You couldn't hate enough to love.

Is that supposed to be enough?

TK sat back in his office chair. The open word document glowed, cursor blinking on the blank page. He wanted to write, to lose himself in another novel and ignore the outside world. But with Kari at Matt's trial, he was the one in charge of the children. Lucian had made lunch, the fourteen year old making himself responsible. He was already in middle school, and he was determined to be grown up and impress the girls when he came back from summer break.

In fact, his oldest was even knocking lightly on the door to TK's study. "Dad? You hungry?"

TK stretched his arms above his head and gave in to his writer's block. He hadn't been able to put one word down without erasing it since yesterday morning when Kari had left without him. He put a smile on his face and stepped into the brightly lit hallway. His son was already holding a plate, sloppy sandwich slowly slipping to one side. "Thanks, Lucian."

The boy's brown eyes lit up, and TK was reminded of his departed wife. He hadn't meant to sound so misogynistic, he just didn't want her to be sucked into Matt's lies like his whole family had before. TK shook his head and hugged Lucian tight, taking his lunch to the dining room table where his stomach growled loudly, reminding him that he'd forgotten to eat breakfast. He had to pass through the living room where Kazuki was playing an ancient platformer, Tsukuyomi acting as the second character with a sticking controller. Hanako was curled up on the couch with a sketchbook, drawing the two boys with an accuracy TK could never hope to achieve. There was a smear of mustard on her sleeve, but she ignored it as Kazuki shifted, smiling brightly at his redheaded cousin.

TK watched the two boys for a moment, remembering Sora's words from her brief stay at their apartment. "Keep an eye on Kazuki. He's spending an awful lot of time with boys his own age."

But that was normal, wasn't it? He was only thirteen and would be following his brother to middle school that year. It wasn't a race to find girls attractive, and TK never minded the closeness his sons shared – it was certainly something he'd missed out on with Matt.

Matt. The thought of his brother made his stomach churn and he set down his half of a sandwich that remained. Kari was supporting the man wholeheartedly, refusing to believe TK that he was nothing more than a monster that would hurt his wife and children. In fact, TK was certain that was why Hanako was so withdrawn and Tsukuyomi so close to Kazuki. They were so scared of their father, they could only cling to kids their own age.

Just like Matt had clung to the other Chosen Children.

TK growled. No, that wasn't right. Because that would mean that Matt had been abused. And he hadn't, those were all lies. And only godless heathens would lie.

TK pulled his lunch apart, toying with the bread, the lettuce, the meat. He arranged each layer neatly on his plate as he watched the children playing. Lucian had joined Hanako on the couch, pulling her into his world with a warm personality. He never had problems making friends, joining cliques as though there were no social barriers to cross. He played sports with the jocks and joked with the nerds, never once quoting the Bible in anger but only to assist. He never preached, but was always there with a Psalm to help and guide others. TK was certain that, should the boy want, he would be a wonderful pastor.

Kazuki, he realized, was much more timid around others. He could count the number of friends he had on one hand with fingers to spare, but he held them close to his soul. He tested Scripture for any event, usually looking to his brother or father for approval. He wilted under disapproving glances and beamed whenever he was found to be right. There was always a fear of something dancing in his eyes, especially whenever TK was around, and the blonde child was more willing to put himself aside for God's wishes. So it was interesting, TK mused, that Kazuki could so quickly attach to Tsukuyomi and even Russell, the brunette boy always an eager topic for Kazuki to discuss.

TK was running his finger through a glob of mayonnaise that had dripped onto the table, playing in the slick condiment. There was something nagging at his brain, something desperate to bloom in his consciousness. Just as words were beginning to form, the phone rang loudly and he jumped.

"Dad, phone!" Lucian called absently, still joking with Hanako. It was usually his responsibility to make sure his father didn't wither away in front of his computer, and he'd forgotten that the man was sitting in the kitchen.

TK wiped his hands off on the kitchen towel hanging from the oven, grabbing the cordless phone from its place on the wall. It was an ancient thing, but the apartments they lived in paid for the landline, and it was hard for a teacher and novelist to afford decent cell phone plans.

