Hey, chapter 3 time. Not much to say other than this chapter took me a while, mainly because a) I was out of ideas, and b) while my school's finals are technically next week, I have three semester exams this week, and a lot of English work to do. Also, sorry about a mistake I made last chapter. Sugu-kun is actually supposed to be Sagu-kun. I don't use Hakuba's given name that often, so if I do, I sometimes will write Suguru instead of Saguru. Again, sorry if any of you were confused by that.
Kaito was bored. Very bored. Aoko was out sick, Hakuba decided to borrow Aoko's aquatic life picture collection, and the entire class decided to take pictures, just in case, the last time they went to the aquarium. What, did Aoko tell the whole class? Kaito grumbled, clearly not happy. The only one who didn't have to worry about bringing pictures was Akako, and that was only because Kaito feared being turned into a finny thingy.
The bell sung out, calling an end to the day. Kaito was about to bolt, wanting to go mess with Nakamori and return the previous heist and get back before his mom got angry at him. Before he was out the door, his phone went off. He pulled it out and noticed one new text from said woman. She probably wants me home to yell at me some more.
After the last run in with Snake left Kaito bedridden for a few days, Chikage grounded the poor boy for doing something reckless and letting himself get shot. It wasn't his fault that the assassin after his life decided to aim for his glider in an attempt to ground him! Thankfully he hasn't tried head-shots, Kaito commented, thinking back to all the previous run-ins with the would-be assassin.
Kaito glanced over the text after pressing accept. He skimmed the message, eyes widening as he continued.
Hurry home. An old friend came by to visit, and she wants to talk with you. PS, also, bring along your detective friend, Hakuba.
Kaito wished this were a joke. His mother never told him to bring over Hakuba! But sure enough, the message clearly read for him to bring the Brit to his home, where all the evidence to prove Kaito was Kid was hidden behind a picture in his room.
Mom, do you want me to be thrown in jail?! Kaito screamed in his head. He turned and saw the Brit leaving the classroom. Kaito quickly hurdled over the desks, praying his mom secured the picture to prevent Hakuba from finding the "Kid-cave". He quickly caught up to the detective and snagged him by the collar, dragging him towards the front gate.
"Oi, Kuroba-kun, release me this instant!" Hakuba called, struggling to get away. In answer, Kaito showed the detective the message, not once letting go of either the teen or his phone. This quieted him down, fearing what would happen to him should he refuse. The Brit had heard horror stories about the woman from both Kaito and Aoko, and would not want to have her annoyed with him.
Kaito would have lead the detective around for awhile, taking him down side streets, going in circles just to throw him off, but knew it would be useless. If he wanted to know where the magician lived, he would just have to ask Aoko. He really had to wonder why his father let him become friends with the daughter of the inspector who was trying to put his father's and now his alter ego. Maybe it's the same reason behind my given name.
The trip passed in relative silence, the air tense between them. Kaito had long since let go of Hakuba and was walking ahead of him, muttering about how cruel lady luck was being to her normal favorite and harsh it was despite him being such a great gentleman. Hakuba snorted at this. Kaito may act like a gentleman, but Hakuba had never heard of one who makes a habit of stealing from people, taunting law enforcement, or dying a person's hair unnatural colors.
They finally rounded a corner and were met with an ordinary looking house. Now, for a group of sane people, there was nothing to be surprised about, but the present party was a bit far from sane, one being a thief who wore all white to steal and the other a classmate who was trying to arrest said thief. In front of the teens was an ordinary looking house, one that looked like it belonged to a typical family, not one that housed the Kaitou Kid. Hakuba kept on glancing between the nameplate and the house, but no, it kept saying Kuroba.
"Mom wouldn't let Dad do anything outrageous with the house when they first built, if that is what you're wondering about," Kaito told him, noticing what the detective was doing. He started up the short walkway without glancing at his classmate. "Come on, we better get this done. I don't like the idea of a guy who insists I'm Kid in my house." Hakuba followed, pushing the thought of Kurobas living in a normal house.
They took of their shoes, Kaito calling his greeting while Hakuba muttered his while slipping on slippers the other provided. It was then that they both noticed the extra shoes at the front. I would have to say a woman, a child and an adult… Did this friend bring their family? Kaito noted, hearing laughter coming from the direction of the living room.
"Aww, Chika-chan, Kai-chan looks so cute!" A high voice met them as the teens turned the corner. There was Kaito's mother sitting with two foreigners, flipping through a book, and what appeared to be their mother across the table.
"Shouldn't we be paying attention to the assignment, Rey?" the woman scowled, clearly not happy with how things were going. The older of the two foreigners on the couch, a teen, glanced at her with a smile and shook her head.
"You need to learn to loosen up, Jodie-chan! Not everything needs to be about assignments and work. Not even Akai was this bad," the teen, Rey, shot back. Okay, clearly not mother and daughter, unless it's an estranged relationship.
"Ah, Kai-chan, okaeri*. And you must be Hakuba-kun, nice to finally meet you," Chikage, said, turning to the two standing in the doorway. The other three turned to see them. Rey's eyes light up before she handed the book to the little boy sitting next to her. Before either had a chance to even move, she was already half the distance that was previously between them.
