The Trial
Hikari M666
This, everybody, is the ultimate symbol of my belief that no story should go unfinished.
I haven't updated this in ten months. I had been writing it, a few words at a time, then reaching mental block after mental block, forgetting about it, writing other things, leaving the YGO fandom for the Naruto fandom . . . and yet this chapter is now in existence.
I wish I could apologise to anyone who, for whatever reason, desperately wanted a quick update, but I can't. I'm too proud of having updated.
Bloody Marik. Bloody fainting Greasy guy. Bloody man-woman judge. BLOODY TRIAL!
The only good thing about this now is that once this is all over, I can kill Marik as many times as I like.
He's just sitting there, on the other side of the room – I swear he's mocking me.
"Well?" The judge raises her eyebrows. "Next witness?" Is it just me, or is she actually being somewhat nicer to Marik than she was to Greasy guy?
"Oh, of course!" Marik sits up a bit straighter. "The next witness…let's see…"
Oh, I just wonder who he'll pick.
"How about…Malik Ishtar?"
How on Earth did I guess?
My Shadow Realm list is getting quite extensive. And yet somehow I get the feeling I'll be adding to it at least once more before the day is out.
Malik walks up to the stand and sits down casually. I shoot him a warning glare – he's exactly like Marik, which means I know he's up to something. After all, him using the Rod was what put Marik where he is now, and I still have no damn clue why they did that.
But then, they're Ishtars. Meaningless destruction and chaos come with the name.
"Do I have to swear on a bible or whatever?" Malik asks, looking from Marik to the judge.
The judge groans (and I think she ought to see someone about that. One man-woman can't sound that much like a pig and still be healthy). "Why the hell didn't we think of that earlier? It must have been that other idiot lawyer's fault." She gives Marik an almost impressed look. "Get a bible and you're a step ahead of him."
Marik smirks. "With all due respect, your Honour, I happen to know that this witness doesn't follow the religion of that bible – "
Don't know why I'm surprised. Those two sin and break the commandments every time they're alone together.
" – but I happen to have with me the Bible of the religion he does follow."
Oh gods, tell me they haven't fallen into this new 'scientology' crap or something.
"Whatever, just get on with it," the judge says impatiently.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Marik pulls something much too flimsy to be a bible. He leaves his seat and approaches Malik. The judge peers down to get a look at the 'bible', but Marik has the front cover obscured.
He holds it out to Malik, who puts his hand on it.
"Do you swear on the Cleo's Hot Sex Bible to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
I can't be certain whether I actually just banged my head on the table, or whether I just really, really felt like it.
"Excuse me?" the judge demands loudly. "The Cleo's what? I will not have my courtroom turned into some sort of brothel!"
"Your Honour, I find your opinion on my religion very offensive," says Malik, sounding highly insulted. Bloody actor.
Not that I can't act. I can put him to shame.
The judge grits her teeth. "Fine," she hisses. "Just get on with it."
"I do swear," Malik says solemnly. And, just to make sure nobody's forgotten: "On the Hot Sex Bible."
Marik nods and whisks the magazine away. Now he's taking to pacing around the floor with his hands behind his back, in some kind of stupid ploy to look professional. Well, I'll show him professional! Let's see…how does one go about looking like a professional criminal? By having messy hair, wearing lots of black, and getting caught by police, I guess.
I'm more professional than Marik without even trying.
While he paces, he talks – melodramatically.
"Mister Ishtar, this court has reason to believe you have connections to the notorious criminal, Thief King Bakura."
Notorious crim- OI!
"I'll give YOU criminal!" I roar, springing to my feet, ready to kill. Who are these bastards holding me back?
Marik gestures toward me. "Point proven."
I underline Marik's name on my list a few times.
"In what way am I believed to be connected to this Bakura?" Malik asks smoothly – too smoothly. He's up to something, so his name goes on the list too. Hmm, I'm up to eleven people who owe their souls to the Shadow Realm (Or is it twelve? Or only nine, since the Pharaoh's there three times? Damnit, why did I confuse myself by doing that?), and only one who's actually paid their debt. I'll need to make all these mortals pay soon.
But plenty of time for that later. I want to know just what the Ishtars are playing at. What could they possibly have to gain from busting in and taking over a trial?
"In what way are you connected? In what way? I'll tell you what way, Mister Ishtar!" Marik shouts at him.
What the hell does he think this is, a soap opera? Are there cameras here?
"Apart from all the vicious murders where you were, undoubtedly, Bakura's partner-in-crime – " He looks at me, as if daring me to dispute it. I think I surprise him and the judge as I shrug nonchalantly.
"I can't dispute that, Your Honour," I say calmly. "Except for one tiny flaw in his argument: there were no vicious murders."
(Under my breath, I mutter, "My murders aren't vicious.")
Marik continues to stare at me, and I switch my calm expression to one threatening his disembowelment if he continues.
He continues.
"I also have no doubt, Malik Ishtar, that despite what the Phar- ah – Yami Mutou – said about his kidnapping being all Bakura's doing, that you were involved. Did you or did you not assist Bakura by tying those knots around Mr. Mutou's wrists and ankles while he lay on the bed, unconscious?"
Malik's eyes widen innocently. You'd think that, being Malik, his eyes wouldn't be able to do that, but I suppose when standing next to Marik even Hitler would look innocent.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he says. He sounds like a really bad liar. Marik and I must be the only ones who know he's telling the truth! So now not only will people think he's guilty, but they'll automatically assume I'm guilty too. Well, they'll assume WRONG.
Besides, like I'd ever get Malik to tie knots for me. They must think I'm an amateur.
"You don't know what I'm talking about?" Marik repeats. "You've forgotten everything you've done? You're not just a criminal, you're a lying criminal! And after swearing on your Hot Sex Bible? Shame on you!"
The judge finally intervenes, banging her little hammer. "Keep it civil, you." That's probably the nicest thing she's said all day. Marik half-bows politely to her, his obsequiousness sickening me.
Malik folds his arms. "You have no proof that it was me," he says silkily.
Almost as if this was the statement Marik had been waiting for, his face splits into an evil grin.
"So it's proof you want, is it?"
"I think I have a right," Malik says defiantly.
"Oh, you have more than a right. In fact, it's my duty to provide proof of my claims." Bloody hell, that voice must be sending shivers down everyone's backs. Not mine, of course, but Marik's voice is too damn conniving to be legal in a courtroom.
"What are you suggesting? Sir?"
I cringe. Malik calling Marik Sir has to be a crime in itself.
Marik draws right up close to Malik, so their faces are inches apart.
"I am suggesting – in fact, I am not suggesting, I am ordering – that you follow me to a bed resembling Bakura's, and you give me an example of your knot-tying skills."
Oh.
My.
Shit.
He is not saying…
No.
He cannot be saying…
If he is saying…
I look between Marik and Malik, searching for any kind of sign of lying.
None.
He is saying…
"I SWEAR TO YOU, MARIK, YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN!"
I focus all my energy and tap into my Ring's powers, but not quickly enough. Marik grabs Malik and practically flies out of the room. People are yelling, some trying to stop them, some trying to stop me. How dare they try to stop me! I'm going to kill both of those Ishtars where they stand!
Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.
I underline their names on my Shadow Realm list so many times that I go through the paper. So they were using this as some excuse to play out one of their kinky fantasies?
Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.
And if they dare to use my bed…
There won't be enough of them left to be witnesses in my trial.
Well, this is what I leave you with, everyone. If you had this on your alert list and still have any interest in reading, I congratulate you for your loyalty. I know I wouldn't have it. XD