Story: For Law or Love (all chapters)

Keiko stepped into the light, not knowing exactly what was waiting for her. All she wanted was someone to hold, to love, and to never lose. It didn’t matter to her if she wasn’t what everyone wanted to believe was normal, but she couldn’t help what gender she liked. It was just the way she was.

Keiko stood in fear of what was to come, but she didn’t let that fear show. She wouldn’t give them that satisfaction. She looked at the councilmen defiantly, knowing that they had already judged her, even before the inquiry began. She narrowed her eyes, and looked at each one of them with defiance plastered on her face.

“Keiko Sanders, do you deny these charges?” The man in the center spoke, his voice looming over her.

“What charges are there to deny?” Keiko said calmly. “I’m only being the person I was born as. It’s not a crime to be in love.”

“SILENCE!” The councilmen boomed. “I ask you again, do you deny the charges?”

“And I again ask what charges?” Keiko repeated.

“FOOL!” The leader shouted. “Do you DARE to mock our laws? Have you no shame?”

“I am not ashamed of loving a woman,” Keiko retorted coldly. “What is wrong with loving someone of the same sex?”

“It’s not right!” A woman in the crown shouted.

“It’s unholy!” another voice rang out.

“And loving the opposite sex is holy?” Keiko said, whirling on the crowd. “I’m only human, and I can only follow what my heart says. I refuse to bend to the laws of people that fear two women in love. I love Sarah, and I admit to loving her with everything my being is. She is now, and forever will be ingrained into my soul. I love her, and nothing, and I do mean nothing will change that.”

“SILENCE!” the lead councilman raged. “I will not tolerate such insubordination for the laws of our country. You, Keiko Sanders, will be confined to your home for an indefinite period of time. After we’ve discussed this issue further, we will summon you back to pass judgment upon your treachery.”

“Do as you must,” Keiko replied, “but I still stand by my words. I love Sarah, and that will never change.”

Keiko was led out of the city building, and into a police patrol cruiser. They drove her to her apartment in the Seras district, and placed a house arrest bracelet onto her ankle. They changed the locks and left Keiko in her apartment with enough food and toiletries for a month and a half. They’d chosen to place a single guard in the complex, and he would check her apartment daily. One of the chosen guards happened to be a close friend of Keiko, and he’d bring her fast food, and some other things she often liked to have.

“Yuuichiro, thanks again,” Keiko said to her friend. “You’re a true friend.”

“I may be a police officer, but that doesn’t mean I agree with all of the laws.” Yuuichiro said truthfully. “I seriously think the city is taking this thing too far. I can’t begin to think why people are so against this whole thing, and I hate to be on their side, but I can’t let my job go.”

“It’s got nothing to do with you anyway,” Keiko said firmly. “I don’t want you putting me before supporting that family of yours. Tell them I say hi.”

Yuuichiro stood to leave, “Will do,” He said with a wave. “You watch yourself with some of the guys posted over you. Don’t hurt them too much if they try something.”

Keiko laughed softly. “You obviously haven’t seen Mendoza lately. He got a shiner the size of a baseball from my left hook just other day. He made a play, and didn’t take the hint of me not being interested. Paid for that oversight as well.”

Yuuichiro chuckled heartily at that. “I figured he’d be the first to try something. That man’s a sex-a-holic. I’m glad you knocked him down a peg. Too bad not all women are as Amazonian as you with the 5’10” height, and arms that hide the power to lift nearly 200 pounds, and the legs that you so shamelessly flaunt that have the power to set swimming records. I’m sorry that all of this happened while you were making the tryouts for the Olympic team. It’s a shame that you didn’t get the chance to show your stuff. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ve got you on evening shift. What do you want for dinner tomorrow.”

“I’m making cal zones tonight, so I think some okonomiyaki will suffice.” Keiko replied.

“Well, you have as good a day as you can,” Yuuichiro said comfortingly.

