Chrysanthemum (6)

In the eyes of others, young and sweet 18 years old Nakamori Aoko was the most hardworking, smart and filial girl in the neighbourhood.

As for Kaito, the same Nakamori Aoko everyone adored would be the death of him one day, if Snake hadn't killed him first.

Even as they grew and supposedly matured enough to be Ekoda High school's respectable senior students, they hadn't abandoned the usual demeanour since forever. Random arguments breaking out, mop-chasing, disruption of class... The teachers always used them as role models to warn the juniors to not be in the future. To emphasize the point, the discipline mistress often stepped in and get Kaito and Aoko to stand at the basketball court in front of the school for their misconduct.

It was the same, typical punishment they faced at least once a week or some sort. The only difference this time round was the extra five inches of snow that covered the ground.

With only their school sweater and respective pants and skirts to cope with the cold, it still didn't end their argument. Kaito had forgotten how it started, although he remembered it had something to do with the new guy who recently transferred to their class, who in his opinion, was a million times worse than Hakuba. To add on, Aoko was too blind to see it and he was furious that she couldn't.

At first they were using the snow to kick it into each other's shoes, but it slowly grew out of hand and their setting wasn't helping. Aoko began throwing snowballs at Kaito while he dodged without effort, until she was finally lucky enough to throw it into his face. He didn't intend to fight back, but now he wondered why he was even going soft on this wild woman. He cheated, using magic as a distraction and managed to hit Aoko more times she even tried to aim at him.

It was a miracle no one noticed them from their classes.

The fight escalated and they soon became physical. Aoko got the upper hand, making use of the fact Kaito would never, ever touch her and gave him a surprise attack by pouncing onto him. His back landed on the soft snow and she sat on his chest, grabbing and twisting one of his thumb. It was painful, but not enough to damage.

"Ow! Ahouko! Stop it!"

He attempted to stand just to get her off his body, but she used her weight to force him down.

"You're the most frustrating person I've met!" Aoko bawled.

"Likewise!"

She twisted his thumb again, harder this time.

"God damn it Ahouko! I make magic with that hand!"

"You can do magic fine with the other hand alone!"

"Shut up and let me go already!"

Kaito thought he had to suffer for at least ten more minutes before his thumb would ever be free, but it seemed he had made certain miscalculation about Aoko today when he felt the pain lifted away, leaving only soreness behind. He groaned a little exaggeratedly and clasped his thumb, as if he was healing it with some magic power he had yet to discover in him.

While he was focusing on doing his silly act, with the back of his entire body still lying in the cold, he suddenly felt droplets hitting his face, stunning his movement. It was unusual, he thought. The forecast didn't mention rain, and that he was sure even if there was one, the water wouldn't be this warm. He blinked, the numbness of his thumb was long forgotten as his hand reached to the side of his face to touch the unknown liquid that just trickled down his cheek.

He slowly dared himself to look up.

More droplets fell onto his cheek.

It was like the cold that spread across his back no longer existed, or that the white snow around him was all an illusion. Aoko's tears that flowed down her chin instantly put out the fire surging within him, replacing it with shock and guilt despite the warmth from her tears.

"Aoko..."

Without a word, she lifted herself up and stepped away from Kaito's body. Instead of returning to her punishment position, she walked away and towards the school building, leaving him stupidly lying on the snow alone, his hand and face still stained with her tears.

He slowly propped himself up with one his elbow, watching Aoko's back.

This wasn't what he wanted.

Swiftly, Kaito jumped to his feet and wiped his face with determination as he sprinted towards Aoko. Before she reached the end of the basketball court, he passed her strides and stood right in front of her. She stopped, just in time before her face hit his chest.

Aoko looked up at him with teary eyes that Kaito wished he could wipe away. He used all his nerve cells in his body to resist the urge.

"What do you want?" She spat, hoarsely.

He stared at her, unsure of what to do or say. There was nothing he had in mind to solve this situation, heck, he didn't even know he would come to this point. His hand slowly moved to the back of his neck. Just when he was so determined not to apologize a few minutes ago... But for the sake of Aoko, he gave in. It had always been like this anyway.

"I'm sorry."

Aoko walked around him. "Leave me alone."

"Wait-" He cut her path again. "Why did you cry? I should've been the one crying, for what you did to my thumb."

She glared. "Because you're a jerk."

"I apologized, didn't I?"

Her eyes began brimming with tears, taking him slightly aback. Just great, another weakness he had unknowing found about himself other than the existence of fishes. What did he do wrong again?

"You're so confusing, s-so different!" She whimpered.

"Huh?"

