FicWad

Chapter Eleven: Who Are You...

All the world is a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and entrances;
Each man in his time plays many parts.
-William Shakespeare

"I'm surprised you're downstairs helping me," Margret said, finishing her cigarette as she watched Saguru finish up the breakfast dishes. Watching him reminded her of how proud she was of him, of how well he had grown up. Many boys his age and status could have, and often did become spoiled little monster, but Saguru had become the perfect little gentlemen, and it showed in everything he did. She couldn't have been more proud of him, if he was her own son.

"What do you mean, Baaya?" Saguru asked, putting the last pan in the dish rack before turning to her, wiping his hands on his hips.

"Well, you're down here, while your little love bird is upstairs, nude in the shower." She said with a smile, stubbing out her cigarette and sliding off the barstool. "I would expect you up there, helping him wash his back."

Saguru blinked, pausing in his movements, his eyes drifting towards the ceiling of their own will, as if he remembered Kaito was showering upstairs. Margret laughed and patted his shoulder as she passed. "You don't have to stay down here with me. Go on, be the young man I know you are under that stuffy exterior."

Saguru laughed, blushing. "I'm going to go...change." he said, heading for the stairs.

"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Margret called after him, laughing as she heard him stumble slightly.

Saguru made a rude motion down the stairs, knowing the woman couldn't see him before jogging up the stairs, eager to escape her laughter. He paused on the second floor landing, tilting his head slightly as he heard the sounds of the shower from the front bathroom.

He coloured slightly as his brain detoured, conjuring images of what lay behind the wooden door the sounds were emanating from. He would not go knock on the door, he would not grab a towel to bring to Kaito, he would not go find out if there was anything Kaito needed him to scrub, no matter how tempting the ideas were. He took a breath and forced his rain to return to more proper thoughts, passing by the door and heading into his bedroom.

He shut the door to his bedroom slightly, keeping it cracked enough he could keep an ear on what was going on in the house before digging through his wardrobe, selecting a pair of slack and a shirt that would be comfortable enough to lounge around in, yet still more proper then the torn jeans he was currently wearing.

He had stripped down, tossing his jeans and boxers absently over his shoulder towards the hamper and was currently digging through his dresser for a clean pair of boxer when arms slid around his waist, a slightly damp body pressing against his bare back.

He stilled in his movements, brain shutting down for a moment before catching back up to what was going on. He turned, looking over his shoulder at Kaito who had his face pressed against Saguru's back, the small puffs of air from the other teen's lips causing goose flesh to rise on Saguru's skin, a tingle traveling up and down his nerves.

"Kaito?" Saguru questioned and he shivered as soft lips pressed against the bare flesh of his back. He swallowed, turning fully in Kaito's embrace, tilting the brunette's head up.

Kaito blinked up at him, his eyes clouded, distant. Kaito's arms slipped from around Saguru's waist, only to wrap around the blond's neck, pulling Saguru's head down so that their lips met. Saguru made a startled sound and Kaito took advantage, slipping his tounge into Saguru's mouth, flicking it against the blond's teeth and the top of his mouth, causing Saguru to groan, the detective's arms wrapping around Kaito's smaller body, resting just above the edges of the towel. He gently caressed the moist skin as he allowed himself to be lured into the passionate kiss, his hands tracing the flexing muscles of Kaito's lower back.

It was so different, kissing Kaito compared to kissing Kid. Even though it was the same mouth, the same taste, there were marked differences. Kaito was soft, gentle. Where Kid was forceful and possessive, Kaito was hesitant and curious. The sheer innocence of the deep kiss made Saguru groan, pulling Kaito tighter against him, eager to explore and experience more.

Kaito's hands slid from Saguru's hair where it had been tangled, sliding down to caress the bare chest before him, nails lightly scrapping over the smooth flesh as they explored. He groaned softly into the kiss as he felt Saguru's muscles moving against his hands, imagining that pale chest rising over him. His hands started traveling even further down, lightly tracing over Saguru's navel, his pinky dipping in every so often, brushing over the faint blond hair that graced the detective's lower abdomen, about to slide down even further before being grabbed in a tight grip.

"Stop," Saguru said, panting softly, staring down at Kaito's face. He move the exploring hand away from his body, placing a gentle kiss on the brunette's palm before slipping from between Kaito and the dresser, putting distance between them.

"Why?" Kaito asked softly, after a moment of their silent staring contest, moving closer to the blond and pressing back up against the larger body, mouth lightly latching onto the flesh of Saguru's chest. He started licking and sucking at the skin, causing Saguru to groan and arch against the hot mouth teasing his body.

"I...we...gods, Kaito..." Saguru breathed, pulling the evil mouth back up to his, kissing him deeply, combing his fingers through the brunette strands as he pressed against Kaito's body, his hands sliding down to caress Kaito's shoulders and arms.

