First World Arc~

Chapter 2: Sneak Magician

The day had started out like any other, it seemed. Aoko was up making breakfast and Kaito was gathering up everything he needed for his latest magic show. Aoko had the day off, so she thought she would get some things done. Kaito would soon be heading off to the theatre for his rehearsal. Once the food was finished, the two of them ate, and got ready for their day.

"The breakfast was lovely as usual, my darling." Kaito commented as he kissed his wife on the cheek.

Aoko smiled. "Alright, have a safe trip, and good luck with the rehearsal."

With her eyes closed, Aoko happily started humming something while she got to work. However, she stopped when she felt two arms wrap themselves around her. Kaito was holding her close to him, although Aoko couldn't see the expression he wore. He had held her for a while, but Aoko didn't question it. "You know I love you, right?"

Closing her eyes, Aoko sighed. "Yeah, I know that. I love you too."

When he broke the hug, he still held her by the waist. He smiled at her with the warmest of smiles. Except at the same time, there was something different in his eyes. It showed through the poker face he always wore, but the emotion that was visible told Aoko something was different. That one emotion told her something was wrong.

Fear.

There was fear in Kaito's eyes for some reason, as if he was afraid something might happen. "K-Kaito..."

Aoko didn't really know what to say. She wanted to say something comforting, but couldn't seem to find the words. But even so, he continued to smile. "I love you, Aoko."

She nodded, now afraid. "I love you too, Kaito."

The fear in his eyes was soon gone and his poker face was once again intact. "Well, I'll see you soon, my darling."

The two parted with a quick kiss goodbye, and like that, everything seemed normal again. Although an uneasy feeling had began to overcome her, as she couldn't shake the feeling that something was soon about to happen. She paid some bills and did some taxes, and things progressed normally. At least, until she received that call. The phone rang nonstop, and an eerie ominous feeling overcame Aoko, almost as if that call would change her life. But nevertheless, she answered it, because it was probably important.

"Moshi Moshi." She gave out the typical phone greeting.

"Is this Kuroba Aoko?" A man asked through the phone.

"Yes, that's me."

"Well then, I regret to inform you that your husband is dead."

Aoko's eyes widened, her heart sped up, and her whole world started to slow down. Her hands were shaking, and she could barely hold the phone. "W-W-What do you mean?"

"He died in a fire at the local theatre. The source of the fire is still unknown. Your husband died of smoke inhalation and his body is currently at the Haido Central Hospital."

Aoko didn't even bother hanging up the phone. She just booked it out the door, and strangely enough, the hospital was right there. Aoko would wonder if the hospital had been located outside her house the last time she checked, if she had not been in such distress. "K-Kaito! Where's Kaito!"

Running through the crowd was proving to be useless, seeing as she couldn't seem to find the person who called. She hardly noticed as people around her were starting to leave the scene. One by one they left, leaving Aoko alone on the hospital grounds. Before she knew it, there was no one around. No one to tell her where Kaito was or the details of how he had died.

She knew something like this would happen. But she didn't expect Kaito to just leave. Slowly, she sank to the ground, hands covering her eyes. If Kaito wasn't there with her, she'd rather just die.


Aoko awoke with a start, breathing heavily in and out. The sun was up, and the clock showed her usual rising time. Although she was clearly exhausted from that nightmare. To her, it was scary and it felt very real. She was told Kaito, her beloved Kaito from since they were children, was dead. Speaking of Kaito, he wasn't in bed. Well, he was probably already awake. After all, he did have a rehearsal to attend.

Feeling a tad fatigued, she climbed out of bed and started on her day. Kaito was nowhere in sight when she walked into the living room. Well, he was still alive at least, and Aoko knew that for a fact. Aoko approached the kitchen table and found a plate with her breakfast on the table, accompanied by a note.

"I've gone to the theatre early this morning to make preparations for the show. I made you breakfast, too. Eat up and have a good day! -Kaito."

A habit that never died after Kaito retired from being Kid, was the use of the Kid symbol when signing his letters. Of course they would never show up on official documents, since he still had a high chance of being arrested if he was found out, but on the small letters to Aoko always contained it, because it was a secret shared between them.

Although, there were times when he would use complicated Kid notes with complex riddles to taunt and challenge his detective friends and neighbors, even when the meaning behind it was a simple party invitation. Where he got the time to think up such things, Aoko would never know. It was just Kaito's way of being Kaito.

Deciding she wanted to walk around a bit more before she ate, Aoko wandered into the living room and started looking at the fireplace. It wasn't on right now, but it was a small place where she and Kaito would come to get warmed up during the winter. But as she looked at all the trinkets placed on top, there was one she hadn't seen before, that managed to stand out above the rest. A small flower pot rested there and a bright red rose had stuck out from inside. There was also a note with it.

"Take this rose~" It said, with the most familiar handwriting.

Aoko pulled it out of the pot and a pink mist-like substance started pouring from it. It soon spread to her area, until she could barely see her own hand in front of her. That was when she felt herself being lifted into the air. When the mist finally subsided, she found herself face to face with her magician husband, carrying her like a bride. "Surprise!"

"K-Kaito?"

With a pleased smirk, he gave her an explanation. "You didn't think I would just leave my lovely wife behind without saying goodbye, did you?"

She tried to feign annoyance, but it was hard for her as she could only smile. "I should have known you were still here, considering how the food is still hot."

Kaito smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "But aren't you supposed the be getting ready for the show right now?"

He shrugged. "What can I say? I was concerned. You look exhausted. You must not have gotten a lot of sleep last night because of that nightmare. I tried to wake up up, but you were too into it."

Aoko's mind was brought back to that strange nightmare, that felt all too real. Kaito, who was ever so good at reading his wife, noticed this. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

Aoko sighed and shook her head. "No it's fine. I'm just glad you never really left."

Smiling again, Kaito sat Aoko down and both of them shared a good morning kiss.