May's Justice

by ChloboShoka

Ash Ketchum is imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit. His girlfriend, May, decides to become a defence attorney to clear his name. She works for Phoenix Wright's firm and befriends his daughter, Trucy. As her career in law progresses, she begins to learn more about Ash and herself. Voted best Advanceshipping and multichaptered fic by Serebii Forums.

6. The State Vs Eiri Uesugi

Chapter Six: The State VS. Eiri "Yuki" Uesugi

"I hope you've had a good night sleep," Trucy told May.

"I'm fine," May yawned. "I've had seventeen cups of coffee today."

"Seventeen?" Trucy gasped with her hands on her hips. "May, that's way too much coffee. You shouldn't put your health at risk like that; it puts you and the client in danger."

"It's been a daily routine of mine for ages," May said. "Ever since Ash went to prison."

May was aware of the consequences of too much caffeine, but she could not deny the fragrance of dark coffee in the premature sunrise. As a child, she used to despise the bitter taste of coffee, but now she couldn't get enough of it. The gallons of black coffee each morning had helped her stay bright and alert. She didn't think that she could get through any of the trials without the big dose of coffee.

"While I was finishing off my report," May told Trucy. "I had a look at both of Mrs. Uzumaki's autopsy reports. They both seemed a little odd."

"That's the past," Trucy told May.

"I have a feeling that Mrs. Uzumaki's death is also related to this case," May admitted. "When the time is right, the truth will come alight."

All the courtrooms and lobbies were beginning to look the same. They were in lobby three, but May couldn't tell the difference between lobby one, two or three. Today was an important day for Tohma. If May messed up, she dreaded to think what Tohma had in store for her. Even though Tohma had been very kind to her since she took the case on, she didn't know how long it would last.

"Please do your best," Tohma requested. His body shook with more nerves and tension than the defendant. His cheeks lost the radiance that it had yeterday. The emotions must have been geniune, thus May didn't consider Tohma a suspect. Eiri sat quietly on one of the chairs near the door. Shuichi was talking to his friends in the courtroom. "I'm afraid something terrible will happen if the truth doesn't come today."

May nodded as she scurried to her place in court with the court records on her side. On the other side of the court, was Klavier Gavin. May thought he seemed out of place as he dressed up more like a rock star than a servant of justice. May looked around the court, it was a full house. All the people she met during the past couple of days were on the front row. There also appeared to be a lot of paparazzi with all their gear.

The pressure was on.

"The court is now in session for the trial of Eiri Uesugi!" The Judge announced.

"The prosecution is ready to rock!" Klavier yelled as he did with his hands as to what could only be described as playing an air guitar.

"The defence is too," May added.

"Ah," The Judge said. "Prosecutor Gavin... Does it seem awkward having to prosecute against your band-mate's lover?"

Klavier looked at Eiri and then looked at the defence bench. He shook his head. "Nein Herr Judge, if Eiri is truly innocent then he has nothing to fear."

"Which he totally is by the way," May retorted.

"Are you sure about that?" May felt as if she was being taunted by him. "The evidence says otherwise. Eiri Yuki or known by his real name, Eiri Uesugi was indeed a charmer. He was accused of murdering his tutor, Yuki Kitazawa ten years ago. He was found not guilty due to self-defence. However, he's been on a killing spree ever since."

"You are aware that Mr. Shindou and Mr. Seguichi are present today?" May asked. "I'd hate you to be in trouble with work."

"The music is just a hobby," Klavier chuckled. "This is my true career."

"I remember him in The Gavinners," Trucy whispered to May. "Their music was totally awesome. Much better than Bad Luck anyway."

"I just want to get this trial started." May rammed her nails against the bench and then took a step back. She was so glad that Shuichi didn't hear Trucy.

"With so many victims it would have been hard to get away with it for so long by himself," Klavier announced. His fingers clicked over at Shuichi who simply stuck out his tongue.

