'So you are here, Kuroba-kun.'
He looked up from the work station, he'd been engrossed in tinkering with a new gadget he'd been designing and hadn't heard her enter.
'Ran-san?'
'Shinichi got held up solving a case, but he said I could find you here,' she made her way to one of the stools in the room.
'Uh, yes but what are you doing here?'
'To talk,' she smiled as she dusted off the stool and sat down, 'obviously.'
'I'm not sure I'm the first person you go to for gossip, so I'm going to assume everyone else is busy.'
'Uh well not really, I know for a fact that Aoko-chan is not busy at all,' she watched him slightly flinch at the mention of her name - he may be a professional at hiding his emotions, but she had found that people like him always had a weakness.
'Well she seems like a better candidate to spend the evening with,' Kaito had continued to face away from her fiddle aimlessly with the gadget.
'Do you believe her?'
He was slightly taken aback by the question, 'believe what?' When he turned to face her, she looked quite serious, a contrast to her usual cheeriness. He could sense a little bit sadness behind her voice.
'That she doesn't want to see you again?'
'She made it quite clea-'
'And you believed that?'
'I've hurt her enough, she asked me so I-'
'Listened?'
'Precisely.'
'Kuroba-kun, I'm sure you know all about the year Shinichi went missing,' he nodded, although he'd found out later the detective had somehow become a child and was forced to be undercover for a year. 'And do you know what happened when he came back?'
He shook his head, he had played somewhat of a role in the take down of the black organisation, as Kudo had so rightly named it, he knew what happened leading up to it, he knew what happened during it. However, he realised, he wasn't sure what happened after, Kudo had made a reappearance back into society and everyone just accepted it.
'I didn't want to see him again, ever,' she smiled, this time her sadness made for a heartbreaking picture.
'But you, you loved him right?'
'I do Kuroba-kun, I love him so much, but that year was so hard - seeing someone you're so close to disappear and then every time he's back he's distant and disappears as quickly as he appeared. It takes a toll on your heart,' she chuckled quietly, 'I thought I'd be ecstatic to see him again, to hear he was going to stay, but when he explained the truth I didn't know what to feel.'
'But you, you're still with him, you forgave him?'
'Of course I did, at first it felt like the last year had been some sort of lie - it took some time, but I came to accept it, after all I'd waited all this time. Plus he told me the truth, he could just as easily have kept it from me, pretended that Conan had finally moved back with his parents. He told me the truth, that in a way showed how much he loved me too and it made me trust him more afterwards.'
'I'm glad that it worked out for you two,' he smiled, he meant it, they were truly made for each other, but something in his heart told him it would never work for him and Aoko.
'So why didn't you tell her the truth?'
'Huh?'
'You have your own reasons right? For being Kid?'
Kaito wasn't sure what kind of face he pulled at her accusation, 'I- I don't know what you're talking about.'
'Don't play dumb with me Kuroba-kun, my question is why didn't you tell her the truth, you're real reason.'
'I don't want her to get hurt.'
'So you'd rather lose her in another way?'
'Ran-san, I-'
'Just give it another think, and try once more. And this time maybe be more honest,' he opened his mouth to say something, 'to yourself.'
'Aoko-chan!'
'Ran-chan!'
She pulled the other girl into a tight hug, 'Oh, it's so nice to see you again, how are you?'
'Oh you know - the same. Things haven't been the same without Kaito.'
'It's never easy,' as she made her way to one of the sofas in the room she glanced around the room, 'those are very pretty, where did you get them,' she motioned to the flowers in the vase.
'They were a gift,' she picked up the little card next to the vase, 'guess who they're from?' She flipped it over revealing the 'K' in the corner.
'He talked to you?'
'No I found them at the front door, but the handwriting is unmistakable,' she placed it down and sat down next to Ran.
'Are you going to talk to him?'
'Maybe.'
'But Aoko-chan-'
'Ran-chan I promise, I will.'
'Okay, okay, let's change the subject,' she smiled, not really believing her, 'do you know who I bumped into the other day?'
It had come to the night of his heist. This time the trick was simple, one he could do in his sleep, a timeless classic. His target this time was a gorgeous diamond know simply as 'The Queen', a famous art collector had struck a deal with the museum's owner to display the jewel along with others from his collection. There was only one large jewel on display making his job a lot easier.
He smiled he had already managed to sneak in as a police officer, it was genuinely disappointing that police never managers to pick up on it. He reported to the inspector, before heading towards the door, he had conveniently been positioned near the display cabinet. However before he could reach his post, he was in for one hell of a surprise.
Aoko had finally managed to push through the crowds downstairs to where her father was. Inspector Nakamori had been surprised to hear his daughter's request to be a part of the heist, but it had been a while since she'd shown an interest so he was happy to oblige. She was wearing a stunning gown, the event wasn't a regular one, but rather a black tie event only those with an invitation could get in, she had been invited as an up and coming author, she had nearly declined, but other than that she wanted to be a part of the squad. She had managed to find a dress of her mother's, a beautiful a-line formal dress. The colour was a deep blue with a sparkle to it, in the light she seemed like a star. The neckline was slightly revealing, as the sleeves were off the shoulder the tops of her breasts were showing, even Kaito couldn't deny that she had grown into a gorgeous woman.
'You look just like your mother, I'm proud of you.' She hugged her dad, he was a man of few words when it came to her mother.
When Kaito finally noticed her she was laughing with another man, tucking her hair behind her ear, the curls carefully done in a bun. He didn't like the expression the man had on his face, not when he kept making obvious glances down her body. For a second he considered it, Aoko or his cover.
He nodded Aoko it is.
