Soooo sorry everyone! My computer went down for a long time and I couldn't write! Now everything's almost up and running so hopefully more updates although I'm missing my grammar and spell check so if you see a lot of mistakes, you know why. I would have updated sooner too but… So today I decided to update in celebration of my b-day. Finally 15!! Enough chit-chat for now. Enjoy~

P.S. Hope this chapter will answer some questions

**************************************************

As morning came around, the sun shyly peeked over the distant horizon, keeping the morning sun to a minimal. It was going to be a beautiful day, but this was no time for him to sit and watch the sun rise, he had other things to do.

He got out of his car and walked his way to the entrance of the large building.

Walking through the grand double doors, corridor and countless halls, the man finally came to a stop at his large office. Another day at work, another day of seeing to justice, the middle-aged man put on his robe and entered the battle field, his place of work, the court room.

********************

"Tai hurry up or you're going to be late!" Kari cried out as she banged her fist on the bathroom door. "I'm trying, but I can't get my hair right and.and.Where's my tie!? I know it's around here somewhere." "Mom has your tie, now open the door, I'll help you with your hair."

Tai opened the bathroom door and quickly resumed his attempt at taming his hair. Although his hair was now short, it still managed to maintain a mind of its own.

Kari hurriedly snatched the comb from her brother's hand and started at his hair. After a few quick swipes, she was done. Tai was amazed at his sister's skill. After the slight pause of stillness, Kari was fully aware once again that they were going to be late.

She pushed her brother out of the bathroom and into the living room where their mother was ironing out Tai's tie.

Tai quickly grabbed his tie and slung it around his neck. Ignoring his mother's objections, he ran to the nearest mirror he could find and started tying it as neatly as he could possibly manage. Before he could finish, his father had pushed him and the rest of his family out the door.

********************

".And I grant the plaintiff the requested amount. That is all. Court adjured." The man said sternly as he slammed his mallet down.

Everyone in the room, excluding the judge himself and his attending officers, exited the room quietly through the two back doors that led into and out of the room. Only the shuffling of feet and loudly whispered complaints, which undoubtedly came from the unhappy defendants, could be heard throughout the room.

When all had left, the judge sighed and slouched in his chair. Taking off his glasses and setting them down in front, he rubbed his tired eyes, then using his hand to support his hand, he relaxed his body for a little while.

After a minute or two of silence, he finally sat upright in his chair once again, hooking his glasses onto his robe, he picked up the pile of disheveled paper's and put them neatly back into their respectable folder.

While flipping through the pages once again, as to double check, one of his attending came to claim the folder, taking it from the judge's hands, and replacing it with another folder, the folder holding information for the next case.

As the judge flipped through the folder's contents, the officer in front of him started to explain the details of the case.

" Case number 265072, also known as the 'Akahana private high school incident.' Today will be the presentation of the suspects stories, that is all."

"When does this start?" The judge asked. The officer looked at his watch and replied. "fifteen minutes."

"We never get a break do we Nishikawa-kun." The older man chuckled.

"No we don't Kato-san." The young officer smiled back

The older man, got up from his chair. Trying to look important with the folder in hand, he opened the door that was behind his post, disappearing into the darkness of his office.

********************

Tai and his family stepped out of the car and stood staring at the large beautiful building that they stood before. Tai stared in awe at it's beauty as he always did, but then remembered the real reason for his being there. It took a while, but he finally got his legs to move towards the entrance. Shaking with more nervousness in every step he took, a flood of memories came back to him in a sudden rush. Being accused for something he didn't do. Being sent away from his family friends, becoming a complete outcast. But before Tai knew it, he was already inside and walking down the halls of the vast building.

He and his family finally came to a stop when they reached the big double doors at the end of the hall. Tai took in a deep breath, then sighed. He mustered all the courage he had and pushed the doors open, leading to the room that would decide his fate.

As he walked inside, Tai could already see mister Izumi, his lawyer, sitting in his seat at the front, sorting out his papers. Looking over to his right, his eyes came across the reason for his being here, the source of his hate and anger.

Kazuki Senzo, a lyer, a cheat, a killer…

Tai paused for a while, trying his best to calm his anger, clenching his fists so hard that they turned white with fury. His sister put her hand on his shoulder as a means to calm him down, and to remind him what he was really here to do. Tai hesitantly truded forward.

He walked down the seemingly long aisle and proceeded to the defendants position while his family took their position in the benches behind.

As he neared his place, Senzo evily grinned at Tai, as if he had already won the case. Tai ignored his stare and kept on moving.

From the side, Tai could hear the silent sobs of Mrs. Nakamura and her husband comforting her with encouraging and loving words. Tai felt a pang of guilt in his heart. If only, if only… He thought to himself regretibaly.  

