Author's Note: This is it guys, the final chapter, our kittens are on the mend. Everyrone's safely back home, and our baddies are getting what they deserve. This has been a lot of fun to write. But, just like with VTR, even if the main story is over, I'm not through world building. FITCR Extra will continue to get updates as extra stories in this world continue to strike me. Hope you guys enjoy.
Chapter 26: Trial
By the time Hirato pulled in to the clinic, Natsuno and Gareki had managed to calm Tohru and Yogi down. Both blondes were curled up to their respective Wolfboys and had nodded off from exhaustion.
"Maybe we should let Yogi sleep?" Hirato suggested as he climbed out of the car. Toshio and Akari both stood outside, waiting for their patients, each with a gurney, and Ritsuko with a wheelchair for Natsuno.
"Good idea," Gareki chuckled.
"Toheu?" Natsuno called softly, gently ruffeling his hand through the blonde tresses that had been tickling his neck for a while, "Wake up, Sleepy Head." He chuckled , "Come on, get up, you get to see your favorite Bunny Nurse," he teased.
"I told you it's it like that, " Tohru sleepily protested as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He blinked realizing where they were and how quiet his brother was. "Is Yogi ok?" Tohru asked, quickly glancing in the direction of the older Neko. He winced in pain, feeling a jabbing sensation in his chest.
"He's fine," Gareki answered, "We just decided not to wake him up before we get him inside."
Tohru smiled, "Good idea."
"What are you boys wearing?" Toshio asked as he helped Tohru on to the gurney.
Tohru blushed. "It's a long story," he said , rubbing the back of his head.
They moved everyone inside. Hirato, Gareki, and Yogi were all left to be tended to by Dr Akari, while Dr Ozaki looked over Tohru and Natsuno. Tokitatsu stood worriedly in the hall, waiting to hear news on all five of them. Akari was the fir st to report back, as Gareki had taken little physical damage, Yogi's stress levels we're high and the collar, which Gareki was still trying to deactivate, had left a single mark on his arm. Hirato had taken no injuries at all, but he and Akari still bickered with one another about how dangerous it had been for him to have gone at all, having just had his cast removed.
Toshio left Tohru's room and entered Natsuno's. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," he apologized.
"After everything else tonight, it's just a minor inconvenience," Natsuno assured him, "How's he doing?" He nudged his head in the direction of Tohru's room.
"Any external injuries he suffered have already healed," Toshio said, "Most likely due to his transformation. His heart rate, stress levels, and blood pressure are all extremely high as well, again, I'm sure that's because of his transformation. Forcing them so young, we're lucky we didn't lose either one of them. "
Natsuno huffed, "I'm well aware of what could have happened. They didn't even know it was going to happen to them, though. I can only imagine how much more frightening that must be."
Toshio sighed and shook his head. "On the other hand, at least they have you to help them learn how to live with the change, right?"
Natsuno chuckled, "I suppose that's one way to put a positive spin on it, Doctor."
"I realize it's not easy for you, but you've learned how to control it, at least, right?" Toshio asked.
"Don't try to spare my feelings, Doc," Natsuno insisted, "I knew the risk and still allowed it to happen to me. Those poor kittens never had a choice."
Toshio sighed as he began inspecting Natsuno's injured knee. "Normally, I wouldn't divulged this information to anyone but Tokitatsu first, but if you and your brother intend to stay on as bodyguards for Yogi and Tohru, you may as well know, Tohru's going to have to stay here for a couple days. I don't know what idiot thought it was ok to send him out against a couple professional prize fighters with nothing but a Rock Gordon costume on, but..." Natsuno turned his eyes to doctor. "They broke a few ribs, right around his heart and lungs. He probably didn't even feel the change happening until it was too late."
Natsuno took in a deep breath. "Damn it all," he scoffed, slamming his fist on the arm of the wheel chair. "How long's a couple days?" he asked.
"Three days, to make sure no punctures happen, then he'll be free to go, but then he'll have to come back for a check up once every two weeks to see how he's healing," Toshio assured him.
He sterilized Natsuno's injuries and changed the dressings before he and Akari reported to Tokitatsu. "How are they?" Tokitatsu asked anxiously.
"Yogi had a small brun on his arm, I'm expressly forbidding Gareki from using his injured arm for the next three weeks, and Hirato..." Akari heaved a sigh, "Well, Girl's still Hiro!"
