AN: Wow, the first chapter didn't scare everyone away! Who knew?

Current Evidence in Court Record:

Autopsy Report

Wade's Jacket

Wade's Health Report

Crime Scene Photo

Building Details

Frantic Call

Tabloid Article

August 1st, 12:05 PM, Court Lobby No. 3

"Well dudette, I'm not dead yet, so kudos on that, I guess." Wade began.

Masako didn't seem too pleased. "Ya know, this would have been easier if you'd told me about this weird relationship thing the three of you had going on."

"I guess it might have," Wade replied, "but now that it's out, the media's gonna have a field day with Bryce."

"Well it would have been brought up either way," Kita pointed out. "That call still had some mysteries I'd like to see answered."

"I suppose it did sound pretty sketchy dudette." Wade reluctantly agreed. "Even so, it didn't sound like you could be called a model bro out there."

"Well excuuuse me Mister Surfer!" Kita snarked back. "I do my best work when I'm relaxed! How am I supposed to do that when everyone is acting like total buzzkills?"

"I don't know dudette, but if you keep that up, I may have to defend myself!"

"Ugh, fine." Masako relented. "I'll try to take it down a notch or two. Who knew law was so serious?"

"Um, just about everyone dudette."

"Whatever, at least Slippy's on my side." She claimed, the penguin nodding in agreement on her head.

"That penguin was getting on the Judge's nerves just as much as you were, dudette." Wade pointed out.

"So? He'll come in handy, trust me." Masako insisted.

"If you say so, I guess." Wade replied. "So how exactly do you know Bryce? He's rather withdrawn around strangers usually."

"We used to be neighbors! He was a lot friendlier back then, but he never could tell me a lie without me exposing it." She claimed. "Wonder if that was why he slipped up in his last bit of testimony?"

"I don't know, it was rather suspicious. I hope he wasn't lying like that on purpose, but I can't say for sure, dudette."

Todd Fellow: Witness

Age: 37

Occupation: Candle Maker

August 1st, 12:25 PM, Courtroom No. 1

Todd had been reluctant to testify at first, but had agreed when the police had sent someone to watch the shop while he was gone. His candles hanging around his head reminded one of those into voodoo, specifically the practice of warding off spirits. Somehow, they had let him into the courtroom while his candles were still lit. Masako didn't seem pleased. She pulled out a small table fan and plugged it in, pointing it at her penguin. The Judge pretended to ignore it, while Payne prepared his line of questioning. "Mister Fellow, you claim to have seen the moment of the crime, correct?"

"Yup!" Todd affirmed. "Every last detail!"

"Please describe what you saw."

"Of course! I'm on it!" Todd sweared.

The Moment of the Crime

1. It was around 12:40 in the morning, when I heard something coming from below the store.

2. I recalled that there was a tunnel underneath the store, so I lit my candles and went down to investigate.

3. I was about 25 feet away when I saw the two of them there, the victim and the suspect.

4. They both looked to be under the influence of something, and the suspect seemed to have been near collapsing.

5. He slammed something down on her head, and she collapsed in a heap!

6. The suspect crumpled next to her immediately afterward.

"Oh my," the Judge concluded. "If this is true, it does not bode well for the defendant. Miss Kita, you may begin your cross-examination."

"I'm on it Chief! Now Todd, I would first like to confirm something." Kita began. "Despite being the one who discovered the body, you called Bryce first, not the police? And when he got there, Bryce then called the police, not you?"

"That is correct. Allison was his girlfriend, so I thought he would appreciate it if he could see her before the police arrived." Todd explained.

"A noble thought," the Judge agreed, "but next time please contact the police first."

"Hopefully there won't be a next time." Kita pointed out. "So on your fifth statement, you said 'he slammed something down on her'. Could you be more specific as to what the weapon was?"

"Well I believe it was something made of glass," Todd replied, "since I heard it shatter upon contact."

"That is an important detail Mister Fellow. Please add it to your testimony."

"Of course Your Honor."

5.1. I believe the murder weapon was made of glass, since I heard something shatter.

"Objection!" Masako shouted. "Take a look at the Crime Scene Photo, Mister Fellow! If the weapon was a glass bottle, where are the glass shards? Such a mess should be fairly easy to spot!"

