Author's Note: Mmm, delicious angst. Actually there is going to be quite a bit of angst in the nearish future, so seatbelts on, please.

Chapter Twenty-One: You Make Me Feel, Part One

October 23, 2029

Miles Edgeworth's Home

As soon as the front door closed behind them, Edgeworth stalked off to his bedroom in silence. Phoenix started to follow him, desperate to say something to fix whatever had just broken. He stood in front of Edgeworth's door, trying to come up with something conciliatory to say that would smooth everything over and bring back the mood they'd been in last night when Phoenix had stroked Edgeworth's hair and Edgeworth had clung to him, vulnerable and trusting.

I'm not really sure what to say, he realized, sighing to himself. I want to apologize, but…I meant what I said. I wish I hadn't said it, but I can't deny that I have…um, some very strong feelings. I want him to have those strong feelings for me, too. I want him to need me. I…oh boy, listen to me. Typical Phoenix Wright, getting way too attached after only a few days. This is why we can't have nice things, Phoenix. I haven't felt this way since college. Maybe I'd better stick to the law and leave the art of romance to someone else, this is exhausting.

Defeated, Phoenix slumped back into the library and threw himself down on the sofa. Maya, who had been sitting in the armchair reading a book, looked up in surprise.

"Um, Nick?" She got up and poked him experimentally. "Heeey, everything okay? Did, um, something happen?"

Phoenix buried his face in his hands. "I'm in love," he muttered miserably. "It's just as bad as they say it is. Please kill me."

"Aw, I can't do that. I think Trucy would get kinda mad at me." Maya sighed. "Anyway, we've spent the last week trying to avoid being murdered, so wouldn't that be a little rude, at this point?"

Phoenix just groaned.

"Hey, do you think you can take a break from being pathetic and lovesick for a moment?" Maya sat down next to him on the sofa and pushed a book into his hands. "I need to show you something."

Phoenix sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked at the book.

"It's called 'Spirit Channelling: Mysteries of the Modern Necromancer,'" Maya explained. "And um…look who wrote it."

Phoenix glanced down at the byline, and was surprised to see that the book had been written by Lettie R. Ature.

"I had no idea she was interested in spirit channeling," said Maya. "There's a whole several chapters in here on the Village of Khurain, on the kingdom of Khura'in, and even on my Mom. Nothing about me or Mia, though. Now that I think about it, I feel like someone in the village told me that they'd done interviews a few years ago with an author who wanted to publish a book. It was while I was training, so I don't know much more about it than that, but…I guess it must have been Ms. Ature. Weird coincidence, right?"

Phoenix stared blankly at the book. "Yeah…I guess it is."

It's been a while since anyone's checked on Lettie, realized Phoenix, with a pang of guilt. Other than Gumshoe, she's the only victim still alive. Maybe it's time for us to go talk to her. She might have some insights. At least, it couldn't hurt.

"So…no luck with Parker, then?" asked Phoenix.

Maya's shoulders slumped. "Um…no, not yet. This is really embarrassing. I'm a Master of spirit channeling, and this should be something that even a student could do. Maybe it's because I've been away from the village for so long…even though I do train, every day! I guess maybe I should go home one of these days," she mumbled reluctantly.

"Please…please don't go home." Phoenix shook his head emphatically. "Not right now. Don't leave me in…this." He gestured helplessly at everything.

I don't want to be alone with my thoughts, reflected Phoenix. I need you to stick around and remind me that I'm an adult who has gotten through multiple murder attempts, a multi-year disbarment, and several near-misses with the death penalty, and that I can definitely, therefore, survive a love affair with a beautiful yet Byronic prosecutor.

"Aw, nice to know you care, Nick," retorted Maya sarcastically, rolling her eyes.. "You're going to be fine. Come on, let's get something to eat. We should probably finish up whatever in Mr. Edgeworth's kitchen isn't healthy, right? That'd just be doing him a big favor. Let's see what's in the fridge."

She dragged Phoenix to his feet and led him into the kitchen, on a lunch mission. Phoenix wasn't hungry, but he followed meekly anyway.

