Phoenix settled in with the guest supplies Morgan Fey left him. The men's quarters in Kurain Village were silent and empty, and his feet were freezing on the bare wood floor. It's June, you think it would warm up already. He looked around the dusty room, ears ringing in the silence.
I wish Maya were here.
He stopped laying out the old comforter to put his hands over his face and sigh shakily. I can't believe she was caught up in a murder, again. What is it about the two of us meeting after a long time apart that gets someone killed? I'll find out what happened in there, Maya. I will never leave you.
Once he'd arranged the bed and changed into pajamas, Phoenix got his notepad and a pen from his briefcase. He began to list and describe what he could remember about the incident, the people involved, and the scene of the crime.
While trying to remember if he'd seen everything in the channeling chamber, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," he said, and looked up.
Nothing happened.
Uh… Phoenix felt the little hairs on the back of his neck rise. "You can come in," he called, then swallowed. Unless you're something evil.
He waited, and was about to get up to check when the sliding door opened. It was Pearl.
Oh! Phoenix touched his hair. I hope it's not too spiky or unusual right now. I really want to talk to her. I don't want her to be scared of me.
On the other side of the room at the door, Pearl froze, staring at him.
Phoenix almost said something, then decided to wave hello instead. Pearl blinked, but continued to stare.
Um… oh boy. Phoenix sweated a little. Is she… Is she gonna do anything?
They looked at each other a few moments more. Um…
He glanced down at his list. Maybe I should keep doing this so she doesn't feel threatened? ...Yeah.
Awkwardly, Phoenix returned to his task. I think… someone could definitely have hidden behind the screen somehow. That casts doubt on Morgan, but… I need to consider every possibility. He wrote down his thoughts, self-conscious of Pearl watching him.
Hmm, what else? Was there-oh!
Cautiously, Pearl was crossing the room coming toward him. Now he could see there was a piece of paper in her hand. When he looked up at her, she paused, but gripped the folded paper tighter and kept going. When she was at arm's length, she stopped.
Phoenix swallowed again. The tension... He waved hi again with a tiny motion.
Wordlessly, Pearl unfolded the paper. It was a little notepaper with yellow and green butterflies around the border, with a list of some kind. Phoenix could recognize Maya's handwriting.
Pearl smoothed out the creases, turned the paper toward Phoenix, and held it out to him. He took it, and looked briefly into her eyes. They were dark grey, and serious. He looked at the note.
1. Where are you from?
2. What is your job/occupation?
3. What do you like to do in your free time?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. What is your favorite subject?
Oh my goodness… Phoenix smiled. He looked up at Pearl, and pointed at himself. Me?
Cautiously, she pointed at the number one, and then looked at him expectantly.
"Okay, I see," said Phoenix. "I came from town-it's just two hours away. I also grew up there, too. Have you been there?"
Pearl stared at him, then looked down at the list and back up.
"Um, okay. My job is an attorney. That means I practice law, and what that means exactly is complicated. But as for me personally, I'm a defense attorney. If you get in trouble, I listen to your side of the story and help you. You have to be in really big trouble, though, for the most part. Um." He glanced at the note.
"In my free time, um. I don't have a whole lot of free time because my job is very busy. But…" He thought of saying he saw friends, but thinking about the current reality of the friends in his life touched something inside that he was struggling to bury. "Um, I usually read or watch movies, or cook myself something fancy. I also like to go to museums. My favorite color is blue, all shades of blue."
He smiled, but Pearl still seemed nervous. "And my favorite subject… Well, I'm not in school anymore, but when I was, Art was my favorite. I liked Reading and recess as well. Then, when I went to college, my major course of study was Art, and in law school, it was law. Law is pretty hard sometimes, but I don't know if if could pick a favorite between it and Art." Pearl nodded. "So… Yep!"
He offered the note back to her. She took it, glanced over the questions, and folded it up.
"So… Do you know who I am?" asked Phoenix.
Pearl shook her head. "I noticed you, though," she said in a small voice. "I saw you. Someone has gone, right? Someone is gone from you, and you're sad."
Phoenix's breath caught in his throat. "Um…" Is she referring to Maya? But she said she doesn't know who I am. "Yes, I… uh…"
"It's someone you like, right? You must really like them a lot."
