Vito Cruz

Vito Cruz is a character that appears in Golden Future of Law, The Returning Past and Beginning of the End. Vito is a prosecutor in the local district who is known for his hot-blooded temperament and tendency to act without thinking.

=Appearance=

Vito has short white hair that swoops to his left. His skin is slightly tanned. He wears sunglasses that cover up his purple eyes, although he will remove his sunglasses while stood in court. He wears a black neck scarf and black jacket over a grey shirt. He wears black leather trousers with shoes of the same colour.

=Personality=

Vito is very short tempered and is thus very easy to provoke and anger. He resorts to violence to deal with any problem, as demonstrated in Turnabout of the Spirits, when he broke open a locked wardrobe to collect a decisive piece of evidence. Vito is a lot calmer around people he cares about, such as his family and friends. He is very protective of his younger sister Nikki, worrying over her welfare when she is arrested in Turnabout Pop or whenever she is on tour in another country. However, Vito prefers to hide this side and is thouroughly embarrassed when his caring side peeks through. Vito highly respects and looks up to his father, who is also a prosecutor.

=History=

Before the Story
Vito had an ordinary upbringing in Italy for four years until he and his parents moved to America. A year after the move, Vito's younger sister Nikki was born. He often ended up looking after her because their parents worked almost all day every day. Their father was a prosecutor and, wanting to make his family proud, Vito took after his father and also became a prosecutor. Nikki, on the other hand, decided to form a pop group called the Kawaii Choir, which she set up along with some of her high-school friends.

Golden Future of Law
Vito first appeared in the first case Turnabout Sunshine. He arrived late to the trial, most likely because he was informed of the case at the last minute. Vito had known about Tenniswood through his detective partner Scott Hunter. After hearing the detective's testimony, Vito called technician App Top to the stand to testify. After discovering a knife covered with the victim's fingerprints, Vito requested another day for investigation. During this investigation, Vito interrupted Tenniswood's questioning of Sharke Finn and ordered him to testify as the prosecution's next witness. In court, Tenniswood managed to call Finn to the stand to testify after accusing him of the murder. After forcing Finn into confessing to the murder, Vito swore revenge on Tenniswood and asked Scott to let him know if she took any more cases.

In case two, Turnabout of the Spirits, Vito was investigating the crime scene alongside Hunter, once again grumbling about getting revenge on Tenniswood. Vito was angered that Lily Shield arrived on the scene instead of Tenniswood. Lily eventually strikes a deal with Vito that she will make Tenniswood the lead defense lawyer if Vito allowed them access to investigate the crime scene. Vito, after some thought, agreed to the plan. After Vito questioned the Master of the Taikan spirit channeling tradition, Vito encounters Tenniswood entering the building. Vito swears that he will claim his revenge for his defeat and is shocked to see Tenniswood so calm, despite his threats. When Vito calls Maekawa Taikan to the witness stand, she had not yet arrived in court, forcing Hunter to take her place. When Maekawa eventually showed up and was revealed as an accomplice to the crime, Vito did not object to more investigation time. Upon discovering that a closet at the crime scene was locked, Vito broke the lock and uncovered a piece of evidence vital to catching the real culprit. Vito later dragged Tenniswood away to look for witnesses and encountered Akira Taikan. After speaking with her, Tenniswood informs Vito of her suspicions and observations about Akira's clothing and the piece of cloth. In court, Vito assists the defense in exposing the lies in Akira's testimonies and both he and Tenniswood eventually prove her guilt as the real culprit.

In case three, The Orphaned Turnabout, Vito walks in on Tenniswood and Lucas Red speaking to the receptionist Ines Brewer. He follows after them when they leave to investigate the crime scene. In court, Vito immediately calls Hunter to testify about the details of the crime. A recording of the crime was presented to the court. After Tenniswood raised the objection that the figure in the tape could have been anybody, Vito calls Brewer to the witness stand. Tenniswood also managed to disprove Vito's original theory of the crime and managed to spend the rest of the day investigating. During the second day of investigation, Vito was at the crime scene along with Hunter and Lucas when Tenniswood arrived. Lucas had found something in the garden; such object being a wig worn by the culprit to pin the crime on the defendant Tia Pennydrop. The next day, Vito called Patrick Callabero to the witness stand to testify about what he had seen. When Callabero began growing nervous, he used Tenniswood's pyrophobia to his advantage and began making fire puns, making Tenniswood collapse. Vito carried her out of the courtroom and stayed with her until she woke up. Tia asked if the two were dating, to which both hastily denied. The two worked together to prove Callabero was the killer, a hint to the fact that the two were starting to tolerate each other.