Edgeworth hunched over his desk with his head in his hands, gritting his teeth.

Partner, he thought. Partner. He asked you to be his partner, and you…YOU FOOL, EDGEWORTH! WHY DID YOU BALK, YOU STUPID, MORONIC FOOL?! The man who has maddened you, tortured you,, even, since the third grade presents himself to you and offers you his heart, and you stand there stammering about being unprepared, WHY?

"Gah!" he muttered, banging his head against the wooden desktop. His chest still ached, and now so did his head, and somehow, inexplicably, he was angry.

He was angry at himself for pushing Phoenix away, but he was also furious with Phoenix for creating this situation, for changing everything about their relationship so quickly and so intensely that Edgeworth wasn't sure what the rules were anymore, wasn't sure how to keep up with his own feelings.

This, he thought desperately, must be what is referred to as a 'whirlwind romance.' I am ill equipped for whirlwinds. There are so many things that could go wrong in a moment, so many unplanned little opportunities for mistakes and missteps that could ultimately destroy everything. I am terrified of destroying everything in a foolish moment and losing him. Perhaps if we'd never embarked on this ridiculous star-crossed escapade, then…

But Edgeworth found that he could no longer imagine what it would have been like if Phoenix had never kissed him. Despite everything, despite all the uncertainty, the idea of giving up the joy he'd felt when Phoenix had admitted to needing him was out of the question.

Very well, then, he though, taking a deep breath. I suppose I have my answer after all.

Phoenix had begged Edgeworth to trust him, and that, it seemed, was exactly what Edgeworth was going to have to do.

There was no way back now, not without the loss of something that Edgeworth had already come to cherish. The only way out was through.

Edgeworth stood up, smoothed back his hair, adjusted his rumpled clothes, and abandoned his sanctuary in search of Phoenix.

When he got to the bottom of the stairs, the library door was wide open, revealing Phoenix's jacket lying, apparently forgotten, on the sofa.

Remembering the watch, Edgeworth reached into Phoenix's jacket pocket and pulled it out.

"Mr. Edgeworth?" Trucy coughed awkwardly behind him. "What are you doing?"

Edgeworth spun around to find her watching him.

"Sorry," she said, "it's just that you stormed down those stairs so, um, vigorously that I thought maybe something was wrong. Is everything okay? Did something happen between you and Daddy? He's, uh, lying on the kitchen table staring into a cup of coffee and, well, sort of moaning."

"Ah." Edgeworth winced. "I…see."

"Is there anything I can do?" Trucy smiled hopefully. "Oh, I know! Why don't we have Athena hold a couples therapy session? I bet that would help!"

The idea of having Athena Cykes reveal his inner feelings in front of the entire Wright Anything Agency did absolutely nothing to help Edgeworth's unsettled mood.

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," he said hurriedly. "There is, however, something I would like to ask of you."

Edgeworth held out the watch.

"I understand," he said, "that this was a gift from you to your father several years ago."

Trucy beamed at him. "It sure was! Oh, wow, I must have been…nine? Ten? Haha, actually, Apollo paid for it, since I didn't have any money back then. I've tried to pay him back ever since, but he always tells me not to worry about it, that it was worth it, but that I'm not allowed to tell Daddy that he paid for it. I wonder why?"

"With your permission, I'd like to have it fixed," suggested Edgeworth. "It seems to have stopped. I thought that I might take it to the jewelers and see if it could be restarted."

"Oh, sure!" agreed Trucy enthusiastically. "I bet Daddy would love that! That'd be a great surprise!"

Edgeworth nodded. "Indeed. And while I'm getting it fixed, there's something else I'd like to, er, alter. Of course, I'd never make any changes to this important present of yours without your express permission."

Edgeworth explained to Trucy what he wanted to have done, and Trucy, absolutely delighted, agreed wholeheartedly with the plan.

"I only have one request," she said. "I want to be there when you give it to him. Is that okay? I can't wait to see the look on his face!"

"That's perfectly acceptable." Edgeworth offered a hand, and Trucy clasped it warmly. "Thank you. I trust you'll keep this a secret until I return?"

