Aisha: Hiyo minna-chan! Welcome back to Concrete Angel!

Leesha: Chappie 4 and still no lyrics.

Aisha:We'll get there someday. But there seems to be a minor problem--

ONLY 2 PEOPLE ANSWERED THE POLL!

Leesha: So we've decided on almost.

Aisha: Listen peoples, I'm being nice and letting you decide the flow of the story, ya know? So please please please

ANSWER THE POLLS!

Okay?.. We've got that? Excellant.

Leesha: Oh and thanks for da reviews, too.

Aisha: Onward!

Ps. I'm very very VERY bad at court scenes. -.-;;

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Ryou," I whispered, which brought Marik's head back around.

"I was right, wasn't I?" Marik asked softly when he saw the poor child's expression. Bringing his hands up to Ryou's shoulders he asked, "Care to tell us? It won't leave this room, only to people who will protect you."

He wiped his tears with the back of his hand. "My stepdad would go out and get drunk. Because of my long hair and small frame for a boy, he would see me as some fling he had. I would always escape, but it came close. I would get beat the next morning anyways, so did it matter?"

He had such sadness in his voice, yet you could hear a hint of disgust. How did he withstand the treatment he recieved?

Next moment I had my arms around his tiny frame, fighting back my own tears. I looked to Marik who shrugged sadly, and then to Yami who's head was hung low. I'm guessing Anzu took Yugi somewhere else in the house, 'cause they were no where on the scene.

"It did matter," I told the sobbing boy. But before I could comfort him anymore, the doorbell rang. Yami, to give himself something to do, went to answer it.

A minute later a woman with chin-length brown hair, half-glasses, and wearing a navy blue suit walked in. (A/n Stereotypical ne?) Ryou pulled away to wipe his eyes again.

"Hello, I'm the representive from the Child Care Center, Michiko Kotani(1)," she said bowing. She looked over to me and Ryou asking, "I suppose your Ryou, and your Mr.Bakura?" We nodded.

She sat next to Ryou and I scooted over a little. "Is it true you've been abused?" My heart sank when he hesitated.

"Tell her everything you've told us," Marik whispered. He had gotten off the floor when Michiko-san walked in and was now standind near me with his arms crossed. Michiko-san nodded in agreement.

"It's the only way I'll be able to help you."

Ryou began speaking of everything he told us, giving all he could think of. Michiko-san jotted notes on a small clipboard, watching Ryou for a few seconds before going right back. I think she was trying to determine whether he was lying or not. She must of found him not guilty.

When Ryou had finished he wasn't crying anymore, though I don't believe he had any left to shed. Michiko-san turned to be now, "Are you related to this boy?"

I shook my head, "No, I'm his school teacher."

She scowled before getting up with a sigh. "I'm going to have to call Ryou's stepfather."

"Nani?!?" Me, Yami, and Marik yelled at the same time. Only Yami and I yelled in confusion; Marik yelled in anger.

"You can't do that!" the latter yelled again, "Not when the child comes of his own free will!"

Michiko-san looked at us with sadness. "I am afraid I can." She took her glasses off and cleaned them, showin probably how guilty she felt. "Sence none of you are related and his father has niether died nor disowned him, you have no custody over Ryou-chan. The parent must be notifyed. I'm sorry but I must do my job. You must believe me when I say I support you, but..."

She trailed off and I nodded in understanding as she walked off for the phone.

/But do I really understand?/ I had to ask myself. /Does ANYONE understand how a parent can hate their own child? To hurt them, make them feel like their nothing? Just a tiny splotch in the universe with no significance..../

I think that if Ryou wasn't here right now, we'd all be cursing our brains out.

=== Flashback ===

Michiko-san walked into the room, adjusting her glasses.

" Ryou's stepfather would like to take this case to court."

"Excuse me?" I narrowed my eyes.

"He's pressing charges against you Bakura-san, for kidnapping, molestation of the boy, and he said you hid him when he asked if you had seen Ryou."

"I never touched Ryou! How would he know?? And I lied to protect him!" I had yelled in fury. Marik also had a fire in his eyes.

"He has no evidence, and Ryou came to Bakura for help--"

"When he then should have called us," Michiko-san calmly cut my laywer friend off. "It's beyond my power now. But I will tell you this--- for someone who is not related to the kid by blood in any way, shape, or form, Bakura-san: you could very well pass for a relative. And please don't loose your cool." She picked up her clipboard and turned to walk away. "You'll will report to court in two days for the trial at noon before an open jury. I'm very sorry."

