[fic] The Grey Zone: Aoko Visiting

[ickaimp]

... y'know, I never did find a better chapter name... o_O

Massive thanks to dogmatix_san for being a sound board and putting up with random questions from everything from leather fetish wear to what do you call a large gathering of mimes. (a silence of mimes? o_O)
Couldn't have finished this without her.



+++

"Little Sister!" Kaito held his arms open. "Come! Leap into mine arms and let us celebrate our joyful reunion with an embrace!"

Aoko stared.

Saguru bopped him on the back of the head with a fist.

"And just what-" Aoko's stare turned towards Saguru. "-have you been feeding him, Hakuba-kun?!"

"Pudding." Saguru deadpanned. "Lots and lots of pudding. Have you all your luggage?"

Kaito sulked, rubbing the back of his head. Well, -he'd- thought it was funny...

"Yeah." Aoko carefully skirted Kaito, walking on Saguru's other side as she allowed the blond to take a duffle from her. She kept a careful grip on the the other suitcase, clearly not relinquishing it. "Thanks."

"No fair teaming up on me!" He protested, catching up to two of his favourite people in the whole world to tease. He gave Saguru a set of his best innocent eyes. "I thought you were going to protect me from her!"

"Protect WHO?!" Aoko roared, her hair flaring out.

Kaito grinned, reaching over to tap her nose with a fingertip. "Gotcha."

Her face wrinkled up, torn between emotions for a minute, before sticking her tongue out at him. "Baka-Kaito." She muttered dourly, but her eyes sparkled happily at him.

"Good to see you too." He replied back honestly. "Did you have a good trip here?" She was only here for a week and he wanted her to have a good time while she was here.

She laughed, giving him a small shove, knocking him into Saguru. The blond reached a hand out, steadying him. He didn't need the hand, but it was welcome none the less and he slung an arm around Saguru in thanks.

Aoko gave them a funny look, then launched into a story about the funny smelling lady in the seat in front of her on the flight who was terrified the wings were going to fall off. She then coaxed Saguru into telling them about the time that the plane did have to land because of an emergency.

The stories carried them out of the airport, to the taxi and all the way home.

Mum greeted their laughing faces at the door, squealing in delight that had Kaito doing a double take to make sure they were at the right house. Aoko looked ready to bolt as Mum ushered them in for tea, reminding Kaito of the first time they had met the woman.

It was strange to realise he'd gotten used to her. It was almost five months since he'd left Japan.

Had it really been that long?

Aoko distracted him from his ruminations by asking why there was an autographed tweed sock in a frame in the hall way.

He'd kept his mouth shut while Saguru turned red and muttered about embarrassing birthdays, stupid thieves and poorly time phone calls. Fortunately Mum called them to dinner before THAT story got out.


+++

"Kaito?" He could hardly hear Aoko's hesitant voice in the darkness. He smiled to himself, staring up at the ceiling. He'd half been expecting her appearance.

"Over here, Aoko." He called back, keeping his voice soft. They wouldn't wake Saguru up, the blond could sleep through just about anything, once asleep. Mum was another story. The woman had ears like a bat. "Come on in."

She did so, creeping into the room like she was a burglar afraid to get caught. He chuckled and pulled the covers back, sitting up as he motioned for her to crawl under and warm up. Aoko dipped her head, embarrassed, then dove under, elbows and knees scraping the mattress as she attempted to not crawl on him. The air was chilly, but it was warm under the duvet. He lay back down, pulling the thick warm covers back over them.

"Sorry." She whispered and he didn't have to see clearly in the dark to realise she was blushing. "I was just..."

"Homesick." He filled in for her. "Yeah. I know." He did, very well. It wasn't that the people here weren't polite or friendly, it was just that there were so many of them, and they were all speaking a different language. It was almost like being sucked into another universe.

"Yeah." Aoko sighed, settling into the mattress. "Exactl-eep!" She nearly jumped horizontally as she discovered the other body in the bed. Luckily Saguru had a big bed or they'd never all fit.

"You're not the only one who gets homesick." He commented with a slight sardonic smile. "Watch out, he cuddles in his sleep." But he did make an excellent personal space heater. Aoko's eyes were wide in the dim light as she squeaked again.

