Usagi Tsukino: Ace Attorney!
Part 1: Turnabout Senshi
An Phoenix Wright/Sailormoon fanfic
Notes:
This story happens sometime before Apollo Justice.
Italics = Thoughts
Bold Underlined = Evidence
-CAPS- = Trial section
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Hikawa Shrine - 11:00 PM
Mamoru Chiba was standing at the front gate of the shrine, waiting for someone. Eventually, he saw a familiar shape in the darkness.
"Why did you ask me to come down here?"
The figure didn't speak. It just pulled out a gun, and fired.
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Wright & co. Offices - 7:00 AM
Phoenix Wright, the legendary Ace Attorney, was on his new computer (everybody's got a computer these days!) doing Important Work (playing videogames...) when there was a knock on his door.
Damn, he thought, and I was almost at level 26, too.
He turned the computer off as Maya answered the door. He got up to see whether it or not it was a new client.
It was two high school girls.
"Um," he began, "Can we help you?"
"You have to help us!" One of them, a blond, said. "They're saying Rei attacked Mamo-chan!"
This took Phoenix by surprise. "Wha --!? Who's Rei? Mamo-chan?"
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The two girls, one blonde and the other brunette, were seated, as was Phoenix. Maya was standing to the side.
"So, could you explain the situation properly?" he said, in his best "professional" voice.
The blonde spoke. "I'm Usagi Tsukino, and this is Rei Hino."
"You don't look like you're from around here."
"No, we came here from Japan."
"Why?"
"We heard you were the best, and decided that Rei-chan needed the best."
"Why do you need me?"
Suddenly Usagi became very distressed, and looked on the verge of tears. "Everyone says that Rei-chan did it, But it can't be because Rei-chan doesn't shoot people! And especially not Mamo-chan!"
"Uhh, who's that?"
Rei finally spoke. "He's her boyfriend.", she said, dryly.
Phoenix was silent for a moment, thinking hard. Then, he raised his head, a big grin on his face.
"You two seem honest enough! I'll take the case!"
Usagi beamed. Rei just frowned, well, frowned deeper.
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Courthouse - 10:00 AM
The next day, everyone was gathered at the courthouse, for the trial of State vs. Hino. As it turns out, Usagi's other "friends" had also decided they wanted the best. However, Miles Edgeworth had refused, so they got Franziska Von Karma instead. She seemed eager to face Pheonix again. In fact, she had come all the way from germany in answer to a call from Edgeworth.
And so here they all were, in America, to convict a young woman for the crime of murder.
Usagi sat behind Phoenix and Rei. She had come to (silently) cheer them on. She knew in her heart her friend was innocent, she just couldn't understand why no one else believed that. Speaking of which, they were all seated behind that dreadful Von Karma woman. Usagi couldn't quite figure out the purpose of that whip, but the look on Phoenix's face on hearing that she was the prosecution spoke volumes.
The judge banged his gavel. Usagi thought he looked pretty scary. That was, until he came up to her and told her how nice she looked, before court began. Now she thought of him as being rather nice.
"Prosecution, you may open the case." The judge said. He too looked rather...frightened of Miss Von Karma.
"Of course, your honour." She said with a scowl. She said a lot of things with a scowl, Usagi noticed. "The defendant, Rei Hino, had sent a letter to a close acquaintance of hers, the victim, Mamoru Chiba. When he was at the gates of the shrine in which she worked, she came up to him, garbed in her professional robes, and shot him. The time of the attack was 11:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time."
The Judge nodded, accepting the opening statement. "W--?" he began, until the crack of a whip interrupted him, and he hid under his desk.
"Of course we have a witness," Von Karma said cooly, "Only a foolishly foolish fool would forget such foolish matters. The prosecution calls Mamoru Chiba to the stand!"
At his cue, Mamoru got up, and went to the witness stand.
Phoenix was shocked. So was everyone else who wasn't Japanese or German.
"I-I thought you said he was the victim!" the Judge and Phoenix stammered at the same time.
Franziska nodded. "Yes, that is indeed what I said. I never said he died, only that he was shot. The gunshot hit his shoulder. Crippling, yes, but not fatal." She smirked.
Indeed, Mamoru's arm was in a sling.
"Very well, I'm convinced. The witness may begin his testimony."
-WITNESS TESTIMONY-
"Please state your name."
"I'm Mamoru Chiba. I'm 18 years old, and am about to enter college."
"What is your relationship with the Defendant?"
"She's a friend of my girlfriend, Usagi Tsukino."
