A/N: UPDATE! ^_^ YAY!
I worked long and hard on this so... I hope you guys would like it... ^_^v
a few vocabulary words, just in case:
*Tadaima - I'm back! (used at home)
*Okaeri - welcome back! (as answer to tadaima)
*Baka - stupid
*Ah-le? or Ah-le-le? (I looooove how Conan uses this in the series) - it's like a Japanese equivalent for someone trying to catch the attention of someone else (something like, 'hey') but it's usually considered very childish... xD
CH3 His Prime "Suspect", Hakuba Saguru
An empty street in a dim, moonless night… A deep, blank stare from those dark blue eyes… Nothing left in his mind except that moment when he realized he just had his heart torn apart.
He couldn't ever forget that smile which suggests too many good reasons why he shouldn't feel this way. He couldn't ever forget those words that came along with it. But those weren't for him… They're for someone else…
He couldn't tell when this feeling began; he cared less about it. But it never reached his mind that all this might not end the way he wanted it to, not with the presence of the man his best friend likes, whose identity is yet to be known.
He continued walking; just letting his feet take him home. It wouldn't be a problem; he can walk home blindfolded if he tried to, it'll be a piece of cake. But this isn't the issue here… The girl I like has found someone else…
Before he knew it, he was already home. It surprised him that he can somehow still manage an automatic "Tadaima" to greet his mother.
"Oh, Kaito, okaeri," his mother, Kuroba Chikage, greeted him joyfully. He didn't seem to react, though. In fact it seemed as if he really didn't care at all. That clouded heart of his caused him not only to break himself apart, but to lose himself as well. Somehow, it's as if by losing that girl, he already lost everything there is to care about.
This didn't fail to catch his mother's attention. She knew there's definitely something bothering him. It only requires her to wait for a bit before either Kaito tells her this or she makes an effort to ask him about it.
Even so, Chikage managed to say, "Dinner will be ready pretty soon, just come down to the dining room when you're hungry, okay" without expecting a reply.
In any case, the story continues, with the weary Kaito going up the stairs and into his room, and his curious mother just watching him do so… All in the deafening silence of the night.
He lied there, staring blankly at his room's white ceiling. This afternoon's event kept repeating over and over inside his head, he could have sworn it's making him crazy!
She never told me who it was, did she? He asked himself.
No, I'm sure she didn't. Does she want me to find it out myself?
Even so… I have to find out who it is… He rolled over to his side before he continued being lost in his thoughts…
Wait a minute… That guy… Why did he bother with what happened earlier?
With the way his thoughts overwhelm him, he suddenly sat up of his bed as he finally realized who his most possible 'suspect' is. Trying to control himself from breaking down, he clenched his fist, wrinkling the sheets in the process, and muttered with much disgust…
Hakuba Saguru…
The atmosphere was unbearably heavy the next day. Added to the fact that it suddenly started raining, everyone's hopes of having a good day were thrown down the bin (especially to the anticipating Kid fans who worry about whether or not their idol's heist will still happen that night)…
Although, there is a certain someone who couldn't care less about the weather; just seating on his seat, staring out of nothingness with both palms resting on his chin, and a somewhat childish (and, not to mention, lifeless) expression on his face…
"Eh? Where's Aoko-chan?" a voice asked from somewhere beside him. He tilted his tired head to look at who it is. It was Keiko, wearing a worried look on her face.
"How the hell would I know?" Kaito said, obviously irritated with the girl before him. "I've never seen her since yesterday. Why are you asking me, anyway," he asked her, with both his hands behind his head, as always.
"Uhm…" Keiko paused, shifting her gaze from one side to another while her hand worked uncontrollably on her uniform's scarf. "Well, it's just that… I thought you might know where to find her. The class is about to start soon, but she's still nowhere to be found, and you're usually the one she's with… It's just that…"
She paused again. For a moment there, Kaito seemed disturbed about Keiko's actions, there's definitely something bothering her.
"Hey, Momoi-san, is something wrong?"
"Uhm, to tell you honestly, I'm just about to ask you the same question… Did something bad happen to the two of you?"
With Keiko's words, Kaito could've sworn he felt like something just hit him hard on the back of his head. It was a good thing he stopped himself from falling off his seat.
"W—what made you say that?" Kaito asked her, trying his best not to sound so concerned, nor so irritated with the fact that someone knows there is, indeed, something wrong.
"I don't know why, but, for some reasons, she gave me a call last night… and…"
"And?" Kaito asked, quite anxious about this information that Keiko's about to tell him, he wasn't even aware that his face is only inches away from hers. That gave Keiko a greater excuse to become more uncomfortable.
