Aoko's POV:

By now, his tee shirt has lost the smell of him. I think coming over here so much to clean all the time, preparing just in case he would suddenly come home, has made his presence vanish faster.

First his father, then his mother, now him. Stupid Kaito, that stupid selfish jerk.

I buried my nose deeper into the white linen that was Kaito's school shirt, pressing it against my face, inhaling his scent, imagining he was here now. It wasn't like Kaito to just disappear for two months without even a goodbye. It wasn't like Kaito to miss out on school and it wasn't like Kaito to not be here with me. I cant really describe what I'm feeling, but I know whatever it is I am definitely feeling it. Every time I succumbed to the thought that I didn't know where Kaito was except gone my chest would get heavy and I would have to breathe deeply because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to breathe normally if I didn't. All I had to go by was the letter and the, now crumpled, red rose he left me by my window sill two months ago..

'Aoko, watch my place for me will ya? Sorry for the short notice, but I am going to be gone for a while. I'll be back soon, promise.'

What an idiot! Just up and leaving with no explanation and he expected me to just watch out for his place? Who did he think he was? Who did he think I was to do that for him? Yet, most perplexing, was what was I doing exactly what he wanted me to do? Hell, if I knew. I think I did it because it made me feel better, arranging his place this way and that, expecting him home. I would clean up everyday after school just in case and everyday after school I would be disappointed not seeing him at his kitchen table, newspaper in hand, grinning at me like an idiot as if nothing happened.

What I would give to see that grin plastered on his face right now.

I whispered his name, praying, as I held his shirt to my face that somewhere out there, the jerk was safe and healthy. It sickened me that I didn't know where he was and made me an absolute wreck because I just had this premonition something was wrong.

"Aoko-neechan…"

I dropped the shirt to my chest and held it there revealing poor Harry standing at the doorway waiting for me. Harry, every time we came to Kaito's apartment, looked as solemn as I was being there. Maybe even more so. But, right now, he looked absolutely crestfallen when he noticed what I was pressing to my chest.

" Aoko-neechan," he repeated again, this time his gaze looking beyond me and elsewhere in the room as if he couldn't stand to see what I was doing "I think it's time to go home now to get ready for dinner."

There was that heaviness again, and it was even worse this time. There was a part of me that didn't want to leave, afraid each time I left a little more of Kaito's presence in his home was going to fade away. I was so scared that this place was going to be nothing but a memory of someone that once lived here. I didn't want that, I didn't want to forget anything about Kaito.

Just in case…

"Okay." I whispered, folding the shirt gently and laying it where the rest of Kaito's laundry was on his bed. I don't know why but today I felt more helpless, almost hopeless, than any other day I have been doing this. It doesn't help that I count each day I don't see him, raising my expectations that it could be any day now he would just show up, and wind up being knocked back with the fact he wasn't here yet.

It's as if today, marking month two that Kaito's been gone, that it has hit me. The fact was Kaito was gone and I had no idea if he was going to stay that way or come back. God, how it was starting to tear at me.

And it was like Harry noticed this and knew exactly what I was going through. Like my whole world was starting to close in.

After locking Kaito's apartment Harry laced his small fingers through mine and squeezed, as if he knew I was doing my best to swallow back my tears as I allowed the apartment keys stay in the lock for a second longer than needed.

"Kaito-niichan may be jerk like you say Aoko-neechan, but I don't think he is a big enough jerk to leave you forever just like that." Harry replied softly as if he knew exactly what dark thoughts were running through my head right then.

"I know.." I lied, as I held Harry's hand tighter in my own as we slowly walked down the steps away from the apartment complex " I know…" I repeated again, starting to cry. If only that idiot knew how hard I was handling this. He would probably laugh, be a jerk and even tease me, say I shouldn't be getting emotional over nothing. Like he would ever understand, I thought, as I tried effortlessly smearing away the tears on my cheeks with the back of my hand.

It was times like this I was so thankful to have Harry with me these days because he wasn't one of those kids that would get upset when he saw adults crying. He was the type of child that would stand close to me, not looking at me, not even a glance of worry which would've made me feel plain guilty, but would just let me cry as he held my hand. I was so thankful for Harry.

At least he understood I just wanted my best friend back.

This is real I would tell myself, laying here in the dark.

