DICLAIMER:FOR THE LAST FREAKIN TIME, I DO NOT OWN KINGDOM HEARTS!

CHAPTER 6: TRAIAL AND DEPARTURE

The morning sun rose slowly over the Destiny Islands, bathing the sea in its warm healing rays. The gulls began to stir in their nests, and take flight, flying over the seas, searching for food, their cries carrying across the waters to the Destiny Island jailhouse. Dave looked out the window of cell, staring at the sunrise. Long had it been since he had seen a sunrise this beautiful, and something told him it would be even longer before he saw another. The door to his clanged open, and Jordan entered. "Let's go, Dave." he said heavily, knowing that he would never see his friend alive again, and he was partly to blame for it. As the pair left, Dave looked out the window to see they were passing through his old neighborhood, before he had moved in with the Taylors. As they neared the city, he could see news crews setting up outside the courthouse. "What's this, amigo?" he said savagely. "Guess, esse." Jordan grumped back.

As they got out of the car, the press began swarming around them. "Mr. Burnside, is it true that you are a psychic?" one yelled. Dave glared at the idiot, and responded in Al Bhed. "Pihn eh ramm."(A/N: Burn in hell) he snarled as he was led up the steps to the court house, where he knew he would be shipped to Helena, the one place no man could escape. Dave was led into the court room, where he saw a full room. To his disgust, he saw Gincarlo sitting prosecuter's spot smuggly, with a terrified Antionette sitting in the row behind him. So, he wanted to play dirty, did he? Well, Dave could do that.

"All rise." the guard called out as the judge entered the room. "Be seated. Will the accused please step forward." he said regally. Dave stepped forward fearlessly, know that to show fear was to be considered weak in this court room. "Be seated." the judge said. Dave looked at his lawyer, and said the two words that would rock the court room, and ultimately decide his fate. "You're fired." The looks on everyone's faces were a kodak moment if Dave ever saw one. "Mr. Burnside, you are aware that if you choose to represent yourself, you cannot make an appeal for a mistrial, correct?' the judge asked, making sure he had heard right. "Aye. I know, your honor." Dave said as he prepared his opening statement. "Then you may proceed." Dave cleared his throat. "As my first witness, I would like to call Seperoth Jackson to the stand." murmers ran through the court. Seperoth? Why him? "Now, Mr. Jackson, would you care to tell the court where you were at the party, the night of my arrest." Dave said, noting the change in Seperoth's facial expression. "What's wrong? Drug Lord got your tongue?" Dave chided when Seperoth began to open and close his mouth soundlessly. "Objection! He's leading the witness." Gincarlo said silkily. "Really? All I did was asked a question, and you assume I'm leading the witness?" Dave spat. "Now, where were you that night?" Dave resumed. "I was up on the balcony." Seperoth said a little nervously. "And that is where several witnesses said the instigators of the fight came from, correct?" Dave said, sensing Seperoth's anxiety. "No further questions." Dave said, cutting Sepreoth off before he could answer.

"Mr. Gincarlo, you may call your first witness." the judge said, watching Dave intently. "I would like to call SGT. Williams to the stand." He said. Dave let out an inaudible growl as the arresting officer stepped forward, looking at him smuggly. "Would you please tell the court what you found on Mr. Burnside when you searched his person after arresting him?" Gincarlo asked, glancing at the jury. If his men had succeeded, then Dave would be dead after this statement. "I found several knives, and a pound of cocaine." the SGT said, knowing how much this victory was worth to Gincrlo. If he delivered a convincing speech, he stood to gain a lot of cash. "Really? And did you search his car?" Gincarlo asked, feigning surprise, while smirking inwardly. "Yes. In side the car, we found enough small arms to put down the begiinnings of a riot." Williams said. "Objection." Dave said quietly. "If you searched my car, you did it after we left the scene, because my car has been and still is in the impound yard, and I can assure you that you did not write up the required police report in order to use this as evidence against me. So, Mr. Gincarlo, I would be more careful what you decide to rig in the future." Dave finished vehemetly. "Excuse me, rig? Just what are you accusing me of." Gincarlo spat. "You know damn well what I'm accusing you of, Gincarlo. Or have you forgotten that I used to work for you?" Dave hissed. This remark sent the court room into an uproar. "ORDER! ORDER!" the judge roared, banging his gavel. "I must say though, a simple drug offense is being treated as a full criminal trial. You really have gone all out on this one." Dave said. "No further questions." Gincarlo said resignedly.

Dave stood and went to the front of the court room. "I now call Roxas Istari to the stand." Gincarlo cringed, relizing what the hell Dave was doing now. He was trying to bring him down. And so far, it was working. "Now, Roxas, where do you live normally?" Dave asked the brunette. "Twilight Town." "Then what are you doing here?" Dave asked, knowing he had Gincarlo right where he wanted him. "Mr. Gincarlo oredered me here." Roxas said sullenly, knowing that even though his life was on the line, had to tell the truth. That's what Gincarlo hated about Roxas: he flat out could not tell a lie. "And why did he order you here?" Dave asked malicously. "Objection!" Gincarlo yelled desperately. "Denied, Mr. Gincarlo." the judge said. All of this was intriguing him, seeing as this was his first major trial. And to think, it all started out with drug and assualt charges. "And how do you work for Mr. Gincarlo?" Dave asked, expecting to here something along the lines of erreand boy. The answer he got made his blood run cold as the snows of Icicle Lodge. "I do your old job." Roxas said, knowing that once court was done for the day, he was as good as dead. "Tell the court what that job entails." Dave said shakily, knowing what he used to do would put Gincarlo away for at least a year before he could bribe his way out of the bin. "I kill his enemies in the business and criminal worlds." Roxas whispered. The judges head snapped toward Gincarlo. "Officer, arrest that man this instant!" he shouted. Antionette, looked at Dave and Roxas. Dave smiled back. "Your honor, I would like to return to Twilight Town with my friend here as soon as possible." Dave said, refering to Roxas.

With that, the pair were allowed to leave Destiny Islands. Before he left,Dave gave Antionette a book. "What is it?" she whispered as he held her for the firstbut certainly not thelast time. "How I came to be here at Destiny. Read it after you win the custody trial. That bastard don't stand a chance anymore, now that evryone knows what he's done." Dave whispered as he and Roxas prepared toclimb aboard his friend Anthoy's boat and head to the place they called home. "I'll come visit some time, ne?' He said as he turned to leave. "You better, cuz prom is comin up and I need a date." she called after him. He smiled softly , and climbed aboard. As she watched the boat drift farther and fartherout of the harbor, she opened the book and read the few lines on the first page. "When I wrote your name in the sand, a wave came and I thought the ocean washed it away. But when I looked again, it was still there, completely untouched..." Antionette looked toward the horizon and the setting sun. Would she see him again? Maybe. Until then, she had her own life to live.

THE END?

COMPLETE! hats off to all my reviewers. and the quote at the end, is from the summary of SoraxRiku7's story summary for her story I heart You. I might do something else involving the book Dave gave to Annie, but I'm undecicded at this point. All that there is left to do on this story is the epilouge, which should be done in a few days. I'll catch ya on the flip side.