Chapter ten
Revelation
ooOO-OOoo


Aoko reached for her rain jacket and handed an umbrella to Sakamoto. It was still raining hard outside and despite of being anxious to get to the Police Department, she still took the little extra time because catching a cold wouldn't do.

She took the small backpack with her stuff and nodded to Sakamoto.

"I think I have everything. It will be just for one night anyway, so I don't need that much."

"Alright." Sakamoto opened the door, took a short look around and stepped aside to let Aoko through. "Then let's head to the PD. Your father will be there already. Also, I've seen that Kudou-kun is standing outside in the rain, getting wet for whatever reason. Let's herd him back into the car."

Aoko gave a confused short laugh, passing Sakamoto. "Yes, let's do that. Kaito told me that his health hasn't been the best until recently. Sometimes I really think…"

She stopped short, causing Sakamoto to almost run into her and let out a gasp. "Kudou-kun!"

Sakamoto caught himself and pushed Aoko behind his back. There on the street, he saw the boy slumping into the hold of a man in a dark trench coat, another man behind him with a bat in hands.

"Stop it right there!" he shouted and grabbed for the gun in his hip holster. Before he could reach it, a searing pain shot through him and he collapsed to the wooden panels of the veranda.

Aoko screamed and stumbled back to reach the front door, but she fell backwards when a second silenced shot ripped splinters out of the wall next to her.

The man with the gun ran up to her and grabbed her arm. "Better not try anything funny, or your friend over there will pay the price," he hissed at her, nodding his head at Shinichi, who was being heaved into a black van by the man who'd caught him. The man had a mustache and was wearing an old-fashioned hat. Now he turned around and yelled.

"Hurry up, Rat! Or is the little girl giving you trouble?"

"Tsk," Rat spit out and dragged Aoko with him. As they passed Sakamoto, who lay face down, Aoko saw the large puddle of blood surrounding his chest and she let out a sobbing hiccup.

"Think this one is done for," Rat sneered. They reached the van and he shoved Aoko inside, getting in after her. The door shut with a thud that resounded in Aoko's head.

Down on the foot well, she saw Shinichi lying on his stomach. Unconscious, with his hands bound behind his back with a cable tie and some tape over his mouth. A little bit of red trailed down his neck and his hair was dark from blood in one spot. It was frightening to see him like this. Not only because she feared for his wellbeing, but because he looked so much like Kaito had on the video.

She flinched back when a rough hand caught her right wrist.

"Seems like Snake was really pissed that this boy escaped him," Rat laughed coldly, while catching her second wrist as well and using a cable tie to secure them behind her back.

'Escaped?' Aoko thought confused, but before she could say something, her mouth was covered with a piece of tape and all she could let out where some muffled sounds. Her mind raced.

'Does that mean Kaito escaped them? Oh please let it be true!'

Her relief was short-lived though. Did they think that Kudou-kun was Kaito? And what would happen to them now?

"Rat, stop the chit-chat back there and search the boy. I don't want any more surprises," came the harsh order from Snake, who started the engine. A second time he wouldn't be caught off-guard by this brat.

Rat began to pat down Shinichi and searched his back pockets, finding his keys. He turned him around and opened his jacket, checking the inner pockets. From the left one, he pulled out a small envelope with some smudged writing on it.

"He has nothing on him, just some keys and a letter."

The car was rolling down the street now. "Open it and read it out to me," Rat said while he turned another corner.

Almost ripping the paper apart, because it was soaked with rainwater, Rat finally managed to get the letter out of the envelope and unfolded it. His eyes scanned the first lines and he laughed out loud, sending Aoko a calculating glance.

"My dear Aoko,

I don't know when you will read this letter or where I will be by then, but I hope that you will read it to the end before you tear it into shreds. I have to apologize to you about so many things; I'm not sure where to start. You being alone so many nights, with your father at work – it's my fault. Lying to you on so many occasions – it's my fault too. Why, you ask? Because I am the worst friend in the world and because I am the one you despise the most.

I am Kaitou KID.

There is no other way to say it, nothing that would make it sound any better. Even if you laugh at me now and think that it's impossible, let me assure you – it is the truth!

You may wonder how that can be, regarding how long KID has been active. The answer is simple. My father had been KID before me and I took on the role just after I learned about it two years ago. 'Why?' I hear you ask again. Well, at least I always hoped that you would ask that question and give me the chance to explain.

I did it because my dad's death has not been an accident. He has been murdered and I want to find the ones who killed him and bring them to justice. It is nothing I can let the police handle. I have to do it myself and the heists are the only way to lure them out.

I couldn't tell you anything, even though I often wanted to. Believe me when I say that there have been many times when I wished for your support or just a warm hug after another unsuccessful heist. But what right did I have to burden you with this knowledge – to endanger you?

