A drab sky with unsure dark clouds making the morning with little more light than the evening as Maya walked down the moderately populated streets in the cold, wearing a Steel Samurai wool coat. While she had felt more courageous as she left the office that soon started to rapidly fade the further she got away from it; however the letter in her pocket that was still folded neatly, and remembering the words written in the handwriting she had grown to love gave her more reason to carry on her march. Her sister was always right and this would be another example.

…But perhaps going out so hastily wasn't the best option she had planned, Maya was quickly asked from both worried friends where she was going now after a wash and a change of clothes.

“I just want to clear my head.”

It seemed a loose excuse the moment she said it and didn't get better when she walked out clutching her wool coat tighter against the conspiring February cold. Maya quickly realised she was dressed in her spirit medium robes, going to the always formal Franziska von Karma alone made her seem smaller than ever.

Well if it’s good enough for the courts...

Why was she so conscious of what she looked like as she passed down the streets?  Checking her vague reflections in the car windows, or tightening her hair, was she ever to feel good enough? It was as if she was getting ready before an important date.

The working day was already under way as she reached the Police Office and only one person would openly share her concern about Franziska, whom this journey had become about as much as her own confusion; and he was standing by the creaky moving Blue Badger sign and scratching the back of his neck.

“I could always replace it pal!” Said Gumshoe to a worried looking police officer, “Is any work of art always perfect to start with?!”

A very defensive protest came from him as the police officer told him that the Chief was considering taking it down once and for all.

The Blue Badger, Maya had heard Phoenix talking about a case involving that sign with someone called Ema Skye, a name and a situation she felt was eerily similar to her own. She waited for Gumshoe to start talking, roaring at the recruit then almost sobbing into his hands in the space of a few minutes. Once he had finished Maya's heart was now thumping heard with anxiety; the only other time it had done with Gumshoe was when he was locking her handcuffs. The reason now was that she didn't quite know where this next action would take her; she took out the note from Mia again and reread her words, receiving the same feeling one may do from a prep talk.

“Hey Pal!” Gumshoe said with an instant air of suspicion as Maya walked up and he turned his head left and right, presumably looking for Phoenix.

“Hey, where's Phoenix? Has he found a case that he can't take on?” He said with a glee about his self proclaimed rival.

“I'm not here on a case.” Maya's words were almost void of her usual bouncy tune.

“Then what pal?” Gumshoe's eyebrows narrowed seriously on anyone else probably would have looked threatening. “Are you turning yourself in again?”

…Typical Gumshoe.

“I... wanted to talk to you about someone.”

“You always do, well at least Phoenix does, and always end up in trouble!”

“N-No...” Wondering how silly the next statement would seem, she spoke. “About… Franziska.”

“...Ms von Karma?”

As Maya expected, a new look of worry would harden on that often confused face.

“Is this about last night?”

Maya nodded.

“What happened? You went in with her and then...?”

She explained to Gumshoe that she had found Franziska crying; it was the first time she had said about anything that happened that night with her mind in front of her words she decided to leave out the kiss and the anger. Her story was that she simply found Franziska crying in the bathroom.

Gumshoe stuck his chin in his scruffy coat and sighed deeply.

“Poor Ms von Karma... she seemed so happy before... she even missed her flight today.”

It was a shallow thought as to why she would miss her flight but one enough to push her into seeing Franziska more and with some praise to her own luck that Maya hadn't missed her.

“So pal, why are you here about her?”

What else could she say? While it seemed so silly now to turn up here and arrange a 'playdate' with her, a heavy desire was telling her to come and find out what exactly Franzsika was doing, enforced by the note in her pocket that seemed to weigh her down.

“I wanted... to see her and cheer her up!”

Gumshoe looked a bit unconvinced; Maya tried again, this time forcing her cheerful trademark playfulness in her voice.

“We're both the same age, aren't we? Young women! I think I could, don't you?”

“…Yeah!” Gumshoe perked up again, “A good woman never fails to cheer someone up!”

His thoughts flashed to his own beloved Maggey until he realised the blank look on her face.

“…Not like that pal!”  Considering her thoughts earlier, Maya couldn't help but think some cosmic force had planted that line into her day.

“You'd be better than I would...” Gumshoe's mood went down again, “I could never help her.”

Maya gave him a pat on the shoulder.

“Don't worry Gumshoe, you try your best!”

He responded with a half-hearted nod.

“Could you tell me to where she's staying, so I can help her?”

Gumshoe took a short moment to think then nodded enthusiastically with a happy “Sure pal! I'll even drive you there!”

“But wait, won't your boss mind?”

