Thank you, My Turnabout

Chapter 9 – A Friendly Waltz

Many years had passed since his disbarment. Phoenix stopped having hope to return to the courtroom, even though he and Miles still had their investigation going on. To be honest, Phoenix was enjoying and satisfied with his life at the club and taking care of his daughter who grew up so fast now, and his will to return had become less. Furthermore, Miles had been getting more and more cases through the years, so he had less time to meet Phoenix or to even discuss their investigation. Phoenix kept meeting Kristoph, on advise of Edgeworth. However, their research was stuck. There was simply no other evidence or useful information.

After a few weeks, Miles finally had time to meet him. It would be a short meeting, only a cup of coffee -or in Miles' case a cup of tea- at the café close to the prosecutor's office.

'So…, you met Kristoph at his own law firm?' the prosecutor asked, while moving the teabag up and down in the hot water.

'Yeah. He has a new kid in training at his firm. Seems like a kind boy, he is full of power.' It reminded him of himself when he started working at his own Chief's law firm.

'A protégé? ' Miles raised an eyebrow. Phoenix nodded. 'What's his name?'

'I only remember his last name since it was a funny one,' Phoenix said, his face showing the fun he had by recalling the name. 'His last name was Justice.'

'That is indeed quite ironic, I must admit,' Miles commented with a snort. 'Anything else Gavin has said?' he asked Phoenix, getting out his glasses case from his briefcase.

'He told me to stay away from you. You would be a bad influence on me,' Phoenix snickered.

'He told you to stay away from me? Was there a reason for him to say that? You mentioned me?' Miles flooded Phoenix with questions.

'No, we sat in his office and he suddenly changed subjects. He must somehow know that we are still in contact.'

'I presume he is feeling uncomfortable that we are still in contact. He feels like we are snapping at his heels. So, what did you say to him?'

'I did not say anything about us two suspecting him. And I said that I would distance myself more from you, to please him. That was a lie, obviously.'

'I have this feeling that Kristoph Gavin seems more and more dangerous than we thought. He is clever, I am sure he is aware that you do not trust him a full hundred percent.'

'I can't really tell what he thinks of feels. He has many locks on him when I used my magatama, but it is no use. He won't tell a thing.'

'Be careful, that is the only thing I can say. I am just like you, busy with asking colleagues about him, going through files and so on. However, it seems like I get more and more cases and can spend less time on this research of us. The current prosecutors are messing up everything. This Dark Age of the Law is getting out of hand.' Miles sighed and put on the glasses.

'Those are new. They look good on you, Edgeworth,' Phoenix suddenly commented.

'Err…, thank you, Wright.'

'You really look like your dad. I couldn't really recall his face, but then I saw that photo in your apartment I remembered it very well.'

'Y-yes, I often hear about the resemblance from colleagues who knew my father,' Miles answered uncomfortably, not looking at his friend.

Phoenix saw that the topic was making Miles feel uneasy, even after all those years. He was scarred. He decided to change the topic.

'Well… now that we are here, I actually have a favor to ask you,' Phoenix said and looked for something in his backpack.

'What is it?'

'It may sound really stupid, but you are the only one I can ask.' Phoenix got the paper out that he was looking for and placed it on front of the prosecutor on the table.

'Why are you showing me piano sheet music?' the man asked Phoenix, showing him his confused face.

'The barman, who is my boss, gave it to me, it is his favorite music piece. He said that he is literally getting sick of the only melody I can play. He keeps me because I attract people for poker matches and because of Trucy and her shows, but even then… he says that he will fire me if I don't practice another piece.'

The only thing Miles could do is snort. 'Which piece can you play?'

'I do not even know the title. Let's just say it is a jazz piece with some improvisations?' Phoenix turned his sentence into a question. He was sure that some parts were not according to how the composer had originally written it. Miles snorted even harder, almost giving him a small laugh.

'Can you read music keys?' the man asked.

'…No.'

'You really are hopeless. Luckily you still can do something, even if it is poker,' Miles mocked. Phoenix gave him a glance.

'And thus…, I wanted to ask you…,' Phoenix began.

