[DISCLAIMER: This is completely a piece of fiction about Hololive V-Tubers.

Hey all, I hope you are having a good week. I guess Okayu goes to court and she's being stalked… possibly?]

Chapter 30

Feline View

I sat in the row just behind the barrier where the hearing was held.

The defendant, Korone, was on the right and the jackal and his consul were on the left, but then there was a row of 5 judges who decided if any laws were broken and then they would decide if the defendant would spend some time outside of Holios. They had all power up front.

Korone looked over to me quickly, waved, and then stared down at the table. Her grandmother was on the other side of their consul, a thick doggo type.

Over on the left was that jackal, Shien. He barely turned to notice me, but I knew he saw me present. He had a group of three counselors, and so I'm sure that was provided by the government and then also his own private consul.

This type of hearing was pretty bare, and only a few others sat in the small chamber. There was also a place at the center with a thick brown pad and a wooden barrier. That was where Korone would have to kneel and beg for forgiveness and then it was made so she could turn and beg for forgiveness from the accuser.

I sat quietly, not wanting to cause trouble for Korone. Her Granny didn't look my way, but I knew she knew I was here wanting to be emotional support for Korone. I couldn't figure out if she was mad at me or not, since when we first showed up to head in, she didn't look my direction, but led and the consul and Korone followed her inside.

The judge at the center spoke up, listing the charges.

Korone's consul stood, addressed him, and then motioned to Korone who stood.

"I accept the verdict and ask for the forgiveness of our country, judges and Manager Shien." Korone then lowered her head in a 30-degree bow, keirei, to the judges.

The judge stated, "We will now hear from the accuser and injured party. Mr. Shien, please."

Shien stood, then bowed to his consul and then the judges in the same way and spoke.

"I have…" he held a paper in his hand. "I had written something regarding the situation. As you can see," he looked over at Korone. "As you can see, I was injured in a slight altercation with the accused, Ms. Inugami Korone, who has the blood of the Inugami within. This I found quite attractive and perhaps let it get the best of me."

I squinted, not quite understanding where he was going with this statement.

"I have conferred with my consul, and despite their advice, I realized I had provoked Ms. Inugami and would like to drop all charges of any attack to me since it was of my doing. I had tried to bring out the Inugami on purpose for my own curiosity. It was a stupid move on my part. It was being playful taken to an extreme. Perhaps, because Ms. Nekomata was present and I wanted to show off for the two, I wasn't sure why I behaved as I did."

He then bowed fully at 45-degrees to the judges and then toward Granny Doggo. "I can only ask forgiveness of you, and the forgiveness of Madam Inugami."

Granny merely nodded her head slightly.

What was going on?

I think it even surprised Korone.

The judge hit the gavel and then spoke up. "This is different than what was earlier stated. You realize this?"

"Yes, your honor."

The judge then looked out at me. "You."

I pointed to myself. "Me?"

"Are you not Nekomata Okayu?"

I stood, bowing in respect and answered, "Yes, your honor."

"You were there. It's fortuitous you showed up."

"Yes, your honor."

"Otherwise, we would have had to send for you."

"Uh…" I didn't know what to say.

"Come forward."

I glanced to Korone quickly. Granny Doggo's expression did not change.

I stepped out from behind the barrier and stepped to the middle, facing the five judges.

"We have your statement here." He held up a piece of paper. "That doesn't sound like what happened according to you. You said, "Mr. Shien manhandled me. Korone pushed the jackal to protect me. He tripped and fell hard." He looked to me. "Poorly written."

"What?"

"Were you lying?"

I glanced to Shien and he looked directly at me.

"No, I mean…" I glanced over to Korone, "I mean… I think I had a concussion so maybe my memory was messed up." I ran my hands through my hair, scratching. I didn't get what was going on.

"Do you know the penalty for lying to our government, Ms. Nekomata?"

I shook my head and then answered, "Uh… no."

"Thirty days in jail."

"I didn't lie, I don't think. I mean…"

The judges started talking amongst themselves. I looked over to Korone who looked as surprised as I did. I then looked to Shien who had the slightest grin.

"Ms. Inugami?"

Korone looked nervous, and she always wagged her tail frantically when she was nervous, and so I could see she was nervous. "Yes, sir?"

"To your recollection is this what happened? A prank? An accident? How forceful were you when you pushed Mr. Shien, or was it all just three young people playing in the back of a bakery?"

"Honestly, sir…"

Granny Doggo stood, holding to Korone's hand. "I am sorry, for the rude interruption."

"Of course not, Madam Inugami." The judge in the center bowed to her. That was so weird.