"What do you mean by that?" May questioned.

"Our romantic killer here had an accomplice... The accomplice is none other than my bandmate, Shuichi Shindou."

"YOU VILE TRAITOR!" Shuichi bellowed as pounced onto prosecution's desk and dug his nails into Klavier's shoulders. The Language that spewed from his mouth afterwards was most foul. Shuichi was escorted out of the court by three bailiffs before he could do any life-term damage. People's mixed reactions were expected, but the one that stood out for May the most was Tohma's forehead resting on the palm of his hand with his face hidden from view. Poor bloke, May thought. It appeared that Tohma was on the verge of breaking down. The suspense was contagious.

"Is this really trail really over before it's even started?" the Judge cried out.

"Of course it isn't. Yuki Kitazawa's death took place way before Shuichi and Eiri had met," May announced to the court. "So how can Shuichi be his accomplice?"

"That's right," Klavier shook his head as he hissed. The intensity in his voice almost scared May. "But he could have still teamed up with Shuichi anytime between the murders. Eiri is the only one with a motive. And Shuichi out of pure love would do anything to please him... Even help him commit a crime. The only witness to Yoshiki's murder was Herr Aizawa and his crew. Now they're gone, they are no witnesses left. So we have to let the evidence do the talking!"

"I'm still standing by my belief that Eiri Uesugi killed nobody."

Klavier remained laughing. "You really are a stubborn one, Fräulein Maple. The defendant has even admitted that he's a killer."

May flicked open her case file and brought out Riku's adoption certificate. "Do you remember me telling you that Eiri adopted Yuki Kitazawa's son?"

"Ja," Klavier nodded. "What about it?"

May presented Klavier the adoption certificate. She pointed at Yoshiki's signature. "If my client was indeed the killer, then why would Yoshiki leave her nephew in his care? No offence to my client, but if I was in Yoshiki's shoes and I knew of the accusations made against Mr. Uesugi, he would be the last person I would have left my nephew to. Now we have to ask ourselves, why Yoshiki dump her nephew on the man that was suppose to have killed her bother? Maybe it was only meant to be a temporary thing. Perhaps she was going to take the child back in her custody. But Eiri wanted to adopt the child and Yoshiki agreed to do so."

"What are you getting at?" the Judge croaked.

"Your Honour... this adoption certificate tells me a lot out my client," May explained to the Judge. "Yoshiki Kitazawa had many reasons not leave Riku in Eiri's case, but she did. And you wanna know why she did that? Because my client, Eiri Yuki Uesugi is innocent and he is not a murderer. And she knew it."

"Wonderful words," Klavier exclaimed, clapping his hands. When he finished clapping, he began to chuckle and shrugged his hands behind his back. "You would make a fine politician. However, I have a something that contradicts your claims. Perhaps... she didn't know that he played a scene in her brother's death?" Klavier shrugged his shoulders.

"Eiri's first trial was in every newspaper in Japan. Yoshiki wouldn't have missed it."

"Mr. Kitazawa worked in New York; perhaps Yoshiki would have been in New York at the time."

"Then New York would have heard about it too."

"Not every murder hits the time news, Fräulein Maple."

"Hey you two!" Trucy yelled. "Cut it out."

"Would the defence please return to her post," The Judge demanded. "And does the prosecution have anyone that we can testify or cross-examine?"

"Oh yes!" Klavier said with a slick grin. "When there is a will, there's a way. So Fräulein Maple, why don't you show us the way?"

"I think we should look at things in a whole different perceptive," May told Klavier. "Since we can't do it from the inside, we should think outside the box."

"Ja!" Klavier agreed. "Very good, Fräulein. Now... Are you to ready to rock?"

"The defence was born to rock."

"I'm glad we can agree on things," Klavier sighed with the click of his fingers. "I would like to bring Fräulein Skye to the stand."

"Eh...Who?" May asked.