"Mr. Izumi," Tai bowed to the man who was seated before him. The man looked up and smiled. "What's with the formality Taichi-kun? You're making me nervous acting like that." Tai kept his bowing possition, not daring to face his lawyer. "Thank you once again for doing this for me… I am greatly indebted to you." "Come on Taichi, I've known you since you first lost your two front teeth! It's really nothing. Tai still kept his bowing possition. After a pause of hesitation, Mr. Izumi finally gave in. He stood up and bowed back to his persistant client. "I will try to the best of my abilities to reprisent you in this case." Satisfied, Tai finally sat down.

"Ko-chan wishes you good luck." Mr Izumi told Tai as he continued with his papers. Tai smiled and crossed his fingers. Thanks Izzy, I'm counting on it.

One of the attending officers announced, "All rise for the honorable Judge Kato."

Everyone stood up without hesitation. The black robed man emerged from the dark back room and seated his self in his chair. Everyone followed suit.

"Court is now in session." He announced, lightly tapping his mallet onto it's platform. "Will the Plantifs please present their case."

The representitive of the opposing side got up and went to the front of the room. He didn't hesitate to start.

"Around three years ago, on May the 12th 2000, Kazuhiko Nakamura was killed on the grounds of his school, Akahana Private highschool. He was found at 2:24 p.m. with two suspects, my client Kazuki, and the defendant, Taichi Yagami. It is still unclear as to whom was responsible for the killing, and if that killer is in fact in this very room, present here today, which brings me to my first witness, my client, Kazuki Senzo. Kazuki-kun, could you please take the stand."

As Tai watched Kazuki vow to tell the truth, he could feel his body heating up, his anger rising. He poured himself a glass of water and downed it fast, in attemt to cool his body down. He was not going to lose himself here.

"Kazuki-kun" The lawyer asked. "Could you please tell the judge what you did on the day of Kazuhiko's murder in as much detail possible?"

"Well, Sakutsu-san, it was a day like any other day, I got up, went to school. Nothing out of the ordinary happened."

"Then can you tell me why you were at the scene of the crime, why you had blood on your clothes and why the police found your fingerprints on the weapon used to kill Kazuhiko" The man asked the boy.

"I was told to get some papers from the school office. The fire alarm went off and everyone ran out of the school but I heard a gun shot. I ran as fast as I could, but by the time I got there…by the time I got there, it was too late. Kazuhiko had already been shot."

"By whom?" the man continued his questions.

"Him," Kazuki pointed strait at Tai. "Taichi Yagami killed him."

The room was hushed. Kari felt like jumping out of her seat and beating on the little brat, but she kept her cool.

"And what did you do after you saw what happened."

"I ran up to him and knocked the gun away. I contemplated shooting him, but…I didn't want to be a killer, like him."

Killer, he had just called Tai a killer. Tai couldn't take it much longer, but Mr. Izumi calmly placed his hand on his shoulder. Tai soon relaxed once again. He would be able to get the truth out soon enough, but the question was, would they believe him.

"Continue please."

"I dropped the gun, and Yagami went berserk. He tackled me to the floor, and that's how the blood got onto my shirt. After that, the police came."

"So you are saying that you didn't kill Kazuhiko."

"That is correct."

"My next question…"

********************

Kato looked at his watch. The plantif's had only gone through five witnesses and it had already been three and a half hours. Sighing he desided to call it in for the day. Slamming his mallet down, he announced "This case is now in recess, we will continue with the hearing on another day."

When the judge left, Mr. Izumi sighed in relief. "Thank goodness! Now we'll have even more time to prepare." Tai only smiled weakly.

Instead of being pleased with the outcome, it only made him feel worse. He didn't get the chance to tell his story, a chance to tell the truth, a chance to clear up the misunderstanding that made everyone hate the name "Taichi Yagami."

"Don't worry Taichi, you'll get your chance." Mr. Izumi Assured him. But Tai couldn't wait any longer, he needed to get it out. Since the insident, Tai hadn't talked much about the insident, seeing a friend die before your eyes wasn't exactly the best conversation topic. Thinking about it pained him, but not being able to talk about it made things worse. He wasn't sure if he could endure it much longer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry! That was all I could write to make it in time to update today!! And also, once again, I'm sorry for the delay. I've been busy (and a little lazy but I was really writing!!) with school and other comitments. Next chapter, will be about what happened on "That day"

If you guys havent got it yet, three years prior to the present (of the story) Tai was found at the scene of a murder along with Kazuki Senzo, but Senzo Insists that he didn't do it and blames it on Tai, of course, Tai didn't do it, so he's trying to prove his inocense, but didn't get the chance until now due to "complicated" reasons. This chapter may have been a tad bit boring, but it was necissary to explain why Taichi "Yagami" was really hated, a little clue as to why he switches from Yagami and Kamiya all the time, but! I won't let out anymore spoilers. Maybe you've figured it out?

Next update will hopefully be on the weekend. I promise that it won't take so long this time around.

As for those who are wondering about "Mask of Deception." I'm still working on it, but I have to make a few minor changes to the story to make it work out smoothly.

Thx for reading. Please tell me what you thought. The greatest birthday present I could get would be reviews from all you readers!!