Yusuke sat at his podium and sighed. He was exhausted from the stress. He peered around the court, looking for the Cheshire Youko. In this strange crowd, it would be hard to pinpoint him.
Koenma came into the court and sat down. He glanced around and sighed. " Is there anyone else who would like to serve as a witness?"
A very long silence came into the room. Yusuke shook his head. He could feel his shoulder letting go of his neck. It would only be after the word of the Queen of Hearts.
He peered up and noticed a tail swinging behind Koenma’s head. Chesire Youko! He was reclining on a shelf overhead "HER" Majesty!
" Damn Youko!"
" Eh?!" Koenma gasped, a little confused and worried.
" He’s there!" Yusuke pointed. Koenma peered up to the shelf, the youko waving at him. However Koenma saw nothing.
" Ch! I forgot," Yusuke muttered. " Only I can see him."
" Enough games!" Koenma spat, waving an arm like an axe. Yusuke could feel it coming. " Off with your..."
" Wait! Don’t I get the chance to defend myself?"
" No!" Koenma retorted. Hiei Rabbit tapped the Queen of Hearts on the arm, " Perhaps he’ll have a witness or something that proves his innocence."
" Kudaran!" Koenma spat at the pink suited rabbit. Yusuke rolled his eyes. He’d been saying that the whole time.
" Your.....Ladyship....I believe I do know of someone who can defend me. A...character witness perhaps?"
" You’re character isn’t in this story!" Tweedle Dee Mukuro shot out. " Your Majesty, he’s toying with you! Chop his head off!"
" Now now," Tweedle Dum Yomi choked out, grabbing his "sister" and pulling her back, " He’s the part of Alice, remember?"
" Pervert!" Tweedle Mukuro shouted, pointing to Yusuke.
Yusuke glance up at the bench and narrowed his eyes at the Youko who seemed oblivious. =Got you.= Yusuke thought. " I would like to send Rabbit to fetch my witness."
" Me?"
" Yeah."
Koenma watched the exchange and sighed with boredom and irritation. " Whatever! Hurry up so I can chop off your head!"
Yusuke gulped and motioned for Hiei Rabbit to approach. He whispered into the soft white ear which twitched with curiosity. Hiei Rabbit nodded, " Are you sure?"
" What other choice do I have?"
" But.....THAT witness?" Hiei Rabbit asked quietly.
" Worth a shot, isn’t it?"
Hiei Rabbit groaned and rolled his eyes, " Whatever. It’s your head."
He was off like a shot. All that was left to do was wait. Yusuke kept his eye on the people attending. Mad Hatter Kuwabara sat biting his nails. Seems he still objected to Jury Duty. " I say he’s guilty! Can I go home now?!"
Doormouse Yukina grabbed his collar and pulled him back down, " Hush!"
Koenma fiddled the pacifier about his mouth as he examined his fingernails. He was leaning on his other hand in boredom. March Hare Botan skipped up to the bench and glanced at the Royal Nails.
" Such a lovely color. What is it?"
" Mauve," Koenma replied flatly. Yusuke did a double-take on the words. He hadn’t noticed Koenma wearing fingernail polish. He glared up at Cheshire Youko who laughed at his suffering. He felt he was about to lose his mind. But, there was one shot left...and it seemed the youko was oblivious.
" Your Majesty, I’ve brought Yusuke character witness!" Hiei Rabbit announced, stepping into the court.
" Finally." Koenma sighed. " Well?"
" Yusuke calls the Dodo to be his character witness."
" WHAT?!" Cheshire Youko gasped, becoming wide-eyed. " No!"
" Who?" Koenma asked. But, no sooner had he asked did Dodo Karasu step into the court, seemingly shy. He peered around the court and his eyes suddenly froze and sparkled when they fell upon....him.
" Cheshire Youko!" Dodo Karasu smiled {not that you could tell}. " My dearest friend! It’s been so long!"
" Eh?" Koenma asked. He peered around. " Cheshire Youko? You see him?"
" Yes, he’s upon the shelf. He likes to hide. He told me so. But he cant hide from me. I’ve watched him following us the whole way here. I pretended not to notice...so I wouldn’t hurt his feelings."
" Baka!" Cheshire Youko spat. At that, everyone saw him. " You blew my cover! You stupid, idiotic, worthless excuse for...."
" You’re busted, Youko!" Yusuke pointed.
" I see." Koenma said gently, peering up, " Then,... OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!!!!"
Cheshire Youko growled and leapt from the shelf, darting from the court.
" After him!" Koenma ordered. In an instant, the entire court was on the tail of the youko. Yusuke ran close to Dodo Karasu, " So you two DO know each other?"
" Yes," Dodo Karasu replied between pants, but otherwise gently, " I know him very well. We met when I was younger. He was my best friend. We played games ALL the time. He’d always try to hide from me but I’d always find him. Then, he just....stopped coming to see me. And he seemed to be avoiding me ever since." With that, Dodo Karasu stopped and glanced at the ground sorrowfully, " I guess....he just doesn’t like me anymore."
Yusuke skidded to a stop, " Don’t stop now! Look, I got to get that youko so he can tell me how to get home!"
" You....you’re leaving me too?"
OH NO! Yusuke felt the guilt stab him in the chest. Dodo Karasu could be obsessive and annoying....but he seemes too innocent in this world that it made Yusuke unsure of what to say.
" I....gotta go back. I don’t belong here."
" I don’t have many friends...seems they always leave me."
" Karasu....er...Dodo, look....if you catch that youko, I’m sure you’ll make some new friends. Can’t you do something? He’s getting away!"
" Does it matter?" Dodo Karasu sighed, turning away. Yusuke gritted his teeth...he couldn’t lose Karasu now! He grabbed the long black hair and yanked him back. " Look, I’ll be your friend as long as you want, but I HAVE to go home. That youko has caused me a lot of suffering and he NEARLY got me killed!"
Dodo Karasu focused on Yusuke, his expression was somewhat confusing to Yusuke. " He....did that?"
" I almost got beheaded because he wanted to play a hideous game with me. If you hadn’t pointed him out, I would have been holding my head in a doggie bag."
The expression seemed to change. " He....tried to kill you? That’s not very nice."
" No, it isn’t."
" That’s not funny at all." He grabbed Yusuke’s arm, " C’mon! I know a shortcut. We’ll try and cut him off!"
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