Thank you all for of the encouraging reviews you've given so far. You know I love you guys.
Loveless seems to be my favorite fandom to write fics for. I do have a Kyou Kara Maoh fic in the works, but is that done yet? No. And I started it way before this one...
Disclaimer: We don't own Loveless, but who do own the characters we've created.
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Chapter 2
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The court hearing was a few weeks later.
During the time before it though, Ritsuka was subject to ridicule and all sorts of questions from his parents, classmates, teachers and random people on the streets. The story of the little boy who loved a pedophile was all over town.
Ritsuka had never actually admitted that he loved Soubi, although he felt that it was a strong possibility. He didn't have time to think about that though, there were too many other things on his mind.
And where had they gotten the idea that Soubi was a pedophile?
His parents had hired a lawyer. Her name was Watanabe Chikaru and she was a horrid woman who never listened to a word he said, she just liked to fill in the blanks with her own thoughts. After a while, he didn't even bother correcting her, he would tell the truth during the trial.
When his parents and attorney led him up the steps to the courthouse, they were bombarded by news reporters and camera flashes.
They had hurried inside, his mother giving the only comment: "I just hope that, that man gets what he deserves for what he did to my little boy."
Ritsuka wasn't at all prepared for speaking in front of all the people that had shown up, and feared that he would faint.
He had been forced to wear a simple back suit. It wasn't really that bad, it just made him think about the last time he'd worn one...at his brother's funeral.
When Soubi and his lawyer walked in, Ritsuka looked up.
The blond was wearing a black suit as well, with a white shirt underneath it. His lavender tie had already been loosened and his bandages were showing.
He looks...good.
Ritsuka couldn't help the small smile that appeared on his face at the sight of the man, but a look from his mother quickly made it melt away.
Everyone sat down and Ritsuka turned around to see who had come. To his surprise, many of the teams they had battled against previously were there.
Midori and Ai (Breathless) sat together near Yamato and Kouya (Zero) who were whispering to each other. They were all dressed normally; the Zero girls in their school uniforms and Breathless in regular clothes.
He knew that neither pair approved of him and Soubi as a team, but perhaps they understood their relationship at least a little bit.
It came as no surprise that Kio was there. He was dressed in a cream-colored suit, accompanied by a red, silk shirt. Despite how unconventional the outfit was, it seemed more awkward to him than anything he'd ever worn in his life.
Something Ritsuka hadn't expected, though, was for Natsuo and Youji to be there too. Of course, they were wearing their usual slightly revealing, gender-confused clothing; complete with zig-zagging draw strings and frilliness.
The three were "witnesses" and were seated behind Soubi.
The Zero boys waved to him and giggled. Kio turned to them and most likely reprimanded them, saying that this was a serious matter. When he turned around, they scowled at his back.
Shinonome-sensei was a few rows behind him, he realized, nervously fumbling with her glasses. She was wearing a long, plain brow dress. Beside her sat (quite smartly dressed in a skirt and blouse) Yuiko and Yayoi (who wore a dress shirt and pants.)
They were all "witnesses" as well (except for Yayoi, whose parents strictly forbade him from testifying because of his health.)
Katsuko-sensei was right behind Ritsuka, she had spoken to his lawyer and insisted that she be there. She smiled at him.
He was glad for everyone's presence, hopefully they could help Soubi.
Thank you all...
"Ritsuka." His mother put her hand on his arm, telling him to turn around.
The bailiff called for silence with his deep voice as he stated, "All rise for the honorable Judge Nanto Fujitaka."
Said man walked in and took his seat at the front of the courtroom. "You may be seated."
The trial began with standard court-talk and legal jargon, to which Ritsuka paid no mind as he glanced over at Soubi.
The blond looked as though he hadn't slept for a while, but he was still as handsome as ever.
----
Ritsuka...
Luckily the boy seemed well enough; he didn't have any extra cuts or bruises that were visible and he also seemed like he was eating well. That was very good.
Soubi had missed him more than ever during the time that they had been apart. In his cold cell, there wasn't much more to think about than his young sacrifice.
He knew the consequences if the verdict was against him, but he couldn't bear to think about it any longer.
When the judge gestured and Ritsuka's lawyer stood, his attention immediately went to her.
She was a rather thin woman with high cheek bones and an unattractive harshness about her. Her pale lips were pressed together in a thin line and her dark hair was up in a tight knot. She appeared to be about forty, which meant that she no doubt had experience.
Her hands were clasped behind her back as she began pacing.
