A/N: Not an actual side story, it's a main chapter. I just couldn't come up with a good title. Sorry for the interruption. Carry on.

The day before…

Was it wrong to try to approach him? Although they have been actively avoiding each other, Aoko still saw him at school. Almost an entire week had passed since she got her suspicion confirmed at the parking lot around the last heist venue. Their time apart gave her some space to mull over what went down that night.

After some thoughts, perhaps she may have been too harsh in asking him to stop. It was obvious that Kaito had strong attachments towards being Kaitou Kid. If she could find a way to start weaning him off from his dangerous nighttime activities… But first, Aoko needed to talk to him face to face.

Breathing out, Aoko readied herself to walk up to Kaito's desk. Most of their classmates had already left the room and were standing out in the halls and entranceway. Just as she felt ready to stand up from her chair, someone else approached Kaito.

"Kuroba-kun, do you mind if we have a talk over some drinks? It is of utmost importance."

Aoko pretended to be busy rearranging her notes and pencil case as she listened to Hakuba inviting Kaito to talk about something. Strange, she thought. Usually, Kaito would be refusing and bolting out of the classroom by now. This time he simply nodded calmly and followed the blond student. When the two of them left the room, Aoko hurriedly scooped up everything on top of her desk and packed them inside her school briefcase.

By the time she stepped out into the hallways, she nearly lost sight of those two among the student body moving about. If it weren't for Hakuba's above average height and fair coloured hair, Aoko would have not seen them going out of the school through the courtyard after passing by their shoe lockers. Following after the two boys, she kept her distance while occasionally stopping and pulling out her phone in case one of them turned around. Eventually, they arrived at a popular coffee shop just a few blocks away.

With curiosity fueling her steps, Aoko tailed them all the way inside. She saw Kaito and Hakuba sitting at a table near the windows. Unfortunately for her, there was no way she could sit close by to hear what the two of them were discussing. Sitting on a bar stool at a counter facing them, she bought herself a tall glass of iced tea.

The entire time, her eyes were set on Kaito's back. Aoko flinched when she saw him angrily hit the tabletop with a clenched fist out of the blue. It had not been the first time he snapped at Hakuba but it was never quite as frustrated as this instance. She couldn't help but feel worried at Kaito's unusual moodiness. Or did Hakuba say something to anger him? But before she could observe them for longer to make her judgement, Kaito suddenly stood up and left Hakuba to sit by himself. His mind seemed to be preoccupied by something since he left without even noticing her.

Seeing that the coast was clear, Aoko got up from the bar stool and walked towards Hakuba. He looked apprehensive about something. "Um, Hakuba-kun?"

Hearing her, the detective looked up. "Oh, I did not realize you were here too, Aoko-san. Am I right to guess that you followed Kuroba-kun and me?"

"Y-yeah, Aoko did follow you two." The way Hakuba said it made her feel like a stalker. "I just wanted to speak to Kaito."

He turned his eyes back at the coffee drink set in front of him and sighed. "I don't mean to pry, but do you know why he has been acting so off lately?"

"It's… Yeah. I think I do." Aoko slid into the seat across from Hakuba where Kaito had sat a few moments ago. The other drink in front of the blond must have been Kaito's.

Hakuba took a sip of his coffee before asking with a careful mien. "Aoko-san, is everything alright between you two? I mean, I assume that it is related to your relationship since Kuroba-kun and you have been rather quiet and cold to each other ever since his behavioral change."

"So it's that obvious, huh? Was that why he got mad earlier because you asked Kaito about me?"

"No, he seemed to be bothered by something else but he was being unclear about what."

She laughed lightly without much energy. "That sounds like Kaito alright." Her smile faded back into a neutral expression, staring down at the sweet smelling cup in front of her. "He...told me. Or at least, I think I forced him to. About Kaitou Kid… You knew about that too, didn't you?"

Putting down his cup, the detective looked at her in surprise. "Ah, that would explain a lot. So you know about his nightly activities. If you know that, then… " Hakuba trailed off into a string of barely audible mumbling.

"Hakuba-kun?"

