Disclaimer: I do not, I repeat, DO NOT own Case Closed or Artemis Fowl.

Chapter 1: Unspoken Conversations

Artemis Fowl leaned back in his seat, deep in thought. Beside him, Butler remained erect, staring at every person who as much glanced at Artemis. Quite amusing, for a bypasser. Extremely scary, for the person on the receiving end.

"Butler, I suggest that you stop glaring at those Asian children, as it does not fit in with our cover."

Artemis said lightly, closing the airplane window. They were on a flight headed for Japan, to chase someone. Kaito Kid, to be precise. He was a mystery, even in the criminal world. Artemis was planning to figure out his identity. There wasn't a reward of any type, except satification. It was VERY unlike Artemis, to go on this mission, but he was there for the fairy people too. Foaly had decided to update the files on the mud-men and all, but Kaito Kid, for some reason, just couldn't be traced. There were four more people, all in Japan. Two of them had just appeared from thin air, , and the other two had, well, just disappeared off the face of the earth. Foaly's satellites could even track missing people- as long as they were alive- or dead, really. But these two weren't that. They couldn't be found adopted, or somewhere else than Japan, or dead. So off Artemis went, to figure out what happened to those two.

"Sure, Artemis."

Said the bodyguard, reclining in his seat. Butler then proceeded to take out his Mp3, sliding the head phones on his head. Artemis knew that he was not actually listening to music, but actually listening to people's conversations. Butler had managed to install a hearing device under every seat in the airplane; how he did it, Artemis would never know. But then again, maybe not- he was a genius after all.

Butler was apparently listening to the Asian children's conversation, as he was staring intensely at them. Artemis sighed. Butler was a master of disguise, yes, but he could be oh-so-obvious at times.

"Artemis, You'd better listen to this. "

Butler said in a confused voice. Artemis slipped the head phones on, wondering what had made Butler so confused.

"...can't do anything?"

said a voice in fluent English. Strange. Artemis thought that they would be speaking in a different language- Korean, perhaps. After all, they were Asian.

"Yes, Conan. Unless we find those files on APTX4869, it's virtually impossible."

Artemis's mind started when a voice in equally fluent English replied. So the other voice's owner was named Conan. One of the kids who had appeared from nowhere was named Conan. Conan Edogawa. And what was this APTX4869?

Someone sighed. Then the bo - Conan said in a weary voice-

" Which means that we have to find that file, and in order to do so, we have to either hack our way in, or find out their lair and somehow get in there."

"Hacking is out of the question, Conan. Don't even think about it."

Said the girl , in a warning tone.

" You know what happens."

She continued when the boy didn't answer.

"I do."

Conan said in a muted voice.

" Conan! What are you talking about? You keep on talking with Ai-chan in a strange language ever since we boarded the plane in Ireland!"

A cute voice sounded over the head phones. A girl's voice. And they were talking in Japanese. Artemis had taught himself Japanese, so no need to worry about not understanding... And the girl Conan was talking with was named Ai. Another one of the people that appeared from nowhere.

"We're just practicing English, Ayumi-chan."

The girl (Ai, Artemis corrected himself) said in a convincing voice. She also spoke in Japanese.

"Yeah, Ayumi. You don't really need to worry."

Conan also said. He sounded calm and collected. Not like a 1st grader telling lies. That is, if he was the person he was supposed to be chasing. He was also speaking Japanese. Hmm. So they were bilingual.

"Oh..."

the girl assumed Ayumi sounded embarrassed.

"I'm going to the bathroom, Ayumi. Can you scoot out of the way?"

Conan said, sounding amused.

" Don't laugh, Conan!"

" I'm not. I'm just heading for the bathroom."

Conan said, a smile in his voice.

" Ok, then..."

Artemis motioned to Butler to video tape Conan as he passed them on the way to the bathroom. Then he examined Conan his own eyes. About 6~8yrs old, wearing a casual orange and white T-shirt, with denim shorts. He had red and white sneakers on. He was also wearing glasses. He had something red poking out of the pockets of his shorts. A corner of a bowtie, perhaps.

As the boy passed them, the boy looked around uneasily, then stopped completely. He looked around, the look of panic replacing the uneasiness in his eyes. Conan's eyes then latched on to Artemis's eyes for a long second, then looked around again. He then shrugged and proceeded on.

" He knew that he was being watched. I'm impressed."

It was probably the first time that Butler used the words " I'm " and " impressed " in one sentence, a minor part of Artemis's mind noted. Fascinating.

But a major part of Artemis's mind was on the computer screen. He had matched up Edogawa Conan's profile picture and a frame of the video Butler had took. Using Foaly's match maker, Artemis watched as the computer pointed out similar points of the two people. Soon, the middle of the screen was cobweb of red lines.

"0.01% of not being the person I'm looking for."

Artemis muttered.

" If this is the most accurate it might be, I'm willing to take the chances. "

Artemis said, smiling.

"Foaly? Got that?"

He said to the air. Foaly would pick the vibes up from his throat mike.

"Roger that. I also checked, by the way. No need to check it out on your laptop, mud boy."

Foaly's voice sounded from his ear piece.

"Check what?"

Artemis asked, playing innocent. He knew, but he was asking anyways.

" Don't play stupid with me, Fowl. But if you must know, I was meaning the match between the Conan on the airplane and the one I have on the LEP database. After all, freezing frames are nothing for me-"

Foaly whinnied here-

" And with the refinements I made to the iris cam, that's a piece of cake."

Artemis's blue iris cam retracted and expanded, making Artemis wince. The blue iris cam no longer made Artemis's eyes mismatch- he had put the iris cam over the eye that was hazel.

"Thank you for the demonstration, Foaly."

Artemis said dryly.

"Now, I'm going to change my plans and trace this boy, instead of Kaito Kid. If I encounter Kaito Kid by chance, I assure you that I will chase him instead of Conan Edogawa. So keep me updated on Kid."

Artemis continued, typing something in the laptop.

"And don't badger me with your calls."

Artemis smiled, then turned off the laptop.

Edogawa Conan. Haibara Ai. Shinchi Kudo. Miyano Shiho. Kaito Kid. The five people he was supposed to track... Artemis smiled. He was going to uncover their secrets, one by one. They didn't stand a chance. At all.