LIMITS OF PERFECTION

Chapter 4

Perfection

Author's note: Okay…you know the drill. I don't own Phoenix Wright games or characters…and if I did, I'd be swimming in my own pool of money (which would be shaped like a dollar bill!)

To all of my reviewers: Thank you!
Jade: I wanted to make the whole doctor clichéd thing…after all, it is Hotti Clinic…everything in there is weird. I'm working on the comma issue…and I posted chapter 3 right before I read your comments, but rest assured, the V will not be capitalized any more! Oh, and the hollow feeling? That's supposed to be there, don't worry!

LazyCatfish27: Meh, everyone has their own vision, but I do like your telling of their meeting as well! And about the whole 'sorry' thing...last time I wrote a fanfic (which has long since been deleted and on a different account), people were really picky about chapters they read and complained due to background. But you're right. I really shouldn't apologize.

Ame no Iro: Thank you! Thank you! (bows)

Emmy-chan: muahahaha she might…she might not…

Alchemical: Will do!

Awesome!: Thankies! (bows again)

Okay, I'm gonna actually let you get to the story now!

He took on the responsibility of caring for her. If he never cared for another human being again, he took comfort in knowing he was caring for Franziska now. Every morning, since the hospital prematurely released her, Miles changed and dressed her wound with the cool, professional demeanor of a doctor, while Franziska looked at him, her lips pursed and her teeth gritted. She would sit in bed wordlessly until Miles was done, and every morning as he was leaving the room, she would open her mouth hesitantly, as if to protest his leaving. "Uhm…" And every time, Miles would turn around, trying to hide the enthusiasm in his eyes at the prospect of her finally remembering. "Yes?" His voice, though normally calm, held uncontrollable joy. Then his hopes would die, as Franziska would shake her head and wave her hand dismissively. "Never mind." He couldn't tell if she even remembered him at all...This routine went on for almost a week, before Miles began to get truly wrapped up in his depressive state.

And it showed tremendously.

Date: March 22

Place: District Court No. 3

Time: 3:00 PM

"OBJECTION! There is clearly a contradiction here! The defendant couldn't have killed her child because she was…at the supermarket!" With Phoenix's statement, the court frenzied into chatter, excited and curious.

"ORDER! ORDER! I will have ORDER in this court!" The judge exclaimed, banging his gavel. While he began speaking about the evidence, Phoenix tuned him out and looked across at Edgeworth. Sure he was standing there, with his normal stern stare…but…he didn't look…mentally there. "Mr. Wright?" the judge called, raising an eyebrow at the dense attorney. "IF you're done staring at the prosecutor, would you mind telling us whether or not you have any proof to back this up?" Phoenix turned beet red and chuckled nervously. "Aha…yes Your Honor, of course I do." He replied. "And does the prosecution have anything to say about this?" the judge questioned. Everyone in court turned to look at Edgeworth, eager for a snappy comeback or a sly smile. And then, as everyone held their breath in excited anticipation…there was only silence. Edgeworth continued to stare blankly forward for several minutes. "Mr. Edgeworth?" the judge asked once more, irritation present in his voice. The prosecutor looked up at the judge blankly before speaking. "My apologies, Your Honor." Miles replied calmly, and the judge looked as though he was at ease until Miles spoke up again.

"Did you say something?"

That was when the judge exploded into anger, and the crowd exploded into gossip. This was not the normal Miles Edgeworth that people came to see, solely for the purpose of seeing his cocky and sometimes vindictive spirit. Something was wrong, and yet the prosecutor failed to mention anything. "Edgeworth! Wright! In my chambers now! Court is in recess!" the old judge snapped, banging his gavel and rushing out of court as his black robes fluttered behind him.

Date: March 22

Place: Judge's Chambers

Time: 3:20 PM

The judge was seated at a desk, looking at the two men standing before him over the rims of his glasses. "Sit." He stated plainly, and watched as Wright quickly pulled up a chair and sat down eagerly, while it took Edgeworth a considerable deal longer to do so. It was as though the prosecutor was in a slump. "All right. Talk. I don't know what's going on here, but I want to know right now." The judge demanded, looking from Miles to Phoenix as though to gather any clue possible from their expressions. Nothing. Phoenix just looked about as confused as the judge, and Miles was looking sullenly forward, but not making eye contact. After several minutes of silence, the judge sighed heavily.

"All right…it's clear that I'm not going to get anything about this odd behavior. Mr. Edgeworth, perhaps this case has made you cut some things too close. I'm going to talk to your superior and get you transferred off of this case, and get another prosecutor to finish this…In the mean time, go get some rest. Take a holiday. Do something! But the next time I see you in my court, take caution. You had better be back to your old self." The judge looked thoughtful and tapped a finger against his lips.

