A/N: Please everyone, have mercy on me with this chapter. I know nothing at all whatsoever about the law or court procedures, only from what I've seen on TV and whatnot, so bear with me on this. And yes, it is also a little rushed too. I didn't intend on it, but this it, what everyone's been waiting for. I think you will be most pleased with what the jury decided for Hiro. Review please! -hands out enough manga and pocky to go around-

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Suguru was used to dressing up this way. He tugged at his collar and tried his hardest not to look at the back of Hiro's head at the front of the room. A heated discussion was going on between his parents. Their voices outmatched everyone else in the chattering room. Ayame was in hysterics and Kaori was struggling to calm her down. Suguru shook his head in disgust. They were overreacting by far.

If it were up to Suguru, he'd be the first to shout out to the world that his beloved was innocent. This was so terribly uncalled for. Even with Aizawa's words, the weapons with the prints, all the evidence found in Hiro's apartment, Suguru believed a million times over he was still innocent. Until it came from Hiro's own mouth, nothing could change his mind.

Over at the other side of the room sat Shuichi and a teary streak faced Eiri. Comforting him, Shuichi didn't know what to believe, unlike Suguru. Even though he and Hiro had been best friends for a long while now, Shuichi still believed evidence over word and quite possibly nothing could change his word.

In stepped Noriko with a slouching Ryuichi slowly walking behind her. They took their seats in the front, opposite side of Hiro, not missing a chance to throw in a glare at the helpless redhead. It was also no surprise that Noriko had quickly taken a liking to Suguru's parents, and discussed the matter with them. Feeling as if everything pummeled to the pit of his stomach, Suguru felt the sudden urge to get as far away from his parents as possible. The entire first row behind Hiro was empty, which was another no surprise. Knowing he still had a few extra minutes, and ignoring the short and watchful crowd, he hurried over to the front row and whispered out his beloved's name. Hiro didn't turn. Suguru was almost certain he had heard him, and said it a little louder. Hiro's shoulders slumped, his black fitted tuxedo becoming looser at the top.

"Get out of here kid," Hiro's oversized attorney spat in a voice anything but soft, getting the attention of the room.

Suguru felt as if tons of eyes laid on him, making him even more nervous than at a concert, but the feeling soon melted as he took notice of Hiro's shoulders slightly quivering, bringing tears to his own eyes.

Reaching out his hand to emptiness, Suguru called for his love once more.

"I believe you Hiro. I will always believe you."

Hiro's shoulders froze.

"SECURITY!" bellowed the attorney, standing up with the support of the table.

Suguru's face fell deep with worry, but that didn't stop him from being strong.

Hiro looked over his shoulder, preparing to send Suguru off, but realized that without the voice, heart, and love of that boy, he was truly alone.

Suguru melted. Hiro's face streaked with dried tears, and freshly brewed ones.

Their eyes met for the longest time, before Suguru mouthed the words "I love you", and then was dragged back to his parents, leaving Hiro alone again.

Hiro's head became dizzy, but only lasted for a few seconds before his attorney made it across to him how worthless he was, and immediately following that, the judge appeared out of nowhere, taking his seat in the front. The jury filed out through the side door, taking their seats. Suguru didn't witness any of this, but knew it was about to start when everyone got quiet.

Hiro stayed strong, only for Suguru, even though he felt mostly betrayed by Shuichi and if anything was eating at him right now, it was that. There was no chance in hell he could get out of this one. Aizawa had set him up really good.

Suguru flinched when the gavel was struck, signaling it was to start.

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It felt like hours have passed and no progress was made. Hiro stood up at the front table the whole time, only to be laughed at, spat on, shoved, and cursed at deeply. Everyone who was involved with Tohma's death in one way or another had a say in this case. Mika and Noriko were the toughest of them all. No one in the room had seen Mika more worked up about this and Noriko was all hate.

Shuichi wasn't much help, because he refused to do much talking. Suguru's parents took a stab at it and threw an immediate death sentence on him. They would get their way and they knew it, they would just have to be patient for it. Ryuichi felt himself get sick and left. Eiri refused to step foot to the front, and even Tohma's grief stricken parents gave it a shot up at the stand.

Evidence was provided; all the stories told by the testifiers came together. It was finally time to decide.

Suddenly, in the midst of all the chatter and thought, Suguru stood. All eyes sat on him.

"If I may, I believe I haven't voiced my statement yet."

