In the evening, Ray was sitting in his office, looking at a computer screen, the light falling up on his face making him look blue like the desk top.
His fingers drummed on the table as his thoughts kept swirling around in his head.
That Miles Edgeworth… true, maybe Ray had known him ones, but there was a lot about the young man he didn't have a single clue about.
Google search huh? That girl sure made it sound like Ray was missing both something big and something obvious, all right then, Ray would do his bit.
Slowly he tapped in the name, very easily. "Miles Edgeworth." And hit search.
The first big fat headline on the page writing. "Acclaimed prosecutor commits suicide."
Ray blinked… okay that didn't seem quite right, he had seen Miles Edgeworth just a few hours ago, his eyes glided to the date and saw that indeed this article dated over two years back.
If this was someone's idea of a joke it was a really bad one!
Scrolling down though, more similar titles appeared about suicides and its like before another one came. "Miracle of the ages, a prosecutor returns from death and reclaims the stand."
Ray blinked and finally just clicked the link instantly being brought to a news site dating a while back as well, slowly he started reading.
And as Ray read, his eyes started to widen:
Renowned prosecutor Miles Edgeworth whom had left a suicide note behind and then vanished after the exposure for a long history of fraud and other crimes of his mentor Manfred Von Karma, has now returned to take a stand in the court room, facing defence attorney Phoenix Wright whom was behind the exposure.
Already in that little paragraph there was a heck of a lot to swallow for Ray.
Miles had been gone for a year where people had assumed he was dead?!
Manfred Von Karma had been exsposed and sentenced for his crimes?!
The thing Gregory Edgeworth had been working so hard for, exposing Von Karma for his wrongdoing in the justice system, somebody else had managed to finally do it after all this time.
Some Phoenix Wright!
It had meant so much to Gregory to see Von Karma being exsposed, he had spend a years worth on work with that goal in mind, quickly Ray saved the article and made his search for Manfred Von Karma with shaking fingers.
What was his crimes exactly? How far had they reached after all.
….. Murder.
Rays eyes could not become any bigger, he could not believe it.
Gregorys death, it was.. It had been.. murder! By Manfred Von Karma.
Aghasted Ray held a hand towards his mouth a sickening feeling filling up his stomach and throat.
What had Miles thought when that had been exsposed? That would be enough to drive most sane men over the edge.
And then Ray remembered, oh right, the suicide thing, leaving the country.
Thankfully such a history hadn't seemed obvious at all when he had talked to the young man earlier in the day.
The further Ray read in the article the more ill he felt, this was sick.. It was just that, sick.
Von Karma had murdered another person, only with the sole purpose of framing Miles for the murder, wanting to send the young man to death row.
The young man he had bloody raised to become his own mirror image!
There was no doubt that Von Karma had manipulated Miles from the beginning and it made Ray feel both sick and angry to his stomach.
"I'm sorry old man." Ray hissed to himself clinching his fists. "I should have fought way harder for Miles! Way harder, please forgive me." He asked out in the air.
Any pictures attached to these articles about the so called "Von Karma incident." Were either old pictures of a Miles Edgeworth with cold sharp eyes, or pictures from the case itself where Miles looked.. so very broken and lost, his eyes looking downright painful.
There was a picture of that Phoenix Wright guy to, a rookie defence attorney according to the article, yet there was a kind of determined look over the young man in the picture as he looked out in front of him as if he was readying himself for battle.
Ray went back to the article about Miles's return, and found another picture of Phoenix Wright in the button of the article, yet in this he was actually sharing the frame with Miles, and not only that.
It didn't look like Miles resented this person in the picture at all, they simply stood there together having light conversation, Miles looking a little bit defeated but happy enough and that Wright person was beaming like a little child.
Wright… Phoenix Wright, it was a pretty peculiar name and somehow familiar, as well as that young mans face.
No wait.. Didn't Miles have a friend called that back when Gregory Edgeworth was still alive?
Could this possible be?
Huh… So Miles had maintained a few contacts over the years, that was. Quite nice actually.
