A/N: I'm sorry this has taken me ridiculously long. Thank you all for keeping reading and welcome to all new followers. The whole Mystery Train arc is in here and it's probably a lot shorter than expected because Tsukiko isn't that involved in the main things and I wanted to cut the murder mystery out.
I think I'll save rest of my comments to the bottom of this chapter, I hope you enjoy reading this.
Chapter 64.
It was the D-Day now. And no, she didn't stutter. Only yawned as she got up from her bed and nice comfy covers.
"Morning, Tsu-chan!" Yukiko knocked on the door on her way to the kitchen.
"Morning, Yukiko-san." Tsukiko yawned again and went around her room looking for the clothes she'd put aside on the previous day. A simple black, t-shirt, blue jeans and almost a dress-like jacket. It was quite nice. It was light beige of color, and of light fabric so it wasn't too hot in the spring weather. Jodie had a good taste indeed. Or good eyes in spotting suitable clothes to try. Final say was Tsukiko's after all.
Brushing her hair quickly, the girl finally left the confines of her room. She was yawning once again when she stepped into the kitchen. Yukiko and Subaru were both already eating and there was a pair of sandwiches places by Tsukiko's seat.
"G'morning…" The girl greeted, sitting down and pulling a mug of tea closer.
"Good morning, Tsukiko." Subaru nodded behind the newspaper.
"When are we leaving to the station?"
"Soon."
"'kay. I can get to sleep some more at the car then."
"Yes, you can." Yukiko laughed. "But eat first before you fall asleep again."
"Haai~." The girl yawned again. It was weird how tired she was feeling. Last time she felt like this was during solving Kudou Yusaku's Cold Case. Yeah, it still deserved capitals. Anyways this tiredness made her worried. Had Kage or Red Moon been… sleepwalking her while she should've rested? When Tsukiko had tried to ask either of them, she got no answer.
The drive to Tokyo station was uneventful. The trio of Kudou residence only made sure that professor Agasa and the kids left first. Considering the paranoid nature of one Haibara Ai, it seemed the best.
"Considering her minor freak-out at the train it doesn't really matter…" Tsukiko thought amusedly, whilst fiddling her phone. While parking she noticed a familiar-looking car nearby but what would Yamato do at the station of all places?
"Probably someone else just happens to have the same model and color." The girl decided.
"Did you say something, Tsu-chan?" Yukiko asked.
"No, nothing."
"Alright. You go look for your friends then." The woman straightened her hat. "Subaru-san and I handle the luggage."
"Right…" Tsukiko paused. "I hope you didn't have anything too special in any of the suitcases. Considering the temper of some Crows… You might end up losing some excess baggage."
"You think so?" Yukiko smirked. "Well, I have nothing too important but a touch of misdirection in there." The woman winked.
Tsukiko headed to the platform area, towards the steam engine. It was quite good looking. Not as grand as the Hogwarts Express but…
"Tsukiko!" And the first person had spotted her already. The bespectacled girl turned around in feigned surprise.
"Masumi-nee? You have the pass too?"
"Yup! I heard of the deduction show that will be organized once aboard." The tomboy grinned. "And you've finally begun calling me 'neechan' automatically!" Tsukiko was glomped into a hug.
"Uh… yeah." The younger girl struggled to keep her legs straight under Masumi's weight. "Nee, Masumi-nee…"
"Yes?"
"Shouldn't we go and find others? We are attracting attention here." And indeed, they were gathering some stares from the people around them.
"True that, let's go then!" With her other arm still on Tsukiko's shoulders, Masumi began leading her towards the group near the steam engine itself.
"So this is what it's like when Sonoko drags Ran along or Heiji kidnaps Conan…" The bespectacled girl thought with a sweatdrop.
"That's why this time, I thought I'd be one step ahead of him and plant a love letter addressed to him inside the train car, you know ~! " Sonoko gushed to Ran. About Kaitou Kid naturally. Tsukiko refrained from facepalming and only rolled her eyes experatedly.
"I doubt Kid will have the free time to steal that kind of letter." Ran sweatdropped. "And beyond that, Kyogoku-san would be really angry, you know?"
"There is a separate stomach for Kid-sama love~ "
"Oh sweet merciful God or any kamis that may hear me… Please grant me some patience…" Tsukiko sighed.
"More than such a sneak thief, what I'm really interested in is the deduction quiz that's done on the train each time!" Masumi smiled brightly to the duo of girls.
"Se-Sera-san?" Ran gasped.
"Why…?" Sonoko in the other hand frowned.
"I'm detective! It's only natural that I would ride this…" The tomboy spoke. "Hey, isn't your otou-san with you?"
"Huh? He was right here a minute ago…" The long-haired karate champion glanced around them before dashing along the platform to look for the man. Conan accompanied her.
