bleh, bleh, bleh, I didn't get as much done as I had hoped for and now spring break has ended. Blame Pokemon. (I got HeartGold the other day...) Actually to be honest, I had this written a while ago, but I was too lazy to put it up (actually it was more like I was too occupied with my DS, but oh well...) and I must confess... this chapter wasn't exactly well written... (and I'm currently not in the mood to read over and edit)

The witness walked upon the stand. Kristoph leaned over to get a better look of the girl. She was just a teenager no older than Kristoph. Her brown hair, tinted red was cut short to her chin. Her crystal blue eyes darted here and there until they met Kristoph's.

They were foreign and unfamiliar. Foreign might not be the right word to put it considering that Europeans don't look that much different from Americans, but anyways Kristoph had a feeling that she was originally from Europe. France maybe?

In addition, Kristoph never saw her before. Either she was just some innocent passerby, a new addition to the orphanage, or a new volunteer. But anyways, Kristoph never saw her during his nine years stay at the orphanage.

Payne gave a flirtatious smile. "Why aren't you a pretty one."

The witness ignored his statement and went straight to business. "My name is Elaina Kaidings. I'm a volunteer at the Homey Havens Orphanage.

Payne grunted at the fact that the witness has just totally ignored him. If she was going to talk about the case, it was only possible for him to talk about the case. "So, I've heard you grew up in the orphanage?" Actually that has nothing to do with the case but anyways…

She nodded. "My father left me there seven years ago," she said with solemn look. Seven years ago, a year after Kristoph left for Germany. "Such a cute girl, why would anyone want to disown her? Why—" He was interrupted by Kristoph who returned the conversation back to the case. "Witness, could you please describe what you saw that day?"

"Hey what?! I'm the one who's—" Once again Payne was interrupted, this time by Elaina. "Yes."

"Please begin witness."

And she began her testimony.

"That day began like any other one. I was at the orphanage since morning. Leon didn't come home until the afternoon." She grinned. "You could always tell when he comes home."

"Hold it!"

A sudden silence filled the courtroom.

"Eh? What's wrong?" Emerich whispered.

Kristoph clenched his teeth. He had suddenly blanked out. He hated the fact that he had to do this, but it's the only way.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

A smile appeared on Emerich's face. "I knew you'll need my help. Al right, now you have to cross-examine the witness."

"Cross-examine?" The term sounded awfully familiar, but Kristoph just couldn't lay his finger on it.

"Basically you just find any contradictions in the witness' testimony and prove it with evidence."

It was all coming back to him. Emerich's reminder made everything come back to him.

Emerich continued, "and—" "---and for more information, press the witness for information."

"All right! You've got it!" He patted Kristoph on the back, or more like a smack.

Kristoph flinched and pulled Emerich's arm away. "Well I suppose I should continue the cross-examination."

When he looked up he saw the everyone in the courtroom eyeing him suspiciously. He bit his tongue. It was inevitable.

"I'm terribly sorry, but this young man next to me has decided to pick the worst time to tell about his failed love life." A horrible excuse, but that was the first thing he came up with.

"Mr. Philins, I'm sorry, but couldn't you leave that for later?" The judge sighed. Of course Mr. Emerich Philins wasn't happy about it, but he had to stay calm in order ensure the success of Kristoph's case. "Yes, Your Honor. I'll be going to the lobby to calm down." And so he left, clenching his teeth.

After he left the audience burst into spontaneous chatter. It took a few moments for the judge to settle down the crowd. "Shall we continue?"

"Yes, yes, yes," groaned Kristoph. "Why—"

"Um excuse me?"

It was the judge.

"Could you please start over Ms. Kaidings? I don't remember the details."

Kristoph exhaled a tiresome sigh as Elaina repeated her testimony.

At the same spot as before, Kristoph yelled out a "Hold it!"

"Why is that it shall always be known that Leon's back?"

"Apollo. He's a shy kid, but he simply adores Leon. He would announce his arrival even if he was miles away."

Apollo… what a weird name.

"Miles away? How is that even possible?" commented the judge.

The witness shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe that was an exaggeration, but Apollo has always been known for his sharp eyes. Because of them, he ended up being abducted."

"Why is that?" Again, it was the judge.

"Well, he's always the first one to greet Leon, so that's probably why things ended up that way."

Kristoph nodded and asked, "And why does Leon come during the afternoon while you could stay from the morning?"

"It's rather unnecessary details, but I've quit school."

School huh? Kristoph has graduated from school for too long and had forgotten that most seventeen-year olds were still in high school cramming homework and applying for colleges.

"And Leon, like his typical studious self, continues to go. The top of his class too."

That's expected from the Leon he knew.

"Please continue with your testimony."

"That day, Apollo comes rushing to the door as usual, however something seems different."

"Hold it! What do you mean by different?"

"Mm… he seems much more nervous than usual."

"Why is that?"

"Well when I asked, he said something about a stranger."

"A stranger?" That must be the victim.

"Yeah. He said something about some scary old dude with red hair behind Leon."

"Old…" The victim was thirty-five years old. Huh. That's old.

"Please continue."

"And then Apollo went to open the door… and somehow ended up getting kidnapped."

"Hold it! Even though Apollo told you about this suspicious old man, you just let him open the door like that?" Even though Kristoph did not know anything about handling kids (despite the fact that he does have a little brother), something about that just seemed wrong.

"Sure. Leon's there. Leon's able to think of a way."

Yep. Leon's the smartest and most athletic kid possible. Right…

"Continue please."

"So then the kidnapper came running through the hallway and up the stairs with Leon chasing him."

"Chase being chased," chuckled the judge.

"Your Honor, I have to say, that's not funny," a new voice spoke up.

Kristoph jumped. The voice came from right next to him. Who can it possibly be, so stealthily joining him without his notice? Kristoph turned his head to be greeted with Leon's gentle smile.

"I thought you would appreciate some help."

Kristoph turned his head back to the witness. Kristoph is certain that Leon knew him as the solitary type who knows that interference would simply ruin his perfect work. He knew that Leon was just mocking him, his eyes sardonically gleaming at him. "Thank you," Kristoph growled.

"Is something a matter?"

It was the judge. He must have thought it was rather odd for Kristoph to just stare at his hands for at least two minutes.

"He must have been suffering from the pain of the realization that his friend is actually a guilty man and there's no way to deny that," laughed Payne.

"Don't get cocky," Kristoph gave a dark smile as he lifted his head, his eyes filled with what the others could described as only as fiery hellfire. "You haven't proven anything yet with that witness of yours."

The prosecutor jerked back in surprise. "Ah… ah… yes! Please continue with the testimony!"

"Witness! Talk about the murder!"

Leon took a deep breath. Something tells him that this trial won't end up well.