The House

This was a very awkward position.

No one said Dark was a master thief for nothing. Of course he had noticed the blonde girl following him. She was dressed in white. Not exactly suitable for stealth. How could he not notice the girl? The bright color were like a lighthouse.

So, he decided to lead her. They weren't going to find out anything.

He went back to the town seeing as they were getting near the edge. Actually, he led her around the town simply so it would be more work for her. She was cute but really getting on his nerves. After a heist, he was supposed to be able to relax and this girl made it so he couldn't.

Once in town, he had already started to descend. He did it slowly so she would be able to catch up and not do anything stupid to see where he lived. That wouldn't be good. If she went looking, she might actually find something.

He felt mildly sorry for the people whose house he was breaking into but it was their fault for leaving the balcony door open.

Okay, he would've broken in if they had locked it but still.

Then again, most people don't expect a burglar to break in on the third story…

Anyway, so he got in and brought out a piece of paper that had his home number on it because, although Daisuke had memorized it, Dark hadn't and Daisuke was sleeping at the moment so he couldn't ask.

He closed the curtains and started his search for a phone. He couldn't have a cell phone because he could drop it on a heist and then a search could take place and lead the authorities to the Niwa family. Which wouldn't be good.

It seemed that the third story wasn't really occupied or maybe was for guests as most of the rooms were collecting dust. Dark was careful not to disturb it. On the second story, in the third room he searched, he saw a phone on the table and mentally cheered. Now he might be able to rest.

That was when he heard footsteps. With transformed back into his wings (With had been a bunny for stealth during the search. Wings were more likely to knock something down indoors and were rather cumbersome.) and Dark was in the air. The door hadn't been closed in the first place so he didn't bother to close in case someone was actually paying attention.

A girl in a nightgown came into his line of vision and went into the door across the hall. When she turned on the lights, a small beam fell on Dark so he moved slightly so he wouldn't attract attention. The door closed and he dropped to his feet lightly and grabbed the phone off the receiver. While he dialed, he covered the speaker so the beeps wouldn't be noticed by the girl in the other room.

RIIIIING!

RIIIIING!

RIII-

"Niwa residence. May I ask who is calling?" That was Daisuke's mother.

"It's Dark. I'll be back a little late because Kaitou Jeanne was following me earlier but I lost her," he added quickly upon hearing her gasp.

"That's okay, just make sure she cant find us."

"Okay we-"

The door opened again in the middle of his hushed word and he placed the phone on his chest to muffle any noise it may make.

The girl peered around and then walked slowly out. Had she heard him?

A few seconds later, it didn't matter.

"DARK!" Daisuke's mother's voice came out, extremely muffled but heard in the complete silence of the house.

Which brings us to the present.

Dark spoke hurried words to her and said goodbye, hanging up the phone. He wasn't fast enough to escape detection but he sure as hell would be fast enough to escape.

"Who's there?" the girl called as she pushed the door cautiously. The words seemed almost muted but Dark was a little busy leaping out of a window to really care or notice. Apparently Lady Luck didn't really like him today.

He landed on his feet with a little help from his wings and hit the ground running. The girl didn't have a chance of seeing him.

He looked at the first street sign he came across and, recognizing it, hurried to the Niwa household.

"The address wasn't at all helpful. It's an abandoned house, the last owners moved out after their daughter's death," Chiaki told Maron.

It was after school and they were in Chiaki's apartment again. Maron was in the kitchen making sundaes because she wanted something sweet and Chiaki had been whining about not getting anything too.

"So, he did notice me following him."

"Apparently. You really need to be more cautious though. He could have hurt you. We aren't familiar with this guy or his style of work or even why he is stealing these things. He could be just after money or something and willing to get rid of anything that gets in his way," Chiaki warned. "Not every thief is honorable."

"I think that's an oxymoron."

"You know what I mean! Seriously Maron, be careful."

"I think he lives in that area though."

"Why do you say that?"

"It's the first place he thought of and he knew the house was abandoned. You wouldn't know that unless you did your research and I doubt he expected someone to follow him outside of a heist so it seems unlikely he would do that research."

"So, around how old did you think he was?"

"Around twenty but possibly younger. You know some people hit their growth spurts early. Besides, I'm pretty sure he is disguising himself. How else has he avoided capture?"

"So, I'll get to work on the high schools and suspicious people in that area ."

"Make sure they don't have alibis on heist nights. I don't want to bother someone unnecessarily."

Chiaki looked at Maron with one eyebrow raised. "You make it sound like I'll be harassing them."

"I wouldn't put stalking them past you." Here, she gave him a pointed look. She indicated his apartment as a whole.

"I already knew it was you!"

"I don't care. I'll be doing more subtle recon in the area."

A/N: Well, I hope it was up to your standards. I apologize for the extremely long wait but my plot bunny bit me and ran away halfway through this.

Also, I wrote the last chapter recently but I haven't written the chapters in between. Rest assured that I have a vague outline of what to do. Still expect long waits for updates though. I'm a known procrastinator and my muses aren't particularly nice. Especially Mika.

By the way: Disclaimer! I own nothing but the plot. I realized I kind of forgot my disclaimers for the last few chapters… It's fanfiction though! Of course we don't own it, we're fans and it is rather narcissistic to be a fan of your own work! Also, if you were the author and you liked the idea, it would be in the actual storyline and be known as canon! As my ideas are obviously not canon, I am not the author! Sorry for the rant but it annoys me.

Ja ne!
~J. DCF

Completed: September 30, 2010
Uploaded: September 30, 2010