Chapter Seven

Miles

I wrap my arms around my sister holding her close. I lead her to the waiting area so that we can sit down I sit in a chair pulling her into my lap.

Wright, Ms. Fey, Gumshoe and Larry sit down as well, though they don't say anything.

I'm glad Larry has some sense at least. I expect him to say something, but he stays quiet.

"Ich hasse ihn," she mumbles into my chest.

"I know, Ziska," I say softly rubbing her back. This must be hard for her. I don't know what happened in the visitor's room, but whatever it was it didn't go very well. I don't know what she expected to hear, maybe his pride just wouldn't allow him to be honest, or maybe she got an answer, but it wasn't the one she wanted to hear.

"Warum? Warum tut es so weh?"

"Oh Franziska… if it didn't hurt then something would be wrong. Of course, you want to feel loved by your father. It's only natural.

"Aber... aber er liebt mich nicht."

"I don't believe that's true, Franziska, somehow I don't think that's entirely true."

"Sie benötigen Beweise, um diese Behauptung zu erheben."

Evidence? Yes, I do need evidence for that… "You're right, I don't have evidence right now, so maybe my claims are just baseless right now, but I think it's possible that I can find the evidence that I need to prove it. But just don't close the case just yet."

She looks up at me whipping her face with a handkerchief. "Fool."

"Am I now? You're the one who said I needed evidence to back up my claim."

A small smile plays on her lips. "Maybe so, but you only have three days based on your trial system in this country."

"Is that so? Is that really how it is?"

"Well, isn't it, Mr. Miles Edgeworth?"

"I object!"

"Too late for Objections," she says smiling a bit more.

I guess she's feeling at least a bit better. I'm glad for that at least. I hate seeing her cry like that, but I know she needed it.

A von Karma never cries…

What utter nonsense. Everyone cries and sometimes it really helps a lot. Sometimes you just have to get things off your chest and that's a good way to move on from our pain.

"So, how are you feeling, Freche Königin."

She rolls her eyes at the old nickname I used to call her when we were kids. "Samurai-König."

"Edgy, did she just call you a Samurai?"

I blush a little. I'd almost forgotten everyone else was here. "Yeah, I mean… we just… when we're kids…"

"Oh please, don't try to hide it, I've been to your house, little brother."

"Franziska!"

"Yeah, I can't believe you have a Steel Samurai tea set, those are like really rare!" Ms. Fey speaks up.
"Franziska got it for me…"

"Because you begged me for it. You were so desperate. You were all like "Ziska, it's almost my birthday! I need it so much! I mean, it's the Steel Samurai and a tea set!" so I just couldn't refuse my little brother."

"Man, Edgy, you're still into Samurai shows?"

"Yeah... I mean…"

"Hey, Edgeworth."

"What is it, Wright?"

"Remember this?" he asks opening his hand and showing me the Signal Blue keychain he got from Larry when we were younger.

"You still have that?"

"Well, of course, do you still have yours."

"I… don't know where it is, but…"

"Lies, Miles never parts with it. I bet if it's not with him now, it's on his desk just waiting for him to return to pick it back up. He never goes without it for long. Sometimes he just sits there and stares at it and thinks about you two fools."

"Edgy, you're such a softy, aren't you."

"I am not!"

"Hey, Mr. Edgeworth."

"What is it, Ms. Fey?"

"We should totally marathon Steel Samurai later!"

"Well.. I suppose we can do that."

"Yay! Nick's so lame! He doesn't want to watch Steel Samurai with me!"

"Maya!"

"Come now, Wright, it should be interesting. You should watch too, Ziska."

"Me? I don't watch that kind of thing."

"Yes you did, you know we marathoned Signal Samurai after that day."

"Well…"

"What day is that, sir?"

I almost forgot that Gumshoe was even here.

"It was three years after I started to live with Franziska, we were in the country for a few trials. After a trial, we weren't to the mall and well…"

"Three years after you moved away…"

"We went to the shopping mall after court one day," Franziska remembers. We took Missile with us and he ran off."

"Indeed, actually, Wright, you really helped me out that day."

"I did? What did I do?"

"Well, I went after Missile when I did I heard an announcement on the radio about a lost dog, after that, a certain song came on…"

"A certain song, what do you mean?"

"The Signal Samurai theme. I know you were the one who requested it, Wright."

"Well yeah, I thought it might reach you, and to let you know we were still friends."

"It really did."

"But Edgy, you said what Nick did was really helpful to you."

"Yes, he really did."

