The fic below is a songfic. Vanilla Twilight by Owl City. Seeing as I never sing in front of people and can't play any musical instruments (Though I want to learn how to play a piano or violin), I'm fairly certain the song does not belong to me.

Heart hammering, breathing ragged, eyes stretched wide with alarm and the horror of realization. Aoko stared up at him, having stumbled back and tripped over her own feet in her shock. He gazed back with tired eyes and an emotionless smirk on his face. Then his eyes hardened as Poker Face fully set in. All his emotions were locked away behind a mask, as they always were. Only she was used to the disguise of laughs and smiles, not this cover of disdainful humor. It shook her to the very core, to see such a cruel expression on his face. It wasn't right. He wasn't supposed to have that face. He was supposed to snicker and grin and drive her crazy with his antics, but always leave a comforting warmth in her chest that wouldn't go away no matter how annoying he could be.

"K-Kaito," she stammered. She found herself frozen in place, unable to get back to her feet. Confusion, sadness, shock, horror, fear, betrayal, loss, a sense of being manipulated and deceived. All spiraling together in a vortex that made her want to wail and cry, and she dealt with it in the only way she knew how.

She got angry.

No, angry wasn't the word. She was furious. And suddenly Aoko was on her feet, screaming and raging at him, spitting vile words that made him flinch as tears cascaded down her cheeks. She slammed her hands into his chest, sending the thief who was her best friend stumbling back. And he did nothing to resist. "THE WHOLE TIME!" She yelled. "IT WAS YOU THE WHOLE TIME! YOU IDIOT, YOU LIAR! I HATE YOU!" And at that, Kaito stiffened. His mask cracked and sheer anguish twisted his face. Then his expression became blank once more. And he stood there, allowing her to rave at him, accepting her words without any of his own. And finally, when she was out of words and her throat was growing raw, she couldn't take it any more. The shouts stopped but the tears didn't and she collapsed. Her knees knocked against the ground painfully, but she hardly noticed as sobs wracked her body.

Gentle hands came to rest on her shoulders. With a cross between a snarl and a hiccup, she swiped at him. Kaito withdrew for only a moment before taking her chin in his fingers and lifting her face to his. He pressed his lips to her forehead, like a parent comforting a child. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

And then, like a leaf in the wind, he was gone.

Aoko's feet pounded against the stairs. Her legs were burning with exertion but determination drove her on. And anger. Lots and lots of anger. A long, painful month had gone by since she discovered KID's identity. And it was hard without Kaito. It was so hard to hate him, when her heart still ached for him.

But it was even harder to love him.

Rumors flew around the school. Many were dismayed when they realized Kaito and Aoko were no longer the friends and potential lovers they had been only a week before. But many were also triumphant. It was common knowledge that girls pined for Kaito, and with the "crazy mop-girl" out of the way, he was considered fair game. But the magician ignored them, rejecting confessions in that gentle but firm way only he could accomplish.

He was taunting her. Trying to make her guilty, she was sure of it. And that was when Aoko understood why she hadn't told her father of his identity. No, it wasn't some stupid fairy-tale reason of lingering love. It was the desire for revenge. She didn't want her father to catch KID, she wanted to unmask the thief.

And tonight was the night she would finally do so. The last flight of stairs flew by and she rushed towards the door, throwing it open without hesitation and rushing out into the cool night air. Her eyes immediately found the thief donned in white. That was when she stopped short.

He looked strange. His hat was askew, posture slouched and card gun in hand. And then, he keeled over onto his back. A dark red stain stood out on his white jacket.

Suddenly, Aoko couldn't breath. The next thing she knew, she was crouching by Kaito's side (and when had she gotten there?) shaking his shoulders. "Kaito!" She cried. "Kaito, wake up!" He didn't move. His face was pale in the moonlight. Her cries turned into screams as desperation took hold. Ohgodhe'sdeadhe'sdeadwhatdoIdohethinksIhateh imIdon'thatehimpleasedon'ttakeKaitoawayIlovehimplease ohgodpleasedon'tdie! Tears poured from her eyes as she screamed, "Kaito! Kaito! KAITO!"

