The Memory of Murder

By E.M. Megs

Chapter 11 - Trial

After his mother's death, his father had sent every man available out on a man hunt. Even when the autopsy for his wife came back saying that it was possible that she had committed suicide.

Yoshio was not so quick as to believe that his wife would do such a thing as leave her husband and children. There was even a note written in her handwriting, signed by her, complete with tear stains on the paper. It said only seven words.

I'm so sorry. I love you all.

No explanation. Just an apology. Everyone else in the world was convinced that Mayumi had killed herself because of the pressure of marrying into the Ohtori family. Yoshio and her children knew better.

"Even if she had done it, she wouldn't have when we were home," Kyoya told his father plainly. Yoshio had merely stared at his youngest son through his spectacles, a prompt for him to continue. "The gun was yours. She wouldn't have used your gun. It would place blame on you. She wouldn't have wanted you to think it was your fault. In fact, I don't think she would have used a firearm at all. If anything, she would have overdosed on some drug. Further, she wasn't even depressed or suicidal."

"I'm aware of all this, Kyoya," the elder Ohtori stated when he had finished.

"Then why aren't you doing anything about it?" the younger demanded angrily. His mother was dead and he had a feeling it had something to do with those notes he'd been receiving from that 'difficult business partner' his mother had once mentioned to him.

"I'm doing everything I can." Kyoya was silent, glaring at his father. Then Yoshio spoke again softly, "The gun wasn't mine. It looked like mine and it was the same kind but it wasn't mine. Mine was still locked up in the safe."

"So… She didn't…"

"Of course she didn't," Yoshio snapped. "Your mother was not stupid enough to think that ending her life was the solution to all her problems. She was not depressed. At most she had insomnia." Then he seemed to realize that he was talking to his 12-year-old son about his mother's suicide. "Why are you even thinking about this, Kyoya? You must focus on your studies."

He'd been dismissed before he could utter another word on the matter.

~o~

The local police had minimal participation in the investigation. The majority was carried out by the Ohtori Private Police. They were owned by his father, paid by his father, and were ordered through his father directly. Nothing escaped the Ohtori patriarch's notice.

And, since Kyoya has begun to suspect foul play, he put his rusty hacking skills to use so that he, too, could see everything that his father did.

It was a literal man-hunt. Every officer in the Ohtori Police was to be on duty 24/7 until the culprit was caught. They kept searching even after the local police had given up and come to the conclusion that it really was a suicide. The bedroom that Mayumi had died in was closed off and wasn't to be touched by anyone.

Even Kyoya in his mini-investigation hadn't dared set foot in that room again.

It took months. And those months turned into a year before the man the Ohtori Private Police force believed was the murderer was caught. It was only three months before Kyoya's 14th birthday and three after he had met Tamaki Suoh at school.

Kyoya, while reading the text message forwarded to him by his sister in class, stopped writing abruptly.

Caught him. Ray Takahashi. Trial this weekend.

Tamaki glanced over at him. "Mon ami?" he questioned quietly. The Ohtori swallowed. He hadn't talked to the blonde much about his family or his mother. "Kyoya, are you alright?"

"Fine," he muttered after taking in a shuddering breath. He would, of course, excuse himself after this class. His sister would want him to stay at school, but he couldn't possibly bear to be there with this new knowledge.

His family had been mourning for a little over a year, himself included though he didn't allow himself to show it. That mourning finally might be able to end with the justice served.

But of course, Tamaki wouldn't let him go home alone. Not without some resemblance of an explanation that Kyoya couldn't possibly begin to give. "Mon ami, what's wrong? Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Why?"

He paused for a single beat then said, "Family emergency."

Tamaki scowled. "Do you need me to come with you?"

"No, Tamaki."

"Are you sure?"

They were standing outside his limo by now. Half the girls in their class looking curiously through the gates at the two of them. If he were to just refuse him, the blonde would no doubt be unable to control his gossiping urges. He rubbed his forehead. He really didn't want the entire school to find out about this. They already knew that there was some tragedy in his family, they didn't know exactly what, but they knew something was going on.

"Fine," Kyoya muttered finally, "You can come. As long as you don't ask me anything, got it?" Tamaki nodded exuberantly and bounded after him into the limo.

The limo was filled with silence until they were nearly there. Then Kyoya, feeling slightly uneasy at the idea of bringing Tamaki into his house when his family was probably in emotional turmoil, decided best to offer some kind of explanation. "Tamaki… This… My family is most likely not going to be particularly receptive to your presence." He nodded as though he understood the situation completely. "My mother… She was murdered about a year ago… And… They've caught the person who did it."

"Ah," Tamaki said quietly, shifting uncomfortably as they pulled up to the Ohtori mansion.

"I don't mean to make you uncomfortable… It's just… something you should be aware of if you talk to my family."

Tamaki didn't talk to them though. He didn't talk to anyone, just remained by his side as the perfect image of a supportive friend. The only time that he wasn't, Kyoya wasn't particularly bothered until he found him sitting at the grand piano in one of the sitting rooms, fingers flying over the keys in a melody that the Ohtoris didn't recognize.

Yet, the way he played with such emotion brought his sister to tears. And soon his entire family was gathered in the room, standing in doorways or sitting in chairs. Kyoya was surprised to find even his father standing near the door from the dining room and turned his full attention to the blonde at the piano.

He didn't even realize how touching the music was until he himself felt tears running down his cheeks. He bent his head to hide his face from his family.

The music reminded him of his mother.

That reminder of his mother nearly ripped out his heart.

~o~

A/N: Yes this is a scene from the manga/anime and yes I have stretched it to encompass my scenario and I'm extremely proud of myself for it. I hope things are beginning to come together.

I apologize to everyone who's been waiting for LD but college is hitting me harder than I expected it to. I'll try to update within the next week or two. No promises though.

Kudos to: 93.