Falling Hard to Earth

Chapter 2

He was running. Back home to the Mouri's. Something told him that bad things had happened. It was a tingling feeling all around. If he believed in the supernatural, he might call it an aura. Hitting the stairs of the apartment, he rushed into said place. Someone was standing over... "Ran!" Before he could get to his childhood friend, the person grabbed him and pinned his tiny body to the wall. He realized the person was Gin of the Black Organization. He would recognize those cold eyes and silver hair anywhere. The killer grinned. "Nice to see you, Kudo Shinichi."

"Ahh!" Conan sat up quickly. His chest heaved up and down as his lungs worked to get air in his body. Artemis woke up from his chair nearby after hearing the cry. "Breathe, Conan," he soothed. "In and out. That's it." Shuddering, the child did as he was told. After a few breaths, he calmed down and withered back into the bed sheets. His host felt his forehead and sighed in relief. "You broke your fever. Soon you should be able to move around." Exhausted, Conan nodded. "'Kay," he rasped in a small voice. "But you are not going near Kogoro or leaving my sight, you got it?" The small boy winced, but nodded again at Artemis' tone.

"But Oni-tan," Conan whined, making sure to sound sweet. Artemis shivered at the sugary voice. Was this kid bi-polar? (No offense meant to y'all out there.) Like seriously! Sometimes he's an adult and sometimes he was a grade schooler. It was creeping the hell out of him. "Please! I wanna' see the crime scene!" Artemis sighed, but glared down at his new charge. They'd already talked about this. Mouri was going to be there, and Conan was not going in between a 5 mile radius of the man! "I told you 'no'! I will not tolerate you anywhere near the Mouris!" Conan pouted a bit. "Like who the fuck hits a child in front of their host anyway?" the Fowl growled to himself. Since the day his charge had woke up, he had kicked Mouri Kogoro and his daughter out of the manor. Hating to be separated, Sonoko left as well. The actual police force stayed. They agreed with Artemis that they should put 'The Sleeping Kogoro' on trial for child abuse. This would make him unfit and unable to take care of any children. As a minor, Ran would be in the custody of a relative or sent to an orphanage. This would also tarnish the man's reputation as a detective. Conan would be put in the custody of someone else due to his parents' evasiveness. This person so far was no other than Artemis Fowl. Nobody objected to the arrangements. Everyone seemed to want the best for Conan. Except for the Mouris and Sonoko. Sonoko really didn't care, but Ran was as pissed as her father. She had come and yelled at the child for half an hour before someone had noticed and intervened. She went on and on about Conan making her dad look bad. In the end, she left with bruises. Ran had lifted a hand to the child. Conan still had a faint red hand print on his left cheek. Butler had immediately sprung into action, pouncing like a cat on the girl. The two champion fighters faced off. Ran had lost (of course). Now Conan's phone was littered with text threats and messages/voice mails from the 3 cast outs. Artemis had eventually called each of them and told them to: "kindly fuck off, jack asses!". In this eventful few days, the mini detective had still not seen the place of the theft. (Thanks to a certain 'Young Master'.) "Please, Fowl-san?" Conan dropped the kiddy act. "I can't do my job without seeing it myself." Artemis sighed. The boy was right, but he still would not let said boy near the fuckers. "Fine, but I am not leaving your side." Conan shrugged to his new caretaker. "Don't blame me if you're dead in the morning."

