A/N: Okay, so here's where it may get a bit confusing. My first chapter (if you can remember back that far) began with Phoenix sitting at his desk looking back over the last few months. This chapter brings us back to the present.

When I started writing this story, I really didn't expect it to be more than three chapters. But here we are at chapter 28, only just getting back to the present! I hope it's not too hard to follow!


The jarring sound of his cellular phone ringing snapped Phoenix back to the present, and out of his reverie. He rolled his eyes once his brain registered the tune. It appeared Maya had changed his ring tone back to the Steel Samurai theme. Again. Some things never changed. He reached across the desk to pick up his cell, frowning lightly as he glanced at the caller ID.

"Kristoph Gavin?" he remarked, wondering why Gavin of all people would be calling him. They barely even knew each other. Phoenix couldn't even remember where he got Kristoph's phone number in the first place. The clock on his phone also indicated that he had been reminiscing and daydreaming the afternoon away for close to forty five minutes.

"You're a loser, Wright," he laughed to himself, tearing his gaze away from the small bare feet and the distracting woman they belonged to before answering the call.

"Hello, Phoenix Wright speaking."

"Herr Wright. This is Kristoph Gavin. I need to ask you a very important question." Kristoph said, his thick German accent making him sound rather intimidating. Given the lack of pleasantries, Phoenix realised the call must be for something important.

"Go ahead."

"Do you play poker?"

"What an odd request," Phoenix thought in bewilderment.

"Well, I guess I do. Why do you ask?" he asked cautiously. What could this possibly be about?

"No time for explanations. I need you to come down to the detention center immediately."

Click. Kristoph had hung up.

"What is going on?" Phoenix wondered out loud.

He put his phone down and stood up, stretching. He'd been sitting at his desk too long. He glanced out the window, happy to note that the rain appeared to be easing up. The last thing he wanted was to head out in a torrential downpour. Being hospitalised again certainly wasn't on his to do list.

With a soft smile he crossed the office to where Maya was napping on the couch. She'd been shopping again this morning and a variety of coloured bags sat in a pile on the floor, along with the blue sandals she had been wearing. Phoenix chuckled and leant down beside her, gently tucking the hair that had fallen across her face behind her ear. She didn't stir. He knew for a fact that Ema was hard to keep up with. He could only imagine her dragging Maya from store to store.

"Maya..." he said softly. She didn't move.

"Maya..." he repeated a little louder.

"Hrmmmnn..." she murmured softly.

"I'm going down to the detention center. Want to come?" Phoenix asked, his voice still hushed.

"No. That's okay," she mumbled. "You go."

Phoenix shrugged lightly and stood up. She was clearly wiped out. Maybe it was best if he left her to sleep. He grabbed his jacket from the back of the couch where he had left it earlier, shrugging into it as he continued to observe her peaceful state. It wasn't too often that Maya was still like this. He was more used to her bouncing about the office like the buzzing ball of energy she was.

"Don't forget to let the cat out," she muttered. Phoenix frowned, slightly puzzled.

"Maya..." he said gently, "…we don't have a cat."

"I don't know!" she said sharply, causing Phoenix to jump. "Ask Mia... Purple?" she mumbled.

Phoenix peered down at his slumbering assistant. What was purple? What was he supposed to ask Mia? He opened his mouth to speak again, but Maya cut him off.

"A sandwich. Maybe two." She said, before turning on to her side, her long black tresses falling across her face again.

Finally, it dawned on him. She was talking in her sleep. Deciding it best to leave her to whatever weirdness she was dreaming about (and knowing Maya it would certainly be very weird), he leant down and brushed her bangs from her brow, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. With one last smile, he turned around and headed for the door. Kristoph probably wouldn't be too happy about being kept waiting.

"G'night Nick..." she whispered, the sound barely reaching his ears. "Love you..."

Phoenix froze. His mind raced. "What did she just say?"

Spinning on his heels, he turned to look at her. The expression on her face was peaceful and she appeared to be sleeping deeply, just as he had left her moments before. Phoenix frowned. Maybe he imagined her saying that. And even so, he told himself, if he wasn't hearing things, she was asleep. She could have been dreaming about anything...right?

He had been standing behind her that night she had been sobbing at Mia's grave, emotionally telling her sister that she loved him, but she'd never actually said the words to him. He felt an odd warmth blossom in his chest and flow through his body. He smiled down at her, unable to resist the urge to whisper a soft reply.

"I… I love you too, Maya."

Looking at his watch, Phoenix realised he really needed to go. He would have to think about this later. Striding over towards the door, he quickly grabbed his keys and phone before heading out into the dreary weather.

He vowed to himself as he sprinted down the stairs, that he would concentrate one hundred percent on whatever was happening down at the detention centre and leave his non work related thoughts back at the office.

His efforts however, though noble, were completely in vain. He realised as the taxi pulled up outside the detention centre that the only thing he had thought about the entire trip was Maya.


