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One of Every Color	By : Croik Category: +M through R > Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Views: 5688 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney / Gyakuten Saiban, its
characters and settings, are property of Capcom, and are being used here
without permission.� This fic is rated
NC-17 for adult male/male content and some violent material.� C&C welcome and appreciated.

One of Every Color
Chapter 8
Friday, September 20^h, 2019.� 9:40 am

"You don't look so
well�Mr. Wright."

Phoenix's shoulders drooped.�
He had stepped off the bus that morning knowing full well he would have to
face several people he would rather not, but to be first greeted by Urami
Shikabane indicated the day was not off to a good start.� Despite having paid particular attention to
his appearance--his suit was freshly dry-cleaned and his hair especially spiky--Urami's
grim salutation only reminded him of his sleepless night, and how visible the
effects of it must be.�

"Thanks,
Urami."� Phoenix straightened his tie self-consciously.� Who
could sleep after yesterday anyway?� I
haven�t been able to stop thinking about it since-- He cleared his throat
when he felt himself beginning to blush.�
"I'll be fine."

"Good.� I'm�looking forward to the trial."� She turned toward the courthouse with a
slight smile.� "Shall we?"

"Yeah, sure�."

Phoenix walked with her up toward the building, and was
momentarily blinded by a sudden camera flash.�
He shielded his eyes but was determined to keep moving.� "Lotta?"

"Go get'm, Wright!"
Lotta's familiar voice carried.� But she
wasn't the only photographer gathered on the steps that morning; in fact, there
was a flock of reporters, and as Phoenix drew near they all started snapping away at
once.� It had been a while since Phoenix had drawn such a crowd, and he winced as he pushed
his way through the shouting, sparkling mob toward the doors.

"Mr. Wright!� What made you take this case?"

"Mr. Wright--are you
really working for the mob!?"

"Do you have any comment
on the fire at the Prosecutor's Office?"

"N-No comment!" Phoenix called, taking Urami's arm to help her through the bustling
audience.� As they reached the top of the
stairs a pair of policemen stepped forward to keep the reporters back, and Phoenix started to breathe a sigh of relief.� He then ran smack into a broad figure in the
doorway.

"Hey, Pal."

Phoenix flinched at the stern tone, and glanced up into the
face of an uncharacteristically terse Dick Gumshoe.� The detective had his arms crossed over his
chest as he frowned at the pair.

Urami didn't miss a beat; she
nodded politely and stepped easily around him.�
"Good morning, Detective�"

Gumshoe watched her pass with
a careful eye.� "Miss
Shikabane."

"Morning,
Detective," Phoenix greeted cheerily.�
He tried to sidestep and continue on as Urami had, but Gumshoe turned,
following him into the building.� Despite
all his foolish antics of the past Gumshoe was still a much larger man, and Phoenix felt only a little ridiculous for being
intimidated.� "Can I help you?"

"Shouldn't have taken
this case, Pal," Gumshoe said, matching him step for step, even when Phoenix tried to speed up.�
"Haven't you caused enough trouble around here?"

"Me?"� Phoenix puffed himself up indignantly.� "You're one to talk."

It was a low blow, really,
which Phoenix blamed on stress and lack of sleep.� But it didn't seem to affect Gumshoe at all.� "I don't know what ya said to him, but
cut it out, all right?� Hasn't he been
through enough?"

Phoenix frowned, feeling his blush threaten to
resurface.� Did Edgeworth say something to him?�
He glanced ahead, where Urami was continuing without looking the
slightest bit interested in their conversation.�
He knew she was listening.�
"I don't know what you mean."

Gumshoe grabbed him by the
elbow, jerking both of them to an abrupt stop.�
His tough guy act had already failed, and giving way to honest concern.� "He finally came home," he told Phoenix seriously.�
"This city needs him."

Phoenix felt his chest constrict briefly; Gumshoe's
expression of sincerity was almost moving.�
He gently peeled the hand off his arm.�
"Detective�I know.� Don't
worry--Edgeworth's not going anywhere."�
He turned to continue after Urami, and this time Gumshoe didn't follow.

Not until we've had a long talk, at least.

He caught up with Urami just
outside the Defense Lobby.� "What
was that all about�?" she asked lightly.

"It's nothing."

