Author's Note: This chapter took quite a lot of thought. Now, when I introduce characters it's last names first. But, I have a tendency to also call characters by either their last name or their first. I hardly stick with one. So, sorry if that confuses anyone. Hark! Sadness, I only got one review from my lovely beta! XD She didn't have to but I'm glad she did. I hope you all like the story!

Beta's Note: And here is chapter two! After a bet, and some annoyance by me, poor Chrissy-chan was worked until she was tired on this chapter. She slaved away on it, working tirelessly, and all I did was annoy her some more, list off some songs, and read over it for errors. Let's just hope I do a better job this time; I missed a few mistakes last time and failed as my job as a beta -- failed as an awesome Japanese fighting fish. x-x;

But, I held on, and here it is! Like I said, I hope I caught them all this time.

Now, after you get done reading, click that purple button down there. Please? I mean, it's not hard. You click it, you type, and you're done. It's easy! You know you want to! So, review, dammit! . . . Please?

Chapter Two;

-Trial; Court Room-

"Your Honor, I will prove to you that these two…boys were the ones who murdered Oohira Kotarou." Mayata Tori was a professional. She had delivered dozens of opening statements that made people sit on the edge of their seat. With the precise emphasis on certain words, she could bring tears to some of the spectator's eyes. "After they tricked Kotarou to get into a car with them, they drove through the guardrail and into the water, where they left him to die. The next day, they went and beat to death the only witness, Kazuma Koutari."

If a certain Oohira was growling loudly after that, Mayata pretended not to hear and decided to stay away from the defendant's table.

"I will prove this, Your Honor, with facts and witnesses that can't be denied." She said nothing more and walked back to the prosecutor table. After sitting down, she glanced over at Ichigo and then to the crowd. Some of them were indeed sniffling. Mayata smiled.

Nikura then turned to Ichigo and nodded. "Defense, you may now present your opening statement."

"Yes, Your Honor." With a look at his clients, Ichigo stood up and addressed the judge from behind the table. Unlike Mayata, he didn't like going directly in front of the judge. It was rather intimidating.

It had taken quite a bit of time to come up with a suitable opening statement that would portray the feelings that his clients brought. After much talking with them –well, more Yuuto than Tatsuki- he didn't know what to believe. If the lack of evidence didn't give him doubt, the way the two boys acted sure gave him doubt that they killed their friend.

Because they acted like the world ended each time they spoke about him in the past tense.

-One month ago, an hour after Ichigo first meets the boys; still in the interrogation room-

Yuuto was frustrated. For the past half an hour or so, he and Tatsuki had recounted what had happened to Kotarou. They told of how Koutari had lured Kotarou into his car and drove it into the water. They even gave their alibis and a few names of those who could cover their alibis. Even Tatsuki at least had one person who could tell people that Tatsuki was home and not with Kotarou.

Yet, the aura around Ichigo said that he didn't believe them.

"Are you sure that's how it went?"

Slamming a hand down on the table, Yuuto tried his imitation of the Tatsuki Death Glare.

"Yes! How many times are we going to go over this until you believe us? Would you like pictures of the girl I was with that night? For some odd reason, I don't think she would like that."

If it wasn't for the fact that Ichigo had yet to hear a single utterance from Tatsuki, he could have sworn the other boy had muttered 'idiot'. The lawyer leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his stomach. His muscles were tense with his expectations for Yuuto and Tatsuki to try and attack him. Rule one when being alone in a room with a client that is expected for murder, never let your guard down.

"All right. You two can give me the names of the people and their numbers, later. We'll write your alibi out and present it to the court." Of course, that should have been done immediately after Yuuto and Tatsuki were arrested so that they wouldn't have to go to trial for this. But then, as Iro had said, this trial was for the press' sake.

Leaning back in his own chair, Yuuto draped his arms behind the back support and seemed quite put out with Ichigo.

"Now, then, do you two know what did happen to Kotarou?"

