Law and Desire (Soukoku)

Domino effect

"Once again, Dazai Osamu, the number one lawyer in Yokohama has won yet another case but it seems that the public isn't happy. More can be found on our channel....."

The brunette took a sip from his coffee as he switched channel but the television was merely background noise to him as he bit his lip in frustration. He was a lawyer for gods sake, who he defended wasn't his choice. It was given to him by his agency. Everyone knew that if you keep on rejecting cases, you won't be given any.

 So what if he won the case? He had solid evidence to back it up and it wasn't his fault the opposing lawyer wasn't ready and hadn't prepared for the debate.

For some reason, the defendant he was defending was from one of the executives of the dangerous mafia. Ooh....so scary. The public didn't like the mafia that much. Because they were all single minded and could only see in a straight line.

The entire case was a common one, someone accused the mafia member of breaking and entering into his house. When in fact, the mafia member was merely walking in the neighbourhood.

 The other lawyer who was a public favourite not because he was a good lawyer but more for his looks. He had tried fabricating information which he in return, shut the points down which resulted in the opposing lawyer getting fined and getting his lawyer certificate revoked.

And afterwards, being the dramatic jerk he was, he gave an apology speech where he directly insulted him. 

And now, it was all over the news. He and his agency was getting whiplashed by the public and he had a fear that his agency may be brought down due to the lack of lawyers the agency consisted of.

He couldn't even walk on the streets normally, he was on the verge of being assaulted every time he stepped out of the house. Even the landlord of the apartment complex he was living in were giving his letter threats to kick him out.

He could take legal action but it was just too troublesome and may cause the entire situation to become worse. He hoped this incident will just pass by eventually being forgotten by everyone.

—

He was now wearing a hoodie, the hood up as he stood behind the overwhelming crowd that surrounded what used to be the agency.

It was now being engulfed by flames. Yes, literal flames. He felt terribly hot from the radiating heat as he took a shaky step back. This was getting way out of hand. He quickly ran from the scene, taking a staff only accessed corner alley way which lead to the back of the building. 

He slammed open the back door, ignoring the overwhelming heat and smoke that slapped him in the face. His feet were going faster than his brain. The only thought was that he had to pull his intern out of the building. 

He should be in the office by this hour and from what he heard from the crowd, no one got out of the building's main entrance. He cursed himself, he should've told his intern how to get out from the back door. 

And he hated how he had taken a liking to this new intern...

"Atsushi!" He yelled, some of his anxiety turning into relief when he saw in the distance that one of the chairs move to the side. 

He hastily ran to the location, helping the younger up from under the table where he was taking refuge in before he practically dragged the other out of the office, coughing slightly because he wasn't meant to run like that.

Maybe it was just a coincidence that the riot started when it was meant to be only the two of them in the office. His colleague's shift was later on and his boss was on an overseas trip. He had just ran a bit late for his shift due to trying to avoid any reporters of haters coming his way.

When the two lawyers were finally away from the burning building and the crowd of rioters, the brunette glanced at the firetruck rushing to the scene but it might just be for nothing since the building was a small one and would most likely be near demolished by now.

He caught a glimpse of his poor intern crying behind him, sniffling non-stop as his heart clenched uncomfortably tight. 

Without much thought, he turned to hug the other, arms wrapping tight around the younger as he mumbled, "I'm sorry, it's my fault that they targeted the building." 

He sighed in somewhat relief and fondness when the other cried even louder, clinging onto him like some weight.

He knew the other wouldn't blame him, he was too forgiving for that. He had also explained the entire situation to Atsushi beforehand. He didn't expect it to turn into such a serious situation.

They just stood there like idiots and maybe it was god's way of telling him he wasn't in the wrong when it started raining. Now, they were standing there in the rain where the brunette tried but it no avail as he shifted both of them or at least the younger into the shade.

The white haired hadn't let go of him since and he just patiently stood there, comfortingly petting the other's back as he watched  small, groups of people most likely dispersing from the scene, bored from the entire incident that might've killed lives. Thankfully, there were artificial intelligent cameras that definitely captured the offenders faces. 

He'll be sure to take legal action on every single one of them. He felt slightly cautious when a car stopped a few meters away from them as the brunette's soaked bandaged arms raised to rest on the younger's shoulder when he saw the car door open.

An umbrella was opened as an unknown figure too far away to recognise emerged from the car and slowly approached them. A gang member or possibly the yakuza? Of course they had to come right now, to terrorise them and rob them of their money when the two lawyers where at their most vulnerable.

It seems that the white haired had noticed as he sniffled into his coat, hand gripping his own pants pocket tightly. The brunette couldn't help but smile at that. Whoever was approaching them better be aware that despite his cowardly and timid outer appearance, Atsushi had a black belt in martial arts and had a hobby of knife tricks when he was young. 

He said he was a rebellious teenager in school before his mother got sick and he had swore to change his attitude then. It did make him more wimpy but at least he was smart unlike individuals that Dazai had met.

He continued to shelter the other, eyes narrowing in a warning as the figure approached them and he instantly recognised that familiar tattoo on the other's wrist.