Hey. I've been quite upset lately, because somebody decided to steal my iPod.

Not cool. I saved up for that thing for a year.

Anyways, thanks for the reviews. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 4

March 14

12:00 A.M.

Maya Fey's House

Maya smiled happily. So far, her party was a rousing success. Nick was sitting at a table with Larry, drinking a beer. Gumshoe had amiably agreed to play catch with Pearly, in between munching tortilla chips. Ema Skye had arrived five minutes ago, and the two had been sipping sodas and chatting. However, one person was missing: Miles Edgeworth.

'Maybe something came up with work,' she mused, sighing a bit. 'Oh well.' Just then, the doorbell rang, and Phoenix, tripping over his chair as he got up, opened it.

The crack of a whip sounded throughout the house, and Phoenix landed on his backside, wincing in pain. Maya was surprised, but wary of the new arrival. She hoped that they could be on friendlier terms this time around...

Franziska von Karma, silvery hair glinting in the sunlight, stepped over the prone form of Phoenix Wright and entered the room. She was followed by none other than Miles Edgeworth, who was astonishingly dressed in a simple polo shirt and slacks. Maya walked over to greet the new arrivals as Edgeworth clasped a stuttering Phoenix's hand and hauled him up.

"Ms. von Karma! How... lovely to see you! And Mr. Edgeworth, it's good to see that you came after all." Franziska fixed her with a steely glare, then seemed to find her acceptable and relaxed slightly. It was hard to believe that they were the same age.

"My apologies," Edgeworth replied. "Franziska arrived without warning, and I decided that it would be rude to leave her alone."

Maya eyed the whip nervously.

"It's... no trouble at all."

"I thank you for your graciousness, Maya Fey," said Franziska, merely being polite. "There is no need for you to fear my whip. I have reserved it for my foolish male friends over there." She gestured to a cowering Gumshoe, then at Phoenix, who was hiding behind Edgeworth, occasionally peering out from behind. Just then, Larry made the mistake of whistling at the woman. The whip struck, as quick as a snake. The deed was done: Larry Butz had learned to fear the name of von Karma.

"Wright, honestly," Edgeworth sighed, looking behind him. "I thought I told you not to drink anything."

"Hey!" Phoenix protested, smashing the beer can in his hand. "I just had one!"

"Keep telling yourself that, Wright." Edgeworth helped himself to a bottle of water. "By the way, I had something about the case that I wanted to discuss with you..." They retreated to a corner, and Franziska fixated her attention on the hapless Dick Gumshoe. Maya grabbed a few more chips and leaned against the wall.

"So who's that?" Ema asked, jerking her thumb at Franziska.

"Franziska von Karma," Maya sighed. "Daughter of the infamous prosecutor Manfred von Karma. She's kind of like a sister to Mr. Edgeworth. Became a prosecutor at the age of thirteen."

"Wow!" Ema, it seemed, had found yet another idol. "That's incredible!"

"Yes, it is. And don't get on her bad side. Watch what you say around her."

"Hm." Ema settled against the wall. "So what's up with Mr. Wright?"

Maya looked over at Nick, who was still conversing with Edgeworth. His eyes kept darting over to Franziska nervously. Now that she thought about it, Nick always seemed more... reserved when Edgeworth was around, but at the same time, more comfortable. It was strange.

Edgeworth put his hand on Phoenix's shoulder and said something about court, the look on his face intense. Then, he smirked and walked away. Phoenix, in a daze, touched his shoulder where Edgeworth's thick fingers had pressed into the fabric of his shirt.

Pearl had noticed, as well as Ema. Their eyes connected for a few seconds before looking away. Maya wondered if they were thinking the same thing as she was. The revelation had been... startling, to say the least.

'There's no way... but that would explain a lot...'

Maya quickly banished the thought from her head and went over to slice the cake.

Ema, Maya, and Pearl sat on the floor, the other guests having left a few minutes ago.

"Are... are you thinking what I'm thinking, Ema?" asked Maya tentatively.

"Of course," Ema nodded sagely. "There's no doubt about it."

Pearl bit her lip and said nothing.

"Through my reasoning, I have deducted that... Phoenix Wright is in love with Franziska von Karma!" Ema declared, snapping her notebook shut decisively.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!" cried Maya and Pearl.

"But... but that's not what I was thinking at all!" stammered Maya.

"Well, think about it," said Ema. "Did you see how he kept looking at her, the whole time that he was talking to Mr. Edgeworth?"

Maya sighed.

"He was afraid that she was going to whip him, Ema. Besides, didn't you notice what happened after Edgeworth left?"

Ema thought for a minute, as comprehension dawned in her blue eyes.

"But... you don't think... if that's so, then he's being really obvious."

"Yeah, well, that's Nick," Maya chuckled.

Pearl finally spoke up.

"Mystic Maya... but weren't you and Mr. Nick..."

"No, Pearly. We weren't. So you think so, too?"

"Y-yes," Pearl admitted. "Mr. Nick is in love with Mr. Edgeworth."

"So, now what?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ema replied, after scribbling something in her notebook and placing it into her bag. "We find out if Mr. Edgeworth feels the same way about him!"

"That's going to be difficult," pondered Maya. "Mr. Edgeworth almost never lets his feelings show."

Ema shook her head.

"That's why we have to squeeze it out of him by indirect means. There have been several hints, but we need decisive evidence." She frowned, a crease appearing in her forehead.

Pearl sat in silence, musing. She had always thought that Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick looked great together, but... she supposed that Mr. Nick and Mr. Edgeworth would look... a bit cute. Besides, if it made Mr. Nick happy... she owed him so much...

Making up her mind, she fixed Ema with an intense stare.

"We need to talk to the people who know him best, not including Mr. Nick."

"Good idea, Pearly!" Maya smiled at her cousin. "Let's see, that would be... Franziska von Karma... Larry... Detective Gumshoe..."

"...And my sister," Ema finished.

"Your sister knows Mr. Edgeworth?"

"Oh, yes. She was his mentor after von Karma."

Maya stood up, determination flashing in her eyes.

"That does it. Tomorrow, we take action!"

March 15

1:00 P.M.

Prosecutors' Office Hallway

As the three girls strolled toward the Chief Prosecutor's Office, they heard a commotion.

"You foolish fool. You cannot afford to have such foolish emotions get in your way. Your foolishness has decreased the quality of your performance."

"Franziska, if you don't mind, I have work to do. And I don't see how it's any of your business."

"Miles Edgeworth! You have been such a fool as to let your foolish feelings show! And you foolishly decided to keep it a secret from me! I have no time for fools such as yourself." Seconds later, a door slammed, and Franziska stalked out, every muscle tense, whip clenched tightly in her hand.

Ema glanced at Maya.

"What the heck was that about?"

"I don't know. Maybe it will tell us something. Let's check in with her after she's calmed down a bit."

March 15

1:30 P.M.

Outside the Prosecutors' Office

"Well, that was helpful," Maya sighed as they dejectedly exited the building.

"She was very nice," commented Pearl, sucking on the lollipop given to her by Lana Skye, "but she seemed like... she didn't want to talk to us about it."

"I should have known," Ema muttered. "Lana never tells anybody anything when she knows that it could cause trouble. I guess the detective is next."

They approached the police station, hoping that Gumshoe would provide something useful for their investigation.