Chapter 3

*Beep*

"Fool!"

Why Miles Edgeworth insisted on informing Franziska EVERY time he got a new girlfriend was beyond her. Not to mention his tactless charade of pretending not to notice he was the object of almost every woman's desire. As far as Franziska was concerned, the 'perfect gentleman' routine was getting old now. Flirting without appearing to be flirting, that was just plain devious.

*CRACK*

Her whip bit into the empty air before her. God knows it hurt her when he was dating private acquaintances he had met at various functions, but to start dating their professional colleagues, well that was just pour salt into the wound. Speaking of which, Franziska clutched her shoulder as the ache began to well up deep inside it. Removing one of her gloves, Franziska carefully ran her hand under her shirt, gently feeling her way around the scar. She closed her eyes, briefly recounting the events of that day. She would cherish this scar for the rest of her life, the only reminder of the last time Miles had shown any care or affection to her.

*CRACK*

*CRACK*

Hot tears streamed down the young prosecutors face. After everything she'd been through, everything they'd been through, finding out that Miles Edgeworth was now dating that immature acolyte, one of the enemies, it burned a hole into her heart.

*CRACK*

*CRACK*

*CRACK*

As she let her frustrations dictate the ferocity of her lashes, the harder and faster she cast her whip. With each crack serving to fuel Franziska's anger, her concentration started to ebb as all the hurt, the anguish and the anger Miles Edgeworth had caused her began to take over her better judgement. Her lashes grew more violent and more frantic, as if she was trying to cast the pain from her body. It was during this fit of rage it happened.

"Argh!"

Franziska hissed as she felt her face erupt into a firestorm of pain. In her anger she had lost control of her whip causing it to recoil, striking her across the face. Shaking slightly she raised her still un-gloved hand to her face. As her nimble fingers danced across her face they grew warm and moist.

She sighed, her anger dissipating quickly, replaced by disappointment. She made her way into her bathroom to retrieve her first aid kit.

As she mopped the blood from her face she gazed longingly at her reflection. Obviously she was missing something if Miles Edgeworth took no notice of her. Was she not beautiful? Did he despise the way she dressed? Was it her Father?

"Why am I not good enough for him?"

Franziska let out another, longer, sigh. Only Miles Edgeworth was capable of making her display such foolish behaviour. She fought so hard for him, just to be a part of his life, and he never noticed.

After finishing clearing up the slice across her face, Franziska made her way into her kitchen. She'd have to work overtime tomorrow, get in early and leave late, staying in her office all day so no-one would see the mess she'd made. But still, at least it would keep her away from that fool. She cast a quick glance at her calendar, double checking she wasn't due in court today.

"Ack!"

As her eyes came to rest on the desired date, she could clearly see three words written in her perfectly crafted script.

Visit Papa's grave.

It was the anniversary of her father's execution tomorrow, how could she have forgotten? Franziska would never forgive her father for what he did to Miles Edgeworth, nor would she forgive him for shunning her because of Miles Edgeworth, but he was still her father and she still had her duty as his daughter to uphold.

Taking her cell phone from her pocket she made a brief phone call, ordering a wreath to put upon Manfred von Karma's grave when she visited tomorrow. He had been dead for two years now, and Franziska swore that every year she would pay her respects to him, after all he did leave the entirety of his estate and fortunes to her (except for a pistol with one bullet and an accompanying note that read "Do the world a favour", which he had left to Miles Edgeworth).

Having nothing else to do this evening, Franziska picked up a large law tome and immersed herself with it.


Franziska bowed her head in silent reverence to her father as she laid the pure white wreath against his tombstone.

"I'm sorry Papa. I'm sorry I was not perfect like you taught me to be."

Though she would never forgive him for his sins, Franziska had a hard time forgiving herself of her own, and for this she felt the need to apologise to her father. She was the only one left to uphold the von Karma name, her burden, and her cross to bear since her sister had been disowned and had married, and her mother died not long after she was born. Franziska closed her eyes as she knelt in front of the grave, placing her hands on the cold marble stone.

"Come on Mr Edgeworth!"

