I own nothing and no one

"Italics" Speaking in a voice not one's own

Switching genders got confusing, so people will be referred to as whatever they are disguised as at the time. That will make my life easier. So don't worry. Kaito has not spontaneously decided to have a sex change. And now, on with the show.

Chapter Eleven

"Isn't this exciting?" Dorian practically gushed, primping his long curly hair. "Your very first ball." He moved over to Huyu, brushing a bit of stray lint off the teen's dark suit. The thief paused, looking around in confusion. "But where is Kai?" he asked.

The raven haired fifteen-year old tilted his head towards the closed door. "He's still in there." Huyu wasn't quite sure what was taking his foster brother so long. If not for the fact he knew Kaito would never be so clumsy, he would have wondered if the other had fallen in.

A faint frown passed over Dorian's fair features and he knocked lightly on the door with his middle knuckle. "Kai?" he called. "Kai-kun, are you ready to go?"

There was a moment of silence. "Do I have to?" the thief in training asked plaintively. "It's embarrassing."

The Earl of Gloria almost laughed. "Yes, you have to." He had already informed the party's host of his attendance, and that of his two temporary wards. "Besides," Dorian added. "It is good training for later."

After a moment more the door opened, and Kaito stepped out. "Well," the pre-teen asked in a decidedly feminine voice. "What do you think?" The boy's hair had been done up in pigtails, padding added to the front of his dress to give him the illusion of developing breasts. It took every bit of the will power Kai possessed not to fidget under the small group's penetrating stares.

Huyu smirked. "You look very cute imouto-chan," the swordsman teased. A little to cute honestly, he thought to himself examining Kai's slightly flushed features. His fingers itched for a katana. If anyone so much as looked at his little br… Err, sister wrong, it would be the last thing they ever did.

Kaito completely missed the protective look; too busy glowering at nothing in particular. Whatever had happened to the teen that spent his spare time meditating beneath waterfalls? The one who spent every second of every day working to improve his art? For Huyu, discipline hadn't just been part of his training. It was a way of life.

Perhaps, the magician mused to herself. I've been a bad influence. When they had first meet Huyu would have never made such a comment. Not to say that her foster brother wasn't still obsessed with improving his sword skills. He had just lightened up a bit. Kaito's snarkiness had definitely rubbed off on the older boy. Kai was abruptly pulled out of her thoughts as their host squealed with delight.

"We must get a picture," Dorian declared, clapping his hands. "Now the two of you stand right there." Quickly, the art thief retrieved a camera from Bonham, lifting it up to his eye. "Now smile and say cheese."

The two Japanese youth's shared a puzzled glance. Their English skills had improved a great deal over the past few months, but this baffled them. Cheese? What did a dairy product have to do with taking a picture? They wondered. Never the less, the pair did as instructed. There was a bright light as the camera's flash went off.

"And now," the Earl imperially said, pointing one slender figure to the mansion's exit. "To the ball." As they left the room, James finally lost the battle with himself, bursting into tears. Of course, the salty streams dripping down the stingy man's face had nothing to do with Kai him/herself, and everything to do with the dress he/she was wearing. Their Lord had insisted on the best, in spite of the accountant's objections. It had cost a fortune.

On the way there, the pair reviewed the information that had been prepared for this outing. Their names were Kai and Huyu Okina, and they had the papers to prove it. Their Father was a Japanese businessman who lived off the interest from a modest inheritance. Their Mother was an aspiring artist from England. They had met when she had visited the land of the rising sun to paint landscapes.

The pair had fallen madly in love and immediately married. She had not been back to her home country since. The siblings had been sent to spend the summer with Gloria-sama because their Mom was concerned they would not understand both sides of their heritage. The list of miscellaneous facts went on from there.

As the small group looked up at the entrance to the building, Kai took a deep breath, wrapping her arm through her foster brother's. She could do this. Just as long as no one expected her to eat the caviar, she would be fine. It was bad enough people ate fish period. But eating fish eggs, that was something else. Some people were just crazy, the magician decided.

Somewhat surprisingly, Kaito found herself enjoying the outing. She did like to dance, even if she preferred being a lead to a follow. It was fun. Besides, the magician reasoned. It was just like a performance, something that had increased her comfort levels immensely. The other partygoers were her unknowing audience, and she was the one holding all the cards.

As the evening wore on, the magician found herself with no lack of assistants in her endeavor. It was fascinating really, watching how the people reacted to certain stimuli. Pull a string, and see what happens. Will they jump right? Will they jump left? What will cause them to be angry? What action will prompt a laugh instead?

To be honest Kaito felt a bit guilty, treating the people around her like puppets, as though they were nothing more than pieces on a chessboard. Still, was it not Shakespeare who said in one of his plays that all the world is a stage, and the men and women merely players. Which, the magician supposed, would make him the man (or woman, depending on who he/she was at the time) who plays many parts.

