(¯`'·.¸(¯`'·. Chapter Eight .·'´¯)¸.·'´¯)
(¯`'·. Trial .·'´¯)
Seifer did the best to smooth out the wrinkles of his trench coat before stepping into the courtroom. It was full of people, talking amongst each other. A lawyer stood on the prosecuting side, wearing a prissy blue suit. His lawyer Xavier sat at a table across the way dressed in a refined gray suit shuffling through paper. The police officers led Seifer down the isle, sitting him down next to Xavier.
"The court is all in an uproar," Xavier said leaning over a bit to talk to Seifer.
"Why?" Seifer asked glancing up at the black robed judge who sat at the head of the room.
"Quistis Bi- Trepe, officially retook her old name last night, and hasn't been seen since" Xavier answered. Seifer felt his heart clatter to the floor like it was a ball of solid lead.
"Do you think she left town?" Seifer has in a rushed voice. Xavier only shrugged his shoulder's pointing as the jury was brought into the room. Seifer was tempted to groan out loud. Every single one of them was a Deling City citizen. The one place where it seemed everyone hated him. The place where his pronounced rein of terror began. He was all ready condemned.
"The court will now come to order, the honorable judge Tarnin Blackwater presiding" the bailiff shouted. The judge looked up and met Seifer's eyes before he banged the gavel on his little platform.
"Mr. Ducti, you may began your opening statement" the judge said motioning to the lawyer in the blue suit. Ducti stepped out form behind his desk and looked at the judge then at the jury.
"I am here to prove to you today, that Seifer Almasy is indeed guilty of murder in the first degree. I plan to prove this you with evidence and a motive. We have the murder weapon, the defendant's own gunblade that was left in Castle Billings' neck. We have the motive; Seifer Almasy was indeed in love with Billings' wife! So I would hope that you pay attention to these facts, and keep an open mind" Ducti said finishing with a huge glistening smile. Oh this guy is good; Seifer thought forking a hand through his hair. He gazed around the room praying that Quistis would show up. Xavier stood up straightening his suit a bit before turning to the jury.
"Seifer Almasy is innocent. If you find that he did kill Castle Billings I hope you see that he did it in self-defense. Self-defense of the woman he loved. We will proof that Billings' beat his wife on numerous times, and almost killed her as well. Who would the wife turn to but a man who she had known since childhood? I hope that you will not let the past cloud your judgement" Xavier said bowing a bit at the end before sitting back down.
"Prosecutor, you can send up your first witness now" the judge said. Ducti stood up clearing his throat.
"I call Seifer Almasy to the stand" Ducti said looking over at him with a cruel smile. Seifer smirked back at him standing up. He walked up to the witness stand the bailiff coming in front of him.
"Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you Hyne?" the bailiff asked.
"I do" Seifer said.
"You may be seated" the judge said. Seifer sat down looking out at the courtroom. There was still no Quistis. How could she do this to him? He spotted Fuijin and Raijun sitting in the back, both looking enraged. He smiled a bit at that, once a posse always a posse.
"Mr. Almasy" Ducti broke his thoughts, "are you indeed in love with Quistis Billings?"
"Trepe" Seifer shot back.
"Excuse me?" Ducti asked.
"Quistis Trepe. Her name is Quistis Trepe, and yes I do love her" Seifer said in a steely voice locking eyes with Ducti.
"Is it true that you were indeed having an affair with Ms. Trepe" Ducti said his voice dripping with sarcasm in the last two words.
"No" Seifer answered shortly.
"Then how do you explain these pictures?" Ducti said holding up a stack of black and white stills. He walked over to the judge and handed him copies of each picture. Ducti laid two pictures out in front of Seifer. One was of him and Quistis at the club on the night they had first met again. The other was of him sitting beside her hospital bed, their lips touching in a soft kiss.
"A kiss is considered an affair now?" Seifer said growling. Ducti laughed shaking his head.
"And this," Ducti picked up a his Hyperion, sheathed in plastic, "is yours correct?"
"Yes" Seifer said.
"Did you leave it in Castle Billings' neck after you killed him?" Ducti asked.
"I did, but I only left it there because his wife-"
"No further questions, your honor" Ducti said cutting him off. Ducti sat down grinning cockily at Seifer. Seifer wanted to jump over the railing in front of him and beat his head in.
"Seifer, How long would you say you have known Ms. Trepe" Xavier March asked softly calling attention to him.
"All my life, we stayed at the same orphanage as kids" Seifer replied.
"When you met her in Deling, did you discover anything strange about her now?"
"She was married, to Castle Billings" Seifer said his voice sharp.
"She called you to meet her one day, at a café?"
"Yeah, I met her there only to discover that she had a huge black eye" Seifer said feeling the anger rise in her again.