"Well, hello you guys too?" Tsukiko waved half-heartedly.
"Ah, you made it Tsukiko-chan. Great!" Sonoko smiled tensely. The things were still a bit strained between the two.
"Yes, I got a ride from niisan. Thank you for inviting me Suzuki-san."
Half an hour later the trio of girls(Masumi had gone to her own room) were assembled in the room reserved for them in the car 8. That's when the first act was announced to begin: someone knocked on the door. Ran went to open it but only thing she found, was a card.
"Congratulations! You've been chosen to play the role of the accomplice!
The guest playing the role of the victim is waiting in the car 7, room B.
Please switch with them and get hyped up about the deduction quiz."
Thus read on the card.
"We probably should get going then." Tsukiko shrugged and picked her bag from the bench.
"I can't wait! I wonder who will play detectives then." Sonoko grinned after reading the card Ran had handed to her.
"Maybe someone from the car 6… If the cars are being swapped…" Ran mused as they left the room. On the way they met with Kogoro who decided to come with them to the car 7. But once there…
"Ah, you are here! Excellent, excellent!" A man just then left the room B. He was the one playing the victim, organizing the extra detective show and later would be the real murder victim. Tsukiko didn't remember his name though. "The kids just went to chase the culprit to the next car." The man spoke and noticed Kogoro then. "Mouri-san, would you go to the dining car? Here are your instructions. Memorize them carefully. You shall have the answer of this detective quiz to be explained once this is over."
Kogoro received a card from the man and with enthusiasm and 'Mouri Poirot'-esque behavior left for the dining car. The victim left too for the car 8 then and the girls began filing into the room B.
"Masumi-nee." Tsukiko spoke up then, noticing the other girl at the corridor.
"Hey. What's going on? Wasn't you room in car 8?" Masumi asked.
"Yes, but this is part of the quiz." Ran explained. "Come on in. The detectives may come back at any moment."
Ran was already pouring some tea into the cups. Tsukiko sat down opposite the rich girl and accepted the beverage that was not so hot anymore. Sonoko also took a cup for herself after giving the instruction card to Sera who began reading it.
Just then the door was opened again, without any warning by knocking. It was the detective boys.
"Eh?" Conan just stared at them. No wonder. After all he'd suspected that a real murder had happened in this room. Oh, just wait little detective, the grim reaper is about to descend soon.
"Oh…Conan-kun…" Ran spoke up.
"You should at least knock before you enter a ladies' room, you know!" Sonoko huffed in annoyance. Tsukiko however could spot some quiver in her voice when the rich girl was forced to improvise.
"Ah… It's…" The boy stammered. "This is car 7, right?"
"Huh?"
"This is car 8!" Masumi explained, immediately catching on the plot. "I've just now come to visit!"
Thankfully the little detective with his friends left soon and the girls could sigh in relief.
"I guess they are the detectives of this deduction quiz." Tsukiko smiled.
"Geez, could've given us a bit more warning…" Sonoko muttered.
"True, but isn't this exciting though? Waiting how long it'll take until they catch on." Masumi grinned.
"My estimate is less than ten minutes." Tsukiko grinned back.
"Geez, you two really are alike. It's almost creepy." Sonoko muttered.
"Now Sonoko…" Ran sweat-dropped.
"Shall we time it then, Tsukiko?" Masumi was holding her phone with a timer app open.
"Sure!"
Seven minutes, twenty-one seconds and forty-nine milliseconds later the door opened again. It wasn't long until Sonoko chased Conan out but soon enough the boy was at the door again. Just around nine and half minutes.
"Now look here, you…"
"This room… The real truth is… It's car 7, room B. Right?" Conan asked smugly.
"I… Told… You…" Uh oh, the polka haired girl was about to snap.
"Sonoko-neechan, you guys got it too, right? A card like this one! And you were doing like it told you to do on the card, weren't you?" The kid smiled while showing the card the Detective Boys had received. "To temporarily switch rooms with the person playing the victim role and confuse the detectives who would come to visit… Am I wrong?"
"…" Yeah, Sonoko was pissed.
"That's amazing!" Masumi interjected. "As expected of Conan-kun…"
Then Ran proceeded in explaining the situation with Sonoko and Masumi. Tsukiko merely poured more tea for herself. Even though it was lukewarm, it was still tasty.
"Anyway, I believe this is our first meeting?" Masumi spoke up then, looking directly at Ai. "You're that kid called Haibara, right?"
"Y-Yeah…" Conan stammered while trying to block the poor girl out of Masumi's line of sight.
"I wanted to have a word with you…" And then the tomboy's attention snapped to the door. "Who is it?!"
