Life and Love are Expensive

Whatever the reason, she noticed the bloody door mat before she noticed he was bleeding. It's funny how the mind works sometimes. She was paying more attention to a stupid, cheap mat before a real breathing person. But she had that old thing forever. It was cursed of course, just like nearly everything else in her house but was one of the few things her mother left before leaving to become an actress. Her mother, the famed Koizumi Yumiko never went on the big screen but instead became a singer. She had even sung a few songs with Tatsuya Kimura (including his last single, Bloody Venus) before he had rejected her. It was perhaps only Akako that knew that it was her mother that had most likely cast a spell on Mari Terahara to kill him.

Damn, why was she remembering her mother at a time like this. She took a deep breath and she couldn't help but feel disgusted by the strong scent of the blood and sweat that covered the boy on the porch of her dark mansion. "Kuroba-kun? Are you all right? I warned you not to go out tonight. Lucifer foresaw it." Kaito couldn't help but smirk, regardless of his condition. "Well, I couldn't keep my fans waiting. And I'm sure Lucifer told you I was going to the heist anyway, didn't he?" "Yes," she said grimly. "Come on in. I have a first aid kit and bandages in the bathroom. I'll get-" "Akako, wait" Kaito calls out and grabs her arm. She tenses and stops, frozen. "You're bleeding Kaito, I don't know how stupid you are but you need care right now with all that blood."

"That's the thing," Kaito says, voice wavering. "It's not my blood." Akako sighed exasperatedly. "Then whose is it? Lucifer said that someone was going to be shot." Kaito lets go of Akako's hand. She never knew how strong he was. His grip had left a red mark around her wrist. This wasn't the Kuroba-kun that would make jokes in class or even the one that would enjoy sleepless nights being chased by cops with a priceless jewel in his hand. This man was someone completely different. He looked so utterly lost; the blue in his eye is shown to be panicked, like a cornered animal. It scared her. And this was a witch thinking that.

"Who was it, Kaito," Akako coaxes gently, using a tone she had never felt before. It was gentle. It was soft, like one a mother would use. She almost hates herself for using such a tone. "It was…They killed her. They shot Aoko." Akako bites her lips. "Nakamori-san?" It couldn't be. Not the happy-go-lucky girl that lived clueless in the mass of mess that had disguised itself to become her life. "She tried to save me so they shot her. I…I shot at them back. Not fatal, just so they couldn't run off. But Aoko, she died immediately. She didn't even know that I was the one behind the monocle." A breathless sob reached his throat before he started again. "She didn't even know that it was me and she died saving a thief that she hated." Akako tried to regain her composure. "So what do you want me to do? Curse them? Make you forget her? Why did you come to me, Kuroba Kaito?" she said coldly, bottom lip quivering. She couldn't be weak at a time like this. Mentally, she scolded herself.

"No!" he yelled and Akako flinched. Why was it always Kuroba-kun? It was always him that made her feel vulnerable, unsure of what to do. Any other soul in this whole damn world and she would have him wrapped around her fingers but somehow it was always him that she met eyes with the most. Not that he ever returned them. "I don't want to forget her. It's the last thing I want to do…" She suddenly knew where he was heading towards. "Then why'd you come to me?" Akako asked, knowing the answer. "I want you to bring Aoko back, please." Akako looked at his miserable face. Mortals always wanted the things they could never receive. Whether it was love, fame, or life, the thing mortals desired was always out of reach. Akako was a mortal herself so she couldn't deny that she wanted the things that remained forbidden to her. It always tempted her. So close within her reach, but he never would reach out to her, no matter how far, how hard she reached. Until now.

"That's forbidden. Witches aren't allowed to." Akako faced away from him. "It's possible though, isn't it?" Kaito yelled. It stung, she laughed coldly. It pierced herself as she did so. The thing she wanted most could be seen, but unexpectedly, it hurt. "Kuroba-kun…" "Please! Bring her back; it's my fault she died! I lost her! You don't know what it possibly feels like!" Akako flared with fury. "Don't tell me I don't know what it feels like!" Her hair rose, moving like snakes. Her eyes glared at him, any other person would back down in fear but Kaito didn't have the emotion to back down anymore. "I'll do anything, Akako. Just bring her back."

He had the same look in his eyes as her. Just like her own motivation, he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. A last wish. "All right, Kuroba-kun, but I hope you know that it comes with a price." Kaito's shoulders relaxed slightly. She tossed him something wrapped in shiny tin foil. It took him a second to know the contents. Perhaps a few hours ago and from a different person (literally anyone but her) he would have been overjoyed but now, in these circumstances, his face lost all colored. "This is the only way I'm willing to negotiate." Akako said coldly, throwing off her cape to reveal the scandalous costume she wore on Valentine's Day a long time ago. It seems like life times ago since they had played such a pointless game."I understand," he said after a moment of hesitation. "I'll eat the chocolate, so bring Aoko back."

"I'll see what I can do." Akako said smoothly. She walked out of the room to see what Lucifer could do. Messing with time would probably be the best way, she thought. Akako laughed. Finally she could have Kaito. Finally. She laughed harder but there was something stinging her. Somehow it hurt. God it hurt. This was the feeling that people get before they cry, guessed Akako. She would never do such thing. She bit her cheek until the unfamiliar pain faded. When the feeling passed, Akako smiled once again. Kaito was hers.