He bit gently on Kaito's lower lip before his mouth traveled to the smooth curve of the teen's neck, caressing his favorite spot lightly with his tounge before latching onto the pulse point, sucking and enjoying the sounds he drew from Kaito's throat with each movement. His hands slid down Kaito's body, an arm curling around Kaito's upper thighs, drawing the other teen up against him, aligning their bodies just so, groaning as their hips pressed tightly together.

Kaito's head fell to the side, giving Saguru further access to his neck, his hands clinging to Saguru's shoulders, nails digging gently into the flesh, close to cutting the skin beneath them. "Please," he whispered, eyes shut tightly, arching up against Saguru with a cry as the blond gave a particularly hard suck. "Please, please don't let go, please don't let me fall." He turned his head to the side, capturing Saguru's lips, the kiss more hungry, more desperate then before.

Saguru indulged in the kiss for a few moments before sliding a hand between their mouthes, shaking his head as if to throw off the pleasurable haze clouding his brain. "We have to stop, Kaito. We...I'm not ready for this."

Kaito continued clinging desperately to Saguru, burring his face in the blond's neck, small body trembling. "Please," he whispered again. "Please, I don't want to think anymore, I want...I can't stop."

"Can't stop what, Kaito?" Saguru asked softly, gently rubbing the teen's back, resting his cheek against the brown head nestled so easily against him. "What can't you stop?"

"Everything," Kaito breathed, body shuddering again. "Feeling, thinking, hurting...it won't stop, why wont' it stop?"

"Shh," Saguru whispered and placed a soft kiss on Kaito's temple. "We'll get it to stop, I promise."

Kaito tilted his head up, looking at Saguru, a hopeful light entering the dazed, pain filled blue eyes. He buried his face in Saguru's chest again, his arms tightening, feeling the tightness returned. "I'm sorry," he whispered against the chest, squeezing his eyes shut. "I'm sorry fro dragging you into this, for burdening you with this."

Saguru laughed, gently petting the ends of Kaito's hair. "I've been involved in this since the moment I first laid eyes on you, Kaito," Saguru said fondly. He tilted Kaito's head up, brushing his thumb over Kaito's cheek, luring those beautiful eyes to open. "And I'm not sorry in the slightest." He placed a gentle kiss on Kaito's lips before slipping away from the other teen's embrace. "And now, I think we should get dressed before we adjourn to the library."

Kaito, as if just realizing the fact he was standing there in a towel, and Saguru in far less, blushed, turning away slightly. "Er, you said I could borrow some clothes?" he quired, after clearing his throat with a cough, his voice rising slightly.

"Quite, feel free to raid my dresser and wardrobe at will," Saguru said with a fond smile, seizing the boxers he had been looking for before Kaito entered.

He slipped the boxers on while Kaito pawed through the underwear drawer, seemingly exploring more then he was selecting a pair to wear. He finally held up a pair of boxers that Saguru had outgrown, but never had the heart to throw away, snickering over the tiny brown teddy bears printed on the pair, raising an eyebrow at the detective who raised one back. "I happen to like teddy bears." he said evenly, sliding his legs into his slacks. He nodded with his head towards the collection of bears that were overflowing a rocking chair in the corner, Sherlock the Bear prominently displayed.

Kaito gave another slight snicker, pulling on the teddy bear printed boxers before raiding the other drawers, managing to uncover a pair of jeans and a sweat shirt that would fit him.

He pulled at the sweatshirt, wondering at the English lettering printed across it before shrugging, deciding it didn't really matter. While Saguru busied himself trying to make the buttons of his shirt work, Kaito explored the bedroom, examining the various objects Saguru deemed important enough ti display. there was everything from old school awards and trophies, to a tiny collection of snow globes featuring various world landmarks. He shook the one containing a miniature of the Eiffel tower, smiling as he watched the falling flakes. He wondered what Saguru had thought, when he first held the snow glove in his hands. He remembered the detective calling him from Paris, warning him about Chat Noir, helping him in his fight against the French thief. Had he bought this snow glove then? Did he ever think that Kaito would hold it in his hands, silently grateful for the information he had received

He set the snow globe down, glancing over his shoulder at Saguru who seemed to have won the battle of the buttons and was now threading a belt through his slack loops. Giving the blond a smile the turned back to his exploration, coming face to face with a tri-coloured painting, made up of small bars and lines. he studied the pattern, raising a curious hand and gently racing one of the lines. "Is this what I think it is?"

Saguru glanced over his shoulder to see what Kaito was looking at and he blushed, nodding. "I believe it is what you could think it is,"

"Is it yours?" Kaito asked curiously, tracing another line.

"Yes, my mother decided to have it done for me last Christmas."

Kaito laughed, turning from the painting. "You are such a detective, to have your own DNA hanging on your wall."

Saguru shrugged, smiling. "Well, if I ever turn up missing they'll have a great sample."

