[A/N: While I'm sure no one really cares why it's taken so long, I figured I'd give my explaination. My computer crashed. Video card/Monitor died. I just managed to get my files off of the old hard drive. Thus, here I am.
Disclaimer: No, I do NOT own beyblade, k?]
Kai felt ridiculous in the neat, ironed suit and tie. He was annoyed that neither the Demolition Boys or Rei would let him put on his face paint. And now he was staring at Rei like he was insane, after the boy put a plate full of food in front of him.
"You need to eat, Kai."
"I'll eat after."
"No, you'll eat now."
"I can't."
"You're not shy."
"I am nervous."
"You still need to eat before your appearance."
Kai muttered something darkly in Russian, but nibbled at the food. He had to give Rei credit, it was light, and tasted good. Best of all, it wasn't likely to sit wrong, even if he did get really over-wrought about something.
He fidgeted a little, but finished the plate of food. "The case started three days ago, why do you think they're only just now getting me into it?"
"Your condition for one. For another, I think there were a few witnesses that didn't want to be in the court room with you, but wanted to give their statements. We weren't allowed to watch either, if it's any consolation." Spencer said, sitting down quietly on one side of the table.
"I'm not sure who though, no one would say." Bryan added into the silence as he ate his own breakfast.
"Sara, for one, I think. And a few people more or less presenting Kai's character – why they think he either didn't do it, or had to have had a reason." Tala piped up, adding a little more to the conversation.
"I didn't know Sara was in town." Bryan said, voice totally blank.
"I didn't either, until she was leaving. She said...that she didn't want to be in town for the end of the case, or the funeral. It was...really hard on her to speak, I think." Tala shrugged.
"I'm sure it was."
"Who is Sara?" Kai asked slowly.
"Someone with some experience with Voltaire." Bryan explained. "She probably was corroborating the 'he's violent and cruel' aspect of your defense." His eyes flicked to Tala for a moment, but the red head seemed incredibly interested in something on one of the shelves.
"Rei – were you rearranging things?" Tala asked, a tiny edge to his voice, but it wasn't as bad as it had been.
"No, haven't touched any of your things."
Bryan coughed. "I told you I was going to straighten it up, Tal – breathe. It was getting on my nerves. And, it isn't like you do anything in the kitchen anyway."
"Are we going to do this every morning?" Ian asked calmly. "I mean, really Tala. Rei's been a good guest."
"I haven't done anything." Tala said, bristling slightly.
"Of course not," Rei responded with a tight smile. "Ian, I don't know what you're seeing, everything's fine. It was a legitimate question."
Ian snorted, but didn't say anything else.
Bryan decided not to tell Tala that it was Rei's cooking that he was eating, not his. Not worth the argument. Not at all.
"So, are we going?" Spencer asked.
Kai nodded. "Yeah. It's time."
An hour later, Kai was sitting quietly in front of a judge, with his prosecutors on one side of him. He sat alone, with Rei and the Demolition Boys behind him. He sat tall with his head up, almost defiant.
"We'll have a fifteen minute recess, and then Kai will take the stand." The judge stated clearly and calmly over the court. Kai slouched back with a tiny sigh.
"This isn't going well." He said, turning to look at his friends.
"It's going fine." Rei encouraged. Kai rolled his eyes, but didn't respond.
Fifteen minutes later, he sat, facing outward, towards everyone gathered in the court room. His crimson gaze focused on the prosecutor, his jaw tight as he waited.
"Kai, do you deny that you were the one who attacked Voltaire?"
"No, Sir."
"But there was a reason?"
"Yes sir."
"I don't think there was. I think that you were being a spiteful little-"
"Councilor, move on."
"What was your reason?"
"He threatened me. Pulled the knife on me."
"And you...?"
"I took it from him."
"And killed him."
"Yes."
"You seem awfully calm for someone who accidentally murdered his grandfather."
"He's been abusing me for as long as I can remember. If not directly, then neglecting me by allowing others to do it. I don't really...regret it. Though, it was an accident. I wouldn't have hurt him on purpose. As much as I hated him, he was family." The answer seemed to give a lot away, but there was no emotion behind it. "Besides, I've spent all of my life controlling my emotions, why would that change?"
"But still – you aren't even a little upset?"
"I was."
"But not now?"
"There's no point in holding on to grief. It solves nothing, and serves little purpose."
"You tried to kill yourself, why?"
"I was scared. And upset. I'd just killed someone – even in self-defense – that's hard. I'd never hurt anyone like that before. I was in shock. And...I wasn't thinking rationally."
"And that was your answer."
"I guess so."
"You guess?"
"Consciously, I never made the decision. I don't know what led to it except emotions. I've never been one for self harm."
"But the scars on your arms tell other stories."
"I didn't do that to myself."
"You expect the court to believe that all of those scars were inflicted by someone else?"
"It's the truth."
Rei listened, and ground his teeth slightly. Kai was holding on well, and taking the questions as they came. But it didn't look good. Not at all. It was impossible to know what had been said before, too. Only time would tell though. They have to believe him. They can't really charge him for this, can they?