Hi, it's me again, I hope you – whoever still reading this translation – won't be bored with this story, as this translation seems like losing its reviewers, thanks for all the view, fav, and follow though ^^
And spoiler – not really, but – the original story is heading to its ending soon, in about 4 chapters more xD
Okay, so, here's your new chappie~
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Words count: 2,991
Rate: T
Warning: typo(s), grammar error(s), possibly OOC, alternate timeline, possible BL/shonen-ai
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Disclaimer :
Detective Conan and Magic Kaito fully belong to Aoyama Gosho
This story belong to reiei
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Now, let the story begins…
o.O.O.o.o.O.O.o
Chapter 12
- 12nd Choice –
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"So, err… Do you still want to meet with Hakuba's wife, who's it again – Aoko-san?"
Kaito's eyes widen, and Shinichi doesn't know whether it is a good or a bad sign.
"…not funny, Shinichi. Let alone letting me meet her, they clearly doesn't want to see me," Kaito replies bitterly, even though he tries to hide it behind that fake smile of his.
"I'm serious. Hakuba wanted me to–"
"Why? He was the one who told me to stay away from their life, why the change of mind?" Kaito interrupts him, both eyes staring sharp at the detective, as if wanting to search him of logical explanation that, maybe, he doesn't really wants to hear.
Shinichi lets out a sigh, resting his back onto the couch as a means to make him sits more comfortably, even though it doesn't work.
"You know that Aoko-san is pregnant, right?"
"So?"
"Apparently she's starting to remember about her past – including you. And, because they've keep hiding about you, that made Aoko-san stressed. And since she'd lost her memory long ago, she'd been very unstable and prone to stress."
"Stress –," Kaito frowns, "but she's okay, isn't she?"
"She's in hospital now."
Shinichi is afraid that Kaito suddenly has a heart-attack or something as his expression morphed from ignorance into panic in such a short time, so he quickly added, "She's okay for now. It's just they were afraid that her stressed condition will affect her pregnancy and thus asking her to stay in the hospital until she's more stable."
Tension sips away from his body slowing after hearing that, but his face is still showing some kind of worries. "Is that why Hakuba asks me to meet her? So Aoko can get her answers?"
"Truthfully, Aoko-san is the one who requested to meet you. And, well, Hakuba seems like he couldn't refuse his wife's pleads."
Shinichi sees how Kaito winches at the word 'wife', but he doesn't say anything about it. He lets silence fall surrounding them, giving Kaito some time to think about his offer.
When Kaito open his mouth again, Shinichi can 'hear' his suppressed tears, even though said young man is currently burying his face in his palms.
"I don't know, Shin, do you think it'll be okay for me to meet her? Honestly, even I thought it'll be better for her to live on without remembering me…"
"But?" Because there'll always be a 'but' in each decision made.
"But I do want to meet her. I do want to apologize for dragging her though this mess. I want to congratulate her on her marriage, on her pregnancy. I… at least I want her to remember me as someone who has been in her life. I just don't want to be completely forgotten, Shin."
Shinichi gives a small nod, fully knows that feeling. It's very normal to have a feeling like that, to have his existence recognized at least by few people that is closest to him, even if that people is no longer within reach. And he's sure that if he's in Kaito's place right now, he'll also feel the same. That is why he's now not looking at Kaito with either pitying or judging eyes.
"It's not me who has to make a choice, Kaito," he finally answers, "It's all up to you."
"What if I make a wrong decision?"
Shinichi rolls his eyes. This is so unlike Kaito, to worry about whether his decision is right or not, while normally he always acts as he pleased.
"You won't know whether you have made the right or wrong decision before you do it."
"…You sound like a main character in some prime time dramas, Shin."
Shinichi give a death glare toward Kaito, who's unfortunately still has his face buried in his palms. "If you've heard a lot about it then you shouldn't even ask me, idiot."
He hears Kaito chuckling lightly while slowly lifting his head back up. Shinichi doesn't sees any tear tracks, but he can sees the thief slightly wiping his face before turns to face Shinichi. There's no smile in his face this time, but Shinichi can sees it clearly; he'd made his decision.
"I think I'll meet her. I'm selfish, so I'll take any opportunity thrown at me," he says before he stands up from his chair.
Shinichi snorts, corner of his lips curved upward as he hears determination in Kaito's voice. "If you plan to steal somebody else's wife, please don't count me in," the detective teases.
"Oi, I'm not that low!" Kaito protests. "But at least I hope I can still be friend with Aoko again…"
It's funny for Shinichi to see Kaito voicing it with such uncertainty, as if he needs some miracles to make it work, while he mostly certain that it will happen, even without any miracles. The detective stands up, taking the dirty snack plates with him to the kitchen where Kaito has goes there first with their empty cups.
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It is 3 days later than Kaito finally find the courage to pay Aoko a visit. He says the reason was because he need the permission from his work place, but, with living together and all, the detective knows that Kaito have afternoon shift that week so he shouldn't need any permission to visit someone in the morning. And Kaito is grateful that Shinichi doesn't comment anything on it. He even kindly become Kaito and Hakuba's mediator – Kaito still doesn't want to have anything to do with that blonde.
