CHARACTER LISTINGS

Sonozaki Mion – Iris Hawthorne
Sonozaki Shion – Dahlia Hawthorne
Hojo Satoshi - Mia Fey
Ryugu Rena – Miles Edgeworth
Maebara Keiichi – Phoenix Wright
Hojo Satoko - Maya Fey
Furude Rika – Pearl Fey
Sonozaki Akane – Misty Fey
Sonozaki Oryou – Morgan Fey
Tatsuyoshi Kasai – Jake Marshall
Tomitake Jiro – Will Powers
Takano Miyo – Dee Vasquez
Oiishi Kuraudo – Daryan Crescend
Kimiyoshi Kiichirou- Robert Hammond
Irie Kyousuke – Kristoph Gavin
Chie Rumiko – Lana Skye

Gyakuten Meakashi

The Eye Opening Turnabout

"I dropped my beads in the desert," the girl wept.
The girl searched the desert for a hundred years.
"Maybe I didn't drop them in the desert, but in the ocean," the girl wept.
The girl searched the seafloor for a hundred years.
"Maybe I didn't drop them in the ocean, but the mountains," the girl wept.
How many years will it be before she questions whether she really dropped them at all?"

- Frederica Berkastel

Prologue

A sharp zap crackles in the silent air, followed by a dull thud, as sister drags sister across the wooden floorboards. Just before losing consciousness, Iris Hawthorne glimpses her mother's still figure, bound and gagged on a wheelchair. She opens her mouth desperately so cry out for help, but nothing comes out but a gasp as her vision begins to blur. She blacks out before being dragged into darkness by the only person whom she thought she could truly trust.

She tested the stone wall's stability by banging against it slightly with the heel of her foot. It was firmly intact.
"Hmph, just what I expected from the barrier which has prevented me from breathing freedom's air. But I'll have you know that even the likes of you can be bested."

The girl quickly judged the distance between herself and the ground below and leapt nimbly down. As soon as she had landed, she noticed the piercing headlights of a car pull up to meet her.

The window screen slid down to reveal the face of a familiar detective.

"Nice work, bambina. Welcome back."

"Heh, it's been a long time since I tasted freedom." She smirked and slipped into the car. It began moving as soon as she got in and secured her seatbelt. She glanced back at the boarding school she had been kept in, glaring at it with hatred.

"To think Mother would put me through all of this…sometimes I wonder if she even cares." She hissed and leaned back into the comfortable chair.
"What do you think, Marshall?"

The detective stopped at a red light and took the chance to readjust his texas cowboy hat which he made a habit of wearing.
"Can't say I can answer to that, bambina. Your mother would have my guts if she somehow heard my response."

"So…you agree then?" She flicked a strand of her flame red hair away from her eyes, and scanned the scenery outside. It really had been too long since she'd last seen the world outside the school boundaries. The thing that she feared most…was being kept in there like some caged animal.

"Lighten up, filly. You're the daughter of the most powerful families in Hinamizawa…You're a Fey! Shouldn't you be more proud of your title…little princess?"

Dahlia glared at him, showing her teeth.
"Don't you ever use that name with me again, you hear? I do not wish to be known as an…ornament confined in a glass case…! You will address me as Dahlia…Dahlia Hawthorne."

"Heh, I see. Preferring your father's side when it comes to the choice of noise, eh? Very well…Ms. Hawthorne...I shall watch my tongue from now on."

The sudden talk of her father reminded her of the only person she wished to see other than Marshall. Her mother was definitely not on her list.

"…How's Iris doing?"

"From what I've heard…she's doing just fine."

"That's…good." Her twin sister was one of the only people whom the stubborn red head cared about in this cruel world.
"I guess she's been living with the Morgan Monster, huh."

"Heh, I wouldn't be making a habit of using that name…but yes. She was allowed to move in with the main family around the same time you got sent to school. Honestly, though? I still think you should have switched hair colours with her at the last minute and live in the main house yourself. I'm sure sweet little Iris would enjoy the boarding school life much more than you. You two are identical twins, you could easily have pulled it off."

"No, that would have been too cruel for Iris."

"Too cruel?"

"Iris is too soft for boarding school, she's nothing but a domestic flower raised in familiar surroundings. I doubt she would have been able to adapt to that kind of life."

"Sounds like you care about her quite a lot. You sure are a nice sister, you know."

"Yeah, you think that would be impossible considering that I was supposed to be strangled at birth. She should be grateful that I even talk to her…then again… the fact that she was chosen over me isn't exactly her fault."

Dahlia recalled the family's tradition of killing a twin whom displayed no or less spiritual power. Two magatamas had been placed on the chests of both her and Iris shortly after they were born, and Dahlia's magatama's glow had been slightly weaker than Iris's. However, their father had convinced her mother that she had potential to do things other than spirit channelling, and allowed her to live.

"By the way, as soon as you arrive back in the village, you're going to be recognised pretty soon. The main family pretty much own the place and have eyes wherever one goes. And sooner or later, you're going to be sent back to the boarding school."

"Hmph…well, I guess things are going to turn pretty ugly."

But I won't be caught that easily. Not this time.

Sometimes, she just got so sick of the traditional system which separated the 'main family' and the 'branch family'. As everyone knew, every few years, one side of the family would be chosen to be in charge of running the entire village and the other, despite being kin to them, would be considered as the 'weaker side' of the family. The branch family was the latter. In usual circumstances, the older of the siblings of the Fey family would be the leader of the main family. But that hadn't been the case with her mother. Her sister, Misty, was more gifted than she was in spirit channelling, and had been presented with the title of Master of the Channelling Technique. Fuelled by jealousy and rage, Morgan Fey had vowed to get her sister back for overpowering her and had been trying to find reasons to overthrow her ever since.

Because of this clash between the two sides of the family, there have been many 'accidents' recently. Usually involving children from the both the main and branch families. Dahlia, however, wanted no part in this. She sometimes wished her mother would just be satisfied with her current status and swallow her pride. However, she sensed that that wouldn't be happening any time soon.

"So, you're finally going home after so many years, Dahlia. What do you think you'll do?"

Dahlia stretched back in the car seat and closed her eyes to think.

"Well, first I'll hide out at that apartment building Dad took control of. I won't let anybody see me, and when I go out, I'll wear a black wig. So if I do bump into anyone I know, I'll tell them I'm Iris."

"And then?" Jake grinned, nodding at the cleverness of the quickly thought up plan.

"When things have calmed down. I'll gradually tell people the truth, starting with my closest relatives. There should be a few people who will take my side."
Dahlia opened her eyes and stared out the car window. Luminous street lamps whipped past them as they sped along the road.
"Everyone was against it when they sent me to school after all."

"I see. Once you've won enough allies, you'll ultimately get the Fey family to overlook your crime...But will things work out that smoothly?"

She turned back towards the detective and grinned.

"Of course they will!"

They might laugh at me for being homesick...
but Hinamizawa is the only place I can think to go.