When Masumi went check the corridor, Tsukiko frowned at the vibrating sensation coming from her pocket. Left pocket which had the black phone. It got a message. And only Yamato had the number. And he usually contacted her regular phone in the case of suspicion.
"Ah, that must be for me." Came a whisper from Kage. "Mind giving the control over?"
But before Tsukiko could give a verbal mental reply, her subconscious was already retreating and Kage was stepping in.
"Arigatou, Tsuki-chan." The girl heard before everything went black for her.
"At any rate, why don't you go and tell the conductors that you solved the mystery of the disappearing corpse?" Masumi suggested, providing an excellent out for Kage.
"But is it okay not telling Kogoro-ojisan, who's doing the explaining role?" Conan wondered aloud.
"Leave him be! He's probably getting dead drunk in the dining car anyway…" Ran laughed.
The kids went to the conductor with Ran and Masumi while Kage went to opposite direction and took a look on the message she'd received. It was some simple coordinates that marked a place in the train and it took no time for Kage to crack it and then delete the message. With one glance to the direction of the kids and teens, a moment of indecision, and Kage was already walking towards their destination.
"This is not my assignment but Tsukiko's. And as long as She stays with others, She'll be just fine while I take care of this."
"You definitely took your time." Yamato spoke from his seat in the smoking car and exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke that curled out of the open window.
"Well, sorry." Kage shrugged and took a seat opposite the man. "Why did you want to meet with me?"
"Have you ever heard about Hibiki?"
"… I can't say I have. Who is he? A target?"
"Target? Yes. One that we take down? No." The blonde man flicked the cigarette out of the window in an absent-minded manner. "Can Tsukiko hear this, Kagemiya?"
"No. She is asleep now. Now, what relevance does this Hibiki have with us?"
"Hibiki is… my apprentice of sorts. My ward. My hostage." The last one was said with a humorous grin. "His name is Midorikawa Shugo. He is seventeen years old and very talented hacker."
"Midori-… I thought he was dead. Tsukiko definitely thinks so." Kage frowned. Something about the description nagged at the back of their mind.
"The thing is that there were two Midorikawa Shugos that I could be referring to. First is the dead one who'd be around my age. He is the one who was simply figment of Tsukiko's imagination just like me but unlike me, he never existed in this world. I lied to her about a lot of things when we spoke for the first time."
"Who is the second Midorikawa then?"
"That's… Tsukiko-chan's little brother. Lari. He figured out what happened to Jade and managed to follow her. But some timeline fuckery happened and he was here for ten years, catching up with his age and Tsukiko-chan's arrival."
"And you are telling this me why? And why not Tsukiko?"
"Shugo doesn't want her to know yet. He is busy currently with tracking down some money that Miyoshi Corporation has been laundering. And he wants to meet face to face. You in the other hand… You need to know about his status on the organization's shitlist. Though most of them think of him as an urban legend or something like that…"
"…So?"
"So what?"
"So, what exactly has Tsukiko's idiotic little brother done to get on the organization's radar?" Kage asked with crossed arms and arched eyebrows.
"Apart from regularly hacking their systems, filching their money and assisting an FBI mole to escape? Nothing much. Speaking of which, technically Shugo is now older than Tsukiko."
"Do I look like I care?"
"No."
Tsukiko came into consciousness in the middle of hallway towards the room Sonoko, Ran and the girl herself had occupied before the detective game. It took once again a couple of stumbling steps before she regained her footing, Kage purposefully having kicked her awake without any pre-warning. And whilst cursing herself blue inside her mind, Tsukiko noticed a commotion at the corridor, right before the room she was heading to.
"Let me guess…" The girl spoke as she approached her friends. Masumi and Conan were already inspecting the corpse, not that she had peeked inside the room yet. "I go away for ten minutes, tops, and meanwhile you stumble upon a murder. Again."
"Ah, Tsukiko-chan…" Ran smiled a tad nervously to the other black-haired girl. Putting a brave face before the younger one's unimpressed one. But then the karate champion sighed in defeat. "Yes…"
"I see…" Tsukiko leant a bit to the right to see the corpse before looking away. Considering what would happen later, she wasn't remotely interested in this case. Just unnecessary cannon fodder in order to set the stage for the actual showdown. But she also knew her job this time was to stick around. Because she was going to, too.
People from the neighboring rooms poured into the corridor. Conan sent the kids away with Ran and Sonoko. Tsukiko opened her phone and checked for messages while the conductor took care of informing the police. At the corner of her eye the girl glanced at the disguised Kaito and Jii but naturally kept quiet about their real identities. Besides, Conan would figure it out eventually anyways.