“I’ll do what I can.” Keiko said softly. “Now you get home to your wife and daughter, and tell little Rei to avoid following the path I chose. She looks up to me, and that’s a bad thing now. You take care of them, consider that my final request as your friend.”

“Don’t say things like that,” Yuuichiro said sadly. “I can’t do that anyway.” He sighed forlornly. “She’ll never listen to me when it comes to you, seeing as how I let the council find you out.”

“Tell her that it’s a tip of life from me,” Keiko replied. “I’ll call later, sometime later, so make sure you don’t answer the phone. And keep up the act of I’m only a friend of your wife. I don’t need you getting the axe on my behalf.”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you.” Yuuichiro said, walking out the door. “You keep yourself from more trouble now. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Yuuichiro closed the door and walked down to his cruiser and passed the keys to his replacement. “Good luck with her, don’t let anything escape your sight.”

“Gotcha Lieutenant,” the officer answered.

“Good,” Yuuichiro said firmly. “I’m going off duty now, and I’m NOT on call so don’t bother me tonight.”

“Right,” the officer answered crisply.

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Sarah Harrigan sat in her apartment, staring at the wall. Her eyes were completely red and bloodshot. Tissues were scattered throughout the apartment. She rocked herself on her couch, eyes unmoving from the wall. She let a stifled sob escape her lips, as she rocked back and forth.

“I love you,” she whispered. “I love you so much. Keiko, I’m so sorry. You’re in this and you didn’t tell them who I am. You protected me and I stood there and watched.” Sarah broke down into a new set of sobs. “I … ‘m s … s … sorry.”

Sarah slowly rose to her feet and made her way into her bedroom. She crawled onto the bed and curled into a ball, sobbing until she fell asleep. Her sleep was fitful and restless. She constantly dreamt about Keiko yelling at her for abandoning their love. She was still crying in her sleep, and she was becoming pale from malnutrition. She was awakened by someone pounding on her door.

“W … who’s there?” Sarah croaked, her voice hoarse from her sobbing.

“I knew you were home,” came Yuuichiro’s thick voice. “It’s about damned time you answered this friggin’ door!” He exclaimed as she let him in.

“Yuuichiro?” Sarah said, completely confused. “W … why are you here?”

“I came because you and Keiko need each other,” Yuuichiro said simply. “You’re in here crying yourself to death, and she’s stuck in her apartment moping around like a dead woman. Get cleaned up, pack a weeks worth of clothes and come with me.”

“W … what do you mean?” Sarah asked incredulously. “I … I can’t do anything! I’ve already abandoned Keiko by not standing at her side during the hearing. I can’t face her now.”

“You abandoned nothing,” Yuuichiro claimed. “Keiko was glad that you didn’t come forward. She didn’t want you to get the same sentence and treatment as her. No one suspects you, but she’s lonely and you, apparently, think that she hates you.”

“She has every right to hate me,” Sarah said softly. “I left her to face the council alone. I deserve anything she has to say, or that she does to me.”

“You did no such thing,” Yuuichiro growled. “You don’t deserve anything but the freedom to do as you please with the person you love. The city, nor the state, hell even the country have no right to say who you can or can’t be in love with. Screw my job, screw the law, and screw the council. I’m getting you two out of this, and back together. Now wash your face, grab some clean clothes, and help me get you ready for a long road trip.”

“Yuuichiro --” Sarah began.

“Yuuichiro nothing,” Yuuichiro said commandingly. “Now go! Hurry it up too!”

“Alright,” Sarah sighed. “It never was easy to argue with you. I guess that’s why Keiko and I trust you and your family so much.”

“Mushy stuff later,” Yuuichiro replied. “We can do all the hugs and good byes when we get you and Keiko out of this mess. I’ve got the keys to the anklet, and my friends in the lab are going to overlook the two minutes that it’s going to be deactivated. A friend of mine has gotten a car and it’s now in your name. Use it to take yourselves as far from the city as possible.”

