Phoenix Wright / Gyakuten Saiban, its settings and characters, are property of Capcom, and are being used here without permission. This fic is rated R for now.

Well Frogs

Chapter 2

"For the last time," Odoroki insisted, "I am not telling you where Makoto lives!"

Takita threw his hands up in exasperation. "What's the big deal?" he persisted, as he had for nearly the last twenty minutes. When Odoroki tried to escape him by moving around the desk, he quickly pursued. "Just what d'ya think I'm gonna do to her? I just want to say hi, really!"

"You'll scare her," Odoroki tried to reason. "Makoto, she's…"

"She's what?" Takita grabbed him by the arm, forcing Odoroki to turn and face him seriously. "Don't tell me she's taken," he demanded with urgency. "Is it you? Have you got your filthy lawyer mitts all over my sweet Mako!?"

"Filthy!?" Odoroki shook his head emphatically. "No, that's not what I--"

"Then what? What have you got against our love?"

"Your…what?" Odoroki finally managed to shove Takita's hand off him, glaring at him in confusion. "I just introduced you three days ago."

Takita crossed his arms over his chest with a pout. "I don't expect you to understand love at first sight."

Odoroki sighed heavily, rubbing his abnormally large forehead. Takita took the moment to catch his breath and rethink his strategy. He had to get Makoto's address out of him somehow. You didn't meet your ideal woman every day: beautiful, creative, modest…she was perfect in every way. It wasn't worth being a man if he couldn't see her again.

"Listen," Odoroki tried to explain. "Makoto's been through a really tough time. Not even a month ago she was on trial for murder, and that was the first time she'd left her house in a long time." He scratched the back of his head. "I don't think she's ready for…you."

Takita chewed his lip as he processed that information. She doesn't go out? Well I guess she wouldn't. She'd have losers hanging all over her, poor thing. He was about to try arguing his case again when the office door suddenly burst open, and in pranced Minuki.

"I'm here! Oh!" Minuki stopped just inside the door and gave their guest a wave. "Hello, Mr. Kitaki. You're not in trouble, are you?"

Takita wasn't one for girls Minuki's age, but even he had to admit she looked awfully cute in her school's sailor uniform. "You!" He quickly moved to intercept her. "You know where Makoto lives, don't you?"

Odoroki waved his hands frantically, but luckily for Takita, Minuki didn't quite catch on in time. "Of course," she replied easily. "The Ese Studio on 13th. Why do you ask?"

Takita gave a whoop of accomplishment, while Odoroki smacked himself in the face. She glanced between them. "What?"

"Thanks, Minuki." With a grin Takita headed for the door. "I'll catch you jerks later."

"Hey wait--" Odoroki dodged around the sofa, and managed to catch up to Takita just before the door. "At least let us--"

He snagged Takita by the shoulder to draw him back; a normally harmless gesture that in Takita's case pulled against the tender skin over his chest. He made a thin sound of pain as he shoved Odoroki away from him. When he tried to yell at the blank-faced lawyer he found himself mysteriously out of breath.

"Hey, go easy on him," Minuki chided in his stead. "He had surgery a while ago, you know."

Takita scowled, giving his chest a light rub. "I'm fine," he grumbled. Even though his stitches had been taken out weeks ago it was still a little soon to be getting manhandled.

"I…I'm sorry," Odoroki stuttered, suddenly very pale. "I forgot. I didn't mean to--"

"I'm fine," Takita repeated, his voice thick with irritation directed mostly at himself. "Forget it." He gathered himself up and turned to the door once more. "Mako will make me feel better."

"But…" Odoroki fidgeted, and as Takita slipped outside he quickly followed. "We'll come with you," he offered. "So…you don't get lost." He waved Minuki out of the office so that he could lock the door behind them.

"But I haven't even changed!" Minuki protested.

"Yeah, but…didn't you say you wanted Makoto to draw you in your uniform sometime anyway?" Odoroki continued to grab after excuses.

Takita rolled his eyes as the three of them left the building. "You guys are always meddling," he complained. "But fine, tag along. I don't care."

As they stepped out onto the sidewalk, they immediately came across a black car parked at the curb, with a man standing just beside it. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with shaggy, red-dyed hair that drooped over his face. The tight, dark jacket he wore was decorated with black and red paint streaks bearing the resemblance of a painted kabuki mask.

"We're going to 13th street," Takita told him as they approached. "You know how to get there, right?"

"Of course," the man replied in a rough voice. His thin, deep set eyes swerved to Odoroki and Minuki. "Them, too?"

