KICKIN' AWESOME THUMBNAIL ARTWORK is by Ribelle and made specifically for my fic! THANKS! ^_^
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: I do not own Phoenix Wright, Miles Edgeworth of Manfred von Karma; they belong to CAPCOM. The plot, however, is mine. ^_^
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

My latest NaruMitsu fic! I LOVED the opening scene in the Ace Attorney anime and it sparked this idea of Miles and Phoenix being linked, in a very tangible way, throughout their lives...and the childhood wish that started it all.

Hope you all enjoy! ^_^

Not beta read.

Thank you to all my readers! Much appreciated! I couldn't do it without you all!

HUGE HUGE THANKS to Ribelle for offering to provide the thumbnail artwork! MUCH MUCH APPRECIATED! IT IS AWESOME!^_^

Thank you to mr-naruhodo for pointing out an error when I posted it on Tumblr. Much appreciated! ^_)^

SPECIAL THANKS to my beloved husband, DezoPenguin, for his enduring love, care, the title and support! LOVE YOU BABE! *kiss*

Hope you all enjoy! I'll probably make corrections later; always room for improvement! ^_^

Rated M, male/male relationships, Phoenix x Edgeworth, Romance

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Stay with me a little longer
I will wait for you
Shadows creep
And want grows stronger
Deeper than the truth

+Ruelle—War Of Hearts

XXXXXXXXXX

Fall 2018
Courthouse Steps
Los Angeles, CA
5:40 P.M.

Twenty-six year old Phoenix Wright waited on the veranda of the courthouse, looking at his watch every now and again, tapping his foot impatiently.

He knew that he probably was on some fool's errand-the person that he had requested to come to see him here at the end of the day and himself hadn't spoken at all for many years-but there was something tugging at him that seemed to be encouraging him to stay here and wait.

He couldn't imagine why but, as he stood there, his eyes scanning the door beyond for any sign of someone coming through it, memories of all those years ago kept flooding into his mind with razor sharp precision: Miles and he as children, standing on the hill behind his house; Miles and he as teenagers, after not having seen each other for years; Miles and he as young adults, attending the same college; their first time; Miles' transfer to Baker Law School; his disappearance and, now, his subsequent reappearance... all of them came back, bringing heartache and despair along with it.

He knew he was taking a big chance here but he couldn't ignore that inner tug which was the only reason why he was here in the first place. Feeling like a fool although desperately hoping that he wasn't, he waited, fidgeting with mingled apprehension and impatience as he did so.

He decided to give it a few minutes more; if he hadn't come by then, then it was pretty obvious to him that he wouldn't be coming at all and then he could turn around and leave.

He paced up and down, biting his bottom lip and wondering just what the hell he was doing here. After all this time, he highly doubted that he would be here, let alone even come to see him. They hadn't had contact in years and had only just recently met again in this very place, in fact. From the offset, he'd made it clear that he wasn't going to come back.

He wondered if this would be enough to overcome the seven years they'd been apart; angry feelings, and even angrier words, had passed between them and then he'd vanished so completely that it seemed that he had dropped off the face of the earth and broke his heart in the process.

The fact that he'd abandoned him stung even after all this time and he couldn't help but wonder, for the umpteenth time, exactly why he was here.
 His thoughts were petulant as he continued to pace, his hands clenching into fists.

What am I even doing here? Why? What am I expecting? He won't come; he made that perfectly clear all those years ago! He stopped pacing, a disgusted grimace on his face. Why... why... can't I just let him go? It would be best for both of us if I could do that but... He closed his eyes. He's like an addiction I can't break and I'm not even sure at this point that I want to.

He looked at his wrist, the golden links glittering in the twilight. He bit his lip as he looked up at the slowly darkening sky, his thoughts tumbling over one another in an unhappy parade.

He swallowed hard, bitterness rising in him.

Why can't I let you go?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

September 23, 2002
On a hill behind Miles Edgeworth's House
10 P.M.

Ten year old Phoenix Wright stood on the hill behind Miles' house, looking up in awe at the sky. Stars twinkled crisply in the velvety black sky, Phoenix's eyes wide with wonder as he watched the celestial display in silence.

