Chapter 7-Start of Something Big

A few days later-:

Aoko was on her way back home from school. She is an English language teacher at Beika Middle School. Today was a tiresome day for her. After getting home, she has to make dinner too. She made a mental note for herself to call Kaito for dinner today. As she thought about Kaito, she started to remember that he has been shut since his mother's death. Though he goes out and does his own work still somewhere she couldn't help but think that he is just pretending. She felt that something is wrong.

She messaged Kaito about dinner asking if he will eat at home or he is eating outside. As she was standing by the side of the road, she felt someone's gaze on her. She looked around but didn't find anyone suspicious. She started walking again towards her house. She was really feeling like someone was following her. She started walking quickly and took out her phone hurriedly dialing the emergency number which was set as Kaito's number.

After a few rings, Kaito picked up the call.

"KAITO!" she said, her voice filled with fear.

"Aoko, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Someone's following me." she told him.

"Calm down Aoko, where are you now?" he asked trying to make her and himself calm. He was worried about the worst-case scenario.

"Near the lane of our house." She replied.

Kaito was with Kudo, Hattori, and Hakuba at Kudo's house. It will take time for him to go where Aoko was.

"Don't go home, go to the nearest police booth. I am coming." Kaito signaled the others and they all left the house. Hattori started the car and they drove off.

"And keep on talking to me on the phone Aoko. Start the video call!"

They switched to video call. He could see how frightened she was. And she could see how worried he was for her. The call was ongoing and Kaito was able to see everything. He was able to see a hand covered in black gloves covered her mouth the next second. The camera started to move as Aoko struggled. But he couldn't do anything.

"AOKO!" he shouted, "LEAVE HER ALONE YOU IDIOTS!" he yelled and shouted through the phone but nothing could be done.

"KAITO! HELP!" Aoko was shouting for help but he was helpless.

One person amongst the people covered in black suits and gloves held her and the other picked up her phone showing her on the camera.

"Wish you good luck finding her, Kaito Kid!" the call got cut off.

Kaito looked down not saying a word. Others could understand what he was feeling. But at this moment, searching for Aoko was more important than anything. Shinichi kept his hand on Kaito's shoulder and took the phone from his hands. He properly cropped the last part of the video of the man saying Kaito Kid's name and sent it to Akai, Furuya, and Sera.

Sera was working in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) in the Criminal Branch. He told her the details. Akai asked the FBI to check and Furuya contacted Kazami so that the PSB can investigate, as it was related to the Black Organization's other part. Kaito got himself together. He needs her back and for that, he can do anything. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to answer Nakamori-san. He wasn't able to save his mother and if he fails to save Aoko, he will lose his only family.

But then he received a message from Aoko's phone. The sender wasn't Aoko but he understood who the sender was. It was Snake.

I know you want to save your cute girlfriend Kaito Kid, no, Kuroba Kaito.

Do what we say if you want her to breathe.

This girl has a locket her mother had gifted her. Bring that to us.

We are looking at your every action. Don't do anything smart or else lose her.

I will know when you will get that locket. Then I will send you the address. Come alone!

-Snake

"Locket?" Hakuba asked. "I never saw her wearing any locket."

"I didn't know Aoko had such a locket. We met a lot after her mother died." He tried to remember. "I didn't talk about her mother because she felt lonely."

"But why do they need her locket?" Shinichi asked.

"I don't know. We need to go to Aoko's house and ask Ojisan (Aoko's dad)."

Hattori drove towards Aoko's house as Kaito navigated him. As they reached, Hakuba and Kaito went inside and Kudo and Hattori waited outside in the car.

"Ojisan! I want Aoko's locket that her mother gave her." Kaito said as he barged inside.

"Eh? Why" the retired policeman asked him.

"Don't ask anything for now. Just give it to me." Kaito almost yelled.

Nakamori san felt something odd. "Where is Aoko?"

That question broke Kaito's heart. He looked down.

At first, her dad felt angry. He understood something was wrong and it was Kaito's fault but then he saw the worry, anger, and frustration in Kaito's eyes. He quietly left the main room and went to his room. After a few minutes, he came back with a beautiful small red box with a golden design and handed it to Kaito.

Kaito looked at him confused. He imagined that Nakamori san will shout or yell at him. But none of that happened.

"Ojisan?"

"I know you will save her." Nakamori san kept his hand on Kaito's shoulder. "I'll be waiting for you to bring her back."

"I will definitely bring her back." Kaito slowly but confidently answered.

He and Hakuba then went back to Hattori and Shinichi. After a few minutes, Kaito got a message about the location. He went to his house and got ready, as Kaito Kid. He then flew away with the use of his hang glider. Shinichi and the others followed him without getting into the attention of the black organization's part.

On the other side, Aoko was tied up to a chair. They didn't make her fall asleep by giving any medicine or injection. They wanted to do something that would hurt her more than she could imagine. And for that, they had already made all the arrangements. She was a projected attached and there was a screen displaying something like a presentation.

