'There's a room in a hotel in New York City...
...that shares our fate and deserves our pity.'
Sitting himself silently on the stiff metallic, cafeteria-style bench, the small manila file in his hand made its way to the vile lime-green table top. His standard contract of legal representation...though this meeting was anything but 'standard'.
Nothing about this was standard. Perhaps why he had considered offering his services in the first place. To begin with...this wasn't even technically classified as a case. The defendant had already gone through the trial process and had been found guilty, and was already well into three years of serving their sentence on Death Row. So there was no case.
Not that this really mattered to him. As a court-appointed attorney looking to move into the more lucrative business of private practice, he hadn't been interested in committing career suicide by defending such a high profile murder case. Some poor sap had already done that for him. And they had lost. He was already well aware of how badly the case had played out in the courts.
...everyone knew...
From the very moment the murder had been publicized, nearly four years ago by now, he had made a point of closely following the case. It was immediately sensationalized...on many levels. The crime had occurred in America, so the dispute over jurisdiction caused the case to be televised internationally. The defendant and victim had both been Japanese citizens, but the American government fought to try the case on US soil. They had lost. And things had only become more spectacular once the trial had actually begun.
Due to the grotesquely barbaric and graphic nature of the crime, the prosecution had sought the death penalty immediately...and without reservation. And though he had only just completed law school when the trial had begun, it didn't take a lawyer to see that the defense had been a complete shit show. The defendant's private attorney had terminated their contract due to lack of funds, and the defendant had been left with a pro bono public defender. For a capitol case. And though he had not been entirely convinced of the defendant's claim of innocence, there was no way that the case could have been won. Even with the lack of physical evidence.
There was no weapon. None that had been found, anyway. But what the prosecution did have...was a hotel room. The walls decorated and dripping with blood. So much blood. And a beautiful young woman who had been brutally sliced open, her naked torso maliciously shred into oblivion. He knew that the woman had been beautiful...because the prosecution had made it a point to show photos of what she had looked like before she had been murdered. Always...they made sure to quickly follow the photos of what she had looked like with the more grotesque crime scene photographs. Each photo they cleverly categorized and offered up as evidence for the prosecution. But having actually studied law...he knew better. It'd had absolutely nothing at all to do with the law. This was about an emotional reaction. A human response. The prosecution had done this for visceral effect. To generated hatred and disgust at such a beautiful woman having had her life so viciously ended. And it had worked. The prosecution had a whole nation crying out...demanding that blood be paid with blood.
The jury had taken little time to convict. And the prosecution had their victory in a guilty verdict and death sentence.
...there was no way that this case could have been won...
But by far the most scandalous piece of this tragic case, as if the entire even hadn't been horrific enough as it stood, were the defendant and the victim themselves. A husband and wife. Married only days before. In New York City celebrating their honeymoon.
The woman had been a social insignificant. A teenaged orphan of a small Japanese province. An elementary school teacher. Unrecognizable until her outlandishly publicized engagement to an attractive philanthropist and socialite of one of Japan's most well known families.
Everyone knew of the Sohma family, and their influence was felt far and wide throughout the country. From the many and well documented charitable donations, to the significant political sway, the Sohma family was often likened to their 'American royalty' counterparts of the Rockefellers or Kennedys.
The Sohmas. Japanese royalty. Beautiful aristocrats. And when a Sohma had dared to propose marriage to a common woman...well...the whole of Japan rejoiced with him as the country gained their very own Kate Middleton. Honda Tohru had become an overnight celebrity through her engagement to Sohma Yuki, followed by the most lavish wedding Japan had ever witness. And then she gained eternal infamy when she had been murdered by his hand. Cruelly dubbed the Blood Stained Bride by the myriad of news feeds and garish tabloids.
Restless fingertips drummed along the sickening lime green tabletop as he waited before they finally reached for the pack of cigarettes in the pocket of his black suit-pants. The mechanical flick of his lighter came quickly followed with the first drag of the cigarette and an agitated sigh of smoke. Thoughts and details of the case, having quickly lost interest and fire with the people of Japan once justice had been deemed served, swam through his mind as his lips gave another drag of consideration to the cigarette poised between his fingers.
