Aoko awoke, feeling sticky as hell with a throbbing head. She lifted herself up with a low and slothful groan.

Shit, what… what happened? She thought to herself, blinking her eyes open as the light from the huge windows seeped into the room. It was morning and if her mind still remembered the calendar, it would be Wednesday morning. She stared at nothingness for a moment, vaguely wondering why she was in a very comfortable bed; before straightening herself up – and then her lower half ached like hell.

"O-Ouch!" She snapped and then she realized she was naked. Her eyes travelled down. Wh-What? Aoko stuttered in her thoughts, her mind going around in circles making her headache worse.

She pulled the sheets off, slightly peeking, and then she pulled them back on. Her face was a face distorted with horror and 'what-the-fuck-did-I-do-last-night?!' as she saw her lower half.

Oh, shit, shit, shit. What on earth did I do?! Aoko thought to herself as she tried to find her clothes – Holy bullcrap, where are her clothes?

"Calm down, Aoko…" Aoko chanted to herself but then her eyes darted down again at her torso while she was trying to look over the bed for her clothes – there were marks all over her body. Her eyes widened. She slept – and not just any sleep – she had slept with someone. With who?

His brain taunted her with images of the champagne and of the brunette man she was drinking with. Aoko buried her face in the blankets. Did I… with Kazuhato?!

Just then the door creaked open and Aoko shot her head up from the blankets. Kazuhato walked in, dressed in a casual black v-neck, grayish sweatpants and carrying what looked like Aoko's clothes – clean and neatly folded.

"Oh," Kazuhato smiled, walking into the room. "You're awake."

Aoko grinned awkwardly, not knowing what to do. Her eyes darted at her clothes then back at the man holding it. Kazuhato tilted his head before giving her clothes to the younger one. Aoko reached for her clothes, spluttering out a "Thanks." quickly.

"I had them washed." Kazuhato sat on the bed as Aoko tried to change under the blankets. Kazuhato chuckled lightly, "Why are you hiding under there, Aoko?"

"Wh-What?" Aoko squeaked, finally feeling the safety of his panties and pants. She scrambled for her shirt which she quickly buttoned up while adding, "N-Nothing! No reason! U-Uh… Wh-What time is it?"

"Almost 10."

"Oh, thanks." Aoko weakly replied. Shit, I'm late for work. Ai-san's gonna kill me… and I haven't done a single thing for the code!

"Hmm," Kazuhato leaned forward and Aoko stiffened. Kazuhato blinked, noticing the younger one's flighty reactions. "Do you remember what happened last night?"

Christ, there's the question. Aoko thought to herself as she bit his lip, her cheeks staining painfully. "Uh… Uh…. I…."

Kazuhato was leaning more, in seconds; her face was just a ruler's length away from Aoko's. Aoko wanted to melt away. "You and I, Aoko… we-"

"I was drunk!" Aoko spat before she could stop himself. Kazuhato blinked, his eyes widening as Aoko gawked at him – surprised at herself for suddenly shouting at the elder. "I… I'm sorry."

Kazuhato narrowed his eyes, "Well, it lead to one thing and the other." Kazuhato reached his hand out and touched Aoko's cheek. Aoko tensed. "You have no idea just how passionate you and I were."

I think I do. She thought, referring to the pain by her thighs and marks all over her torso. But… this was an accident, wasn't it? "I-I'm sorry, Kazuhato! I didn't know what I was doing. I-"

Kazuhato pushed her down, pulling the blankets off of her. "Why are you apologizing when I was completely all right with it? Your body does wonders, Aoko. Remember that."

"No…" Aoko squeaked, cheeks burning painfully. "I didn't… that wasn't… me."

Kazuhato's eyes glowered as he hovered closer to Aoko, causing the younger one to anxiously look at him. "That was you, Aoko."

Aoko shut her eyes, gently pushing him off. "I… I…!" Aoko pulled herself together. I have to get out of here! I have to…! "I'm late for work! Please, excuse me!"

Aoko said, finally getting off the bed only to wobble forward, her lower half aching terribly. Kazuhato got off the bed quickly and saved her from falling face first on the floor. He grabbed the younger one by the waist and pulled her so that Aoko's back was against his chest.

Aoko's breath hitched as Kazuhato leaned forward, gently caressing her waist and sides. Kazuhato whispered gently by her ear, "This isn't the last of it, Aoko. I greatly enjoyed it – last night."

