Usagi Tsukino: Ace Attorney

Part 8: Turnabout Crossover (4; Trial part 2)

Usagi waited in the courtroom lobby. Today was the day. She would prove Akane Tendo's innocence, and reveal the truth to the court.

She just hoped her theory was right. No, she reminded herself, she had to be right. It all added up. Besides, she had to believe in her client.

The bailiff came forward, and she followed him into the courtroom. It was now time. Time to reveal the truth.

She stood at the defence's stand, ready to face down her opponent. Ami stood at the opposite end, ready to counter Usagi at every turn.

The Judge sat before them all and banged her gavel. "Court is now in session! The defence and prosecution may begin. Are you both ready?"

"The defence is ready, Your Honour."

"The prosecution is also ready, Your Honour."

"Then the trial may begin. Miss Mizuno, I was told your witness is ready?"

'Gah! So soon?' Usagi thought to herself.

Ami nodded. "Yes Your Honour. In fact, she volunteered to come to the stand."

'She?'

The Judge nodded. "Then may the witness please take the stand?"

Slowly, someone stepped up onto the witness stand and turned to the court. Usagi stared in pure shock, and Rei and Ranma were dumbfounded.

"May the witness please state her name for the court?" Ami asked casually.

"Nabiki Tendo, high school student, and older sister of the defendant, Akane Tendo."

Ami nodded. "So, you're here to offer testimony? You should have come as the defence's witness. After all, it is THEY who are defending your sister."

Nabiki chuckled sardonically. "I'm not an idiot, unlike certain other people around here. No, I think both the defence and the prosecution may be interested to know what I have to say."

Usagi frowned. "Get to the point, Miss Tendo."

Nabiki shrugged, shaking her head slightly. "Simple. My sister is not the murderer...but Ranma Saotome is. And, unlike my sister, he isn't conveniently away from the country, is he now?"

Rei gasped and Ranma paled, staring in pure disbelief and shock. Usagi gritted her teeth in anger.

'So, this is her back up plan.' Usagi straightened up. "Miss Tendo, please give testimony as to how you can back up this accusation?"

The middle Tendo smirked. "Of course, that's just what I was about to do." She chuckled.

-SUSPECTING RANMA-

"Now then, do go ahead and enlighten us as to your theory that Ranma Saotome is the killer and not, as initially believed, Akane Tendo." Ami said breathlessly.

Nabiki curtsied. "Very well, if that is all that you require. Well, think about it, Ranma has just as much motive as Akane. Kuno was constantly fighting him over Akane and a certain 'pig-tailed girl'. After killing him, he dressed up the crime scene and framed Akane, even making Kuno's insane sister believe she saw my sister rather than Ranma. And then, feeling remorse, he sent her away and pretended to be her, possibly as a backup plan of sorts." She shrugged. "And that's all I have to say."

-TESTIMONY END-

"So," Ami began, "are you saying that one of their fights got out of hand and resulted in Mr. Kuno's death."

Nabiki shook her head. "Absolutely not. He's far too skilled to accidentally hurt anyone...but...what if it wasn't an accident?" She smirked evilly.

Usagi slammed her hand on her desk. "Are you accusing Ranma Saotome of premeditated murder!"

"You're not as stupid as you appear, Miss Tsukino." Nabiki smirked. "That is precisely, what I am saying."

Usagi growled. 'Damn. And since Ranma is not my client, I can't say anything about it!'

"Usagi." Rei said from beside her. "We have to disprove her testimony. Ranma is not a murderer, I am sure of it."

Usagi nodded. "You're right, Rei-chan. But, I'm not sure I can even find any holes in her testimony..."

"You have to try! Otherwise, Ranma's gonna get arrested, and we'll never find the real killer!"

"Miss Tsukino," the Judge called down, "are you ready to begin your cross examination?"

"Yes, Your Honour." Usagi turned to Nabiki, ready to face her down.

-CROSS-EXAMINATION: SUSPECTING RANMA-

"Well, think about it, Ranma has just as much motive as Akane. Kuno was constantly fighting him over Akane and a certain 'pig-tailed girl'."

"HOLD IT! ...Not a very strong motive." Usagi replied. "It's pretty insubstantial."

