Chapter 1 - Meetings
The soft murmurs and the constant clatter of china mingled in the background of Hakuba's mind while reading one of his favorite books (Sherlock Holmes of course), with a warm cup of Earl Grey tea next to him, in a reserved little area at some fancy café. He liked quiet places like this one where his mind could take a moment to rest from all his detective work. Oh, he still loved to solve cases and catch criminals on a daily basis like his idol. But one thing that made him different from his favorite fictional character, was that from time to time Hakuba's mind was too overloaded with information; enough to give him a headache the size of Mount Fuji. That was why he enjoyed these little escapades from routine…only delicious tea, his book and himself.
Too bad it didn't last long when suddenly a perfectly manicured hand rested over the tablecloth.
"What's the meaning of this Hakuba-kun?"
"Oh dear, have you been following me around Akako-san? I didn't think you'd find out my little hiding spot." He subtly chuckled, taking a sip of his warm tea.
"Stop playing dumb! Answer me!" He could hint in her angry eyes a sense of frustration and, maybe even a bit of fear? "Why you…Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
"Of course I do." A calm smile grazed his lips; his fingers outlined the fine borders of his cup while he gazed softly at his old classmate. "But more importantly, how did you know what I'm planning?"
Akako stubbornly crossed her arms. She wasn't going to reveal her way of finding out things to this man. "I just thought about it…"
Hakuba chuckled, fully conscious that she was lying. "Well, it doesn't matter. I just want to sit back and watch the fun. In fact…" He motioned at her to sit down on the empty chair next to him. "Don't you want to do the same too?"
Akako was startled. Was this really the same Hakuba Saguru from her old High School days? He had gotten better at reading other people…
"I guess…I suppose you're right…" Her sad expression abruptly changed into her typical mystery eyes and seductive smile. "Fine, do as you wish. But know this; you're doing this against Kuroba's will."
Her smile widened. "He's gonna hate you for this."
Hakuba's eyes watched the witch with a firm resolution in them. "I'm fine with that."
'I'm not expecting any reward out of this…so he can hate me for all he wants.'
Akako throw him an icy side glance before turning around and leaving. "You're despicable…just like me…"
Hakuba closed his eyes and continued sipping his tea. 'I know, but…'
Only a few minutes had passed since his encounter with the witch, his mind was busy replaying their talk and trying to recalculate the outcome of his actions, when a known voice reached his ears.
"Hmmm…Figures I would find you in the most reserved area of this place."
"Aoko-san!" Hakuba blinked, surprised that he hadn't notice she was standing right next to him.
"How're you doing Hakuba-kun?" Aoko warmly smiled while sitting next to the detective.
"Very well, thank you for asking." He smiled back. "Anyway, sorry to call you out on such a short notice."
"It's okay. I don't have any jobs or meetings today anyway." A waitress approached their table, taking Aoko's order of coffee with milk.
Hakuba sighed, watching his old friend more closely. "It's been three months and two days, huh…and you haven't changed at all." Not that a person could change much in that time, but he was glad to see she still looked exactly the same since the last time he saw her. She had changed so much since they finished high school that he was afraid next time he saw her, he wouldn't be able to recognize her at all. He decided to change the subject when she gave him a questioning look. "So, how's your father?"
"Ah, he's doing great. That stubborn man refuses to quit his job despite his age. I sometimes worry, you know?" The waitress came back with her order and after adding a small amount of sugar, she took a tentative sip. The lukewarm feeling of the coffee mixed with milk running down her throat warmed her insides against the not so cold weather of beginnings of spring. "One of these days he's going to hurt himself if he keeps running like some teenager instead of the sixty year old man he is…"
"I see…and what about you? Being a journalist must be tiring as well."
Aoko smiled. "A bit, but I enjoy it a lot so it's not that bad. Besides I'll be working abroad next year, my boss needs someone to go to Italy to cover a story about some politician's secret love life." She rolled her eyes. "Still, it'll be a nice change of scenery for once." Aoko rested her head on one of her hands and stared at Hakuba with a knowing smile. "But…let's cut to the chase, shall we?"
Hakuba was startled by this. "Huh?"
"Don't play dumb with me. I know you won't call me out all of the sudden without a good reason."
Hakuba stared at the girl- no woman in front of him. Right…Aoko wasn't a naïve little girl anymore. He smiled, little Aoko was a clever grown up woman now. "Indeed. You're too smart to not notice that."
