Murders and Trials
I stirred. I didn't want to get up just yet; if I waited a bit longer Naruto would come and wake me up and then give me breakfast. I rolled onto my side, feeling the wet grass beneath me.
Wait. Grass? What the fuck...?
I inhaled and swallowed a load of water, finally realising that my mouth had been filling up with rain. My eyes snapped open and I sat up, coughing and choking on the water that I had just breathed in. I felt numb all over as my memories came flooding back to me; the kiss, the person in the bushes and the chase. The chase. Who was that, anyway?
I shivered and for the first time my brain registered a cold lump of metal in my left hand. Sure enough, by turning my head I could see a kunai held loosely in my fist. I willed my aching fingers to snap shut around it and brought it closer to my face so that I could see it better. Yes, definitely a kunai. A bloodstained kunai. Shit.
Instantly I dropped the weapon and sprung to my feet alertly. Looking around I could see no one else – except for a black misshapen lump on the ground a few metres to my right. Cautiously I made my way toward it and gasped once I realised that it was a corpse. I ran the last few metres toward it and knelt beside it, pressing my fingers to their neck, then their wrist, and then my hand to their chest, and then my ear to my mouth. They were definitely dead.
Reaching out with my fingers I turned the person's head and winced as I saw whom it was. Chouji was dead.
I held my hand out, palm facing the sky and watched expressionlessly as the torrents of rain pounded against my hand and washed the blood from the kunai away. I didn't even notice as the Hokage, Tsunade, and a group of ANBU arrived, instantly swarming around the dead Chouji and checking for signs of life as I had done. I could faintly hear their yells at the back of my mind somewhere.
"Shit, someone get a doctor!"
Had I done this?
"It's too late...He's dead. What's this kid's name?"
After all...I had woken up with a weapon bloodied with his blood in my hand, lying a few feet away from his corpse...
"Chouji, I think. No older than 18. What happened to him?"
No. I didn't do this. Definitely not – I'd remember.
"Looks like severe stabs. Kunai by the looks of the wounds. Hey, wait, who's that?"
Yes. It definitely was not me. I could only remember chasing someone...And then everything went black and I had awoken here. Although, I had no idea how that kunai got into my hand...
"Kid, do you know what happened?"
It became clear to me that one of the ANBU was talking to me. I turned my head slightly so I could see them better.
"No," came my croaked reply after a few moments.
"Hey, look! There's a kunai over here!" said another of the ANBU, picking up the kunai I had dropped minutes ago and waving it around before grimacing. "It's covered in blood."
The ANBU that had spoken to me narrowed his eyes. He looked from Chouji to the kunai and then back at me.
"I'm arresting you on suspicion of murder," he hissed at me, a steely glint in his eye.
His words rang through my head, over and over. I was too numb to even put up a fight as I felt him snap the handcuffs in place around my back, too tired to protest when he led me over to a waiting police car and too shocked to even take in what was happening around me.
I could have been sat shivering in that police car for what seemed like hours until the front door slammed and I snapped my head to the right to see who it was. It was the ANBU from earlier and Tsunade in the passenger seat. He started up the car and the engine purred to life as he started driving toward the Hokage's building.
- - - - -
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair as Tsunade's glare penetrated my eyes.
"Did you murder Chouji?" came her cold words.
"No." I replied and she sighed.
"Tell me what happened."
"Hn."
"Damnit Uchiha! Tell me or I'll lock you up for life!" she slammed her fist into her desk.
"I don't know!" I practically shouted. "One moment I was outside, the next everything went black and I woke up next to Chouji's corpse!"
"Are you saying that you didn't kill him?"
"Yes."
"Then explain why the kunai covered in Chouji's blood is also covered in your fingerprints." I froze.
"When I woke up...It was in my hand."
"So let me get this straight. You're saying you woke up in the forest with no recollection of how you came to be there. You're saying that it was coincidence that you ended up next to Chouji's corpse, and also coincidence that you was holding the weapon that killed him?"
"Yes." I knew how it sounded, but it wasn't me. I know it wasn't...
