Day 30 —Write a short entry that ends with the line, “The silver dust of moonlight settled coldly on the night.”
Aoko woke up suddenly, with the awareness she wasn't alone in her room.
"Terribly sorry to disturb you, ojousan. I won't be long. I only came to deliver a message."
She angrily sat up in bed, looking around for anything that could be used as a weapon, unlikely though it may be she would land a blow.
"What do you want, thief."
The moonlight dusted his white suit and hat, giving them a silvery sheen. Backlit as he was, she could see even less of his face than usual, but the set of his shoulders seemed unusually serious.
"Your father will be late returning this evening. He's fine--" he said in response to the sudden fear that must have crossed her face "-- however one of his men was injured in the chase this evening. He has accompanied the man in question to the hospital, but will likely return before morning."
Aoko grudgingly nodded. The guilt and-- was she imagining grief?-- in the Kid's voice seemed genuine enough. But that didn't really explain his presence in her room.
"It is not. The message I have to deliver is for your father, and while I regret that I must ask you to pass it to him, I'm afraid my usual methods of communication would not be wise." He sat up straighter, squaring his shoulders. "I am closing in on what I seek. I believe my final show will be soon," Aoko's mouth dropped open. "and when it is done, I will not be returning."
She couldn't speak. Too many things raced through her mind; her father would be free, Kaito would be devastated, no more late nights staying up too late and worrying, the odd flat tone Kid had used to deliver his message, and... where would he go? What did he mean?
She looked back up at him, waiting for an explanation. But none came.
"I also wish to apologize to you. I always return what I steal, but the return of your father has been a long time coming. I am sorry for the time that was lost along the way. And-" he cut off any reply she might have had to that, "I am sorry for a further loss that may yet be coming." his shoulders had hunched in on themselves while he spoke, and he straightened them again.
"Now, I must be off." He stood in the window and made a sweeping bow, being careful to keep his face in shadow. "Good bye, Ojouchan." And he was gone.
Aoko shuddered at the finality of his tone, and stared out the window for a long time.
Without anything to further disturb it, the silver dust of moonlight settled coldly on the night.
I am not pleased with this at all. Basically, Kaito found Pandora and he thinks he's going to die, so he's saying goodbye to Aoko. I dunno if that came across at all, but whatever I'm not likely to come back to this one.