A harsh rapping on the door roused Maya from her sleep. Bolting upright at the noise, she took a moment to adjust to her surroundings, rubbing at her eyes before the intrusion began again. Finally registering the sound as someone knocking on the door, she slid her legs off the couch.

"Calm down, I'm coming," she muttered in annoyance as she padded towards the door. She wondered idly where Phoenix was when she realised he wasn't in the office. Perhaps he was upstairs.

Reaching the door finally, she smoothed down her hair and turned the handle only to find an apathetic looking postal worker standing before her chewing gum.

"Telegram for Maya Fey," he said emotionlessly. "You Maya Fey?"

"Yes," she nodded, taking the envelope from him and scribbling her name on the small pad that he offered. With a curt nod, he disappeared, leaving Maya to close the door and head back into the office.

She flopped back down on the couch with a thud, tearing open the envelope and removing the paper from inside. She stifled a yawn with the back of her hand as she read the contents.

Mystic Maya Fey,

As decreed by long standing Kurain Law, any unmarried, childless Master of the Kurain technique is required to complete the task of channelling Ami Fey to prove her worth to the village. It is the elder council's duty to inform you that you must return to Kurain immediately and begin your isolation meditation. Once the task has been completed, you will be able to return to Kurain and reassume your position as Master. Pearl Fey will be acting Master of Kurain in your absence, assisted by the elder council.

Failure to comply will result in your dismissal as Master of Kurain, with Pearl Fey named as your successor.

Sincerely,
Althea Fey
On behalf of the Kurain Council of Elders

Maya blinked, rereading the telegram for a second and third time before panic started setting in. Her breathing felt uneven as she sat there shaking and staring at the piece of paper in her hands.

"This can't be happening," Maya thought to herself as tears began to sting her eyes. Blinking them back, she knew she had to remain calm in order to find out what was going on. This had to be a mistake. She'd never heard of this law, surely… surely it couldn't be right.


Phoenix swore softly under his breath as he stepped out of the cab and into the thunderstorm. He made a quick dash for the main doors of the office building, but still wasn't able to escape the rain. Brushing some stray raindrops from his suit jacket, he caught sight of his watch.

It was past eight now and he should have been back hours ago. He had promised Maya that morning that he would take her out for dinner, but his afternoon had been a total disaster. The man Kristoph Gavin had arranged for him to see had been nothing but difficult, refusing to give him any information on the case he was taking tomorrow. His new client had decided after a single game of poker that he would hire Phoenix to represent him on a murder charge, but beyond that he had absolutely no clue what was going on.

He had then tried going to see Kristoph as he had been the man's previous attorney and might possibly have some worthwhile information. That didn't work out so well either. He'd gone all the way across to the other side of town to Gavin's office, only to find that Kristoph was now back at the detention centre where Phoenix had started. But by the time Phoenix got back to the detention centre, he had missed Kristoph again, running his phone flat in the process of trying to get a hold of the elusive German. Detective Gumshoe had given him the barest of details on the case, not for lack of trying though. He really had given Phoenix all the information he had for which the lawyer was thankful.

Then the storm had arrived, causing absolute traffic chaos. The fifteen minute cab ride back to the office took well over an hour. It probably would have been quicker to walk if there wasn't a danger of being blown away by gale force winds. Realising he would have been soaked to the bone before he'd even managed to walk a single block, Phoenix had remained in the cab, cursing the stupid weather and watching the meter tick over as the cab moved by inches.

Finally back at the office, he ran up the stairs two at a time reaching the door to his suite in no time. Somehow, coming home to Maya made the day's disastrous events seem a little less colossal. He fumbled with his keys, surprised to find the place in darkness once he got the door open. He had expected Maya to be sitting on the couch watching a movie and complaining about how hungry she was. Flipping on the lights, he frowned at the sight of Maya's desk, littered with cardboard boxes.

"Maya?" he called. There was no response.

Dumping his jacket and briefcase on his desk, he headed up the stairs to the apartment above, also shrouded in darkness. Phoenix began to get the feeling that something was very, very wrong.

"Maya? Are you up here?" he called again, panic etching into his voice. He opened the door to her bedroom, finding the floor covered with more boxes, but no Maya. He ran a hand through his hair wondering why all her stuff was packed up as if she were leaving. Surely she couldn't be that mad that he missed dinner.

Closing her bedroom door, he headed up the hallway to his own room, hoping to god that she was inside because he was fresh out of ideas. Opening the door softly, he was somewhat relieved to find Maya curled up on his bed. Realising she was crying, he moved to the bedside in an instant.

"Maya!" he said as he sat on the edge of the bed. "What's going on? What's the matter?"

Maya lifted her head slowly, pulling herself to a sitting position by tucking her feet underneath her. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand before silently handing Phoenix a crumpled piece of paper that she had been clutching.

He smoothed out the note as best he could, struggling to read in the dim light of the bedroom. It was a telegram from Kurain. He felt his breath catch in his throat as he read the words.

