Ace Attorney: Mask of Deceit

Chapter 37: Turnabout Business ~ After the Case

July 22 12:30pm

GatherLaw Inc. - CEO's Office ~ Niamh Wood's POV

Everyone was in pretty high spirits after the trial was over, but a lot of things were still bothering me. Just who were the people that ran this company? What was my relation to them? Now was my time to find out. I awkwardly shuffled up to the CEO to attract his attention. "Um... Mr. Wood?"

"Ah, Niamh!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with cheer. "Welcome, welcome! I suppose now is the time for the introductions, yes? First and foremost, my name is Conrad Wood. As you know, I am the CEO of this company."

A woman with blonde hair that faded to black stepped forward, taking my hand and shaking it, all the while smiling. "I am Melinda Wood. It's such a great surprise to see you again, sweetie."

(See me... 'again'?)

"Ugh, these soppy intros are killin' me!" Nevada cried in frustration. "I wanna cool guy!"

Just as she said (um, mentally said) this, a boy with blonde spiked hair stepped forward. "Name's Fuyuhiko. This here's my old man." He nodded at Mr. Wood (who I, with what little evidence I had, assumed was some sort of uncle to me).

"I say, where is Byakuya?" Mrs. Wood - or, I assume, Aunt Melinda - sighed. "Doesn't he want to meet his little cousin again?"

So I was right. Conrad the uncle, Melinda the aunt, Fuyuhiko and Byakuya the cousins. Okay, glad I got that sorted.

The same tall blonde guy with the white glasses I met the previous day entered the room. He walked in, took one look at me and sighed. "What is she doing here, Father?" he asked.

"Judging by his attitude, you two have already met." Mr. Wood - or Uncle Conrad - sighed. "Nevertheless, Byakuya is my oldest son."

I tried to meet Byakuya's blue eyes and give him a smile, but I was just ignored. I instead focused on the grey haired girl stood next to Aunt Melinda, the defendant in today's case. Unlike before, she now had a sword strapped to her back. Aunt Melinda placed a hand on her shoulder. "You also knew this already, but this is Peko Pekoyama. She's lived with us ever since she was a small child."

Ms. Pekoyama (or maybe just Peko would work better) stepped forward and bowed. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you properly, Ms. Wood."

"N-Niamh is just fine..." I stammered with a small smile. I had a feeling I was going to like these guys. Except Byakuya. He's still a jerk.

After introductions were over and everyone had gone back to their work, I didn't leave. "Um, Uncle Conrad?" I called. "Can I ask you something?"

"Why, of course. Anything for you, my dear!" he returned with a smile.

I sighed: no point beating around the bush. "I... want to know more about my parents. Can... you tell me?"

Uncle Conrad's smile slowly faded before he nodded slowly. "Yes, I suppose any child in your situation would. Come, take a seat."

I slowly sat myself on the couch while Uncle Conrad took something from his desk before joining me. "Robin - your father - was my younger brother." he began, handing me something. It was a frame; in it was a picture of two teenage boys, one with black hair (the older boy) and one with dark strawberry blonde hair (the younger boy). The older boy had his little brother in a playful headlock with the younger boy was grinning at the camera.

"Needless to say, he was an fantastic man, your father." my uncle continued. "Determind. Always a hard worker and very popular with the ladies." He laughed, as if trying to make a joke. "A... certain case made him become the man he did. He risked his life to bring criminals to justice and, for the most part, he succeeded."

'For the most part.'

"Of course, we can't forget about your dear mother, can we?" Uncle Conrad smiled sadly. "Alianna, or just Ali... a sweet soul, with a heart as fragile as glass. It shines bright in the daytime, but was easy to shatter and break."

"How did they meet?" I asked.

"Back in the days, one of Alianna's friends was accused of murder." Uncle Conrad explained. "The judge for the trial was our father, so we went to watch the proceedings. The two of them met there and hit it off right away. I was always a little jealous of him, actually. We always joked that I got the intellect while he got the handsome looks." He laughed again.

I nodded slowly. Hearing about my biological parents made me understand them a little better, but at the same time made me upset that.... they were dead. "I... I'm sorry..." I muttered without thinking. "I'm sorry I let your brother die..."

"You don't need to apologise, my dear." Uncle Conrad told me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "What happened back then was not your fault. Besides, you were hurt just as badly in that incident. Not just emotionally..." I felt his eyes flicker over the hair that covered my left eye.

I sighed and rose from my seat, eager to change the subject. "Well, thanks for telling me all that, Uncle Conrad. I suppose I'd better get home now, they're probably wondering where I am."

"They?" Uncle Conrad repeated.

"Yeah." I replied. "I have adoptive parents."

"Ah, yes, that's right." Uncle Conrad nodded. "I had heard about that. I trust you are happy with them?"

I nodded rapidly. "More than happy!"

He laughed and had an arm wrapped around my shoulders as I left. Maybe staying behind to learn a bit about my mother and father wasn't so bad after all.

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Time: ???

Date: ???

Location: ???

"Raymond, you fool!!" the masked man exclaimed as he paced the dimly lit room. "You committed murder and got yourself arrested!! Now what?!"

After a few moments of agitated silence, he sighed. "Very well. I have no choice but to release Raymond from his prison. I will not act immediately, however. I shall wait for things to cool down first..."

The Masked Gentleman's eyes trailed over to the picture of his family once more. Oh, how he longed to see them again. But having them all together again would be impossible.

"Deceased parents are such a clichè..." the Masked Gentleman sighed, well aware of the sadness in his voice.

CASE 4: TURNABOUT BUSINESS

THE END

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OKAY I SWEAR CASE FIVE IS NEXT

WITH UNCLE COTOLI CRAZY AND NIECE NEVADA

THESE TWO GIVE ME LIFE WITH THEIR DERPINESS

OH YEAH I GUESS YOU GUYS CAN START GUESSING WHO YOU THINK THE MASKED GENTLEMAN COULD BE. I HAVEN'T LEFT MANY CLUES (I THINK) BUT WHO KNOWS? SOMEONE COULD GET IT. IF YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE WHO YOU THINK IT IS, PLEASE DO NOT PUT IT IN THE COMMENTS FOR ALL TO SEE. PM ME INSTEAD. THANKS

ALSO CROO ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SAY BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW UPUPUPUPU

AceAttorneyFan over and out!