""I-I can sense that you're drifting away and n-never coming back."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kaito interjected. Wasn't he standing in front of her now? Those frequent fights and bickering, nothing had been different or whatsoever. Was he missing about something? Nothing ever missed his eyes.

"You're drifting away like my father." She wiped her eyes furiously with the palm of her hands. "Drifting towards Kaitou Kid."

His jaw tightened, no words and retorts to say this time. Did she mean he was neglecting her, to the point she thought he was going to be taken away like Inspector Nakamori? She had always been complaining this matter and how much it upsets her. Had he really been doing that too? His eyes tentatively glanced away before he dared himself to look back at Aoko again.

He trusted himself to have reasons to validate all his actions, even if they were conscious or not. In mere seconds, he began reasoning with himself why he had blundered and caused Aoko's silly worries. One. Maybe he was afraid he would get careless under her observant eyes if he was too close. Two. Maybe he had distanced himself from her, for the sake of her precious safety that he wouldn't trade anything in the world for. Three. Maybe he knew the consequences of falling in love with this crazy, feisty-

And maybe because he cared so much as Kuroba Kaito, his alter ego was affected and cared just as much, or even more, to the point when he once put off the search for Pandora to save their clock tower and almost got caught in the process of it. Yes, they were both the same, but different identity to live. He believed somewhere along the way, the thin line that separated his two life broke and he got confused with himself.

Oh God. Both side of him cared about her so much, yet she thought otherwise. How could she? It was a hassle to explain his feelings or to show any of it when he was more comfortable with his poker face. But today, he couldn't allow to let Aoko think in any other way.

"I'm not going to drift away, stupid." He muttered.

She glowered. "How'd you know?"

"Because I like you. And I'm not going to leave you until you become wrinkly, old and dying in the arms of at least ten of our grandchildren."

Silence.

"W-What?"

"Promise me," he sighed. "Don't cry anymore."

"Wait- No-" Aoko waved her hands frantically like a child. "Can you repeat what you just said? I think I-"

Crazy had always been his middle name. From breaking the girls' lockers to jumping off a plane, he's risking things like getting himself expelled from school or breaking a bone or two, even though honestly, it didn't really matter to him. The next thing he thought he wanted to do, however, was a whole new level.

Their relationship was like a tower of cards. Stable at the start but vulnerable as more cards were used to build the tower higher and higher. He wasn't great with relationship, and his magic pranks earned him many lurking audiences and a bunch of haters too. Aoko was both, dedicated and supportive at the same time. He wasn't sure if he wanted to risk everything between them by placing this last card that was almost unnecessary, but necessary at the same time. It would either complete his fortress, or destroy everything they've spent years building together. If the latter happened, he wouldn't know how to live.

But he still did it. Because crazy, was his middle name.

And Kaito plunged his lips into hers.

He never answer her question, although it wasn't as if she needed to hear it to confirm again anyway.

.o.

One of the few things Kaitou Kid hated was to stay behind after his performance. He preferred to make his exit while his audience was still hyped and engrossed with his talents, thus leaving a beautiful impact that would keep everyone craving for more.

This time was no different, even though his audience wasn't technically the audience he was looking forward to perform to. It took him a dozen of smoke bombs, two decks of cards ammo, lots and lots of running, bruised knees and a bullet graze wound on one side of cheek for Snake and all his men in trench coats to be rounded up by Kaitou Kid's squad, along with Division 1 who were waiting aside and all prepared for the ambush. The main reason for arrest was their possession of dangerous firearms, but all accounts and evidence of other criminal activities Shinichi had in hand would slowly be revealed back at the police headquarters.

Knowing his enemies would be in good hands, Kaitou Kid didn't stay any longer and left the scene with his trusty white wings, the Child of the Moon hidden inside his suit. Instead of heading home to tend his facial wound, he angled his way towards an unfamiliar direction, a destination situated at the very corner of town. He had no reasons to ever go there, until today.

He didn't manage to land his feet properly on the ground before he changed the glider back into his cape, causing him to stumble forward and fell to the ground. Hasty, he would say, but never out loud. Today, he didn't care to reflect on his mistake and quietly pushed himself off the dirt, getting back on his feet to walk to the place he had to go.

It was dark and cold. With the trees rustling, bugs' mating calls and the squelching sound of shoes sinking into mud, it was a typical setting for a horror film, and technically it was close enough to be one when he was in a cemetery. He had no torch on him, and only the full moon revealed his features under his hat and monocle.