"Takaishi residence, Takeru speaking." TK looked out into the living room again. Whatever knowledge that had been steadily rising in him was gone, vanished with the sound of the phone.

"Good afternoon," came a barely familiar voice. "This is Gabriel Dolphinus. We met back in France."

TK frowned before the memory formed. His nose still ached and he reached up to touch the permanent bump on the bridge of it. "Ah, yes, I remember you. You're helping Sora with this... mess my brother made."

"I'm glad, that means I don't have to explain." There was a coldness to the lawyer's voice that made him shiver, but TK didn't mind. Anything to end this agony Sora was being put through.

"Is everything going ok?" TK asked. Kari wasn't on speaking terms with him again, and he was uncomfortably reminded of when he'd taken his children to visit Nancy on her final days. The young bride had been furious when he'd returned, almost refusing to have their weekly maritals with him.

"They're going fine," Gabriel reassured. "Though I was hoping you'd be able to help me out. Can you meet me down at the courthouse for a moment?"

TK looked to his children. Lucian was a great babysitter, and even Kazuki would listen to his brother when he was told to. "Of course. Anything you need me to do."

TK walked into the courtroom, footsteps echoing loudly. Gabriel had told him everyone had been dismissed for a long lunch, and even the constant reporters were off, taking a rest before coming back for more coverage. The benches were the same hard, uncomfortable wood as his Church, and TK felt a solemn urge to pray, but he wasn't sure for what.

Standing at the podium, on the other side of an ornate wooden gate, was the tall woman with the long black hair TK remembered from the flight to France. She had been so close to Sora, reassuring the woman at every turn about how right she was about her husband and promising to "get him" for her. Again, TK felt that uncomfortable shiver run down his spine, but he pushed it away. She was the only help they could get to end Matt's disgusting lies.

"I'm glad you could make it," Gabriel said with a twist to her lips that was supposed to be a smile. Her voice was loud, like Father Nohara's when he was preaching about the evils of the world.

"You said you wanted to meet me here," TK said. He tried to smile back, but couldn't move his lips properly. "Is everything going ok?"

"Perfectly fine," Gabriel purred. She walked to TK, hips flowing from side to side with every step. She put one hand on his arm, long nails digging into his overcoat. "I can say with one hundred percent certainty, that everything will go how I planned it."

"I'm glad," TK told her. "Anything to get Matt to end all this."

"And believe me," the woman pressed. "Once we're done here, he'll definitely be over with."

"Then, if everything is fine," TK asked, "why am I here? I'd really rather not be a part of all his lies."

Gabriel sighed, a crooning, mournful noise. She pouted richly colored lips and looked up through fluttering lashes. "I've been told some... disturbing things by Mrs. Ishida about you."

TK felt himself blush. Sora had been raving to everyone, it seemed, about the way Matt interacted with him. He wished he could remember anything that she said had happened, even just a phantom touch of his brother's disgusting hands, but there was nothing. Nothing at all to suggest that Matt had ever done anything but protect him like a brother should have – the way Lucian always looked out for Kazuki.

"Look," he tried. "I-"

"I know it must be hard," Gabriel continued, running over his words. She lead him to the witness stand, opening the gate and offering him to sit. It was weird, he thought as he looked to the empty courtroom. Like being in a confessional in front of the whole congregation. What would it be like to have to confess his sins before God and all His children? TK looked to the lawyer as she approached, for a split second seeing her as a priest.

Then he saw the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, hidden under a thick layer of make up, and she gave him a twisted smile as she spoke. "Unfortunately, with the statute of limitations as they are, there's nothing I can do about what Yamato did to you. The things he must have done," she shook her head, "they can never be undone. I can only hope that you can help me help the children."

TK crossed his arms and leaned away from the light in Gabriel's eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Being abused by someone you're supposed to trust," the lawyer continued. "I don't know how I could have lived with it all these years, but you seem to have done it. You have a stable relationship, wonderful kids, good friends..."

