Lol... hey guys. So I've got some explaining to do, I know, I know. Long story short: the computer with all my information for this story broke and I lost my muse in the fit of depression that comes with a computer breaking. I didn't want this story to die, though. I kept reworking the plot, and I'm literally writing out what will probably become an outline for the entire story. I really, really want to finish this fic and share this story with you. And I'm really sorry about not updating for so long, but I'm so bad at multi-chaptered fics that usually updates come really slowly.

But I am determined to finish. At least I hope I can keep that up.

This chapter is kind of filler, but is important filler. It gives you background on Neru's relationships with other people, specifically Rin and Mikuo (Neru is a bamf in this chapter, honestly), and also a little bit of Len. I know someone once asked if Neru would be jealous about Len and Rin. Well, that's answered in this chapter. I have always had a seed of a plot for the relationship between Neru, Len and Rin up my sleeve. But this is still a Mikuo x Neru story, and Len will not really have any impact on their relationship. Not much, anyway, and not in the way you think. Like, really, go far away from thinking what I know you're thinking.

I'll stop blabbering. This chapter also introduces a very important new character. Please, please enjoy this.

I do not own anything, save the writing, as per usual.

Chapter 5

State Courthouse – Prosecutor's Lobby

Miku Hatsune fiddled with her thumbs idly, unsure of why she had suddenly become so nervous. As a girl who dreamed of performing on stage in front of millions of adoring fans, she was usually excited and everything far from nervous around large crowds. But, she reasoned in her head, maybe it had to do with the fact that it was court.

"Please don't be nervous, Ms. Hatsune. We may not even need you today."

She looked up to see the brunette prosecutor smiling softly at her, and in response, she smiled back a forced smile that looked undoubtedly unsure. The man made a face, his lips tightening into a thin line. Something had made him suddenly unhappy, clearly visible in his eyes even with the mask trying to obscure them. In that moment, Miku pondered if it had been her loss of confidence.

Miku opened her mouth, but was unsure what to say in response, choosing to fiddle with her skirt instead of her thumbs.

Instead, Master gave her another soft smile, squeezing her hand gently, "Don't worry, little dove. I'll protect you."

('Little dove'…? Where had she heard that before?)

And as he turned around to walk away, Miku found herself blushing and staring at her hand, before running in order to catch up with him. ('Sheesh, what a spazz!' she mentally scolded herself.)

State Courthouse – Defense's Lobby

Neru decided that today would be the day she stopped taking such a backseat during the proceedings. Usually, Neru was loud and opinionated in debates during trial proceedings, but as she had usually been on the other side of the courtroom, she was still unused to the way things worked on the side of the defense attorney.

...Which was, albeit, very ridiculous. When she really thought about it, she should've had a better idea of what went down, having been involved of plenty of trials. So, maybe it wasn't a lack of knowledge. Perhaps it was nerves.

Wow. Nerves. She hadn't had that problem in a long time.

"Practicing your nerves of steel, Ms. Akita?" Mikuo asked from behind her, coming up and sitting next to her on the bench.

Neru let out something between a sigh and a groan, saddened that Mikuo, of all people, had figured out her inner turmoil before she, herself, did. But then again, she guessed that's why he was so renowned - he could read witnesses very well... Or, well, really, he was known for the corruption -

Whatever.

"More or less," she said, with a sigh (a real one, this time) leaving her lips, "But I guess I'm still thinking about the case. There are so many holes we need to fill."

Mikuo let out a little chuckle, and she slapped him on the arm. "Be serious and mature about this, please."

The teal haired attorney put up his hands in mock defense, taking them down only to start rubbing at the place on his bicep where Neru had slapped him.

"I am. I'm just trying to lighten the mood. Things will be easier on you if you go in with a clearer conscience. Or whatever it was my mentor always said."

"You can't remember your own mentors sayings?" Neru asked, incredulously. She could never forget what her mentor had taught her, even if she had been long separated from him.

"I'm afraid not. I would like to, but that's just the way it is. I'm not exactly the most sentimental guy."

Neru rolled her eyes, "You can say that again."

Mikuo nudged her side playfully with his arm, "Tell me about your mentor, if you seem so adamant on remembering them."

The blonde prosecutor frowned, but then checked her watch (and also the clock on her phone - can't hurt to double check things, can it?) in order to be sure they had time. Which they did. At least a half hour before Rin got there, and when Rin got there they had forty five minutes to get their case a little bit more prepared, despite working on it for hours last night.