In case four Flames of the Turnabout, Vito was asked to prosecute a case. He was willing to take the case until he learned that Tenniswood was the defendant. After this, he strongly refused to prosecute the case and have anything to do with it out of fear of getting Tenniswood convicted, leaving Dominic Forge to take the case instead. He did, however, question Tenniswood on why she was arrested. He denies having been worried about her, although he began to blush. After the first court session, Vito visited Hunter, the latter of whom had been arrested for perjury. Vito learned that Hunter tried to hide the victim's crime six years prior and, to his horror, realized that Tenniswood would have to be classed as the only possible suspect in the case. Throughout the case, Vito worked to release Hunter from prison and eventually succeeded. He ran into the defense lobby to announce the news, interrupting the conversation between Tenniswood and Maria, who was being channeled by Chiaki Taikan. Vito was apparently heard complaining about being ignored, but nobody listened to him.

In case five, Turnabout Paradox, Vito approached the defense team (Tenniswood, Chrysalis, Yuri) when they discovered the victim. He asked if Tenniswood was going to be the lawyer on this case and decided he will prosecute for the purpose of defeating her in court, despite this being a lie once again. Unluckily for Vito, Wood was placed in charge of the case instead. Vito didn't appear again until the second court session, where he offered to stand as the prosecutor while 'Wood' testified. At first 'Wood' refused, but she eventually agreed to give up her place and took the witness stand. Vito had a hand in uncovering that 'Wood' was actually the split personality known as Nevada, although pointing out that it was impossible to arrest her due to her being just that: a separate personality to another person who was innocent. After the case was solved, Vito asked Tenniswood if they could speak privately. Vito, after some hesitation, announced that he was in love with her. Embarrassed, Vito tried to leave, only to be called back by Tenniswood. The two eventually accepted their feelings for each other and started a romantic relationship.

The Returning Past
Vito first appears in the second case Turnabout Vows. Vito appears in front of the defense team (Lily and Chrysalis) alongside the witness Laura Ringe. Vito asked about what Tenniswood was up to and Chrysalis took this as a hint that they were dating, despite Vito's protests. Vito was assisted by Wood in court the next day, most likely to help give her confidence in court. Vito calls Vera to the stand to testify about the case details. After Wood strongly objected to the motive the police created for the defendant, Vito called Laura to the witness stand. Vito suggested that the defendant committed the crime out of jealously, to which Wood objected. Vito and Wood proceeded to have a small argument before the latter requested more time to investigate. In the next court session, Vito scolded the witness Mikan Kisutmi for not testifying sooner. When Wood pointed out the contradictions in Mikan's testimony, Vito began yelling at Wood and the two got into another argument. Before Wood could explain, Mikan began to accuse her of being the killer and mentions the RW-0 Incident, the case in which Robin, Wood's father, was killed. After Mikan was arrested, Vito speaks in Wood's place that she'll recover from the witness' words soon enough.

Vito next appeared in case four The Reopened Turnabout as the prosecutor. For the first section of the trial, Vito calls Hunter to the witness stand to testify. Immediately after this, James Devine announces that Ghastly is not guilty of the crime. Vito scolds the boy, telling him that he wasn't supposed to testify yet. When asked for his thoughts on the defendant's motive, Vito confirms that he never believed that Ghastly was guilty and explains why, such as having no motive for the murder. Vito then calls James to the stand to testify. After Vito announces that Wood is unable to speak for herself, the judge allows one more day for investigation. When court reconvenes, Vito allows James to testify again, this time about a possible motive for somebody wanting to kill Wood. Wood herself the bursts into the courtroom and testifies to Ghastly's innocence. Vito suspects that Wood was lying to protect Ghastly, to which the former heavily objects. Because of Wood's testimony, the judge hands down a not guilty verdict.