"Could you please elaborate on the night you were attacked?"
He nodded his head. "Yes. Earlier in the evening I was sent a letter stating that I was to meet the sender at the gates of the Hikawa Shrine at 11:00 PM."
The judge turned towards Franziska. "Do we have this letter?"
"Yes, your honour." She confirmed.
"You may continue, Mister Chiba."
(Letter added to the Court Record)
Mamoru nodded. "I did as the letter instucted. I assumed it was from Usagi, wanting to give me a surprise. She does this sort of thing often.
"I waited there for a while. I had come a bit early, after all. Eventually, a figure emerged. It was very dark, and there were no lights on, but I could make out long hair, and the robe that Rei wears while tending to the shrine. Even in that darkness, there's no mistaking it. I don't want to believe it, but....My attacker was, without a doubt, the defendant, Rei Hino!" He ended this by pointing toward Rei.
This, as usual, caused a stir in the audience. The Judge started banging his gavel. "Order! Order!!! I will have order in this court!!" the audience stopped. The Judge continued.
"Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination."
"Alright, your honour."
Usagi leaned over. "Mr. Wright, what are you going to do? I know that Rei's innocent, but Mamo-chan wouldn't lie." She whispered.
"I believe you Usagi. However, I believe in your friend's innocence, therefore, I must find a contradiction in the testimony!"
Usagi was bewildered, as usual. "What do you mean, 'contradiction'?"
"When a witness lies, or makes a mistake, there is always a contradiction in the facts to what they're saying. Sometimes it's trivial, but even the smallest, most trivial mistake can prove a person's innocence, or their guilt."
"Wow!"
"Doesn't matter." Said a voice nearby.
Usagi turned to find another of her friends, Ami Mizuno, next to her. "What do you mean, Ami? Rei is innocent!"
Ami smiled, an empty, sad smile. "Sadly, I don't believe that. The evidence is clear. Rei attacked Mamoru, possibly even tried to murder him. Von Karma-san is going to prove this."
"She's right." Rei said.
Usagi looked to her. "Rei."
Rei smiled a sad smile. "You tried your best Usagi, and I'm glad you believe in me, but the evidence speaks for itself. It says I'm guilty."
Phoenix spoke up. "Sorry, Rei, but I believe in you, and in your friend, and as long as that is the case; I will not give up. Your Honour, I'm ready!"
-CROSS-EXAMINATION-
Phoenix looked towards Mamoru. "Mr. Chiba, please restate the events of the night."
Mamoru looked annoyed. "Why? You think I'm lying? I'm as shocked about Rei's actions as anyone else! I thought she was a friend, but she tried to murder me!"
"We don't know that. But, you're pretty sure there.", Pheonix smirked, "Why is that?"
"Because Rei is jealous!"
"If that were the case, wouldn't she have attacked Usagi, and not you?"
"No, because she's in love with Usagi!!!"
This caused further stirrings in the court. The Judge did his thing. "Order! Order!! ORDER!!!" The court ceased it's actions.
Phoenix and Usagi looked to Rei. "Is this true, Rei?" Phoenix asked.
Rei did nothing for a while. Then, slowly, she nodded. Tears were in her eyes for once.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Usagi asked.
"I was afraid of what you guys would think. I was scared you would hate me. I even pretended that I liked Mamoru, just so you wouldn't figure it out. I'm sorry it had to come out like this." The tears were flowing freely now.
Phoenix shook his head. "Miss Hino, I don't blame you, and I don't think any less of you, but you must tell me everything. No matter what, even the smallest falsehood ruins your credibility."
Rei looked at Usagi. "What about you, Usagi?"
Usagi was also crying. "Rei, you big dummy, I could never hate others, on the other hand, are a different story."
Rei beamed. "Usagi..." She looked at the two of them, "You two won't give up on me, then?"
Phoenix smiled. "Of course not, Rei. Usagi's your friend, and I'm your attorney, we won't give up on you no matter what!!"
He turned back towards Mamoru. "This is still the cross-examination, Mr. Chiba. Restate your testimony, or you will be held in contempt of court!"
Mamoru didn't look worried. "Alright, then. As I said, I had gone to the shrine, and I waited there for a while. I had come a bit early. Eventually, a figure emerged. It was very dark, and there were no lights on, but I could make out long hair, and the robe that Rei wears while tending to the shrine. Even in that darkness, there's no mistaking it. I don't want to believe it, but....My attacker was, without a doubt, Rei Hi --"
"OBJECTION!!!"
