Part Eleven: Trouble on the Horizon

Sunlight streaming into his gray eyes awakens Alexi. The redhead's eyes flutter open and he realizes that he is curled up against Oto's side. He starts to panic until he feels the burly demon's arm wrapped gently around him. He tilts his head up to look at him and realizes that the burly demon is asleep. He rests his head back down feeling unusually safe beside Oto.

He drifts off again.

Soft footsteps an hour later startle him. He waits and watches as Genkai enters the room. She stops and stares at him for a moment with an almost confused expression and Alexi gives her a rather sheepish smile. She chuckles softly at the sight and shakes her head.

A few minutes later, Alexi watches as Oto stirs. It occurs to the redhead that for being so muscular, Oto looks rather endearing when he wakes up. His dark eyes blink open sleepily and Alexi can't help saying teasingly, "For such a force to be reckoned with, you are rather…adorable in the morning." Oto looks down at him for a moment before reaching beside him, grabbing the pillow there, and thwapping him on the head with it.

"There, now I am not adorable," Oto tells him. Alexi can't help but laugh.

"Yeah, well you don't really inspire fear and terror either," he chortles.

"The boy has a point, Oto," Genkai says joining in. Oto scowls at her though there is no heat in his gaze.

"Gang up on me then why don't you," he grumbles standing up and putting his sunglasses on. Alexi snickers and Oto leaves muttering something about children respecting their elders.

"How, if I may ask, did you end up in that rather cute position?"

Genkai inquires after Oto has left the room.

"I came out here last night after a particularly disturbing memory. He was out here and we go to talking. Four hours later, I grew tired and he came beside me on the couch, and I decided that it would be a good idea to sleep against him," Alexi answers.

"He doesn't seem to have minded it," the old woman comments.

"So I noticed. I almost panicked when I woke up against him until I felt his arm around me. I figured that I was probably safe he if was asleep," he tells her. He looks confused after a moment. "It's strange…he doesn't' scare me. Usually when I meet an older man I get panicky and don't like being close to them, but with Oto I don't feel any fear at all. I don't understand it."

"He's very protective and you probably instinctively sense that. For all the stupid mistakes he's made he's still the same honorable man I met. He's got a big heart, Alexi…even if he has forgotten that it yet beats within his chest," Genkai responds.

Soon, it's time for breakfast and Alexi follows Genkai into the dining room. The others make their own ways into the room as they all have different times to wake up in the morning. Kurama immediately has an issue as Karasu sits beside him deliberately. The emerald-eyed youth is NOT amused and Alexi only hopes that Karasu stays out of trouble…for everyone's sakes. For some reason, the violet-eyed demon has yet to learn his lesson. "So are you?" he inquires innocently. That seemingly innocuous question provokes the normally calm Kurama.

"For the last time, yes I am a natural redhead and NO you can't see!" he yells at him. Alexi looks startled at the outburst and confused though it only takes him a few brief seconds to understand what Karasu was asking and he inwardly winces hoping that a fight isn't about to break out.

"Crow!" Ani snaps irritably, "Can you NOT bother Kurama this early in the morning?"

"I was merely asking…"

"We know what you were asking!" Ani interrupts angrily, "Don't do it again!" Karasu goes to argue when Koenma makes an appearance causing everyone to stare at him.

"Good morning all," he greets cheerfully. Alexi knows well enough to realize that the prince was about to reveal bad news. The gray-eyed teen hopes that it has nothing to do with Sakyo.

"What did you do this time?" Genkai asks.

"Nothing actually. It has been decided that due to the last mishap, and in order to keep Sakyo in Limbo, that there will be a trial. I am here to tell Alexi that he has two weeks to prepare himself for it," Koenma responds.

Alexi chokes on his drink and goes into a coughing fit. Once he's caught his breath he sees everyone looking at him and turns a light crimson. "Wh-why?" he asks.

"If convicted, Sakyo would be damned to an eternity in Limbo," Koenma answers.

"If I refuse?"

"Then certain precautions would not be met and he will more then likely break free again."

"How will my doing this make a difference?"

"If he is condemned then he'll be warded while in Limbo."

"Oh." Alexi stares at his plate, his appetite suddenly gone. Could he bear seeing that demon again? Could he endure having to reveal the worst memories of his life? He doesn't know if he can and wonders how Koenma could ask this of him.

"Alexi will be there," Oto says startling Alexi from his thoughts, "under one condition; I am allowed to be beside him at ALL times." Alexi doesn't notice Koenma's surprised reaction as he stares wondrously at the burly demon. Oto wanted to go with him?

"Well, I don't know," Koenma starts to say but Oto interrupts him.

"No, this is how it works. If you are going to force Alexi to have to face Sakyo

AGAIN then you will adhere to my condition. I am not asking for Spirit World, Koenma. I am TELLING you that I am accompanying Alexi to a trial he should not be forced into with a person who hurt him deeply. I will NOT let him have to face whatever person you can get to defend Sakyo by himself. He is still emotionally fragile and doesn't like many people close."