"You can count on me!" Trucy assured him. "It'll disappear from my mind like everything vanishes into my Magic Panties."

"Hey, Trucy?" Maya's voice sounded from the kitchen. "Uh, can I borrow you for a second? Nick's trying to clean Mr. Edgeworth's toilet. I think it's time for an intervention."

"Oops." Trucy gave Edgeworth an apologetic smile. "Um, I have to go. Good luck!"

Hmm, thought Edgeworth, as he snuck into the garage and started the car. I suppose I have been putting off cleaning that bathroom for far too long. I hope he doesn't find it too unpleasant a task.

With Halloween fast approaching, the determined shoppers at the local mall were already in full-fledged gift-buying frenzy. Everyone seemed to have had the very same idea; to get their Christmas shopping handled early enough to avoid the crowds.

Of course, this meant that the crowds were already massive and entirely unavoidable.

Edgeworth absolutely hated in-person shopping and tried to do as little of it as he possibly could. This particular errand, however, required both haste and precision, and he intended to supervise it personally.

"Welcome to Personal 4 U!" announced the beleaguered-looking saleswoman behind the counter. "And a very happy early holiday to you, sir! What can we get going for you today?"

Edgeworth laid the watch carefully down in front of her, turning it over to reveal the inscription. "This watch has stopped, and I'd like to have it repaired. It's imperative that nothing be done to damage the engraving here in any way."

Gently picking up the watch, the woman gave it a quick, practiced examination, and then nodded. "No problem! We can have this fixed up for you in twenty-four hours. Will you be back to collect it yourself, or would you like us to mail it?"

"Not so fast." Edgeworth shook his head. "There's something else I would like…personalized."

The woman in line behind Edgeworth made an exasperated noise. Edgeworth spun around and glowered at her, and she squeaked and took a step back. Edgeworth returned his attention to the saleswoman, who now looked slightly nervous.

"I would like the watchband replaced," Edgeworth informed her, pointing at a display of fancy leather watchbands in a case on the far side of the counter. "Black leather, please, with an inscription on the underside. "

The saleswoman pulled out a pad of paper and passed it to Edgeworth. "You can have up to 30 characters on a watchband," she informed him. "Please print legibly."

Edgeworth, very carefully and in firm, bold print, wrote the following.

TO OUR PARTNERSHIP. 10/23/29

"Aw, that's nice." The saleswoman smiled at him as she read the inscription. "Is it a workplace anniversary? Excellent choice, sir. Timepieces do make the perfect anniversary gifts. That comes out to 235.99. I'm sorry, but we don't take cash."

Edgeworth paid the bill, tucked the receipt into his pocket, and headed for the door.

To his surprise, the woman who'd been standing in line behind him abandoned the line and followed him out onto the street.

"Hey," she shouted. "Hey, asshole! What the hell, man? You're not the only one who needs holiday gifts this year! You held up the line for like ten minutes, you self-centered chauvinist piece of crap!"

Absurd, thought Edgeworth, shuddering. This is one of the many reasons that I hate shopping malls. It's reminiscent of the time that I waited in line for four hours to try to get an octopus beanie baby for Franziska, only to have the thing knocked out of my hand the moment I'd made my purchase. Devastating for a child. Perhaps I have some sort of shopping-mall related post-traumatic stress. Is that a legitimate condition?

"Hey!' the woman was still shouting. "I'm talking to you! Don't you hear me?"

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Edgeworth slowly turned around.

"What?" He blinked in surprise as he recognized the face of his tormentor. "You…? What are you-? GAH!"

A sack was thrown over his head, and something hard and heavy was thrust into his stomach. He grunted and fell back, winded, hitting the ground gracelessly. Before he had a chance to right himself, his arms were pinned to his sides, and then something soft and wet was pushed up underneath the sack and pressed over his nose and mouth. He gasped, trying to gulp in air as the world began to swim faster and faster, and then, finally, everything went mercifully black and silent.

Author's End Note: So, by this point, I bet you already know who the murderer is. Tune in next time (hopefully tomorrow!) to learn the truth…or at least, some of the truth. There's actually a lot more of this story still to come.