"Yeah." Is it possible she knows? Or am I just that pathetic and transparent? "I…"
Grief and rage burst from where he'd been trying to bury them, pressing painfully on the boundaries of his chest. "I did like him a lot. I still can't believe he's gone. I should have known, or figured it out, or done something-"
His voice choked off into a sob. He wiped his eyes, and took a deep breath.
"Sorry. I'm sorry." I'm probably freaking her out. Reluctantly, he looked up.
Pearl was wide-eyed, but didn't seem afraid. Instead, Phoenix got the feeling she wanted to help somehow.
Phoenix sniffled, and took another shaky breath. "I'm sorry about that. It was kind of you to ask about how I was feeling." Maya said there weren't a lot of men in the village, or in Pearl's life. Could this be the first time she's seen a man cry? She is staring an awful lot. He dried his eyes again, then gave her a watery smile.
Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "What is it, Pearl?" asked Phoenix, but it was too late. Pearl turned and fled the room as quickly as she had earlier that day at the village entrance. "Pearl, wait!" he called, but she was gone.
\\\
It wasn't long before Phoenix would cry again. Seeing Mia and Maya reunite caused him to find a private spot in the corner and shed some quiet tears.
He'd been so worried about Maya, desperate to solve yet another impossible mystery, surprised and saddened by the Fey family history, and on top of it all, faced off against Franziska von Karma, who reminded him so much of Edgeworth that it was so much salt in the wound. Now, his joy and relief from winning Maya's acquittal and seeing her reunion with someone she loved, on top of the stings from von Karma's whip, had overwhelmed him. He faced the wall and let himself cry.
He tried to keep his body language ordinary, but when he noticed a silence from the Fey sisters he knew it was too late. He turned around from the corner and saw them looking at him. Maya's mouth dropped open in shock, and Mia was smiling, fond. Phoenix smiled weakly, then burst into more tears upon seeing their concern.
"Nick! Oh my goodness, are you crying?" Maya asked, running over to him. Phoenix spluttered a laugh, and pointed at his face. They laughed together, and Maya hugged him.
Mia came over, bearing the box of cheap tissues which every defendant lobby was stocked with. Maya let him go, and handed him a tissue. Phoenix dried his eyes, apologizing, and accepted more tissues to wipe his nose.
"I'm sorry, I really didn't want to interrupt you two," said Phoenix. He waved them away. "Please, don't worry about me. I'm okay, honest."
"Nick, you're crying! Of course we were going to check on you!" Maya punched him lightly on the shoulder.
Phoenix shook his head, and composed himself for what felt like the millionth time that week. "I'm all right. I was just so relieved."
Mia laid a hand on his shoulder. "Wright, this really brings back memories of your college days. It's good to see that some things never change." Maya snorted.
"Objection ! Hey!" Phoenix swatted her arm away, laughing.
"Good one, sis," said Maya. The sisters high-fived.
The three of them talked for a few precious, blissful moments, until Mia sighed.
"I wish I could stay a little longer, but I shouldn't. Your cousin Pearl has great spiritual power, but she's still just a little girl. I don't want to exhaust her."
Maya nodded. "I understand. I'll miss you, but… It's kind of funny. I feel like you never really left, you just went away for a while and came back like I knew you would. Is that weird?"
Mia reached out and hugged her sister. "I love you, Maya."
"I love you too."
Maya let go of her sister. Phoenix watched closely for the moment of transformation that he'd previously missed when Mia appeared to help him in court, but to his surprise, there was nothing. Pearl stood where Mia had, just as naturally as if she had been there already.
"Hello, Pearl," said Maya, kneeling next to her cousin. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Um…" Pearl looked around at her surroundings. "Yeah."
"Are you sure?" asked Phoenix. "You look a little light-headed. Do you know what happened in the trial?"
Pearl looked to Maya, timid. "We...we won, didn't we?"
Maya nodded, and Pearl immediately grabbed her in a tight hug. The older Fey hugged back until Pearl let go.
"Are you all right?" asked Maya.
"Um…" Pearl reflected deeply on the question. "Actually, I'm kind of hungry."
Maya looked to Phoenix. "Well, we can't have that, can we?"
"Uh…" I'm getting stuck with the celebration bill again. But… "I can definitely take care of dinner. What do you say, Pearl? I'll get you anything you want for dinner. You really saved the case."
"Oh, no," Pearl said politely. "You don't have to get me anything special."
