Wowwie you guys rock. All the reviews and everything warmed my heart. Because my brother got married and I'm in an extremely good mood, here is Chapter three a few days earlier than what I planned.

Disclaimer: I do not own DCMK or DGM.

Thieving Innocence

Chapter Three

-Jin

Marie couldn't see but he knew a kid was little when he encountered one, and the boy that appeared out of nowhere with that injured teenager was definitely little.

He listened to the tiny breaths of the small figure in the too big of bed they dumped him in. Unlike the teenage boy who was taken to the police station for medical help and interrogation, the little boy was deemed too young to do any damage and healthy enough to not be seen by a doctor, so Marie and Kanda took him to their hotel room and let him occupy one of the two full sized beds.

At first, Marie was a little hesitant to separate the strange pair of boys, mostly on the inference that the two could be related and/or could panic when the other isn't with them, but Allen insisted that he didn't want Inspector Galmar finding out that a six or so year old was found at the heist scene. Who knew what that old coot would do to the child, Marie wouldn't put it past him to lock up both boys on the assumption that they were G. Link finalized the decision by saying they could question both parties separately and compare stories later to check for lying.

So, after they removed the innocence from the teenagers strange costume (at least that's how it was described by the three other members of the group, Marie wouldn't know any different), the four exorcists and two newcomers went their separate ways.

Kanda had left the room fifteen minutes ago to inform Komui of the situation and Marie was left to babysit. Since they had arrived at the hotel the boy haven't even stirred, and his breathing hadn't changed from the steady and deep breathing that comes when one is asleep, so Marie figured he could lower his guard a smidge. He stood up from one of the kitchen chairs he previously dragged into the bedroom and stretched his weary muscles. It was getting late into the day and his stomach was begging him for food.

He turned his ear to the sleeping boy to make sure he was still asleep before Marie walked out of the bedroom and into the second half of the hotel. The room he walked into consisted of a small sofa and recliner next to their front door and a humble kitchen in a far corner. Marie made his way towards the kitchen and pulled out a few ingredients for a sandwich, but was interrupted by Kanda slamming the front door open and marching in.

"What did he say?" Marie asked, continuing on his sandwich.

"Tch."

Marie nodded in understanding. Kanda didn't need to tell how pissed he was that the child had been dumped onto him. Marie was sure that he'd rather be out stabbing something. Specifically Allen.

"Where's the brat?" Kanda asked as he closed the door more gently than how it had been opened.

"Still asleep, he hasn't moved since you left."

Kanda made a growling noise that informed Marie that he had heard.

A few minutes passed between the two exorcists. Marie busied himself with his midday meal while Kanda slumped on the sofa and began to clean his sword.

"Where do you think the child is from?" Marie asked.

Kanda shifted on the sofa. "Tch, heck if I know."

"Well, what does he look like?"

Kanda went silent, but it was the kind of silence that indicated thinking, not avoiding. "He… has Japanese traits. Brown hair, narrow eyes, his skin a few shades different. Although, his eyes are blue."

"That's strange," Marie hummed.

Kanda scoffed. "Strange? That's all you can say?"

"We've seen stranger. Also it's not impossible for him to be from Japan - if he actually is. You are."

Kanda's hair brushed against his shoulder and made a shuffling noise, informing Marie that Kanda had turned away. "You know there's a difference between me and that brat."

Marie nodded and folded his arms over the kitchen table. "Yes. Japan is completely destroyed, it is impossible for a child as small as him to survive with all the Akuma there. There is also the fact that he was with a teenager possessing Innocence. The Earl would have found them out easily."

Kanda grunted and started to say something, but Marie heard something that made him freeze. A shuffling of feet on the other side of the bedroom door

"Kanda," he interrupted.

An annoyed grumble.

Instead of saying anything, Marie gestured towards the door. Kanda didn't need to ask or be told what had caught Marie's attention. He immediately got to his feet and murmured "Annoying little brat" before whipping the bedroom door open.

-o-o-o-o-

The moment one of the men interrupted the other, Conan knew he was found out. But, to his horror, the men were very quick on their feet and one of them, who Conan assumed to be called 'Kanda', threw open the door and grabbed Conan by his back collar before Conan could fully retreat.

"Wah!"

Conan forced himself to go limp as he was manhandled by the man that plucked him up from the ground. The man was super tall and had impossibly blue long hair. He wore some kind of outfit that made Conan think an outdated military uniform, and he had a literal sword strapped around his lithe waist. Conan squeaked when he was tossed onto the sofa roughly. After getting himself into a comfortable sitting position, he glared at the man.