As Ray looked over article after article time went on, and minutes stretched into hours before the sun broke the surface outside and Ray still hadn't left the computer at all as the door to his law office opened to reveal a mature woman clearly from Indish heritage with olive dark skin, black hair and soft eyes.
"Boss?" the lawyer working under Ray blinked. "You are in early."
"Huh?" Ray blinked looking up.
"You don't look good Boss, your eyes are baggy." The defence attorney smiled a little defeated.
"Oh god." Ray groaned rubbing his face. "It's morning already? Christ!"
"Tough case huh boss?" She asked him.
"You could say that again." Ray commented sullenly as he crossed his arms. "Though also pretty illuminative. Hey Ellen, how about a hug for your nice boss?" he asked in a grin.
The female lawyer though merely shook her head as she walked past him, clearly extremely used to this kind of behaviour and Ray was back at his own thoughts.
Clearly there was a ton of things he didn't know about Miles Edgeworth, part of him couldn't help but worry a bit.
And then there was another part of him starting to feel more and more guilty.
Oh well, at least he could help Miles sort out these things now, let him be a part of these investigations.
The young man had been right, this went much deeper than what met the eye and, maybe it was even connected to, that incident so long ago.
If that was the case it would have to be fate that they should meet now.
At least showing Miles what Gregorys last case had been all about was the least Ray owed the young man.
And well, what the last days events had showed him was that Miles Edgeworth was definitely not out of reach.
He was definitely Gregory Edgeworths son and there was more to him than met the eye.
Ray had let this young man down ones, he was not about to do it again.
Ray was not the only one doing his research, there was another person, a young girl.
Miles were merely sitting in his office calmly looking over paperwork on his desk, reaching for his cup of tea just as there sounded a soft knock on the door.
Miles didn't even look up as he spoke. "Enter."
And slowly the door opened, Miles looked up to see said girl, with her colourful clothes and sat up hair standing in the door looking up at him with big dark eyes.
"Ah." Miles nodded putting the papers away. "Miss Farraday, may I help you?" he asked folding his hands.
"Well erhm." Kay swallowed stepping in closing the door behind her, then stood there nervously with her hands behind her back. "After yesterday, with all the things that happened. I am, I did some research." She then admitted. "I went to the library and found some old case files, and I tricked Gummie into giving me access to the police computer."
At that Miles lifted an eyebrow. "Miss Farraday, you do realise that last part is illegal." He commented dryly. "As a prosecutor I cannot condone that sort of behaviour."
"Sorry." Kay blushed pulling away hair. "It was the most reliable source, the others tended to contradict each other quite a bit, so I needed more solid evidence." Then she exhaled looking down.
"I see." Miles nodded. "So I assume you found the information you were looking for?" he asked folding his hands looking sternly at her with his sharp gray eyes, not seeming to move a face muscle.
"Yes." Kay told. "I found out about your father." She then admitted. "I already knew of the Von Karma conviction but I didn't know the extent of his crimes or how close he was to you. Mr. Shields were your dads old apprentice right? I can't really say I get why he was angry at you, but I can see it's an old story. And well, I'm sorry for priding." She then told averting her eyes.
"Miss Farraday." Miles exhaled. "The search for truth is an admirable path, though sometimes the truth you find is not always pleasant, and sometimes you will be invading peoples privacy whether you mean to or not." He commented. "Sometimes that's very wrong." He told a little sternly making Kay bite her lip looking away, though then Miles softened up. "But sometimes it is exactly what is needed to get the truth out." He told standing in front of Kay. "Each of us must at some point face the real truth in front of us to grow, what is important is that you keep thinking for yourself." He told pressing a finger against Kays forehead. "And make your own assessment of each new situation. Each situation is unique and you will need to draw your conclusions based on what you see here and now. Always be willing to learn and accept new situation for being just that, entirely new, an unknown terrain for you to figure out." He told then laid a firm hand on Kays shoulder.
Kay blinked. "You had already figured I would do that research hadn't you?" she asked.