"You know, Fräulein Ema Skye!" Klavier chuckled. "The beautiful forensic scientist."

"I was thinking of calling Detective Gary Oak to the stand," May thought out. "He's the one in charge of the investigation."

"He can be next," Klavier reported.

May simply nodded. She had never met the woman before, so she couldn't judge Klavier's taste in women. Klavier spoke of her as if she was a Hollywood actress. When Ema Skye came to the stand, she seemed like anything but a Hollywood actress as she shamelessly threw one of her snacks at Klavier. Klavier caught the snack in his mouth.

Ema Skye was a young and attractive lady. But not even the large lab coat could hide her huge bump. She had a big bag of Snackoos, a popular brand of chocolate covered karintos. Karintos were a traditional Japanese snack that was popular among young kids.

"State your name and occupation, please."

"Ema Skye," She muttered. She looked up to the ceiling with her neck turned away from Klavier. "Forensic scientist and... Mum-to-be." She continued to snack away as every crunch grinded May's ears.

"She loves her Snackoos," Trucy whispered in May's ears. "You can always see her with some."

"So they're not just a pregnancy graving." May couldn't help but think all that sugar and calories in those bags can't be good for her or the baby.

"It's your fault I'm in this mess, you glimmerous fop!" Ema hissed.

"Did something happen between those two?" May asked.

"Fräulein Skye and I go way back..." Klavier said back.

Ema crunched louder. "You won't have a back by the time I'm through with you."

Trucy shrugged her shoulders. "I think Klavier is the father."

"Congratulations Miss Skye," The Judge announced with a smile on his face. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Double trouble!" Ema sighed.

"Must be twins," Trucy added.

"Alright Miss Skye, please give us your account on the events."

"The members of A.S.K were all gunned down by a magnum revolver. The same way that Yoshiki Kitazawa was killed a few years ago. At the crime scene I found a lipstick which belonged to Miss Kitazawa in Mr. Aizawa's pocket. Whoever killed them would have been someone with a lot of experience. Which is why Mr. Uesugi is the only possible culprit."

"Thank you Miss Skye." The Judge banged his gavel. "The defence may begin the cross-examination."

"Do you have the murder weapon?" May asked.

Ema shook her head. "The murder weapon was never found."

"Objection!" May cried out at the top of her voice. "How do you know if it's the murder weapon if you don't have it?"

"From the bullets." Ema smirked. "We examined the bullets from all victims and they all come from the same weapon."

"He's been arrested quite a few times hasn't he?" The Judge pondered. "Why was he not convicted for Miss Kitazawa's death? And why did he serve no jail time for Mr. Kitazawa's death?"

"For Yuki Kitazawa's death: A plea of self-defence and the fact he was a minor at the time of the crime," Ema responded. "Also, the statue of limitations expired on the second day of the trial, so they had no choice but to give a not guilty verdict. For Miss Kitazawa's death, he was arrested, but the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence."

"My client is 100% innocent!" May roared.

"OBJECTION!" Klavier retaliated. "Her Uesugi isn't even 1% innocent."

"The prosecution has a point," The Judge admitted. "He admitted to killing three people in first trial."

"Mr. Uesugi may have shot Yuki Kitazawa, but he didn't kill them."

"Any proof?" Klavier raised his eyebrow.

"Take a look at these!" May presented the pictures of each three of the crime scenes. She pointed to the picture of Yuki Kitazawa's body as her finger rested on his shoulder. "The ones on the victim's shoulders are the ones that my client took. Compare these gun wounds to the others. The rest are directly in the heart. Which means that Eiri Uesugi cannot be the only suspect."

"Objection," Klavier screamed. "That only proves that the crimes are connected. And their connection is that Eiri Uesugi killed them all."

"And what about Shuichi being the accomplice?" May reminded Klavier. "How does that fit in?"

"I can explain!" Ema exclaimed.

"Please do!" The Judge begged.