Kaito has asked Shinichi to tell the blonde about his visit today. From the information he gets from Shinichi, Aoko is hospitalized in Tokyo Central Hospital, room 403, and that Hakuba can only visit her in the evening. Kaito plans to go home before Hakuba come, of course, but he doesn't really know how long he will stay there. It's all up to Aoko's reactions upon seeing him, he thought inwardly.
He passes the hospital long hallways in silence, trying to keep occupying his mind by observing people around him – the nurses with their clipboard, the doctors with their long white coat, the patients and their visitors – just to hide his growing nervousness. Sometime as he sees the patient who's laying in their ward, he can't help but remembers about his family who has passed away. Had his mother and Jii suffered the same thing, laying helplessly with many kind of life supporting device connected to them? How long did they survive after that incident? Or did they die right away? He doesn't know. He doesn't even remember whether they had informed him of their death after of before the arrest. For him all that have happened that day are just like a blurry film with no clear plot.
But Kaito doesn't have the luxury to ponder over that because he has unwittingly arrived in front of room 403. He pusses those thoughts away, maybe he'll ask Shinichi about it, or Shinichi's parents, later. For now he must focus on this problem in front of him.
A minute, two minutes passes by, he just standing still, staring to the white door in front of him blankly. He knows that once he enters, he won't be able to go back – not literally, of course, but still. What if he makes Aoko panicked? What if she gets worse after seeing him, and she doesn't want to meet him anymore? What if–
"Sir?" Kaito's thrown out of his thoughts abruptly because of passing nurse's greeting. Seems like she's been suspicious of Kaito's behavior and decides to address him, "Can I help you?"
"Ah, no. I'm… just afraid that I get the wrong room," Kaito gives the nurse apologetic smile, "Is this Naka– I mean, Hakuba Aoko's room?"
The nurse nods her head with slightly doubtful stare, and then she asks for Kaito's name just in case, which Kaito gladly tells her, anything to meet Aoko. Fortunately the nurse doesn't seem to recognize the ex-Kaitou KID's face and left him alone after reprimanding him not to disturb Aoko's medication.
Kaito lets out a heavy sigh as the nurse's sharp gaze left him, and without even waiting for the nurse to really be out of his sight, he knocks at the white door in front of him.
"Come in," come a very familiar voice from the inside. Kaito gulps, before opening the door, very slowly.
His eyes meet Aoko's, and he feels as if the time stops ticking. He's just standing still in the doorstep, staring at Aoko who's sitting at her hospital bed, with pillows supporting her back. She seems no different from when he meets her months ago at Shibuya, except the noticeable bulge around her stomach area.
"…Kaito? Kaito… right?"
Aoko's the one who speaks first, eyeing Kaito with teary eyes, and she seems like wants to get off of her bed. Kaito quickly comes closer before Aoko really do just that. He stands awkwardly aside the white bed. His own eyes feel hot, but he can feel corners of his lips curved upward by itself.
"Hey, Aoko. Long time no see."
"Kaito!" the next second Aoko is hugging him and burying her head to his chest. He can feel her tears dampen his shirt, but that's the last thing in his mind right now. What he knows is that Aoko is in front of him, hugging and calling his name.
"Sorry, Kaito, I'm sorry…," murmurs Aoko between her sobs.
Kaito hesitantly caresses her back to calm her down. "There's nothing to apologize, Aoko, you've done nothing wrong. I'm the one who should apologize to you."
Aoko release her hug to face Kaito, and he's lying if he says he doesn't feel disappointed at it. "I'm sorry for forgetting you all this time. I should've look after you, helping you–" Aoko is starting to go panic and Kaito decides to cut her in.
"Sst, it's not your fault. Stop apologizing to me Aoko, please."
"But– "
"If anything, I'm the one who should've apologized, for making you in danger, making you hurt… I'm sorry Aoko. Honestly, I also thought you'd better forgetting me, Aoko. If only you didn't befriend me then maybe you won't be involved in all of this–"
PLAK.
Kaito feels his cheek stings. Wait, did Aoko just slap him? But – why? He sets his gaze back at Aoko to ask for explanation, but what he sees makes his heart clasps tightly. Aoko's tears are overflowing to her cheeks, gazing at him with eyes full of disappointment.
"Aoko–"
"Don't you ever say something like that ever again, Kaito! I won't regret having you as my friend! I won't regret spending my time with you, now or ever. So please… don't say that you don't want to be my friend anymore, Kaito. Just thinking about how I forget about you for years make me so sad, if you don't want to be my friend anymore, I–"
The rest of her words are caught in her throat as she sobs. Kaito's heart sank. Did he just make Aoko cry? Oh God…
"Aoko, I'm sorry, Aoko – I didn't mean it like that. I – I just want you to be happy. But I… truthfully I don't want you to forget about me too, Aoko. You might be my only close friend who's still alive and I'm afraid I'll lose you too…," and Kaito's voice broke, he can feels his tears blurs his view.
