Just Because

Disclaimer : I don't own Detective Conan and Magic Kaito so don't sue me. The Avenue and the tag line are fictional concepts that I came up with. If there really is a place like that, the similarity is unintentional, so again, please don't sue me.

Author's Note : Hello everyone! Here's the 2nd installment of Just Because. I'm really sorry for the delay. I just finished my cram school :) Do read and review. Comments, suggestions and questions are very much welcomed.

kaitesparks -- Thanks for your help! I'm not into mushy things either.

Crystal Snowflakes -- This is not the first Kazuha x Kaito fic out there. There's another earlier one and it's called To Keep a Secret. The credit for creating the unexpected albeit interesting pairing goes to the author of the said story, Dire Moonstone. I simply played with the idea of Kaito and Kazuha meeting in a very peculiar manner :D

Suadela -- Well, I've been thinking about your question. Kaito had his reasons that's why he did it. Watch out for the next chapters and you'll know why ;)

To everybody who reviewed, thank you!

Chapter 2 : A Prelude to the Inevitable

It was a fine summer morning when the telephone in the Toyama residence rang, disrupting the serenity of the household.

"Hello," Kazuha Toyama greeted.

"Kazuha-chan, is that you?" the caller asked.

"Oh, Ran-chan! It's been long time since I last heard from you."

"I know! That's why I called," Ran Mouri explained. "Sonoko got an exclusive invitation to the opening of some sort of a club for teens. She asked me if you could come."

"When will that be?" Kazuha tore a piece of paper from the pad and started writing the details.

"A week from now."

"Hmmm. Friday. The 17th?"

"That's right!" Ran affirmed jovially. "Can you come?"

"I'll ask my dad first," Kazuha replied. "Is Heiji invited as well?"

"Well, Sonoko told me that it'll be a girls' night out so I don't think..." her friend hesitated.

"If that's the case, then I'm definitely in," she assured the caller.

"That's great! I'll inform Sonoko right away." The karate champion was pleased, but she was surprised by the Osakan girl's reaction. "I'll see you soon, Kazuha-chan!"

"Thanks!"

"Bye!"

Kazuha couldn't believe her luck. Summer has just begun, but she already has something to do. She's going to Tokyo. Alone. She was ecstatic beyond words and she didn't even know why. She simply had a feeling that things were going to start getting really interesting.

Commissioner Toyama finally arrived.

Kazuha was helping in the preparation of their dinner when her father stepped inside their house. She welcomed her father with much enthusiasm. The tired police officer turned to her daughter and asked, "You look cheerful, my dear."

"Of course, dad," she answered. "Ran-chan called earlier. Sonoko-chan invited us to attend an opening of a hip new club in Tokyo."

"So?" the commissioner inquired.

"So... will you allow me to go to Tokyo next week? I can stay at Ran-chan's place for about a week. It'll be sort of a girl bonding thing." She explained. "Please, dad?"

"I'll think about it," the older Toyama replied quietly.

"But dad, it's my chance to actually see Tokyo. Whenever I'm with Heiji, there's a case going on and we're stuck in a crime scene. I've never really seen Tokyo," she reasoned.

"You're going without Hattori-kun?"

"Yes! I am. Will that be a problem?"

"Honestly, I will be more worried if you're not with him."

"Can I not go anywhere when he's not there? We're not married or anything, so why can't I go, father?" she asked loudly and defiantly

"I just feel at ease when he's with you."

"Don't you want me to be independent? Dad, I have to learn to do things on my own. I have to grow up. This trip will teach me lots of things. Please?" she pleaded.

The Osaka prefecture commissioner looked at her daughter seriously. He saw in her eyes that she really wanted to go and he knew she was stubborn as he when she wanted something. He let out a sigh of defeat.

"Fine. I'll allow you to go, but I have three conditions. You have to bring your phone wherever you go. You have to go home on or before midnight. You will return here after 2 weeks."

"2 weeks!" she cried ecstatically. "Dad, are you serious? You're letting me stay there for 2 weeks?! Thank you!"

Kazuha rushed to her father's side and hugged him. Her smile was brighter than before and Commissioner Toyama was glad that she was back to her normal self. Ever since she came home from that Kaitou Kid heist, she was moody and irritable. He was delighted to see his little girl smiling and learning how to live her life. Oh, he was a happy man.

She stared outside the window of her seat. In a few minutes, the plane would land and she would be in Tokyo, the modern capital of Japan where anything and everything could happen. She couldn't believe that she actually convinced her overprotective father to let her go to the city on her own. The conditions he gave were so easy to follow, she was certain that he was planning something. She shuddered at the thought of his father's plots.

'No, my father won't do that. I am his only daughter, after all,' she reassured herself.

She refocused her eyes to the window. The plane started to descend and shortly after, she was walking down the Arrival walkway.

"Kazuha-chan!" Ran hollered.

The girl from Osaka looked farther ahead and saw her friend and the little boy with glasses. She grinned as she walked towards them.

"Ran-chan! Conan-kun! It's so good to see you! " she greeted them.

"Kazuha-neechan, where's Heiji-niichan? I don't see him anywhere." The bespectacled boy was completely puzzled.

"Oh, he's not here," Kazuha explained to the curious boy. "Ran-chan said I was the only one who was invited by Sonoko-chan."

'That's odd,' Conan said to himself. 'She is always with Hattori. I wonder why she went here alone.'

They helped Kazuha settle down in the apartment as soon as they reached home.

"What the hell is this?" Kogoro Mouri demanded.

"Kazuha-chan's staying with us for two weeks. I told you last time, didn't I? Her father sent us money to cover all the expenses," Ran responded. "You agreed, remember?"

"I'm sorry for bothering you," their guest said diffidently.

"No, it's okay," the famous detective stated indifferently.

"Thank you!" She bowed gratefully to Ran's father.

"That's enough!" Ran interjected. "We haven't got time to waste. The party starts at 8. We'll meet Sonoko in front of the hotel fifteen minutes before that. We barely have an hour to prepare and to get there!"

The girls rushed out of the office and went to the bedroom to dress up. Thirty minutes later, Ran and Kazuha stepped out onto the street and strolled towards the meeting place.

The club was located in the middle of Tokyo, where streets were lined with posh shops and stylish boutiques. Sonoko Suzuki was waiting for them in the elegant and trendy lobby of The Avenue, the place where you can see everybody and where everybody can see you. The tag line perfectly described the place. Lots of teens went there to party and to meet people.

Sonoko was about to call her friends when she saw them through the glass window. She went out and told the security personnel that the two girls were her guests. They all entered the club and after a long greeting from Sonoko, they entered the main room.

The lights were flashing. Lots of people were dancing. Kazuha was thrilled. She walked in with her friends, not knowing that she would meet a certain person who would turn her world upside down again.

Preview : Accidental Rendezvous

An unusual sense of familiarity flooded her. Those startling blue eyes. The graceful movements. She has seen them before.

She had to admit, the young man who introduced himself had perfect manners, irresistible charms and a sparkling personality. She was intrigued by his cunning ability to evade questions about his private life. She wanted to know more. He was hiding something and she's determined to find out what it is.