Miles smirked. "Your curiosity is something that tends to get the better of you." He commented. "And you even have the intelligence and persistence to carry through." He then exhaled deeply. "That you found out these things now, seems very inventiable to me." He commented in a slight eyeroll removing his hands. "You might want to be careful in the future though, curiosity is what killed the cat remember?" he asked.
Kay blushed slightly as she stood back, glancing at Miles whom was moving back to his desk lifting his teacup.
As he took his sip, Kay cleared her throat, trying to ready herself to her next big question, a little intimidated over it. "So erhm.. Your dad was a defence attorney, whom died in the court building?" she asked nervously. "When you were still a kid?"
Slowly Miles turned to her, and then slowly nodded his head. "Yes, that is correct." He told.
"Wow." Kay blinked astounded. "That's just like."
"Your father, yes I am aware." Miles admitted. "It did strike me as a very relatable case back when your father died."
Kay smiled a little softly as she looked down. "I see." She admitted. "I wonder what it was that made you come down like that and comfort me." She told wrapping her arms around herself. "Up until that point I didn't like you, I thought you were nasty and scary, but then.. It just made me feel so much better like, you would help me and look out for me, and somehow things were going to be alright." She whispered. "That scary guy whom was with you, he was.. I mean." she swallowed.
"Manfred Von Karma." Miles sighed. "The man whom adopted me after my fathers death, like you I did not have a mother at that time either." He told sitting down on the couch in the room with the hands in his hands folded in front of him.
Kay gaped. "That's just…"
Miles nodded. "Seems like we do have very similar histories Kay."
Kay glanced at where Miles was sitting on the couch, plenty of room and then slowly she sat down beside him, also folding her own hands. "Urhm.." she swallowed. "It must have been a long time for you."
Miles nodded. "Indeed, time do go on whether we like it or not."
"Do… do you ever miss him?" Kay asked. "Your dad, I mean. It's been so long since my dad… Yet I still miss him at the weirdest of times." She admitted pulling a string of hair behind her ear. "I keep wondering what he would have said or what he would think of the things I've done, I mean."
Miles glanced at the girl sitting next to him, and then he exhaled. "I do question that myself as well, quite often." He admitted. "My father was a great man, as I am sure your father was as well, I keep hoping that what I do is good enough that it would have made him proud were he alive, yet, I will never know that. I suppose I just have to do my best regardless."
"Yeah." Kay sighed. "That sounds about right." She admitted then let herself grow heavy as she let her head rest against Miles's shoulder.
For a moment Miles stiffened, then he exhaled just letting the girl sit like that.
They were just sitting like that in silence, Kay resting her head on Edgeworth emptily looking out in the air with distance eyes.
Slowly Miles as well floated back in thoughts, he thought about a lot of things, his long journey.
How he had changed since that day his father had died, how much hate he used to have in him, how that hate had left him and left him empty.
How he looked at the world entirely differently now than from before Von Karma got exposed.
It was an entirely other world in front of him, he had a knowledge now, a knowledge that was in fact invaluable, though the price for that knowledge had also been very high.
"Mr. Edgeworth…" Kay then spoke softly from where she sat.
"Yes Kay." Miles responded.
"I'm really glad I got to know you." Kay then told. "I don't know how you used to be or anything, I'm just glad I know you now." She told. "You really think I could be a good lawyer?" she asked.
"If you were willing to focus your energy on it, yes I am quite confident." Miles told.
"Would you help me if I chose that?" Kay asked.
Miles was quiet for a while then nodded. "Of course I would." He told.
"Hmm." Kay smiled a little drowsily. "You make it sound like such a tempting offer." She commented. "Great hero Kay Farraday… What do you think? Prosecutor or defence attorney?" she asked.
"Honestly?" Miles asked. "It's merely two sides of the same coin, as long as you keep looking for truth and stay true to yourself." He shrugged lightly.
"I like the sound of that." Kay admitted in a light smile.