"KAI-CHAN! SAGU-KUN! IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG! LOOK AT HOW MUCH YOU'VE GROWN!" she cried, wrapping her arms around the two. Both froze, silently asking each other the same question; Who the hell is this and why is she acting so familiar with us?
"Nee-chan, I don't think they recognize you," the little boy told the girl. "It took you awhile to convince who you were to Chikage-nee-san, remember? Plus, didn't you say last time you say them, you looked 'different'?"
"No way! I was certain at least Kai-chan would remember who made him unable to enjoy good sea food!" Rey called, releasing the boys. Kaito quickly processed what was just said.
"THAT WAS YOU?! But I thought that woman was an adult, no my age!" He quickly hid behind Hakuba, using him as something of a meat shield from the grinning teen. She just stood there grinning, but anyone who knew the magician knew never to trust a grin like that.
"Ah, come on, I'm sure you know a little trick you're rival, Hirai-kun, uses, right? Same idea, only double!" She explained. Kaito and Hakuba's eyes both narrowed. Whoever this girl was, she clearly knew a lot, too much in Kaito's opinion. She even knew Tantei-kun's little secret!
"Didn't you mention Hirai during you're talk with Boss? Saying something about him looking more like a Kudo than a Hirai… But Boss's only rival, known to the public is…" the woman's mumbled before her eyes widened with recognition. She automatically jumped, ready to pounce on the two.
Rey stepped in between them. "The person you are thinking of has no criminal record outside of minor misdemeanors of breaking and entering as well as some property damage, all of which I cleared with James before coming here, Jodie." Her voice was like steel, ending any argument then and there. "Besides, these two have information that might be useful to us, and I don't think that they would help if we threw them in jail over just mere speculation."
Hakuba took this chance to get some say in the argument happening in the room. "What kind of information do you have in mind?"
Rey's lips twitched up into a smile again and she chuckled a bit. "About two that make people wonder why they should be afraid of things that slither or crawl on all eights." She turned and sat in the chair next to the couch, seeming totally in control; not that there was any reason to doubt that, seeing how effectively she was leading all of them.
"And what's in it for us?"
"For you, not much, aside from faim for helping take down the largest criminal organization in known history along side the FBI, CIA, as well as many other international agencies, and some of the sharpest young minds the world has to offer."
"And for me?" Kaito added, clearly not enjoying what was happening.
"Revenge, clearance of your record up until the organizations take down, and the gem you hunt." This statement caused everyone but the boy and Chikage to do a double take, though Kaito for different reasons than Jodie and Hakuba.
"You can't be serious?!" all three shouted. As if in response, her face deadpanned yet she stayed silent.
"You can't be serious. Do you know what that means. Letting go an internationally wanted criminal just because he did one good deed. You know it doesn't work like that, you're proof of that!" Jodie yelled at her.
"As I've stated before, he doesn't have much of a criminal record, and also, he's done more than just one good deed. His policy 'No one gets hurt' is as famous as he is, and he holds up to that. I know for a fact that at several heists, he has been shot at, but have you heard of anyone else getting hurt from that, despite how many hostages could easily be taken is a situation like that? Besides, his situation and mine are completely different."
"Are you serious?" Kaito asked, hope in his eyes. "Not only will you help put Snake and his cohorts behind bars, but you'll also give me Pandora?" He looked her straight in the eye, letting his poker face slip for just a moment. Hakuba's eyes widened at this. The magician never let anyone in, not even his close friends, and here he was, pleading with a person he barely knows, letting himself be so bare in front of her.
"Yes, I am dead serious. They will be held for their crimes, a few of them possibly receiving the death penalty, and they will never hurt anyone again, plus you will get the very jewel Toichi died for. I must say, for you, it looks very favorable. Of course, I will mention that there is a chance that you will be unmasked to all those who know and trust you, but I can take measures to prevent that from happening, if you so should chose."
Silence filled the room again, everyone letting the information sink in. Hakuba had to agree, for the magician, this agreement was favorable, though there was the chance of the Nakamoris finding out, which was probably what was causing the hesitation. Sometimes, Hakuba pitied him, being friends with the girl who hated your alter-egos guts and all.
Kaito thought deeply about it. He could just imagine Snake behind bars, paying for his crimes, Pandora in hand, about to be destroyed for good, and Aoko's face. He knew how deeply it would hurt her should she find out, yet the reward was too great. This was what he spent the last 2 years fighting for, and now he had the chance to obtain it. There was no way he would let this chance slip away.
"I'm in."
*Welcome home
I know I should probably call Hakuba by his given name, but I call a lot of the characters either by nicknames or their family names. Hatori I'll go back and forth for, Nakamori is Ginzo, and Gunma is not the prefecture (I hate the guy, and refuse to use his name), and Kogoro is like Heiji (see, I can't even stay consistent for a sentence). Haibara and the police force should be obvious.
Also, if you're reading this, please review, I would love for suggestions, or tips, just anything in general. You can tell me my work sucked even, but please tell me why it sucked, my esteem is low enough as is, according to my mother. I'm not going to insist on so many reviews before the next chapter, but some would be nice. Thanks and have a wonderful summer!
Edit: Why do I find so many mistakes after I put these up? I mean, I know I should proof read, but still… Also, for any of you wondering, no, Hakuba doesn't know about Shinichi's secret, yet…