Disclaimer: Don't own shaman king how plain is dat?

Anna's Closet

By BluRoSeS

Chapter 9: Court

We were taken to court the next morning. It was a packed Magistrate court. I didn't notice any press in the gallery, but Anna's parents stood out in their somber outfits. The Magistrate's emerged from their chambers. I felt the pressure and became dizzy. I was offered a drink of water, while Hao stood firm. He looked more upset then ever.

Bail was granted for 5.000.00 yen each. My father had gathered the money. Our parents believed in us.

We were taken home. The fronts of our windows were smeared with letters that were written in red. The word spelt 'murderers'

We knew we had to prove our innocence, but didn't know the first thing where we were to start. Our sprits were broken.

We hired a private investigator called Faust VIII and we tried to convince our neighbours that we had nothing to do with the murder, which was to no avail. The detective went door to door to find character witnesses.

The news of our arrest and myself seen in handcuffs was too overwhelming for them. They wouldn't entertain suggestions of our innocence. The whole community had nothing complimentary to say about us to the investigator and we felt particularly offended. Obviously they had completely forgotten all the chores we did, all the help Hao and I had rendered to them over the years.

We were once considered to be the most polite boys in the street. Now we were the most notorious. I guess the saying of 'How the mighty fall' is quite true.

We had fallen from grace and considered villainous.

Four weeks had passed and there was still no further news about us being cleared of all charges. Our private investigator was a waste of money. He didn't know where to start neither.

His door-to-door enquiry was a dead end. Harsh negativity surrounded our home. They were oblivious to the truth and portrayed Hao and I as obnoxious. They obliterated us and this made my mother most upset. The media protruded our case to their front pages.

Our next-door neighbour Mrs Usul, who was a personal friend and colleague of the 'Women Have Rights Too' group for almost nine years, slanderously trampled our good name with such unfounded accusations.

My mother was shocked! Everyone knew my mother was an ignoramus person, but it just went to show that ' your best friend can indeed, be your worst enemy '

When we were having dinner, my dad said something that reminded me of the conversation I had with Anna on the train and where we went to deliver the parcel for her father. I tried really hard to remember what she said when she gave the package and the replied she was to tell her father.

Then it all came flooding back to me. I remembered the man who opened up the door telling Anna that everything had better be the in package or he'd send the boys round. "That sounded like a warning to me," said Hao, who was anxious to hear anything that could even remotely disassociate us with Anna's death. Anna had confirmed to me that it was a warning from one of her father's business associates.

The only problem was that I had forgotten the name of the man. My mum asked if I got the man's name. "I think she called him Uncle something!" I said.

Then there was a knock at the door. "Who could that be at this hour?" My mother said anxiously as she poured coffee into her cup shakily. " It's not… the… police, I hope" Said Hao stammering. We were all on edge.

It was our skinny detective Faust. He had some really interesting news to share with us. He first asked for some tea and biscuits before he told us what news he had.

Mr. Kyoyama had retracted his statement and now claimed that it wasn't Hao who tried to kill him. "What!" screamed my father.

He was struck at the back of his head and only saw Hao leaving.

He assumed Hao had attacked him, but after deep thought he had remembered that he saw Hao walking away casually later before he collapsed.

We embraced ourselves, but our joy was short live when detective Faust told us that the police have our fingerprints and didn't need Mr. Kyoyama collaboration or statement.

We were warned that the Kyoyama's might come over to apologize and we should show understanding. Hao and I totally disagreed.

Anna's father had been released from hospital and came straight to see us. Two hours later, there was a soft knock at the door. We all knew who it was. Faust opened the door.

"Good evening Mr. Kyoyama, how are you feeling" My mother asked.

An ill looking Mr. Kyoyama replied "Oh! I'm alright, considering the circumstances" My mother forced a painful smile and frowned her face has he wondered through to the dinner hall, looking for me.

My parents were fully aware that Mr. Kyoyama's ' statement put Hao and I into so much trouble with the police, but they couldn't say much to him, just in case he came to instigate a confrontation between us.

I knew if we succumbed to any provocation, that would make things worst and our bail would be revoked. So we played along.

Mr. Kyoyama found me in the living room. He me asked to see him at his resident. I totally refused. He claimed to have vital information that would vindicate Hao and I from the charges against us.

With the advice of my mother Hao and I accompanied Mr. Kyoyama to the police station, feeling optimistic. Our father came too.

Inside the station we met detective Potts. We were not amused to see him again. Those long hours of interrogation and the slander caused by our arrest were unforgivable. Their unscrupulous manner of leaking our undetermined plight to the media "I'm not telepathic, but apparently the look on the face of the detective, they now realized that a case of mistaken identity may have occurred here, " said Mr. Kyoyama.

I failed to see the connection with our predicament. Hao then asked Mr. Kyoyama to explain what he meant. Mr. Kyoyama took a deep breath, then turned to us and said…

"My wife played back the answer machine and heard the conversation you had with Anna. We heard her pleading for you to come over and help her and that she was in the closet…hiding. We are so sorry for the mix up"

A/n: I'm so sorry that I made Hao-kun and Yoh-kun suffer….well not really lol please review.