"They…" he began, "…they can't do this. This is…" he struggled to find the right words.

"They can," Maya croaked, her voice cracking.

"But… but how can they? How come you didn't know about this?" Phoenix stammered, unable to comprehend exactly what they were asking of her.

"It's an old law," Maya said sadly, her words offering little explanation. Phoenix groaned in frustration, balling up the telegram and tossing it across the room.

"I'm not letting you go anywhere," he stated plainly, fixing his gaze on the floor in front of him. He was so angry right now, but he didn't even for a second want her to think that any of it was directed at her.

"I…" she started, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "…we don't have a choice."

"There's always a choice, Maya. Always a solution," he reasoned, a little more sternly than he had meant to. She sniffed lightly. He reached up and squeezed her hand softly in a silent apology for his abruptness.

"There's no way." Maya said quietly. It appeared she had given up hope hours ago. Phone calls to council members earlier that day had all but confirmed Althea's telegram as the truth. There had been a council meeting that morning and it had been decided. If she didn't go through with it, Pearl would have to take over her position and Maya would never see her again.

"So let me get this straight," Phoenix said turning to face her. "Because you're not married and you don't have any children you can't be master until you prove yourself to them?"

Maya nodded solemnly.

"The most important function of the Master of Kurain is to provide an heir to inherit the position. Since I haven't done that, I need to complete this channelling in order to prove that my power is worth valuing over my ability to continue the main family line."

"So can't you just channel Ami Fey?" Phoenix asked, trying to understand. Why was it any different to channelling anyone else? Maya shook her head again.

"Channelling Ami Fey is the most difficult task any Fey can complete. It requires long periods of training and meditation and can only be performed in the place where she used to live. They're sending me there until I can do it. If I don't I'll be kicked out of Kurain and I'll never see Pearly again. She'll have to be Master and I can't do that to her Nick, I can't." Maya finished with a sob. Phoenix slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him as she started to cry again.

"Why is this only coming up now?" Phoenix asked her gently. If this was a long standing law, surely she should have known about it. She wiped at her eyes and cleared her throat before attempting to answer.

"The last three Masters before me were all married with children when they took the position. No one knew about this because it hadn't been mentioned in so long. There was no need for all this until me," she explained, her eyes filling with tears again.

"Then we'll get married." Phoenix said desperately, grabbing her hands. "We can have children!"

Maya's silence was deafening. His head drooped as he fought back tears of his own. He knew it was too late for that, but he would give anything if it meant she could stay.

"Nick…" Maya said softly, causing him to look back at her, his grief stricken expression like a knife to her heart. "…I have to go."

Phoenix shook his head.

"No. You can't go. No." he repeated, still shaking his head. He clutched at her hands as if doing so would keep her with him. She remained silent as she closed her eyes and allowed the tears to fall. They both knew that nothing said tonight would change anything. Maya leant against his shoulder, her tears soaking through the fabric of Phoenix's shirt.

Phoenix felt helpless. A debilitating mixture of sadness, anger and desperation coursed through him. How could they have let Althea do this? This had been her plan all along and when it came down to it, she had played her hand so well that there was nothing they could do about it. This wasn't right. Things weren't supposed to go this way. The bad guy wasn't supposed to win.

But Maya was leaving, and there was nothing he could do to stop her.

"My train leaves at nine." Maya uttered after a long silence. Her words felt like a blow to his stomach. Not only was she leaving him, but tonight?

"Maya, it's already after eight, and it's pouring out there." Phoenix reasoned. "Please, just stay tonight."

Maya sighed.

"I don't want this to be any harder than it already is," she whimpered. "I should just go."

Phoenix frowned, desperate to make her understand that all he wanted was a little more time with her.

"No." he said. "It doesn't matter if you leave today or tomorrow or six months from now. It's not going to hurt any less."

He swallowed nervously, debating whether or not to say what he was about to say. Deciding it was best to be honest, he took a deep breath.

"I love you, Maya."

Whatever shred of strength Maya had been using to hold herself together disappeared in an instant as she broke down in his arms. Harsh sobs wracked her body as she clung to Phoenix's shirt. This was all so hopeless. Emotion flooding through her, her lips found his as she continued to cry. He seemed shocked at first, but soon began to respond gently, hoping that soft kisses could at least help relieve some of the pain they were both feeling.

He held her close to him well into the night, her nine o clock train departure time coming and going without another word. Her cries soon settled to light sobs and eventually she tired of crying altogether. The thunderstorm raged outside as Phoenix thought it seemed fitting that even the weather was angry at their situation.

He spent the rest of the night kissing her softly and gently stroking her hair and back. She clung to him as he whispered reassuringly in her ear that everything was going to be okay and that he would never let anyone hurt her.

The both knew they were lies, but they were lies they both wanted so desperately to believe.


A/N: The angst returns. Sorry guys!