Under guard, the six were led from the final waiting room to the courtroom of the Tokyo High Court. They followed Yomi's instructions by not casting their glances around the court, and by flattening their faces into stoic calm. The guard led them across the bar and to the defendant's table, where Yomi and her assistant were already seated. They took their positions behind the table, Sakaki sitting next to Yomi's assistant, and Torako rounding out the end. They made sure not to stare at the prosecutor sitting in front of them, but stared straight ahead to a spot on the opposite wall.
The courtroom itself was clinical and unadorned, its design so straightforward and forgettable that it may as well have been built moments before the six entered. The air was so antiseptic that it could've easily been mistaken for another waiting room, if it wasn't for the three judges towering over the well. History didn't settle in this courtroom like dust settling on a window ledge, and the high drama of right and wrong were not found in its corners and curves; it was merely a space where guilt and punishment were bartered like common commodities. The silence of the fourteen people sitting in the gallery added a stifling air to the court, and it made Tomo's body clench in anxiety.
Across from the defendant's table sat the prosecutor's table, with the district attorney of Tokyo sitting directly across from his intended victims. Both tables were, in theory, under the dispassionate and objective gaze of the three judges.
Tomo had already prepared herself for hating the district attorney that would be arguing for her punishment, and his appearance made that job easier. He was a middle-aged man clinging to the spoiling signs of his youth. His face was movie-star smooth from all the rubs and washes he applied to it to cover aging, and his hair was carefully managed to keep it from looking too grey; it only looked respectfully grey. He surveyed his intended victims with a morally superior look that Tomo could feel in her bones, and it made her marrow burn like lava. She followed Yomi's advice the best she could and didn't glare at him; but if the wall behind him was alive, it would already have its feelings hurt.
The court clerk, seated below the judges' bench, stood. "The Nation of Japan vs. Tomo Takino, et al., is now before the docket."
"Court is now in session," the head judge said, hitting his gavel. "We will now hear the prosecutor's arguments."
And so the session started, with the prosecutor and Yomi arguing with each other over the presumed innocence of the seditious six. Yomi's argument was simple – the charges against them were frivolous because they were carrying out their assigned duties as both police officers and deputized assistants. The arrest warrant, issued by judge Ikewaki, and the writ ex nihilo, issued by the late chief Akiyama, gave the group full authority to carry out their actions. She heavily used the Akiyama papers to prove the legitimacy of the arrest warrant. The retired judge Ikewaki had already attended his inquest days earlier. His reason for issuing the warrant was read aloud to the court.
The prosecutor's statements were mostly token resistance to Yomi's claims, followed by conceding the point. He agreed there was no proof that the six were involved with the explosions that rocked the Kantei, and he agreed that there was no proof of a seventh member (Yomi artfully argued against that without actually admitting one way or another that there was a seventh member). His obvious concession to Yomi's arguments created such a state of disbelief in Tomo that she interpreted it as some gambit the prosecutor was stewing up, that he was leading Yomi down an argument choked with his dangerous plotting, and he would spring his trap at the last minute. Having mentally prepared herself for the worst-case scenario – condemnation, jail sentences, and possible execution for her – she couldn't easily accept what she was hearing. She grabbed Osaka's hand, as if it would siphon away the hope growing in her, a hope she didn't want because she knew it would be crushed, and its remains would cut her to splinters.
An hour later, both prosecutor and defender closed their arguments. The head judge announced that the three would retire to the chamber to come to a decision. The court clerk requested that all present remain seated. Tomo almost stole a glance at Yomi. They can't be coming to a decision already, Tomo thought.
The prosecutor stared into space, impassive, as if in the previous hour nothing had happened. Yomi was in neutral, and didn't show the glow of victory or the dankness of defeat. She rotated the pencil in her hand, while her eyes wandered over the grain of the oak table. Her assistant searched aimlessly in his notebook. Several times Kazumi held Tomo's knee to keep her from tapping her foot. Tomo's entire body was shaking, and she released Osaka's hand when she realized she was applying too much pressure. Osaka rubbed her hand under the table, trying to combat the wince invading her face.