In any case, Keiko continued, "Well… She isn't saying anything…"
"Haaa?" Kaito said, feeling a little relieved that Aoko didn't tell her anything about what happened yesterday afternoon, but is now beginning to be bothered by Keiko and Aoko's silent conversation over the phone.
"Why would she even call if she wouldn't say anything? Is there something wrong with her?"
Kaito leaned back in surprise as Keiko pounded her hands on his desk and shouted. "That's what I wanted to ask you as well!"
Taken aback by Keiko's sudden outburst, Kaito said, "Ah… uh… w… well… In any case, we have to find her before class starts…"
Kaito right away stood up on his seat and hurriedly reached for the door. As he was just about to open it, however, a girl with a gray bonnet and black-tinted shades opened the door from the outside. When she saw Kaito, she was rather surprised.
"Ah, Kaito!" she cried.
Kaito was quite surprised as well, especially when she mentioned his name.
"Uh… Wait a minute… Do I know you?" he asked. With which, the girl suddenly laughed.
"Huh?" For some reasons, this girl really is familiar. "What are you la— WHAA?" Looking closely, Kaito realized it was Aoko.
"It's funny you didn't recognize me, Kaito." She said to him with a wide grin on her face.
"It is you! Where have you been, you idiot? I was… well… Keiko was worried sick about you!" He shouted, his face flushing red.
"I've been hiding…" Aoko removed her bonnet and shades before she continued. "You remembered what happened yesterday, don't you; about those fan girls who would stop at nothing just for that thief? I'm just making sure they won't come after me." She then gave him a wink.
Totally pissed off with his best friend's grand entrance, he said, "I know that… It's just…" trying his best not to look at her, he moved his gaze from one side to another—much like what Keiko was doing a while ago—with his hands behind his head, and proclaimed, "Why the hell would you wear something like those? It made you look like a criminal…"
Aoko's grin disappeared from her face. She pouted before replying, "Don't blame me! I'm just following Hakuba-kun's advice."
As if by cue, Hakuba appeared behind her, his bag over his shoulders, and his pocket watch on one hand. "Well, what can you say, Nakamori? It seems that everything worked out as I told you it would." Looking at his ever-trusted pocket watch, he continued, "And look, we're two minutes, fifty five seconds, and three nanoseconds early for class…"
Looking up at Hakuba, Aoko said her thanks to the guy. For some reasons, this made Kaito more agitated. What the hell? He muttered under his breath.
"Wait a minute, what's going on here?" Kaito asked aloud, his 'urge to kill' rising as time passed by.
"Hey, don't sound as if I just did something against the law…" Hakuba replied calmly. "I was just helping Aoko get past Kid's fans. I happened to meet her by the school entrance, and thought I should help her out."
Kaito fixed his eyes on Hakuba, determined not to let him out of his sight, even as Hakuba walked past him going towards his seat, Aoko on his heels.
"Oi, Hakuba," Kaito called out. This made Hakuba stop in his tracks. Aoko, who's right behind him, seems to be trying her best not to look at Kaito.
"I don't know what's going on, but I don't like it," Kaito said boldly, with which, Hakuba let out a grin and turned to look at him. Aoko casually went to her seat, pretending that this does not concern her at all. They all watch her do so before Hakuba spoke up. "I don't know what you're talking about, Kuroba." He replied with confidence.
As if he already anticipated this reply, Kaito grinned back and told him, "In any case… 12 noon, roof deck… I'll meet you there…"
Kaito, then went to his seat. The others settled down as well. Soon, the teacher arrived and class started like nothing really happened.
Even if that's the case, no one can deny that the atmosphere became heavier than ever, even when the rain began to stop and lunch break is only an hour away…
"Something strange is going on, indeed."
"What do you mean, Keiko?"
"It seems as if the two of you are having some kind of argument… "
Lunch time at Ekoda High. Aoko and Keiko just happen to have a chat while eating lunch in the classroom. Keiko, then, uses this opportunity to try to get her questions answered by her close friend.
"Who?" Aoko asked, trying to pretend that she doesn't know what they're talking about.
This question made Keiko giggle. She, then, told her, "Don't act dumb, Aoko. You know very well who I'm talking about. It's Kaito. And why did you give me a phone call yesterday without even saying anything? Does it have something to do with him?"