TK looked away, lowering his gaze to the wood encasing him. Every word she spoke was like driving a pin into his flesh. He couldn't say anything to Sora, the woman too far set in her ways and ideals, but he couldn't let this lawyer continue to believe things hat weren't true.

"Nothing happened," the man spoke and then bit his lip. Those two words, very simple on his tongue, made him feel... great. Like a weight had been lifted from his soul. He breathed easy for the first time since that day in the hospital and realized just how much holding a grudge against his brother had been bothering him.

"Excuse me?" Gabriel asked, blinking. She hadn't even realized he'd spoken. "What was that?"

TK looked to the lawyer, meeting her hazel eyed gaze with a confidence he thought he'd lost so long ago. "My brother, nothing ever happened between us." He shook his head, feeling the beginnings of a small smile. "I'm sorry that Sora lead you to believe he hurt me, but he never did."

Gabriel pursed her lips. She put a hand on her hip and tapped her foot. "What are you talking about? Mrs. Ishida specifically testified that Yamato molested you at summer camp. She told me that Yamato had done more than that, even."

TK shook his head, wondering what Gabriel meant by "summer camp". He'd only been at the campgrounds for less than three hours before going to the Digital World. "I don't know what she saw that lead her to believe that, but..."

"No 'but's," Gabriel snapped and TK jumped. The woman stuck her finger in TK's face, a dark look overtaking her features. "My star witness testified to seeing you be molested. And what I want you to do, is back her up on it."

"N-no!" TK yelped. "I'm telling you, nothing happened!"

"And I'm telling you, that I don't care," Gabriel snarled. "You will sit up there on that stand. You will tell the jury a sob story about being molested. You will make it believable. You will help me make Yamato out to be a monster."

"I will not swear to God and tell a lie," TK insisted. He stood, but even towering over Gabriel wouldn't intimidate her as she continued to glare.

"Then swear to some other god you don't mind lying to," Gabriel said flippantly. "Just as long as you're on that stand, telling the jury what I need them to hear."

TK couldn't believe what he was hearing. What could possibly possess Gabriel to tell him to lie about something like this? Shouldn't there be enough evidence against his brother already? He set his jaw and looked away. "I refuse."

Gabriel was practically shaking. She bit her tongue and pulled her fists to her sides. How could this... brat refuse her? From what Sora had told her, the man should have been jumping at the chance to help put Matt away.

"Fine," she snapped. She took a breath and calmed down, relaxing into her usual grace. "That's fine, Takeru. You do what you have to do, and I'll do what I have to do." She turned away, stalking out of the courtroom. "Just go back home, Mr. Takaishi, we're done here. I have other arrangements I need to make."

TK slowly stepped away from the witness stand. He looked to the empty table where Matt would be sitting and sighed deeply. Was that what his brother had to put up with this whole time? He passed through the bar, fingertips lingering on the wooden gate. What had he been thinking, telling Kari to not go to the trial? How awful Matt must have felt, when he didn't see his little brother there, even if he was in support of Sora.

He looked to his feet in shame. How awful Matt must have felt, when he did see his little brother there in support of Sora.

"What else can I do?" TK asked the empty room. "I can't believe what he says about Mom, but can I believe what Sora says about him after what Gabriel told me to do?"

Only his voice echoed back at him.

TK trudged to the doors, still thinking. If Gabriel wanted him to lie, what could that mean about his brother's guilt? Surely there was some evidence against Matt that wasn't just Sora's word that he'd been molested. Wasn't the way Hanako and Tsukuyomi were acting evidence enough? Even if it wasn't sexual, surely there was some kind of abuse going on.

He put his hand on the handle of the door, only for it to swing open under his touch. He looked up into the surprised eyes of his wife.

"TK?" Kari asked. "What are you doing here? Are the kids ok?"

"They're fine," TK said, calming Kari immediately. "I'm here because..." Should he tell Kari about what Gabriel wanted him to so? What would she think of the lawyer's tactics? His wife frowned slightly and TK looked away, saying, "I'm here because I decided Matt needs me."