The judges returned a mere five minutes later. The head judge took his place on the bench, and stood. Tomo grabbed Osaka's hand again, and Osaka couldn't help but let a dainty moan escape.
"After considering the evidence, we, the Tokyo High Court, have found the defendants to have upheld their duty as required by Japanese law in a professional and competent manner."
Osaka bit her lip and stifled a groan. She was sure her hand would break at any moment.
"We hereby declare the defendants innocent of all charges. Case dismissed."
Tomo jumped from her seat and pumped her fist in the air. "Hell yeah!" she shouted. Osaka followed, giggling, and lurched forward into Tomo. "We got 'em, O!" Tomo said, hugging Osaka and picking her up. The twelve witnesses in the gallery made a commotion of talking and standing. The prosecutor bowed – symbols Tomo read as allowing her celebration.
Hiro, Sakaki, and Kazumi jumped out of their chairs and congratulated each other with hugs and cheers. Sakaki's joy from the verdict and love for her friends overcame her natural squeamishness, and she hugged freely. Tomo savored Sakaki's warm and pillowy hug, and her obvious lingering reddened Sakaki's cheeks. Kazumi wore the biggest smile anyone could remember her having. Torako's reaction was subdued, but she partook of the celebration as well.
Yomi congratulated the group, bowing at each member individually. "I'm glad the judges came to the right decision," she said. "I'll take you to the waiting room where you can make any phone calls you need. I'll make sure the bailiff contacts the warden to have your belongings brought to you."
"They better have my gun," Torako said.
"Well let's get started!" Tomo said. "I want out of here before the judges change their minds."
"This way please," Yomi said. They followed her through gallery, where the four reporters and twelve witnesses chatted with each other, waiting for permission to leave. Before reaching the door, Torako took Tomo's shoulder and leaned into her ear.
"Look to your left."
Tomo looked.
"Other left."
Tomo looked the other way, and saw Alekhine standing in the gallery next to the door, wearing a black suit with a black tie and a white shirt, along with big black aviator glasses – the classic spook uniform of American G-men. Osaka gave him the A-OK symbol and a big smile, which Alekhine answered with a double thumbs up.
...
They were brought back to the main waiting room. Kazumi, Sakaki, Osaka, and Torako used the public phone kiosk in the main hall to call their respective families. Tomo had no calls to make, and paced around at the back of the room. She was too giddy to think straight, and any realistic concern for her future was eagerly shoved aside by revenge fantasies involving her strutting past a long line of people who had done her wrong, from the prosecutor down to that snot-nosed boy that pushed her in the sandbox when she was five. She giggled to herself and didn't care who heard her.
"Hi Tomo!" Osaka said, as she entered the waiting room. "Aw, I wanted some more of those cakes."
"Don't worry about that!" Tomo said, as she marched up to Osaka and started slapping her shoulders. "We're going to eat whole loads of cake! And steak!"
"Steak cake," Osaka said. "With mashed potato frosting."
"That sounds like a horrible idea, but why not!" Tomo said. She struck a pose like a superhero, fists dug into her waist while looking triumphantly into the distance – or at least the blue wallpaper of the waiting room. "We'll eat whatever we want, whenever we want! We're going to get so much money from the government, we won't have to work again! I'm going to buy a car!"
"Ooh," Osaka said. "I can afford new toilet seats when I move into an apartment."
"Apartment? We're getting houses, Osaka! Mansions! A castle in Europe! The White House!"
"I hate sitting on a used toilet seat. It's like an indirect kiss, but with butts."
Tomo slumped, her face poisonous with disgust and amazement. "You're trying really hard to ruin this, aren't you?"
"Sorry," Osaka said. "But I got us a place to stay if ya need to move in."
"Yes!" Tomo said, pumping her fist. "Thanks Osaka, I was afraid I'd have to spend my own money."
Torako shambled into the waiting room, granting Osaka and Tomo a nod before taking a seat at the table. She stretched her legs out and crossed her arms, her unfocused gaze dribbling to the floor.
"Oh, great," Tomo said, stalking around the table to stand over Torako. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I know what this means."
"I'm glad somebody does," Osaka said. "I ain't good at charades."