With a sigh Tsukiko resigned herself on the glorified babysitting duty. She kept out of the way of the detectives while keeping an eye on things. So the suspects slash witnesses were interviewed by Kogoro. The smoking detective was fooling around with his curled moustaches but thankfully it didn't affect the investigation itself. And Conan and Masumi were there to keep everything on track. While in the midst of everything Masumi was playing quite convincing antagonist. Something like Kage but less malicious. And with no sense of privacy.
"Seriously, Masumi-nee? Peeking on kid's phone?" Tsukiko chuckled and flipped the lock screen of her phone down. The recent manga chapters had been interesting to say the least and personally the bespectacled girl(without her glasses on that day though) was glad the situation around Scotch's death was clear to the readers. One more stone off her heart.
"Well… He was staring at it so intensely." Masumi grinned. "And is quite a bad liar." The tomboy added mischievously once the boy was out of earshot.
"That he is… depending on the situation of course."
"Nee… Tsuki-chan?"
"Hai?"
"Do you know what was up with him earlier when he sent the kids away?" Suddenly the other girl was full of seriousness despite the playful air she tried to keep. Or as much as one could be playful near a crime scene. Tsukiko blinked once.
"I don't know what the message he received said…" But had a good idea of it. Most likely confirming 'Scar-Akai's' presence. "…to make him react like that. Tantei-chan rarely panics." Unless it's about the organization and someone dear to him was in danger.
"But you do know something." She was fishing. Tsukiko let her. She at least had grounds to deserve answers. Unlike Mai. The ex-class president was too curious for her own good.
"…Maybe. You should be careful too. I have a bad feeling about this whole train ride. And not only because of this murder."
It was after the running tests. The train went into the tunnel and Masumi went to show the recorded video clips of the suspects' running to the Detective Boys. Tsukiko was about to follow when her phone rang.
"Unknown number?" The girl frowned but answered anyways. It was weird to get the call since they were in a tunnel but… modern technology.
"Moshi moshi? Okiya desu…"
"Khzzzzt…. Khzzzzt…" There was only static. But no the normal kind of static. Some sort of artificial…
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Toot toot… click." The connection was cut off. Frowning, Tsukiko pocketed her phone. And when she looked up…
Masumi was gone already.
"Shimatta…"
She couldn't find her. And she couldn't go inform anyone else either. They all had their duties. Conan was solving the crime. Yukiko had just been distracting Vermouth, baiting her. Subaru…
Tsukiko fumbled with her phone and dialed the man's number. It went to voicemail. Wasn't the man currently 'scaring' Ai? No, that had happened earlier during the case solving. Where was he?
"Masumi-nee is missing. I was following her but…" She cut herself off in mid-sentence. Intellectually she knew Masumi would be fine. Like in the manga, she was just tasered. But…
Tsukiko was in the game too. Her job during the train ride had been to keep an eye on Masumi and maybe because of that the tomboy could be used as a leverage if they didn't find her and Subaru was off doing something else and…
"Control yourself, Tsuki, and take a deep breath." Advise from Red Moon? Unexpected but nevertheless welcome. Tsukiko breathed in. And breathed out. In. And out.
"I'm calm."
"Good. Now, let's go to the direction Masumi-chan went to and see if someone else has seen her."
"But Vermouth would've said to the conductor that Masumi-nee is simply anemic." Tsukiko protested faintly but began hurrying down the corridor. She didn't even notice Amuro slipping out of one of the rooms and heading towards the crime solving.
Subaru was exiting one of the rooms when Tsukiko finally spotted him. He was carrying Masumi on his arms.
"I…" Words stuck in Tsukiko's throat. She'd failed. It had been simple task. And if Vermouth and Bourbon had been any other organization members, Masumi would've already been dead or at least heavily drugged and possibly in the last car with all the explosives. And nothing in this world could make any of the people in the plan forgive her, ever. Not Conan, not Yukiko, definitely not Subaru and absolutely not Tsukiko herself. Not to mention Ran, Sonoko, Mai, and Mary, who all would be worried and all and Tsukiko could never bring herself to face them again. And she really hated what if scenarios because they only made her doubt herself more and more, and was this her fault or not.
"Where's her room?" Subaru asked the girl, snapping her out from the dangerous thoughts that were about to turn self-hatred.
"Ah! It's…" Tsukiko rattled the car number and room letter for the man. The trio made their way through the corridors and past the other cabins. It was deserted. People were in the dining car or their own cabins. Once at their destination, Subaru laid Masumi down on one of the benches. Tsukiko hovered awkwardly in the doorway but stiffly sat down then on the other bench.
"I'm sorry." The girl blurted out. Subaru looked up at her and her distraught face.
"It's alright. I was prepared that you'd be… distracted."
"I wasn't! I was just… She was right there! And then my phone rang. There was no one at the other end and by the time I looked around, she was just gone and…"
"Calm down, Tsukiko. I know this isn't your fault and I'm not blaming you for anything." Subaru lifted a calming hand. "I was prepared for variables that would occur even with your involvement."
