A/N: I got this done. And I managed it in quite short time. BTW, chapters 4 and 5 are rewritten now. You might want to go and check them out. ;)

And there's one mistake I made when writing this... I wrote this chapter to happen on Friday night but later... (took a peek to the beginning of the next case, Barbecue, blegh) Conan states that he had to undergo questionings on Monday which was the next day from the case... Whops? But I guess you can forgive me, right?

Chapter 56.

Tsukiko let out a massive yawn. She was seriously bored. Even crosswords weren't helping. Nor was an anime marathon since Subaru hadn't screwed up anything for a while… Although he was preparing the ingredients of cream stew at the moment.

"Cream stew… The worst excuse ever. At least too-much-curry actually happened…" The girl grinned then. Perfect. This meant she'd have now an excuse to engage the man in an anime marathon. "Let's see… It'd be now the season…"

Tsukiko drew blank. She hadn't really kept up with the schedule lately. They'd just picked where they'd left it on the previous time.

"After the curry fiasco it was the first two seasons… Right before Sera's arrival was 3-4… Then after East versus West and before the hair dye was 5-6… Because right now it's Friday evening we should be able to finish the next two seasons during this weekend…" The girl flipped on her stomach and picked up her phone to check the episode list to see what to wait for. And the selection wasn't bad at all. Especially with a bit shorter season 8 they'd easily get to watch this part of marathon in its entirety.

"Haido City Hotel case with Pisco… Desperate Revival Arc… Impressive." But then Tsukiko got a look on the eight season. Majority of it was anime originals. "It seems I still need to wait for the episodes I mentioned last time… Well, those are in the ninth and tenth ones…"

"What are you muttering here, Tsukiko?" Subaru asked with amusement, appearing behind the back of the sofa. Tsukiko yelped and rolled on the floor.

"Freaking ninja! Don't go sneaking up on me like that!" The girl exclaimed as soon as she managed to sit up. And the man had the gall to just smirk down at her infuriatingly.

"What were you engrossed in so much that you didn't even hear me approaching?"

"I was just looking at the episode listing for our next anime marathon." Tsukiko gave him a tight and irritated smile. It seems we still have to wait for the introduction of you FBI people for a while… But we get some Plot-worthy cases too."

"Speaking of the Plot… How has it been holding up?" Subaru walked around the sofa and offered a hand to the girl who took it.

"Well…" The black-haired began when she was being lifted on her feet. "It seems surprisingly good. Despite me stepping up in the previous case and solving it publicly, Mouri-tantei got after all his new apprentice and newspapers aren't hailing the appearance of a new high school detective… Nothing unexpected has appeared yet. Although I do am worried about Mai-san poking about me. She even cracked the code of my cellphone to get Jodie-san to get me home…"

"Well, it was quite irresponsible for you to drink alcohol." The pink haired man mused.

"It was Mai-san's idea!"

"Along which you went on. Just out of curiosity… what was your code?"

"…" There was no way Tsukiko would tell him. It was embarrassing. She wasn't like that anymore. She wasn't… a fan girl anymore.

"Judging by the redness of your face… It is a memento from your past. And according to your reluctance to answer me… It has something to do with me." Subaru smirked. The blush on Tsukiko face deepened.

"B-Bakai!" She finally snapped before marching out of the room. "We'll have an anime marathon today, you hear me?"

"22-2-5-2-44… Isn't that right?" Damn that smug smile… Damn him to hell. As an answer Tsukiko banged the door closed behind her and stomped to upstairs.

It took a good while for the former blonde to calm down and come back to the library-living room hybrid. Subaru was there, preparing the television for the marathon and had even a bowl of popcorn on the table. Scowling and still slightly blushing, Tsukiko took a seat on the sofa and hooked her phone on the cable going to the television set. After some scrolling, the first episode of the day was up. Subaru sat on the sofa too and messed a bit with the girl's hair.

"Don't make that kind of face. It doesn't suit you."

"Shut up."

That smirk was still on his face.

"So… What is this episode about then?" Changing the subject I see. The girl looked up at the title of the episode: The Secret of the Moon, the Star and the Sun.

