Sherry, Sylvia, Curlly, Aly, Is and Nabiki had been watching "Murder on the Orient Express" and had loved it. It was a classic and they had enjoyed it a lot.

North and Trace walked in the family room and asked the girls to join them in the lounge for an announcement they had. Sherry and Nabiki looked at each other wondering what the girls had in mind; but never in their dreams was it anything as close as what Trace and North had in mind.

North was the first to talk. "As we all know, summer is almost over and Trace and I have decided to take you in a special trip. We thought of different places to go, but weren't sure were to go, but after a lot of consideration, we have decided to take you one a one week trip on a train, but not any train. We have decided on the Orient Express".

"We are to be ready tomorrow at noon, to fly to Bangkok were we will start our journey. Remember passport, money, cameras and summer-autumn clothing. So go ahead and prepare yourselves. Until tomorrow", Trace said smiling.

Nabiki sat there looking at Trace and North still not sure she had heard right. Trace and North could only smile. Sherry sat beside Nabiki, while the others left for their rooms.

"Nab, dear, will you get a grip? I know your excited and everything, but if you stay that way, we'll have to go without you", Sherry said grinning, knowing for sure that she'd pop out of it for sure.

"I just can't believe it, Sherry. I feel like the girls read my mind. We were just watching the movie. I'm so excited, I can't believe it".

"Well, sweetie, believe it, cause we're on our way to have the trip of your lives and I'm sure once we get there, we're going to meet a lot of interesting people". Sherry hugged her friend and then they walked out the lounge, talking about the things they were going to have.

It was going to be fun on the Orient Express.

************

Next morning, everyone was ready before schedule; so they left for the airport. To make things easier, North and Trace divided us in pairs. Sylvia and Aly; Curlly and Is, Nabiki and Sherry and the two mommies together.

It was a long flight and by the time we arrived to China, we were tired but our spirits were bubbly. We arrived to the point of departure and we were speechless. It was a beautiful train. Luxurious and mysterious. Never in our life we had seen such a train. All the staff greet it us with such respect and were very friendly.

We were to stay in the state compartment, were we would have the twin bed, instead of the bunk beds, which we didn't mind. Each room had two big windows were we could sit and watch the scenery and their own bathroom.

"Well girls, we are to have dinner at 7:30 p.m. at the dinner compartment. You can take this time to rest and get yourselves accommodated in your rooms. We'll see you at 7:30 p.m." North told us as she and Trace had decided to get things ready in their room.

"Nabiki, before you go to your room, would you like to take a look around with me?" asked Curlly really excited.

"Sure, let's go. Wan to join us, Sylvia?"

"I thought you'd never ask" said Sylvia joining the other two as they walked through the halls of the train.

To all it seemed like a fantasy and a mystery all together. When we entered the lounge, we saw a 4 mysterious men sitting in a corner looking at them. One of them specially couldn't keep his eyes of Nabiki.

"Nabiki, let's get out of here. The others must be wondering were we are and I think we'll come back after dinner", said Sylvia noticing the men and specially the one looking at her friend.

The three ladies walked out the lounge, chatting and laughing; but Nabiki couldn't stop thinking about this man. He was fascinating, just like the train.

Once Nabiki was back in her room, she told Sherry her experience and how she had felt. She couldn't breath, like the air was sucked out of her. With his eyes, she felt that he could take all of her in them. It was strange, because she had never felt like that.

************

At 7:30 p.m. everyone was ready for dinner. All of us dressed with beautiful gowns. North and Trace were dressed in Red, Is in dark green, Curlly in midnight Blue, Aly in bright yellow, Sylvia in black and Sherry and Nabiki in white.

We sat at the dinner table, eating and enjoying the magnificent menu, the train had to offer. It was incredible. Way into dessert, the 4 men Nabiki, Sylvia and Curlly had seen in the lounge came into the cart. They looked so handsome in their tux, specially the one Nabiki had been daydreaming about since their encounter.

During the most part of the time, the girls were there, Nabiki and the man could not stop looking at each other. Sherry, looking at the man, could understand her friends feelings. The man was a God!

"Let's go to the lounge cart, girls and enjoy the ride before we retire to our rooms", North said.

"North, do you mind if we stay for a little while longer?" Nabiki asked her.

"Sure. Anyone for some coffee?" North asked while looking at the reason Nabiki wanted to stay. "Wow", the 4 reasons were great to look at!

"Good evening, ladies. My friends and I would like to invite you for a night cap in the lounge cart if it's not to presumptuous of us", asked one of them looking at North with big blue eyes and platinum, blonde hair.

"We would be delighted" answered Trace as North had become speechless.

As we sat with the gentlemen, we found out their names. Roy Dupuis, Bruce Payne, Eugene Robert Glaser and the young and funny Mathew Ferguson. As time passed, Nabiki and Roy just looked at each other, it looked like the were just staring at each other but truly were observing each other's reaction during the conversations.

"I have an idea. We are on the Orient Express, right? Why don't we play a mystery game?" said Mathew looking at Aly.

***********

"During the duration of the trip, we will solve a mystery. Someone has been killed. We will call him Duke of Balger. He was shot to death during 7:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Was found in his room. What we all have to find out is why and who did it? Is anyone interested?" Mathew said.

"Mathew and I will give you the answers you need, but only if you ask for it" said Aly getting hooked on the game, and sure that her friends weren't going to let the opportunity to have fun pass them by.

After thoughtful consideration by the parties, everyone agreed to play.

"Nabiki, I would like you and Sylvia to be my partners in the game, if it's all right with you? Roy asked us.

"It would be our pleasure, Roy, right Nabiki?" said Sylvia knowing for sure that her friend couldn't find her voice. She only agreed moving her head in agreement.

The teams were made. Trace, Is, Curlly and Bruce was Team 2. North, Sherry and Eugene were Team 3.

So the teams were made and the action began. It was going to be fun. And the girls thought that if romance should so up, the better.

Roy held Nabiki be her arm as they were about to retire and resume their adventures in the morning. She had been waiting for this since they had met.

"Nabiki, I know we have just met, but I feel like we have known each other forever" Roy said.

"I feel the same way. Maybe it's the mystery of the Orient Express. It's romantic and adventurous".

"She must be right", Roy thought and in an impulse he kissed her.

As they walked through the halls of the Orient Express, holding hands, Nabiki thought that there was more lot this train. It brought mystery and love but it also brought a lot of fun.

If it were a movie, it would be called "Fun on the Orient Express".

The End.

This story ©copyright Nabiki, 1999