"Huh?"
"The way things go in the fictional world you know. You warned me during our planning last week what happened to Masumi in… 'Mystery Train Arc'. While Conan suspected it beforehand to happen and thus assigned you to keep an eye on her, I realized that our opponents might go around you anyways."
"I… see." Tsukiko wasn't sure what to think. On one hand she had failed. On other hand Masumi was still safe and relatively alright now.
"Shu-…Shuu-nii…" Masumi mumbled in her sleep. While it brought a faint smile on Subaru's face, Tsukiko it made only stiffen. The guilt was eating her once more. Playing this role, stealing Masumi's rightful place at her brother's side… It was suffocating. But it was only thing Tsukiko had right now. And maybe it was alright in a way too. Shuichi didn't want Masumi in any contact with the Organization. (The brief meeting with Scotch and Bourbon four years ago was already more than enough.) But Tsukiko was an outsider. She was already tangled in this mess. She was helpful and inconspicuous. Appropriate collateral damage. So it was alright for her to be here. Maybe.
"I'll stay here and make sure nothing happens to her." Tsukiko spoke, burying her worries and doubt deep inside her, within her confused and conflicted feelings. "I promise."
Subaru was already turning towards the door, Masumi's hat in hand, when he looked back at the girl. Someone he cared about even if he couldn't always convey it properly. Social interactions weren't his forte but Tsukiko forgave him. She always let him go on his way. Keeping up the act. The FBI agent wasn't sure how much of it was an act in the end. And he doubted Tsukiko knew either. She acted too. And now she was holding her poker face on (where did she learn that from?) even though it was cracked inside. The damage wasn't irreparable yet but now he couldn't linger. Time was of essence.
"Can you keep that promise?"
The answer was full of steely resolve but also desperation. "Yes." And she continued from there. "I simply… I simply owe too much. To both of you. Because you dragged me out of that Well of Loneliness. You made me feel included." Maybe Tsukiko was integral part of the cast by now. But it didn't stop herself from fundamental level feeling like an outsider. (Being an outsider helped her to deal with all the murders around her.) But Subaru and Masumi both had helped her so much. Much more than Conan, Jodie or even Mai.
"I do worry about you." Subaru had said when Tsukiko was hospitalized after Tanabata-case.
"You know what, Tsuki-chan? You can call me 'neechan' now!" Masumi told the girl when Tsukiko's hair had been dyed.
"So I promise. I promise to watch after her." And protect her. Because she had a wish. A desperate wish. For a long time now, one of her names – Akai no Tsuki – had gotten a different meaning. It was a whisper to the skies.
"Please let me be part of your family."
There wasn't much for Tsukiko to do anymore during the train ride. She mostly just either looked out of the window or fiddled with her phone while Masumi slept off the effects of the stun gun.
Then there was some running on the corridor and screams.
"Fire!"
"Smoke!"
"Run for your lives!"
It was a hysteria and the pyrophobics from the previous murder case were only fanning the flames of it. Tsukiko only briefly peered into the corridor. It was do no good nor bad to leave. It was just stage smoke, didn't even smell much.
An email binged to hers and also to Masumi's phones. It was Ran. Asking where they were and if they were safe. Tsukiko sent a reply of being with the other girl and already having evacuated.
Yamato checked his gun and slipped it back to the holster underneath his jacket. Thus far it seemed that Kage(nor any of the other alter egos of the same body) were in danger. That didn't count out one Haibara Ai, aka Miyano Shiho aka Sherry. Nor did it count out Kaitou Kid aka Kuroba Kaito. Both people were important to Shugo. Both of them needed not to die.
With resolute steps, the platinum blonde man headed towards the carriage number eight. The fake smoke was wreathing the corridors with a thick but see through cloak of light grey.
A hurried steps were approaching him from the direction he was going to. Yamato tightened his grip on his gun and…
Pointed it at the face of one Akai Shuichi?
"Wow…" The blonde mused. "Kagemiya said you'd be here but… Seeing is believing I guess."
"Ishikawa-san." Akai stated. "What is your purpose of being here?"
Yamato grinned and finally lowered the gun.
"Safeguard. Someone's gotta have your back. So Kagemiya ordered me here."
Akai frowned. He didn't recognize the name. But before he could ask…
Boom!
…
BOOM!
Two explosions. Yamato's brows shot up. His mouth opened slightly in sudden comprehension of the entirety of the situation.
"Oh… Oh! That's genius! I wonder if Hibiki knew. What am I saying? Of course he did."
Akai's eyes shot a sharp gaze onto the younger(?) man. "Hibiki?" He remembered the kid. How could he not? With all the encounters with him since the first time the agent met the boy four years ago. With every meeting being more confusing than the previous one. Midorikawa Shugo had terrifying intuition and even more dangerous connections. Both to the boy himself and to the other people if the Organization were to catch him or otherwise figure things out.