He almost jumped up from his seat. "My apologies, Aoko-san. I have to leave now to check something. I'll pay for your drink on my way out. Please be cautious and walk straight back home once you're ready to go."

After that, Hakuba gathered his stuff and passed by the cashier counter before walking out. Aoko now sat by herself with only the company of a rapidly cooling cup of hot chocolate. Her half-finished ice tea remained on the previous spot she sat at. She was in no hurry to go back home, in case she crossed paths with Kaito on the train. Talking to him in a public place didn't seem like a good idea for either of them.

Sinking into the back of her seat, Aoko allowed her mind to wander off. It rethreaded back to that night. The same lingering question still occupied her mind. Why couldn't Kaito trust her with his secret? He had been hanging around her almost her entire life. Having Kaito there was great company since it did get pretty lonely with just herself and her father in the house. As for her father, he was so busy with…

…

Aoko nearly squealed out loud when she gasped in realization.

It was because of her father! Not only was he a police inspector, he was the inspector trying to arrest Kaitou Kid. Her connection to her father must be making Kaito nervous. Aoko had been so used to the fact that her father was a police officer that this factor in her relationship with Kaito never occurred to her. Kaito must have worried that she'd turn him in if he told her.

If Kaito told me that he was Kaitou Kid a year earlier, I might have reported him to the authorities without hesitation.

Biting her lips, Aoko felt nauseated once that thought crossed her mind. The idea that she could have very possibly betrayed her best friend and confidant just like that… It scared her. Perhaps Kaito was right in keeping his secret so closely guarded the entire time he was around her.

But now she has become a different person, right? Almost two years had passed since Kaitou Kid had begun stealing again. Compared to her past self, Aoko definitely felt she had matured.

Learning to not take things at face value and reading people beneath what they are showing.

Those are things that she might have picked up from being around Hakuba and Kaito, and that led her to begin noticing the correlation between Kaito and Kaitou Kid. It was also why she was ready to give him a chance to explain himself.

Now that Aoko had a solid inkling as to why Kaito refused to tell her anything, she felt more determined to talk to him. Looking outside, a deep orange colouring the sky above indicated that a significant amount of time had passed. Kaito must be home by now. It was time to go.

Feeling her heart race as she walked, Kaito's house came within sight soon. On her way back, Aoko's thoughts on what she should say filled her head. She debated with herself if she should approach with a roundabout method or be more direct. By the time Aoko was at Kaito's doorsteps, she accepted that she would just say what was on her mind and see where it went.

Aoko's hand reached out to press on the doorbell, but she stopped midway. Something looked very wrong. His door rested ajar and misshapen, and the door handle had been damaged beyond repair.

A burglary!?

"Kaito!" She pushed the front door and rushed in.

Only an eerie silence responded to her call.

Looking around the first floor, nothing seemed to have changed which was odd for a burglary. It was as if nothing had happened at all inside. Aoko swallowed and tried to calm the nervousness pulsing through her being. Calm down. Maybe Kaito was upstairs.

She checked the second floor where Kaito's room should be. To her horror, the door to his room had been forced open and the door frame near the lock bent out of shape by some kind of tool. Praying that she wouldn't find anything terrible like blood or the person that did this, Aoko cautiously stepped in with her school bag clutched and ready to swing.

Aoko should have breathed a sigh of relief since she found none of what she feared, but the sight inside made her concern grow tenfold. Her mouth hung open while she surveyed the mess, debris crunching under her shoes as she moved. Broken glass laid everywhere on the floor and on top of his bed. But most shocking to her were the bullet holes that dotted a side of the wall. Her eyes swept over the scene as she backed away in disbelief, until her foot bumped into something.

Looking down, it was a large machine of sorts. Several playing cards were embedded into its frame and had sliced through its wires. Those cards were… They must have come from Kaito. The fact that he fought back and that there was no sign of him being injured brought some form of relief to Aoko, but she still had to see him in person to make sure that he was truly okay.