Aoko chuckled at the compliment, taking another sip of her coffee. "So? Did something so urgent happen that you must meet me right after coming down from London?"
"Actually, yes…" Hakuba watched her closely, eyes focused on hers waiting for her reaction. "Did you hear rumors about Kaitou KID's plan to steal a jewel in an exhibition?"
Aoko slightly paused in mid-sip. Her gazed lifted to meet the detective's amber eyes.
Hakuba liked this reaction. To anyone who was watching it might have meant nothing, but to him it suggested more than enough. "Well, a guy who I suspect to be Kaitou KID just landed in Japan after years of living abroad. The coincidence is just too uncanny to overlook."
'He's not talking about… is he?'
Aoko tried to not show too much interest on the matter, pulling an impassive expression while fingering the intricate pattern painted on the cup's border. "So you're thinking the Kaitou KID who's been committing the crimes all this time is a fake?"
"It's hard to tell, since we can't actually see his face during the heists."
Aoko quietly sipped the last remains of her coffee. "Hmm…you're pretty confident with this one, aren't you?"
"Actually, I would like you to meet him, Aoko-san." Aoko almost sputtered all of her coffee. "I'm sure you may recognize him from somewhere…" He grinned.
Aoko tensed. She wasn't ready for something like this. She never would have guessed Hakuba would be planning to make her meet him after so many years…and for what? What was he planning?
"If my deduction is correct," He continued. "You'll have a chance to be the first journalist to publish KID's identity. Isn't that every journalist's dream?"
'Damn it…he's betting that I'm gonna fail, isn't he?' She slightly frowned.
"Anyway, I'm sure he's- Ah! There he is!" Hakuba swiftly stood up and smiled at someone over her shoulder.
Aoko froze; she didn't dare to look back. A sudden chill ran down her back reaching the tips of her fingertips with a sense of…déjà vu? 'What was that? I've…felt this a long time ago…I can even feel him staring at me. But damn it, I don't love him anymore…I don't.' With a hidden sense of frustration, she realized that it only took him to be in the same room as her to make her feel like that.
"Ahh, sorry to call you out when you just got back here." Hakuba talked with the man behind her.
Aoko gathered all her courage to turn around and stare at her old childhood friend, her first love; the man who wore a white suit and a silver monocle the day he broke her heart.
She would be lying if she said he didn't look handsome. He had been quite a sight to the eye during their high school days, but adulthood had certainly enhanced his good looks. With a subtle glance, she noticed his garments: plain baggy jeans, a white and green stripped t-shirt with a plain dark blue shirt over it, white sneakers and a green hat covering his dark messy hair. It was a surprise he hadn't changed his style in clothes, whereas she had started to favor more formal attire…choosing plain shirts or blouses over childish frilly t-shirts and formal skirts over cute short ones like her old self used to do. Similar to the attire she was using at that moment, a simple black tight skirt with a white blouse and black high heels.
She guessed she appeared older than he was.
He suddenly glanced her way; his face void of any emotion but a small smile making its way on his lips.
'Damn him and his Poker Face…'
"Hello there." He casually greeted her, taking his hat off. "Sorry to interrupt you two."
'The nerve he has to speak me like that after he- Agh! Fine! I don't care. I'm way over him…'
Aoko turned back around, not caring if her actions seemed a bit impolite. "Ah, no problem at all."
"Kuroba-kun, don't be so formal and please sit down with us." Hakuba sat down back in his chair and made a signal to the waitress to come over. "What would you like to drink?"
"Hot chocolate for me." He said while sitting on the remaining empty chair at their table. His movements were flawless as ever, still irradiating that certain never ending confidence so distinctive of him.
Aoko bit down an unwanted smile. It seemed he still liked sweet things. "I would like another coffee with milk please."
Hakuba nodded. "And more tea for me, thank you." The waitress nodded and left to fetch their orders, leaving a deep awkward silence to hang between them. Aoko wondered how her two friends could look so calm when she was crushing her fingers under the tablecloth. Luckily, she was saved by her phone ringing.
"Ah, sorry, give me a minute." She fetched it from her purse and stood up, walking a few steps away from them. "Yes, Nakamori here…"
"Hey…" Hakuba swiftly looked at Kaito when he spoke up. "What are you up to?"
