Part Two
Her tear streaked face mirrored the notion as her breath caught even more. She looked so beautiful staring up at him, breath coming in little pants the tip of her tongue running over her lips nervously as she bit the corner down still staring up. He thought she might be about to cry again, seeing her breath suddenly catch more, this time holding something back. His intuition said to kiss the tears away, hold them at bay and rock her gently in his arms- but did he dare? The thought was cut off with a small bubble of laughter escaped- slightly hysterical- but true laughter behind it none the less.
His eyes crinkled with hope at the sound and fingers ran to her cheeks pushing away the glistening drops that had escaped her eyes as she stared at him shining with a hope that ran even deeper then his. Her worries and fears were still there- but along with it-
She looked at him again searching for some sort of word that wasn’t coming. She started to open her mouth again as if trying to get out a word, but found herself cut off as she felt his lips back against hers. The first had been simple a test, a push of emotion that had let itself known and demanded to be released. Raw instinct had began and finished that first kiss, spurned by an unspoken question that had plagued Aoko for what seemed an eternity.
The first kiss had left no type of resolution.
The second appeared to create more questions then any type of answer.
Perhaps it was the way she could feel his arms around her. One hand at the small of her back, the other tilting her head to him, fingers intertwined in her hair. Fingers that were gentle and skilled, and knew her like she was simply an entity of him.
Perhaps it was his scent- his presence that was so close that she could smell the roses and soaps that seemed to follow him wherever he went. The way he seemed to resonate magic.
Perhaps it was the kiss itself- Filled with enchantment and passion longing that she could swear she never knew existed. The way his lips felt against hers, as one kiss became two, and then many. The way she felt like she was drowning in oblivion, and dying only to be reborn again on the other side. Her mouth opened just slightly, becoming more fiery, more fierce- somewhere in the back of her mind she remembered she was furious at him. Hated him. That this man had betrayed her- had- ruined her life?
She wasn’t even sure, not like she could think anyway as his lips moved from her lips, tracing jaw bone until he found her neck causing her to give a small gasp- a moan that escaped without her even knowing. Somewhere she realized she was clinging to him, held completely up by his arms that encircled her- but for the life of her she couldn’t leave now. Not when she’d waited her whole life for this second.
In her dreams she’d thought of Kaito holding her, kissing her, whispering soft “I love you” s into her ear- but nothing had come close to this rapture that had overtaken both of them, and both of them had wanted it much too long.
She had fallen into an oblivion that when she felt him suddenly draw back the cold hit her sharply and she stared in shock as reality came crushing back down.
“Oh God what am I doing” he whispered softly causing a dam to be raised before a flood of tears came crashing down upon the words.
“Kai-”
“You don’t want me.” He said shaking his head fiercely. “I’m a thief, a traitor, a man who hurts your family and takes away everything from you. I hurt you Aoko-” his eyes glittered, “Don’t… please don’t do this to yourself.”
He was broken. Somehow during that kiss she had broken him- and she wasn’t even sure how. Before she had hated him for being so cool, for acting like a victim, for being so easy with her. It was just… “Turn me in.” But now? Now she’d actually stripped away his defenses and in his place…
It was Kaito.
Her Kaito.
And even with everything he’d done, and all the lies he’d given.
Even knowing he’d not only betrayed her once, but twice.
Even knowing he was KID-
She also knew she loved him, and that nothing he did or she said could ever change that because when it came to it he was still just Kaito.
“Idiot” she said eyes glittering slightly. It was funny how the slight confession managed to do that to her- spread a warmth throughout her that made her smile. True tears were still glistening in her eyes, and she knew she couldn’t actually forgive him for a while, but frankly she didn’t think she could live without him either.
And how the hell did anyone think she was likely to fall in love with someone else either after that ?
She took a step towards him as he tilted his head confused as though waiting for a slap or something similar before she pushed away one of her tears, “Idiot” she repeated. “Do what to myself? Isn’t it a bit late? And you’ve already done all you can to me- didn’t you? Unless you’ve got another little secret buried away- like you have a wife you didn’t tell me about or something-” she looked up slightly worried at that thought, “You don’t do you?”
Kaito smirked just barely at that notion before shaking his head, “That I can truthfully say I have no problem with. No long lost girlfriends or the like-” he told her looking almost sheepish before he turned serious on her again. “But Aoko- listen. I don’t know what your thinking but- no. I’m the last person you need to be seen with- please- just listen to me… turn around and leave. If you decide you want to turn me in? That’s fine. No regrets. Find someone who can make you happy that’s all I ask alright?”