Nabiki smirked. "But what if I told you that the 'pig-tailed girl' that Kuno was after...was also Ranma Saotome, he just didn't know about it? Then you can add a rivalry with harassment, plus Kuno has made Ranma's life very...uncomfortable shall we say? He has plenty of reasons for wanting him dead."

"Besides," Ami added, "Motive's motive, no matter how...insubstantial."

"The defendant may continue her testimony...IF the defence has no further objections?" The Judge proclaimed.

"N-no, Your Honour." Usagi replied, looking down morosely.

"After killing him, he dressed up the crime scene and framed Akane, even making Kuno's insane sister believe she saw my sister rather than Ranma."

"HOLD IT!" Usagi called out. "What do you mean he 'dressed up the crime scene'?"

"Oh, you know. He removed any evidence connecting him to the crime scene, and planted some evidence to incriminate Akane, you know the sort of thing."

"And the crime scene itself?" Usagi pressed. "Where do you think it was?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She smirked, producing several wads of money, smirking. "It was at the front of the school, where he was found. Or are you so stupid you don't even pay attention to the tiniest things when walking by a crime scene, like a DEAD BODY?"

Usagi flinched. "I...I would like the witness to append her statement."

"Very well," Nabiki sighed, and continued. "The crime must've taken place at the front of the school, where the body was found."

"OBJECTION!" Usagi called out, presenting the Drag Marks. "Nabiki Tendo, you weren't here at the last trial session were you?"

"No." Nabiki replied huffily. "I saw no point in seeing you protect a guilty person, or at least who I believed to be guilty at the time. Are you going to scold me for not believing in my sister at the time?"

The blonde shook her head. "Of course not, I just want to point something out to you. Last time, we had brought up some interesting evidence that raised the possibility of the body being moved."

"Indeed." Ami nodded. "In fact, we had a full forensic sweep of the entire crime scene and surrounding school, and found no evidence to support that Kuno was killed there."

"GRAAH!" Nabiki growled, ripping the wad of bills she was holding in half. "S-So what! That changes nothing! Ranma is still the guilty party!" She scowled.

Usagi shook her head. "There is no definitive evidence to support that theory, no matter how sound it is."

"Do you have any evidence to disparage my claim!" Nabiki demanded. "If not, I would gladly produce evidence to support my theories, if that is perfectly acceptable with you?"

The blonde gulped. "Y-you have...evidence...?"

Nabiki smirked. "Indeed I do...I didn't bring it out before because I didn't think much of it before. You see, I did some private investigating on my own and found out something interesting...there was a DNA sample on Kuno's body."

"There was!" Ami muttered to herself. "Then why wasn't I told anything?"

"Naturally, I have some sway in the legal department." Nabiki continued, smirking. "They were rather keen to help keep it off the record, after I gave them a little...incentive." She chuckled sardonically.

'GRRRRR!' Usagi gritted her teeth in frustration and anger. 'How come I didn't find anything! And how DARE she make a mockery of the legal system like that!'

"Usagi." Rei said calmly. "She's lying. I'm sure we would've found something after searching Kuno's body ourselves."

"Yeah, but Ukyo got evidence from the scene, but how are we to know whether or not she didn't keep something to herself, like something that incriminated Ranma or Akane...?"

"Then what you need to do is prove at least the POSSIBLITY of there being another culprit, someone who hasn't been considered."

Usagi nodded. "Alright, Nabiki Tendo! I'd like to hear some more testimony."

Nabiki sneered, waving another wad of bills. "If that's what you want, but you won't be hearing anything useful."

-INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE-

"I had checked out the body myself, because I was worried about my sister's well being...and found something interesting. It was a strand of hair...which coincidentally, belonged to Ranma Saotome. Or so the forensics team told me. And i can assure you; we found no other evidence apart from that." She flashed the bills again.

-END TESTIMONY-

Usagi gulped. "You...are you sure it's Ranma's...?"

"A team of forensics experts confirmed it." Ami remarked. "I doubt very highly they would make a mistake."

"If you want, I can give you the forensics report, just to be on the safe side." Nabiki handed over a small folder.

(Forensics report added to the Court Record)

Usagi slumped at her desk. "There's no way we can win now...I guess I was wrong..."

Rei placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Don't say that! You must believe in your client, no matter what! Sure it looks bad, but I'm sure there's some way of turning it around. Think: what about all that other evidence Ukyo found? Surely we can sue that somehow?"