Tokitatsu chuckled, "I know it frustrates you, Akari, but I don't think we'll ever find a cure for my brother being himself."
"Natsuno's doing alright. Give him tonight and I'm sure he'll be back on his feet bright and early tomorrow morning, " Toshio started.
"And Tohru?" Tokitatsu asked.
"Two broken ribs right between his heart and lungs," Toshio sighed, "I need to keep him for observation until Tuesday."
Tokitatsu sighed. "If you think that's best," he relented. "Are either of them stable enough for visitors?"
"Yogi can leave as soon as he wakes up," Akari said, looking at his watch, "Which should be right about..."
"YAaa!" Yogi's voice rang out.
"Now," Akari sighed.
Toshio stifled a laugh. "Tohru was awake when I left him, Toki. You can go in and see him whenever you're ready."
Tokitatsu smiled, "Thank you, both of you."
Gareki went straight to Yogi's room. The moment he heard the blonde scream. "Sounds like Yogi's awake," Tohru and Natsuno both thought when they heard him.
" Yogi, calm down, " Gareki scolded him, "It's nearly 5 in the morning, you wanna wake the other patients? "
Yogi had curled into a ball in the middle of the bed. "How did we get here?" he asked.
"Hirato brought us," Gareki answered, "Don't you remember?" The Wolfboy reached over and gently scratched between the Neko's ears.
"No, the last thing I remember was that monster Uro grabbing your arm," Yogi admitted.
Gareki sighed, then laughed. "I'm supposed to be the one looking out for you, not the other way around. Natsuno and I really screwed that up tonight, Can't speak for Natsuno, but I understand if you guys want to send us on our way."
Yogi chuckled and reached for Gareki's good arm. "Not at all," he said , gently pulling Gareki onto the bed next to him. "At least you guys came for us." He hugged the young Wolfboy as close as he could, being careful not to activate Gareki's injuries, "Uro could have still had some soft of gold of you, yet you still came for us. I just couldn't take seeing that Bastard beating on you, though."
Gareki blushed and settled back on the bed next to Yogi. His tail wagged as he rested his head on the Neko's shoulder. He froze and frowned when his eyes landed on the shock collar still around Yogi's arm. He yanked the control out of his pocket. "Let's see if we can't get this thing off your arm, huh?"
Hirato quietly stood in the hall, waiting for Tsukitachi and Seishin., while Tokitatsu filled out the necessary release papers for Yogi, Natsuno, and Gareki. The Blood Hound's ears perked and twitched when the two Kitsune brothers entered the building. He quietly smiled to himself. Having recognized the Chief had also come in with them, he braced himself to behave professionally. "Sorry, Hiro, we would have been here sooner, but we had a few suspects we had to take in to the station," Tsukitachi apologized.
"Two of them looked as if they had a run in with a lion," Chief Ryuuoshi said.
Hirato bit back a laugh, having gotten the full story from Gareki and Natsuno. "You don't say?" he asked.
"How are Senator Tokitatsu's boys?" Chief Ryuuoshi asked.
"The doctors are releasing them right now," Hirato stated.
"That's wonderful," the Chief exclaimed.
"Why do I get the feeling there's a 'but' in there somewhere? " Seishin asked, removing the contact lenses and passing them to Chief Ryuuoshi.
"All but Tohru," Hirato stated.
"Don't tell me?" Tsukitachi started.
"Nothing fatal," Hirato assured them, "But he needs to be kept for observation."
"Nothing fatal" Tsukitachi sighed, "That's a relief. I don't think any of us could handle losing another one of those cubs."
"What about you? " Hirato asked, "Did you get the !ed team to look you over while you were at the station?"
" Huh? No, why? " Tsukitachi asked.
"Ga tell said that..." Hirato stopped himself as much as he wanted to use the term bitch, he reminded himself that he was in public and his boss was standing right there. "Shewolf hit you pretty hard. She knocked you out."
Seishin laughed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I tried to tell him to get that looked at," the Silver Fox said. Seishin dead named at Tsukitachi, "Maybe of he won't listen to his big brother, he'll listen his partner."
" I'm not a kit anymore, you two, " Tsukitachi refused.