"You... ah, him... um..." She stammered slightly. Kaito chuckled. His sister was so much fun to tease.

"It's cheaper to share accommodations when travelling." He explained. "You get used to sharing after a while."

Not quite the whole truth, but a truth. Sometimes after a long, hard day of travel, all they wanted was a bed to fall into at the end of the day and weren't exactly particular about if it was with each other or not. Other days, they couldn't stand the sight of the other person and got separate rooms. But usually they ended up sharing a room, sleeping just a few metres away from each other. It had gotten to the point that coming back and sleeping 'his' room felt strange, because the room was suddenly too big, too quiet and too cold.

Which was why he hadn't protested sharing Saguru's room and letting Aoko sleep in his.

"Oh." She nodded, then squirmed slightly, getting comfortable between them. Saguru shifted in his sleep, making room for her. After a rare night that Kaito slept more than Saguru, the detective had commented that Kaito tended to be a restless sleeper. After gaining a decent shiner that had lasted for a few days, Saguru had added 'dangerous to wake up' to that list as well. Which was probably why the larger boy automatically moved to accommodate the body next to him.

He'd slept --when he'd been able to sleep-- in a few less-than friendly places while attempting to keep the mysterious organisation from killing everyone he knew last summer and the instinct was slow to fade. But waking up swinging was better than not waking up at all.

Having someone near tended to help with the occasional nightmare too. Fortunately they were starting to fade, coming less frequently than in the past.

"Don't worry about waking him up." He added. "He won't budge until it's daylight." Nice good safety blanket, like a brick wall to hide beside.

"Okay." Aoko agreed, looking less likely to run at the slightest movement. She looked serious, dark eyes searching his face. "Kaito?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you... happy here? Are they treating you okay?" She asked seriously, her voice worried.

"Yes." He didn't have to think about it. Yes, to both questions. He -missed- somethings about Japan, like blending in, knowing the language without thinking about it.

But... he liked the adventure of living here, learning new things. And almost everyone had been nothing but kind to him. He wouldn't want to move here permanently, but... it was nice.

It was also nice not to get shot at, or worry about that.

"Good." She smiled sleepily at him, then covered her mouth with a yawn. "Sleep well, Kaito."

"Sleep well, Aoko."

She drifted off almost immediately. Kaito wasn't surprised. It'd been a long flight, about fifteen hours in the air, not counting the travelling to and from the terminals and dinner with Mum.

He stayed up a little while longer, just listening to Aoko and Saguru breathe.

+++

Kaito woke up when Aoko did, her small movements bringing him to awareness. He didn't have to see her to feel the blush rising from her when she realised where she was. "Morning."

She squeaked. "Touchan's going to kill me if he ever finds out that I spent the night like this."

"Unlikely." He yawned. "For one, I don't think either of us are going to tell. And for another, it'll probably be okay with him if he does find out."

"Eeh?" She turned her head to stare at him. "But... I'm... girl... guys... bed..." She stammered.

Kaito snickered in return. "Exactly. Guys. Plural. Guys usually won't try to pull anything on a girl in front of another guy, or a group of guys, cause the other guy is usually going to intervene. So we're chaperoning each other. And you know us, we're not going to molest you in your sleep."

He wasn't going to mention the other facts, such as that he was interested in Saguru and Saguru was interested in his other half, not her. And she was his sister, so unless he was for that whole incest thing --which he wasn't-- she was as safe here as she was sleeping in the room next door.

Unless Saguru accidentally put his hands somewhere he nornally wouldn't while he was awake... but then that was just entertainment.

"I'm gonna grab the loo." He yawned, rolling out of bed. "Saguru'll be up shortly, we gotta take care of the birds."

"Okay." She glanced over at Saguru --still sleeping the sleep of the undead-- blushed again and scrambled out after him. He chuckled tiredly and staggered off to the toilet to take care of business.

He did so, washing his hand and wondering if he was going to have to wake up Saguru himself. He stretched, opening the bathroom door and promptly ran into Aoko.

"Eep!" She squeaked, taking a step back.

"Sorry!" They danced back and forth for a moment, before he simply stepped back to let her in. Her cheeks turned faintly pink as she stepped in.