He was so engrossed in his star gazing that he didn't notice that his friend, ten year old Miles Edgeworth, had come out of the house to join him, looking at him with undisguised amusement.

"What are you staring at, Phoenix?" he asked in a loud whisper and chuckled when the dark spiky haired boy jumped, startled at the sound of his voice. Phoenix let out an embarrassed laugh and smiled when Miles walked over to him.

He repeated his question and watched as Phoenix gestured upward, his eyes following.

"The stars. They're so pretty at night when they shine like that." He saw Miles smile out of the corner of his eye as the other boy moved closer to him. "The sky is so clear tonight that you can see them; they look like little diamonds."

Miles snickered but he didn't dispute his friend's assertion as he, too, looked upward, becoming just as mesmerized as his companion was. They stood together in silence for a long time and Phoenix's hand sought out Miles' and closed around it. Miles started briefly but soon relaxed, squeezing it affectionately in return.

The two boys stood hand-in-hand for some time, just staring up at the sky and admiring the twinkling stars.

"Look!" Phoenix's excited voice broke the silence and Miles' eyes flickered upward, a wide smile breaking out over his face as he saw the shooting star streaking across the sky, a flaming arc left in its wake. "A shooting star! Let's make a wish, Miles!"

Miles scoffed. "That's silly, Phoenix," he said dismissively, waving his other hand in the air. "Why are you so excited about a piece of space junk?"

Phoenix rolled his eyes. "It may only be space junk to you," he retorted though not unkindly, "but it isn't to me." Phoenix leaned over toward him, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "It's also special!"

"How?"

"When you make a wish, it will come true and you'll also be linked to your special someone!"

Miles was skeptical. "Who told you that? Larry?"

"I heard it from a friend." Phoenix's voice sounded a bit embarrassed, his cheeks flushing, his free hand slowly going to scratch the back of his neck. "Come on, Miles. Don't be such a stick in the mud."

Miles sighed, giving in. "Oh, all right." He scrunched his eyes shut and Phoenix did the same, wishing fervently that they would always be together.

Miles' father was moving East in order to take a new job and they would be leaving sometime in the new year. He had told him the news three months ago, his voice choked with tears and Phoenix was just as upset as his friend about the impending separation.

Miles was like his second self and he was going to miss him terribly. It had taken some time to get used to the idea and the boys had become inseparable over the past couple of months; both Miles' father and Phoenix's parents had commented on it.

Phoenix wished that he didn't have to go but the inevitable would have to be faced: Miles would be leaving soon and he would miss his best friend. He also knew that Miles would also miss him, as well, and that made both boys more determined than ever to enjoy the time that they had left..

They spent every waking moment they could together, when they weren't either sleeping or in school, and even their friends were now commenting on their close relationship as being, in their opinion, too close. or simply lying side by side together underneath the old apple tree in Miles' backyard.

Neither boy really cared even though they had had to put up with teasing from all and sundry about it and continued to enjoy their their time together. They did all kinds of things: swimming at Hammond Creek; ice cream at the nearby ice cream parlor; swimming at the community pool; evenings spent outside in the back yard camping in a large circular tent, reading books by flashlight and telling ghost stories or simply lying side by side together underneath the old apple tree in Miles' backyard.

Phoenix wished that the autumn would never end but the days were flying by much too quickly for his peace of mind or comfort and, looking at his silent companion, knew that Miles felt the same way.

Phoenix squeezed Miles' hand in his own and Miles returned the affectionate gesture.

"I'm going to miss you Miles." Phoenix's voice was quiet, sad.

Miles sighed, nodding, his voice subdued.

"I'm going to miss you, too, Phoenix."

"You'll keep in touch, won't you?" Phoenix's voice quavered as he asked the question. He'd heard from some of his other friends that sometimes friendships didn't last once a move happened and Phoenix was afraid that this would happen to himself and Miles.

"I will. I promise." Miles' voice was firm and Phoenix had no doubt that he would do exactly as he said. That gave him some a measure of comfort, at least.

Phoenix smiled, relieved. "I'm glad."

Silence reigned between them again for some time. Little did either boy know it at this point, but their wish was going to come true... in a most unusual way...