"Huh…? What do you mean?" Hakuba crossed his arms. "I thought you'd be happy to see her again."
Kaito glared at him, clearly showing him he didn't buy his words. He tried to placate the sensation of a bad feeling spreading over his soul and making his feet to twitch with the need to run away from the place before something happened.
"Besides, I wanted to confirm a theory I had for a while now…"
"Huh?"
"Aoko-san…she knows about your secret identity, right?" He was looking straight at Aoko with a know-it-all smile. Kaito hated that smile.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"The reason why you two split up after been dating for so long…it was because she found out you are KID…that much I can tell."
Kaito remained silent.
"After all, I've never seen you so disturbed before my eyes. She's always been your weak point, has she not?"
"Don't talk like you know everything…"
Kaito's cold tone stopped him in his tracks. A shadow had appeared over his eyes hiding whatever emotion he was trying to contain.
Hakuba closed his eyes. 'You're on your own now, Kuroba-kun. I'm not gonna care if anything happens to you.'
After a few seconds, he took a glance from the corner of his eyes at the magician. Hakuba watched Kaito's melancholic expression while staring keenly at the young woman speaking on the phone.
'It can't be helped. I've been careful all this time…I just want it all to end.' Hakuba thought, grimly.
After a minute or so Aoko came back from her phone call with a short apology, just when the waitress arrived with their order. Hakuba was the one to begin with the conversation.
"So, Kuroba-kun, you're the apprentice of the Hopper Magician troupe, right?" He sipped from his cup of tea throwing a furtive glance towards the magician. "I've heard they're pretty famous, aren't they?"
Kaito stirred nonchalantly his hot chocolate. "Nah, I'm more like a worker on loan than anything. I've worked with many other great magicians before this." He took a sip, his taste buds savoring the delicious flavor of the chocolate mixed with warm milk. "However, it's easy to market yourself and have your own show when you're involved with big names like them."
"Oh? Your own show? Impressive, Kuroba-kun…looks like you've been working hard."
Kaito smiled. "Of course, it's been my dream since I was a little kid."
"Hum…I hope you don't forget to send me an invitation for the premier." Hakuba grinned.
"Nah, you can go buy your own ticket." He teased him with his own taunting grin.
Hakuba chuckled. "What about Aoko-san? Will you send her an invitation then?"
Aoko, who had been so far avoiding any visual contact with her ex-boyfriend during their conversation (which had nothing to do with embarrassment and more to do with a certain feeling of awkwardness mixed with sadness) , lifted her gaze with a startled expression and without thinking looked at the magician, waiting for his answer.
However, Kaito remained looking at the detective; eyes impassive as ever when Poker Face was involved. "That would depend if she wants to go." And finally, he turned to look at her; deep azure orbs staring attentively into her owns, now waiting for her answer.
His eyes burned, igniting a long lost fire that began on her lower regions and spread over her whole body making the hairs on her arms to stand up. She hated how he could still make her react like that after so long. "Well…ah…I-" A soft melody interrupted her.
Again, saved by the ring; but this time it was Hakuba's phone. He picked it up with a curious expression when he noticed the Id caller. "Ah, my apologies, it's from the headquarters."
"Hakuba here. What happened?" His expression turned from serious to shock in the blink of an eye. "Eh? A warning letter from Kaitou KID?"
Aoko threw a quick startled glance at Kaito; however he continued sipping from his tall glass filled with delicious chocolate without a care in the world.
"Yes…yes, understood." He snapped it closed and grabbed his coat from the back of his chair. "Sorry, but I've got to go now. Seems like we're going to spend the whole night deciphering his code message."
"Code message?" Aoko wondered.
"Ahh…seems like he really put a lot of effort into this one. They also called Shinichi Kudo and Heiji Hattori to help us with it."
"Oh? A detective reunion? I'm glad I'm not invited…" Kaito grinned while playing with the straw on his glass.
That was when Aoko realized something. 'Hold on a sec…if Hakuba's leaving then I'll be alone with…'
"A-Ah…I better go too…" She abruptly announced. "It's getting late and I need to finish some business I have…" Hakuba opened his mouth to clarify that she actually didn't have any other business, but a furtive glare directed towards him made him change his mind. She haphazardly pulled out a few bills from her purse while standing up.
