Chibisensei: Hello Minna-san! I realized that I have a very small audience for this story. That's okay (for now) so here's another chapter. This chapter will introduce Honey, Mori, Kasanoda, Hikaru, & Kaoru as characters :D Nekozawa is mentioned, but we'll meet him a little later :p
Fun fact: Ouran's capital was named after its founding father's eldest daughter. She came to be known as the Daughter of the Republic during her lifetime.
Chapter 2: Prisoners of Sin
Kyoya wasn't sure he heard the statement correctly at first. "Excuse me?" he questioned.
Takeshi took out a pair of silver handcuffs. "You heard me," he stated smugly. "Now hold out your wrists like a good boy."
Kyoya crossed his arms with a frown. "Under what charge am I to be brought into custody for?"
Takeshi gave his rival an annoyed look. Everyone knew the Ouran Special Police was formed for the sole purpose of enforcing the more broad and vague statutes of the Seven Sins legislation. Kyoya watched as Takeshi took a piece of paper, most likely an order of arrest, out of his uniform pants pocket and unfolded it. "By the order of Ouran's District Attorney, Kyoya Ootori of Ootori Medical is to be taken into custody under 5 charges of Greed," Takeshi read. "Should above individual not surrender peacefully, force may be used for the purpose of compliance. If said individual still does not comply…blah, blah, blah, you get the idea." Takeshi folded the paper again and stuffed it into the breast pocket of Kyoya's business suit. "For your reading pleasure, Mr. Ootori," he smirked. "Now…your wrists?"
The sun's defiant flash upon his glasses was the only outward sign of Kyoya's irritation. "Very well," stated Kyoya, holding out his wrists. "I'm sure this misunderstanding will be cleared up in due time."
Takeshi slapped the cuffs on Kyoya's wrists and tightened them just enough to make Kyoya wince. "I wouldn't count on it old friend."
As Kyoya was escorted out by Takeshi in handcuffs, Kyoya's secretary couldn't help a small smile of victory. Chizuru Maihara never really was fond of men.
Ouran Penitentiary, like all prisons, was hardly what one would call luxurious. It's dull gray walls and cold concrete floors left a lot to be desired for. There were no special perks, but it did offer the necessities. Unlike most prisons, however, it was coed. The cell blocks were separated usually by degree of the crime and severity of the sentence, but not in the case of Seven Sins prisoners. In short, the prison system was not prepared for the passing of the Seven Sin legislation. As a result, most Seven Sin convicts were split up and sent to various prisons across the Republic where room could be made for them. Ouran Penitentiary, on the other hand, lies within the Republic's capital of Eclaire. It had more notice of the legislation's passing and thus formed a unique cell block level alternating cells between the prisoners' crime of sin. The only exceptions are convicts of the crime of Pride as it is synonymous to death row. All death row inmates are housed in the basement level aptly nicknamed "Ouran's House of Horrors". It is the same location in which Eclaire's executions are performed.
"I hear we'll be getting a new neighbor," spoke a rough male voice to a man across the hall.
"Aa, I heard similar," replied the man.
"Mfff mfff mfff!" added a muffled mumble in a neighboring cell.
The gruff voice chuckled. "Why are you so excited, Honey? You'll be getting out of here soon. Unlike me."
"Mfff mfff mfff mfff mfff!" exclaimed Honey.
"He said 'he's going to visit often'," spoke the man, known informally as Mori, across the hall.
Honey's eyes sparkled as he nodded vigorously. "Mfff mfff!"
Mori caught the gruff man's confused look. "He agreed."
Kasanoda nodded. "I still don't know how you can understand him. Must be a cousin thing, ne?"
Mori simply shrugged. Maybe it was.
Haruhi sat back in her office chair as she carefully analyzed the D.A.'s arrest order for the soon to be defendant. Multiple counts of any Sin are a rarity so this guy must have really stepped on a lot of toes to rack up this many.
"Ummm, hello?" came a questioning voice.
Haruhi looked up at the red-head awkwardly standing in the doorway. "You can come in," said Haruhi. The young man nodded and closed the door behind him. His name was Kaoru Hitachiin. Age 20. He and his brother were the last case her predecessor had tried in court. The charges were 1 count each of Envy and Pride. 31 weeks ago, the small jury found the sole blame for those crimes lied with Kaoru's older twin brother, Hikaru, and Kaoru was acquitted. During the penalty phase, the pleas for mercy from Kaoru and his family fell on deaf ears as Hikaru was sentenced to death. However, no execution had taken place yet, which was odd considering Nekozawa's…enthusiasm…for his job. A week previous, the D.A. had Haruhi investigate this happening (or lack thereof). As it turned out, the young man in front of her had made a rather unusual deal with the executioner.