"Then is it true that a few days later she ended up in the hospital?" Xavier asked.
"Yes, he beat her close to death" Seifer said clenching his hands into fists.
"Why did you leave your Hyperion in his neck?" Xavier asked.
"Quistis was bleeding to death" Seifer said softly.
"No further questions, your honor" Xavier said sitting back down.
"You may step down, Mr. Almasy" the judge said. Seifer stood up and strode across the room back to his seat. His green eyes never left the back door.
"Any more witnesses, Mr. Ducti?" Judge Blackwater said looking at the attorney.
"My other Witness has not appeared, I'd like to motion that I may open the witness stand back up when she does arrive" Ducti said from behind his little table.
"Motion granted, Mr. March call your first witness" the judge said as Xavier stood up.
"I'd like to call Edea Kramer to the stand" a tremor of excitement went through the crowd as the back door opened emitting the former sorceress.
"Objection," Ducti said hopping to his feet "I see no way that this witness is involved in this case at all"
"I only wish to prove Mr. Almasy's moral character" Xavier cut in as Edea was getting sworn in.
"Overruled, Ducti. I'd like to hear what Mrs. Kramer has to say" The judge said turning to look at Edea.
"Matron" Seifer mouthed smiling at her. If there were anyone he was expecting to come to his rescue it wouldn't be her. Edea smiled her kind motherly smile at her nodding a bit.
"Mrs. Kramer, did you run the orphanage that both Seifer and Quistis attended?" Xavier asked.
"Yes I did" Edea answered.
"And how would you say Seifer behaved?"
"He was a bully at times, but deep down he was always a knight" Edea said.
"Is that why you chose him to be yours" Ducti shouted standing up. The crowd went into chaos then, shuffling feet and loud talking.
"Mr. Ducti, Neither Mrs. Kramer, no Mr. Almasy are on trial for their crimes during the War. They have both been tried and found innocent. I would hope that you would keep that in mind" the judge growled his eyes flashing in anger.
"No further question, your honor" Xavier said. He sat down next to Seifer and grinned at him.
"What did that accomplish?" Seifer asked in an angry hush tone.
"Proof of your innocence before, from the judge's own mouth" Xavier said grinning.
"Any questions for this witness?" the judge said looking at Ducti with a warning glare.
"No questions, your honor" Ducti growled not bothering to stand up. Xavier couldn't help but flash a grin at the other attorney.
"Any further witnesses?" the judge asked looking at Xavier.
"He has one" a strong female voice came from the back of the room. Seifer's heart leapt back in to his cheat as he hopped to his feet. Quistis stood there like an avenging angel, in her peach battle gear. Her save the Queen was coiled at her side. She indeed was ready to go into battle.
"I- I call Quistis Trepe to the stand" Xavier March said stumbling over his own words.
"This is an outrage, Quistis Trepe is my witness!" Ducti said hopping to his feet.
"No, Quistis Billings was your witness. Quistis Billings has died" Quistis said striding up the isle of the courtroom. She was so beautiful to Seifer her hair back in its old style, blue eyes sparkling.
"Let the woman testify!" one of the people shouted in the ground. Which then set loose a spree of shouting and yelling all to be ended by the loud bang of a gavel.
"Ms. Trepe, please take the stand" Judge Blackwater said when it was quiet at last. Quistis nodded walking to the box and taking a seat after she was quickly sworn in. Xavier March cleared his throat, loosing the collar on his shirt a bit.
"Quistis, Tell us of your life with Castle Billings" Xavier said at last the court room deathly silent. Quistis' eyes met Seifer's from across the room, and she smiled a bit. She took a deep breath and began to speak.
A/N: Boy that chapter was long, and boring. Sorry! I tried to get through all the pomp as fast as I could. Stay tuned for more angst! :D
If love is a red dress, can I return it within two weeks if it shreds? -- Jello Ink
If love is a red dress, mine got put out with the trash along with last week's moldy cat food. -- Corwin Denethor
If love is a red dress...no wonder I don't have a boyfriend...! -- Lizziechan, a.k.a. Houoji
If love is a red Dress, then I want it low cut -- Dragoness Eve
If love is a red dress,then why do i start wearin' them...nah -- Man Eating Turkies Are trying To eat me
If love is a red dress... nah... I'd wear all black leather (like Squall!) -- Einlanzer
If love is a red dress, then I'd wear it everyday (if only I could find it in the laundry ^^')!!! , If love is a red dress, no wonder Julia wore it every time Laguna was around!" , If love is a red dress, I understand why so many divorcee-to-be wear white on their wedding day! , If love is a red dress, Quistis sure looks good in it! -- BikoNeko
If love is a red dress....could you have seifer waiting for me in a hotel room to take it off me -- Ling-San