Author's Notes: Just so everyone knows, this ISN'T the last chapter. Still one more!

And I don't know why I ended it the way I did. It just seemed sort of appropriate. Makes me feel like I'm writing a noir film or something, I guess. ...Do I even know the style of noir films? Not really.

Chapter 59

"Verdict"

Lulu had been right about the Jury deciding so quickly. That Recess hadn't lasted as long as expected. There was only one difference, however, when they entered the court room this time, and that was that everyone was asked to remain standing. As the Jury filed back into the room, Auron squinted and cleared his throat.

"Has the Jury reached a verdict?"

Misato, a young woman with long black hair and dark eyes, said, "We have, Your Honor."

"Does the Jury understand the implications of their verdict, and the laws bound to them by the United Terran Continent as they have reached this verdict?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

Auron looked at his paper. "Then, on the charges against the Defendant of sexual abuse, rape, and negligence," he turned to Misato, "How do you find?"

Misato unfolded a small piece of paper in her hand. "We find the Defendant, Ansem Atercor..."

Riku clenched his teeth. He looked almost like he was pleading for something, and Sora was wringing his hands in front of him. The tension spiked incredibly high in that one moment; everyone could feel each other's anticipation.

"...Guilty as charged."

Riku's face suddenly swapped from fearful to joyous. He breathed out heavily in relief, hands flying to his mouth, which hid the extremely large grin on his face. While everyone on his side began to rejoice, Ansem was hanging his head and looking miserable. Lulu smirked at that, but said nothing.

"Then in accordance with Terran law, I hereby sentence the Defendant to a life sentence of twenty years in prison." Auron raised his gavel. "This court is dismissed."

As soon as that little hammer echoed through the court room, Sora and Riku were both jumping and hugging each other tightly, with Riku laughing into the brunet's shoulder, rocking them back and forth. Tidus and Roxas jumped them in a group hug, and Lulu patted Riku's shoulder.

Riku turned around. "Thank you, Miss Sykes," he said.

"Please." Lulu shook her head. "Don't thank me. I don't need it."

The teen was still smiling as Ansem was taken away in handcuffs, and Lulu exited the courthouse. Finally getting some fresh air, she sighed, and pulled out a packet of cigarettes from her purse. She knew they were bad for her, but she had to admit it: it was a habit. She lit one up, and pressed it between her lips, breathing in the fumes and then blowing them out again in a puff of thick, gray smoke. Instantly, her nerves began to calm.

She leaned against one of the pillars out front and rest her head against it, enjoying her cigarette. Brushing her black hair out of her face, Lulu smiled, feeling some satisfaction in winning that case.

"You did a fine job in there," said a smooth, slightly accented voice. Lulu peeked to her side, and saw Luxord Kramer with an unlit cigarette in his mouth. Lulu sighed, blowing out another thick cloud of smoke.

"I suppose."

"Don't belittle yourself," Luxord scolded, lighting up his own stick and sucking in the fumes. The toxic wisps of gray spilled over his lips as he spoke. "You have a talent. I was rather impressed." He blew out the rest of the smoke. "Perhaps some work is needed, but it was done quite well."

Lulu blinked her eyes, which were less heavily shadowed than she normally had them. Admittedly, even in her late twenties, she was still somewhat of a Goth. "So, what, you came out here just to admit that you lost that case?"

Luxord scoffed. "Can't we just call it a friendly little chat between two lawyers, who just completed a clearly simple case?"

Lulu smiled, and drew in another drag of her cigarette. "I never dreamed I'd be talking to you," she said, glancing at him. "You have a very prestigious reputation about you."

"And you have a very prestigious reputation ahead of you," Luxord replied. He sighed, puffing out a heavy cloud of smoke and flicking his ashes.

"You know, you didn't make that case easy for me," Lulu complained. "You weren't very nice to my client, either."

"Indeed, I wasn't." Luxord sighed again. "But, what? You expected the best lawyer in Alexandria to just..." he twirled his finger, "...roll over for you?"

Lulu chuckled. "No, I suppose not. But you gave poor Riku a scare. Didn't you see the look in his eyes?"

"I did." Luxord nodded, and shook his head. "And I don't think I plan on ever defending someone like that again." He flicked his cigarette ashes again, as Lulu hummed, somehow agreeing with him.

"The man who got me to defend Ansem only told me that his friend was being accused of rape, and that he needed a good lawyer. I was hoping the man would be innocent."

"But that wasn't the case," Lulu pointed out.

"Nope." Luxord said instantly. "Guilty as sin. Personally, I'm rather glad the poor bastard's going to be behind bars."

Lulu turned her eyes to the blond, tall man. "I just have one question. You sound like you didn't enjoy defending his case. If so, why didn't you turn it down in the first place? Or stated a Motion to Withdrawal?"

Luxord gazed into Lulu Sykes' eyes. "My dear, aspiring young woman," he said, in a grand tone of voice, "A good lawyer does not turn down a case."

"Ohh, so it was your popularity that was riding on it, then."

"I said nothing of the sort," snorted Luxord, filling the air with more smoke. "I said that a good lawyer does not turn down a case—and, if I may say, I am an excellent lawyer."

"Humph!" Lulu scoffed. "No trace of your ego in there."

Chuckling, Luxord dragged deeply on his smoke, and exhaled almost in the manner of another sigh. He leaned against the same column as Lulu, standing soundly to her right. A silence passed between them, and Lulu flicked the ashes off her cigarette.

"...I have a lovely wife and two young boys, myself." Luxord mentioned. "One of them is about Riku's age."

Lulu switched her eyes to him curiously, but didn't interrupt.

"He just turned sixteen last month. He's a quiet boy, quite intelligent. Doesn't go outdoors much, but he's precious to me. He's my son." Luxord shook his head. "I can't imagine...I simply can't imagine harming my own children that way. And I understand the situation was slightly different with Riku, but, still. It disgusts me when I am reminded that such dreadful people live in this world."

Silent, Lulu exhaled the last of her cigarette fumes that she cared to inhale, and dropped the toxic thing to the ground, crushing it under the toe end of her high-heeled shoe. "The world is often lost in darkness, slowly but assuredly drowning in its own sorrow and hate."

Luxord blinked, and looked at her. "You just now sounded like a poet." He frowned, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Now that I think of it, have I seen you somewhere before, Miss Sykes?"

"I'd imagine not." Lulu replied, fixing her hair and shifting her purse to her other shoulder. "Not unless you enjoy hanging out at dark poetry clubs."

The blond man chuckled. "Can't say that I do. But I've been to several bars."

"I sometimes go out for drinks." Lulu scratched away an eyelash from her eye gently. "But I can get those at the poetry clubs."

Luxord smiled. "Well, you were very impressive, Miss Sykes."

Lulu smiled also, facing him. "I do look up to the best," she replied, holding out her hand. Luxord glanced at it, and shook it firmly.

"Say," he mentioned, "If you ever stop by for a drink somewhere, why don't you give me a call?" He held out one of his business cards. "I believe we may be able to have ourselves a nice, friendly conversation."