"I believe I was told that Ms. von Karma was back in the country. Perhaps-"

He stopped speaking when he noticed that this gained a reaction out of Edgeworth. Now the silver-haired man was gripped the armrests of his chair, with his knuckles turning white. There was a slight snarl on his lips, and his eyes flashed dangerously. "O-okay then…perhaps not…" the judge replied with a nervous chuckle. While the judge just assumed this reaction was due to jealousy and nothing more, Phoenix took quick note to talk to Miles about this. He knew his friend, and if nothing else, he could at least pride himself in being able to know when something was wrong with him. The judge shook his head slightly as though to shake himself out of his fear and continued to talk. "Court will not resume until tomorrow. You gentlemen are dismissed." He stated, and was slightly surprised to see Miles be the first to leave his chair and walk out the door, with Phoenix close behind.

Once outside of the judge's chambers, Miles leaned against the plain white walls and breathed a heavy sigh. Phoenix watched him from a distance, knowing not to get too close to the silver-haired prosecutor now. Everything was absolutely silent for several moments, giving Phoenix the ultimate feeling of déjà vu, until there was one extremely bright camera flash.

"Never thought I'd catch y'all slouching out here!" Phoenix groaned as he heard the voice, while rubbing his eyes to try and rid himself of the temporary blindness. There, in front of the two of them, stood Lotta Hart, with a bright smile and her expensive camera at the ready. "Lotta, what do you want? And why are you here in the first place?" Phoenix asked, raising an eyebrow. The photographer chuckled and placed a hand on her hip. "Well, if ya must know, I think I can come and watch a trial in the spectator's stands if I'm doin' a story on it." She stated matter-of-factly. This caught Edgeworth's attention, and he looked up at the female photographer/journalist with a frown etched deep into his lips. Something about the way she said this just didn't seem right to him, and he made sure she knew about it. "What do you mean, story?" he asked cautiously. "Well, it was goin' to be a real big one about the trial, an' all." As she finished this sentence, Lotta gave one of her signature secretive smiles. "Buuuut...I was thinkin' after what happened in court an' all...what about a story of why Miles Edgeworth, one of the greatest prosecutors, is actin' so strange? Smile!" She pressed a button on her camera, and took another picture of Miles, as he closed his eyes to try and help him recover his sight from the temporary blinding flash. "Lotta, just...just get out of here, please. This isn't the smartest thing to do." Phoenix warned to the Southern woman. "Well...if I do...what are you goin' to say to the others that are comin' up the stairs over there?" Lotta asked with a smirk. "Others?" Miles groaned as he opened his eyes again...to his absolute horror.

Others would turn out to equal the media...which meant reporters...lots and lots of reporters.

Normally Miles Edgeworth was a reporter's dream come true. He was normally very calm and collected, with his smooth talking and easy aversion of questions, but he was never a menace or camera hog. At this current time, he felt like a train wreck...definately not his usual confident self. Still he stood up, fixed his cravat, and smoothed back his hair. 'Relax Miles...you've answered millions of questions before. This is no different...right?' He learned then and there...that sometimes people could get ahold of information even when it had never been released, or had been promised not to be released.

"Mr. Edgeworth! Why did you ignore the judge?"

"Mr. Edgeworth, is it true you're not going to be prosecuting the case anymore?"

"Mr. Edgeworth! Any comments on what has just happened?"

Now...all of these questions he had planned out in his head. These were novice questions...and he heaved a sigh of relief inwardly. But it was soon short-lived. Just as Miles Edgeworth was about to begin to answer the questions that had bombarded him, someone shouted out another that made him freeze in his tracks. A man in dark glasses, with a notebook and pen in hand had a devious grin on his face, as he spoke.

"Is it true that your carelessness led to Ms. von Karma's serious injury?"

There was absolute silence, and Miles' facade faded instantaniously. He paused for a moment. Then...he lunged for the man, but was held back quickly by Phoenix. "Get ahold of yourself!" the defense attorney exclaimed with wide eyes. Miles bit his lip, wincing slightly when he tasted the slightly metallic taste of his blood from biting too hard. Still, he struggled against Phoenix, his face twisted in fury. In his last attempt, Phoenix glared towards Lotta who was still loitering around, watching with keen interest. Getting the hint, the photographer sighed and took her camera in hand, while walking in front of Phoenix and Miles. "Hey y'all! Say cheese!" she shouted, taking a picture and making that blinding flash. Taking his chance, Phoenix finally guided Miles away from the crowd, and pressed a button on the elevator. When it opened, he pushed the prosecutor in, walking inside himself. As the heavy metal doors groaned shut, a sigh of relief could finally escape the defense attorney's lips. He turned to Miles, who was leaning against the back of the elevator, trying to gain his composure.

"Talk to me, Miles. What's going on?"