"Hmm… Oh, kami-sama not this one." Tsukiko promptly turned around in her seat and buried her head against the cushion of the back of the sofa. "This episode should've been ages ago! I hate how the animation staff messes up with the order of episodes…" The tirade continued by the girl banging her head against the cushion and didn't stop until Subaru pulled her away from the scruff of her neck.

"Calm down, Tsukiko. It's just an episode."

"But it messes up the Plot… You should read the actual manga chapters to know why I'm complaining."

"Is that possible then?"

"Huh?"

"Is it possible for me to read those chapters since they are original?"

"He is actually genuinely interested? Scary…" Tsukiko was almost speechless. "Well… I suppose but I'm not going to be borrowing my phone to you all the time. We should probably get a super-password protected memory stick or something… Something that other people won't even accidentally read them and get suspicious…"

"Hmm… I have a contact who would do exactly that…" Subaru mused. "I'm sure he'd do that much for me."

"A contact? Who?"

"There are some secrets I need to keep from you. Can't have you turn into all-knowing god, can we?" The man smirked.

"But I do know everything." Tsukiko pouted playfully. Subaru flicked her forehead.

"Not everything."

"Hai, hai…"

They managed to watch right before the three episodes of Reunion with the Black Organization when Subaru suggested they'd take a break. After all they'd even watched one 2-hour special. Tsukiko agreed and got up and get the feel on her legs while the man headed to the kitchen to make the fated cream stew. While cooking the 'dead' FBI agent listened the conversations going on in the Agasa residence. And right when the stew was ready, Subaru caught the sound of a ring tone and Agasa's reply to it a moment later.

"Whaaaa!? You're saying Conan-kun was kidnapped!? By a murderer?"

By then Tsukiko had appeared in the kitchen with a smirk on her face as she leaned against the door frame.

"Anything interesting, Subaru-nii?" The girl asked smugly. But Subaru shushed her and continued to listen attentively what was being spoken in the other end of the line.

"I-I can do that by using the spare pair of glasses, but…" Apparently the call was hung on the professor by then but the pink-haired man eavesdropping had heard more than enough. He put a lid on the done cream stew and took out the earbud.

"So? What's the plan?" Tsukiko asked nonchalantly.

"Plan?" Subaru feigned ignorance.

"Yes. Tantei-chan is kidnapped, isn't he? And you are going to go and offer your services as a driver since Agasa-hakase's beetle is still out for repairs. By the way, cream stew gotta be the worst excuse ever."

"I suppose that's what tipped you off." Subaru smirked. "Get ready. We are leaving soon."

"Hai! I'll just let the Subaru's powers of persuasion to do the work."

Once the man was out of the door, Tsukiko went and unplugged her phone from the television: Who knew when they'd be back from the car chase? Then she picked up a pair of head phones from the desk and turned them on. Those were a pair that were linked with the bugs in the Agasa residence.

"But how are we supposed to chase after him? Your beetle is still out for repairs, right, Hakase?" Haibara questioned.

"Y-Yeah… In this case, we have no choice but to call taxi and ask a favor of the driver to follow…" The old professor couldn't help but muse. And cue the stew delivery.

"Then, would you like to follow him in my car?" Okiya suggested. "I apologize… I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, but… I came here to share some of my cream stew when I heard some sort of anxious conversation while at the door…"

"Su-Subaru-kun!"

Tsukiko realized suddenly that the front door of the professor's house most likely had been open. Idiots.

"Well, if we're going after him, we should hurry…"

"Th-Then just lend us the keys to your car!" Haibara interjected. "Hakase and I will track him down!"

"I don't mind lending them to you, but my car has some idiosyncrasies, so if I'm not at the wheel…"

"In that case, Subaru-kun and I will give a chase…" Agasa attempted to compromise.

"Sure. I don't mind that idea either… In case you wanted to stay here by yourself while impatiently awaiting news of that child's well-being… If it's alright with you, I would suggest that you come along as well. Of course, I'm not going to force you to…"

"And thus Haibara-chan comes along. Naturally Subaru wouldn't let her stay here alone in a probable danger…" Tsukiko dropped the head phones on the table and went to get her jacket.

About five minutes later Subaru's (purple!) car was parked in front of the professor's house with the pseudo-sibling's sitting on the front seats. Haibara and Agasa climbed on the backseat and without much preamble, they were off.