"It's not charades!" Tomo said, tossing a glare at Osaka. "Torako's acting all paranoid again." Tomo put her hands on her hips and leaned over Torako. "We got our freedom back, just like we planned! We don't have to hide anymore, Torako."
Torako looked up. "That trial was rigged."
"Oh my god!" Tomo said in English, flinging her arms heavenward. "Who the hell cares? Now you're gonna go on a crusade to prove it, huh? Get us thrown back in jail?"
"We won't be tried again," Torako said. She looked past Tomo. "I'm not going to do anything about it, Tomo. I can't do that work anymore. You're free, and that's what's important."
"We're free," Tomo said. "Don't try to make me look selfish."
Torako looked up at Tomo. Her frown, etched into her face for so long, through so many terrible days of desperate hiding and sickening fear, broke into a gentle smile. "I didn't mean it like that," Torako said. "You're free, and that's what I wanted from the beginning." He smile widened, and her eyes softened into a deep glow of warm affection. Tomo's heart fluttered and her breath caught in her chest.
"D-don't give me that look," Tomo stammered. "With those thick eyelashes. Try and manipulate my emotions, huh? I'll knock you out of that chair!" Tomo heard a snicker from the door, and turned to face Hiro, who was leaning against the frame. Tomo marched toward him and glared. "What are you laughing about?"
"You're blushing," Hiro said.
Tomo backhanded his chest. Hiro gracefully righted himself before falling through the door. "So? It's not what you're thinking, perv! Don't you know anything about women?"
Hiro stood in the doorway, ready to bolt in case Tomo tried to hit him again. "I know plenty about women," he said, narrowing his eyes into a lascivious stare.
"Ugh, I don't want to hear that!" Tomo said.
"Osaka," Torako said, her stern voice cutting through Tomo's embarrassment. "What was Alekhine doing there?"
"Alekhine?" Hiro said.
"Some guy you don't want to know about." Tomo said in a mock whisper.
"Oh, he was the backup plan in case they said we were guilty," Osaka said. "See, we were planning on busting the place up and getting everybody to escape. We had waiting airplanes and clothes and everything. Glad we didn't have to use 'em, though."
"Hey, we can still use them!" Tomo said, moving in front of Torako so she wouldn't ask any more questions and ruin her mood. "I don't mind an airplane trip! Sounds like fun!"
The other three wandered in shortly afterwards, followed by Yomi's assistant. He wore his hair long and shaggy, and sported granny glasses on his effeminate face. "May I have your attention," he said, holding up his notebook. "I'm Ms. Mizuhara's assistant, Ando. There are some minor issues I've been asked to execute, and they'll be to your benefit."
"Hold on," Tomo said, bristling at his use of the term 'execution'. "Where's Yomi?"
"Ms. Mizuhara had to return to the firm," the assistant said. "There are some other cases she needs to concentrate on. There are some papers that need signing, and I'll do my best to meet any civil needs you may have integrating back into society."
...
The six studiously checked their belongings for any signs of damage, and checked their memories for any sign of theft. All was in order, at least to the best of their memory.
They changed into their gear and loitered outside the Tokyo high court building, holding jackets in the crook of their arm while waiting for their scheduled transportation, or just waiting. They left the shade of the concrete building, built with the attitude of a bunker and looking like a typical office building, and stood in the sidewalk next to a concrete wall topped with bushes trimmed like a high top fade.
They cast their fate against a monstrous system together, they were caged together, they hid together, and now freedom had broken their chains and crushed their cages. So they stood together finally, not speaking, stealing glances and wondering how they could separate so casually after being together so fiercely. Tomo squatted on the ground, sometimes leaning toward Osaka, and other times leaning toward Torako. She kept her eyes ahead over the parking lot and through the gap between two buildings in front of the high court. She could see the trees of Hibya Park just ahead. She imagined walking through that park, taking deep breaths of the fresh air and admiring the new colors of spring. She could have stood up and walked over there, but she didn't want to leave her friends. And she had to talk to Yomi.
