My Gift
Ryoko Avalon
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ryuiji and Alu took no time at all to get ready for their court appearance, not even bothering to get really fancy, but rather, to look presentable and neat. Otogi had to look like a father in every way he could, which meant he couldn't wear his lucky earring or necklace. Instead, he tucked them into his pants pocket. This also meant no bandanna or bracelets. He felt so naked and lost without his usual attire of jewelry, it was one of the few parts that made all of the girls and women nearly drop dead in awe in his presence. Now, he felt so...so...normal, and he hated it.
He dressed Alu in a green sweater and clean and ironed black jeans. To make her look her best, he placed on her ears a set of clip on earrings shaped that dangled and tickled her neck whenever she moved too fast. Around her neck, he laced his most lucky and favorite necklace, a chain with a cross on the end. He had her tuck it under her shirt, explaining that it would only work if nobody knew it was there.
Ryou, Seto and Mokuba met both of them at the front door with the businessman's limousine waiting. It was the first time Alu had ever been in such a big car, but she took no time to marvel at it. She could easily feel the tense vibrations in the air. Not one of the teenagers spoke on the ride, leaving Alu feeling pretty alone as she clung tightly to Otogi's shirt.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The three stepped out of the car, greeted by Yugi and company. Otogi held Alu close as the nine of them treaded up the stairway, be gently coaxed up by cold gusts of winter wind, gently sending snow their way before they entered the great hall of the courthouse.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You'll have to keep the girl here. As soon as you enter the courtroom she is no longer in the custody of either the defendant or the plaintiff, but rather in the court's custody." A guard at the door explained. Otogi looked down at the girl. He didn't WANT to let her go. Not to anybody. He just wanted to be able to hold her a little longer. Seto saw his expression and decided not to force the issue, he nudged Yugi and Honda forward into the room, leaving Otogi, Alu, and the guard at the entrance.
Alu tightened her grip.
"I love you little one. You know that. I'd fight the devil, himself, for you." He whispered into her ear, kissing her lightly on the forehead and smoothing out her hair.
"Don't leave me daddy. Please. Don't let me go!" She sobbed, knowing what was about to happen.
"It's alright little one. I promise. It'll be okay. Just take it easy. It'll be alright baby." He gave her a fake smile, trying to make it look as real as possible. Kissing her on the cheek, he knelt down on one knee and eased her away from him. He didn't want to leave her like this. He couldn't do this to her. "I promise. Everything will be all right. I promise sweet heart. I love you. And I'm not going to lose you." He gave her one final hug and soft kiss before leaving her with the female guard.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
His heart was broken. He couldn't let that girl go for these damn people. He just wanted to touch her, to feel her presence near him, but she wasn't there when he sat down before the audience, facing the judge's stand.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Allen King." Another guard, a man this time, announced as the judge entered the room. The room stood up and remained standing until the man gave the order.
"You may be seated." He waited as the many people sat down, just glancing at the defendant, being only Otogi, with Seto acting as he supportive attorney, the plaintiff, the man and woman that claimed to be the parents of Mina Hinato (Alu), the child and the jury.
"Today's case now being presented: Custody of one: Mina Hinato. Let the trial begin." The bald judge announced over the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Your honor, the first person I would like to call to the stand," the plaintiff's attorney began, walking into the center of the opening before the judge. "Is Ryuiji Otogi."
Otogi moved slowly, but firmly to the stand, taking a seat quickly and making sure that he had a good observation area of his daughter.
"Now Mr. Otogi, you claim that you FOUND this girl?"
"Yes sir."
"Could you please explain to the court exactly what you mean?"
"I was on my way home from work when I tripped over something in the snow. When I got up and dusted off whatever I tripped on, I found this girl, huddled in a fetal position nearly frozen to death."
"Now, after you found her, what did you do?"
"I wrapped her in my coat and took her home-"
"See? THAT'S how he took custody of her! He STOLE her!"
"I DID NOT!" Otogi protested, only to be silenced by the judge's small mallet being slammed on the block of wood.
"Mr. Otogi! Mr. Dike (I did that intentionally! ^.^; v) will be doing the speaking here!" he roared. Otogi growled under his breath, still staring at Alu. "Mr. Dike, please continue."
"Thank you, your honor."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's note: Since I really suck at writing court scenes...seeing as I've never been to court in my lifetime...I'm gonna skip through a lot of content here. If you really wanna see / read this stuff...you're gonna have to use your imagination. Gomen Nasai. So anyway...you on the edge of your seat just yet? Hope so... ^_____^ v!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Game Over?
