*ON HOLD* Unlawful Attraction: Turnabout Samurai

Chapter 20 Trading Cards

Quickly you approached the dressing room door grasping the handle to walk in only to stop. You couldn't help but worry that maybe this was going too far, asking a kid about a murder. But then again Mia was right he was your one and only lead. You had to if you believed Powers was truly innocent.

"What are we waiting for?!" Phoenix looked at you with wide impatient eyes locking them with yours before he released a breath. "It'll be fine" Phoenix offered you a slight smile after he spoke.(Were you that easy to read?) Taking a breath you nodded and pushed the door open looking around the now empty dressing room, no child in sight.

"Where did he go?" You gasped. Your eyes tried to scan the area as Phoenix immediately walked in looking around before he started looking under furniture pulling up blankets and such.(He must of hid a lot as a kid if he knew all the best hiding places you guessed.)

"He's sure to be in here somewhere..." Phoenix trailed off looking through the clothing rack pushing all the hangers holding clothes to the side. They opened with a whush and there Cody had been. "Found you!" Phoenix looked pleased with him self. Your eyes widened as you stopped looking your self turning to face the two boys. But before you could say anything Cody had dashed away. "Dammit! He's getting away!" Phoenix tried to rush after him and you tried to grab Cody was he rushed past you.

"Cody please! We need your help!" As you spoke he had already run out to the employee area, he had stopped for a moment like he was hesitating before he still tried to get away.

"Come back!" Mia called after him, and for a moment you had forgotten she had been with you and Phoenix. Cody looked guilty skidding to a stop at Mia's words. He stood there for a moment before walking back slowly, like his mother had called him back after he did something bad. You couldn't help but suppress a smile, kids were cute sometimes.(In your opinion, of course!) "There. He's back." Mia smiled as she gently pushed Cody back into the room his eyes looking down at the floor. You don't know how Mia did it but you weren't about to question it. You slowly knelt down to meet Cody's level.

"Hey Cody, I'm glad you came back!" You offered him a sweet smile. He flushed before looking away with a puff of air.

"I-it's no big deal!" Cody crossed his arms.

"Hello Cody, I've heard a lot about you" Mia had knelt down as you had Phoenix standing in the middle of you both. Cody looked to Mia with wide eyes. "Good things of course, my friends could really use your help.."

"H-how do you know my name!" Cody seemed so shocked but he must not of put two and two together quite yet. Mia just smiled patiently.

"My friend (Y/N) told me, to make things even how about I tell you my name?" Mia gave another smile as she held her hand out. "I'm Mia, Mia Fey nice to meet you" Cody took her hand after she finished talking shaking it with a smile of his own.

"Yo!" Was all he had said after being introduced.

"And I'm Phoenix Wright! One of (Y/N)'s friends!" Phoenix smiled trying to look proud but both of you felt the same jolt, the same twist, in your guts. The word friend felt toxic to say, bitter to breath out, horrible to hear. Friends, yes just friends. You fear that is all you'll ever be.

"Who asked?" Cody spat out his words making sure they stung Phoenix who was already hurt from calling you just a friend. Phoenix widened his eyes in shock standing back a bit. The nerve of this kid. Mia began to stand up standing by Phoenix as you took the time to just take it over from here.

"Cody...do you feel like helping us? We could really use your help" you breathed out slowly. Cody looked between you and Mia before he looked at Phoenix.