NOTES: Well, I wrote chapter '12' but then I realised chronologically it should go after 'scene 1' of this chapter (Chapter 11).

But I promised everyone you'd get more of an explanation of last chapter's events in THIS chapter, so I left it as is, 'cause everyone likes P/M :) You'd feel ripped off if I gave you a scene from Iris POV in lieu of what I said in the notes last chapter. So chapter 12 you'll have to jump backwards a bit again... (how confusing...)

CHAPTER 11

KURAIN

PHOENIX:

Things are pretty awesome.

We called the police, so hopefully those criminals who attacked Maya will get justice this time - or at least the criminals who channel them. The police have plenty of 'leads' - so they claim.

But best of all, Maya is a million percent better! She can't stop enthusing about me 'channelling a killer bird ghost' to attack Kristoph to save her! I admit I don't fully recall what happened, and I don't remember 'channelling'. I just recall seeing that bastard Kristoph going to hurt her, and an intense emotion that blanked me. I surely did attack him at that point as I desired. Somehow.

She's adamant I indeed saved her from Kristoph this time, so I feel better. I might have forgiven myself. Kinda.

Maya seems deliriously enamoured with me, anyway.

I'm not sure I buy this 'channelling a Phoenix' thing, but something must have happened. Maya swears it's true, so I'll have to believe her - admittedly I'd never have believed she'd channel Mia, before it actually happened. Still, I haven't a clue how to consciously access this 'power', whatever it was. I try, but well... nothing. How do you do that, anyway? It's not like there's a switch to press!

Maya gave vague instructions about searching for the Phoenix ghost's signature signal to channel, but it may as well be Borginian to me. She then sighed and admitted that I probably wasn't channelling the same way she did anyway, and that the first time she channelled Mia to save me she was running on some kind of weird instinct, she didn't even know how it happened. I admit this is perfectly analogous.

"Pearly is researching, I'm sure we'll find out more soon," she encouraged. I'm not that confident it'll help though. Neither of us do things by the book.

Regardless, I'm getting more strict about my training. I don't know how else to go about this, but it seems a good strategy to better access my 'powers'.

So it is that one evening, I'm staggering exhausted out from under a waterfall stacked with stabbing spiritual ice, when a terrible swarm of pink darkness churns out the retreating sun.

A hundred hideous little wings buzz like a helicopter. I freeze in a way no spiritual ice could achieve, some subconscious vestige of terror suddenly accessed. I'm actually shaking.

Are there really that many butterflies? They're buzzing so fast, it's a hypnotic blur, clouds of toxic dust fuming out. With a last vestige of will I clamp my eyes shut to try to avert the disorientation...

Please, let it be over! I can vaguely sense my Magatama pulsing against my chest, and try to concentrate on that, it's surely offsetting this p-power. Maya put a charm in it! All my strength somehow barriers the delusion from infecting my mind, but there's none left over for protecting my body. I'm drowning again, it's like that time I fell into Eagle River but the water is pink and viscous this time, I fight and fight, but the surface has ceased to exist. Can't... breathe...

"IRIS!"

A small competing whirlwind suddenly hurtles in our direction, butterflies scattering in its wake. My eyes snap open. Iris cowers.

"You leave my Nick alone! Don't you know he's scared of butterflies?"

"Maya!" I gasp in relief. "Maya. Hey..."

"What..."

I glower pointedly at Iris, then draw Maya closer, in a kiss.

"Aww." Maya's touched.

Iris is unreadable.

"Come on, Nick," demands Maya curtly, beginning to stamp off through the mountain dust. I doubt all her irritation is directed at me.

"Why are you wearing gloves and a hood in summer anyway," I query objectionably to Iris, still not placated. First not enough clothes, now so many I can barely see her! "And will you stop stalking me?" I demand, inflamed into further disconcert recalling the attack on Maya the other day. "Look, I didn't want to have to rub this in your face, but see THIS?" I indicate my wedding ring.

"T-that union has no recognition under s-spiritual law!"

Oh hell.

"W-why do you think rules and laws don't apply to you?" I wince internally as bloody aces blind my inner vision, but that was different. Iris' eyes are fearful, but set with an uncharacteristic resolution. It's scary. I flail in confusion, the same doubts that let me rig a jury..

But there's one 'law' that always matters, and that is the TRUTH.

"TAKE THAT!" I scream, hurling the Magatama in direction of her face.

Iris flees, taking her dead weight of psyche locked chains with her.

Damn, I should have been more covert!

"Nick?" Maya's eyes are worried, then morph to mild irritation upon seeing me. "Will you hurry up and come? Wait... are you cross-examining her?"

"No." My hand falls limply back to my side. "She ran away."

The truth. I fumble the Magatama back round my neck, and hold my hand back out. Maya takes it.

###

The curious case of Mystic Phoenix
Report compiled by Mystic Pearl of Kurain [with aid of Spiritual Power 'spellchecker']

The phoenix - ( Hō-ō , Fenghuang) the ancients report - the ultimate manifestation of yin (female) energy! Balanced and complemented by the yan (male) energy of the Dragon, Ryu. What better than the deity of 'feminine' energy for the matriarchal Master of Kurain? The Fenghuang also symbolizes the balanced union of yin and yang. It represents fire, justice, loyalty, and fidelity!