"Mr. Shindou must have helped the defendant drag Yoshiki from the real crime scene to their house with the intention of disposing it later."

May objected. "That makes no sense."

"Why not?" The Judge sneered at May.

"Because if Eiri was really the killer why would he dump the body outside his house for everyone to see!"

"Good point," The Judge agreed. "That would be very strange."

"How so?" Klavier questioned. "Maybe he had to deal with Shuichi's antics."

"The real killer has the murder weapon. Until we find out where it is, we cannot judge my client like this." She saw Detective Gary Oak and scurried over to him. "Can you do me a favour?" May asked Gary.

Gary nodded. "Sure what is it?"

"The murder weapon is still missing," May reminded Gary. "I think the real killer is hiding it somewhere. I need you to investigate two locations." May gave Gary a small note with the details of the locations already written on it. "Is that okay?"

"Sure it is," Gary responded with enthusiasm. "I'll ride on Pidgeot to get there."

"In the meantime," The Judge announced. "The court shall take a 15-minute recess."

Right up until the very last moments of a quick recess, there was silence. Everyone had been unusually quiet, especially Trucy. May went through the records one last time to check that she hadn't missed anything. After listening to everybody's testimonies and how the case was linked to the murders of the Kitazawa siblings, May was able to see a pattern. They were all killed in the exact same way, which meant that it must have been the same killer all along. Klavier's theory about there being an accomplice also seemed to make sense. It was all coming together to reveal the truth.

"Deep in my heart," Tohma whispered out of the blue. "I wanted to believe that you were innocent, Eiri. I should have followed my heart a long time ago."

"Don't worry," May told him. "Today is the day Eiri will get his acquittal."

"What if the prosecution play dirty tricks?" Tohma asked.

"Then I will counter their tricks with some of my own," May responded with a large grin on her face. "Recess is over. It's time to go back."

Everybody nodded as they all returned to the courtroom to continue the case.

"The trial of Eiri Uesugi shall continue," The Judge announced. He looked over both sides of the court and realized that prosecution bench was empty. "Where is Prosecutor Gavin?"

"He's been knocked out by an unknown assailant," One of the bailiffs screeched.

"OH MY GOD!" Trucy exclaimed. "I hope he's okay!"

The Judge banged his gavel. "Then trial shall continue tomorrow when Prosecutor Gavin is feeling better."

"HOLD IT!" May screamed. May had an idea who the killer could be. She couldn't believe that she didn't figure it out earlier, but it all still made sense didn't have the evidence the concret evidence, but May hoped that she could user her conversation skills to squeeze the truth out of the culprit. The true killer wanted to play games, this person wad trying to troll the court and push everybody in the wrong direction. May wanted to make sure that the killer never harmed another living soul again. "We can't leave it like this!"

"Why not?" The Judge cried out. "We cannot continue this trial without the prosecution."

"He's right, May!" Trucy told him. "Besides, it means we will have more time to investigate."

May shook her head. "Trucy, I don't need any more time." Trucy took a few steps back as May crashed her hands against the table. "Your Honour... If we leave the trial for another day then the true killer will escape! He will go out and kill more people," May replied. "Besides," May smirked as she folded her arms and shook her shoulders back. "I know who the killer is."

"What!" Trucy gasped.

"YOU DO?" The Judge screeched. "Please tell us!"

"Prosecutor Gavin's theory is very accurate," May announced to the court. "There is an accomplice. The only error in Prosecutor Gavin's theory is the name of killer, and the guy who helped him cover up his crimes." May left her bench and marched around the courtroom. "Would the real killer please stand up? You've got ten seconds... Nine... Eight... Seven... Six... Five... Four... Three... Two... One."

"YOU ARE A BITCH!"

The audience gasped in horror as Suguru sprinted from his seat and leaned towards the witness box.

"May... I don't know what's going on," Trucy told May, her eyes buried under her hat. "But I'm really frightened right now."

