A/N: I'm not sure how people keep finding this story, but given the large interest, here's another chapter...
Dad's death hit me hard. After all, I saw him as invincible. Kuroba Toichi. The great stage magician. Some called him the next Houdini. And in the blink of an eye, he vanished. A freak accident during a performance. At least, that's what I was told, back when I was nine. But since then, I've learned a bit more, about who my father really was, the double life that he led. Kaitou Kid. The Magician Under the Moonlight. An international gentleman thief, wanted by a dozen agencies around the world, and one particularly nasty organization. That's what got him killed. Murdered- a mysterious organization shrouded in shadows, lined with danger. And for what? A gem. A gem called Pandora.
Just what is Pandora? What kind of gem would be worth killing for? Worth dying for? Dad. Just what was so important about this gem, that'd you'd sacrifice everything? Your wife. Your son. Your own life. I just don't understand. I try. I really try. But it's hard. Even after all that Jii-chan has told me. Even after I've taken up the monocle myself. What is it about this gem, that has consumed so many lives, altered the fate of those that pursue it? Maybe I'll discover the truth for myself one day, when I finally get my hands on Pandora. At least, that is my hope, my purpose for becoming the second Kaitou Kid, the reincarnation of the Phantom Thief. Of course, Jii-chan is reluctant to let me, but it is my choice, my duty. No matter the risk, no matter how many gems I have to steal, laws I have to break, morals I have to give up. I was never that good at following rules anyways. And besides, it's a good opportunity to put my skills of illusion to...more unusual applications.
The world better prepare. Kaitou Kid is reborn.
"KID!" a voice yells through the blaring of a megaphone. "KID!"
A quick glance over my shoulder and I see that Nakamori-keibu, along with his goon squad, are chasing after me, covered in green goo. A little present I left them, as a thanks for their efforts. With a snicker, I skirt to a stop, just on the edge of the roof. Then turning around, I give one last farewell wave to my pursuers before taking a step backwards, entering into a free fall off the skyscraper. The sensation of weightlessness envelops me, turning my body into a feather surfing on the wind.
Three. Two. One.
With one swift motion, I pull the cord. White wings explode outwards, catching my fall. Like a balloon, I begin to rise, growing ever closer to the full moon.
The moon's pale light casts an odd hue over the ground, as if the world were but a photonegative, waiting to be developed. And all over are little lights, like fireflies glowing in an otherwise dark world. One of the lights I recognize, my own abode- the Nakamori residence, home of the well-meaning inspector and his daughter, Aoko, my childhood friend. For the last five years, I've been living with them, since Dad's passing and Mon's trip to America. And for the most part, it has been well and good. Although as of late, things have been a bit terse, what with my secret identity as a wanted criminal and all. I'd hazard a guess that Nakamori-keibu would not approve. Just my suspicions. Oh, and of course, the times where the inspector swore to lock KID up and throw away the key. Right. That might have been a good indication that I wasn't on the man's best buds list. Well, Kaitou KID wasn't anyways. Kuroba Kaito on the other hand, well, let's just say I'm the son he never had. Which I suppose makes things all the more awkward between us. "Your kid is doing drugs and skipping school? Well, my kid goes out at night and steals precious jewels." See how that conversation might be a bit awkward? Not to mention that Aoko is probably the one teenager in all of Japan who isn't a fan of Kaitou KID, though understandable so, since her father's task with catching the guy, I mean, me. But enough rambling; I'm home.
Landing deftly onto the roof, I retract my hang glider, then climb down the side of the house, making my way into the bedroom window I left open. Careful to make sure no one sees, I take off the Kaitou KID outfit- the white top hat, the cape, the suit (all a bit tacky if I'm honest)- and once again become Kuroba Kaito, normal, albeit a bit mischievous, high school student. Moving over to my bed, I sit myself down, pulling out the night's haul from my pocket: a blood-red opal.
"Are you Pandora?" I ask aloud, holding the gem up to the light. I wonder if my quest is finally at its end. Or will I be disappointed, like all those times before?
According to Jii-chan, Pandora was a very distinctive gem. Though my father did not give specifics, he did tell Jii-chan that the moment he beheld it, he knew it was the right one. But what exactly did that mean? How would I know by instinct alone? Just as I am pondering over the question, watching my own distorted reflection on the opal's surface, I hear a voice call out to me.