His eyes flashed open and she swore her heart stopped. Then she threw herself forward, flinging her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder. Her body trembled violently with sobs as she clung to him.

Kaito tentatively wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "Shhhhh. It's alright, Aoko. I'm fine. It's not blood, it's just a stain. I was tired, that's all. I'm fine. I'm fine." His reassuring murmurs did nothing to calm her, because the horror still remained. As though realizing this, he fell silent. Then, as his arms tightened their hold on her, new words left his mouth.

"The stars lean down to kiss you

And I lie awake and miss you

Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere."

Aoko quieted, curiosity demanding that she hear what he was saying. Or rather, she realized, singing.

"Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly

But I'll miss your arms around me

I'd send a postcard to you, Dear

Cause I wish you were here."

He began humming softly in her ear, mimicking the tune and pitch of whatever instruments were supposed to be playing. A strange sense of calm enveloped her, and she found herself relaxing.

"I'd watch the night turn light blue

But it's not the same without you

Because it takes two to whisper quietly.

The silence isn't so bad

Till I look at my hands and feel sad

Cause the spaces between my fingers

Are right where yours fit perfectly."

As though in response, his hand moved down to slip his gloved fingers between hers, giving them a slight squeeze. Aoko simply lay there, listening to his beating heart.

"I'll find repose in new ways

Though I haven't slept in two days

Because cold nostalgia chills me to the bone.

And drenched in vanilla twilight

I'll sit on the front porch all night

Waist-deep in thought because when I think of you

I don't feel so alone..."

A hint of melancholy entered Kaito's voice, an unfamiliar sound.

"I don't feel so~ alone."

Aoko frowned, shifting closer to him. That wasn't right. Kaito was supposed to be happy, not sad...

"I don't feel so alone.

As many times as I blink, I'll think of you... Tonight."

His voice broke on the final word, and Aoko stiffened. Tears welled up once more, because the entire thing felt so right and yet so wrong. His scent and warmth surrounded her, but there was complete sorrow in Kaito's words.

"I'll think of you... tonight."

He hummed a bit more. Then suddenly, his tone shifted.

"As violet eyes grow brighter

And heavy wings grow lighter

I'll taste the sky and feel alive again!

I'll forget the world that I knew

But I swear I won't forget you

Oh, if my voice could reach

Back through the past,

I'd whisper in your ear...!

Oh, Darling, I wish you were here!"

And all at once, something inside the two of them broke. There was an unfamiliar wetness on Kaito's face... Shocked, the magician reached up to wipe away the tears that rolled down his cheeks. His throat constricted, leaving him unable to continue his hum. But there was no need to. At that moment, Aoko's blubbering voice filled the silence.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, I don't hate you, I love you, I know you have your reasons but I wasn't thinking straight and I'm sorry, I'm sor-"

She was silenced by a pair of lips. Her eyes went wide, brightening in surprise. Then they fell shut and she moved forward, all thoughts spiraling away and there was only her and Kaito.

When they finally parted, Kaito pulled her back into a tight embrace. "I know." He sighed, breath warm against her ear. "I'm sorry, too. I should have told you, but it was dangerous. But I swear, I can explain everything."

Aoko smiled. Then she pulled away and the smile dropped off her face. "First things first. What's with the stain on your chest, and why does it look like blood?"

Kaito sighed. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a pile of shards that had most likely once been a jewel. "You see," he began. "It all started with a diamond known as Pandora, said to cry tears of immortality when the Volley Comet arrives. Unfortunately," his tone became deadpan. "The tears seem to resemble blood."

People say things they don't mean to, and sometimes they never have the chance to take it back. This is both a lesson on that, and a tribute to one of my favorite songs, Vanilla Twilight by Owl City. This was intended to be a ShinRan fic... But when I heard the 'Heavy wings grow lighter' my muse screamed KAIAO! xD

So how'd I do. Maybe it's just me, but it feels a bit rushed towards the beginning. What do you think?