Usagi perked. "Of course! You're right! And I know just what I need to do! You Honour, may I begin cross-examination?"

The Judge nodded. "Very well. Begin the cross-examination."

-CROSS-EXAMINATION: INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE-

"I had checked out the body myself, because I was worried about my sister's well being...and found something interesting."

"HOLD IT! I thought you were convinced of her guilt?"

"Just because I suspected her now doesn't mean I suspected her then." Nabiki shook her head. "Really now, use your brain once in a while."

"Trust me, she rarely finds a good use for it." Ami replied.

Usagi pouted. "Stop ganging up on me!"

"If we could get back to the testimony please!" The Judge cried out, banging her gavel. "We don't have time to discuss the defence's lack of intelligence!"

"Not you too You Honour...?" Usagi whined.

"It was a strand of hair...which coincidentally, belonged to Ranma Saotome. Or so the forensics team told me."

"HOLD IT! Perhaps the forensics team was mistaken?" Usagi countered hopefully.

"These are trained professionals." Ami replied. "We wouldn't bother hiring them if they made mistakes like that!"

"URK!" Usagi flinched. "Ok...just trying to cover all angles..."

"And I can assure you; we found no other evidence apart from that."

"TAKE THAT!" Usagi presented Yen Bill. "Nabiki, you seem to like flashing all that money around..."

Nabiki smirked, once again flashing the bills. "Quite so. I'm a business woman at heart, and this is the profit I make from my hard work."

Usagi nodded. "And what is that you do?"

"This and that." Nabiki replied vaguely.

"WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE WITNESS' TESTIMONY!" Ami shrieked.

"I'm getting to that." Usagi reassured her friend. "Alright then, getting to the point...since you are so wealthy, would you notice if one your bills was missing?"

Nabiki shrugged. "Probably not. It depends on the price."

"How about, for example's sake, 10,000 yen."

"Then I doubt I would."

"Hmm interesting..." Usagi continued. "Even if it had...A SPOT OF BLOOD ON IT!"

Nabiki ripped her money half again. "WH-WHAT!"

"This 10,000 yen bill was found at the crime scene...at least, according to the testimony of one Ukyo Kuonji, who ahd taken it for reasons I am not quite sure of myself."

"So?" Nabiki said, sneering." What does that have to with anything?"

Usagi shrugged. "Well, maybe not a whole lot...EXCEPT THIS BILL HAS A SINGLE SPOT OF BLOOD ON IT!"

Nabiki scowled, gripping a wad of cash tightly. "S-so what! That could be from anything! It might not even come from a human as far as we know!"

Usagi smirked. "A simple DNA test will prove how relevant this is to the case. Ami, could you give the bill to forensics and have them analyse it?"

Ami nodded. "of course, and so as to avoid any tampering on the witness' part, we shall get a whole new team, just for this case."

"W-WHAT!" Nabiki cried out, ripping the bills in half again.

"I don't trust a team if it is obeying the words of outside forces." Ami explained. "I find it hard to believe you ahven't tampered with any evidence, including that forensics report you gave me. How am I to know if it's not comepletely faked?"

Nabiki growled. "H-How dare you...! What I do is only BENEFICIAL to your case!"

Ami shook her head. "Not if its made under false accusations and using falsified evidence. That's not what a prosecutor does."

Nabiki growled, gripping a wad of bills tightly. "D-Damn you...!"

~a few minutes later~

Ami held up the new forensics report. "We got the results of the tests right here. As it turns out," Ami slammed her hand on the desk, "this bill if 10,000 yen also contains on it a sample of Tatewaki Kuno's blood!"

Nabiki growled. "S-so what! Th-that doesn't prove anything...!"

Usagi smirked. "You're shaking there, Miss Tendo. Somethign we should know?"

"N-no..." The middle Tendo trembled in frustration and anger.

"I'm not finished." Ami said, glaring at Nabiki.

"Th-there's more...?" Nabiki asked nervously.

"Indeed, for you see...a sample of Nabiki Tendo's own blood was also on the bill!"

"WH-WHAT!"

Usagi smirked confidently. "Hmm, seems the shoe is on the other foot, Miss Tendo. How does it feel, having a piece of DNA evidence incriminate YOU rather than your target?"