Feeling unsafe inside the house, Aoko retreated back outside where she decided to pull her phone out. She had to call the police. However…

For the first time, Aoko felt hesitant on relying on the police. What if they find something inside the house that revealed his secret identity and then refuse to help Kaito? Her finger shook as it hovered above the call button. The feeling of doubting what she had trusted unconditionally her entire life felt strangely heartbreaking. But who else could help apart from-

Oh! Quickly, she scrolled through her contact list to find her father's phone number. If the police find anything, at least he would be willing to listen to her and Kaito. A hand suddenly touched her shoulder.

"Aoko-chan? What's wrong?"

Screaming at the unexpected presence, Aoko fumbled with her phone. She took a step back and turned around to see who it was. Recognizing the woman as Harukawa Suzumi, Aoko felt a bit embarrassed by her reaction. The stocky woman was one of the few female members of the task force her father operated. "Oh, Harukawa-san! I need to call my father! Somebody broke into Kaito's house!"

Regaining a proper hold on her phone, Aoko almost pressed the call button until the task force officer grabbed her hand. The woman had a firm hand around the girl's wrist, and began walking away. "Here, let me drive you to the headquarters. You can speak to the inspector in person."

"B-but, it's faster to call!" She almost tripped on her own feet as she was pulled towards a car that was parked around a corner.

Harukawa kept dragging Aoko as she turned her head around. "Your father is busy and won't be able to answer right now. He asked me to come pick you up."

"He did?" It would not be the first time Aoko had been given a car ride by one of her father's subordinates. "O-okay." Something was off but she couldn't quite pinpoint the exact reason while her mind was still panicked by the state of disarray in Kaito's house.

Seeing that the passenger side of the front was currently occupied by a large equipment bag of sorts, Aoko chose to sit in the backseats. Harukawa started the engine after climbing into the driver's spot.

To calm herself, Aoko looked out at the scrolling scenery and focused observing the things that passed by. The sound of door locks snapping on made her jolt in her seat. She then realized that the car switched to another lane and exited the highway earlier than it should.

"Harukawa-san? Are you sure that you're going the right way?" Aoko had her school bag resting on her lap. It felt safer that way.

Keeping her eyes on the road, the woman responded calmly. "Just a little detour to avoid any traffic jam. Don't worry about it."

Aoko shot an uncertain glance at the back of the driver's seat, which only added concern to her already nervous mindset. Hiding behind her school bag, her hands fidgeted with her phone. Although unsteady, they had entered the password, and proceeded to try and type a message to Kaito. She just wanted to know where he was.

"Say, Aoko-chan? What do you think about Kaitou Kid?"

"Huh? W-what do you mean?" Returning her eyes to the rear view mirror, Aoko caught the officer staring back at her.

"Nothing." The woman gave a low laugh before speaking again, a smirk forming on her painted lips. "Do you remember your mother? She was hospitalized after a car accident, wasn't she?"

Was Harukawa trying to create small talk while waiting for a red light? Deciding to humor the person who was giving her a free ride, Aoko allowed herself to talk. "Actually, my father hasn't talked about my mother ever since she-"

Realizing something, Aoko paused mid-sentence. Her father had been tightlipped about anything regarding her mother, and it was strange that someone like Harukawa was privy to that fact. It happened eleven years ago, and Harukawa joined the task force only a year and a half ago when Kaitou Kid returned. "How do you… know that?"

"Let me tell you a story while we still have some time before our destination." Harukawa licked her lips and cleared her throat in an exaggerated manner. "It all started when your dear mother got too curious for her own good and started to poke her nose in other people's business. Me, being part of the same narcotics subdivision, saw that and reported her actions to my real higher ups. In response they sent someone by the name of Crocus who arranged for her to have an 'accident' by rigging the car's brakes and steering to fail once it reached a certain speed."

What? What was this person talking about?

Her mother got into an accident because of bad weather. That's what her father told her when they waited in the hospital. That's what the investigators told them too. Aoko could still remember the harsh rain and wind battering the windows outside the waiting room as she buried her face into her father's sleeve.

"Ah, but Crocus failed. The 'accident' did not kill her, so I dropped by her room to give the finishing touches. Thanks to Crocus' blunder, I received quite the promotion! I even helped your father track down and arrest a culprit for the mechanical tampering and murder!"

Aoko no longer cared about where she was. A strange deafening ringing in her ears muffled and dimmed the world around her. The woman's words dredged up memories of her mother lying in bed, hooked to various machines.

