~Dark Blue~

Riiing! The shrill shriek of the school bell echoed throughout the halls, declaring the end of school for the weekend. A stampede of students followed its cry, eager to get out of their classes. Swiftly, I snatched by bag and slid out the door, into the swarm of kids. I wanted to slip away without her noticing, I didn’t want to see her cry when I tell her I couldn’t go to her birthday party… Father must be rolling in his grave by now. Imagine: the son and heir to the legacy of Kid falling in love with the kin of the very inspector that was trying to catch him. It was forbidden, it was impossible! Even if we ever did get together, how would I still be able to keep my secret identity a secret? I’d get arrested for sure.
Sure, I’ve been trying to deny it ever since I became Kid (which was over a year ago), but every time she’s there, I’ve never been able to turn away. I could never look at her straight in the eye whenever I had to lie to her about where I was going. I couldn’t stand to see Aoko cry.
And this’ll be the second birthday in a row I’ll be missing.
All thanks to my lousy night-job.
“KAITO! Wait for me!”
Damn.
“Kaito, what are you in a hurry for anyways?” Aoko said as she jogged to catch up with me. I kept on walking; I hated lying to Aoko’s face...
She slowed down to a walk behind me. I could almost see the disappointment on her face. “Kaito?” she whispered hoarsely.
I paused long enough to utter: “I can’t come to your birthday party, Aoko; I’m too busy tonight...”
There was an awkward silence.
Aoko silently took it in, and sobbed quietly as I walked away. Without saying another word, she turned and ran away with tears forming in her eyes.
After all the times I’ve let her down, I guess she’s gotten used to it by now.
A heart can only to broken into so many pieces…
...
It was the hardest thing to turn away without looking back.
*~*~*
I remember when I was little; every night, my mother would tuck me into bed and read me a bedtime story. My very favourite story was the tale of Cinderella; I always dreamed about one day I would break away from the dull monochrome of daily life and find my prince. I’ve always wanted to marry a prince charming, and live happily ever after.
Dreams don’t often come true though, do they?
Mom always said to put up a brave front; even if you were feeling miserable and angry, keep it to yourself. Just because you were suffering, you didn’t have to make everyone else feel like rubbish...
And now she’s six feet under the dirt in the cemetery.
Whole lot of good that did her.
And I turned back to see Kaito run away without turning back.
Whatever was left of my bruised and broken heart has cracked and shattered. I don’t know how many times Kaito has let me down, but this is too much!
Either way, I wiped away the tears that were forming in my eyes, and I plastered a fake smile on my face.
I could only pray that no one could see through my mask.
*~*~*
“I’m home!”
The door creaks open as I step into my apartment. I have to admit, I was hoping my Dad was home and would greet me when I got home. That I could slip into my slippers and sit at the dinner table and tell him about my day at school. And we would have dinner together, and he could help with my homework, and we could watch TV afterwards.
Just like the good old days…
But the only thing that greeted me was the cold chill of the wind that blew through the open window, and the empty (yet extremely messy) room.
Funny, from this angle, the living room seems larger and much emptier than I had remembered it.
...
With a sigh, I locked the door and went to get the broom. It was a total pigsty. Whenever Dad was home, which was not very often, he was a giant slob. I had to do all the cooking, cleaning and housework around here ever since Mom passed away. Dad was too busy to ever clean up, or even spend time with me. Often, he stays in his office for the entire day, and if we doesn’t come home at 2:00 in the morning, then he falls asleep in his office and doesn’t return home until the next day. And now that Kid was at large, he’s been working even more.
It’s strange, even though he’s family, it feels almost like I don’t even know him any more.
Might as well start cleaning...
*~*~*
Once the living room had been tidied up, I collapsed onto the couch and sat in thought. Yes, I should have started my homework, but to hell with it; it was Friday. Besides, I wasn’t feeling that well.
You know that feeling like you’re at the bottom of the barrel; useless; that life just couldn’t get any worse?
You got it all, rolled up in one little package: Me.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt more alone; sure I had friends – It’s just that none of them are very close friends. Mostly just acquaintances. Nobody I know understands what I feel right now: Desperate, alone, unwanted and lonesome. Not even Kaito.
Ah yes… Kaito Kuroba. I guess I could call him my best friend. I guess. Every single time he’s ever made a promise to me; or promised to be somewhere; or even swore he’d be there for me, he hasn’t! Okay, maybe that was exaggerating a little. He can be kinda sweet sometimes, like the time we went skiing, or took me to the opera or went on a date with me to the amusement park. Most of the time however, he’s just a jerk. And the worst part is, he idolizes that idiot thief, Kid! It is the only thing that aho ever talks about: Kid, Kid, Kid, Kid and more Kid! It’s so irritating. That’s why I guess I always take my anger out on him.
I have to admit, I have bee a little suspicious about Kaito and Kid; it seems that every time Kid goes out and steals something, Kaito is busy. In fact, during a costume-skiing contest we were in, Kaito was dressed up as Kid and they had an uncanny resemblance! And they were both great magicians. The only time Kaito has disproved that was when he went on a date with me on the night of a Kid heist.
