Gathering the Falling Stars

hey everyone i got an interview this morning so im just getting this chapter out before i go

A/N

Babby - ya at least they are together... but the shits about to hit the fan


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Chapter 40


The next morning Hoshi was downstairs making some breakfast with Kaouri sitting on the counter eating some grapes. The others were still asleep. Kaouri meticulously peels every grape, eating the skin first, then the middle. Her fingers are sticky, but she looks perfectly happy. Hoshi smiles as he was making some pancakes for everyone. The sound of hard knocking at the front door is heard. Hoshi sets the finished pancakes aside and picks up Kaouri. He walks over and opens the door.

"Yes?" Two police officers stand there.

"Are you Hoshi Remington?" Hoshi glares slightly tightening his hold on Kaouri.

"On my father's side yes what is this about?" The officers look at him.

"Your father was murdered last night." Hoshi blinks then sighs deeply.

"Good riddens." The officers look at him strangly.

"May we come in?" Hoshi steps back.

Kaouri squeals in delight at the sight of the officers.

"Are you gonna shoot somebody?!" she asks in childish glee.

Hoshi looks at them as the officers chuckle.

"No we are just here to tell some sad news." Hoshi sets Kaouri down on her feet.

"Sweet heart can you please go wake up Junko and everyone else?" Kaouri looks from the officers to Hoshi and back again.

"What's 'merder'?"

"Just go please honey." Hoshi gently swats her bottom up the stairs. "How did it happen?" Kaouri nods and skips up the steps to Junko's room.

She slams open the door and leaps onto Junko's bare back. He grunts, turning his head and groaning.

"Whaaat" he says sleepily.

"You have to get up. Somebody got merders." she says happily.

Junko nearly leaps out of bed, startling a squeal from his sister.

"What?!" He shakes his head when Kaouri opens her mouth to explain. "Just...go get Jacklong and Youji." He stands quickly, pulling a loose pair of jeans over his boxers as Kaouri makes her way to the other boys' room.

Kaouri skids to a stop before Youji and Jacklon's door, having been warned time and again not to oepn it without permission. she pounds on it as hard as she can.

"Hey! There's p'lice with guns! It's a stickup!" she giggles at her own joke, hearing her twin snicker from behind her.

Hoshi leads the police officers to the living room where he sits down. Junko skids to a halt, shirtless and without shoes at the sight of the officers.

"Kaouri said someone was killed?" he asks, panic in his voice.

Hoshi looks at him.

"Maximous." Junko's face goes white and he swallows hard.

"I...I'm sorry..." he says, his mind racing.

Hoshi gently pulls Junko onto the couch as Jacklon walks downstairs in a pair of jeans with Youji.

"Who died?" Junko's eyes meet Jacklon's for a moment, but he doesn't want to give the police any ideas, so he drops them to his lap and says nothing.

Hoshi looks at Jacklon.

"Father is dead." Jacklon corsses his arms over his chest.

"Couldnt have happened to a nicer guy." Kaouri squeals from the doorway.

"Someone *DIED*?!" she sounds completely devastated and Hirkoki rolls his eyes.

Jacklon gently picks up Kaouri.

"How did it happen?" The officers look at the little ones.

Hoshi looks over.

"Will you two please go up to your rooms?" Kaouri frowns and wraps her arms around Jacklon's neck.

"But...don't you need to be hugged?" she asks with perfect childish logic.

Jacklon smiles.

"You can hug me when the officers leave." He sets her down.

Hiroki, sensing the adults' moods, takes his sister's hand and leads her out of the room, but only far enough to be out of sight. The officers turn back to Hoshi and the others.

"Maximous's throat was slashed but... his..." The other officer sighs. "His penis was sliced off and tossed into the trash." Junko and Youji stare in stunned silence.

Hoshi sighs.

"No offence officers but that man had no love from this family." Junko nods and Youji can only shiver, leaning close to Jacklon.

Jacklon holds him close as Hoshi stands up.

"I would like it if you would leave now." Junko's surprised eyes fly to Hoshi's.

What was he thinking, kicking out cops? The officers stand up.

"We will be in contact with you Mr Remington." Hoshi walks them to the door before shutting it behind them.

Junko's eyes go automatically to Jacklon and he bites his lip. Jacklon looks at Junko before leading Youji pu the stairs. Hoshi turns to Junko.

"Come on Junko." Junko rises silently and follows his lover.