In case five, The Two-Faced Turnabout, Vito was meeting with a judge in the judge's chambers at the courthouse. However, instead he found the corpse of a woman crucified to the wall and was found there, thus being arrested for the murder. He contacts Tenniswood and asks her to come down to the detention center, whereupon he asks for her defense. Vito informs Tenniswood about the prosecution, Ghastly and Wood, describing them as 'the dream team'. After further discussing the crime, Tenniswood leaves to investigate. Tenniswood later returned to the detention center, accompanied by Chrysalis. Vito and Chrysalis recognized each other from when they met in Turnabout Vows. In court the next day, Wood calls Detective Bridget Anahita to testify about the case. Upon mentioning the scissors used to crucify the victims, Wood freezes and begins to panic, so the main topic of discussion is dropped and the cross-examination continues. After Anahita is finished testifying, Wood calls Alejandro Rivera to the witness stand. Alejandro winks at Tenniswood, to which Vito responds to with a glare. After Tenniswood points out a contradiction with the positioning of the body, Ghastly announces that the prosecution has a new witness and court is called into recess for twenty minutes. During that recess, a third killing takes place. However, Vito was with the defense team at that time, giving him an airtight alibi. Before heading into court for a second time, Vito informs Tenniswood of the news surrounding the case: it had been dubbed the 'QS-5 Incident' and the unknown serial killer that was the culprit had been given the name of Genocide Jack. In court, Tenniswood immediately accuses Nevada Wood, Wood's split personality, of the murder. Vito jumped in suddenly and pulled Tenniswood and Chrysalis under the defense bench, saving them from a bullet. Nevada turned out to be the shooter, arguing that she was not the culprit. After Tenniswood cross-examined Nevada's emotion-ridden testimony and proved that the motive for the crime was to stop an assassination plot against Ghastly and Chrysalis, Nevada finally admitted to the murder and the not guilty verdict for Vito was given. Vito thanked Tenniswood for helping him with a kiss, although the latter quickly pulled away out of embarrassment. Nevada used everybody's distracted state to try and sneak away, but was stopped by Sora. Sora comforted the girl, but Nevada still walked away.

Vito appears in the epilogue alongside Tenniswood, telling the readers directly about the third book in the series.

Beginning of the End
Vito first appears in case two Turnabout Pop. He is with Tenniswood at her apartment, apparently watching her sleep. The two get a phone call, Vito from one of Kawaii Choir's members Clara Maizono, telling him that his younger sister Nikki was arrested for murder. Vito immediately visits Nikki at the detention center, along with Tenniswood and Yuri. After asking for Tenniswood's help with defending her, Vito decides to prosecute the case in order to find the truth.

=Relationships=

Nikki Cruz
Vito and Nikki get along very well, as shown by the fact that Nikki can joke around with and playfully tease Vito and him having no negative reaction. Vito often regrets telling Nikki about his relationship with Tenniswood, as she often happily squeals over them and embarrasses him. When things took a much more serious turn, such as when Nikki is kidnapped in Turnabout Revenge, Vito is incredibly worried about her and even cries over her safety. When the two are eventually reunited, they exchange a long hug, which displays how close they are.

Niamh Tenniswood
Tenniswood and Vito did not get along at first, seeing each other as bitter rivals. Throughout the course of Golden Future of Law, however, the two began to get along and Vito eventually developed feelings for Tenniswood. He didn't confess these feelings until Turnabout Paradox, after the trial. Now, despite their opposite personalities, the two share a very close relationship and sometimes work together in court to locate the truth.

Nevada Wood
Nevada considered Vito one of her 'deadly enemies' ever since Turnabout Paradox and his hand in revealing her crime. However, her hatred for him seems to have deteriorated over time as they both share similar personality types; both are short-tempered and violent, and they are both very protective of those close to them. Vito has tried to convince Nevada to forgive Tenniswood as well, but to no avail.

=Quotes=

-"The name's Cruz. Vito Cruz. Prosecutor."

-"Remember: we're doin' the right thing." (comforting Niamh Tenniswood)

-"Yep, ready to roll, Gramps."

-"I actually did a little research on this channeling malarkey and its branches of history. Turns out, all that happens is bloodshed, all for the Master's seat." (explaining to the court about spirit channeling) -"That damn detention center better still be open!!"

=Trivia=

-Vito was originally going to be a minor character in Golden Future of Law. However, he went on to be a fully developed character.

-Vito is so short-tempered and violent because he had to fight a lot of school bullies as a child in order to protect his sister.

-Vito originally wore a golden chain around his neck, with his surname engraved into it. However, this was later replaced with a black neck scarf.

-Vito was born in Italy and lived there for the first four years of his life, which is why he speaks English but still has an Italian accent.

-Vito's reminiscence theme, Up In The Clouds, is named after the song Nikki wrote in memory of their father after he was murdered.