"And let me assure you, Miss Tendo," Ami added, disapprovingly, "that not a single factor of this report is fabricated or altered in any way. Now then, I think we all have a big question for you, Nabiki Tendo..."

"Why is your blood mixed in with the victims?" Usagi finished for her. "Pretty big coincidence, your DNA being on the same piece of evidence as the victims"

"N-no..." Nabiki muttered pitiably, shaking nervously. "T-this can't be... I-It wasn't supposed to turn out this way...Th-this...this is...!" And with that, she threw open her arms and released several bills into the air, wailing like a madwoman, and then she collapsed onto the stand, panting.

"W-we did it..." Rei muttered, shocked beyond belief. "W-we won..."

"Don't count you chickens before they hatch, Rei-chan." USagi whispered back.

The Judge shook her head in amazement. "Well...I guess we can say that the truth has been revealed. It is obvious to this Judge's eyes that the culprit is surely Nabi—"

"HOLD IT!"

"M-Miss Tsukino!" The Judge cried out in astonishment. "Wh-what is the meaning of this outburst!"

"Yeah, Usagi," Rei asked, "what gives? I mean, you won..."

"It's not about winning." Ami answered. "It's about the truth."

Usagi nodded. "Correct. I have reason to believe that Nabiki is not Tatewaki Kuno's killer."

"WHAT! The Judge and Rei both shouted out.

"For one thing," Ami explained, "Nabiki Tendo doesn't have the right build to have inflicted the damage upon Mr. Kuno's body, and is in fact quite unskilled in any physical accomplishments, let alone martial arts."

"Are you calling me a weakling?" Nabiki growled. "So I'm not a musclehead like my sister, that doesn't make me less of a person."

"And neither does being an accomplice to murder?" Ami retorted. "Furthermore, she wouldn't have been able to carry Tatewaki Kuno due to his larger frame and build. And we haven't even touched a motive. However, the possibility does exist that she is in some way an accomplice."

The Judge shook her head. "This is getting far too complicated...and do you have any ideas who the actual culprit is?"

Usagi nodded. "Indeed I do. I'd like to call Miss Shampoo to the stand!"

The Judge tilted her head slightly. "You...are calling...a bottle of shampoo to the stand?"

Ami shook her ehad. "I believe she is actually calling for a PERSON named Shampoo. She appears to be some sort of Chinese immigrant, and seems to work at a restaurant that predominantly serves ramen."

The Judge nodded. "Alright. DETECTIVE GUMSHOE!"

"Y-yes pal?"

"Go find this Shampoo person and please allow her to stand as a witness and possible suspect."

"R-right, pal!"

Shampoo now stood at the witness stand, looking completely lost.

"Witness," Ami began, "please state your name and occupation."

"um...Shampoo no speak Japanese well." The Amazon stated, sweat dropping. "Please repeat question, yes, make simpler, yes?"

Ami groaned. "Your name and what you do for a job, if you please...or do you want it simplified even further?"

"No, no, Shampoo understand. Well, name Shampoo, and work waitress at Nekohanten restaurant. Now why Shampoo at strange building?"

"ah yes, well, it appears that you have been named as a suspect in the murder of a young man name Tatewaki Kuno."

Shampoo tilted her head in confusion. "...who that?"

"The idiot boy." Nabiki explained derisively.

"OH! Stupid-sword-boy!"

"Um...yes." Ami said, taken aback. "If you could please give us your testimony."

"ok!"

-WHERE I WAS DURING THE MURDER-

Ami cleared her throat. "Please tell us where you were at the time of the murder."

"Um...Shampoo at Nekohanten. Shampoo work lately always, especially weekends. Shampoo just clean up store, put away thing, get rid leftovers, that all. Shampoo do nothing else all night." She smiled pleasantly.

-END TESTIMONY-

Usagi frowned. "I'm not sure there is anything I can attack with that..."

Rei nodded. "Perhaps, but still, you gotta try. You must be right: She's the one, I can feel it."

Usagi nodded. "Right. I just gotta expose her lies...somehow..."

-CROSS-EXAMINATION: WHERE I WAS DURING THE MURDER-

"Um...Shampoo at Nekohanten. Shampoo work lately always, especially weekends. Shampoo just clean up store, put away thing, get rid leftovers, that all. Shampoo do nothing else all night."

