Archive of Our Own ^beta

So maybe KID wasn't the best at finding things. Kaito liked to think he was, but he was also aware of his record. Magic gems still not found, getting stabbed in secret temples, falling off tall buildings and only barely getting by alive– he was a magician and a thief but not precisely a detective when it came to sussing out secrets. 

He was, though, the best at stealing precious items.

Especially when they appeared to be missing. 

“Where’s Aoko?” 

The house had been unusually dark for the holiday season, with only the bare minimum of lights on. Kaito had been so preoccupied with the heist in Kyoto, that he hadn’t realized Aoko wasn’t there to bug him once he’d gotten home. He slept for two days straight, but by now she should have been there, forcing him into a role as Santa's helper, making cookies, untangling lights, or some other inane holiday activity.

Like skating. Ugh. 

He decided to investigate the matter himself, and was surprised when he saw Nakamori leaving his house more morose than usual. Stranger yet, the man had his pipe in his mouth before leaving the door. 

“Kaito-kun?” the man glanced at the boy with an especially furrowed brow. “Ah you’re looking for Aoko- she’s visiting family,” his lips were tight though and Kaito frowned. Nakamori never mentioned extended family, nor did Aoko. 

“Family?” Kaito wasn’t buying it. He’d known her since they were children and never once had she disappeared to visit “family.”

The man huffed, a long trail of smoke emerging from his pipe, “Don’t worry Kaito-kun– she’ll be back once the break is over.”

Except she wasn’t responding to his messages, or his texts, or anything else.  Nakamori was staying later at the office, and Kaito was going to lose his mind with nothing but facetimes from his mother. 

It was just a few days before Christmas when Kaito took it into his own hands. He’d left a heist note at the office, making sure Nakamori would be distracted for a few hours. The note was for the New Year, but until they solved it the policemen wouldn’t know it. It would give him enough time that he could go through the Nakamori house and search for where Aoko had disappeared off to.

Too easy to sneak into the house. Too easy to see no evidence left of where Aoko had gone in her room, but hardly enough to stall him. He slipped into Nakamori’s home office and looked through the document’s on his desk:  

A train ticket receipts to the Akita Prefecture, as well as a few letters remarking that it was past time for a family visit, and that “Nakamori would do well to remember their agreement.”  

Kaito’s lips pursed as he thumbed through the brief but terse letter with a name at the bottom he did not recognize. Not Nakamori– so then… 

Aoko didn’t talk much about her mother’s family but when she did…

To hell with that. 

He made note of the destination Semboku, Akita, and slipped out the window to make his way home to pack.

The snow was heavy once they got north of Kanto, and the further north the more white it blanketed. Kaito supposed it looked beautiful, or it might if his mind wasn’t elsewhere. Like why Aoko wouldn't have mentioned she was being sent to her mother’s family for the holidays. 

Except for the tiny voice inside him that told him he hadn’t been there. 

‘You barely saw her at all you idiot with all the heists’ he told himself, listening for the next stop. Why would she tell him anything, and even if she had would he have even listened?

Her phone reception was none existent, he’d tried that first to no response. Of course, she hadn’t sent him anything before she left, so much good that did anyway. He’d pocketed one of the letters, just to make sure he had the correct address. 

They hardly seemed cordial, and if what he’d read was correct the whole idea was ludicrous. Aoko would never have agreed to an omiai because some extended relative asked her to. She’d just become a legal adult, and she’d been accepted into the police academy for the next year. Why on earth would she willingly sit through a session with a matchmaker in a part of the country she’d never even been before? 

None of it made sense, but whatever it was Kaito didn’t think the whole thing was entirely willing. Not from the way she’d mentioned her mother’s family in the past, nor from the responses in the letters. 

It was Christmas, and damned if he’d spend it without Aoko this year. 

He looked out the window of the train and watched the snow fall. 

It was dark and not even mid-afternoon yet. The snow fell in silver crystals, lighting up the countryside in a blanket of white. Kaito’s footsteps seemed like the only sound as he walked along the road towards the address in his hands, the crunch of freshly fallen snow, and his breath in the cold air. 

He’d turned a corner, near the lake, when he noticed a figure sitting out by the frozen water a little ways away from the nearest house and road. 