I'm telling you all this because my next move might be a final one. Hopefully not for me, but I can't be sure. In the best case, I will get them and the police can arrest them without arresting KID. If my luck runs out, your dad might finally catch me and in the worst case… well, let's hope it doesn't come to that.

I just wanted you to know before some TV-station runs the news or you're dad has to tell you about arresting your best friend. I think I owe you that much.

I owe you even more, but that's all I can give to you right now and I'm not even sure if you will talk to me ever again after reading these lines, but I hope you will. I really do.

Because I love you – and that is also the truth.

Kaito.

Snakes laughter rang horrible in Aoko's ears as she stared at nothing. Her mind was blank, just two sentences repeated themselves over and over again.

'Kaito is KID. Kaito loves me. Kaito is KID…'

Her heart didn't know how to feel. There was glee – because she loved Kaito too, loved him for quite some time now, but there was bitterness as well. Bitterness, because her best friend had betrayed her and broke her heart the moment he gave her what she'd always wanted to hear from him. It was bittersweet in its truest sense.

"So, this brat really is the Kaitou KID?" Rat asked with a snort and prodded Shinichi's ribs with his shoe. He turned to Aoko. "And you are his girlfriend? Well, girlfriend-to-be?" His grin was full of malice. "I think we hit the jackpot, Snake."

"You can bet your ass on that." Snake watched Aoko in the rearview mirror. "The boss will be more than pleased."

ooOO-OOoo

Heiji followed Hakuba through the corridors of the Police Department. Now that he knew that Shinichi was safe, his mind wasn't clouded with worry anymore and he was able the think straight gain. Hakuba had told him what he knew so far – what wasn't much. Shinichi and Kuroba had seen each other regularly to train and to do homework and apparently their parents were old friends. That in itself wasn't unusual. Shinichi wanted to graduate this year after all, and he really could use someone to keep him from wandering off to cases all the time and do some normal stuff instead. That Shinichi hadn't told him about his new friend miffed Heiji quite a bit, but he would sort this out with his friend later on.

What bothered him was that Kuroba also was Hakuba's number one suspect for being Kaitou KID. Rather than keeping Shinichi away from cases, Kuroba apperentely had brought one directly to his doorstep – and Shinichi would never back out of something connected with KID – or any other case brought to his attention that is.

And now Kuroba had been kidnapped to force KID's hand, while he seemed to be KID himself. Heiji raked a hand through his hair.

What a mess.

Hakuba stopped in front of the last door, looking at the room number. "That's the room Nakamori-keibu asked me to come to," he said, while knocking.

"Come in," sounded Nakamori's rough voice through the door and the two teens entered the room, looking around.

Aside from Nakamori, there were three men Heiji didn't know sitting at the large table. The one in the middle was somewhat in his thirties and had the air of someone wealthy. Perfectly styled dark hair, custom-tailored suit, confident posture and expression. The two at his sides were most likely bodyguards.

But there were people Heiji knew as well, sitting next to Nakamori. Namely Kudou Yusaku and Yukiko and Megure with Takagi and Satou.

"Finally, Hakuba," Nakamori said and waved them in impatiently, but blinked in surprise when he noticed that Hakuba wasn't alone. He frowned. "And who are you? This is not some meet and greet anyone can join who feels like it. Out! Now!", he barked at Heiji.

"Now, now," Megure lifted his hands in a placating manner. "This is Hattori Heiji. He is the son of Superintendent Hattori Heizo from Osaka. He is a very talented high-school detective and I've worked with him a few times. He also is a friend of Kudou Shinichi and as he was about to meet with Kudou-kun regarding the case, I invited him. I'm sure he can be of help."

Nakamori gave Heiji a long look and rolled his eyes. "Why are there so many high-school detectives nowadays? Do you kids have no other hobbies?" he grumbled, but didn't object to Heiji's attendance anymore.

Heiji and Hakuba took the free seats next to Shinichi's parents and Yukiko gave Heiji a short smile and squeezed his hand for a moment. She hadn't seen him since he'd left the hospital with Kazuha and was glad that he seemed to be doing alright.

"Sorry, we were in the middle of negations Ichinose-san, but please allow me to get the results from the video-footage first please," Nakamori addressed the man in the expensive suit, who gave a narrow smile.

"Go ahead, Keibu. After all, this will be important for our further conversation."

Nakamori nodded and turned to the teens. "Just for your information, this is Ichinose Taichi-san. He owns the jewel, KID is supposed to steal." His voice was polite enough, but Hakuba could sense that it was somewhat strained.

Hakuba pulled some papers out of a folder. "The experts are in agreement that it is not faked. They traced the digital trail back to where it had been uploaded from, but unfortunately it was an internet café in Shibuya. The account has just this one video and has been created just before the upload. Some officers are there to gather any information possible, but I'm afraid it won't be much."