"I would ask that since everyone seemed to be heated and with the momentum of emotion of the evening and possible concussion that we ask Ms. Nekomata to merely beg forgiveness of Mr. Shien and then convene. It seems this has been a waste of our government's time because of reckless youth."

What?! I didn't want to bow to that jackal guy.

"Your honors?" Shien's consul spoke up. "We would be fine with this outcome. We would like to apologize for wasting the time of the court and government."

But I wouldn't.

The judge hit his gavel. He conferred among the other judges. Waving to the officer of the court. They all whispered among themselves.

I stood there, wondering what was going on. I looked over to Korone, who I know wanted to speak up, but her Granny grabbed her hand, and then whispered to her. I looked over to Shien who again looked over at them, and not me.

When I turned around to look into the audience, since I didn't know where else to look, I saw that big half-demon guy, Oga. What was he doing here?

My stomach started to flip in knots, like something just wasn't right. The officer walked up and stood beside me. It made me feel even more uncomfortable.

The gavel was hit, and I was still standing in the middle of the room, as the judge at the center spoke.

"We will take a one-hour break. Ms. Nekomata, please do not leave and return. We will expect a decision at that time."

"What decision?" I asked.

He hit the gavel again.

"I will let your lack of decorum pass this once, Ms. Nekomata. The decision to bow fully to Mr. Shien, our court, and Madam Inugami, for your inability to tell the truth, or thirty days in jail."

I wanted to say something, but instead I bowed to the judges, as they lifted to leave.

As the chamber began to disperse, I walked up to Shien, "What are you up to?"

"Please do not speak to our client, Miss."

I turned and Korone was suddenly behind me. "Yeah, what are you up to, Manager Shien?"

"Koro-san, I am not up to anything. I am saving you."

"By throwing Okayu under the bus?"

"The politics of Inugami." Shien looked about to leave. "Talk to your grandmother. I've nothing further to say. I am no longer employed by your grandmother."

Granny Doggo was sitting beside their consul. I had to think this over. Something else was going on.

"I guess I'll just do what they want," I said to Korone.

"Why?"

"Because it's the best outcome for you."

"So?"

"He's right. They get it." I laughed to myself. "Of course, this works best. I don't care Koro-san."

"But I care. I'll talk to Granny."

"No, don't." I took Korone's hand, but quickly released. "I get it. I think I get it. Just don't make trouble, kay?"

Once they came back into the chamber I bowed deeply for the judges, to Korone and her grandmother, and then that jerk Shien. I did it all, and groveled like a good little kitty.

When it was over, I walked out of the chamber, not looking back. Korone and her grandmother had to fill out some type of paperwork, and I didn't say goodbye to her. I just left after listening to the judge reprimand me once more.

I had to spend time alone, and walked back to my place.

But I was happy. I was happy because this meant Korone wouldn't have to bow. It meant she wouldn't be reprimanded for using her powers. And it meant she wouldn't get in trouble for being an Inugami or be sent out of our country.

I was okay with that outcome. It really was the best, and I knew Granny Doggo and all her political influence had played a part in the background. That judge was probably from the old country and those ties were useful every now and then.

It made me laugh to myself.

This was a long walk, and I considered finding a taxi for a lift, but really needed to walk. The rain had begun to fall again, and I didn't have an umbrella, but it didn't matter.

I ran and hid under an awning by a park. There was a bench and I sat down, just looking out at the rain.

I really hated getting wet.

And then someone suddenly sat down beside me and when I looked over it was the half-demon guy. I'll be honest, the dark cloud cover, rain and emptiness of the park with a giant demon type didn't give me a feeling of safety. I actually shivered.

"I have to say," he began. "You surprised me Catto."

"Huh?"

"You know, I was going to beat you up."

"HUH?"

He laughed.

"You telling me jokes right now?" I shook the rain water from my hair. "Not the time, big guy. And, I seriously think you are a stalker."

He answered that by laughing at me.

"Guess how old I am?"

"You know… I kind of was enjoying being alone right now. Can you stalk me next week?"

He laughed even louder.

"Seriously. Guess how old I am."

I sighed, since he was for some reason wanting to sit beside me and chat. "I don't know… 35, 40?"

"I am five-thousand and thirty-years-old."

"Wow." I turned to him, snickering, "You've aged really well."

"You want to know what I've learned through all those years?"

"I'm sure you will tell me."

"Politics rarely change."

"Hmm, good to know."

He patted me hard on the shoulder, which hurt since the ribs were still healing. "Say kid, you did a good thing. I'll have to beat you up another day."

"How 'bout no days?"

He laughed again, low and brusque, got up and then walked away. Man, what a weird day. And why was the demon guy always showing up?

[END NOTE: Thank you for reading and the reviews. Next chapter, we find out a bit more about Korone and her Granny Doggo and what was happening.]