"There wasn't any reason to handle him so roughly," said the second man that Conan hadn't noticed quite yet. His head spun around and he saw that his second captor was sitting casually at a wooden kitchen table. He was a giant of a man. His features were serious and his body was well muscled. The man was bald and had neat looking headphones covering his ears and wrapping around the top of his skull. His eyes were a misty gray, which gave Conan the impression that the man was blind. His eye color combined with the way the man slightly tilted the side of his head towards Conan instead of looking at him only further confirmed the blind theory. Granted, he was very good at hiding his disability, but not good enough to slip through Conan's notice. What caught most of Conan's attention were the ten rings the man wore around his thick fingers. They didn't look like a fashion statement, but Conan couldn't guess what else the black rings would be used for.

"I can treat the brat however I want," the long haired man, Kanda, geowled. Then more quietly, "Freaking beansprout… shoving the brat onto me…"

"Conan."

Both men's eyes widened and both turned their full attention onto the tiny boy sitting with his arms crossed and wearing a childish expression.

"My name is Conan Edogawa. Who are you nichan? Can you tell me where I am?" Conan said in English, though he purposely spoke slow and didn't bother to hide an accent.

The effect Conan wanted was immediately… well... in effect. The muscled man's expression softened as one would do when an oblivious child spoke. Kanda almost looked a bit guilty but then made an annoyed snort and turned away. Conan added a Japanese word and kept his accent to let the men know that he was foreign. His aim was to get the men to think he was lost and confused. He wanted pity, and he got it.

"Conan is a nice name," the big man said. "My name is Marie and this," he pointed a thumb over to his companion "is Kanda. You're in Paris, little boy."

Conan couldn't stop his shoulders from slumping. That; was what he feared. Before he eavesdropped on the two men, Marie and Kanda, he first looked out the hotel window and was shocked to find a pretty good view of the Eiffel Tower. The city looked different than what he was used to seeing on trips and pictures, but there were no denying the presence of the worldwide attraction. The honest answer from Marie just added further proof that Conan was no longer in Japan. Gosh, how long had he been asleep?

Something weird is what Conan has landed himself in once again. If he pondered the information he had learnt from listening in on the two men's conversation and combined it with his confirmed location; it would almost be safe to assume that he was in a different world.

A world where Japan is overrun by things called Akuma, where something called Innocence is important, where modern day technology is not present, and where someone called 'the Earl' was someone to be feared.

So, in conclusion, Conan was either apart of some elaborate joke that KID had planned or, somehow, Conan had traveled to some alternate dimension (which had to be some kind of dream, maybe if he pinched himself he'd wake up?).

Considering how Conan's life was going, both options seemed plausible.

Speaking of KID… the big guy mentioned Conan being "with" a teenager when they found him. Could that be KID?

"Ne," Conan spoke up, "where is…?" Where is what? Where is KID? What did these people think Conan's relationship with this 'teenager' was?

"Oh the other boy?" Marie asked without Conan having to continue his question. Thank goodness because Conan really didn't have a clue of what to say. After Conan gave a timid nod, Marie smiled. "He's okay, he was hurt so we're having some doctors look at him."

Conan nodded. So they separated KID from him. Probably to get two separate stories and compare later. That meant that these guys had more companions who would be sent to guard who Conan assumed to be KID, but who they assumed to be a teenager. Also… did he just say KID was injured? That stupid thief had better not be. Conan remembered the snipers on that rooftop, and if KID took a bullet, Conan would once again be in debt to the idiot.

Marie interrupted Conan's silent musings. "So for now, how about I get you something to eat then we can ask you some questions, okay?"

"Okay!" Conan yelled out happily.

Marie got up from the table and, to Conan's surprise, he easily walked over to the kitchen. Maybe the man wasn't blind…

"Brat," said Kanda quietly. Conan looked up and gave a smile up at Kanda even though he internally wanted to punch the jerk in the face. He swore, if he is called brat one more time... "Where are you from?"

I thought you guys were going to ask questions after a snack… "I'm from Japan!" he answered anyway, even though he hated his situation, he knew he had to keep in character. Gosh KID would be clutching his sides in laughter if he was seeing Conan like this...

Kanda's eyes narrowed. "Tch," he snorted. Without another word, Kanda left towards the bathroom.

"Jerk…" Conan whispered.

Now, while both of his captors were distracted, it was time for him to work on an escape plan; because these people were absolutely crazy and Conan wasn't going to take it sitting down.

End of Chapter Three

Next time: Kaito and Conan witness Innocence for the first time in their separate escape attempts: each consisting of various levels of success.

You know, at first I thought it would be OoC for Conan to just try and escape without trying to figure out KID's location first, but then I remembered that Conan is way more impulsive than what the Fandom makes him out to be.

Make sure to review! So far Option Two is winning, vote again this chapter!