That Wasn't Supposed To Happen

Colloquium de iudiciis et sensis

Another trial over, another person executed. It was a rhythm at this point ad Byakuya had no doubt that it would continue.

As he looked around in the elevator, he could see how these events had changed everybody once again; Hina and Sakura were talking in hushed whispers, Hiro and Hifumi stood quietly to the side, Chihiro was desperately trying to get Taka to talk to no avail and Kyoko looked to be in deep thought, with only the slightest hint of sadness in her eyes. He knew it wasn't because of Mondo.

When the elevator finally stopped and Byakuya moved to step out, he was stopped by Kyoko.

"I think we should talk," Kyoko said in a tone leaving no room for argument. Not that that mattered to Byakuya.

"Should we now? I don't see why," Byakuya responded, his signature smirk appearing on his face.

"I think we both know why." Kyoko said coolly, glaring at the heir.

"Hmpf, fine. Though, let me first get some coffee, I think I'm going to need the extra energy," Byakuya told her, pushing his glasses up and starting to walk away, though still seeing Kyoko.

The lavender haired girl simply rolled her eyes in response and followed Byakuya.

The walk towards the dining hall was eery quiet, despite it almost being lunch time. It looked like none of his classmates had an appetite yet.

When they entered the kitchen in the dining hall and Byakuya made his cup of coffee, he couldn't help but feel some sense of Deja-vu. Something about, for the lack of a better word, hanging out with Kyoko felt oddly familiar, as if this had happened many times before.

Byakuya shook the thought away for now, he had more important things to focus on.

"So, what exactly did you want to talk to me about?" Byakuya asked, holding his cup of coffee.

"I will tell you once we are in my room."

At that, Byakuya raised one eyebrow. "Is it that important that we can't do it here?" Byakuya asked, taking a small sip of coffee.

"...I don't want anybody to overhear us talking," Kyoko explained with her usual steely gaze, already walking out of the kitchen.

"My, my, you really are making me curious, Sherlock," Byakuya said, not exactly knowing why he added that last word.

"What did you just call me?" Kyoko asked, confusion clear in her voice.

"With you acting like our resident detective, it felt fitting." Byakuya half lied. He did, in fact, not know why he called Kyoko that, though it did feel fitting for a reason he doesn't quite know.

Kyoko gave him an annoyed look with a hint of something else in her eyes before she started walking again.

Byakuya caught up to her in seconds. Taking a sip of his coffee while making sure to spill none of it on his shirt.

Their footsteps echoed through the school as they walked towards Kyoko's room, still not seeing any of their classmates.

When the two of them finally arrived at Kyoko's room, she opened the door for him, making sure that he would enter first. Probably to see his reaction, if Byakuya had to guess.

Kyoko's room was bare, with no decoration other than a few books. While Byakuya couldn't see the exact titles of the books, it looked to be something biology related. Some of the books had a picture of the human brain on them, while others had no distinctive features to see what the book was about, a lot like the girl reading them.

The rest of the room was bland and there was no hint towards what Kyoko's talent could be. The only other thing that stood out were the pink bed sheets, though they might be in every girl room, considering the ones in his room were blue.

"Are you done looking around?" Kyoko asked, pulling out the only chair from under a table.

"Yes. Now, why don't you begin," Byakuya answered, sitting down on the chair while Kyoko sat on her bed.

"Why were you so adamant with making me a suspect while you knew I wasn't the killer?" Kyoko asked, getting straight to the point.

"No beating around the bush? I suppose I could tell you," Byakuya began, a smirk appearing on his face. "But then I want to ask something in return," Byakuya proposed, taking a sip of his coffee.

Before Kyoko could say anything, the heir started speaking again.

"Before you ask, it isn't about your talent. Now, do we have a deal?" he asked, looking Kyoko right in the eyes.

"Sure. Now, will you answer my question."

"Of course," Byakuya began. "I guess you could say that I wanted to make the trial more interesting. After all, the list of possible suspects was low if you actually looked at the crime scene and when I saw the fake note, I took the opportunity," Byakuya explained, placing the empty coffee cup on the table next to him.

"So, you only did it to amuse yourself?" Kyoko summarized, a hint of anger in her voice.

"Yes, don't make me repeat myself."

"Now, it's time for my question," Byakuya said, once again looking Kyoko right in her eyes.

"Ask away," Kyoko retorted, meeting Byakuya's gaze.

"What was the relationship between you and Makoto?"

At that, Byakuya saw Kyoko's eyes widen ever so slightly, clearly not expecting the question. There was also a hint of sadness.

"That's what you want to know?" Kyoko asked, suspicion clear in her eyes.

"I asked it for a reason, didn't I?" Byakuya told her, not explaining why he chose that question.

"Fine then, I suppose I will answer it," Kyoko began, no visible emotion to be seen. "I suppose Makoto and I were... friends," she said, saying the last word almost questionably.

"Hmm, looks like I was correct, otherwise you wouldn't be so, how to call it, hung up about his death," Byakuya said a bit mockingly.

"Hung up? What are you talking about?"

"Oh please, don't act dumb on me. I could see the hint of sadness in your eyes after the trial or when I asked you the question. It's quite obvious to me that you miss him." Byakuya explained.

"...And why exactly does it matter if I miss him or not?" Kyoko asked, not quite so sure where this conversation was going.

"That's for me to know and you to find out. You do seem to love mysteries after all," Byakuya began, his signature smir on his face. "Now, while I enjoyed our talk, I must be going," Byakuya said as he stood up and began walking towards the door, leaving the coffee cup in Kyoko's room.

"Right, see you later then," Kyoko said as she also stood up.

"Unfortunately," Byakuya respond, walking towards his own room and not looking back, missing the look of recognition in Kyoko's eyes as he said that.