The pair tensed a little, and Takita couldn't blame them--he was an unattractive and unsettling kind of man. "Yeah, them too." He waved carelessly between them as he made the introductions. "Odoroki and Minuki, my lawyers. Guys, this is Tsudzuo Akagami, the Kitaki Underboss."

"Underboss?" Odoroki echoed, growing a shade paler once more. "Um…pleased to meet you, Sir." He bowed stiffly.

Minuki was significantly less disquieted. "That's, like, a yakuza thing, isn't it? You're pretty important?"

"Yes." Tsudzuo opened the door for them. "Please, get in."

"Tsudzuo handles a lot of important Kitaki business," Takita explained once they were all inside and seated. He didn't bother with a seatbelt. "He's the best man we've got--they don't make'm any tougher. Isn't that right, Tsudzuo?"

"Thank you," Tsudzuo replied simply as he pulled away from the curb.

"See?" Takita twisted in his seat to see the others, making sure they were impressed. "He's pretty badass, huh?"

"Maybe you should try being more like Mr. Akagami," Minuki suggested to her companion, elbowing him. "Try speaking in less than three words per sentence, okay?"

Takita scoffed and turned back around. "Him, be bad ass? Yeah, right."

Odoroki groaned. "I'm satisfied with being plain…"

It wasn't a long trip to the Ese Studio, but Takita and Minuki made it seem twice as long with their teasing of the poor red-dressed lawyer. And rightfully so, by Takita's account--it was Odoroki's fault for trying to interfere in the first place. Takita was determined to make him regret it.

They piled out of the vehicle at their destination, and Takita leaned down to the driver's side window to deliver some instructions. "We're gonna be a while, so you can take off if you want. I'll give you a call when I need a ride back."

"Very well." Tsudzuo tilted his chin up slightly. "Be careful."

Said by anyone else, his words might have been nothing more than a casual parting, but Takita understood the warning for what it was: 13th was a little closer to the west side of town than a fox like him ought to be. But he wasn't worried. "Hey, it's cool," he assured the man. He gave the car a slap and stepped back. "Thanks for the lift."

Tsudzuo pulled away once more, allowing Takita to focus entirely on the purpose of this visit. He rubbed his hands together and scanned the line of shops. The Ese studio was tucked in between two larger boutiques, but somehow his eyes went right to it. He considered it a good sign. "Finally. Let's go say hi to my sweet darling Mako."

No one answered the door at first, despite vigorous knocking. Odoroki was starting to suggest they give up when the door finally opened a crack, and out peeked one adorable blue eye.

"Aha, there you are!" Takita grinned, ducking his head slightly to put them at eye level. "We were starting to worry you weren't in. You're not too busy, are you? Can we come in?"

Makoto stared back at him, unblinking and unspeaking. As adorable as her shyness was, after a moment Takita felt a prickle of worry. "You…remember me, right?" he asked with a hopeful smile. "From the party?"

Makoto's lips worked slightly, but she still didn't respond. Finally she closed the door, and they could hear the sound of a chain being lifted. At long last--and to Takita's great relief--she opened the door once more and stepped aside for them. "Please, come in," she invited softly.

"I knew you'd remember," Takita beamed. He quickly stepped inside, with Odoroki and Minuki close behind.

The Ese Studio was small, but cozy, and very impressive with its different areas and gadgets. Takita recognized the easels and many racks of paints, but he couldn't make heads or tails of the machinery against the far wall. "Wow, this place it crazy." He took it all in, deeply awed. "I thought you only did paintings, but look at this stuff!"

"Sorry about barging in like this without calling ahead," Odoroki apologized. "We won't stay long."

"It's…all right." Makoto was wearing a smock over her usual overalls, and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows. "I was finishing."

"Finishing?" Takita's interest immediately perked. "Finishing what? This?" He moved so that he could see the largest of the easels she had set out, which bore a piece of stretched canvas. It was a painting of a cabin surrounded by snow-covered trees. Takita gaped. "You painted this?"

Makoto ducked her head modestly. "Yes…"

"It's beautiful!" Takita spotted a photograph that had been tacked onto the easel, which showed the same cabin and forest. "It's a perfect likeness. Except, it's better."

"You're not copying other paintings anymore?" Minuki asked, peering around Takita's shoulder.

Makoto clasped her hands together in front of her, looking somewhat nervous. "No… Someone sent me the photo, and asked…for me to make it…" She took in a deep breath. "Copying other people's paintings is wrong."

Takita hummed, and when he glanced back he saw Makoto and Odoroki sharing a look. He pursed his lips. "Well, I dunno about that. But this is still really good. Are you glad to see us?" he changed the subject abruptly. "You had fun on Friday, didn't you?"

