Breathless
Chapter 21: Uncover The Truth
"—Saying defendant Date Akira has been legally proven and convinced to commit a criminal offense that was accused of him including the act of destroying public facilities carried out in vital areas to cause death toll—"
Reiko, Takashi, and Hiiro, who are in the courtroom, listened carefully to the verdict read by one of the 12 jurors who were given the mandate to decide the fate of Date. It is undeniable that the decision to be dropped is a determination of the future of the strapping man. They can only hope that the jury can see if Date has a good attitude and is very cooperative with all the regulations during the examination until the final verdict reading in court. Moreover, the fact that Date surrendered himself voluntarily without any coercion and protection from the power of the father.
"—We therefore declare the defendant Date Akira guilty." The last sentence uttered by the jury instantly rendered Reiko's entire body helpless.
Reiko started sobbing and hugged Takashi tightly. Reiko was well aware that if the son had committed a serious criminal act, but still deep down, he could not accept the fact that the son would spend a long time in prison. Takashipun is undeniably overwhelmed by feelings of guilt.
If he had not taught the wrong principles to the child. Maybe it will be different at this time. Regrets always come too late, right?
Hiiro himself, looked at Date who was seen keeping his head straight and steadfast with a feeling of salute. Date has really become a different person, unlike when they first met. He now seems to be controlling his emotions better. This proves it is not in vain Reiko brought in Date's personal psychiatrist, Doctor Nick Bourdon to accompany the son during the trial process as well as continue therapy that was once stopped when Date began to grow up. Hiiro breathed a short moment—think. Ah, somehow Hiiro feels Date deserves a second chance.
Now it's just waiting for the Judge's verdict on the prison term that will be passed by Date. Takashi hopes that the punishment will be lighter. Moreover, he as Date's father, has compensated the families of the victims. Although Takashie knew it was not comparable, she hoped that it would help a little to reduce the prison time that Date would go through. But not only that the reason Takashi compensates the victims, this is also a form of his responsibility for the tragedy that has occurred. Pp
The judge begins to read out the verdict, making Reiko and Takashi even more tense. So did Hiiro who started occasionally breathing heavily while watching the Judge speak.
"—Decided to impose a prison sentence for 4 years 6 months—"
Takashi seemed to be breathing out short. The sentence is still better than the prosecution's demand for 7-10 years of detention. But still for Reiko, it was a very long time and made her fall even more in grief.
The judge asked the lawyer who accompanied Date about the appeal. Date looked at his lawyer and shook his head to make everyone understand that Date will not appeal and accept the jury and judge's decision willingly.
The hammer of the court resounded in the court room. The verdict was formal and inviolable, cries began to be heard. The atmosphere of the courtroom changed drastically. At first the silence with a dominating tension, now turned into a boisterous voice with panic and hysterical sobs.
Reiko hugged her son who was escorted by security guards. His hand gripped tightly the son's body as if not willing to let go. Date with a calm, shady face began to whisper to her mother. Trying to give a description so that the panic of the middle-aged woman subsided.
Takashi approaches the wife trying to give her understanding so that Reiko can summarize what happened. Hysteris—Reiko still insists on hugging the son and not paying attention to the people around him. Reiko begins to get out of control and forces to stay with Date. Overwhelmed Takashi asks Hiiro for help to give Reiko some understanding. Stubborn— Reiko insists on not letting go of her hug to the son. As a result, there was a bit of a commotion as the guards tried to pull Date away from Reiko, provoking Takashi's anger.
"Mom, Please!" Date could only stare at the mother with an expression pleading that, the mother did not act any more which could provoke an uncontrollable commotion.
It felt like Date grabbed the mother, but her shackled hands made her unable to do much. Pasrah—Reiko finally let go of his hug from the son and let the officers take him to his 'new house' for the next 4 years 6 months.
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A week after the verdict's termination for Date, some truths begin to unfold within the governing body. Takashi Hagino announced his retirement from the party he had been with for decades. Both from the department to as a main fund supporter. Even voluntarily he gave up his position in the government parliament and was willing to accept further investigations of all political activities he had done.
News immediately spread quickly especially the media reported it nonstop for 24 hours. Pro-cons are inevitable. There are those who respect the decision taken by the senior politician, but not a few who pout him, especially because of his reputation is quite bad before the people who do not know him closely.
Including Shotaru and Shinosuke who were seen sneering at Takashi's attitude, moreover, their men had almost killed them both. However when the two of them were personally summoned by Heizou, their perception changed drastically.
