"A dolls ability to uplift the human spirit can be immeasurable." - Gayle Wray

Once upon a time in a far-far away kingdom lived a mysterious noble man. The young rich and handsome noble lived a luxurious life anyone would envy. He had a beautiful house - more like a mansion – on his own with a lovely and huge garden, a dozen servants of the very best, the rooms decorated with the finest furniture all according to the latest fashion, his clothes flawless, his manners perfect, and the gifts he could give to anyone – weren't those young ladies just lucky? – those perfect jewels, crystals and diamonds…
He had some strange habit like wearing black since his parents died, sometimes decorated with some light blue line, taking suspiciously too much dance lesson, buying exotic goods and rare items from over seas, and the strangest as some servants said buying female dresses matching his style. Of course no one ever saw those mysterious dresses in person.
But no matter what it seemed like, beyond all these perfection and silly strange habits, the young and handsome Kuroba Kaito had a dark secret. And somehow this had shown in his acting once in a while, unbeknown to him given the base of rumors that he is dangerous and strange in bad way.

"Kaito, you won't believe Aoko who stopped by this day!"
The addressed young man turned his messy head towards the excited lady in the breathtaking black and light blue dress. Her eyes sparkled with joy and happiness he wanted to see all the time. Kaito smiled to himself and decided to turn towards the girl with his full body, faking curiosity.

" Should I guess?"

" You won't find it out either." She giggled more to herself and sighed with a beaming smile looking up, replaying the beautiful memory. " It was Aoko's dad. Can you believe it? He could finally take a little rest and decided to visit. He even brought Aoko some presents."

" And where is he now?" the young man asked without missing a beat. Her smile fall a little. Kaito noted how her sad face can be much more beautiful.

" He had to go back." In a second she beamed again. " But he promised to come again! Maybe next time he can stay for dinner. Or more."

Oh the optimism. How lovely.

" And we will be more than happy to welcome him." Kaito agreed and smiled when the girl hugged him obviously from over-helming happiness. He wondered to hug her back or not, but when he could have made up his mind the young lady already let him go, spinning around and catching his hands to join in the dance.

Kaito could say he was beyond amused. This young lady leading him with the hugest smile on her face, this fragile doll he adored and kept safe from the cruelty of the world, this miracle called Aoko, this woman who was so complicatedly simple could always surprise him.

After a minute or so he took the leading role, earning a happy giggle from Aoko, grinning at his partner he started to waltz all the way down the corridors, into the hall, just behind the back of the maid cleaning the window, shushing down the lady in his hands in the process. When they were both in the next corridor they let out a childish laugh then continued their play.

"Kaito! Guess who visited Aoko this morning!"

The young master of the mansion sighed. Today wasn't so good for him, he had to deal with that annoying Hakuba, that blonde always poking his nose into everything, and in the end he couldn't even get him to leave for sure. That horse-face told he would be back for dinner. Plus one of the servants had problems with his eyes claiming to see things now. So he had two troubles and Aoko would be… Just the perfect cure to his problems – he smiled to himself.

" Guess, you say. I would say it was that lovely bubbling girl with that strange accent… Kazuha was her name?"

Aoko gaped at him with wonder and amazement.

" How did you know?"

He stood up from his chair stepping closer to the lady in black and light blue, bending down a little just to enter her personal space in a very uncomfortably way.

" How couldn't I? Your face is just like an open book. " Aoko looked at him with her huge eyes not moving an inch as he leaned even closer, his stare piercing through her soul. He wanted to test her, open up that fragile doll body of hers to examine and destroy in the process. He would regret it later, though, that was sure. So he was just trying her patience.

" Aoko believes you. " She smiled kindly at him and he had to take a step back in surprise. He was sure people couldn't stand his intense gaze and he was far from friendly a minute before.

" Is there anything else you want to tell me? " Kaito decided to play nice as a prize for surprising him. Although the young woman had no idea about the rules they followed, she was a great player in this twisted game.

" Oh and Hakuba came as well. "

No matter how great actor he was the headache reappeared instantly and he had to take a deep sigh.

" You still don't like him? Aoko wonders what problem you two have. "
" It's not that we have a problem, just that I prefer him everywhere else I'm"

" That means you two have problems." The woman's conserved and focused face was completely unrealistic and Kaito had to laugh at the sight. Of course this made the pretty lady upset in an instant, she hated if someone didn't take her seriously. " Aoko would prefer you stop laughing."

" Laughter is the best medicine." He waved it off " And I happened to have a horrible headache thanks to that blonde." He was about to turn back and continue his works, but because of her looks he decided against it. " You want to say something?"
" Bent down a little. " her voice was a command but coming from her was just comical. However Kaito did as was told. The doll like woman kissed his forehead gently half surprising him again.

The screaming echoed in the mansion's corridors and rooms. Kaito shot up in his bed eyes wide open, breathing uneven, cold sweat on his forehead. He jumped out of his bed running to the secret door, tearing it open, dashing through the long dark corridor to the room, only stopping just before he would enter it. He was about to run up to the woman in the huge bed, shaking her awake, when Aoko screamed again completely awake and crying from fear. Kaito glanced at himself smacking his forehead. It was full moon again. And having his gray night-glow being illuminated by the bright silver light painting it white wasn't helping a bit.

He slowly moved to the shadows, closer to Aoko's bed trying to soothe her with his voice.

" It's okay… only a dream… It's over, hadn't happen at all. I'm here… "

When he finally reached her side and warily wrapped his arms around her, she broke out in tears clinging to his shirt, burying her face n his chest. All he could do was to pat her back and head comfortably.

She had some serious problems with sleeping. On too dark moonless or too bright fullmoon-ed nights nightmares tortured her fragile mind. She kept on dreaming about a strange a frightening figure in all white smiling down to her, just before she fainted. Or wake up. Screaming in the process.

Kaito got used to this strange routine. He didn't mind it at all, hugging her until she calmed down, or whispering nice, kindly things to her whole night. The next day she would be twice as happy, forgetting the very existence of the night before.

So welcome to my dark 'fantasy' AU where you won't see any magic just the feeling of it. Or not. I hope so anyway.
If you find Aoko or Kaito too messed up for your liking I strongly recommend to read
kaitothegreat's fanfictions, they are awesome and wonderful. But if you think this story isn't messed up enough, please send me something that means you're interested and I'll try my best to come with the next chapter explaining why is this story a dark fic.
Thank you for your time,
Have a nice day :)