79 Déjà Vu
“I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t hurt … It’s like déjà vu all over again. It’s fine. I’ll take the same approach as last year.”
~Donald Allen~
Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey
Kurain Village
June 19, 2017, 1:25 PM
The 90-minute drive between Phoenix and Grey en route to Kurain was filled with contemplative silence, as the blue attorney was too busy enjoying the scenic views of the countryside to care much for conversation with the haughty man, who had to focus his attention on the narrow and steep roads to the mountainous village and was unable to bend his passenger’s ear with asinine trivialities in the meantime.
The spiky-haired man was grateful for the silence, for another reason besides the enjoyment of the natural countryside beauty.
It gave him a chance to compose himself and collect his thoughts about reuniting with Maya, after what seemed like it’d been a dog’s age, rather than merely half a year. That feeling in itself was a most curious one, which, if further probed about, Phoenix knew he wouldn’t have a satisfactory reply to. Not one that made sense. Or seemed appropriate.
Or makes appropriate sense…
He sighed soundlessly. Hell, he may as well quit kidding himself. Whether he wanted to concede to it or not, the fact remained that he was more excited than he cared to admit, either to Grey, or even himself, about his reunion with his best friend.
The sun was a radiant, all-watching eye, its light creeping into every corner, bathing the whole world in a warm glow. The car cruised down a winding road of lush, verdant hills looming over the palisade drive. An endless expanse of aquamarine splendor, gleaming a liquescent gold, extended towards the distant horizon.
Dr. Grey scampered away to ready himself for the channeling as soon as they arrived in Kurain Village, leaving Phoenix alone to absorb the sight of Maya’s hometown for the very first time.
The riverbanks and marshes were surrounded by moss-covered rocks in the alpine garden of Mother Nature. At first glance, there was no trace of civilization in this wilderness of wetlands, apart from a worn-out path that snaked through the blanket of grass leading to the entrance to the village.
Phoenix closed his eyes and drew in a deep intake of the fresh air and admired the way the sunrays cascaded through a parting of clouds casting a shimmering light over the azure lake while making the dew drops upon the bordering lush vegetation sparkle like diamonds. As he tilted his head up, he saw the path fade into a void of mist and bare twigs. On the horizon, mountains reached up to the sky. The fragrance of pine lingered in the air, and the chirpy twittering of birds could be heard from the treetops.
Strolling through the main entrance, the lawyer couldn’t help but marvel at the serene, breathtaking atmosphere and the peaceful tranquility of the place, so different from the hectic hustle and bustle of the city life he was accustomed to. It was hard to believe that he wouldn’t encounter a pack of sprights or fairies on the path, given the surreality of this remote ambiance.
But as he drew nearer to Kurain’s gates, he could make out several Japanese-style residential homes and buildings, set in the style of Feudal Japan.
So this is Kurain Village, Maya’s hometown.
Out of the blue, a young girl came across his path, as if out of nowhere.
Startled, Phoenix halted in his tracks as the child stared at him silently, the expression on her adorable face completely unreadable.
The child was a slight little thing, small for her age, which he guessed to be somewhere between 6 and 8, with enormous, doe eyes. They fixed unblinkingly upon him, set in a diminutive, doll-like face with accompanying features – a tiny snub nose, porcelain skin, and rosebud lips. Her light brown hair was worn in a double loop atop her head, and she wore a miniature version of Maya’s lavender acolyte robes on her tiny frame.
“W-Why, hello there,” he spoke at last when it became evident that the tot wasn’t going to speak.
After staring at him for another breath, without a word, the girl ran off, making the defense attorney wonder, not for the first time, if she’d had a fear or aversion to his hair. Was it too spiky? Not spiky enough? Probably the former. After all, at first sight, his spikes were rather daunting…Maya always teased him about gelling them into such sharp points, even though he’d told her a million times they were real! He sensed she didn’t believe him!
“Hmm …” he murmured to himself. “What an odd little girl…”
“Hey! Wait up, Pearly!!” A strangely familiar voice called in the distance.
Hmm? Someone else is coming this way…
“Niiiiiiiick!”