"Objection!" Payne retorted. "The suspect cleaned up the mess after he struck the victim! That's why there are no glass shards in the photo!"

"Objection!" Masako shot back. "Fellow's sixth statement claimed that 'the suspect crumpled next to her immediately afterward'. He couldn't have cleaned up any glass shards!"

"Objection! Miss Kita, you're forgetting that there was a window of time between the murder and the arrival of law enforcement! He could have regained consciousness for a short time!"

"Objection! Wade's Jacket still had marijuana on it! If he had gotten up in that time frame, he surely wiped it off his jacket!" Masako countered.

"Ack!" Payne recoiled. "So what are you suggesting Miss Kita?"

"I claim that the crime scene was tampered with between the time of death and when the police arrived! Since my client was unconscious during that time span, the only possible culprits are Bryce and Todd!"

The court burst into chatter again, forcing the Judge to silence them. "Order! Order! Mister Fellow, how do you respond to the defense's claims?!"

"With logic of course! Miss Kita, was it? Why would someone remove the glass shards from the crime scene? The murder weapon could only help incriminate the culprit, but if it was removed to protect Wade, the tamperer wouldn't have stopped there since Wade was still the clear suspect!"

"I claim that the lack of a murder weapon incriminates my client more than its presence." Masako boldly proclaimed. "Something on the murder weapon would have cast doubt upon my client's guilt. Whether it is fingerprints or a bloodstain, I do not know, but the weapon would have put someone else under suspicion. Mister Fellow, you yourself said that the victim and my client were both unconscious when the police arrived, giving you time as the only conscious one at the crime scene. Therefore, I would like to accuse you of tampering with the crime scene."

The court burst into chatter yet again, louder than before. "I WILL HAVE ORDER IN THIS COURT! Mister Fellow! How do you respond to these accusations?!"

"I admit it." Fellow simply replied.

"WHAT?!" Payne cried incredulously. "Can't I get a normal witness in this case?!"

"Mister Fellow!" The Judge admonished. "Tampering with a crime scene is a serious offense! Explain yourself to the court at once!"

The Crime Scene

1. Yes, I was the one who tampered with the crime scene.

2. The victim and the suspect had entered the tunnel through my shop, and had grabbed one of my candles.

3. The candle was the murder weapon, and obviously my fingerprints were on it.

4. I panicked as a result, and cleaned up the weapon, throwing it into the Pacific Ocean, which was about five blocks from my shop.

5. I did this before Bryce arrived, so he didn't know what I had done.

"While illegal, I can understand why you would panic." The Judge said. "Please hand over a candle to the court, so we can understand what the weapon looked like."

"Of course. *Sample Candle added to Court Record*"

Sample Candle- the murder weapon according to Todd. About two feet tall, and weighs very little. Is in a glass jar an inch thick.

"Hmm, I see." The Judge replied. "Lavender Breeze, take me away!"

"Um, Judge? My cross-examination?" Masako cut in.

"Hm? Oh! Of course, go ahead."

"...right. Mister Fellow, you claim that the candle in the Court Record is the same as the murder weapon?" Masako asked, edging away from the Judge.

"You are correct, Miss Kita." He affirmed.

"But you are not correct Mister Fellow." Masako claimed. "The Autopsy Report states that the victim's death was from blunt trauma caused by an object 'weighing approximately fifty pounds'. This Sample Candle, which you specifically said was the same as the alleged murder weapon, is big but relatively light. It could not have caused the trauma indicated in the Autopsy Report!"

"Gak!" Todd seemed to be caught off guard, and the candles on his head flickered in response. "Of course! Of course! I forgot to mention something important! While these candles were the same size, the murder weapon was a prototype I had made! The idea was that a denser candle would last much longer than a regular candle, but it didn't work out, so that was the only one I had made."

"Objection! Mister Fellow! Such convenient cover-ups are not becoming of a witness!" Masako admonished.

"Objection!" Payne countered. "You have no proof that the witness is lying!"

