Author's Notes: I was holding out for more reviews but... Feh. .; Ah well, it is after Christmas, so I'm just happy I'm not getting flamed. Hm... I should be working on my geography summative. Feh. Well.. Enjoy!

Mrs. Frisby-Here's another new chappy! Samurai Shoujo- .; I know. It's those damn exams and summatives. .. I know that there's more than one way spell Touma. Also- the Japanese don't use only kanji. Katakana alphabet (for lack of a better term) for foreign words. Hiragana For Japanese words. Kanji Borrowed from Chinese, I think. Something like that, anyways. Also, you changed your name too! Kitty in the Box- Here's the next update! ..

Chapter IX - Verdict: Not Guilty

Chapter IX - Verdict: Not Guilty

'What can I do to make this right..?' said Touma. He looked around at his office. Looking for inspiration, his eyes happened upon his calendar. He noticed it was December 22. Hm.. Almost Christmas. He thought for a moment, remembering the package from Shuichi that Touma had discovered at Yuki's house. A faint smile crept slowly onto Touma's face.

'Yuki residence.'

'Aniki?'

'Tatsuha?'

'How ya been aniki? Miss talking to me?

'Not in the least,' lied Yuki.

'Aww.. I'm so hurt.'

'However could I make it up to you?' responded Yuki, his voice laced with sarcasm.

'Tatsuha ignored his elder brother's sarcasm and continued, 'Well.. Letting me stay at your house over Christmas would be a start.'

'What!? Why would you want to stay here?! Why should I let you?'

'Please, aniki? You know you want to...'

'Fine.'

'Yay! Thank you, favourite brother of mine!'

'I'm your only brother.'

'Thanks again! ♥'

'You're leaving first thing on the 26th, or I'm taking you back to Kyoto myself.'

'I'm sure you'll enjoy a long car ride with your favourite younger brother.'

'Feh.'

'Sayonara, aniki!'

'...'

Yuki hung up. Ugh.. Why'd Tatsuha have to invite himself over.. Lazy leech. The pain of hurting Shuichi was still fresh, a few days after their.. Incident. He had planned to spend the holidays writing a novel - the deadline was New Year's Eve - and just not thinking about Shuichi in general. Yuki was never one to worry over a silly thing like a deadline, but he had worried over sillier things. Being with Shuichi had changed him, and he was helping him to leave Kitazawa in the past. How could I give him up like that?

Touma and Noriko Ukai were sitting in his study. 'Now.. What was it that you wanted me here for?' inquired Touma's violet-haired band-mate. 'I want to have a Christmas party. Eiri and Shindou-san are.. No longer together. I was hoping you could help me.'

Ryuichi had told Noriko about Shuichi's problems as well, and she had a pretty good idea of what happened between them. That wasn't all he had told her, however.

'But of course, Touma darling. After all, what are band-mates for?'

Touma smirked, 'I'm ashamed to have thought otherwise.'

'Oh, you should be. What do you want me to do?'

'Could you make sure both Eiri and Shuichi are here for midnight? The party will be on Christmas Eve, midnight that night.'

'What do you propose I should do to get them both here?'

'I'm sure you'll think of something. K-san will help.'

Noriko smiled at the thought of having the energetic and violent American help her.

'All right, I'll leave the details to you, then,' said Noriko, as she headed toward the door. Little did Touma know, he wasn't the only one playing match-maker.