Bring on those reviews people, I'm so close! Now let me just congratulate a certain someone on the very long review! It's huge! Now you just have to beat it! That's gonna be funny! I apologize again for leaving cliff hangers! But they work so well! They end the chapters so brilliantly, and they always make you want more! You will have to wait and find out what they are going to do with Kai! Don't worry, I wont stick him in a nut house, I swear, he wouldn't belong in one! With the way I spell Ray, I spell it the English dubbed way, otherwise id feel like I have to do everyone's names the Japanese way and that's just a headache! As for the last warm smile..........just wait and see!
Someone's getting close to my plan! Stop guessing!
Thanks about the names! I collect names (I collect loads of stuff, that's just one thing!), so any cool names, let me know! To confirm things, after the trial, something will happen and that will end this story, so it's close, but please remember the sequel!!! That's coming straight after! Yes I want to give you a sequel!
Right, so far it's just Mariah, Samantha, and Tyson's dad. No other teams. The only reason Mariah is there is because of Ray, she's taking a break to be with him. The other teams have been informed, yet can't be there (call it a character overload if they were!). The book was only read by those involved in the trial as it is evidence, but then his friends know a fair bit now anyway, Tadashi more so! As for Kai/ Tad romance, no idea so far! Maybe some more feedback there? It's my fault if you die, I know! I am the God of Death so yup, it's my story that will kill ya and I'll collect your soul! Mwahahahahaha!
No need for intelligent reviews people! Any review will do and is appreciated!
Like I said, you will have to wait for the secret!!!!!
Warm fuzzies all around! (Small note, I'm back at uni now so updating may be a little erratic and slow. Please don't hurt me! You know I'll do my best to try!)
Walking into the courtroom, Kai's heart wanted to leap to his mouth, exit it, and run away screaming bloody murder. He forced the feeling down. This was a mission, no time for emotions. Emotions got you injured, killed. It meant failure and that was not an option. Looking round, the room seemed to be typical of its type. Dark wood panelling, even darker flooring. Burgundy drapes and plush chairs. Polished oak tables. Everything was like a TV set. Lining the back wall was barred off benches for anyone who wanted to see the trial, or was allowed to. His friends were already seated, all giving thumbs up. He couldn't help but feel some emotion at that warm gesture.
In front of him were the judge's seat, the docks, and two separate tables with chairs. To his left were the jury benches. All ready filled up, each face more unreadable then stone. Kai felt his hackles rise as he saw who was seated on the right hand table.
Voltaire sat impassively, acting as though he didn't care, and maybe he didn't. Kai wouldn't have been surprised. His feet still bore chains, as did his wrists. They were not taking any chances this time; he had escaped once already, a mark against him so far. He looked over at Kai and the teen had a hard time suppressing a shiver. Voltaire's lawyer was just as bad. The man seemed to be carved from ice, and the expensive watch and gold rings told Kai he wasn't cheap. He inwardly groaned. A mark against him there.
Kai was seated, and the procedures began. Time went by excruciatingly slowly as they showed proper formality to the judge, rising and seating themselves when asked, listening as the woman outlined her notes on the present case. Small clacking noises came from the person typing each word said was the only other noise present in the echoing room. To Kai it seemed deafening. He almost jumped when the 'honourable' judge Morgan hit the hammer on its stand. Now it began.
"We shall begin the proceedings by listing the alleged and proven crimes of the accused. If you will," the judge stated, indicating to a man Kai didn't see till now to read from the paper in his hands.
The tall man cleared his throat before beginning. "Voltaire Hiwatari, you have been accused of treason against your native country, Russia, of illegal exports and imports of drugs, weaponry, and human trafficking. You have been involved and lead an organisation that threatened the world's safety, did illegal experimentation, and held people unlawfully. You have also been accused of murder, torture, assault, and assisting in the rape per anum of a male minor. Court proceedings have already taken place for your other crimes and you have been found guilty for them. this court proceeding shall determine whether you are found innocent or guilty to the crimes relating to the accusations of torture, assault, and assisted rape of the male minor, Kai Hiwatari, your grandson."
Murmurs buzzed in Kai's ears from the public stands, yet he couldn't hear what they were saying. His blood seemed to run cold, even though Voltaire was guilty of most of the crimes, there was plenty of evidence for that. The evidence for this trial was his word and a few scars against the older mans. No, he had to think logically, this was a battle, and all battles must be fought with the mind not the heart. He couldn't loose this battle. Under his current hidden stress, the two bitbeast keened to him. He wasn't alone. Kai realised how much of the trial had already taken place without his knowledge, and the thought angered him. They always had to make decisions for him, never letting him choose. Why hadn't they told him?
He was interrupted from his thoughts by the evidence being listed and laid on the surface before the jury to look at.
The man continued to talk, "the evidence before you is to prove Voltaire guilty of the alleged crimes. Please look at them and decide which you deem proof. The first piece of evidence is a small notebook, written by the victim. You have all read it and have copies before you. The next is a recent medical report of Kai Hiwatari. No other medical documents have been found regarding the individual and have been proven to have been destroyed. The documents cover his overall medical well-being, his injuries at the time of hospitalisation on two separate accounts, recent dental records, the only ones found, and his mental well-being."
Kai hoped to whatever Gods were listening he wasn't put down as mentally unstable, the whole trial could collapse from those words.