Gumshoe shook his head grinning.  “My chief doesn't mind whenever I drive! I think I have such respect they never ask me where I'm going!”

Or they want to keep you away as much as possible.

Maya could almost hear Phoenix's sarcastic comments in her head but she happily followed Gumshoe to his creaky Patrol car.

“Oh,” He said pointing at a dent at the back, “I bumped into Mr Edgeworth's car last night, don't tell him okay?”

“..WHO DID THIS?!”

The usually calm face of Edgeworth was red and almost foaming at the mouth at the giant dent in his superb sports car.

Knowing he'd probably lose more than his job, she promised too keep quiet as she climbed into the front seat of the car, the fears that Phoenix driving in this thing quickly swept over her.

-

“..Ahh… Ah...”

The alarm on her cellphone rang a few times. She didn't respond.

Franziska was still in the same seat from the night before, resting on her back and arms falling on the side, the drool of wine had stained her clothes and her teeth felt dirty with the previous night's drink still a taste in her mouth. She barely noticed her headache and the times the hurt only lasted for a few seconds as she drifted from her alcoholic coma into a barely awoken state.

“..Foolish… woman.... I-I...”

Even now her hatred for this self-treason was still ramped in her thoughts as she spoke out in a laboured voice every now and again.

-

“We're here pal!”

Maya felt a little struck by the daunting hotel in front of her; it was definitely five star with luxury evident even from the outside with large  windows, a beautifully crafted entrance and a bellboy in better clothes than either her or Gumshoe, the silly feeling of being informal sunk in again.

“Thanks!”  Maya got out of the car and Gumshoe stopped the engine on his parking space.

“You're staying?”

“Yeah Pal! I want to see if you cheer Ms von Karma up!”

A flashy idea quickly shot into him.

“I know pal! Maybe we could hold a surprise party! You call her down here a and we'll take her down to a hall and bring her to a party!”

The image of Franziska walking into a party with balloons and food seemed hilariously out of place to Maya.
  
“I think I want to talk to her first.”

“Besides, you're going to need me to get in there.”     

He got out of the car and joined Maya at the edge of the road, “They're not going to let you just go to her room you know pal.”

Maya felt a little silly now realising that, but what had been planned when she did this? Thankful for Gumshoe's help they crossed the road, the tall building making Maya feel smaller and smaller as they entered.

“…Hello, may I help you?”  

The man at the counter seemed less than impressed with the scruffy detective and the oddly dressed woman in front of him.

“We're here to see Ms von Karma Pal!”

Being referred as Gumshoe's 'pal' seemed to be even more offending than the way they were dressed, he raised his face almost as if he was holding up his nose.

“Ms von Karma had asked not to be disturbed.”

There was almost a tone of pleasure in his voice, glad that these two had no reason to stay. Gumshoe again seemed to be hero as he flashed out his badge and improvised a really weak, “Er…Police business. Pal.”

Maya held her breath as the man studied the badge, probably to check if it wasn't a forgery; somewhat reluctantly he spoke.

“…Room 56. On the tenth floor...”

Waiting for him to be out earshot once they reached the lifts, Gumshoe spoke to Maya.

“I dunno what you're going to do, but if you knock maybe she'll let you in? I hope so pal.”

“…Thank you Gumshoe!”  

He grinned again before walking off; Maya assumed he'd be starting that party. She entered the lift and with a trembling hand pressed the button for the tenth floor, which she thought might bite her finger as she touched it.  

The floaty feeling in her stomach went up with the lift; she gripped her hands and took deep breaths.

“Stay cool Maya... stay cool. What's the worst that could happen?”

An image of herself coming home with several deep whip marks in her back came into her mind.

No, she wouldn't do that. While Maya was first to admit that it was Franziska's physical power that scared her, up front it was what she would say that scared her the most. Maya couldn't bare the thought of having someone hate her like Franziska; she wasn't a bad person like some had to make her out, she just needed a good friend.

The lift came to what seemed a slow stop, and the doors opened as if she was walking into a Gladiator arena, she took small steps through the hall way as a deliberate effect to take more time before the great leap. Barely scanning the door numbers, her thoughts were in an unstoppable race and she was sure that anyone close could hear her heart beating furiously in her chest.

The last few hours was only a toe in the pond as far as nervousness went, now she had leapt into the deep end;  what would happen at the end seemed like an impossible thought, instead she was focused on the questions that were more ready in her mind.

Would Franziska hate her? Love her? Like the debate she had with herself when going through last night’s events; or more Franziska's own state as her mind focused on that scene in the bathroom.

…Finally...

Maya was at Room 56.  