"Do you realise how unbelievable you sound right now?"
"Yes."
"Yet you still don't speak the truth?"
"I am telling the truth!" I grit out each word between my teeth angrily. She sighed.
"Sorry, Uchiha, but the odds are...greatly against you. No one else was around, Chouji had died within the past 10 minutes and you were holding the weapon, kunai, which killed him. I don't see how you're going to get out of this one," she paused and looked over my shoulder at the two ANBU guards stood at the door. They both nodded and she continued speaking.
"Sasuke Uchiha, you have been given a private trial by the Konoha Hokage and head ANBU, and we have come to the conclusion that you are responsible for the death of Chouji."
I froze as her words sank in. I was being charged for murder...What was the penalty for murder, anyway? I was about to ask her when she cleared her throat and continued talking.
"It has been years, centuries since a murder has been committed within Konoha's walls between two of it's residents, and therefore the penalty for murdering a fellow resident has not changed over these years...And is extremely old fashioned," she cleared her throat again, as if she was finding it hard to say what my punishment was. "Therefore, Sasuke Uchiha, your punishment for the murder of Chouji, is..."
- - - - -
I ran a hand through my short blond hair as I turned the corner to enter the main part of Konoha. Boy, I was confused. One moment Sasuke had been there, the next he was running off after some strange person. I sighed. I'd locked up his house for him and left the key under the doormat where I knew he'd usually keep it. I had waited for him for about an hour and finally I decided he wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. Yeah, I was worried, but I had no bloody idea where he'd gone. I made up my mind to call him later.
I was walking silently down the deserted streets (it was getting late) toward the other side of town where my house was situated, when I noticed a group of my friends stood on the corner of the street talking in a hushed tone. Stood there was Kiba, Shikamaru, Sakura and Ino. Curious, I approached them and they all looked up, annoyed that their conversation was being interrupted – it was probably just another piece of worthless gossip.
I waved my hand in greeting and grinned, noticing that something was wrong. However, I didn't notice that Ino and Sakura's eyes were both red and puffy from crying, and that even Kiba and Shikamaru looked close to tears – although both were trying to hide that fact. My face instantly fell into a more serious expression as I scrutinised their faces.
"Guys...what's wrong?" at my question, Ino and Sakura both clutched each other and started wailing again. Confused, I turned to face Kiba and Shikamaru, hoping to get a better reply.
"You...haven't heard?" came Shikamaru's quiet reply. I shook my head.
"Chouji...is dead." I almost choked on his words.
"What – dead?! How? When?" I spluttered, the questions tumbling out of my mouth in a frenzy. Shikamaru held up a hand to silence me.
"Earlier. A few hours ago," he replied, shifting his gaze from me to the floor. I got the feeling he wasn't telling me something.
"How...did he die?" I asked cautiously. I felt numb with shock – Chouji had always been there. I couldn't imagine what it was going to be like without him...
"Can't you stop pushing? Can't you see it's upsetting to talk about?" Shikamaru snapped almost yelled, gesturing with his hands toward the girls who were still crying. He was still looking at our feet, however, and now I definitely had the feeling he was hiding something.
"I have a right to know," I said quietly. "Just answer me, and then no more questions. I promise." Shikamaru studied my face with a pained expression before speaking.
"Don't go crazy, okay?" he said cautiously. I nodded, confused as to what he was getting at.
"That bastard Uchiha killed him," he said after a moment of silence.
I felt the world crumble around me. Sasuke wouldn't kill Chouji...would he? He was cold, yes, but not murderous or stupid. Surely he must know he'd be punished severely...Then my mind flicked to his promise of killing Itachi – murderous. And his running away a few days ago – stupid. Shit.
I gradually became aware that Shikamaru was talking again.
"Yeah, he stabbed him with a kunai. Don't know anything more, that's all we got told," he paused at my silence. "I know you hate the Uchiha and all... but don't go doing anything stupid," he placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure his punishment will make him wish he were dead."
Oh, how wrong could Shikamaru be?
"Punishment? What's his punishment?" my voice cracked.