Indeed, Ray had walked in, thinking he should reach in and learn the young Miles Edgeworth a lesson, teach him about life and salvage the young man from doom.
Miles Edgeworth as always these past few years, walked in ready to learn.
What neither had counted on was that it wasn't Miles at all whom had a lesson to learn, the only lesson he could learn was that he was in fact doing just fine the way he had been carrying on lately.
The one whom ended up being taught and learning quite well was Ray, whom could only astounded stand back when he realises just what kind of person he had been spending so much time with.
Miles Edgeworth didn't needed to be reached out to or saved or lead to a brighter path.
He was doing just fine exactly where he was.
He was a fine bright young man, with good ideals, an understanding of the world and people most other lacked, an open mind to everything, even the absurd, always wanting to examine every thing from any possible ankle.
Miles Edgeworth was every last bit the good man that Gregory Edgeworth had been and then some.
And Ray felt just as honoured knowing this young man, as he had done even knowing Gregory.
Those two, they really were in a class of their own world.
Yet clearly they weren't the same either.
In some ways, Miles was exceeding his own old man, even if he didn't see it himself.
Yes he was a prosecutor, but prosecutors weren't bad, and the way he went about it was… well. It was quite frankly amazing! If just the rest of the prosecutor world could witness this.
And so as Miles finally after their adventure to him, and softly declined the offer for a spot at Edgeworth law office, Ray could only smile.
"Njaah, it's fine." Ray smiled. "I wouldn't have understood yesterday but you know, I think perhaps now I do. Beside what a crime would it be of me to rob the prosecutors office of their priced Miles Edgeworth?" he asked in a sniff, rubbing his nose.
Miles as well returned a soft smile. "Thank you Ray. If there's something I can do to.."
"Hah don't think about it!" Ray laughed clapping Miles harshly on the back making the young man almost topple. "Just don't make it another fifteen years before you pay your nice uncle Ray another visit alright?" he asked. "Miles, don't you ever worry about what the old man would have thought, you are doing great doing your own thing trust me."
Miles send him a small smile as he nodded. "You to." He told.
One short week after that, seven days precisely, Ray was back at his law office doing… well joy, more paper work.
The case with Miles had been a lot of fun, but it had been messy and had left a lot of paper work behind in his weight, urgh. This really was the dark side of being a lawyer!
Just as Ray finally, had dated the last paper and categorised in the folders did a soft knock sound from the door.
Ray didn't lift his head right away but wrote a last little note as he muttered. "Yeah, come on in, the door is unlocked." He told.
The door opened slowly, and soft foot steps came inside, Ray just managed to write the last note in the paper before he managed to look up at his guest, then he blinked.. Deeply surprised.
Ray couldn't say he had expected this guest, though he had hoped to get this person to his office at some point, but had suspected a lot of dragging would be involved, as it turned out though, he had showed up by himself, a bit earlier then when Ray had planned to start on his own dragging.
But there he stood, a silver haired young man, looking around the office with his gray eyes.
Ray blinked surprised, the young man looked… Well.. he looked good but.. his coat was a long dark blue trench coat, underneath it, he seemed to be lacking his usual cravat, and on his nose.. were a pair of square spectacles.. They suited him a lot but… God that trench coat and those glasses made Miles look more like his old man than ever! Slowly he glanced at Ray. "Hallo Ray." He spoke quietly. "I hope I am not disturbing."
"No." Ray blinked deeply surprised. "Not at all! And well, in your case, you would never be disturbing Miles." He told in a brought smile closing the folder on his desk for good.
Miles looked at Ray, then returned the smile taking off his blue trench coat, to reveal the fact that yes, he was very much lacking that cravat, he was just wearing dark red trousers, a white shirt and a black waist coat, that was all.
"So…" Ray rolled his tounge in his mouth. "What.. Brings you here?" he asked.
"Well." Miles hesitated. "Honestly, I feel like it's a visit that's long overdue." He then admitted. "No business, just… if you have time to talk." He then asked awkwardly rubbing his neck. "I.. I just came from the graveyard to." He then admitted. "Drove past this street and well." He shrugged. "It seems overdue." Then he looked around, blinking. "It's all very much like back then." He commented.