"It's on me." Kaito stopped her.
"But-"
He waved his hand. "Just go already, I'm okay with that."
"Ah…okay, thanks." Aoko looked away; not wanting to let him see the faint blush on her cheeks.
"Well, see you Kuroba-kun." Hakuba waved, making his way towards the exit of the café.
Aoko gave him a quick farewell, and hurried to catch up with him.
"Yeah bye." Kaito sat alone; drinking in one gulp the remains on his glass. For a long time he simply stared at the empty space where the woman he loved previously sat.
"I'm surprised you decided to tag along, Aoko-san."
Aoko grumbled. "Yeah, well you saw what happened…I couldn't tell him no…"
Hakuba chuckled, remembering the funny scene of Aoko speaking with her dad, just after leaving the café, and asking her to come to the heist to watch him catch the damned thief.
"Still," Aoko looked amazed at her surroundings; the museum they were at was completely surrounded by cops, making a human wall to prevent any civilian to come inside. Officers were running in all directions following the strict orders of one fuming Inspector Nakamori after failing once again in protecting the gem. "I'm quite astonished by how quick things are developing… First, deciphering the note in record time."
"All thanks to Kudo-kun, Hattori-san and I. Although, I was the one who got the most important line about-" He proudly commented.
"Second, realizing the heist was going to be today at exactly one hour before getting the note and getting all this done in so little time…"
"Again, a perfect combination of-"
"And third! The way the gem was stolen! A simple 'puff' and it was gone! No taunting grins, no teasing, no dog pile, no paint, no fireworks and more importantly no signs of KID! Hakuba-kun, don't you find all this weird? I mean, sure KID is unpredictable but he had never done something like this before…" Aoko pondered, Kaito wasn't one to do things in a rush…she knew from experience that he deliberately took his time while doing something to make sure everything went his way.
Hakuba pondered that too, it was certain that there was an anomaly in the pattern of his actions but Shincihi and Heiji had warned him that certain people in black may be behind the thief's reasons for skipping all the show displayed during his heists. They may be closer than they suspected and the thief was in a rush. He tried to avoid her question; Aoko wouldn't be involved in any of this. "Aoko-kun…might I ask you a question?"
"Ahh…sure Hakuba-kun. What is it?"
"Why did you become a journalist? You once told me you wanted to be a police inspector like your father to catch KID…"
To say that Aoko was shocked by his question was a statement. Why was he asking that now?
It was at that point, that she foolishly realized why Hakuba had called her to meet with him. He knew that she knew about Kaito's secret and their reason for breaking up…her reason for dropping out of the police academy…and now wanted her to spill it all out so he would have the required evidence to lock him up.
Aoko's face locked in a kind of bored expression. She seemed to do that a lot when the Thief's name was brought up. It was like her private Poker Face. "Well, at first that was what I wanted…but then, I kind of got bored with that idea and realized I wanted to be a journalist instead of working with the police." She shrugged. "Even though I always loved to find out the truth behind a mystery, I'm just not fit for police work."
This was said by the girl who unmasked Interpol's most wanted thief…
"Really?" He said in a tone that clearly expressed a hint of sarcasm.
"Yup! And I'm glad I did it. You won't believe how interesting my career is!"
"Is that so?" Hakuba's eyes bored in her own. She wasn't sure how long she could last with the interrogation; her palms were beginning to sweat.
"Hakuba-san!" An officer quickly made his way towards them. "Sorry to interrupt you, but we need your help with the message he left behind."
"Ah…right, he did leave a note after the gem practically disappeared before our eyes."
"Correct, sir." The officer nodded.
"Ah, but…" He looked uncertainly at Aoko.
"It's okay Hakuba -kun, I'll take a cab." She waved her hand to show him he shouldn't worry about her. Much relieved now that the questioning was left behind and thanking God her good luck for being saved at the most precise times.
"Eh…? At least let me walk you out…"
She smiled. "It's okay. I know the way out, thanks anyway Hakuba-kun!"
"You are welcome. Good night Aoko-san." He nodded courtly at her.
Aoko waved him one last time, then she went to say goodbye to her dad (not before lecturing him how he should rest more) and finally headed towards the stairs since the elevators were out of order due to the heist.
The stairs were surprisingly empty, with only the glow from the full moon coming through the windows to light her way downstairs. Aoko wondered if it was because no one used these stairs anymore that they found it unnecessary to install some electrical device to light them up.