“Yuuichiro,” Sarah said, her face clean and less red, “thank you. You’re a really good friend. We don’t deserve to call you that.”

“This is what friends do,” Yuuichiro replied. “And not just because of the friendship, because it’s right.”

“You are a wonderful person,” Sarah said, kissing him on the cheek. “I’m ready.” She slung a knapsack over her left shoulder. It was filled with a weeks worth of clothes, her personal toiletries and a small stash of money.

“Here,” Yuuichiro pulled a wad of cash out and handed it to her. “This is from everyone that supports you two and the belief that we’re free to love anyone we choose to.”

Sarah stared at the money with a slack jaw. “I … I can’t --”.

“Yes you can,” Yuuichiro said as he shoved it into her knapsack. “The two of you deserve this.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Sarah said dumbly. “I can’t thank you enough. And I still don’t know how you’re going to get Keiko out of there without getting caught yourself.”

“It’s my shift in an hour, and I’ve got the rear of the building set up to where she can get away without getting seen.” Yuuichiro explained. “You’re going to be waiting in the park a few blocks down. The car’s there, you’ll know it when you hit the unlock button on this key ring.”

Sarah took the keys from him. “Thanks again,” She said happily. “I’m going to repay you for this one day. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Yuuichiro waved her off. “Do what you will, as long as you get out of here. I also advise the two of you to change your hair color and styles. Might even want to go as far as to buy colored contacts or something.”

“Will do,” Sarah said, following Yuuichiro to his car. “You going to drop me off at the park?”

“Yeah, then I’ll go to the station and get started,” Yuuichiro replied.

“I guess this is our last good bye for some time,” Sarah said sadly. “I won’t be able to even say good bye to Rei and your wife.”

“They know that you’ll send word to us later,” Yuuichiro reassured her. “We’ll expect your word after a few weeks, and under new names too.”

“Yeah,” Sarah replied, wiping a tear form her eye. “I’m going to miss the three of you.”

“I’ll miss the two of you just as much,” Yuuichiro replied softly. “You made things interesting for all of us. Just remember to take care of yourself.”

“I will,” Sarah replied firmly. “I’ll make sure that we’ll see one another in the future. Unless you get yourself shot on duty. I want you to be careful too. Don’t leave Rei and Charla alone. That’s a request from a close friend. You hear me?”

“Loud and clear,” Yuuichiro chuckled in replied. “Here’s the place.” Yuuichiro said as he pulled the car into a recreational parking area. “You remember to write us when you’re clear.”

“I will,” Sarah nodded. “Tell Rei and Charla we’re sorry for the trouble.”

“It wasn’t any trouble,” Yuuichiro answered through the open window. “Good bye Sarah!”

Keiko’s apartment was dark, her only source of light was the setting sun’s rays through the small cracks in the blinds. She sat on the sofa, looking directly at the wall across from her. She didn’t move, didn’t say anything. She just sat there, staring at the white wall. Her breathing was barely audible, and if it hadn’t been, she would have seemed dead.

‘Hahahahah …’ Keiko laughed in her mind. ‘It figures that my sexuality would have been my death. Sad thing is, I’m happy that I kept Sarah’s full name to myself. I couldn’t let her get involved. I love her too much to risk that. Gods, how I love that woman.’

Keiko still sat unmoving, on her sofa. The only thing besides her breathing that told anyone that she was still alive were the tears streaming down her cheeks. Finally, out of hatred for their presence, Keiko lifted her arm and used her shirt sleeve to wipe the tears away.

‘I miss you.’ Keiko’s mind screamed. ‘Gods, how I miss you, Sarah. Don’t go dying for my sake. Live on and find yourself a happy life. You don’t need to die; you’ve got too much to live for.’

Keiko’s silent musings were broken by a loud knock on her door. She rose to her feet, albeit slowly, but she rose. She pulled the heavy door open to reveal Yuuichiro’s solemn face. He held up a couple of boxes, and gave a weak smile.