First was Ishikawa Yamato who – while successfully out of the organization – was a dangerous wildcard on his own. Topnotch skill trained by the organization's best and connections to one of the highest ranking members there still.
Second was… Sera Masumi. Four years ago Akai had to bite his tongue when the boy dragged the girl off 'to have ice cream' and a moment later Yamato appeared carrying a camera he'd 'liberated' from an organization agent that had been shadowing the two kids.
Third was the way he had managed to get into good graces of some Organization members outside the alias. The acquaintances hadn't necessary been long but… Bourbon, Akemi, Scotch, Kir, Sherry.
Was that why Yamato was here? Because of the girl? But who was Kagemiya then?
"You got sort of lucky by the way… Two years ago you would've been on the list and I'd had to kill you." Yamato spoke up. "Instead Hibiki and I helped you to get out. And helped you again some months ago."
"I am aware of the favor I owe to you both." Akai spoke evenly, warily.
"Two favors." Yamato pocketed his gun. "One of them Hibiki put into cashing when he sent you that text."
"You'll look after her, won't you, Rye?
-Hibiki"
"I remember. And I'm doing so."
"…" The blonde man considered the other for a moment before sighing then. "Just… Make sure it's not just physical well-being that you look after. If she is anything like Hibiki, she will keep a lot to herself until it all comes bursting out."
"Ishikawa. How are they connected?" It… for the lack of better word, terrified the FBI agent. He didn't like unknown variables, especially at so close of contact. He knew that Tsukiko wasn't a spy of any kind. The time shared together had already proven that. But Hibiki was the one who made everything tricky. And they both were in contact with Masumi. And Sherry more or less.
"Isn't it obvious? They are siblings. Though Tsukiko-chan doesn't know of him." Yamato smiled. "Now excuse me… I need to go and talk with an old friend of mine."
And the other man was gone. Akai began hurrying away from the missing carriage site. He had a lot to think about.
In hindsight, it made sense. If Midorikawa Shugo had future knowledge just like Okiya Tsukiko had (and wasn't it annoying that he didn't know their real names), it would be obvious how he'd made just the right people his acquaintances. And maybe… just maybe, this knowledge made it a bit easier to breathe. Situation was all the more complicated and the source of this information was dubious at best but… some pieces had finally found their places to form a bit clearer picture of the overall situation. Akai nodded mentally, coming to a decision. He wouldn't tell Tsukiko about this meeting and the information shared, but he'd definitely keep better eye on her. There was a lot to be cared of with the girl, like he'd observed earlier, but Yamato's plea for Akai – for Subaru – to step up in his surrogate brother role made it all even more serious. While the FBI agent wasn't the best at social interactions and a sudden change in behavior would raise the girl's suspicions, he'd at least try something.
"Hello, Amuro-san~…" Bourbon whipped around to point a gun at the speaker. After seeing that… ghost, he was still a bit jumpy. And maybe for a good reason. Since there was his old 'friend' with a gun of his own trained at the detective-slash-waiter's forehead in almost a lazy manner.
"Yamato. What are you doing here?"
"Saa, I wonder… Didn't Kage tell you?"
The tanned blonde's blood ran cold. Even if Vermouth had given him the suspicion of Yamato's involvement with Kage (and possibly Hibiki too), the confirmation was… unsettling.
"Are you going to kill me then?" Bourbon asked with narrowed eyes. "Sanjuu?"
"Nah." Yamato shrugged, concealing his weapon once more. Amuro didn't copy him. "You aren't on the list quit yet. And maybe you won't be. Who knows what secrets Hibiki will drag up from the dusty archives before that, eh?" There was that damnable grin made for aggravating the opponent on the man's face. The one that told he knew your every thought in this situation he was completely in control of. Stashing his gun away only heightened the impression. And while all that screamed familiarity to Bourbon, in a way Yamato was nothing like Gin. Yamato was daring but aware of his boundaries, thus could afford the confident façade(which wasn't much of a façade really but all true). Meanwhile Gin was an intimidating presence that made others cover and his confidence in plans and such border lined arrogance. Yamato had years of hiding and covert operations of his own design while Gin did to Organization's bidding. And difference between a guerilla fighter and a war general.
"What do you want then?"
"Can't I greet an old friend? Last time was what? Four years ago? But even then most of attention was on the kids who'd been shadowed."
"We both know you aren't one for chit-chat no matter how carefree you pretend to be. Even if we haven't seen properly since you left Organization ten years ago, I knew you well enough to establish a profile of you."
"Oh? Is that so?" It was a smirk of a cat about to play with its prey.
