"The usual?"
"Ye-"
Kaito raised his hand. "I'll have ice coffee instead."
For chocolate parfait, Aoko would only eat such a sweet thing with Kaito and it was quite known for their usual during summer. Since Kaito drank coffee, she wanted to drink ice latte too, which was kind of her favorite drink of late. But she thought that maybe Kaito could get a bite from her ice cream if he regretted choosing his coffee.
Aoko's lip closed together before she smiled back at the waitress. "I'll stick to the usual. One chocolate parfait for me."
The waitress nodded. After repeating their orders, she left to do her own work, leaving Aoko and Kaito sitting at their usual spot in the cafe, alone like what they needed.
"You seem tired." Aoko clasped her hands together, forming a bridge as she set her chin on top of it, her eyes staring warily over at Kaito when he didn't argue back about her proclamation. His eye bags weren't the only thing that gave him away, the fact that he sacrificed his chance to eat his favorite ice cream, over coffee? To Aoko, that was a serious matter.
Not just that...
"A little, to be honest." He rubbed his eyes, smirking along the way. "Are you guessing it because I'm drinking coffee today?"
She shrugged. "Well, yes and you aren't..."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You aren't talkative like before too." Aoko admitted before she looked away, not sure to regret for blurting it out or not. This so-called date was Kaito's idea, but now when they were seated right here in their frequent hangout, it felt so foreign instead, like everything was so different. She tried to blame herself for overreacting too much.
"Sorry, I'm really tired." He simply said and brushed his fingers through his hair. "Though it's not entirely my fault, you know."
Aoko gaped at him. It was obvious his tone was implying on no one but her. "Then it's my fault?"
"Of course." Kaito scoffed. "I finished the cake you made by myself in two days. And I guess I was too high on sugar and couldn't sleep for those two nights."
She could feel her heartbeat throbbing against the back of her neck as heat slowly rose to her cheeks. "Who asked you to finish it within two days?!"
With perfect timing, the waitress was back with their order and it gave Aoko enough time to calm herself down. Her gaze pierced right at Kaito as she watched him eagerly taking his coffee and began drinking so peacefully like their argument that was about to start a few seconds ago didn't exist.
Leaning back on the sofa seat, Aoko sighed and jabbed the spoon inside her parfait and stirred the bottom to let the chocolate syrup below to mix around with the ice cream. It was pointless for her to waste her energy and be angry when he was so nonchalant about this whole matter.
That night when she surprised him on his birthday, she knew she succeeded from that brief unexpected look he had on his face. Aoko thought she got the upper hand of knowing what was going to happen next, while Kaito was literally, in the dark. Even looking at the cake made her teeth ached and honestly, she couldn't imagine him eating it at all. She thought she would distract him with the dishes she made and smashed his head into the cake afterwards.
In the end, her plan backfired and she was the one who got surprised instead. Once the image of Kaito lying on her shoulder appeared in her mind, her face turned pink on its own. Aoko grabbed the glass of chocolate parfait and began shoving spoonful of the ice cream into her mouth, hoping to cool down the heat that was rising within her.
"Are you okay?" Kaito blinked at her.
"Maybe that's how he is."
Aoko randomly remembered Keiko's words from before. Really, that was how Kaito was. Always surprising her, always the one to make her heart race so fast she thought it would explode, always... always...
"Yeah. She replied.
"So, got any plans for the holiday?"
She sighed at the question she had been asking herself every single day. "I'll probably get a part-time job, although the weather makes me lazy sometimes."
Kaito nodded almost immediately. "Yeah, you totally should."
Unable to contain her curiosity, she quirked an eyebrow. "You seem more excited about me finding a job than I am."
"A job keeps you preoccupied. And the money." He rubbed his thumb and fingers together repeatedly.
Money wasn't much of Aoko's concern; she had been saving up all these time so it wasn't like she didn't have money to spend on. Though for the part where she could keep herself busy... it was true. There was nowhere she could go during her holiday, and staying in her home was practically a bore. Her other friends had their own life and family to be with so she couldn't ask them out all day either...