Despite how little light there was, Kaitou Kid stopped at the correct grave on his first try. He stared at the familiar name with a mere smile and took off his tall hat to bow, softly introducing himself as the ghost of the dead phantom thief. He dropped his hat and whisked out the hard gem from his suit before placing it before the grave. Another hand waved and a hammer materialized in his clutch, but was strike down to the floor just as fast as it appeared.

Again and again, he hit the Pandora without stopping even once. Tiny red shards were flying everywhere, some even flew to other graves near Kuroba Toichi's. The smashing only halted once the hammer collided with the mud, sucking in the impact. Kaitou Kid reluctantly released his grip and fell back onto his butt, his pants and heaves was the only thing he could hear other than the loud beating of his heart.

It still wasn't enough to vent every negative feeling reigning in his body, but there was nothing left for him to destroy. If he used his strength any further, the hammer might wreck apart everything beneath the soil, and below contained the coffin of the man he wished to see again, if he ever had a chance with real magic. He had found and destroyed Pandora, something the original phantom thief couldn't. Had he overpowered the original? Was he no longer the ghost, but the better version?

Kaitou Kid's trembling hand tossed the monocle away and unbuckled the cape from his suit. He stared lifelessly at the tombstone and introduced himself softly again, this time stating his identity as the son of the greatest magician he'd ever known.

Kuroba Kaito wiped his face that was mixed with sweat, tears and dried blood from his wound before letting his dirtied gloved hand to fall heavily to his side. He was done, it was all over. He didn't have to lie or act anymore, regardless to Aoko or the audiences he fooled with his tricks. He was no longer anything but Kuroba Kaito, and that would be the only name he would respond to no matter who did the calling. After years of hard work, he had erased the existence of the gem that ruined and tear his life apart. He could finally clip his wings.

Would his father be proud of him now?

Sitting in the pool of tiny red diamond pieces scattered around him, Kaito had no idea how much time had passed, though even if he decided to stay the night or not, there wasn't much difference between here and his home anyway.

.o.

When Aoko's night class ended, she finished the cleaning duties and closed the studio at the speed of lightning before running around to flag for any cab she could see.

It didn't take long for her to reach the museum that the billionaire once promised to exhibit the legendary diamond to the public. The door to the museum, however, was shut tight, with four guards guarding the wide entrance and a barricade right in front. Crowds of dissatisfied people, mixed with Kaitou Kid's fans and people who were genuinely interested to see the jewel were standing before the large building, as if hoping the police would change their mind to let them in. Aoko knew they wouldn't.

She looked through her social apps. There wasn't any updates on what was happening, and no one other than the people involved would knew. It frustrated her to no end, especially when two of the most important people were right inside this so-called dangerous building. If anyone had the rights to be furious and worried, it would only be her.

Her finger clutched onto her phone and she brought her hands to her chest. To whatever God and angels that were listening to her now, she prayed with all her might that please, please let them be safe and that's all I could ever ask for-

"Hey that's Kaitou Kid!"

"Kaitou Kid!"

Cheers and screams erupted and Aoko's head snapped up to the sky, eyes darting around until she concentrated on the white figure flying across the vast sky. In two seconds, it was gone and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she clenched her fist again.

What if it's just a dummy?

She didn't see any movement coming from inside the building. Her father would usually be screaming and shouting at his subordinates to get into the car and chase after Kaitou Kid by now, but it was just as quiet as it was, saved for the disturbance caused by the excited crowd. She stared down at her phone, feeling extremely tempted to call and make sure everything was alright.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the door to the museum flung open and everyone began dashing towards the entrance, especially the reporters and cameramen. She tiptoed and jumped as much as she could to get a better view from where she was standing, and the first thing she managed to see was a couple number of people in trench coats, handcuffed and pushed towards the police cars.

And then her eyes fell onto one of the men who had a moustache, and a little memory bell rang in her head. It took her less than a second until she pictured the same face, who once appeared in front of her during her chase before firing a couple of shots that hit the back of Kaitou Kid. She froze at the sight and the hair on her arms began to stand.

Dangerous.

She now understood why.

Aoko went back home, the home where she remembered skipping out of the door and raced Kaito to school every morning. She didn't bother calculating her expenses and took a cab again, instead of the normal train she always used to go to her old neighbourhood.

By the time she reached, it was already past midnight and the last train back was already gone. Taking a taxi home didn't sound worthy for her, and it wasn't really about money she cared about. It was because she wanted to stay.

The house was obviously empty and she shrugged off her shoes and sat on the cold couch before the TV. At such a timing, all the news channels weren't airing anymore and the incident that just happened should only be broadcast on tomorrow morning's news. Most of the shows were currently re-runs that she had no interest in too. So instead of using the sound from the television to cope with the silence and loneliness, which was what she always did in the past, she stayed on her seat and used a pillow to keep her company.

