A/N This chapter will require piecing together. Things may not happen chronologically—rather, characters, and not time, will be the key. You'll get what I mean when you read it. Enjoy.
Chapter Eight: The End
There were ten people. One had an idea. Two thought it worth. The fourth swept up the fifth, and the sixth persuaded the seventh. Eight and Nine were their targets, and only the tenth stands against the other seven—or so he thought.
Klavier and Ema stumbled out of the room as Apollo wrenched the door open, closely followed by Maya and Pearl. As the prosecutor nearly fell into the corridor, he turned his head and saw a fleeting flash of red—the red of Ace's hair.
…Hm. "Herr Forehead, I assume you know who barricaded us in?"
Apollo was staring at Maya and Pearl, wondering what they had been doing in the room with the other two. "Mm."
There was an expectant pause.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah… Trucy, of course, and that Lerano guy and... er… that other guy."
" 'That other guy'?" Ema asked suspiciously.
"Yeah… what was his name again?"
"Mark Ato, was it?" Klavier said helpfully.
"Yeah, him! Wait, how did you know?" …Oh wait. He's a prosecutor. They know everything.
"A suspicion, nothing more. I think other people are also involved."
"What? More people? There's already… let's see… Trucy, Lerano, Ato, and these two Feys. That's more than enough, thanks very much!"
"Heh heh!" Pearl giggled. They all turned to her. "I wouldn't be surprised if Miss von Karma and Mr Edgeworth were doing it too!"
A deadpan stare from Ema, and a skeptical look from Klavier greeted her words, but Pearl simply shrugged them off. "Well, at least we've got these two under control," Apollo said.
—But he spoke too late, and the duo made an attempt to scramble off. Luckily, they were thwarted by Ema's quick reflexes. Klavier, who had also attempted to stop them, groped helplessly at the air in front of them and fell. Ema couldn't help but be amused at the prosecutor's uncharacteristic clumsiness, or rather, his clear absence of the irritating suaveness that he happened to flaunt at every occasion. Not now, she thought smugly as she released the cousins from her grasp.
Klavier got up, without any pretence of embarrassment at his fall, his ego still firmly intact. "Let us go before anything unexpected occurs," he suggested, with an untrustworthy look at the floor. No doubt he believed his fall was due to a fault in the tiling.
"Nothing would surprise me anymore," Ema muttered. "…Actually, a lot of things would, but Trucy has the imagination of an eight year old. The only things she can think up are 'trapped-in-a-room' and 'accidental fall'."
Apollo, however, was more doubtful, recalling Trucy's many audacious plans that had cost him a few years of his life with the stress of maneuvering around her. Maybe that was her master plan. Giving him an early death and taking all the defending business… Ugh, what am I thinking? I'm the defense attorney, not her! She doesn't even have The Badge. Or the Chords of Steel. Or, he added, a law degree. Well, not yet anyway.
"Fräulein detective, you have not finished investigating the crime scene, ja? I suggest you go there for the time being. Trucy will not be allowed there—Ach…"
"Yeah. Lerano's the defense attorney. He can go in, and he's sure to bring Trucy, never mind Mark Ato," Ema said.
They considered this, till Klavier spoke once more. "You still have work to do, however. We should simply carry on with our everyday tasks, and should anything unexpected occur, I am sure we will be well equipped to face it. In fact," he added. "I will buy a new cell phone for all of us. Be sure not to go near Ace or Trucy and we will not be troubled by any more of these locked room situations."
Ema took a moment to wonder what Klavier would deem a reasonable cell phone, and the figures behind them. "Um, I don't have a phone," Apollo said hesitantly.
Klavier wasn't sure whether Herr Forehead simply didn't own a cell phone, or if Trucy snatched it, but he was inclined to believe the former. "Alright, then," he said. "That may be arranged."
At that moment, a man rushed down the hall. "Delivery! Delivery for K-Klavier Gavin?"
I don't believe this. Ema and Apollo exchanged looks. There was no way that Klavier could have somehow magicked the phones here that quickly. Perhaps this was another ploy by Lerano and Trucy (and Ato, Ema added). The other two Gavinners were sure to have enough money to spare. Or rather, to waste.
"Ja, that is me."
Of course it was him. There was practically no one on earth who wouldn't recognize the fop, unless they were a hermit living on a deserted island in the middle of a non-existent Atlantis.
And what does that say about me? Ema hadn't recognized him when she'd first met him, except that he had seemed vaguely familiar, and even that was simply because she had met him once at a gig at Gatewater Land. Of course, that brief encounter was overshadowed by the Miles Edgeworth. Apollo, on the other hand, was a much sorrier case. Upon seeing Klavier, Ema hadn't recognized him, but once he told her his name, she had immediately realized he was the prosecutor that Edgeworth had mentioned—and, of course, that he was a world-famous rock star. But the defense attorney hadn't known whom he was up until Mr Wright helpfully supplied some information. While withholding the important bits—like how the prosecutor had disbarred him.
"Here," Klavier said with a smile after dismissing the deliveryman. (Apollo briefly wondered what the deliveryman would do with Gavin's signature on the check.) He handed them two expensive looking cell phones.
Ema didn't even bother asking how he managed to obtain them, but Apollo did, even with the former mouthing him a warning.
"How did I achieve this in such a short period of time? How did I manage to attain such a high level of efficiency?" Klavier said in response.
No, actually, just 'how did you do the impossible?'. …Oh wait. He's a prosecutor Prosecutors always do the impossible. …This prosecutor complex can't be good for my self-esteem.
"Well, that is rather simple."
Oh no. Please, no. Apollo, why did you have to ask?
"I am Klavier Gavin, ja? And Klavier Gavin can do—"
"—And that's enough of that, thank you very much, Klavier Gavin," Ema cut in, interrupting his soon-to-be rant on his so-called greatness. "I'm going to go back to the precinct and away from you, so bye. Apollo, you can come along if you want. I know you don't know how to use a phone, so I'll teach you. Or you could let Gavin help you."
"Or me!" Maya piped up.
Pearl, on the other hand, didn't make such an offer, instead saying, "And where shall we go?"
Maya elbowed her cousin. "C'mon, Pearls, we can go anywhere we want! There's lots to do, after all. Busy, busy, busy…"
"Not, I hope, doing what I think you will be doing."
"Don't worry, Mr Gavin, we won't disappoint you! We'll be doing exactly what you think we'll be doing."
Maya received a quelling glance from Apollo, and a glare from guess-who. "…We'll be eating burgers. Or going to see Nick…"
"Yes, let's go see Mister Nick!" said Pearl, who was easily led around. "Wait—I know. You can go see him alone, Mystic Maya, and I'll… go buy you burgers!"
A thought passed through Klavier, Ema and Apollo. Shall we let them go? Perhaps Pearl would be more distracted with Phoenix and Maya than Klavier and Ema. From what they surmised, she was quite the matchmaker. Ema gave a one-sided shrug. Sure, why not?
"Okay then," Apollo said. "You can go, but I'll go with you to Mr Wright, okay?"
Maya considered this in a silence that was broken by Pearl. "No, you can't! I mean… you can come with me to get the burgers, but Mystic Maya can go to Mr Nick alone…"
"Pearl…" Maya said with what was crossed between a warning and an exasperated tone. "Don't start this up again…"
Perfect. They'll be too distracted to start any troublesome things. "Well, you three sort it out among yourselves. I have work to do, and… Klavier has some fopping around to do." Odd, Ema suddenly thought. Why did that last bit seem so awkward? Was it because of the 'fopping around' part, or… Then she realized it was because she had called the prosecutor 'Klavier', and not 'Gavin' or 'fop' as she would usually do.