Suddenly materializing as though from thin air, much like the tiny moppet had, the spirit medium was in front of him, sporting a huge ear-to-ear grin, hands clasped in front of her delightedly as her sparkling gaze took in the sight of him.
The spirit medium still looked the same, with the customary lavender robes, sandals, and topknot – yet nonetheless seemed so different, in a way that he was unable to quite put his finger on. She looked and acted like she was the same perky Burger Queen … so why couldn’t he stop staring at her as though he’d never seen her before? Was it him that was just seeing her through a stranger’s eyes after being apart for so long?
Phoenix mentally shook his head and spoke quickly over his accelerating heart rate, which he convinced himself was simply due to the impromptu appearance of his assistant, and absolutely naught else.
“M-Maya.” He found his voice quivering inexplicably. “How are you …? It’s good to see you again.”
Her dark eyes glowed as she beamed at him.
“Wow, I didn’t think you’d really show up!”
He felt his cheeks redden at the unconcealed joy on her face, as though his mere presence was the equivalent of Mardi Gras, The Fourth of July, and Christmas all rolled into one for her. Jamming his hands into his pockets, he found himself returning the smile, although he forced his own to be more contained.
“It’s not that big a deal. You made it sound like you were soooo far away,” he teased.
“Well, maybe I exaggerated…” She shrugged, her exuberance now also somewhat restrained to match his. “Just a little.”
The attorney found himself wanting to simultaneously throttle and hug the psychic then. All these months he’d spent, mooning over the loss of his friend’s company from his side, and she’d only been on the other side of a mountain!
If only I’d known! Why didn’t she tell me? Didn’t she know how much I’d been missing her?
“It was a 90-minute car ride … and only 2 hours by train.” He spoke lightly and tried to keep the reproaching tone out of his voice. “If I had known you were this close, I’d have visited more!”
“No! You’re not allowed.” Maya grinned unapologetically. “I already decided, you know. Until I become an adult, I have to work hard and be strong by myself.”
Phoenix swallowed. Of course. She’d been busy. His assistant didn’t need him around all the time, not when she had these important Master in Training matters to attend to. He decided then and there to not let her know how lost he’d been without her or do anything to make her feel guilty about her commendable decision to try and better herself.
It wasn’t as though she lived and breathed for him, right? He should try to do the same; be less needy and more independent as well. After all, he already was an adult!
“Oh… well…” He forced a smile. “Anyway, congratulations. I’m glad to hear training is going well for you.”
They chatted some more while the spirit medium explained the details of what she knew about Dr. Grey’s case. It turned out that the mysterious little girl he’d seen earlier was her cousin, Pearl, also a spirit medium.
“Isn’t she adorable?” Maya flashed an impish grin. “Just like yours truly!”
Before he could deny or refute the veracity of the statement, his ex-assistant went on to explain that Pearl was very sheltered and didn’t know much of life outside of “Medium Valley,” which was why she’d run off at the sight of him. She assured him that it was “nothing personal, her mom taught her to be wary of strangers” and that she would grill up some juicy burgers for them as soon as the channeling session was over.
The lawyer listened intently, then wished her good luck and looked away, purposefully keeping his expression guarded. Then, not knowing what else to do or say, he scuffed the ground beneath him with his shoe, dropping his eyes so she wouldn’t see his face.
The diviner tittered slightly to hide the nervousness she’d hoped to have disguised with her ramblings, but then as she studied Phoenix’s downcast gaze, she realized he somehow looked – displeased.
Why? Had she hurt his feelings somehow? Wasn’t he happy to see her? She’d wanted so desperately to prove her worth to him, and not let him see her until she was able to do so … surely he understood that? Didn’t he?
Jeez! Guys are so weird! Anyway, Nick’s here now, so what else matters?
She regarded her best friend, and only hesitated for another split second before lurching forward, wrapping her arms around him in an effusive hug that belied anything that she could have said or wanted to say.