Ayame's hand covered her own mouth, Kaori's eyes widened, Noriko's eyes went narrow, and Shuichi looked in the middle of sad and disturbed. Either one would be appropriate for him.

"There will be no need for that, your honor," Hiro's attorney said, throwing his papers back into his briefcase and needing the back of the chair to stand. "I do believe we are finished here."

"Mr. Williams I do believe it's the rules of the procedure that we include all who are a part of Mr. Seguchi. Come forth, young man."

Ayame gasped as Suguru slowly let himself closer and closer to the front of the room. This was it. He would have to make a difference, or else there will be nothing left of Hiro.

Suguru's hands went numb, quickly followed by his legs. Luckily he was able to sit; otherwise he would have been one with the floor. Taking a deep breath, he spoke under oath then awaited the questions. He took a lingering glance at Hiro, who was also looking back at him. Hiro knew Suguru's voice wouldn't make much of a difference. He was doomed.

The man who was assigned to question Suguru came forth.

"What is your name young man and how were you associated with Seguchi Tohma?"

Suguru answered truthfully each one of those questions, including his age.

"You seem to be the only one here who doesn't think Hiroshi should be thrown away for life, even though all the evidence proves against him and all the voices in this room are as well. Please tell me why that is," the man said, folding his hands behind his back and looking curiously at Suguru, obviously very surprised Hiro would have a defender.

Suguru looked up at the group of well-known faces, bravely and unafraid of his next words.

"Because I do believe that he is innocent. This was a sick and disgusting act of a very immature and jealous man. I so happen to know that the night my cousin was killed, Hiroshi went off to look for Shuichi because he had been missing for a few days. I do believe it's humanly impossible to be in two places at once. And was he not with you when you woke up in the morning, towering over your bedside, Shindou-san? And shortly after that, at the estimated time of my cousin's murder, was he not at your home, Yuki Eiri-san, yelling at you for being so irresponsible?"

"OBJECTION!" shouted Hiro's attorney, obviously taking the side of everyone else in the room that voted against Hiro.

The judge held out his hand to shut the fat man up and nodded his head at Suguru to keep going.

"It is possible that he could have been so angry with the fact that his best friend at the time was damaged and possibly dead that he needed to take out his anger on someone else besides Yuki Eiri. What better way to do that than an old fashion murder?" Suguru's questioner asked.

"Because Hiro's not like that and anyone who would be willing to listen would know that!" Suguru cried out. "Wake up everyone, especially you Shindou! You know very well Hiro's not a murderer! How DARE you believe Aizawa over him?! I stayed with Hiro while he was on his probation period to prepare for this trial. While I was there, I was just like the rest of you. I didn't believe him. But you know what? I listened to him! I listened to him and I realized he is truly the man I thought he was. Hiro's kind and understanding, and if half of you would give him the chance, you'd see what I see. Aizawa came in and planted those guns in Hiro's apartment, copying his fingerprints from one object to the other by heat and if you investigated those thoroughly you would have noticed them being backwards!"

The crowd was hushed. Suguru's parents turned blue in the face, followed by Shuichi and Noriko.

"And how may I ask do you know this, Fujisaki-san?" came the curiosity of his questioner.

Suguru sat back in his seat stiffly. "I don't. All I'm saying is to recheck them. I believe Hiro would never do anything to harm anyone."

"Fujisaki, those weapons have been scanned and rescanned by laser technology. The prints are as clear as day."

Suguru was lost. There was nothing he could do to save his lover now. His fists clenched involuntarily. There had to have been SOMETHING he was missing. Something that could save Hiro's life.

"Shuichi..." Suguru said in a soft voice. "Do you remember that time when you first met Hiro at lunch in middle school? He offered to give you lunch money because you forgot yours, and you said "no thanks, I don't take money from science nerds"?"

Shuichi remembered this as if it were yesterday and answered truthfully.

"Did you have any idea that you would befriend him and start a band? A band that you look a deep liking to and even hesitated on letting me join? Your bond with Hiro must have been strong to start a fight over it. Do you really want to let go of that? Do you?" he asked; voice getting low and cutting out. "Bad Luck meant so much to you, as well as it did to me. I wanted to surpass my cousin, but that's not the only reason I joined. I joined because I took a liking to you both and the deep relationship you both shared, but then there was a different reason for me being there."