I was just being paranoid, right? I mean, there was no way a 17 year-old guy like Kaito could be the most wanted thief in the world...
I hope.
I guess I could blame the entire thing on Kaitou Kid. It was because of him Dad was so busy, and Kaito is so busy worshiping him that he doesn’t think of anything else. Everything in my life was just about fine until about two years ago when Kaitou Kid suddenly reappeared out of nowhere after being gone for almost a decade.
If I hadn’t been taught better, I would curse, swear, and scream at the stupid thief for ruining my life! I sometimes wish he were dead! I’d chase after that bakayaro myself and beat him to a bloody pulp!
But of course, I had been taught better than that.
And I think I’m the only one in the city – no, the world that thinks that way about Kid. I don’t get how everyone could cheer him on as he robs a museum or pulls off a heist. If I tried explaining to anyone, I doubt they’d understand. Besides, everyone thought that my life was perfect, they just couldn’t see past the exterior.
To them, their parents are always round and constantly nagging them about washing their hands and finishing homework and their social life; me, no one ever nags or badgers me at home. It might sound odd, but I miss that nagging from my parents. And talking to my parents. And even spending time with my family in general.
May be Kaito might understand, because he’s lost a father and very distant with his mother, but he never listens to me. I think I’m just a nuisance to him. At least, that’s how he treats me most of the time.
No one understands me.
I feel so very, very alone in this world.
...
Without further delay, I shook away those thoughts and put my mask back on. The smile I forced on my face almost hurt, but I ignored the pain. After all, I still had homework to do, and I certainly didn’t want to work on it on my birthday, right?
Despite all the happy thoughts I tried to think of, I still couldn’t help but be sad...
Fresh tears fell freely down my face, but I didn’t bother to wipe them away.
*~*~*
I was such a bastard! How could I just leave Aoko there? Kaito, you are such an insensitive jerk! Is your heist more important than your girlfri—
...Erase that thought.
Anyways, I continued to beat myself up for that incredibly stupid act I had just did for at least an hour while preparing for the mission tonight. v I had to make it up to her somehow, or else I don’t think she – or I for that matter – will ever forgive me...
Last year, she wanted me to bring Kaitou Kid to her birthday party as a present...
So I’m going to give her just that...
*~*~*
The doorbell rang, and as I hurriedly rushed to greet the other guests, the party had already underway. The one at the door was Keiko, carrying giant present covered in red and yellow wrapping paper.
“Aoko! Am I late for the party?” Keiko said while obviously out of breath. She had probably run all the way here. “Is your husband here yet?” she teased. I turned slightly pink in the cheeks.
“No, Kaito’s not here,” I replied after I had gotten over the slight shock. “He… said that he wouldn’t be able to come,” I added. Whether or not Keiko could detect the sad tone in my voice, I didn’t know. Either way, Keiko happily hopped out of her shoes and joined the party.
After the last few guests arrived, I left my vigil at the door and joined the party in the living room. ‘Guess that Kaito really wasn’t going to come after all…
I can’t help but feel like I expected him come even though he said he was busy. I really hoped he wouldn’t let me down again.
And I don’t really know if I can forgive him that easily this time.
The party itself made me forget about my loneliness temporarily.
Besides, everyone around me had a joyous aura, I just couldn’t feel bad after the cake.
I had just blown out the candles on the cake (a big wax candle in the shape of an eighteen, because I didn’t really wanna waste my breath on all eighteen candles) when the doorbell rang again.
I had no idea who it was.
Or who had enough nerve to arrive that late and risk my wrath.
I swung the door open.
“Hello?”
It was funny, because as I opened the door, there was no one at all.
Goddamn practical jokers.
After apologizing to the guests for going away at such a crucial moment (the cake was about to be cut) and left the cake in the dining room to get a knife. Odd, I could have sworn that I put the knife in this drawer… For a few moments, I searched the entire kitchen for it, and even get back to the dining room to check I didn’t leave it there.
It was almost as if it had disappeared…
“Looking for this Ao-chan?”
I swerved to see who had suddenly snuck up behind me, and found the knife, as well as...
“Did I miss out on anything?” Kaito said as he handed the knife to me with a smirk. For someone at a party, he wasn’t dressed very formally. In fact, he looked like he had just gotten out of a scuffle; his hair was rather untidy and I could have sworn there was a little bruise on his cheek. The wore faded jeans worn out at each knee and the black coat over his navy blue sweater were very casual; not exactly something someone would wear to a party.
By instinct, my mask slid on again.
“It’s just like you to be so late for a party,” I scolded coldly as I took the knife from him. “And you missed the blowing out of the candles; that’s the most important part of a birthday!”
Kaito looked a little surprised. “Did I really miss it? Geez, I really hoped I would get here on time to see it,” he admitted honestly. I could see the guilt creeping on his face, and my heart just melted.
“I guess it’s okay, I’m just glad that you came at all,” I confessed sheepishly as I led him back to the dining room. The other guests made catcalls as I stepped through the door and realized…
I was holding his hand.
