jewelledhours | [ryo/shige] hide my head i wanna drown my sorrow

title : hide my head i wanna drown my sorrow
pairing : ryo/shige
author :

binmusic
rating : pg-13
words : 855
summary : shige
a/n : a birthday fic that really isn't a birthday fic for

misticloud . I apologize boo, for everything this fic isn't. I also still owe you three birthday fics, none of which should be as, odd as this one is. Inspired by the real-life event of the Vincent Li case. Lyrics below and title are from Mad World by Tears for Fears.

And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very, very
Mad world, mad world

They tell him it's a done deal and not worth the time or effort, a relatively easy case and that all he needs to do is show up in a clean pressed suit and to just get it over with.

They don't tell him of the consequences of a case like this, the public scrutiny and heated words he'll hear on the streets, "fucking murderer" and "killer helper." They don't tell him of the nightmares he'll have for years to come, the sleepless nights and more than tired days.

Shige meets him in prison, in a room stark white and too cold for the August heat.

Male, twenty-four and on trail for the brutal killing of a stranger on a bus, a literal beheading without provocation that will no doubt earn Nishikido Ryo a death sentence and life in jail.

He doesn't answer anything Shige asks, eyes a little blank and focused on the tiny window of blue skies beyond Shige's head. "Nishikido-san," he repeatedly calls, voice escalating in loudness and pitch with every unheeded question until he murmurs a soft "Ryo-chan," that gets him an empty stare and a quiet "Ahh."

Three weeks after he's assigned the case, Shige gets his first death threat. It started with prank calls, distorted voices telling him to "get off the case if you don't want to end up dead," and turns out to be what the police consider a "mostly" empty threat. Shige only suffers some mild diarrhea, from the poisoned coffee he buys at his corner combini and a slight concussion, from a crowbar to the head after his third visit to the penitentiary.

Ryo talks two days after Shige's released from the hospital, a circle of white cotton wrapped tightly around his head.

"Drop the case," he says, hands resting in his lap, childlike and tired.

"I can't."

Ryo looks up, eyes connecting with Shige's, "I won't blame you."

"No, I can't because no one else will take the case."

Ryo laughs once and he smiles at him, "I won't blame you," he says again, softer.

Shige goes home to case files and reports, the tv glowing in the background as he slurps down some homemade ramen with a highlighter in hand.

A month later, Ryo's tried at the district courts. Shige's there with his blue suit and white tie, black glasses laid out on the table along with his opening statement that doesn't get heard. The prosecution appeals for the case to be tried by the high courts and it's granted by the trio of judges.

It's not unexpected and Shige waits for the room to empty before packing up, hand resting near Ryo's cuffed ones.

They face the high courts on the first Sunday in November, courtroom packed with spectators ranging from the news reporters to the victim's families to the random men and women who had heard of the case date and showed up.

The case lasts for a typical year, Ryo's found guilty of homicide and convicted of murder by all four of the Saiban-in and the lone judge. Shige's insanity plea is dismissed and he watches as his client gets taken away, head of black lolling back and forth as he's led away from the guards.

The second proceeding starts a week later and it's put on hold for months until Shige gets reassigned the case. Despite his best efforts, Ryo's sentenced to death. He sits alone long after it's over and wonders if he could've done more, and wishes that he did.

Shige resigns from his job and waits at home. He knows it could take years until Ryo's actually hung and so he waits, busies himself with reading novels and writing. He goes to the theater, eating popcorn and takes up photography, sending them in to a variety of popular magazines that end up publishing his works under an alias.

He visits Ryo once and by the next time he's informed that the prisoner has voluntarily refused any visitation. Shige thinks of their last meeting and of Ryo's words.

"You shouldn't come here anymore. I wish you were happier."

He doesn't get the letter until six years later. It informs him of the death of Nishikido Ryo a day earlier.

Shige retrieves the body, Ryo's family long dead and there's a quiet ceremony with only him in attendance. He stays there for a few hours, hand on the headstone and knees on the still fresh dirt.

There's a diary of sorts in his hand, and a photograph of two children on the swings, feet in the air and hands interlocked.

It's easy for Shige to recognize himself, protruding front teeth and lanky limbs. It's even easier for him to recognize Ryo, forever fifteen and tiny, smile wide and arms reaching for the sky.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

catskilt.livejournal.com

Oh, it's so sad DD:
What a sad birthday fic.
But I still like it nonetheless, I think you portrayed Shige's sadness quite poignantly boo <3 and I notice that the writing is rather different than your previous fics...it's a lot more succinct and it really works. Thanks for rushing this out for my birthday (even though you were late with the rest even with six months' notice)
And you hanged Ryo, well...
Wonder why he committed the murder?

From:

[ryo/shige] hide my head i wanna drown my sorrow

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags