Disclaimer:  *sigh* Once again, I don't own Magic Kaito.  Gosho does.

Kaito: *poof* *offers a rose to Icka* Thank you for correcting Dreamer's mistake! *smiles* Kudos to all the supportive readers so far! 

The Touch of Fate

By Dreaming Fantasy (edited by Leftover Shrimp)

Chapter 3

"I did it!"  Kaito was ecstatic.  His plan had worked so well, and the look on Hakuba's face had been priceless. 

Kaito laughed.  Hakuba could be so amusing at times.  And so clueless…  He never even suspected that Kaito supposedly losing his voice was a bit fishy.  But, then again, Hakuba didn't have much imagination. 

He underestimated me again, Kaito thought gleefully.  Kaito had known that Hakuba would try that old handcuffs deal again.  But this time Kaito was prepared. 

He simply dressed Jii as himself and sent Jii in his place.  Jii had gotten a little lost and showed up a bit late, but that was of no consequence. It actually turned out for the better because by the time Jii finally showed up, Hakuba was so eager to start his capture that he didn't pay much attention to the Kid that showed up. The only weakness to his plan was someone possibly realizing that he had sent a substitute. That was where the loss of his voice became a crucial part of his plan.  As long as Jii didn't talk, people would assume that he was Kaito.  But he would need a good reason for not talking, and Kaito's simple idea solved that problem easily.

The rest of the plan was simple.  Show up, confuse Hakuba, grab the tiara, and run.

The appearance of a second Kid had stunned Hakuba so much that Kaito had been able to make a clean getaway.

"Some people are just so dense."

"Yes, I agree."  A female voice said.

Kaito turned around.  Not her…  He glared at her suspiciously, hoping that she wasn't here to do anything weird.

"Hello miss.  Can I help you with anything?"

"Yes, I want you."

Then again, knowing her, she was always up to something.

"Me?  Well, I'm very flattered, but…"

"I know, I know, you like Aoko."

"What?  Miss, I'm afraid you're mistaken."

"No, I don't think so, Kaito Kuroba."

"Miss, I am Kaito Kid, not Kaito Kuroba."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Well, let's see how you react to this."  With that, Akako whipped out a fish from her bag and brandished it in front of Kaito's face.

"Ahhhh!"  Kaito jumped backward.  Anything but fish! What was that thing doing in her purse?!

"See, you're Kaito Kuroba, and your biggest fear is fish."

"No, no…I'm not.  It's just…a coincidence," he stammered, still trying to catch his breath after her twisted joke. So like her to try to scare him into bed with her.

"No, it isn't.  You're a magician.  So is Kaito.  You're terrified of fish, so is Kaito.  You 'stole' the clock tower where Kaito and Aoko met in order to prevent it from being torn down. Coincidence again? I think not. Finally, there is only man in this world who isn't my slave, and that is you, Kaito Kid, alias Kaito Kuroba."

A little unbalanced from her unexpected barrage, Kaito was at a loss for words. What was she trying to do? A sob from behind Kaito answered his question.

Kaito whirled around, and the sight that greeted him turned his heart to ice and sent it plummeting.

"Aoko…"

Her face tearstained and her eyes brimming with pain, Aoko flinched from his outstretched hand. "Keep away from me!  How could you, Kaito?  How could you?"

"Aoko, I…"

"Don't say anything.  I don't want to hear your explanations, your lies.  I don't want to see you ever again."

Sobbing painfully, Aoko turned and ran off into the night. Unthinkingly, Kaito started to dash off after her, but Akako's arm snaked around his and brought him to a shuddering stop. He whipped around to face her, and the razor-sharp daggers of hate that his eyes shot at her loosened her grasp.

His night of triumph had turned into a night of heartbreak.  Kaito felt empty inside, Aoko's accusing words still ringing in his ears. His world had been smashed to splinters, and he was left with the pieces.

Dragging his arm from Akako's grip, the phantom thief took off into the night.

~to be continued…

A/N: Like?  Review please.  Please.  *pouts*  *smiles*