"Tsuki, if she hit you hard enough to knock you out, she hit hard enough to cause a concussion in the next twenty-four hours," Hirato reasoned. "Just humor us and go let Dr Akari give you a quick check over. " Hirato leaned over and whispered in Tsukitachi's ear, "Just to set my mind at ease. "
Tsukitachi sighed, "Alright, you guys win," he relinqished, turning and heading to the desk.
Hirato turned his eyes back to Seishin. "Dr Ozaki's waiting for you in his personal office, Sei. I think he has a few choice words for you."
Seishin gave a nervous chuckle, "I see, thank you, Hirato." Seishin quietly excused himself and headed to find Toshio.
Natsuno knocked at the door to Tohru's room. "Emter?" Tohru called.
Natsuno opened the door, but froze when he saw Tokitatsu was already in the room. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realized," Natsuno started to apologize and turn to leave the room.
"No, it's alright, come on in, Natsuno," Tokitatsu insisted, "I'll give you two some time alone of you like? I need to go check in on Yogi anyway." Tokitatsu took his leave.
"How's your leg?" Tohru asked.
Natsuno laughed, "Don't worry about me, Dr Ozaki says I'll be back on my feet tomorrow. What about you?"
"Sore, but I'll be alright, " Tohru him. He quietly looked away from Natsuno. "I guess you and Gareki will be leaving us soon?" He asked .
"Wow Tohru, one night in the ring and you're ready to get rid of us?" Natsuno replied, "And here I thought we had something special."
"What? No I didn't mean...!" Tohru started to deny before starting to cough.
"Hey, calm down, Kitten," Natsuno said,, gently grabbing Tohru's hand, "Why do you think we were going to leave you?"
" We overheard you and Gareki your first day with us, " Tohru admitted, "You guys said you were going to take the job for the money until you could come up with enough to set out on your own, right? After tonight, I don't think Kafka will be a problem anymore."
"Doesn:t mean you guys won't still need us, " Natsuno shrugged. "Besides," he pushed himself up on his good leg and leaned over the bed, reading his lips to Tohru's. The Neko blushed and hugged the Alpha Wolf, returning the kiss. "That was before we knew you," Natsuno finished.
Tohru smiled, "I knew you weren't the type to put money over sentiment." He leaned in and kissed Natsuno again. "So, Dad said they're not planning to release me until Tuesday. Are you going home with him, Gareki, and Yogi?"
"Would you rather I stay here with you?" Natsuno asked.
"It'd be lonely if you didn't," Tohru admitted, "But I can't force you."
"You've never stayed in the hospital before have you?" Natsuno asked.
"No," Tohru affirmed.
Natsuno chuckled. "Of course I'll stay," Natsuno agreed.
Tohru squeezed Natsuno's hand. "I owe you an apology," he said, "Gareki, too. I know we had !are amends about my outburst a few nights ago, but... They slipped Yogi some catnip tonight. I understand what Gareki meant when he told me to find out what it's like before judging you."
"I'm sorry either of you had to find that out," Natsuno sighed, "The two things I hoped neither of you would have to experience, and Kafka forced it on both of you."
"How did either of you survive that place? " Tohru asked.
"Shear determination, and the fact that we had each other, " Natsuno admitted, "I don't think either of us would have lasted as long as we did without the other."
"Geeze, Natsuno, get all sentimental and sappy on me, why don't you?" Gareki teased, as he and Yogi entered the room, "But, I guess that's true." Gareki walked over and ruffled his hands through his brother's hair. "How's your leg?"
"No worse than your arm," Natsuno answered.
"How about you, Yogi?" Natsuno and Tohru both asked, looking at the older Neko.
"Just a burn, I should be alright," Yogi answered. "Tohru?"
Tohru smiled and waved his brother over for a hug. "I'll be fine, Yogi," he purred, "I'm tougher than I look."
"I see you finally got that collar off," Natsuno noted.
"I wanted to chuck the damned thing, "Gareki grumbled, "But Chief Ryuushi insisted on keeping it for evidence."
Tokitatsu came back into the room. "Alright, boys, I've got the release papers filled out," he announced, "We can leave whenever you're ready. Natsuno, are you riding back with us?"
"No Sir, I thought I'd stay and keep Tohru company," Natsuno answered, "I can understand Yogi needing to go home if he's well enough, but someone needs to be here. "
Tokitatsu smiled and nodded. "I agree. I'll let Hirato and Tsukitachi know they can go home for the night. They had volunteered to stay of you didn't."