It was an unwelcome thought, quickly broken by the bickering of the others. Ema stole a glance at Kla—Gavin, only to find him turning to her at the same time. He spoke as her eyes turned back to the retreating figures of Maya, Pearl and Apollo.
"You really are heading back to the precinct?"
"Yes," she said shortly.
Klavier hesitated for a moment, as if unsure. "…Well then… be careful."
Surprised, Ema turned to him, but the prosecutor had already headed back to his office with a momentary over-the-shoulder look back at her.
And, to Ema's unease, he looked…
Worried?
…Concerned?
For her?
Ema quickly discarded the thought. It didn't matter what the fop's expression was, or what significance it held, because… because she had work to do.
…Or not. Ema suddenly remembered that it was the end of the workday, that she had already finished half of the gigantic mound of paperwork to submit to Klavier. Time to head back home. Another day done, another not-so-fatal situation escaped, another mystery solved. But first, she realized, she was going to have to find out who had poured on so much paperwork and why. Klavier said it wasn't him, and that both Edgeworth and von Karma had done it, but was that really logical? She knew Miles Edgeworth wouldn't do it, and von Karma probably wouldn't do something as mundane (and possibly foolish) as that. And yet she was sure Klavier hadn't been lying.
Where to start? What should she do? The most appealing option was to go home—most would have done so already, save the ones who had to work overtime for a case, and she had no such case. Klavier had no such case either. All of the three cases he took were rather straightforward, after all, and he ought to be home right now.
—Except he wasn't.
Ema had been standing, thinking, in the hallway for quite some time since the prosecutor had shut the door, and she realized that he hadn't come out. She couldn't have missed him if she had, even in her reverie, and he wouldn't have passed by the chance to tease her if he caught her dazed outside his office, of all places.
Well, who knew. And who cared. Not Ema. For all she knew, he might have been mulling over a random case detail—but there was not even the smallest contradiction to ponder. For all she knew, he could be writing a song—but he had not penned a single tune since Daryan had been convicted. For all she knew, he might be practicing his guitar—but he had a thousand other better guitars at his home, and a room with the proper acoustics too.
The door suddenly clicked open, and Ema instinctively hid behind a convenient couch. Stupid, stupid! He'll notice you for sure! It was a very bad hiding place, Ema could see with a professional eye, having played many a game of hide-and-seek with Lana with dishwashing duty on the line. Not that she had played it recently. All Klavier had to do was glance to his left and a little down, and he'd see her, lab coat and all. And then he'd asked what she would be doing there, in a possibly incredulous tone, and she would think how ludicrous this all was, and… and Ema wasn't imagining an exchange with Klavier, because picturing the fop in her mind's eye would be a bit… weird.
Anyway, he's leaving now, so there's nothing to be—well, not worried about, but… curious about, I guess. …I shouldn't even be curious about him.
Klavier closed the door behind him, looking very distracted.
It's as if he's up to no good, Ema thought with relish.
He hesitated there with a troubled look on his face.
Don't turn this way, don't turn this way…
He didn't, and left for the elevator. Ema held in her sigh of relief till he was well out of sight. "Well, that was stupid," she announced, straightening. …Oh wait. What if he's going to check if I really returned to the precinct? It is well afterhours, and he might be going to tell me that the case is already in the bag or something.
Whatever. She should just go home.
With that thought in mind… Ema followed Klavier. Wait, what? I'm just a generally very considerate person, especially when fops ar—I mean, even when fops are involved.
Klavier didn't take his motorcycle, instead choosing to walk. The precinct wasn't very far from there, after all.
She really was, Ema thought, too nice for her own good, for telling Klavier not to waste his breath. All she had to do was walk into the precinct after Klavier arrived at her office, and tell him that she'd gone to the bathroom, which was why he'd arrived earlier, and nod when he would tell her to go back home, or whatever he would do.
But Klavier didn't go inside the building.
Ema still followed.
The first was Trucy.
"Maybe we should start the plan tomorrow… I'm sure Mr Gavin and Ema have already gone home," Trucy mused.
Mark nodded slowly. "That is indeed true. Of course, we could take advantage of this delay. A blessing in disguise—it shall give us the golden opportunity to wreak justice in court! The Day of Judgment will, of course, occur tomorrow, and both I and my dear friend will be present, facing off against Skye and Klavier."
Trucy usually associated wreaking with havoc, but hey, whatever works, right? "That isn't a bad idea," she concurred. "Um… Day of Judgment meaning the trial, right?"
"Naturally. Though I must amend my previous statement—only he will be against them. I shall be on the side of justice with its impartial eyes, rendering the final verdict."
"Sorry, guys," Ace said, whipping out his pager. "Though this is good news as well. There's been a new string of clues found regarding the victim. They're going to have to investigate—the trial's tomorrow, after all. And that means overtime."
(And thus, a possible plot point was eradicated.)
Trucy's eyes glinted. The usual plan, then. "Then let's get started. No time for dallying!"
"Let's catch them at the precinct," Ace suggested.
"Or the crime scene," she said.
"Ah…" Mark cut in. "I, being the objective judge, will not look upon the facts of the case until tomorrow."
"Do all judges do that?" Trucy asked curiously. It sounded really irregular, truth be told.
But she never got an answer, for they arrived at the crime scene then, and Mark bade them goodbye.
"Hey, Ace, does that car belong to Mr Edgeworth? The red one, I mean."
Two cars were parked on the curb. They were identical models, and very fast-looking sports cars. The other car was pitch black. "Yeah, it is. The other one is Franziska von Karma's. I wonder what they're doing here."
They approached the crime scene, only to be stopped by Franziska. "You are not allowed here," she sniffed. "Archer Lerano and Trucy Wright."
"I'm the defense attorney!"
"Exactly."
That actually made sense, Trucy realized. Defense attorneys weren't supposed to investigate the actual crime scenes.
"I left my pen there," Ace said.
"That is the most foolishly foolish lie I have ever heard!"
"Oh yeah? Prove it! Evidence is everything, isn't it?"
Franziska glared at him. "This is your pen," she said, handing him a gold-tipped fountain.
"No, it's not."
"Then prove it."
Trucy rolled her eyes at the display. It was amazing that the austere Franziska von Karma would participate in such a thing that Trucy would eagerly jump into. "Er, Prosecutor von Karma?"
"What is it?" she snapped, breaking off from the exchange with Ace.
"Ema let us in."
"She has not even arrived. That is impossible."
"Here," Trucy said solemnly, handing her the forged paper. Apollo had needed in at a crime scene when Ema had not been there, so Trucy forged a sort of vague permission letter that didn't state the time or place, but allowed investigation for one unnamed defense attorney.
Franziska obviously smelled a rat, but she couldn't prove it, especially since Trucy's forgeries were near impeccable.
"Anyway, you're not the prosecutor in charge. You can't kick us out," Ace said confidently.
"Fools! I am Franziska von Karma. I let you in simply because it amuses me. Go and join the forensics team for all I care."
Trucy smiled as they passed her. Really, what was Franziska von Karma doing here? But she didn't quite dare to push her luck and ask. It was enough of a miracle that they were allowed into the crime scene.
"We can't mess with the crime scene," Ace said seriously. "Since Klavier isn't here yet, I think I'll do a little investigation first."
"Okay," Trucy said, and he slipped away. She looked onward, thoughtfully. They would be coming soon.
She waited, wandering aimlessly around. She didn't expect to really do anything today, because her plan had relied on a backdrop of their choice, and this was the untouchable crime scene. Tomorrow, it would all be put into place. Probably…
Then Klavier and Ema appeared, pushing open the iron-wrought gate that led to the crime scene, and stepping carefully to avoid the police tape scattered across the ground. Trucy watched as Klavier supported Ema… intimately? Could it be? Ema's expression was a little fixed, almost stony, but blushing nonetheless. Still, as far as Trucy knew, Ema didn't have any clumsiness problems. Maybe navigating the rocky ground was difficult in her heels.