He had his reasons for his interest in this case...or lack there of. When he had heard that the infamous 'Sohma Prince' had been requesting an attorney for the appeals process, he knew that this was his chance. His chance to make a name for himself in the private sector of the law. Going through the appeals process held far less risk than defending a capitol case. The man was already on Death Row...so there was nothing left to lose. On either side of the prison bars.
...but...if he played his cards right...
If he actually managed to successfully overturn the death sentence for The Prince, Kyo knew that this would create a significant amount of attention for him as a defense attorney. He still wasn't entirely convinced of Sohma Yuki's relentless proclamation of innocence...but that wasn't really necessary to win the appeals process. In this line of work, Kyo had found that innocence was merely a matter of opinion. And in his experience, personal beliefs and opinions never held up well in court. Kyo worked better with concrete facts and evidence. And the cold hard truth? Most people care very little to nothing about the personal opinions and thoughts of others.
Gently tapping off the excess ash into the tray provided on the putrid looking table, another sigh separated itself from him before his attention was pulled towards the approaching convoy of armed guards. And in the center, bathed in orange and metallic silver shackles...the one he had come to see. Momentarily placing what was left of his cigarette in the ashtray, Kyo stood from the seat in greeting to the group and gave a small bow...more out of habit than anything else. Sitting himself back down, Kyo watched with a level of forced indifference as the prisoner was assisted to a seated position on the opposite side of the table before being chained in place.
The bright orange of the man's prison suit violently clashed with the green of the table, making Kyo avert his gaze from the disturbing color pallet. But the man's face... His face, Kyo had seen so many times before. In magazines. On the television. In news articles in print or on the internet. But the man's face now seemed so very different from the one Kyo remembered from years ago. The face was that of Sohma Yuki...there was no doubt about that. But his features seemed so hardened and cold compared to the softer...almost effeminate...face displayed on the pages of magazines. Taking in the finer details of his potential client, Kyo noticed that along the hollow of each cheek were faint...matching lines. Scars that ran the length of his cheekbones to nearly the corners of his lips. Lips that were now drawn taught in unamusement towards Kyo's staring.
"Sohma-san." Kyo murmured this greeting through the clearing of his throat, extending his hand in offering to the man across the table.
The metallic sound as the man reached over to take his hand unnerved Kyo. The sound alone was unsettling. And as the two shared an awkward handshake, Kyo saw through the handcuffs that linked the man's hands together, taking in the thick, brutal, almost violent scars that marred the pale flesh of his wrists.
"Counselor." The low response to Kyo's greeting parted the man's lips as Kyo's gaze drifted to meet empty amethyst in return before he saw them shift to the lit cigarette still lingering in the ashtray, momentarily forgotten. "Any way I could get one of those from you?" And Kyo looked from his cigarette, to the man sitting before him, before his gaze drifted questioningly to the guards still lingering close by as one of them gave a silent nod of concession to Kyo that this was allowable.
Fishing out the pack of cigarettes he had brought with him, Kyo extended it in offering as he watched the man's hands reach over the table as slender fingertips gratefully took one from the package. Leaning forward as far as the restraints would allow him, the man took a satisfying drag of the cigarette as Kyo lit it for him before placing both the cigarettes and lighter out of sight. A small whisper of smoke gently pushed itself through the man's nose as the cigarette came poised between his fingers, lingering before his face as he gazed at it in a moment of wonder and consideration.
"You have no idea what I have to go through in order to get one of these..." His voice drifted through the space between them as his lips met the end of the cigarette in a lovers kiss...and something in the tone of the man's voice told Kyo that he never really wanted to find out.
Taking the lingering cigarette from the ashtray, Kyo quietly placed his fingers along the manila folder, pushing the contents towards the man as he himself took a drag from the cigarette between his fingers.