With a quiet yelp (and a face that had turned beet-red) I let go of his hand. I noticed the pink that crept up Kaito’s face too.
Without hesitation, I was about to cut the first slice of cake when Kaito stopped me. “Wait a second,” he whispered in my ear as he let go of my hand. “I still want to see you blow out the candles on your cake.”
Kaito leaned forward to the cake and blew at the candles; instead of blowing out the candles (they had already been blown out by me), he blew them on. In a puff, the candle was suddenly lit again. Everybody applauded the little trick, and Kaito did a bowed for the crowd.
And I blew out the candles a second time just for Kaito.
*~*~*v “Alright, it’s time for presents!” Aoko announced to the rather hyper guests (but that’s just my opinion). Everyone was jumping up and down, squealing for their present to be opened first. I was in the back of the ‘mob’ and made no attempt be noticed. I wanted my gift to be last.
One by one, the presents were opened. A teddy bear, a pair of new shoes, a dvd, a book or two, and so on.
Last of all, mine.
“Hey Kaito! What’s your present?”
“It’s probably something really special.”
“Let’s see Kaito!”
“C’mon, what are you gonna give your wife?”v “Let’s see!”
Bit by bit, I stepped through the crowd and stood beside Aoko.
“Remember last year you wanted me to bring you Kaitou Kid?” I said. She nodded.
“Did you bring him?”
I gave a mischievous grin and replied: “No, but I did bring the next best thing…”
*~*~*
…And he disappeared in a flash of light and a giant cloud of smoke that fogged up everyone’s view. I could feel the confetti, streamers and ribbons flying everywhere, and when the smoke cleared…
“LOOK! IT”S KAITOU KID!”
There he was, monocle and all. He took off his hat and gave a deep bow.
I couldn’t help but utter: “ Kaito-kun, is that you?”
He looked me straight in the eye and I saw through the monocle and tuxedo. “I’m the next best thing,” he said with a laugh. Kaito flipped his top hat into the air and caught it as white pigeons, puffs of pink smoke and ribbons exploded from inside. With a flick of his wrist Kaito produced numerous and many poker cards and threw them into the air. As they fell down, he snapped his fingers and all of them turned into confetti in a fury of smoke.
The guests were cheering for more, and Kaito was only happy to oblige.
“But first, I’ll need an assistant,” he said. I stood dumbly beside him, watching as the rain of confetti came down.
“Ao-chan?”
I was rather startled as Kaito took my hand and took a dove out of my ear. Kaito studied me for a few moments before saying: “I think you need a change of wardrobe though.”
All I was wearing was a simple indigo dress with a navy blue sweater over it; I don’t go shopping all that much anymore.
Kaito wrapped his cape around me (and I’ll admit that I was blushing furiously) and said under his breath: “Dark blue doesn’t suit you, Ao-chan. A girl like you shouldn’t be so dark…”
And with a POOF! Kaito whipped his cape off and I somehow found myself to be wearing a beautiful turquoise-blue gown with long pale blue gloves that went up to my elbows and even glass slippers…
Like a gentleman, Kaito went down on one knee, took my right hand and kissed it. Mind you, I was as red as a firetruck now.
“For you,” he said as he stood back up and handed me a beautiful scarlet rose. Everyone else was applauding and even mock-singing the wedding march, but I paid them no heed. Almost as if everyone else had disappeared, and the only thing I saw was Kaito.
So I took the rose.
The rest of the night Kaito performed a magic show for everyone, and the party dragged on at least an hour longer that the scheduled time. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun with Kaito for a long time.
Soon, the guest had to leave one by one. By the time midnight struck, the only two people left in the house was Kaito and myself.
A long, very awkward silence echoed around the apartment.
“Well,” I stammered at last, “that was fun… I’m glad you could get here, even if you were really late…”
Alright, on reflection, those words sounded really, really stupid.
“It was fun, wasn’t it?” Kaito replied with a smile. “I have to go now, Mom’ll probably think I got my self arrested or something…”
With a snap of his fingers, right on cue there was a wisp of smoke that surrounded him, and when he emerged, Kaito was once again dressed normally.
Speaking of dresses…
“Um, Kaito… Do you want this dress back?”
He gave me that impish grin and responded: “Keep it. It looks good on you. Think of it as a present.”
Before I could utter a ‘thank you’, he walked up next to me and planted a kiss on me cheek.
It was so sudden, and rather unexpected, but I would have given anything for that kiss to last forever…
“Think of that as a present too,” he said, and disappeared out my door.
And as I stood alone, almost paralyzed, in the living room, I couldn’t help but remember his words:
“Dark blue doesn’t suit you, Ao-chan… A girl like you shouldn’t be so dark…”
My hand rose to touch the cheek where Kaito had just kissed me… and as of then, I didn’t feel so alone anymore…

-Fin-

Good God, I'm pretty sure that sucked... why the kiss, I have absolutely no idea. I just really, really, really wanted to see it. Can you blame me?
And guess where the glass slippers came from ^_~