He appeared next to them and clearing his throat he said, 'sorry to interrupt, but the inspector would like to talk to the young woman,' he put an arm around her, 'so if you'll excuse me, I'll be escorting her there.'
The man made a noise of protest as Kaito half-dragged her out of the room.
Once the had gotten out of the crowded room and were standing near the staff stairs she pulled her arm away from him, 'what do you think you're doing, Kaito! You can't just drag me out the room like that!'
'I heard no complaints on the way here,' he was facing and was finally able to take a good look at her.
'He was creeping me out, so I left with you,' she turned away from his gaze that was now scrutinising her appearance. She suddenly felt self conscious, especially when the neckline was so revealing.
He shook his head like he'd been in a trance, 'why are you even here?'
'I was invited genius, number one best seller, ring a bell?'
'Well you need to leave, it's going to get dangerous soon.'
'Luckily for me I know how to take care of myself. So if the phantom thief doesn't mind, I'll be enjoying the party,' she curtsied sarcastically before pushing past him to leave.
'Why haven't you told your dad?'
She stopped and answered without turning to face him, 'I believe what I do has nothing to do with you.'
The clock struck midnight and the lights went out, the inspector was shouting orders to turn the back up generator on, to shine a light on the display cabinet. There were flashes of Kid's white cape, but before they could do anything the jewel was gone, no largely elaborate scheme, just a good steal. He made his way up to the roof, he had a glider prepared to fly away, but he, unfortunately, met with two problems.
One of them being the loud shouts behind him, voices he recognises, the organisation out to get him. He kept running, on the roof he had an advantage, but life had other plans because there was none other than Aoko Nakamori waiting for him.
He groaned, 'Aoko you need to go, you really need to leave.'
'Kaito? What's happening?' She seemed genuinely confused, having only come up for some air.
'No time to explain, is there another way, apart from that door to get off the roof?'
'I don't think so.'
He swore under his breath, this was bad, so bad. They were coming and Aoko's here.
'Hey Kaito, will you tell me what's really going on?'
'I-'
Just as he began to speak the door burst open and out stepped Snake.
'Kaito kid! What a pleasant surprise!' He noticed Aoko shuffle closer to Kaito, 'Oh and you bought company how wonderful, you're girlfriend? I thought you were married to the cape.'
Kaito put his arm out in front of her, 'Snake, she has nothing to do with this so let her go.'
'Nah I'm feeling extra annoyed today, men grab her.'
They moved closer in an attempt to grab her, but Kaito was quicker, using his card gun he was able to knock a few out. Aoko wasn't doing so badly herself, she'd successfully knocked out two guys using a piece of pipe.
In a false sense of security she let her guard down and with all the snails she didn't notice them man behind her until he grabbed her, 'Kid!'
He nearly shouted her name back, but stopped himself, they shouldn't sound so close. As the smoke cleared his surroundings were slowly revealed. Near the edge of the roof stood the man holding Aoko, Snake himself hadn't moved and there were men lying on the floor.
'I said she had nothing to do with this, so let her go,' breathe he told himself, maintain that poker face.
'Not until you hand over the jewel.'
'I don't have it, it's actually already being delivered back to the inspector right now,' he confirmed it's authenticity before making his escape. 'Since I don't have it, it's quite obvious it's not the jewel you're looking for.'
Snake snarled at him, 'how convenient, drop the girl.'
'What no-'
'Have fun,' Snake smiled before he turned to leave.
Kaito wasted no time jumping after her, his heart was pounding like crazy, this was Aoko falling. He kept trying to reach her, stretching his arms to try and wrap around her. They were falling so fast, the ground was so close. She was reaching for him too, he could see tears in the corners of her eyes.
So he pushed harder to reach her.
With some miracle he was able to grab her and open his glider. However they managed to hit a tree and come crashing down. He let go of the glider so they wouldn't get as hurt, but when they finally stopped moving he unwrapped his arms that were around Aoko.
'Aoko! Wake up!'
She mumbled before opening her eyes, 'Kaito?'
'Are you okay, are you hurt, show me your arm, he didn't hurt you right?'
She smiled as she watched him fawn over her, making sure she was okay, 'how about you Kaito, are you okay?'
'Hm, yeah I'm fine.'
'Liar, take off that stupid blazer,' she tugged it off.
'Its not stupid.'
As she carefully inspected his shirt for tears or signs of blood, she began to speak, 'why would you jump after me you idiot? You could've died.'
'And let you die, I was scared I was going to lose you for a second,' he gave her a small smile as she looked up at him, 'I didn't know how I was going to live in a world without you.'
She looked taken aback, 'Kaito, I'm sorry.'
'Why are you apologising, it should be me that should say sorry.'
'I don't hate you, its not the fact that your Kid that upset me the most, I-'
He cut her off with a small kiss, smiling at her cute shocked face, 'let's talk about this later.'
She burst out laughing, 'I'm sorry, we really should, the police are still looking for you and we're just sitting here.'
'Come on, let's go before your father catches us and accuses me of stealing his daughter.'
'Our place?'
'Our place.'
He put out his hand for her, to help her get up, 'and I never told you how beautiful you look, I'm sorry your dress is ruined.'
'It's fine, I don't really have a reason to wear it out again.'
'And where were you hiding these curves, I for one have never seen them before,' he pulled her closer, holding her waist.
'Well you can't really claim I look like a boy anymore.'
'Aoko you've always looked stunning,' his eyes didn't have a mischievous sparkle as he talked.
'But you-'
'I get nervous around you.'
'The famous Kaitou Kid, nervous around a girl,' she chuckled.
'It's not that funny,' he pouted at the statement.
While he was turned away, she tiptoed to give him a small kiss on the corner of his mouth, 'come on Bakaito, lets go home.'
Fin