She looked like a snow maiden, her kimono a pale blue, with a soft fur collar around her neck. She had her sleeves wrapped around her, and a thin veil of snow scattered in her dark hair that was seeking to escape her bun. He could see moisture on her cheeks, even from a distance, and his guilt at waiting so long before coming came tenfold.

She didn’t look up as he approached, she didn’t even turn as he slipped next to her and held up a hand holding out a rose, just as pale as the snow around them.

“Hello there, my name’s Kaito Kuroba, what’s yours?” 

Her head flew up, and bright blue eyes met his. They widened, and he heard a small little gasp from her mouth as she yelled, “Kaito!” Two arms flew around him pulling him into a tight hug and nearly sending them both flying into the ice. 

He was careful to catch her around the waist, regaining their balance and holding her steady just before she pulled away and gave him a hard shove.

“ Bakaito! What are you doing here!” 

The effect may have worked better if she still didn’t have crystalized tears on her cheeks. He reached out, a handkerchief appearing in his hand as he reached out to brush them away. 

“I missed you, Ahouko ” 

“ You missed –” Aoko stared up at him in disbelief. “Kaito, we’re over 500 kilometers from Tokyo! It’s just a few days until Christmas, and do you even know anyone in Akita other than me?” 

“Do I need to?” he said, knowing how ridiculous he sounded, and wondering just how many of his emotions he wasn’t currently wearing on his sleeve. “It’s not like there was anything at home for me right now. Mom’s still in Vegas. And how dare you think to escape before getting me a batch of your Christmas Cookies. I wasn’t going to let you get away with that.” 

He hadn’t thought it was possible to see her crumple further, and yet Aoko pulled further away from him, refusing to meet his eye.

“Aoko?” 

“Well you won’t be getting any here. Yokami-san doesn’t approve of such western nonsense. We should be preparing for the new years, not silly western traditions,” she said the last bit like she was reciting from a mantra. 

“Yokami-san?” Kaito raised an eyebrow. 

Aoko flinched. 

“My Grandmother,” she said rubbing her arms self-consciously. 

Kaito had known Aoko since before he knew anyone, she was his earliest friend but, “Your Grandmother ? I’ve never heard you mention her before. I’d thought you didn’t have any family outside a few cousins on your Dad’s side?” 

“We aren’t close,” she said, quickly looking away again. 

“Clearly, A houko, so why are you here?” 

“ Bakaito!” she shoved him off the rock and into the snow bank below. He huffed, flicking off the snow as he looked up at her. The expression reflected was true hurt, not the mocking sort he was used to, but a far more guarded pain. It was the type she reserved for Kaito KID, or worries about her father’s job. 

“It’s not like I want to be alright?” she snapped at him. “I just… I had to come.” 

He managed to brush the snow off, and crawled back onto the rock with her, hesitant and he slipped closer, “Yeah?” 

She huffed, her breath making soft puffs in front of her, “Yeah.” She looked down at her hands, the kimono with soft blue and silver clouds. “They have all that’s left of my Mom. If I didn’t come I– I’d forsake my inheritance.” 

Kaito lifted up his head in shock, “What??” 

She toyed with the edge of her kimono, pulling at the threads angrily, “It’s all wrapped up with my Grandfather’s will. I have her inheritance and things she left, but only if I came to stay with them and agreed to discuss their conditions. They’re… very traditional, which was one reason they disliked my father so much when he married her.” 

She’d never told him this story before, and Kaito had never pried. Their missing parents had always been a sore point and a silent agreement not to raise painful memories for either of them. 

“So they disowned her?” 

Aoko shrugged, “I guess? When I was born I guess I was written in, but under the agreement that I would come spend time with them. Father didn’t like how I was treated, so he sort of told them to… well you know Dad.”

Kaito had to laugh and was rewarded with a small smile from Aoko in return. He could easily imagine the Inspector telling her Grandmother exactly his opinions of them. He supposed that might be enough to get anyone disowned.  

“Anyway, we received a letter this year that my mother had left some of her things and I could take them on the condition I spent this season with them and agreed to meet with a nakōdo.” 

“A matchmaker!?” spat out Kaito. “What the-” 

“Hush!,” Aoko turned to look up towards the house. “It’s fine, Kaito. I don’t have to say yes to whatever match they make, and… You know I don’t have all that much of my mother’s. Dad was so torn up, and I was so little, and we were never allowed to visit. It’s just that I thought–” 

Kaito touched her arm, “That they’re family?” 

Aoko scowled, “Something like that.” 

