Chapter 5: Memories & Investigation 1

Time: 4:40 p.m. Date: June 6th, 2006
Location: Detention Center

"Feenie…" Iris started.

"How is everything Iris?" I asked.

"It has been relatively quiet here." Iris replied. "Overall I'm still very excited that I'll be with you soon…"

I blushed red, and James chuckled.

"So you're Iris Hawthorne?" James asked.

"Yes I am." Iris said.

"So that makes you Dahlia Hawthorne's sister…" James said darkly.

Iris lowered her head. "Yes it does…"

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to cause trouble!" James quickly corrected. "It's just that I've seen her before."

Iris raised her head.

"You have?" she asked, confused.

"Yes, I have." James said. "Years ago, when Dahlia was a young teenager. Since you and her are around the same age as Mr. Wright, that would make me about 7 years younger. When I did see meet her, I was around 11, making her 15. I never asked her age, rudeness and whatnot."

Now both Iris and I were confused. He actually met Dahlia before I did? I thought. That long ago?

"You actually met her when she was that young?" I asked him.

"Yeah, but I don't remember too much." James said. "However, I don't remember her being mean either."

"She was never mean in the beginning." Iris said sadly. "She was a great person, if she had gone with me to Hazakura temple that time…"

A tear fell from Iris's eye.

"Oh Iris…" I said. "I'm here."

"Thank you Feenie…" she said.

I turned to James.

"So where exactly did you meet Dahlia?" I asked.

"I met her in Hazakura Temple." James said. "I also met her sister, Valerie Hawthorne. I didn't really get to know Valerie because that was the only time I saw her."

Before she was murdered…I thought.

"Basically," James continued. "She was an avid talker. She knew how to bend people to her will. It's true I was only 11 at the time, but my parents were impressed with her…and mesmerized."

Like how she enticed the judge and everyone in the courtroom during Mia's case…I thought.

"I didn't think about it at all after that. I didn't expect to see her again anyway." James said.

"Where did you meet her?" I asked, curiously.

"I met her at the train station." James said. "Sounds like a strange place to meet someone, but Valerie was with her, and they were talking, and they recognized my mother's robes from Kurain. They spoke for a little bit, and then that was it."

"James?" Iris asked.
James turned and looked at Iris. "Yes?" he asked.

"If your mother had been at Kurain, wearing the acolyte robes, why isn't she there now?" Iris wondered.

"She retired." James said.

"Retired?" I asked.

"Yeah." James said. "When you reach a certain age, you can be voted in to become an elder, or leave. Because she already had a husband, she could leave when she reached the age. She was well liked in Kurain, but like me, she also resented the Elders."

Runs in the family…I thought.

"As for my father, he's abroad half the time. Business and stuff like that." James concluded.

"Ahhh, makes sense." I said. "So your father is never around?"

"Oh he's around sometimes. I'm usually abroad anyway too. But right now, is the exception." James replied.

"Indeed." I said. "Well I guess that's enough talking, we gotta head to Kurain."

"Oh I can't wait." James said evilly.

"James…Don't" I started.

"Gah, fine." James groaned. "Guess I'll wear a disguise or something. Maybe sunglasses."

"Whatever works." I said. "Meet me outside James; I gotta hang back for a minute."

"5 minutes, Wright." James snorted, and left.

Iris giggled. "He's an energetic one."

I chuckled. "Indeed he is."

I turned serious and looked at Iris.

"Iris…" I began. "Soon."

She nodded. "I will be with you soon…Feenie."

His heart sank, it's so cruel for someone like her to be in an institution like this. It just wasn't fair.

A tear ran from my eye, which surprised Iris.

"Phoenix?" Iris wondered.

"I'm sorry Iris…" I said. "It's just that…you shouldn't be in here!"

"Phoenix…I helped a murderer cover up a crime scene." Iris replied sadly. "I deserve to—"

"No!" I said a little forcefully. "You're a great person! You wouldn't hurt anyone! I wish you weren't a victim in this. I-it hurts me to see you in here because you are not a criminal."

"Thank you…Feenie." Iris replied. "But I'm here, and there's nothing we can do to change that."

"The sentence will run out soon!" I said quickly. "You'll be out of here before you know it!"

A smile broke through her sad expression.

"You always somehow make me smile, Feenie." Iris said.

I blushed, and looked at my watch. 5:40!

Shoot! Phoenix thought. The last train to Kurain leaves at 6!

"Oh damn it!" I said. "I'm sorry Iris, I gotta go catch the next train to Kurain before it leaves!"

"Go quickly Feenie!" Iris said. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Good luck!"

"Thanks Rissy!" I replied quickly. I turned and bolted out of the detention center.

Iris watched Phoenix quickly run out of the detention center.

Iris put a hand to her chest.

"Oh dear…" Iris said to herself. "Sometimes I just want to punch this glass and hug him."

Time: 7:10 p.m. Date: June 6th 2006

Location: Kurain Village Gate

"What ridiculous attire, James." I said as we walked closer to the entrance to Kurain village.

"That's the 3rd time you've told me that…" James replied, annoyed.

"Just thought you should know." I replied, cheekily.

James was wearing a black trench coat with a baseball cap on his head. Under the trench coat he was wearing a blue robe that went down to his ankles, with sneakers at the bottom. To top it all off, he was wearing black sunglasses.

"Don't remind me; remember I'm not allowed here anymore." James said, nonplussed.

I rolled my eyes and kept walking. Eventually we came to the entrance of the village.

I reached out and knocked.

"Who goes there?" a woman's voice called.

"Phoenix Wright, attorney at law." I said. "And—"

"Alex Warr, college student." James cut in.

I turned to him. Choose a better name next time…I thought.

"You may enter." The woman's voice replied.

The gates creaked open, and James and I walked inside.

Immediately, I get knocked backwards to the ground. Before I know it, a very excited Maya is on top of me.

"NICK!" Maya screamed, excitedly. "NICK! NICK! NICK!"

"Maya!" I reply, stunned at the sudden attack. "How are you?"

"I'm great!" Maya replied. "I missed you! So did Pearly!"

"Hello, Maya…" James said.

Maya's head snapped up to the source of the greeting.

"Hey! Who are you?" Maya asked, confused.

James knelt next to Maya.

"Listen, Maya." James whispered. "It's me James, but I don't think I have to tell you why I'm disguised."

"James!" Maya whispered. "It's great to see you!"

"Shhh!" I said. "Keep it down, we can't let them know it's James!"

"For now Maya, call me Alex." James said. "That's my alias."

"Ok Ja—oops! Alex." Maya giggled. "Oh I'm never gonna get used to this!"

James looked up at me, disappointed.

"I'm screwed." James said unhappily.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Phoenix thought.