"Ungh…" Masumi groaned and blinked awake. It took her a moment to figure out where she was. But eventually she recognized her surroundings. It was her room in carriage 5. And on the sofa opposite of the one she was lying on…
"Morning, sleeping beauty." Tsukiko smiled, closing her book (Murder at the Orient Express) and putting it in her bag. "You fainted at the corridor."
"Oh yeah?" Masumi muttered, shaking the last vestiges of sleep from her mind.
"Yeah, have you been getting enough iron in your food? Or eaten enough fibers and vitamin C?" The former blond talked. Masumi noticed she seemed nervous even though it was covered up quite well. But for what reason would Tsukiko be nervous unless she knocked the older girl out on purpose. That was a silly thought though. Right?
"I think I have. Maybe it's just dehydration."
"Maybe." Tsukiko nodded. "There was some commotion back at the last two carriages. I heard we are gonna stop at the next station."
"Really?" There was something Masumi ought to remember. But she really couldn't figure out what it was. What had happened before she… fainted? She had left the investigation scene. Tsukiko had followed her but answered to her phone then. And then… what? What was next? This was frustrating.
"We probably should get going. Ran-san called me a while back. She was worried."
"Aa… We should." Taking the hand Tsukiko offered, Masumi heaved herself to sitting position. Maybe her disorientation would go away soon. Hopefully.
Once the train stopped at the station and people started milling out and about, Tsukiko took her chance to slip away and meet briefly with Subaru and Yukiko.
"Everything went according to plan?"
"Yes. Everything went like expected." Yukiko smiled. "And Ai-chan is safe now."
"At least one matter is solved regarding the organization." Subaru nodded slowly. "What about your end, Tsukiko? Masumi woke up fine?"
"Yes. A bit disoriented still but she is with Edogawa-kun and others. Ran-san found the hat you borrowed." Tsukiko replied and glanced behind her where Bourbon was talking with Vermouth. She didn't particularly fancy meeting with either of them. Though maybe she could try building a better friendship with the man…
"…" Subaru followed her gaze, adjusting his glasses, while Yukiko went with the flow of the crowd right to Vermouth's line of sight. With some consideration, the bespectacled man finally spoke again. "I'm glad you are alright too, Tsuki."
The girl blinked and gave a confused smile. "Thanks? What brought this on though?"
"I… met an intriguing character while onboard. He made me think of various things." Of various people and their connections to each other. Subaru sincerely hoped Tsukiko had never met Yamato despite her apparent brother Shugo(he still needed a confirmation to that information) being deeply connected with the man.
"Oh… Okay?" The girl smiled again and linked her arm through hers. "Kami, I sincerely hope the police won't question us too long."
"I hope so too."
"And Mai-san better not complain to me about my adventures. Despite the explosion and 'fire' happening, I was not hurt."
A/N: Phew. I feel like I accomplished many things with this chapter. Tied stuff together and such. Quite fitting too because the Mystery Train concludes the Bourbon Arc. At least the first part of it. I probably need to clarify a couple of things here though.(and freshen memory on others) This A/N is gonna be long. Just tellin' ya.
1. Who knows who?
Tsukiko doesn't know Yamato is on board the train thus she doesn't know he met with Bourbon and Akai. She also doesn't know his entire backstory. Akai doesn't know Yamato knows Tsukiko, nor does he know that she and Kage(miya) and more or less the same person. Amuro doesn't know Yamato's entire connections or skills but knows to be wary, like he was in Leap. Vermouth likes to think she has all the cards but in this case she is quite out of the loop. Shugo is a little shit who bug everyone and everything and eaves dropped every conversation Yamato had at the train. Conan is completely ignorant to Yamato's appearance at the train too.
2. Tsukiko's Angst
I've been reading Naruto SI-OC fics where characters have been having existential crisis(es). They may or may not have influenced me. Besides Tsukiko has had this coming ever since she read Scarlet Arc at Beika Department Store. She is trying to cling onto Subaru to some degree but is too scared to actually do so because she knows that once the truth about Akai's continued survival comes out, things are gonna change one way or other.
3. Akai's debt
This refers to the text Akai received at Haido Central Hospital at the beginning of my fic when I rewrote the first chapters.(I really gotta continue revamping) More about the actual debt is gonna be eventually in Leap unless Shugo himself addresses the issue in here...
4. Yamato...
Is badass. No worries, he didn't hurt Bourbon.
5. Four years ago
This is about the flashback in the relatively recent manga case that allowed us to have the first peek on Scotch. It'll take place in the next Leap chapter that I'm gonna write next. That or my Naruto fic.
Right and now it's the time for Replies to Reviews:
Chapter 63(and others before AN chapter):
-zoela:
You suggestion for Tsukiko and Shugo to meet is... shoujo-manga-ish. Quite good and fun really but not really fit my writing style. Thank you for the suggestion though.