Aoko stopped near one of the windows, gazing at the dazzling full moon. "How beautiful…" She murmured. She put a hand over one of the window panes and noticed that one of the windows was slightly open.
'Huh? How weird…why would this window be op-' The sudden noise of quick footsteps approaching her made her stall in mid-thought. But her heart completely stopped when she saw none other than the legendary Kaitou KID coming up stairs at full speed and almost crashing into her had it not been for his quick reflexes while stopping a few inches from her body.
"Ah…" Aoko stared dumbfounded at him.
'Shit, of all things…' Kaito thought, cursing his bad luck. All of a sudden, he glimpsed a slight movement on a near building outside the window, and after quick inspection, he dreadfully realized that someone was in fact on top of that building and that it was pointing something at them…
"Take over!" He quickly pushed Aoko out of the way, hearing in the process, the noise of a gunshot impacting into something solid, and taking both of them down towards the floor and out of the sniper's view.
"Oww! Hey, that hurts… What the hell was that…?" Aoko rubbed the spot behind her head where she hit the ground and made an attempt to stand up only to be pushed down again.
"Stay down you idiot!"
"Eh?" Aoko blinked, her eyes focusing on a face she had known for several years.
Kaito kept looking towards the window in case he saw any suspicious movement indicating they were still targeted. After a few seconds he relaxed and looked at the woman under him "Seems like they've stopped shooting. Are you hurt?"
He noticed the way she was looking at him; shock, sadness, anger…all those emotions were swirling in her eyes as clear as the moon beans that were shinning over her dark messy locks, making her look like some angry goddess that came down to earth to punish him for his sins.
And that's when he felt that something was missing on his face. A tentative hand over his right eye confirmed that his monocle had fallen off at some point when he pushed Aoko down.
Both of them stood like that, frozen for a few seconds and staring at each other with their own kind of emotions…
…Until they heard several footsteps coming quickly their way.
"I heard something over there!" Someone shouted downstairs. "It must be Kaitou KID!"
"You…" Aoko muttered, for some unknown reason she realized she couldn't move. "They are going to catch you if you…" Why was she telling him this? She could care less for whatever happened to him.
Kaito smirked, feeling quite pleased by her concern. "Didn't you know? I'm the master of disguise."
"Huh?" She then noticed his hand nearing her face. "Hey! What are you-"A small spray with a funny smell came out of his sleeve, making Aoko feel unexpectedly sleepy until her world became completely black.
Kaito turned her into his arms so he could hold her bridal style, making it easier for him to escape with the sleeping girl. However, before leaving, he threw a swift glance towards a tiny dent on one of the stairs, undoubtedly made by the bullet directed to kill him.
Cops kept searching all over the museum.
Hakuba continued to decipher the puzzling code left behind.
Shinichi and Heiji investigated the place for signs of crows.
Inspector Nakamori kept shouting orders to whoever crossed his path.
And still, at that moment nobody was aware…that Aoko Nakamori had disappeared under the bright pale moon…
Hello there! I hope you enoyed the little preview and first chapter. Don't worry, chapter two is already done, I just need to add a few touches and it'll be cooked by next week...I hope...
The story won't be long, only five chapters, but my soul just screamed at me to write a KaiAo smut fic so...I'm back! See? Not dead yet!
First chapter is dedicated to Aoko and Lady Paper. Se lo merecen chicas, son las mejores ;)
And I promised Lady Paper I would translate all my fics to Spanish just for her, so I'll have a busy month! XD
Be ready for chapter two...things will get quite spicy and hot... /griiiiiins
Butterfly-chan
P.S.: As "Y" said in his/her review, yes I totally forgot to mention that the original story is not mine (Since I have already mentioned it over facebook to my friends that I was going to take the original story and transform it into a KaiAo fic, I completely forgot to mention it here too :P) The original story is a Kai/Shin doujin named AoNoAo. I once read it, not liking it much since I'm not a fan of yaoi (but what can I say? Pushy friends are pushy friends...hahaha!), but the story was what caught me and I wanted to take a chance and see if I could take the plot and twist it a bit into a KaiAo fic XD So, I'm terribly sorry for not saying it before...all credits, goes to the author of AoNoAo of course. And thank you "Y" for reminding me! :)