Guys, I promise I am not dead. I am not discontinuing this series. It will take longer because of school and homework. Thank you for your continued support and I feel bad when you all PM me and ask if I am all right. I promise I am. Now this shall be episodes 701 and 702.

Finally, it was the day that we had been waiting for. I stood on the edge of the platform, staring at train, up and down at the different cars. A steam engine in looks, but apparently a diesel engine in reality. Interesting.

"You ready Subaru-kun?"

I turned to my companion. Yukiko was dressed inconspicuously with a wide brimmed black hat that just covered the top part of her face. I sighed. Was I ready? This was a moving death trap. There would be almost no stops, and it could easily be a prison that could lead to someone dying. I was walking aboard with barely any weapons, and without that security blanket I felt like I was inadequately prepared to fight both Bourbon and Vermouth.

The Boya had texted me throughout the week, asking questions on things we could need. I sighed. Right, Conan trusted me with this. I had already hacked into Haibara's phone in case she got a message from them, namely from Vermouth.

I felt a firm hand grip my arm. I glance over to see Yukiko give me a reassuring smile under her wide brimmed hat.

"Come along Subaru-kun. We are going to be late."

Yukiko was really subdued today, not at all her usual sunshine self. I think she also senses the seriousness of this situation. I pull out my phone and send out a quick text

You be our eyes and ears Boya.

He was the scout in this operation. He had to be the one to keep an eye on both Bourbon and Vermouth. He was about as front lines as he could get, while Yukiko-san and I were the reinforcements. I just hoped he was careful otherwise Haibara wouldn't be the only one we would have to worry about being killed. I allowed Yukiko-san to drag me off toward our car when I felt the vibration in my pocket. Nothing fancy, just a simple.

Roger.

I glance toward the front of the train where in the distance I see the group of Detective boys. Conan was there, looking relaxed but I see the subtle slip of the phone back into his pocket. Haibara was beside him and she also seemed ok, minus the cold mask on her face. I sigh and allow Yukiko-san to pull me into the train.

We settled into our carriage. I sit down and stare out the tinted windows as Yukiko-san sat across from me. In a way I was excited. I get to fight the crows again, and if this succeeds then they can finally get off of Haibara's back, and the probability of me being discovered after this is slim unless something happens here on this train. Yet this will not be easy. Tricking Gin when he doesn't know of our secret weapon is something, but Vermouth is different because she does know about Conan, and Bourbon might not know but he is bright; he will probably figure it out with this operation, which is why we have to be careful. It is a whole different ballgame. I sigh and stand up.

"I am going to go scout around the train. I will be back."

Yukiko nodded. I need to burn off some of this nervous energy, and besides I need to go see if our predictions are true.

From what the Boya told me they were all in carriage eight, while we were in the carriage seven. The storage car was at the very end of the train. I go through the carriage all the way to the storage car.

I step inside and shut the door gently, glancing around. There were several stacks of boxes covered in tarps. I lift one of the tarps and raise an eyebrow. Explosives, plastic like the ones used in the hospital. Not bad by themselves, but this amount could easily kill someone and destroy the car. Another box contained several grenades, I guess for the extra explosive power. I took one, just in case. I don't know how I would use it, but just in case they don't release the car and I need to do it myself, or I could toss it out the window as a distraction. Either way, having something in the way of weapons in my pocket did help the nervousness.

I was just about to leave when I spy a suspicious looking object behind several boxes. I sidle behind the stack of regular suitcases and other luggage to lift up the tarp. A cape, and judging the metal frame, it can be turned into a hang glider. So Boya was right in that text he sent me a few days ago.

Kaitou KID will probably escape from the back of the train anyway and will store his hang glider there for that purpose. That makes it easier for him to escape the bombs.

I smirk. Again Conan you amaze me. How can the boy think up such predictions that almost always come true. I am so glad I don't have to worry about having faith in my little strategist capabilities. Sometimes, the person calling the shots makes a wrong calculation, and it severely messes up their reputation, and I can't tell how many of those silly mistakes has cost me a friend or an injury. I am more relieved that Conan doesn't make mistakes; it gives me piece of mind knowing that I have a purpose and I don't have to worry about miscalculations. The Boya usually thinks of every small, seemingly insignificant but important detail, so no miscalculations could almost ever happen.

I make my way back to Yukiko-san slowly, observing my surroundings, just for anything useful. I had never been here, and an agent is always observant of things that could possibly help with a mission. I wasn't quite done with my exploring yet. I had confirmed one prediction. Time to go find another.