"OBJECTION!" Usagi presented Strange Residue. "Tell me, Miss Shampoo, you say you were, among other things, cleaning the restaurant. Would you say you are...good at this job?"

The lavender-haired Amazon nodded. "Yes, Shampoo clean very good."

"And yet...YOU MISSED A SPOT! There was a noticeable trace of an unknown substance found at the Nekohanten...tell me that that is a good cleaning job!"

The Judge frowned. "We're ehre to find out if this girl is guilty of murder, Miss Tsukino, not of negligent custodial work!"

"I think Tsukino's trying to make a point." Ami intervened. "Go on, Usagi."

"Thank you Ami...Mizuno." Tsukino turned abck to Shampoo. "The point is that this same substance was found at another sight...can you guess where?"

Shampoo shook her head.

"It was...FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE!"

Shampoo jerked back, gripping her tight in her hands, pulling it right back.

"So?" Ami countered. "It could be anything, like some spilled soda or something."

"Possibly," Usagi conceded, "but you're not the only one who can make use of forensics, Mizuno. As it turns out, the substance in question is in fact a rare narcotic known only to a select few individuals in a certain part of China...namely Shampoo's people, the Chinese Amazons!"

Shampoo jerked back again, pulling on her hair. "TH-THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING! THERE COULD BE A BUNCH OF REASONS WHY THAT SUBSTANCE WAS AT BOTH PLACES!"

Usagi quirked an eyebrow. "Why Miss Shampoo...what happened to your accent and your clueless demeanor, huh?"

Shampoo jerked back again, and scowled. "Ok, I was acting alright!" She pulled herself together, becoming much calmer, smirking arrogantly. "Ok, sure, I admit, the narcotic does seem suspicious, but that doesn't make me a murderer. Besides, as I said, there could be numerous reasons as to how they got there."

Usagi continued to smirk. 'Just you wait! I shattered one of your lies, and I'm sure I'll do so again!'

Ami frowned seriously. "Why did you put up that act?"

"I find it makes it easier for me to get around if people think I'm some stupid bimbo who can't even speak right. The accent helps greatly in creating this faced." She shrugged. "But, now I'm done fooling around. The defence attorney there merely caught me off guard. I won't be so easily startled this time."

'We shall see...' Usagi thought.

Shampoo smirked. "Alright then. Get ready, because the real battle begins now!"

-CONNECTION TO MURDER-

"Heh. You got me to open up, but that's all. You haven't proven a single thing in regards to the murder. You've got nothing to connect me to it, nor to this 'narcotic' you mentioned."

-END TESTIMONY-

Usagi smirked. "Heh. Nabiki was tougher than this."

Rei nodded. "I guess that's why she needed Nabiki. But be careful, animals are at their most dangerous when cornered."

"Right" The blonde nodded.

-CONNECTION TO MURDER-

"Heh. You got me to open up, but that's all. You haven't proven a single thing in regards to the murder. You've got nothing to connect me to it, nor to this 'narcotic' you mentioned."

"OBJECTION!" Usagi presented Hair Strand. "This was another piece of evidence found at the crime scene, but I also found another sample at the Nekohanten."

Shampoo frowned. "So what? It's just hair."

"I have a feeling you will be much more concerned with this hair when we run a DNA test. Bailiff! Send this to the forensics lab."

"Yes Miss Tsukino!"

"I have the results of the test!" the bailiff shouted. "They match a sample we got from Miss Shampoo."

Shampoo scowled, her fingers digging into the witness stand. "H-how...!" Shampoo glared angrily, gritting her teeth.

"Anything you wish to say in your defence, Miss Shampoo?"

"I...It's a lie...someone...someone's trying to frame me..." The lavender-haired girl said through gritted teeth, and then suddenly regained her composure, resting her bonbori on her shoulder. "Heh, almost had me worried, but is that all the proof you got?"

Usagi growled. 'Doesn't she know when to give up!'

Shampoo shrugged. "Sure, the strange residue combined with my hair sample does look incriminating, but it doesn't prove anything. Besides, you don't even have a motive. Why would I kill someone I hardly know?"

"Urk!" Usagi flinched. 'She has a point...'

Ami shook her head. "Then pray, testify to this court about your motive."

