Light Upon the Darkness (A Your Lie in April Fanfiction)

Chapter 17: Rebirth

2 months later

Michiko's POV

"Sure I am going to miss her" I pondered the same thing again and again after I finished reading the newspaper given by the guards. Like a toy taken away from me, that's Tsubaki. The same as Keizo, as the guards - especially female ones with their piercing eyes - took care to ensure that I cannot contact him by any means. Even in court.

At least here, I could still dreaming myself with her in this dead end place that somehow, in my opinion, had better vibe than the mansion.

Nevertheless when its time to eat, they were sometimes kind enough to let Keizo join me on the table. Today was such moment, knowing what's in store for us next.

"You're alright?" He asked me in between the chow. Some other inmates with uniforms of those convicted - different than ours - gazed at us, but I deduced that their intentions are not harmful... for now. My eyes went on Keizo, whose expression brought back memories on how one month ago, when we're still in a different jail, one man recognized us and how they broke one of my ribs as the result.

The guards then came. "It's time" Some others with the same status as us were taken away as well to the courtyard. The bus that Keizo and I are all familiar was waiting for us.

"And so be it." I also could hear Keizo's mumbling. "Just release us from this cruel world already".

..........

Watari Ryouta's POV

It's that time again, a day in court.

Now with I am perfectly shaved for this occasion, and the appropriate collared shirt and trousers, I went on to check whether Tsubaki finished with her dressing. But it's not need to be as Tsubaki opened the door, all ready to go. The passage of time had me amazed with her change of style upon her rescue, in particular on how she decided to grow her hair long and often kept it down for me. 

The drive to the district court building was uneventful, and the always ready court security officers trooped in to keep us out from the gaze of those two devils. It's good that this said hearing was on the weekends, allowing Kousei and Emi to keep tab on things directly from London by the virtue of technology. 

And soon a call to order as the judges took their seat, plus the lay judges, including the familiar face of Mr. Miyazono, the man where I went often to learn about the update of the examination of evidence within the court.

Witnesses were called, among it was a woman on her thirties. Tsubaki held my hands tight as she testified on how her hobby drone managed to found the place where her and Kashiwagi were confined, leading the cops to their rescue. Nevertheless, she was barely able to hold her tears, while Kashiwagi let out a small sob nearby, as evidences continue to be shown - the nefarious tools used to torture and defile my love, Kashiwagi, and many other young women before, many were in form of photographs and recordings taken from the dark web.

But the most shocking evidence was not related to my love - it was related to a cold case that I thought was buried two years ago, the disappearance of a wannabe actress and how she was found dead in Saitama after a year worth of abuse, as well as recent ones such as the case of late Ai Hidaka, that government worker, whose parents were also present in this room and I also learned to know them, even with the fact that I never knew her before; different school and different workplace at all.

It's obvious now on how those bastards, basically out of work, can survive, and how many souls they have taken in the process...

Those two pleaded not guilty, to add insult to the injury and outrage of several in the audience - many were young women and older people whose children are roughly the same age as Tsubaki and I - even with the mountain of evidence showed on this trial, and previous ones before, to the point of a call "Order, order!" by the bailiff. 

Before the panel of judges deliberate for the final decision. The lead judge Toshiro Yazawa looked at Tsubaki and I. "It seems to me, after this, you can go ahead and marry your love. You had found your voice here..." he continued. "You are brave, Miss Sawabe, and you, Mr. Ryouta, for keeping your loyalty to the one you love despite many opportunities to leave her" Yazawa said.

"And as you have a child coming" his gaze was on Tsubaki, then me, "The baby's innocence shall bring a new, hopeful chapter of your life."

He also had nearly similar word for Kashiwagi and Saitou, who took a day off in order to be with her.

"Thank you, Your Honor" replied Tsubaki, even with her voice was still not yet resembled the active girl that I know before, but my very being could sense it, the glimpse of hope that was becoming brighter each day.

The climax's finally there as the panel returned. 

"...The panel find the defendants guilty... of multiple kidnappings, sexual abuse, rape, and murder." I could see both Keizo and Michiko could only hung their heads down. "...and sentenced to death." 

And so Tsubaki hugged me upon the decision, as the crowd burst in jubilation upon the sentence.

Our future ahead, is now here.

...............................

Arima Kousei POV.

It's nearly midnight here in London with Emi, just in time as the sentence was finally handed down. Death. 

"Thank God!" was our reaction. Looking at Tsubaki and Watari hugged each other on screen, we did the same. For sure, my father and the families of Tsubaki and other victims of their violence against women shall be proud on what the justices had done, especially the father of my late first love who were one of the lay judges. But my part as their best friend are not done yet, and it would mean another long flight to Japan as three weeks after the hearing, an email came with the official invitation. 

"I'll come with you" that's what Emi told me.

"Is that obvious?" I smiled on her. "They want us to be there, granted, their choice of best mate are not us. Much more as this is a private and low-cost ceremony after all... with Tsubaki's condition. 

Another passage of time, and true to their word as we're back in Japan, the immediate families of Tsubaki and Watari and few trusted friends - in which along with Emi and I are the Miyazonos as well as Takeshi and Emi were the only attendants in the temple chosen by both Tsubaki and Watari for the ceremony, in the less crowded part of the big Tokyo. Accompanied by the blue sky and hot summer, any worries that Tsubaki might snap or something faded as the procession began. 

The priests purified them according to the old rituals, then come the prayer and a sake-sipping ceremony - followed by an equally small reception, which somehow enough to show us about how all is going to be well in the end, even with the unknown path ahead of them... and us too. 

.............................

Ryouta Tsubaki POV

5 years later

"Uncle Kousei, play the piano for me!" 

Another time to be in this mansion after we concluded our visit to Nao and her off-duty husband Saitou.

It's doors were always open to us and on how Kousei and Emi, now also a husband and wife waiting for their own kids were always there just to be with us. Their presence as well as my own husband were always a great healing factor for my turbulent heart, after all this time... unlike how some other people out there are dealing and living with a friend that's filthy rich...

The boy who was sired by that dark time was now growing up, Watari and I named him Kazuki, meaning hope, and just like what Watari and the judge told me - him being alive and thriving as a normal kid was actually the reason of my inner peace so far. 

Sitting in attention as both Kousei and Emi sat together and played "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in a duet fashion, his smile radiated across the house. 

The applause by Kousei's father - now largely wheelchair bound but still joyful overall with how his son and heir's development went on after that eventful moment in April brought me back to earth, and oh, a kiss on my cheeks from my husband!

"I love you" 

All in all, just like Kousei's at that time, a moment of acceptance together had further proven that everything and everybody in my little world is finally at peace. 

THE END