PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!!! I've had an obnoxious amount of work lately... that's what I get for taking AP Physics (and failing the test, haha). I'll update sooner next time, I promise!
Huh. Let's see. Um, band has been fun... but my friend got kidnapped, which really sucks. I'm so worried...
Why do people in PE have to be such competetive losers? I don't get it.
Whatever. Here. :)
Chapter 6
March 15
3:00 P.M.
Larry Butz's House
"It doesn't look like anyone's home," Pearl remarked as they approached Larry's considerably small house.
"Probably out with his latest girlfriend or something," Maya grinned. They strolled up to the door, and saw a Post-it note attached. Ema reached out and removed it.
"I'm over at Edgey's. And by the way, my girlfriend dumped me. Anyone willing to go out with me?" she read, her mouth twitching in amusement.
Pearl sighed.
"I guess we'll have to go over there, then," she remarked. "But we'll have to be dis... dis-creet. We don't want Mr. Edgeworth to hear us."
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March 15
3:15 P.M.
Miles Edgeworth's House
As Larry crashed around the kitchen, tossing random appliances into the bedroom every now and then, Miles finished his soup and reached for a piece of fudge.
"Well, that was... awkward," Phoenix commented tentatively.
Miles said nothing, merely glancing over at Phoenix as the doorbell rang.
"I'LL GET IT!" Larry bellowed, scrambling over pieces of furniture as Miles growled at the prospect of Larry's dirty shoes all over his chair. "Hi, Lamana! ... Oh, you're not Lamana. Sorry about that. Nice to see you guys!"
Phoenix looked out the window and saw a familiar trio on the doorstep.
"What are Maya, Ema, and Pearls doing here?" he wondered aloud. He saw their mouths moving, apparently asking Larry a question. Larry considered what they said for a moment, then let out a guffaw.
"They're SO TOTALLY GAY for each other! Nick and Edgey, they were totally gonna kiss when I walked in..."
Both Phoenix and Miles shot up from their respective positions and were out the door in an instant.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" they practically screamed at him, knocking him over. Larry rubbed his now-aching head.
"Don't blame me!" he whined. "They were asking me if I had noticed anything strange about you two lately!" He pointed at the girls, who stood stock still. Miles glared, Phoenix just looked confused, and Larry grinned uncertainly.
"...Run," Maya muttered to her companions, and they took off down the street.
"...That was odd," mused Phoenix. "And you're an asshole," he added, kicking Larry slightly.
"Yeah, you are," agreed Miles.
Larry just groaned.
March 15
3:30 P.M.
Gatewater Hotel
"Excuse me!" called an out-of-breath Ema, stumbling into the ritzy establishment. The bellboy turned around, smiling in welcome.
"What can I do for you, miss?"
"We were wondering if you know what room that Franziska von Karma is currently staying in?" Ema asked.
"I'm very sorry, but could you provide a description?" the bellboy replied, tilting his head inquisitively.
"Pissed off, short black skirt, boots, whip," Ema stated bluntly.
The bellboy's eyes became wary.
"Ah, yes. Room 202." He pointed to an elevator. "Take that to the third floor. The room should be to your right."
"Thanks! Let's go!" Ema started heading to the elevator. Maya followed her, but Pearl stayed behind. She exchanged a few quiet words with the bellboy, then he handed her a few small packets. She quickly caught up to the older girls, slipping her gifts into her pocket.
"What are those?" Maya asked her cousin.
"Mr. Edgeworth's favorite kind of tea. From what I've seen, that bellboy brings tea to him every day. I thought they might come in handy."
"I don't see how, but you never know," said Maya.
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March 15
3:15 P.M.
Room 202
"What?" snapped Franziska, after opening the door.
"Um, Ms. von Karma, we were wondering if we could ask you about something?" Pearl asked, intimidated by this fearsome woman's presence.
"Fine. Make it quick." She stood away from the door, and they entered the room as she closed it behind them. Sitting down at the table, she crossed her arms impatiently. "Well...?"
"Ah, we heard the... exchange... between you and Mr. Edgeworth," Maya explained, "and we were wondering if you were feeling all right."
"I am fine. Is that all?" said Franziska sharply.
"Um, not really." Maya bit her lip. "We were wondering about these 'feelings' that Mr. Edgeworth has. He's been acting strange, and we're worried about him."
Franziska sighed in exasperation.
"He's a fool. He will not even tell me about these feelings, instead choosing to insist that they do not exist. I know differently. I find it difficult to believe that most people find him a challenge to read."
"So, what are these feelings?" Ema inquired.
Franziska glanced at her sternly.
"Why should I tell you?" she testily retorted.
"Um... uh..."
"Because we want him to be happy," Pearl answered firmly. Franziska met her eyes and was startled at the resolve and determination she saw there.
'Quite an admirable trait for such a young girl,' Franziska thought.
"…Although he has not said so himself, I have reason to believe that he... is in love with somebody. That fool. He does not need such foolish things to get in his way."
Maya nearly squealed in excitement. They were so close!
"Who does he feel this for?" she interrupted, barely able to contain herself.
Franziska sighed again and closed her eyes, obviously irritated.
"I... do not know, though I have my suspicions."
"Would this help?" Ema asked, removing the drawing from her shoulder bag. She handed it to Franziska, who looked it over with a critical eye.
"His chin is slightly off," she snorted contemptuously, then returned the drawing. Closing her eyes in exasperation, she tapped her fingers on the table. "I suppose that this sketch does explain a lot. It is possible that he feels this for Phoenix Wright, foolish as the idea is. Now, I must think about this alone. Leave." She shot them a sharp glance, and the two older girls quickly exited the room. Pearl remained.
"Th - thank you, Ms. von Karma."