-Grace F:
Sorry, no Hibiki. I sort of want to build him more at Leap. The appearance at chapter 60 was mostly because I had already planned him to have the movie as a chapter but the chapter in this fic wouldn't work without his involvement. Or something. I hope that makes sense.
-Guest:
I do get parts mixed up. Especially with my pauses I tend to forget things. But I try my bet and review old stuff regularly.
The Organization already knows about Yamato, they just... Well, Yamato is the Living Legend. Only one to get away and still stay alive, the Boogieman of new recruits. People are almost as scared of him as of Gin but in different way.
(skipping some reviews cause they were so short to reguire an actual reply to each. I acknowledge them though and thank you for sending them.)
-Echo of Zwei:
Thank you very much. I enjoy writing them even though they are a bit difficult.
-Tsuki (times X):
I've updated. :)
AN-Chapter:
-Zeladious:
Thank you very much. I'm glad to hear you enjoy this.
I've been ridiculously busy with school stuff and getting distracted with other stuff.(reading fanfics, finding new fandoms, reviewing old fandoms etc.) But I try to keep on going.
-Resha Tsubaki:
A long review, yay. \o/
First of all thank you very much for you comment. It had a lot of stuff to make me think and and consider.(and smile happily at the compliments)
Yeah, Tsukiko has changed. So has Jade. The dimension ripping machine screwed them both over and probably if she'd figured out a way back home right on spot, Jade would've developed a split personality even if the two parts wouldn't have been that different at that point. Since the start Tsukiko's mentality has been adjust-adjust-adjust. She got scared at the hospital when she couldn't call home and realized she had already gained FBI's attention. So she tries to blend in and tip-toe around suspicions. When Jodie makes the offer to stay with her, Tsukiko grabs it with both hands. When she meets with Akai/Subaru again, she does the same. Tsukiko goes to school, meets people, makes friends... She doesn't have time to think anything else. Basically everything prior chapter 20-something is like that. That's when the first hiatus comes. When Vermouth approaches her and draws her closer into the game, Tsukiko begins to realize she is in trouble. She becomes determined to write her own rules instead of breaking the existing ones. She gains more future knowledge and awareness of the situation but she is still in survival mode. Her personality starts to split. She gets Yamato into the game(who brings Shugo in). When Sera appears and Akako gives her warning and Mai starts meddling in the Hairdye chapter, Tsukiko goes through another shift. All of her personalites do that more or less. She begins to feel more like an outsider now. The break isn't there yet, Akai can help more but in this chapter you can see the beginning. More is yet to come.
Whew, that was a long one. Now to the next! I have not 'decided' on any pairing. Five years ago when I began this fic EiTsuki sort of just happened. People tend to ship KaiTsuki though. Ultimately things are still up in the air. Akai would've been a good one to ship her with if she'd been older. As it stands, Tsukiko is sixteen to Akai's almost-thirty. Too big of an age gap in my taste.
You had suspicions? Only suspicions? Thank Kami! I've been thinking I've been shouting it all the time! And now I've spoiled it... And in this chapter I've spoiled more... Wait! Have you been reading Leap to Relatively Unknown? Because that's Shugo's stint in DC World where these things have been mentioned already.
Nope, no Mai on train. But yes, she is going to be danger if someone doesn't stop her. Stay tuned for... Cherry Viewing.
I've... I've grown from my weeaboo days but the chapters of the beginning still need improving with addressing. Tsukiko sort of has this thing for surnames still going on. With DB, she is going to move to firstnames soon(sort of have to, it annoys me too) but Conan and Ai will stay with surnames probably. Tsuki is an anomaly and since she isn't native, she is bound to make mistakes. But yeah, I need to correct some stuff.
I'll be waiting for your next review. :)
-Kat:
Thank you very much. XD
-Kiri Kaitou Clover:
Wow, even I can't read this on one sitting! But thank you anyways. I can't wait to see the movie either! What I've seen of the trailers it seems great!
I hope you like what little I have of Shugo this far. Ciao! o/
-Guest(chapter 54):
Annoying? Could you please elaborate so I can address this issue better because Mai is human(fictional but yeah), she has her faults. She is nosy and prideful and socially awkward. But she tries her best to be a good friend.
-Tsukiox:
You my guest 'Tsuki'? Anyways, I've update now. :) I hope you like this chapter.
()
And! I've got a special announcement for you my dear readers! I've made a forum for you guys. It has only few topic this far but more can be made. I also try to be semi-active there. The forum is for both of my DC-fics and the three one-shots I made for Takuya. The Christmas one-shot may be counted in too. I hope you'll like it.
forum/ Leaping-into-a-Dream/190714/