"How so?"

"Didn't Missile find the lost dog then you found both of them, Miles?"

"Yes, exactly, someone was trying to claim that it was her dog so she could get the money for the lost dog, but I figured out that she had just heard an announcement as I did because of the Signal Samurai theme."

To be honest the only reason I got the dog back to its owner was because von Karma stepped in to help. I don't know if I should remind Franziska about that part, but knowing her she hasn't forgotten.

"Oh wow, that's pretty amazing, I can't believe that happened."

"Of course, so in other words, you really helped me, Wright, and then Franziska wanted to know about it so we watched it."

"Well I.. I mean.."

It does seem like my sister's feeling a bit better than she has been, I guess maybe this kind of small talk is useful.

"Well, I watched until after the Rainbow Samurai."

"Yes, Franziska didn't let me watch that show at first."

"I didn't stop you."

"You turned the TV off so I couldn't watch it."

"Well… I guess I did do that," she says blushing a little bit.

"Oh man! We should marathon all the Samurai shows!" Ms. Fey cheers.

"Well, Miles does have a lot of Samurai things."

"Alright, alright." I can't believe I'm agreeing to this. It's such a strange thing, but I guess it will be fun.

"I was going to treat you all to dinner for this victory," Gumshoe says.

"I can cover the bill, Detective."

"But sir, this was supposed to be a treat for you, sir."

"I know, Detective, but I also know that you aren't the best off right now, so I can handle it." Maybe I should look into his salary a bit… he did help out a lot in this case. Maybe I've been a bit hard on him honestly.

"But sir!"

"If you don't want Miles paying then I'll pay it, Scruffy, does that make you feel better?"

"Scruffy?" Ms. Fey asks.

"He is clearly a Scruffy."

"Kay would disagree with that line of thinking, Franziska."

"Well, Kay can think what she wants. Doesn't mean I'm not right."

"I miss Kay…"

"Have you heard from her, Detective?"

"Not very much, she said she was looking into some things. I think Detective Badd has been looking after her though."

"What are you guys talking about, I didn't know you guys knew each other," Wright says.

"Yeah, we met four years ago on a very interesting case, though it's a very long story."

"Well, I would like to hear the story one day."

"Yeah, I want to hear it too, Mr. Edgeworth."

"Yeah, Edgy, don't keep us hanging."

"I'd' rather not discuss it here, some of the information about it is a bit sensitive. I probably shouldn't discuss that information, but I trust you guys so I can tell you, but you can't talk about it to others."

"We won't tell," Wright says. I trust him, and even though Ms. Fey is a bit excitable I know she won't talk, but Larry… well, I hope he can keep his mouth shut.

"Alright, but later, now isn't the time for this."

"Then what is it time for?"

"We all need to calm down and compose ourselves. We've all had a very tough three days. It's best to rest and compose ourselves. You're all welcome to stay at my house if you'd like."

"Sweet!"

"Sounds good, Edgeworth."

I kind of can't believe I was agreeing to let them stay with me when I just want to curl up in a corner and die, but maybe it's because I want to be strong for Franziska, she needs me right now.

"I should probably call my sister. She'll probably hear about it, but I think it's probably better if she hears the news from me."

I know Franziska is being strong as well.

I think she told me once that her little niece really liked von Karma. She's still young so she might not fully understand what happened to her grandfather. This will be hard.

"I think that is a good idea, are you sure you want to though?"

"No, I don't want to do it. I barely talk to her, and I know she and her and Papa weren't getting along at all, but I know this has to be done. I can't run away like this."

"Franziska…"

It seems that crying and allowing your emotions out really does help you out. Now that she has cried about the situation with her father she is more determined than ever to move forward.

I touch my sister's face looking down at her and whipping the remains of her tears away.

"You're a stronger woman than you think, Franziska."

"I'm not, Miles, I'm really not that strong. I don't even know how to deal with all of this right now."

"Oh Franziska, you think either of us really knows how to deal with it. While he was your father I did care a lot about him. I was his student too, you know? I thought all I was doing was right, but it turns out that I was wrong about my whole life. I don't know what to do either, but that's why we have each other, isn't' it? That's why we're here, because we promised, right, Ziska?"

She reaches up touching my face. "Little brother…"

"Big sister."

It may be true, it may have been an attempt to leave me alone and helpless. To raise me up and break me down, crush the last bits of the name Edgeworth from existence, but at the end of the day it only made me stronger.