She fiddled with her ice cream, trying to hide her slight disappointment. This summer holiday wasn't anything close to fun, for now. "What about you? Are you doing anything?"
"Nah. I'm busy."
Aoko rolled her eyes. "Busy with what? Playing computer games, I bet."
He stroked his chin. "Something like that."
She leaned forward with an excited smile. "How about we find a job together. Maybe that'll be nice."
"No way." Kaito gave a disgusted face. "Holiday means relaxation for me. Besides, I'm really busy."
Her face dropped. "With computer games." Aoko drawled. Really, computer games over her? Must he be this obvious in showing where she stands in his life? But what was she expecting? She was pretty sure he couldn't be enjoying her nags all day long. Aoko sighed inwardly before putting the spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
"You're just like this ice cream." She muttered to herself, only to giggle at the next moment when an image flashed through her head.
"What's so funny?"
"I remembered that time I told you you're as cold as an ice cream. And you replied me that the ice cream is sweet too."
Kaito instantly scowled and rubbed his arms. "Can we just, like put those unnecessary memories away?"
"It's the best day for me." She blurted out loud before hiding her slightly flushed cheeks behind the tall glass ice cream. It was a moment of bluntness that let her true feelings slipped out of her tongue. Still, she managed to dispel the weird moment as quickly as it came. "Anyway, tell me more of your pick up lines!"
"Are you messing with me?!"
.o.
Aoko was good with kids; Patient enough to answer their weird questions, secretly giving them chocolates and sweets even when their parents didn't allow them to eat... She thought it was important for them to enjoy their life to the fullest before growing up and getting wrecked by so many things in life, like her. Maybe it was an exaggeration, still, she liked it when children smiled or laughed.
But then again, she wasn't great at handling crying kids. Aoko remembered the times when she babysit her neighbor's child. The boy had been crying non-stop and she had no idea what to do. When matters were getting out of hand, she called Kaito over for help without thinking much.
"Where's the little bear?"
Kaito had this piece of bear-shaped chocolate between his fingers. Once he snapped his fingers, the chocolate was gone
"On my left?" He waved his empty left hand. "Or on my right?" He waved the other.
"Eh? It's nowhere to be found?" He gasped.
But he reached the kid's ear and gave another snap. Instantly, the chocolate appeared in his fingers again.
"It's right behind you!"
Kaito was great with kids when they needed a distraction. He performed magic, especially that famous chocolate bear trick, which never fail to make the children to forget about why they were crying or whining in the first place. In the end, he managed to sooth the child in mere minutes when Aoko was trying for an hour.
Right now if Aoko have the chance, she would straightaway call Kaito for help. But she remembered him telling her he was going to a magic show with Jii to some place that she didn't know and wouldn't be free tonight. Aoko sighed and bit her lips as she tried waving the chocolate in her hand for the umpteenth time.
"If you finish your dinner, I'll give you this chocolate and you can watch your favourite TV show!"
"I don't wanna!" The boy wailed and began bumping his fist on the table. "I miss my father. I want to see my father!"
"He'll be back home. Kaitou Kid's heist will end soon!" Aoko chimed. "Then your father will be back."
"But I wanna see him now!"
It wasn't like Aoko didn't understand the child's pain and his wish of wanting to see his father when he was at work. In fact, it hurt her a little when she knew she couldn't do anything but to comfort him over and over again.
She sighed.
Arima's mother was admitted to the hospital for stomach flu and no one was able to take care of him. Having no choice, Aoko was then appointed for the role by her father when he said he couldn't afford anyone to take leave on the day of the heist. She didn't once feel troublesome for this, it was just that she wished she was just a little tad better at convincing children so it wouldn't give her a headache like now.
"Aoko-neechan, can you bring me to the heist? I want to see my father work!" Arima exclaimed suddenly.
