Whoa I always wondered how people do the horitzontal line...theres a freaking button... Anways, hope you like the chapter despite the fact Kira lucked out. Ill keep it at that. Keep reviewing.

Chapter 23: Standing Trial

The scene played out with the Grand Duke sitting at the head of the table with Usui at his side. Kira knelt on the ground, looking dirty and tired.

"Kira...how could you?" Grandfather asked after a long silence.

Kira didn't respond. Her shoulders sagged and she kept looking at her hands.

"This is not why I sent you here," Grandfather said, looking disappointed.

"You sent me here to be a servant," Kira said, looking up.

"I expected much better from you"

"You can't expect anything from a servant!" Kira snapped. "Why should I be sent around as a lowly maid? I am born of royal blood!"

"Kira..." Grandfather said, shaking his head. "I understand your anger-"

"How can you?" Kira asked. "You never had to endure the waiting on others. No one here has had to pay everything with their body."

"No one has forced you to sell yourself like that. You hadn't before and you don't need to now," Grandfather reminded her.

"I forced myself!" Kira replied. "I wanted a way out. I deserve better."

"I tried to help you"

"And I tried to be a good maid" Kira scoffed.

"Kira!" Grandfather snapped. "I don't think you realize that you tried to kill someone here"

Kira rolled her eyes. "Its the survival of the strongest in this world" she said.

"What are you going to do with her?" Usui asked.

Grandfather cleared his throat. "What can I do?" he asked, gruffly. "I will indeed punish her but the child she carries is innocent. I'm going to bring her back and let her have the baby first," Grandfather said, shaking his head.

"I don't want this child" Kira announced. "Not if the father doesn't want it either."

"Its still your child" Grandfather reminded her. "Half of your blood right there"

"So it can be born a bastard like me?"

"It is not my child!" Usui interrupted. "The father of this child is some man you slept with. There is nothing between you and I."

Kira lifted her chin. "Even if it was...you would never admit this kind of shame. You're just like my no good father," she spit.

"Takumi..." Grandfather said slowly. "Misaki isn't here right now so if it-"

"Its. not." Usui said.

"Even if you don't accept the truth," Kira cut in. "This could forever drive a wedge between you and the Duchess. The child that could have possibly been your's."

Usui wanted to kill her but Grandfather laid a hand on his shoulder. Kira was sinking but she was taking everyone down with her. Usui swore if Kira ruined his and Misaki's relationship, he would not treat this lightly.

"You are not going to cause such turmoil here" Grandfather said, getting up. "We're departing"

"Wait!" a voice called.

"Misaki!" Usui exclaimed, getting up quickly. Sakura and Shizuko each had an arm in supporting her. Misaki slowly yet regally walked over to the Grand Duke and sank to her knees.

"I ask for your forgiveness for Kira" Misaki said evenly.

"What are you doing?!" Usui hissed. "Get up right now" he ordered.

Misaki turned back to the Grand Duke. "I do not know what her fate will be," Misaki continued. "But I ask that you have mercy upon the child and his mother."

"I don't need your pity!" Kira snapped.

Misaki glared at Kira. "I do not pity you" she told her. "But I do pity your child. A child who will either be killed by his own mother or one who is to be bore onto this earth with no parents. Kira can you survive the punishment for attempted murder?"

Kira wiped her eyes. "You believe its Usui's son don't you?" she asked. "That's why you don't want to see it die..."

Misaki swallowed. "I don't. If that child is really Takumi's...I will step down from my position as Duchess immediately." She would rather die than have to be with an unfaithful man. Usui loved her. He loved her.

"You are most compassionate" the Grand Duke said nodding. "Do you not want revenge for the pain she has caused you though?"

"To say I have forgiven her would be a lie" Misaki said. "But as a soon to be mother, I don't want any child to live as an orphan."

"You are going to just let her off?" Usui asked.

Misaki sighed. "Yes..." she finally said.

"I will let her have the child if she so chooses," Grandfather reassured her. "We will leave now. I did not mean for things to turn out like this... I am sorry."

Kira stood up on wobbly legs. "I don't want to return" she said softly.

"Where do you want to go then?" Grandfather asked. He had watched Kira grow up and all he felt now was sadness. She was blind to everything but her obsession with status. Her intelligence wasted.