She is too well-mannered for her own good, thought Phoenix. "It's all right. It would be fun to-"
"Of course he does, Pearl!" Maya interrupted. "How does some good, salty ramen sound? I know just the place."
"Hey! Maya!" Phoenix protested. "Pearl is the one who did the work here!" They laughed, and Pearl smiled.
"Well, I think some soup would be good," said Pearl. "Um, hotpot soup."
"Hey, that sounds great!" Maya said. She took Pearl's hand.
The three of them walked to the train station talking about food. It was a topic Maya had lots of thoughts about, but she was careful to let Pearl have her say. Pearl told them all about the fruit, vegetable, and herb gardens of Kurain Village. Phoenix made a mental note to remember when she said her favorite food was steamed cauliflower.
Pearl seemed unaffected by the city streets near the courthouse, but when they reached the entrance to the underground station she slowed. "Are we going in there?"
"Yup," said Maya. "The train is underground."
Pearl stopped walking and studied the entrance, serious. "Why?"
"Um… Yeah, why?" Maya turned to Phoenix.
"Well…" Pearl looked up at him too. "The, um… So that there is more land to use above ground. And it's safer, too. When the train is underground, it won't have to worry about people or cars."
"How does the ground stay up over the train when there could be something above it? Like us? Or a house?" Pearl asked.
"Well," Phoenix rubbed his chin. "You would have to ask an engineer."
"Enji-near?"
He nodded. "That's a scientist who designs big, strong things, like buildings and streets. They built the tunnels for the trains so that they are strong enough to never collapse, even if you put a huge tower on top of it."
"Oh…"
Pearl looked back at the underground entrance, and bit her thumbnail.
"I use the underground train every day, since I was your age," said Phoenix. "Lots of other people do too, every day."
"Me too!" said Maya.
Pearl glanced around at the people walking around them, entering and exiting the staircase down. Then she looked at the entrance, then at Maya and Phoenix.
"We'll be with you," said Phoenix. "Want to try it?"
Breathless, Pearl nodded. Phoenix and Maya stayed right at her side as they went down the wide staircase. While Phoenix bought the tickets, Pearl watched him and silently took in the shops and lighted signs of the train station.
"It's like a neighborhood," she said.
"Yeah," Maya agreed. "It kind of has a main road in the middle, and stores, just like above ground."
After negotiating the turnstile and getting an explanation of how they would get on the train when it arrived, Pearl looked around the platform. After a few moments, she took a few steps to the edge, and looked back.
"What is it?" asked Phoenix, getting up to join her. She grabbed his hand.
"I want to see the track," she told him. Phoenix held her little hand securely in his bigger one, and went side-by-side with her to peer at the tracks. He crouched down next to her as she studied them silently.
"What's the middle rail for?" she asked.
"I don't know. I think it gives the train power somehow… I think." He pointed to their left, and Pearl looked. "The train should be coming from that direction in…" He looked at his watch. "Three minutes. You'll feel a breeze of wind because the train pushes the air in front of it."
"I see," said Pearl gravely.
They went back and sat with Maya until the train arrived. Other passengers smiled when Pearl took an exaggerated step over the gap between the train and platform. She sat between them and listened attentively to the automated recording announcements. Phoenix saw her hands held together in her lap.
"What do you think so far?" he asked.
She nodded. "It's okay." The train started to move. "Oh!" Pearl put her palms down on the seat on both sides. She watched the window, wide-eyed.
"Aren't we going outside soon?" she asked after a few seconds. Maya looked to Phoenix, who shrugged lightly.
"We will eventually," Phoenix answered. When they did, Pearl gasped in surprise. It was a mild summer dusk outside, and the city was blanketed in a warm haze.
"Pearl, do you want to stand up and look?"
"No, thank you," said Pearl politely.
Five minutes passed.
"Can I look out the window and you hold on to me?" Pearl asked Maya.
Maya smiled. "Sure!"
Pearl carefully climbed up onto the seat. Maya kept a hand on her waist when she stood up straight. She stared out the window as they passed through the city, taking in every sight, ugly or sublime. Maya watched her cousin for a while, then looked across to Phoenix and smiled. He smiled back.
Once they got home, Phoenix noticed Pearl starting to look a little overwhelmed. It's the first time she's seen my apartment, and the first time she's spent the night anywhere but in Kurain Village.
"Wow, Nick! It's just like I remember," Maya said while taking off her shoes.