"Subaru-niisan told me about the situation and I decided to come along." Tsukiko had simply told the pair.

According to Haibara who had the tracking glasses on her face, the dot indicating the location of the chibi detective had been still for a good while and they had been able to advance towards it steadily. Then…

"Ah… They've started moving again." The auburn haired girl noted. "Now they're oving south on Ouishi highway, headed in the direction of Toya town…"

"It doesn't seem like we'll be able to catch up with them anytime soon, huh…" Subaru thought aloud.

"They probably stopped for gas or something." Tsukiko 'guessed'.

"But exactly where do you suppose the culprit is headed?" Agasa asked then from the backseat. "One would think that she's just aimlessly wandering about."

"It may well be that she is just wandering about…" Subaru agreed silently. "Being unable to find the blood-drenched landing spot she desires."

It was quite tedious. Haibara kept her gaze on the glasses on the map on her phone while Subaru drove. Tsukiko and Agasa both kept quiet due the tension. All the while the shrunken scientist would say that the car had stopped or was on the move… Once the dot that was Conan, was moving around slower, like he was walking.

"He's on the move. Judging by the speed, he's riding in a car again. This time, they're headed in the direction of Haido city…"

"But why did he get out of the car that one time?" Agasa asked. "Could it be that the culprit made Conan-kun get out of the car and was taking him around somewhere?"

"No… It may well be that the one taking someone around was actually Conan-kun…" Subaru stated.

"At least it would fit on his personality." Tsukiko chuckled. "He must've won the culprit on his side somehow and is actually helping her… That Tantei-chan… Always going on his own way without care of tomorrow…" The girl mused fondly.

The stop, walk and continue happened two other times. During all of them the purple car was a bit closer to the target.

"Are they already on the move?" Tsukiko asked when it had already been a while since the culprit's car had stopped. It was now taking longer than on the two previous times and they were quite close already.

"Not yet…" Haibara began just when…

Bang!

"That-That sounded like a gunshot just now…" Agasa gasped.

"Well, it certainly wasn't a flat tire." Tsukiko quipped, taking a note on the rear of a blue Swift visible at the end of the alley.

"It's that car! That car is the one Edogawa-kun's riding in…" Haibara shouted.

"Tsukiko… Please inform Mouri-san of this…" Subaru began but Agasa interrupted him while Tsukiko was taking her phone from her jacket pocket.

"Eh? Not the police?" The professor was asking.

"We don't know all the facts of this case thus we lack credibility. Mouri-tantei and Ran-senpai in the other had do know all necessary information thus they are the only ones to accurately explain the totality of the situation to the police." Tsukiko told the old man while scrolling through her list of contacts, her glasses lifted on her forehead.

"And if we tell him the car model, the color and the number, they'll be able to set up a checkpoint and stop the car…" The girl's 'brother' added.

"B-But what if the hostage is used as a shield to break through the checkpoint?" Agasa asked one more time. Tsukiko smirked.

"Isn't it obvious? In that case…" The girl began, Kage slipping into her speech.

"We'll use everything in our power to stop them…" Subaru concluded.

Haibara could only stare at the siblings fearfully. A split-second later Tsukiko was once again in full control of her body and thoughts, and calling to Ran. While the black-haired girl whole-heartedly agreed with her non-gendered aspect of personality, she couldn't afford letting anyone notice Kage. Although it seemed Haibara was well aware of them to an extent. If only by sensing Kage's aura when they were on surface.

"Moshi, moshi?" Ah, Ran picked up.

"Ran-senpai? I've got some news…" Tsukiko began.

"Ah, not now, Tsukiko-chan, I'm waiting for news from Conan-kun…"

"About that. He is in a blue Swift, headed down to north on Ouishi highway."

"Ouishi highway? Otou-san, isn't this road Ouishi highway?"

"Yes…"

"Conan-kun is in a car headed to north! Chotto matte, Tsukiko-chan?"

"Yes?"

"What was the car again?"

"Blue Swift. The plate number is…" But Ran was already relaying the information to the designed driver, Amuro Tooru. While speaking, Tsukiko noted the white RX-7 driving on the opposite lane with a lone motorbike right behind it. And they made a U-turn to their lane. The call was disconnected.

Kage let out a shiver.

