I discovered that I screwed up in a previous chapter.

OMG I KNOW I'll do a request sketch/oneshot for whoever spots what I changed ;)

November 12
8:00 AM
Apartment Complex
Maya's Apartment

Maya woke up to a loud yell of "Samurai Spear!" from her Steel Samurai alarm clock. She mumbled and turned over without opening her eyes, feeling the sun trailing warmth down her back. It was warm and beautiful weather. Her eyelids fluttered apart slowly and she took her time putting on her robe and walking into her living room. She picked up the phone, already making the days plans in her head.

"Uhrr…" mumbled Phoenix after he picked up the phone. He sounded utterly miserable. Maya smiled tenderly at the thought of him droopy-eyed and wistful, waiting for her to show up.

"Hello!" she said cheerfully. "Today… we're gonna get you checked up at the doctor's!"

"Ungh… Maya… you can't drive…" he croaked thickly. A pause followed, with audible gulping of water. "And neither can I."

"Well… we'll take the train!" she offered.

"The clinic is too close for that…"

"Fine, the bus then," she countered.

"The bus stop isn't anywhere near—"

"We'll walk!"

"No! No, wait, wait…" he stammered. "We don't really have to go toda—"

"Of course we are!" she interrupted energetically. "I'll call Mr. Edgeworth or Gumshoe and see if they'll give us a ride!"

"W… wai—"

She hung up before he could argue any more and then began to search for Edgeworth's and Gumshoe's numbers.

November 12
8:07 AM
Apartment Complex
Edgeworth's Apartment

Edgeworth woke up with a throbbing headache. He sat up, fighting vertigo, reaching blindly for the phone that was ringing maniacally and loudly.

"Damnit!" he growled as he knocked the receiver off onto the floor, and was rewarded by a sharp pain in his throat. Like he'd swallowed sand. He forced himself to take a deep breath before he pressed the "talk" button. It wasn't often that he snapped like that, but things hadn't been going too well… especially with her…

"Hello?" he said distractedly as he tried to look for his slippers.

"Mr. Edgeworth, where exactly are you?" snapped a stern voice, cool but tinged with anger. Chief Prosecutor Lana Skye… what did she want? He blinked groggily as he tried to think. "You're an hour late to the office! And you have a case in just 2 hours!"

He flashed a quick look at the clock and groaned. The alarm light was still on, so he knew he must have slept right through it. The red wine he had drunk the night before had not mixed well with his illness. He licked his lips, trying to sound normal, but starting to feel a twinge of panic.

"Apologies, Chief Prosecutor," he said demurely. "There was a… slight problem with my case. I was just working on smoothing it out. I'll be at the office in a few minutes." I need to stay away from Wright for awhile, he thought darkly, or I'll learn more than just bluffing techniques…

"Well…" Lana sighed loudly. "You're not one of our top prosecutors for no reason. But don't expect me to let you off easy next time." She hung up.

Edgeworth sighed and rumpled his hair, then coughed briefly. Just by looking at the information, evidence, and eyewitnesses, it was an open-and-shut case. However, his courtroom showdowns with Phoenix Wright had taught him to tread cautiously around cases like this. He didn't know how he would be able to prosecute while coughing and sneezing, but his pride was too strong for him to call Lana and drop the case.

Suddenly the phone in his hand began to ring.

"Hello?" he said cautiously, wondering if Lana had seen through his perfect mask of well-being.

"Good morning, Mr. Edgeworth!" a bright voice greeted.

"…Who is this?" The voice sounded familiar…

"Whaaat?! It's Maya Fey! ...I can't believe you don't remember me…"

"No… I mean, yes, I do," he said quickly. He knew just how explosive the girl could be… though he wasn't complaining, seeing as how that energy had saved his life once in court.

"Look, I was wondering if you could drive Nick and me to the doctor's office today…"

"That's odd; is he sick? What a strange coincidence…"

"Huh?" She sounded a bit dumbfounded. "Are you sick too?"

"Something like that."

"Wow… well… maybe we could all go together to the doctor's?" She paused awkwardly. Right, she thought, like a trip there is a field day in the park.

"Sorry, Maya. I have a case in a few hours."

"Ah, ok. I'm gonna call Gumshoe then. Thanks anyway, Mr. Edgeworth. Bye."

"Wait," he said. "Give Wright my regards."

"Ok, Mr. Edgeworth," she giggled. "He says he loves you too." She hung up before he could answer.

He sat stunned for a few moments as he tried to digest what Maya had just said, but only one thought ran through his mind.

What the hell?!

November 12
8:22 AM
Apartment Complex
Maya's Apartment

Maya punched in Gumshoe's office number next, still giggling at the thought of Edgeworth's bewildered expression. He was probably in there right now, working on a new case. Or three. She paused a moment before punching in the last number to dump tea leaves into a teapot filled with hot water and relax in the comfort of the couch. Every inch of her apartment pleased her. She knew she was lucky to have found such a nice place to live in for so cheap. It was close to the courthouse… and Phoenix's apartment as well. Perfect for quick commute every day... and of course, when she needed somebody to talk to.

The phone was picked up on the third ring, but nobody answered. "Hello, Detective Gumshoe?" she asked hesitantly.

"The detective isn't here…" said a woman's voice, steely and with a faint accent.

"Uhh… Ms. Von Karma? Is that you?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"It's Maya Fey. What are you doing at the police department?"

"I'm researching something here." Franziska sounded terse, impatient. "Do you need something?"

"Well, I was gonna ask Gumshoe if he could drive me and Nick to the doctor's office, but… can you drive?"

"Yes, but my American license has already expired."

"Oh…ok," Maya said, disappointed.

"Have you tried calling Miles?" she asked absent-mindedly, like she was searching for something.

"Yes, but he said he had a case in a few hours… He also sounded pretty down himself, like he was—"

"Down?" she interrupted.

"Um… yeah. He sounded a little ill to me…"

"I see…" Franziska's voice was suddenly hard. "I must go now."

Maya blinked. "Wait, can you get Gum—"

"That Scruffy detective isn't here now. He's returning from an investigation after lunch." Click.

"Again… not again…" she fumed as she put the phone down. "Looking down on me just like before." Her hand trembled angrily as she poured out a cup of tea. She drank it down, feeling a little better. It was amber-gold, fragrant, and soothing. Pearl had just brought another package of it a few days ago, fresh from Kurain.

"Oh, no," she said, suddenly remembering. "Pearl… was it today that I was supposed to get her?" She groaned, trying to remember. More tea…

She sighed and put the cup back into her saucer. The teapot was empty now. Mia used to make tons of this for me… she knew how much I like this tea… How did she manage to hold everything together? Sometimes I feel so inadequate…

Maya quickly shook her head. No more pessimism, bad Maya!

If she hurried now, she could make it to Kurain, pick up Pearl, and be back just in time for lunch to catch Gumshoe. Then they could finally get the exact medicine that would make Phoenix feel better. Another tender smile crossed her face at the thought. Just wait, Nick, I'll be there soon.