"Huh?" Maya's eyes affix Pearls'. "All this stuff about yin being female energy! This phoenix ghost was DEFINITELY male!"

"No, 'female energy' is not a literal designation, it is only terminology," explains Pearls. "Besides, I am getting to that."

We read on.

The male phoenix is named "feng" and is the yang, solar, fire bird, but as the female "huang" it is feminine, yin, and lunar. The Feng and the Huang together symbolize everlasting love, and as a bridal symbol signifies "inseparable fellowship." The Feng symbolizes a duality, the yin-yang, mutual interdependence in the universe.

Feng came to represent the power sent from the heavens to the Empress and may be found paired with the dragon, in which case the dragon represents the Emperor and the phoenix the Empress.

"I'm not an 'empress!'"

"Oh, but Mystic Maya, you are surely a powerful figurehead with power sent from the 'heavens'!"

"I have to agree," I cede. "If there's any 'empress' round these days, none of 'em are doing weird spirit channelling stuff." When in Kurain...

In China, early artifacts show the Phoenix (female) as intimately associated with the Dragon (male) - the two are portrayed either as mortal enemies or as blissful lovers. When shown together, the two symbolize both conflict and wedded bliss.

"Ryuichi Naruhodo? Who's that?"

"The fury of the conflicted dragon!"

It is believed the phoenix spirit that was summoned is a Shikigami, not a human ghost. Shikigami (式神) are a kind of spirit summoned to serve a practitioner of onmyōdō, much like a familiar, and can manifest themselves in animal or mythical beastly form. Onmyōdō - 陰陽道, "The Way of Yin and Yang', utilises the powers of balanced yin yang to summon the Shikigami.

Clearly, Mystic Master Maya has been able to utilise her own powers, via the magatama, in combination with the powering of the magatama, with the powers of Mystic Phoenix himself. The strength of Mystic Maya's and Mystic Phoenix's bond has caused a harmony of yin yan powers to allow this manifestation greater than the sum of its parts!

"Pearly! This isn't scientific! It's like some bad romance TV show!"

"Exactly! This could never have happened without the strength of your and Mr Mystic Nick's bond! Two hearts beating as a synchronous one!"

"Stop warping everything into some kind of romantic fairytale! Besides, it's not 'synchronous'. I though yin yang was some weird mystical complementary balance of opposing forces..."

The document continues.

Mystic Phoenix can access Mystic Maya's onmyōdō powers via those she has imbrued in the Magatama, and call on the Ancestral Magatama to power his own will and the connection of their bond. This must allow the divination of the shikigami familiar by Mystic Phoenix being able to channel the phoenix ghost. Mystic Phoenix imbruing his own powers in Master Maya's magatama has possibly cemented this connection. It is unknown the origin of these exact powers as the blue tinted energy is not of Kurainian origin. Perhaps it is the energy of the phoenix shikigami?

"Y-you mean I don't even have my own powers?"

"Of course you do, Nick!" Maya crushes my arm comfortingly. "Who cares where they come from, you have to have the strength of will to access and use them! Besides, we don't know, it's only Pearly's idea!"

The Kurain channelling and transformation powers have been combined with the familiar divination of the onmyōdō! Usually, the shikigami spirit will appear in ghostly form alongside the onmyōji, but in this case the shikigami has been channelled into the body of Mystic Phoenix and he has transformed his form as per the Kurain Technique!

Only the women of the Kurain line can transform whilst channelling. How does Mystic Phoenix accomplish this feat? It is believed with Mystic Master Maya's own powers imbrued in the Magatama, Mystic Phoenix can access the 'transformation' powers by utilising the transformation powers via the Magatama, along with the Magatama's own powers, and his own powers. A manifestation more than the sum of its 3 parts!

"Hmm, I don't know," Maya sighs to Pearls. "It still reads too much like one of your weird fairytales. And it's also unprecedented!"

"Oh, no. It is said, that in the 13th century, after Master Mystic Mirai married High Monk Torakokoro she could call a tiger, though we assumed it was merely a story... But *sigh* how often does the Master take a male partner as her disciple in such harmonious romantic love for her powers to take effect? She does not even usually get married!"

"I thought the 'spirits' rejected our marriage?" I mutter darkly to Maya.

"This proves different! It is Destiny!" Pearls palms her cheeks over sappy eyes.

"Oh, who cares about 'Destiny'!" Maya suddenly snaps. "Nick, are you feeling okay? Are you sick? Have I really infected you with some weird ghost? I d-didn't intend any of this! I j-just wanted..."

"D-don't cry. Maya. I'm fine. Actually, I've never felt better..." (It's true.) "B-but no wonder you were so tired, if all that is true. I-in fact, wouldn't the Magatama still be vamping powers from you right now?"