She was constantly peeking at Kaito's house through her windows, but there was never once a movement coming from there. Was she slow? Had he slept? Was he... safe? Despite the questions that repeatedly echoed in her mind, she couldn't find the energy or courage to check it out herself. It was better to hope and easier to imagine the positive answers when she didn't see or hear anything.

It was close to five in the morning when Aoko heard the sound of keys and the door opened. She jumped off her seat, eyes that were droopy and tired brightened up when she saw her father walking into the house. He blinked and before he could get any question out of his mouth, she pounced onto him and gave a big hug.

"Welcome home."

He paused and patted her shoulder. "I'm back."

Her father said he didn't plan on returning at first, but some kind of fate made him forget to stock up spare clothes in the headquarters beforehand, thus resulting in his trip back home to retrieve more. This would be the biggest case he ever handled in his life and he couldn't stay long as he had a lot of reports to file and criminals to interrogate.

Aoko made him coffee after he finished hauling a couple of clean clothes he could find from his wardrobe. Instead of a thanks when he accepted the hot drink, her father afforded a soft apology for leaving her again. She shook her head. It wasn't because she was used to it to make her accept the usual fact. This time round, she was sincerely supportive and eager for him to go back to his office, and she told him how she felt, making sure he would drink all her words and understand them. He did, Aoko was sure, when he showed her his once-in-a-blue-moon smile.

Just before they split their ways, she stopped her father by the gates with a hesitant noise she didn't know a human was capable of making. He turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow, probably thinking the same. She cleared her throat.

"What about Kaitou Kid?"

"He greatly assisted in capturing the criminals, but it would be better if I've caught him too." He sighed.

It wasn't the answer she was looking for. Aoko tried again. "So... he's safe?"

"Probably. He's Kid, after all."

She decided to believe that.

When Aoko passed Kaito's house as she made her way to the train station, she noted it remained as exactly as it looked, or was it? She was too tired to really observe. If Kaitou Kid was alive as what she saw and what her father said, then so will the true identity of the phantom thief be too, and that knowledge was enough. She didn't know where Kaitou Kid went in his glider yesterday, but as long as she was sure Kaito would return to his home one day, she had no more reason to worry and decided to continue her way to the station.

The trip back to town was horrendous. Her face was a mess and she hadn't properly slept. Luckily, her class wouldn't start till later afternoon and she took the chance to catch a few winks, shower, make her face more likable in public and headed to the baking studio after she was done.

It wouldn't be a couple of days before Kaito's class again and she didn't mind the wait, at least that was what she told herself because of their supposed relationship. She shouldn't think too much about him, or anything else more than that. Friends, was what she said to remind herself every single day.

Aoko stifled a yawn once she entered the studio, about to say her usual greeting to the cute receptionist when she stopped at the glass door, her eyes unable to peel off at the sight of Kuroba Kaito, who was standing before the counter with an obvious scowl on his face. It was same for Kyoko.

"You can't exchange the lessons you've missed for a date with Aoko-chan, don't be silly."

"I thought it's a pretty fair proposition so just tell me her schedules already."

Kyoko noticed Aoko right away and stood up from her desk, pointing angrily at the magician. "Aoko-chan, tell your honourable student to leave me alone. I'm busy!"

At some point of time during the past months, Kyoko had gone from thinking Kaito as Aoko's-prince-charming to thinking of him as the-most-annoying-and-infuriating-man-in-the-universe. Aoko inwardly agreed as well, though she didn't know how it started. But often, she was the one who had to cool off the atmosphere between them if she happened to be there and in the good mood to do so too.

Kaito turned his head, one side of his cheeks revealed a bandage. His scowl, as swift as his magic, turned into a small smile.

She closed her mouth that was hanging open a little too wide for her reputation. It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a hallucination.

He was safe, right before her eyes.

"Telling you my schedules is an absolute no." Aoko finally found her voice as she trudged inside, noticing how his blue eyes were watching her carefully like every other times. She glanced briefly at the bandage on his face before looking back at him again. "But I'm free at six after my last lesson of the day, if this information is any of your interest."

"Western?"

"That's pretty nice."

His smile grew into a smirk. "Okay."

Like mentioned in the first chapter, there wouldn't be much focus between Snake and Kid so... here's just a bunch of paragraphs to settle that part once and for all. I'm sorry if it disappoints opps
It's all close to an ending, but not that close either. That's all I have to say for now. Thanks for reading :)