"How many times must I tell you to call me Miles? We're involved now Maya, it's quite peculiar to address your partner in such a formal way. I digress. As I have told you before, I do not wish to be here!"

Franziska looked up at the sound of two familiar voices only to see Miles Edgeworth being pulled by his sleeve towards Franziska by one Maya Fey.

"But Miles! He was your mentor! You HAVE to pay your respects! If you don't, I'll channel him!"

Franziska watched as Miles froze, her own temper rising at what had just been said.

"T-that's ok Maya! No need to do anything THAT drastic, I'll pay my respects! God knows, we're better off without him walking this earth."

"That's more like it! And afterwards you can buy me burgers and I might just consider trading my Ultra Rare Steel Samurai card with you!"

Miles chuckled before bending down and kissing Maya softly. Franziska watched in horror. It was the first time she'd seen Miles Edgeworth kiss another woman and it tore through her like the bullet had torn through her shoulder. She bit her lip hard, forcing the tears back, allowing her anger to rise again.

"Miss von Karma!"

She heard Maya call out to her as she bounded over to her.

"I didn't expect to see you here! I though you hated Mr von Karma?"

"That is none of your business."

Franziska's tone was sharp and clipped. She was not about to discuss her relationship with her father, and especially not to this girl.

"Franziska? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you Miles Edgeworth."

Franziska was seething inside. How dare he show up here, he had no right to be here.

"Maya insisted I come along, she threated to channel him if I didn't."

"So I heard."

Franziska's grip was tightening on her whip.

"Well as you might well imagine I don't want to be here, but I just can't say no to Maya, she's far too cute."

"Awww Mr Edg….Miles! You're making me blush!"

Miles stepped forward, placing the unloaded pistol and the note onto the grave before offering his final message to his mentor.

"Manfred von Karma, from this moment onwards I will have nothing more to do with you. I want no connections to you ever again. Though I may have become a prosecutor by your hand, I now follow this path by my own hand. I bid you farewell and as I leave this place, I leave behind all memories of you and every connection I have to you and your so called perfection."

Franziska did not swear very often, but it seemed Miles Edgeworth just had a knack of bringing out that kind of anger in her.

*CRACK*

"BASTARD!"

Tears were streaming down Franziska's face as she turned her back on Miles Edgeworth, throwing her whip down onto her father's grave and storming off, trying to make sense of what he'd just said. He wanted to cut all of his ties to her father. Well you couldn't get a bigger reminder of her father than herself.

She didn't stop to see if could still see her as she started to run. She wanted to get as far away from this place as possible.

It had barely been two months since he'd split up with Adrian Andrews and Franziska's last argument with him because of it. Her heart felt like he had stabbed her and was now twisting the knife.

As thoughts of her entire life flashed through her mind, Franziska found herself running faster and further, through backstreets and unfamiliar alleyways, trying to get away from the pain inside of her. It started raining as Franziska found herself deep in the heart of the cities slums realising she was lost.

She took her cell phone out of her pocket and dialled Detective Gumshoe.

*Beep Beep Beep*

No signal. Franziska's hand automatically moved to her hip to grab her whip before realising she no longer had it with her. Vulnerable, heartbroken and utterly alone, the great Franziska von Karma fell to her knees, he clothes becoming sodden in the rain.


Miles could hear sirens approaching. It had been 4 minutes since Adrian had called for an ambulance and the signs of life he had witnessed previously had seemingly gone. As the sirens grew louder Miles tried hard to remember his last words to Franziska.


A/N: As there has been some confusion, this is not a short story, it just isn't finished yet. I get the feel this story will be around 10 chapters long depending on the ending.

As for the ending, I already have my own plans for the ending but I want to know what you think! Should Franziska live and have a happily ever after with Miles? OR Should Franziska die and Miles be left to live with the consequences and his conscience? (As I already said, I have the ending planned out already, but depending on the feedback i get, I may write 2 endings and keep everyone happy :D)

As always I hope you enjoy this chapter, and thank you for taking the time out to read it!

Hope you all have a brilliant Christmas and a Wonderful New Year! :D