"Okay, fine," Neru started, "He's actually my sister's fiancé's father. Nice guy, but sadly on the more conservative side. We started off on good terms, he gave me a lot of tips and tricks, especially when I was in college.

"And then things went downhill. He had some opinions that he kept trying to force on me. Not exactly the kind of people I like to associate with. So, I kind of dropped ties with him. His advice and everything still means a lot but -"

"The guy is a douche?" Mikuo asked, in an attempt to finish her sentence.

Despite herself, Neru couldn't help but laugh and smile at that. "Well, I wouldn't exactly be so vulgar, but I guess for the sake of humoring your early morning brain, we'll go with that."

Before Neru even realized it, Rin was already making her way into the lobby, being escorted by guards. Looking upon the scene had suddenly made Neru sad. She had spent nights thinking about it and hating it - it being the fact that they were treating Rin like she was a criminal. For all of Neru's life, though, Rin had never been that. She was always Neru's happy little sister. The presence of cuffs on Rin's wrists and guards surrounding her easily wiped off the smile she had been sharing with Mikuo.

When the doors closed, and Rin was allowed to talk to Neru and Mikuo, the doors opened again. Curious, the lawyers and their defendant took a peek at who was entering.

Len.

Rin's features instantly brightened at seeing her fiancé, which made Neru smile. It was nice to see Rin could still be happy despite her situation. When Len came over, he and Rin shared a quick, almost business-like peck (a type of kiss Neru never remembered seeing between them - usually they were affectionate, but then again, considering their location, it'd only be natural for them to be on alarm about their PDA).

Neru smiled at the kiss, too. Years ago, it probably would've made her jealous, but that part of her was long gone and had disappeared. She had spent a few years sucking out happiness for jealousy, but Neru had since matured out of the petty girl she used to be.

Len, or so he said, was here to see Rin, and also subsequently, the trial. Rin didn't hide her frown at that, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of Len seeing her in trial. But Neru knew that it was for the best that Len came at all - the hospital always had him swamped, and now that Rin was in trouble, Neru had a feeling that Len really wanted to be there for Rin.

"Len?" Neru asked to alert his presence, "You know that we appreciate you being here for Rin but unfortunately we can't share most of this case with you. At least, not with all these guards around."

Mikuo made a sound of agreement, sensing Neru's anxious attempt to get started on adding the finishing touches to the case.

With a sigh, Len nodded and turned back to the sad looking blonde defendant. "Yeah, I know, I just wanted some time with Rin... since I don't get to see her too much."

Neru blinked, and suddenly things started to dawn on her - their home had probably felt empty without an integral piece living in it. Rolling her golden eyes, she tutted out some kind of noise that she hoped was sympathetic.

"Fine. Five minutes."

Tugging on Mikuo's elbow, the two attorneys walked away to give the couple some privacy. Mikuo seemed to be a tag angry at Neru's sudden act of sympathy.

"What'd you do that for?" he asked, looking at her with flames starting to burn in his pretty, teal eyes. (Ugh, get a grip on your life, Neru! You spend a little bit of time with him and suddenly you're complimenting his eyes?)

"Look, as much as I'd like to do everything we can to save my sister, I want her to be happy - even more than I want to save her."

Mikuo's flaming anger didn't lessen any.

"Look, please, it's only five minutes," Neru pleaded, blinking up at the man. Said man rolled his eyes a few seconds later.

"Fine."

Neru smiled and thanked him. She knew she probably sounded like some kind of silly little girl, but she really just wanted to make sure her younger sister was okay. Some kind of older sibling thing or something like that.

"Thank you. Really, it means a lot to me... And Rin."

Mikuo nodded, and then crossed his arms. It seemed that he was done with whatever one-sided conversation they were having. His angry attitude was bothering Neru, if only a little, so she, in return, made her usual sour look - or, at least, the sour look that usually crossed her face whenever she was around Mikuo.

If that's how he wanted to be, then fine. Two could play at that game.

It was a little longer than five minutes. But while Neru wasn't exactly bothered by it, Mikuo clearly was.

"Look, you need to cool off," Neru whispered loudly to him. She was really started to get annoyed at his attitude, "Excuse me for wanting to let my little sister have a little time with her own fiancé."

Mikuo gritted his teeth, "You said five minutes. Five minutes has been up."

Neru scowled, "It's only been about seven. I'm serious, Mikuo. Your attitude is really starting to get on my nerves right now and if you don't quit it right now I swear I'll talk to Rin by myself and do the trial by myself."