"Thanks." She heard Ema mutter.
Klavier flashed a dazzling smile. "It is no problem, mein liebe."
"…What?"
"It means…" Klavier hesitated. "'My love'. Like sweetheart."
Trucy blanched. What an uncommon scene. What the…
Ema snapped at him, something Trucy actually found relieving. "S-stop that." It was less stern than she would usually do, and red spread over her face till Trucy thought she might explode.
But then, something strange happened. Klavier shot her a look that disappeared so quickly Trucy couldn't determine what was on it. It was replaced by an ingratiating smile. "No need to be so shy, fräulein detective."
When Ema didn't retort, Trucy looked around to make sure she hadn't landed in an alternate dimension.
This was strange indeed.
She walked towards them.
The second was Maya.
"Pearly, you're going to come with me. No 'if's or 'but's, and definitely not one mention of 'your special someone'," Maya ordered in a commanding tone that she'd picked up from being Master. She rarely used it—the acolytes were obedient enough, and she didn't really feel the need to control, in any case.
"…Yes, Mystic Maya…" murmured the hapless Pearl, powerless against authoritative voice of Masters.
"But… we will go see Nick. We have to, don't we?" Maya said, turning to that defense attorney. What was his name? Something weird…
"Yeah, you do," he said firmly, and a little loudly.
That was fine. She'd go to Nick. The only question was, how could she turn that to her advantage? Then she remembered that Klavier Gavin had given Apollo a cell to contact him with. That was a definite problem.
Heh. Not for me, it isn't!
Not for the first time, Maya wished she could communicate telepathically with her spiritual powers, but as far as she knew, that was impossible. She needed some way to relay her plan—but then, she realized, there was a very simple way to escape. Obvious, but simple. And for a stiff-collared lawyer that he seemed to be, perhaps not so obvious.
So maybe she wouldn't see Nick after all.
"Hey, you!"
"The name's Apollo."
"Apollo… Apollo… No, that won't do!" Maya said. "How about I call you… Polly! Oh wait, that's a girl's name. Maybe not. Or Apple! …That doesn't really fit with your name, thought. Well anyway, Pearl and I need to go to the ladies."
"No," he said, sensing the obvious trap.
"We'll go to the one without the other exit. Only one door, see? You can wait here and everything. We really need to go!"
"Please, Mr Polly?"
He hesitated, then agreed. Excellent. He wouldn't suspect a thing—obviously, Apollo had believed her, rather foolishly. They trooped off to the restroom, with his intense eyes on their retreating backs all the way.
"Mystic Maya, what if he calls Mr Gavin?"
Maya smirked. "Oh, he won't. Don't worry about that." Then: "Oh… darn. I can't fit."
She had stood on the toilet seat and unscrewed the vent, peeking her head inside. "I guess I'm growing old! Oh no! Soon, I'll be as old as Nick… or not," she added, remembering how much older he had looked with his hobo-like ensemble, and a little stubble. "Look, Pearly, you'll have to gone on without me."
A picture of the utmost shock and horror.
"You have to move on! Leave me!" Maya cried dramatically, but not too loudly in case the acoustics carried her voice all the way to Apollo. "I'll catch up, don't worry. Here's his cell phone—I nabbed it."
Pearl accepted it and crawled into the piping. Trucy wasn't the only thief around. And Maya could work some magic too.
She got past Apollo pretty quickly. She knew this because her phone now read 6.21pm, and she'd written the note at 6.15pm. Of course, she was sort of unconscious for the most part, but hey, Apollo was out of the way. I wonder where Pearl is. Maybe I should call her—except I don't have Apollo's phone number, and if she's still up in the ceiling, that would totally give her away. Maybe she'll call me. I'm sure she can figure out a phone.
So she waited.
The third was Pearl.
Creeping along the pipes, Pearl tucked the phone into her robe. It was a tight fit, but a Kurain-styled diet of nato and tofu served its purpose well. She trusted Mystic Maya to get out of Apollo's grasp—the thing she was really worried about was where they would meet up. At Mr Nick's place? At the little apartment they rented? At the Wonder Bar? In any case, Pearl wasn't entirely sure how to get to any of those places. Chances seem rather dim when you're up in the ceiling and it's not certain that you'll be able to squeeze out again.
She clattered along the ventilation system, eventually reaching a fork. Picking a random side, she continued to crawl. It seemed to stretch on for eternity, the dark piping lit only by grills of light at every fifty paces or so. Pearl wanted to get out as soon as she could, but she couldn't find a single isolated area to drop down into. After some time, she decided to unhinge a grill over a solitary-looking area and get down.
Praying that she wouldn't be caught, she dropped silently onto the carpet, securing the vent in place with a few twists of a coin whilst standing on a chair. She panted and hopped onto the floor, wondering when she could wash off the dirt and grime. But the more immediate problem was finding out where she was.
Somewhere in the Prosecutors Block, no doubt, but nothing seemed familiar to her. Not near Mr Gavin's office, then. Not that it mattered, she realized, because she could simply take the elevator down and walk straight out. But with her shoddy appearance… Well, it looked suspicious, to say the least. Wait a minute—she was in a building full of prosecutors, wasn't she? And she'd just come from the ventilation system, hadn't she?
Pearl took a quick look around, and breathed a sigh of relief. No cameras here—odd, but then she never knew a normal prosecutor.
The teen went back to pondering here predicament, heading to the elevator. She couldn't very well go to the first floor, because Mr Polly would be there, so it would be best to go to the car park and get out from there.
That she did, and now the difficulty was meeting her cousin.
She thought about this for a moment, when it hit her. She had a phone. Maya had a phone. Phones were meant for communicating.
The only problem was, she didn't know how to use a phone.
Oh well. Random button pressing time. The first number she called was, unfortunately, Franziska von Karma. She tried again. This time, somebody babbled in what she thought was French. Mr Polly sure has a lot of weird contacts in his phone… Finally, she managed to contact Mr Nick. After a cheerful conversation, he told her he'd contact Maya. Where would they meet? Pearl thought about this. The burger joint might be too obvious, so… "Maybe… Edin Market?" Maya had brought her there when they first arrived, because she had needed to buy some chips for the party or something like that.
"Alright, Pearls. I'll tell her."
There was a click as he put down the phone. Pearl was pretty sure the Market was barely ten minutes walk away, so that was good. She hit B1 in the elevator, waiting in her grimy state with a frenzied-looking detective, who was mumbling to himself. What was he saying? "Skye and Gavin have to get down there, and fast. All sorts of new leads are coming up…" He lapsed more mutterings as Pearl processed this information.
That would be useful. She'd have to tell Mystic Maya. Only… Where was the crime scene, exactly? It wasn't like she could just ask. Before she could even think up a plan, the doors slid open and she strode out. Perhaps they'd get lucky and stumble upon the scene or something. Not the best of plans, not that it really was a plan. She pricked her ears up to see if she could pick up what else the man was saying, but to no avail.
Upon reaching the Market, Pearl immediately spotted Maya in her purple medium outfit. "Mystic Maya!"
As she went on to inform Maya of the new development, Maya smiled. "That's great! It's too bad we won't know where the crime scene will be…"
Then, rushing past were two cars, one black and one red. Pearl turned to see them as Maya gaped. "I know that car! The red one's Edgeworth's! ...I wonder where they're going."
Pearl knew what was coming next.
"Let's follow them."
"But Mystic Maya, those are sports cars."
Maya rushed off to peek her head round the corner. "Look, the cars slowing down. Their destination must be near. Who knows, maybe they'll lead us to the crime scene! Even if they don't, we can ask Edgeworth where it is."