He stood firm and resolute and she scowled as a couple more drops managed to escape from the corners of her eyes, “Oh find someone to make me happy am I? Idiot- After tha-”
He pushed away her tears forcing her breath to catch along with the words as he looked away, “That- Aoko do you honestly think this is any life for you? I remind you I’m KID-” he laughed, “KID- surely you remember don’t you? Aoko you’ve loathed me you’re entire life… you can’t just forget that after one-”
“Is that it then? You walk away, I turn you in, and forget Kuroba Kaito? Forget everything that happened? Forget I turned the man I thought was my best friend in to my father with “no regrets?” How can you even ask that of me! You can’t tell me you didn’t feel-”
“Aoko-” she could’ve sworn he was pleading.
“What am I saying? Of course that kiss probably meant nothing to you- I’m just… what? Another KID fan girl now? You won me over so just like that it’s over? You can move on, find some other challenge, some other woman whom KID hasn’t taken her heart yet? I’m such an idiot! You’ve probably kissed numerous of woman that way! What am I? Number 100? Number 1000?” She felt more tears welling up in her eyes and then looked down bitterly, “Number 1412?”
And then he was there, kneeling before her and raising a hand pushing back her tears before taking her hands and head bowed. “Never… Number one. I swear to you Aoko- if nothing else is true that is. Your first and only- always. Never ever think you’re just some prize I won- Hell I didn’t even win you- You weren’t even suppose to go that far. Don’t you ever think your just another- damn Aoko I could care less about those fan girls. I could’ve always cared less about them- in High School, now, they’ve never mattered a whit. I… I know you can’t forgive me, but please at least believe me on that point.”
Gaping might’ve been an appropriate term for what she was doing, staring at the young man in front of her who apparently was shaking just slightly. It wasn’t much- anyone else might have not even noticed, but then she was shaking so hard herself. Finally she sunk onto the chair in front of him and took a deep breath, “Kaito- Please. Just- the truth?”
There was a pause and then from where his head was still bowed. “Aoko-”
“No riddles… just the truth… and then if you want me to I‘ll leave.”
It was nearly inaudible, yet it was still clear enough to cut her off, “The truth?“ He smiled bitterly, “Fine… though whether you’d even believe me,“ he shook his head and looked straight at her.
“I love you.”
“You-” Her eyes widened, “You love me?”
“Uh huh. Always have. Always will… Can’t let you get hurt can I? Botched that one up I guess… But then what more do I have to lose now?”
“So that’s why-”
He looked up at her. His gaze was crystal clear now as he watched her, and she blushed realizing he was still holding her hands with no sign of letting them go, “Aoko can’t you just turn me in? Please? That’s what you were suppose to do when you found out. I… I already hurt you- I don’t want to see something worse happen. Please-”
“I can’t turn you in-”
“Ao-”
“You love me?” It was blunt, unwavering, almost harsher then she had meant it to sound. She stared at him disbelieving and realized she was clenching her fists to stop from shaking.
“Since High School at least… maybe before- I’m not sure when friendship kinda… turned into something else. I wanted to tell you but- well I became KID and after that it was a bit out of the question. On one hand I could tell you about the night job, but you’d hate me anyway and probably be more hurt then if you found out. On the other hand if I- if I asked you out and you did accept by some wonder- well that wasn’t exactly fair to you. So- I um didn’t say anything and just left quietly after school… You realize you weren’t suppose to dwell right?”
She fidgeted slightly “Since High School?” this time the response was slightly breathy.
“…yeah”
She was blushing by now, “But all those fan girls! Akako and all those others? I thought you had to be dating at least one- I mean… at least I assumed-”
He laughed slightly, “And pray when did I have time to do that between being KID and trying to keep up with you? I had trouble enough just making it to your birthday parties and the like in between KID heists. Not to mention Akako was just weird- and the others bor-ing” he said the last part sing-songy making her break a smile.
“And I wasn’t?” He had her curiosity now which was a dangerous thing in itself but still. . .
“Nope. You chased me with a mop” he winked at her teasingly, “How can any female who chases you with a mop be boring.”
“You provoked me!”
“You wanted me to provoke you!”
“Idiot!”
“Yup!”
She was smiling and they both were looking at each other with just the corners of their mouths tilted up. It was like some sort of guilty pleasure just cracking those half hidden smiles- the same sort of shared secret like two little children who sneaked a bottle of sake and hid in the pantry to taste it, or when you manage to sneak a cookie from the cookie jar with a friend who can delight in the steal with you.
Truthfully it just felt good… and even though this might be KID she apparently was facing, it was also undoubtedly Kaito-
And he loved her.
And that added a whole new level to the problem that was Kuroba.
Because she loved him too.
“So you’re to have me believe you hid as this Velmont Kazuhiko because you didn’t want to see me hurt by finding out it was you and leaving me again- nor did you want to leave my side because in reality you’re in love with me and couldn’t bear to leave my side?”