"Objection! Even I wouldn't make a prototype without writing the idea down somewhere!" Kita pointed out. "If this odd Fellow had truly made a prototype, he should have it in writing!"

"Take that!" Payne cried. "This is Fellow's Journal! He wrote that exact idea down three weeks ago! *Fellow's Journal added to Court Record*"

"Gah!" Masako recoiled in shock, Slippy flailing along with her. "Why are you prosecutors so flippin' prepared?! Ungh...Mister Fellow, you claim that you saw the exact moment of the crime. Please testify about that exact moment."

"Of course," Todd replied, "but no jumping to conclusions this time!"

The Moment of the Crime, Part 2

1. They were walking in the tunnel when the suspect struck the victim.

2. There was no warning before the hit.

3. He hit her once and she went down hard.

4. Then he collapsed, probably due to the drugs in his system.

"Sir, that testimony was total crap. I call the entire thing into question. Come on, out with it."

"Miss Kita! Please at least try to think before you speak! To insult his entire testimony like that, now you'll need to disprove all four of his statements." The Judge warned. "Anything less and you'll receive a stiff penalty!"

Masako's uncaring attitude and young age tend to keep others from viewing her as a threat. As a result, Masako occasionally will receive a testimony with zero statements that are true. When this happens, she will challenge the validity of the entire testimony in what's called Chain Contradicting. If she can take down each statement in the correct order, the entire testimony will change into the facts that have been revealed. Failing to do so, however, will have severe consequences.

Chain Contradiction: 0/4

"That would worry me," Kita replied, "if I was anything less than completely sure of my claim! The second statement is false because the Autopsy Report states that the blow was below the ponytail, so unless that ponytail was going straight up, it would have to be moved, meaning that there was warning before the hit!"

Chain Contradiction: 1/4

"I s-see your point, Miss Kita." Todd replied. "Must have missed the motion in the dark, I suppose."

"That's not the only thing you missed though. That same Autopsy Report states that the victim's death was due to blunt trauma, caused by an object weighing approximately fifty pounds, 'in the same location'. Pay attention to this last section of the sentence. 'Same location'. Sounds like there were multiple blows if you ask me."

"Objection!" Payne piped in. "That part was merely hypothesis!"

"Then why did your foolish detectives put it in the official report as fact?" Kita countered. "Since it was made official, you will need some proof other than Fellow's testimony to back up your claim!"

"Ack!" Payne started. "I'll be sure to dock their pay for this..."

Chain Contradiction: 2/4

"And that's not all Mister Fellow! You claimed that my client collapsed 'probably due to the drugs in his system'. However, Wade's Health Report clearly states that there were no drugs in his system. Therefore, he could not have simply collapsed on the ground!" Masako continued.

"Objection!" Payne retorted. "When was that health report taken? The drugs could have exited his system!"

"Objection!" Kita snapped. "If that was true, there wouldn't have been traces of marijuana on his hands! And furthermore, you were the one who submitted the damn thing in the first place! Shouldn't you have known this already?!"

"Gnnn-AAAAACK!" Payne flailed back. "Of c-course, my a-apologies, Miss Kita..."

Chain Contradiction: 3/4

"Finally," Masako led off, "since my client was found unconscious at the scene of the crime, and it was not because he was under the influence of drugs, we must come to the logical conclusion that he was knocked out. Since they were both slumped against the wall when Bryce arrived, the only one who could have knocked my client out is you! Todd Fellow! Which puts you down as a prime suspect in the murder of Miss Allison Urbina!"

"Objection!" Payne shot back. "Where's your proof that Wade was knocked out by the witness? Conjecture is not appreciated within this courtroom, and Wade is physically stronger than Todd here!"

"Take that!" Kita returned. "Wade's Health Report states that my client had cuts from glass shards on his hands. I claim that the witness pushed my client into the tunnel, and when Wade naturally stuck his hands out to break his fall, the glass shards were on the floor, and cut his hands!"

"Objection!" Payne retorted. "All you did there was theorize! There is no proof that those cuts were from bracing for a fall! It makes for a decent storyline, but there's no substance to it!"