Hastily following, the cousins saw the cars park next to a cordoned off area. A crime scene, but was it the crime scene? Maya's eyes glinted as she spoke. "I think this is it. Listen to what Franziska is saying."
Pearl's attentive ears caught a few key words floating towards them. Overtime… Gavin…
Pearl and Maya turned to each other with excited smiles. "But what about Mr Edgeworth?" Pearl said. He wasn't with Miss von Karma.
"Good point, Pearly. Let's go."
They crept along the wall, watching as Edgeworth descended into the darkness of an alley.
"So, should we follow?"
"I don't know, Mystic Maya. I think it's more important to go with Miss von Karma. She is at the actual crime scene, after all."
They watched Edgeworth pace up and down, as though waiting for someone.
"Still," Maya said. "He may be waiting for Mr Gavin and Ema. But… if we follow Franziska we'd see them anyway. Let's go, then."
Pearl nodded. Casting a final glance over her shoulder, they approached the crime scene.
Pearl spotted a red-haired man who she had seen in the party—what was his name? Arrow? No, Archer—with Trucy Wright, who was only a year younger than her. She got on with Trucy quite well, ordinarily. But what were they doing here?
"Archer Lerano," Maya said excitedly. "From the Gavinners. He's the defense attorney for the case."
"Mystic Maya… I need to go to the restroom."
Maya stared at her. Pearl attempted a smile.
"Alright, Pearly," she half-sighed. "It's not far from here. Why not I wait for you here?"
Pearl nodded, and ran off.
Maya was waiting for her at the entrance when she came back. "Mr Gavin and Ema are here," Maya informed her.
Pearl looked over Maya's right shoulder at the park. (She was as tall as Maya now, and growing.) "Mystic Maya!"
"What?" Maya turned around.
Suffice to say, their jaws dropped.
The fourth was Franziska.
It was, she decided, time to go on the offensive. But how? Franziska wasn't quite sure how much she had slowed Miles Edgeworth down, so she had to work quickly and efficiently. Then her phone rang.
"…Hello?"
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Franziska von Karma," she proclaimed. "How could you call without knowing who it is?"
"Huh? Oh, I see! Your name is on the screen now. This is Pearl Fey. Do you know Mystic Maya's number?"
"No," she said shortly, correctly assuming Pearl was referring to Maya Fey. "Goodbye, and do not waste my time with such trifles."
She hung up. She knew Pearl Fey was very inept with everyday technology, having lived in Kurain for almost all her life, but surely at seventeen even Kurain could not shield her from such things? Apparently not, since it seemed as though she were pressing random buttons in the hopes that she would eventually get Maya Fey on the line. Not such a remote possibility, since there were people who could help her.
Franziska pulled up her gloves. Where would Ema Skye and Klavier Gavin be? At their homes, presumably, since they were not required to work overtime. She should be returning home as well. Perhaps she should resume her campaign the next day. But she had to make sure Miles Edgeworth would not do anything in the time being. …Hmph.
At that moment, someone came rushing towards her, saluting. "Prosecutor von Karma, sir! Is Klavier Gavin still in?"
"No."
"Oh…" the detective groaned. "You see, he has to come back straight away! There's just been a fresh set of clues, and the trial's tomorrow, so he's got to work some overtime. In fact, I better contact Ema Skye too…"
Franziska thought about this. "You know what, detective? I shall do that myself. Just go back to precinct while I handle this."
He gaped.
Then she turned stern and whipped him, hard. "Go!"
As he ran down the corridor, one thing stuck in his mind. The dangerous, calculating smile that stretched over Franziska von Karma's face.
It was an excellent opportunity for her to pounce when Miles Edgeworth would least expect it, to gun him down for the foolishly foolish fool he was. But how should she make use of this? She had to concoct a plan, and fast. Something ingenious. Something unheard of. No doubt she would be able to think of one, but in such a constrained period of time…
It was better to be doing, so she dug up Klavier Gavin's and Ema Skye's addresses and phone numbers as she thought about her course of action. She would call them, and… what would she tell them? The truth, or a cleverly fabricated lie to further her own ends? That depended on the falsehood, however. Think… think…
Perhaps the truth would suffice, since no promising ideas came to mind. At the very least, it would allow her to conceive a plan while they worked overtime, still giving her an advantage over Miles Edgeworth, who wouldn't know Klavier Gavin and Ema Skye had to work overtime.
She nodded to herself. The truth it was, then. Franziska quickly dialed their numbers, informing them of the required overtime. They would go to the crime scene, or somewhere nearby, to investigate the new clues. It would be a long night.
Interfering with investigation was permissible, she reasoned. If they were not present, the police would investigate and analyze the results themselves, handing it to Klavier Gavin the next day, who would prep Ema Skye. There would be little damage done to the actual trial.
With that slight moral bump aside, Franziska wondered how she should reach her objective. And she was at a standstill. Why was nothing coming to mind? Her perfection would not allow for such a thing to occur. She had to act now and fast, which was exactly what she was going to do.
Her heels clicked as she brisk walked to the crime scene. She had always been good at improvisation.
The fifth was Edgeworth.
When he received the news that a new set of clues had been found, he immediately sensed a storm brewing. Franziska would know. Franziska must know. It was something he inexplicably knew. And the hyper-efficient, competitive woman would not pass up the chance.
Edgeworth took his red car to the crime scene, and, midway, he noticed a black car, similar to his own, speeding past him. Franziska. He stepped down on the pedal, but the black car simply would not let him pass. So she was playing that game, eh? Well, whatever competition she had cooked up, driving was one thing he simply could not allow her to beat him at.
He groaned in frustration as she refused to relent. Enough of this childishness, he thought. She could go ahead if she wanted. In any case, Edgeworth knew he should have remained inconspicuous, quietly observe and thwart her plan, whatever Franziska was planning on doing.
…And right now, it seemed like bumbling.
Not many would notice, but there was a subtle change of attitude. Her purposeful motions were missing, replaced by a lot more sharp retorts and insults thrown to the forensics team as she waited for Gavin and Ema. He smirked. So she didn't really have a plan after all. There was nothing to thwart. That also made it more dangerous. If Edgeworth couldn't predict her actions, it was just possible that she could cobble together something last minute that would be entirely undesirable.
What was Franziska thinking? Bringing their little contest into this would mess with the investigation, the trial—the case. It was downright wrong. Interfering with the course of the law because of a silly little competition. And yet, it was just like Franziska to dismiss her actions as having little or no effect on justice itself.
Then a smile spread over his face. There was a way to avoid any mayhem, wasn't there? All he had to do was win the little competition before they got here.
The easiest way was through collaboration. Get Gavin and Ema to pretend. He wasn't quite sure if they would be willing, but chance was on his side. It was more probable for them to concede the logic of it, especially since Ema was a big fan girl of his, which might cancel out her dislike of Gavin. Edgeworth felt a little guilty for exploiting this, but then it wasn't really exploiting it. It was only a little hero worship on Ema's part.
(Miles blocked out the images of her glomping him. Repeatedly. Only a little hero worship. Nothing too big.)
He slipped out of his car as inconspicuously as a man in a blinding magenta suit with a cravat could contrive. Briefly wondering where he would find them, and how, Edgeworth settled for the juncture across the road that led to the main entrance. With any luck, he would find them approaching, and his car was conveniently blocking Franziska's view. Then he would ask them to go to a little less noticeable area and inform them of what they would have to do.
So when two figures emerged, bickering, he went up to them and carried out his plan. True, they looked confused, but obeyed and retreated into an alley. "Listen," he said seriously. "Franziska is going to attempt some kind of manipulation."
"…Oh."