"Agatsuma Soubi has been, as he puts it, 'friends' with my client, Aoyagi Ritsuka for over seven months. In that time, they have become close- too close I believe. Aoyagi-kun is merely twelve years old and as such does not understand their unorthodox relationship. This man, this adult of twenty two years has manipulated him into believing that they are in love and that it is alright for him to do what he does."
She turned to Soubi and he put up his façade of indifference.
"I intend, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, to prove through evidence and the testimonies of witnesses that Agatsuma Soubi deserves to be put behind bars. Thank you." She concluded and sat down beside Ritsuka's mother.
The fighter's own lawyer stood next.
He was Ukai Haruto, a determined young man who had received his degree in law only a year before at Oxford University in England. He had light brown hair and a physique that said that he went to the gym at least a few times a week, he was also about as tall as Soubi. He was kind and had even expressed an understanding of his and Ritsuka's situation.
"My client, Agatsuma Soubi is far from the manipulative pervert that Watanabe-san has made him out to be. He helped young Aoyagi-kun when he had no one else to turn to, and became his friend. There is no crime in an adult being friends with a child. He has never done anything even remotely perverse to this boy. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, please examine the evidence and listen closely to the testimonies of these good people. They will prove to you that Agatsuma Soubi is completely innocent of all charges. Thank you."
Here, he sat back down and the judge nodded. "The prosecution may call its first witness to the stand."
It was a silent agreement among all who knew, that the whole fighter-sacrifice, spell battle thing was not to be addressed. That would only further complicate things. Not to mention, the jury would pin Soubi as some sort of masochist with an S&M-Lolita complex, as Kio had stated countless times jokingly.
Ritsuka's lawyer stood and was about to speak when the large doors at the back of the courtroom opened. Everyone turned as Ritsu and Nagisa-sensei walked in, arms linked as if they were a couple.
Ritsu was wearing a coat similar to one that Soubi owned, it even had the same furry collar. Nagisa had pigtails and a white fur coat on, covering an outrageous dress, no doubt.
The people turned around as the two sat down at the very back of the room. The members of the fighter teams paled. They all feared those people perhaps more than anything in the world.
Youji and Natsuo weren't scared, they liked Nagisa-sensei, even if she didn't like both of them. The two waved and their teacher waved back, giggling. Ritsu rolled his eyes and smirked when he caught sight of his own (as far as he was concerned) student.
Soubi wasn't afraid, there was no question as to how they had been able to get in once the trial had already begun, Ritsu was a master of manipulation.
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"I call Yukimura Nadeshiko to the stand." Stated Watanabe. The other woman stood and took her seat at the witness stand.
Watanabe stood in front of her and began questioning. "Yukimura-san, would you please explain to the court what you saw on the afternoon of (insert date here) (1)?"
The dark-haired woman nodded. "I was walking out of the school, I teach History there, when I saw young Aoyagi-kun speaking with a older man. Most of the teachers have known about Aoyagi-kun since he first arrived in the beginning of the school year, so I recognized him. Well, as I got closer, I noticed that the man was standing very close to him in a way that struck me as odd. I could tell that they didn't hear, or see me approach because when I reached the wall, the man leaned down and kissed Aoyagi-kun on the lips." Here, she looked at Soubi.
"Were you positive that the man you saw was Agatsuma-san?" Watanabe questioned.
"Yes, absolutely." The other replied.
"You may continue."
"I was shocked. At that point, I hid behind the brick wall and heard Aoyagi-kun state that, he had told him before not to do that in public. I knew then that something had to be done. So, when I saw them leave, I rushed back into the school and found the phone number for Aoyagi Ritsuka's house. I didn't entirely explain to his mother over the phone, but went to his house instead." Yukimura-sensei concluded.
Watanabe allowed a small smile to slither across her lips. "Thank you Yukimura-san, I have no further questions." She stated, sitting down.
Judge Nanto turned to Soubi's lawyer. "The defense may now question the witness."
"No further questions, your honor." Ukai-san stated. The judge nodded. "You may call your first witness."
The young man stood. "I call Shinonome Hitomi to the stand." The eared woman stood, passed through the small wooden gate and took the stand.
Youji and Natsuo giggled a bit and her brown ears twitched.
"Shinonome-san, you are Aoyagi-kun's sensei, correct?" Haruto asked.
"Y-yes." She answered nervously.
"And in the time that you have known him, have you ever seen him with Agatsuma-san?"
"Yes."
"And what was your impression of their relationship?"
"Agatsuma-san seems like a very kind man who only wished to look out for Aoyagi-kun, they're friends."