"I don't think that's a good idea..."
"Please? It's really bored at home and I want to see my father. Just a tiny peek will do and we'll come back home."
This wasn't actually a deal she could reject. They were indeed bored at home and she knew his desire more than anyone else. Aoko pretended to contemplate for a moment, hoping something else would distract the kid but it didn't work. Arima's attention was still on her as he shook her arm and gave a small pout, which made Aoko unable to continue her act anymore.
"Fine." Aoko gave a defeated sigh and Arima cheered. "But you must stick with me at all times, alright? You cannot let go of me and wander about on your own."
"Yes madam!" He saluted.
Really, how could Aoko even say no to such an adorable kid in the first place?
.o.
It had been nearly ages since she seen helicopters flying and lights shining everywhere in the night sky. There was a slight nostalgic feeling, but other than that, anger and irritations were growing in her chest. Aoko tightened her grip on Arima's hand and brought him at close to her as possible, not wanting him to get separated from her in the massive crowd of Kid's fans.
"Where could my father be?" Arima yelled to be heard in the loud cheers. Aoko squatted down to his side and stroke his hair comfortably.
"It's dangerous to find him right now. You might get lost." She sighed softly to herself before looking over at the mall before them. "Besides, your father is busy chasing Kaitou Kid now."
She was sick of standing in the crowd, having to push everyone just to get some air to breathe. Aoko thought Arima would be the same, from the expression he made when he was suffering the same treatment as her.
"Why don't we go to the back? Once the heist is done, we'll go look for your father?"
"Okay!" For the first time, he didn't argue back. It was really a better idea, rather than standing and getting squeezed like a lemon.
With her hand hanging tightly onto Arima's, she carefully made her way through the people and trying to avoid as many people as possible so she wouldn't have to receive any more glares or the sound of annoyed click of their tongues.
Aoko knew it wasn't Arima's fault when his fingers accidentally slipped away from her; they were in the middle of the packed crowds after all and it was nearly impossible for them to be holding hands all the time. The only thing she could do was to stretch out her hand, as if she was waiting for a baton for a race and showed it to Arima, intending to let her hand be the guidance for him and telling him where she was even if she couldn't hold him.
It was until that split moment when she couldn't see the striking red shirt that Arima wore then she began to panic.
"Arima? Arima!" She shouted, desperate. Her head was spinning in all directions, hoping to spot that one familiar boy she needed to find. She pushed her way through the crowd and finally, she was out in the bigger space and able to breathe. After letting herself catching her breath for a few second, Aoko began her search again.
"Arima! Arima where are you?!"
"Aoko-neechan!" It was faint, but Aoko was very sure she heard it. She turned her neck to the direction and her eyes managed to catch him. What she saw instead wasn't something she expected to see in her life.
Arima was being dragged away by two men, their grip around his arms looked strong that it would have hurt if Arima tried to pull away. He was attempting to struggle, but obviously his attempts were pointless. There wasn't a need to say when it was very clear that the two men couldn't be anyone good.
Aoko turned back to the crowd that were quite a distance away from her, wanting to find someone out there to help. But she knew there was a risk that she would be too slow to catch up later on, or the people would be too late to react to her pleas when their minds and hearts were all on nothing but Kaitou Kid. And because of those things, she was afraid that she might lose Arima, forever.
She bit her lips and turned back to Arima's direction. She knew the consequences of her safety, but there was no way she was going to allow anything to happen to Arima when he was under her care. As she dashed over to the men who were already by their black van located at the very corner of the almost empty and dark street, Aoko didn't bother to hide herself and gave the mightiest kick she could afford at one of the kidnappers and hurriedly pulled Arima away, hoping her sudden attack managed to buy time to take him away.
But she wasn't strong enough, like she guessed. The other man managed to pull Arima back to the spot, causing Aoko to fall back to the ground. The other, who was scowling in pain at his injured knee glared down at Aoko and pulled her up to her feet, none to gentle.