“I brought the okonomiyaki you said you thought would suffice,” He said softly. He saw the wet, and puffy redness of Keiko’s eyes. “Sarah wasn’t the only one crying.”

“You saw Sarah?” Keiko asked; her surprise evident. “Why?”

“Because I’ve stood on the sidelines a little too long during this mess,” Yuuichiro replied. “I’m setting the wheels in motion to get you two clear. I’ve already left Sarah at the park around the corner. She’s waiting for you there with a car and some money. Put some clothes and some personal stuff in a bag, then take these okonomiyaki and get going. No arguments. It’s all set up at your back window.” He pulled the key for the lockdown anklet out and knelt down. He unlocked the pad and then placed it on a doll he had in his pocket. “You’re free to go now, no one will know a damned thing for at least six or seven hours. Go already.”

“Yuuichiro you --“ Keiko started.

“I don’t want to hear it. I’ve already done everything I believe to be right.” Yuuichiro said seriously. “All I want you to do is go, and only look back in letters. Dye your hair, get it styled differently, and buy something to change how you look enough to ward off attention. I love you like a sister and this whole mess is killing me, Charla, Rei, you, and Sarah. I want it to end, and I want that end to be a happy one. So this is my way of making that happy ending come about.”

“Thank you,” Keiko said tearfully. She ran into her room, gathering clothes, her reading glasses, her money stash and put it all into her sports bag. She went into the bathroom, grabbing her personal toiletries and then came back into the living room. She kissed Yuuichiro on the cheek and gave him a bear hug. “You are the best male friend I have ever had. I will NEVER forget this. I’ll be back, and I’ll pay you back for it all. I love you as a brother, and I can’t say that I’ll be back soon, but I’ll be back. Thank you, Yuuichiro.”

“Yeah,” Yuuichiro whispered, returning the hug. “I know. I know it all. You take care. I’ll be waiting.”

Keiko broke the hug and ran to the only window in the rear of the apartment. She gave Yuuichiro a final wave and climbed out. Yuuichiro smiled sadly and walked out the front door. He locked it as if she was still in there and made his way back to his police cruiser. He knew that what he was doing was right, his job and reputation be damned. Keiko was worth it all. She deserved to be happy, and now she had that chance. Yuuichiro grabbed his coffee and downed it in a single gulp. ‘Now you can find out how much of each other you can stand. I’ll be waiting for you to come back, Keiko. No matter how long that wait is.’

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Sarah sat in the park waiting. She was hoping that this whole thing went off without a hitch. She was so nervous that her body was trembling wildly. She was ready to cry, but held firm. She sat on the bench closest to the center of the park. She watched the street leading to the complex Keiko livid in with apprehension. Her stomach was flip-flopping with anxiety. Wringing her hands, she stood and began to pace.

“Keiko, I can’t stand waiting.” Sarah whispered to herself. She cast another glance to the street and her heart leap into her throat as a figure ran in the direction of the park. She stood still, hoping that her heart was right. Hoping that god didn’t look down on her and Keiko with disgust, but with love. “Gods, if you grant me just one wish in my life, let it be this one. Please grant me the gift of Keiko. I need her as I need air. Hear my wish and judge me now.”

Sarah’s small prayer had already been granted as Keiko made her way into the park at breakneck speed. She ran as if the world was chasing her. She ran through the empty street, praying that Yuuichiro wasn’t lying. She ran until her lungs were about to burst. She saw Sarah and nearly leapt in pure joy. She ran through the park and tackled Sarah in a hug.

“Gods I thought Yuuichiro was pulling my leg!” Keiko wailed.

Sarah burst into tears and held onto Keiko as if they were dying. “Gods, Keiko, I was so worried you wouldn’t come!”

“I came, and I couldn’t be happier,” Keiko said, her eyes wet with her own tears. “Lets go, we’ve got a life to show our love.”

