Truth that unravels in these hands. . .

Kaito pulled the hem of his shirt up. Although they were quiet reaching the peak of summer, the weather still shifted randomly. It was unpredictable. He rubbed his arms as he neared the back entrance of the Blue Parrot. He fumbled the key out of his pockets and hurriedly unlocked the door.

Thoughts of drinking hot chocolate warmed his inside as he stepped in. The room was dimly lit. Rows of clean wineglasses sat on the counter and the smell of alcoholic beverages were still thick in the air. Kaito scrunched his nose, distastefully. How anyone could drink that stuff was beyond him.

"Jii-chan," he hummed, voice low, yet seemed too loud behind the stillness of the room. He stepped deeper inside, looking over the chairs and tables to get a glimpse of the person that failed to receive him. "Jii-chan," He tried again, gazing around. "Where are you?" No answer. Kaito frowned and inspected the whole room. Nothing. The room was absolutely empty of anybody other than him.

Strange. . . Even though I told him I would come.

He scratched the back of his head before a bulb switched on above his head.

Kaito his phone out, dialled his number, and closed his eyes to hear the slightest sound.

He waited. Waited. Waited. Waited. Wait-

His eyes opened in a flash, ears detecting something faint. He stared at a smudge on the counter, concentrating on his ears and-

There!

There was it again, a faint beep. Kaito grinned, following the sound. He climbed over the counter, careful not the hit the glass, and opened a dark door he never saw before. He blinked but went in anyway, phone still clutched tight in his hand. He followed the sound that led him to a dark hall that ended with a small spiral staircase.

"Jii-chan? Are you up there?"

Kaito's voice echoed, but there was still no reply. His brows drew down, stuffing his phone into his pocket, he jumped up the stairs, taking to at a time. As he skipped the last one, the brown haired saw another door. Without thinking he pushed the handle down. The door creaked open and Kaito pushed his shoulders up. Suppressing the urge to recoil with goose bumps. That door is in a desperate need of an oiling, he thought, walking further in and stumbled on a pair of something Kaito couldn't really see. The lights were still off. He just hoped it wasn't rats or the likes of fish. He stopped a shudder.

Kaito, stay rational. Why would here- where's no water and no kitchen be (a dead) fish?

He prompt himself to continuing walking when-

What was that?

Kaito perked up, listening in. Willing for that sound to come again, and sure enough there it was. Faint, barely there, like a whisper but loud enough for him to hear and discern. It was doubtless the dull sound of someone snoring. He followed the chocked sound that directed him to what he thought was a living room. The before unclear outlines, he could now distinguish and differentiate in the dark assured him that. He strode closer into the room, where he saw a lump on the sofa, veiled in a blanket. Kaito reached out and shook it.

"Jii-chan," he hummed again, amused at the revelation. "Jii-chan is that you?"

The bulge shifted as Kaito continued to quake it, murmuring the elders name now and then. A muffled sound resonated beneath the cover and Kaito held a snicker when Jii's face finally peaked out, dishevelled and disordered. He mumbled a drowsy "Kaito?" A string of apologies stuttering from him forth as he quickly gazed around. Probably in search of him, Kaito thought, staring at his frantic assistant. The younger sighed, shook his head and looked for Jii's glasses he immediately found lolling on the table and gave it to him while muttering a fake, exasperated, "I'm here, Jii-chan."

"Ah! Botchama, what brought you here?" Jii began after they settled down. Lights now on and quilts packed away. Handing Kaito his much craved hot brew, he immediately sipped from. "You never told me on the phone."

"Stuff happened. Weird stuff." Jii was always quiet when Kaito threw his baggage on him. Listening, advising and soothing him now and then but mostly listened. So, naturally Kaito was surprised when Jii started subtly accusing him of it all being his own fault after he was done summing all those occurrences up. Of course, Jii didn't say it out loud, but the blatant stare he gave Kaito spoke volumes. "Don't stare at me like that."

Jii calmly drank from his coffee, muttering a simple, "I told you so." Kaito groaned.

There we go, again.

"Your risky ways of heisting, pulling the inspector and his men into a wild goose chase after another. Completely smashing and outsmarting them with your magic tricks. Repeatedly." Jii sighed heavy with remorse. "Why couldn't you be more subtle? Quick and swift instead of flashy?"

Kaito narrowed his eyes on him. To him, it sounded more like Jii was saying, "If you asked me, you were asking for it."

