Disclaimer:I own not a thing of Hands Off...well...except the volumes I bought...

Author's Note: A brief warning, this has- not one- but two character deaths. I'll let you read it to figure out who. This is the offical sequel to "One Sentence" which can be found in my profile. It doesn't need to be read but this fic will make more sense if it is. I would like to thank my beta, Umi Kanshisha, not only for reading over and correcting all my grammar spastic problems but for just being a wonderful person. She's helped me a lot in inspiration and in motivating to finish this chapter. (P.S. You should so go and read her stories. They are awesome!)

A note from the awesome beta: If there are any mistakes I missed, blame the ice cream. Yeah. I mean, it distracted me with its ice creamy-ness.

. . . Nah, not really. The ice cream is . . . Well . . . I had already eaten it. The truth is, I was just too busy freaking out at how happy I was that I was getting to read it. There's nothing quite so enjoyable as loving an idea, and getting to see it put into action by an amazing author, and being able to read it without having to write it yourself.

Yes. I'm a very lazy person who's getting all the pros and none of the cons. I freely admit that.

Anyway, please review! Chrissy-chan deserves it! Thanks!

Now, on with the fic!

Prologue:

The trial of Oohira Tatsuki and Urushiyama Yuuto really shouldn't have happened. They both were responsible for the death of Kazuma Koutari. The crime happened in broad daylight, with police and pedestrian witnesses. There was no doubt that the two boys were the ones who beat Koutari to death. In fact, neither ever denied that they had done the deed, anyway.

"Actions speak louder than words and we just gave him what he asked for." Was the flippant remark made when Yuuto tried to explain to Mio why Koutari had to die.

But, no one save Tatsuki and Yuuto knew the horrible truth about Koutari and how he killed Kotarou. In fact, the little bastard had made sure the car that the blond's body was found in couldn't be traced back to him. Though, the fact that Kotarou had been in the passenger seat as the vehicle was three fourths in water made people think that maybe someone was behind the death of the blond.

So, the news channels began to speculate and all came up with the exact same conclusion. It must have been Tatsuki and Yuuto.

The police were wary of picking up the case for the single fact that there wasn't really any evidence that Tatsuki and Yuuto had anything to do with Kotarou's death. The only thing that they really had going was the fact that they were connected to the deceased blond but that didn't stop them from actually investigating with Tatsuki and Yuuto as the top suspects.

After all, the two boys did kill Koutari after Kotarou's body was found.

That was suspicious, right?

But anyone who knew them would know that they would rather cut their own limbs off then hurt Kotarou like that.

And so, the trial of Oohira Tatsuki and Urushiyama Yuuto shouldn't have happened.

But it did, and for the wrong reason.

They were brought to court for the murder of Oohira Kotarou.

--

Chapter One:

-Court House-

Reporters and journalists were camped outside the door to the courtroom. They were rather perturbed that they had to sit outside given that all the seats were taken before hand. The people actually inside the courtroom looked like the world was ending and they were looking for someone to tell them what to do about it. The two lawyers, Kuri Ichigo and Mayata Tori had already gotten into one verbal argument. The bailiff had fallen asleep rather quickly right after he announced the judge, Matiro Nikura's, presence.

Nikura, somehow, knew this would be an interesting case. Though, the two boys were very different than he imagined.

Oohira Tatsuki looked either extremely bored with the world or he was brooding in his own strange way, Nikura wasn't quite sure.

Urushiyama Yuuto was busy looking around the room with a rather calm expression.

Nikura didn't want to know what that meant.

Leaning back in his chair, Nikura decided to get the trial going and shuffled a few papers in front of him.

"Tokyo v Urushiyama and Oohira. Urushiyama Yuuto and Oohira Tatsuki are charged with first degree murder with the victim being Oohira Kotarou, correct?" Just to be intimidating, like the judges in American TV, Nikura looked over his glasses with a stern look at Kuri Ichigo then at Mayata Tori.