I strolled the length of the train slowly, keeping my eyes open for the people I was looking for. I wasn't going to draw attention to myself by looking in every compartment, but I doubt I needed to. I just need to—

There. I see the blond man and 'fake me' coming out of a compartment. Bourbon and Vermouth. Oh, disguising as me again? I slip behind the corner easily and peer out from behind it at them. They talk quietly for a few minutes before they separate, Bourbon toward the front of the train, while Vermouth comes back toward me. I backtrack, slipping into the men's bathroom right before the connection to the next carriage. I wait several minutes, going through the motions of washing my hands thoroughly before peeking back out again. The organization members have disappeared.

That answered that question. They are here.

I can feel my muscles tense in anticipation. I can finally fight them again, but I was still feeling nervous. I don't understand why. The Boya hasn't been wrong before, and we have already anticipated most of their moves. I stalk back to our compartment, and glance around warily before going in. I open the door to our compartment to see Yukiko-san putting together a package.

"What is that?"

She looked up with a soft smile, sliding the package behind the mirror in the room.

"A decoy. If Sharon thinks our plan is to fake Ai-chan's death with bullet proof vest and fake blood, she will get more confident right? At least that's what Shi-Conan-kun suggested."

She tapped her purse where her phone was. Of course he did. She quickly handed me a small make-up bag.

"Here, this is Kaitou KID's makeup he will need to dress as Ai-chan. You carry it on you. If Sharon tears this room apart looking for things I don't want her to find that."

I nod, taking the bag from her and putting it in my breast pocket.

"Um can you send a message to Conan? Tell him that both of them are here and the predictions of the storage room are correct?"

We decided at the beginning of this that Yukiko would be the one to contact Conan, just in case they were monitoring his phone somehow. As much as I hated it, my involvement needed to be more secretive then Yukiko's so I would just have to relay messages. Yukiko clicked open her phone and started typing as I sat back in the cushion. Now all we have to do is wait for someone to make a move. I wonder what he will do with the information.

"Yukiko-san, do you have a plan to keep Vermouth busy?"

Yukiko winked at me, placing her phone back on her lap.

"Of course dear. A good actress always rehearses her lines."

"How are you going to get her into your trap?"

I felt like an old agent again, prepping some rookie for a mission, going over every detail so it is perfect. Yukiko smiled calmly.

"I am going to bait her. I will walk past her and tell her something that will make her curious about my involvement and our plan. As a response she will come to our room and search it. Then I will trap her here and stall her for time."

I bite my lip. Yes, that would work. Vermouth knows Yukiko, and of course she knows about Conan. If they say that they have countermeasures against her, she will have to investigate, or risk the mission.

"And you are positive she won't hurt you."

She nodded calmly. She seems more ready for this then I am for letting her do it. I don't want this nice woman to get injured by Vermouth, however if the woman has failed to hurt Mouri Ran and Edogawa Conan after all this time, in fact protecting them from the Organization, then surely an old friend of hers will not be hurt right? It was just so against everything I knew about the woman. She was a cold blooded assassin who didn't care about anyone except herself. Why did she care about these two in particular? Suddenly an announcement came over the speakers.

"May I have your attention please? In light of an incident that has taken place on the train, we are considering changing our course and stopping at the nearest station. We apologize for the inconvenience, but please remain in your rooms at this time, and refrain from leaving them if at all possible."

I freeze and lock eyes with Yukiko. No, they couldn't already have made their move right? Haibara can't already be dead. She sat calmly in her seat, not moving. I ease myself out of mine and walk over to the door, hoping I could possibly hear something that explained what was going on.

"I will text Conan-kun, see what is going on."

She pulled out her phone and started tapping away. I ease the door open slightly, looking out into the hallway and immediately relax. Haibara was there, gripping onto Mouri Ran's shirt hem. So not dead then, that was good, although she is looking quite frightened. Did something happen? Did they already confront her? Or could she sense their presence? I see her stiffen and my answer made itself known by Vermouth walking down the hallway, in her disguise of me. I duck back, shutting the door slightly, just barely that I could see. Vermouth barely glances at her, and I can feel her fear from here it is palpable. I feel bad, making her so terrified that she is forced to make such a decision.

"Ah, you are on this train also Amuro-san?"

I shut the door on reflex, cutting off the conversation. I sigh inwardly. Bourbon doesn't know Okiya Subaru yet. There is no reason for me to be so cautious. In fact, if I am too cautious it will draw more attention to me. I slowly slide the door open again just in time to hear Sonoko.

"Hi nice to meet you I am Sonoko Suzuki."

I grimace. Is she throwing herself at Bourbon too? Geez that girl needs some standards. What happens if a 'cute' male that she crushes on turns out to be a kidnapper or murderer, like this guy? I hear Bourbon play it off.

"A pleasure. Anyway, it seems some sort of accident happened. Can you tell me anything about it?"