"I don't see him wanting you close, either," the prince responds.

"May he be allowed to go with me?" Alexi asks softly. Koenma stares at him in shock.

"You want Oto to go with you?"

"Yes…is there a problem with that?"

"No…not at all. It is just strange that you would…" He never gets to finish his sentence.

"He did nothing to me! How dare you!" Alexi yells as he realizes Koenma's insinuation. His fists clench tightly at his sides, as he wants nothing more then to punch Koenma in the face but figures that would not be appreciated at all at this point.

"Koenma, what exactly is it that has him so mad?" Genkai inquires realizing what it was that sparked this.

"You saw what I did, Genkai," Koenma responds. Alexi stares at him in disbelief.

"I don't believe this! You honestly think he…because we were…oh my God! Koenma, Oto and I were TALKING late last night and I fell asleep against him NOTHING more!" Alexi snaps irritated at the prince's lack of an ability to make sure he had all his facts together.

"Whoa, wait what exactly are you accusing Oto of?" Jeremy demands.

"Alexi was curled up beside him this morning," Koenma answers. Alexi's patience snaps.

"This is utterly ridiculous! He didn't TOUCH me! We were clothed for god's sake!" he yells, "Further more, I don't really care what your personal problem is with Oto. It was your damn inability to do your job that got me into this mess so you can afford to let me have someone nearby that I actually trust!"

"Koenma, I suggest you go. You have clearly overstepped the line. Alexi will be there in two weeks with Oto. Leave," Genkai intervenes. The prince wordlessly leaves though Alexi is far from calm. His knuckles are white as they are still clenched tightly. "Alexi, child, you need to calm down."

"I can't. He had no right, no fuckin' right! What absolute idiot sees that sort of thing and automatically thinks that sex was involved?" he grits out.

"Well, obviously THAT idiot. What exactly sparked this?" Jeremy asks.

"I went into the living room after reliving a memory I wish I could forget. Oto was in there and we talked for four hours. I got tired and he moved nearby. I decided that it would be intelligent to snuggle into his side. Sometime in the middle of the night, he had also fallen asleep and had wrapped an arm around me," he answers, "That is ALL that happened. We TALKED and NOTHING more."

"Boy, that idiot has some nerve. He comes in here demanding that Alexi go to a trial for Sakyo and actually speak out and then accuses Oto of just as heinous crime because he was cuddled to his side…man, he's a piece of work," Jordan mutters.

"He should know Oto better then that," Genkai remarks, "but there is nothing that can be done except to ignore him. He speculates on almost everything. I agree though, that it is too much to ask of Alexi to have to get on a stand with the man who raped him but he won't be persuaded."

"I don't want to see him again! Haven't I faced him enough?" Alexi says angrily.

"If he gets convicted, you won't," Oto tells him calmly. Alexi whirls to face him.

"How the hell do I even know he's going to get convicted? I have no guarantee!"

"Maybe not but if you DON'T do it then he definitely won't be convicted, either."

"I. DON'T. WANT.TO. FACE. HIM. What part of that AREN'T you getting?"

"I understand that you don't want to face him again, Alexi but I also know that you don't want to end up kidnapped again. You're going to have to ask yourself whether or not you go and face him. It is your choice and the consequences are also yours to bear," Oto tells him, "but should you decide to go, I stand by what I told Koenma; I am coming with you that will not change." Alexi feels his anger drain away and sighs. Why could his life ever calm down AND stay that way? He pushes his plate forward and rests his forehead against his arms on the table.

"He's got wonderful timing as always," Yusuke mutters.

"I agree, he never gives anyone time to recover before forcing them into something they aren't ready for," Kurama agrees. Alexi ignores their conversation as he fights a battle within himself. Either he agreed and faced Sakyo with the chance that he MIGHT be convicted or he didn't and knows that there was no chance of keeping him in Limbo. Either way, he would have to see the bastard who took his price, his confidence, and his innocence from him. 'Why should I? What is the point in fighting? I don't have anything worth fighting for…not anymore,' he thinks.

'Do you?' a voice in the back of his mind inquires, 'Are you really alone? Do you truly have NOTHING left?'

'Yes,' he answers.

'If that were try why are you HERE?' that voice asks.

'What do you mean?'

'Look around you, Alexi. These people CARE about you. They only want to help.'

'Yeah right. People aren't that kind out of principle. Usually it means that they want something.'

'That is bullshit and you know it!'

'Great, now I am arguing with myself. This is definitely NOT my day.' Another sigh escapes him and he regrets not dying when he had made that attempt. He knows that being a teenager was difficult but he also knows that it wasn't supposed to be THIS difficult.

"Alexi," Genkai says softly suddenly catching his attention. He slowly looks up and is startled when she sets a journal down in front of him. " I want you to keep a daily journal for me. Write down whatever you're thinking for feeling. I want to look at it at the end of each week." Alexi stares at the thick book for a moment before nodding his head. He knows that she wants him to get off his chest everything that is bothering him thanks to Sakyo because the book is so thick. He only hopes that she doesn't regret this after she reads his entries.