Natsuno smiled. "I'm sure Officer Tsukitachi could stand the test after tonight," he chuckled, "This had had an emotional drain on him, too."
"Very true," Tokitatsu relented. "Gareki, Yogi, the limo's waiting." Yogi hugged Natsuno and Tohru alike, giving his brother a light peck on the forehead before bidding good night. Gareki hugged his brother Tohru, telling them both good night. Tokitatsu smiled and went to hug Tohru, "Goodnight, son, I'll be back to check on you later. Natsuno?" He reached across and ruffled Natsuno's hair, "I expect you to take good care of my boy."
Several Days Later
Nearly two months had passed. All the witnesses, suspects, and evidence we're lined up and ready for what the Media Hounds we're calling t the Case of The Century. Yogi and Tohru we're a little nervous about testifying, but with their Wolves at their side, they were determined to power through.
Natsuno and Gareki willingly testified, telling all of what they had seen and been through over the last seven years. Hirato and Tsukitachi both recounted what they had witnessed that night they went in to rescue the kittens. It was a blow to his ego, but still a hit he felt he had to take when Hirato admitted his own mother had tried to sell him not once, but twice to Kafka, pointing out the Weasel Miega as the man that had accosted him a and his mother both in their own home not but 33 years ago, shedding light on how long this organization had been operating underground.
"Should have shot the bitch and claimed self-defennse when I had the chance, " Tsukitachi grumbled under his breath.
"Don't do us any favors, Tsuki," Tokitatsu chuckled, having been close enough to hear his brother-in-law.
Seishin told all about he had come in contact with Sunako and how he had gone undercover at Tokitatsu's request shortly after Lea's accident and they had slowly brought some of the lesser members to justice over the years.
Mrs. Hasagawa recounted the fight between Gareki and RiRi am the way up to the Neko's kidnapping.
Megumi, Sora, Kagiri and Kiharu all took the stand, each having been considered innocent victims of circumstance and promised witness protection. Tatsumi and Yoshii both insisted on remaining loyal to their mistress and refused to testify.
In the end, Sunako was found guilty of child endangerment, slave trafficking, sex trafficking, illegal organization of blood sport, attempting to bribe and proposition an officer of the law, and attempted abduction.
Miega, Uro, and Ryuu were convicted of child endangerment, child trafficking, several accounts of child abuse, kidnapping, two counts of manslaughter, two counts of murder, all three having been implemented in not only the deaths of Lea and Miumarie but also the murders of Azusa and her husband Yuuki.
Azana was convicted of malpractice and had his medical license revoked.
However, the scandal that drew everyone's attention was the implication that Mayor Palnedo was the ring leader. Witnesses both defense and prosecution had made such statements; Sunako, Uro, Tatsumi, Azana, Megumi, Natsuno, and Gareki all counted Palnedo's involvement. Yogi, Tohru, and Sora reaffirmed the accusations that Palnedo had indeed been present before the mock mating tournament. But, he was already gone by the time the police had arrived.
Murano was the first reporter to start questioning the mayor about the allegations against him. "My grandfather would never do such a thing!" Eleska insisted.
Palnedo denied any involvement, "Elections are coming up, and Senator Tokitatsu's entire platform had been built around bringing this organization down. Having exposed those at the top, he's turning the public eye on me to secure his position. He may even have his eye on my position as mayor. I'm not sure if you noticed, but two of the witnesses we're his own sons. Several others were his own loyal lap dogs. I wasn't there the night the police raided this organization's headquarters. I had been over at Senator Mutou's house for dinner.."
Mayor Palnedo waited until he and Tokitatsu we're alone before confronting him about the allegations. "What do you think you're doing, Moutou?" ththe old Goat asked, "You know you'll never get those allegations to stick. You and your little lap dogs are grasping at straws. You know where I was that night."
" I know where you were, when Sieshin was captured, when!y boys were taken hostage, yeah, " Tokitatsu admitted, "I can't vouch for you after I left. But my boys know what they saw. Chief Ryuuoshi has mountains of paperwork pulled from every office in that place. My dogs are loyal, and I never once had to raise a hand to any of them to earn that. You mess with any member of my family again, and we find so much as a shred of evidence against you that we can make stick, you'll never work in politics anywhere ever again, " Tokitatsu promised.