As great as flying was (and it was great) Conan preferred keeping both his feet on the ground. While he seemed to have accepted the latest bit of weirdness to permeate his life, there were just some things a logical man was never meant to do.

Now invisiblity and intangebilty were other matters. They were wonderful, wonderful things. He was just standing there taking notes while all sorts of lowlifes made less than legal plans. Really, he was spoiling Megure with all those annoymous tips.

There was a light but steady rain falling, but it went right through him, not leaving him so much as damp. Really, where had these powers been all his life?

He was just about to head home when he spotted a famliar looking purple jumpsuit hiding under some bushes. "Ayumi? What are you doing here?"

The girl jumped, "Whose there!"

Oh yeah, invisible. "It's me," Conan explained, solidifying.

She latched onto him like a drowning girl to a life preserver. "Ifellasleeponthebusandgotoffonthewrongstopandgotlostandthenitstartedraining," she took a breath, "and I wanted to fly home but Dr. Agasa said not to let anyone see us using the jet boots and I was scared!"

So much for keeping my feeting on the ground… "I guess I could fly you home," Her face lit up, "but I'd have to be, you know, big."

"Oh," she said softly, her earlier enthusiasm deflating.

The minds of children were truly amazing things, Conan mused. Accept that he had somehow unbeknowst to himself siphoned off ghost powers from some weird American kid, no problem. Deal with the throngs of ghosts that came after him for it, big deal. The fact that he was somewhat older then them and at times showed it…

Such levels of awkwardness shouldn't exist.

So the children decided the best course of action would be to forget that particular secret ever existed. Since Shinichi Kudo was supposed to be dead, this suited Conan just fine and in return he rarely used his adult form, and never in front of the others if he could avoid it.

Ayumi looked up at the sky. "It's okay. I just wanna go home."

Conan smiled at her reassuringly. "Then hold on just a minute." He vanished from sight again. For a moment Ayumi panicked, then she felt two cold hands picking her up. She felt a strange tingling and suddenly she could see Conan, or rather Shinichi.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" he asked, concerned. After all she had been the most upset by his…age descrepency.

Ayumi smiled, he had a nice voice, even if it was an adult's. It sounded warm and kind and made her feel safe. "I'm sure."

And off they went, skimming on the clouds. For all ghosts flying was second nature, something they knew instinctively as soon as they manifested. Even with his lack of practice, Shinichi still glided gracefully over roofs and through the clouds, doing the occaisonal loop, making Ayumi laugh.

She fell asleep halfway there, her last thoughts being I wonder if this's what it's like to have a big brother?

S$$S

AN: Of all my ideas for Phantom Detective, this is the one I liked the most and at the same time was the most hesitant to do. I think my posting this was the decided on Phantom Detective becoming it's own series, separate from TIM. Not just comedic spoofs, but a universe in it's own right, with it's own little dramas.

Firefly4000: Glad you liked it. Missed you too mi amigo.

SN1987A: Well like he said: Even a halfa has to take ghostly revenge a little seriously.

The-world-needs-peace: I think everyone has had teachers who are pains. And Shincihi isn't the only one who takes requests. Anything in particualt you want to see in Phantom Detective, let me know.

YumeTakato: And no Sidney Pointdexter to act as a surugate conscience. Afterlife is good