"Colourful at least," Kaito said, before moving over to Saguru, gently grasping the blond's casted hand, going to fasten the cuffs for the blond only to find the expected buttons missing. He frowned at that for a moment, before spying a small wooden box in the open wardrobe. He moved around Saguru to the box, opening it to find the expected several sets of cuff links along with two pocket watches, one gold and one silver.

He selected a pair of cuff links, admiring the fine pearl tops before returning to Saguru, carefully fastening the cuffs with the beautiful links before returning to the wardrobe and selecting the silver pocket watch. He knelt, tounge peeking out from between his lips as he struggled to fasten the pocket watch latch with his wrist brace on. Once it was attached, he slid the watch into Saguru's left pocket, patting it as he arranged the chain just so with his other hand.

He smiled up at Saguru and stood, wrapping his arms loosely around the blond's neck, giving him a soft kiss. "Perfect," he said softly, earning a smile from the bond. Saguru wrapped his arms around Kaito's waist, giving him another soft kiss before taking Kaito's hand and heading for the door.

Saguru lead the other teen downstairs, dodging Margret who was dusting and sure to make comments about them and what they may or may not have been doing upstairs. He let go of Kaito's hand when they entered the library, allowing Kaito to explore the large, duel level room while he went to a locked cabinet, opening it and studying the collection inside before selecting a wooden case, locking the cabinet again as he headed for the seating area. He took a seat on the sofa, opening the wooden case and removing a smaller case, setting the hand carved wood and gem pieces on top of the case before sitting back, waiting for Kaito to finally join him.

"Chess?" Kaito asked, raising an eyebrow and picking up one of the white knights, running his finger over the polished wood before tilting the piece in his hands, examining the small diamond eyes.

Saguru smiled, leaning back. "You wished to stop thinking, I am providing a method of doing so."

Kaito raised an eyebrow, looking up from the piece in his hands. "I've discovered chess normally makes one think, rather then stopping the process."

"Yes, but thinking about chess is a sure method of keeping you from thinking about whatever you wish to not think about." he said. "Shall we?"

Kaito turned the piece over in his fingers before placing it back into it's spot, smiling. "We shall."

"Good, now come here." Saguru said and laid back across the couch.

Kaito looked at the lounging blond curiously, moving only when Saguru gave him an impatient look. He sat down gingerly on the sofa, only to end up yelping and finding himself suddenly laying between Saguru's longer legs, resting against the blond's chest. A pillow was placed on his stomach, the chess set placed on the pillow.

"Stop thinking." Saguru breathed in Kaito's ear as he moved his first piece.

--

"Saguru-boy, you have a phone call from Nakamori-san." Margret said, holding out the cordless phone handset.

Saguru made a noise, reaching out for the phone as he studied the chessboard on Kaito's stomach, an arm loosely wrapped around Kaito's chest, chin resting on Kaito's shoulder as he focused on the board. He made a move with the hand holding the phone before raising it to his mouth. "Hakuba here," he said, before growling and moving the mouth piece up. "I saw that, Kaito." he held out his hand for the piece that had just disappeared up Kaito's sleeve, focusing back on the phone.

"We just received a heist notice with our lunch delivery." Nakamori said, and judging by the growling tone, the Inspector was no where near pleased.

Saguru frowned, stilling Kaito's hand as the teen was about to make his move, keeping his attention on the phone call. "A heist notice? From Kid?"

"Who else gives us handy blueprints of his crime?" Nakamori said, giving a sigh. "Honestly, two heists in three days, doesn't he have anything better to do?"

"Doubt it." Saguru said absently, shaking his head at Kaito's curious look. "Do you need me to come in?"

"Not yet, I'll fax you a copy of the notice. It's your day off, you shouldn't need to spend it here, listening to us bang our heads against a wall. Let me know if you figure anything out." Nakamori said, indicating he would do the same before hanging up.

Saguru frowned, absently rubbing the antenna of the phone over his lips before shaking his head. "Kid notice." Saguru said and looked questioningly at Kaito who shook his head, indicating it hadn't been his work. Which meant his other half had already planned the heist before the events of the last one.

"Well, this is an interesting development." Margret said, before reaching over to the chessboard and moving a piece, effectively ruining Saguru's plan of attack. "I'll leave you boys alone, holler if you need me." She fondly ruffled Saguru's hair before doing the same to Kaito, causing the boy to blush lightly.

After the woman left, Saguru rested his chin on Kaito's shoulder again, thinking about the newest development. "What are you thinking?" he asked softly, turning to look at the side of Kaito's face, absently smoothing out a wrinkle caused by Kaito's slightly scrunched face.

"Wondering what to do now. I don't even know the location of the target, let alone what he's after...how am I supposed to pull this off?"

"Well, wouldn't there be notes somewhere?" Saguru asked curiously. "I highly doubt you or him go into these things without making more then preliminary preparations."

"Yes but..." he trailed off, making an odd motion with this hands, nearly sending the chess set flying. "I don't know him..I don't know where they would be kept or if I could even understand them."