'If I wanted to teach you this piece to avoid being fired?' Miles finished the sentence with a smirk. Phoenix nodded innocently, giving the man opposite puppy eyes.

'Quit giving me those puppy eyes, Wright. Only Pess knows how to do those with me,' Miles joked. 'Anyhow, I am really busy now, but you can come to my apartment in… two weeks? I think that will work for me. It is also a chance for me to play piano despite my busy schedule.'

'You are a lifesaver, Edgeworth.' Phoenix flattered him and Miles rolled his eyes in response.

'Can I keep the sheet, so I can look into it before we meet up?' Miles asked him, inspecting the music. I was a piece written by a Russian composer, which was logical taking into account that it was a Russian restaurant and the boss was Russian.

'Sure, I can't even read it, only the title, haha. Be my guest.'

There was a silence in which Miles kept looking at the sheet.

'I-is it very difficult to play?' Phoenix asked hesitantly, hoping the answer would be no.

Miles shook his head as a reply and Phoenix gave a sigh in relief. After a few moments of silence Phoenix thought of a new topic.

'How is Pess doing, by the way?'

'Oh, she is doing fine. I went to the vet with her a few weeks ago, a health check-up. There are no problems, she is healthy,' Miles answered, now looking up.

'How old is she now?'

'She is nine and a half years now. Times passes fast, I still remember the puppy Pess.' Miles smiled softly when he reminisced.

'Trucy is growing so fast as well, was she eight when she came to live with me, now she is fifteen. She is difficult sometimes, the smarty-pants,' Phoenix laughed and drank his coffee.

'I can imagine that, taking into consideration her age.'

'Yes…'

'Well, I think she can never be that difficult as Franziska…, ' Miles snorted. The comment surprised Phoenix.

'Don't let her cute appearance fool you, Edgeworth. When Trucy is moody, I better evacuate the house and hide myself.'

'Yes, I know these situations all too well…,' Miles commented and gave a grin.

'Ah, do you remember a few years ago, when you told Truce you had a dog? Biggest mistake ever, haha,' Phoenix reminisced.

'Oh, yes. She kept whining about you two visiting me. Eventually she did not want to leave my apartment.'

'I literally had to drag her out,' Phoenix grinned. 'Since then, she has been asking for a puppy.'

'How is she doing at school?' Miles asked him, finishing his tea.

'I had a parent meeting last Thursday evening. She is generally doing fine, but her mathematical skills are as bad as mine.' Phoenix laughed. 'I am sure she will make it, though.' Miles nodded.

'Yes, I am sure she will.'

Like Miles had promised, he had send Phoenix a message when he could come by two weeks later. It was weekend and Trucy was busy doing some schoolwork at home. She had asked her father a thousand times if she could come with him, but he firmly replied with a no each time. He wanted her to pass this schoolyear and in weekends she had most time to work on her assignments. Trucy was old enough, according to herself, to be home alone and so Phoenix left the office on a Saturday afternoon.

'So, about your music piece…,' Miles said, when both man had drunken a cup of tea and Phoenix had petted Pess. Over the years, his fear for dogs faded away because of her.

'Can you first play one of your favorite pieces for me?' Phoenix asked the sitting man. He had never heard the man play before.

'Euhm…'

'You don't have to if you want to!'

'Well, I see no problem. I am just thinking of which piece to play…'

He stood up and walked towards a big cupboard and got out two piano music books.

'Is it your favorite piece?' Phoenix asked him, as he saw Miles sitting down again on the piano stool. He put the piano sheets on the right pages in front of him, both sheets next to each other. Phoenix came closer and stood behind Miles to look at the title.

'I have two favorite pieces, to be honest. They are both fine works by Frederic Chopin.'

'Chopin, Waltz no. 7 in C sharp minor, op. 64 no. 2,' Phoenix read out loud. 'That is a long title, I prefer the other pieces title. It is only two words: Spring Waltz.'

Miles put his hands on the keys. Phoenix did a few steps back towards the left side of the piano, to give him some space but so that he could still see Miles playing.