In Phoenix’s embrace, the world stopped still on its axis. There was no time, no wind, and no rain. Finally, it felt like her mind was at peace. How could it be that she hadn’t ever before realized how much could be conveyed between them with such a simple gesture, without a single spoken word required? As she held his muscled form close, all she could feel radiating from him was security, peace, and undemanding comfort. She reveled in pressing against his firmness and warmth. This was the moment that for so long, she’d waited for, prayed for. She inwardly thanked God and hugged him all the tighter, wishing she could speak what was in her heart. But even if nothing else, Nick was her friend, he had come as she’d asked, and they were together again.
A friendship like this was to be cherished for life. In his arms, at last, finally, Maya was home.
“I’ve missed you, Old Man!” She laughed, allowing herself the brief sensation of burying her head against his chest as his arms reflexively wrapped around her back, holding her tightly as he stroked her hair, allowing her to breathe in the familiar, heavenly feel and scent of his body and the even, steady thud of his heartbeat, unlike her own, which was suddenly pounding wildly at being so close to him after so long that she was sure he could hear it!
Blushing furiously at her schoolgirl romanticisms, she pulled away, not even noticing that she’d needed to be the first to break the embrace, and peeked up at him through her lashes, for once grateful she had too-long fringe that covered, and in this case, helped disguise, her eyes.
“I’ve gotta go get ready for the channeling, Nick. I’ll see you later.”
Maya scurried off before Phoenix could reply.
He stood there, staring after her for a moment, shaking his head, trying to clear it.
What the heck just happened?!
Phoenix Wright
Fey Manor, Channeling Chamber
June 19, 2017
He hadn’t thought he’d ever come across anyone with a more obnoxious coiffure than that agitating Southern journalist with the big puffy hair that looked like cotton candy and whose mostly incomprehensible accent rivaled her ‘fro as an irritating distraction. What had been her name again? Lotta Hard? Lotta Hair?
Nevertheless, the icy, supercilious Aunt Morgan won the grand prize most for terrible tresses, hands down!
Just how many moose did she need to kill to get that gravity-defying hairdo?
Hair aside, Phoenix hated Maya’s aunt at first sight.
It was very rare for the good-natured attorney to dislike anyone, but in this case, he was certain the feeling between him and Pearl’s mother was entirely mutual.
Oh, Morgan had certainly greeted him cordially enough when they’d met, calling him “Good Sir” and saying that she’d heard a lot about him from Maya – all good, he hoped! – but things had only gone downhill then after. She’d curtly informed him it was “most unbecoming” how much he asked of “Mystic Maya”, without whom he’d undoubtedly have lost his last case, had she not channeled Mia.
He bristled at the words.
First, a girl that runs away, and now an old lady who says I stink at doing my job…when did I become the poster boy for “How Not to Make a First Impression”…?!
Then, The Hair had talked down to him as though he were a blathering imbecile when he’d accidentally touched one of the holy sacraments within the channeling chamber, which were offerings to the spirits, and would become cursed by his tainted fingers! The icing on the cake had to have been when she’d asked him to refrain from affiliations with her angelic little Pearl, to keep the child of “pure heart who knew not of the evils of this world.”
When he’d presented her with a photo of his assistant, the blasted woman had become unhinged, demanding to know when he’d taken a hidden picture of Mystic Maya and then, to his complete incomprehension, had proceeded to slap him for such an unforgivable action, despite his impotent protests that “it wasn’t like that!”
Slightly injured and dumbfounded by the unpreceded hostility, Phoenix left shortly afterward.
He wandered around the grounds of the estate a bit more after that, stumbling across a sleeping form in the Side Room, Dr. Grey, who was once again blathering about the weather, (this time cursing the weather girl for claiming it was supposed to have rained cats and dogs that day but hadn’t), and Lotta Hart, who was there for some ridiculous reason or other, something about wanting to be a paranormal photographer now.
The journalist and her ever-present camera accompanied him back to the doors of the Channeling Chamber which Maya and Grey were now inside.
Lotta whined to The Hair, asking “Granny” why they weren’t allowed inside to spectate.
Phoenix nearly wilted from the frosty look of disdain the older woman gave the redhead.
“Dear madam, you have an impressive grasp of English. From where did you learn it?”
“What!?” Lotta yelped indignantly, her nerve-grating twang increasing. “I’m from the heart of the heartland!”