"I'm sure it won't be as bad as that, Kaito. For all your differences, you are both still quite similar. Your methods, your operating...I'm sure they will be where you expect them and in an understandable, at least to you, format." He kissed Kaito's cheek before reaching around him and moving the chessboard. "So you are thinking of going through with this?"

Kaito sighed, giving a nod. "I have to, it's my job, I never forgo a challenge, even if it's given by myself."

"Then I believe we should cut our day short, so that you can work things out, while I do my job and try to stop you." he said, voice teasing. "Do you need a ride home?"

Kaito shook his head, setting the pillow aside and standing. "No, thank you though. The walk should give me time to think about things." He gave Saguru a slight smile before shoving his hands into his pockets, heading for the library door. Saguru stood and followed the teen to the front door, watching as Kaito headed down the sidewalk towards his house, kicking rocks absently as he walked, obviously deep in thought.

Saguru felt his heart go out to the teen as Kaito vanished from sight before sighing and closing the door. He grabbed the near by phone handset and headed upstairs. He had a few calls to make, and would hopefully develop answers for Kaito.

--

"Go already!" Nakamori yelled, sending half of his forces to the right where the sounds of breaking glass could be heard. He chased after the other half who were heading left, intending to surround the thief and grab him. He heard footsteps following and glanced back at Saguru who was holding up a note pad, writing something sideways across it, before checking his note against the roughly folded map in his hand.

"Take a left!" Saguru yelled and the team did as the teen ordered, slipping into a dim access hallway that cut their route in half, allowing them to gain an advantage. There was a moment of confusion halfway down the hallway as the team got mixed up with the staff and officials who were in the hallway to be out of the way, but thing were quickly sorted out and the team slid into the main exhibit hall just in time to catch Kaito finishing picking the lock on the case holding a large crystal scepter that was topped with a deep red ruby.

Kaito spared them half a glance, giving a wave before he snatched the scepter, reaching into his jacket for either his card gun or the control for his glider (and Saguru really needed to talk to Kaito about storing both in his jacket, it was a little unnerving, not knowing which the thief was going for). He raised his own weapon, his lethal gun switched out for a tazer, aiming just above Kaito's heart before being knocked sideways by a rookie who had been dodging what appeared to be a smoke bomb. Saguru cursed and slammed the safety down with his thumb, his foot connecting with the grenade on the ground, kicking it across the room before taking off after the now fleeing thief just as the bomb went off.

Kaito tucked the scepter in his jacket, securing it with a small strap as he ran, sliding down the hall before taking a sharp right, just in time to slam into a group of people who had been walking away from the action on the Task Force's orders. He tried to untangle himself from a blond woman, glancing over his shoulder for his perusers, only to have his attention jerked back to the group as gunfire sounded.

He moved closer to the blond, keeping her pinned down, giving her an apologetic look for the action, eyes warily moving around to try to see past the bodies around him to see what was going on. He heard a scream a few bodies away and raised his head a bit more. A dark haired man was leaning against the wall in front of them, screaming as he shook a woman who was slumped in his arms.

"Stay down," Kaito whispered to the blond woman who nodded. As Kaito slipped off of her she curled up slightly, protecting her head and neck, keeping her back against the wall to try to protect her most vital areas. Kaito spared her a smile at the action before making his way slowly, carefully to the man, hoping to get the man down before the next burst of gunfire. He had almost reached the man when another person was there, tugging on the man, trying to pull him down. Kaito had just enough time to register wild brown hair before the air was filled with gunfire again. Kaito's eyes widened, horror dawning as he saw a bullet rip through the brunette's arm, causing her to spin around, gasping in pain, clutching at her shoulder.

Aoko was leaning heavily against the wall, eyes squeezed shut in pain, breath coming in harsh pants as she tried to force her body to move, to take cover. Her body refused to respond and she whimpered as bullets hit the wall next to her, plaster hitting her face and neck. She felt something slam into her and she hit the floor hard, screaming as the combined weight fell on her injured arm. She whimpered, opening her eyes, looking up into Kaito's worried and fear filled blue. He had lost his hat somewhere, cape draped over them, half torn from his shoulder. The charm of his monocle swung gently, hitting her cheek ever other swing, gathering the blood from her split cheek.

"K...Kaito?" She gasped, staring up at her best friend, and apparently, her most hated enemy. She knew Kid when he was wearing a mask, knew the scent of latex, make up and most specifically the rich, sharp pine sent of spirit gum that surrounded him. That was distinctly missing as he lay against her, shielding her from the bullets raining around them.

The feel of his flesh was real, warm as her fingers brushed his cheek. The skin pulled easily, stretching out between her fingers, quickly moving towards and then past the breaking strength of latex, and still it stretched, causing the teenager on her to curse under his breath, trying to get free without pulling away and possibly get shot. She released the bit of flesh between her fingers, watching it snap into place, leaving a bright red mark where her fingers had grabbed.

This...was real.