"Yep, home sweet home." He grinned, and set his briefcase and keys down.
Maya knelt down to help Pearl put her shoes away. "Pearl, how about going on a house tour?"
"Okay."
"There's not much to it," Phoenix reassured her. He showed her the little bedroom and bathroom, the living room, and the kitchen. He moved some cups down to a lower cabinet so she could reach them, and showed her what was in the refrigerator.
"You have a nice room," she said.
Phoenix smiled. "I'm glad you like it." She's such a good kid .
"Can I go read something?"
Maya and Phoenix glanced at each other. I didn't think she could read…
"Yeah, of course," Phoenix answered. "Want me to help you?"
"No, thank you." Pearl turned and went to inspect all three of the bookshelves that she could reach.
Phoenix and Maya looked at each other again. Maya smiled sunnily, and shrugged. He chuckled, then went to the kitchen to get out the soup pot and ingredients.
"Nick, Nick. Stop. I'll make the dinner tonight." Phoenix turned toward her, pot in hand.
"No, I can do it, it's okay," he said.
Maya held out her hand for the pot.
"Seriously. You just saved my life in court today. Again. Let me make you some food."
Phoenix handed it over. "It better not be in the style of your favorite ramen shop," he teased. Maya laughed, and shook her head.
"I'm going in the room," Pearl called from the living room. Phoenix looked over the counter. Pearl was holding his world atlas, an oversized book with glossy, colorful photos of people and places around the world.
"Okay," he responded. "We'll come get you when dinner is ready."
Pearl nodded, and disappeared into the bedroom. Phoenix heard her put the heavy book down and climb up into the easy chair next to his desk, then turn on the light.
"What a day for her," Maya said softly, looking through his spices. "No wonder she needs some alone time."
"Yeah," Phoenix agreed. He began pulling out vegetables from the refrigerator. "Do you think she knows what will happen next?"
"I don't think so. But I can guess. Since I'm her closest relative and she spends so much time with me already, I'll probably get custody. I turn 21 this year."
"Oh! That's right," said Phoenix. She sounded so serious there.
Maya looked over her shoulder. "You really think so? Will I get to take care of her?"
"Uh, I mean, I don't know everyone in the Fey family like you do. But it's likely to be you." He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
"Oh, I hope so," said Maya. "I really hope so. I love her a lot!" Then, "Do you have any garlic cloves?"
Phoenix investigated his kitchen at Maya's direction for the ingredients she wanted. A thought had occurred to him during the last day of investigation. Now was the perfect time to bring it up, but he waited until the soup was simmering and they were sitting at the table, waiting.
They'd gotten on the topic of the city's public transportation when Phoenix burst out, "Maya, would you and Pearl like to live with me?"
Maya looked shocked. "What?"
"I can afford a two-bedroom in this complex now. I've been thinking about it. I know you have your own money, but with Pearl… And it all depends on what you want to do, if you want to help me with investigations or continue training in Kurain. But all I'm thinking is, if you want to stay in this area, we could split a place."
"Nick, well… Yeah! That would be perfect." She looked sheepish. "I was actually planning on asking you if I could be your assistant again after everything with Pearl's custody was worked out, but…" A grin lit up her face. "Thank you! You've been kind to me. And to us."
"It's no big deal, really," Phoenix said. "Not at all. I just figured, if we'll be working at the same place anyway, and if you wanted to…"
Maya held up a finger. "I will have to ask Pearly though." Phoenix nodded. "It'll be her house too."
"Yes, you're right." They beamed at one another for a few moments, then Phoenix fidgeted. "Has she told you that she thinks I'm your 'special someone'?"
Maya turned pink. "Yeah. Quite a few times, actually." She tucked some hair behind her ear. "I don't have the heart to tell her 'no' outright. I'd… kind of like her to use us as a model for a healthy relationship while she's still under that impression. You know? I know it's not the truth, and it's not really right to keep her under a false impression. But I…" She sighed heavily.
"You want her to see some good," Phoenix said. "I understand. You told me about the situation at Kurain Village and in the Fey family." Maya nodded, and Phoenix continued. "It would probably distress her if we told her we were only friends. Not that that's a bad thing!"
"No, it isn't. I like being your friend," Maya said, smiling.
"Me, too," agreed Phoenix. "But I don't know if Pearl would understand the distinction yet."