"Kaito..." Aoko stopped his retreat from the bathroom by grabbing the waist band of his boxers, a perplexed expression on her face. "Why do your underwear have a tag saying 'Property of Hakuba Saguru' on them?"

"Eh?" He twisted around to look, accidentally knocking the door shut. Sure enough, right next to her hand a little tag on the waistband said 'Property of Hakuba Saguru'. He felt his face heat up slightly as he chuckled, embarrassed. "Um... Cause they're his."

".... You're wearing Saguru-kun's -underwear-?!" Aoko's wide blue eyes were even wider than usual.

"Yup." He agreed easily, shoving the embarrassment aside to deal with later. "I kinda steal them to sleep in. Or if I'm low on laundry." Or if he felt like it. Whatever.

"Does he know this?!" She exclaimed, tugging on the already loose waistband some more so she could flip the tag around to examine it better. It was just a fabric loop sewn into the waistband, the letters printed in Katakana with a black marker.

Kaito wondered the if the ink had rubbed off on his skin, leaving a backwards 'Property of Hakuba Saguru' on his butt.

"I would imagine so." He said dryly. "I doubt he would have otherwise left the label."

"Oh."

The bathroom door opened, a very blurry looking detective staring at them with glazed eyes that slow became less glazed. Aoko chose that moment to realise exactly what she was doing and blush very very hard. However, like a kid with his hand stuck in a cookie jar, she didn't let go either, obviously uncertain as to what to do now.

The detective slowly backed away, shutting the door behind him, a most -peculiar- look on his face, one that almost made Kaito want to chase after the blond and explain that it wasn't what it looked like. Because it WASN'T what it looked like.

Mum walked by, squealed at their cute, confused expressions, took a picture and wandered off.

That apparently was enough to knock Aoko out of her stupor as she squeaked and released his underwear.
The elastic snapped back into place, falling precariously lower. He quickly grabbed the waistband before it could decide that gravity really was it's cruel mistress and take a dive off of his hips.

"Sorry." Aoko squeaked.

"Don't worry about it." He waved it off, heading for the door. "I'm... gonna go get dressed." And calm down a certain detective....

"Right." She hastily agreed, shutting the door behind him.

+++

Aoko had been giving him odd looks all day. Which was weird, cause she hadn't been giving him odd looks the previous days they'd been playing tourist around London. Usually London was for business trips, so it was kind of nice to relax and see all the famous monuments they were usually racing by.

And he hadn't had anything to do with the lost teddy bear in Paddington station that they had found. They'd also already visited the Tower of London, which hosted the Crown Jewels. Saguru had kept a close eye on him then. And while some of the stones were fascinating, he liked the legend of the Koh-i-Noor diamond in the consorts' crown, he already had his magic stone and wasn't interested in stealing his host country's.

.... unless someone WANTED him to try, but that was another story entirely...

He raised an eyebrow at his half-sibling. "What?"

She gave him another strange look, not at his face he realised, but just past it. He checked his ears. Nope, Auntie Kitty's earrings were still there.

"What?!"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

He growled. Stupid, stubborn police inspector's daughters. "Something's bothering you. What?"

"Nothing...." She trailed off. He refrained from growling again. "It's just that... why didn't you just TELL me that you and Hakuba-kun were dating?!"

"Huh?" Kaito stared at her. What?!

"You could have told me, you big jerk!" She continued, getting a good rant started. "I'm not going to freak out or anything!"

"Wait, no, no, no, no..." He waved his hands, trying to figure this one out. Girls even made detectives seem rational by comparison. "Back up. Dating?!"

"Oh, don't try to hide it, it's completely obvious once you look for it." She swung her bag at him, which he automatically dodged. They'd already explained the whole 'sharing the bed thing' and the 'stealing the underwear' thing --which, really, was just fun-- and they hadn't snogged at all, least of all in her company, mores the pity, so what exactly were they hiding?

Well... there was that whole 'Thief and Detective' thing, but they'd been doing that for ages, that wasn't a secret at all...

"Huh?"

"The Jewellery!" Aoko jabbed a finger towards his head. "You can't tell me that those earrings don't match the ring Hakuba-kun's wearing! And when the hell did you get your ears pierced?! And not tell me?!"