"Did you ever witness any behavior similar to that which Yukimura-san did?"
"No."
"Never?"
"Never. They just seemed like close friends, Agatsuma-san held his hand and they occasionally hugged. It was never anything that seemed wrong."
The man nodded. "Thank you, Shinonome-san. I have no further questions." He said, going back to his seat.
Ritsuka's lawyer stood and walked up to Shinonome-sensei. The other woman moved back in her seat, uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze.
"Shinonome-san, if you are merely Aoyagi-kun's teacher, how were you able to observe them together so often?"
"I saw Agatsuma-san waiting for Aoyagi-kun outside of the school nearly everyday."
"Is that all? So you only ever witnessed them interact from afar?"
"Well, I don't usually become too much involved in my students' lives, but I had visited Aoyagi-kun's house once and met Agatsuma-san. We also went to the amusement park, along with two of my other students who are Aoyagi-kun's friends. I've seen them together quite a few times since."
Watanabe nodded. "I see that you still have your ears, how old are you Shinonome-san?"
"Objection, this is irrelevant." Ukai-san stated.
"Overruled." The judge replied.
"Um...twenty three." Shinonome-sensei answered timidly.
"I'm sure that, that is quite troublesome. Someone in your position would be looking for someone to lose them to, wouldn't they? Agatsuma-san is quite good-looking, perhaps you've considered him."
Shinonome blushed, how had she realized that she was interested in him? And he was right there, watching her...she just wanted to curl up into a ball.
As if reading her thoughts, the woman continued. "The way that you have been avoiding looking in his direction tells me that, perhaps you've considered this. Maybe you wanted to be with him, but he turned you down. Now, I don't know about you, but most people would surely wish to get back at someone who had wronged them. Or perhaps you still have feelings for him...Are you lying to protect him?"
"N-no."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"No more questions, your honor." Watanabe stated, moving away from the witness stand. The judge turned to the poor brown-haired woman. "You may return to your seat." She did so.
"Prosecution calls Katsuko Shouko (2) to the stand."
Ritsuka looked up as his psychiatrist rose and walked to the front of the courtroom. She turned and gave him an encouraging smile.
"Katsuko-san, what is your relationship with young Aoyagi-kun?"
"I'm his psychiatrist." She responded calmly.
"Would you please explain to the court the reason for his sessions with you?"
"Ritsuka-kun has amnesia and cannot remember a thing before two years ago. He is worried that he is not the "real" Ritsuka and comes to me for weekly sessions." The short-haired woman stated, revealing only as much as she would allow herself to without betraying the boy's trust.
"I see, and what is your opinion of Aoyagi-kun?"
"He is a very bright boy with much potential, but he's a bit shy and finds it hard to make friends." She replied calmly, either she was truly so, or she was good masking her true feelings.
"Have you ever met Agatsuma-san?"
"No."
"Has Aoyagi-kun ever spoken to you about him?"
"Yes."
"Could you tell us what he said?"
"No, I cannot reveal what my patients speak to me about, it is confidential. I can tell you that he has never shown any sign of, nor spoken about any sort of perverse actions made by Agatsuma-san and Ritsuka-kun is a very honest child."
"Thank you, I have no further questions." Watanabe stated, sitting down.
Soubi's attorney went up. "Katsuko-san, you have been treating Aoyagi-kun for two years now, you say?"
"Yes."
"And in that time, have you become close?"
"I believe so, he's one of my favorite patients."
"Close enough to call yourselves friends?" Haruto questioned.
"I'd like to think so. I took him out to dinner once. Ritsuka-kun is a very likeable person, regardless of his age, and very interesting." The woman stated, folding her hands in her lap.
"So, you think that there is nothing wrong with an adult-child friendship?"
"Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, the interaction is good for children, they are able to become more comfortable with adults and often learn things that they would not have with friends their own age."
"Thank you, no further questions."
The woman went back to her seat, placing a hand on Ritsuka's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. Ritsuka watched her sit back down.
Thank you sensei...
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Hokay, that was chapter two. We hope you enjoyed it.
(1) I don't want to go through the trouble of thinking of a date that works.
(2) Her name is Katsuko, but since so many people call her Shouko, I used it as her first name. Please tell me if you're sure that it's otherwise.
Don't forget to leave lots of reviews!
P.S- We don't have any law degree, we just watch a lot of T.V. Go easy on us if you know more than we do. I wrote this and the next chapter before I found out a few critical things, but I really didn't feel like changing it.