Chibisensei: Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm very flattered that people took the time to review this little pet project of mine. My life is in complete turmoil right now due to a health issue so I'm currently trying to piece it back together. Anyway, we have finally reached the actual trial portion of the story. It's not going to be easy to write the prosecution & defense cases so please bear with me. Other than that, happy reading!

Disclamer: I don't own anything besides this story. I also don't the Vocaloid song I named this chapter after :p

Warning: A lot of foul language & triggers

Chapter 6: Capriccio Farce pt 1 (Opening Statements)

Hikaru sat in the courtroom silently. He had almost given up the previous night. ALMOST. Kaoru had told him to run after they switched places, but… He gritted his teeth. How could he have been so fucking selfish?!

Flashback

Hikaru walked down the dark alley. He remembered Kaoru's words to run away. He felt bad enough that his brother had taken his place, but, now, he felt even worse for even considering running. Even though Haruhi had said she would not tell, Kaoru would not be able to mascarade as him forever. Kaoru had said himself that he knew someone would figure them out eventually. Kaoru knew what that meant. They both did and, yet, he allowed himself to switch places with him anyway! He had already killed one person, how the fuck would Kaoru dying for him make anything better?! Hikaru's eyes dulled as the string of sanity in his mind finally snapped. He saw an empty glass beer bottle in his path & kicked it as hard as he could, causing it to shatter against a building with satisfying "crash!". He stopped to stare at the shattered shards. The light blue fragments were scattered all over the sidewalk for the world to see, much like his sanity. He kneeled down & picked up a larger piece, rolling it in his casted hand almost affectionately. Blue had always been his favorite color. This bottle understood him. This bottle was a lot like him. It had met its end so easily so-Hikaru raised the piece of glass to his neck-would he?

End Flashback

There was a trial today & he knew that Nekozawa would be here. Why? Because he was a sadistic fuck who got his kicks out of watching other people's misery! He clenched his fist. He couldn't run from this. Eventually, someone else would figure out that they switched places & Kaoru would be… Hikaru frowned. He wasn't going to let that happen. He was going to stay right here & keep his eye on that black robed motherfucker. It was Nekozawa's fault he had killed that man & it was the system's fault for being so fucked up that they were in this position in the first place. Pride his fucking ass. They did nothing wrong! The fucking system had been out for them since the beginning! At least, those were the things he had convinced himself of the previous night to regain his lucidity. After all, it was more productive to be angry than sad. Hikaru stared at the currently empty judge's seat. He needed this anger now. He was no longer interested in getting justice anymore for what was done to them. No, he wanted revenge &, somehow, someway, he was going to fucking get it. The courtroom door opened, breaking Hikaru out of his fury. He eyed the entering people carefully. A black haired man with glasses was being marched towards the defense table, his handcuffs and chains jingling as he walked. Hikaru crossed his arms. So this was the unfortunate son of a bitch getting railroaded today. The black haired man's face was emotionless, but Hikaru caught the ever so slightest hint of apprehension in his eyes. Hikaru had seen that look many times. So many people had been led into the execution/torture chamber with every intention of not letting Nekozawa have the pleasure of their screams, but that didn't last long. Even he had failed at that. Hikaru's arms uncrossed as unwanted flashbacks shot across his mind like electricity, shocking him back to the cruel reality of his own situation. He looked at the black haired man impassively. May the gods have mercy on that poor bastard's soul because they certainly didn't on his.

"Is this seat taken?" spoke a familiar voice. Hikaru turned his head to see the very subject of his misfortune. Nekozawa smirked. "I'm sure you're quite angry with me for having Hikaru bloody his hands; but, then again, you are the one who gave him to me." His smirk widened into a grin. "Do you think you made a mistake?" The ire returned & burned through Hikaru's body like fire. Is this the kind of shit he's been saying to Kaoru?! His body shook slightly. To onlookers, it might appear that he was fighting back tears instead of pure, unfiltered rage. He forced himself to take a breath. He couldn't be the rash twin today."Do you?" Nekozawa repeated. Act like Kaoru. Act like Kaoru. Hikaru managed to paste a guilty look onto his face & looked away as if he was ashamed. Nekwozawa chuckled. "Don't worry, Kaoru, your brother is in good hands." His grin widened. "VERY good hands."

Kyoya did a quick scan of the courtroom as he was seated at the defense table. A red headed young man was sitting in the audience area , along with a man cloaked in black. Various other people were also sitting in wait. He didn't recognize any of them off the top of his head. Tamaki walked to his side & also scanned the room.

Nekozawa's face split into a creepy smile as he caught Tamaki's eye & waved mockingly. The blood instantly drained from the defense attorney's face & he did an abrupt about-face to the front of the room. Kyoya eyed the man in black carefully. That must be Nekozawa.Kasanoda had told him a little about Ouran's executioner after "lights out" the previous night.

Flashback

Kasanoda lay on his cot lazily, his arms cushioning his head. "If you see a man in black tomorrow in the audience section, that would be Nekozawa. He's Ouran's executioner."

Kyoya turned his head to face Kasanoda. "Why are you telling me this?"

Kasanoda chuckled. "Don't you want to know what you may end up against? After all, he is the one who tore Suoh's eye right out of his head. He has a real fetish for torture."

There was a brief moment of silence. "Continue."

Kasanoda grinned in the darkness. "Anyway, Nekozawa has an assistant named Hikaru. According to my sources, he is beginning to lose his mind. His twin brother, Kaoru, is the only one holding the poor bastard together. Rumor has it that the twins are being blackmailed."

"You have sources within the prison?" interrupted Kyoya, with interest.

"Having your old man as the head of a yakusa syndicate, does have some perks."

Kyoya wrinkled his nose in disgust as the smell of tobacco reached his nostrils. He turned his head to his cellmate. The cherry of a freshly lit cigarette glowed softly in the darkness. "What else?"

"That's all the info you need." A pause. "At least without a price."

End flashback

Kyoya frowned. The handcuffs & chains had been totally unnecessary, but, apparently, it was the fashion of this godforsaken place. It was then that Haruhi entered the room. She took her place at the prosecution table. The judge & jury entered. Another farce was about to begin.

Haruhi absently paged through her notes. Was there even a point to trials anymore? She couldn't condone what Kyoya had done, but this should be a tort case, not a criminal one. With mixed feelings, she found the page she wanted & stood up to address the court.

"Today, evidence will be presented to you that the defendant, Kyoya Ootori, committed 5 counts of Greed, one of which led to a child's death. You will hear testimony from the family & from witnesses that these acts were committed deliberately & with complete disregard of their impact on others." She took a breath as she looked at to jury. "Some of you may see his actions as merely that of a businessman, however the law is clear. Kyoya Ootori is Greedy & must be held responsible for his actions." She sat down to allow Tamaki make his opening statement. Tamaki stood up & faced the jury.

"Kyoya Ootori is many things, but Greedy is not one. He is strict, but not unkind. He is serious, but not heartless. Despite his appearance, Kyoya Ootori does care about his employees. The prosecution's case will try to twist the truth of the events which will be presented, but you must not believe it." He smiled charmingly at a few of the female members of the jury. "I place my faith in your good judgement to find my client 'not guilty' of these heinous charges." Haruhi put a hand over her face in annoyance as bright red blushes bloomed on the (female) jurors' faces. Not this again. A dark, quiet chuckle ghosted from the audience causing a shiver to shoot down Tamaki's spine. He swallowed hard before regaining his composure…sort of. He gave the jury another brilliant (but strained) smile before sitting down stiffly.

"The prosecution may now present their case," stated a demanding voice from the judge's chair. Haruhi nodded & began to speak.