And with that she walked away, Ryou crying once more into my shoulder.

=== End Flashback ===

"I wish to stand as your lawyer," Marik said after a minute of silence when Ryou had quit sobbing and gained repossesion of his beloved Chikiyo.

"Of course," I replied monotonously. "Who else would I choose?"

"Uncle Bakura.." came the whisper from Ryou. I turned my attention to him, but he continued to stare down with glazed eyes. "I.. I just wanted to be normal, you know?" He hugged Chikiyo tight to his chest before going on, "I wanted friends, an education, then grow up to have a wife and children and a pet and a job which would support my family. I wanted to be athletic but I also wanted to be an artist, or a vet or something. I want to ask Cindy Valentine(2) out, but I don't believe I have much a chance at any dreams now."

I stared at Ryou in shock for a while. Ever since I've taken him in he's hardly said a word, but now he's spilling everything out to us.

"That's not true. You have a chance. We won't let anything happen to you. And once this is all over, we'll get you and Cindy on a date, I think she has a thing for you too."

I am now more determined then ever to help this poor kid..

Day of the trial

The days had passed so quickly. Here we were now - me, Marik, and Ryou - sitting and waiting for the latter's stepdad to arrive and for the rest of the jury. The anxiety was killing me. Ryou was hugging Chikiyo and glancing around. Marik was shuffling through papers, getting everything just right.

Finally the man I now resented the most stomped in the door will an ill-looking lawyer. Marik gave a nasty glare while I didn't even give acknowledgement.

The jury was all seated when the judge came in. Everyone went through the regular procedures, and the case was explained. The rest was all hazy for me, except for the times I was called to answer something. But I did know Marik was fighting it to his best extent.

I watched the jury go out, I watched them come back in. Only when the judge was ready to state the verdict was I truly awake.

"The jury has reached a decision," she started, "Custody of the boy will be handed to his father, and Mr.Bakura will be fined for holding against will, and until he pays it he shall be in temporary jail."

I swear my blood froze. It felt like needles wanting to break through my veins. My throat felt dry and on instinct I grabbed Ryou's arm. Out the corner of my eye Marik arose, slamming his palms down on the table.

"What the hell do you mean?!" he demanded. We turned to the jury, some expressionless, others holding sad eyes. "How could you find this??"

"Enough! You'll do as I say in this court!" The judge silenced everyone. "Officers, take him away."

I shook my head. This can't be happening. I tried to fight, but they were too strong. I'm forced to watch as the child I've grown so fond of is dragged away by his horrid stepfather, bursting tears.

No. Something's wrong with the world... very, sickly wrong......

I sat alone in the cell. It had been-what?- Nine minutes I think? And all this time I couldn't shake Ryou from my head; niether could I shake the feeling of dread.

A guard then came to my door and opened it saying, "Your free to go, you've been bailed out, and your fines have been payed." I walked out dreaily, blinking to try and adjust my eyes to the light. The door was closed behind me, and I found Marik.

"Don't worry, me and Yami have payed the fine. And we don't expect payback," he explained as the guard descended down the opposite hall. He was managing a small smile at least. But I knew that's all he could do to keep from exploding.

"I need to see Ryou," I tried, but he put a hand out in front of me, which I half expected.

"You can't do that," Marik said softly. "They've filed a restaining order against you, Bakura, you can't go within 10 feet--"

I smacked his hand away. "You know where the restaining order can go, don't you? I have a feeling something terrible will happen tonight, and I need to be there to stop it tonight. Any questions?"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aisha: Ah, yes, it's getting down to the wire. Sorry if I sounded rude up there; I've been having messed a up week.

Leesha: And it would have been up sooner, had notepad not broken down. It still is.

Aisha: Procedures, procedures...

Leesha: Gomen, no poll this time. And we raved about that for nothing. Sad..

Aisha: Well, it's almost done. Please review, okay? Thanks. .

Ps.

(1) Ah I made her up. Maybe I'll put her and Bakura together. I really liked writing her character.

(2) I'll leave it to your imagination whether or not she is any relation to Mai. ;)

And if at any point you see this: it's for my own safety. I don't need people walking in to see certain words. If I forget to delete them, gomen.