"I think I will travel to the shores" Kira said. "I might have family still there"

"Alright" Grandfather said letting out a breath. "I will prepare you a bag"

"Thank you, my lord" Kira said kissing his hand.

"Wait in the carriage" Grandfather told her. After she left, he turned back to Usui. "I'm sorry" he said. "I really did not know it was going to be like this"

"Did you not realize her character?" Usui asked.

Grandfather sighed. "Kira is a very deep person. Her deviations are more complex than the eye can see." Grandfather paused. "I was going to execute her though" he admitted. "But too many things protect her right now"

"Including Misaki," Usui agreed. "She wove herself a safety net"

"Yes" Grandfather said. "My eyes have been opened today however. I never expected the Duchess to plead Kira's case."

"She always surprises me too" Usui said.

"You choose well" Grandfather said. "I hope that your sons may be plentiful"

"I wish you a swift and safe return" Usui said bowing.

"Oh and another thing" Grandfather said. "Don't get involved with the Marquess"

"Grandfather could have simply told me so. No need to send a maid to keep watch"

Grandfather smiled. "Sharp as a tack..." he said nodding. "Though I had felt the need to keep a close eye on you" he admitted. "I didn't want to be too late to stop you in case of anything"

"So you sent a maid?" Usui asked, still not quite understanding his Grandfather.

"Kira is hardly a maid" Grandfather explained. "She has come a long road. Kira was actually a street child. Her mother abandoned her at a young age. Kira survived on her own though. I don't quite understand the street life but all I know was that girl got around. She raised herself until she was a young woman and then joined Madame's Daughters."

"The renown brothel?" Usui asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She was quite famous actually" Grandfather continued. "She was the star there but tis the strangest thing. Before I took her in, I had someone look into her background. The famous Kira had never had a client. Her book was empty"

"How long was she there?" Usui asked.

"Ten years" Grandfather told him. "How does a woman spend ten years in the most famous brothel and never need to take a client...I do not know. Some say she had a hand on the Mistress there,"

Usui thought about it. He clearly underestimated Kira though he was thankful for her rashful actions. If she had been more clever and patient who knows who would still be living now.

"I will not get involved with the Marquess unless I am utterly forced to take action"

"Be wise" Grandfather advised. "Goodbye Takumi"

"Farewell Grandfather"

"How are you feeling?" Usui asked, placing his hand over Misaki's forehead. Usui helped Misaki sit up in bed.

"I feel like a burden is lifted off my shoulders" Misaki admitted.

Usui smiled. "Nothing like that will ever happen again" he promised. "I was shocked when you let Kira go" Usui added.

"How could I not?" Misaki asked shaking her head. "The odds were in her favor."

"She's smart" Usui said.

Misaki shrugged. "Enough about her..." she said. "Lets talk of some other matter"

Usui scooted up next to Misaki and wrapped his arms around her.

"What do you want to name our child?" Misaki asked.

"If its a girl let's name her Misaki and if its a boy we can name him Takumi"

Misaki raised an eyebrow. "Thats so uncreative..." she muttered.

Usui laughed. "Tis simply a jest"

"Ayame?" Misaki suggested.

"Chiemi?"

"Fukiko?"

"What about a boy?" Usui asked. "Hiro?"

Misaki smiled. "Thats a nice name" she told Usui.

"He'll be generous like you are" Usui agreed.

"You're quite generous too" Misaki said.

"Only to you I would give everything" Usui leaned down and gently kissed Misaki. Misaki touched Usui's face.

"I love you" she murmured.

"I love you too" Usui told her.

Kira stood by the window of a small cottage. The wooden frame displayed the distant blue waves and sandy beaches. She tore her eyes from the peaceful view back to a rickety table. The table had a simple bowl of water. Kira drew a small vial from her pocket and poured it into the bowl. The water turned white and then faded to clear again. Kira picked up the bowl, her hands shaking.

"Don't hate me child" Kira whispered. "I don't have the choice of having you"

The bowl slowly moved to her lips. Kira gently rubbed her stomach. The tiny life growing in her was soon to be nothing.

"You wouldn't understand..." Kira murmured. "Living is the hardest thing one can possibly do. It's not as wonderful as you think, child"

A tear rolled down her cheek.

"I doing this for your's and my own good" Kira said in a trembling voice. The bowl touched her lips and it felt ice cold. There was a long deafening silence.

The bowl was emptied out the window...