"That's just how Kid is," he replied, crossing his arms. "Enjoying the thrill."

"Toichi-sama wasn't like that. In fact, he was-"

Kaito grumbled before opting for a loud, "Get to the point already," to cut his assistant off.

"Oh, so you noticed?"

The younger snorted, "Why else would you lecture me?"

Jii laughed and sipped his half empty coffee, somewhat pondering, then spoke up. "I was thinking, maybe you could try something new for once. Something a little safer," At Kaito's annoyed glare, the assistant raised his hand as if to say let me finish and Kaito rolled his eyes, propping his cheek on his fist. "The way I see things, the police won't even suspect a thing."

"Hakuba will be there. And maybe even that sly kiddie detective." Kaito mentions, gazing up the ceiling. "I doubt it."

"I didn't forget." Said Jii, smile fading. "There's also the chance that it might get hazardous."

At that Kaito perked up, looking at Jii stern expression with curious eyes. "You must not get distracted."

"C'mon, Jii-chan, tell me already. What's this idea about?"

"Well, you see. . ." Jii started uneasily broaching the topic. "You and Aoko are more distant nowadays, and the way you're walking around," he pointed at Kaito's swollen eyelids and his sickly pallor that resulted from his more frequent rip-offs. "She must be suspecting you're really occupied with something."

"Who wouldn't, Watson?" Kaito dead-panned, and then- almost unexpectedly- his eyes flashed, cheeks warming up. "Just what are you implying, anyway!?"

"Let me finish!" He coughed, holding a fist a little away from his lips. "Fact is, she might be planning something."

There reply came immediately. "Impossible."

"What if she were to come to the gem's exhibition," Jii continued on a roll, completely ignoring Kaito and his fast retorts.

"She won't."

"Along with somebody more- shall I say- experienced?"

"What are you suggesting Jii-chan? That she'll go with Hakuba?"

It was ridiculous. The whole notion of it. There was no way in hell Aoko would waltz with that detective to his heist. Even the picture of them interlinking their arms and smiling at each other in accomplishment, whilst he was being handcuffed at the back, dragged away in to a police car by Nakamori seemed- Kaito's eyes widened and he gasped, chocking on the chocolate that set his throat on fire as he zoomed closer into the picture his mind created- It seemed completely real!

Too real.Maybe, there was really something going on, and-

They did meet up in that café. . .

No, no, no. Don't think of it. Kaito drove his fingers through his hair, scrunching and crushing it as he whirled his head from left to right. Don't think of it. Don't think of it. Don't think of it. Don't think of it. Don't think of it-

"But we can exploit exactly that." Kaito looked up. Seeing Jii's eyes alight almost blazing, and breathed out, nursing his throat. "Some are thinking you're Kid. And others think you'll catch Kid." At Kaito's now confused gaze, he elaborated. His smile sharp and wicked, and Kaito's lips mirrored it after Jii was done saying, "But Kaitou Kid can't be at the same place Kaito Kuroba is. Especially not when they're after each other."

"The ultimate situation to find out whether I am Kid or not." Kaito concluded. His grin spreading. He could already feel the thrill and danger well up inside him. "That's awesome, Jii-chan. Why didn't I come up with that?"

"Well for one, you weren't thinking. Usually, you always look at matters after a good night's rest." Jii offered, placing his empty mug on the table. "Besides, it's still dangerous. The slightest slip up and-"

"I know, I know. I'll be careful." Kaito waved his hand, turning his cheek somewhat away from the glowing light. A little excited that this might be the right patch to save their friendship. "You seemed to forget, that I will handle the security. I'll turn it into my favour, so don't worry."

"Then we'll have start preparing tomorrow morning." Jii stretched his arms, hearing his muscles and then gave Kaito a sly side way glance. "Have you told Aoko-san already?"

"Oh, about that," Kaito set his own mug down, gazing at Jii with a glint in his eyes. "I need to ask you something. . ."

You don't know the compromise, the fake shadow.

Keiko woke up with the sweet aroma of food lingering in the air. She glanced at digital clock on the table. It four hours earlier than she usually woke up. Curiously, she grabbed her glasses and advanced towards the kitchen where the scent originated from. Popping her head inside the kitchen, she saw her best friend roaming through cupboards, sizzling pans on the stove along with boiling pots. Keiko gave the display an odd look before sighing. It was always the same thing. She rubbed her temple, already feeling a migraine coming up.