Continue?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ryuiji and Alu took no time at all to get ready for their court appearance, not even bothering to get really fancy, but rather, to look presentable and neat. Otogi had to look like a father in every way he could, which meant he couldn't wear his lucky earring or necklace. Instead, he tucked them into his pants pocket. This also meant no bandanna or bracelets. He felt so naked and lost without his usual attire of jewelry, it was one of the few parts that made all of the girls and women nearly drop dead in awe in his presence. Now, he felt so...so...normal, and he hated it.
He dressed Alu in a green sweater and clean and ironed black jeans. To make her look her best, he placed on her ears a set of clip on earrings shaped that dangled and tickled her neck whenever she moved too fast. Around her neck, he laced his most lucky and favorite necklace, a chain with a cross on the end. He had her tuck it under her shirt, explaining that it would only work if nobody knew it was there.
Ryou, Seto and Mokuba met both of them at the front door with the businessman's limousine waiting. It was the first time Alu had ever been in such a big car, but she took no time to marvel at it. She could easily feel the tense vibrations in the air. Not one of the teenagers spoke on the ride, leaving Alu feeling pretty alone as she clung tightly to Otogi's shirt.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The three stepped out of the car, greeted by Yugi and company. Otogi held Alu close as the nine of them treaded up the stairway, be gently coaxed up by cold gusts of winter wind, gently sending snow their way before they entered the great hall of the courthouse.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You'll have to keep the girl here. As soon as you enter the courtroom she is no longer in the custody of either the defendant or the plaintiff, but rather in the court's custody." A guard at the door explained. Otogi looked down at the girl. He didn't WANT to let her go. Not to anybody. He just wanted to be able to hold her a little longer. Seto saw his expression and decided not to force the issue, he nudged Yugi and Honda forward into the room, leaving Otogi, Alu, and the guard at the entrance.
Alu tightened her grip.
"I love you little one. You know that. I'd fight the devil, himself, for you." He whispered into her ear, kissing her lightly on the forehead and smoothing out her hair.
"Don't leave me daddy. Please. Don't let me go!" She sobbed, knowing what was about to happen.
"It's alright little one. I promise. It'll be okay. Just take it easy. It'll be alright baby." He gave her a fake smile, trying to make it look as real as possible. Kissing her on the cheek, he knelt down on one knee and eased her away from him. He didn't want to leave her like this. He couldn't do this to her. "I promise. Everything will be all right. I promise sweet heart. I love you. And I'm not going to lose you." He gave her one final hug and soft kiss before leaving her with the female guard.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
His heart was broken. He couldn't let that girl go for these damn people. He just wanted to touch her, to feel her presence near him, but she wasn't there when he sat down before the audience, facing the judge's stand.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Allen King." Another guard, a man this time, announced as the judge entered the room. The room stood up and remained standing until the man gave the order.
"You may be seated." He waited as the many people sat down, just glancing at the defendant, being only Otogi, with Seto acting as he supportive attorney, the plaintiff, the man and woman that claimed to be the parents of Mina Hinato (Alu), the child and the jury.
"Today's case now being presented: Custody of one: Mina Hinato. Let the trial begin." The bald judge announced over the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Your honor, the first person I would like to call to the stand," the plaintiff's attorney began, walking into the center of the opening before the judge. "Is Ryuiji Otogi."
Otogi moved slowly, but firmly to the stand, taking a seat quickly and making sure that he had a good observation area of his daughter.
"Now Mr. Otogi, you claim that you FOUND this girl?"
"Yes sir."
"Could you please explain to the court exactly what you mean?"
"I was on my way home from work when I tripped over something in the snow. When I got up and dusted off whatever I tripped on, I found this girl, huddled in a fetal position nearly frozen to death."
"Now, after you found her, what did you do?"
"I wrapped her in my coat and took her home-"
"See? THAT'S how he took custody of her! He STOLE her!"
"I DID NOT!" Otogi protested, only to be silenced by the judge's small mallet being slammed on the block of wood.
"Mr. Otogi! Mr. Dike (I did that intentionally! ^.^; v) will be doing the speaking here!" he roared. Otogi growled under his breath, still staring at Alu. "Mr. Dike, please continue."
"Thank you, your honor."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's note: Since I really suck at writing court scenes...seeing as I've never been to court in my lifetime...I'm gonna skip through a lot of content here. If you really wanna see / read this stuff...you're gonna have to use your imagination. Gomen Nasai. So anyway...you on the edge of your seat just yet? Hope so... ^_____^ v!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Game Over?
Continue?