At least he had the decency to blush.
“You realize it sounds like a bad romance novel right?”
“We Magician’s always do have a flair for the dramatic… ne?”
“You also realize we’re in Paris right??”
He shrugged, “Oyaji liked Paris- and it’s the last place he visited before he died… I thought maybe it had some sort of clue connected to it. It is no way my fault you chose the ‘City of Love’ as your vacation spot” he told her looking at her warily again.
“Well…” she gave a slight yawn , “”least its appropriate” she informed him as she turned just enough to lean against him.
“Eh?” he looked more then a little bemused from where he was still half sitting with the girl now leaning against him.
“I mean if you have to reunite two ill-fated lovers might as well do it in Paris right?” She told him as if it were the most common place idea in the world.
“Eahhh? I thought you said you were going to leave?!” he said this time completely bewildered as he stared at her in disbelief.
She sighed, “I haven’t forgiven you yet idiot. But I am cold, and I am tired, and frankly I’ve missed you too much to just walk out on you here and put you behind bars. I have no wish to turn into a bitter old woman just because I refused to see past my best friend and the boy I always loved also happened to be a wanted criminal…” she stopped scowling, “Though it does sound pretty bad when you put it like that.”
“Wah?” He looked fairly cute in a completely lost puppy sort of way staring at her like he couldn’t quite understand what she was saying causing her to give a longer sigh.
“Oh of all the stupid- No Kaito I will not turn you in. No Kaito I do not plan on getting on a plane and flying out of your life forever. Yes Kaito I do love you too… so any dim-witted ideas about trying to get me to put you behind bars or the like just forget right now. I am mad at you, but I will as be much madder if we don’t get to move to a nice warm couch and you don’t poof me a blanket from where ever you poof all those things that you make magically appear.”
He blinked and then a slight smirk played upon his face, “You don’t hate me?” he nearly squawked ruining the look completely.
She sighed, “How can I hate you when I traveled around the world to find you?”
He grinned and suddenly she let out a squeak as a thick and warm quilt was suddenly draped around her and somehow (she wasn’t going to ask) she was now sitting the couch with Kaito looking at her hesitantly. “Better?”
The quilt smelled of roses and soap- like him. She couldn’t resist breaking a smile, “Mmm hmmm”
He sighed and she felt him sit next to her on the couch, “Its dangerous you know… and I don’t altogether agree with your choice- I mean- I guess I dreamed that you might choose that, but in reality…” Her eyes flickered open and she must’ve looked distressed because his hand went to a strand of her hair and he shook his head, “No I’m not taking back what I said. I do love you. I just- I don’t want you to be a target because of my line of work.”
She started to open her mouth but he silenced her with a finger over her lips, “But I know you well enough to know you’re too stubborn for your own good. Its your choice. Just know I understand. If you ever want to tell your father- ever want to tell the truth to everyone… its alright. I won’t blame you. I meant what I said about no regrets- I never actually believed you wouldn’t choose to tell-”
“Which proves just how much of an idiot you are”
“Oh? And who thought I could never fall in love with her hmmmm?” he teased looking at her the tenseness still there but slowly dissolving as the banter came and went with more ease.
She knew she was blushing, but then he had sort of cheated on that one, “That’s not the same at all….”
“No, but if I’m the idiot then-”
“Kaito!!”
It was still raining outside, she could hear the wind rattling the shutters, and it was true she was still a stranger in a strange land that she barely knew anything about. As she leaned into the arms of the man she loved; however, and let herself be wrapped in his warm embrace, she knew that she’d also found herself somewhere she belonged- and discovered something she’d missed more then any pain he could ever cost her.
She may be mad, and still feel hurt- she had no doubt that later she’d probably find a mop somewhere and in all likelihood attack him, but she was also very aware she couldn’t live without him.
Perhaps people were right- perhaps there was some sort of magic in Paris…
Or maybe it was just a particular magician…
A/N : This was the fic that’d never end!! It just goes on and on my friends……. For the record? This was the first fic of this size I’ve ever written. It’s also one of the more ummm ::cough:: fics and I’d like to blame that completely on the fact when I worked on the fluff I’d just seen Pirates (as in I think I came home and started the fluff part) so gimme a break there… not to mention its thirty kisses… so hah XD But… yesh!! It’s not horrible angsty!!!
I’d also like to say…. I’m sorry if there’s still grammar errors… I really did try… and people really helped me and tried (I joke you not… it was much worse) So if there’s still a ton? Well it wouldn’t get posted otherwise XD
Also about the name Velmont Kazuhiko I got the idea of Velmont from one of Arsene Lupin's psuedos when he was wooing Nelly in Extrodinary adventures... and Kazuhiko is the last name of the writer/such from Lupin III so they do have reasons for choices ^^