5 days earlier…
Kaoru and Hikaru Hitachiin sat side-by-side in one of the basement cells of Ouran Penitentiary. Their hands were interlaced as they stared at the ground, unable to meet the eyes of the prosecutor who had no doubt come to destroy them. Their already bleak future seemed to fade into darkness before their eyes.
"How did it happen?" asked Haruhi.
"6 months ago, I confronted Nekozawa as he was leaving the prison," started Kaoru softly. "I couldn't let my brother be executed. He didn't do anything wrong. He was just being childish."
Hikaru lifted his head to give his younger twin a flat look. "Gee, thanks," it sarcastically read.
Kaoru caught his brother's look out of the corner of his eye, but decided to ignore it for the time being. "At first Nekozawa blew me off, telling me there was nothing he would be interested in as a trade for my brother's life, but then…" Kaoru took a breath. "But then, he asked me how far I would go to save Hikaru. He asked me if I would break every law in Ouran for him. I said 'yes'. Then he asked me if Hikaru would do the same for me. I told him, 'I couldn't answer my brother's questions for him'. Nekozawa paused for a second and suddenly got this huge grin on his face. It was like he knew I would sell my soul to the devil if I had to. He told me he would spare my Hikaru's life if I spoke for him [Hikaru] from now on. I didn't know what he meant, but agreed anyway. If that was what Nekozawa wanted to spare my brother, then I would do it." Kaoru clenched his opposite fist. "Little did I know, Nekozawa talked to Hikaru the next day and told him that I bribed him enough to spare him [Hikaru], but not enough to spare myself prosecution for it... According to Nekozawa, I committed Pride to the opposite extreme because I was willing to break any law or commit any Sin for my brother and that my sentence would end up the same as his."
Haruhi noticed how tightly Hikaru squeezed his brother's hand at the end of that statement. The look on the older red-head's face made it questionable to her whether he was trying to comfort his brother, punish him, or both. "I see," said Haruhi."So Nekozawa threatened Hikaru that he would report you to the authorities."
Kaoru grit his teeth. "Yeah, and that's how Hikaru ended up his lackey. It was only after that that the sadistic bastard told me what I REALLY had to do for my end of the deal. I…I…"
"You don't have to say anymore," said Haruhi. "I already talked to Nekozawa. I understand." She had. And she had heard every single grizzly detail.
Kaoru shook his head. "No. No you don't! You can't understand what it's like to-"
Haruhi watched the younger twin's calmness shatter as Hikaru cut him off with a hug. The haunted look in Hikaru's eyes did not escape her attention either. He didn't want to be reminded of what happened either. The executioner…this Nekozawa…how could he be so cruel? What the hell was wrong with the people in this justice system?! Where was their humanity?! "I'll do everything I can to help you two," said Haruhi, determinedly. Both twins looked up at her. "I swear it."
Present
Kaoru sat down on the nearest chair. He was still wary of the young woman. It was, after all, her job to send people to that…that Hell. "So?"
"The deals you and brother made with Nekozawa have been approved by the court," said Haruhi. "You don't have to worry about any further action from us."
Kaoru breathed a sigh of relief.
"However, the court will not reverse anything already done," said Haruhi disappointedly. "Your brother will have to remain the executioner's assistant."
Kaoru looked down with an un-amused chuckle. "We both kinda figured we were screwed in that regard."
"'We'?"
Kaoru lifted his head. "Well, yeah. I can't let my brother suffer alone. Besides, I need him just as much as he needs me. We don't know how to be apart from each other." Kaoru managed a half-hearted smile at Haruhi. "Even if this is the best it can get, thank you."
"You shouldn't be thanking me," said Haruhi with a small smile.
Kaoru looked at her in confusion. "Huh?"
"It was Tamaki Suoh that convinced the D.A. to let this go."
Kaoru blinked. "Tamaki?" He paused and a sudden flash of insight crossed his face. "Wait, you're not talking about that blonde idiot with the eye patch, are you?"
Haruhi sighed. "He's more oblivious than idiotic, but yeah."
Kaoru looked to the side with a slight frown. "I guess I might owe him an apology for calling him 'a useless dumbass' when Renge was bitching him out." Fat chance that would happen.
The phone on Haruhi's desk rang. "Excuse me," she said to Kaoru. She picked up the phone.
"Ms. Fujioka, Kyoya Ootori was just arrested and is currently being processed," stated the court clerk on the other end.
"Thank you for letting me know," answered Haruhi.
"You're welcome." Both sides hung up and Haruhi sighed. Here we go again…
Meanwhile, a certain CEO sat handcuffed at the police station.
"Are you Kyoya Ootori?" sounded an overly enthusiastic voice. Kyoya turned his head to see a blonde haired man walking towards him.
"And you are…?"
The blonde smiled. "My name is Tamaki Suoh and I'm going to be your defense attorney!"