"Yes…" Makoto fidgeted. "Can I...make us some tea?" she suggested. She looked as if she were trying very hard to say the right thing, which was horribly endearing.

"Yes, please!" Takita twirled a lock of his hair happily. "I'll give you a hand. And you two can stay here." He sent Odoroki a quick glare. "Okay?"

Odoroki's shoulders fell. "Okay, okay."

"Good." Feeling very pleased with himself, Takita took Makoto's hand and headed for a far door that looked like the kitchen. "Then let's get to it!"

Akane made a face down at her teacup, scrunching her nose. "It's so bitter," she complained.

"Then stop ordering it," Naruhodou advised with a smirk.

"I'm still trying to redevelop my taste for it." She steeled herself and took another sip. "It's hard to get used to something you've been without for seven years."

Naruhodou hummed vaguely, poking at his coffee cup with disinterest. "I'm sure."

Akane glanced up. He had a strange look on his face, halfway between bitterly amused and completely distant, and it hadn't changed since they sat down together at the small downtown café. She set her cup down. "Sorry." How presumptuous it must have been for her to be talking about the passage of time like that.

"Hm? No, don't worry about it." Naruhodou smiled as his eyes regained their focus. "So, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

"Actually…" Akane pursed her lips, trying to decide if she really wanted to put her thoughts into words. It was impossible to know exactly what Naruhodou was thinking these days, and she didn't know if he would respond well. "It's about you."

Naruhodou's expression didn't change, as if he had been suspecting as much. "Are you going to tell me to lay off Prosecutor Garyuu?"

Akane's cheeks colored. "It's not just that," she said quickly, even though that gave half her intentions away. "You were acting strangely at the party. Everyone noticed."

"You're imagining things," Naruhodou assured. "Everyone had a great time--"

"Minuki noticed."

That got Naruhodou's attention more effectively. A wrinkle formed at the bridge of his nose. "Well. Minuki's a smart girl." He finally took a sip of his coffee.

"I talked to her yesterday," Akane explained, "when I called the office looking for you. She said you've been acting funny ever since…the case." She lowered her voice. "Did you talk to the Ministry of Justice?"

"Yeah." He was trying to smile, but it was painfully faked. "My case was reviewed. They said Makoto's trial wasn't enough. Since I still didn't have any concrete proof that I didn't forge anything, they couldn't clear my record unless the real forger confessed."

"But that's…." Akane grimaced in sympathy. If those were the conditions… "I'm sorry."

"He did."

Akane blinked at him. "Huh?"

"He confessed." Naruhodou tipped his mug back and forth, watching the liquid inside slosh lazily about with half-lidded eyes. "Garyuu admitted to everything."

"He…" Akane was still baffled, her chest tight but unable to decide on which emotion she was supposed to be feeling. "He did?" She started to grin, but Naruhodou was still staring down at his mug so solemnly, she became afraid that it was the wrong reaction. She cleared her throat. "That's…well, that's great news, isn't it? That means they can clear your record! They might even let you take the bar exam again."

"Yeah…they might…"

"And…?" Akane pouted at him and his dull reactions. In frustration she grabbed a sugar packet and tossed it at him--it bounced off his nose and into his lap. "Well? Aren't you happy?"

Naruhodou retrieved the packet and tucked it back in its caddy without looking up. "I don't understand," he confessed. It had been a while since she'd seen him honestly distressed. "No matter how many times I think about it, I just don't get why he would do that. He's up to something."

"It's a little late for that now, isn't it?" Akane pointed out. "Naruhodou, you won. It's finally over--you cleared your name, just like you wanted." She leaned her elbows against the table. "Who cares what he does or doesn't do now?"

"I do," Naruhodou replied quickly. He finally glanced up, and though his eyes were tired they were also determined. "I've known him for a long time. Everything he does is for a reason."

Akane sighed. In the months they'd spent renewing their old acquaintance she had learned one thing: she wasn't capable of changing his mind. "In that case, just try to take it easy for a while, okay? For Minuki's sake?" She pulled a few bills out of her purse to set on the table and pushed to her feet. "And lay off Prosecutor Garyuu."

She got a chuckle out of him with that, at least. "That reminds me. I wasn't the only one acting a little strange at that party." He glanced up at her questioningly.

Akane felt her cheeks heat, and she quickly shook her head. "Not another word," she warned. "I mean it!"

Naruhodou shrugged innocently. "I didn't say anything."

Akane glared back at him, convinced he was about to tease her anyway. But he didn't--just stared back at her, smiling. "I don't know how Minuki puts up with you," she muttered, though now she was smiling, too. She gave his shoulder a squeeze and headed for the door. "Stay in touch, Naruhodou."

