I

The Agency's office is teeming with life
As lawyers prepare for a night on the town.
They talk of their plans with bright eager eyes:
Festivities, candy, and parties abound.

As Phoenix the zombie prepares for the night,
His makeup and blood falls askance and askew.
He stumbles about giving many a fright,
Preparing his motley and raggedy crew.

Apollo the astronaut's ready to fly,
Complete with his air tank, his suit, and his gear.
A tribute to dreams and ambitions gone by,
His mentor, his roots, and the friend he held dear.

Athena is crowned with a bright laurel wreath.
She's glowing in bangles and bears a great shield.
A goddess and guide to the truth that they seek
With wisdom and battle alike that they wield.

Fair Maya is glowing in pink armored plates,
Her hair twisted tightly atop her masked head.
"For justice, for Neo Olde Tokyo's fate!"
She brandishes weapons and charges ahead!

For Trucy, her costume is always on hand,
Her billowing cape and her panties with hearts.
She readies her broomstick and grabs her hat stand,
A witchy magician all set to depart.

Sweet Pearl is a cherub in lilac and white
With love on her mind so unseasonably late.
Her cotton-tipped arrows bring joy and delight,
A Cupid determined to target soulmates.

With laughter and cheers, they line up, one and all.
Their joined hands are warm and their voices are true.
Before a great portrait that stands in the hall
To honor dear Mia in all that they do.

A prayer ere they wander near and far:
Give thanks for all they have and all they are.


II

Across from the court, there the tone is subdued.
The town's prosecution is mourning instead.
Lamenting and grief makes a sobering mood,
Each soul lost in thoughts on the Day of the Dead.

As Miles reflects on his life's twists and turns,
He tries to remember and tries to forget
The years spent abroad and the way his heart churns,
The father he knew and the mentor he met.

Franziska remembers her father at home,
Her model and idol revealed to be cruel.
She cracks her whip crossly; it's best left alone,
The tears in her eyes when the truth was unspooled.

A soft little melody rings from above
As Klavier sings of the good times and bad.
With brothers, the anger is tempered with love,
For nothing erases the kinship they had.

Stern Simon admits to no pain or goodwill,
All "weakness" stamped out in his seven-year hell.
That prison has taken and taken more still:
The years of his life and his sister as well.

A scientist waits for no reason or cause
To try out a gadget, invention, or spray.
When Ema feels lonely, she turns to her job
To wait for her sister by showing the way.

As Gumshoe attends to his bowl of cheap sweets,
A downtrodden chuckle escapes from his lips.
His candies seem feeble to offer as treats
'Til Maggey consoles him with hugs and a kiss.

The happiest one is the one with the least:
His head is quite empty of brains and of hair.
When Payne mourns his failings, the root of his grief
Is air on his scalp, for his own is quite bare.

When darkness seeks to swallow light away,
They find the truth and to that path they stay.


III

The torment increases for Phoenix tenfold
The moment he spies his old friend by the door.
All decked out in ruffles, per usual, but hold—
There's something amiss, of this fact he is sure.

For Miles has always been handsome to see
In suits and a waistcoat, all edged in fine lace.
But now in his costume he's fine as can be,
Most notably something is out of its place.

The jabot! The jabot is nowhere in sight!
His neck and his throat are enchantingly bared.
Poor Phoenix, his knickers are twisted up tight.
He tries to be civil yet can't help but stare.

"Is something the matter? I've food on my lip?"
He scowls when his eyes land on Phoenix's gaze.
"What's wrong, Wright? Don't gawk," he imperiously quips.
"You clearly have something you're dying to say."

But Phoenix stands silent, for Phoenix has fears
That maybe his friend will take flight far away
And land a position abroad lasting years
With nary a word or a letter his way.

"It's nothing," he says, but the chains crash on down
betraying the lie in his heart and his grin
Then Miles grows quiet and furrows his brow
He thinks for a moment. "Eureka. I win."

"You what?" Phoenix sputters. "The hell does that mean?
You've erred in conclusions and culprits before.
You won't find a secret. My conscience is clean.
I'm leaving. Peace out! Not a single word more!"

"My logic's infallible. Must I explain?
It's clearer than words in your eyes and your blush.
Your body betrays what resides in your brain
It's true, my dear Phoenix: for you have a crush!"

"I do," he wails. "Please don't be mad, I beg!"
Then Miles takes his hand. "I don't object."