BY THE WAY!

I'm creating this court scene from very limited sources, please don't quote me on the system and the way I have it work XD

Thanks for reading and leaving a review,

Anime4us

Chapter 25

"The Prosecution calls Kominato Ryosuke to the stand."

Haruichi offers his older brother a small, forced smile as he stands to let him pass. He watches as his brother walks up to the stand with an air of absolute confidence before agreeing to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. He watched as his brother's hand fell from the bible before he took a seat.

"So that the court doesn't get mixed up between your brother and yourself, I hope you don't mind that we refer to you as Ryosuke." Watari's lawyer stated calmly.

"It's rather informal of you to act so chummy with me, but I suppose I'll allow it." Ryosuke answered clearly.

Haruichi's smile actually grew as Watari's lawyer cleared his throat, clearly caught off guard by how Ryosuke had answered him. The Kominato brothers, although close by nature, were quite different personality wise. Haruichi knew that he was the weaker of the two, he was way too sensitive and could never really hide it all too well. He was usually much too meek and closed off towards new people, something Ryosuke could easily deal with.

Haruichi had always aspired to be someone like his older brother. He would watch as Ryosuke bat aside people that teased him like it didn't even matter while they were in school. Not that he was much taller with the extra inch or two he had on his brother.

"Then, I shall continue with the questioning."

0_0_0_0

"Be my guest, I do want to get home sometime tonight."

"I'll only say this once Kominato, in my court, no matter how angry you come off, I need respect."

Ryosuke offered a small smile before giving a small apology, one Haruichi was much too aware meant nothing.

"I want to replay a little piece of the offered evidence." Watari's lawyer stated calmly before pressing play on a small device.

Ryosuke inclined his head as the recording started.

"I.. Uh.. I.."

"I'm coming over. Watari and I have some matters to discuss."

"Y-Yea.. ok."

There was a choppiness to the recording before it picked up once more.

"What? Because I'm happy?! Am I not allowed to be happy Watari!?"

"Find a woman to be happy with!"

"Yoichi!"

After Ryosuke's voice filled the recording, Watari's lawyer pressed pause before looking up at the pinklet.

"The recording becomes somewhat choppy after the conversation with your brother. You were on the phone I presume?"

"Yes, I was on the phone with my brother." Ryosuke answered easily.

"But after that. When you state that you're coming over and your brother replies, it becomes rather choppy." Watari's lawyer has a barely concealed smirk on his lips as he asks his next question. "Did you tamper with evidence?"

Ryosuke raises a brow. He half expected Miyuki to say something, though one look towards the ex-catcher had that idea running out the window. His eyes were locked on Ryosuke, pure trust running through them, not hidden by the lenses they sat behind.

That's some trust you are putting in me Miyuki… Quite the bout of pressure might I add.

"Your answer please Kominato." The judge's voice filled the quiet court room before Ryosuke sighed.

"His silence is answer enough." Watari's lawyer replied with.

"I didn't tamper with evidence. It was two recordings that I meshed together for the sake of convenience, I have the original recordings on my phone if you'd like them both." He stated.

The judge nodded, calling forth someone to take the phone that Ryosuke held in his fingers. They opened the phone, pulling up the two recordings. Ryosuke sat back, listening to the same recording he'd heard on repeat for the last couple of days.

The number of nights he had listen to that recording on repeat, trying to come up with something to help his brother's case…. It was probably alarming.

"The evidence was not tempered with, to our knowledge, but if you'd like to take the phone in for extra examining, then by all means." Miyuki stated calmly.

The judge's eyes skimmed over Miyuki and landed on Watari's lawyer, who had lost his smirk completely.

"Well, Mr. XXX?" She demanded.

"Your witness." The lawyer answered with, looking slightly miffed, something Ryosuke enjoyed immensely.

Miyuki stood before walking over towards Ryosuke.

"What were you doing at my client's home that evening?"

Laying out the story are we, or are you simply trying to play some sentimentality for the jury?

"I heard Watari cussing out my brother's partner, and in turn himself. I couldn't simply stand there."

"Did you harbor any ill intent towards Watari?"

You and I both know I wanted to rip him apart Miyuki.

"My only intentions were to help my brother and his partner out. Nothing more, nothing less."

"What happened when you showed up at the residence?"

"My brother was a mess at the front door, stiff as ever."

Ryosuke watched as his fielding partner tensed much like his brother had been.

"Continue." Miyuki stated calmly.

"Your honor, this line of questioning has no importance." Watari's lawyer stated with annoyance.

"I'm simply covering all the angles." Miyuki stated.

"Get to the point Miyuki." The judge stated.

"Very well, what did you witness?" Miyuki asked.

"Right where Yoichi is demanding about happiness is when I walked into the house." Ryosuke explained. "After checking to see if my brother was in any physical pain, I made my way to the living room where I witnessed Watari emotionally abusing my fielding partner."

"Objection your honor! This is a bia-"

"Take your seat Mr. XXX." The judge demanded. "Continue Kominato."

"My fielding partner lashed out, though I don't blame him, what with the way Watari was berating him based on nothing but his sexual preference." Ryosuke continued.

Ryosuke watched as some of the jury members shifted awkwardly before looking back at Miyuki. It was always hard to read the ex-catcher, though, Ryosuke was damn certain that his eyes were thanking him as he turned away from the stand.