And the face staring down at her, the face she knew by heart, every line, hair and bump, was real.

Kaito covered her mouth, glancing behind him at the group on the ground. He heard the steps of the approaching police officers, easily picking out Nakamori and Saguru's strides. He glanced back down at the girl he considered his sister, kissing her forehead. "I'm sorry," he whispered before vanishing off of her, a white streak as he took off down the hall.

Aoko sat up, staring after him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She jerked at a hand touching her and lashed out, her hand impacting Saguru's face, making a sharp sound that echoed in the near silence of the hall. She gasped as she realized what she had done, her hand covering her mouth. "Oh Hakuba-kun, I'm so sorry!" she rambled, body starting to tremble from pain and shock.

"It's alright, Nakamori-kun," Saguru said softly, easing Aoko fully up, kneeling before her. "Are you alright?" he asked, easing her jacket from her shoulder and pushing up her sleeve, staring at the wound before pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, pressing it against the wound on her arm. Aoko hissed at the pain and he apologized, gently cleaning the wound to get a better look before pressing the bloody cloth against the wound again.

"Kaito..he...Kid...it's not a mask, it wasn't a mask!" She was rambling, mouth moving without thought, words just pouring out of her.

Saguru covered her mouth, a serious look in his eyes. He debated what to tell her, weither to confirm her shock fueled suspicions or change her mind, allowing Kaito freedom from his best friend. Honestly, it wasn't his place to decide, but Kaito had left him here, to clean up the mess. He was tempted to just walk away, but Aoko was looking at him, with those big blue eyes, every inch of her pleading, pleading for an answer, for proof she wasn't delusional in her thinking.

He was a sucker for those eyes.

"I know," he said softly, and opened his mouth to speak again, only to be silence by the hail of bullets suddenly erupting again. There were shouts, the sound of fleshy objects hitting the marble floor as the police and civilians took cover once more.

Aoko screamed as Saguru's body jerked, the detective falling back on his side, holding the side of his chest. The girl scrambled over to him, keeping low as she pulled his hand from his chest, making an odd whimpering sound, looking around for something to press against the wound, to stop the bleeding. She whimpered again as a hand grabbed hers and she looked back at the blond, staring into his pain filled golden eyes, before allowing her eyes to travel down to the wound, mouth dropping open slightly at the sight of the clean hole. She grasped his shirt, ripping it open, staring at the black padded vest. "You..."

He coughed, giving a smile. "I thought it would be most advisable, to be protected tonight, for apparently good reason." He squeezed her hand lightly, before struggling to sit up, the pain in his chest making it difficult. "Your father is also wearing one," he said, resting against her for a moment before tilting his head. "I think it would be advisable for us to move." he said and it was then Aoko noticed that the others were moving, getting out of the hall.

At least, those that were able to were moving, they would have to return for those already dead later.

She nodded and stood, wrapping her good arm around his waist, helping him move as much as she was helping him, the pair moving slowly from the hall and towards the medics waiting outside.

--

Aoko heard someone climbing the stairs behind her, and she turned, watching the teenage witch approach, before turning to look back at the clean-up going on below them. The crowd and police looking like tiny miniatures from their height, the air of shock and horror drifting up to them.

"Are you alright?" Akako asked, gathering her skirts under her as she sat on the edge of the roof, turning to look at Aoko.

"I don't know what's 'alright' anymore," Aoko said, glancing at Akako before looking back out at the sea of people below, her hand clenching around the wound on her arm for a moment before she forced it to relax, allowing a sigh to escape her lips.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Akako probed, before scooting closer to Aoko, unwrapping the other girl's hand from the wound, removing the stained cloth below. She bit her lip as the wound started bleeding freely, glancing around before pulling off her lacy shirt, holding it to the wound, using one of her belts to tie the cloth to the wound to try to stop the bleeding.

"Yeah, right," Aoko grumbled, tears spiking her lashes from the pain of Akako pressing against her wound. "The last time I wanted to 'talk about it', the person I was talking to ended up injured some how," she said, remembering the sigh of a bullet tearing though Saguru's clothes, just shy of taking the detective out. If it hadn't been for the vest...if Saguru hadn't been turned just so...

"That's a relief," Akako said with a smile, finishing off the make shift bandage. "I'm not really into heartfelt talks and that. I more or sell suck at them. But, apparently, it helps people out, and no offense, but you look like you could use some help." She wiggled a finger into the bandage, making sure it was lose enough, giving Aoko an apologetic smile at the girl's wince before sighing, wrapping an arm around Aoko's 0shoulders.

"I'll track you down if I should ever feel the need to talk," Aoko said with a smile, reaching out and wrapping her own arm around Akako's waist. "You can try your hand at it."

"No thanks. Kaito's better at it then I am anyway."

"You mean Kid, don't you?" Aoko said, a touch of bitterness and anger colouring her voice, hiding the hurt that was just under the surface.