"Why, because I'm telling the truth?" May laughed. "THAT makes me a bitch?"

"Because you know how shitty that is!"

"Mr. Fujisaki?" The Judge panted. His head made a firm shift in May's direction. "Miss Maple, Mr. Fujisaki is the only one standing up. Are you suggesting that he is the culprit?"

"He's hardly protesting," May answered.

"Phew," Trucy sighed. "You've done it again." She raised her fists in the air. "Now show them who's boss!"

"I don't get it," The Judge confessed. "What would possess Mr. Fujisaki to commit such terrible crimes? How did you come to the conclusion that it was him?"

"Other than Eiri's family and Tohma," May started. "The only other person who knew about Eiri's past was Suguru Fujisaki. That fateful night was the day that Suguru Fujisaki discovered his love for killing."

"What?" Suguru's voice had returned to his normal polite self. "Me a murderer?" Suguru only giggled. "No comment."

"No comment he says," May pointed out. The case was solved as far as she was concerned. "Not 'I didn't do it'. But of course you did do it, didn't you?"

"Suguru..." Tohma cried out. "Why would you risk tarnishing your reputation with these foolish acts of violence?"

"I would have gotten away with it if you'd have kept your nose out of it," Suguru growled at Tohma.

"But for years, you have been getting away with murder," May acknowledged. "When you murdered Yuki Kitazawa around eleven years ago. You would have been only around ten at the time. You heard gunshots coming from outside Mr. Kitazawa's house. When you walked in, you saw Eiri unconscious as Mr. Kitazawa and his henchmen were severely injured in the corner of the room. There in front of you was a gun by your foot. It was the first time you saw a gun, and you felt bold and excited. As soon as you noted that they were alive you pulled the final blow to everybody. You took the gun and ran off."

Suguru closed his eyes and folded his arms as he listened to May speaking. His lips were sealed.

"Wait!" Eiri gasped. "I remember something. After I pulled the trigger... I blacked out. I woke up next to Yuki's corpse, and then Tohma found me."

"Have you got anything to add to that Mr. Fujisaki?" May asked.

Suguru refused to speak.

"For seven years everything was going well until Yoshiki Kitazawa turned up."

"She was making things hard," Suguru hissed. "She had to go."

"But there was a witness," May declared. "Somebody saw you shoot Yoshiki. You wanted to frame Shuichi for the crime, so you left Yoshiki's body outside his apartment. Eiri was arrested, but released due to lack of evidence. "

"I'm only a short guy," Suguru reminded May. "How could I have dragged Yoshiki all the way from the crime scene to Eiri and Shuichi's house?"

"That's why you had an accomplice." May pointed at Hiroshi Nakano. "As Suguru's accomplice, you helped him move Yoshiki's body with your motorcycle. However, as Shuichi's best friend, you also didn't want him to be accused of the crime. So you suggested to frame Eiri instead. Taki Aizawa witnessed you dumping the body outside their apartment. You both left the band on the very same day that Yoshiki Kitazawa's body was found, so people would never suspect you. For another three years, everything was going fine. Then Taki Aizawa had an appointment with you the day he died. But it wasn't for a check-up. It was a confrontation. You arranged a meeting with him in the cemetery, but you failed to show up. Instead, it was Suguru that showed. When Suguru saw all the members of Taki's band and Eiri wondering around in the cemetery, he took his chance."

"Sorry Shuichi..." Hiro said with his head to the floor.

"Why are you saying sorry?" Suguru yelled at Hiro. "This isn't over. They can't prove it without the murder weapon. Look in my house, I dare you!"

May shook her head. "Detective Oak has already looked. The murder weapon is not in your house."

"Then how can you pin it on me?"

"You've already confessed to the crime," May mentioned. "There's no turning back now. But, I think I know where the murder weapon is."

"Where is it?" The Judge asked.