Pale, but breathing.

Alive.

The doctors had even given a good prognosis and there was steady progress towards full recovery. So when her mother suddenly turned for the worse after a week, her father pressed for an investigation to be done but Aoko never heard of the results.

Along with the high pitched ringing came a pulsing headache, worse than the one she felt the night she confronted Kaito. Her voice shook as she struggled to find the words to express her confusion and disbelief. "Y-you… Harukawa-san…? You mean, that...she was… You killed Mom?! But why!? I-if this is some kind of sick joke, then stop it! Why are you even telling me this?!"

The woman only cackled as she heard her passenger begin to choke on her erratic breaths. "To let you know your place in all of this, girlie."

Adding to the mixing pot of mind numbing feelings swirling in her head, Aoko felt fury spilling in. That's it. This person was not a real police officer and could not be trusted. As steady as she possibly could be, Aoko prepared to make a call to the emergency line but her tear-blurred vision made it difficult along with her shaking body.

"Oh, I wouldn't call the cops if I were you. You think I don't know that you've been touching your phone behind your school bag?"

Hearing that, Aoko froze as dread replaced her anger. The window at her side then lowered just enough to fit a finger through the gap.

"Now, be a good girl and throw it out. Or else I'll make sure you're never heard of again. Keep your hands where I can see them." No trace of pleasantness was in Harukawa's previously gleeful voice.

After listening to the story, Aoko feared what the woman was capable of. Attacking the driver while the car sped through the streets felt like a terrible idea for both Aoko herself and the other drivers around them. Jumping out was impossible since the doors' locks were enabled and probably highly dangerous. Suddenly the equipment bag resting on the passenger seat next to Harukawa seemed not so innocent anymore.

Beginning to worry for her safety, Aoko complied and pushed her only line of contact out of the car to let it tumble and scrape harshly against the asphalt road outside. The poor visibility in the late evening provided enough cover to hide Aoko's presence in the car and the object falling out of it.

The vehicle looked to be taking one detour after the next, going down streets unknown to Aoko who remained stock still. Her eyes focused into empty space, lost as to what she could possibly do in this situation. She wished for this nightmare to be over, then wake up, go to school with Kaito, and fool around in class together like normal. When did things go so out of control? Why was this happening to her? It must be something to do with her father. Why else would the woman tell her that terrible story?

...

As if reading Aoko's thoughts, Harukawa spoke up to break the suffocating silence. "If you want to put the blame on anyone, rest everything on Kaitou Kid."

Her head lifted up at the mention of Kaitou Kid again. "Wh-what..? What does he have to do with anything right now?"

On second thoughts, all her problems at the moment did indeed seem to loop back to that stupid thief. Her father being busy as the inspector of the task force, her conflicted feelings about Kaito's secret identity, the break-in… But if Kaito was Kaitou Kid, then… Aoko was not sure if Kaito would intentionally bring any form of danger to her, plus someone attacked him at his house.

...

Harukawa's presence nearby at the time no longer seemed so coincidental anymore. "You...you're the one that broke into Kaito's house?" But why would she and whoever she's working for target Kaito? Unless- Oh. "Y-you know about Kaito's secret? What do you want from him?!"

Judging by the woman's attitude, Aoko could tell that Harukawa was no friend of Kaitou Kid's, and that she was being held hostage because of her relationship with him. Now she felt so pathetic for being used like a bargaining chip. But what do they want from Kaito and when did he gain enemies other than the police?

A giggle escaped Harukawa's throat. Only the occasional streetlights sweeping by allowed Aoko to see the woman's amused face from the rearview mirror. "I'll give you the answer that your boyfriend couldn't give."

Deep chills ran down Aoko's spine. This person said it like they were there when she confronted Kaito. Maybe Harukawa was there and Aoko didn't know? Either way, Aoko really wanted to cover her ears in case this despicable woman revealed something horrible again. Yet, she was curious enough to want to hear it even if it could be a complete lie. "G-go on."

"If only Kaitou Kid hadn't defied us and stepped out of bounds, he would be still alive and breathing with his family."