They entered together and
there met with Phoenix's latest client.�
He was startled to see Chassie in normal clothing.� She was dressed in full black: a long, narrow
skirt that slit to her knee, and a fitted suit coat with silver buttons and a man's
silk neck tie.� Her black hair had been
combed straight and she even appeared to be wearing a light application of make
up.� In all she was much too gothic for Phoenix's tastes, but even he had to admit she looked rather
pretty.� In a creepy, ceramic, vampire
doll kind of way.

"Do you like
it�?"� Urami moved around to
Chassie's side, taking her hand in both of hers.� "It's a big day.� I thought she should�look her best."

"It's fine," Phoenix assured.� He
was strangely relieved; seeing his client in something other than a prison
jumper helped him imagine what she might have been like before the incident
four years ago.� It was pretty clear that
she and Urami were friends, at least.�
"How are you feeling, Miss Gander?"

"Nervous," Chassie
replied.� Though her face was still, her
hand was clenched around Urami's.�
"Will I testify today?"

"Maybe.� It depends on how long April's testimony
takes, and if the Judge is convinced by our evidence."� He managed a reassuring smile.� "Everything will be fine.� You trust me, right?"

Both girls nodded.� "We're counting on you, Mr.
Wright," Urami said.

It's finally starting.� Phoenix checked his briefcase one last time as they waited
for the bailiff to call for them.� I'm glad.�
It won't be an easy trial, but at least then it'll be over.� As stressful as court was, Phoenix was used to it by now, and the routine helped to put
his jumbled thoughts into order.� Don't worry about Edgeworth.� Just
focus on the case.

The door opened.� "Mr. Wright, Miss Gander--the court is
ready for you."

Phoenix led the way outside with Chassie and Urami close behind, down the hall to the courtroom they had been
assigned.� On the way he ran into
Detective Gumshoe again, but this time he wasn't alone: he and Miles were
heading toward the same entrance from the other direction.� The sight of the suited prosecutor made Phoenix's breath catch slightly.� Their eyes met, and Miles greeted him with a
slight incline of his head.

"Wright."

"Edgeworth," Phoenix replied, though he noticed his voice wasn't quite as
collected and nonchalant as his friend's.�
If Miles even remembered the afternoon before, it didn't show in his
face.� We have to talk.� He licked
his lips and started to suggest it.� We have to talk about it, don't we?

Before Phoenix could say more, Gumshoe pushed the courtroom doors
open, and the excited chatter of the gallery startled him quiet.� They'd managed to draw quite a crowd.� Faced with such an audience, Phoenix lost his nerve and instead continued on to his bench.

Chassie was guided to a
separate seat closer to the Judge's podium, but as Phoenix took to his position behind the defense desk he was
startled to find Urami still next to him.�
He blinked at her uneasily.�
"You're not going to watch from the gallery?"

"You usually have
co-council, no�?"� Urami smiled up
at him.� "I want you to feel
comfortable."

Phoenix did his best not to grimace.� "Gee, thanks."� Great.� All I need is a blinking light over my head
that reads "Mob Lawyer."

Opposite them, Miles was getting
settled behind his own desk--Gumshoe had left him to instead watch from the
gallery.� He looked as prepared and
confident as ever, for which Phoenix was oddly relieved.�
Phoenix had worried that given the short time Miles had been
given to prepare, he might have had to scramble to collect himself.� Despite what it meant for him he was glad
this didn't appear to be the case.

The Judge entered then, and
everyone stood as he made his way to the bench and settled.� It took a few hits of his gavel to quiet the
overly anxious crowd.� "We have
quite an assembly here," he remarked, glancing around.� "Well, we might as well get started.� Court is in session for the appeal of Chassie
Gander, for five counts of murder.� Is
council ready?"

"The prosecution is ready,
Your Honor," Miles said easily.

"The defense is also
ready, Your Honor," Phoenix
added in turn.

"Very good.� The Prosecution may begin."

Miles tilted his chin
up.� "Due to certain circumstances,
Miss Starr will not be able to appear in court today to repeat her
testimony.� If the defense has no
objection, I will be reporting on the particulars of the case myself."

The Judge looked to Phoenix, who took a brief moment to consider.� He would have preferred Angel on the stand,
as he had a feeling she would have sided with him more than Miles, but there
wasn't much he could do about it.�
"The defense has no objections."

"Mr. Edgeworth, you may
proceed."