Shit. Shit! Shit! It had been months since she last felt this fear, those months that passed with the huge cast on her arm... Aoko could never forget it. And now, she had to face this bullshit again, though this time she knew there wasn't a chance she was going to be safe.
However, she couldn't be bothered about her safety now. All she was in concern was Arima and Arima alone. He just wanted was to see his father, what did he deserve to end up here and being taken away? And who the hell were these bunch of mad men?
As tears filled her eyes, Aoko didn't give up. With her arms restricted and legs unable to move, she utilized her next best weapon; her scream. When Arima saw what she did, he quickly followed as well and they continued yelling at the top of their voice in order to catch someone's attention, but their efforts were in vain. Their shouts were drowned by the thousands of people who were cheering for Kaitou Kid.
It was all that criminal's fault again. Nothing ever came out good whenever she was within the proximity of the white thief. She sent her hatred to the only person she could hate and continued screaming until the man slapped her cheek while the other hit Arima's head, successfully silencing both of them. It was not long when Aoko realized Arima wasn't quiet because he choose to, but because he was already knocked out unconscious.
"Arima-!" She exclaimed.
Beads of tears flowed down Aoko's cheek like rain, yet she wasn't feeling any sadness. There was heat boiling in her chest and she could feel her heartbeat throbbing on the back of her neck. Her anger was fuelling her with energy to rip this man apart anytime now.
"How could you do that to a kid, you-"
She continued to struggle during her protest, but her will was lost as soon as she felt something covering her face. Shocked, she quickly took in huge deep breaths, which was a mistake she made as her nose was filled with the smell of the cloth soaked in chloroform. Her flailing arms and legs grew weaker and weaker and her entire body turned numb.
"Take her with us. She's that Inspector's daughter too."
"Even better. Boss should be happy about it."
She could feel her body being thrown inside the back of the van, and the next thing she saw was complete darkness.
.o.
Ginzo searched his entire house. The kitchen, bathroom, balcony, but Aoko and Arima were nowhere to be found.
Sarutobi; Arima's father, paced up and down in the living room. When Ginzo appeared from Aoko's room after his fruitless search, he could only shook his head to convey his findings.
"Then where could they possibly be?" Sarutobi fidgeted his watch. "It's already so late and they're neither at your house or mine."
"Aoko's isn't this irresponsible." Ginzo could only say. Even after twentieth times, he tried to call Aoko's phone again and Sarutobi watched him hopefully. But like all the other times, the call didn't get through and he was being directed to her voice mail. Ginzo gritted his teeth and tucked his phone back into his pocket. He didn't want to say it out loud, but he knew it was as clear as water.
"Something must have happened."
Sarutobi widened his eyes. "You think so?"
"Wait." Ginzo straightened his posture. "There's one place left."
He marched out of his door without waiting for his subordinate to follow. Not just Sarutobi, he himself was worried as heck and there was no time left in the world for him to wait. As Ginzo raised his head and stared at Kaito's house once he was outside, he stomped right towards through the entrance and towards the door.
This was his last hope.
He rang the doorbell, again and again and only when the door opened, Sarutobi managed to reach to his side.
"Kaito-kun." Ginzo breathed.
"Eh?" Kaito rubbed his stomach under his shirt, his sleepy eyes blinking tiredly under his fringe. "Inspector? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
His heart weighed heavily down when he realized the answer to the question he didn't ask. But Sarutobi wasn't going to just let the chance go.
"Is my kid here? And Nakamori-san?"
Kaito tilted his head, the only thing that showed he was finally awake were his eyes that sharpened in an instant. "Are they suppose to be here?"
"They're gone." Ginzo whispered.
"They're missing since an hour ago." Sarutobi shut his eyes, as though he was in pain. "To be exact, we don't even know what time they disappeared. I was going back home and Inspector was following me to fetch Nakamori-san back but they weren't in my house. They're nowhere to be found!" He blabbered, like he was the lost child instead.