"Before we go over my contract, I'd like to explain what you should expect from the appeals process." Kyo murmured professionally through the cloud of smoke that was startlingly dispelled with the sharp, bitter manifestation of laughter from the man across the table.
"What's so funny?" Kyo asked, curbing his more instinctual nature towards anger at being laughed at as the man finally composed himself into silence, his cold amethyst eyes intently gazing through the curl of smoke from the cigarette held in between his clasped hands.
"It's funny..." The man murmured, his voice low and empty as his gaze. "...that you believe I actually need to have this process explained to me." And the unintentional formation of a scowl slowly shaped Kyo's features as he pushed out an agitated sigh of smoke through his nose.
"Why would that be funny to you?" Kyo quipped, his tone gaining an edge. "This is why you requested an attorney, isn't it?"
"Tell me something, counselor." The man breathed through the whisper of smoke. "Exactly how long have you been practicing law?"
"I don't see why that matters." Kyo responded coldly, taking another drag of his cigarette.
"How long, counselor...?" Each word came slow...biting...pointed like the tip of a nail forced down into a hard surface.
"Over three years." Kyo murmured in response as he watched a small smirk twitch along the corner of the man's lips.
"And how much do you know about this case?" He murmured lightly through the smirk and a spiral of smoke.
"I followed it from beginning to end through news feeds and the televised trial." Kyo answered honestly, only to be met with a resounding snort of smoke and bitter amusement.
"Then you know absolutely shit about this case." The man stated before he fired his next question. "Do you have a girlfriend? Wife?" He asked, his gaze penetrating as Kyo's brows furrowed at the possible relevance of this question.
"A girlfriend..." Kyo admitted, though he was unwilling to divulge any more about his significant relationships with this man.
"And do you have any hobbies?" The next question was tossed into the vast expanse between them as Kyo gave this question a moment of consideration.
"Martial arts." Kyo murmured as he watched the slow nod of the man's head before he took another drag of his cigarette.
"So many things other than the law to fill your time." He whispered quietly, his gaze drifting to the table and manila folder. "So many distractions..." The man's voice came so cold and distant as Kyo continued to listen. "So...believe me when I tell you this, counselor." Amethyst eyes flitted back from the table, their intensity hitting Kyo like a violent slap to the face. "I know...without a shadow of a doubt...that I have more knowledge of the law than you do." The man's words came almost insulting as he continued. "The only reason I need you, is because...by law...I am not allowed to go through the appeals process without legal representation." And Kyo couldn't help the bitter snort of amusement and cigarette smoke through his nose as he fully absorbed the level of this man's self entitled arrogance.
Kyo had heard rumors of Sohma Yuki's pompous nature among the aristocrats and higher social circles. And now that he had actually met him in person...Kyo was absolutely certain that he would grow to deeply dislike the man.
"So I take it you have a long line of lawyers willing to help you get off free, then?" Kyo retorted, his heavy tone of sarcasm masking the frustrated agitation over his skills having been so blatantly insulted by this man.
And yet again that black, bitter laughter manifested from the man in chains. His expression came a mixture of amused disappointment as he continued to laugh in Kyo's face, his elbows resting on the sickly green table...his wrists bound together as his fingers clung to the token gift. Shaking his head as he averted his gaze for a moment, he finally regained himself with a desperate sigh as that amethyst gaze sought Kyo's face once more.
"You really don't get it, do you?" These words stifled yet another chuckle. "I could care less about my freedom." The man's voice came so resentful, lace with something like pain. "There is absolutely nothing out there that I care about." His hands indicated to a window of the visitors center...the cigarette poised between his fingers momentarily forgotten as he continued to stare at Kyo. "What I want..." He hissed, his voice dropping to just above a whisper. "...is justice. And the only way I can have that is to prove that I didn't murder my wife."
Kyo sat in rapture of this man's profession. After everything the man had been through. The trial. The guilty verdict. The sentencing. And three years on Death Row. None of this had seemed to diminish the intensity of this man's claim. It's fervor and sincerity in the face of his current circumstances.