"It's… a long story, but to cut to the chase, I am not willing to let her compromise the investigation or the case. Therefore, you will have to play along with me. Franziska concocted a little childish competition to pit against me, as always, and for her to give it up would be difficult unless she believes I have won."
"Er, wait a moment, Mr Edgeworth!" Ema interrupted. "This contest of hers… it wasn't, by any chance…"
It seemed Ema couldn't finish the sentence, so Edgeworth filled it in for her, with as impassive a voice as he could manage. "It involves matchmaking, the subjects being you and Gavin. It seems you are aware of this ploy?"
"Sort of."
"…In any case, it would be logical to play along for the moment," Edgeworth instructed. "Though I regret it, you will have to act the part."
Silence. The awkward kind.
"Just for the moment. The investigation must not be compromised. Franziska must be fooled."
"Unfortunately, Herr Edgeworth, it is not only Franziska von Karma who has been toying with us. My band mates, Archer Lerano and Mark Ato, have been at it too, and have recently formed a coalition with Trucy Wright. They will know about this."
"That is indeed unfortunate. All the more reason to play along. Archer Lerano is, after all, the defense attorney assigned to this case. Well, what do you say?"
Another silence. Edgeworth really couldn't blame them.
Predictably, Gavin was the first one to answer. "Ja, I am fine with it," he said, shrugging. But the previous silence had already told Edgeworth of his hesitation.
Ema knew she had to speak now. "Well, um, er… Really, Mr Edgeworth? Is that the only way?"
"There are always possibilities. But for now, this is the easiest. It won't even be real—just a little pretend."
"Fine, then." She said it as quickly and as abruptly as possible, as though squeezing the words out of her mouth so she couldn't taste them. "Whatever." Her terseness was directed at Gavin, not him, Edgeworth knew. Or perhaps at the situation in general.
"Nothing too explicit will be needed. Just act as though you were trying to hide a mutual affection. If you had a relationship, I wouldn't think you would want them to know. It would be realistic, and it would be entirely harmless. I think you might want to go now. It is imperative for your case that you investigate the new clues thoroughly."
Ema looked as though she were about to open her mouth in objection at the moment of deception finally have arrived, but with a glance at Edgeworth, she seemed to stiffen her resolve. Gavin looked like he really couldn't care less about the arrangement, but a little flicker of his eyes towards Ema betrayed him. Nothing escaped Miles' vision.
He nodded his head slowly. "Yes, it is time for you to go."
Then a voice rang out. "Hold it!"
(line break)
The sixth was Ace.
(line break)
Ema and Klavier finally arrived. Ace spotted them as he saw Trucy walking toward them. He ran up to them, pocketing his note pad, then nearly fell flat on his face in surprise.
What was that odd atmosphere? The strange… sort of tension, but not, between them. Was intimacy the word? …Nah… But Trucy was looking as perplexed as he was. Ema was striding slightly ahead of Klavier, but still, they were walking very close to each other, and something about the way they moved left Ace gaping.
He shook himself. It was his imagination, wasn't it?
"Hi Trucy," Ema said in a repressed tone.
"Hi..." Trucy was acting weird too.
Klavier seemed almost himself. Perhaps he was himself, but Ace was watching more closely now and his close friend seemed less collected than usual. "Why are you here, fräulein? Accompanying Ace?" Klavier turned to him.
"Ha ha, that's right. Seems she's won a few cases for Mr Justice," Ace said, laughing. "I've investigated the crime scene already. My case seems pretty strong."
"Hm, we will see," Klavier replied, looking smug. "I have Ema here, after all."
Ace felt as though the world was a little off for a moment. Klavier called Ema 'fräulein detective', didn't he?
"So you'll be heading out now?" Ema asked.
Trucy looked at Ace. It was true they wouldn't do much today, and Ace really did have real work to do now, since some interesting implications rose in the witness, but… "No, we won't be. Um, I left my pen here."
Klavier shrugged, and followed Ema. "I shall tell you if I see it."
"What's up with them?" he hissed to Trucy.
"No idea! They're acting really weird, right?"
Both turned back to Klavier and Ema, who were kind of huddled together over some evidence.
"What're they trying to pull?" Ace wondered.
"They look as though… they were an item!"
"That's what was bothering me," Ace realized. "That's the feeling I kept getting. They're trying to fool us!"
"That's a pretty lousy plan. It's way too obvious to trick us."
They continued to stare at them. Ace smiled. "Let me try something."
He went toward Ema and Klavier, with Trucy following a little behind. "Hey, you two. You've been acting awfully weird."
"Is… is that so?" Ema challenged.
"Yeah. Almost as though you were an item," he said, faking a knowing smirk.
Klavier pulled off his acting-shocked-but-not-really look perfectly, but Ema was a more imperfect actress. "We're not!" she said, with a strangled tone that sounded more unnatural than… a chicken. I don't think that made sense. It sounded like someone failing at trying to act badly.
"Oh… I guess not, then," Ace said, sounding genuinely disappointed, and as though he were fooled by Ema.
Evidently, Klavier thought Ace extremely thick, because he believed Ace was fooled by Ema. "Ha ha. How many women would be shamed in dating an international rock star? You are the only one, I believe," he said to Ema, flashing a smile.
To Ace's surprise, Ema's blush looked very real, contrary to her earlier terrible acting, and she did look a little mollified. "You are dating? Very funny, Klavier."
"You are the one who suggested it."
"You know, there's a little something called a joke, which is what you're doing now, incidentally."
"I assure you, I am not."
Klavier was really gullible, more than Ace expected. Perhaps when Klavier was carrying out a plan, he thought he had an invincible upper hand. "Oh yeah?"
"Ja."
Then Ace said the next logical thing that came to mind. "Then show me."
Klavier and Ema both knew what he meant by that, and while Klavier remained the perfect actor, Ema's face betrayed just a flicker of something Ace couldn't place. It flashed by too quickly for him to register it, something he was very annoyed with. No doubt it was akin to disgust, he thought, for Ema disliked Klavier.
Ema spoke. "Show you?"
"Yeah. That shouldn't be a problem, right? It's not like I'm asking for porn. Just a little gesture of lovers."
Klavier took Ema's hand.
"Ha ha, very funny, Klavier. You know what I mean."
"What do you mean?" Ema questioned, with a fierce glare.
Trucy cut in. "You know what we mean!" she reiterated. "Kiss him!"
The seventh was Mark.
He separated himself from Trucy and Mark, since he was not to go to the crime scene, and found himself in a dark alley. Much to his surprise, three familiar people were in front of him, discussing something. Klavier Gavin, Ema Skye and Miles Edgeworth.
A ruse? A ploy? Was that what they were planning? That was unacceptable.
"Hold it!" he cried, just as Miles Edgeworth dismissed the two. Mark emerged from the shadows, cloaked in his own black, standing taller than the trio.
"…Great," Ema groaned.
"What is this? What do I see? A deception! How very foul of you, and you, Miles Edgeworth, to have conceived this monstrous plan. I may not have had the fortune to meet you in court, but I have heard fearsome tales of your competence."
"Mark…" Klavier sighed. "Just let this be. Don't tell Ace or Trucy."
"They would not believe you, no matter what you attempt," Mark said simply. "Although… this seems akin to a self-fulfilling prophecy," he muttered to himself.
"What was that?" Ema asked sharply.
"Nothing at all, mistress."
He could see the question marks popping over her head and barely restrained a smile. It really was worth the theatrics simply to see the reactions.
"Mark Ato, what Trucy and Ace—and perhaps you—are attempting is ill-timed. There is a trial tomorrow, of which vital evidence has been found tonight, and they insist on interfering. Investigation must not be hampered."
Mark ignored him. "Tch! What will you offer me for my silence?"
"Just keep quiet," Ema threatened. "I'm not enjoying this any more than… er…"
Klavier stepped in. "It is entertaining, ja? I know how you like games."