"Tch. Such pickiness over names," Akako said, watching the crowd below them, her eyes tracking a blond. "You're too hung up on those. A name is just something you give someone so you don't run around yelling 'hey you' anytime you want someone's attention. All a name is, is a collection of syllables that someone thought sounded nice and gave someone else so they'd know what to call them. It describes a person, but doesn't define them. "So Kaito has two names, so what? See him down there?" Akako pointed down to Saguru who was weaving in and out of the groupings of police and fans, writing down notes and observations, occasionally consulting with someone here or there, checking details and facts. "I can call him Hakuba, and you'd know who he is just from the name. It describes him. Or I can call him 'Insane-Brit-with-a-time-fetish, and you'd know exactly who I'm talking about just from that name. The names don't make a difference, the person's still the same." She gave Aoko a gentle squeeze. "Kaito is still Kaito, wither he's running around in his uniform and performing magic tricks, dressing in a white suit and stealing shiny gems, or dressing in drag and going shopping with us. Who he is doesn't change, though I'm sure his reasons for what he is doing, does."

Aoko sniffed, turning her head up to the night, watching the stars twinkling above the two girls, tears flowing slowly down her cheeks. "I just...I don't know what to think anymore, Akako. He's...he's my best friend, my brother, he's been everything to me for so long and now, now I find out that he has this whole other life I didn't know about, this whole other side, and I know he's still Kaito but now...how do I know who Kaito is, when he's not the man I thought he was?"

"No one is ever who you think they are, Aoko, for you can only know a person by the side they show you. But he is who you thought he was, and being the Kaitou Kid doesn't change that. It just adds a whole new dimension to the man you know and love." She rested her head on Aoko's shoulder, holding the girl tightly. "Talk to him, Aoko. Honestly and openly. Give him a chance."

"Alright," Aoko said softly, resting her head against Akako's, allowing silence to descend on them as they watched the men below.

--

"Kaito?" Saguru asked softly, moving into the bedroom. Margret had informed him of the rather sudden appearance of the thief when he arrived home, but after not seeing a sign of the teen anywhere in the house, he was starting to wonder if Kaito had left.

He sighed, finding his bedroom empty and started stripping off his tie, hanging it over the door of his wardrobe as he started unbuttoning his shirt, examining himself in the mirror, wincing at the haggard look that faced him.

He removed the shirt and tossed it aside, too focused on the black vest darkening his skin then he was where the shirt lay. He ran a hand over the vest, finger lightly dipping into the hole over his left lung. He pulled a pair of tweezers and gloves from his back up scene kit, pulling on the gloves before using the tweezers to fish the mushroomed bullet from his vest. He dropped it into an evidence bag, labeled it and set it aside before working on the bands that held his vest together.

"Does it hurt?" a voice came softly from the darkness by his bed and Saguru turned, eyes focusing in and finally finding the small form of the thief he had been looking for earlier. He finished pulling the vest off, hanging it in his wardrobe before turning back to the mirror, examining the bruises forming on his chest.

"A bit," Saguru said, tiring of staring at his own body. Instead he reached out and turned on a lamp, examining the thief instead. "Are you alright?"

Kaito nodded, before shaking his head, burring himself more in his knees. "I can't stop hearing it, the gunfire, Aoko's cry."

Saguru sat on the floor next to Kaito, reaching out and brushing his fingers through Kaito's tangled hair. "She's alright you know, slightly bloody but the wound isn't that bad."

"She shouldn't have been there, she shouldn't have gotten hurt..."

"None of us should have been there, but we were. She knows the dangers, Kaito. She's not a normal civilian." He pulled Kaito closer, resting the teen's head on his shoulder. "You can't feel guilty for something that was, in the end, her choice. All you can do is move forward, and deal with the fall out of tonight."

"She knows," Kaito whispered.

"I know. She...we discussed it briefly. Are you going to confirm her knowledge?"

"I don't know. She hates Kid, she hates me."

"She doesn't hate you, Kaito. She hates what you do, yes, but not you."

"Promise?" Kaito asked, looking up at Saguru whom smiled and kissed Kaito's nose, not answering, unwilling to lie to him.

"I have a meeting tomorrow with an expert in multiple personalities." Saguru said, changing the subject. He could feel Kaito stiffen and kissed the boy's ear, trying to distract him. "I know you are not ready, but we need to find a way to proceed, I promised to help you, and I won't go back on that. We need a plan, and for that, I need to see to our options."

Kaito was silent for a moment, before giving a bitter huff, turning his face away from Saguru. "You just want him back," he muttered and winced as his nose was flicked.

"Kaito," Saguru said in a warning rumble and the thief sighed.

"Sorry, I'm just...frustrated. I don't like this, any of it."

"I know, and if I could take it all away I would." Saguru said, petting Kaito's hair again. The pair were silent, simply sitting, enjoying the strength the other quietly offered. Saguru rested his head on Kaito's, allowing his eyes to close as the night caught up to him, too tired to move them to the bed. He could feel Kaito's even breathing and he smiled, resting his lips against Kaito's head for a moment, pulling Kaito closer against him, protecting and comforting Kaito even as sleep stole the blond away.