"Oh, that?" Aoko asked with a feeling of discomfort. "There's nothing to worry about. It's just a bit of… a misunderstanding. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"Maybe, but it seems Kaito is really bothered with it." Keiko told her, a hint of pity in her voice.
The doubtful Aoko noticed this and asked, "What made you say that? And… what do you mean by it?"
"Oh, I don't know, but if I were to guess, it has something to do with that 'misunderstanding', that phone call and… something else…"
"Something else?"
"Oh, you know…" Keiko said, sounding a bit like a know-it-all while she started to desperately mess up her lunch. "…About you and Hakuba-kun together."
Aoko blushed. Somehow, the thought of Kaito being bothered by her being with a fellow classmate, who is, by the way, a world-renowned detective, might mean that he—
"What the hell?" she blurted out. "Is he actually thinking that we're a couple?" Aoko stood up, totally 'out of her wits' and started moving her arms frantically as she speaks. "Oh, that hard-headed, good-for-nothing, second rate, magician wannabe, Kaito Kuroba! What have I done to deserve this?"
With her overly-animated reaction, everything around her seems to be 'flying' in all directions, creating quite a mess on her desk.
Although quite amused with Aoko's reaction, Keiko tried to calm her down with her words, "Come on, Aoko. He's only human… Besides, for a genius, he can have shortcomings, sometimes… For such secret, like yours, to be revealed, someone can become confused, especially with the way you say what you wanna say. "
"Eh?" Aoko reacts, taken aback by Keiko's words.
"What is it?" Keiko asked her now calm friend. After being asked this question, Aoko managed a smile before she replied. "Just now… Your thoughts are the same as mine. I found it quite amusing."
For some reasons, Keiko felt as if Aoko's 'mood swings' is something she should take into consideration, but that is exactly the reason why she feel so confused right now. "Huh?"
Aoko giggled before replying with, "Nevermind. I just thought of something and randomly said it aloud." She fixed herself before standing upright and heading to the door.
"Hey, where are you going?" Keiko asked her, with which she replied, "Toilet. I' m just going to wash my hands and clean up the mess on my desk."
With that, she exited the room and went to the comfort room, her mind still filled with things from her and Keiko's conversation. She hates to admit it, but right now, she's totally infuriated with her best friend's way of thinking. How could he overlook something as simple as that?
As she exits the toilet, she suddenly heard a voice from someone who's just about to turn a corner.
"What is it you want to talk about?" the person asked. Curious about from whom it was, she looked at the direction from where the voice is coming from and caught a glance of Hakuba before he turned a corner.
"I'll tell you when we get there," someone replied. From the sound of the voice, she recognized it was from Kaito, who was actually leading the way going to the roof deck.
"I hope this isn't one of your lame tricks, Kuroba." Hakuba bellowed, loud enough for Kaito—who's a meter or two away from where he stood—to hear.
"No, I wouldn't waste my time for something like that… especially if I am so darn serious about what I wanted to do…" Kaito replied with his eyes fixed on Hakuba.
"What is it that you wanted to do anyway?" Hakuba asked, confident about himself… well… maybe a little too confident, that is.
"Answer me, Hakuba, and answer me truthfully, there is something going on between you and my best friend, isn't there?"
"Hmph, I don't know what you're talking about. And besides, I already told you about what happened this morning, didn't I? A beautiful young lady by the name Nakamori Aoko needed help. As a human, I just can't pass by and do nothing for her or I might regret it afterwards."
"You're lying aren't you?" Kaito proclaimed. "Why the hell would you meet Aoko at the school entrance, taking to consideration the fact that it was raining? If she really wanted to hide, why not hide somewhere where people will not easily notice you and not where people pass by very often?"
No matter, Hakuba's expressionless never changed, not even when Kaito continued his statement, "And besides, is there really a need for a disguise if you are already hiding? Furthermore, because it rained this morning, wouldn't there be less people who would be more interested to go on a 'hunt' than just relaxing or spacing out?"
Kaito paused dramatically, this time, truly determined not to lose eye contact. "Tell me the truth, Saguru… What's going on?"
Just by saying Hakuba's name, it's as if he's totally going to lose his mind. He himself, is feeling agitated with it.
"Why are you asking me this, Kuroba?" Hakuba threw him back a question, his face still not showing any emotions.
"Tsk, really?" Kaito said sarcastically. "Is the reason too simple for you not to notice?"
Hakuba's eyes narrowed. Kaito continued, "You should've known by now, there are things that can't be said easily. It takes a lot of courage for it…"
Hakuba pursed his lips with Kaito's words, obviously annoyed with all this. Even so, he kept silent and continued to listen. "Aren't you a detective, who can tell a person's thoughts just by observing his actions?"
