Here's the next chapter, thanks for reading, and review if you like it! :)

Also, when I said there wouldn't be much Artemis x Holly…I may have been exaggerating that. There's actually going to be quite a bit of them, just later on.

Artemis decided to walk around and choose the most expensive restaurant he could find near the cinema, because he had plenty of spare cash and why not.

And you have no experience with dates, said Orion. Come on, Arty! Let me drive this date for you. I'll make it so sweet and romantic – I'm not saying you aren't…although…you aren't…

Shut up.

Artemis was finding it hard trying to keep Orion in check and saying something flirty and date-ish to Minerva at the same time. Thankfully, she was doing most of the talking as they walked down the darkening streets.

"Are you still in contact with the People?" she asked suddenly. This shook Artemis momentarily, because it didn't seem like a very date-friendly topic. Weren't you supposed to talk about what a lovely evening it was, or at least flirt a little? Unless talking about fairies counted as flirting.

Perhaps it is a metaphor, he mused. Fairies…

You sound like an idiot, Artemis.

Shut up, Orion. I have never attended a date before.

*Snort*. 'Attended'. I can tell.

Stopping outside a fancy-looking restaurant, Artemis looked at Minerva. The streetlight made her face shine, making it look even more beautiful.

"Here?" she said, briefly distracted. "The steaks cost fifteen pounds."

Artemis shrugged, favouring 'teen' language over his usual, sometimes sarcastically intellectual responses. "So?"

You're being cold, Artemis! Warm! Warm! Warm!

Just…hold your tongue…shut up.

Minerva deliberated for a second before giving him a slightly malicious smile, her eyes half-lidded. She sauntered in, the bell jangling loudly, and went to a table right at the back. Artemis hurried after her, confused.

Minerva grabbed a menu and ran her finger down the long list. She stopped when she reached the most expensive dish.

"I would like that, Mister Wealth," she said. "And you haven't answered my question."

"Why do you want to know?" said Artemis, slightly annoyed. He leant back in his seat, crossing his arms.

Artemis, you're speaking to a lady!

Artemis sighed inwardly. If he hadn't known it before, he definitely knew now that he wasn't very good with dates. Although, that one time with Holly had been –

Ah, the fair maiden.

Shut. Up.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I haven't been in contact with them for a while now. I would like to live a normal life."

Minerva raised her eyebrows. "Don't take me for an imbecile, Artemis," she said. "Artemis Fowl, living a normal life?"

Artemis shrugged off-handedly. "Things change."

"You've changed," said Minerva, leaning forwards suddenly, her eyes flashing. "Where's the cocky Artemis gone? Is he hiding under that mask, desperately wanting to get out, or have you banished him altogether?"

Artemis opened his mouth, but found he didn't know what to say. Was his old self still present, or had he vanished with Holly? Was this Artemis truly him, or was he wearing a mask?

"I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that question," he said at last, his voice strained. A look of utter shock flitted across Minerva's face.

"A question Artemis doesn't know the answer to," she muttered, almost to herself. "What is this world coming to?" Louder, she said, "All right. You don't want to talk about it. But I would like to talk to the People. I haven't spoken to Holly in years…would you happen to know any way in which I could contact her?" She paused. "Or, even better, why don't you get back in touch with her?"

Artemis blanched. "I – no, it's not –"

"I've been thinking, you see," continued Minerva, seemingly oblivious, "About recruiting a third member to my Project. What do you think?"

"I think that is a terrible idea," said Artemis immediately. Minerva blinked.

"What?"

Orion struggled to the surface, enraged at how Artemis was treating the 'other' fair maiden.

"I deeply apologise for my attitude," he gabbled. "I think that's a great idea, although one could expect little less from a lady such as yourself."

Minerva gave him a strange look. "Perhaps you have some kind of medicine you need to –?"

"You can contact Foaly through the email horsesense gnom, or alternatively get an LEP communicator from my manor." Orion smirked.

Minerva smiled widely. "Why, thank you, Arty."

Artemis, huddled in his consciousness, groaned.

"You know," she continued, "I think I can do without dinner for now. How about we walk along the beach instead?"

Orion was on his feet before she had finished her sentence, extending a hand. She grasped it and got up, and to Artemis' chagrin Orion did not let go as they left the restaurant.

"Orion!" Artemis exclaimed. "What on earth are you doing?"

To his utter frustration, Orion did not answer him.

Artemis decided that he might as well sit in his consciousness and think about what to do with Rey Diaz, although that was sort of difficult as he could hear every word that was being exchanged between Orion and Minerva.

"I should like to hold this small, delicate hand in mine forever," said Orion. Artemis felt like crying, and tried to direct his thoughts towards Diaz.

His location is a mystery. His men will definitely be after me, and they will surely know I am Irish because of my accent –

"Sometimes I wish we were in the medieval ages, when I could be a knight in shining armour and you the fair princess –"

"That is a misconception – knights were cretins in the medieval ages!" objected Artemis, feeling his face go white with mortification.

And there is a possibility that they picked up my cell phone, so they could be on my heels any day.

"How do you, such a fair lady, fend off all the hormone-stricken teenagers –?"

And! And…uh…Diaz…uh…where could he be?

This had to have been Artemis's least productive thinking time ever.

Think.

Artemis touched his fingers to his temples and closed his eyes, shutting off Orion's voice. Flashes of articles and news reports filled his mind, and he began to shift through each one methodically.

Cobra's Clandestine Lab Discovered by Tourist in Sydney, Australia…

Cobra Members Selling Class A Drugs in Papua New Guinea Arrested…

Two Murdered in Indonesia, Cobra Suspected…

Artemis let in a sharp intake of breath, visualising a world map. Australia…Papua New Guinea…Indonesia…

Singapore. There had to be a chance that the Cobra's next destination was Singapore, possibly to sell drugs. They could get much money out of it; people were too afraid to deal there. People in possession of drugs were immediately executed.

Besides, Artemis thought, beginning to get excited, Singapore is only forty-nine kilometres wide. This is a chance I can't miss.

Artemis wrestled with Orion for control over his own body again, too overcome by the sudden rush of excitement at the prospect of getting somewhere that he didn't realise what was happening until he felt something soft against his lips. Starting to feel numb, he suddenly realised that Minerva's arms were around his neck.

Had Orion been kissing her while he had a revelation?

Orion!

The fair lady's kisses are like the softest brush of a butterfly's wings.

Minerva began to kiss him deeper, and it was a few seconds before Artemis finally regained control over his numbed limbs. He pulled away from her, stumbling back a few paces, and stared in shock at her.

Minerva looked at him, an irritated expression on her face. "Why did you push me away?"

Flirt. Flirt. This is what I wanted. I wanted to flirt. This is a good way to forget Holly. This…this…

Artemis shook his head and ran down the street until Minerva was out of sight.