Disclaimer: I had a dream that this was mine. Then I woke up.

ooooo

Akako was annoyed.

She (and Aoko, of course) had shed blood, sweat, and tears to give Hakuba and Kaito a chance at happily ever after, and now the stupid, pig-headed idiots were blowing it.

Not that it bothered her.

Really.

Still, it was a bit perplexing. Things had been going so well: some kisses in the closet, a little blushing and awkwardness afterwards, a few dates—with a little prompting, of course. And then—nothing.

It only came to her after watching Hakuba's reaction (or lack thereof) to the Kid's latest riddle.

Hakuba knew that Kaito was Kid, and Kaito knew that Hakuba knew. Except that Hakuba didn't know that Kaito knew, or maybe he did, and it was all enough to give Akako a headache.

As in most things, she decided to try the direct approach first.

ooo

"So what's Hakuba's problem, anyway?"

Kaito blinked at her for a moment. "Actually, I would think that it's fairly obvious," he replied mildly.

"Pretend for just a second that I don't know, and explain it to me," Akako ordered.

She had Kaito well-trained: he only looked at her as if she was crazy once before playing along. "Well," he drawled, "I'm a thief, he's a detective. It's the job of the thief to steal things, and it's the job of the detective to catch the thief. Not much chance for a long-term relationship, if you know what I mean."

"Hm..." Akako pretended to think while Kaito waited patiently. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're looking for the jewel that those guys in black killed your father over, right?"

"How did you—"

Ah. So it was true, after all. "You really want to know?" She smirked as Kaito subsided. "Now, then. I'm correct, right?"

"Yeah," Kaito replied sullenly.

A sudden thought came to Akako. "Hakuba's always asking you 'why?', isn't he?"

Kaito was starting to get it. "But I can't just tell him. Kid doesn't work that way."

"No, he doesn't, does he. He's more the give-clues, let-you-figure-it-out-yourself type of guy." Akako curled a lock of hair around one finger reflectively. "And if I provided Kid with a situation in which he could explain?"

"...I guess that could work. You haven't led me wrong yet."

"Well, except for that one time with the inflatable ball, the garden hose, and the monkey, but forget I ever mentioned that, will you?" Akako finished rapidly.

Kaito finally grinned at her, that familiar maddening cocky grin, and she was struck by how long it had been since she'd last seen it. "Like I said, you haven't led me wrong yet."

Wait. There was something—

And Kaito was already half out the door—

"Kid."

He paused in the doorway, his face hidden in shadows, held back by the strangely compelling tone of her voice. "Hakuba is unsure and defensive. You must make him feel that he's in charge, not you. Lead him where you want him to go, but subtly." At the tension in his back she softened her voice. "Trust your friends, Kaito. It'll work out."

He left.

Akako stared after him for a while, thinking, then shook herself. There were plots to plan, favors to call in, and Aoko had to be consulted.

She couldn't wait.

ooooo

Notes: this one just kind of came. I have no idea what Akako's planning—do you?

The monkey: for Aaron G. Just because.

Why has Akako taken it upon herself to fix all their problems, anyway? I think it's because she's a perfectionist, and once she gave up on Kaito, she gives it her all. I see her and Aoko getting along really well together, too—she brings out Aoko's evil/mischevious side, and Aoko keeps her grounded and reasonable.

I'm no good at intricate plots.