This chapter contains a character death. It's not one of the really main characters, but still. I think it's sad. TAT. I hope you enjoy.
All ownership as stated on the last chapters!
Chapter 4: The Twist Unfolds
"Essentially, we did the usual overall body check and we found that the actual cause of death on both cases were from acute organ failure," rattled on the pink haired officer, clearly enjoying the attention she was receiving from everyone, Sasuke in particular. Though she was technically a police constable, Sakura was truly a forensic scientist at heart and so she was taking this case to the extreme. "Due to these unexplained happenings, the team went into extreme forensic mode and we ended up finding high levels of arsenic in their hair and nails."
Sakura looked up at Sasuke, but he was looking at Naruto with an expression of concern. Sakura frowned.
"So basically, Minato and Kushina Uzumaki died of arsenic poisoning," asked Kakashi. Sakura nodded.
The group of them were standing or slouching around the pathology lab, surrounded by various slides and samples of various human beings that had been previously cut up. Having come in last, Sasuke and Naruto stood nearer the door, Naruto sitting on a backless stool. Further in, Hinata and Karen stood to attention, still holding papers they had just been previously working on. And in the centre stood Kakashi and Sakura, who was presenting the information.
"Due to the large dosages here and here," Sakura said, using a pointer to highlight one particular section of the slide, "we can be reasonably be sure that these dosages were ingested over a short period of time and not too long before the time of death."
Naruto exhaled heavily, making Sasuke look over to him. He reached out and tossed the blonde's hair.
"You alright with all this?" Sasuke whispered over to Naruto, not wanting to incur the wrath of the pink topped officer standing in the middle of the room, waving a pointer around. Naruto shook his head in an attempt to dislodge Sasuke's hand.
"I'm fine," Naruto whispered back with a lopsided grin. "I'm probably in shock right now anyway." But he liked how concerned the other was for him. "It's nice having someone worry about you," he murmured.
"What?"
"Ah, nothing," Naruto denied, a light-pink tinge appearing on his cheeks and he suddenly became very grateful of the dark lighting in the room.
"So all facts considered," Sasuke said, "this is not a case of accidental death, but of murder." Silence enveloped the room.
"I suppose you're right," Kakashi said not bothering to look at him. "Karen, be a dear and go find the Uzumaki's file. We're need to get them updated." Karen nodded and walked to the door.
"I'll help you," Hinata said in a small voice. "I reorganized Kakashi's office this morning."
"Oh, thanks," Karen said, a little surprised, but she welcomed the offer. She didn't want to have to rumage through all that junk in Kakashi's room all by herself.
"Oh and Karen," Kakashi called after the two. "Also bring a new file for this new evidence."
"I was going to anyway," the red head retorted. She turned and followed Hinata out of the door, shutting it lightly. A few minutes passed before anyone said anything. Finally Sakura opened her mouth to speak.
"So, Kakashi," she began, "how are we going to investigate this case now since it's no longer just a normal crash incident?" Kakashi scratched the back of his head.
"Hmm. I don't know. Sasuke's the one running the case," was the reply. "Sasuke?" The raven considered the questio. Carefully.
"We'll probably have to investigate where the Uzumaki's were before the incident," he started out saying, "and question those who saw them. The usual stuff."
"See, Haruno," Kakashi said, trying to keep a smile off his face, "that's why he's incharge."
"Are you implying something there, Superintendent Hatake?" Sakura said, her voice rising slightly even though she was still smiling. Kakashi was about to reply when the door was suddenly slammed open. Neji Hyuuga stood in the doorway.
"Where's Hinata?" he demanded.
"Oh?" Kakashi said, completely calm. "I believe she just went with Karen to my office. Why? Do you want her?" Neji didn't reply but just walked out of the door.
"I think I'll go after him," Sakura said once the angry Hyuuga was out of earshot. "Besides, Karen is taking an awful long time to get those files." She ran out the door, calling Neji to wait. He did and they walked off to Kakashi's office together.
Sasuke stood from the bench.