"Aoko, what are you doing?" Her voice soft, just above a whisper. Keiko moved to shut the stove off, ignoring Aoko's loud protest and took her hand, guiding her to a chair she pulled back for her and commanded Aoko to have a seat.

"I couldn't sleep so I thought I'll do breakfast instead." Aoko shrugged, shifting in her seat. Not quite meeting her eyes at which Keiko rose a brow at.

You're not a very good liar.

"What were you thinking?"

"I- nothing, I just-"

Keiko rolled her eyes exasperated but tried again. "What were you thinking?"

"Nothing!"

"Aoko, tell me the truth. What were you thinking?"

Keiko wasn't sure whether she looked intimidating standing in her pyjama like that, with a hand placed on her hip and her head tilted closer to Aoko, somewhat staring down at her.

Or if it was particularly her glare that caused Aoko to shift more in her seat, fidgeting and wringing her oversized shirt with her fingers. Either way she was glad, for Aoko was finally spilling the beans, although it was a rather an inaudible "Phone call." That brushed past her lips.

"The one from yesterday? From Kaito-kun?"

When Aoko nodded, Keiko pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to remain calm. "What did he say?" Aoko looked up, her blue eyes slightly wet and Keiko took a step closer, kneeling in front of her and placed her palms on her knees. Her voice was more pressing too. "What did he say?"

But Aoko gazed away. "I told you yesterday."

"No, you didn't. I'd remember." Aoko ducked her head, probably feeling guilty but Keiko could care less.

It's not like she tells me everything.

And that was fine. There were more urging matters to deal with, like finding out what was bothering Aoko so much to be waking up three o'clock in the morning.

"Well, Kaito said he won't be coming and that I shouldn't wait for him."

"Wait for him for breakfast?" Aoko bobbed her head and Keiko's brows furrowed. "Then why don't you just have lunch with him instead?"

Aoko shook her head. "You don't understand."

Keiko's brow creased more when Aoko raised her index finger and started to count all the meals with her hand and shook her head again, whispering that Kaito won't come to any of them. In fact, he even wouldn't come to school on that particular day. Before Aoko could even rumble on, Keiko halted her, hurling her hands upwards and let out a repeated "Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!"

"I understand he won't come to school today. That's reasonable. That's fine." Keiko breathed out, remembering the drop of temperature during the days recently and held on the last piece of sanity she had. "But where on earth did you get that other stuff from?"

"Well, it's Kaito. He doesn't say matters out loud but hints at it." Her tone grew quiet and Keiko strained her ears to catch the last words. "I won't see him at all, today."

"Alright. Fine." Keiko squeezed her eye shut, suppressing an eye roll. "But why the cooking?"

Aoko cheeks redden. "W-well, I was thinking that maybe I could bring him some food? At least then, I might see him."

Keiko slapped her forehead, breathing deeply through her nose. "Go to bed. Now." Aoko bat her lashes, sapphire eyes wide and round as they trail down at Keiko's hand that was pulling her up to her feet. "It's too early in the morning to deal with this." Aoko yelped when Keiko firmly pushed her into her bedroom, closing the door on her. "Goodnight!"

As the door clinked shut, Keiko leaned against the door frame, tipping her head against the cold metal as she sighed, heavily. A smile sneaking on her lips, nonetheless. She walked back to the guest room and threw herself at the soft covers, welcoming the dreams sleep lulled her with.

Aoko sighed for the fifteen time that afternoon and rubbed her eyes. She has been tossing and turning in her bed until the rise of dawn when she decided to get up. Sneaking into the kitchen to finish off- as quietly as she could- breakfast. It earned her in turn her complete lectures of 'the natural human cycle of sleep' and 'the importance of resting' by Keiko. Aoko rolled her eyes and propped her cheek in her hand. As if she didn't know already.

But, she has been happy though. That was for sure. After all, her Dad stopped by her bedroom door and wished her goodnight after so long. Aoko smiled, relishing the memory and the warm, cosy feeling bubbling in her chest before a her lips tugged south. Remembering, how he couldn't maintain eye contact with her during breakfast. Mumbling strings of "Poor soul", "Too naive" and "Having an outlaw for . . ." something Aoko couldn't quite catch but she didn't need to. The gaze Keiko gave her spoke for itself. He was certainty feeling guilty about something. For what though? As far as she could tell he hasn't done anything.

Aoko shrugged, redirecting her gaze at the teacher standing at the front. A middle aged women with black rimmed glasses perched on her nose. Her sharp eyes flickered around the class now and then, randomly calling out names of classmates that were to read out loud.