Sakaki held her own leather trench coat, folded neatly, in both arms, as if it was a favorite childhood plush toy. The muscles in her jaw were visible as she clenched and unclenched, chaining together words that just couldn't leave her heart, no matter how hard she was beckoning them. Hiro, usually so eager to hold up his façade of a suave lady-killer, was staring at the sidewalk with a frown. Kazumi stood stock straight, holding her body rigid as if it would collapse into pieces if she lost just a moment's control. Torako leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and wore her black aviator glasses even though there was no sun shining in her face. Osaka... well, she seemed the same as always, staring blankly into an invisible distance only she could see, her eyes glazed over and her mouth open in a goofy, brainless smile.
Torako found her partially smoked cigar in her jacket, a gift from Akiyama months ago, and turned it over in her fingers. Tomo's face was crouched at the starting line, ready for the gunshot that would signal the race to dry heaving.
Torako put the cigar in her mouth, and Tomo gagged.
"Got something to say?" Torako said through teeth clenched around her cigar. She produced her zippo lighter and lit the cigar, puffing occasionally to make sure the cigar was well lighted. She inhaled, held the smoky miasma of chocolate and cherry in her lungs, and exhaled. She slowly turned her face to Tomo, who had somehow turned green.
"I can't believe you Torako!" Tomo said. "I thought you had to quit!"
"I did," Torako said. She pulled the cigar out of her mouth and observed it. "Just need to finish this off." She put it back in her mouth and heard Osaka's scattershot laughing.
"It looks like you put a poop in your mouth and set it on fire," Osaka said.
Torako looked at Osaka and let part of her lip curl into a smile. "Thanks Osaka."
"Um," Sakaki said, as she gave a coy sidelong glance. "I think it makes you look cool."
"Not very feminine though," Hiro said. Torako spared him a glance and was surprised to see thoughtfulness instead of facetiousness. Kazumi turned to make her own opinion of Torako smoking a cigar, and her eyes widened in alarm.
"Is it really that bad?" Torako said, looking at Kazumi.
"No, it makes you look like a steamship," Alekhine said. "On the Mississippi. Right before the boiler explodes."
Torako slowly turned her head to see Alekhine's deranged brown eyes staring into her black shades. Behind him Tomo held a pose of shock a little too long, and tipped backwards into Osaka, who righted her. Torako removed the cigar from her mouth.
"What," Torako said, expelling smoke into his face.
"Who is this guy?" Hiro said, taking a step forward.
"Oh, that's Alekhine," Osaka said, waving her hand. "He was our se-uhmmphh!"
"Oh, don't worry about it!" Tomo said, holding a hand over Osaka's mouth. "I mean, if we had an alleged seventh member, he would be the alleged person who, uh, allegedly interdicted-"
"We get the picture," Kazumi said. She folded her arms and sent shockwaves of scorn throughout the community. "You left pretty quick when the police had us surrounded. I guess it was more important to save yourself. Of course, you got out of going to jail."
"Had to be outside to bust you out if justice didn't work," Alekhine said. He reached into his black suit jacket and pulled out a letter. He thrust his arm, as straight as a 2x4 plank, at Osaka behind him without actually turning to face her. Tomo had to dodge out of the way of pointy papercut doom.
"Ooh," Osaka said, taking the envelope.
"It worked though." He turned away leaned against the wall, the bush prickling his hair, and watched Osaka as she read the letter.
"Well?" Tomo said. "Did you get a big inheritance that you can share with everybody?"
Smiling, Osaka lowered the letter and looked at the group. "I got fired!"
"Fired?" Tomo said. Torako puffed on her cigar and squinted behind her shades.
"It's a notice of termination," Osaka said. "The Ministry of Defense says I don't work for them no more. I ain't under the supervision of the US Embassy no longer, either." Osaka's shoulders slumped. "Aww," she whined. "No more free money."
"Wait," Hiro said. "You worked for the Americans?"
"Long story," Tomo and Torako said simultaneously. Tomo punched Torako in the shoulder. "Ha! Too slow!"
"You're going to have to tell us sometime," Kazumi said to Torako. "This could come back and haunt us."
"Are you okay Osaka?" Sakaki said. Her concern shamed Kazumi for giving in to her self-preservation instincts. Sakaki's eyes flittered from Alekhine to Osaka.
