Hello Lovelies

Thank you reading, guys. Mwahz.

Chapter 3

'Rukiaaaaa!'
A young boy came barrelling toward Kuchiki, wrapping his small arms around her legs. The impact pushed her off balance. Ichigo's hand instinctively shot out to steady her, but Mizuiro's hand was already at her back. Ichigo slipped his hand into his pocket; thankful the gesture went unnoticed.
The boy let go off Kuchiki and she smiled down at him. Ichigo recognized him from the case file. This was the boy who witnessed the whole thing.
'Hi, Kon,' she said as she brushed the boy's hair away from his eyes.
'Hi,' said the boy, smiling with all his teeth. You would think Kuchiki was a goddess the way the boy's eyes sparkled at her.
He turned to Ichigo, and his eyes narrowed immediately.
'Who's this guy? Is he your boyfriend?' The kid glared at him. Actually glared.
'My God, no,' Kuchiki said, clearly offended that anyone would think they were together. He didn't know why, but her reaction bothered him.
'This is Detective Kurosaki.'
'He doesn't look like a detective…' Kon said, eyeing Ichigo suspiciously.
'No, he really doesn't.' Kuchiki said as she gave Ichigo a once-over.
Ichigo heard Mizuiro laugh behind them.
Ichigo shot him a look that said 'shut up or else'
Mizuiro stopped immediately. He cleared his throat the said, 'We should go get settled in.'

Turns out, Mizuiro had left his fancy job to work at the district attorney's office, quickly becoming the ADA, and was now prosecutor for this case. Ichigo also learned that he and Kuchiki had worked on a few cases together. They were, as Mizuiro put it 'excellent friends.'
'Does he have to come with us?' Kon asked Kuchiki as they walked to courtroom.
'I'm afraid so,' came Kuchiki's reply.
Kon reached for Kuchiki's hand, then turned to glare at Ichigo.
What's with this kid?

Rukia very much enjoyed Kon's immediate disdain for Kurosaki. That, plus his naturally stupid hair almost made up for the fact that she had to bring him in the first place. Rukia had to actively stop herself from glancing at his hair as they waited in the courtroom for the judge. They were seated in the first row of benches, with Kon on her left, and Ichigo on her right. Kojima was already at his table setting his papers in an orderly fashion. He then made his way to them, leaning over the gate.
'Hey, kiddo,' he said to Kon, 'just remember what we practiced, okay.'
Kon just nodded. He had been silent ever since they sat. Though he put on a brave face, the child was scared out of his wits.
'Don't be scared,' he said with a smile, 'Rukia won't let anything happen to you.' Mizuiro winked at her and went back to his table.
'Mr Mizuiro is right, I won't let anyone hurt you,' she said, trying to reassure him.
'What if something happens when you have to go up there?' Kon's voice was small and afraid. Rukia wished he hadn't seen a thing.
'Detective Kurosaki will be here,' she said, placing her hand on Kurosaki's knee, 'If anything happens to you, I'll kill him. Right, Kurosaki?' She looked up at him to find he was staring at the hand she placed on his knee. She drew her away and repeated, voice hard, 'Right?'
'Yeah, kid. I'll protect you.' Even though his scowled as he said it, Kuchiki knew she could at least trust him on that.

Finally, the judge arrived and court came to session. Opening statements were made and Rukia was eventually called to the stand. She relayed the investigation and it's results to the jury, then endured questions from one of defence attorneys. This was the part she hated about being called to trial; the cross examination. She had learned that an entire case could fall apart due a single cleverly worded question. She also had to fight her natural instincts to roll her eyes and be a smartass. But thanks to her upbringing, she knew how to school her features into an unaffected expression. Once defence were done with their trick questions, she was released into the gallery once again. On her way back, she saw Ichigo glance Kon, as if checking to see if he was alright. She smiled, maybe Kurosaki was so bad…
She came to their bench but was blocked by Kurosaki's long legs stretched out before him. She prodded his calf with the toe of her shoe. He just looked at her and grinned. She immediately erased her previous thought. Kurosaki was a jackass. He knew she couldn't lash out at him in court. She quickly crossed over his legs before the judge noticed anything disruptive.
Idiot!

Ichigo watched as Kon answered all Mizuiro's questions. Even though the kid hated him for no reason, Ichigo was rooting for him. He glanced down at Kuchiki. She kept wring her hands as Kon spoke, clearly nervous for him. She had seemingly forgotten her irritation with him. She smiled as Mizuiro's questions came to an end.
Then the cross examination began.
Ichigo knew from experience that Mizuiro would have prepared Kon for the cross, but this asshole lawyer was something else. He kept getting in the boy's face, intimidating him with his greasy mug.
And then Kon began to cry. Ichigo saw the lawyer smile, clearly proud of himself. It took all his control not to jump over the gate and punch the bastard.
'Fucking asshole,' he heard Kuchiki say under her breathe. She inched forward, fists clench, expression set to kill.
She was like a lioness with her cubs.

With Kon being inconsolable, the judge declared a recess. As soon as they were outside Kuchiki began a string of curses the likes of which Ichigo had never heard before.
'How fucking dare he? What, does he think that he's gonna get paid more for making a child cry? Fucking weasel.' She continued, pacing in front of where he and Mizuiro sat. Kon's mother had taken him outside for some air and a treat. Ichigo sighed. He hoped the boy would be alright. Something like this could scar him for life.
'There he is, that fucking dipstick,' he heard Kuchiki say. He looked up to see her eyes narrowed at the bastard lawyer. He stood further down the hallway, laughing with his equally greasy team. Kuchiki stepped in their direction, fists ready. Ichigo grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.
'Let go, Kurosaki!'
'Take it easy, Kuchiki' he tightened his grip, 'We're still in court, remember.'
She didn't even look at him, just pulled her wrist roughly from his grip, and walked away.

She was still seething during the car ride back to the station. If it wasn't for Kurosaki pulling her back, she would have beaten that lawyer within in every inch of his life. Who the fuck deliberately makes a child cry? Especially in favour of an accused murderer? She hated defense attorneys. They were scum. And this one was the worst. Her hands tightened around the wheel, knuckles going white.
'Hey, you okay?' came Kurosaki's voice. He had, thus far, been silent, thank God.
'I'm fine,' she said through her gritted teeth.
'If it makes you feel better, if we weren't in court, I would've let you beat him up.'
'How kind of you,' she said sarcastically.
'You know, you don't always have to be a bitch,' he said, annoyed.
'Maybe I do,' she replied haughtily.
'You know what, I should have let you at that jackass. Maybe the consequences would've helped you fix your attitude.'
'Well, maybe I should have let you walk back to the station.'
'It would be safer than your driving. Eyes on the road, Kuchiki. Damn.'

And so, without realizing it, arguing with Kurosaki had calmed her down. By the time they reached the station, her temper had waned, replaced by an unplaceable feeling that came alive every time Kurosaki opened his mouth.