--

"So do you even have a reason, or is it just some sort of thrill for you?" Aoko was sitting on Kaito's bed, her legs drawn up against her chest, watching her best friend as he sat across from her at his desk, his head down, resting in his hands. "Please, Kaito...please have a reason." she added in a whisper, resting her head against her knees.

She had spent a long, sleepless night wondering what he was doing, why he was doing it. She had called Akako and Saguru, neither of whom would discuss it with her. Their responses had both been identical. Ask Kaito.

And that's why she was here, as early as was decent, dragging Kaito out of bed. She needed answers, she was desperate for them.

"I have many reasons," Kaito said finally, looking up at Aoko. "Yes it's a thrill, yes I enjoy what I do, I like being Kid. It's...amazing, from the first moment of planning to that moment, when I'm alone, staring at the treasure, knowing I did it, I succeeded. That my plan was a success, that the glittering treasure I held in my hands was there as a result of my brains and talents. It's the most incredible high you could ever imagine."

"Kaito..." Aoko said, tears spiking her lashes, her heart hurting as she heard what he said. "How can you...it's wrong."

"Of course it's wrong, I know that!" Kaito said and he all but exploded from the chair, pacing the room. "I live every day in absolute terror because it's wrong, because one day my luck will run out and your dad or Saguru won't be slower then me, or a few steps behind, but they'll be right there, waiting." He ran his hands through his hair, stopping his pacing and leaning heavily on his desk. "I know it's wrong, Aoko. And that's part of the thrill." He took a deep, steading breath. "But that's not the only reason, I do this. I do this because I have to, because someone has to." He saw Aoko open her mouth to speak and he shook his head.

"Don't...don't speak, just listen." He saw her nod and sighed, taking his seat again, once more burring his head in his hands, speaking more to them then to her. "My father...my father was a great magician, but even more then that, he was a great thief. The greatest from what Jii tells me. He started all this, created the Kid. I...a year ago, almost, I found out about it, about what he did, who he was, and at the same time, the Kid had returned."

Aoko's mouth opened, and closed, then opened again. "Oh Kaito..." She remembered when Kuroba Toichi had vanished. She remembered the pain, the sheer helplessness that she had felt at the time, and she knew that the emotions were that much more for Kaito. The helplessness Kaito had felt must have increased beyond measure when she found out what his father did at night, when a man with that name returned after so many years missing.

Kaito swallowed, wiping a hand over his face, fighting down the tears that threatened to return after so long. "I...I dressed in one of his old suits, I went out to find him, to see if it was him, I had to know...it...it wasn't of course, it was Jii, also dressed in one of dad's old costumes. He told me, he told me dad died, in the accident, that he didn't just up and vanish." Kaito trembled and Aoko slipped off the bed, wrapping her arms around Kaito, holding him tightly. "It was so...I finally knew, after all these years I had an answer for where my father was." he whispered into her hair, tears wetting her neck. "It hurt...but it was less then the pain of thinking my father just walked away."

Aoko buried her own tear stained face in Kaito's neck, desperate to hear the rest before she broke down. "And then?" she asked, knowing there was more then just finding his father, not if he knew from the beginning Toichi had died.

"And then, I...I don't know, I just continued being Kid. I learned everything I could, I went after anything that would be..that dad would have gone after. I was him, every time I went out, every time I put on his clothes, I could feel him there, watching me, guiding me." His words distracted him and he drifted off, wondering...had it really been his father? Or had it been...Kid?

Aoko sniffled, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. "Kaito...why? I mean, why this? Couldn't you be like your dad and be a magician instead?"

Kaito smiled sadly, reaching up and brushing his thumbs across her cheek, wiping away her tears. "Aoko, what would you do, if your father was killed? Wouldn't you want to do whatever you could to find out the truth, to bring those responsible to custody?"

"So this is about revenge? And what will you do when you find them, Kaito? Kill them? Steal their life like you so easily steal everything else?"

"Of course not," he said and pulled her into his lap, holding her close. "I've already found them, Aoko...or at least, they've found me. They're...they're the ones who keep trying to kill me on heists. Apparently, they don't like Kid's resurrection."

"And you still do it?!"

"I have to, Aoko. This isn't about me or dad anymore, these men, they're up to really, really dark things. And I have to find something before they do, before they can use it."

"And what is this thing?" Aoko asked, sniffling and turning her head. "What is so important you're willing to be arrested for...that you're willing to die for?"

"A gem," he said, resting his head on her shoulder. "Some large gem named they call Pandora."

"A gem, that's it? That's what all this is about, some stupid mineral?!"

"Well, they say it grants immortality." he said, giving her a small smile. "There are been far worse crimes for less."