The snow made the silence deafening. Like a blanket tossed over the area, muffling the sound and making everything a faint reflection of itself. He leaned sideways, nudging her shoulder with his. 

“And yet you’re out here?” 

She shifted away, “Apparently I’m more of a disappointment then they expected. I just… I couldn’t take it anymore. I felt like if I stayed inside any longer I’d suffocate.” 

“So you decided to freeze instead,” said Kaito, his face carefully neutral. 

“It’s not that bad,” she muttered. “These layers are too warm inside, and out here they actually make sense. I was hoping it might help me blend in, but I just feel like I’m playing dress up.” 

“Well they’re idiots. Those look… good on you. I mean– everything you wear looks good on you, but-” his cheeks flushed and he turned away before she could see how tongue tied he’d gotten. 

Aoko smiled, reached out and set her hand on his arm, “I know what you mean Kaito. Thank you.” 

He debated, and then moved his own hand, moving to catch hers, “Always,” he said, meeting her eye. “They don’t deserve you.”

“I wish I could invite you inside but-” she looked back at the building. 

“I know,” he said, shaking his head and taking her hand. “You didn’t exactly invite me. You can’t blame me for being worried though. Your father wouldn’t explain what was going on, and you wouldn’t pick up your phone. This is the first Christmas we spent apart since… forever.” 

Since before his father passed. Since maybe they’d met. There’d been so many, and she’d always been there. Before his father’s death, maybe less– but that Christmas after he passed, Kaito remembered her pushing her way into his kitchen and handing him a bowl and an apron and forcing tinsel in his hair. 

He’d retaliate by putting her in the ugliest sweater he could come up with, and a hairstyle that could rival the Whos of Whoville. Complete with light up ornamentation. 

After that, there was never a Christmas without Aoko, even when Kaito wasn’t always there in return. 

“Aoko, I-” he leaned forward slightly, squeezing her hand slightly.

Whatever he was going to say next was lost to the slamming of the door from the house across the way and a high pitched woman’s voice. 

“Aoko-chan this has gone on long enough! Get inside now!”

She groaned, pulling away, “My Aunt.” 

Kaito looked back towards the house and set a hand on her arm, “Will you be okay?”

She shrugged, “I have to be, yeah? I’m already here. I might as well follow through. It’s just until the New Year.” 

“Mmmm,” said Kaito, eyes narrowing as he heard another yell from the house. “Well I plan to stay in town. If you need a distraction or escape.” 

Her smile was weak, if honest, “Thank you Kaito but I should… probably handle this myself. They’re really traditional and somehow I don’t think they’d approve. I can’t imagine I’ll be able to get away.” 

He nodded looking back towards the house, “Which room are you in? You have a room?” 

She nodded, “My mother’s old room. Up on the second floor looking out at Mount Komagatake, why?” 

Kaito’s lips curled up, “No reason.” 

“Kaito, I mean it. No pranks. These people aren’t-” 

The piercing voice shot through the air again, “Aoko Nakamori if you don’t return now I’ll close the door and you’ll be finding your own way back to Tokyo!” 

“Go,” said Kaito. “Maybe I’ll see you sooner than you think.” 

“Kaito the walls aren’t–” 

“Go,” he said, catching her hand and pushing the forgotten rose back into her palm. 

He had work to do. 

Aoko didn’t see him at all the next day, there was hardly time with the way that her family drilled “proper etiquette” and the type of lady that they expected her to be to make the family proud, and reminders on how much of a failure she was compared to her mother– who’d been stolen away by her villain of a father. 

At that moment she’d do anything to be stolen away, even if it was Kaitou KID riding in on the back of sleigh with reindeer. If it meant she could escape that bleak house, she’d be happy to be thrown over his shoulder and taken home. 

She’d left her window open, just for good measure. She knew it was a mistake, and it made the room freezing but after the day she’d had she would have risked her family’s wrath to see a friendly face. 

Instead, there was nothing but a thick snowfall, dusting her sill and blanketing the night in darkness. It left her to her family’s lectures, and left her chilled on her futon. 

By the time Christmas Eve came and it was clear there was no chance of sneaking into town. There would be no brightly lit trees this year or spices filling up the house with holiday baking. So far the only hint of holidays had been talk of which temple they’d be visiting on New Years Day, and when to begin preparing the mochi.

