Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one

This work is part of my AU series 'Phantom of a Thief'

Please read that first so you are not horribly confused

Blue Birthday

Stupid! Kaito hissed silently to himself from his place hidden in the shadows. How could he have been so stupid! He had known Snake and his associates would show themselves eventually. Had known full well that even though others had pulled the strings, the assassin was the one directly responsible for his Father's death; so why had he frozen?

The magician could feel a reassuring vibration against his skin, Psyche having shed the form of Kaitou Rei's flashy white cape in favor of something more concealing. Still, he thought to himself, raising one gloved hand to his chest. It could have been much worse. Body armor or not, getting shot in the chest hurt. He made a note to send his guardians a very nice present in thanks as he slipped the flattened bullet into a pocket.

Kai didn't even twitch as a second figure materialized out of the gloom; a pair of concerned brown eyes running over his foster brother's form. "Are you alright?" Huyu whispered. His hand hovered over the hilt of his sword. He had about had a heart attack when he had heard the shot over the comms. At this rate, his hair would be gray before he hit twenty.

"Fine." The slightly younger thief pushed himself away from the wall. He could have a pity party later, for now he had more important things to attend to. "Did you see which way they went?" Kai asked. If not he would just track that bug the police had planted in the gem. He hadn't gotten around to removing it before running into Snake on the roof.

The swordsman stared. "You can't be serious," he hissed. He opened his mouth to continue only to pause at the look in his brother's eyes. The indigo orbs were hard, without of hint of their usual humor.

"Dead serious." This was his first real lead since he had taken up his Father's work, and he wasn't about to let it slip through his fingers.

It was only after everything was said and done, the young thieves back in their den that Kaito realized what day it was. A sad smile crossed his face as he imagined the life he could have had if things had been just a little different. "Happy birthday Aoko," he said softly. He could only hope it had been a happy one.

PoaTPoaTPoaT

I really have got to finish Hidden Claws. After that I will try to write a new episode for this 'verse