"The next is a series of photographs taken by a police professional of the numerous scars on Kai Hiwatari's body. Other evidence includes statements made by various professionals in their fields of their meetings with the victim. The last is a small collection of photographs done by the professional previously mentioned of an apparent side effect caused by the alleged experimentation on the victim. An explanation of what happened has also been provided by another individual present at the time."
The man stopped and went back to his shadowy corner by the judge's desk. Kai wanted to shudder at the thought of his wings shown to these strangers. It was strangely intimate and something he didn't want to share, yet without the evidence for the experimentation of making human weapons, what was there? One thing broke through his battle mode, and it began to worry him. A familiar had started between his shoulder blades.
'Not now!' was all he could think of, it was not the time for that sort of protection! How would a room full of strangers react to the boy turned beast? They may consider him dangerous, mad, he had to win! He forcibly suppressed the sensation to a mild tingling, but it wouldn't go away. He concentrated on the trial, which was were his focus was needed. It was now time for Voltaire's evidence. Kai was a bit surprised when his grandfathers lawyer stood up and declared in a voice icier and harder then he seemed, and that was stony enough, that his client had nothing to declare except he regrets his grandson took his lying this far. Kai watched in a sort of mixed horror and hate as the man smugly sat down, frost lacing his grin. Now it wasn't just Voltaire who needed to go down, it was this man too.
Kai pondered in a sick, happy way that multiple targets were better then just single ones, more fun. The jury buzzed quietly amongst themselves until the judge demanded silence. The trial proceeded.
Kai concentrated on the trial, watching out of anothers eyes, or so it seemed. When he was in a battle mode, nothing seemed to touch him; it was like existing through another, still feeling everything they did but at a detached distance. Soon he would be called up to talk; soon they would know the truth.
The next part consisted of Voltaire being called to the stands. He played the good citizen, swearing on the offered bible, and minding his words carefully. He glanced up at Seko as the man stood and held Kai's shoulder briefly before taking the floor. It was Kai's side to go first.
Seko began. "Mr. Hiwatari, from your previous statements on your grandson, you claim innocence to all allegations against him. You also claim your grandson to be unsound of mind and prone to lying for attention, is this correct?"
"Of course" replied the grey haired man, still bearing the healing wounds of Kai's attacks. "The boy has always lied, and I'm afraid I indulged him too often since he came into my care. I felt sorry for him, losing his parents, my son, so early in life. I wish now id been more sensible."
"How would you then explain the wounds and scars Kai Hiwatari now bears? Or the evident psychological damage that the hospital as reported for one of his age?"
"I can never forgive myself for not noticing what the boy went through at the hands of his hired teacher whilst I housed him at one of my buildings, Balkov abbey. He was there under schooling with other children, none of whom have been through what Mr. Balkov singled my grandson out for. I deeply regret being away from the boy so much, I should have noticed." Kai heard someone standing abruptly in the public stands, but it was subdued. He didn't need to guess to know it was Tadashi. She would have felt the sentence about no other children being through what he had cut deeply. She should have been here, with him, this was both their battle.
"Yes, you should have, why distance yourself away from your only remaining relative? Surely the loss of your son would draw you closer to your grandson? How could you not notice the tattoos on his face? The wounds he bears?" Kai marvelled at the cool skill at which Seko used to ask such questions.
"You know children; good at hiding things they feel will anger adults. The tattoos are recent, probably only recently healed; I've never seen them before. I hate to say it of my own family, but I have to admit the boy has always tried to self mutilate. He recently had his lip pierced, though it seems that was removed. What can I do with such an obviously traumatised boy?" to emphasise his point, he spread his arms out and shrugged awkwardly, acting helpless in the situation.
"I and others in this room with children will disagree with you I'm sure. Some things go unnoticed yes, but wounds so deep they reach bone? The tattoos have been looked at by a professional medical practitioner specialising in self disfigurement, and the tattoos have had enough time to settle into his skin permanently, a slow process that seems to have been in effect for several years. How would you explain that? Or the missing records?"
Voltaire just shrugged and claimed such things out of his hands. Kai remembered the day his face was tattooed, and anger boiled at Voltaire's claim to innocence. He remembered the searing pain, the blood and ink mingling down the sides of his face. His pitiful cries as he tried to move from the table he was strapped too as the buzzing needle came closer to tender skin. Tears soon joined the blood and ink. How could Voltaire deny being there that day? Accuse him of putting in that vile lip ring? Say he had nothing to do with any of the scars that adorned Kai's body in ragged ribbons?
Kai only had one purpose right now, to see Voltaire lost all of his.
Rejecting light
I chose to walk these paths alone
It doesn't matter if you know why
You wouldn't really want to care
Only listening for the wanted lie
Well I won't lie to you anymore
I won't even hold my breath
For a sign you really want to know
Id sooner welcome death
I trusted you with my secrets
Said to you things straight from the heart
You couldn't even throw them back
Just laughed as you tore me apart
There was nothing ever left to mourn
I never had you whatever you say
So now I have no reason
To regret leaving you that day
Did it take you this you long to find me?
Or did you only just notice me gone?
You only want what I could give you
Now that I've left you with none
I now know the grass is greener
From what I had before
All I did was delude myself
Denied the pain I felt so raw
You don't need me, you never did
You won't persuade me to return
There's nothing left for either of us
This is a bridge I'll gladly burn
With you I may have been in the light
But that's no reason to go back
I'll stay here in this darkness
That is never truly black