At first they were reluctant to reunite with the General. But in the end they decided to visit Heizou at the headquarters of the security ministry, for a simple reason. They wanted to find out the real reason why they were summoned before the General. Another surprising thing, it turns out that the two of them are not only awaited by Heizou alone. But when they entered Heizou's office, Takashi Hagino, Kyotaru Hinata was present.
Shotaru notices that the three are now not as conflicted as they were when they met in hospital shortly after Emu's shooting. Heizou who from the beginning silenced his feathers about his reason for accompanying Takashi who is famous as a dirty politician finally explained the real situation to the two former agents and detectives. Shocked—Tercengang—feeling guilty envelopes both now. Heizou who finished revealing the reality now seemed to breathe a sigh of relief followed by the respectful smiles of his two subordinates. The misunderstanding has been resolved.
Takashi Hagino who they know as a dirty politician who can do anything to launch all his actions turned out to be not the person they imagined. Takashi has an agreement with the government in secret that makes him an antagonist in the government.
At the beginning of his career Takshi always practiced trash politics. But as time goes by Takashi begins to get uncomfortable because his rivals are eyeing the lives of his only wife and son. The climax, when the son was kidnapped and nearly killed when he was 15 years old, made him even more frightened. Since then Takashi's priorities have changed, preferring to protect his family. Therefore he gave up his position in politics and gave himself up to admit all the dirty actions he had done.
Takashi once lost his second wife, the biological mother of Date, due to his high arrogance and power-labile behavior. The nature that he is still trying to control. The pain she was feeling from regret, made her not want to lose a loved one for the second time.
In fact, the opportunity was taken advantage of by the government, they promised not to sue him and would do anything to protect Takashi's family. Behind it all, of course, the government asked for reciprocity from Takashi. First, Takashi was asked to be the sole supplier to the government's military and police armaments providers. Second, Takashi was asked to be an antagonist in government and society so that he could attract more 'rogue' officials and political figures to get trapped and the government could easily clean them up secretly.
The agreement is known only to a handful of people who have been sworn will not divulge the secrecy of this mission. Indeed, during Takashi's role, dozens of politicians and officials have been easily rounded up by government agents. Without reporting—without media detected.
Hinata is one of the members of the government who is not aware of this secret agreement. After he learns the truth, he pulls his bad words to Takashi and pays respect to the actions taken by Takashi. In the end Heizou and Takashi decide to tell them, as Takashi prefers to quit the skit he has been playing for a long time. He was too tired, especially since the son was behind the iron bars.
Shake hands at last what they do. Heizou then asks Shinosuke and Shotaru to join the secret government agency to eradicate dirty politicians and officials who deviate from their country's legal system. The two then threw each other, smiling steadily—they accepted the offer proudly.
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The atmosphere of Seito Hospital has not changed much. It's just that now there is no noise of heavy equipment working that renovates some parts of the hospital that had been affected by the explosion that had occurred. Renovation financed by Takashi was finally completed—rutinitas was going better than usual.
Including Emu routine in the process of recovery of his condition. Day by day Emu's health condition improved, the doctor who handled it had allowed him to do light activities outside the treatment room. Hiiro, Taiga, Kiriya, and Reiko who always accompany him at all times, alternately always take him to walk to the hospital park to just expel the saturation of the sweet girl. Not only the two of them, Poppy, Nico, Kuroto and Pallad also always accompany Emu if they have finished their duties in the community service.
Not to miss Hinata, the health minister. On the sidelines of his busy life he berusha visit Emu, to just make sure if the young Pediatric is in a stable condition.
"Good day!" greet a long-haired woman straight as waist by wearing casual clothes in front of the door of the room where Emu was treated.
Smiles spread across Emu's face and friends in Emu's room.
"Kira-san!" Emu called out the woman's name enthusiastically.
The woman who was greeted replied with a bright smile as well as relieved to see Emu's condition was better than before. Kiriko entered, followed by Shinosuke, Chase, Gou and Shotaru who trailed behind her. In an instant, the room turned even more boisterous due to the chatter held by the people who were in the room. Emu, Kiriko and Reiko are immersed in a small talk about Emu's condition. While Shinosuke, Gou, Chase and Shotaru are no less excited about chatting about various things with Hiiro, Taiga and Kiriya. Sometimes there was the occasional sound of laughter on the sidelines of their conversation.
"Eh, has Emu-chan visited Date?" kiriko's innocent question snapped at Emu in an instant.
Reiko turned towards Kiriko and squeezed her hands with a tense face. Hiiro, Taiga and Kiriya looked pale and stopped their conversation with the other four men when they heard a question from Kiriko.