"You, too."

Naruhodou watched her go, and then went back to starting at the contents of his mug. I'll go tomorrow.

"So…" Takita leaned his back against the counter, watching Makoto as she pulled tea packets out of a cupboard. He had said he was going to help, but the truth was he didn't know much about making tea anyway--some leaves, some water, and you were good to go, right? He was more interested in putting his entire focus on Makoto. "You live here alone, huh? I think Mr. Lawyer out there mentioned that…."

"Yes, I do." Makoto filled and plugged in a small water heater. "My father…used to live here. He passed away recently."

"Oh." Takita straightened. He hadn't expected that, and he shifted somewhat awkwardly. "I'm sorry. That's…that's rough." He scratched the back of his neck. "Must be lonely."

Makoto set her hands on the counter, and her right index finger moved as if tracing some invisible design. She nodded slowly.

Come on, Takita. He took in a deep breath. It's moments like these that make a real man! Stepping forward, he gently put a hand on her shoulder. "Well, I'm here for you," he assured in his best chivalrous tone. "If you ever need someone to come over and keep you company, I'm your man! You can call on me anytime."

Makoto tilted her head, staring up at him with those lovely eyes that would have made even the coldest heart melt. "I…can?"

"Of course!" Takita grinned brightly. "Or you can come over to my place. In fact, why not tomorrow? Odoroki said you don't like to go out, but you'll be okay if you're with me." He puffed himself up proudly. "Can't stay cooped up in here all the time, can you? My mom'll make us a great big lunch."

Makoto blinked, looking overwhelmed by his quick speech and loud invitation. Her fingers curled again in want of her drawing pad. "I don't know…"

"It'll be fun," Takita insisted. And though he hated to do it, he added, "Your friends out there can come too, if they want. Just the four of us. How about that?"

That seemed to encourage Makoto a little, and she glanced briefly back into the studio where their two companions were conversing. At long last she nodded. "Okay. Tomorrow. For…lunch."

Takita couldn't be more pleased--he even wrapped his arm around her shoulders for a little squeeze, which confused poor innocent Makoto even more. But she was starting to warm up to him. At least, he was determined to believe so.

Their impromptu gathering didn't last for as long as Takita would have liked. By the time they'd finished drinking their tea--amidst his retelling of many bold and courageous yakuza adventures--Minuki got a call on her cell phone from her dad, which the ever-interfering Odoroki deemed a suitable excuse to suggest that they leave Makoto in peace.

"I'm sure she still has a lot to do," Odoroki insisted. "And it'll be getting late soon. We shouldn't overstay our welcome."

"Bah, fine." Takita gave him a good glare, but it had melted by the time he turned to Makoto. "I'm glad we had this time together," he said brightly. "Can I get your number? I'll give you a call tomorrow before I pick you up. Okay?"

"Huh?" Odoroki glanced between them. "What are you--" He was shut up by another quick look-of-death.

"All right…." Makoto pulled a small pad of paper out of the pocket of her apron, and scrawled out her number. Before she handed it over, though, she looked to Odoroki. "You'll…come too, won't you Mr. Odoroki…?" she asked softly.

"Sure he will," Takita interrupted. He waved at Odoroki and Minuki vaguely. "You're both invited over for lunch tomorrow."

Minuki stared at him. "But I have school tomorrow!"

"Then I guess you can't make it." Takita wasn't about to wait for the weekend, or even the evening, for his next chance to see Makoto.

Minuki pouted at him, and looked about to speak her mind, but--to everyone else's surprise--Makoto spoke up. "Maybe we can meet Minuki after," she suggested, half ducked into her shoulders as she watched the three of them.

Odoroki and Minuki exchanged glances, and then the former leaned forward. "Are you sure, Makoto? You've been taking on a lot lately. You shouldn't push yourself."

Takita almost waved away the other's concerns, but when he glanced to Makoto, the seriousness of her gentle face made him reconsider. He frowned, and waited to hear what she had to say.

"I want to." Makoto replaced the small pad of paper with her larger one, and began to sketch as she talked; the multi-tasking seemed to help her speak with a bit more confidence. "Mr. Kitaki is right. I shouldn't stay…'cooped up.'"

She turned her drawing pad so the others could see it: she had drawn herself, but tiny, standing on top of a stool so she could look through the peep hole in the front door. "I want to see," she said simply.

Odoroki smiled. "All right." He glanced briefly to Takita and back. "I'll come. And then we'll meet Minuki once she's out of school. Okay?"

Makoto closed her book once more and held it to her chest. Very faintly, she smiled. "Okay."