This is it, Phoenix thought as he braced his fingertips against the
desk.� Don't let him get away with anything.

Miles shifted the police
report to the top of his evidence files.�
"On October 2^nd, 2015, at 3:25 am,
an emergency call was received by the operator on duty," he related to the
court.� "It came from the residence
of a small west side duplex, which had been set on fire.� The fire department and two police units were
deployed to the scene, and arrived at 3:40 am.� The fire was put out, and afterwards
paramedics discovered five bodies inside.�
Each was burned almost beyond recognition but they were positively
identified as the tenants.� The fire
department concluded the fire was arson, having been started in the basement
washroom both apartments shared.� All of
this information was recorded by the officers at the scene and thus far no
accusations have been made to its credibility."

He shot Phoenix a look, who took a deep breath to respond to the
subtle accusation.� "We're not
contending the facts of the case, Your Honor," he told the Judge.� "Just the police's suspect."

Miles snorted lightly and
continued.� "The intensity of the
fire destroyed most forensic evidence in the building.� But thanks to remaining chemical evidence,
and the bits of melted glass discovered in the basement, our scientists deduced
that the fire had been set using bottles of alcohol that came from Mr. Hoff's
apartment."

"And how did the police
determine it was Miss Gander that started the fire?" the Judge inquired.

"Several pieces of
evidence," Miles replied precisely.�
"An eyewitness who was at the duplex that night placed the accused
at the scene.� When police visited Miss
Gander's home to confirm, they discovered her in a state of confusion, with
fresh lacerations on her hands and traces of alcohol on her hair and clothing.� She could not provide an alibi for her whereabouts
the night of the arson, and once motive was confirmed there was little
doubt."

"Motive was never
'confirmed'," Phoenix interrupted.�
"You only assumed."

Miles straightened, but this
time his hard gaze was on the woman accompanying Phoenix.� "Miss Gander's
history as an accomplice to career criminals is well known in the force.� Given the identity of the victims, it would
be impossible to assume mere coincidence."

Urami tilted her head down
slightly, staring back at Miles from across the court.� Her eyes were narrowed in the closest to real
anger that Phoenix had ever seen in her.�
Geez Edgeworth, don't provoke her!� Phoenix cleared his throat and tried to get his friend's
attention back.� "But it wasn't
absolute.� And there are any number of
ways a person could get cuts on their hand, or spill a drink on
themselves.� That's hardly definite
proof."

Miles crossed his arms
irritably, but at least he wasn't glaring down Urami anymore.� "It was enough to convict her."

"Mr. Wright," the
Judge cut in.� He glanced between the two
of them curiously, as if able to sense the unusual tension.� "If you have no more objections, I'll
let the prosecution call its first witness."

Phoenix pursed his lips.�
It'll be April for sure.� "No objections, Your Honor."

"The Prosecution may
proceed."

"The Prosecution calls
Miss April May to the stand."

A quiet buzz filled the
courtroom as April stepped down from the gallery, clad in a familiar pink
blouse and too-short skirt.� She winked
at Phoenix as she was sworn in and took to the stand.� "Here I am, Gentlemen," she greeted
cheerily.

Please, April,
Phoenix thought with a wince.�
Just tell the truth.

Miles looked rather calm, and
for a moment Phoenix wondered if he might have coached her somehow.� "Name and occupation?"

"April May, personal
assistant," April replied, somehow able to make even her introduction
sound coy.� "Long time no see, Your Excellency."� She blew the judge a kiss.

Phoenix sighed.� It's going to be a long morning.

The Judge blinked, too
baffled for a moment to reply.� "Ah,
yes.� 'Your Honor' will do, Miss
May."� A chuckle rose from the
crowd, and the Judge was quick to quiet them with his gavel.� "Please tell the court once more what
you saw the night of the arson."

"Sure
thing."� April leaned forward slightly against the
podium; she seemed to be enjoying the attention even more than the last time
Phoenix had cross examined her, now that she wasn't a suspect in the case.� "I went over that night for a little
party time with Mel and Libby, bless their souls.� We worked together for Bluecorp
at the time.� I don't think Mel was
particularly cute but with Libby around every night was a party."

"Please stick to what's
relevant to the case," Miles reminded her shortly.