It somehow looked more daunting than all the others; Maya had the same feeling she would have done waiting outside her Aunt's bedroom years ago, it was however now or never and with a hand heavier than she had ever felt it she gripped onto the door handle.

Knock Knock.

“…Who… dares…”

Hearing a voice but no action, Maya knocked again automatically.

“…I SAID DO NOT DISTRUB ME.”

Franziska's rage seemed to be on it’s own as she screeched at her unknown new enemy.

Maya, hearing her voice unable to stop knocked again.

KNOCK KNOCK.

“WHO DARES DISTRUB ME?!”  

Almost loud enough for everyone in the hotel to hear, grabbing her prized whip she woke up with some haste which cost her some balance, once it was regained she marched over to the door where the person had knocked and raised her whipping arm ready to strike.

“…When Franzsika von Karma asks not to be disturbed...” She snarled at the person on the other side of the door, “Then you wil-”

Maya and Franziska's gaze met straight on, the shaped eyes of Franziska ready for a fight widened and her face went paler, her body save her trembling lips froze  at the sight of the woman who had drove her to near madness.

Maya would have usually flinched at the sight of the whip but was stuck in awe as much as Franziska was, she played the braver one however as she rose her hand in a wave.

“...Hi Franziska...”

Her tone was soft and inviting; but for Franziska it was the growl of a nightmare that had not yet separated from real life. It couldn't be real, what force had sent her up her was once willing to try and push her further into madness.

"..Excuse me, you must be the demon of my nightmares… would you please leave?" She spoke as if reading it from a script.

An attempt to close the door failed as Maya pushed it open determined not to let this slip, forcing Franziska back into her room she was unable to bring herself to speak.  Franziska's broken face, black bags under her eyes, her usually carefully managed hair a mess, her make up from yesterday still on her face and her clothes looking like she slept in them all made Franziska to seem like the weaker women; she dropped her whip and as it hit the floor so did her pride and power. She stopped walking and just stared back at Maya with fearful eyes of a child.

"…Franziska…" Maya with a shaking head, her voice almost unrecognisably hurt tone; did Franziska really hate her so much to refer to her as a demon? The look on her eyes, a messy mix of fear and loathing, Maya felt herself heavy.

"...What have I done?"

"...You..." Franziska gasped, "You...you… you..."

She opened her hands almost claw like as she gazed at Maya's pained face; a quick feeling of hatred that she had for her had quickly reflected on to herself once more and almost if she could feel the structure of her iron personality and need for pride falling within her to build up from nearly a year of self torture. Franziska fell down onto the sofa and cried carelessly.

…Delicate.

The first word to come to Maya's mind; how many times did people forget Franziska was just a young woman because of her self-crafted image of dominance and order? They would be quickly reminded if they could see her sat with her teeth bared and her head on the arm rest as she sobbed not unlike a child, just as she had done the night before. But Maya knew she should do something now, or at least try. She walked up to her acting out what what her sister would do when she was in such a state; caution was overshadowed by a commanding desire to help she picked up Franziska gently when she sat down and rested her head on her shoulder and held her. Franziska had fallen into her submission, her body weak and not moving but being led by the barely stronger grip and her face softly on Maya's shoulder as she sobbed harder.

It was a strange reversal; Maya the usually more immature girl comforting the pole-opposite mature women, but somehow it felt natural to Maya as she wondered through her thoughts as Franziska's sobs became gentler. At least now she knew Franziska didn't hate her as she seemed to enjoy Maya's gestures, but what had made her so sad? Maya’s hugger her tighter and during times like these her sister would say helpful words that Maya couldn't find.

But when Franziska finally raised her wet face neither of them could talk and an uneasy Maya loosened her friendly embrace; the two stared at each other as if the other person was a painting, Maya rubbed her shoulder and Franziska gently wiped the tears from her eye.

"...I can go…" Maya could only muster a whisper, "I-I can leave you alone."

Franziska however shook her head and in an equally weak voiced answered, "No... No. It's okay."

"But could you…?" She stopped on her own words at what seemed to be summoning mental strength, "…could you hug me again?"

Without a thought as to why, Maya gently pulled Franziska closer to herself who didn’t speak another word.

It wasn't until after Maya noticed the wine bottles she had missed in her haze that the thought she was holding a drunken mess who wasn't quite sure what she was doing would cross her mind, but Franziska was someone in need of help. Soon, she felt the nodding head in her shoulder and Maya let go, her warm smile not reflected, and Franziska still looked unbalanced. She got up, almost tripping on a forgotten wine bottle; Maya followed still a little unsure what to do.


