His Twinkling Eyes

A Magic Kaito Fanfic

Chapter 10: Amusement

Aoko sat in the gallery, writing notes in her pocket book before exiting the room. The police nearly pounced on her, but pulled back when Inspector Nakamori yelled out.

"Aoko!" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "What did you do that for? We don't have any recordings of what went on in there!"

"Tousan. I did it my way tonight. The book is safe, nothing was taken and I'm not injured. This is considered a success. So, I'm going home. Don't be out drinking too late. You have work in the morning." Aoko headed for the door, picking up her purse from the museum front desk and exiting into the night.

When she sat in the cab and opened her bag for her wallet, she found a card.

"I'll contact you for a second date. Try to fill up more of that notebook of yours. I had fun tonight. –Kaitou KID."

Aoko paid the driver and got out of the cab. It was a surprise that KID had not left a card with her in the gallery, but it was more surprising to find it in her bag. He was skilled, she had to give him that.

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The next day at school, Aoko was her normal cheerful self.

"Ohayou, Kaito!" She slapped his shoulder, making him pitch forward. He had been dozing. Sleep eluded him the night before, worried as he was on what the outcome was from Aoko's talk with KID.

"Ohayou, Aoko." He yawned. "How'd it go?"

"Yeah, Aoko! Did you really spend time alone with KID?" Keiko scooted up beside Aoko, eager to hear the news.

"Fine. Yes."

"Is he gorgeous?" "Did you find out his real identity?"

Aoko's other friends flocked over and whispered. She hid the information from the school and somehow managed to convince her friends that it was better not to say anything. They walked around with fear in their expression for the previous few days.

"Gorgeous? Aoko couldn't see anything." Aoko waved their questions and comments off. Choosing instead to smile a cruel grin and ask them, "Are you ready for the test tomorrow?"

The girls groaned and ran off to their desks.

"Hey, Kaito." Aoko grabbed his arm. He hid a wince. Her grip was really tight the night before, and though she didn't bruise him, had made his flesh sensitive to pressure. "Do you want to have dinner with my dad and me tonight? I'm making Italian style dinner for Dad since he hasn't been home much."

"Sure. That'd be great. You can help me study for this test too, right?" Kaito grinned widely, failing to notice Aoko's sharp eyes studying him.

"Of course. What kind of childhood friend would I be if I didn't help you out when you ask?"

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Kaito was helping Aoko set the table when Ginzo walked into the room.

"Ah, Aoko! Why didn't you tell me that I was living with you and your husband?" Ginzo sat down in his chair at the table and tugged at his necktie. "Aoko's domesticating you, Kaito-kun. Get out while you still can."

"Tousan, go wash up. And we're not together. Don't say stupid things." Aoko walked in and held his beer hostage.

Looking like a wounded puppy, Ginzo stood and trudged out of the room to get cleaned up.

"Dad's silly. If I had domesticated you, you wouldn't be nearly as fun to be around, would you, Kaito?" Aoko opened the can and poured the beer into a glass as she spoke.

"Are you saying I'm boring when I do as you say?" Pouting, Kaito deadpanned as he slouched in his seat.

"I wouldn't say 'boring.' Less energetic, maybe." Disappearing into the kitchen Aoko spoke and returned with their drinks in her hands. "Though, I remember Tropical Land…"

Their date was "ruined" because of his sour mood. He had seen Aoko acting weird at the beginning of the day. Aoko was supposed to be Aoko. Apparently, he could fight the urge to be bored by her change of personality when playing KID. But he was not entirely immune to it.

"Ah, that did happen, didn't it." There was another time, when he was upset that he was stuck with Akako for the skiing tournament. Thinking of how Aoko could easily sway his mood made his eyes twinkle with amusement.