Someday though, Kai knew, the game would be much more dangerous. The partygoers would be replaced with members of the Black Organization, the host's employees with the police. That would raise the stakes considerably. Instead of being embarrassed, Kai would be concerned about being arrested, or killed.

But for now, the only hazard the pre-teen had to worry about was hormonal driven teenagers. There had been a few who had expressed a bit too much interest in herperson. One look at Huyu's furious countenance though, and the boys had decided to press their luck elsewhere. Evidently she was pretty, but not quite pretty enough to risk her foster brother's wrath.

The disguised pre-teen paused a moment to catch her breath, discretely scanning the interior of the ballroom while drinking a small glass of water. It was hot in here. The faintest of frowns flickered over Kai's face as she noticed a boy about her age standing alone in a corner.

It didn't take much to figure out why. Though his coloring was fair, the teenager's features had a decidedly Asian cast to them. Unlike Kai however, the blond was not considered to be exotic. Instead, he was out of place. Gaijin. That was what he would have been called in Japan.

And why? Just because he was different? Sad as it was, the magician knew people didn't need reasons to be cruel. After a moments thought, the young woman set down herdrink, turning away from the crowd of admirers she had collected. Determinedly, the disguised figure started across the floor.

"Excuse me," Kai asked politely. "Would you care to dance?"

For a brief moment the boy looked startled before his expression smoothed back over. He bowed slightly. "I would be delighted Miss." Rising, the blond offered her his arm, and together the pair walked onto the floor.

"I'm Kai," the magician introduced, as they went through the basic steps of the waltz. "What's your name?"

"Forgive me," the blond murmured. "How remiss of me. Saguru Hakuba at your service."

Jeez, Kaito thought to herself. How much more uptight could you get? Someone had really done a number on this guy. Oh well, she would just have to be cheerful enough for both of them. A brilliant smile spread across the disguised figure's face, the full force of which was directed at her companion. "Pleased to meet you Saguru-kun," she chirped.

Hakuba looked like he wanted to object to the young woman's familiarity, but couldn't quite figure out how. After a moment, he mentally shrugged, letting the matter go. It wasn't like it would matter once tonight was over.

As they danced, the pair talked of inconsequential things. Kai's eyes lighting up when she discovered Hakuba's father was a high-ranking police officer in Japan. Now wasn't that interesting. Such connections could be useful down the line.

"And you?" she inquired. "What do you want to do?"

"I," the blond announced in the manner of a man sure of his decision. "Am going to be a detective." In his mind, it was a fact, simple as that.

"Really," Kai said. "That is so cool." In spite of her own career choice, the thief in training had a deep respect for the job law enforcers preformed, and from what the magician had seen so far, he would be a good one. Hakuba was very intelligent. But, the blond was just a bit too rigid, and that was something that could and would hinder him Kai knew.

Maybe though, the magician considered. She could break through those walls a little, or at least make some cracks. Kai looked around for a suitable target. Finding one, the disguised figure leaned in closer to her dance partner's ear. "The woman twelve feet to our left," she murmured. "Is waiting to meet someone."

Hazel eyes flickering in that direction, Hakuba saw his companion was right. The gorgeous young woman did look a tad nervous, stealing glances at a side door as she twirled. "An affair?" he deduced after a moment. It was the most logical explanation considering the circumstances.

"Maybe," Kai shrugged. "But you can't really blame her even if she is meeting another man."

"How can you say something like that?" Hakuba hissed softly, mindful of being overheard. In his mind, something was either right, or it was wrong. There was no in between.

"Look at her," the magician whispered urgently, trying to get the other to see his point. "See how she shies away from her partner, and the way she moves. She is hurt, even if however did it was careful not to leave any visible marks."

The blond almost tripped over his own two feet. Abuse?! He didn't want to believe it. However, as he continued his surveillance, Hakuba was forced to admit the other might well be correct. "I," he stuttered. "She…"

Kai cut him off with a glance. "Sometimes the why is just as important as what and how," she told him. "If you want to be a tantei, I suggest you remember that."

Unthinkingly Saguru spun her out as the music stopped, his mind still in a daze. Motive was an important part of any crime, but he had never realized that the definition of that aspect was so broad before. Kai had given him a great deal to think about. Could he really say that the woman had no right to betray her vows under such circumstances? He was brought back to his senses when Kai leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for the dance," the magician told him. "And the conversation." Then she turned and walked away. She had made enough conquests for one night, and besides, the best part of the evening was yet to come. The Ming Vase was still waiting.

PTPTPTPT

I know, I didn't make it to the mini-heist

Sniff, but I wanted to get this chapter up

Please review, and I'll try to get that scene typed ASAP