Maya wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead. "Nick, I'm so glad you get it. I knew you would, since you're usually pretty smart."
"'Usually'?" Phoenix chuckled.
"Yeah," Maya said with a smirk. "You were lucky to have Pearl with you on this case, and you're lucky I'm back to be your assistant."
"Please. Pearly is way nicer than you."
"That's why I'm the brains of this operation."
"Oh, yeah? What does that make me?"
"The muscle, duh."
"Three years of law school, and that's all I am?!" Phoenix swatted her shoulder playfully, and they laughed. They conversed a little more while the delicious smell of the soup filled the kitchen.
Maya checked the timer for the soup. "Almost ready." She got up and started getting bowls down from the cabinet.
"Wait, let me do that," said Phoenix. Maya stood aside, and watched him go set the table.
"Nick?"
"Hmm?" he said, facing away from her while laying out the plates and bowls.
Should I say it? thought Maya. I don't want him to be in any more pain than he already is. But I want him to know I care.
"I'm sorry about Mr. Edgeworth. I read your emails, but I haven't been able to respond with all that's happened. It's a terrible thing, and I'm sorry."
Phoenix slowly set the stack of bowls on the table. When he turned around, his face expressed such a tangle of emotions that Maya went over immediately to embrace him. He hugged her as well, tense at first, then softening and relaxing into their contact.
"Thank you, Maya," he whispered. Her ear was pressed against his chest, and she could hear his heart thudding. "I appreciate… that."
Maya squeezed him a little tighter. Phoenix took a deep breath in which she could practically hear him swallow his tears.
"If we talk about it I'll end up crying for the second time today, though," he said. "I...I'm…" He laughed, a little bewildered.
"That's fine. That's okay," Maya said.
Phoenix gave her a squeeze, then let go. They looked in each other's eyes. He was trying to get his emotions under control, and Maya let him. Although Phoenix had so much love and kindness to give, he could be surprisingly self-contained.
"I've been there, where you are, to some extent," said Maya. "I know a little about how you feel." Gently, she smiled up at him. "I'm here for you."
"Maya, you're going to make me cry," he said in half-hearted reprimand. "Maybe someday we-"
He was interrupted by Pearl, who inserted herself between them.
"Maya! I heard Mr. Nick's voice. Why are you making him cry?" Pearl accused.
"Pearl! I wasn't, not really!"
Phoenix laughed. "Yeah, she was. Go get her, Pearly."
"Huh?" Pearl looked up. "Now you're laughing…"
"It's because I'm happy you came to my rescue," Phoenix explained. "But you're right, I was maybe gonna cry again. How can I put this…" Pearl and Maya both watched him expectantly.
"Remember when you visited me and asked me that list of questions, the first night I was in Kurain Village?"
Pearl nodded. "Oh! I made you cry a little." She looked at the floor. "I'm sorry."
"No, that was okay. You didn't make me sad. You were worried about me, just like Maya was right now." He paused thoughtfully.
"Even if I was sad and crying, it's okay, because you were there with me. You cared about me and wanted to help me. That's what Maya was doing, too."
"Um…" Pearl frowned. "I think I get it."
"Let's eat some dinner," said Maya, and went to take the soup off the stove. Phoenix helped Pearl into a chair and got her some water, and sat down too.
"What were you talking about, anyway?" asked Pearl.
"Lots of things," said Phoenix. "But, um, we can talk about that later. I wanted to ask you which countries you read about."
"Um, the big one. On top."
She definitely can't read. "Uh… Russia?"
"It has lots of snow, and candy towers…"
"Yep, that's Russia." Phoenix recalled the photos in the book. "What did you think of the ballerinas?"
Delighted, Pearl told them. Later, after she was tucked into bed, Phoenix and Maya sat at the kitchen table and talked late into the night.
\\\
As Phoenix predicted, Pearl took the news of the big changes in her life in honest stride. She missed her mother very much and understood what had happened to her, but was happy to be living with Maya. She accepted the move gracefully.
The two bedroom apartment had one bedroom and bathroom downstairs, and one big room in a loft with an attached bathroom. Pearl was enchanted by the loft and loved its high ceiling and big, bright windows. The three of them went shopping together after they'd moved in, and spent a happy few hours looking around and finding new things for the apartment.