Mamoru choked on his words. "Wh-what!?"
Franziska looked... pleased. "You noticed it too, then?"
Phoenix nodded. "Mr. Chiba, you said that there can be no doubts to your attacker's identity, correct?"
Mamoru regained his composure. "Of course. As I said, even though it was dark, my eyesight had grown accustomed to it. She had the same hairstyle as Rei, as well as her robes. It could only be Rei herself!"
"But you have said nothing of her face! You yourself said it was dark, and there were no torches or streetlamps to illuminate the area! Could you see your attacker's face, Mr. Chiba?"
Mamoru was taken aback. "N-no, but --" Before he could speak, he was struck by a whip. "Wha --" he was struck again.
Franziska spoke up, her whip ready for another strike. "Mr. Chiba, you are a foolish fool. Your attacker having the same hair as Miss Hino is too flimsy to use as conclusive evidence. They could have been wearing a wig. And they could have stolen those robes! All you have proven is that Rei had the motive, but you have no conclusive proof!"
She whipped him again.
But, Mamoru wouldn't back down. "But, it doesn't prove she's innocent, does it, and without any other suspects, who else could it be?"
This is all or nothing now, Phoenix thought, this either proves Rei's innocence, or incriminates her further. "You Honour, may I present.... the letter that Mamoru recieved?"
The Judge thought about it. "Alright, Mr. Wright."
"Thank you, your Honour." The letter was brought forth.
Usagi wasn't hopeful. "How's that going to help?"
"I'm getting to that. Mamoru, have a good look at that letter."
Mamoru did so. "So?"
"I now present.......this poem I had Rei write for me!"
Franziska looked impressed. Everyone else......was bewildered.
Mamoru asked what everyone was thinking. "What does that have to do with ANYTHING!?"
Phoenix grinned. "After looking at the evidence list (before court), I had Rei write a poem, the subject of which is not important, but look at that and compare it with the letter."
Mamoru did so. This time, his eyes widened. "Th-the handwriting....I-it's not the same!!!" he bellowed into the heavens.
Phoenix nodded. "Exactly. We have to assume that letter was written by the attacker, and if the poem was written by Rei, then how can Rei be the attacker if the handwriting doesn't match!?"
This was all too much for Mamoru, who promptly fainted.
The judge banged his gavel for order. "I guess we have no choice but to find the defendant....NOT GUILTY!"
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When they had left the courtroom, Usagi was hugging Phoenix. She had to let go eventually (He was losing air!), and she and Rei just stood there, unsure of what to say.
Finally, Usagi spoke. "That was really amazing, Wright-san! You were able to save Rei, without any magic or anything!"
Phoenix was confused. "Er, excuse me?"
Usagi realised her mistake. "Uhh, I mean.....You only had to tell everyone Mamoru's mistake and you won! And you stood by her, even though you just met!"
"Well, it's part of my job. If you don't believe in your client, you're not much of a lawyer!"
"Oh, I see."
"Thank you, Wright-san." Rei said.
"So, how you guys holdin' up?" Phoenix asked her.
Usagi grabbed Rei's hand. "I've decided to become Rei's girlfriend!" She said cheerfully. Rei smiled.
Phoenix also smiled. "That's great, but what about Mamoru?"
Usagi's expression went darker. "I can never forgive him..... He blamed Rei and accused her when she didn't do anything... so I'm going to break up with him."
Usagi's friends were huddled together a little further away. Mamoru was discussing things with them.
Usagi looked over to them. "They won't be happy, but I've made up my mind." She turned to Phoenix and smiled. "Wright-san, I've decided to become a defence attorney, So I can defend others as you had defended Rei-chan!"
Phoenix grinned. "Glad to hear I inspired you." His expression went serious. "But remember, winning or losing a case isn't what's important, only the truth! Remember that!"
"I will sir!"
And with that, the couple went off to their friends, to begin anew.
To be continued.....
-Next Case: Turnabout Classroom!!!-
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Well, there goes that one.
I wrote this one quite some time ago. Around the same time as Naruto: Heart's Desire. I think it shows.
And I am aware that wrote the characters a little OOC. That's cause, at the time, I hadn't seen the show in a while (I have only read a single chapter of the manga, on the now defunct Mixxzine). I think it works for the story, though.
And please any facts I may have gotten wrong (like time frames and what not).
In future, I will NOT do the times. That way, we avoid me making any stupid mistakes.
I hope ya enjoyed it, and please comment!