oh dear, maya looks a bit small... =/
oh well
hope you like it!!!

OMFG!!! INCEST!!!!!

Hmm.. not really... not yet anyway. I am wondering which direction the writers will take with Apollo X Trucy. [There's got to be a really good reason why they haven't been told they are siblings, but I hope they find out early next game.] It would be mean to set up some romance before they knew they were siblings and then freak them out when they find out.

Phoenix was a bit despondent. He'd hit a brick wall in his 'investigation' - he now knew pretty much exactly the true circumstances of that case who had disbarred him, who the murderer was, and who had deliberately set him up with the falsified evidence. Unfortunately, he'd also figured out that in the current legal system there was no way he could ever bring the case to court and properly expose the truth, not without risking the lives of many related to the case anyway. Even Edgeworth had pored over the situation and reluctantly told him there was nothing they could safely do at the present time. He'd just have to bide his time for an indefinite period. It was so frustrating. Exposing the truth had kept him going during the dangerous, draining, investigation. The fact it might end in futile failure had by necessity not been in his comprehension.

Maya, knowing it was the school holidays, had invited him and Trucy to stay at Kurain. Phoenix loved seeing Maya again, and Trucy had been eager to come, so here they were. He'd tried to maintain a cheerful veneer around Trucy and Pearl, but Maya could sense that he was a bit depressed. She knew better than to query him about it in front of the other people, he obviously didn't want them to worry.

Now they saw less of each other, Phoenix and Maya particularly valued any time they could spend alone together. Phoenix didn't know if Pearl still was under the impression that he and Maya were in a romantic relationship, but regardless of the reason, she seemed to sense they needed time alone. Besides, she and Trucy were good friends. Phoenix and Maya could rely on lots of private quality time together.

That evening, when Trucy and Pearl had gone off for their sleepover and to watch some kind of Pink Princess Marathon, Maya beckoned Phoenix into a somewhat impressive wing of rooms.

"Hey Nick, sit down. This is the Kurain Master's retreat!"

"Thanks Maya. It sure is nice in here."

Maya closed the door. "Hey Nick, you okay? You seem a little down. What's up?"

Phoenix was now practiced in inscrutable expressions and cryptic explanations when dealing with the general populace, but Maya's dark caring eyes always had the immediate consequence of lowering his defenses. He sighed. "I'm okay.."

"Hey Nick, it's okay. Nobody will hear us. This whole wing is soundproofed. It's secured, for when the Master has to meet with those top-secret international diplomats. Which means nobody can possibly pick up anything you reveal in here either. And you know I'd never reveal anything."

"What if they tortured you?" asked Phoenix, reflecting glumly that it was indeed a possibility.

"I'd channel someone who didn't know the answers, of course!" replied Maya immediately.

Phoenix reflected that Maya had matured, and now held a very powerful position. She probably had indeed met with secret international diplomats in this room. Though her position of power hadn't changed her or gone to her head - she still retained the same quirky playfulness and good-naturedness and never looked down on his impoverished existence. [She suspected she was behind a lot of those 'prizes' which came in the mail saying that he or Trucy had won the 'supermarket raffle' though.]. However, the inner strength which had begun to asset itself during their time working on the legal cases together had really come to the fore. She would be able to handle all this. Hopefully, it would not put her in danger.

"Okay, Maya, if you're sure there's no way anybody can hear or record this. I mean, our lives are at stake. I'm afraid I'm not joking."

"It's secure. Anyway, I'll lock the door."

Phoenix poured out all the latest results of his investigation, and how there was no way at all under the current legal system he could cleanly bring any sort of justice or closure. Sure, he could raise a fuss about some issues, but more people would probably get murdered as a cover up. He may know the truth, but there wasn't enough actual evidence to prove it.

Maya hugged him. "Poor Nick. Is there anything at all I can do? We must be able to think of something?" They both knew they were at a depressing dead-end.

Phoenix sighed.. "Sorry Maya, I've been to law school, and I know there's no way we can get a conviction.. Edgeworth knows it too. All we can do is wait. Probably indefinitely. I... I think he'll get away. It's kind of depressing..."