"Nah Sakaki, I'm good," Osaka said. "It just means I'll have to start thinkin' different. You know, about jobs and all."
"So," Torako said. She took off her glasses while holding her cigar between clenched teeth. She stared at Alekhine as she spoke. "Those promises from the Ministry didn't mean much, did they?"
"Nope," Alekhine said, as he put on his own Ray Bans. "I terminated my contract after they told me about dumping Sweet Tea."
Torako arched an eyebrow. "Really," she said.
"Yep. I flipped tables over at the embassy and set the garbage can in the kitchen on fire. That was my resignation notice. Set off the sprinklers, but someone replaced the water with gasoline and the entire U.S. embassy building caught on fire. It was awful. Apparently tens of thousands of spiders were living in the walls and they started coming out-"
"What the hell?" Hiro said.
"Don't worry about it," Torako said. "You'll get used to it."
A car pulled up and stopped at the sidewalk in front of them. Sakaki strode forward and met her mother jumping out of the passenger seat.
The rest were silent as Sakaki greeted her parents, both surprisingly short and stocky compared to their tall and graceful daughter. The father took Sakaki's coat and placed it in the back seat.
After a few words, Sakaki turned and faced the group. She fumbled over her words, and searched the sidewalk as if it would help her speak.
Osaka stepped forward. "Bye Sakaki!" she said. "Let us know how everything goes! I'll call you for lunch or a movie or something."
"Thank you, Osaka. I'd like that."
Tomo jutted forward and stood in front of the two. "I'm going to talk to Yomi, Sakaki," she said, and Sakaki nodded.
"Please let me know how it goes," Sakaki said. "Tell her I miss her."
Sakaki took a step back and bowed to the group, and each one returned her bow. "Goodbye," she said. She stood still again, struggling with her thoughts, and then turned toward the car. She entered, her parents chattering. The car drove off.
Kazumi watched it leave, and sighed. She turned to the others. "I've loitered long enough," she said. She bowed. "Good luck everyone."
The others said their goodbyes. Kazumi nodded, and walked down the sidewalk, heading toward home.
They stood in silence until a taxi pulled up. "That's for me," Hiro said. He said his goodbyes to the group, and eyed Alekhine suspiciously. He too promised to keep in touch.
Torako ground out her cigar in her hand, and put it in her pants pocket. "That's going to last me awhile." She turned toward the three, and said. "I've waited long enough. I need to catch the train to Wakayama."
"Staying with your mom?" Tomo said, hoping Torako didn't catch the waver in her voice.
"Yeah," Torako said. "Mr. Ando says he's going to try to get my house back, or at least compensation. I'll be coming back here, don't worry."
"I'm not worried!" Tomo said. "Why would I be worried? That's crazy talk."
Torako smiled, a gesture both Tomo and Osaka enjoyed each time she did it. "You guys got a place to stay?"
"I got a place for 'em," Alekhine said.
"Yeah, me and Osaka got a place," Tomo said. "I haven't even seen it yet. I'll hang low until the big payout comes."
"Good luck with that," Torako said. She moved forward and took Tomo and Osaka in each arm and squeezed them near. The two put their arms around each other, and Torako bent down and kissed each one on the side of their heads. They broke the hug, and the three wore the sagging faces of drained emotion and mental tiredness. Torako tousled Osaka's hair and patted Tomo on the cheek.
"I like the affectionate Torako," Osaka said. "She needs to come out more."
"Only for today," Torako said. "I'll call you when I get there." She turned her attention to Alekhine, and said, "Don't go batty on them."
Alekhine launched a maniacal grin. "I'll go batty on whoever the hell I want. Glad you got out of the hotel."
Torako stood still for a moment, blinking in response. "Yeah," she growled. "Thanks for helping me. I mean it."
Alekhine nodded, and Torako wondered how much of his crazy was an act. She didn't waste her time on figuring it out. She turned to leave, waving her hand in a lazy goodbye.
"Bye Torako!" Osaka said, waving at Torako's unseeing back as Tomo stared at her retreating figure. When Torako was out of eyesight, Tomo rubbed her eyes and sniffed.
"Okay," Tomo said, turning to Alekhine and Osaka. "Take me to see Yomi."