"At any second now, Detective Oak will come through these doors and present the magnum revolver," May declared with her left arm in the air. "The gun in Doctor Nakano's office."

"I'm above the law," Suguru hissed. "If you knew what sort of people they were like, then you would know that they deserved it."

"There's other victims too," May announced. "Like Mrs. Uzumaki."

"I'd never wish any harm on her," Hiro cried out.

May shook her head. "You seemed very fond of Mrs. Uzumaki. You knew that Miss Haruno was innocent right from the start but you didn't attend the trial. You said it was because of work: that's understandable. As a doctor it's your duty to put the needs of your patients first."

"But Mrs. Uzumaki died from stomach cancer," the Judge interupted. "You said so yourself."

"That's right," May admitted. "But even though we cleared Sakura Haruno's name, we never truly found out what killed Mrs. Uzumaki. We knew she had cancer, but the circumstances are still mysterious. I think I have a solution to it."

"Do explain," the Judge requested.

"I had another look at both of Mrs. Uzumaki's autopsy reports, both signed by you," May kept her eyes on Hiro as highlighted the important parts with a pen from her pocket. "If anyone was present in The State Vs. Sakura Haruno trail, you would recall that the first autopsy report was inconclusive. The second one clearly states that her cause of death was stomach cancer, but if you compare both autopsy reports together: there are some big differences. The first one mentions a lot of poisons in her body and the second one dosen't mention it at all."

"Why was the poison not mentioned before?" the Judge asked.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Your Honour?"

The Judge nodded. "Yes... there is obviously some foulplay involved here. And Prosecutor Payne was witholding evidence, if I recall correctly?"

"Which Prosecutor Payne is that?" Hiro asked. "Gaspen or Winston?"

"Gaspen Payne," the Judge replied. "So Miss Maple, where are going from here?"

"From our conversation yesterday, it was clear that Doctor Nakano was very fond of Mrs. Uzumaki. He was so unsure why the medicine he perscribed wasn't working. But now we now why. Because your friend, Suguru Fujisaki had been meddling with them."

"He would do no such thing."

"Hiro..." May sighed at the doctor who had just been exposed. "Suguru has just admitted that he's murderer. You helped him get away with it for so long. You gave him full access to your clinic. You must have known what he was doing. Even when I was there, he was adding poison to the medication. Mrs. Uzumaki was your favourite patient... and you failed to meet her needs. You didn't like the fact that Shuichi was making new friends, and his relationship with Yuki was getting stronger. You especially didn't like Naruto Uzumaki. And you killed her wife with dogdey medication and was willing to let Sakura Haruno take the blame just to spite him."

"Why are you picking on Hiro?" Suguru asked, wrapping his arm around him. "I'm the bad guy, not him."

"Because you wanted Shuichi all to yourself," May hissed. "Once my client was out of the way, you were planning a lot of things for Shuichi. And it's okay, you we don't need to tell them. I've read enough fan fiction to know where you were heading."

"But if what you're saying is true," the Judge said. "Why would Hiro and Suguru leave Bad Luck?"

"So they wouldn't become a suspects," May announced.

The people of the court were alarmed as a giant Nidoking pushed open the court's doors. Detective Gary Oak raced into the courtroom on his Arcanine's back. In Arcanine's mouth was a clear plastic bag. A gun could clearly be seen inside it. "Your Honour," Gary said as he presented the Judge with the magnum revolver. "I found this in Doctor Nakano's safe in his office. Gary expressed great courage in his voice."Suguru Fujisaki and Doctor Hiroshi Nakano, you are both under arrest for the murders of Taki Aizawa, Ma-Kun, Ken-Chan, and Yoshiki Kitazawa. And there will be other charges too." The bailiffs handcuffed both men as they were escorted out of the court. Gary continued to read out their rights.

"Did you find any poison?" May asked Gary.

Gary nodded with another plastic bag filled with white powder.