Maya wipes her eyes with my sleeve. "No," she decrees thoughtfully. "It's not making me tired. I-in fact, it stopped right after that phoenix appeared..."

"What does that mean?" I query Pearls.

"I... I have no idea."

"And you haven't 'infected' me," I soothe, turning back to Maya. "I w-wanted to save you." And kill Kristoph, but whatever. "I'm the one who's been training my powers on my own will, whatever they are."

But she isn't placated.

"S-spirit powers are a curse! I j-just wish things could be like back when.. you know..." Maya trails off, tactful for once, but I assume she means the 'lawyer days'. "Y-you know, I liked you, because... because you didn't think I was useless when I couldn't channel..."

"Huh? Maya, what's wrong..." I can feel the tremble under my touch. She's getting really upset! My eyes affix hers concernedly. After some minutes of my stroking she finally stops shuddering and manages to speak.

"I g-guess... I don't want you thinking I'm just using you as some kind of weird sidekick to exploit for using my powers!"

"Of course not! I know... exactly how you feel." I can see it in your eyes.

The same ones compelling me now. We seem to have drawn ourselves closer. I have coiled myself around her, almost automatic as she pulls my lips to meet hers.

I can feel my own heart thundering in my ear.

"I will leave you two to your 'Alone Time'" calls Pearls, jarring me to surrounding reality.

I sigh internal relief as the door soon slams, 'cause I don't think I could force myself to break. But eventually the oxygen gives out.

"L-lock the door," mutters Maya. My hand reaches and musses through the lock, slightly spacey from the sudden heatwave in the room. "Nick, look at me." I feel fingers in my spikes.

"Maya..."

###

Our magatamas are laid in the far corner, cushioned under our clothes. Dunno if their charms reach here, maybe they do, but either way we're not being attacked by any 'demons'.

I think we just banished them.

Besides, there's even better news. Maya reaches out from the futon over to my phone and checks the messages received while we were 'out'. The police just *finally* raided the Azakurain compound in a surprise attack. A whole stack of weirdos have been arrested. No doubt those thugs who tried to hit Maya are among them.

"Ah! Gimme the remote!" Her eyes are glowing.

The wall thunders forth with the 24 hour national news channel. Sure enough, it's soon inflaming this 'scandalous' story. The detainees are great at drama. One keeps screaming he 'demands' the 'death penalty' so he can be a 'Martyr'!

The residents were all hiding out in a N-bomb shelter, so the police had to use a bulldozer, and they flew in in a helicopter, since the security guards at the gates tried to shoot them. But for some reason most of those thought to be involved came out of the fallout shelter and started attacking the police, goading them to shoot them! Footage is being shown now. They're screaming incoherencies about the 'justice system being evil'.

"The only law is spiritual law! The Pretender Master will fall!"

'Pretender Master'? Oh great, I can only assume who they mean... I turn my face to Maya's, gripping her hand tighter. Why have those freaks sacrificed themselves? Did the police have the sense to clear out the entire bunker or just take the decoys?

But if some of the criminals are dead, they're beyond reach. I only hope peoples' prints don't change while they're channelling...

Maya is blissfully unflapped.

"It'll work out now! I know it will! Besides... I have you!"

How the heck is she going to testify about my 'transformation' if she has to in court? Did the police arrest a burns victim?

"I th-think we should see if we can get Edgeworth onto this case..."

"Great idea! See?"

Yet more rigging... will the underhand pursuit of Gavin never end?

"Ah! Look!" Maya thrills as the screen fills with 'Gourdy Jr', top story of the day. "Can we go?"

"Uh..." The scrolling ticker at the footer is more interesting. "Azakurain cult detainee declares they are waging Supernatural War'. "Look at that?"

Maya's eyes flit to my gesture. "Mother of six claims Proto Badger is the father?"

"No. Wait.. it'll loop back. THERE!"

"Weird," mutters Maya. "What is it with these people and their vendettas against us?

"It's not you. It's the 'Master'. They don't know YOU." (And I do.)

"W-what happened when you 'channelled'?"

Topic switch! "I-I dunno exactly. Blind emotion. I had to save you. I had to avenge you. I had to."

"Yeah. It was like that for me too, the first time. I couldn't stand it. I had to save you, I just had to. So if you're the catalyst for my powers, Nick... what does that say about us?"

"Uh..." I choke emotion. Damn, can't think of the words!

"Yeah... I was remembering. Pearly could already channel... at 8, yes, but even earlier, Aunt Morgan claimed. If I hadn't channelled pretty soon, it would have looked bad for my claim for Master..."

"Is this about this 'Pretender' garbage? Don't you ever doubt yourself!"

"But I did channel. Th-they keep on harping on about that superstition of me 'changing your fate', but maybe you already 'changed' mine! Or maybe it's all just the 'Butterfly Effect'?"

I shudder. "Please, don't mention butterflies. Or flowers. Especially not roses. Or..." S-stop gabbling. "L-look. Fairytales aren't real. Or 'fate'. Or 'j-justice'. But I believe in YOU, okay?"

Maya flings her arms back round me again.

Guess I did think of the words.