A/N: This is going to be one of those chapters I'm never ever going to read over. I didn't have a shitting clue how court works (I had to ask my dad, since he did jury duty for child abuse last month, and my mom's going next week), so it might be...well, weird?
Well, so you will read it, I will tell you, that...
That...
...
I really don't have anything.
This chapter's a lot shorter than I wanted it, only about 1500 words. *sighs* But I promise, the other chapters will be fucking amazing. I think.
Glitterthorn: That's almost how I reacted. :( I told her that if I could, I would've killed him. Thank you for caring.
Kuroui: This one might make you say "Finally!" again. X) *gives you awkward look after next paragraph*
SasoxDei: I really didn't know about that a-con...I have honestly know idea...Thank you...*looks at last part then looks at the end of the chapter* Er...(Don't worry, it's not bad...)
Quote of the Day:
(This actually has a really big significance at the end)
And that's why I smile
It's been a while
Since everything and anything has felt this right
~Avril Lavigne "Smile"
Chapter 29: Order in the Court
Criminal Court, somewhere in Osaka, Japan
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. This court is now in session. My name is Judge Hiramasa Yuuka. You are the jury, and the trial is set to begin. Both sides of the case will be presented to you. At anytime, anyone may be asked to leave the courtroom, and they will do so, unless directed otherwise afterwards."
The woman on the large desk/podium sat with a serious look on her face that could probably cut through anyone in one glare. Her eyes were a dark brown, and she was most likely around her late forties. Some white hair growing into her black. She began talking again.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Abusing a child is a criminal offense, and is extremely punishable by law, to the point of first degree murder. We will be observing and discussing a case between a father and daughter today. Iwakatsu Deidara, the plaintiff, has accused her father, Iwakatsu Shirudo of child abuse and neglect. According to the plaintiff, she has been physically and verbally abused after her mother's death back in the end of January. The defense, on the other side, has said that he would never do such a thing to his daughter, and would not know even why his daughter would think of accusing him of such."
Sasori gave Deidara's hand a reassuring squeeze, and Deidara glanced at him, shaking and extremely nervous. Sasori sat up in front with Deidara, and the others sat directly behind them, in the "witness seats".
Pain had brought out his attorney for Deidara, and had told the three to do the case themselves, but he would help for witness acts. That was the best he could do.
Pain/Deidara's attorney called Shirudo to the stand.
After he was sworn, the questions began. "Can you explain all the bruises and cuts over your daughter's body?" he asked.
Both men looked serious, and extraordinarily scary.
"No, I cannot," Shirudo answered. "However, after she had left the house over two weeks ago, that's what she came back with."
"What do you mean by, "left the house"?"
"As simple as that. She fled, and she didn't come back for about two and a half days. I found her phone in her room, and took it."
"Why would you take her phone?"
"Because, I wanted to make sure to watch her messages."
"Why didn't you tell anyone about your daughter's disappearance?"
"Because this has happened multiple times. She's off and on about it, I even told her friends. She would come back eventually."
"And if she didn't?"
"I would notify the police."
"According to every witness, you were home at the time of the discovery. Here," the attorney pulled out a piece of paper. "It is written by every member of the witness party that you answered the door, and when one of them called your daughter's name, she came down, severely injured. Why weren't you taking her to the hospital?"
Deidara's dad looked back down at the attorney. "I was about to, but then that's when they knocked."
The two were sent back, and this time, Deidara was called by Shirudo's attorney.
"You're father can't, so is it possible that you can explain the multiple bruises on your body?"
"It was the same day that I hadn't gone to school, y-yeah. He had used a knife to slash cuts into my arm and legs. He hit me multiple times with one of his belts, and p-put a match to my right shoulder, yeah."
Deidara was on the verge of tears. Jashin, she wasn't going to cry here—not in court.
"Is it true you ran away and left your phone?"
"I didn't. I couldn't go to school because it was almost impossible to move. And I didn't leave my phone—he took it away from me so I could have no contact. Two days after that, my friends came to my house."
Four long, stressful hours passed. People were called to the stands multiple times, and even Shirudo's neighbor, who supported the father.
Lastly, Konan was called.