The kitchen and living room were shared. Though it required many all-nighters, Phoenix was able to regularly spend time at home. His name was becoming known around town, and if he was working on projects by himself he would occasionally come home after the Feys had already eaten dinner. They made up for it by spending weekends together, one of which included the unforgettable show at Berry Big Top Circus and the case attached to it.
The award show and Maya's kidnapping was another weekend.
\\\
Phoenix had to admit he'd distanced himself from his feelings about Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth's death. He'd shed his tears and been scalded by anger, but over time those emotions had been so constant as to fade into the background and eventually soften. Instead of aching with angry, bewildered grief any moment he let his guard down, now his heart had enfolded the pain, absorbing it whole, pushing it slowly, gradually toward its center. During the daylight it rested there in the dark depths, only to rise floating up to the surface in the privacy of night like some ocean creature obeying the light of the moon.
At the signal of dusk Phoenix's heart would begin to sink. He knew it was a strange affliction and tried to hide it. Most of the time he was successful, but other times he would see a reflection of his expression in someone else's eyes and know he was caught.
Yet despite his pain and the suffering he'd gone through believing he'd lost Edgeworth, once they worked together again on Matt Engarde's trial it was almost like old times. He didn't dwell on it too much-he wasn't sure if he would or could forgive Edgeworth-but he had to admit it was good. It felt good, and his investigation benefited greatly, and most of all, they both cared about Maya. The prosecutor across from him in trial was not blinded by ego or unrealistic ideas of how the world ought to be, not any more. Something had awoken in Edgeworth, an alertness, a sense that he was truly seeing and understanding the reality before him, that he was present. Phoenix was secretly in awe of that new maturity and had no idea why Edgeworth kept telling him that he would make a similar discovery by the time the trial was over. His hints reminded Phoenix of Mia's admonishment when he'd told her that he only took innocent clients. First Mia, now Edgeworth, of all people. What do they know that I don't?
It was only because of a miracle that Phoenix avoided paying as high a price as his mentors did for that answer.
\\\
Edgeworth,
I understand that you have left the country once again to continue studying international law. I hope that is going well for you. Now that I've learned why we stand in the courtroom, I have an entirely new perspective on my practice. I am deeply grateful for what you did for me and what I've learned from my relationship with you.
It's still me, Maya, and Pearly here in the office. They were asking about you after we hadn't seen you in a few days. I told them what Gumshoe had told me, that you were studying foreign legal systems. I assured them it was nothing at all like when you were gone before. Maya wanted me to ask you if you'd tried any weird foreign food and if it was good. Pearl wanted to know if you were going to ride a camel. Please let me know when you visit. I would love to catch up.
Sincerely,
Phoenix Wright
\
Edgeworth,
I haven't heard from you in a while. I hope all is well and you are safe. I wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you, always. I hope your studies are going well.
Sincerely,
Phoenix Wright
\
Edgeworth,
There's a new prosecutor in town. The only name he goes by is Godot. No one knows him or where he's from. I was wondering if you did, and if you had any insight on him. He seems to know me, and seems to also hate me at times. But I've never met him before in my life that I can remember. If you have any information, I would be grateful.
Pearl has recently become fascinated with the United Kingdom, and English gardens in particular. At the grocery store last week, she saw a pink potted rose and wanted to take it home. She asked me to send you a picture of it, so I did. The rose's name is Beatrice.
The Feys and I are eager to hear about your travels. Please write soon.
Sincerely,
Phoenix Wright
\
Edgeworth,
This business with Prosecutor Godot has gotten me thinking quite a bit about hatred. I have to confess that when I thought you had committed suicide, I hated what had happened. Your assessment of me when we met again before Matt Engarde's trial was absolutely correct. I know it doesn't make sense-why would one hate a loved one who felt it was necessary to take their own life? But it wasn't as simple as that. The hate and grief I felt was selfish, but for the most part, my reaction to your disappearance itself was entirely self-focused. I mourned your death, but I also selfishly mourned the loss of what we'd had between us-a partnership, and friendship, and some degree of relationship.
I hope I have moved past that selfishness by now, especially where our relationship is concerned. That trial showed me where my own ego and self-interest were bound up in my work as a defense attorney. The fight for my client isn't necessarily a fight for their innocence, for a not guilty verdict. It's a fight for the truth, no matter which side of it my client is on. I hope that by chasing the ideal of truth, I will become more than that selfish person I once was. Everyone must necessarily pay attention to their own interests to some degree, of course, but I think that fighting just as vigorously for the interests of others is one of the highest callings available to humanity.