“Is that so?” Morgan fixed the younger woman with a look so frosty that it could have made her morph into an igloo. “Then I humbly request that you return to this Heart of the Heartland.”
“Wh –What are ya…?”
“This is Kurain Village.” The Fey matriarch’s tone was lofty. “If you cannot follow our traditions and rules, we request that you leave!”
Lotta’s face flamed, and her shoulders drooped dejectedly at the verbal assault.
“Sorry.”
Wow. She shut that Southern Se-Devil right up! Now that’s impressive! Phoenix was torn between admiration and pity. Maybe it’s nothing personal towards me at all, and The Hair is just a nasty, mean old biddy to everybody!
The three stood there, waiting for the channeling to be over, in uneasy silence.
BANG!
A loud, sharp noise suddenly sounded out of the blue, breaking the stillness.
“Hey now!” The afro-haired woman hollered. “Wh –What was that just now!?”
Phoenix jolted, suddenly on high alert.
It came from inside the Channeling Chamber…!
BANG!
“Hey!” Lotta sounded alarmed. “Th-That’s a gunshot!”
“E-Excuse me!?” Morgan glared at them both, not seeming to share the mounting panic that was evident on both Phoenix and Lotta’s faces.
“I’ve heard that sound before!” Lotta hollered. “It’s a gunshot! I’d bet my afro on it!”
M-Maya! Phoenix’s heart thudded against his ribs as epinephrine began to course through his veins. Maya’s in there!
He cast a quick, appraising glance at the locked double doors leading to the chamber, to which Maya had the only key. The doors were scratched and dented with chipped brown varnish, apparently to keep out the worst of the weather, rather than intruders, and framed with what looked like a plank of wood around the outside edges and one across the middle for strength. It had the clawed, slightly bubbly look of wood that was starting to rot at the joints.
They were the only thing standing between him and his best friend.
A creepy sense of déjà vu came over Phoenix. Maya needed him. She was in trouble again. He could feel it.
After a moment’s deliberation, and shouting at Morgan to not even think of stopping him and to bill his office for the damages, an adrenaline-fueled Phoenix charged at the doors full force, using his broad shoulders as a battering ram.
“Now that’s what I call a man!” Lotta cawed from behind him.
Frantic and nearly mad with panic and fear, the lawyer didn’t hear her. All his attention was focused on rescuing Maya from whatever terrible danger she was in. He needed to protect her!
CRASH!
After only two tries, Phoenix busted down that door. In hindsight, he had no idea how he’d managed to do it– the ancient wood was heavier and sturdier than he’d realized, although he felt no pain from his bodily impact – the worse damage appeared to have been done to the doors!
It doesn’t seem possible, but I managed to break it pretty badly. When we want to do something bad enough, people can do the most amazing things.
Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey
Detention Centre, Visitor’s Room
June 20, 2017, 10:34 AM
In the traditional manner of the LAPD being at its finest, his assistant was once again erroneously charged with murder, this time of Dr. Grey, who’d been found within a puddle of blood inside the chamber when Phoenix and Lotta had burst in.
“Maya!” He cried when he saw her, looking shaken and vulnerable as the bailiff escorted her in.
“N- Nick!” She wailed hysterically. “I’m so scared! What am I going to do? I never imagined it would turn out like this!”
The lawyer felt sick to his stomach as he saw her tear-stained face, wishing he could reach through the heavy glass that separated them, hold her in his arms, and comfort her somehow. The girl was so small and defenseless looking, and so helpless. His heart ached that she had to endure this fresh hell again, and so soon after the last tragedy.
This girl is a good, wonderful, warm, caring person! He raged internally. Why does this sort of thing keep happening to her?!
“Calm down, Maya,” Phoenix struggled to keep his voice level and professional, even though it was very much personal this time around. “Take deep breaths.”
Come to think of it, the first time I met her, it all started right here, in this detention center…yup, definitely déjà vu all over again…
She gulped back a sob.
“I finally…I finally get to see you again, and…” her voice broke.
“It’s not your fault.” His voice was gentle but firm. “You didn’t do it.”
“No, I… I did it…” she insisted, sniffling. “I killed that person.”
“That wasn’t you.”