Mikuo gripped her wrist, "You can't exactly do that, sweetheart," he exhaled, venom seeping into the endearment, "You don't have an attorney's badge. You need me to even be able to get behind that bench."

Letting out a frustrated sigh, and then pulling her arm out of Mikuo's grip, she glared right into his eyes. "You're being immature. Go get coffee or something, and I'll talk to Rin. Until you've calmed down enough for me to actually be around you, you'll just be wasting time with your passive aggressiveness."

With that last statement, Neru shoved Mikuo out of the way and into the hall. She wasn't amused and she wasn't about to let him be all pouty and annoying when they had work to do. If he didn't take his own advice regarding that 'clean conscience' then he wouldn't be useful. Too much anger never mixed well with court. And considering Mikuo's last encounter with Master, which had ended with a very infuriated and aggressive Mikuo (and an offended Master, Neru thought bemusedly), if he was angry, it would especially be bad for him to be around Master. Which they clearly couldn't avoid considering their position right now.

Watching the man walk away to get coffee, clearly muttering something under his breath, Neru turned to her sister and future brother-in-law to find them staring at Neru with semi shocked expressions on their faces.

"Damn, Neru," Len said, clearly impressed, "I didn't knew you had it in you to boss him around."

Rin laughed, but Neru shook her head. "He'll be no use to anyone if he stays that frustrated, believe me. And I'm not in the state to deal with it at the moment."

If it had been years ago, Neru would have preened at Len's comment, but Neru shook her head again. She didn't need to be thinking of old Neru right now. Right now, what she needed to do was finalize some details about the case and get some information about Rin.

"But he's not important right now. What's important is finalizing this case, and talking to Rin about some things."

Len nodded, kissing Rin on the cheek before stopping in front of Neru, taking in her stormy expression. She looked angry, clearly from the events that had taken place between her and Mikuo just a few moments prior, but there was also some kind of underlying worry in it.

"Right, well, while you do that, do you want me to go check on him for you?" Len asked, staring at the golden haired prosecutor in worry.

Neru's eyes brightened just a tad, but other than that, none of the sour expression faded. "Yes, please, if you could. Having him cool off is great but I don't want him to be angry at me when he comes back up here later." Neru sighed at the end of her statement, twirling a piece of hair around her fingers - something she hadn't done since she had been in college. Surprised, she put her hair down and gave Len an expectant look.

Len smiled at her before giving Rin another peck on the cheek and walking down the hallway to find the no doubt sulking Mikuo.

"Neru, are you okay?" Rin asked, taking her sister's hand.

Neru gave a squeeze, "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just... get this done, okay?"

State Courthouse - Courtroom #7

The conversation between Neru and Mikuo when he returned from getting coffee with Len was unpleasant. That was the nicest way to phrase it, anyway. Only after hissing some harsh words did they basically stop talking to each other, only conversing to finalize their case and get information from Rin.

The trial's proceedings began the same - prosecution ready, defense ready, Master making his opening statement and presenting the evidence that Kaito had already showed them the other day. Neru was feeling pretty good.

...Until Master started making some remarks about his next witness. Despite what Ms. Yuzuki had said, it appeared she was not the witness appearing in court today.

"My next witness is rather nervous and delicate. If it wouldn't be so much trouble, your honor, I would prefer it if she was handled more gently."

With a nod, the judge slammed his gavel down. And then, as Master had said, a rather nervous looking teal haired woman made her way up to the stand. She was wringing her hands in her white, ruffled skirt, a clear tell that she was trying to do anything to keep herself from withering like a leaf.

"State your name and profession to the court, please," Master said, in the gentlest voice Neru had ever heard him use. It seemed... kind of gross actually. Neru didn't really like it, as it didn't suit him. It was creepy.

Beside her, Mikuo had went rigid. He had basically stopped breathing altogether, his hands nervously clamping onto the edge of the wooden desk. His anger seemed to be entirely forgotten as his widened eyes locked on to the witness like a sniper would lock onto a target.

Neru was confused - she also didn't really like the way Mikuo was studying the witness. But when the witness next opened her mouth to speak her full name and profession, something clicked in her mind. And she think she got what had made Mikuo so panicked.

"I'm a college student, majoring in music," she started, her eyes flitting to Master nervously, who seemed to be encouraging her, "And... my name is Miku Hatsune."

I just wanted to let you know that if you're still reading, and still have faith in me, it means a lot to me. Thank you for being so patient.