Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one

Dedicated to Hannah Palindromes Rock whose snippet inspired my own

I think this concept would make an awesome full story someday. Hope she writes it.

Reunion

It had been fourteen years since his Father's death. Six years since Kaito had learned there was indeed someone to blame, that his Father had been murdered; since he had first taken up the Kaitou Kid's mantle and taken to the air on white wings. Three since Jii had followed his first master, dying at their hands, his Mother falling into a coma from which she had yet to awaken. Kaito refused to think that she never would.

Three years, though it seemed so much longer, since Kaito had been forced to fake his own death after narrowly escaping the real thing. Three years of his battle with Snake and company moving even further underground. Of knowing he was never truly safe. One year since the destruction of the Pandora Gem, even if he was the only one who would ever know. The magician took comfort in the fact that even if he fell, Snake would spend the rest of his life searching for something that no longer existed. He had thrown the shards into the ocean, just to be sure.

One week since Kaito had been forced to fake his death, again. Tantei-kun and tantei-han hauling his half frozen body into a real bed and feeding him until he could eat no more after the pair had stumbled across the scene. Seven days of the two detectives prying secrets from his lips like miners did gems from raw stone, in spite of all of his intentions to not get them involved. This was his business, not theirs.

Why am I still here? The brunette wondered to himself. Kaito could not deny that he had desperately needed the rest. However, Snake thought him dead, at least for the moment. He probably had at least another week before the assassin started to wonder about the fact his body hadn't turned up. An excuse, a five minute head start, that was all the kaitou needed to disappear.

Except, that was the cincher wasn't it. Except. How long could he keep up this game of cat and mouse? Pandora was gone true, but the gem had always been a means to an end. His true goal had always been to see Snake and the rest of his organization behind bars, and that did not seem like it was going to happen anytime soon.

Kaito's hand clenched, fingernails digging into the flesh of his palms. As much as the brunette hated to admit it, he needed help. He would have to tell Kudo and Hattori everything. He opened his mouth only to be interrupted by a polite knock on the heavy wooden door.

The three young men froze. What the hell? That was not the front door and there shouldn't be anyone in the house but them. Kaito would have been more worried save for the fact that in his experience professional killer's rarely knocked. This didn't stop the trio from rising to their feet and getting into more defensive positions.

Sharing a glance with his two companions, Shinichi returned his attention to the door. "Come in," he called not willing to actually open it.

A delicate, perfectly manicured hand swung open the door, causing all three of them to stare. Heiji because this was not at all what he had been expecting when they had heard the knock. Shinichi because she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and that included Ran. Not that he would ever tell his fiancée that. As for Kaito, well, he stared because he knew her.

"Koizumi-san!" the magician choked.

The redhead's golden charms swayed as she glided forward, stopping right before the phantom thief. Her gaze traveled up and down the slender figure. Kid's immunity to her magic had never been so strong as to prevent scrying, she had known the other was alive. But it was still a relief to see the magician face to face. Not that she would let on to that fact; she had other business to attend.

Smack! Akako's eyes flashed with anger as she lowered her hand, ignoring the slight sting where her palm had collided with Kaito's cheek. "You foolish man!" she hissed. "How dare you!" Her long crimson locks swirled in a nonexistent wind, the room darkening slightly.

"Akako . . ." he started to respond only to be cut off.

"Aoko-chan cried for weeks."

At that Kaito winced, his poker face crumbling. He regretted the pain he caused his best friend with every fiber of his being but it could not have been helped. It had been the only way to protect her.

"Saguru has spent countless nights trying to find your killer. He is still looking."

Of course he was, Kaito thought to himself, not entirely surprised. The blond should have been named after a bulldog, not a horse.

"Why didn't you come to me?!" the redhead snarled. "I could have helped you."

The detectives were silent. They did not know who this woman was, or her connection with the kaitou, but they too were curious about Kid's answer.

Kaito drew himself up, face smoothing over into something that could have easily been carved from marble. When he spoke again, it was clear he was Kid, not Kaito. "Your aid always has a price my dear Akako-hime. I find myself doubting such a thing would be worth it." Also, although their relationship was complicated to say the least, he had wished to protect her as well. That though was something he would never say aloud.

The young woman looked away, feeling somewhat ashamed. She could not deny his words. All magic had a price. "I could have at least given you a safe place to sleep," she whispered. Given the animosity Kaito sometimes showed in class, the crows never would have expected him to come to her.

The thief softened, his persona fading away. Suddenly he blinked. "And since when do you call him Saguru?"

Akako laughed, an amused sound as opposed to the chortles that always made Kaito wonder if she was plotting his death. "It would be quite odd to address my boyfriend by his surname."

Now the magician blinked feeling truly befuddled. "You're dating?" he sputtered. "Since when?"

The redhead sniffed, flicking a stray bit of hair over her shoulder in a move carefully calculated to draw the attention of anyone around her. "There's no need to sound so shocked Kuroba-kun. A girl could do far worse."

"But," Kaito tried to put his thoughts in order before deciding to go with blunt and to the point. "Hakuba's a detective. You're a witch." It just didn't make sense.

"Now that's just rude," Hattori interrupted, unable to stop himself from commenting. "Aren't you supposed to be a gentleman thief?"

The magician just rolled his eyes. "It's not an insult," he defended himself. "She really is a witch." Flying broom and everything as he well knew.

As for the witch in question, she just shrugged. Saguru was a very logical young man. Once he had accepted, through his own observations, the truth of her powers they had not had any issues. He accepted her as she was. "It works for us," anything else was frankly not their business.

"But," Shinichi protested. "There is no such thing as magic."

Slowly, Kaito turned his head to look at the detective, mentally weighing the pros and cons of trying to convince his rival Akako really was a witch. No, he decided, not worth it. "Whatever you say tantei-kun," he said. "Just don't come crying to me if she turns you into a frog."

Finis

I know I know, not a definite ending. But I can't write a full story based on someone else's fic and this is where my little daydream ended. Hope you enjoyed and don't miss the omake.

Omake

Ran stared, wondering if her Father had spilled beer into her dinner again. She had to be hearing things. "I'm sorry," she said slowly. "But what?"

Hattori just grimaced. "I know how this sounds neechan but that is what happened." He shifted awkwardly before holding up the small green creature again. "Look, could you just kiss the frog."