Ah. Anger over 'not telling', not over anything they actually did. Got it. "I got them pierced a while back, it wasn't a big deal." He defended, avoiding another swing of the bag. "And yeah, the earrings and the ring match! That's cause they were given to us for Christmas presents!"

"Presents?" The bag swinging slowed down.

"Yeah." He stopped dodging, but kept a respectful distance. "You even know her. Remember Ruby Jones-san?"

"The nice lady from when the Kid tried to steal a ring from Touchan's finger." Aoko nodded slowly, keeping a suspicious air around her. He kept forgetting, she was used to him pulling tricks on her.

"She lives in Paris. Right across the Chunnel." He shrugged. "Saguru and I visit her every time we pass through there. Her Dad made jewellery before he passed away, these are ones he made."

"Really?" She hesitated, then got suspicious again. "She GAVE you family momentos?"

He shrugged. "Said that he made them to be worn, so we are." He did a quick think, casting around for where Saguru disappeared off to. "Would you like to visit her?"

"Visit Ruby-san?" Aoko clearly wavered. "In PARIS?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"But... but... I don't have anything to wear for -Paris-!!" She looked down at her usual practical clothing.

Kaito sweatdropped. "I'm sure she'd be happy to help you with that, if you want..."

+++

Auntie Kitty was MORE than happy to go shopping with Aoko, to give her a real Parisian experience.

Kaito and Saguru glanced at the bouncing girls and quickly declined joining the two women on a shopping experience. Especially since Aoko knew that Kaito would cross-dress for her sake if she asked hard enough. And if he went with them dressed in drag, they would force Saguru along as well, cause he couldn't -possibly- leave three women to fend for themselves.

So they fled.

All the way to the Paris Collection, which Kaito hadn't seen.

He thought he'd be more impressed by a fashion show, but found he was less than impressed in many ways. The make-up was wonderful, the hair was interesting, the music was loud but the clothing was impractical and models were all stick thin and boring to look at. Aoko had more interesting curves to look at and she wasn't very busty at all.

Hell, Saguru had more curves than some of the women. And he was a guy.

He'd leaned in to comment about that to the detective, only to discover that Saguru was naming possible causes of death for being that dangerously skinny. Seizures, reduced immune system, personality disorders, heart disease, weakened bones, organ failure.

They spent the show muttering back and forth about possible weapons found on the clothing and causes of death if someone dropped dead right there. He noticed some people edging away from them, but ignored it.

There were -some- perks with hanging out with a detective. Like being able to be your average gore-minded teenager with the bloody data to back it up.

Afterwards, they met up with the girls, had dinner and everyone else went to bed.

Kaito, or more specifically, the Kaitou Kid, hung out for a few hours on Notre Dame Cathedral, playing among the gargoyles and trying to imitate the faces on the statues.

+++

The next day, they visited the Louvre. The big attraction that the Museum as showing was a painting that had curiously appeared by post with the crypitic note 'More to Come' attached.

Kaito, or more specficially, the Kaitou Kid, had heard of 'The Fairy Thief' (oil on canvas) by Pascal Hervé. It was famous amoung criminal circles although very few in the art world had heard of it. Whomever found and stole the painting from it's previous owner --the thief who had stolen it from the previous thief-- was considered that generation's top thief. At least until it was stolen from him.

He'd debated tracking it down and stealing it once upon a time, but decided that ultimate, he was a Jewel Thief, not an Art Thief. But still, he had to admire whomever had stolen the legendary painting and then returned it to the public eye for the world to admire instead of keeping it for themselves.

Kaito and Auntie Kitty wandered around the entire time they were in the museum with grins on their faces. Saguru started developing a nervous tick because of this. Aoko didn't get the joke.

At least, not until Saguru translated the pamphlet for her, which mentioned that some areas might be closed off due to an upgrade in security after a recent visit from the Kaitou Kid.

They were still able to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo however.

Kaito wondered what happened to the feather boa he'd put around the armless statue's neck. Ah, well.

He noticed Auntie Kitty looking at the statue with a secretive grin on her face. She'd gotten what she'd hoped for when she'd asked him to join her the late night jaunt here when he first arrived. Security heightened, people paying more attention to their local treasures.

