* Yukiko *

"Crossing the tracks at platform level is both dangerous and illegal. Please use the stairs and elevators provided."

Same voice every time, Yukiko mused a she exited the train in her newest disguise: a script writer.

She replayed her conversation with Shuuichi in her head:

-The day before-

Yukiko jumped when her phone rang at her husband's signing party. She was, thankfully, able to slip away and answer it in their hotel room.

"Hello?"

"It's me." The voice on the other end also surprised her a little.

"Shuu-kun? What is it? You sound fairly serious."

"That's because the matter is serious, Yukiko-san," he confirmed. "I need to know: did someone named Kuroba Miki ever receive permission to crash at your house?" That was new! Had Shinichi told him, perhaps?

"Y-yes," she managed. "Why do you ask?"

"Because she took you up on it, that's why. She's still alive...and she was Vermouth's old boss. Now, how much do you care if James takes her in for questioning?"

"Wrong question, Subaru-san," she sighed. "You should be asking how much Sharon will care, how much of a ruckus she will cause. I will come down and mediate the situation somehow."

"You won't make it in time." Arrrrrgh!

"Then I will be there to talk to Miki-chan. She is a dear friend, after all."

"I...understand," he said slowly. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank-you, Shuuichi-kun. See you tomorrow night!"

"See you then," he confirmed.

She hung up then and immediately made arrangements to meet with her friend Sharon to discuss their magician friend who had died eight years ago.

"Pity she died before him," she had said lightly to remove Sharon's suspicions that she knew Miki was still alive as she boarded the plane. "So young...so bright, too."

-back to the present-

A frown came to her lips then as she finally put the last piece into place: she had been Sharon's boss when she disappeared at the young age of eighteen. Clearly, someone had tried to kill her, and they would likely try again at the first available opportunity.

Shinichi was likely uncertain of how to deal with his babysitter-turned-supervillain or he would have already called her to talk to her or something.

Poor kid, she sighed. He's in for quite a time!

Even Yuusaku had mild difficulty swallowing the fact that Miki was first of all alive, and second a very deadly criminal the police seemed to know nothing about.

Mind, the crime syndicate she had been in charge of...

...wait, if she had been Vermouth's boss, then she had been Gin's boss as well, and maybe even Sherry's-or at least her parents...and what had been her codename before becoming the boss, anyway?

She let out a small sigh, lightly slapped her cheeks and prepared herself for yet another perfect act. This one would be harder because she was alone...and Sharon would remember what happened on the Bell Tree Express...

They were not known friends anymore, courtesy of Sharon's "death", but Sharon had still given her an address. Sure, it was temporary, but it was a place...and probably a decent breakfast, all things considered.

Considering their topic of conversation, Sharon had likely kept swept her place clean of bugs, eavesdroppers and criminal colleagues. It was, after all, probably something she never spoke of on purpose.

Her cellphone rang as soon as she set foot in the entryway. Sharon guided her step-by-step through the buzzer, reception desk, elevator, stairs, and elevator again.

"You really need an easier way for me to visit, Sharon," Yukiko finally voiced as she switched to the stairs one last time. "Who is watching you right now, anyway?"

"Someone who doesn't know about you," was all she said. That was fine, really, for now.

Opening the door revealed nothing Yukiko had not already learned by merely stepping into the lobby: it was the place you would expect a well-known actress to spend the night, an expensive hotel with all the amenities.

"Lock it behind you," she heard Sharon say. "I'd rather not take any chances."

"Are you not supposed to be here?" Yukiko asked once she had finished locking the door as requested.

Sharon herself appeared then with a smile and a wink.

"How do you think I made sure we were alone?" Yukiko found herself echoing Sharon's smile as she removed her hat – most of her disguise, really – and followed Sharon to the sitting-room where breakfast was indeed waiting.

"Sorry for asking, Sharon," she offered. "I was just curious."

"I'm just glad we can meet without fighting for once," Sharon sighed, then sat down and began filling her plate. Yukiko followed suit.

"I must warn you we have maybe an hour before I must leave again," Sharon stated after they had begun eating. "I actually have a show elsewhere."

"Oh!" Yukiko exclaimed. "Of course!"

After they finished eating a light breakfast, Sharon took Yukiko's plate and leaned forward a little, then relaxed into her chair.

"I know you called me," she began, "but I feel I should tell you something before you ask any questions on the subject."

Yukiko had to raise an eyebrow. It was rare for Sharon to share information unless it gave her the upper hand or made someone suffer somehow.

"Go on," she prompted. It was very clear Sharon was struggling to say it.

"It's about his cousin Miki," she stumbled. "She's...still alive...I can hardly believe it myself...and she's angry..."

Oh! Angry? Yukiko was careful to act shocked.

"But her plane exploded!" She exclaimed. "You told me you saw it yourself!"

"I did!" Sharon defended. "She just...showed up a couple weeks ago out of the blue!"

"And you know for sure it's her?" Yukiko challenged. Sharon froze for a second, closed her eyes and sighed, then nodded.

"Her movements, her wit, how she dodges a bullet and her temper are all the same," she confirmed. "The only difference I've seen..."

"What? What is it?" Yukiko asked in alarm as Sharon seemed very uncertain...and if Sharon was uncertain... "Please tell me."

"She's...very serious, Yukiko. I mean she went so far as to yell...and it wasn't even about us not being allowed to kill!"

...not being allowed to kill...that did sound like the Miki Yukiko had known...

"Why is that unusual?"

Sharon sighed and shook her head.

"She was always...a bit like your son that way. Never let us, always found another way to do things, always several steps ahead with the perfect plan and we learned not to question her orders..."

"Now it seems on the fly and no one knows what to do?" Yukiko guessed.

There was a nod of confirmation.

"I don't know how to continue. I mean, yeah, I have to give up on Sherry, but it's as if she wants us to remain silent completely. There is no way 'that person' is going to cease their movements and someone is bound to break."

"Maybe it's a test?" Yukiko suggested. Sharon shrugged.

"Either way, I've said my piece. What did you want to say about her cousin Touichi?"

"Honestly, I was curious about his death as well," she admitted.

Sharon frowned.

"Yeah, that one was odd. Rather sudden. At the time, I just blamed Miki's terrible luck – I called it a curse. You know how everyone in her family just...dies? Even the people close to her have been dying over the years – one per year, in fact, minus her parents, since they were murdered at the same time."

Yukiko raised an eyebrow.

"Are you serious?" Sharon nodded. "That's insane!" She exclaimed.

"It's too convenient, I agree," Sharon offered. "I'm starting to believe they might be connected...and explain why she hid for ten years."

"That's a terrifying and dark thought, Sharon!" Yukiko scolded. "...but you might be right. I'll ask Shin-chan to take a look, all right?"

Sharon nodded.

"Please do. ...and Yukiko, as we are both people who have been close to her in the past, we should be extra careful."

Yukiko smiled and nodded.

"I will. Will you?" Sharon seemed mildly annoyed at the question.

"I'm always careful. Now, be on your way. I have a flight to catch."

They both left the room, then, Sharon showing Yukiko out and both wishing the other 'good luck'. It brought back warm memories to Yukiko, a feeling she had missed...and she suddenly felt terrified for Sharon...and Shinichi!

She dashed home, then, nightmares flooding her mind, worry darkening her usually bright, cheery mood. There was danger...very real danger...and no time to prepare...