Dinner was a somber affair, another night of Aoko mostly being ignored until she could be excused off to bed. Less smiles, and more unhappy looks her way from the way her hair escaped her attempts to tame it, and no doubt the way she’d tied her obi. Hardly a stunning example of what a young lady should look like. 

Slipping into her room she scowled and barely kept from slamming the door shut. Faint moonlight slipped into her window, and she walked over to the sill and breathed in the mountain air. 

“Took you long enough,” said a voice above her, and she barely stifled a yell tripping backwards. 

A hand reached out, grabbing her arm and stabilizing her, as Kaito slipped onto the sill, as quiet as a cat. He was dressed in traditional wear, like her’s, although mostly white with a snow like design and accents in black. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him dressed like that, and from the pristine condition presumably new. 

Her mind fluttered for a moment that he almost looked like Kaitou KID, if the thief were to dress in traditional clothing. She forced the thought away, and instead registered that the man was now sitting in her window. 

“Kaito?! What are you doing here?” 

Kaito grinned back at her. It was the type of grin that meant trouble, “It’s Christmas isn’t it? Or about to be, I thought I might steal you away for a little while.” 

She looked back at the door, “I really shouldn’t.” 

“I think you really should,” he said, standing up and catching her hand. “Come one. I even dressed up for you… these kimonos they’ve got you in made me feel underdressed.” 

“Oh really? It never seemed to bother you before,” she said, swatting at him. 

“Well, I figured it might help if your relatives caught me. I’ll be some nice town lad who was dazzled by the mysterious girl I glimpsed at the Inagawa estate.” 

She laughed, “Idiot. I don’t think they’ll buy that.” 

“Well then we’ll just have to not get caught, eh?” Kaito swooped in to pick her up in his arms before leaping out her window. She bit down on her lip to keep from yelling, instead choosing to wrap her arms tightly around his neck. She knew he wouldn’t let her fall, he’d never drop her, but it hardly helped as he slipped over the roof and down onto the path below towards the woods. 

“Where are we going?” she finally asked, once they’d ducked into the trees and she tried to wriggle out of his arms. “I hope your plan doesn’t involve us freezing to death out here. I don’t actually know my family’s estate all that well. I’m not exactly a trustworthy individual in their eyes.” 

She saw disapproval flash over his face for a moment before it went back to his usual mask, and felt him wrap his hand around hers to lead her, “Well that just proves how stupid they really are. You're the most trustworthy person I know. Unlike me,” he said with a sharp grin. “But in this instance, I’ll ask anyway, trust me?” 

“Be happy this kimono is insulated,” she said, keeping her hand in his. “I suppose so. What exactly are we doing besides freezing?” 

“It’s a surprise,” he said with a wink, leading her further away from the house. 

She smelled the spices before she saw anything else. It drifted on the wind, through the trees and mixed with the mountain air. It was the faint scent of cinnamon and nutmeg on the wind, and allspice with orange, apples, and chocolate. 

Through the trees she could see a clearing wrapped in moonlight. Tall trees kept it from prying eyes, and a path had been cleared through the snow towards the center. As soon as they stepped in, suddenly there was a burst of light and a bright warm cheerful fire burst to life from a hidden fire pit, and all around the trees were filled with hundreds of fairy lights and christmas bulbs, all flickering with colors, dancing off the silver, gold, green and red ornaments that had been hung from the boughs. 

She let out a  gasp. 

By the fire, there were carefully laid blankets with mugs and trays of cookies and sweets and her favorite Christmas foods. A steaming hot thermos next to marshmallows, and cinnamon sticks and even a flask of something she was probably better off not asking about. 

“Kaito?” 

“Merry Christmas Aoko,” he said, squeezing her hand. His smile was a careful one, like he was worried that he’d perhaps made the wrong move. 

She couldn’t help the tears that welled up in her eyes, the sob that threatened to break through, which was exactly what she didn’t want. She’d already cried enough with her family, she didn’t want to cry over something as beautiful as this. 

“Sorry– sorry Kaito it’s…” she brought her hands up to her face. 

“I’m sorry did I–” she could see the panic on his face, and squeezed his hand tightly. 

“It's been such a horrible week, and I’ve been so lonely and I didn’t think I’d get any holiday spirit. I doubted I’d even get to call my father tomorrow, and–” she stepped forward and threw her arms around Kaito. “Thank you.” 

She rested there, her arms tight around him until he brought his arms back around her as well, tentative at first and then more steady. 