He sidled over to her, casually using ventriloquism to make sure they weren't over heard. "What are you grinning at?"

Auntie Kitty wiped a tear from under her eye. "I was just wondering what she would look like in a moustache and glasses." She muttered back, obviously trying to control her self from laughing out loud and gaining the attention of the museum guards.

Which left Kaito wondering what kind of markers would easily wash off of antique stone and if he could get up there, scribble it on and vanish before security was alerted. And how long it would take for people to notice...

Saguru cleared his throat, giving them both a -look-, clearly stating for them to behave. Ah, the joys of thieves travelling with detectives.

"He doesn't know what we're talking about, does he?" She whispered at him.

"Prolly not." Kaito agreed.

"We just look guilty. Ish. Maybe."

Kaito adopted as innocent an expression he could muster. "So... lovely weather we're having."

"Lovely to be having weather." She agreed.

"What are you two talking about?" Aoko asked guilelessly.

The looked over at her and grinned. "Weather."

Saguru was wholly un-amused.

"Oh." Aoko tilted her head, watching them sceptically. "Oh! That reminds me! Akako-chan asked me to ask you how you liked your Christmas presents. She loved what you sent her."

Kaito laughed nervously. Well, he was glad she liked charms they'd found, but as for the gifts she sent them...

"She never did let me see what she sent." Aoko frowned. "What did you get?"

Saguru paled. Kaito cleared his throat nervously. Auntie Kitty began to look interested. "Nothing worth mentioning." Kaito squeaked, looking around the museum. There had to be SOMETHING interesting to distract everyone with.

Auntie Kitty went from interested to predatory. "Yes, mon garçon. What -did- you get?"

Kaito glanced over at Saguru. The blond had pretty much shut down, doing his version of a poker face. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I got a book."

"A very interesting book, no?" Auntie Kitty smirked.

Aoko squeaked delightedly. "Kaito's blushing!"

"I am not blushing." He muttered back. Dammit. He could feel it now.

"He is blushing." Auntie Kitty agreed with Aoko, the two women clasping each other's hands and bouncing in delight. "What kind of book was it?!"

Kaito glared in return, trying to keep some semblance of control over the conversation. See? This was why women in packs were dangerous. They egged each other on.

"I could... always find out on my own." Auntie Kitty leered at him while commenting in a sing-song tone of voice. "We have our ways..."

Dammit, she did too. "If you must know, it was a book on Care and Feeding of Your Horse." He muttered darkly. The girls looked confused. Saguru gave him a startled look. Kaito had taken one look at the gift and quickly covered it back up with the wrapping paper so Saguru couldn't see it. Although he was pretty sure Mum had found where he had hidden it afterwards.

But that wasn't the embarrassing part. The embarrassing part was the leather riding crop he'd gotten with it.

"What did you get from Akako-chan, Hakuba-kun?" Aoko asked, undaunted.

Saguru gave her what had to be one of the best 'stiff-upper-lip' looks Kaito had ever seen the half-briton give. "I respectfully decline to state."

Dammit. He still didn't know what Koizumi had given the blond either. Saguru had squeaked, blushed red enough to out shine the Christmas lights and shoved it back in the box before Kaito could make out any more details other than the fact that it was leather and apparently had straps.

The box had mysteriously disappeared after that and even Mum hadn't found it. Kaito knew this for a fact, he'd asked.

Before the girls could pester him further on it, Saguru's expression changed to mild amusement. "Oh, look. Mimes."

Oh, sure. A silent war between a brigade of mimes and the museum security breaks out when SAGURU needed a distraction, but not for Kaito.

Still, it -was- entertaining to watch.

Although interviewing the mimes afterwards might be a little difficult...

+++

"Bye, Kaito." Aoko gave him a tight hug, nearly cutting off all his breathing circulation. "Take care of yourself. And Hakuba-kun."

"Will do." He agreed, his arms at his sides. It wasn't socially acceptable to hug... screw it. They where half a world away and Mum would have his skin for garters if he didn't give his sister-friend a proper send off.

She squeaked when he hugged her back, then giggled and squeezed him tighter.

New note to self: Aoko really was as strong as a gorilla. Ow.

She released him and latched on to Saguru while Kaito tried to get his neck back into alignment.