"Well, it's how I like it." Ray told leaning back. "Though now you made your position clear, perhaps it's time to redecorate." He commented, making Miles lift an eyebrow at him. "Okay I'll be honest, I guess part of me had kept on hoping you would come back here one day and be a defence attorney in this office, so I kept it mostly in a way so you would remember." He admitted. "I thought there was no way you could be a prosecutor and true to the ideals of the Edgeworth.. I was wrong." He then admitted. "And when I saw you again, I honestly thought I was going to learn you a ton of lessons and make you see the light or something. I underestimated you, badly! Seems like you learned all of those lessons on your own. Honestly I even think perhaps, prosecutor Edgeworth is exactly what the world needs right now, to show what, fighting for justice really means." Ray smiled almost kind of nostalgic before he spoke again. "You need to show the world that, I see that now. It would be selfish of me to force you into something else."
Miles exhaled, suddenly looking deeply relieved, it seemed like a lot of tense energy left his posture as he exhaled. "Thank you." He then nodded quietly.
Ray smiled a little amused. "No thank you, I guess it was a bit arrogant from me to think I wasn't the one whom should be taught a thing, you sure taught me a thing or two.. Miles." He told. "Like it or not, you're your fathers son." He commented. "But clearly also, not him at all."
Miles smiled a little amused. "That I don't mind." He told.
"Oh that reminds me!" Ray snapped his fingers. "Now that you are here, I got some of your old stuff, if you would like to take a look at it one day."
Miles slightly lifted an eyebrow. "Really?" he asked.
"Yeah." Ray shrugged. "Had no idea what to do with these, though to be honest, there has been just a few kids and also adults whom has enjoyed these while their parents or partner was talking legal buisness with me." He told opening a shelf to reveal, neat lines of books, all samurai titled, standing side my side.
Miles blinked, all the books his dad had bought him when Miles had been left alone in the office for extra long.
"Want them back?" Ray asked pointing over his shoulder.
Miles blinked as he looked at them, then smirked. "No that's fine, it seems like you are putting them to good use here." He commented.
That made Ray blink. "Really?" he asked sounding downright disappointed in Miles's response. "Oh come on Miles! You know as well as I do, that you love these books, and that they are yours."
"I do love those books." Miles smirked amused stuffing his hands in his pockets. "That's kind of why I found new copies of all of them a while ago." He admitted.
That made Ray blink. "Ohhh." He realised, then he lightened up in a broad grin. "Really?" he asked. "You managed to find all of them?" he asked.
"Well.. some of them took some search." Miles admitted. "Though the internet has left ways to find rare wares more easily, I did manage to find them all by the end, some of them even first publishments."
That made Ray laugh out loud as he smacked a hand on his forehead. "Haha! I should have known."
Miles lifted an eyebrow. "Is it that funny?" he asked.
"No, no it's brilliant!" Ray grinned spreading out his arms. "So your sure there's nothing in there at all having your interest."
Miles glanced over Rays shoulder then hesitated. "Well.." he commented then slowly stepped up and picked out a book. 'Samurai of the forgotten realm issue one.'
"I'll think I'll take this, if you don't mind." He commented.
"Not at all." Ray told. "Never able to find that one for the collection?" he asked.
"No, I got two different versions of it, I'll bring the newest one, one day, it'll be a shame for you to been lacking an issue of the series." Miles commented. "This very book though." He told turning to ray, then he opened it and showed Ray the front cover.
'Congratulations with the seven years my son, may justice always be on your side, Love dad!"
"It was the first Samurai book I ever read, or well.. dad read it out loud to me." Miles told. "It was the first, it got me into all of it, and he gave it to me. This very copy." He commented gently closing the book again, pulling it close as he closed his eyes, trying not to cry, but a small drop made it out anyway, he was still smiling though, by the warm memory.