Hakuba managed a smirk, crossed his arms across each other, and replied, "Of course I can. That's exactly what I do; I can't help but help a lonely heart in trouble."
Hakuba's words made Kaito twitch in disgust. "Stop acting so cool. What do you want from her?"
"Ah-le? Why do I feel like you're being overprotective?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Kaito interrupted. "After all, she's…"
For a while, there was a deafening silence between them, broken only by the occasional strong blows of the wind. Kaito's uneasy feeling filled the air. His loud, thumping heart is keeping him from finishing off his statement. With that, it wasn't surprising that the young detective before him was able to read through everything.
Before he knew it, Hakuba already had a wide, mocking grin on his face, and was already speaking up, "I see… So this is what this whole thing is about…"
"What do you mean?" Kaito asked him with a furious look on his face. And when Hakuba didn't answer, he finally let his anger take over him. "Answer me, dammit! What's—"
"If I'm not mistaken, this whole thing concerns Nakamori's secret love, isn't it?"
"Shut up." Kaito snapped as he tried to keep his cool once again, but to no avail. He can feel himself shaking all over. He knows all about it, doesn't he?
As if to answer the question that's bothering Kaito, and as if he's a psychic, Hakuba answered the question that's bothering him deep inside. "Yes, Kuroba, I know everything there is about that. After all, even if rumors don't spread like wildfire, my deductive skill will lead me there in an instant. Apparently, I'm just waiting for the right time before she can have the chance to tell me about how she feels about me. When she does, I'll tell her about my true feelings for her as well."
Hakuba's words hit him like lightning. So it was true! It was Hakuba she was talking about… he thought.
With that, it seemed as if hope has already flown away from him. He can't deny it; he's totally pissed off now from knowing about the truth, unaware of the fact that this 'truth' is only a mask which hides another truth. It's confusing, but what else can he do except try to accept this?
"That's a lie." Kaito said with a voice nearly like a whisper.
"Maybe… Maybe not…" Hakuba's grin grew even wider. Kaito lowered his head, still in disbelief.
With Kaito's another long silence, Hakuba spoke up, as he pass by him. Stopping right beside Kaito, he grinned once more and whispered, "I see… If I knew this is the best way to let the 'cat out of the bag', then I should've thought of this a long time ago. Seeing as to how you react about that girl, I can say she's more than just a friend to you…"
"I hate to say this to you, Kaito, but it seems as if you're too late. It's best if you just confess your crimes right away and surrender before anyone else gets hurt… Don't you think so too— Kaitou Kid?"
Another pause. Hakuba, then, made his way to the door. As he did, Kaito spoke up. This made Hakuba stop in his tracks, "Who are you kidding? Do you really, seriously think I would believe those pack of lies? And what do you know about me anyway? Why do you keep insisting that I am The Phantom Thief?"
"Hmph, who are YOU kidding?" Hakuba returned the question to him. "You can deny for as long as you want, but pretty soon, you won't be able to deny it… I'll make sure of that…"
As he started to make his way to the door once again, Kaito stopped him, yet again. Without even bothering to turn and look at his rival, he shouted his name with much disgust.
"Saguru!"
"What is it now?" Hakuba asked as he looked back at Kaito.
"I still don't get what going on, but in any case… Make her cry and you're SERIOUSLY gonna get it. Who knows, I might just kill you RIGHT THERE AND THEN!"
Despite Kaito's threat, Hakuba seems to be unaffected.
"Come on, you're over-reacting… Well then, don't take it too personally, Kuroba." And he finally left.
"Don't take it too personally when you finally realize I'm so damn serious about what I just said…" Kaito muttered under his breath.
Little did they know, though, that the person they're talking about is just outside the door, and she just overheard their whole conversation. Upon hearing everything, a crazy idea came over her. And, just before anyone discovers she's there, she went ahead and acted as if nothing happened…
Later, back in his room, five hours before Kid's heist, he still can't get over his conversation with Hakuba. Time seemed to pass by so quickly, he totally forgot about tonight's 'job'. If it wasn't for his mother, he wouldn't be able to snap out of it.
"Kaito, you know there's something you needed to do tonight, don't you?"
"Ah, mom…" Kaito, who's lying on his bed with his hands behind his head, as usual, said with a look of surprise on his face. Soon, he finally remembered, "Oh, right… Kaitou Kid…"
"You better get ready, then… So, are you planning to go there with Aoko-chan?" Chikage told him as she made her way out Kaito's room.