Aoko and Saguru commented back and forth to each other other for a moment, then Aoko released him, looking fiercely proud. Kaito smiled and handed her her duffel bag, the suit case having already been checked in. With a tiger's eye hair clip from Auntie Kitty carefully hidden inside for Aoko to discover when she got home.

He wondered if Nakamori would recognise it from the sketches passed out during the Golden Eye case.

"Travel safe, Aoko."

"Thanks." He got another glomp for that, her arm wrapped around his neck and pulling him down to her height. "And I'm glad you and Hakuba-kun have each other. Even if you're not. You know." She kissed him on the cheek and quickly dashed towards the security gate. "See you later!" She called.

Kaito felt his face heat up and shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to hide inside of his jacket. It didn't quite work. Saguru noticed, letting his hand drop from waving her off.

"What?" He muttered sulkily. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He was supposed to have perfect control over his facial expressions. -Except for this damn blush!

Saguru just continued to give him odd looks the rest of the night, but didn't say anything. He was doing that a lot lately.

+++ Epilogue +++

Saguru had been called away for the day doing administrative work on a couple of cases he had assisted with recently in London. Kaito had the option of joining him, but after a very minor debate, deciding against it.

Instead, he waited until after Saguru had left, pulled out some of his costuming, dressed as a bookish type of girl and took the train after the blond to town.

After travelling around London with Aoko, Kaito noticed the difference on how people reacted, being a guy versus being around a girl. It was even more different 'being' a girl than being a guy. Doors were suddenly held open, he wasn't shoved -quite- as much on the Tube, shop keepers were a bit more attentive...

Okay, so that last one was a little freaky, being a thief and all, but it beat being stared at like he was going to mug someone cause he was a teenage guy.

He revisited the Tower of London as well, this time keeping a closer eye on the security, just in case. And being a girl gave him an excuse to stare at the jewels without arosing as much suspicion. Cause he was a girl and girls like shiny things, right? Right.

Or something like that.

Lunch was fun too, he just chose a cafe at random and took a seat outdoors under the balcony, enjoying watching people pass by. And cooing about being on a diet, just cause Aoko did it and it always amused him. Or made him want to strangle her. One or the other. Either way, it was fun to pull.

Except when he suddenly noticed a tea-coloured blond among the mass of people wandering by. He knew that particular shade of blond very well, he woke up because it was attempting to suffocate him in his sleep on a fairly regular basis.

Saguru's gaze seemed to sweep past him, then the detective paused, looking down at something. The crowd blocked Kaito's view of what it was, then Saguru continued walking forward.

Kaito quickly turned his attention to what he was eating as the the blond passed by without pause, disappearing around the corner. In the direction of the police station, Kaito realised. Saguru must have been on a lunch break or something.

He glanced down and discovered there was a business card sitting on the table. There was some writing on it. Curious, he picked it up. It was one of Saguru's business cards with his cellphone number on it, with Japanese writing on it. -In Saguru's handwriting.

'Nice Legs. See you when you get home.'

Kaito blinked. Then blinked again. He did a quick glance around. Nope, no one was shouting 'crossdresser' or giving him odd looks. A quick glance in the reflection of his cutlery showed that nothing was out of order either. His disguise was fine and none of the clothes belonged the the detective or Mum.

So how the bloody hell had Saguru known?

-fin-

The Autographed Sock comes from the same fic Mum does. "And Many Happy Returns" by Ysabet, written for Saguru and Only One Truth's birthday last year.
-No, we didn't create Mum, Ysabet gets all the credit. Muwahaha. Um. Used with her permission.

(Edit- 30 Jan:
Added Paddington Bear reference. 'The Fairy Theif' painting and lore is from Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception.)

*streaches* Ye Gods, we've been storing what Akako gave them for the Holidays for AGES now.
Lessee... next in time line, they have a fight.
No plunnies for biting that one.
But!!!
The next two after that are complete, third isn't, fourth is. Geh. Trying to catch up but the plunnies keep racing further... argh.
See what happens when we don't write it for a while?! Geh!

[Edit: *Squee!* tdei wrote more of the Kami-Kaitou fic!!!
Anyone elese wanna poke at it? ^______^