"Objection!" Kita kept on the attack. "What if it would explain the traces of marijuana as well? I claim that the glass container that killed Allison was not for a candle, but to transport marijuana!"

"Objection!" Payne countered. "There is no way to prove that the murder weapon contained marijuana! Furthermore, there wasn't a trace of the drug on the victim's head!"

"Objection!" Kita pressed. "The culprit was obviously familiar with handling such things, and knew of a way to erase the traces on the head of the victim, made easier since most of it would be in her hair! If anyone knows anything about marijuana, it's that it is illegal in this state of California. Therefore, to successfully transport it undercover, the container should be thick and scented to ward off police dogs. There's no way to confirm whether the container was scented, but by analyzing the cuts on Wade's hands, we may be able to find out how thick the glass shards were!"

"Very well," the Judge acknowledged. "Bailiff! Have the suspect's cuts analyzed at once!"

"The Health Report has been updated Your Honor!" The bailiff reported. "The cuts were made from a very thick type of glass.'

Wade's Health Report- Showed cuts from thick glass on hands, marijuana traces were found externally, but nothing inside the suspect's system.

"Very well," Payne conceded. "The glass was thick, but there is no way for you to prove that there was a scent to cover any marijuana in the container!"

"Take that!" Masako affirmed.

"The Sample Candle?" Payne asked skeptically. "Weren't you just trying to prove that the candle wasn't the murder weapon? Make up your mind greenhorn!"

"It's not the murder weapon," Kita confirmed, "but it is a way to mask the scent of marijuana! The only color showing right now in this courtroom is the yellow-bellied lying from our witness on the stand!"

The courtroom erupted once more. It took several minutes this time to quiet the crowd.

Chain Contradiction: 4/4

Chain Completed: 2-3-4-1

"Ahem, if the crowd has finally settled down," the Judge said to get the proceedings going again, "Miss Kita had just finished a series of possible breakthroughs. Where does this leave us?"

"Well," Masako responded, "I had just proven that all four of Todd's statements in his testimony were a load of garbage. In their place, some interesting logical conclusions were made."

The Moment of the Crime, Part 2-The Facts

1. The murderer attacked with the intention to harm the victim.

2. The victim was hit multiple times in one spot on the head.

3. Wade was not under the influence on the night of the crime.

4. Wade was likely knocked out by Todd Fellow.

5. When he fell, Wade cut his hands on thick glass shards from a glass container.

6. The glass container most likely held marijuana.

7. The candle store is most likely a cover story.

8. Todd's real plan was to make money off of selling marijuana on the black market.

"With all of these statements as they stand," Kita continued, "I formally accuse Todd Fellow of murdering Allison Urbina. The motive for such a crime was being discovered as a marijuana dealer."

"Objection!" Payne shouted. "If the reason for murdering Allison was to cover up dealings involving marijuana, why would so much of it be present in the Crime Scene Photo?"

"Objection!" Kita countered. "Being under the influence would add a reason to suspect Wade, and removing it completely from the crime scene is near impossible in the time allowed. The only flaw in the plan was that none of it was in the suspect's system."

"Objection." This time it was the witness. "I have no connection to the marijuana. If you cannot prove this wild theory, you have no case."

"Hmph," Kita huffed indignantly, "if you're going to get technical with me, then go ahead. Testify as to how you have no connection to the marijuana."

What Motive?

1. I have no connection to the marijuana on the suspect and victim.

2. Furthermore, there is no way to prove that the marijuana was in a glass container.

3. All I did was clean up the glass, nothing more.

4. Unless you can prove I tampered with any drugs, you have no case.

"Ugh," Masako whined, "why can't you arrest the witness when they start sounding this desperate?"

"Because sounding suspicious doesn't always mean someone is guilty." The Judge replied. "Just ask Larry Butz..."

"Who?"

"Nobody important, please just begin your cross-examination."

"Alright then. You made three claims in your testimony, Mister Fellow." Kita started. "I can't prove that the marijuana was in a glass container, you only cleaned up the glass, and I can't prove you tampered with the drugs at the crime scene. Any other graves you wish to dig today?"

