Ace Attorney Investigations: Moonlight

Chapter 7

- November 5th -
- Canada, Pinsdale Academy -
- Julia Kirigiri's POV

Thanks to Q, I finally found the 'Pinsdale' Zeke Mystere was talking about. It was a boarding school. One for orphans and troublemakers. Zero Mystere was inside, yet they easily let me in once they discovered her father had died.

An assistant led me to her room, begging that I break the news lightly. Zero had been called out of her classes for disruption - apparently something that happened a lot.

I closed the door behind me. Zero was waving about a toy katana. She didn't stop to look at me.

"Who the hell are you?" Zero asked me. "I'm not going to therapy again. If that's what you do."

"Zero, I..." I sighed at the girl before me. She must've been a year younger than Kotoko, yet she was mature... in another way from her. "... Your father sent me. He's-"

"Dead, I hope." Zero paused her playing for a second. "Don't tell me... was it you that killed him...?"

"N-No-!" I yelled out, "He was dying of poison. He decided to... take his own life..."

Zero finally turned around, suddenly interested in the conversation. I gasped as I took a look at her features. Her hair was pure white, her eyes an icy blue. Her skin was bleached white. She didn't exactly look like a healthy child.

"I'm here to protect you. Your life is in danger." I grabbed her hand; she yanked it away. "You need to help me find Greyerl. Do you know where they are?"

"If I'm to leave you with, then at least give me time to pack my stuff, geez!" Zero threw her toy katana into a suitcase. "I'm only going with you since it's better than school. I'll meet you downstairs."

I nodded, grabbing my own suitcase and walking out. It was heavier than usual - which was odd, since I was sure that it had been lighter when I packed it.

The lounge was empty, so I decided to take a seat. Since I had time, I opened my suitcase to see what was causing it to be so heavy.

As soon as I opened the case, a bundle of pink hair flew out and crashed down next to me. I gasped as I realised it was Kotoko, hiding in my suitcase!

"Oh, fresh air!" She grinned at me, her mouth covered in crumbs. "I was beginning to run out of food and drink, too... uh... where are we, Miss. Kirigiri?"

"Wh-Wh-What?!" I finally managed to yell out. "K-Kotoko... weren't you meant to be with Griffin?!"

"He left me..." She sighed, brushing the crumbs off of her face. "... I wanted to be with you, Miss. Kirigiri!"

"... Griffin is going to get one hell of a punishment for this." I muttered angrily. "You're lucky that Griffin is coming to meet me. He'll take you home immediately."

"I-I don't wanna go-!" Kotoko hugged me, preventing me from moving. "I know it's dangerous, but you're never home anymore..."

"I promised that after this is all over, we'd go and do... family things." I said, stroking her hair. "Why couldn't you wait?"

We sat like that for a while. Her in my arms, me comforting her. We remained uninterrupted until someone came over, putting drinks down onto our table.

"Now, I'm not being funny, D, but why the hell is Kotoko here?" A familiar voice asked. It was Q, his suit swapped for a dorky sweater.

"I thought Griffin was meant to meet me." I tilted my head, "And I thought that you hated flying."

"One, Griffin has gone AWOL," Q explained, "And two... anything for you. Especially now that Kotoko's here."

"She stowed away in my suitcase." I smiled at her, "She had food and drink and everything... I'm lucky that I found her."

"Am I going back with you, Mr. Q?" Kotoko asked him. "I don't mind if it's you, I suppose..."

"Yes, but I need to speak to your... mother... parent... first." Q stumbled, avoiding eye contact. "It's M and X. They're closing in on us. Our career's are going to be on the line if you don't come back with me, D."

"I can't. You know I can't." I told him, holding Kotoko close. "And I'm sorry, but I need you to do one more thing from me. It's about this... ring." I handed him Zeke Mystere's Moonlight ring, something that was different from the others. I assumed that it was an old model, therefore easier to gather information from.

"I... I'll try. I have a room in the Lake hotel. Room 139," He smiled up at me, "Kotoko, there's some kids stuff in my room. That'll keep you busy."

"Yay! We'll meet you there, Miss, Kirigiri!" Kotoko jumped up, "Don't keep us waiting, okay?"

Q took Kotoko's hand and led her away. Even though my suitcase barely had anything in it, Kotoko offered to take it to the hotel for me.

I was about to head back upstairs, but Zero crashed into me, panting heavily.

"Run!" She yelled at me, "You've led them to me! If we don't run... they'll kill me-!"

I nodded, taking her hand. "I have a car outside. We'll rendezvous with my friend once we've shaken them off."

I finished speaking as a group of armed men rushed down the stairs. People nearby screamed as they attempted to shoot Zero and I.

We bolted outside, the men hot on our tails. I was certain that they were members of Moonlight, with their rings being identifiable traits.

"This way!" Zero cried, jumping behind a bush. "When I was in trouble, I hid in the basement of this place. No one else has they key but me."

"Wh... why do you have the key?" I questioned her, jumping down into the basement and closing the door.

"Th-That's not important-!" She said in a hushed tone. "Why did you give that weirdo my father's ring? Technically, it belongs to me."

"Q isn't a weirdo." I chuckled, "I promise we'll give you that ring back when we're finished it it. Why you want it, I don't know..."

"It looks cool! Everyone is gonna be super jealous!" Zero grinned wildly. It reminded me that she was still a child in all of this. A child only just younger than Kotoko.

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lov u zero
- hatty