The Trial, Part I

Chapter 5- Soccer season has started and I haven't been updating as much. Sorry!

I DO NOT OWN GRAVITATION!

Yuki pushed the deflated and half-heartedly protesting boy out of his office and closed the door softly. Shuichi's heart sank for the second time that day as he heard the lock click into place. He sat in the hallway crying for a little bit before going to Yuki's room and collapsing on his bed.

But the big, empty, black bed did little to comfort his fears and regrets.

Shuichi regained consciousness in exactly the same place where he flopped down the night before. He sighed a little after turning over and not finding Yuki next to him. But why would he be? Shuichi would bet any money that Yuki hated him right about now. He shivered under the comforter bunched around his midriff.

Those eyes.

There was a saying that you could tell how a person was feeling by their eyes. However, Yuki would be the counterexample of that statement. He had so much control over how his features portrayed his mood that it was impossible to tell what exactly he was thinking or how he felt. Shuichi usually had to rely on guessing. It really didn't help that he was a natural pessimist.

But still, those eyes were cold just before that cursed door had to come between them. Shuichi hadn't had time to decide whether he wanted to look away or not.

Shuichi climbed phlegmatically out of bed. He had to get to work. Not until he was done with his shower in Yuki's bathroom did he finally realize that he shouldn't be here. Yuki didn't want him here… did he? Wouldn't he have thrown Shuichi out by now? This had to be a good sign! Yuki hadn't thrown him out! Shuichi smiled a little.

The smile faded as he glimpsed a note on the kitchen table from the end of the hallway. I sat there, glaring at him like an eviction notice or an unpaid bill. Shuichi made his way to it hesitantly. This was really it. Why was he drawing the moment out?

When he reached the note, he saw with considerable surprise that it was addressed to Yuki. Upon further investigation of the mysterious letter, Shuichi discovered that it was from the nearby courthouse. Yuki was being charged for physical abuse and battery. The trial was to be held in two weeks. Shuichi sighed. What a long two weeks it was going to be.

No sooner had this thought crossed his mind when the phone rang. After checking to make sure that it wasn't some reporter or something, he picked it up.

"H-Hello?"

"Hello, Shindo Shuichi?"

"This is he." Shuichi's palms were sweating.

"This is Kitazawa Hikaru, attorney at law."

"Oh…" Shuichi replied faintly.

"I was informed that you were the victim of battery on the part of one Eiri Yuki."

"Well, you were informed wrong." Shuichi replied stonily.

"That is the reason why I am calling. I would like you to be a witness for the defense of Eiri Yuki in this upcoming case."

"You mean I don't have to go against him?" Shuichi said loudly, as though to more convince himself of this prospect.

"You were not the one who filed charges against Mr. Eiri."

"Hiro…"

"Correct."

"…Can I have some time to think about this?"

After taking down the lawyer's number, Shuichi began his dazed journey to work. He may not have looked it to an innocent passerby, but he was deep in thought. Hiro was doing this for him. It would look so ungrateful of Shuichi to just take Yuki's side, but he had to prove Hiro wrong! Which way was right? Join Yuki and save him jail time for something he never did in the first place, or join his best friend, who was wasting all this money for a trial.

They were professionals. They could afford such things.

Shuichi pulled out his cell phone and called the lawyer Kitazawa back. Then he called Sakano and took the day off work.

&&&

Yuki was on coffee break when Shuichi burst into his office ten minutes later.

"YUUUUUUUUUUKI!"

Yuki made a rather neat dodge, his coffee sloshing precariously in it's Styrofoam vessel.

"Brat! Watch it!"

"Yuki, I'm going to trial with you!"

"…Damn."

"DAMN? Yuki! Do you really want to go to jail?"

"Sometimes I seriously debate that-"

"YUUUKI!" Shuichi whined.

"I'm trying to work." Yuki cut in.

"Then I'll sit here quietly." Shuichi sat in his customary chair at Yuki's elbow with resolve.

This was all going to work out. Shuichi let Yuki's rhythmic typing lull him into a secure, happy place. He imagined that the stupid accident a few weeks ago had never happened. He imagined that Yuki was still cold, in his silly conservative way, and that Hiro was still big dumb overprotective Hiro. Shuichi opened his eyes as he felt Yuki's golden ones graze his subconsciousness. That cold gaze made him shudder a little. Yuki must have noticed this, but he said nothing. Instead, he gathered up his laptop and written drafts.

"Time to go." He said simply, and Shuichi followed him to the elevator.

"Yuki?"

Grunt.

"It's going to be okay… right?" Shuichi shifted awkwardly. He felt belittled again by the mere stare that was returned to him.

"I guess." Yuki replied indifferently.

Shuichi cracked a random smile. He felt oddly comforted by Yuki's normal behavior. This was the most normal conversation they had had in about a week. Could it be possible that this whole situation could be drawing them closer in a psychotic, inverted way? Shuichi latched onto Yuki's arm to suppress his rising bubbly emotions. Yuki pulled away in agitation.

It would be alright. Now Shuichi was sure of it.