Aoko listened to some baritone voice of somebody she couldn't place a face to. Brows knitting, she sent flashes of peeks in every possible direction with the hope of catching a glimpse of him. Unsuccessfully. He just wouldn't pop up behind the faces of others. Aoko sighed into her book and placed it down. Her gaze wandering to the window again but strayed to the seat next to hers instead.

Keiko's brows shot up during registration, shooting Aoko a fleeting look when their homeroom teacher announced Kaito's absence for the day and which Aoko returned with a blatant look that screamed, "I told you so."

Yet, she wasn't feeling satisfied at all. Aoko sighed again, banging her head against the desk.

Just what was wrong with me?

She turned away from Kaito's seat, bolstered her chin against the cool surface of her desk and gazed at the open paged book that slouched centimetres away from her nose, catching swirls of deep, thick amethyst locks. Slick and smooth as they hung over the chair almost long enough to swipe the floor with the tip of her loose curls.

Akako's hair is really beautiful, Aoko decided then, still starring at too pretty mane, and drew a hand through her own shock of brown hair.

Mine, is nothing compare to hers.

Aoko breathed out, puffing away slacks of brown chestnut hair that hovered over her eyes and slumped into her seat. She turned her head a little, flicking a sapphire coloured eye back at Kaito's seat, sort of reminiscing.

He even rejected Akako Koizumi more than once.

"Kaito, you're stupid." She muttered under her breath, "So stupid."

But that was to be expected, she thought, sitting up straight and pulled her book towards her chest as the teacher threw a flighty glance at her direction but picked a girl positioned in the last row instead. Kaito might be stupid at times but yet knows when to settle for perfection. He always did after all. Always wanting the best. Which kept Aoko wondering why they were friends still.

She was a klutz and makes a complete fool out of herself at times- something Kaito definitely wasn't striving for. So, why did Kaito keep knocking on her door- kept coming for more? He didn't need to. In fact, he could leave at any time. Aoko wouldn't hold it against him if he did. All those cracks between them were only getting bigger, anyway. Penetrating their friendship and possibly breaking it. The distance between them was more apparent too, now.

Students of other classes confronted her about it. Questioning and probing her as to what happened to them. As to why she let it happened to them. As if Aoko had the power to fix it- to fill those ever widening holes, no matter how much she tries to plug it and just kept getting bigger- and she once had. A long time ago, that's it.

She had been watching his unreachable shadow for probably years now. But never had it been so uncontrollable- unmanageable. Although, they were always there. And it was ruining Aoko and Kaito- at least that was what the others said. But Aoko could care less. As long as Kaito was holding on to their crashing friendship, she would too. Though-

I wonder when it happened.

When our differences became too great to ignore anymore.

Besides, wasn't Akako-chan the name of perfection? If he declined her, a shining beauty, then what was he aiming for? What did he want? Aoko sank her head as her heart beat picked up, eyes widening. Was it possible that he wasn't aiming for perfection? Had Aoko gotten it wrong after all? Was that why he still bothered to spend time with her? Maybe-

Aoko shook her head, hurling the thoughts tout of her mind. She shouldn't get her hopes up. This- whatever they had right now- was enough. It was fine.

Dropping her head against the surface of her desk, Aoko closed her eyes. In the distant, she heard the bell ringing. The lesson was over but Aoko didn't raise her head. Instead she sighed and grabbed her bag and strolled out of the door, back hunched and head still sunken.

"What's with that long face," Keiko greeted her with glittery eyes and sharp smiles, near the gate. "You should be excited." When Aoko didn't replied but bit her lip instead, Keiko interlinked their arms and smiled extra cherry. Probably for the both of them, Aoko thought. "Come on, tomorrow's the big day!"

For you maybe, Aoko knew Keiko's crazy plan was barely conceived to aid Aoko's emotional turmoil and suspicion but more to satiate Keiko's 'secret' fan-girling side. After all, who wouldn't want to see Kid in action? Aoko definitely not but- she send a quick contemplative look at Keiko's glowing face- she would absolutely fight tooth and nail for it. Aoko sighed for the umpteenth time that day.

I just hope it won't get bloody.

"Let's get this over with." Keiko yelped when Aoko dragged her along with her. Footsteps measured in ample steps as they crossed the distance towards Aoko's house. "We need to prepare, right?"

Aoko threw Keiko a sideways glance, "Then, let's start now."

I want to get this done quickly. . .