Franziska followed them silently, though resolutely, her pigtails bouncing high as she walked next to Miles. On his other side was a girl, almost 3 years older than him, but with a young and naïve expression on her face. Her cheerful smile belied a much darker persona—ordinary law students did not study under Manfred von Karma.

They were talking—no, chatting—about the girl's upcoming birthday. She would be 18, finally an adult, and finally able to gloat about the fact that she would be 18 and Miles would still be 15 for a good number of months. Franziska didn't want to hear it. Her stomach writhed as Miles smiled, with carelessness that he did not share with her. The girl hit him playfully with her book.

Why her? Franziska nibbled on her lower lip and crossed her arms tightly. Her papa tutored quite a few students, though something nasty nearly always happened to them eventually due to some lawsuit or another. Nobody seemed to mind; being mentored by the esteemed prosecutor practically guaranteed a flurry of requests once the student was officially made a lawyer. Of course, he only had two full-time students: herself, and Miles Edgeworth.

So why her? She bit harder into her lip. Why did they have to pick each other out of the cloud of focused law students? Maybe it was that girl's two-sided character, a playfully immature child on one hand, a darkly intelligent woman on the other. Maybe it was her skill with law. Maybe it was her dark chocolate hair and the way she carried herself so elegantly despite her lack of height. Maybe he thought her beautiful.

"Umm…" Franziska snapped out of her own world. The girl was talking to her… she had the nerve to talk to her…! She wanted to hit that witch.

"Franziska… your lip is bleeding…" the girl said, her voice concerned but her face still innocent. Easy to hate.

She flinched and rubbed her wrist across her mouth, bringing away a faint smear of red.

"You should go get some ice for that," Miles said, his smile slowly fading away.

It's just a stupid cut, she wanted to shout. It's nothing. But the words deadened in her throat. They were both staring at her now, as though she were somebody they knew only vaguely. There was a long moment of silence.

She turned and ran. A cloud of leaves and dust rose explosively in her wake.

"Franziska!" Miles tried to stop her but she had surprised him with her sudden sprint.

She ran in the opposite direction of the von Karma mansion. The last thing she needed was ice. A rubber band dropped from her hair and her left pigtail came free, but she ignored it and kept running.

"Franziska!"

And kept running.

"Franziska!"

You're brainless, she thought savagely. You're a fool.

"Franziska!"

Stop leaving me behind, Miles Edgeworth. Only I can protect you.

"Franziska!"

November 11
5:31 PM
Apartment Complex
Edgeworth's Apartment

"Franziska!"

She woke suddenly, thoroughly, as though she were never asleep at all. Her heart was pounding with fear.

"Are you all right?" Miles was shaking her lightly, as though she were still asleep.

"I… I'm fine…" she said, just a bit shakily.

"Was it a nightmare?" His face was composed, but his eyes were furrowed with concern. Foolish boy, she thought. Why are you always like this with me?

"It was just a dream," she snapped.

He still had that abominable expression on his face.

"It was a good dream," she added. Or at least for you it was. Any idiot could tell what you two did after I left…

She was surprised to see him looking almost a little hurt, like he knew she was keeping a secret. She softened a little. It was all in the past, anyway. It was just a dream.

"I… apologize," she muttered. "Nothing happened, really."

He nodded as a reply. The silence stretched on, interminably. Franziska frowned slightly. Ever since Miles had left to practice law in the United States 5 long years ago, their silences had changed from understanding to uncomfortable.

Finally Miles broke the quiet.

"Why are you here?"

"There was an e-earthquake," she said, averting her eyes. She felt a sudden rush of embarrassment. She hadn't wanted him to think that she was concerned, but he would know. He always knew. There was a momentary pause and her frown deepened.

"...I'm touched," he said at last. Now he knew who's voice it had been, who it was who had pulled him back to his senses.

Miles reached out and took a few strands of her hair into his fingers, brushing them away from her face. Franziska started and looked up, completely surprised.

It was a gesture of affection he hadn't done since their childhood. She had forgotten how they used to play and study together… before she came…

"Stop it," she cried suddenly, surprising herself as she shoved her chair back. It grated across the linoleum. "I have to go now. I have a case tomorrow…" She turned quickly and started to walk out of the kitchen.

"Wait," Miles said, springing up and grabbing her arm. "Please stay, at least for dinner."

"I…"

"…"

"I can't. I'm sorry."

She gently pried his hand off and left, swift as a breeze.

Yep, I have no idea where this fic is going. Bite me.