"I think we'd had better get going too, Kakashi," he said, glancing at Naruto who nodded. Sasuke was just opening the door when a blood-curdling scream rang out around the station, causing people to stop in their tracks or to drop papers or files.
"That was Hinata," Sasuke said through gritted teeth as he ran down the hall in the direction of Kakashi's office, followed closely by Naruto.
"What happened?" Naruto asked, his face pale.
"I don't know." They finally came to Kakashi's office, Sasuke arriving first. He looked in and nearly gagged from the sight.
In one corner a frightened Hinata shook and on the ground lay two badly slashed bodies, blood covering the floor around them. One had red hair and the other pink.
"No...," Sasuke breathed as he ran over to the closest body and turned her over. Sakura's pale face looked up at him, her eyes closed, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Sasuke got up and went to the cupboard where he found a first aid box. Behind him he heard a thud and turned to see Naruto on his knees, staring at the scene. Sasuke gritted his teeth. He didn't want Naruto to see this. "Go wait outside," he said gently, "I'll deal with this." Somehow, he thought. But the blonde shook his head.
"No." Naruto stood and walked shakily over to Karen and checked her pulse. A shudder ran through his body. "She's...She's...," but he couldn't continue. Worried, Sasuke quickly bandaged the wounds that encompassed Sakura's chest, trying to move her as little as possible. He then walked over to where Naruto was kneeling next to Karen and used the remaining strips in her. He noticed that Naruto was shaking.
"I've called the hospital. They should be sending personnel here any minute now," a voice said behind them, making Sasuke and Naruto turn to see Kakashi in the door way. At his words a legion of white clad paramedics came swarming into the room. They deftly checked both girls over and lifted Sakura onto a stretcher they had ready. On Karen they placed a white cloth. "Sasuke," Kakashi said as the paramedics got ready to take both girls out of the room, "take Naruto and Hinata out of here."
"Yes sir." Sasuke reached over and shook Naruto's shoulder lightly. "C'mon." Still shaking, Naruto stood and the two of them walked to the door. "Hinata." At the mention of her name, Hinata's gaze snapped to Sasuke.
"There-there was a man in b-b-black," she stuttered as she sunk to the ground crying. "He grabbed one of Kakashi's swords," she pointed, her hand shaking, at the shelf where a few ornamental swords lay in stands. "Then he sla-" She couldn't continue and broke down into a fit of tears.
"Hinata!" The girl looked up at this voice.
"Neji-kun," she managed to say through her sobs. She ran to the dark haired man in the doorway. Neji caught her and wrapped his arms protectively around her.
"You police are incompetent!" he said angrily. "I'll take Hinata to the hospital myself." He then lead Hinata away, supporting her.
"Who's he?" Naruto asked.
"Her cousin," Sasuke replied, walking over to one of the paramedics who seemed to be in charge of the situation. "Will they be okay?" The paramedic looked around at him.
"The pink haired one's got a chance," he said gruffly, "she's in a stable condition, but we need to get her to intensive care right away." He turned and started to walk after the rest of his crew.
"Wait. What about Karen? The other one?" The paramedic stopped and turned around again to half face the raven.
"The red-head?" Sasuke nodded. "Sorry, kid, but there's nothing we can do for her now." He then turned and jogged after the rest of the white clad paramedics.
"Sasuke...?"
Sasuke didn't hear the Naruto, he was in a world of his own. He was in the reminiscing about the past. Never had Sasuke met such an annoying girl in his life. So obstinate and head-strong, she had confessed to him on the second day of training. He had turned her down since not only did he not know her, she was also his senior. That stupid, stupid, girl, he thought covering his eyes with his hand as he leaned against the wall, a lone tear trailing it's way down his cheek.
Yeah. So Karen's dead. What did you think of that? There are some parts where I think it's a bit jerky, but on the whole I think it turned out alright. Man, writing sad things tends to be my forte but it makes me just so damn sad! TAT. After writing that last paragraph, I didn't want Karen to die! TAT. Ah well. Next chap should come out soon enough.