“It’s not Christmas without you,” he murmured. She knew the implications, Christmas was for lovers, and maybe they weren’t that but– 

“Or you,” she said softly, raising her head and brushing a kiss on his cheek. He went red, as did she, and she quickly pulled away to walk over to the picnic laid out. 

“These look delicious Kaito,” she said, picking up one of the gingerbread men. “Did you make them?” 

He was still red in the cheeks as he shook his head, “No kitchen where I’m staying, but there’s a wonderful little French bakery in the town. The owner’s wife apparently moved here from France years ago, and makes all the pastries. It’s a shame you haven’t gotten a chance to explore. It’s really quite lovely here.” 

“Yeah…” she murmured, picking up one of the mugs of hot chocolate. “I suppose.” 

“Your mother was from here?” 

She shrugged, “My whole family, on her side. They’ve been here since as long as there’s history for the town, and they claim they can trace their roots back to the area’s first daimyo .” She looked up at the tree’s lights, “They’re very proud of that, and very traditional and still set in keeping the old ways. I think when Mom left for Tokyo that was the breaking point.” 

“They shouldn’t blame you for that,” he said, reaching for the second mug. 

“Well I’m hardly the picture of a descendant of a daimyo ,” she huffed, pulling at one of the strands of loose hair and causing the whole thing to tumble along her shoulders. 

“No,” said Kaito, tugging her hand away. “You’re more like a samurai, always lunging in head first. If they can’t see that then that’s their loss. They should be proud at how far you’ve come, I mean… you’ve done a better job at catching Kaitou KID than your father.” 

She stuck her tongue out at him, “Don’t insult my father on Christmas.” 

Kaito laughed and threw up his hands, “I’m not. I’m just saying you're an even better thief catcher than he is and already accepted into the academy and everything. That’s more important than some silly arranged marriage based on bloodlines.” 

“Thank’s Kaito,” she said, taking a sip of the cocoa. 

“Of course, and now…” he said, lifting his arms, “Time for a Christmas party right?” 

Christmas music poured in from hidden speakers filling the glen, and lights flared in the fire causing sparks and sparkles. Aoko let out a gasp and Kaito grinned as he clinked her mug with his. 

They talked until the late hours of the night, the fire magically never seeming to grow dim. Aoko shifted closer and Kaito made extra blankets appear to wrap around them– Eventually she agreed to a touch of whatever was in the flask, and stopped caring about what her family would think in the morning. 

Or even what repercussions this might mean for the two of them, once they got back to Tokyo.

She barely registered when suddenly noticed the birds were being especially loud, and the feel of sunlight on her face. Nor did she want to move, from the warm body wrapped behind her and thick blankets over the two of them.  

An arm was along her middle, and she felt a warm breath on her neck. Turning slightly she could see that Kaito’s eyes were still shut where he was curled against her on the blankets they’d nested around them. Sometime late into the night they’d fallen asleep talking, and Kaito, being the cat he was, had sprawled against her. 

She blinked sleepily, taking in his face, and the blush overwhelming her cheeks. She could feel everywhere they touched under the blankets, the way his legs were curled against hers, and her back against his stomach. They’d shared sleeping spaces before but not this… intimately. 

Just a few more minutes … she thought to herself as she closed her eyes again, and let herself bury her head against his chest. 

“Aoko-chan!” the brusk call went through the trees. “Aoko Nakamori, where are you! If you think this stunt is funny-” the voice was still at a distance but it was enough to cause her to fly to her feet. 

If they saw her and Kaito–

“Mmmm,” Kaito muttered, startled at her sudden movement, and where she’d nearly banged her head against his in a rush to stand up. He blinked at her, clearly not yet fully awake as he rubbed his eyes, “S’wrong?” 

“We overslept,” she said, trying to straighten her kimono. “Ugh… they’re never going to let me live this down if they find out I snuck out.” 

He shifted up, getting to his feet before moving behind her to help twist her hair in a simple knot. It was something he used to do when they were children, but as an adult it felt strangely intimate. He talked as he worked, “It’s okay. Just say you wanted an early walk. It’s not even… ugh… eight yet.” 

“They’re early risers,” she muttered. 

“Then say you had trouble sleeping and woke up and wanted to see the sunrise by the lake” he said, letting go of her. “Maybe they don’t celebrate Christmas, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be allowed to. You’re only here for another week yeah? Don’t let them take what fun you can have away.”