Aoko whimpered, shoulders lifting up slightly, trying to hide her exposed neck from the elder, feeling embarrassed. "P-Please… I'll be late…"

Kazuhato pecked a kiss on her cheek and Aoko's cheeks exploded – along with all the other sensitive nerves all over her body. "I'll see you again soon, Aoko." He whispered and let go of the younger one.

Aoko didn't miss a beat, once she felt that her waist was free, she bolted out to the door and headed straight to normal society.

Kazuhato crossed his arms, smiling to himself. "… Really… adorable."


Aoko zoomed to her house, took a decent bath – and it was then that she realized the contents of her lower half ("OH SHIT! HE CAME IN-!"), changed to new clothes and ran for her life to the office.

By the time Aoko arrived in the office, Ai was mad and she wasn't going to let Aoko go easily. The eldest crossed her arms and glared at the younger one.

"What time do you think it is?" She asked with seriousness in her voice. Aoko stuck to the door out of fear.

"I'm sorry." Was all she could say.

"And you're carrying something important aren't you?"

Aoko pursed her lips, looking at Kazuha and Shinichi from the corner of his eyes. They lowered their heads but Aoko wasn't mad at them – hell, she was mad at herself.

"I'm sorry, Ai."

"Totally irresponsible, Aoko!" Ai spat. "You kept vital evidence for a whole night without even asking for any of your superiors' consent!"

Aoko kept silent, lowering her head.

"If anything you should be lucky I hadn't told this to the leading inspector in charge of the phoenix case." Ai sighed, frustrated.

Sera approached the eldest and said, "Ai-san, let's… let's listen to Aoko-chan."

Aoko didn't want to talk; she just wanted to bury her head in work and try to forget the lingering feel of Kaito's hands on her body. Shit! Aoko cursed.

He did a 90 degree bow, "I'm so sorry I've done something irresponsible! I was just hoping to help the case by trying to solve the code. I – I wanted to prove myself."

Ai frowned, but her glare softened. "Well, you managed to prove one thing…"

"Eh?" Aoko looked up from her bow.

"That you're a total idiot." Ai finished, turning back to head back to her desk. "I want that clue in the crime lab by this afternoon."

Aoko stared at the elder for a moment before breaking out into a fit, "A-Ai~!" She wailed.

Ai cringed and looked back. "God! Aoko?!" Aoko had lunged forward and hugged the elder. Oh how she needed a grandma right now.

"Ai~! Thank you! Thank you~!" Aoko wailed.

Ai sighed, patting the younger one's head, pushing her off. "All right, that's enough. Get off me."

"Thank you! Really! You have no idea just how much I-"

"AOKO. GET THE HELL OFF ME AND GET STARTED ON THAT CODE." Ai said with clenched teeth and Aoko instantly pulled away, wiping her snot and tears.

"Y-Yes, m'am."

"Good for you, Aoko-chan." Sera smiled, "Do you need help with the code? I'm free right now."

Aoko shook her head, smiling. "I'll be fine, Sera. I messed up so I have to fix things myself." She turned and bowed again to Ai, "I'll be in the conference room!"

"Yeah, yeah." Ai said, sitting down and covering her face with papers and documents. Aoko scurried away to the silence and peace of the conference room to decode the hidden message better.

Sera chuckled, turning her head to Ai. "You've forgiven her already, haven't you, Ai?"

"…" Ai peeked from the papers before sighing. "Sometimes I think I'm too nice to you guys."

Sera just laughed in response.


Aoko got to work with the code. She was glaring down at the copied words on her trusty little notebook which she scribbled stuff all over it, trying to decode it. All around her were her other notes she had taken from the library as well as the plastic with the code in it.

"Okay," Aoko breathed in, "Calm down. Let's try and…"

Kaito's voice flashed in her ear all of a sudden.

"Well, maybe the answer is just right there – like a logic game."

Aoko looked at the words again, squinting her eyes. The answer is just right there… huh.

She pouted out her lip, pen under it as she had a staring contest with the card in the plastic. There was something awfully familiar with some phrases.

"Okay, let's try doing this per phrase." Aoko mumbled to herself, reading the first phrase again.

On the 5th strike of the pious clock,

"Wait a sec," Aoko blinked. The answer is just right there… Her eyes widened as she glared down at the phrase again. Phoenix should be the answer – since that was the item that was stolen. So…

On the 5th strike of the Pious clock,

"HOLY SHIT!" Aoko screamed, finally getting it. She continued the theory and truly, the answer was just right there.

