This. Took. WAY. Too. Long.

I knew there was going to be a pause, but I never knew it was going to be this long. Months. Way to go me. I'm sorry everyone. In my defence, I had a MASSIVE writer's block and my tablet refused to work which is almost the only thing that allows me to publish or write these. This one's still not my favourite. I'm going to try to get the next one out sooner but no promises. See you at the end of this chapter!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Wait, so while I was gone… you were taking down Italian robbers with little kids!?"

Marie had just come home from practicing with Kaito (everyone thought it was at a firend's house who lived quite close by. No one knew it was an hour away by train. They never asked, Marie didn't bother to tell) for the weekend (she got permission to stay overnight. It was fun. Got to see his house) and Conan told her about the little adventure he had had with the Detective Boys yesterday. She was dumbstruck and wanted to hit herself for it. She hadn't noticed the conversation with a tanuki code sheet this Friday and therefore missed it entirely. Her brother was laughing nervously, obviously waiting for a verbal explosion of 'what were you thinking' and 'why didn't you tell me' with whatever else he thought she blamed him with.

Marie didn't notice. Instead she took Conans wrist and tugged him along to somewhere quiet which happened to be Ran's room. When she got there she sat him down on her mattress, listened for coming footsteps and hearing nothing, sat opposite him with her legs crossed and head bowed. Then a big grin spread on her face.

"You've got to tell me all about it!", she put her elbows on her knees and chin on her palms, smiling at her brother with the sunniest brightness ever.

Just like that her brother's nervousness was blown away, confusion spreading on his features. Marie waited. When there was no response she tilted her head a little and made the best 'please' face she could. She reeeally wanted to know how it happened this time. Even though she felt a spike of anxiety and worry every time her brother was fighting crimes on his own (while she knew about it) she knew he could take care of himself. Conan's turn to be dumbstruck. He snapped out of it quite quickly though and returned the girl's smile.

"Everything? Well then, let's start with Friday afternoon when the Detective Boys asked me to decipher…"

XXXX

Marie looked at the figure on the bridge hanging over a big, deep looking ravine. She thought she would only see those in stories but then remembered she kind of was inside one. Except now it wasn't a story anymore. It was as real as life. So was the dark, cloaked figure of a man who had covered his face in bandages so only eyes were visible. Every instinct of her body would have screamed 'killer' even if she didn't already know it beforehand. The biggest problem was that she didn't know what to do about it. Right now she just hung on her brother's arm like he was a lifeline, which he probably was. Without him she wouldn't manage to live in this world, haunted by the Black, chasing down murderers.

"Tell me all of Sonoko's trips aren't going to sound like horror stories…", she hissed at her brother pleadingly as the figure stormed away.

This was met with a grimace, "I hope not…"

Marie sighed and started slowly going over the too unsteady looking bridge, still clinging to Conan. She could feel Ran's gaze on them. It felt like she was 'aww' -ing. She wasn't sure if she liked that. The little sister found it a bit strange that her brother hadn't said anything about the physical contact. Usually he would avoid it, witnesses or no. It was rare but nowadays becoming more common. She chuckled a bit. Liked he or not, her clinging had left a mark that would be almost impossible to erase. He was getting used to it. As was she. They both now had a sibling they never even thought they could have. And they liked it that way.

The small girl's mind wandered to her family as a familiar but dulled ache settled in her chest. Her beautiful Japanese mother with her almost black brown eyes and a warm smile was now gone from her life. As was her dark brown haired father with his smirks that she always said were from her favourite manga. She got his eyes, they always said. And his acrobatic body. He would always laugh and say that it was a good thing she didn't get his mind, as it was slower than mother's, according to him. Marie sighed happily. She was so lucky to have had them as her parents. And she was so lucky to have a new family now.

As she mused they had already crossed the bridge and were now about to walk to the mansion's door. She let go of her brother and looked up while shaking her memories away. It was time to try and stop a murder from happening.

(Plus making sure her older siblings wouldn't get hurt in the process)

XXXX

"I want the ground to swallow me", whined Marie, lying on her stomach on a bed.

Conan patted her head awkwardly, "It's okay. You're fine"

The girl took her face up from the pillow and looked at her brother, "Why wouldn't Ran-neechan knock? Now I'm scarred for life"

Said brother had a hard time fighting an amused grin. He was sitting on a pillow next to his sister.

"Why did you follow her?", came the counter question.

It got Marie burying her face in the pillow again with a groan, "I don't know what I was thinking. It felt surreal, watching her walk from door to door to see guys changing their clothes! I still don't understand how that can happen accidentally"

"Wait, you two saw what?"

Marie froze. She thought about the manga. Conan hadn't seen what Ran had. He didn't know what she'd seen.

...Oops?

XXXX

Marie was seriously debating at the table.

Should I say it…?

They were eating dinner and people were telling how they were in the same film club. Her eyes flickered to Ikeda Chikako.

If I don't she dies…

Said woman smiled with her entirely too red lips.

But what if she dies anyway?

The whole group laughed at the fat Takahashi Ryouichi, who was also the killer.

Oh well, worth a shot…

"But you weren't fat before…", she stated looking at the 'fat' man, confused.

And from there everything broke loose.

XXXX

Marie didn't know what she got herself into.

Everyone had surrounded the murderer. Conan and her were behind Ran who stood there protectively. The small girl wanted to lock her ears. This shouting match was rising in volume. After she'd said that little fate changing sentence the man had frozen, broken in cold sweat, and bolted. Ran was faster and somehow got him to back against a wall.

Chikako's deceit was unravelled.

Marie watched quietly as she was also isolated by the group. Secrets were out. No one had died. She was almost ready to sigh in relief but something held her.

Suddenly, she saw light reflect from metal in a 'vision'. Her eyes widened in shock as she caught the implications of that. Her frantic scream rang from the walls.

"Look out!!"

Too slow. Takahashi had impaled Chikako with a knife. Where he got it, no one knew, but Marie had a feeling fate wanted the woman to die. One way or another. She ducked her head as a silent tear escaped, rolling down her cheek and nose before dropping to the floor. It was unfair. She had wanted to save her.

Goodbye, Chikako. I'm sorry.

XXXX

The meeting ended in a sad atmosphere. Everyone was questioned by the police and then sent home. Marie regained her smile about half way through the journey. Ran had taken in their sullen expressions and decided it was time for ice cream. The small girl was cheered up. Not by ice cream, mind you, but the gentle attempt from her 'big sister'.

At home she persuaded Conan into playing a chess game with her. He won, as usual. It didn't bother the girl though. She had made a suitable distraction from the case.

Then Conan surprised her.

"Hey, wanna go play soccer?", he gave her a challenging smile.

He never suggested anything usually. It was always her.

Huh. Nice change.

A slow smile spread across the brunette's face, "You're on!"

In ten minutes they were out the door and kicking the ball to their hearts' content. Marie was happy.

Moments like these make everything worth it.

XXXX

As you can see, my writing becomes a bit... choppy? Speedy? Something along those lines towards the end. Hopefully it doesn't bother you too much. Thanks for reading! NO idea when the next one's coming out.