Author's Notes: Back, I am!

Okay. I'll admit, these next two chapters are really short. But, at least it's a double-update, right? And you get to find out what happens with Ansem.

Oh, also, I've got the prize pic finished for whoever gets it...but for the way I've staged it, I'm afraid you'll all have to wait a little longer until you've read the ending of this fic to see who won. Ahahaha! I know, I'm so terrible...

Gosh, there's not much to say...except...wow. It's been such a trip. I'm so happy that so many people enjoyed this fanfic. When I started writing it, I had no idea it was going to end up being so "revolutionary". lol. In fact, I can barely remember how I came up with it in the first place! (I have such a terrible memory.) But I do know that I enjoyed writing it, probably as much as you guys enjoyed reading it. And I know that when I go back and look at this, I'm going to smile and be really proud of myself, and be really happy for all the fans I've suddenly gotten.

All I have to say is...thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all of your support, and your wonderful reviews, and your encouragement to the end of this fic. Thank you, thank you.

Now...enjoy the last few chapters...because you know you want to!

Chapter 58

"Prosecution"

Once the court room was filled again, and everyone was settled down, it was announced that court had resumed its session. So Sora, Riku, Tidus, and the others were all eagerly (and, not so eagerly) awaiting the prosecution of Ansem.

Of course, the one who did not so eagerly await this was Ansem. He had a very flat, blank look on his face, but when one looked past it, they could see the look of hopeless fear in him. Likely, he knew that there was nothing he could do.

And, Lulu was so very happily awaiting her chance to grill him well-done. (In secrecy, of course.)

"I suppose it's time," Auron grunted, squinting and rubbing his bad eye before blinking, clearing his throat. "Will the Defendant please come to the witness stand to testify?"

Ansem rose slowly—ever so slowly—and approached the dreaded little box where he was to sit. Once he had taken his seat and sworn in an oath, Luxord walked up to him, and they stared each other down for a brief moment. Even Luxord knew that this wasn't going to end well.

"Ansem...when did you adopt Riku?"

"...Early two-thousand five." Ansem replied.

"And, in those four years he was in your custody, did you ever neglect, rape, or otherwise harm him?"

"No."

Luxord began to pace back and forth. "Would you say that Riku was a troublesome child?"

"Extremely." Ansem said, clenching his fists. "He hardly ever listened to a word I said. He was difficult to manage."

"Can you say there were any times when he lashed out against you, or acted especially difficult?"

Ansem quite literally gulped. "I tried to get him to dress for school one morning, and he refused. For the next two weeks, he was grounded...but later, I saw that was far too small a punishment for someone as difficult as him."

Luxord swiveled and faced Ansem. "Did you have sexual relations with your adopted son?"

Ansem froze. "...No, never." He lied right through his teeth.

"Then could you please explain to the court, the state of your basement's appearance?"

"...Everyone has their own private fantasies. I don't see how I can't have mine."

Luxord turned calmly and sat down, murmuring, "I have no further questions."

Lulu was the one who got up sharply from her seat this time, wearing Luxord's prior vigor when the man had run Riku into the ground.

"Mister Atercor," she said, firmly, "Do you say that you deny ever having forced sexual relations upon your adopted son?"

"Yes, because it isn't true," Ansem growled, pursing his lips tight.

"Then what about the blood that was found all over your basement walls?" Lulu asked. "It was reportedly all over the walls, on the whips, the knives...so if it wasn't Riku's blood, then whose was it?"

Ansem sighed. "Sometimes I would bring home a close friend of mine who was a willing participant in those activities. It could be his. Sado-masochism is all about experiencing pain through pleasure, so it's not to say it will go without even a little bit of blood."

Riku grit his teeth in the place where he sat. Yeah, you brought your damn friend over, but that just meant I had to work twice as hard!

"So none of it was Riku's?"

"None."

Lulu glared sharply at him. "Then please explain to the court why invesigation teams identifiedRiku's DNA in the blood that was found on the walls!"

"Objection, Your Honor, leading the witness!"

"Overruled. Miss Sykes, please rephrase your question."

Lulu sighed, mentally. Riku's overwhelming evidence over Ansem's head was giving her more straining points. So, it seems she couldn't snap him to place as she'd wanted to do. But that didn't mean she could sit down again without some response in her favor.

"...Mister Atercor, would you say that you find Riku to be physically attractive?"

Ansem blinked. "...Yes, of course...I imagine anyone would."

Bingo. "And would you also say that it was because of that same physically attractive quality, that you adopted Riku four years ago?"

"Yes, I would."

Lulu stared him down after his answer. She saw that slack-jawed look he gave her...but not with his face. It was with his eyes.

Oh, yes, that's right. You slipped up. It shouldn't count towards me, but Juries are made up of human beings, after all. Lulu turned around. "No further questions."

There was something Lulu had learned in all her years at law school. Justice wasn't always served fairly. This wasn't a fair world. But whether or not justice was fairly distributed, on either hand, it wasn't just a series of rules and occurences—it didn't just mean asking questions and finding the answer. It also meant influence and mental stability over the court. Even the slightest off-sounding answers from the accused could be blown out of the water, if the Jury so chose to take it that way. Lulu had seen it being done hundreds of times, even in her short career as a starting attorney, but Lulu learned fast and she kept it in the back of her head.

Shortly after, the two lawyers were asked to give their concluding statements. So, they preached their cases directly to the Jury that was present. By the time Lulu was finished giving hers, she could see in the faces of the people in that Jury that there was no question as to what they were going to choose. This was going to be a fast verdict. A short Recess was called to give the Jury time to decide their vote.

"He's so dead," Tidus said as they went outside again.

Sora and Lulu nodded. "Yes, Ansem doesn't have a whole lot going for him," said the attorney woman. "Likely that the Jury will be asking to call us back inside before Recess is even over, if that's even possible."

Sora looked at Riku. "What do you think? Hmm?" He tilted his head. "Riku, what's up? You look nervous."

"I am."

"Well, stop it!" Roxas growled. "Come on, isn't it obvious who's going to win this? Lighten up! You've got nothing to worry about."

"I hope so." Riku murmured.

Sora sighed. "Guys, I don't think he's going to be okay with it until he finds out what the verdict is." He hugged Riku's arm. "Come on, please, Riku? One little smile?" He grinned. "Do it for me!"

Riku sighed, staring at him with a blank face. He turned away, and then, when he was looking at Sora again, he was smiling. Cheesily, but smiling.

"...Good enough!" Sora laughed, clinging to him. "I'll bet it'll be more genuine once we find out what happens to Ansem."