Later that day, Conan and Artemis were eating lunch while watching tv. Artemis ate a tuna fish sandwich and fat free chips. Conan took pleasure in half a sandwich of Nutella* and Salt and Vinegar Lays*. His host had noticed the habits of not eating a lot or skipping whole meals. He also noticed Conan's dislike of sweet things was interfering with the body's need for sugar. These things were soon corrected. Artemis took things neutral in taste but high in sugar and made sure to eat with the boy at all times. He had also noticed that the kid liked to ignore very childish things. So, everyday Conan was taken to the park or made to watch a cartoon. Much to the boy's embarrassment, Artemis had even scheduled certain snack times and curfews/bedtimes. Suffice it to say, Conan was rapidly becoming addicted to Nuttela* and liked to swing at the local park. He also was growing used to sleeping at 9:15 and eating 3 snacks a day. Right now the two males were watching Looney Tunes*. Conan deadpanned. "Is that what the rabbit says all the time?" he asked exasperatedly. Noticing the facial expression, the temporary guardian chuckled. "Yah, he always says that. 'What's up Doc?'" The boy groaned and threw a pillow at the teenager. The police force walked into a foreign sight that made them all crack grins. Conan and Artemis were wrestling on the floor and throwing pillows at each other. Satou, Takagi, and Meguire just watched for a moment. Finally, Meguire cleared his throat. "Fowl-san, we are ready to leave when you are." The play fight ceased as the two boys straightened themselves. Artemis nodded to the officers before playfully ruffling Conan's hair. "After observing the scene I'll have to tire you out, eh? Maybe play some soccer?" He smiled as the younger's eyes brightened. Conan loved soccer. "Okay, Fowl-san. Just let me call Haibara before bed." Artemis stuck out his hand for the boy to shake. "You got yourself a deal."

Conan was so excited to actually see the crime scene, he had to keep himself from bouncing up and down. 'Damn Fowl and his idea to convert me into an actual kid!' When they arrived, he almost sprinted away. Artemis caught him though. "Wait, Conan." Huffing slightly, the boy nodded. The Fowl gently set the boy on his feet and patiently waited or everyone else to get out of the limo. Conan was waiting too, until he caught sight of... "Heiji!" A tanned, Osakan high-school detective walked leisurely over. "Kudo," he said when he stood directly in front of his friend. Conan glared and slowly motioned for the Osakan to bend down. Confused, Hattori Heiji did just that and was at the rager's mercy. "What are you doing, you idiot?! Don't shout my name whenever you please!" Artemis was immediately by his side. "Excuse me, Conan. Is he disturbing you?" "No, Fowl-san. This is my big brother; Heiji." He knelt down and whispered incredulously: "Really? He looks nothing like you!" Conan snickered. "No, Fowl-san. He's just a really close friend." "Hmph." The Fowl stood back up and eyed Heiji before holding out his hand. "Artemis Fowl. Pleased to make your acquaintance." The Osakan took it. "Any friend of Ku-!" He jerked back as Consn kicked him in the shins. "...Of Conan's is a friend of mine." With narrowed eyes, the observant genius nodded. Heiji and Conan were acting suspicious. Meguire came out of the limo next. "Heiji," they hugged like old pals. "It's good to see you., though it's too bad I couldn't reach Shinichi." Heiji just smiled as he pulled out of the embrace. "I'm sure Kudo would be here if he could. Even just to see Ran-nechan." Everyone bristled at the name. Heiji narrowed his eyes at the odd reaction. "What did she do?" They all explained the situation to him. He was royally pissed ny the end of it. Snarling, he grabbed Conan and roughly pull him into a hug. "Dammit, Kudo," he whispered. "Why does trouble always seem to follow you?" The child pushed away and stared at his companion. Sorrow filled eyes answered his question. 'I don't know.' Artemis took Conan's hand. "C'mon, Conan. We should go see the crime scene." "Heiji," a childish voice whined. They all turned to see-. "Kudo-kun!" Takagi called. "No," the boy pouted. "Why does everybody think I'm him?" He crossed his arms childishly. Conan smirked. He could se the subtle differences. "This isn't Shinichi-nichan! You're taller, have a lighter hair color, and you have pretty purple eyes." "See?!" The boy flexed his wrist produced a dark blue rose. He tucked it behind the boy's ear. "You're well on your way to becoming a true detective, chibi-tantei." "Thank you!" Conan chirped. The magician bowed low. "Kuroba Kaito, at your service." Conan and Artemis both sweatdropped. Why are magicians so dramatic?