"Nah, maybe this Saturday," Todd snapped. "Have to attend a wedding for someone I barely know anyway."

"Confess your crime and you'll have a decent excuse to miss it." Kita gibed.

"Only if the Steel Samurai ever could be called a decent show." Fellow taunted.

"Okay first of all, how dare you?" Kita accused. "Secondly, the Renaissance called, they want their chandelier back."

"Well tell them to wait a minute. One of these candles is yours. It's filled with the stench of defeat!"

"Order!" The Judge intervened. "The next time I have to bang this gavel, the offender will be held in contempt of court!"

"You know who else likes to bang on the table? MY-"

"BAILIFF! YOU HEARD ME!" The Judge shouted. "Escort that fool down to the precinct!" The offending crowd member was promptly ejected. "Now please start your cross-examination, Miss Kita!"

"Ugh, fine!" She complained. "So, you made your three claims, as I previously stated. And...there's no concrete proof on anything. Great."

"Told you so." Todd snarked. "Now can I please go?"

"If there are no further questions," the Judge led off, "then yes, you may-"

"OBJECTION." A voice boomed from somewhere in the court.

"Wh-who was that exactly?" The Judge said.

"I object." It was Bryce who had made the statement. "I request that you examine that phone call in more detail."

"U-um," the Judge replied, "unless the prosecution has any objections to this request..."

"Go ahead." Payne answered. "The prosecution sees no point, but also no reason not to at least check."

"Alright then," Burg continued, "pay attention to my voice in particular."

12:47 AM, July 29th, 2032

(Faint rustling sounds can be heard)

Burg: Hello, who is this?

(Bryce's voice sounds like it echoes a bit)

"Okay...what exactly were we supposed to hear this time?" The Judge asked.

"Cold Cut probably was referring to the echo in his voice." Masako pointed out. "Didn't you claim that you were in the park when you got this call?"

"That does seem strange, now that you mention it." The Judge agreed.

"That's because I wasn't in the park. I was in the secret tunnel."

"Wait, wh-whaaaaaaat?!" Masako cried out. Her penguin couldn't stay on this time, and smacked into the table beak-first, getting stuck. "Cold Cut! There was literally no reason to hide such important information!"

"Of course there was," Bryce countered. "Todd here would have been much more cautious in his testimony if he had known I was down there. However-"

"Objection!" Todd cut in, candles flaring. "There is no way to prove you were in that tunnel! Furthermore, you had no reason be down there!"

"Objection!" Bryce countered. "I was down there to meet with Allison, and there was a call made several hours earlier where I confirmed it as the place to meet! Remember, at the time, our relationship was still being hidden from the press!"

"Gah!" Todd flailed, flames wavering a tad. "S-so what? Just because you were down in the tunnel, you claim you know of something to further this case?"

"Why yes I do." Bryce countered. "Right after your call, I placed one to a friend of mine. He works at the 24/7 convenience store across the street from your place. He watched that front door until the police arrived and verified what I had thought. No one left the building before the police arrived."

"A-and what is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that while only the crime scene was examined thoroughly," Kita picked up, "if the marijuana was in the murder weapon, it had to have been disposed of somewhere in the store! And if that is true, then it would be near impossible to avoid leaving a trace!"

"Gak!" More flickering from the candles. "So where in the building would someone hide it? The place is run-down, and many of the possible locations were searched by police dogs after specifically removing the candles! Where could somebody hide drugs in such a heap of rubble?!"

"Well, Miss Kita? The witness has a point. Where could drugs be hidden in the building so that the police dogs couldn't find a trace? The candles will not save you this time." The Judge warned.

"Well maybe that 'heap of rubble' could be used to his advantage!" Kita shouted, hopping on to the table in excitement. "I present the Building Details!"

"Hah!" Todd scoffed, his confidence practically glowing from his being. "You've finally snapped! You've got nothing on me!"

"Not exactly dimwit!" Masako taunted. "Or should I say, dimly-lit! The police dogs were kept away from one spot in the store because getting near it could make them sick!"

"And where would that be, ya knock-off Ice Climber?!" Todd challenged.