Shampoo rested a bonbori on her shoulder, smirking. "And why should I do that? Your laws are NOT that same as my laws. Even if I WAS guilty of anything, you cannot try me unless you can prove it. Case dismissed." She turned to leave. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a restaurant to work at."

Usagi shook in rage, slamming her fist on the table. 'Is that it! Is that all I can accomplish...! Is this as far as we can go...!'

Rei placed a hand on Usagi's shoulder. "Usagi...what can we do...?"

USagi glared at Shampoo, determination rising. 'No way! I won't give up! If the law can save Rei, then it can save Ranma!' She pointed at Shampoo. "HOLD IT!"

Shampoo turned, frowning. "What now?"

"I have evidence to support your connection to the murder and the narcotics!"

The Amazon's eye twitched. "WHAT!"

"TAKE THAT!" Usagi presented the Document she had received from Cologne. "That Document is written in a form of Chinese, most likely Mandarin. According to Cologne, your own grandmother, it is an agreement on the transportation, distribution and production of a highly dangerous narcotic. She found it in a room in her restaurant, and also had this to say: Very few people would know of how to make it, especially here!"

Shampoo pulled her hair, slamming her face into the witness stand. "Th-then...could be..."

"HOLD IT!" Ami shouted. "Don't try and reason yourself out of this! The only other person would be someone named Mousse, but his eyesight and lack of guile would make it incredibly difficult to be able to attempt this. Plus, Nabiki, who has lots of money and influence and has been identified as an accomplice to this murder, was seen hanging around YOU most of the time."

Shampoo slammed her head against the stand. "Th...That's all just meaningless conjecture...prove that it was me who killed Kuno...I...I DEMAND PROOF!"

Usagi smirked. "Very well then..." Usagi presents the Bloody Yen. "This yen bill has a blood sample from both Tatewaki Kuno and Nabiki Tendo...but how did they get there. Kuno probably got an injury from the fight, likely a small scratch, but what about Nabiki? How did she get injured?"

"How should I know?" Shampoo growled.

Usagi smirked. "It should be your concern; after all...you probably have a similar injury! Bailiff, search the witness!"

"DON'T YOU DARE COME NEAR ME!"

The bailiff ignored her and searched her, brining up a bandaged hand and undid the bandage. "Here we are, sir! There's a scratch on her hand!"

"Search Nabiki Tendo!"

Nabiki Tendo was searched, where a similar wound was found near her shoulder.

Several minutes later, another forensic test was conducted. "We discovered traces of a special rare wood that locally is found in the wooden sword used by Tatewaki Kuno."

Usagi smirked. "Well then, looks like you lost. Is that proof enough for you, or do you have any other objections?"

Shampoo's eye twitched, and she gripped the witness stand shakily. "I...I...I...!" She repeatedly rammed her head against the stand as she screamed, until the stand had been splintered and broken, and blood streamed from her forehead, she lifted her head up, scowling furiously, and blood pouring from a wound on her forehead.

"I-it was so perfect...I had stumbled along the recipe for the product once, a long ago...After coming here, I managed to come into possession of all the ingredients, and so all I needed was a business partner, to ensure everything was distributed and we got a nice profit. And then that fool managed to follow Nabiki, probably trying to buy her services again, and that's when he stumbled on our...project."

"W-what is all this!"

"Hm hm. I told you not to come in here, did I not?"

"What's going on here! Just what are you doing here!"

"Just a little...business I've got going on."

"We tried to quieten him down, and think of some way to stop him from talking. It was obvious even to his eyes what we were doing..."

"I...I knew you were up to no good, but this! I will not allow this...this debauchery to go on!"

"And just what do you think you're doing?"

"RAAAH!"

"And that's when he attacked us, giving me and Nabiki our wounds. We knew then that there was no helping it and so we...disposed of the witness."

CRUNCH!

THUD!

"...Tch, I knew he was troublesome. I guess I should try and get rid of his body... No, on second thought, I think I have a better idea..."

"Of course, now we needed to get rid of the body...and that's when I realised we could use his death to our advantage. By getting rid of Akane, I would be able to win Ranma's affections, and she would be able to easily distribute the product at our school...and we would've gotten away with it too...if it weren't for you meddling attorneys..."