"Kaito!" the voice says.
Turning my head, I realize that it's coming from downstairs.
"Nakamori-san must be back," I mumble to myself, quickly stashing the gem away into a drawer. Then opening the door to my room, I make my way down to the first floor. There, Nakamori is standing by the doorway, a plastic bag in hand. When he sees me arrive, he gives me a big smile, then hands the bag to me. "What's this?" I ask, peeking inside to see the contents. It was a set of books, study guides for the college entrance exam.
"I know you're working hard to get into university. I thought these might help," Nakamori explains, a warm smile on his face.
I return the smile. "Thanks," I say, wrapping my arms to give the man a hug. His body feels warm and there is still the faint smell of goo, though I try my hardest not to laugh. Like I said, the man means well and I'm grateful for all he's done.
Finished with my hug, I move away, then inquire about Nakamori's day. "Anything exciting happen?" I ask, taking a seat on the steps of the staircase. Nakamori walks over and sits down next to me, resting his head on the palm of his hand, a weary look on his face.
"Saw KID again today," he says, "Almost caught him too."
"He got away again?" I ask, though obviously I knew the answer already. Still, I ask anyways, just to keep the conversation going. And as expected, Nakamori nods his head.
"The guy got us good. Some exploding goo bomb or something," Nakamori explains.
"Ah, that must be what the smell is," I reply with a laugh, drawing an annoyed expression from Nakamori.
"KID always seems to have something up his sleeve," Nakamori continues, his brows furrowed with irritation. Then suddenly, his expression changes, as if an idea came to mind. "Hey, Kaito, you're good with gadgets and stuff right?" he asks.
"Uh, I guess so," I reply hesitantly. I have a feeling where the conversation is headed, but it would be suspicious if I tried to deflect. So instead, I just play along and as I feared, Nakamori asks the question I hoped he wouldn't ask. He asks me to help him catch Kaitou KID, design a device that would ensnare the thief. What was I supposed to say then but to try and downplay my abilities. "I don't think I could make something like that," I reply, trying to find a way to end the conversation. Nakamori is persistent though and continues to press the issue.
"Sure you are. I mean, you spend all that time in the shed, right?" he asks.
Yeah, to build devices to elude the police, I think to myself, though of course, that wasn't something I could say aloud. Instead, I just give a reluctant nod. "Well-" I begin, trying to remedy the situation. But before I have a chance to, an interruption arrives in the form of Aoko, dressed in nightgown.
"What are you two doing on the stairs?" she asks, looking down at us from the top.
"I was just asking Kaito-kun to help with catching KID," Nakamori replies before I have a chance to stop him.
"KID? Really? I thought Kaito was KID's number one fan," Aoko replies.
"Well, that may be true, but he'd do it to help his old man, right, Kaito-kun?" Nakamori asks, giving me a big grin as he puts me into a headlock, using his other hand to give me a noogie.
"A-ah, of course," I reply, somehow finding myself to have little choice in the matter. Then again, what's the worst that could happen? I mean, I only just agreed to help catch myself. This was going to be fun.
Satisfied that he had recruited my help, Nakamori lets go, then heads up the stairs. "Don't be up too late, you two," he says, before disappearing off into his bedroom. Aoko likewise heads to her room, leaving me alone in the hall. With a sigh, I pick myself up off the ground, deciding to worry about Nakamori's request when push comes to shove. In the meantime, I reach into my drawer and pull out the blood-red opal once more, holding the smooth gem in the palm of my hand. That's when something unexpected happens. The gem begins to glow in different colors: silver, orange, umber, lavender, maroon, apricot, teal, ebony, and finally, becoming clear, almost transparent. Then the gem begins to heat up, like a hot coal. Smoke forms and a burning sensation arises in my hand, causing me to instantly drop the gem onto the carpet. And for a moment, I'm struck by the sudden fear that the gem might set the house of fire. But looking down, I find that the gem has once more returned to its original blood-red hue. The smoke had vanished as well. Kneeling down, I give the gem a cautious poke, ready to pull my hand back if the gem is still hot. But to my surprise, the surface feels normal, cool. I pick the gem up, again holding it in the palm of my hand, wondering if whatever happened before would repeat itself. My anticipation is met with disappointment however; the gem remains inert.
Still holding the gem, I can only raise an eyebrow and wonder, "What the hell was that all about?"