Suguru and Hiro exchanged glances. Hiro knew exactly what he was going to say next and begged him mentally to keep it to himself. Shuichi also seemed to know what he was going to say and had the same expression.

"I fell in love with the guitarist of the band," he said, still looking in Hiro's direction. As much as Hiro felt joy that someone loved him, he knew that he was also accumulating more hate than before.

"I stayed with him for the past few days and told him to remain strong, because everything will work out. Now, until you match up the bullet that was found in my cousin's chest with one of the guns that were found in Hiro's apartment, he's not going anywhere."

Hiro's attorney chuckled. "Foolish child. It's been done. You're wasting your breath. It's a perfect match."

Suguru was defeated. He had no other thoughts.

"The gun," Shuichi said, standing to his feet, the crowd gasping. "Aizawa handled the gun that night, according to his words and the newspaper clipping. Even if it were Hiro's gun and you found it in Hiro's apartment, wouldn't Aizawa's fingerprints be on it as well?"

Suguru had no idea what finally made Shuichi speak up, but his eyes nearly watered with happiness. Heavy discussion went through with the jury as well as the audience.

"And as far as the knives go..." Shuichi said, walking down the isle and into the front of the room. "If you would have happened to do any DNA testing on them, the blood type is mine from when those perverts that raped me decided to create a red herring for this case. I even have the scar to prove it still."

Hiro's face lit up. Shuichi looked back and joined in with him. It was another thanks to Suguru who made this all possible. Before the two knew it, they met arm in arm, saying their apologies.

Hiro had never been happier. Whatever spirit he had within him, grew to a maximum. There was nothing in this world stronger than a best friend bond.

"Thank you Shindou-san, this is all very touching, but that still doesn't explain how Hiroshi got a hold of a gun. If you remember, his fingerprints were on it too."

Hiro let out a sigh as he straightened back up again, starting to remember where he was and all the glee fleeing from his mind. "I touched them. They were in my drawer and I just freaked out and tossed it back in, trying to forget about it. It was obviously wiped clean, so Aizawa's fingerprints weren't seen. That is the honest truth, your honor. I don't care what happens to me now, just so as long as I have my best friend back and my lover, at least I know I wasn't alone."

Shuichi was instructed to go back and take his place, followed by Suguru. They said all they could and all they knew. The rest was up to the jury and every guest in the audience.

Mika's speech was legend, along with Ken and Ma, who couldn't have been more nervous about all this. For once, they were actually clueless, but would be the prime targets if all signs haven't pointed to Hiro.

"Tachi was our best friend," Ma stated. "Without him, it just isn't the same. We don't know why he did this, or what drove him to do it, but it's done and over with and I'm sure he's living with his guilt now."

Hiro's attorney stood, using the table as support. "If you two were his best friends, why wouldn't he include you on this?"

Ken shrugged. "I don't know. It was the first time he hadn't. we were so close and it looks like we'll never find out."

Suguru narrowed his eyes. He suspected those two out of everyone. It all fit. Shuichi toped the charts and Tohma made that all possible for them, giving them maximum exposure. Tachi was jealous of that, and so should his band mates, so they decide to go on a rampage and destroy him.

"It was them, your honor!" Suguru shouted, standing up and not believing he hadn't thought of this before. Ken and Ma's eyes went wide, along with everyone else's. "It's them and I'm sure of it! They are Tachi's right hand men! They would do anything for him, including killing off their boss!"

There was a small discussion among the crowd, and even got the questioner curious. Everyone knew about ASK being a very tight band and being the best of friends.

Ken wore a frown, while Ma looked worried.

"I assure you we had nothing to do with this," Ma said honestly.

"You lie!" Suguru cried.

"Please sit down or remove yourself from my court room," the judge ordered, obviously not taking any interest in what the boy was saying.

"You're embarrassing us!" Ayame hissed, pulling her son down by the arm.

Feeling fury, and powerless to do anything about it, Suguru flopped back down and continued to listen to their lies.

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It wasn't long before they all had come up with a verdict. Hiro's heart stopped, Shuichi's followed, and Suguru held his breath. He had made an honest promise with himself that even if Hiro were found guilty, he would break him out of jail and run away with him, starting a life somewhere else. Either that or join him in death.

A piece of parchment was handed to the judge, who read it over twice.

"Nakano Hiroshi, the jury's vote is unanimous," he started, not taking his eyes off the paper. "We the jury find that you are guilty as charged..."