Chapter Text
Please enjoy this preview of the sequel to 'Force Majeure,' to be updated weekly on Tuesdays.
The Mechanics of Law
Chapter One: Nemo Judex In Sua Causa
nemo judex in sua causa: no one shall be a judge in his own case Prevents conflict of interest in courts. Often invoked when there is really no conflict, but when there is even the appearance of one.
-Part One: Inter se
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'Amongst themselves.' Refers to obligations between members of the same group or party, differentiated from the whole party's obligations to another party.
Neji had an excellent concept of time.
He had an uncanny understanding of how long things took, the kind of effort he would need to expend, and how much time had gone by. He always knew roughly what time it was, with or without checking his watch or his phone.
That being said, he was fairly certain the time for his current lecture to have ended had come and gone several times over. The two times he had allowed himself to surreptitiously glance at his watch, he had been sorely disappointed with how little time had passed. Resolving to simply endure, he kept his eyes trained on the professor at the front of the room. When the lecture finally did reach its inevitable yet horribly delayed close, Neji wasted no time gathering his things and proceeding directly for the door.
He strode through the halls with determination, never breaking his gait or allowing any emotion to even so much as flicker across his face. Thus, no one approached or tried to interrupt his progress as he pretended not to notice the occasional wide eyed glances cast his way. Pressing through the doors and all but marching down the steps, he particularly ignored the small group of girls darting glances up at him from the benches outside.
Neji put purpose into each of his long strides, which was enough to carry him quickly from the building as well as well as prevent any further attempts at interruption.
He didn't break stride until he was at the top of the stairs on the fifth floor of the library, when he felt that tension coiled between his shoulders begin to slip away.
Absently, he noted an appreciation for both the legal and poetic concepts of "sanctuary."
And the strongest motivation to that notion was currently reading through an accounting textbook while weaving a pencil through her fingers.
"So?" she finished reading a line of text before looking up at him. "What's the verdict?"
Sometimes he hardly recognized himself with Tenten.
Before taking his customary seat, he leaned over the table for a chaste-enough-for-being-in-public-even-though-no-one-else-was-around kiss. "You're beautiful," he murmured.
He felt her lips curve into a smile. "Isn't that leading the witness?"
"Simple statement of fact," he shrugged, allowing himself to indulge in one more kiss before pulling away. "To answer your question," he began to organize his things, "if this first class was anything to go by, the rumors vis a vis the third year of law school are far too accurate."
"That bad, huh?"
"I checked the time," he said flatly. "Twice."
"Ouch," her wince was sympathetic even if her eyes were amused. "And I thought this stuff was bad," she motioned to the textbook in front of her. "Well," she cocked her head to the side. "Look at the bright side."
He waited patiently for whatever optimistic or teasing thing she was about to say.
"Studying will seem that much more entertaining."
Warmth spread through his chest as he gave a light grunt of amusement. He had always been a dedicated and disciplined student with a strict studying regime. When he entered his second year of law school, he was already prepared to face the year the professors were said to "work you to death." He hadn't known then that he'd spend his first semester studying the woman across the table from him, and the second semester dating her.
"Well," her smile was playful and crooked. "If you start to get 'bored to death,' you can always work on my accounting projects. I bet they'd be a party by comparison!"
"Nice try," he opened his laptop.
"Just looking out for you," she picked her book back up, a smile twitching her lips.