"I know that if I can prove I didn't do it...this will force the court to reopen her case..." The man whispered almost desperately to himself before his gaze drifted back to Kyo's mildly befuddled expression.
"And no..." This sigh came on the heels of smoke and and a level of bitter resignation as the man once again tended to the cigarette lingering between his fingers. "No one has come to help me with this process...except for you. And I assume you're fully aware that I can't pay you." He murmured as Kyo gave a silent nod of concession. "So tell me something before I sign this contract of yours. Why are you so eager to take on this process for me?" This question came lowly whispered as Kyo drew in a breath of consideration, taking a final drag of his cigarette before snuffing it out in the tray as the smoke came pushed from his nose.
"I'm interested in helping you prove your innocence." Kyo murmured, venturing that it might be a good idea to warm himself to this man if he were to be representing him as his attorney.
"So...you're actually telling me that you believe I didn't murder my wife...?" The man's tone came cold and full of doubt with the raise of a dubious eyebrow.
"...yes...I suppose I am." Kyo offered in an attempt to convince the man that he was actually on his side, only to watch his expression shift to one of blank stone as the cigarette was snuffed out against the palm of his hand and the butt carelessly discarded into the tray before he spoke.
"Then you can leave now." He spat, his tone as hardened as the expression etched across his scarred features. "Guards...the counselor and I are finished here." And Kyo watched as the few attendants moved to respond to the man's call to end the meeting.
"Wait..." Kyo's voice came firm in the face of his desperation to offer this man his services. "You really want to know why I'm doing this?" And this question was met with the same intensity and heat as amethyst eyes turned towards him.
"I want you to tell me the truth..." The man deadpanned coldly, this statement a challenge that left Kyo to wonder exactly how he should proceed in this conversation.
...and consider exactly how badly he really wanted this opportunity...
"I think that I have a real shot at this appeals process, and proving your innocence. And a successful appeal of the death sentence for 'The Ice Prince' will look really good on my resume." Kyo boldly offered, gauging the man's response as he continued with the truth this man had demanded. "There's nothing to lose for either of us if this process fails...but...we both have something to gain if I win."
"And you think that you can win?" The man asked, and Kyo saw from the look on his face that the truth had settled so much better with him than a false attempt at gaining his favor...and Kyo made a mental note to remember this about him in the future.
"I do." Kyo spoke, his voice honest and confident in this statement, giving a small nod as the man sat in silent contemplation before he spoke...his voice quiet as he asked.
"Where do I sign?" This question was met with a growing smirk of approval at Kyo's response as Kyo himself let out a satisfied chuckle at having finally won the man over.
Papers were signed and Kyo's process of representation was gone through before he finally stood to dismiss himself in triumph. Turning away from the man and his entourage in order to leave as quickly as possible, Kyo began his stride before a voice came to halt his departure from the prison's visiting center.
"Counselor." The man's voice came loud enough for Kyo to hear as he glanced over he shoulder to see that the guards were still in the process of unchaining him from where he sat.
"Yes?" Kyo asked, turning on his heels to meet the man's gaze.
"Do you think you could do me a favor, now that you're working for me?" And a smirk of his own began to creep along Kyo's lips.
"Sure." He offered. "What do you want?"
"There was a photo of my wife that the prosecution took during the trial...and I'd like it back." The man murmured softly as he was made to stand by one of the guards. "You'll know which one it is when you see it." He offered as Kyo gave a solemn nod before the man was taken away, calling over his shoulder. "And make sure to bring more cigarettes the next time you come to see me." And Kyo couldn't help the slight laughter that passed through his lips with the shake of his head as he made his way out of the prison with his first task from 'The Ice Prince.'
A/N: I sincerely hope that you all have enjoyed this new project of mine. I am currently trying to see if I can push myself for a different feel in my writing, so to speak, and constructive criticism is more than welcome for improvement! Let me know what you think!
As for those of you waiting on "Departed," have no worries my children. The next chapter is soon to follow this.
