NOTE* I realize now that last chapter I didn't explain it very clearly, but Asami's parents are dead. The social worker Nana, is looking for other family that may exist.
Chapter Ten:
"All the World's a Stage; And all the Men and Women, merely Players..."
- William Shakespeare
Hakuba, Harley, Aoko, Shinara, and Kaito, along with Asami left the hospital the next day cleared to go to the hotel where they had reservations made. Each were sore from the crash and sunburns that coated their skin, but they were all grateful they were alive to experience it.
"I think Aoko and I are going to turn in a bit early. See you guys around five for dinner in the lobby?"
"Sounds good to me", Kaito nodded, his hand clutching Asami's.
"I told Rubio and Santo I would go with them on a tour of the city, so I will meet you guys then. Later!" shouted Harley as she dashed down the street towards the cab that sat parked on the side of the road. Rubio and Santo leaned against it, smiling as she approached. Quickly they opened the door for her and once she was in, they slid in around her.
Kaito and the others watched with amusement as the cab pulled away before turning back to what they had originally been doing. Hakuba and Aoko started up the stairs while Kaito crouched in front of Asami.
"Asami, are you hungry, tired, or what…?"
"Hmm", the little girl hummer, "I am kind of sleepy K-san."
Kaito smiled.
"Alright then, let's go get out room settled, shall we?"
Asami nodded, smiling as she followed after Kaito and Shinara into the elevator. As the doors closed, Shinara couldn't help but notice how close the child and Kaito had become. She honestly thought it was adorable and had known all along that Kaito was good with children and would one day make a good father.
"Asami-chan", Shinara stated as she knelt by the little girl, "would you mind if I gave you a bath?"
ASami's face filled with horror at the idea of water and she backed away, closer to Kaito's leg. Shinara frowned, glancing up at Kaito who copied her expression. He didn't like the way she seemed to now have a phobia of water.
"Okay, how about this… what if I take a bath with you?" Shinara asked with a small smile.
Asami blinked before stepping a bit closer to Shinara.
"You would do that?" she asked.
"Of course sweetie", Shinara stated with a smile, "So how about it?"
Slowly the little girl nodded. "Okay", she whispered hesitantly.
Shinara and Kaito shared a smile as the elevator dinged and brought them to the third floor. Quickly making their way to room 307, they entered with the key and began unpacking.
"We are going to go wash up. You okay unpacking?"
"Course, go on gals", Kaito said with a smile, "I will take one after you guys are done."
Shinara nodded as she grabbed a change of clothes for the two of them and some towels and made her way into the bathroom, locking it behind them.
Kaito smiled to himself as he went about unpacking, but a knock on the hotel room door had him stopping as he made his way to it.
"Yes?" he asked through the door.
"Sir, I am with the hotel. I have a letter for you."
Kaito quickly opened the door and noted the bell hop with a nod as he took the letter, closing the door behind him. Curious, he quickly unfolded it.
Kaito Kuroba,
Welcome to Puerto Rico. I would like to ask if you enjoyed your trip, but I know for a fact it had not gone as well as it could have. My apologies for putting you in danger.
I would like to speak to you. Just you. Should you feel threatened by this, you may bring one person with you, but that is all. We have much to talk about and very little time to do so. Meet me at two O'clock at the harbor, dock C. I will be wearing a black shirt with a straw hat. Please wear white. After all, I can think of no other color that might suit you greater.
My regards to you and your fiancé,
A friend
Kaito re-read the letter, frowning. This person knew he was Kaitou Kid and more so, he wanted to meet him with alone or with only one person as back-up. Not wanting to put Shinara or Asami in danger, he knew exactly who he wanted to bring with him.
"Shianra", he called through the bathroom door.
"Yes?"
"I am going to go talk to Hakuba for a bit. Something has come up. I am leaving a letter on the bed for you. I will explain when I get back, okay?"
"…Will you be okay?"
"Of course. I will be back."
"Alright…be careful Kaito."
"You know it, Dove", he called as he quickly left the room and flew down to the other end of the hall to knock on room 333.
"Coming, coming", called a voice.
Kaito stood impatiently outside of the doorway as Hakuba pulled it open with a glare. His look diminished however when he saw Kaito and the tension in his shoulders.
"Something happen?"
"Yeah, we need to talk."
"Come inside."
Quickly Kaito went in, sending a small smile to Aoko who smiled back as Hakuba closed the door behind him. KAito quickly told Hakuba and Aoko about the letter, causing both of them to frown.
"You want me to go with you?" Hakuba asked, understanding immediately why Kaito had come.
"Shinara is watching Asami and I would feel…less anxious about the situation if it was you rather than Shin."
Hakuba nodded in understanding, knowing he would feel the same if it was Aoko.
"Alright, let me change into something white."
Kaito nodded, glancing down at his own white tank top he had decided to wear out of the hospital. Good choice, he thought to himself as Hakuba quickly slipped on a black tank top and then a white long sleeved shirt overtop of it.
"Aright, let's go", Hakuba stated as he stepped towards the door, but hesitated when he passed Aoko. Quickly he kissed the top of her head, smiling as he caressed her cheek and then moved away, "We will be right back."
"You better be. Both of you", she called as they walked out the door and down the hallway, both wondering just what they were about to get themselves into.
DCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDC
Hakuba and Kaito walked down the harbor, dock C slowly, looking around for anyone that might be their mysterious sender. When Kaito noticed at the very of the end of the dock, leaning against the railing a man with a black shirt and a straw hat, he knew they had found their guy.
"That's him", Kaito pointed for Hakuba's benefit.
"Then let us see what he wants."
The two teens walked down the path, slowing as they neared the man until they were right behind him, stopping just a few feet short.
"Finally, you have arrived", the man stated as he turned with a smile, "And how grown up you have come to look, Kaito."
Hakuba, confused, turned to Kaito to ask him if he knew the man, but froze when he noticed Kaito was staring wide eyed at the man.
"O-Oyaji", he whispered.
"Oyaji?" Hakuba repeated before his own eyes widened and turned to the man, "You're his father?!"
The man in question smiled, but shook his head.
"No, I am not."
Kaito and Hakuba both looked confused at this, though Kaito was still a bit shocked. If this wasn't his father, he looked remarkably similar.
"My name is Takachi Kuroba, I am Toichi's older brother."
Hakuba was about to ask a question when Kaito interrupted.
"That's a lie, father had no siblings. Nor did my mother."
"I am afraid that is the lie, Kaito-kun. Your father did have siblings, he just was unaware of them at the time."
"Them… there is more?" Kaito asked, frowning.
"I know you do not believe me, but yes there is. Your father was the baby of the group at the time of our adoptions. Our parents were … let's just say not very nice people. When your father was born, they gave him and us up for adoption. They merely wanted the money for his birth from the government; same as the rest of us. When I got old enough, I sought them all out."
"Go on…" Kaito stated, remembering his father having told him of his adoption as a toddler. His father had been young… there could be a chance this wasn't a lie.
"Altogether there are four of us, Toichi being the third. There is myself, and then my younger sister, your aunt Antania and then… you have already met your other uncle who was born several years after your father and the rest of us had been adopted."
Kaito frowned, thinking over the people he had met the past few years.
"The note I sent you in the mail was a part of your father's message to you. I believe you were already given the other part by your other uncle."
Kaito and Hakuba's eyes widened.
"Bourbon…" Kaito whispered.
Takachi Kuroba nodded.
"Rei is our baby brother. He also was placed up for adoption, however he never was adopted. He wound up becoming involved with an organization which I know you are familiar with. When I found him, he was still a teenager. Your father was already married and had a young son; you. He was worried about a group called MKO searching for something powerful."
"Pandora", Kaito stated with a nod.
"Correct. In order to hide the truth of the stone's location from MKO, he gave both myself, Rei, and Antania a part of the code. To myself and Rei, he gave part of the location. To Antania, he gave a journal she was to keep until the day you sought the jewel all on your own."
"So Rei and you sent me codes in order to get me here, where the jewel is located. What about the journal, where is it now?"
"Antania… she died a few years back in an accident. The book she was protecting vanished and Rei and I were never able to find it. As you know, Rei was having his own problems at the time and could not stay around to help search, so I took it upon myself. When I got word that you graduated high school, I knew the time was now to send for you. I only regret how you came to be here. The plane crash was… quite unfortunate."
"Quite", agreed Hakuba, suspicion still his expression. Kaito couldn't blame him. Some things still seemed to nod be adding up.
"Why didn't my father just destroy Pandora?" Kaito asked.
Takachi hesitated, which the other two picked up on.
"That is for a story at a different time. I humbly request you all, you and your friends, come join me at my mansion. We have much to discuss and as I said before, very little time to do so."
"Just so you know…" Kaito stated stepping closer to the man, "I still do not trust you."
The man merely smiled.
"Smart boy", he stated, "It would be wise to not trust anyone from here on out, because what I have told you is merely the tip of the iceberg. Pandora is a time bomb gentlemen", he replied looking both teens in the eye, "And we, are merely a few of the eager participants in search of it."
"What do you mean?" Hakuba questioned.
"Not now", Takachi stated looking around, "come to my mansion at the address stated in the code at seven tonight. I will be expecting you, and nephew…" he said, placing a hand on Kaito's arm as the two had started to turn to walk away, "whether you trust me or not, I warn you, your father was a great man, but he had secrets. Secrets that even Chikage-san does not know."
"What is your point?" Kaito asked glaring at the hand still resting on his arm.
Takachi stepped back, removing his hand.
"Only this nephew… you hold fate in the palm of your hand, you just don't know it yet. So my advice to you is this, either run now while you still can or be prepared to never live the life you leave behind. I know of your fiancé, but with what is to come, even she must play a part in this game of destiny if you wish to completely fulfill your role in this world."
"My role?" Kaito asked.
"And what pray tell, kind of role does Kaito have?" Hakuba asked, feeling a bit protective of his friend as he stepped forward threateningly.
Takachi merely smiled.
"Why, the role of a Knight, of course."
The two could only wonder what the man had meant as he walked away without another word, leaving the two teen to their thoughts. Kaito would never have admitted this to anyone else, but as the man passed him, he felt a cold chill sink into his bones. Bad omen? He wondered to himself.
"Kaito?" Hakuba asked, "You okay?"
Kaito nodded as he turned and followed his "uncle" with his eyes.
"Let's get back to the rooms. We have a lot of planning to do."
AUTHORS NOTE*
Here is the newest chapter. More to come in time!