Yes, I want to crawl into a hole and die, but right now… right now I'm still needed, and like she used to hold me up when I was weak, now it's my turn, and together we'll move forward again. We'll escape the shadow hovering over us and we will fight for what's truly right.

The truth.

Franziska

After a few more things are settled we all head to Miles' house to relax. I flop onto my bed staring at my phone.

I look at the contact: Katharina von Karma. I know I need to call her, but at the same time…

Well anyway, I'm going to have to do this. I said I would and I don't go back on what I say.

I hit the call button bringing the phone to my ear listening to the ringtone.

Soon it's picked up.

"Hello Tante Franziska," My niece says on the other end of the phone.

"Hello kiddo, how have you been?"

"I've been alright, but I miss you, Phoenix and I want to see you again! You and Opa too!"

I tense a bit at that. Rillia… She really loved Papa… too bad...

"Well, I'll come to visit you. Do you want to meet my little brother and Phoenix Wright one day?"

"Yeah! I do! Yay!"

"You know Phoenix Wright has become a defense attorney."

"You mean that kind of lawyer who is the opposite of you."

"Yup! He's quite the talented attorney I have to say. He and Miles go head to head and it's rather interesting to watch him in court. Well, I haven't seen them both go against each other, but I will one day."

"I want to see I trial too! I want to see you in court!"

"Maybe I'll take you with me one day."

"Yay! I'm so excited!"

I smile sadly. "Lia?"

"Yeah, what?"

"Is your mother available, I need to talk to her about something?"

"Mama? Yeah, let me get her," she says and I hear her leave. I know she ha a right to know about Papa, but…

"Franziska?"

"Hello Katharina, it's been a while since we talked."

"Yes, it's strange of you to call me so suddenly."

"Yes, I am aware of that. I'm sorry that it's sudden, but I needed to talk to you about something."

"What is it? Are you alright, Franziska?"

"Well, it's not really about me, it's about Papa."

"Papa…" she says.

I know she's never gotten along with him much. I kind of remember a fight between them, but I was so young I don't really remember much of the fight.

"What about Papa?"

I take a deep breath. "Katharina… Papa… Earlier today Papa was arrested for murder."

"Murder?"

"Yeah, I don't know how much you know about this, but it all goes back to the DL-6 incident and the murder of defense attorney Gregory Edgeworth."

"Didn't that happen fifteen years ago?"

"Yes, well he tried to create a situation where Miles was set up to be accused of murder. Thanks to the defense not only was Miles cleared of that crime, but Papa was caught for the murder of Gregory Edgeworth."

"I… I see…" she says.

I don't know what she's thinking right now. Even if she was mad at him she was still his daughter just like I was. Though she never wanted to be a prosecutor like I did.

"I know I should tell Rillia, but I'm not sure how to tell her right now. She really did care about Papa…Yes, that is true. I guess I'll figure out what to say to her."

"I'm sorry. I know you didn't have a great relationship with him, but…"

"I just couldn't accept the way he was acting. It was just so wrong. I wanted him to stop, but he's just too proud…"

"Yes, his pride I suppose it destroyed him in the end. He was far too prideful and now it's all over. He will probably get the death penalty. Then again that could take a while to actually happen, so it's possible you can come over and talk to him, but I doubt you will get anything more than I did out of him."

"You talk about that so calmly."

She only says that because she can't see my tears. I can just cover them up because I'm so used to talking about crimes and verdicts.

"It's just the fact. I can't really change that even if I wanted to."

"I guess that's fair, so he didn't tell you anything then."

"Of course not. Why would he? He's still so damn proud! He can't even…"

"Franziska…"

"Sorry, I lost my cool for a bit. It's just really frustrating. I wish he'd stop being so proud all the time."

"Yes, they do say Pride is a deadly sin and that it's the original sin in some ways."

"If you believe in stuff like that."

"In this case it certainly was. Though I think it's more than that."

"More than that? What do you mean?"

"I don't know all the details, but I think… it has to do with Mama."

"Mama!" I ask sitting up straight.

"Yes, I think it might be involved."

"I'll… have to look into it then, thank you, Rina."

"Any time."

"I'll talk to you later then…"

"Later."

I hang up the phone putting it down.

Mama…

Is she really the root of all of this? Well, I guess both Miles and I have things to look into.

Maya

Even though we won the trial and everyone seems to be really happy now I still feel really bad. I couldn't channel my sister, not really.

I'm not very good with court stuff, and now I'm not very good at even doing my spiritual training.