"Bakaito, how can you think like that," she sounds upset, but she's smiling. That smile and his typical nickname warm him up, making him confident that, yes, everything will be alright after this, and he laughs.
Aoko scolds him for suddenly laughing over nothing, but then she wipes her tears and laughs with Kaito. They easily slips to their usual banter, debating over silly things, with Kaito occasionally shows off his magic tricks to make Aoko upset. But, of course, that long years between them don't evaporate just like that.
"Is your baby healthy, Aoko?" Kaito asks half worried half curious.
Aoko nods, her smile still wide in her face, "Yep, she's healthy so far. Now she even actively kicks around inside me."
"Hmm, I think she can't wait to go out and see the world."
Aoko laughs in agreement. Then she tells him about her early pregnancy, how Hakuba looked so happy, how their parents argued over her baby's name, how her 'cravings' overwhelmed Hakuba. Before long, Kaito's sweep away by her story and laughs with her wholeheartedly.
And then he realizes, just seeing Aoko happy like this is enough to make him happy. Just sharing stories with her like this is enough. Maybe he's no longer interested in Aoko in more romantic way, but he clearly still adores her enough to make him wants to be a part of her life.
"Kaito? Kaito?"
"Huh? Ah – sorry, what was you saying again, Aoko?"
"You must be pondering over silly things again," Aoko snorts. "Kaito, tell me about your story. I'm the only one always telling you mine."
"Eh? Nothing interesting about my daily life," he denies.
"Don't say it like that! Ne, where do you live now? Your old house?"
Kaito tries not to winces remembering his burnt house. "No, I'm living with – a friend."
"Friend? Who?" Aoko stares at him suspiciously.
"You're acting like you don't believe that I have some friends, Aoko," he grumbles. Aoko laughs instead.
"I didn't mean it like that. I'm just curious… Is he from our old class?"
"No. He's, err… my father's ex-disciple's son?" he finally says, half confused of how to relate Shinichi to him. Saying 'he's a detective who's close to capturing KID back then' doesn't seems to fit enough to explain his relationship with Shinichi. Fortunately Aoko believe in his half-hearted explanation.
"Where do you guys live now? What's his name? Is he around our age?"
Kaito cringes hearing Aoko's burst of questions, but he answers them patiently anyway, "We live in Beika. His name is Shinichi, Kudo Shinichi. And, well, he's our age. He's a detective, and apparently he's an acquaintance of Hakuba since back then in high school."
"Ooh, he knows Saguru-kun too? Then I should meet him to offer my gratitude."
"Why?" Kaito stare at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Because he has kindly gives you place to live and I'm sure he's been a big help to Saguru-kun," she explains. The smile in Aoko's face is different than what Kaito has remembered back then from high school, it's more elegant, grown up, more… motherly, and Kaito can't help but feels enchanted by her smile.
"Next time you have to bring him here, Kaito!"
"Huh? Is that means you want me to visit you again, Aoko?"
"Of course, Bakaito! Do you really so heartless that you'd left this childhood friend of yours to lay bored in her hospital bed alone?!
"I – I didn't mean, ugh… I just… I thought Hakuba won't let me see you again."
Aoko's annoyed glare softened hearing that, then she cups her hands atop Kaito's. "I'm sorry, Kaito, I'm sure Saguru-kun didn't mean it in bad way."
Kaito offers her a small smile before answering, "Yea, I know. He just does it to protect you. I think I'm relieved enough that he's the one who's married to you. He treats you nicely."
"Yes, Saguru-kun is so kind. If Saguru-kun treats me badly Kaito will make him pay for it, right?" Aoko teases him.
"Aa. If he goes even once hurting you, I'll punch him again," Kaito replies firmly.
"Wait – Kaito, you've punched Saguru-kun?! How mean!"
"Err – that was–"
Their small talks continues until pass lunch time. Kaito only left after making sure Aoko eats her lunch and promising her to come visit her again this weekend. He comes out of the hospital with wide smile, as if a heavy burden has just been lifted off of him. He even skipping his way home, ignoring weird stare from passing pedestrians.
He jumps in shock when he hears a car honking right beside him.
"Need some lift? You seems so embarrassing skipping away like that," Shinichi says from inside of his car, smile in his face.
Kaito curses at the smiling detective for scaring him, but he doesn't refuse his offer.
"I don't expect you to go out of your way and pick me up!" he says with way too cheerful mocking tone.
Shinichi just snorts at him, "why should I go out of my way just to pick you up?"
"So? You skip your work to take a drive?"
"I was just on my way to the HQ from a case, stupid. I'm not into skipping work like you."
"Oi, I've never skipped work!"
Shinichi just shrugs at him, as if he doesn't believe in Kaito's protests.
"Seems like everything's going smoothly?"
"Yep, everything's fine," Kaito answers. Shinichi doesn't even need to glance at the ex-thief to know that he's smiling widely.
"Oh, and Aoko wants to meet you."
"…why?"
"Why don't you asks when you meet her later~"
"Is this your way of getting revenge, Kaito? How childish," Shinichi grumbles, but Kaito just ignore him. Shinichi almost regrets offering Kaito a ride.
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To Be Continued
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