"The pressure that Sherry girl feels… It certainly is terrifying." They noted. "To think I can feel it too aside from letting it out… Maybe it's a defensive mechanism for us lone wolves."

"May I remind you that you aren't exactly what one would call 'a lone wolf'?" Red Moon remarked.

"Lone enough."

"Oh, please… Don't start fighting like some married couple…"

"Married?!"

Tsukiko took a glance via the rear view mirror at Haibara who was stiff from fear.

"Don't make that kind of face…" Subaru stated then out of blue. "I won't let them get away… Tsukiko, take the wheel."

"Me?" The girl squeaked. "…uh, okay."

The good thing in this seating order was that Agasa had even less chance of seeing the gun Subaru had, concealed inside his jacket. Tsukiko grabbed the steering wheel, trying to keep it steady, while Subaru opened the door after wrapping the seat belt around the door handle. The man leaned out and down of the open door, his left hand reaching for the hand gun.

The white RX-7 pulled up next to them. Tsukiko spared a glance inside the other vehicle. Ran and Kogoro both had their eyes on the blue Swift. Amuro in the other hand was looking at the open door of the Subaru 360 (Tsukiko usually laughed every time when thinking about it). In a way the gazes of the two rivals met but after that short moment Subaru lifted his foot from the gas to let the car slow down while the RX-7 speeded up.

"Nii-san?" Tsukiko asked quietly once the door was closed and Subaru had taken the wheel once again.

"Not now, Tsukiko…" Came the equally quiet reply so the duo on the backseat wouldn't hear them. And then the attention of all four of them in the car was glued on the white RX. The white car sped up even more before getting in the way of the blue Swift, being T-boned in the process but effectively stopping the other car.

The passenger door of the blue car opened and a woman stepped out, seemingly holding a gun and Conan. The quartet wasn't sure (well, Tsukiko was) as they were too far away… But then the motorbike that had been tailing the RX found its way on the roof of the Swift.

"Full speed ahead!" Sera was yelling when she swung the rear wheel of her motorbike to hit the hostage taking woman in the face.

Subaru stopped the car a bit away from the crash site. Tsukiko couldn't see clearly from her seat on the front but Haibara and Agasa were immediately following the situation behind them.

When Subaru received a phone call, Tsukiko took the opportunity to slip away.

"I'll go to see if everyone is alright." And the black-haired was out of the door after adjusting her glasses.

"Ran-senpai!"The karate champion turned towards the voice and saw her friend jogging towards her and past both Sera and Amuro who were talking to their respective phones.

"Tsukiko-chan! You're here too?"

"Yeah, nii-san's car is right there." Tsukiko nodded towards the purple car a distance way. "Is Edogawa-kun alright?"

"I'm right here, Tsukiko-neechan." Conan answered, interrupting the short conversation he'd had with Kogoro (about never making Ran that worried again). "You were helping too to get me back?"

"Well, actually I was more of a tagalong." Tsukiko grinned. "Subaru-niisan was the driver, Haibara-chan the map reader and Agasa-hakase the moral support."

"Well, you did contact me about the car's characteristics." Ran reminded.

"True…" But how about you guys? I heard about a murder at the agency from the news and then Subaru-niisan came back from Agasa's, telling that he needed to lend a car because tantei-chan was kidnapped…"

And Ran began telling the story, with Kogoro and Conan joining occasionally.

"So Amuro-san indeed is Mouri-tantei's disciple? How exactly did that happen?"

"Well, after the case in Sundayrino, I decided I needed a new place to work. Luckily there was a job open at Café Poirot that I got. I've followed Mouri-sensei's cases for a long time already and wanted to learn everything I could from him. The case at the restaurant just proved I needed to hone my detective skills. I'm assuming you've learned a lot from Mouri-sensei, Okiya-chan." Amuro had obviously ended his call with Vermouth and joined the conversation. When the trio from the detective agency noticed the dark-skinned man taking over the conversation, they promptly turned to call the police.

"T-True. When one hangs around famous detectives and observe them to work, learns a lot in process." Tsukiko smiled nervously. Although when she really thought about it, she had never really witnessed Sleeping Kogoro, had she? "Mouri-tantei is indeed a great example."