"Visiting?" emu's voice that sounded soft and full of question marks was accompanied by a panicked look from Reiko.
Seeing Reiko's panic, it inevitably made Kiriko realize that she had wrongly asked Emu the question. After all, in a state of recovery, it is impossible for Emu to visit Date, right? At once Kiriko melengos cursed her own stupidity.
"What do you mean by visiting, Kiriko-san?" ask Emu again when suddenly everyone in the room looks pale and silent in an instant.
Kiriko who looked increasingly confused how to answer the question immediately turned to Reiko and Shinosuke in turn. Honestly he did not find the right word to answer the question of the young Pediatric.
Shinosuke stood up suddenly from the sofa he was sitting on. He then approached Kiriko who was now silent in silence avoiding the question mark from Emu.
"Emu-chan, you better take a break. We'll come visit you later!" shinosuke said quickly then held onto Kiriko's shoulder gesturing for Kiriko to follow him.
"But—" Emu paused with a quivering voice, "you haven't explained anything to me yet?"
"Yuri-san? Reiko-san is? What exactly is going on?" Emu turned towards Hiiro and Reiko alternately asking for an explanation.
Reiko and Hiiro remained silent. Their expressions were unpredictable. Death, anxiety, fear, panic— they can not determine which feelings dominate the most at this time. Kiriko felt guilty for asking questions she shouldn't have asked.
"Why haven't I seen Date-san once during my treatment?" he said again increasingly making the people in the room was wrong and agitated.
"Listen to me, Emu-chan! Be patient a little more, we will explain everything if the time is right!" said Reiko grabbed Emu's hand and held it tightly.
"No!" Emu took off Reiko's grasp quickly, "didn't you guys promise me you'd tell me everything if I'd recovered?"
"Look!" a second later Emu got up from her bed and stood up, "i'm better isn't it?"
Reiko hurriedly guided Emu back to sit down as soon as she saw Emu looking unsteady as she set her feet for quite a long time. Standing up suddenly a little made Emu feel dizzy in her head.
"Yuri-san! You promised me!" Emu immediately then looked at Hiiro sharply and was seen charging the appointment the surgeon had made to him.
Hiiro who saw Emu's sharp gaze but the nelangsa finally sighed resignedly, "it seems like I have no choice anymore!"
"Hyiro?! Don't be rash!" Kiriya gripped Hiiro's shoulder a little stronger with her brows furrowed—kalut.
"Do I have any other choice?" Hiiro tilted his head to look at Kiriya with a face full of question marks. His eyes narrowed with brows linked—full of coercion.
Hiiro stepped forward to approach Emu who was still staring intently at him without blinking. Hiiro sighed, the more he looked at Emu's gaze the more he was sure it was a longing gaze wrapped in worry. The real look was not meant for her, but for Date.
Upon hearing Hiiro's request, Reiko, Taiga, Kiriya as well as Shinosuke and his entourage nodded slowly. One by one they left the room leaving Emu and Hiiro, both undisturbed.
.
.
.
.
.
"Are you sure you're gonna take Emu to meet Date, Hiiro?" Pallad sounded dislike with the decision taken by Hiiro followed by nods from Kuroto, Kiriya and Taiga who had the same thoughts as Pallad.
They still can't completely forget what Date did to Emu in the past. Almost losing Emu a second time still leaves a trauma in their hearts. Although in fact they admit, if Date has changed significantly. But their fear still did not go away.
Hiiro just nodded slowly as he let out a long sigh in front of his comrades. He had guessed that his comrades still had not fully forgiven Date. Their thoughts were of course opposite to her. Hiiro actually did not just forgive Date's attitude. But the many considerations he had in mind, especially after he knew Date more than his friends, allowed him to open his heart and provide an opportunity to forgive Date. One of them is for Emu.
"I'm sorry guys, but I promised Emu and I can't deny it!" hiiro answered followed a frustrated sigh from his friends.
In reality they were not only worried about Emu alone, but they were also worried about Hiiro. Of course it's not easy for him. They knew that Hiiro was hurt seeing Emu's feelings for him slowly erode and begin to disappear. But they couldn't blame the feelings that developed in Emu's heart. In the end only Emulah has the right to determine, for whom she gave up her heart. Hiiro or Date.
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Reiko and Hiiro glanced tensely at Emu who was seen waiting expectantly in dismay. They could not imagine how the two would react if they met later.
Door opens—Date freezes instantly. Both of his sharp eyes caught the figure he was longing for was now staring at him. Those beautiful brown round eyes, the eyes that she missed. That shady ayu face, the face she dreamed of. That dazzling sweet smile, the smile she wanted.