Ah yes, because this 'accident' whatever it is, could affect their plan as well as ours. We are both in the same boat here. I slide the door open a little farther to see if I could glean any information about this 'accident'. Mouri Ran leans forward and whispers loudly.

"It seems there has been a murder. Sera-san and Conan-kun are both still at the scene."

"I see. It will be wise to let Mouri-Sensei handle this."

A murder? Of course, Conan-kun's little curse. Although, this was actually fantastic. Bourbon will be drawn into the murder case keeping him occupied and Conan will be able to keep his eyes on him, which only leaves Vermouth as a free agent. Not to mention with Sera, Conan, Mouri Kogoro, and Bourbon at the crime scene, it will severely limit Vermouth's movements. I smirk as I glance back at Yukiko-san.

"It seems the heavens are siding with us today."

Yukiko-san smirked in replay, still typing away.

"Yes, I agree. Conan-kun just sent me the particulars of it. It doesn't seem to be their doing, this murder."

I agree. They wouldn't risk pulling off a murder of a non-threatening agent that would put at risk their mission of assassinating Sherry, the traitor to the organization.

"Does he know who did do it?"

She looked up from her phone.

"No, they just started the investigation. He also said he sent Ai-chan back to her room with the other Detective Boys."

Oh, they must be on their way back now, and that's when I saw them. It didn't matter. She would be making her move soon also. She knows they are here, at least her reaction from the hallway earlier made it seem like she knew. Vermouth also now knows that Haibara is on the train and knows she can start to put their plan into action as well.

I step back and sit down, pulling out my phone. I don't want to bother the Boya, especially with him during an investigation, but I take comfort in the mechanical object that can give me information to this mission. It is my lifeline between the boy, and Haibara.

Suddenly my phone dings. I flick it open quickly, scanning my notifications. An email, or more specifically, an email for Haibara. I watched in anticipation as she clicked it open, and read silently the four words printed on it.

Are you ready? Vermouth

Wow, going in awfully strong aren't we? Although, strong is what she needs. The more aggressive she is, the more likely Haibara is to act. I close my phone with a smile.

"Haibara is on the move. I will go retrieve her.

Yukiko pulled out her phone.

"I will text Conan-kun about the matter and let him know she is in our hands."

I raise a hand.

"Refrain from doing that until she is in our care. I don't want to tell him wrong."

If she runs, and we have to overcomplicate things, I would rather just send one text instead of two or three. Yukiko nodded as I stood, making my way to the door. Now if I was Haibara, where would I go to get away from people, or what is an excuse she would use? The dead man's room, most definitely and getting away from the other group at all costs. That way no one would disturb her, and if I remember correctly, that was seven, room eight. So she will come towards us, probably stopping at the connection between carriages. I step out into the hallway, before glancing back.

"I might need your help Yukiko-san. She might be scared if it was just me."

She stood up and made her way out into the hallway with me. We walk toward their carriage. I grip my phone in my hand, hoping Haibara won't be stupid like change back into her normal size. I motion quietly for Yukiko to stand back, inside compartment eight as I slowly open the door to the next car. If my predictions are correct, she should be right about here.

Lo and behold, there she is a quivering, shaking mess. Tears of fear shine in her eyes as she trembles staring up at me in horror as her breathing quickens into an almost panic attack. It is the most scared I have ever seen her. I smile kindly at her in relief. Thank God we got here before they did.

"Just like your sister, I can read all your moves."

Her eyes widen in surprise. I raise my phone, ready to text the Boya about our success, or failure.

"Would you please come this way into our area?"

I smirk, knowing what she will do. She thinks I am organization, which means she doesn't want to die here, close to her friends. She will try to distract me by running in the opposite direction, keeping me away from them. Thankfully that is the way I want her to go. I just have to corral her into a trap. Sure enough, she took one look at me and sprinted past me. I easily slid to one side, letting her run past. She was looking back at me like I was about to pull a trigger on her. She sprinted right inside the eighth compartment and I see her run into Yukiko's legs.

"Ah."

She gave a quiet squeak of surprise and fall backwards. Yukiko smiled kindly.

"Hello Ai-chan."

Haibara froze and looked up in confusion.

"Yukiko-san?"

I ease the door shut. She jumped before she frowned.

"You aren't Vermouth in disguise are you?"

Yukiko smiled and knelt down, pulling on her cheek.

"You can check if you want."

Haibara gingerly reached out, pulling on skin enough to leave red, but Yukiko didn't complain. She nodded, content with her findings. Then her suspicious gaze fell on me.

"What about him?"

I raise my hands submissively. Yukiko smiled.

"He's working with me and Conan-kun to keep you safe."

She let her gaze fall off me as she curled up on herself.

"You mean…they are here?"