As Phoenix was listening intensely and saw Miles' hands move over the keyboard, he noticed Pess sitting silently next to the piano stool on which Miles was sitting. He was deeply impressed by the man who was actually playing with quite a lot of emotion. He is talented, what is it that he cannot do? Phoenix thought and continued to watch with a soft smile on his face.

After letting Phoenix hear a short part of each piece, Miles got his hands form the keyboard and looked at him. Phoenix had the feeling that clapping would be awkward, so he decided to express himself with words.

'That was awesome. You're really good. I am impressed.'

'No, these pieces are simply not that difficult,' Miles answered modestly. Phoenix smiled, he knew better than that. Miles was being humble now.

'They should hire you instead of me, haha. By the way, Pess wiggles her tail with the rhythm of the music when you played,' Phoenix laughed. Miles smiled at him.

'She always does that when I am playing the piano or the flute. Her favorite piece is The Entertainer, then it almost looks like she is dancing.' Miles' smile became wider and he let his hand go over Pesses fur.

'Play it, play it!' The spikey-haired man eagerly requested. Miles looked at him with an amused face and then started the bubbly melody which he knew by heart. Pesses ears directly stood right up and she stood up from her sitting position. Her feet began moving and she sprung a few times.

'This is hilarious!' Phoenix laughed heartily and kept looking at the happy dog. Miles could not hide his laugh as well and kept watching his lovely dog while playing.

After Phoenix caught his breath and stroked Pess a few times, Miles spoke up.

'Ok, let's get back to your purpose of being here. You know the piece that your boss gave you?' Miles asked him.

'I looked it up on internet and listened to it.'

'Alright, I will play the full score once, then we will start with your right hand. We will look if you can remember it all.'

'Ok, but I must warn you that it will take I while before I will get the hang of it.'

'My German piano teacher was the devil, but I will spare you and be less strict than him. However, I won't go easy on you,' Miles clearly joked.

'Thanks, Miles,' Phoenix sniggered and watched the prosecutor change the sheet music that stood on the piano. They almost never called each other by their first names, since they were used to using their last names ever since they met again after all those years. They had gotten closer but this habit stuck, at least mostly with Miles. Phoenix used Miles' first name more often over time unconsciously, but also stuck with his friend's last name most of the time. And…Miles had not made any remarks on the usage of his first name, Phoenix concluded.

And so they started. It was a disaster, Phoenix Wright had simply no talent when it came to the piano. He messed up every time and forgot which key came next. Miles sat on a chair next to Phoenix and sighed.

'This is not working,' Miles sighed and glanced at the spikey-haired man in hoodie. 'Right,' Miles said strictly.

'What?'

'Your right hand, I mean to say.'

'Haha, my name is confusing, hmm?' Phoenix snickered.

'I am glad you can still laugh after you seem to mess up. If I was your boss, I would fire you, Wright.' Miles gave Phoenix a teasing smile.

Phoenix put his right hand on the keys and played his part. It became better after a while, he remembered the melody and which keys to play.

'Alright, let me play the left hand while you play your part.'

'I hope it does not confuse me that much.'

'We will see.'

'1..2..3..4,' Miles counted an both man started playing. It went surprisingly… well. The song ended and Phoenix turned his head towards Miles.

'I'd never think I would play the piano together with you, Miles. Thanks for teaching me and putting up with a disaster like me.'

'Neither would I. You seem to improve. Practice the melody a few more times and we will make an appointment for your left hand.'

'Yes, sir!' Phoenix laughed and gave Miles a pat on the back.

'G-good,' was the only thing Miles could say and looked at the happy man, who was playing the melody again. He allowed his lips to form into a small smile.

I do not mind teaching you, Phoenix. It is enjoyable for me too, although I must admit… you are indeed a disaster when it comes to the piano.


A/N

Thank you all for reading this story! Many thanks for the favorites, follows and reviews! Opinions/reviews or grammar corrections on the story are always appreciated! :D

I have the feeling this story is becoming more narumitsu especially after this chapter. Although this was not my intention, I am fine either way. However, read it the way you like it! ;-)

Chapters 10-13 are in progress! I have this certain structure within the story that I follow that is why I write a few chapters at the same time, so it is easier for me to write. Nonetheless, all will be up soon!