Ulterior Motives

Chapter 37:Because of You

Sayori's POV :

I smiled as Nikole sat next to me on a rather large long table as we waited for my dad to show up. The judge looked less than impressed with his tardiness, which gave me hope. Unfortunately my dad did eventually show up, ten minutes late, and his lawyer in tow struggling to hold onto his overly stuffed briefcase.

"You again." My dad grumbled at Nikole who smiled and waved once, trying to look professional but it was obvious she was enjoying getting under his skin slightly.

"Hello again mr. Tanoshi Tanika sir. Always a pleasure to see you, though we are quite surprised you actually came most malingerer
Fathers once they're late they never manage to be conspicuous and actually appear at the hearing." I smiled at her, she was no doubt talking circles around my dad.

"Alright I'd like to hear the case from both sides starting with Mr. Tanika, why do you think your daughter would be better off with you when you terminated your custody visits when she was twelve?" The judge questioned dryly as he adjusted himself in his seat.

I listened as my dad talked about my depression and how my mom didn't do anything to help me. The more he talked about my mom the more angry I felt. Tears started spilling down my cheeks. Nikole was quick to try and comfort me.

"Its alright Sayori love, he won't get away with this. I promise you my dear." She winks at me as my dad's lawyer finishes up their statement. Nikole then stands, placing her hands behind her back she leans forward slightly.

"Please don't let me down." I whisper to myself.

"Let us begin this small custody case by bringing up the past endeavours of Mr. Tanoshi Tanika. When his wife Ms Kayte Hara became pregnant with Sayori he was off decamping at local hotels where he would wait for his salaried date to show. When his poor hardworking wife was at home with her three year old and unborn baby. Skip ahead a few years and Kayte Hara finds out about his nightly escapades and he leaves her, when she's pregnant and has two children under the age of twelve. Mr. Tanika has quite the track record for absquatulating whenever he cannot handle the responsibilities he has been given. As for the accusations against my client Kayte, the doctor, Edward Draper, gave her a prescribed medication for her daughter's depression, and further more he was also the one who later told Kayte that he thought it was a childhood depression that she would outgrow by her teenage years, so it was the doctor not Kayte who took Sayori off the medication that would regulate her moods." She adjusted her blazer and placed her hands on the table. "Your honor, this woman has been spit on her whole life, and its only made her stronger. Don't be the one to break her, to break Sayori's recovery. Sayori will be an adult by this time next year may I add, moving her would simply be unnecessary change that could emotionally distress her further..."

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Monika's POV :

"I can't take this! what if the judge is sexist or knows Sayori's dad? What if they take her away?" I was a mess, a big ball of nerves and what if's my aunt Lily gently took my hand guiding my pacing anxious body back into a seat.

"Are you kidding? This is your mom we're talking about, she doesn't back down without a fight ever." She soothed running her fingers through my hair. I sniffed looking at the doors to the courtroom, willing them to come back.
"But what if they lose?" I question fearfully and my aunt wraps her arms around me.

"Don't think about all that could go wrong, think about everything that should go right." She advised gently and I smiled at her in appreciation.
"You're the best aunt Lily." I sniffed and she chuckled softly, as she gave my hand a squeeze of reassurance before she pulled away from the hug.

"I'm glad you think so considering I'm your only aunt." She teased and I smirked.
"I mean sure , but those are just details." I exclaimed and she laughs softly. Just as Yuri and Natsuki approach us a tray of coffees in Yuri's hands. Well probably a tea, a cocoa and two coffees.

   "What are you both talking about?" Yuri smiled as she sat down and handed me a coffee.
   "Thanks." I breathe as Lily accepts her coffee as well.
  "Yes it is much appreciated you two." She leaned over kissing Yuri's forehead as she sipped the heavenly liquid.

   "It's no problem or whatever.." Natsuki sits next to Yuri and  sipped her hot chocolate contentedly. God I was still so nervous about this...my mom always won like 80 percent of her cases, depending on how good the other lawyer is.

  "Hey don't worry we won't let him take her, not without a fight."   She promised and I sighed bitterly.  I was really trying to look on the bright side but it was so damn hard.

   "How's it going?" My uncle Reo came into the waiting room. Lily stood to greet him and I stared at the door forlornly. Why was this taking so damn long?
  
   ...........
The door opened fifteen or so minutes later and Sayori's dad stormed out, some fumbling pitiful excuse of a lawyer trailing after. What did this mean? Joint custody?

"Monika!" I didn't get time to think this all through as Sayori tackled me into a tight embrace. Instinctively I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her close as humanly possible. 

   "What happened? What's going on?" I whisper and she giggles a sound that makes my heart skip a beat.
   "I have to visit  him this Summer and Christmas break but that's it! Then I'm eighteen and I'll decide where I'll go from there." She exclaimed and I couldn't stop smiling as I spun her around and kissed her fully.

   "Our future Sayo, I can't have one without you in it."
   "Ditto." She whispered against my lips and everything just felt right.

To Be Concluded...