crinkling drew the detective's gaze once again to the magician. Kaito's smile was frozen, his eyes dark and chilly, and his hands clenched so tightly on the edges of the newspaper that it was beginning to tear. Hakuba frowned and focused closely on his classmate so as to not miss anything, he even ignored the teacher as she began class.

Suddenly, Kaito's face paled, "not here!" Hakuba thought he whispered. Smile gone, Kaito suddenly slammed the paper down onto his desk. Everyone started and all eyes were on Kaito. The magician stood slowly. "I have to go" he said in a tight voice, and vanished in a cloud of stage smoke, leaving only the slightly crumpled newspaper behind.

Saguru frowned, is this something to do with Kaitou KID? He had long ago given up on finding any evidence to convict Kuroba of being KID and, after ceasing to accuse him, they had actually become… tentative friends. Glancing at the newspaper, the Brit's suspicions deepened. The page Kuroba had been looking at had a list of the people arrested in the Organization's dismantling.

Hakuba had to hand it to Kudo, he certainly was a good detective. This Black Organization he'd worked under cover four years to destroy. Still, something about this article had spooked Kuroba, and that was something to be worried about. If Kuroba was scared enough to let it show through his poker face… something bad was going to happen, and if it was bad enough for Kuroba to leave school without warning… it was going to happen soon.

The school day passed quietly, perhaps too quietly. Maybe it was just how tense Saguru felt that made it seem that way. Obviously he was not the only one worried, Aoko kept glancing out the window and even Koizumi Akako was fidgeting. The bell rang after what seemed like ages and the detective scooped up his bag and swiftly made his way to Aoko's side.

"Nakamori-san" he said, "you are going to visit Kuroba now, aren't you." He said evenly. Aoko nodded, "Aoko said you could just call me Aoko." She mentioned distractedly. Saguru straightened, "I would like to accompany you, if that's all right, Kuroba's behavior from earlier has me… troubled." Slinging her own bag over her shoulder, Aoko quickly agreed. Akako watched with a strange expression as the two hurried out the door.

"It's not that far…" Aoko was babbling as she led the way down the sidewalk. Hakuba would have remarked that he had been to the magician's house before and knew how close it was, but figured that if talking helped her ignore her worries, then the least he could do was not interrupt.

Aoko gasped.

The horrified sound instantly set Hakuba on alert. In front of them was Kuroba's home. Several police cars and ambulances were parked out front, even a fire truck as well; the door to the ordinarily tidy house was smashed in.

The two young adults ran. As they neared, a stretcher was carried out with the form of a red-haired woman. "That's Chikage, Kaito's mom!" Aoko exclaimed. Police held them back. "Where's Kaito!" Aoko cried, her lips trembling and her eyes watering. Hakuba, already fearing the worst, didn't know how to comfort her.

A second stretcher was carried out. Even from the distance they were at, both could recognize the mop of wild brown hair, matted with blood though it was. Aoko let out a choked sob and dropped to her knees on the pavement. "KAITO!" She wailed… and Hakuba watched.

For him the moment felt disconnected. "They're not in body bags", he found himself saying, "that means they are both alive." He continued to feel disconnected from the world as another group of paramedics began treating Aoko for shock and the ambulances holding the Kurobas drove off with flashing lights and blaring sirens that seemed strangely muted to his ears. "I'm fine." He told the medics when asked, "I'm a detective, I've seen scenes like this before" though never when one of his friends was filling the role of victim. "I believe I shall… just go home now." He walked away, but later couldn't remember the journey home.

The detective sat in class, it all felt so wrong. So somber and ordinary without Kaito there to liven it up. The entire world seemed darker and more… broken, less hopeful. Yesterday they'd received the news that Kuroba Chikage was in a coma and Kaito… was dead.

Aoko still hadn't stopped crying.

Saguru's thoughts suddenly sharpened and his eyes cleared. His brow furrowed and he resolved that he wouldn't let it end like this. A world without Kaito, magician extraordinaire, had to have meaning too. He couldn't let himself break like this. Not with Kaito's killer still out there. If there was anything the cheerful magician deserved, it wasn't jail or death- not even for his crimes as Kaitou KID, no… he deserved justice. Hakuba was a detective, this much he should be able to do for his best friend!

"You're going to avenge him aren't you?" Asked a sultry voice. Saguru looked up into the dark red eyes of Koizumi Akako. "Detectives work for justice, not vengeance" he retorted. Akako flicked a strand of dark red hair back over her shoulder, "say it however you like, just answer the question." Hakuba looked at her, considering, "yes, I am."

Akako gave a sad smile, "One works to destroy everything that is believed to be wrong, only to find oneself in the midst of ruins." She spoke as though quoting something, her eyes hardened, "I'll help." Hakuba looked at the soft white hand she was offering. "With the amount of damage, more than one man broke into the Kuroba's home. Nothing was taken, so it wasn't a burglary… they were there for the Kurobas. Going after those men might be dangerous." Saguru's amber eyes stared into Akako's red ones, she stared back. "I'll help." She said again, exaggerating the enunciation of each word. Something seemed to pass between them, an understanding, and Hakuba accepted her hand.