On the 5th strike of the Pious clock,
By
tHe eastern way,
Between the fifth
Of the fourth
And th
E fourth of the fifth
I will reig
N
Like ArIes,
Bloodstone.

Wait… where's the 'X'..? Aoko looked at the code worriedly and he read Bloodstone over and over again, she felt like she was going to get an ulcer. 'X'… 'X'…. Ten… right? Ten in Roman numerals…? Right? She counted the letters of the word and lo and behold – 10 letters.

Bloodstone = 10 letters = 10 = X

She did it. She got the code. Her eyes widened as she lifted up her messy solution which she had scribbled on his trusty little notebook. She did it! SHE REALLY DID!

She shot up and checked the clock – 3:30 pm. Oh, she skipped lunch and she seriously worked her ass off that long?!

Aoko stumbled over her things and made a dash to the office.

"AI-SAN!" Aoko burst out as soon as the door swung open. Ai nearly died from a heart attack. "AI-SAN! AI-SAN!"

"Wh-What?!" Ai jerked as Aoko lunged herself forward on her table. "Aoko, calm do-"

"I DID IT!" Aoko cheered. "I KNOW HOW IT WAS THE PHOENIX! I KNOW WHY – I DID IT!"

"WHAT?!" Ai stood up and grabbed Aoko's messy notebook. Her eyes twinkled and she smiled back at the younger one. "Aoko – this… are you serious?"

"The answer was just there all along!" Aoko cheered, bobbing up and down.

"But then, what about his next target?" Ai asked and Aoko stopped jumping up, celebrating in her head.

"Ah…" Aoko froze. True, she hadn't really solved how this was supposed to lead to the next target. She just managed to break the code for a target that was already stolen. "Er…"

Ai sighed, but lightly chuckling as she shook her head. "Oh, Aoko. But this is great work! Seriously! We now know one way he hides his targets… so it's just like this, huh? How simple…"

Aoko couldn't help but feel his cheeks heat up. She was being praised! And to think that Ai looked like she was going to strangle her earlier.

"Hey~" Kazuha got in the office and Aoko turned around to sprinkle her with the wonderful news that she had solved how the thief hid the word Phoenix in his code. It was a pretty late solution, but it was something!

"Kazuha! You won't believe it! I-"

"And look what was in the lobby with Aoko-chan's name on it~" Kazuha said, revealing a bouquet of bright rose pink peonies wrapped neatly in a silky snow white ribbon from his back and stuffing it straight into Aoko's arms.

Aoko blushed wildly. Oh, god. "Th-This…"

Kazuha was grinning from ear to ear, like a Cheshire cat. "Aoko~"

Here we go… "Wh-What?"

"YOU'VE SERIOUSLY GOT A LOVER!" Kazuha burst out and slapped her thigh, guffawing like a horse. Aoko's face was burning up, from both rage and embarrassment.

"Sh-Shut up!" Aoko spat. "He isn't my lo-" The memory of last night flashed in her mind. Wait. They are technically lovers, right? They just…

Aoko's unfinished retort only sent Kazuha over the edge of losing herself. "OH MY GOD!" Kazuha exclaimed. "YOU – AOKO – YOU SERIOUSLY ARE WITH HIM!"

"NO!" Aoko screamed.

"Then, why else would he send you a bouquet of peonies?" Kazuha snickered before waving her hands to the elder. "Anyway~ there's a card in there! Read it out loud for us, Aoko! C'mon~!"

"NO!" Aoko screamed again, stepping back.

"Let us hear the words of your lover~!" Kazuha sang and started laughing like a mad bull again. "OH CHRIST! This is killing me!"

"Kazuha…" Ai sighed from behind his table.

Kazuha was practically lunging at Aoko, trying to make the elder read the card. But Aoko, who was thankfully blessing the heavens for giving him a taller body, managed to escape from Kazuha's grasp. He pulled away and secluded himself near his table where he quickly opened the card with one hand, while trying to block Kazuha with the other.

For a wonderful moment we shared last night, I hope it wasn't the last.

Kaito

Holy balls, this guy… Aoko thought with mild disgust yet at the same time, she felt giddy about it.

"Aoko~!" Kazuha whined, her head blocked by Aoko's wide hand. "Read it~!"

"NO!" Aoko spat, throwing the card and the bouquet in the trash bin under her desk. Kazuha watched in horror.

"What the hell?!" Kazuha said. "Why'd you do that for? Isn't he your lo-"

"NO! HE'S NOT!" Aoko glared at Kazuha and the younger one stepped back, hands raised up in defense.

