Hi! It's been a while... Sorry. I knew this would happen sometime soon. Many tests and not enough time or inspiration to write. Updates might be slow from now on. Definitely irregular... Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Marie was having a dream. It was a strange one. First, clouds were swirling around and she was floating somewhere and then pictures started flashing. They occupied her mind, showing her some changes in the future. Some were scenes where Ran didn't trust Conan to go by himself because she had no idea what he was capable of. Others were flickering by so fast Marie had a hard time figuring what they were. Then it briefly showed how Conan and Ran weren't going to bathe together in that house. Marie wanted to chuckle dryly. It was she that Ran took with her to the baths in this picture.

Are these some of the changes I've done?

If Marie had seen correctly, they looked like it was going to turn out better than in the manga. She smiled a little.

Maybe we'll be able to take Them down sooner…

She squashed the thought. It would be nice, but also dangerous. She would think about that later.

XXXX

"Marie-chan? What's wrong?", Ran looked at the little girl worriedly.

Said girl stood frozen in front of a train that had a way too familiar pattern. She had a hard time progressing what the older girl had said.

"I- I don't like this train…", she said, voice shaking a little.

She could feel the confusion radiating from her brother.

"Oh. Okay then… Conan-kun? Could you watch after your sister?", Ran gave the boy the responsibility for her.

"H- Hai…", the boy watched 'Ran-neechan' turn away and raised an eyebrow at Marie.

She forced a smile, "I'm terrified…"

He waited for her to continue. Marie weighted her chances. Tell now, tell later. They could blow up in this train if Conan was late this time.

"It's one of my 'feelings' but this time it's a bit different… and I'm terrified", she settled with her usual my-feelings-see-the-future -line. (It was even turning out to be true)

Conan stiffened for a second. He glanced around a little warily, no doubt expecting some kind of a crime to happen soon. Maybe this would warn him enough? She thought about it again.

...Probably not...

They were facing Gin and Vodka this time. Nothing would be enough to prepare for that right here and now and Marie wasn't going to bring up future seeing on a platform of all places. She hadn't had time to prepare anyway because Ran informed them only this morning and her slow brain hadn't picked up the connection beforehand.

The doors of the train opened. Marie wanted to run away.

She didn't.

Instead she took a deep, shaky breath and tried to calm her heart while walking after Conan.

She wasn't ready to face them. It was unfair she had to meet them again. She bit the inside of her lip to keep herself from freezing in place.

Keep walking. Everything is going to be fine.

The small group of four stopped at a row of seats that was way too familiar to the small girl.

Everything is going to be… fine.

She sat down at a window seat and felt the train jerk into motion.

It's okay. Everything… is… going to be… fine.

Conan took his lunch. A bento box full of rice and seafood. Marie glued her eyes to the window.

Correction. Everything's going to be super scary.

A mad Kaito-like grin crept on her face. Except it was more like a smirk.

This is going to be terrifying.

(Ran didn't know what to make of the expression on the small girl's face. She shivered a little and turned towards the window too. Marie looked like she was expecting the train to blow up at any moment!)

(Ran didn't know how right she was)

XXXX

Marie snapped to attention when Ran asked if Kyoto was going to be fun.

"Uh… Yeah", was Conan's answer.

The sister smiled brightly, alarm bells going off in her head, "Yup!"

She was the only one who kind of knew it wasn't going to go as predicted. Namely a strangely orange looking firework was going to go off right beside the train in the middle of the day. She didn't know too well what would happen after that, but she thought it might have something to do with the police.

The conversation had turned to Conan's and Marie's family.

"Haven't their parent's contacted from America yet?", Kogoro asked with his annoyed expression.

"No…", Ran watched them a little worriedly.

And Conan made the toilet excuse. Marie could hear her heartbeats in her ears. It was happening now.

Please, please, please don't notice us this time! (Preferably never)

She waited anxiously. The door opened. Two figures stepped in. She could see it in her mind. Conan almost having a heart attack, the two not recognizing him, walking past, her brother walking away from them…

And Conan came back.

Marie's heart thumped when she saw his expression. Shock, fear, nearly terror… He definitely wasn't prepared for this. She glanced at Ran who was watching the scenery. Good. Marie inched closer to Conan and peered into his startled eyes. She smiled when she saw the terror turn into determination and a small spark of anger cleared them. His fingers twitched and he slowly made three signs, 'They are here'.

Marie felt that as a reality now. They were here. She took a deep breath, forcing her new found terror to turn into determination, just like she saw her brother do. Her hands moved pretty quickly and sharply.

'What is the plan?'

XXXX

"Hey! What are you two doing!?", Ran's voice came right behind them.

Oh, great. More excuse making.

Marie spun around and looked up at her innocently, "We wanted to play hide and seek"

She was becoming disturbingly good at this. Lying wasn't her favourite thing in the world, but she could do it if necessary. This situation screamed necessary.

"You still shouldn't run off like that! At least tell me where you're going", Ran glared at them for a second before sighing, "Don't make me come after you again"

And then they were being dragged back to their seats. It was annoying. They hadn't had time to make a plan when the two men had just gone to the dining car. Conan hadn't really been listening to Ran's rant. He'd kept his eyes on the two men while Marie distracted the older girl.

Speaking of him, Marie looked at the boy questioningly. He shook his head making Marie sigh quietly. Not much info then. They were back in their car. Conan had taken the listening device out and gave his sister a signal with his eyes. Don't let Ran notice, Marie translated in her head.

Got you covered, captain!

She ran ahead of Ran and started a conversation, "Ne, Ran-neechan? Is it not allowed to play hide and seek in a train?"

She seemed surprised, "No, it's allowed, I think"

"Eeh? Why didn't you let us play, then?"

Conan was now separated from the two and probably sticking the gum under a seat.

"I don't want you to disturb other passengers", Ran smiled at her.

"Well, I wouldn't do that!", she announced before pretending to realize something, "Is there another reason?", she tilted her head.

She got a warm smile in return, "Yes. It's easier to watch after you if you're not running around the train"

Conan came to the aisle and gave a thumbs up while hurrying to them.

"What if we tell you where to find us? And when we'll be back?", Marie questioned.

"Well…", Ran hesitated.

"It's okay, Marie. I don't want to play anymore", Conan said and sat on their seat.

Marie pouted in disappointment, "Awww…"

Then she was back on her seat and put her head on his shoulder. The boy looked startled.

"Marie! What are you…?", then he realized she wanted to hear what happened with the two men in black.

"Since you don't play with me, I want to sleep", she said her excuse for the Mouris to hear.

Conan played his part and sighed in resignation, "...Fine"

Then they waited.

They didn't have to wait long.

XXXX

Sorry... It's a cliffhanger. I'll try to write again pretty soon, probably next week or a little after, but no promises. I skipped the museum murder because no inspiration and it would have been almost completely canon. Well, thank you for reading! Bye!