April glared at him, but only
briefly, before falling back into character to continue her story.� "Hmph.�
Anyway, around two o'clock Libby and I went outside for a smoke and some fresh air.� That's when I saw Chassie.� Jackie must've left a window open, because
the little thing crawled right in, Goth boots and all!� I was kinda drunk so I didn't think much of
it."

She finished, and smiled
sweetly at the Judge.� He cleared his
throat.� "And that's all you saw of
Chassie Gander?" he asked.

"Sure was.� It was around two in the morning.� I left about thirty minutes later.� If I'd stayed over like Libby wanted, I
would've burned up, too!� Thank God for Yellow Cab."

"Yes, well�if that's it,
the defense may begin its cross examination."

April looked to Phoenix expectantly--he could almost see the dollar signs gleaming in her eyes.� So far
so good, at least.� "Miss
May," he began.� "You're sure
it was Chassie Gander you saw that night?�
You admit yourself you were awfully drunk."

"Of course I'm
sure!"� April puffed herself indignantly,
though it might as well have just been a chance to show off more of her
cleavage.� "I may be a delicate
lady, but I can handle my liquor.�
Besides, I'd recognize that little weasel anywhere."

"So you'd met
before?"� Phoenix frowned--neither woman had mentioned that to him.

"Not really, no,"
April admitted.� "But I'd seen her
picture before.� Bluecorp
and Shikabane were like cat and dog in the old
days.� Mr. White insisted we know our
enemies."

It wasn't a very flattering
picture of Chassie, but April probably wasn't lying.� Phoenix could imagine Redd White being that careful.� He glanced at Urami to gauge her reaction,
but she remained still and silent.�
"So you didn't know Miss Gander personally, but you knew of her."

"Sure did."

Miles was looking impatient,
but before he could say anything Phoenix got to the point.�
"So did you know she and Mr. Hoff used to be lovers?"

The gallery murmured
excitedly, and even Miles looked a little taken aback by the revelation.� Though the impact was good for him, Phoenix couldn't help but feel concerned.� Why did
Chassie not tell them this before?� It
would have explained her reason for being at the scene.� Could there be something I'm missing?

When the Judge had gotten the
court under control, April finally answered.�
"No, actually.� I hadn't
heard that.� I only met him after he
started dating Mel's sister, Ann."

"So it's possible she
was there that night to see Mr. Hoff, not
to kill Mr. Arky."

April folded her arms in a
pout.� Now that she wasn't sure where the
questioning was going, she didn't seem to want to be a part of it.� "I suppose.� But she did
climb through the window."

"That only makes her
more suspicious," Miles finally returned to the proceedings.� "Climbing through the window of an
ex-lover in the middle of the night?� You
can't say her intentions were pure."

"We can't really say anything about it," Phoenix retorted, "since this fact wasn't even discussed
in the first trial."

Another round of murmurs, and
this time Miles' fists clenched against his desk.� I'm
sorry, Edgeworth. Phoenix licked his lips.�
But the truth has to come out.� "Miss May."� His voice, a bit louder than before, helped
call the gallery back to order.�
"You left at 2:30,
correct?"

April jumped.� "Y-Yes.�
So?"

Phoenix lifted his own copy of the police report.� "The fire department estimated the fire
was started around 3:15 am.� If that's true, your testimony would indicate
that Chassie broke into the duplex at 2:00, and stayed for over an hour before
setting anything on fire."

"Well�yes, I guess
that's what that means."

"And what relevance does
that have?" Miles challenged.

"It doesn't make much
sense, does it?"� Phoenix set the papers down as he faced his rival.� "Why would she break into an apartment
of sleeping people, only to sit around for a full hour?� If her motive was murder, what was she
waiting for?"

Miles' hand came down loudly
on his desk.� "Isn't it
obvious?� It wasn't until after this witness left the scene that
Mr. Arky and his guest went to sleep!� If
she set the fire while they were awake, they would have been able to leave the
building before the smoke became thick enough to suffocate them!"

"He's rather good,"
Urami remarked.

"Don't compliment the
competition," Phoenix muttered.

The Judge nodded
thoughtfully.� "It's as the
prosecution says.� Unless the defense can
prove the accused left the scene before the time of the fire, the time is
irrelevant."

Here we go.� "Your honor, I do have proof."