"True," Mark said thoughtfully. "How well you know me. But a player I am; not a mere bystander, you understand."
Edgeworth tapped his foot, and Ato smiled at that. Impatience.
"Look, Ato, you can try inform them, but I'm sure Mr Edgeworth will stop you while we go on ahead!"
Her faith in Miles Edgeworth was boundless. She did not think such a task could hamper Edgeworth's efficiency, let alone bother him. Mark cocked his head, wondering how he could use her obvious admiration for Miles Edgeworth. "…You may go on, for now. I shall lay dormant for a moment longer."
Casting an untrusting glance at Mark, Klavier hesitantly walked out of the alley. Ema soon followed.
"You cannot hold me here, Miles Edgeworth."
"And why not?" Edgeworth crossed his arms, then added, "…You remind me of Franziska."
"I know. But you cannot hold me here because you cannot outrun me. You have sustained a nasty injury to your left knee." The way he spoke was now perfunctory, and much less flowery.
Edgeworth narrowed his eyes.
"You have a slight limp. Very slight, but it is apparent. And at my age and height, even if you did not have such a handicap, I could escape you."
Miles shrugged. "Very perceptive of you. Of course, such an injury wouldn't hamper me too much, but you're also correct on the point that you are much younger, and perhaps faster than I."
"But I will not," Mark continued, completely disregarding Edgeworth. He resumed his usual manner. "I shall not glance upon the light of tomorrow. Justice is blind, after all. Regrettably, I shall not gift my eyes with the amusement for the same reason."
Miles didn't speak. "That's very convenient."
"I know." His speech was becoming more mechanical again, with much less caution in his diction. "I already know what is going to happen. And I'm never wrong."
The way he now spoke was the way he delivered verdicts. It was bare, but most of all, it was the truth.
"Then we part here," Edgeworth said.
Mark nodded. "Farewell."
He descended into the shadows.
The eighth was Ema.
She felt like a blasted stalker, following Gavin like this. It was more than a little creepy. But she couldn't help it. Something about his aura, his expression compelled her to follow. Because Ema thought there would be trouble.
Where was he going? She vaguely recognized this route, but it wasn't until he turned at Buckle Drive that she realized his destination. It couldn't be… the state prison? There was only one conclusion she could come to—well, two, now that she thought about it. He was going to visit someone. Kristoph or Daryan?
Ema knew for a fact he had already visited the both of them before, and that Kristoph was still an enigma. From the rumors, Daryan had laughed and told Klavier that a straight-out luxury life was boring. Danger was exhilarating, and a little more money would only aid him. That escapade provided both. Kristoph, on the other hand, seemed to have no motive for killing that mysterious traveler. Shadi… something…
"I can't very well go into the prison too. That would be too obvious," Ema muttered. "I should just leave him alone. Nothing's gonna happen anyway."
Still she followed.
I guess it's my creepy obsession time of year again.
As she expected, he went into the prison. Ema waited outside for a while before headed in as well. No more qualms. She'd got this far, so she might as well go all the way.
Right?
No point in feeling like a creepy stalker. She crept—no, strode her way in, flashing here detective badge. The sleepy-looking guard admitted her with a brief nod, barely even glancing at her badge. Klavier was going to Kristoph's cell. Right. That was… Solitary Cell 13, if she wasn't wrong.
So Ema walked slowly to that cell, hoping Klavier hadn't decided to turn back and force her to make up an excuse, or had gone to visit Daryan after all. She didn't know which cell Crescend was in. But as she turned the corner, she glimpsed the telltale gold of his hair disappearing into the cell. That was good.
Ema quickened her pace, then stopped. What was she going to do when she got there? What was she even doing? Being an idiot. Well, she supposed she could eavesdrop on their conversation. Mentally, she cringed. I must be really bored. But then she remembered the two brothers were born in Germany—surely they would converse in the said language?
She could hear bickering, or what sounded like bickering, when she approached, but she couldn't tell if it were German or English. The sounds could have been the guttural nuances of the former, or an agitated growl that disguised the English.
Without thinking, Ema opened the cell door to enter, before realizing the stupidity of the action. But the sight that greeted her eyes was enough to wipe her mind clean of the thought, simply because another, more urgent one had invaded.
"Stop!"
The ninth was Klavier.
"You are beginning to get tiresome, little brother," Kristoph said in German.
"Ja? Well, why don't you answer?" Klavier shot back.
Kristoph drummed his fingers. "It would upset you," he said truthfully.
"And of course, you have always cared very much for my wellbeing," Klavier replied scathingly. "I only want… the truth."
"How often have I heard you say those idealistic words?" Kristoph adjusted his glasses. "I have killed, and I will kill again. There is no logic in these acts."
Klavier clenched his fists at both Kristoph's calmness as well as his casual remarks upon murder. "If there is anything I have learnt, it is that people do stupid things. But there is always a reason."
"There is madness. Am I not mad, Klavier?"
"No. Maybe. But you will always have a reason, even if it is that the yellow pixies told you to. But—I will not accept that kind of foolish answer!"
"I see. Well then, let us say it is because I enjoy the power of taking a life. Total control."
"To that extent? Do not try to pull such ridiculous bluffs on me, Kristoph. I am not some naïve child!"
"Aren't you? Isn't it quite immature of you to stand there, panting and angry at my response? Isn't it ridiculous for you to stand aggravated at what you already knew you could not obtain?"
Do not try to distract me. "Is an answer really so hard, Kristoph?" Klavier said after a moment of tense silence, as he attempted to fight down the boiling feeling in his stomach in vain. He gnashed his teeth as he waited for an answer.
"I have given you an answer."
"You have done no such thing. You have not given me a proper answer. Why Shadi Smith? Who was he to you?"
"He was a traveler. He was no one. He was nothing. I passed him in the hall, and a fancy came over me. A perfect crime. Could I do it? …Apparently not."
"Stop it! Just tell me your motive! I—can't—understand," Klavier burst out, drawing out the last three words with considerable weight. He'd lost his cool, and, was going nowhere. He had long learned that with Kristoph, keeping calm was essential, but he… he just couldn't. Not when he was talking about taking a life like that. Klavier was Kristoph's brother. He was family. And he hadn't known squat about Kristoph in the end. He didn't understand the killer mentality.
"I have told you. You have chosen not to listen. And I thought you embraced the truth?"
But it is not the truth. You have never told me the truth from the beginning. You will never tell me the truth unless I drag it out of you… and I cannot. I can't even try to reach into the darkness of your mind and pull at its strings, because they are too convoluted. I can't even attempt to wheedle it out of you, because I get too agitated and I lose control. And a lie as blatant as that, a lie that you know I recognize as a falsehood, a flimsy lie such as that—you are toying with me. You have always been toying with me, from the very beginning, but I cannot leave it alone, because such a lie enrages me.
They engaged in some absurd staring contest, with a cool gaze from Kristoph, and a hard stare from Klavier, slowly morphing into a glare as he shook, waiting for an answer. Hoping for an answer. Knowing it would never come.
Kristoph sighed. "Just go home, Klavier. There is nothing for you here. Stop being so foolish, and leave this alone. There is no more truth for you to mine if you do not wish to acknowledge it. I have told nothing but what you wished to hear—it is your own mindset that is preventing you from believing that I am simply an incorrigible man."
"I know you are detestable," Klavier said rigidly.
"Then leave. Will you turn away from the unfortunate truth? I have no morals, nor do I possess a conscience. I murdered. Is that so hard to accept?"
Klavier didn't answer. That isn't true. You had a reason! It isn't a question of accepting!
"Face the truth."
But it is not the truth. You are lying. I am seeking fact, not shying away from it!
