Differing Paths...
Chapter Three
Two weeks had passed. Tomo's eye had mostly healed, but it still hard to see with it. The doctors commented on the speed of her healing, and even that she survived due to the level of blood loss, almost as though she had healed through pure determination. She had sat there, scowling, having Yomi come in when she could to talk. No one at the hospital knew what had happened, just that she was top-priority with a massive eye wound, and she never spoke or broke her expression except when she had guests. The doctors were prepared to let her out, but they were afraid that she may not be as healed as she seemed. Tomo knew that she was. She felt like she herself had sculpted the new skin over days and was prepared to go on the investigation at full-strength. There was barely even a scar. Suddenly, in the middle of her daily six-hour scowling session, someone entered. Not her doctor, and definitely not Yomi, who was in classes and working until late at night. It was Miyama's old assistant, Shinji, who had recently been promoted to Chief Inspector due to his friend's death. Tomo's scowl continued as she broke out a few words, "Hello, Shinji.". "Hello.", Shinji said, holding back the anger he felt over the death of his mentor and superior. He knew that it was her negligence that got him killed, and was trying not to reach his hands around her neck. "It seems that you've healed nicely,", he continued, "but, the force wants you to come into court.". "What?", Tomo exclaimed, finally breaking her stone face she had been wearing for weeks. "Well, the crash of that helicopter caused the deaths of twenty-seven innocent civilians, as well as Miyama and Sho Amaterasu, a low-level cop flying that helicopter.". Tomo's face stayed straight. "Hmph. It was the damn robber's fault.". Shinji's fist clenched, wishing he could severely hurt this person. "Either way," he said, "it would be in your best interest to come to court for this hearing.". Tomo stared off to the side angrily. "Alright,", she said not heeding to giving Shinji eye contact, "but I demand your best attorney.". They agreed on the deal, and the day eventually arrived. Waiting for the hearing to begin, Shinji approached Tomo with a figure. He had spiked, black hair that came off the front of his head. He wore a blue suit, with a red tie, and fine leather shoes. "Who the hell are you?", Tomo said, seemingly uncaring that she was at the hearing that would decide if she would recieve jailtime. "I...", the man said in a fairly overdramatic fashion, "am Griffin Left!", which he said unusually loudly whilst pointing his finger in the air. Tomo kept relatively nonchalant, "So, you're my attorney? Are you the best they have?". He scratched at the back of his neck, looked at the ground and said, trying desperately not to be heard, "Well... second best.". Tomo exploded in the middle of the court lobby. "What? Second best! Shinji promised me the best! This is a sham! Why the hell am I here?", she said, giving no heed to fact that she had now attracted the attention of everyone waiting for the hearing. Yomi, who was skipping a lecture to view the hearing, put her hand over her face and sighed. Tomo had changed, but the old her was still there. The hearing began and she quieted, knowing that this would be a very good indication of her attitude to the judge. She walked in making the most innocent she could think of. As everyone walked in, she followed Griffin to the stand, with a face that attracted the immediate attention of everyone around her, smiling brightly, obviously faked. Griffin whispered, "Just try to look natural.". Tomo's face squashed back into its scowl as she said, "I was looking normal.". She went back to her awkward smile immediately afterwards. The judge looked over, and saw her desperately trying to act natural. Several hours past, Griffin arguing it out with the prosecutor, who seemed relatively disinterested, to Shinji's contempt. At the end of the hearing, the judge announced his final decision. (Warning: legal systems do NOT work this way, whining about it in comments is for squares) "Due to one of the jury members' failure to show up, what would have been a definite vote now has 11 votes and my decision, rather than the full thirteen, and it's split directly down the middle. In this case, the judge's vote overrules all, and in that case...". Tomo seized up in the few seconds it took for the judge to say "...Tomo Takino, you are not guilty. All charges of manslaughter will be applied to the offender who caused you to fire the shots.". Tomo was grinning like a maniac, and she looked at Yomi, who was sitting in the audience, glowing equally, who gave her a thumbs-up. "But...", the judge added, "you can never serve in any police force again.". Tomo was suddenly crushed, realizing that she would need to restart her entire life plan from this point onward. "I guess I'm not serving jailtime...", she thought to herself. "Who,", she asked the judge, "was the missing jury member who saved me? So I can thank them.". "Her name," the judge replied, "is Ayumu Kasuga.". Tomo looked at Yomi again, whose eyes were agape. After the hearing, and thanking Griffin, the two left. Tomo put her hands behind her head as they walked, look upwards and said, "I wonder who Ayumu Kasuga is...". Yomi responded, "You don't even remember five years ago? High school?". "This Kasuga person went to high school with us?", she asked. "Yeah," Yomi responded, "Remember? Osaka?". Tomo literally felt her mind being blown.
Author's Note: I love jarring shifts in tone.