Hoshi walks to the room.

"At least that dark rain cloud is gone."

"Who do you think did it?" Junko asks quietly.

Hoshi shrugs.

"I want to buy them a drink who ever they are." Junko does not respond and Youji frowns at him.

"Junko...what's wrong with you?" but his brother only shakes his head.

Jacklon steps into the room as Hoshi looks at Jacklon.

"Looks like dear old dad has finally got what was coming to him." Youji sidles up to Junko's side, speaking quietly.

"Seriously, what has you so jumpy?" Junko looks at Youji, but again shakes his head.

Hoshi sighs as he sits down. A few days pass as Hoshi and Youji were in the living room playing chess. Hoshi was of course winning while Jacklon was making the beds with Junko. Youji growled and moved one of his pawns, knowing that- though he couldn't see how- Hoshi would undoubtedly find a way to get rid of it. Upstairs, Junko placed the pillows on the newly made bed, grinning to Jacklon.

"Bet you could bounce a quarter off that." Jacklon chuckles.

"I would rahter bounce youji on it. A lot more fun." Junko laughs lightly.

"You'd have to fight your brother and mine for that privelage, kid." Jacklon chuckles as the sound of knocking is heard downstairs.

Junko doesn't think much of it, throwing an arm over Jacklon's shoulders.

"Come on. I'll answer the door and you can poke the bears." he says, referring to their lovers. Jacklon grins and runs down the stairs and tackles Youji onto the couch. Junko can't hold back a chuckle as he opens the door.

"Can I help...you...?" The same officers from before stands there.

"We are here with arrest warrents to take Hoshi and Jacklon Remington into custady for the murder of Maximous Remington." Junko stares at them uncomprehendingly for several moments before his eyes narrow.

"May I please see the warrants?" They pull out two arrest warrents before walking in and to Jacklon and Hoshi.

"Put your hands behind your backs and come with us." Hoshi looks at them in shock as Jacklon stands glaring at them.

"We didnt do this!" Hoshi is cuffed slowly being led back to the door.

"Your making a mistake. We didnt do this." He looks at Junko. "Go get Candi she knows my attorney." Junko nods numbly, grabbing Youji as he swings at one of the officers.

"You'll be no good to anyone in a holding cell, Youji!" He hisses to his little brother who freezes in his arms.

Youji's eyes are wide and scared, but he nods. Jacklon is pulled into the police car with Hoshi next to him. The twins run down the stairs watching them being taken away. Kaouri grips Junko's pant leg.

"Where are Hoshi and Jacklon going?" Junko pats her head as Youji picks up Hiroki.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. They won't be there long." he says and prays he's right. "You want to spend a little time with Mama?" he asks the kids. Both of them nod fast. Junko quickly gets the kids in the car, buckling them in and opening the door for Youji. Once everyone's in, he starts the car and drives toward Heaven's gate. He turns to his oldest brother, a look of concern on his face. "Do you want to stay with Mama or come with me?" Youji sits there.

"Im staying with you." Junko nods as they pull into the drive.

He tells Youji to stay put and quickly drops off the twins with their mother.

"I'm sorry, Mama, but I need them to be safe somewhere..." he says quietly to her.

Ella smiles and nods.

"Of course. Whats going on Junko?" Junko shakes his head.

"I'm not sure yet." He says, only half truthfully.

He really didn't want to worry her too much... Ella nods and pulls the twins into the room. Junko quickly makes his way to the car and drives to the salon where Candi worked. After parking, he leapt from the car, Youji following quickly after and entered the building. Candi was sittign behind the desk.

"Hey Junko... Youji whats going on?" Junko and Youji look at each other, but it is Youji who speaks.

"We need to get in touch with Hoshi's lawyer..." Candi's eyes widen and grabs her IPhone.

"Why whats wrong?" Junko speaks up as Youji takes a seat.

"He and Jacklon were arrested." he says quietly, not wanting anyone else to hear. "They think the boys killed Max." Candi growls as she dials the number.

"Hey Malcom its Candi... look Hoshi and his brother have been arrested... who else... yes Max... alright meet you there." Candi hangs up.

"Come on Malcom wants us to be there for their arrainment." Junko nods, leading Candi and his brother to the Benz. Youji opens the passenger side door for her before seating himself in the back seat. Junko revvs the engine. Candi sits there before pulling up her phone. "This is not good." Junko bites his lip.