With his mother mentioning Aoko's name, Kaito sat up from his bed, paused for a while, and said, "Mom…"
Kaito's mother looked back at him. "What's wrong, dear?"
Staring blankly at the floor, he asked her, "Is it… is it okay to give up?"
Kaito's mother gave him a worried look. "By giving up, do you mean, being The Phantom Thief? Where in the world did that came from, Kaito?"
"It's not just that…" Kaito replied, his grip on his pants becoming tighter by the minute.
"Being Kaitou Kid was my choice. I did it to find out my father's murderer. I did it out of my own will, and I don't regret anything about it… I did it because dad's important to me… Although I might think of giving up as Kaitou Kid, it is not as easy as it sounds, for I am doing this, not only for him, but for us as well and rewards will come in the end…
"But… as for this 'other person' I care about… Is it okay to just give it all up?"
With her effort of trying to 'read between her son's lines', she completely understood what he was talking about. Chikage pursed her lips together as Kaito continued, "What's the use of fighting when you absolutely know there's nothing you can gain from it?"
Kaito looked up to her and asked, "Am I… just being stupid for falling for my best friend?"
He finally said it. Chikage thought. But I never really thought of it as something concerning his feelings for Aoko-chan…
To try and lift the mood up a bit, she gave him a smile and jokingly said, "Come on, now, of course you're stupid."
"EH?" Kaito shouted in astonishment. He never expected those words to be coming from his mother. "What did you say?"
Kaito's mother laughed and added, "Why would you even think of giving up? That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard from you…
"Surely your father will be upset if he hears you saying that."
With his mother's words, Kaito felt something heavy inside him, like someone just gave him a fatal blow on his stomach. There he was, being problematic about Aoko and Hakuba, about him having stand no chance, and he totally forgot about his primary goal and about the things that his father has taught him, most especially about not giving up until the end.
"Well, if I were in your case, I wouldn't even think about giving up… Rather, I'll begin thinking of solutions, of ways to get out of there, even if it requires me to make the impossible possible…" With that, she left the room.
Kaito's eyes widened, her mother's words kept repeating in his head…
I'll begin thinking of solutions, of ways to get out of there, even if it requires me to make the impossible possible…
Taking note of these words in his head, he grinned widely…
"Making the impossible possible, huh? Perhaps, that might also mean, making crazy things even crazier…"
He remained there for another two hours or so before the heist, as a crazy idea came to him… something that not even the great Hakuba Saguru would ever imagine…
Crazy, crazy, crazy! Everyone's going crazy over this thing called 'love'. It seems that Kaito totally believed it was Hakuba who Aoko was talking about as the person she admires. Upon realizing her best friend's mistake, Aoko comes up with a crazy idea we have yet to know, and upon concluding that he might not stand a chance against Hakuba, Kaito comes up with *ahem* a crazy idea that might just make the situation worse! That is, "something that not even the great Hakuba Saguru would even imagine."
And what's in Hakuba's head? Why did he try to make Kaito believe the lies that he was 'forced' to accept? Why didn't he just tell him the truth? Is it really just because he wanted Kaito to admit that he's the one behind the cape and the monocle, or is there something else?
Watch out for the next chapter! It's finally Kaitou Kid's time to shine once again! ^_^
A/N: Darn, I really had a tough time on this one. Lots of heavy feeling... O.o Even I am being affected (gyaaaah! mental block).
It was quite a challenge to explore another side of Kuroba Kaito, specifically the "oh-I'm-so-darn-serious-I-just-wanna-kill" side of his personality, so forgive me if you think this chapter didn't turn out as well as the previous ones. I must admit this chapter's a little below my expectations, taking into account that I'm so damn exited about writing the next chapter, I thought I should just go ahead and finish this as soon as possible *hits thyself*... gomenasai! ^_^v
But still, at least the story progresses!
And, yeah, I didn't mean for Hakuba to be that bad. I'm just trying to explore another side of him as well. Some of this chapter's contents remind me of the chapters in the manga wherein Hakuba made a bet with Kaito (vol3 chap16/file3). Ch-ch-check it out, yo!
Well, anyway, I hope you guys like it! In the following weeks, I'll try to make time writing the next chapter. Classes are about to start once again... *sigh*
In any case, I liked the last part of this chapter. It made my heart go *doki doki* hahaha xD
Well, then, until next time...
Reviews are LOOOOOOOOVED! Just go easy on me v^_^v
Love Lots,
-neonqincy1217-
:3