Shampoo panted, and then suddenly picked up a bonbori and leapt at Usagi, but Gumshoe leapt in the as she swung down, getting knocked unconscious. Shampoo smirked wickedly. "I told you...I don't care about your laws."

Suddenly, Ranma grabbed her from behind. "Shampoo, I won't let you hurt Usagi-san!"

Shampoo growled, scowling. "How dare you! Y-you are just a man!"

Cologne appeared in front of the young girl. "And you are just a girl. You are not above the law, not in this country, and not in our tribe." She poked a point on the girl's neck, and Shampoo fell unconscious. The old woman sighed. "Well...so much for my faith in her...my people shall take it from here...we'll see to it that justice is done..."

Usagi bowed thankfully. "Thank you for your help, Cologne-san."

"You're welcome my dear." The old woman bowed back, as she walked off, dragging an unconscious Shampoo behind her.

Soun Tendo cried a waterfall of tears. "My poor baby girl! How could she do such a thing to her own sister!"

Usagi frowned. "She wanted to protect her business, and Shampoo wanted to get rid of a rival, so I'm guessing a deal was struck. I guess Nabiki was willing to do whatever it took to make sure they were not discovered..."

"Well," Rei said, "at least they were exposed in the end. I'd hate to think how it would've gone down if we hadn't fought so hard."

Ranma walked up to them. "I...I sent a letter to Akane...hopefulyl...she'll come back soon...And...Usagi-san..." She bowed. "Thank you so much! Thanks to you, Akane can return home and not have to worry about being branded a murderer! And I...I cn return to bein' a guy again!"

Usagi grinned, rubbignt he back of ehr ehad. "Aw, I was just doing my job. If it wasn't for Cologne, I never would've realised who the culprits were."

"Still, thank you!" Ranma repeated, still bowing. "Thanks to you...we can now go back to the way things were...mostly..."

Rei smield. "I'm sure you can take of yourself...after all...we did what we came ehre to do, so now we can go back hom to Juban."

Ranma smiled. "I'll...visit you...sometime.."

Usagi smiled. "Of course. After all...we're friends, aren't we?"

Ranma smiled back.

They were on the train back to Juban, when out the window they saw Ranma, Kasumi, Soun, Ukyo and a couple people they didn't even know, waving at them. The two girls waved back, smiling widely.

They had made a few new friends, and saw that justice was done.

A few days later, Usagi would be notified by Cologne that Shampoo had been banished by their tribe and ahd been apprehended by the local police force and sent to a high-security prison. Nabiki ahd been sent to prison as well, due to ehr part in both the murder and the running of the drug smuggling.

Usagi sighed, and hoped that Ranma and all the others were doing alright. She turned as Rei came in, along with two people she came to recognise quite well.

Ranma and Akane stood, side by side, with ranma in ehr girl form, looking like twins, and they bowed. "Thank you for all that you have done for us!" they said in unison.

Usagi smield. "Please sit down, and tell me how things have gone."

The two nodded, and sat down as Rei closed the door behind her.

Well, this case is now finally done.

Yes, I had planend for Nabiki and Shampoo to eb the villains from the beginning, though originally Nabiki was going to eb the sole perpetrator. But, as time passes, things change, and so here we are.

I decided to create reactions for both characters, much as they would have in the games. Each reaction has a specific time in which it is used, and now I will list them.

Nabiki:

Cocky: Flashes her money and smirks. This pose appears when the witness is assured they will win and that you cannot break them.

Nervous: Tightly grips the money she had previously flashed. Happens when the witness is worried and afraid you're about to break through their lies.

Damage: Rips her money in half. Happens when you find a hole in the testimony/expose their lie.

Breakdown: Spreads her arms and throws her money in the air, and then collapses. What the series is probably best known and loved for, this happens when the witness is defeated and thus does a very overly dramatic reaction.

Shampoo:

Cocky: Rests her bonbori on her shoulder and smirks arrogantly.

Nervous: Grips her hair in her hands, bending back slightly.

Damage: Slams her head on the witness stand.

Breakdown: Repeatedly slams her head into the witness stand until it breaks and blood pours from her head.

Of course, Usagi can't deal with the aftermath, cause that's not how it works, so we won't see what happens with anyone else (though we can assume that everything has all been sorted out and everyone is doing a little better).

The next case is gonna be a doozy...

Hope you enjoyed it and please comment.