Grabbing their things, they made their way around the park looking for the car Yuuichiro had prepared for them. Sarah pressed the keypad on the ring at every car, and each time nothing happened, her fear grew. After they had made it a third of the way around, they heard a chime as Sarah pressed the keypad for what seemed like the millionth time.

“Oh thank you!” Sarah exclaimed. “We own Yuuichiro for everything now.”

“I know,” Keiko agreed softly. “We’ll come back and give him the just reward. I swear that here and now. If I could, I’d make him my brother legally. He’s too good a friend. I owe him a lot more than a few meals now. C’mon love, we need to head off into the sunset. Our new lives await.”

Sarah gave Keiko the keys and climbed into the passenger side of the newer looking Pontiac. She didn’t know the make, but she knew that it didn’t come cheap. She could care less about the car though. She was with Keiko now, and that was all she needed.

“Alright,” Keiko sighed as she started the car, “we’re about to start living life on the run.”

“I don’t care if we’re on the run,” Sarah said firmly. “As long as I get to be at your side, I’d go anywhere. You ARE my life Keiko. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me.”

“If you had been,” Keiko said as she pulled onto the road, “we’d both be locked down and this whole idea wouldn’t have gotten off the ground.”

“I guess it was a good thing then,” Sarah said sheepishly. “At least we’re together now, when it matters.”

“Yeah,” Keiko said softly. “We’re together now.”

They drove in comfortable silence until they had left the city and made it to a rest stop on the highway. Keiko pulled over into the parking area for small vehicles and grabbed her sports bag. She pulled the okonomiyaki out to find them still warm. ‘He bought the boxes for this earlier. He wasn’t in this half way. Thanks for everything, Yuuichiro. I can’t thank you enough for all of this.’

“Here,” Keiko said, sitting at a small table in front of the restrooms. “Yuuichiro bought these okonomiyaki and the warmer for us. I think he remembered our favorites too.”

“He wasn’t playing around in this getaway plan was he?” Sarah asked, still reeling from the feeling of surrealistic feeling of the whole situation. “He did all of this for us, not even upset that if it was discovered he was involved he’d be discharged from service.”

“I know,” Keiko said solemnly. “I told him to worry about his family and forget me, but his heart’s too damned big for his own good.” Keiko opened the boxes of okonomiyaki to see a note in each one on the cover over the food. “What’s this?” She took them out, reading her name on one and Sarah’s on the other.

“Looks like Charla’s handwriting,” Sarah said, looking over Keiko’s shoulder. She grabbed the one with her name on it and open the envelope with a measure of caution. Pulling out the letter, Sarah’s eyes bugged out as she read.

Dear Sarah,

Hey, I’m sorry that you had to go through all of this. The council is wrong in their persecution of the people like you and Keiko. You’re no different from anyone else. The only reason that you’re singled out is fear. Fear of change, fear of homosexuality being the future.

You two don’t deserve this. You’ve done nothing wrong, yet you’re marked for life. I only wish I could have done something sooner. Rei’s so sad that her grades are falling. We hope that our efforts to set things straight can garner your forgiveness. I care for you both as if you were my sisters. I hope that you can forgive me for not saying anything at the hearing. If I wasn’t such a worrywart, I would have jumped in and defended Keiko as if I was the one on trial.

I guess this is goodbye for a while, but I hope we aren’t forgotten. We’d like to hear from you guys no and then. You can send us the tales of the adventures you guys are having. Please, don’t forget to write Rei and tell her that you two are okay. She’s fond of you both. I hope to hear from you soon.

Your Friend,

Charla

Tears fell from Keiko’s eyes as she finished letter; one nearly identical to Sarah’s. “Charla,” Keiko whispered, “I’ll always remember what you’ve done for me.”

“Sister,” Sarah added. “That’s what she’ll always be. A sister to the both of us.”

“Let’s eat,” Keiko said suddenly. “I know Charla’s cooking when I smell it. Let’s not let the hard work be wasted.”