I swallowed hard. I feel like if we tell her yes then she might have an anxiety attack. I looked down at Yukiko. This needs a motherly touch, not mine. Sure enough, I see pity in Yukiko's eyes as she easily scooped Haibara into an embrace, rubbing her back.

"Yes, they are. But we will protect you Ai-chan."

Haibara jerked out of the woman's arms, shaking her head.

"No, you can't get involved. They will—"

"Ai-chan, listen to me."

Yukiko interrupted. Haibara swallowed hard. Yukiko smiled kindly.

"Do you remember what happened the last time you tried to save people from interfering in the Organization? Conan-kun almost got killed, as did Ran-chan, and you almost put all of their efforts to keep you safe to waste."

Haibara gasped softly, staring at the ground. I say quietly.

"We have a plan Haibara, to fake your death. This will succeed, and they will stop chasing you after this. You have to cooperate with us though."

She gave me a disdainful look. I raise an eyebrow.

"I know you don't trust me, but I know you trust Conan-kun and his ability to succeed against the organization, right?"

She might not have on that pier, when she had interrupted Vermouth from killing him, but she had to now. She paused and nodded.

"He is the one who came up with this plan. In order for it to succeed you have to do as we tell you all right, and not go off to them. That means they win, and not us. You want us to win right?"

She has to understand. I need to be able to leave her alone to her own devices and not run to them, no matter what happens. She looks at Yukiko and the woman stands up.

"Just leave the rest to us. You rest here until Conan gives you the next instructions."

Haibara sighed. I ask sternly.

"Will you stay here? I will lock you in to make sure you don't interfere."

She looked up at me in surprise. I don't have time for a wild card. We cannot afford for this to fail. If we do, then Haibara will still be targeted, and I will as well as Yukiko-san and Conan. We can't fail. She nodded.

"I promise I will stay here in this room."

I nod.

"I will hold you to that."

She gulped as she looked at Yukiko-san.

"What if they find me here?"

Yukiko pointed to me.

"Subaru-kun will be your bodyguard. He will check in on your periodically to make sure you are all right."

She gulped. I step towards the door and glance out, making sure the way was clear.

"I won't let them get you."

I glance back and order gently.

"Why don't you email Mouri Ran and let her know not to worry about you."

"Hey, Subaru-san?"

I pause, letting Yukiko-san exit the room as well. She bored holes into me with her curious eyes.

"What is your connection to Them?"

What a question. Of course I couldn't tell her the full truth so I told her part of it.

"I have been fighting them a long time. I was instructed to move close to you to keep an eye on you and protect you from them."

Her eyes widened in surprise but I didn't allow her a retort as I shut the door in her face. No Haibara it is still not time for you to know my full identity. You haven't fully healed yet. Maybe later, when you no longer worry about the Organization on your back. I strolled back toward our room as Yukiko trotted beside me, typing in her phone.

"I told Conan-kun that we have her in custody and she which compartment she is in."

She looked up at me with wide eyes.

"Oh did you know her before?"

I glanced at her, cracking open my eye fully.

"It was a long time ago."

She seemed to think that was all that needed to be said as she just hummed in response.

"I think it is time to bait Vermouth, what do you think?"

I raise my eyebrow.

"Don't we need the go ahead from Conan?"

I am guessing they will make their move after the murder mystery has been solved. We don't want to start stalling too early right? She grinned.

"Ah, I think Conan-kun might be a bit preoccupied with the investigation. Besides, I think we can do this right?"

I sigh and shake my head. Yukiko-san is way too excited to be a normal agent.

"Sure, I will be in our cabin until you tell me to leave."

It wouldn't do for Vermouth to walk into our compartment and find me there. I would have to get rid of any evidence of me being there as well. I would be a ghost.

"All right. I will see you later Subaru-kun."

She started to walk off, but ran back, clasping my hands in hers, looking uncharacteristically serious.

"Good luck. Please keep everyone safe."

I smiled at her. She was amazing, worrying about others when she was walking into the lion's den herself. I suppose that is her mother's instinct talking.

"You as well Yukiko-san. Please be careful."

I will be spread thin enough by protecting Haibara and Kaitou KID. Both of the Kudos will have to face their respective enemies on their own without my help or protection. However, I don't believe they will fail. From my experiences with all of the Kudo's, not just the youngest, they all seem reliable, and able to take care of themselves in the face of danger, to act confidently. I won't worry about them. Yukiko winked and sauntered down the corridor, toward the front of the train. I take a deep breath and step into our shared compartment. One of the three enemies is taken care of.

The other two will soon be distracted, and we will be able to make our moves on this shogi board of life in death, move onto the next act in our play of our lives. All we have to do now, is pray that no surprises come our way.