*As I mentioned in my prologue, this is 'Avenging a Thief', the other option for a main story after MSK is over. Please tell me what you think of it! There is a poll on my profile page to vote for the story you would like me to work on, if nobody votes, then I'll pick whichever one I want so please, take your time and vote! Please review! Give me a little longer to finish chapter one and then that's it for this story preview.*

Prologue

Believe you won, cry in relief at your victory,
Feel like you're flying, letting the weight off your shoulders,
Forget about the problems for just one minute, let your joy set you free,
Feel the arrow pierce your wings, sending you plummeting to the ground,
Never wake up, lie forever in eternal slumber.

Somewhere in the crowded, luminous streets of Tokyo sounds the beating of helicopter rotors, like the flapping wings of a hummingbird, and police sirens, loud and repetitive. They are still searching for their quarry, the elusive Kaitou Kid, of whom they are unaware has already escaped their grasps.

Kuroba Kaito walks cockily down a silent road, a quiet place where car lights hardly touch, and even the siren screams don't reach. He flicks his newly stolen treasure up in the air, smiling as it spirals into the glowing rays of a full moon, shining bright red. He laughs, knowing that finally after so long, he has achieved his goal at last.

This means no more heists, no more fruitless searching, only a clear road ahead of him. As long as he could destroy the gem, the legendary Pandora, then everything would be solved.

He has dumped his greater ambitions of annihilating the Organization that had murdered his dad when they intruded into one of his heists and killed several police officers, including Inspector Nakamori. While one would think it would fuel his already burning fire for vengeance, it only dimmed the flame, caused his candlelight of resolve to flicker.

It only showed what a hopeless dream it was to take them down; he was only a teenage boy, with a wizened old man as his partner-in-crime. How then, could they destroy such a high-scale mafia? Destroy what must be a global underground powerhouse? No matter how he thought around it, he as Kid couldn't get help to stop the Organization; he was a wanted criminal.

You and what army? He thinks of the line that flowed into his head that day, a day of total massacre. He has nobody but himself to face them; nobody was on his side but faithful old Jii.

Therefore, he would crush their goal of immortality, at least down the path of Pandora. Much safer for him and everybody around him, much easier to carry out. He brands himself as a coward from time to time, but what else was to be done? The only other option was try and die.

Oh sure, tantei-kun has a plan; a plan that he thinks will work out fine. He hasn't considered taking it large-scale and actually infiltrating their headquarters, something Kaito had tried and he ended up immediately scurrying out the exit. You can't beat them with just defense. In this case, defense wasn't the best offense, nor was offense the best defense. You need to match the syndicate in both to even hope about winning.

The jewel falls back into its new owner's hand, where he squeezes it tight. If only the Organization would shatter like this diamond isdestined to; it would be best for all.

His Poker Face hides a sea of conflicting emotions, ranging from pride and joy to guilt and sorrow. Two years ago he had promised to his late father he was going to obliterate the syndicate that murdered him, and now he turned his back on that road. "Forgive me, tou-chan," he murmurs quietly, tossing the luminous scarlet jewel in the air again, watching the bright rays form rose petals on the sidewalk below. "I would do it if I could."

He doesn't realize that on the top of a building he had passed lies a sniper, Snake. He doesn't notice the red dot, like a drop of blood, settle on his mess of chocolate brown hair. Snake smiles, and pulls the trigger.

Pain as sharp as an arrow pierces Kaito's skull, and his scream is quickly cut short by the silent stillness of death. The precious stone slides out of his hands, soaking in a pool of crimson, warm and sticky.

Snake climbs down the stairs, running as he reaches his victim. Kaito's bright blue eyes are glazed over, no longer reflecting the moon and the stars. His limbs are arranged in an odd manner, one that could not be mistaken for sleep. He reaches down to the scarlet pavement, picking up the gem from the quickly blooming flower of red. How naive Kid had been, to think he had not been tracked. Snake had kept an eye on his every move and allowed the teenager to steal the prize for him.

Laughing, he walks away, leaving the corpse behind him. Minutes later, someone sees an unconscious boy laying on the street. The girl approaches, about to offer a helping hand. She screams when she sees the blood.

*Whaddaya think? This is basically a flashback, the real story starts with Aoko three years later in college. Avenging a Thief will have a self-written poem in the beginning of each chapter. What did you think of my poem? Nice? Please review!*~Aeyra