"Do not deny it."
How can I accept a lie? This is not denial!
"Leave."
Klavier finally found his voice. "I will not! Not until you give me the truth!"
"I have. You only have to face it."
Klavier wasn't about to leave, but he knew he had to, or he'd lose control and fast. So he kept his shivering fist in check, and stiffly turned, before it all came crashing down.
Face the truth.
Had he not decided to dedicate his life to finding the truth?
Do not deny it.
Had he not always made it his code to always accept the truth, no matter how difficult it might be? How else could he have acknowledged his brother as a murderer?
Leave.
"No! You have been lying, and you will always be lying, but I will get the truth out of you—and I won't take no for an answer! Just… Just…"
Kristoph watched on in mild amusement.
Losing control again. I need to get out. But he couldn't.
Klavier preferred verbal sparring to an actual physical dispute, and though he had thrown punches in his lifetime, he had never flung out a fist at an imprisoned convict. It was unthinkable. It was ridiculous.
To lose control was definitely the worst possible thing he could ever do, especially in front of Kristoph.
"Stop!"
A new voice, but not unfamiliar. Far from it.
But… Scheisse.
His breath caught as an unexpectedly strong hand grasped his arm, jerking him back abruptly, and he came back to his senses, body finally under the control of his mind.
Kristoph was still smiling.
Klavier straightened, and shook off the hand.
"And who may this be?" Kristoph enquired politely, gesturing to the figure next to him.
"That is—"
"Ema Skye, detective. And I'm going." She shot Klavier a look that said, you too.
Kristoph nodded. "Then I shall see you next time, Klavier. And perhaps you as well, Detective Skye?"
But she was already out of the cell, dragging Klavier with her. "What the hell were you thinking, Gavin?"
"…I wasn't."
"I could see that."
"…And why were you here?"
"I… I was visiting someone, then I heard shouts, so I went to investigate."
"Really. Who?"
"Stop trying to change the subject," Ema said, and Klavier smiled. She was the one changing the subject, after all. "It's a good thing I was here, anyway. You would've done something really stupid."
"Ja… Danke."
They walked in silence.
"Ach, fräulein detective! You have bruised me!"
Ema looked at his slightly purpled arm with little interest. "Good," she sniffed.
"I had no idea you were that strong."
"I am a detective. Or perhaps you're just weak?"
"Ha ha. As witty as always, ja?"
"Hmph."
Right on cue, Klavier's phone began to vibrate and he flipped it open, wondering if it were Herr Forehead. "Ja?"
A distinctly German voice spoke. "Back to the crime scene. Now. A new set of clues have been found and you are required. Goodbye."
There was a click. Moments later, Ema's phone rang shrilly. It seemed a similar exchange was happening.
"That was Franziska von Karma, I presume. Let us go," Klavier said. "It looks as though we have a long night ahead of us."
Ema didn't miss the sly smile on his lips, and chose to resolutely ignore the innuendo. "More to do," she moaned. "It's a bit late for new evidence to be showing up."
"Better late than never." He fell into thoughtful silence. "Ace will know about this."
"Just my—our luck. And if he knows about it, Ato and Trucy will know about it."
"As a judge, Mark never looks over evidence until the day of the trial. He will not set foot into the crime scene."
They took the short cut, through the little alley that ran across Harewood Drive and Benning Road.
"Mr Edgeworth?" Ema said incredulously.
Klavier squinted through the black, and made out a white cravat. That was Miles Edgeworth, no question. He hadn't seen them yet, and as they approached him, he had already left. They emerged into the sunlight, a wide stretch of road. The crime scene was right ahead. Klavier noticed Franziska's and Edgeworth's cars parked in front of it. Not exactly a good sign.
Then Miles appeared again, and went up to them. "Please, go back into the alley. I must speak with the two of you."
Confused, they obeyed. Klavier thought he had an inkling of what was going to happen. Then Edgeworth spoke.
"Listen. Franziska is going to attempt some kind of manipulation."
The tenth was Apollo.
He waited, growing uneasier with each passing minute. Brushing his twin prongs with a few gentle fingers for the umpteenth time, Apollo fixed an intense gaze on the bathroom door. A few moments later, as if answering his unyielding stare, it opened. The corners of his lips pulled up. No one escaped The Stare.
But it wasn't the two cousins who came out—it was a woman with sweeping black hair and boy, was she beautiful. Apollo nearly slapped himself when his eyes wandered to, um, her female assets, and quickly snapped his gawk up to her pleasant face. "H-hullo, ma'am," he stuttered, feeling his cheeks color.
She smiled at him. "Hello."
"D-did you see anyone else in there? I'm w-waiting for some people out here, but they haven't come out in a while." Apollo hoped they were still in there, because he had been working up the non-existent courage to barge in and check. He didn't want to have to ask this lady to go in and ask them to come out, though.
"Oh yes," she replied, nodding. "There was a teenager in there waiting for someone." The woman thought for a moment. "Long brown hair with a twist on the side."
That would be Pearl, probably waiting for Maya. "R-right. Thanks!"
The woman departed, and it was only then that Apollo noticed the odd purple outfit she was wearing. From where he was standing, he could see a deep purple jacket-thing, with a lighter skirt. There was a clatter as Apollo realized that the woman also wore old-fashioned looking clogs. But then she turned the corner, and he caught a glimpse of a thick violet ribbon and a little of the front view—and it looked very familiar. Piecing together what he had seen of her clothes, he suddenly recalled Maya Fey. An odd ensemble in shades of purple… But that couldn't have been Maya! The woman was slightly taller, had a more shapely body, fuller lips, and she didn't trip over her clogs every ten steps or so. And yet…
Something nagged at his mind. Something Mr Wright had told him… but he couldn't quite remember. All he recalled was that she came from a village called Kurain, and they specialized in something weird. Pearl had also called Maya a 'Mystic'. What did that title mean? Some kind of shaman?
"Ah! Spirit medium!"
Apollo didn't know much about the rules of spirit channeling, but it seemed that it allowed them to… changed appearance? But she can't just go around summoning random spirits! Well, chances were it wasn't some 'random spirit' if that ghost went on to assert that the cousins—or at least Pearl—were still in the bathroom. But why would she leave Pearl in the bathroom like that? Unless… well, Apollo knew Pearl could channel spirits too, so maybe she'd go out channeled as well, though in that case, they should have come out together, channeling different spirits. Of course, the more likely explanation was that they found a better route out of the bathroom, away from Apollo, and only Pearl could use it, for some reason of another, or Maya (and not Pearl) needed to walk past him. If it were the latter, he hadn't the vaguest idea why she'd need to do that—unless…
He groped his pockets hurriedly. As he half-expected, his phone was missing. Looks like Trucy isn't the only pickpocket around.
Either way, he had to chase after Maya, which he quickly proceeded to do. But now that he thought about it, Maya could've stolen his phone before he had even allowed them into the bathroom.
Pounding his feet on the floor, Apollo was keenly aware that he wasn't quite as fit as he should be, but surely someone with those loose-fitting clogs couldn't outrun him, especially with the loud clatters of it against the floor. Maya should have known that… And perhaps she did. Perhaps she was simply hiding.
He stopped in his tracks. He couldn't do anything about it now, having lost the two of them, with no way to contact either Prosecutor Gavin or Ema. He didn't even know their hand phone numbers by memory, so a payphone route was out. But he figured it was the end of their workday, so Trucy or anyone she had befriended wouldn't do something.
The end of their workday…
No, Trucy can't know where Prosecutor Gavin lives. Oh wait, he's a world-famous rock star, and she has two of his band members with her. But what about Ema? No doubt Mark Ato could dig up her files, if they were really desperate. But surely they would wait till tomorrow. So Apollo rounded the corner to the Wright Anything Agency, hoping to find Trucy there, only to find Mr Wright alone at his table.