"I just feel so sorry for Shuichi," Trucy admitted. "They were suppose to be his best friends, right? And they tried to do this to him!"

"Me too," May admitted. "He really missed them in the band. And now my mom will be sad that the original line up of Bad Luck will never make new music again."

"Goodness gracious me," The Judge sighed. "What a complete turnabout. I never expected that Mr. Fujisaki and Doctor Nakano to be the culprits." The Judge had his eyes on May. "Miss Maple..."

"Yes, Your Honour!"

"Forgive me for only just realizing how talented you are," The Judge confessed. "Not many rookie attorneys can take on two very prolific cases in their first week and win them both. I congratulate you. And out of curiosity, do you think that Mr. Fujisaki was the one that attacked Prosecutor Gavin?"

"Thank you," May smiled as she bowed before The Judge. "And yes, I do believe that Mr. Fujisaki attacked Prosecutor Gavin. He was the last person to enter the courtroom after recess. Attacking Prosecutor Gavin was the mistake that sealed his fate."

The Judge admitted, "I still don't understand why Mr. Fujisaki would attack Prosecutor Gavin."

"Like I said," May responded. "Prosecutor Gavin's theory was almost perfect. That caused Mr. Fujisaki to panic."

"That makes sense. Ah! One more thing: any chance that you're related to Mia Fey?" The Judge asked curiously. "Your style reminds me of her."

"I don't think so," May responded. "As far as I know, all of my family live in Hoenn."

"Ah, I see."

"I think it's time for your verdict," May told The Judge.

"Yes," the Judge nodded. "The court finds Eiri Uesugi... NOT GUILTY!"

"YIPEE!" Shuichi cried out at the top of his voice. He jumped into the middle of the courtroom to hug Eiri. Shuichi appeared to be squashing him but Eiri didn't seem to mind. As May watched the happy couple share a long awaited embrace, she thought to herself that one day it would be her turn to set free the one she loved.

The Judge slammed his gavel against his bench. "That is all, this case is adjourned."

The Judge stood up and left the courtroom. Just as May was about to head back into the lobby, she was stopped by another woman. A tall one with brown hair and lots of shiny badges to brighten out her dull brown dress. At first, May was startled by her military stance until the lady greeted her with a stretched out smile.

"Congratulations," The lady spoke. "Well done, Miss Maple. That was truly an entertaining trial." The woman lifted her hand out and May shook it. "I'm Lana Skye: chief of police." Another lady in a white coat who just slightly taller than Lana stood behind her. May recognized her as Ema, the scientist who was on the stand earlier. "Oh, and this is my sister, Ema."

"Nice to meet you," May said to both of them.

"I wonder why you became a defence attorney." Lana asked. "Are you following a certain someone's footsteps?"

May shook her head. "I'm hoping to get my boyfriend an acquittal. He was wrongfully imprisoned for killing his mother."

Lana smirked. "You're a clever lady. I'm sure you will clear his name eventually. Well. If you have any evidence to suggest that your boyfriend is innocent, then I will gladly consider reopening the case. Lovely to meet you, Miss Maple, I shall see you soon."

Both ladies left the court, but May had a feeling that their paths will cross again. Shuichi refused to let go of Eiri in the lobby as his arms were wrapped around Eiri's neck. Tohma watched by from the distance as he watched his nephew and children join in with the hug. May went over to Tohma. "I've never been so happy," Tohma told May. "I've never seen Eiri so happy. You did a wonderful job. I can finally let go of all my hatred."

"I'm sorry that I had to do that to your cousin." May said. "But it's good that you're letting go of your hatred towards Shuichi. You've got a wonderful family with both your record company and at home, and I think you will all continue to prosper."

Tohma patted May's back. "And I hope you, Miss Maple will also find true happiness. You deserve it after everything that you've been through."

The case was over, but the quest for justice was far from over. Somewhere out there was another client that needed May's help. She knew that it wouldn't take long before she would begin to work on her next case.