“It doesn’t matter. It might as well have been me!” The psychic wept. “I was too weak… and I…I couldn’t control the spirit’s power, so…”
She buried her face in her hands to hide her tears, and Phoenix felt as though he’d been punched in the gut. He hated to see her cry; he nearly felt like crying himself.
“You don’t have to be nice to me. I understand…” she choked out miserably.
I’m such a pebble in the shoe of this man, I bring him more trouble than I’m worth! She thought wildly. And I dream of making him love me? As if! I’m such a nuisance…a burden! He must secretly despise me…I’m like an albatross around his neck! If only I’d just stayed away from him! If only…if only…
A lump was rapidly forming in his throat. It was getting harder and harder for him to remain composed and remain at a mere professional level of sympathy.
Now is not the time to contemplate the reason why that’s the case…
He had to clear his throat several times before he trusted himself to speak
“Let’s just go over what we know so far, OK, Maya?”
They went over the spirit medium’s recollection of the events from the time of the channeling to the murder itself, including the strange dream she’d had. Phoenix listened intently and took as many notes as he could. He knew Maya Fey. She was no murderer – the girl couldn’t even kill a bug! She always jumped up on a chair and shrieked for him to bludgeon them, for heaven’s sake! Ergo, he wasn’t going to rest until he’d proven her innocence, no matter how much to the contrary she protested!
Finally, it seemed the attorney had taken as much information from her as he could. The girl looked positively drained now. Plus, the guard was motioning to them that his time was almost up.
“I’ll be back later, Maya.” He smiled bravely for her sake as he rose. “In the meantime, please make sure you prepare it, OK?”
The diviner eyed him dazedly. “Huh? It? What is it?”
“The document requesting me to be your attorney, of course.” Phoenix flashed her the most encouraging smile he could muster.
For once, the necromancer seemed at loss for words. She gaped at him.
“But…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Are you sure? I mean, I’m guilty!” She affixed him with tormented eyes. “I’m a murderer!”
“No one’s decided that yet.” He shook his head vehemently. Maya wasn’t the only one who could be stubborn. He would believe in her innocence even if she couldn’t. He’d believe enough for them both!
“But I did it! I killed that person… with these…two hands…!” She hung her head and tears filled her eyes again.
“That’s enough, Maya.” Phoenix pressed his lips together as he tried with all his might to keep himself together. He felt himself unraveling at the seams, he was so upset now.
“It’s hopeless!” She whimpered. “If you defend me, you’ll lose, I’m sure…”
This was even worse than the time he had defended Edgeworth. He didn’t know why. It just was. He couldn’t even pretend he was cool, calm, and collected anymore. He just…couldn’t.
“Stop it!” He yelled, thumping his fist against the glass, startling them both.
Maya stared searchingly into his eyes then, and to her amazement, saw tears in the distraught sapphire gaze. It both comforted and confused her, knowing how much Nick cared. But what good would it do if she was behind bars for the rest of her life? Or sent to death row? She hadn’t felt this terrified and alone since … last year.
“Help me…” she begged as her eyes welled up again. “Nick, help me. I’m so scared…”
“Don’t worry, I will,” Phoenix whispered hoarsely, unable to maintain eye contact any longer. This girl’s tears would be his undoing for certain if he did. “When is the trial?”
The trial would be the following day, giving him nearly zero prep time.
Time to make another trip to the scene of the crime. Phoenix sighed. Good thing I work best under pressure…I have to save Maya. No matter what.
Phoenix Wright and Pearl Fey
Kurain Village
June 20, 2017
And even though the weather is gorgeous today, it’s raining inside my heart…
After the emotional scene at the detention center with Maya, Phoenix’s mind and heart were in a complete state of turmoil. Ergo, he admittedly wasn’t in the best of moods, or the right state of mind.
That was his only plausible excuse for his irrational, out-of-character behavior with the Southern She-Devil. Somehow, the woman knew how to get on his last nerve, all of which were admittedly frayed.
Phoenix had come across Lotta sniffing around the village entrance, where of course the topic of Maya had come up after the journalist had boasted about the “hot pictures” her camera had captured.