"You washed the marijuana down the sink!" Masako reasoned. "Knowing that the mold in the sink itself would keep away the police dogs! If you deny my claim, we can always get the sink analyzed! After all, we already have an officer there to watch over the store like you asked!"

"Nooo!" Todd cried out. "I-it can't b-be..."

"Well Mister Fellow? Shall we examine the sink?" The Judge asked. "Or do you confess?"

"Sorry Mister Fellow," Masako finished with a dramatic finger point, "but all your lies have gone up in smoke!"

"..." The flames went out.

And then they erupted. "aaaaaaaaaaaAAAAIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAA! MY EEEEEEYYYEEEEESSSSS! THEEEEEEY'RRRRRREEE BUUUUURRRNNNIIIIIIIING!" He cried out as his head burst into flames, collapsing afterward covered in ash.

"Mister Payne, how is the witness?"

"He's in the hospital getting treatment." Histen stated. "At least I think it's him. His entire face was wrapped in bandages when I saw him. He had just began dealing with drugs recently, the reason being to pay for his son's surgery. The ten-year old boy was suffering from a faulty liver. He agreed to a full confession and exchange of sources in exchange for the state covering his son's operation. He was in the middle of his first sale on his phone when he noticed Allison poking her head through the tunnel entrance, which had mistakenly been left open. He went to ask her to keep quiet but she started screaming and he panicked. He used the jar he was holding and hit her with it until the screaming stopped."

"And as for Wade, the initial suspect?" The Judge inquired.

"Completely innocent." Payne reluctantly admitted. "He walked in when Mister Fellow went to grab gloves for the cleanup. Fellow saw an opportunity and pushed him off the deeper side of the entrance. Mister Sealord was unconscious upon hitting the ground."

"Very well then." The Judge responded. "A very impressive debut case Miss Kita, childish behavior aside, and an excellent last case for me! I hereby declare the defendant, Wade Sealord-"

-NOT GUILTY-

"-court is adjourned!"

August 1st, 2:07 PM, Court Lobby No. 3

"Geez, is it always that ridiculous in the courtroom?" Wade asked Kita.

"I'm not exactly sure." She answered. "First case, remember?"

"Yeah, but surely that wasn't your first time in a court."

"Right. However, quite a few of the crazier cases can be traced back to the same lawyers or prosecutors." Kita explained.

"Well if you're one of those weird dudettes," Wade reasoned, "maybe you won't be so dang bored in court."

"Meh, who knows?" Masako shrugged it off. "So, I'm glad you're free to go! Being in jail's a real drag...not that I've been there."

"While I'm sure you've got some stupid stories in your past dudette," Wade pointed out, "I'm not sure I really wanna know what you've been up to."

"Fair enough," Kita admitted. "Well if you ever wanna talk, you know my number. I've gotta go check on Slippy."

"Your penguin?"

"Yeah. He's still got his beak stuck! Poor guy!"

"That's because I wasn't in the park. I was in the secret tunnel."

"Wait, wh-whaaaaaaat?!" Masako cried out. Her penguin couldn't stay on this time, and smacked into the table beak-first, getting stuck. "Cold Cut! There was literally no reason to hide such important information!"

"Oh, right. He's been stuck the whole time? That's nearly... thirty minutes."

"Yeah," Kita affirmed, "his beak's pretty sharp."

"Well, guess you'd better get going then dudette. Tell the penguin I said...whatever they use to greet each other I suppose."

"No worries! I will!"

And with this, the first case draws to a close. After about fifteen minutes and a small bill, the penguin was successfully extracted from the desk. Masako went back to her small office and enjoyed the peace and quiet... before blasting pop tunes the rest of the night, much to the annoyance of her neighbors. Her case made headlines, mainly due to the popularity of Wade, Allison, and badly plotted tabloids. Even so, people were still rather reluctant to hire such a childish attorney. As a result, her next case was rather... confusing.

AN: Welp, that's one case down, and hopefully the simplest. With the benefit of fanfiction, the cases don't necessarily have to scale down to ground zero every 4-5 cases like the games. Still looking for a beta and/or possible co-writer, so hopefully my work wasn't/isn't too terrible.