She smiled, looking up at him. He shouldn’t look so charming with sleep still in his eyes, and a hint of drool at the corner of his mouth, but somehow the bed head and wrinkled robes made him even more charming than usual. 

“Thank you Kaito. For everything,” she said, unable to look at his face any longer without doing something spectacularly stupid.  

“Merry Christmas Aoko,” he said leaning down brushing her cheek like she had the night before. He looked surprised at his own action when he pulled away, a hint of red in the early morning sun. 

“Kaito–”

The ringing voice was growing closer, “Aoko-chan I swear, causing all this trouble for your–” 

“Go,” he said, pushing her away. “I’ll clean this up.” 

Without turning back, she ran from the clearing, “Coming Aunt Hiroko!” 

It was probably worth heading back to Tokyo, Kaito had a heist to prepare after all, but somehow he couldn’t bring himself to leave just yet. It was a few days after Christmas, and he knew she was probably fine but– 

“Don’t think about it Kaito” he murmured to himself over the tea he was nursing. 

Plus, it had been a fascinating trip so far. Semboku was beautiful, and Mount Komagatake was incredible, covered with snow and reflected on the waters of Lake Tazawa. Honestly, if Aoko’s family didn’t seem so wretched, he wouldn’t blame her for escaping here as often as she could. 

A screeching voice caught his attention, droning on from across the room, “I just don’t know what the Imagawa family is thinking,” the woman was dressed in a blindingly colorful kimono. Her make up thick, and her lips pursed. He could hear her nails clicking against the table from where he was. 

“That bad?” said the woman, pouring the tea where she sat along the counter. 

“Why, they sent me her whole portfolio. I might be able to make something from the girl, she isn’t the worst looking creature I’ve ever seen, although unfortunately got more of her father than her mother. Do you remember Hitomi Imagawa? She was stunning, but her daughter-” the woman shook her head. “None of that refinement. Why, she’s already applied to the police academy if you can imagine!” 

Only his years of being Kaitou KID now kept him from turning. Indeed, it still took everything not to just throw the cup of tea at the woman, but instead move his chair carefully so he could hear better. She must be the matchmaker that Aoko had mentioned. 

“Oh goodness! These ideas those city girls have. Surely she realizes this would utterly ruin her chances for a good marriage, unless she expects to find someone at the academy. Some girls do that, you know,” said the shopkeeper as she stirred another pot of tea. 

“ Some people are hardly the Imagawas. Why, if she would just follow their wishes that girl would have enough money even with just a moderate marriage. Perhaps a second or third son, her grades are decent, and I hear she had some musical training. Piano, but I suppose it will do, given the circumstances. I suppose the family should be thankful she has any artistic ability at all, having been raised by that wolf of a man.” 

Bam. 

Kaito’s cup slammed against the wood of the table. Faces looked his way and he cringed, rubbing his hand, “Heheh– sorry. Lost my grip,” he said, waving his hand at them. “Hurt it skiing.” 

The woman ignored him, turning back to the shop clerk going on, “I’ll need to make sure I pick a good strong man to pair her with. Someone that will keep her in line, and knock any nonsense like police academies out of her.” 

Kaito pushed down his fury. It was no use yelling at the women, he’d only make things worse for Aoko, but if this was the attitude she’d be even more hurt. It was bad enough the family took her away from her last real Christmas with her father before the academy, nor that they were holding her mother’s things hostage, but this woman? 

What did she know about Aoko? Plain? Aoko was beautiful, wild, her messy dark hair framing her face, her bright blue eyes always blazing– She might not be as stylish as Akako, but she had her own look. Soft dresses, or jeans that made up an armor of their own. Sometime over the last few years she’d grown up, and the result had been kind to her. All her working out in making sure she could keep up with KID and the detectives, all the soft curves that had filled out and more than once meant she’d caught him staring. 

But even without her looks, it didn’t matter. 

Because it was Aoko. 

Aoko who always showed her emotions and never just hid behind a smile. Aoko who would make you laugh and cry, and never look back even as she yelled at how much of an idiot you’d been. 

How dare she make it sound like the police academy was something to be ashamed of. It was difficult to get into the program she’d applied for, especially on her first try, and never mind the fact she was a woman. Her grades had been top notch, and she would have been accepted anywhere. You’d have to be blind not to be proud of how accomplished she was. 