For the record, he hadn’t asked for her opinion on his friend. She’d volunteered it. After which, he’d completely lost it.
“Now, this kid,” the Southerner had then declared, flicking her finger against his photo of Maya. “I think she needs to be taught some manners. This here’s her second time in the stew, right? My Pa woulda slapped me straight!”
“Y-Yeah…” Phoenix muttered darkly, taking the photo out of her offending reach and mentally counting to ten to curb his mounting anger.
Lotta smirked and gave him a knowing look.
“Ya know what they say, if there’s a second time, there’s bound to be a third, and a fo-”
It was Doug Swallows from college all over again. That had been the only other time the pacifistic Phoenix Wright had ever gotten physically violent with another human being. Doug had been talking smack about Feenie’s beloved Dollie, warning the then naïve, besotted fool that the demon girl was bad news and to steer clear of her. It didn’t matter that ultimately, poor Doug had been right in his futile warning.
All the spiky-haired had heard was someone bad-mouthing the woman he loved.
Infuriated and unaware of his own strength, Phoenix had reacted entirely out of reflex, shoving the other man, hard, to the ground.
History repeated itself at that moment. Lotta Hart never got to finish her obnoxious, semi-slanderous sentence.
Phoenix didn’t even stop or take time to think. In an uncharacteristic fit of temper, the normally peace-loving, spiky-haired man’s hand reached out, as though he had no control of it, and connected against the side of the frog-mouthed harpy’s completely unprepared cheek, leaving a bright red mark from the open-palmed blow.
Her head jerked back from the smack but she didn’t fall back. More than likely the excess weight of her afro kept her grounded and balanced upright!
He quickly withdrew his hand, knowing he’d been wrong, but unable to stop himself from still glaring daggers at the frog-mouthed, too big for her britches troublemaker, silently daring her to continue.
I’m not apologizing! Phoenix fumed. God forgive me, but I’m not. I won’t! Nobody, but nobody talks smack about Maya in front of me. Not as long as my heart is beating and the blood is coursing through my veins!
“OW!” Lotta whined, clapping a hand to her face, looking at him like a wounded puppy. “Nngh! Ya didn’t have to slap me. I get it, I get it. Sorry…”
The attorney couldn’t stand being in the irksome woman’s presence for another moment. He simply spun on his heel and walked away.
To say his nerves were shot after that would have been quite an understatement. Coming right on the heels of that undesirable scene, where he still couldn’t fathom why he’d reacted the way he had. Dahlia had been his girlfriend at the time, after all, whereas Maya, contrary to what Pearl believed, was not!
It truly seemed the close encounters of the worst kind were nowhere near an end for him.
Next was another unpleasant confrontation with Morgan where she’d schooled him on the errors of his ways in not referring to his friend as “Mystic Maya” among other disturbing things.
After that came the insufferable chatting session with aggravating, air-headed valley-girl, Ini. With each subsequent encounter, Phoenix found he only further “like, totally” wanted to shake her every time they spoke!
It was only his lingering guilt from losing his temper with one woman already that kept him from succumbing to these urges!
As soon as questioning Ini ended, he meandered towards the Winding Way, only to bump into Maya’s cousin yet again.
“Ack!” He exclaimed, then lowered his voice so as not to scare her away again. “Y-You surprised me!”
This time, she didn’t run. But she didn’t speak, either.
Phoenix smiled winsomely at the silent child, who simply peered unblinkingly up at him.
“And how are you today?” He asked at last.
Pearl simply continued to stare at him.
Hmm… I guess she isn’t open to friendly chatting… If only I had something that would catch her interest. Maybe then she’d talk to me…
Desperately, he flashed his assistant’s green, slightly translucent magatama, hoping to instigate some sort of conversation.
“Oh yeah. Maya said to give this to you.”
Pearl gazed at the mystical stone for a moment, then back at him.
And then she promptly burst into tears.
Ack! I’m in trouble now!! Phoenix’s eyes widened in alarm. If Morgan sees us like this, I’ll be the next one they’re channeling!
“Th-That’s…That’s Mystic Maya’s…” Pearl sniffed.
“Huh?”
She actually spoke?!
“Who are you?”