The title was 'Kaito Kid/Kaitou 1412'.

She properly remembered what the man who brought her there was saying to Kaito.

'Wish you good luck finding her, Kaito Kid!'

"Curious to see what is there further?" the same man came in front of her. "My name is Snake and I have been trying to kill Kaito Kid for years." He greeted her.

"And how is that related to me and my kidnapping?" she asked.

"You will get your answers, Nakamori Aoko-san!" he smirked and turned off the lights.

He took the projector remote and clicked to show the next slide.

It showed Kuroba Touichi (Kaito's Dad) dressing themselves as Kaito Kid. She was astonished.

"Well, the original Kaito Kid was this person." Snake spoke as he turned towards her, "By seeing that face I understood that you know this person." He then showed the next slide.

This time the photos were of Kuroba Chikage (Kaito's mother).

"The former Phantom Lady!" he showed the next slide.

Kaito Kid and Phantom Lady were shot together in that photo.

"So, the original Kaito Kid and the Phantom Lady married and lived a happy life with their son, Kuroba Kaito..." He stopped and showed her the next slide.

"…who then became the next 'Kaito Kid'" the screen showed Kaito's photos sneaking around Kid's heist places and him dressing as Kid.

She wanted to yell that this was not true. But the photos on the screen were the perfect pieces of evidence. Kuroba Kaito is Kaito Kid, the person she loved ever since they met is the same person, she hates the most. Tears were crawling over her cheeks. Was she angry or heartbroken or feeling betrayed?

'Bakaito (Baka Kaito (Idiot Kaito))!' she kept on shouting in her mind.

"Don't cry, your beloved Kaito Ki-no, Kuroba Kaito is coming to save you." Snake smirked.

"Tanomu yo, Kazami (I entrust you with this, Kazami)" Furuya Rei cut off the call with Kazami as he told him about Aoko's kidnapping. He kept away the phone and continued to chop the vegetables. He was currently making lunch for him and Shiho.

Shiho was reading her Apotoxin related material. She looked at Rei as he was done talking with Kazami.

"What did he say?" she asked him.

"Ah, he said that he will check about the car and other details." Rei continued to explain to her what Kazami said and as he was not focusing on the vegetables he was chopping, he mistakenly hurt his finger.

"Ouch!" he gasped in pain.

Shiho hurriedly ran towards him, "What happened?" she asked.

"Nothing, just a cut!" he chuckled.

"Idiot!" she said and brought a first aid box. "Show me your finger." She held out her hand.

"It's just a small cut." He said but Shiho just glared at him and he held out his finger in defeat.

She carefully cleaned the wound with medicine and cotton. She examined the found. It was a deep cut but luckily no vein of the finger was damaged. She was applying an ointment on his wound. Rei couldn't stop looking at her figure carefully dressing his wound. It's been how many years since someone has cared for him? He has always been longing for someone like her. A smile carved on his lips.

"Why are you so reckless? Can't you be a little careful while using a knife?" She asked or one can say taunted him as she was done dressing his wound. As she didn't get any reply, she looked at him. He was smiling fondly looking at her.

"Wh-what are you looking at?" she asked feeling embarrassed as a blush formed across her cheeks.

He looked away feeling awkward as well. "Sorry, you looked like Elena-san when she used to dress my wounds." The memories came flooding back. "But she won't dress my wounds anymore." He looked sad.

"I-I will do that then" Shiho hesitatingly said. "But don't get hurt often." She turned to the opposite side to hide her blushing face.

Rei slowly moved forward and hugged her from behind, wrapping both of his hands around her shoulders and leaning down his head on hers. "Arigatou!" he thanked her. Shiho's heart skipped a few beats. His sudden touch gave her shivers but at the same time, she felt warm. Somehow, she wanted to remain like this for some time.

But a phone call disturbed them. It was a call from Akai Shuichi. Rei let go of her and picked up the call. He spoke with Akai for a few minutes and the call was cut. Shiho wondered what had Akai said because Rei's expressions had suddenly changed. He had serious and troubled expressions on his face. But his eyes had determination reflected in them.

"What happened?" she asked worriedly.

"FBI got Black Organization's hideout place confirmed. They are at the same place where the other part has kept Nakamori Aoko." He told her.

Shiho looked at him shocked and frightened. But till how many years she is going to live in fear because of them. She wanted this all to end soon. She wanted everyone's struggles to end. More than that, she wanted to end the reason for her fear.

"We are going to end this, Shiho!" he held her hand reassuring her that everything is going to be fine. She might feel embarrassed to admit the fact that his words were reassuring.

Shiho nodded. She never felt like this before, except for Shinichi. At some point, she had feelings for him but slowly those faded away. He was and will always be her best friend and partner and she was lucky to have him by her side in all these years. And she started to feel worried for him. She couldn't stop feeling worried about everyone who are going to be involved in this.

Finally, they have found the Black Organization. And now is the time, the final war is going to start.