Yes I am alive. Sorry for my massively long hiatus... life has been busy and school doesn't help and surely neither does a massively long writer's block. Though life and school is still busy, hopefully my somewhat revived motivation in writing would make the next update a LOT sooner. No guarenttees though. Thank you for those who have been waiting patiently for this chapter to come. I really appreciate it! I apologize the chapter is kind of short, but hopefully the next one would be longer. -kc

The air was tense, as expected during a trial, yet conflicted with Leon's calm steady heartbeat. He glanced around the courtroom: at the audience that were on the edge of their seats, at the trembling prosecutor, at the nervous judge, and at the narrow eyed defense attorney, all of them with their eyes focused on the young Elaina on the witness stand.

She was instructed to begin telling the murder, yet biting her lips, she hesitated in front of the menacing surfeit of eyes.

A soft and gentle voice spoke, like a light in the endless labyrinth. "Just tell the truth Elaina, there's no need to be nervous."

It was the voice of Leon Justice.

She gave a weak smile and finally continued with her testimony.

"After I called the police, I ran after the two."

f"Ms. Kaidings, I'm pretty sure the police would have given instructions along the lines of staying place and wait for the police to come. It would have been troublesome for them if you had attempted to handle the situation on your own," remarked Kristoph, shaking his head with disapproval.

"Why she was just worried for her dear friend" commented prosecutor Payne.

"What a brave thing to do," pitched in the judge as he gave an approving nod.

Friends? And now she's testifying against him. According to logic, that does not seem like the typical action of a friend.

Kristoph gave a short scoff and motioned the witness to continue.

"When I arrived at the scene, Leon and the victim were fighting over a knife."

"What about the boy?"

"He was unconscious towards the side of the battle"

Kristoph blinked a couple of times and turned towards Leon for an explanation.

Reading his mind, Leon closed his eyes and answered, "He proposed to have a fight with me. Thinking that Apollo may get in the way, he knocked him out- a rather cruel thing to do to a child isn't it?"

Opening his eyes again, Leon looked up. "But perhaps it was for the best… after all it did prevent him from seeing a murder."

Kristoph adjusted his glasses. "May you give a description of the entire process of the murder witness?"

"There is no need," Leon tugged at the collar of his turtleneck, "What she saw is what I saw."

The entire courtroom froze. Something seemed extremely wrong with that statement.

"And I don't particularly care, Mr. Justice. Your own testimony when I questioned you was useless for that very reason."

Leon gave a light-hearted laugh. "What a very odd reason to hear her testimony. Feel free then. Feel free."

The court stared in silence. How could someone convicted of such a hideous crime could laugh like that? And what was going on? Why would anyone give a testimony that matches the witness? Isn't that not much different from a confession? Then why would this dimwit lawyer defend this guy? Then he's obviously guilty!

Soon the court burst into chatter as comments, questions, and of course insults (especially of those aimed towards the defense) were flung about.

Kristoph took a deep breath. Damn… he really shouldn't have spoken that out loud.

Bang bang bang!

The judge slammed his gavel.

Must keep calm, must keep calm, Kristoph thought to himself as he heard a voice behind him scream "You no good filthy lawyer!" He took another deep breath.

Silence! Silence!

The old judge's voice rang across the room.

Kristoph took yet another deep breath. He took a quick glimpse towards Leon, who looked calm as ever, giving him a sly smile. He's just taking it as a joke. Out of the blue the young attorney had the sudden murderous urge of bludgeoning him.

SILENCE!

The boisterous crowd did not obey.

Court was dismissed for fifteen minutes

"I don't understand you," Kristoph gave a brooding look towards Leon as he paced back and forth in the defendant lobby, "telling me an account where you are the culprit, and then announcing that you did in court. I do hope that you are not the idiot to be oblivious to the fact that you are making yourself look even guiltier than you already were." Suddenly he stopped his pacing and He paused heaved a deep sigh of frustration. "What are you planning?"

Leon simply crossed his legs comfortably on the old coach in the corner. "Planning something? Maybe I am, maybe I am not. And you my friend Kristoph?" He leaned forward and clasped his hands. "You must be planning something as well to be this dimwit lawyer who defends a numbskull who supposedly confessed."

Kristoph cocked his head. "Then you are planning something."

"Don't jump to any conclusions."

A brief moment of silence followed as they studied each other's faces. Kristoph could not help to notice that Leon's usual smile was fading into a rather staid expression.

Kristoph broke the silence. "Why do you suspect me of planning something? I just simply came out of goodwill to defend my good friend that I have not seen in many years."

Leon made no response other than turning his gaze towards the same dull painting Kristoph had glanced at earlier before the trial. Kristoph could tell, however that his client has no intention of studying the mediocre piece of artwork.

His eyes still fixed on the canvas, Leon spoke.

"You've already figured it out haven't you?"

Kristoph slowly took off his glasses to inspect the dust particles that had settled on the lenses. Changing the topic are you Leon? I expected a better move than that coming from you. "I am your lawyer," he replied, with a hint of irritation in his voice as he took out a handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wiped the spectacles. "I believe it is the defendant's duty to trust his lawyer."

"Then I'm assuming yes."

Putting the glasses back on his face, Kristoph saw Leon laxly leaning back on the couch, giving him his typical mysterious smile. For a reason he wasn't sure of, he smiled back. A somewhat unnatural and actually quite uncomfortable smile, but a smile nonetheless

"Then let the trial proceed"

(A/N) Considering I already have an author's note in the beginning that contains most of what I want to say, is one at the end of the chapter neccesary? No it is not, but I just feel like having one today. Hopefully I didn't make this chapter seem confusing, because it is... quite an unusual turn of events (I can totally see the judge saying that). Are these two "dimwits" (I like calling them that :P) actually planning anything? Why did Leon lie? See you in the next chapter! Please review!