An uneasy silence filled the room as Yuuto shot a look at Tatsuki who simply looked at the far wall, near one of the corners of the room. There was a hesitancy that made Ichigo almost say he didn't want to know. But, unfortunately, he had to know. It was part of the job description, unless he was like the other lawyers who just came up with lies for their clients.

But, he wasn't that type of man.

Damnit.

A strange growling sound reached Ichigo's ears and he turned to the source of it. Tatsuki was gripping the arms of the chair and looking down at the table. His teeth were bared making both Yuuto and Ichigo wonder if they should dive for cover. However, only one word escaped Tatsuki's lips.

"Koutari."

-Two weeks before Kotarou's death-

When Kazuma Koutari came back to school, he immediately sought out to see if Tatsuki was still in misery. His mind repeated the mantra 'It's his fault, it's his fault' but something ate away at him. Was it guilt? No, no, it couldn't be guilt. That was for people actually in the wrong. And what Koutari did wasn't wrong. At least, that was what he told himself.

But his search came in vain. He found out by walking into his classroom that Tatsuki hadn't been coming to school in a while. Not surprisingly, Yuuto just stared hard at him before going back to taunt Kotarou, who had a worried look on his face. More or less he ignored the two of them and took a seat by the window.

Tatsuki deserves everything bad that happens to him. One of his loved ones is dead and it's his fault. Koutari told himself ferociously, trying to ignore that while Kotarou was healing he was still hurting. He had hurt Kotarou, too. But, it couldn't be helped. Koutari clenched his teeth at the thought. It couldn't be helped.

The class droned on and Koutari didn't pay attention. He didn't need to. If he wanted, he could revisit the classroom and see the class over again with his powers. Right now, he had to think. He could move on. Get away from the Oohiras and this wretched place. He could start over.

When the bell rang, Koutari tried to move quickly to be the first out. However, Kotarou managed to catch up.

"Kazuma-kun!" The blond Oohira grabbed his hand and Koutari made a wish.

He wished that Kotarou didn't have powers.

Guilt racked through him and he could feel tears brimming his eyes. It was his fault, his fault. He did all that to Tatsuki. And for what? He hurt the one person that could perhaps heal all his wounds. He felt so damn heavy. His wings had no feathers and still they were the heaviest thing. He killed someone.

He was a…

…murderer.

All the feelings that he ever felt broke through the dam in his mind.

About Tatsuki.

About Mina.

About himself.

And something in him, with all those emotions, snapped. His wings that were once heavy, were lifted. He looked back to see what others could not. His wings….were now nubs on his back.

They were gone.

So was the guilt and all other emotions.

Hm, it felt nice.

Smiling at Kotarou's worried and puzzled expression, Koutari clasped onto his hand.

"I'm all right, Kotarou! I'm doing just….perfectly."

"Um, Kazuma-kun? Could you let go of my hand? It's starting to hurt."

-Two weeks after Kotarou's death; Tatsuki's cell-

The poor defenseless wall that didn't do anything to Tatsuki was currently being hit by the dark haired teen. Tears flowed down his cheeks but he ignored them. They were the only sign of the emotion that he felt. Kota was dead. And he couldn't even see him in the past while he was in this place. All he could hear were the most…horrible of things.

"So, I raped that bitch twice."

"It's not like he needed his windpipe."

"What the fuck are you looking at? Do you want to die, too?"

His cell mocked him with the echoes of past criminals. They taunted him with each word. But they couldn't bring him down. He had already hit rock bottom. What did he have left? What was worth living for and protecting? Kotarou, his cousin and….friend….was gone.

A familiar voice called to him, it was rough from use and pained.

"Tatsuki? Kotarou…"

Tatsuki stopped punching the wall, his bloody hands dropping to the side.

"Kotarou…he's gone…isn't he? It wasn't a trick, was it?"

Maybe, there was still one person to protect.

"Koutari really…Oh…oh god…"

Putting his hands to the wall, Tatsuki rested his head against it as well. Then, he murmured so that Yuuto didn't hear him. But, if Urushiyama were asked by anyone else, he could tell them he heard it loud and clear.

"I will protect you, even if I couldn't protect him."

End Chapter

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