"But Kaito isn't-"

"His father, Kuroba Toichi, was an idiot who thought he could get away by simply hiding behind his public image." The look of amusement on her face twisted into one of relish. "Unfortunately for him, the man had greatly underestimated us and got his just deserts. It seems like history is repeating itself once again. Now that you know that, feel free to hate Kaito-kun for being just as foolhardy as his father."

...

...Not only my mother, but Kaito's father too?

Aoko clutched her school bag to her chest, her knuckles turning white from squeezing. She had no idea that such a twisted history existed so close to home and she hasn't been made aware of it by anyone. In fact, it was a miracle that her father and the Kuroba family carried on with their lives without letting it show. Tears began to spill out, dribbling down her cheeks as she silently wished it was all a cruel prank. But there was no denying that Harukawa knew of the details behind her mother's passing.

Harukawa was wrong on one thing though. Aoko held no hatred for Kaitou Kid. Right now, she hated the woman that killed her mother and whoever took away Toichi's life. There were people in her and Kaito's life who were gone forever, labeled as 'accidents'. How dare they...! The silent and bitter rage that ate at her mind was unlike anything she had experienced before. She wanted to make them pay. … But how?

Meanwhile, the smirk on the woman's face remained stuck there as she pulled up to a rundown electronics repair shop in a lonely corner of the city. Once the car approached, the rusted garage door lifted up to make way for it to park inside. Meanwhile, Aoko had her eyes shut tightly and only shook harder as the car's engine went out. She heard the garage door close itself, cutting her off from the outside world. Harukawa stepped out, bringing the heavy equipment bag with her.

After sneaking a peek at the woman walking around to her side of the car, Aoko shrieked as the officer wrenched the door open. The end of a handgun was pointed at her.

"Now, out of the car. Leave the bag."

She nodded, eyes wide in terror and focused on the weapon. Harukawa backed up a step, leaving just enough space for Aoko to get out.

"Walk straight ahead to the door."

Feeling the solid end of the gun push her back, Aoko hurriedly stepped towards a door with badly chipped paint. Harukawa then yelled out to someone.

"Open up, you damn shut-in!"

With a mechanical buzz, a loud click sound came from the door. The woman returned her attention to the girl.

"Go."

Obeying, Aoko grabbed the cold metal doorknob and twisted it. The scent of dust and plastic hit her nose. Just behind the door laid a corridor leading to the inside of an inconspicuous repair shop. Stacked high to the ceiling were old radio and television parts. Several bins sat on the ground with multicolored wires and unused motors peeking out from them. As they walked in, the oil spot covered newspapers that lay on top of the old wooden floor crinkled and shifted with each step. Aoko was guided around with harsh jabs on her back from the gun.

Eventually, they climbed up a narrow set of stairs to reach the second floor. Up there, a much cleaner and larger space presented itself. It resembled some kind of workshop. Dangling from the support beams were machines that Aoko recognized as similar to the one she found damaged in Kaito's room. On a workbench lay several boxes of new ammunition, which only served to remind her of the current peril.

"I don't remember agreeing to take a hostage as part of the plan, Romulea."

The voice came from a man. He stepped out of a sideroom as Harukawa and Aoko approached. With a nervous glance, Aoko saw that the inside of that room had several screens all showing an aerial view from somewhere. The man looked older than her father and had sunken eyes from years of neglecting sleep. Surprisingly though, his body seemed to be in a healthy condition if one were to ignore the ashy complexion.

Harukawa responded with a huff. "Don't be a stick-in-the-mud, Uromastyx. Aoko-chan here conveniently showed up in front of me, so I took the chance. She's going to be very useful once her daddy and Kaitou Kid hears about her whereabouts."

Aoko swallowed as she felt the strangely named man's gaze land on her. They weren't as psychopathic as Harukawa's but there was certainly some coldness to it, like something had gone numb inside of him.

Carrying a lazy and indifferent tone, Uromastyx sighed with his response. "You better have a plan, 'cause I'm not taking care of her. I'm busy with our actual mission."

"Don't worry, I'll just toss the girl in one of your useless rooms. I'm going to crash here and wait for Termite in the meantime."