Aoko stared at him as if he had grown another head and a tail to boot, before giving a bitter, insane laugh. "Immortality...you're a flying, magician thief, chasing after a gem that causes immortality, desperate to get it before some group of shadowy figures who shoot at you...all for immortality." She started to cry again, clinging desperately to Kaito. "You idiot." she breathed, trembling violently. "You stupid, stupid, idiotic boy."

"I love you too," he said, holding her tightly.

It took a few moments for Aoko to calm down, leaving her blinking sleepily, emotionally worn out. She rested heavily against Kaito, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her sweatshirt. "I can't believe all this," she said, sniffling. "Can we please go back to yesterday when you were just a moron and Kaitou Kid was an asshole?"

"Sorry," he said, rubbing her back. "Not one of my powers, as Kaito or as Kid."

She smacked him lightly before sighing. "I'm not sure if I can take all this in yet, it's all so...so...so."

"Very so," Kaito said, kissing her forehead. "And you don't have to take it all in right now...just...don't tell your father, please. I know it's not who you are or what you believe in, but I have to do this, Aoko. I have to stop them. Please...just...don't tell him. If he catches me on his own, then that's that, but please...just kept his secret."

Aoko took a deep, shuddering breath, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. It was against everything she was, to keep this a secret. The idea of it sent every nerve in her body screaming. But this was Kaito, her Kaito, the Kaito she believed in more then anything, that she trusted beyond all else, that she loved more then anyone.

"I will keep this, for now." she said softly, after a long, silent moment. "I can't make promises, Kaito. I won't make promises, but for now...for now you have my silence."

"Thank you," Kaito breathed, feeling a rush of emotion run through him suddenly. "Thank you so much, Aoko." He buried his face against her shoulder again, feeling suddenly weak.

Aoko rested her head against his, petting his hair gently, comforting him in a long familiar way, before allowing her hand to travel down the back of his neck, resting on the curious shirt he had been wearing. She tugged lightly at the collar of the dress shirt, looking at him questioningly. "This isn't your normal style," she said, and then she recognized the shirt, just as a faint blush curled up Kaito's neck. "This is Hakuba's!"

"Er, yes, it is." he said, and the blush traveled further up his face. "I had nothing else to wear."

"Where were your clothes?" she asked, a smile crossing her face.

He coughed, hiding his face. "Well, they were slightly torn and damaged."

"Torn and damaged?! That animal! I never knew he had it in him," she teased and Kaito coughed harder.

"No! It was from the heist, the heist!"

"Suuure," Aoko teased, gigging. "Look at you two, already sharing clothes! I'm so proud my little Kaito is growing up!"

"Hush, brat." Kaito growled before playfully tackling Aoko, tickling her until she screamed with laughter.

--

"Ayamori-san, thank you for meeting me," Saguru said, taking a seat across from the doctor, unbuttoning his jacket as he did. "I'm sorry it was such short notice, but time is really of the essence here."

"I completely understand, Hakuba-san. From what you told me on the phone, professional intervention is quite necessary here. How is your companion doing?"

"He's...he's existing, at the moment. I'm worried that he's not exactly dealing with what is going on and he's bottling it."

"Understandable, but a dangerous reaction. My best advice is for you to get him into a professional counseling treatment as soon as possible. I understand, from our phone call, that you think this might be hard to do, due to some unique circumstances of his, which makes me curious if he is a client of yours...or one of your previous cases?"

Saguru took a breath, trying to find the words to describe Kaito's situation. "He is one of my previous cases, but not the paying party." he said, finding that the best explanation.

The doctor nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Well, my advice remains the same. Your friend would benefit most from aggressive treatment at this stage. I understand your fears, but there are laws in place to protect your friend. Unless he is a danger to himself and others, or unless compelled by a warrant, any doctor he sees cannot divulge information without his express written permission. He could be Jack the Ripper or Kaitou Kid and still his confidence would be protected."

Saguru's lips quirked at the comparisons, nodding at the doctors words. "That takes quite a load off of us, if we can go through traditional routes to help him."

"I thought it might," Ayamori said, before leaning forward again. He opened his desk and took out a pad of paper, sorting through his Rolodex and coping the information off a card for Saguru. "This is my best recommendation for him. She is experienced in handling unique cases, including those such as your friend's. She's good and trust worthy."

"Thank you very much," Saguru said,accepting the paper and sliding it into his breast pocket. "I will discuss this with Kaito and get his thoughts." He stood, giving Ayamori a bow before accepting the man's hand, shaking it.

"It's been a pleasure talking with you, Hakuba-san, I hope we can work together sometime. I've heard great things about you."

Saguru smiled, ducking his head. "It would be my honor." he said with a bow before leaving the office, joining Akako who had come to the meeting with him. He smiled and offered her his arm. "Shall we go out for ice cream?" he asked and she grinned.

"We shall."

Both left the office, looking forward to the new chapter in their favorite magician's life, eager to help him heal.

TBC

After Note: Next chapter has something fun in it! runs away laughing