I really need to get back to Kurain and continue my training. If I don't get better with my training then how can I be any help?"

"Maya, are you alright?"

I look up to see Nick

"Hey Nick, I'm alright, it's just…"

"Just what? You can talk to me, you know?"

"I know. I mean… it's just… I know that Ms. von Karma has been giving me some pointers on law, but… I just feel like I wasn't able to help at all in the case. I mean…"

"Maya, you are instrumental in the case. If it weren't for you we wouldn't have been able to win the case."

"What do you mean?" What are you talking about, Nick? I didn't do anything, I couldn't even summon Mia.

"Think about it. If we didn't get the DL-6 bullet from von Karma we would never have won. We could never have tied him to the crime and saved Edgeworth."

"I… guess you're right about that, but… I still need to continue my training. I mean I'm supposed to be a spirit medium, and I may become the master soon."

"What do you mean, Maya? I mean you think your mother is still alive, right?"

"Yeah, I mean we're not sure if she is or not. She's been gone for fifteen years, but that's just it…"

"It's just what?"

"Well, in my village if a person is gone for twenty years then they are considered to be dead. Since I'm the only remaining daughter of the current master I will have to take it if she doesn't show up in the next five years."

"What would happen if you didn't strengthen your powers?"

"I guess my cousin would become the master since she is the closest in line, but I don't feel like I can just abandon it like that, you know?"

"I understand that Maya, I won't keep you from your training, you just have to promise me something."

"What is it, Nick?"

"Be careful, Maya," he says.

"Of course, you be careful too, Nick!"

"Of course, thank you, Maya."

"Good! And when we see each other again I'll be an even better medium than ever before!"

"I know you will, Maya," he says. "Though I guess not everything about the DL-6 incident has been wrapped up."

"Because Mother is still missing you mean? I heard she was one of the best mediums in the family, I can't imagine she would fail like that, but…"

"Maybe she didn't, it's hard to say. If Mr. Edgeworth didn't' know who actually killed him then it's possible that he didn't have an answer, but didn't want to say that so he could protect Edgeworth."

"If I was a better medium I would summon Mr. Edgeworth so that he can get some closure about the whole thing."

"I know, maybe after your training, and maybe one day we'll find out about your mother as well."

"You think so, Nick?"

"I know so. Because we're not alone. Though to be fair… I'm not sure if Edgeworth wants to believe in channeling after what happened. Though I guess it's hard to argue for him since you've channeled Mia before."

"Do you think he's conflicted about the whole thing?"

"Yeah, he must be. I mean I would too in his situation."

"Well, it doesn't matter right now since I can't actually channel right now. I can't even channel my sister so there's no way I can summon someone else."

"Is it easier to channel your sister?"

"It's easier to channel a member of the Fey clan. I guess it's the same reason we can channel. I don't really know the details, but I guess it's kind of like they are easier to get in touch with."

"I see, well I guess that does make sense."

"Yes, and I'm going to go train really hard so that when we meet again I can channel more than just my sis. You'll see, I'm going to be great!"

"I believe you," he says with a smile. "It seems we all have some things to work on and ways to grow."

I smile back. "That's true, we do, it's going to be amazing! When we see each other again, you better get me burgers."

"You and your burgers," he laughs. "But alright, I'll get you burgers."

"Sweet! All right!" I cheer jumping up. I'm going to become so strong, Nick won't know what to do! This will be great! "Thanks, Nick."

"You're welcome, and thank you asl well."

"You're welcome," I say hugging Nick. He hugs me as well smiling at me. Yes… this will be great! I will help and be even better than before! Just wait, Nick! I'll help you even more than ever!

Translations are below and are from Google Translate, so I'm sorry if they're not the best. The formating for it has been changed because it's easier to deal with.

The conversation between Katharina and Franziska, and Rillia and Franziska is italicized to show emphasize that they're speaking in German.

Translations:

German→English:

Ich hasse ihn→I hate him

Warum? Warum tut es so weh?→Why? Why does it hurt so much?

Aber... aber er liebt mich nicht. →But ... but he does not love me.

Sie benötigen Beweise, um diese Behauptung zu erheben→You need evidence to make this claim

Samurai-König→Samurai King

Japanese→English:

Preview

Franziska

"It's an emergency, sir!"

"An emergency?" I'm tempted to use my whip to force him to just spill it already, but for some reason, I keep my hand by my side.

"Yeah, it's Mr. Edgeworth!"

"Miles?! What about my little brother?" I demand, standing from my chair and walking around the desk.