"Yes, Your Honor." They both nodded sharply while subtlety glaring at each other.

"This case will be tried by myself instead of by jury. Opening statements will be made. Then, witnesses will be called. During that time, evidence shall be shown. If there are no questions then, prosecutor, you may present your opening statement."

And while everyone in the courtroom went silent, all the reports outside the door clicked on their tape recorders.

-One Month Prior to the Trial; Outside the Interrogation Room-

"This is all rather short notice, Iro." Said Ichigo as he straightened his solid blue tie. With his slicked back black hair and pressed suit, he looked like many middle aged lawyers, right down to the wrinkles on his forehead. Next to him was one Iro Hirota, long time business partner and friend. And current thorn in his side.

"I know. But the courts are really pressured to hurry the trial. It's good publicity, for everyone. Two high school students die on the same day and supposedly by the same people, it's a wonder that they didn't have the trial the day after. Really, it's all for the press' sakes." Iro then nodded to a door that they were approaching.

Ichigo sighed as realization sunk into his mind. He would have to prepare his case within one month. Damn.

"Now, remember, their names are Oohira Tatsuki and Urushiyama Yuuto."

If he had felt up to it, Ichigo would have flipped his friend off but decided against it. Might as well just get this over with.

As Ichigo reached for the door handle that looked ready to seal his fate, he paused.

"Iro, remind me, how much am I getting paid for this?"

He heard Iro laughed as well as responded.

"A lot."

With that cheerful thought being replayed as a mantra in his head, Ichigo pushed open the door. Much like all interrogation rooms that he had been subjected to, there were no windows. There was a single mirror where a few police officers were stationed in case anything happened to him or his clients. The was a single table that was chained to the floor, for what reasons, Ichigo didn't want to know. Sitting on one side of the table were Tatsuki and Yuuto. The darker of the two seemed to be content on watching the far wall, as if looking anywhere else wasn't allowed. The other simply stared at his friend.

Ichigo nodded at the two police men that loomed over the boys, silently asking them to leave. After a hesitant moment, they left while Ichigo sat across from his new clients.

His new clients who were now glaring at him. Well, it was Tatsuki who glared, Yuuto simply looked at him, as if sizing him up for something.

He really didn't want to know what. Taking out two folders from the brief case that he brought with him, Ichigo went about shuffling some papers. After a few minutes of avoiding their eyes and having nothing but silence to listen to, Ichigo looked up.

He only passed his eyes over Tatsuki, who was still glaring at him. So, he turned his gaze to Yuuto. Who, when their eyes met, gave him the most painful smile that he had ever witnessed. Well, at least he tried.

"You must be our lawyer." Ichigo was quite surprised that Yuuto was the first to speak up.

"Um, yes. My name is Kuri Ichigo and I will be representing you in this case." It was rather a shame that Ichigo had no brave bone in his body. He fidgeted and twitched under the rather heated glare that Tatsuki seemed intent to direct at him. Maybe he was trying to test the theory of 'if looks could kill'.

It made Ichigo very wary as he spoke.

"Hm, okay, before I begin with getting your statements, I need to ask you an important question. It is relative that you tell me the truth. Did you two kill Oohira Kotarou?"

Because Ichigo had no brave bone to make him stand still in front of a threat, he had the chance to move away as Tatsuki made a lunge at him.

With his chair skidded away from the table, the middle aged man stared as Tatsuki struggled against Yuuto for a moment before shrugging him off.

"Get the fuck off me!" The Oohira yelled, as he gave Yuuto a final shove.

"Calm the hell down, Tatsuki! You knew he was going to ask that. Jeez, man."

As the two boys fought, Ichigo looked behind him to the mirror. It was a shame that he couldn't see the cops on the other side, he could almost see them hiding in there.

Those cowards.

The yelling was over within minutes and the two boys were seated again, just a little further away from each other.

Taking a deep breath, Yuuto answered calmly.

"No, we did not."

End Chapter

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