The last bit of Nakamori's hope drained away. He had hoped that the footage would be some kind of prank, though a cruel one, to get more attention for the heist. It still could have been KID himself who uploaded the video, but Nakamori's gut feeling told him otherwise. Not even KID would have that bad taste, not to mention that Kaito would never knowingly worry Aoko like this.

"So, in the end we still have nothing," he sighed and turned to Ichinose. "As it stands now, we, the police, don't want to endanger the life of the hostage any further by preventing KID from taking the jewel. I will ask you again. Are you willing to cooperate and cancel your security for the exhibition?"

Ichinose was silent for a moment, seemingly considering the request. He then crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"No."

Nakamori's eyes went wide with surprise before he exploded and slammed his hands on the table. "What? How can you sit there so calmly and just say no when the life of a boy is at steak? It's just a jewel, dammit!"

Megure put a hand on Nakamori's arm, knowing that shouting wouldn't help in this situation. He knew his colleague was emotionally involved and letting him lead the conversation wouldn't get them anywhere. Ichinose clearly wasn't a sentimental guy, for he hadn't shown any interest for the hostage's wellbeing so far. He had been just concerned about the security measures he had to add up because the police refused to protect the jewel.

"Ichinose-san," he spoke as calm as possible, even though he himself had to suppress the anger inside of him. "Why do you refuse to help?"

Ichinose looked at him disbelievingly. "You have to ask? Don't you understand the worth of this jewel? The recent estimates had it priced with almost fifty million yen, and with that media circus now it will just increase in value. And you want me to give it up for someone I don't even know? That's laughable."

Everyone in the room was speechless. Someone as cold and money-grubbing as Ichinose was just too much to comprehend.

Into the stunned silence, an officer, Hamada, burst in through the door.

"Nakamori-keibu, I'm terribly sorry for interrupting, but we got an emergency call from Sakamoto-keiji," he reported out of breath.

"What?" Nakamori shouted out shocked and jumped up from his seat, overturning the chair in the process. "Aoko! He has been with my daughter! What happened?"

Hamada squirmed a bit. He really didn't want to be the one to break the news to the Inspector, but professionalism won out in the end.

"Sakamoto-keiji went to your house with your daughter like you've asked him to. When they were leaving, apparently they have been attacked by a shooter."

Nakamori grew deathly pale and had to grab on the table for support, while the officer continued.

"Sakamoto-keiji got hit, but somehow was able to get to the car to send us the emergency call. We didn't get much out of him before he collapsed, but it seems his attacker thought him dead and just left him. An ambulance should already be there by now."

Hamada gulped and tried really hard to hold Nakamori's gaze during his next sentence.

"Your daughter was unharmed as far as Sakamoto-keiji could tell, but was taken by the culprit. As well as Kudou-san."

An outcry could be heard from Yukiko, while Nakamori simply sank to the ground and just sat there, not aware of the turmoil behind him.

His Aoko had been taken.

His greatest horror has become true. He'd always feared that his line of work could someday endanger his daughter. Therefore, he had chosen to continue to work on the KID case instead of in the homicide department. Less chance for a culprit seeking revenge and using Aoko.

KID and his nonviolent behavior had kind of made him forget about the nasty things out there and now it hit him straight in the face.

While Nakamori was completely out of it, Yukiko's panic materialized in a different kind of way. She rushed to Hamada and grabbed onto the jacket of his uniform.

"What about Shinichi? What did Sakamoto-keiji say about my son? Is he hurt?" she asked him frantically.

Hamada was taken aback and didn't know what to do with the upset woman in front of him. All he could do was to stutter an answer. "We, we don't know. I-I'm sorry."

Yusaku got up and went to his wife. The shock was written all over his face as well as he placed a hand on Yukiko's shoulder. "Yukiko, please…"

"No!" Yukiko yelled. "Don't you dare tell me to calm down! I won't let this happen! Not again!"

She turned to Ichinose who had been sitting at the table the whole time, watching the scene.

"You!" ahe hissed, putting a finger on his chest. She didn't care for politeness anymore. "Are you still going to say no?"

Ichinose's bodyguards got up, but he waved at them. "It's ok, sit back down."

He fixated Yukiko with an unmoved look. "I can see you are frightened and I'm truly sorry for what happened to your son, but I don't see how that concerns me in any way. So, yes – my answer is still the same."

Yukiko gasped for air. "You greedy, narrow-minded, coldhearted son of a bitch! How can you put a freaking stone over the life of a person? How can you even live with yourself? Do you know what? I've had enough of you! If money is all you can think about, then I will buy this damn rock from you, even if it should cost me my last yen!"

A calculating grin spread over Ichinose's face. "Deal."