Phoenix pulled Lotta's envelope from his briefcase, taking
out one of the photos to hand over to the bailiff.� I have
to set up the timeline.� They have to
know it was impossible for her to do this!�
"The defense submits this photograph, taken by April May the night
of the crime."

"This is�"� The Judge accepted the photo, taking his time
looking over it as Miles gnashed his teeth.�
"Why, that looks like the defendant!"

"It is," Phoenix assured as the photo was finally passed on to Miles
for him to see.� "Chassie Gander, in
a phone booth outside the building.� Miss
May, can you tell us when this photo was taken?"

Miles handed the photo back,
absolutely livid as he glared at April.�
"And more importantly, why you didn't offer this photo four years ago?"

April shrugged carelessly,
which didn't help Miles' temper any.�
"I forgot about them.� I take
a lot of pictures, after all.� But this
one�"� She squinted at the
photo.� "What do you know, she is there!"

"When were they
taken?" Miles demanded.

"My, so angry.� It was just a few minutes before I left for
the night."� She handed it off to
the bailiff, who returned it to Phoenix.� "So 2:20, I guess.�
Maybe 2:25."

"And you didn't see her
when you left?" Phoenix prompted.�
"It was only a few minutes.�
If she stopped to make a call and then snuck back in, you probably
should have seen her."

"Objection!"� Miles pounded again on his desk.� "Chassie had already broken in.� She could have easily snuck back in the same
way!� What Miss May should have seen is not the issue!"

"He's going to hurt his
hand that way," Urami said quietly in amusement.

Phoenix smiled grimly.�
I know the feeling.� "But still--"

"Moreover!" Miles
talked over him.� "This evidence is
irrelevant!� Not only has it been
concealed from the police until now, but it proves nothing!� Chassie could have gone in and out of the
duplex as many times as she pleased before starting the fire.� It still doesn't prove she left the scene."

"Maybe not,
but�."� Phoenix held up his best evidence.� "This does."

Miles wilted a little as the
crowd burst again into curious murmurs, but this time his expression was not
one of surprise.� He'd known exactly what
Phoenix was handing off to the bailiff long before it reached
him.� The
Chief Prosecutor must have warned him, Phoenix thought, fighting back a sensation of guilt.� I did
have to present it to him to get the appeal filed, after all.� It's no surprise he told Edgeworth.�

"What exactly am I
looking at?" the Judge asked, drawing Phoenix's attention back.

"It's a report from the
Hotta Clinic, Your Honor," Phoenix explained.�
"In the early morning of October 2^nd Chassie
was admitted to the clinic for several gashes on her hand, which she got from
handling a broken wine bottle.� She was
there from 2:45 to 3:50
in the morning, as was noted on her chart."

The Judge frowned
thoughtfully, and Phoenix waited for him to figure it out himself.� "But that's�during the time the fire was
started!"

"Exactly!"� Phoenix took his turn slamming his desk--a little drama never
hurt.� "This new evidence, which the
police failed to gather, proves without a doubt that Chassie was nowhere near
the scene when the fire was started!� It proves her innocence!"

"Objection!" Miles
predictably followed.� "The
prosecution does not accept this as viable evidence.� Four years after the fact, this magical
'clinic report' appears that can fully exonerate the defendant?"� He lifted his hands in a gesture of disdain.� "It's preposterous.� There's no telling if this document is even
legitimate."

"Are you implying it
isn't?"� He can't really think I'd forge something like this.� "If you think it's faulty, present your evidence!"

"Ha!� With pleasure!"

"You�what?"� Phoenix blinked in surprise.�
He has proof it's fake?� He glanced quickly to Urami, who was no
longer looking so amused.� He doesn't really, right?

"In fact, the
prosecution would like to call its next witness," Miles continued
boldly.� "If we're through with Miss
May here."

Phoenix blanked a moment as all eyes turned to him.� He's bluffing.� He must be.� He pulled himself together once more and
nodded.� "I don't have any more
questions for Miss May."

"Very well."� The Judge pounded his gavel.� "This witness is excused.� The prosecution may call its next
witness."

April hopped gratefully down
from the stand, and cast a quick, hard glare at Phoenix before moving to rejoin the gallery.� Phoenix barely noticed--he was watching Miles' face for any
indication of what was about to come.� I talked to everyone involved.� No one knew about that clinic report until
yesterday--not Angel, not even him.� So
who is it?

Miles straightened, and
called his next witness.
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