"Hmph." Franziska pointed to the door. Pearl looked back as she stepped out, and she saw that Franziska had buried her face in her hands. The young prosecutor murmured,
"He's always left me behind... why didn't that fool just tell me?"
March 16
10:00 A.M.
Wright & Co. Law Offices
Phoenix Wright was, to say the least, a bit worried. Both Maya and Pearls had not shown up for work this morning.
'Was it because of yesterday?' he wondered. Picking up the phone, he decided to call Edgeworth and ask if Ema was around.
"Edgeworth speaking."
Phoenix winced.
"You still don't sound so good."
"Yes, well." Edgeworth muttered to himself about another missed day of work, then turned his attention back to Phoenix. "Did you need something?"
"Um, I know this is a long shot," Phoenix began, "but have you seen Ema since yesterday?"
"No, I haven't," Edgeworth replied.
"Oh man," Phoenix sighed. "First Maya and Pearls, and now Ema."
"So Maya and Pearl have not shown up either?" Edgeworth mused. "I don't believe that they are in any sort of trouble. In all likelihood, they are afraid to face you after what happened yesterday."
A slight tinge of pink came to Phoenix's cheeks, remembering Larry's comment. The little voice in his head had nagged him about it all night.
"Thanks, Edgeworth. I'll see you later."
"Goodbye, Wright." He hung up, and Phoenix was left with a dial tone buzzing in his ear. Replacing the phone on the register, he grabbed his coat and left the office.
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March 16
10:15 A.M.
Maya Fey's House
"Maya?" Phoenix knocked on the door. He got no reply, and sighed. "Maya, come on. I know you're in there. Pearls and Ema too, right?" Still no reply. "Okay, but you know I have a lot of experience in breaking down doors."
The door creaked open, and Pearl poked her head around it.
"Shh!" she scolded. "Mystic Maya is sleeping! She told me not to let you in!"
Phoenix pondered this new information.
"Wait, if she was sleeping, how could she have told you not to let me in?" he challenged. Pearl's eyes snapped open, and her hand shot to her mouth.
"Pearls, I'm going to need to ask you a few questions," Phoenix continued, reaching into his pocket for a familiar object. He felt the cool, smooth surface of the Magatama brush up against his fingertips, and gripped it tightly. "Why did you three ask about Edgeworth and me yesterday?"
Phoenix winced, still not used to the sight as metaphysical chains wound themselves around Pearl, with four large locks holding them together.
'Four!' Phoenix thought, shocked. 'She must really not want to tell me!'
Pearl finally replied.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Nick," she said, meeting his eyes with a determined stare.
"You're lying," retorted Phoenix.
Pearl winced.
"You don't know that, Mr. Nick," she warned him. "What makes you think we asked Mr. Butz anything about you?"
"He told me so," Phoenix replied, smirking at the sound of a lock shattering into pieces. Pearl chewed on her lower lip.
"Th-that's - "
"You ready to talk?" asked Phoenix kindly.
"Mr. Wright!"
"Nick!"
Phoenix looked up at Ema and Maya, who had appeared from seemingly nowhere.
"Be nice to Pearly!" said Maya, hugging her cousin. "She shouldn't have to say things that she doesn't want to!"
"Oh?" challenged Phoenix. "How about you two, then? Why were you asking about us?"
The chains and locks appeared again. Phoenix quickly counted them.
'F-five?!' he panicked. 'On BOTH OF THEM?!'
"Give it up, Nick," chided Maya. "We're not going to tell you."
With a sigh, Phoenix released the Magatama. He was going to have to find his information by some other means.
March 16
11:00 A.M.
Miles Edgeworth's House
As Miles sat in bed, quietly sipping his tea, he pondered over the past week's events.
It annoyed him, seeing how much Phoenix worried about him. He was obviously not living well, and yet he made so many sacrifices for him.
Miles growled in irritation.
'Why?!'
Phoenix Wright was nothing but a soft, gullible idiot.
And yet... something about those eyes reached him yesterday. The touch of his hand, that intense stare...
It was strange, how he felt. Why should he become so unguarded around Wright? What was it about him that made him feel... complete?
'Yes, I trust him,' Miles thought. 'But I trust Detective Gumshoe as well, and I've never felt like this around him...'
Larry's words floated around in his head.
'"They're SO TOTALLY GAY for each other!"'
Miles grimaced. The teacup trembled in his hand. He knew what he was feeling, and unlike Phoenix, he figured there was no use in denying it. However, he resolved that he would never tell anyone, least of all...
'When exactly did I fall in love with Phoenix Wright?'
March 16
6:00 P.M.
Maya Fey's House
"Nick." Maya stared at Phoenix intently. "You've been acting weird all day. What's up?"
Phoenix sighed.
"Isn't it obvious?! Why the hell were you asking about Edgeworth and me?!"
"Oh, that." Ema and Pearl exchanged nervous glances. "Well..."
"Tell me."
Ema knew she had to do something. The time was not right to confront Mr. Wright. She smiled at the rhyme in her head, then cleared her throat.
"Um, I was going to send Mr. Edgeworth something to help him feel better, you know, in case he had a sore throat. But it's getting kind of late, and I forgot to do it today. Could you bring them to him, Mr. Wright?" She widened her eyes pleadingly. Pearl gave her a confused look, then understood and dug in her pocket for the packets of tea leaves. She pushed them into Phoenix's hand.
"Mr. Edgeworth would be happy to see you, Mr. Nick," she informed him. Maya hid her slight grin as Phoenix blushed. "Now, please bring these to him." She pushed him out the door, ignoring his stuttered, half-hearted protests. Closing the door behind him, she brushed her hands off, smiling.
Ema grinned at her.
"Thanks, Pearl."