I'm not sure how I got from us to the human race, so I'll stop now. I miss you very much. Please write soon.
Sincerely,
Phoenix Wright
\
Edgeworth,
Today we visited the temple where I ran into you at the Steel Samurai film set. It was buried in snow, just like that day. Maya and Pearly and I made wonderful new memories, and I got to revisit wonderful old ones. Pearl was attracted to the garden at first, but once we were there she was drawn to the old tree, the same one we stood under almost two years ago. Maya told me she could feel there was something special about it too, presumably with the gifts of the Fey bloodline. Pearl wouldn't let me take a picture of the tree, so we took one of us on the nearby bench, which I attached.
Visiting there caused me to think about our conversation from that day. To be honest, I have often wondered over the courses of your absences whether I knew you at all. The light you shed on your inner life that day made me think there was so much more about you lying in the shadows it cast. So for some time I wondered if I knew who you really were, and by extension, how close we truly were.
But when I saw that tree again, I thought that perhaps you were already ten steps ahead of me, per usual. I realized that your travels were at least in part to discover more about your true self that you were finally able to set free. It can be impracticable to see the possibilities of who you are if you are just in the same old place and life.
I saw how you struggled during the trial of Lana Skye. As a prosecutor, your own identity was at stake. I thought the pain of exposing the truth about the High Prosecutor's Office had driven you to choose death, and later, that it had driven you to leave. But I realize now that your travels have been a result of you choosing life-your life, your true life.
I couldn't be more happy or proud to call you my friend.
Yours,
Phoenix Wright.
\
Dear Wright,
Once again, you have led me into the light.
You are a miracle.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Miles Edgeworth.
Attached to his email was a picture of Edgeworth, standing with a reluctant expression and hand lifted in greeting, before an ornate fountain in a sun-drenched European garden. Phoenix put a copy of the photo on the refrigerator.
\\\
"It's been such a long time since we've had a sleepover!" Pearl sighed, and climbed onto the bed next to Maya. She rested her chin on her cousin's shoulder and looked at the computer on Maya's lap.
"Way too long," Maya agreed. "Which movie do you wanna watch?"
"Let me see."
Maya handed over Phoenix's brand-new laptop to Pearl, and watched her look through movie covers as her decision-making process.
Maya and Pearl would occasionally have sleepovers together in their shared room, during which they would stay up late eating popcorn or sugar, watching movies, or playing games and talking together. This would be their first sleepover since Maya had been kidnapped. She wanted it to be a good one.
Maya slid off the bed. "You pick the movie, and I'll go make some popcorn. Did you decide if you want me to paint your nails?" Pearl nodded enthusiastically, and Maya's heart melted at the sight. "All right! I'll grab my nail polish, too."
Halfway through the cheesy movie about a present-day woman falling in love with a British prince, Pearl turned to Maya.
"Maya, do you believe in love?"
"Huh?" Maya nearly dropped her popcorn. "What do you mean?"
"Like that." Pearl pointed at the TV, where the love interests were dancing at a royal ball. Everyone in the movie was dressed beautifully, and the characters' perfect dance made everyone stop to watch.
"Uh…" Maya was very aware that Pearl was looking expectantly at her. "Yeah, for the most part. It might not look like this, but it's just as wonderful." Good save, Maya. "What about you?"
"Oh, absolutely! I think love is the most wonderful thing in the world."
Filled with equal parts affection and loving amusement, Maya couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, it is the most wonderful thing in the world." She thought about Mia, and Phoenix, and Edgeworth.
With a gasp, Pearl leaned in closer. "Maya! What do you know about love? You're thinking about something. I can tell."
Maya giggled. "You're right. I was thinking about Mia, and how much she loves me no matter where she is or what I do."
"Well, of course Mia loves you, but… What about romance?" Pearl stressed the 'a' in 'romance', her expression serious. She probably learned that from a movie. "You know, a special someone?"
Aaaaaah. "Yeah, I believe in that, too." Pearl waited for more information, and Maya squirmed. "Look, I haven't really ever had a special someone."
Pearl acquired a knowing look. "I see. Maya, we're family. You can tell me these things, you know," she said gravely.