"Franziska are yo-"

"I'll be fine once…" She groaned as she walked to the table and picked up a white bottle of paracetamol, the waterless trip down her throat made her shudder and she shook her head.

"Foolish… fool…" Maya heard her say to herself then she clutched her hair closing her eyes from a banging headache. Franziska grunted and moved across the room to the wide window and opened it for the fresher air to tackle the alcoholic stench in the air Maya had only noticed now. Franziska had regained some of her stronger aura, but made smaller by her strained look and wet face, it was still enough to make Maya feel nervous as she walked up to her.

"…Can I ask something?" She said almost if the question was deadly, without turning around Franziska answered.

"You don't... need to ask to ask something."

While still in the effects of her headache it was a much more inviting voice, telling Maya it was okay to talk to her now.

Maya swallowed hard, the question that was burning in her mind when she entered the door was fighting a fierce battle leave her lips.  

“What's going on?””

Franziska took a few deep sighs of fresh air from the window, her messy hair gently danced in the breeze, “You have hurt me Ms Fey...”

“Hurt you? How have I done that?”  She said alarmed, quickly thinking back to every situation the two had been in together.

“It’s not by effort and I don't hate you for it Ms Fey... far from it.”    

The only sounds was the passing of cars outside and a toot of the horn, perhaps it was a deliberate on both their parts for Maya's focused thoughts started to branch out once again.

“…Then what's going on?” The branches had left her confused and Franziska laughed at the question, not insulting but perhaps more disappointed.

“I was hoping now... you'd figure it out...”

Franziska stumbled from the window, still a little uneasy in her step she put a reassuring hand on Maya's shoulder and her face so close she could smell the wine.  

“I'm not blaming you... Not everyone thinks clearly at these times…”   

Did Maya notice Franziska scanning her features? Through the wine she quickly admitted to herself that Maya's lost look on her face was cute enough to warm her heart. If she would regret it when her head was clearer was for another time, now she just wanted to remove this secret from her self, freeing herself would the first step without the courage to fully admit it herself.

“Ms Fey, think about it this way... Why do you think I stayed up all night trying to unlock that cave when we thought it was you in there?”

“Because you thought I was trapped and needed help?”

She was a little uneasy at Franziska's close face that was perhaps a little calculating, again Franziska shook her head, disappointed she failed to see the real reason.

“I could have easily gotten any idiotic policeman to have stayed up all night to do it… but there was a reason I wanted to do it personally, think about it.”

Thinking of a motive wasn't as easy as Phoenix had made it out to be for Maya at least, the thought from earlier emerged in her head again and finding nothing else to go on she went with it, fearing that Franziska would not take it too well.

“...Because you wanted to see me?”

To her relief Franziska nodded.

“I wanted myself to be the first thing you saw when you were free…”  Casually, she remarked; “I knew you were going to be distressed... I wanted to be the one to take care of you.”  

She rubbed Maya's shoulder like she was helping her for the next challenge; something she found strangely easing.

“Now Ms Fey... here's another question, why would someone like myself who swore off alcohol after watching the self-proclaimed 'Pink Prince' at his 18th birthday party spend all night drinking, hmm?”

Maya didn't know many people who drank; Phoenix wasn't much of a drinker, neither was her sister, but she knew people a few reasons why people did it and the reason she thought went well with her suspicion.

“Because it... helped you deal with something?”

Again, Franziska nodded.

“I heard it's supposed to be helpful when you're wound up... I took a single sip but the more I thought of a certain person, the more I took in a foolish idea it would help... and well…”

She gestured to her floor, still littered with wine bottles.

“It didn't go too well as you'd image, but I couldn't stop the more I got deeper into thinking about it... It was a self poison...”

“…'Certain Person'?”  

The line of thinking had thread well; the smile on Franziska's face at Maya's own working one, knowing she was finally getting it gave her goose bumps. She didn't even have to hear the next question.

“And here is the final question, last night... why did I do…”  

And again, in what felt like slow motion to Maya, Franziska pressed her lips against her own and what seemed to last forever she kissed, turning  her head delicately and pulling herself away again,  Maya's heart was beating fast when she was eye to eye with Franziska again.

“...That?”

This time she didn't feel her lips, Maya's mind was racing as the jigsaw puzzles were pieces were fitting together– her cheeks flushed bright red and her body was light, and her mouth opened a little as she started blankly with her breathing slowing down.

“…F-Franziska, does, does this mean you lo-”

Franziska knew and she was pleased, she walked away as if to give Maya more breathing space as she wore a slightly sad smile.

“Ms Fey, you would be correct in thinking I love you.”