He dropped money for the bill, finally making up his mind– 

Maybe KID had a heist to plan in Tokyo, but Kaito had one to finish in Semboku first. 

Aoko didn’t know what to expect when she heard a guest at the door and the flutter of commotion downstairs. There were voices, and she heard her name mentioned more than once. Honestly, she’d planned to just hide in her room until she went back to Tokyo after the disastrous matchmaking meeting, but her Aunt’s voice calling for her meant it was not to be. 

Still, whatever she expected to walk into was not Kaito Kuroba standing in her Grandmother’s sitting room. 

He was wearing another traditional outfit, something dark blue this time, with slashes of red in the lining. It looked good on him, maybe even better than the one from Christmas. He had brought a gift that he was setting in her Grandmother’s hands, and was speaking when she entered. 

“Forgive me for my abrupt appearance, but I think there was some misunderstanding. I understand you have an agreement, but rest assured if it wasn't of the utmost importance I wouldn’t have come to bring her back to Tokyo.” 

The old woman’s frown was deep as she looked Kaito over, as Aoko’s aunt took away the package, “Why didn’t Aoko-chan mention you upon her visit. She had agreed to the omiai meeting. That seems rather disingenuous with a boyfriend back in Tokyo,” she said the word like it was a curse, although her eyes were clearly sizing Kaito up. 

Aoko started at that, trying to understand exactly what her aunt had just said. Surely she had heard wrong-

“Would you have listened?” said Kaito, crossing his arms. “I’ve never seen you visit her, or come down to Tokyo. From what I have heard, I know you don’t particularly like the culture there. No doubt you would have taken me for some motorbike riding delinquite if you hadn’t met me first,” he said, somewhat sheepishly. “So I came in person.” He gave a bow and held out a hand, a bouquet appearing that he handed to her aunt as well.  

Aoko truly hoped he hadn’t ridden his motorbike all this way, and fought not to laugh at his gall. 

“Aoko-chan is what this boy says true? Do you know him?” Her Grandmother turned her shrewd eyes towards her, and Aoko fought not to shrink away.

Kaito looked up at her and she caught a sly wink, a smile forced its way to her lips, “Yes Grandmother. This is Kaito Kuroba, he was probably one of my first friends. Umm… things have been different lately, but I didn’t want to offend you after all your planning.  I thought it wouldn’t hurt to go through the process of an omiai and if something came from it… well we could discuss it when I returned to Tokyo.” She shot a look at Kaito who pretended to look put out. 

“And insult another family!?” her Grandmother said, shaking her head. “Why, it’s shocking a nice young man like this would even bother coming out of his way with the type of disrespect you show.” 

Kaito stepped between Aoko and her Grandmother, his pleasant mask disintegrating. “The only disrespect I’ve seen so far is how you’ve spoken about your granddaughter,” he said firmly. “I’ve heard enough. Aoko’s needed back at home, and if you care about seeing her so much maybe you should think about taking a trip down to Tokyo. Aoko, why don’t you go get your things? The train’s this afternoon-” 

“Kaito I-” 

He turned around and grabbed her wrist, meeting her eyes, “I’ll take care of it. Go.” 

She swallowed hard, looking between Kaito and her family before heading back up the stairs. She’d fought the Imagawa clan for the better part of a month, and she was done fighting. If someone else was willing to step in, and that person was Kaito, let it be on his head. 

She could hear raised voices as she packed what little she’d pulled out of her suitcase, and as an after thought added the kimonos she’d been wearing. If they held it against her, so be it, but they were her mothers and if she didn’t get anything else she could at least have those to remember her by. 

When she came out of the room she could hear Kaito speaking. 

“ How dare you? You say you loved your daughter, but do you think your granddaughter isn’t just as hurt? She had to live without a mother. Anyone of you could have stepped in, and shared your lives, but you were so conceited and obsessed with image you couldn’t imagine anything else! Aoko is the kindest, beautiful, most courageous person I know. If she wasn’t she would have never stayed a full week with you, I know I wouldn’t have. How dare you step in and try to change her life when you haven’t even been there to see what kind of person she is, and worst keep her mother’s things from her?” 

“Hitomi was my daughter, and we loved her! That wretched man-” 

“Your daughter made her own decisions. Nakamori-keibu is a good man, a better man than any of you certainly. Tokyo would be a worse place without him. That man also loves his daughter more than anything, certainly more than you care. You say you loved your daughter? Then how would she want you to treat hers? Keep her things from her? Keep her from having those memories. You should all be ashamed.” 