A short silence filled the dry and windy night, but it didn't last long when Ginzo felt a vibration in his pocket and a melody that followed. He especially turned on his volume to the maximum, making sure he could hear if anyone, especially Aoko, contacted him.
He swiftly fished out his phone and his pupil dilated at the contact name he saw.
It was Aoko, just like what he had been wishing for. He picked up the call with no hesitation.
"Aoko, where the hell are-"
"Inspector Nakamori."
It was clearly not Aoko's voice. From that low and sinister voice that sounded nothing close to good, Ginzo's gut began to fire with anxiety.
"Who are you?!" He roared, earning a surprised look from the other two. Sarutobi tried to signal him, asking him what was going on, but he was too distracted to even care.
"I have your daughter, along with your subordinate's kid."
"Just what do you-"
He felt the phone disappeared between his fingers, to realize Kaito had snatched it away within that split second. He was about to rage, to yell in the middle of the night at the boy without a care if he was disturbing the peace, even when he was a policeman himself. But once Kaito switched the phone into speaker mode and placed it in the middle for everyone to hear, Ginzo instantly shut himself up. He had nothing to complain.
"In exchange of the two hostages, we want Kaitou Kid."
Sarutobi widened his eyes, almost wanting to say something but Kaito held his shoulder, calming and silencing him effectively. Ginzo wanted to ask how a boy, whose age was half of his, could stay so calm at such a situation. But when he noticed how hard Kaito's hand was gripping onto his phone, he thought otherwise.
Ginzo cleared his throat. "What do you want Kaitou Kid for?"
"That you don't have to know. What you should know is that those kid's safety, lies in your hand."
"How can I trust you?" Ginzo clenched his teeth and he could see Sarutobi nodding desperately beside him. "I want to confirm the two children's safety first."
No sound were made, saved for the shuffling noises in the background. Only after a few second, there were sudden shouting and screaming. And it was one that Ginzo was familiar with.
"Dad!"
"Father! I want my father!"
Sarutobi whimpered but before he could speak a word, the sound of those loud yet comforting shouts were muffled and gone, now replaced by the same gruffly voice again.
"Now that you've confirmed it. Let's continue the deal. Give Kaitou Kid to us, and we'll give the kids to you."
"How am I supposed to get Kaitou Kid?! If I knew, I'd retired!"
"Figure it out yourself. We'll tell you more details again. Three days later, during Kid's next heist, more information of the exchange will be given to you. Try and do anything funny and the only thing you'll get is their corpse."
"If you dare to-" Ginzo wasn't done in venting our his frustration of being threaten, but he wasn't given the chance to direct his anger when the phone line went dead and silence filled in again.
Sarutobi broke down. "What should I do?! Arima is too young, he's too young to suffer like this."
"We need to gather the rest back to the office." Ginzo growled and he tried to take his phone back from Kaito's hand. He knew Kaito had been clutching onto his phone very tightly, but not to the stage where he had a difficulty prying it from his hands. He cast a look over the slightly dazed Kaito and after a second passed then the latter finally released his grip.
"Sorry." Was all he the teenager said.
"Kaito-kun. Don't tell anyone about this. The police will handle this and they will be fine." Ginzo muttered, but he noted how his own tone lacked of any conviction or belief in it. He didn't have enough faith to say them so boldly. "Go back to sleep."
Kaito just nodded.
"Are you dialling the rest of the members?" Ginzo tilted his head over to Sarutobi, who was on his phone.
"I-I'm... calling my wife."
Ginzo's chest felt like bursting. Recalling the image of his wife on her deathbed, asking him to bring happiness to their child... he felt like he was the biggest failure in the world. He gave nothing to Aoko, only misery and pain till this day. He clenched his fist till his knuckles turned white.
This couldn't be happening.
"Inspector. Are you alright?"