-



Maya watched Franziska who without a strand of pride to show was now with her back against the wall, shaking her head as she slid down it; her knees high, her head low and eyes closed not wanting to look at Maya with a harsh surge of failure throughout her. Her thoughts were slow as she processed the words Franziska had just said, still blushing deeply from flattered feelings and perhaps some awkwardness; her mind not focused on Franziska as a woman telling Maya she loved her, but  Franziska herself as a person. How could someone so high-class love someone like Maya, who in many ways still acted like a child?

Yet, looking the woman in such a state where beyond her tears she looked completely strained more than anything, who in a bitter moment to herself wondered if she had ruined any chances of friendship form Maya, almost sensing this Maya decided to approach her. It was a surprise to Franziska see find Maya coming closer to her. After all, she knew of her kindness but this was such a different situation; had Franziska been a man this declaration of love would have be much more acceptable, and perhaps it could even blossom.

Lighting strikes of jealousy hit her as she quickly glanced over memorable images of Maya and Phoenix together.

“…Is that true?”

It was a stupid question and Maya regretted it the moment it came out of her mouth, one glance at Franziska was enough to show she wasn't lying. She was more defenceless than anyone had seen her and just a shadow of the proud von Karma with the symbolic whip that now lay on top of a steady pile of wine bottles.

“Ms Fey, I'm a lawyer, not a criminal.”

Somehow Franziska didn't think that through well as many people would have trouble telling the two part, but Maya seemed to accept it and sat down,; her shadow seemingly pushing Franziska to the wall as she opened her eyes to see Maya’s face with a small smile upon in it, it was merely a brave face she liked putting on Franziska thought.

“Franziska... I don't know what to say-”

“That I'm a dirty dyke?” She spat with an obvious disgust for herself Maya quickly shook her head in a type of knee-jerk action.

“No, don't say that,” She said pained that Franziska was so harsh to herself. Maya offered a hand to Franziska who gently withdrew it from her range.

“I've hated how I've felt for so long; all I can refer to it is insults…” Franziska said, bowing her head once again.

“And I still do.”

“…But why Franziska? Do you think I mind-”

Franziska laughed again, almost a cackle as she lifted her body up again.

“I mind, I'm selfish and that’s why.”

“Why?”

Selfish wasn't a label she'd put on Franziska, her response was with a softer tone instead of the strained one that had been present before.

“Because Ms Fey… …You and Mr. Phoenix Wright- .”

“There's nothing going on between us!”  

Maya, who would have usually pushed that away with amusement, felt it more serious this time.

“No- it's not that. I want to be where he is. I want to be the one to protect you, to laugh with you, even to go out and eat burgers with you.”

For a moment she opened her eyes and glanced over Maya's face, like her own it was tired, struggling with everything that had happened but for a greater reason than Franziska's self proclaimed 'silly angst'. She hated herself for adding another worry to Maya’s list.

“But Franziska, we can do that, we can be friends.”   

A hopeful attempt from her, but such innocence just made her more desirable to Franziska. Maya was so much better that to be friends with someone so vile, despite that feeling of filth Franziska couldn't stop herself moving on that deeply darkened need.

“…I want you all to myself. I want to be the only one.”

It was hard to be disgusted from such a statement by Maya, not when it was coated with a reason that was nothing ever to be angry at. She tried to embrace Franziska again who lazily dodged her. Maya’s dark eyes focused on the ones tightly closed, her voice was a plea not for her sake but Franziska's.

“…Can we at least be friends Franziska?”  

Another attempt from her, that Franziska with almost robotic motions passed once again.

“Could you just leave me alone for a while?” A whisper to suggest not a permanently blocked route but one closed for the moment; for as much as Franziska was resistant was Maya eager.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Go home. Rest… and leave me here.”

“I don't want to, Franziska, you nee-”

“Go.” She repeated with a bit more force, “You've been under a lot; you don't need me to worry about.”

“I...”

Maya went to speak again but the feeling resembled that of trying to break down a stone wall with a paper clip at the stiff, still Franziska. She sighed deeply, getting up and not taking her eyes off of Franziska as she did so but not without a quick appreciation at Franziska's concern for her… only for it to vanish as a heavy sense of failure fell on her shoulders affecting her walk.

“Ms Fey...”  A small but sure voice came from Franziska.

“Would it upset you if I died?”

A worrying question, her response was an almost shouted 'Yes'.

“Okay...”  She said softer still, “Okay... I will see you later then.”

Feeling a bit relieved at those words Maya gently shut the door as she left while keeping every image of Franziska in her sight as much as possible and at the dull sound of the door closing, she started to hate herself.