Interlude 4.5: At the Chambers of Judge Yamamoto, All Souls Square, Tsubaki-dai District


"Sir, I got a request for you to sign, it's from the Met." The bailiff coughed in a semi-authoritative manner. "They want a subpoena to exhume the remains of Hisana Kuchiki. The new inspector on the case thinks the cause of death is inconclusive without a full autopsy."

Judge Yamamoto cocked open an eye. He hated it when someone from the Met bothered his after-lunch nap. "They should have thought of that before they released the body to the family," he murmured.

"Your honor," the bailiff said cautiously, "I believe the family never released the body to the Met in the first place. And King's Counsel had opted for a speedy trial. It is not my place to say so, but certain irregularities have occurred."

Judge Yamamoto considered his huge, usually taciturn bailiff for a moment. Hatch could have gone up in the world, he thought, but he was the type of man who was satisfied to be at the sidelines.

"Send in the fool who filed that request," he said.

After a few moments, the rookie made his appearance in front of the testy judge, who looked even more terrifying, dressed down in his undershirt and boxer shorts. His court robes hung from a hook behind him.

"Sergeant Asano, your honor," he said, trying to hide his sweaty palms.

"What's the purpose of all this? Does the King's Counsel or the defense even know about this preposterous request? I can't believe the audacity of ⎯ "

"I don't know, sir," Keigo faltered. "I was just asked to present this to you and to wait for your response." He handed over more papers for the judge to inspect.

A few tense moments passed as Judge Yamamoto tried to decipher Ichigo's scrawls on the form.

"I have to deny this request," Judge Yamamoto snapped. "Mere suspicion of other means of death is not enough to dig up someone. Tell Inspector Kurosaki that if he gets a waiver from a Kuchiki family member, and I might reconsider the matter."

Keigo nodded dumbly. "Yes, your honor."

The judge stroked his chin. "And tell that fool of an inspector that the accused doesn't count under the circumstances."

The sergeant fled the chambers. He didn't want to be the one to break the news to Inspector Kurosaki.