He looked up to gaze at Kaito who was staring at him. Ginzo straightened his aching back and just gave a brief nod. He wasn't some young man anymore. The heist that took place just a few hours ago was taking a toll onto him, even if he didn't want to admit.
And then now this happened.
"Aoko is going to be alright." Ginzo mumbled. Even if he collapsed right now, it didn't matter. What mattered was that Aoko had to be safe.
"She'll be." Kaito merely said.
Taking a deep breath, he scrolled through his contact list and began calling up the important members on his team. He would owe them big time, for asking their help in the middle of the night and right after their work, but he really needed their assistance now and Ginzo would do anything for it to repay those favors he would definitely owe in the future.
He was on the verge of calling his second subordinate when he turned towards Kaito who was still standing by the door.
"Is there anything I can do?" Kaito offered before Ginzo could manage a word.
"Nothing." He replied without a second thought. There was really nothing this boy could do. Not that he ever underestimated Kaito, but even if he was the greatest magician like what Aoko said, he still couldn't have the ability to make Aoko or Arima appear before them right now, could he? Ginzo shook his head inwardly to brush off those thoughts before his eyes set back on Kaito again. "Just wait for Aoko to come back."
This time, Kaito didn't answer. But Ginzo didn't have time to wait for his reply and he signalled Sarutobi, who was on his phone and calling another member on the team, out of the Kaito's gates. Ginzo could only afford one last glance over his shoulder and he saw the door to Kaito's house already closed.
Ginzo suddenly recalled the times when Aoko mindlessly complained about Kaito to him. Despite the fact that he was a funny, smart and nice person to be with, he was a little cold and annoying at times. And when Ginzo saw the door closed, not even a sign of opening at all, he realized that maybe Aoko was right, or perhaps what she said was an understatement.
The Kaito he always knew was like a bright and harmless sun radiating wherever he goes, but that Kaito he just talked and saw a few seconds ago... he was like a walking iceberg, so cold and... almost unreadable. No. He was basically unreadable.
He shook his head and continued his fast pace towards his car. He couldn't care about that when Aoko and Arima's safety should be the only thing invading his mind right now.
.o.
Conan wouldn't mind sleeping late, but he really minded if he was woken up early.
Especially when it was during the holiday.
His phone had been vibrating beside his pillow but he just couldn't find the energy to pick it up and see who was calling. It seemed urgent, but the urgency could be equivalent to Heiji asking him to visit Osaka or Genta asking him to come down and play soccer at the park.
He wasn't Kudo Shinichi. There was no way anyone calling him would be anything urgent.
The phone kept on ringing and ringing and after the seventh time the caller called, Conan flew up from his sleeping position with a groan. He narrowed his eyes at the phone and picked it up to see the caller ID.
It was unknown.
Weird. Was all Conan could think. He lazily answered the call, his sleeping face still in place.
"Hello?"
"Conan-kun! Sa-Save me!"
That familiar voice instantly shot him awake. He jumped up from his bed and glared at the door, preparing to sprint out any second. "Ran?! I mean Ran-neechan?! What happened? Where are you?"
"You're finally awake, huh?"
Within the next three seconds, his face turned horrified, angry, and then irritated. The annoyed look in his eyes stayed the longest. "You bastard."
"I need to meet you."
"And why should I?"
"Because you should."
Conan gave a scoff. If this stupid thief called him early in the morning to play who's-the-bigger-boss-here? game, he had clearly picked the wrong day and time. "I'm hanging up now."
"Imagine that your girlfriend's plea for you to save her was real, not an act of my voice, what would you do?"
This time, he straightened his posture and looked out of the window. Conan wasn't interested in the view or the bright sun shining down the streets, but it was a habit he do when he was puzzled and was trying to look at something in a different point of view.
"What do you mean?" He said warily.
"That's why I need to meet you."
A little late with the update, sorry about that! School started, and it was a little hard to pace out this chapter but phew, finally managed to get it done in the end.
Anyway... hope you guys like this? Ackkk reviews are appreciated!