"Emu-chan?"
"Date-san,"
Both are now looking intensely. Hiiro and Reiko who saw the 'faint' interaction of the two instantly felt awkward. Reiko patted Hiiro's shoulder giving a signal. The two of them need to speak four eyes and then Reiko and Hiiro decide to leave them alone.
"How is your feeling?" Date begins to open the conversation, breaking the silence that had ambushed the two.
"Better," said Emu softly with a small smile on her lips.
"Much better after seeing you I guess!" he added again bentuk—tersipu.
The two fell silent again, their tongues were mute—cannot take out a word. Every now and then they steal glances, trying to look at each other's expressions. The heartbeats are both related to each other. The two were racing in rhythm each time their eyes clashed unintentionally.
Date then looked at the lover more closely. There are still traces of the wounds he once inflicted on him. The recording of all the depraved actions he had done suddenly revolved around his brain. Date clenched his hands tightly, his body trembling. He could not forgive himself for the sins he had committed against his beloved. He does not deserve to be called a human.
"I'm sorry, Emu-chan!" Emu looked towards Date with a soft padangan sayu.
"I'm sorry for my actions against you all this time. I'm sorry I couldn't be the one to protect you. I can only hurt you and inflict suffering on you!" date said as she turned her face away from Emu's gaze. He couldn't stand staring at the chocolate bead for too long. He was afraid he could not control his feelings anymore.
"Date-san, I—"
"Go Emu-chan!" date exclaimed while still turning her face surprised Emu.
"Eh? Whatchu mean?" Emu frowned as if unable to accept well the sentence that Date had just said.
"Go home, forget me!" exclaim Date with a faint firm voice wrapped in a stupor vibration.
"I don't deserve you!" again as he breathed a heavy breath
"Forgot me, there's nothing to expect from someone like me. Emu-chan can get a better man than me and can make you happy!" He must be firm and firm. He wanted Emu to achieve the happiness he could not give.
Emu looked at Date with misty eyes. I don't know why it's just the pain he's feeling right now. Formerly Date did do a very bad thing to him, but there is confidence in him if Date can change and become a better person again. The proof, today Emu witnessed the view of Date more shady and softer. A look that once made him sympathetic and healed him his heart wound when broken-headed. Not a glittering look filled with anger when the devil took possession of his body and mind.
"Didn't you want me Date-san?" the question jolted Date.
His hands remained clenched hard, holding him back from turning his head and revealing his hopeless face to Emu. Date blinked a few times while inhaling the oxygen around him— tried to stay focused and logical minded. He had to do it, he had to let it go.
"No!" firmly Date triggers Emu's emotions to ignite.
"lik! I don't trust you!" emu exclaimed with eyes glittering in anger as well as disbelief.
With all his might he got up from where he was sitting then approached the glass wall separating them. Hit with both hands with little energy. Date glanced at the actions Emu had taken. Worry—Date doesn't want Emu to hurt herself.
"I don't love you anymore, Emu-chan!" hiss Date with a choked feeling. Even if it was just a lie, he was just trying to come up with an excuse to get Emu to give up
"Forget me!" he added that stopping Emu's actions immediately.
"But—" Emu was about to voice her protest but was quickly cut short by Date.
"Please don't make this harder!" date's exclaim raised her voice trying to affirm if she wanted to end it all.
Date got up from his seat— turned around and walked towards the door. The two beads belonged to the girl followed the body of Date who was now turning her back with a tremble.
"Good bye!" date said again the more crushing the young Pediatric heart.
Disappearing—Date left Emu herself frozen staring at the figure leaving. Lemas—Emu fell on the floor helpless. His head lowered weakly, the pain creeping out again forcing his heart to break once more.
Tersengal—Emu tried half to die to circulate his feelings. He bit his lower lip firmly, holding it back from coming out and making it look weak.
Sealed for a moment—Emu began to regulate his breathing to be more regular. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the empty room in front of him. Exhaling slowly he tried to give strength to himself.
"I'll be waiting for you!" his whisper was soft then got up and passed.
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I'm gonna take this map and tear it up
Cause I've been up and down
These dead-end streets getting nowhere
I'm a little bit older, a little wiser
I've got to find my own way out of here and start over
I want to feel the sun in the morning
And make these shows leave me alone
Boyzone - Time's
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Note:
For the judicial system that Writer uses in this story is in accordance with the Japanese justice system which adheres to the judicial system with the jury as a breaker whether the defendant is guilty or not (usually with a vote they do it personally intern shortly before the verdict) after that the sentence was decided by a court judge.