"Exactly. So I thought if even a high schooler who merely follows detectives at work can solve a complex case like that and great Nemuri no Kogoro lets her… Isn't it more of a proof how great skills, Mouri-sensei has?"

You… flatter and are rude at the same time. What a gentleman… Tsukiko kept her smile on her face though it was becoming a sarcastic one.

"Is that so? May I ask then… how come Mouri-tantei decided to take such an adequate detective such as you as an apprentice?"

Bingo, the blow hit home. Tsukiko smirked as she noticed Amuro's face losing color. Just a fraction though. Before the man could answer though, the girl received a message to her phone. Thinking it was form Subaru, she opened it immediately. Once seeing the sender though… she cringed.

Rotten Apple

"So you've met Bourbon now.
Vermouth xxx"

"That… bitch. Has even the gal to sign the message…" Tsukiko muttered with smile on her face but the tone of her voice telling another story. Amuro seemed to be ready to ask about the message but she just glanced towards the bridge where the platinum blonde woman was still sitting on her motorbike. "Let's just say that I've zero intention of cooperating with her, no matter what she happens to think. I wonder how she recognized me though… Nice meeting you, Amuro-san."

Tsukiko turned to head back to the car and was a good way towards it when Sera stopped her.

"Aren't you greeting your favorite neechan, Tsuki-chan?" The tomboy pouted.

"Masumi-neesan… You did quite risky move up there." Tsukiko smiled.

"I know. But Conan-kun is safe and that matters." Sera laughed and then noticed that Tsukiko was wearing her glasses. "I see you got your glasses back from Miyoshi-chan."

"Yeah…" The other girl smiled a bit sadly and lifted the glasses off her face to clean them on her shirt. "I have these back now…"

"By the way, did you already hear? Miyoshi-chan is planning to let her first book being published. She is also about to move to her boyfriend's place."

"Really? I haven't talked with Mai-san lately… What her parents are saying?"

"They don't know according to her. Her cousin, remember Miyoshi Takuya-keiji?"

"Yes."

"Well, he is helping her with the legal paperwork and with the move too. It's planned that she'll one day just not come home and have a note waiting for her parents. Otherwise they wouldn't let her go and she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself…"

"I see. I wish her luck then. With so many projects coming up… It must be hard." Tsukiko mused. In the distance the sirens could already be heard.

Amuro Tooru watched Okiya Tsukiko chat with Sera Masumi. That short talk with the bespectacled had raised many questions. The way she justknew what was going on… Not to mention her obvious contact with Vermouth, not that the girl seemed very pleased with it. At first the undercover PSB agent thought about the girl being another operative from the Organization, thus recognizing him and his intentions as they were. That maybe Vermouth had tipped her off but then the way she talked about the woman and her comment...

"I've zero intention of cooperating with her…"

Besides she obviously had come with the people Ran had contacted with no foreknowledge of whom she'd meet here…

The man fell into his thoughts. He had a nagging feeling he'd met her before. And now he wasn't thinking about the case at Sundayrino… Someone very similar but not quite…

"I wonder how she recognized me though…" The gitl had whispered while fingering the end of her hair, like checking it was the same than before. But Japanese generally had hair of that color…

One occasion came to Amuro's mind though. At Sundayrino the girl hadn't had her glasses but now her face was more familiar. Combined with the voice…

Bourbon was walking in his Scar Akai disguise away from the female FBI agent, the associate of Akai's. He slipped through an alleyway and continued his walk without stopping, the umbrella shielding him from the snowflakes. The street was quiet. Surprisingly so. Towards him a girl was walking, shivering in her long coat and boots. On her head was a dark beanie and around her neck a red scarf. The mere combination of those articles of clothes made him growl internally.

The girl seemed to glance at him, something akin to surprise on her face but went to fiddle her phone out of her pocket then. Nothing happened when they passed but once they were a good while apart, he heard the girl call a name.

"Jodie-san!" It was the name of the FBI agent. Interesting.

The next he heard of the girl was in the Teito Bank robbery. One of the robbers had taken the boy, who had solved the case and found the real robbers from among the hostages, and was holding him at the gun point. Bourbon was about to act. His sense of justice was too strong to ignore.