It was pitch black, quiet, and giving me all the more to just zone in on the warm feeling pressed against my lips. I didn't know exactly what he looked like right now except he was in my room, leaning over me, kissing me. It was his heavy hot breath puffing in my face at one in the morning that made me open my eyes and it was large hands grasping the sides of my head to balance himself as he dipped down to kiss me that woke me up.

I focused on the way Kaito carefully brushed his lips against mine once, pause, then do it slowly again, as if he was testing the waters to see my reaction. Each time a careful kiss was planted on my lips I didn't move but allowed him access, feeling the gentle pressure of his mouth on mine, etching it into my head. After each of his kisses, I could have sworn I heard Kaito whisper he was sorry, so sorry, to me before coming back down to my face for another kiss. His voice sounded so tired, ragged, and painful when he said it too.

He brushed his nose against mine when he came back down to my face, gently opening my mouth for entrance to deepen the kiss. It took me by surprise at first when his tongue carefully slipped into my mouth, but then just as quickly I would follow pace, my body warming to the sensation of his soft lips moving with my own. God, I hope I was doing this right because it felt he sure knew what he was doing. During, what seemed to be, the last kiss, I gently lifted myself on my elbows, my fingers twisting into the sheets, opening my mouth a little wider making sure this kiss would last. I thought maybe if I kissed the way he did and more, maybe he would feel the way I do about him. Kaito would know I would be here waiting for him and that nothing would change. Kaito would know that I missed him.

Heaven knows I was doing my best not to grab the boy and pull him down on me. I was also doing my best not to whisper in the dark out to him, asking why he couldn't stay, but I had a feeling I knew better. Maybe this time I shouldn't question it. That I should let it go, let him go. So as we slowly parted, our lips carefully slipping away from each others grasp, holding onto his feeling, his taste, I let Kaito go. And like that, moving like a shadow, I saw his dark figure move slowly away from me and towards my window.

With two hands grasped on the wall and a foot on the ledge, Kaito turned towards me and it was then from the light of the moon I saw the sweat glistening on his face which explained why our last kiss tasted more salty. My eyes expanded in alarm and instead of asking what was wrong I rushed out "You are coming back, right?", desperate to know and hoping this visit wasn't a warning for me. Kaito dropped his leg back to the ground and stalked towards by bed, his hot hands cupping my cheeks as his emerald blue eyes shook looking deep into mine. What made him all of a sudden so tense? But without questions or any answers, Kaito dipped down again to kiss me again, hard. It took me by surprise because I quickly had to use my arms to brace myself up on my bed from not falling back into my pillow. With one hand I grasped the back of his neck, which was damp with sweat too, as I slowly cocked my head to the side, my hand grasping tight to him, to kiss him with everything I had. When we barley broke apart, his nose still puffing hot air on my face , he looked at me again whispering "I promise you, Aoko. I'll be back soon." And with that he slowly allowed his hands to drag down my cheeks, then my arms, unhitching my hand that grasped his neck, not wanting to let go, to gently to kiss the back of my hand and grin at me. "Keep looking after my place for me, okay? It looks great thanks to you. And thanks for doing my laundry, you are a huge help".

I smiled, nodding silently, squeezing his hand before he let go and ran, jumping, out of my window and into the night. I threw myself out of bed after him to lean out the window to see if he was leaving on foot, but like into thin air, he was gone. Stupid Kaito, I whispered narrowing my eyes. He was not only a great escape artist…but a great kisser. At least, I knew he was safe and he was out there doing something to keep himself alive.

"Come back to me soon, jerk! Especially since I am cleaning for you free of charge!" I yelled out into the night, hoping at least somewhere nearby he heard.

Leaning out the window, I looked into the night, listening carefully as I was first met with silence. But then, out of nowhere, I could have sworn I heard the dummy laugh whole heartedly in the distance.

Thank God.

Part one, Aoko's POV, fin.

Yes-yes I KNOW. I took forever AND A DAY to do this. Sorry if it is too short! You guys are probably like 'WTFUNN? What is going on? Did I miss something?'. No you haven't, I did this on purpose through Aoko's perspective because all will be explained in Chapter 5. This was partly to lure all you guys back in because we will be closing up this story soon! Hope you enjoyed and tell me what you thought of this sapp-tastic chapter.

Sincerely-Detectivegirl2005