"No further questioning."

0_0_0_0

Mei glanced down at his phone as it buzzed.

"Eijun?"

'Hey Mei! Kazuya is kicking ass, I think? I don't understand this court stuff… anyways. I need a favor, and I know I've been asking a lot lately, I'm sorry! I'll definitely make it up to you! But could you please pick up Clara? You can take her back to our place, spare key is hidden in the ridge of the potted plant. Don't leave the kitchen a mess, Kazuya might just kill you, trust me. Thanks so much.'

Mei read the text over many times over before chuckling softly and typing back a message.

'You forgot to source your essay. I'll grab Clara for you. Lemme know how the case goes.'

The blonde southpaw sent the text before opening up his contacts and clicking on Ericka's number. He brought the phone to his ear, listening to it ring. After two rings, the call went to voicemail.

She ignored my call?

A couple of seconds later his phone buzzed with a message.

'Some of us have class Blondie. What do you need?'

Mei rose his brow before typing out a reply.

'If you're in class, you shouldn't be texting me.'

Not even three seconds passed before Mei got another text.

'I didn't realize I was texting my old man.'

"Brat." Mei muttered before typing out his response.

'I gotta pick up Clara, wanna go out for dinner with us tonight?'

Mei sighed and checked the clock. It was nearing three in the afternoon, he had time to puts around before picking Clara up from school.

'I get outta class at 4, you picking me up?' Came Ericka's reply.

'I'll think about it.'

'I have to change though.'

'I'm sure you look fine.'

'There's a cheesy pick up line in there somewhere.'

'Pay attention in class. I'll see you later.'

Mei huffed, though there was definitely a smile playing on his lips and amusement dancing in his crystal blue eyes.

0_0_0_0

"Defense calls Kuramochi Yoichi to the stand."

Miyuki's voice travels over the court room as Kuramochi pushes himself up.

This is it. Common Yoichi… Relax… Kazuya promised you this case. Just… deep breathes. In… out… In… Out.

"Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?"

Kuramochi placed his hand on the bible that was shoved into his face before muttering 'I do'. He took his seat before locking his gaze with Haruichi.

He watched as the pinklet's lips moved slowly before a small smile stopped the message he was conveying.

I love you too.

The shortstop's nerves slowly receded, giving him slight peace at mind as he focused on Miyuki.

"Kuramochi, I'm going to simply lay it out so that I understand. You were at home one evening when your sports agent showed up." Miyuki stated before continuing. "Are you and Watari close friends?"

Kuramochi hated the formal tone that Miyuki took up with him, but he knew all too well why it was that his best friend chose to speak this way.

"Watari and I never had a close relationship. He always seemed distant when he didn't need anything and chummy when he did. That's how business works, I suppose." The shortstop answered with a small shrug.

"For what purpose did your sports agent feel the need to make a house call?"

"I think his original plan was to show up to talk about a charity dinner of sorts? I can't be too certain. It was mentioned but other than that it was a whole bunch of criticizing choices that had nothing to do with him."

Alright Yoichi. I'm gonna need every card I've got. If you can play the jury with a little bit of sentimentality, that's golden. Don't lie on the stand, but you gotta play it smart and word things in your favor. The more specific you can be the better, try to stay away from things like "I think" and "Maybe". The jury will only be as confident as you are.

Miyuki's voice filled the shortstop's thoughts.

Well… Kazuya can't expect me to be perfect I suppose.

"And, once the sports agent was inside, you discussed matters on this charity dinner?"

"That was probably his intentions, though it didn't get passed who I wanted to be taking to the dinner."

"And who would that be?"

"My partner. My sports agent was adamant on me taking a woman but I tried to explain that there was no way I would be side stepping my relationship simply to look good at a charity dinner. It's not my style."

"No further questioning." Miyuki stated before taking a seat.

Tired of me already Kazuya?

0_0_0_0

Mei walked into the elementary school with a smile on his face. He was about to walk into the classroom Clara was in when he got a text message.

'Oi, Where's my chariot?'

The blonde rose a brow before typing back a reply.

'You could always walk home princess.'

'Cruel Blondie, you standing me up?'

'I'm picking Clara up, be there in half an hour. Sheesh.'

'I'll be waiting outside.'

Mei smirked before slipping the phone back into his pocket and made his way towards the room. He smiled when the caretaker noticed him.

"Oh! Clara. You have a special guest."

"Uncle Mei!" Clara called excitedly before running up to him.

"Hey beautiful." Mei stated as he picked up the younger blonde. He was filling out papers when an envelope was handed to him.

"If it isn't too much trouble, do you mind taking this to her guardians?" The caretaker asked with a smile.

"Not at all." The blonde southpaw replied before taking the letter. "Have a good evening."

"I had a good day today!" Clara stated happily.

"Oh ya? Can I make it even better?" Mei asked with a smile of his own.

"How?" Clara asked, excitement bubbling off of her.

"I wanna take you out for dinner. With Ericka?" Mei asked.

"Yes! I wanna go! I wanna go!" Clara cheered happily.

"Alrighty, we gotta go pick up Ericka."

"I'm so happy!" Clara stated with a bright smile.

"I'm happy you're happy." Mei stated before ruffling the younger blonde's hair lovingly.