He waved a hand at Apollo. "Trucy's still out. It's not that late, though, so I'm not particularly worried."
"…Oh. If you see her, keep her here. I'm going out to find her. She's befriended a couple of strangers and run off. Any clue where she is?"
"No idea," Phoenix said, totally unconcerned by the news. "Be home before eight."
"Yes, mom," Apollo said sarcastically, under his breath. Phoenix must not have heard, for he merely uncorked a bottle of grape juice and chugged it down.
So where was Trucy? With Lerano and Ato, no doubt. Even if they weren't planning anything, he still needed to bring her home, and maybe catch them setting a trap or something. Two cars sped past him, a red one and a black one, competing against each other rather dangerously. He spotted a flash of bright blue hair in the latter, and stopped short. Could it be…? He had heard Miles Edgeworth drove a red sports car, and it stood to reason that he'd be competing with Franziska, didn't it? They used to belong to the von Karma household, and the infamous Manfred would have instilled a competitive streak in each of them.
I wonder where they're headed to.
He walked aimlessly for a while, but then heard Trucy's voice in the distance. Apollo started to speed up, jogging at first, then shifted to a run.
"You know what we mean! Kiss him!"
What.
What.
What is Trucy trying to pull now?
Apollo sprinted into the park, not even taking notice of Maya and Pearl, who were gaping at the gate. Then he stopped, because Klavier and Ema were actually facing each other and the distance between their… lips… was narrowing.
"Guilty Love! I took you by your word, and jealousy—" A catchy tune rose in the air, and Klavier froze. Apollo saw relief rise in their eyes and Klavier straightened and put the phone to his ear.
"Ja?"
Apparently, there was no reply, for he put it back down. Klavier looked back down on his phone. "It seems caller ID has failed me. I do not know this number." But judging by Ema's expression, it could have been an angel from heaven.
"Archer Lerano!"
Franziska von Karma suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Apollo took the opportunity to get to the gang as well, trying not to look at her whip. "Er, what just happened?"
But Franziska spoke before anyone could answer Apollo. "Archer Lerano," she repeated. "Get out of here. And take Trucy Wright with you!"
"What? No! I told you, I'm the defense attorney—"
"—Who is not allowed to investigate. And if you have left any items here, rest assured, you will see them in the trial tomorrow as some very unfortunate evidence. Besides, the true prosecutor of the case is here now. And, fool though he is, he will not permit you to remain any longer!" She emphasized her command with a crack of her whip.
They looked at Klavier, who must have seen this as a golden opportunity. Apollo certainly did. "Ah, ja. That is correct."
Trucy and Lerano looked simply furious. "So was it you who called Klavier? Meddling!" Ace asserted, irritated. He must have some kind of grudge against Franziska von Karma, Apollo thought.
"As rude as always, since those two perfect trials I prosecuted against you," Franziska taunted. Ah, that'll be it. She probably bested him in some trials. "Go now, then. You are not permitted to be here. And were you not listening? Klavier Gavin had no idea whose phone number it was. It could not be me who called him, fool!"
Lerano stormed off, with Trucy darkly following behind. She appeared not to have spotted Apollo. Should he simply bring her home? But he knew for a fact that Maya and Pearl were here too, and they were planning something. Trucy could get home by herself. "So… what did happen?" he asked.
"Nothing happened," Klavier said.
"You… Ema… er…"
Franziska spoke this time. "A manipulation of Lerano's, I gather. I could not allow it, in any case," she added, in a lower tone, then muttered something about winning.
"So was it your phone call?"
"No."
Maya and Pearl finally caught up. "We heard everything! You're dating Ema, right?"
Apollo was dumbstruck, and Franziska did a double take.
Klavier and Ema stared at each other "Er, ja…? Ja. It is a little complicated."
With this, Apollo could gather that it was a sort of ruse to ward off the combined forces of Lerano, Trucy, Ato, Maya, Pearl, and possibly Franziska. "Right," he said, a little reassured that the world had not turned on its head.
"How can it be complicated if you're dating?" Pearl demanded.
"Right, it's not!" Ema unexpectedly said. "We're… dating."
Apollo gave Klavier a look, and Klavier appeared to have grasped his meaning that he could banish Maya and Pearl. "This is no place for civilians. I must request that the two of you leave."
Ah, the power of the law. And it's never on my side, Apollo added, a little bitterly. At least this time he was on Prosecutor Gavin's side.
Grudgingly, Maya and Pearl left.
"And you, Prosecutor von Karma. I am the prosecutor in charge, so…"
Franziska von Karma whipped him. "Foolish fool! I have no more business here, and will leave regardless."
Klavier rubbed his stinging wounds as she left. "Thank you, Herr Forehead."
"Well, it's not like I did anything," Apollo said.
"At least you aren't ganging up on us."
"That's something, I suppose," Apollo allowed generously. "But you know, I can sorta see their point."
Ema turned sour immediately. "Their point? They have no point!"
"Well," Apollo mused slowly. "You guys kinda serve as a foil for each other, and Trucy once told me you look good together. And I'm surprised Prosecutor Gavin hasn't docked your pay for all the insults you've tossed at him, along with those Snackoos, never mind if he is a lax prosecutor. He even allows you to use your forensics equipment, even if you're a detective. But, who am I to say?" Apollo shrugged. "It's not like you're bad-tempered all the time, anyway. In fact, you can be pretty nice if you have some forensic work to do. Still, Trucy and the others were way over the line."
There was something about that night that made Ema and Klavier feel slightly different about each other.
The End. Not quite.
When something smells, it's the Butz. This time too. Larry pocketed his phone with the sense of a job well done. Franny had kind of hired him to help her with some kind of ploy to do with that rock star and a detective. She'd given him five bucks for just a phone call!
As he turned, he literally bumped into Maya Fey. "Oh, hey Maya!" Beside and behind her were three other people. Pearl Fey, this guy from the Gavinners, and Trucy Wright, the cute girl Nick had adopted. "Woah, what's happening?"
"Nothing much," Pearl sighed. "Just that we've been kicked out."
Larry was about to ask again, when Franny actually appeared. He opened his mouth to exclaim, but—
CRACK!
So he lay down a little, whimpering and weeping, so he didn't notice Edgeworth coming over as well and chiding Franziska, nor the shadow on the opposite side of the road that was Mark Ato.
Larry didn't even notice the two figures that emerged from the park, or the collective but silent gasp that ran round the watching crowd. He didn't see one lean towards the other with an enticing smile, or that both turned a delicate shade of red. He didn't see the moment their lips met.
But everyone else did, and there was no end to the exchanging of surprised glances, except for Mark Ato who smiled to himself.
And Ema didn't slap him when the kiss ended, and that, as Klavier would say later, was the most magical thing that happened that evening.
The End.
A/N This chapter was looong. It feels like I've stuffed all the plot into this last chapter. Kinda true, but not really. All the extra stuff was me procrastinating writing the real plan, because I took forever to come up with it, which was the main reason for the delay for this chapter… So, what d'you think of Mark? I fleshed out his character now. Hope it gave the impression I wanted. I wrote all the different 'character sections' in different orders, following the story and how it wanted to be laid out. Basically, I was improvising the entire way I was writing this. That's why it's so predictable. So, er, I rushed this, so I didn't even read through to edit it! I hope any elementary mistakes were avoided. I had to finish it by tonight, since I'm leaving my precious computer for a bit.
This is the last chapter. So all you readers out there—the regulars, the lurkers (I know you're there), the first-timers—REVIEW! And yes, I used CAPS to emphasize. Remember how I said I was leaving a few lines back? Well, when I get back to the computer, make sure I get loads of reviews waiting in my email!