AN: Hello! Sorry for lack of "Fated Friendship" updates, but I'm still working on that, time hasn't been kind on me. Hope you like this chapter! Let me know how it was!

Genre: Humour, Drama, Crime. Eh...just read and decide for yourselves :)

Enjoy~

.

On another note, chapter 4 of "The Never Ending Tale" has been written by a new writer to this fandom 'MysticCritic' (Do check out her profile page to know better). She accepts prompts, of any and all kinds, and has been looking for inspiration.

Please read and review! And all those wonderful authors out there, give the story a try!

.

Note: No new deities here. A few previously mentioned ones make their re-appearance. SPOILERS for Bell Tree Express Arc!

Chapter 7: Mayhem at the Bell Tree Express

"Death, old pal!"

'Oh no.' Death paused in horror as an arm swung around his neck and a face peered up at him, a wide, manic grin directed at him.

"Insanity," Death muttered an acknowledgment, "I've got a job to do; I'll catch up with you later."

"Leaving so soon? Without even greeting me, Death?"

Another arm snaked around his shoulder, a similar face to the first, sporting the same manic expression, made its appearance.

"In…sanity?" Death looked confused, turning his head to peer back at the first deity and then at the second. Nope, no change. Both looked equally crazy, "Okay, Sanity, Insanity, whoever, I've got to go, so –"

"Nope, nothing doing –"

"It's just another boring suicide as usual –"

"You need to have some spice in your life –"

"And clearly we're the person to go to –"

"Ha! Get it, Death? In your life. Spice in your life –"

"For we have the perfect solution –"

"Stop! STOP!" Death pushed the both of them away, "Right. Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait. You two can get going with whatever your plans are, I'm off."

"Ah, but I thought you'd be interested for sure," The first deity called out at Death's back.

"Considering it concerns your favourite mortal," The second deity added.

Death stopped. Okay, that changed things. Turning around, he started walking.

"Oi! Death, where –"

"– Are you going?"

Death sighed, "First of all, stop that. Isn't one of you meant to be Sanity?"

"Could be the lack of Sanity for all you know?"

"Wait, then what do I stand for? The lack of Insanity?"

"Umm, maybe?"

"No, that doesn't make sense –"

"Well, I don't think it's supposed to, it's insanity, after all, isn't it?"

"But, didn't you say –"

"Secondly," Death spoke over them loudly, "I'm going to Shinichi. Before you drive him mad, that is. So, let's get going."

"Oh, but Deeeaaattttthhh –"

"Oh for – stop that!"

"– didn't you have to supervise a death?"

"I'll send one of my minions for that. The Shinigami have their uses, you know."

Sanity and Insanity grinned, once more wrapping their arms around Death's shoulders, disappearing and reappearing with a mad burst of cackles. They materialised on the roof of a moving train, Nemesis and Luck already present there.

"What are the both of you here for?" Death grumbled as Luck beamed at his arrival, skipping over to loop her arm through his.

"The Black Organisation." Nemesis drawled, "I couldn't miss out this confrontation."

"Kai-chan, of course," Luck smiled, "But I'm surprised to see you here, Mr Grumpy-pants."

Death looked at her in distaste, "You've either been spending too much time around the twins," Sanity and Insanity grinned proudly, "or too much time with Life. Stop using such metaphors for me."

"Anyway," Insanity – Sanity? – spoke up, before Luck and Death could start their bickering, "This is the plan…"

…

Luck closely followed the little girl, Haibara Ai, as she made her way through the throng of people.

"Kudo-kun?!" Haibara yelped as Conan entered the room in carriage seven suddenly.

"Stay here and take this phone. Answer any questions you hear, KID will be taking care of the rest!"

Death had already left the murder scene to tail Kaito, disguised as Miyano Shiho, hoping to make sure no death occurred.

"I'm Bourbon. Perhaps you recall this codename?"

"Yes. My sister had told me of you. You had quite the rivalry with Moroboshi Dai, her lover."

Insanity (Sanity? That was always something to doubt) had sequestered himself with Vermouth and Kudo Yukiko, watching the conversation play out.

"Sherry will go to the last carriage for sure," Vermouth smirked, "she'll not want anyone else to be targeted. It is, after all, better to die alone."

While his twin trailed behind Bourbon to add in just the right amount of confusion and chaos to befuddle his senses – was that Vermouth as Akai? Or Akai as Akai? Or someone else entirely?

Seeing the storage hold full of explosives, Bourbon smirked in realisation of Vermouth's plan, "Well, Sherry, why don't you step aside with me –?"

"If you don't mind, I'll turn down that offer," KID said in Sherry's voice as he shut the door closed.

Before Bourbon could make a move, a figure appeared behind him, the haunting face of Akai, as he threw forward an explosive, letting the last carriage disconnect from the train.

Nemesis stayed by Conan, as the young detective carried out the plan masterfully.

"KID, I need you to disguise as this woman and help shake off the bad guys after her! She herself will be telling you what to say via an earphone. And they'll corner you in the storage hold, where they've set up explosives, so be careful."

"I think, this counts as a successful end, don't you?" Death grinned at Luck in the aftermath.

Luck pouted, "To think Shin-chan put Kai-chan into such a situation! I'm very mad at him!"

"No you're not," Insanity cackled, "You loved how they co-operated! Plus, Shinichi did warn Kaito about the danger."

"Well…You did make sure Kai-chan escaped safely, so…" Luck trailed off, glancing at Death, "I suppose yeah, then. It does count as a successful end."

Death beamed at her. Nemesis shook her head at their antics. Insanity and Sanity simply looked smug.

AN: So? How was it? This was a hard chapter to pin down, and hopefully you guys liked the twins :P The Bell Tree Express Arc is certainly one of the most complicated plots of all time, coming just below the Akai Shuichi Death part. So, hope I've done it well!

.

To Rockster - Thanks for reviewing! Yup, last chapter was pretty important. And I figured Death would be protective over Shinichi, how else has he always escaped death in all those dangerous situations, then? :P Oh yes, it is only in the manga that they show the doctor and the nurse. There is another episode (Episode 1: The Great Detective Who Shrank) which is basically a remake of the anime episode, and that one actually shows the whole sequence. By the way, I'm not sure who told me about it (Was it you?), so I may just be repeating stuff...but yeah, that remake was great! Nemesis...you know, she really is a complicated goddess. Standing for both revenge and justice... Hope you enjoy this chapter!

.

REVIEW!