A/N - Sorry it's taken me so long. I've actually had this chapter written for a long time, but I just didn't get the chance to type it out 'til now.
Disclaimer: I don't own Phoenix Wright, but if I did he'd be my pet and he'd have to snuggle with me.
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Chapter 2:
Magatama
Maya Fey was incredibly frustrated. She'd called her boss/best friend/caretaker at least an hour ago, and he was still nowhere to be found. She spun around in the comfortable swivel chair that had so often distracted the attorney who usually sat within its pleather confines. Her little cousin Pearl looked up from an episode of the Golden Samurai and watched the older girl for a moment.
"Mystic Maya," she began, her tone worried. "Is Mr. Nick going to be okay?"
"Maya didn't answer immediately, instead glancing around the rather bare office as though looking for an escape. Her eyes landed in a far corner for a moment and she smiled thinly before responding. "I think so, Pearly." I hope so, she added silently.
But Pearl's doubts were not so easily assuaged. "But isn't it sort of . . . mean, what we're doing?" Maya opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't speak. It was mean, but it was something that had to be done. The truth had to come out, for the poor man's own good.
Maya was saved the trouble of answer by the sound of the lock clicking and the door opening.
"I know, I know," Phoenix called grudgingly as he wrestled with a plastic bag. "I got sidetracked, I'm sorry." Maya waved frantically at Pearl, mouthing 'Get to your position!' The young girl jumped up from the couch and raced to the corner of the room, hiding behind the door. "I've got dinner, I'll have it ready in ten . . ." He stopped, and Maya heard his circle the outer room, looking for them. "Maya? Pearls? Where are you?"
With a quick glance at the corner, Maya got to her feet. "We're back here, Nick!" Her muscles tensed as she heard him near the door. This is it.
He appeared on the threshold and she jumped at him, clinging to him in a half-hug, half-wrestling move. He stumbled backwards, surprised, and Pearl darted out from behind the door, slid her tiny fingers quickly into his pocket, and then jumped away.
Once Pearl was clear, Maya slowly extracted herself from Phoenix's arms. She moved back to stand beside her cousin, and Nick looked between them, stunned.
"What on earth was that about?" He sounded ridiculously confused. Maya sighed, reaching into her pockets to ensure that she had everything she needed. Then she held out her hand, and Pearl placed in it a smooth, green object shaped like the number 9. The man stared at it. "The magatama . . ." Maya nodded. "What's this about?"
"Nick," she began, seriously. "It's time you told us the whole truth."
He looked frightened now, his brown eyes darting from Maya's stern expression to the jade figure in her hands. "What do you mean, the 'whole truth'?" he asked, rather nervously, tugging at the edge of his beanie. Maya took a deep breath, steeling herself to ask a question that she'd asked him once before. But this time, she had a foolproof lie detector on her side.
"Nick," she began, slowly. "Are you in love with Mr. Edgeworth?"
"NO!" He glared at her. "I am not, will never be, and never, ever have been in lvoe with Edgeworth!"
Nothing happened. The magatama lay quiet and pale, and the world stayed firmly realistic. Pearl looked up at the older Fey expectantly, but Maya shook her head. "No reaction. He's telling the truth." Pearl looked pleased.
"Of course he is!" the little girl mumbled happily to herself. "After all, Mystic Maya is Mr. Nick's special someone, not Mr. Edgeworth!" Maya resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but couldn't repress the little glimmer of happiness that grew inside her. The contentment was immediately quashed, however, by determined resignation. I knew it couldn't possibly be that easy.
"Nick," Maya said quietly. "There's obviously more between the two of you than simple friendship."
"What makes you say that?" Phoenix snapped, avoiding her gaze.
"It's kind of obviously!" she huffed, frustration levels rising again. "You're like, obsessed!" He glared at her again, his eyes pained. "Don't you look at me like that! I'm sick of your lies!" She moved towards his, tugging almost viciously on the strand of hair that fell over her left shoulder. "You became of lawyer because of something he didn't even remember! You got all pissy when he left to find himself! You ask for his advice of everything! He's the one you run to in an emergency before anyone else!" She took a deep breath, calming her nerves. "Look me in the eyes and tell me it's just friendship."
He was silent for a moment, staring at his shoes. Then he raised his eyes to hers. "It's nothing, Maya." But even he sounded unconvinced. "We're just friends."
Out of nothing — out of nowhere, the world flashed in front of her eyes. Chains popped into existence, twisting themselves like metallic snakes in front, around, and behind the lying lawyer. Five red and yellow locks secured the web of chains in place.
Okay, that is seriously cool. Aloud, she said; "Just friends? I don't think so." She held up the magatama, which was now glowing like some alien technology. "You can't hide things from me now, Nick. I'm getting the truth, and I'm getting it from you."
Pearl nodded vigourously. "I know it's mean, Mr. Nick, but it's for your own good. 'The truth shall set you free!'" she quoted happily.
Phoenix sighed, raising a hand and rubbing his forehead in either exasperation or anxiety. "You really know how to corner someone, don't you?" Maya inclined her head toward him.
"I learned from the best." She felt powerful. She had prepared for this day — spent hours in the library, at the police station, and in various government buildings. Now, with the glowing magatama, a pocketful of evidence, and her incredibly insightful cousin at her side, Maya knew that she could counter any argument her 'mentor' of sorts would throw at her. Grinning, she watched him shift uncomfortable from one foot to the other. "So," she began, stroking the smooth side of the jewel in her hand. "'Just friends' . . . I doubt that."
As Nick sputtered and tried to explain himself, Maya glanced into the corner of the room. For better or worse, the truth would come out.
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A/N - And so the interrogation starts. Will Maya get the answers she seeks?