Aoko froze, staring at the scene below. Kaito looked up and she could see his eyes flash in worry before asking, “Are you ready?” 

“Yes,” she said, stepping down the stairs with her suitcase in hand. At the bottom she turned to her aunt and Grandmother, “Thank you for the visit. If you come to Tokyo please feel free to call.” She was proud that she kept her voice from shaking. 

She felt Kaito scowling next to her as he picked up her suitcase and headed for the door. 

“Wait!” her Aunt called, stepping forward to stop them. “Wait… let me– give me a moment please,” she said, turning to go into the other room. 

“Hiroko?” said Aoko’s Grandmother, turning to follow her daughter towards the other room. 

A moment later Hiroko reappeared with her husband, wheeling in a large chest that she set before Kaito ignoring her mother’s protests.

“Hiroko! That wasn’t the agreement-” 

“They’re right, mother! It all should be Aoko-chan's! Hitomi would want it that way. You told Aoko-chan to come from winter’s break and she did, and she even obeyed your rules. It’s not her fault she’s not used to the family ways, and it's ridiculous to think she’d understand it after just a week,” Hiroko looked at Aoko and nodded. “Take this– it’s not everything, but that’s the main items you were promised. Her bridal kimono and some of her more precious things she left behind. It’s only right that you take them.” 

Aoko’s Grandmother scowled and turned away, removing herself from the room. 

Hiroko sighed, “She’s still bitter. I don’t think that will ever change, but I promise this is yours. She doesn’t have any hold over it, and really it should have been yours years ago. I’m sorry none of us did the right thing sooner.” 

Aoko bit her lip to keep from crying, “It’s… okay. Thank you. Really. Aunt Hiroko this means–” 

Hiroko bowed, “It’s alright Aoko-chan. I know it might take time but please, try not to think too badly of us.”

Aoko simply nodded.  

Kaito bowed next to her, “Thank you.” 

The woman nodded as Kaito handed the suitcase back to Aoko and he wheeled the trunk out the door. 

Aoko was silent, as they walked up the path to the road towards the train station. Kaito didn’t say anything immediately either, focused on pulling the chest along behind. 

“Did you mean it?” she asked finally, once they were far enough away from the house. 

“Mean what?” he said, turning to look at her. 

“What you said inside?” 

“Well, yeah. They deserved all of it. I can’t believe they would say those things about you, when here they are just hiding out on some old estate in the middle of nowhere–” 

Aoko tried to smile, “I suppose. I…” she blushed. “What about the rest of it?” 

She snuck a look and saw his own cheeks were red, “Uh… want to be more specific?” 

She huffed and shuffled closer to him, “You know which part, bakaito .” 

He stopped pulling the chest and set it down beside him. Looking down he said, “I… Fine. I didn’t like the idea of you seeing a matchmaker, okay?” 

“Okay.” 

“Okay?” 

“Okay,” she said leaning into him. After a moment she added, “I like you too.” 

She could almost hear his heart beating out of his chest as he stared at her, “Yeah?” 

“Mmmhm,” she said smiling, this time it caught her eyes and she felt the pink tinting her cheeks. 

“Oh,” he managed before breaking into a grin. “So… I can go into the New Year without the guilt of having lied to your Grandmother?” 

A giggle escaped her lips, and she felt herself pulled into his arms, “Only if you're the one to tell Dad we’re dating.” 

Kaito let out a groan, “You don’t think I’ll get points for bringing you home early?” 

She laughed, “Probably. I think he’s been rooting for you anyway. He was kind of shocked that I agreed to even consider the omiai , and asked what you thought of it.” 

“You didn’t tell me!” 

“I told him it wasn’t any of your business!” 

“No more omiai ,” he said, pulling her even closer. They were just a few breaths apart, and he raised a hand to brush her cheek. 

“No more omiai .” 

He leaned down, barely brushing his lips against hers before pulling back, “So if I were to marry into the Imagawa family-” 

“ Bakaito!” 

“Just thinking ahead!” 

“Why you-” 

“So violent!” 

“Kaito I’ll-” 

He caught her back in his arms brushing another kiss across her lips and wrapping an arm around her waist, “Happy New Year, mi’lady.”