Youji leans from the back, looking concerned.

"You don't think they'll get a conviction do you?" he asks, but Junko interrupts him.

"You'll have to direct me, I don't know where I'm going..." Candi points to the court house where she gets out and quickly gets to the right room.

They step in just as the baliff is calling out the charge.

"Docket ending 48265 People Veres Hoshi and Jacklon Remington 1 count Murder in the first degree." The judge looks at the file.

"How do you plea?" Hoshi and Jacklon both stand there with cuffs on their wrists.

"Not guilty." Hoshi says as JAcklon nods.

"Not Guilty." Junko and Youji both freeze at the sound of the word "murder".

"I will hear the People on bail." The procecutory stands there, a tall man about 48 year old, smirks.

"Remand has a nice ring to it."

"Thats obserd. Both my clients are upstanding citizens with strong ties to their new family and are not flight risks." The prosecutory shakes his head.

"Both men have the funds to run to where ever they choose which is why i suggest remand." The judge looks at them for a moment.

"$2 million dollars cash or bond for both defendants." the judge bangs the gavel.

"Next case." Hoshi and Jacklon look back at their lovers before Malcom whispers to them as they are led away from the others in the court room.

Junko and Youji watch, mirrored expressions of helplessness and fear in their faces. Candi stands up and walks to Malcom.

"Dont worry Candi they will be out by lunch."

"I wouldnt count on it." The procecutor walks over smirking. "I think those two will both be put away." Youji grabs Junko's hand, squeezing it.

"Do you think that's true?" He asks his older brother, knowing Junko wouldn't lie to him.

Junko squeezed back, shaking his head.

"I don't know, Youji..." Malcom glares at the man.

"Ryan you are just incredible. What is your evidence?" Ryan smirks.

"You will see when we get to discovery." Ryan walks past them.

Junko and Youji both gulp, their wide eyes turning to Malcom. Junko speaks up haltingly.

"Can...can he do that?" Malcom shakes his head.

"Dont worry ill look over the evidence and will get them off. By the way Im Malcom Dorian Hoshi's attorney you must be Junko his fiaunce i heard about the proposal." Junko nods slowly.

"Er..." Youji steps in, more sociable than his brother.

He offers his hand.

"I'm Youji. We're very anxious about this whole thing.." Malcom nods.

"Dont worry everythign will be fine. Come on we will go to my office and look over the evidence and the people's witnesses." Junko and Youji nod quietly, completely out of their element. Malcom leads them to his office in the building and opens the file. "Alright looks like their case is based on a few pieces of evidence and motives. Against Jacklon all they have is that Maximous had a black eye the size of Jacklon's fist and he was seen by not only Sandra Remington but was driven to the manor where Maximous was killed by Junko Collins." Junko shifts uncomfortably.

"I...i-is that when the m-murder occured?" Malcom looks at the autopsy.

"The time of death was around 10:30 p.m. but the slash to his throat was shallow so it took him a couple hours to die." Junko swallows...

"But...Jacklon was clean when he came to the car...wouldn't something like that...be...b-bloody?" Malcom looks at the paper.

"From the size of the wound the killer was behind Maximous so none of the blood was on the killer. Then again the evidence is more convincing on Hoshi." Junko sits forward.

"But Hoshi wasn't even there!"

"From what they gathered Hoshi was there because a glove with his initials was used to keep Maximous's blood away from the skin, his prints were found on the murder weapon which was also a knife that he owned and Sandra Remington states that she heard Hoshi and Maximous arguing loudly."

"What?! But, he was...was.." Junko's voice petered off as he realize he didn't actually know *where* Hoshi had been when the murder had happened.

Candi looks at him.

"What reason would they have to kill Maximous other than the obvious hatred of the man?" Malcom sighs.

"Thats the bad part. Hoshi refused to tell me and his brother followed suite. So i have nothing from them." Junko bites his lip as Youji slips an arm around his waist. This, they both knew, was not good. Malcom looks at them. "Listen they will be out on bail in a little while you can come to the prison to see them get out. Dont worry we will get through this." Junko nodded and Youji took his hand.

"You...you're sure?" Malcom nods as he walks toward the door.

"Come on we need to go post their bail." Youji leads Junko along.

They follow Malcom, both wondering if the man can do what he promises to do...

*~*~*~*~*~*~End of Chapter 40*~*~*~*~*~*~