"No one knows yet..." he growled. "Whatever it is...he deserves it."
At his words, I felt my body tense up. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest and suddenly all I wanted was to be alone. I pushed Shikamaru's hand off my shoulder and ran down the street as fast as my legs would carry me, so that the others couldn't see my tears.
Chouji was dead. Sasuke was going to get punished...Maybe I wouldn't see him again.
I didn't know which was worse.
I slammed my apartment door behind me and locked it with fumbling fingers before leaning back against it and sliding down it silently to land on the floor with a thud. I sat slumped against the wall for what seemed like forever, sobs tearing through my body. I never wanted to get up again.
- - - - -
It isn't fair. I don't deserve this. I didn't kill Chouji.
I am sure of it now – I would definitely remember. Now all I needed to find out was why I was there...Near Chouji's dead body and holding the weapon that killed him. Oh, how unlikely my story seemed – I just "woke up" and happened to "be there". That's probably the reason why I was found guilty. Now I had to suffer the consequences – I did it for Naruto. He didn't want people to know about us. I chased that person so people wouldn't find out. I am in this situation because I chased that person.
Naruto.
I wonder what he'll think when he hears about it. Will he believe Ithem/I that I murdered Chouji? I'll tell him I didn't. I don't know whether or not he'll believe me...I know how unlikely and stupid my story sounds – but it's the truth. It's what happened.
I was interrupted from my thoughts when a heavy metal door clanged somewhere down the corridor and I heard footsteps approaching my "room" – more of a prison cell. I was being kept in the locked rooms underground, beneath the Hokage's building. All the rooms were heavily locked – escape was not possible – yet they had been decorated to look "homely". There was a carpet and coloured walls, even a simple bed and a few small decorations. I don't know why they bothered.
"Sasuke." My head snaps up at the voice as I instantly recognised the speaker.
"Naruto," I reply quietly. He looks awful. His eyes are red from crying and he had dark rings under his eyes – it must be late. Naruto looks at the guard who is stood with him (he must have let him in) and the guard nods and produces a bundle of keys. He unlocks the door, Naruto steps in and then he locks it behind him again.
"He can't hurt you. No weapons. Shout when you want to go," he spoke to Naruto in small sentences before turning and striding back down the corridor – assumingly to regain his post at the main door. Naruto wastes no time in his questions.
"Did you kill Chouji?" he asks bluntly.
"No," I reply coldly, looking him straight in the eyes. He looks relieved and sighed.
"Good," he bites his lip.
"You believe me?"
"Of course!" he says in an exasperated tone. "I can tell when you're lying," he smiles faintly. I'm sat on the edge of the bed and he moves to sit beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer to him and resting his chin on my head.
"Are you okay?" he breathes, noticing my silence. I simply nod. He doesn't complain at my lack of speaking – he must assume that I'm in shock or something. There's a silence between us for a few minutes before he speaks again, this time hesitantly – as if he is afraid of the answer.
"What's your...punishment?" he gulps.
I freeze up. I can't tell him. I can't tell him that I have to leave him. I don't want to leave him – not now! He is my everything; I can't bear the thought of not having him, the thought of the pain it was going to bring him by my leaving him. If anything, me leaving him would kill him, if he felt the same way about me as I felt about him. Leaving him...
I can't believe I have to leave him. Never see him again. How to break the news to him? I wring my hands in my lap as I think this over. If I tell him I'm leaving it will break his heart – would he get over me? The thought pained me, but no, I'm not thinking of myself. I'm thinking of him. It would be cruel to tell him that I love him and then leave him – he'd hang onto me after I'd left. No, I couldn't allow that to happen. I love him and I want him to move on after I am gone. I have decided what I am going to say and I take a deep breathe.
"Naruto," I say, my voice cracking. I push him away and stand at the opposite end of the room and cross my arms, trying to ignore his hurt expression.
"I..." I try to speak but words don't come out. I need to say this – help him move on. It will hurt him less; it is the less selfish way I reassure myself.
"I don't love you anymore," my words come out in a strangled voice.
It feels like my heart is being torn in two.