Besides… The man had thought. The FBI girl was at the bank, if anything his actions would gauge even more of a reaction from her and her colleagues, no matter did she actually see anything happening. So he ripped away the tape from his eyes, ripping his mask in process. It didn't matter, he'd disappear soon enough anyways.

The man pulled a gun at the fat robber when he noticed someone partially blocking his shot. Not completely, the robber's left shoulder was open for shot but still.

"Let the boy go!" The girl was the same than from earlier of the day. The coat was same and the color of hair (that had peaked from the beanie) was the same. Her scarf and hat were gone now but Bourbon assumed they were in her bag that was also missing. Those details didn't matter though, the girl was threatening the robber with something, and that something wasn't a gun…

"Even if you kill the boy, you'll die immediately after that. Let him go!" If his mouth hadn't been taped, he'd have whistled. The girl had guts… And she was quite an actress too.

"I count three… And then I won't hesitate because I hate the likes of you…" The bluff wouldn't hold for long. The robber obviously didn't care about dying…

Only one gunshot was heard before the robber yelled in pain. The rest of the hostages began running amok. But Bourbon held his ground, watching the girl and the little boy.

"That wasn't me…" The girl was saying, seemingly to herself or then to the boy, he wasn't sure.

Outside of the bank Bourbon saw the girl talking with the FBI agent then and leaving with her and her colleagues. He didn't hear the conversation she had with her friend who'd been in the bank too but when seeing the face of the other bespectacled girl, he knew he wasn't the only one thinking that everything wasn't adding up.

It was her! Amuro could remember it now. But who exactly was she… For some reason or another, she seemed to be omitting information from the FBI if the interactions between her and agent Starling were anything to go by… Maybe he'd be safe then.

Then where did the feeling of something else being to this come from? Because he could swear he'd hear her voice one more time, if a bit lower than on the other occasions. But where? It was only one word that could've been in any context.

"Gomenazai…"

A/N: And I've given you a doze of Amuro's thoughts. You're welcome. In the reviews people asked about how Amuro ended up as Kogoro's disciple. Well, now I gave you the official explanation for you but in canon the real factor in the matter was the money he'd pay... Oh well. I hope you liked Tsukiko's interractions with Amuro, I certainly had fun writing it. As well with Tsukiko-Subaru sibling squabble.

So... Bourbon's interest is piqued. He connects Tsukiko to the girl associated with the FBI but not yet with Kage although he does remember that one word... And Vermoouth knew about Tsukiko's change in appearance because she stalks her. She stalks everyone. Period.

Replies to reviews:

-Nana von Bidsnn:
Thank you. :)
Well, I already answered your question above. I hope it's a sufficent answer.

-Zeladious:
Yes, the newest chapters. I was like whaaat. I find it stupid though how Conan suspects Yamato-keibu... I just realized that in Leap there'll be some problems when there'll be Ishikawa Yamato and Yamato Kansuke...
Thank you, I hope you liked this one too. ;)

-Lutias'Kokopelli:
I try to keep this story as close to the Plot as possible. It was hard but let's just say that the Plot acts like a rubberband: napping back to it's proper place if it strays too far...
Takuya... Is kind of person who stays quiet and observes things happening. He had pretty much solved the case himself and now decided to follow how Tsukiko would handle it. Especially whe he wanted to stay as far away form Amuro as possible... He will later question is though and Amuro probably too...
In this chapter... There wasn't much interraction with Tsukiko, Agasa and Haibara. Let's hope there'll be some in future, yeah?
I'll keep on going! o/

-CreepyNick1:
Done. :)

-Kimmiko T:
I updated! Is this really soon?

-chibianimefan26:
You're baaaaaack! O.o
I know it was so sad... I almost began to cry again when I read the chapters again.

-Natsuko Karasumi(ch.2):
Book? You consider this a book? Thank you very much. *blush*

-Guest(ch.47):
Ai is nice indeed. Unfortunately she doensn't have that much weight in the plot anymore...
The ending... Well, this is kind of a project that'll go on forever. For now I'll follow what Gosho has planned since I have no idea how to end this...

-Durbe the Barian:
TAT
Tooruuuh! And we have moooore Tooooruuuh here too!

()

okay, I'm tired. Gotta go to sleep. Bye, and remember to review. Can comment the rewritten chapters too. *wink wink*