Soon afterwards the trio departed, with promises of seeing Makoto the next day. Once the door was closed behind them, Odoroki turned on Takita with a look approaching seriousness. "Do you see now?" he asked evenly. "Makoto's…a little different."

"Of course she is," Takita said. He grinned down at the slip of paper in his hand bearing her number. "She's amazing."

"That's not what I--"

"Oh come on, Odoroki, what do you think I'm gonna do to her, huh?" Takita rolled his eyes as he carefully folded the slip and tucked it into his inside jacket pocket. "You're just jealous 'cause I've got myself a girl, and y--"

"A girl, huh? Now that is amazing."

The words were spoken with no more than the kind of sarcasm Takita was used to; it was the voice itself, thin and grating, that stopped Takita in mid word. The laughter that followed, which was almost a girlish titter, sent goose bumps up his arms. The last person in the world he wanted to meet was coming up behind him, and he struggled to put his face back in order before turning.

Striding easily down the sidewalk was a lanky man in his mid twenties, dressed in the unfortunate combination of white pants and waistcoat with a shimmering, gold dress shirt beneath. He was at the head of four other equally loudly-dressed lackeys, all of whom were sniggering like imbeciles behind him. As ridiculous as the man looked with his gaudy dress and poorly-dyed, shiny bronze hair, Takita couldn't help but feel a stir of genuine ill ease.

"You've got a lotta nerve, showing your face in front of me," Takita growled, shoving his hands into his pockets to keep himself from decking the man right then. "Katagi."

Yuuri Katagi, first son of the Katagi yakuza family, damn near giggled. "That's my line, my friend. This girl of yours must be quite the vixen, for you to have chased her all the way…out here."

Takita ground his teeth, and his hands tightened into fists. He felt Odoroki come up on his right, as if anticipating a need to stop him from making a very stupid mistake. But even Takita knew better with Yuuri and his four lazy-eyed goons coming closer. He stood his ground but didn't move, relating his defiance through expression alone. "Don't you say any another goddamn word."

"Not another word, not another word," Yuuri sang. He stepped just in front of the pair, turning his stupid little grin on Odoroki. "You. I know you. You're the little fox's lawyer, huh?"

Odoroki straightened. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Good, good." Yuuri held out his hand as if meaning for Odoroki to take it, but when the young lawyer tried to do so, he pulled it back again before they could touch. "Ooh, too slow."

His lackeys snickered as though it were the most hilarious joke in the world. If not for the sudden pain in his chest, Takita would have given every one of them a good five knuckles to the jaw.

Yuuri and his brats continued on, each one making a point to bump into his shoulder as they passed. Takita tensed, determined not to be shoved back; but he still couldn't retaliate, even if his jaw ached with the effort of restraint. It was difficult enough keeping a grimace from showing on his face with every jar of his healing injuries.

Once Yuuri was a few steps past him, he paused again, and turned back. "Hey, Foxy." When Takita begrudgingly glanced over his shoulder, Yuuri curled his fingers into a mock gun. "Bang!"

Takita couldn't help it--he flinched, which brought another round of obnoxious laughter from the group. "Catch ya later, Kid!" Yuuri called as he and his fellows finally moved off.

Takita seethed, his shoulders tense and face twisted in frustration. "That… arghh, damn that bastard." He started in the opposite direction.

"H-Hey!" Odoroki and Minuki hurried after him. "Are you okay?" the later asked.

"I'm fine," Takita grumbled. "I just can't stand that prick. Who the hell does he think he is?" The more he thought about it, the more he shuddered with anger, and the more stress it put on his already painful ribs. He pressed a hand over his chest with a quiet hiss.

"You called him Katagi," Odoroki recalled. The worry in his voice made Takita cringe all over again. "Wasn't that the name of--"

"Shut up," Takita interjected. "It's nothing."

But Odoroki was incessant, and he reached out to take Takita's elbow. "Slow down, you're going to--"

"I said I'm fine!"

Takita shoved Odoroki away from him, hard enough to send him stumbling into the closed door of small shop. It wasn't a very severe impact, but the rattle it made was rather loud, causing Takita to start again. When he realized what he'd done, he ducked his head with bitter guilt. "Sorry. Just…fuck it." With a scowl he turned, yanking his cell phone free to call Tsudzuo as he marched off.

Odoroki and Minuki stared after him, but they didn't give chase this time. After Odoroki had assured Minuki that he was fine, she put her hands on her hips. "What was that all about, anyway? He sure got awfully pale for a second there."

"Yeah." Odoroki rubbed the back of his neck, wincing just a little. He wasn't sure but… "I think…that was the man that shot him."