Ray smiled as he moved to the young mans side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You know what, I'm pretty sure the old man is sitting up there on his little cloud, laughing at us for being such fools." He commented. "Oh wait a minute I got some-thing else! You got to take this one with you at least!" he stated.
Miles blinked as he saw Ray darting behind the desk, opening a drawer and then quickly started to throw papers over his shoulder. "Where is it? I know it's supposed to be here, it got to! AHA!" he grinned as he pulled out a little black box, then blew on it letting a cloud of dust fly out into the office.
Miles slightly wrinkled his face by the cloud and coughed into his hand closing his eye before he looked up and saw Ray approach him with the little box.
"I'm pretty sure the old man would have wanted you to have this." Ray then told him reaching the box to Miles. "Just a little something to remind you, how much you've accomplished."
Miles blinked as he looked at the box and turned it around in his hands, before he slowly opened it and was met with.. A little shining golden attorneys badge, with the little weight on top, glittering and shining up at him, Miles blinked. "Wait, is this?" he asked.
"The old mans attorneys badge, yup." Ray nodded. "It's not official or anything, but now it's yours anyway." He told. "I think you earned having it in your possession for sure, I can't think of anyone more worthy of it." He then admitted.
Miles swallowed as he looked at the badge, and respectfully closed the box. "Thank you." He told quietly. "It erh.. means a lot." He told, quite clearly at a big lose for words to say at that very moment.
Ray looked fondly back at him as he smiled. "Say Miles, how about a cup of coffee or some-thing?" he asked. "There's a great place just around the corner, it'll be my treat. I realise I haven't really been updated, so well, if you don't mind, I would really like to hear from you, what have you really been up to lately?" he asked in a wry smile. "How have your life been?" he asked.
Miles turned to Ray, smiling lightly. "Then you'll have to return to favour, Mr. Shields." He commented.
"Hey that's not nice, I'm your uncle Ray!" Ray exclaimed letting go of Miles. "We are like family, so treat me nice kiddo."
Miles snorted as he reached for his trench coat. "You are definitely not old enough to call me kiddo." He commented.
"I'm running a law firm here." Ray commented. "I'm the one treating the coffee, and the first time I met you, you only went to my hip!" he told. "I could carry you around in my arms." He told reaching for Miles as if he intended to give it a second go.
"Stop." Miles muttered pushing Ray away. "If we are to talk about success in life, then try to remember who you are talking to." He commented, then glanced outside the window.
"Huh?" Ray followed his glance and looked down, to see his own worn out scratched up car, and right next to it, an SUV looking so expensive that it looked like it was almost glowing on own accord, then Ray turned to Miles, whom smirking swung the car key on a finger.
"Hey that's not fair!" he exclaimed. "I'm self employed, that leaves a lot of bills."
"You think just any prosecutor get to have my salary?" Miles snorted. "May I remind you, I am one of the most sought after prosecutors in the country, perhaps if you were more sought after as a defence attorney, you would avoid such problems."
"Well that's just not fair at all!" Ray exclaimed grabbing his own coat and the old fedora to stuff it on his head walking with Miles through the door. "All right, you're old, ancient old in fact, should have known with the glasses and every-thing."
Miles rolled his eyes. "I've been short sighted since I was thirteen." He commented dryly as they walked down the stairs.
"Contacts?" Ray asked.
Miles nodded. "Von Karma always said appearance is every thing in court, and that being able to give the judge a stern glare was the most important thing, so the glasses get in the way of that stern glare you know."
Ray chuckled amused. "I think they suite you." He commented. "Gives an air of.. Maturity." He commented.
Miles lifted an eyebrow.
"And by the way, when you are so busy showcasing you are that much richer then me, isn't it just fair you buy the coffee?" Ray pouted.
"Well that's fine attorney behaviour, going back on a promise." Miles commented right back.
By the end of it as they had reached the bottom of the stairs, there was a quite rare sight to behold, both men laughing, yes also Miles, laughing to their hearts content as they drifted down the pave way towards the little coffee shop.