“I-I’m Phoenix Wright,” he stammered, still unaccustomed to hearing the child speak. “I, uh, worked with Maya…
“Y-You worked with Mystic Maya…?” A look of recognition dawned on her cherubic face. “You … You’re Mr. Nick, right?”
“Uh, excuse me?”
I bet I know who she picked “Nick” up from…
“I know who you are!” Pearl pressed her palms to her cheeks and went starry-eyed. “You’re…You’re Mystic Maya’s…Special Someone!”
“WH-WH-WH-WHAT!?” Phoenix was gobsmacked.
Where in the world had that come from?!
“So then…Of course!” Pearl continued happily, oblivious to his thunderstruck expression. “You’re going to help Mystic Maya, aren’t you? That’s what you’re going to do, right?”
He was still flabbergasted. “W-Well, yeah… I will…”
“Oh wow… It’s like a beautiful fairy tale!” Her expression turned dreamy. “That earnest look shining brightly in your eyes… It must be true love…”
“Wh-What!?” Was all he could manage to get out, while he felt his cheeks flame, to his utter mortification and bewilderment.
What is wrong with me?! I’m a grown man! So why am I being boiled into a bright red lobster by this little kid!?
“I’m so jealous of Mystic Maya!” Pearl prattled on. “Ah, what a wonderful relationship!”
We’re in a relationship?! The man truly is always the last one to know…! I’ve got to set her straight…Maya doesn’t like me in that way! Or does she?!
“W-Wait… I… uhh… I mean… We aren’t… Things aren’t like…”
Phoenix was going to blame the stress of his best friend’s second murder trial being the very next day for the fact that he was suddenly unable to form a proper sentence! While he was at it, he was also going to make that the reason why he simply wasn’t going to further explore the concept of where Pearl could have possibly gotten such a ridiculous notion! And why he wasn’t even going to stop and contemplate if he even remotely had ever thought of Maya as anything other than his assistant.
And best friend. And Chief’s baby sister.
Fine, so she was 18 now and technically legal but…
Hold it, Phoenix! Maya needs a lawyer right now, nothing else!
“Hee hee, I can tell you’re a good person.” The girl giggled at his tell-tale blush, taking it as acquiescence to her statement. “Alright, Mr. Nick! I may be small, but I’m going to help you in any way I can!”
Phoenix was endeared with how much Pearl looked up to Maya, more like a sister than just a cousin, and positively sang her praises.
“She’s so smart, and pretty, and kind, and loving!” The tiny spirit medium chirped. “She’s always cheerful, never gets sick, isn’t picky, and has good sleeping habits. She always wakes up before me, and always eats breakfast before me too.”
He merely smiled softly in response.
“And she has you,” Pearl added. “Such a wonderful person with whom she can share a lo-”
“Ack! OK, OK! I get the idea!” Phoenix exclaimed, feeling himself redden again as he cursed the fact that the mere innocent implications – which bore zero foundations! – of the tiny tot had made him continually blush like a love-struck schoolboy on command, for some unfathomable reason! Also, he was completely unable to refute any of this staggering evidence of how wonderful Maya was.
Which made this most recent unjustified tragedy that had befallen her all the more disheartening.
After chatting with Pearl further – and thereby dubbing her Pearls henceforth, citing she was too cute to call merely Pearl, the defense attorney went about further investigations, with a fully charged magatama in his pocket, and a heavy burden in his heart at all the mounting evidence piling up against Maya.
Talking to Gumshoe, he found out that Lotta Hart would be a witness at the trial, which could never be a good thing. Neither was knowing the opposition would be Manfred Von Karma’s kid, yet another prodigal prosecuting genius who’d honed their talents in Europe.
Prodigy Prosecutor.
It was all bringing back terrible flashbacks to that case.
Edgeworth’s.
Miles Edgeworth, who had chosen death…
Stop it! Get over it Phoenix! That person is gone now! Maya needs you to keep it together! This is neither the time nor the place to get emotional!
Phoenix didn’t know who he was kidding.
When it came to Maya Fey, all rational thought and logic flew right out the window!
It would be nearly another year before he figured out why.
Beyoncé – Deja Vu
Comments