What the? Where did she learn to talk like that? "I… Uh, I don't-"
"I can keep a secret." She put her chin in her hands. "You can tell me what you really feel about Mr. Nick."
Flustered, Maya laughed nervously, which Pearl interpreted as further hedging. "I…" Maya stuttered. "I… like Nick…"
Pearl's eyes sparkled with joy. "I knew it," she whispered. "You two are really soulmates. It's true love's destiny."
"Pearl, wait." Maya sighed, and gathered her courage. "It's not like that, I mean it. Nick is the most important person in my life after you and Mia, but I'm not in love with him. Does that make sense?"
She looked thoughtful. "He's only your friend?"
Relieved, Maya nodded. "Yes, that's it. We're in the middle between just friends and in love."
"What? You never wanted to kiss him?"
Maya shook her head. "No, not any differently than when I kiss you hello or goodnight."
"But you said you like him."
"Yes, I do. Just like I like you, and Detective Gumshoe, and sometimes even Mr. Edgeworth. They're all people I care very much about."
"Uh…"
Maya smiled. "It's okay if you don't get it right now. It took me time to understand it too."
"It's weird," she said, uncertain.
"Maybe to some people. But not to me." When Pearl continued to frown, Maya said, "Want to paint our nails now?"
Pearl brightened. "Yeah!"
Manicures were another completely novel concept to Pearl. She squirmed as Maya used the nail file, but once Maya had painted her little left pinky nail a pastel blue, she stared at it from all angles.
"Do you like it?" asked Maya.
Pearl nodded. "I picked a good color," she said approvingly. She watched every stroke of the little polish brush as Maya continued.
Eventually, her attention wavered, and she shifted like she wanted to say something.
"What is it, Pearl?" Maya asked.
"Mr. Nick is important to me too!" she said in a rush.
"Oh?"
"Yeah." Pearl became gloomy. "Remember when you were cat napped for random?"
"You mean 'kidnapped'?"
Pearl nodded. "When… After you were gone, Mr. Gumshoe helped me calm down and took me and Mr. Nick to the office. I didn't want to go home without you."
"Oh, Pearl…"
"I was still crying and I told Mr. Nick that I didn't want to go home. He looked really scared and tired and probably wanted to go to sleep, but he said it was okay and we stayed there. He let me cry and hugged me until I went to sleep. I got his shirt all wet and I tried not to squish him but I probably did. But he didn't make me get up and he was nice to me." She paused thoughtfully. "I was really sad at the time, but now, remembering it makes me feel good."
"Nick really cares about you, Pearl." Maya kissed her little cousin on the forehead. "It was really scary being away from you. Nick and I love you a lot, and we both want to protect you."
"Yeah," Pearl said after a while.
Maya kissed her forehead again. Pearl looked up at her. "Also, I told everyone at school that you're both my mom and dad."
"What?!"
Later that night, after another bowl of popcorn, raucous games of slapjack, five episodes of Pearl's favorite school romance anime, and another romance movie, the girls changed into pajamas and went to bed. Maya was thinking about her conversation with Pearl about love when Pearl turned toward her on the bed.
"Maya, are you awake?"
"Yeah."
"Are you going to go back to finish your training?"
Maya's chest tightened at the thought of returning to Kurain Village. "Um… I don't know, Probably yes, but not for a while."
"Why?"
Maya turned toward Pearl, although she couldn't see her face in the dark. "I don't know if I'm ready to be a real spirit medium yet. I want to grow up a little more."
"But you're already so old!"
Maya snorted. "Pearl! I'm only 20!"
"You're so mature and grown up, though."
"Hmm."
"I wanna be like you when I'm a teenager."
"Thanks, Pearl."
There were a few moments of quiet. Maya heard the air conditioning turn on.
"That's the main reason," she continued, "but there's another reason too." She shifted, unsure whether she should tell it to Pearl. She settled for, "I want to keep being Nick's assistant, and being with you and doing cases together," and kept Nick would be so lonely to herself.
"I understand. I like doing cases too. It's fun to talk to all those different people," said Pearl.
"Yeah! Like that one clown, Moe."
Pearl dissolved into giggles.
"What is it?" Maya asked, already smiling.
Pearl whispered across the pillow, "Why did the student eat their homework?"
"Why?"
"Because the teacher said it would be a piece of cake!"
They laughed together. Downstairs, the sound woke Phoenix, who smiled sleepily before rolling over and dozing off again.