Phoenix drooped, then suddenly straightened up. "Sorry Maya. I really shouldn't be coming here and just whinging and depressing you.."

"Oh Nick don't be stupid. What else are friends for? I wish I knew what to do for you..."

"See? I didn't want you to worry.."

"I'd be more worried if you didn't tell me." Maya sighed. "Want some sake?" she said, half-joking. Phoenix momentarily seemed to be considering the offer.

"Uh, I'd better not," he said. Though it was somehow tempting to get that lightheaded momentary escape from his troubles. Maya could see these thoughts flash in his eyes.

"I don't want Trucy seeing me drunk," he finished.

"She won't." said Maya. "I've locked the door."

"Or hearing me drunk.."

"Soundproofed."

"Or me wandering out..."

"I locked the door with one of those trick locks -you know, like a psyche-lock? There's no way you'd figure out how to open it unless you were sober."

"I really shouldn't, but the offer is tempting", admitted Phoenix. "Probably for all the wrong reasons."

"Well if that's the only way I can help you, be my guest. Although, if you think of any other way, do tell me."

"Please, don't let anyone find out" pleaded Phoenix, reluctant now he'd somehow caved into his temptation. "And don't let me have too much. And anything I say or do, promise you'll never tell anybody."

"I promise," said Maya sincerely, getting the sake and two glasses out of the diplomat cabinet.

Maya proposed a toast. "To our friendship, Nick! Which nobody can ever destroy!"

A few glasses later, and so much for escaping his troubles. Phoenix was an emotional wreck. He uninhibitedly blurted out all his deepest troubles and fears to Maya, who sat with her arm around him consolingly. Phoenix was vaguely aware that he'd predicted that this would happen, and it was part of why he'd agreed to this scenario in the first place. He somehow felt guilty burdening Maya with all his troubles. Not that he had any kind of self-control to prevent it now.

Maya had also been drinking the sake, and after a few glasses her inhibitions had significantly lowered. She still had the sobriety to remember that Phoenix had told her not to let him have 'too much' and that she had to make sure she could still look after him so nobody found out. She felt somewhat odd. Better not have more.

"More please!" Phoenix was saying, holding out his glass. He didn't look so good. His face was flushed, and he seemed a little unsteady.

"This is the last one" said Maya, pouring him another glass. "You said not to let you have too much."

"Uh did I say that, I meant.."

Another glass was looking good to Maya too. This wasn't a good idea, she had to look after Phoenix. With her remaining self-control she took the sake bottle and pored the remaining contents down the drain in the bathroom. Well, that eliminated that temptation.

"Oh Maya, what am I going to do," Phoenix was saying lamely as Maya hugged him. "Thanks so much for always being here for me. I appreciate it."

How sweet, thought Maya. She couldn't deny the fact that Phoenix was somehow adorable. She studied her friend, curiously. He was more scruffy than during his lawyer heyday, but it somehow added to his charms. His hair, although cut shorter and not as immaculately groomed as before, was still curiously intriguing, still forming itself into odd signature spikes. No wonder he had to wear that hat to remain relatively incognito in the streets.

Fascinated, Maya wondered what it would be like to touch that hair. Having lost her inhibitions, she suddenly realised she was doing just this, running her fingers through his hair. Phoenix had started, surprised, at first, but soon relaxed into her attention like a cat being stroked.

"Maya," Phoenix whispered. When she stopped stroking him, Phoenix said "Maya, what am I going to do?"

"Oh Nick I'm sure it will be okay," said Maya encouragingly, desperate to make him feel better. He looked so sad. She hugged him and spontaneously kissed him on the cheek.

Phoenix gazed at her, slightly curiously, then relaxed into her hug.

After a few minutes, Phoenix and Maya found themselves studying each other again. Maya was captivated by Phoenix's eyes. Somehow they'd changed slightly, showing a greater maturity and balance than the slightly bashful naiveness they appeared to express during his younger days, but retained the same adorable, gentleness of before. Maya had to admit she found herself curiously attracted to them. His slightly more rugged appearance seemed to suit him, he looked more invulnerable than before. In fact, with her inhibitions gone, she couldn't deny it to herself. Somehow Nick had become.. disturbingly hot.

To Be Continued...