"What happened when you reached the house?"
Konan smirked. "It took at least thirty seconds for him to open the door. Her father asked what we were doing there, and he told us she wasn't there. We were about to leave, but then her dad suddenly turned back around. He had apparently recognized Hidan. He told Hidan to keep to himself. We were about to leave again, but that's when Sasori noticed Deidara's phone in her father's right butt pocket. He asked why it was there, and then called her name. She came down the stairs, and she looked terrible from all the cuts and bruises. He didn't say anything about her there. And he was lying right there."
"The witnesses haven't stated that yet. Are you sure you're telling the truth?"
The blue-haired woman tested her limits a bit. "Well, I can tell you what he said."
And slowly, she pulled something out of her pocket. It was long, and there were three switches on it. Record, play, and delete. It had a small screen with a pad.
She pressed play.
"You kids are right! I don't give a shit about that bitch! If it wasn't for her, Kumiko wouldn't be dead right now! She'd be alive, and we would still be a family! That thing that supposedly be my daughter doesn't matter a shit to me! She's brought this onto herself; she deserves this!"
The attorney was taken aback, and so was everyone else. How she had managed to snuck such a thing in was a surprise.
Everyone was quiet.
Finally, the judge spoke.
"...Ladies and gentlemen, this case will be wrapped up. We will be back in twenty minutes, and during that time, the jury will decide upon if the defendant is guilty or innocent. All rise."
Everyone stood up, and the judge let them go.
Deidara immediately ran over toward Konan, hugging her tightly.
"You...you actually still had that, un..."
Konan grinned. "Of course. You didn't think that I wouldn't use it at the most important time, right?"
Deidara smiled. "Thank you...so much."
"It's nothing. Now you better get ready, because the jury's about to send its verdict."
Pain put his hand on Konan's right shoulder. "I'm pretty sure we'll be alright, thanks to you, Konan."
"I agree. Thank you very much, Tenshi-san." Pain/Deidara's attorney quickly thanked her, and pulled himself away from the three to go through his briefcase.
"The jury has reached a verdict."
The statement made a larger impact than anyone suspected. Everyone who was in the courtroom had their hearts start speeding up to the point of exploding.
A young man in the jury stood up, holding a sheet of paper in his hands. He was no older than thirty, and he spoke in a clear, loud voice.
"The jury has come to the conclusion that the defendant is..."
What seemed like forever fell into place afterwards. Nobody moved, not a sound was made, and even the judge looked anxious.
"Guilty."
The words had a significance that Deidara could never remember again, except that one moment. That single word alone had brought out multiple emotions and feelings from the blonde haired girl.
Shirudo's eyes slowly widened.
He had lost.
Which meant...
Deidara was free.
I'm...free...I'm...free...from all the pain, his abuse, everything...
It still didn't sink in.
"What?" Shirudo's voice bellowed through the entire courtroom, echoing at least five times.
"The jury has reached the verdict that you are guilty," the judge restated. "How long is the penalty?"
"Sixteen years in jail, three years of parole, ma'am."
Deidara's father was furious. He had lost. "You can't do that! Are you kidding me? Hey! Let go of me! Get off of me! Don't you dar—"
His voice became just a memory as the officers in the courtroom dragged him out in handcuffs.
"Jury, you are dismissed," the judge announced. She pulled herself away from the gigantic desk/podium and walked over toward Deidara and her/Pain's attorney.
"Congratulations." Then she whispered something very quietly. "If I was part of the jury...I would've given the same verdict."
They all looked passed her as she exited the courtroom with a large slam of the double doors.
Eventually, Pain said goodbye and thank you to his attorney, and everyone was gone, besides the Akatsuki from the courtroom.
"Deidara...!"
"We did it!"
"You never have to go through this fucking thing anymore..."
And that's when it hit Deidara.
She wouldn't have to face anymore of this. The lashes on her body would heal, even if it was a little bit. She wouldn't have to lie to anyone about why she had a cut on her wrist. She wouldn't have to fake a smile to hide all the pain behind it.
Because...there was finally a reason to smile.
To finally be free.
And for the first time for almost a year, she truly smiled.