Without warning, Aoko felt her hair getting yanked with a hand by Harukawa from behind. Letting out a strangled yelp, she stumbled forward to precisely wherever the woman wanted her to be. It was only when Aoko entered a dark room that she was released along with a shove. She tried not to fall on her face from the abrupt push.

"Stay quiet in there, girlie. Once we get done tracing all of Kaitou Kid's allies, we'll decide what to do with you."

Aoko only had enough time to understand that a door was closing before being left in a nearly pitch black room. There was no source of light apart from the light coming through under the door and small grimy windows. Despite being alone and away from Harukawa, Aoko's body still shivered as she attempted to get her bearings. It was an absolutely desolated room. She looked back at the door. There seemed to be no lock in place, but she wouldn't dare to step outside with two crazy people waiting right outside.

The only other way out would be an open vent fenced off by old cobwebs and dust bunnies, but it was positioned near the ceiling next to the windows. Even if she could reach up there, her shoulders would barely fit through.

After spending a few minutes combing through the empty room, Aoko felt dizzy from circling in the enclosed space. She backed up against a wall and slid down onto the bare floor. Perhaps the darkness and the stillness of this place made her feel incredibly tired.

Curling up as tightly as she could, Aoko laid down. In all honesty, everything that Harukawa had said to her had shaken her up more than being held at gunpoint. The looming threat of being taken hostage felt like background noise. It's like she hadn't left the car at all.

Squeezing her eyes closed, she tried to hold in the angry sobs that threatened to leave her. Tears quietly slid down out in frustration at the injustice done to her and Kaito.

…

…

How long has she been lying there by herself?

Seeing the dark blue hue covering the room along with a tinge of orange seeping through the dusty warm air, Aoko guessed that almost a whole day must have passed. Her head felt so groggy from lying down and sleeping for so long. She was getting tired of sitting there with nothing but her thoughts while being unable to act on them. Sleep only provided a temporary escape from reality.

Her mind returned to her father and Kaito. She just wished to know if they were safe, but she knew that nothing would be accomplished if she moped around. What if her father or Kaito found out she was being held here? She had to be ready.

Slowly, Aoko fought back the headache brought on from her pent-up emotions and lack of movement to sit up. Once she was in a more comfortable position, she waited for the blood in her body to flow back in the spots that had gone sore from lying on the hard floor. After that, she did a wellness check. Apart from the body aches and the slight thirst, Aoko felt okay.

Moving on, her eyes did another sweep of the room. She still saw nothing that could help her. Not a single loose nail stuck out of the walls. There weren't even any funnily shaped dust balls or mildew patches to entertain her.

Sighing, Aoko began to tug at the edge of her school uniform skirt. Eventually, her hand found its way into her skirt pocket and she began digging. Much to her surprise, her fingers brushed against a strangely shaped object stuck at the very bottom corner. Aoko fished it out and used what little light seeped through the windows to make out what it was.

It looked like a small toy badge shaped like a dove, almost like it could be a part of a charm.

When did it get there? She doesn't remember buying a thing like that. Besides, the style seemed more like Kaito's. Maybe he slipped it in her skirt pocket when she wasn't looking or during one of his classroom antics. That pervert…

Holding the bird between her fingers, Aoko observed it from different angles. It was just a little bigger than one of her fingernails. At least there was finally something to look at in her bleak holding cell. But the longer she stared at it, the more she was reminded of him. Was he okay? She had no way of knowing now.

Aoko brought the miniature dove closer to her eyes. It was surprisingly well made and detailed. She smiled a bit, thinking about Kaito's dedication to his craft as a magician. His passion was contagious. Her gaze followed the silhouette of the toy bird, feeling a bit better from holding something so adorable.

…

She gasped when she noticed an unnatural line running down one of its wings. It formed a shape around the wing, as if there was a button there.

Does she dare to press it?

The last thing she wanted to happen was for it to explode like a firecracker like many of Kaito's props he would use in his pranks. Aoko didn't want to know what Harukawa or Uromastyx would do if they found out she had snuck something in with her.

Still, the button looked so enticing to press on. For a while, she ran a thumb over it and toyed with the idea.