"O-Okay! I was just kidding!" Kazuha frowned. "You don't have to get mad at me! I mean, if you're not together, what's the big deal?"

Aoko grumbled under her breath before deciding to change the subject. "I managed to solve the code."

Kazuha blinked. "What?! Really?!"

"She did." Ai said, showing Kazuha the solution Aoko scribbled on her notebook. "We have one way he uses to hide his targets. Now we just have to figure out what his next target is."

Aoko frowned. Sure, she was happy that she managed to solve the code but they still haven't made any progress in the whole case. And also, the case with Kaito and what they did last night.

Ugh! Don't think about it Aoko! Aoko shut her eyes tight, worried that Kazuha and Ai would notice her face contorting horribly from his musings. Work! Concentrate on work! Not that gorgeous sex god… Oh dammit! You're thinking about it!

"Well, we'll send this to the crime lab." Ai said and Aoko nodded vaguely, sitting on her chair and looking grim. The elder looked at him worriedly. He's overworked himself, hasn't he? The elder walked over to her and patted his shoulder. "Take a break, Aoko."

Aoko looked up and smiled. "I'll be fine, Ai."

"Want some more coconut donuts?" Kazuha grinned and Aoko frowned at her.

"Seriously, Kazuha…" Ai sighed, defeated.


"You're awfully happy today." Hakuba smiled at Kaito who was miraculously humming something as the two sat on the back porch, admiring the view of Kaito's scenic garden.

"Hm?" Kaito smiled, drinking his tea. "I think I have every reason to be."

Hakuba chuckled, "Is it about Aoko?"

"You're never late with your information, huh?"

"Of course, besides you're easy to understand when you're into someone like this." Hakuba added and turned his attention back to Heiji who shouted something as he broke a piece of wood displayed in front of him.

"Heiji's getting better." Kaito said.

"He's been training," Hakuba tilted his head. "Harder than normal."

Kaito raised an eyebrow. "He has to, after all." Kaito smirked.

Hakuba leaned back on the chair, "So, what happened?"

"I thought you said I was easy to understand?" Kaito raised an eyebrow at the younger one who immediately got it.

"Oh," Hakuba's mouth opened wide before he chuckled, "No shit, you did it already?"

"She was drunk."

"Still, you did it." Hakuba shook his head. "That was fast. I thought you wanted to be patient."

"She was drunk."

"So what if she was drunk? Was she that different when she's drunk that you couldn't control yourself?"

"Oh, you have no idea, Hakuba." Kaito smiled to himself some more, thinking back to what happened last night.

Hakuba watched his older friend go into a state of childish teenage daydreaming and couldn't help but laugh.

The sound of Heiji breaking another piece of wood snapped Kaito back into reality and onto his watch to check the time. "Oh, I almost missed something important."

"Hm?"

"Work."

"Ah," Hakuba nodded his head slowly. "Right."

"I better go and get ready." Kaito stood up. "See you later, Hakuba. Heiji!"

Heiji turned around and nodded his head as he was still busy training. Hakuba waved a hand as Kaito left the porch and headed straight back in the house.

"Work, huh?" Hakuba mumbled to himself. "More like stalking his new fascination."

"What was that, Haku?" Heiji walked up quickly to the elder to reach for a face towel the maid had provided him.

"Nothing, Heiji." Hakuba smiled. "I don't think you want to know about that bit."


Meanwhile, back in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Agency, a guard was entering the main building, checking in the lobby.

"Hey," He greeted the clerk. "Checking in for my shift."

"Sign right here, please."

As the guard wrote his name on the sheet, he raised a curious eyebrow at something peeking out from underneath the registration forms. What the-? He said, taking the slip of paper – only it wasn't a slip of paper, it was a card – and it wasn't just a card. It was a card from Kaitou Kid!

"Oh!" The guard gasped, holding the card up in shock. "What the – How the – What's this doing here?!"

The clerk turned back as the guard let out a gasp and blinked, surprised to see the card too.

"What? I – I've never seen it there before!"

"Holy-" The guard quickly ran up to the elevator. "I gotta go send this to the office…!"

The next thing Aoko knew was that there was a rush of panic and anxiety that suddenly showered in the office. The thief had boldly left another clue – a different one – and in the Police Agency directly! The media was going to be all over this one when they find out about it, something Ai wasn't too excited about.


alicepyne (2013): \O/ NO SMUT!