Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Honestly, you people...

Here's this! Sorry for the over-a-month-long wait... exams and whatnot, you know? Maybe not... Well, thank you for reviewing, favorite-ing, or adding me to your author alert, if you made such an action! It's motivational, I suppose.

Please note that I know next to nothing about the justice system, so please bare with any of this if it's incorrect. It's my story, and if things in here don't go the way I've written them... it's just not the same.

Without further ago—the next chapter!

(Story contains: shounen-ai, blood, violence, cussing/cursing, angst, etc.)

- - - - -

DEMOROR

Chapter Two — of Prison, Kakashi, and the Skipping of School

- - - - -

While one of his classmate's world was being turned upside down, the other's filled with worry and sitting in an uncomfortable police station with the aforementioned classmate, and another's doing homework diligently and obediently, Naruto himself was watching the television. An empty cup of instant ramen was settled precariously on the arm of the couch facing the TV that seemed to have nothing interesting to watch on at the moment. Of course, all the good shows never came on until night, anyway. And Iruka still wasn't home.

All these things going on, without him...

If anyone were to know what it was like to be blissfully ignorant of the things affecting the others around him, Naruto would be it. He never seemed to be on the spot when tragedy or hardship struck, and he didn't want to complain... but maybe if he had been there when his parents had died in the hospital, after the wreck, even though he was too young to even talk anything other than baby gibberish, he'd have better, more vivid memories of them? Maybe if he'd been present when that little puppy he'd built a short-lived companionship with got unjustly shot, it would still be alive... and Naruto would still have his first friend?

And maybe if he'd known Sasuke better and longer, the Uchiha could have something to smirk at with superiority instead of sitting in silence with Sakura? Not that Naruto knew this was going on. Always seemed to be out of the loop, didn't he? Maybe times were about to change...

But there are many 'maybes' that can't fix, help, or change a thing; it's quite useless to think about them. They always just make us realize the mistakes we've made in the past, and how they affect our future. Of course, one mustn't forget that the future is always so unpredictable. This was one thing that Naruto knew very, very well.

- - - - -

And so, in the dark cell they sat; Sasuke and Sakura. Nothing had even been spoken since Sakura's mother had driven away to run some errands saying she'd be back soon, and Sakura had entered the station. The main part of the station wasn't cold, dingy, or eerily dark as is sometimes portrayed. Instead, it was adjustably warm, clean, and small. They hadn't even bothered to put Sasuke into the 'main' station and just dumped him into the smaller of Konoha's two police stations. Well... maybe that was a good sign.

She had walked up to a random guy-in-blue, hands behind her back, clammy and cold, despite the fact that the station was warm and she was wearing a hoody.

"Hey! Um... Who should I talk to about seeing someone being held here?" She asked the guy, looking into his dark eyes uncertainly.

"You can just ask me," his voice was gruff. "Are you sure you don't want to go to the prison to look for someone? We're only the minor station, and we only hold people for overnight purposes."

"No, I'm sure I'm supposed to be looking here," Sakura said. "I'm looking for Sasuke Uchiha?"

"Uchiha, eh? What's your business with him?" The policeman was looking at her, suspiciously. Sakura supposed you couldn't really trust people that just walk up to you... especially if you're a cop, right? A tricky, cautious life, that of a cop.

"I... I'm a friend of his, from school."

"Ah. I'm sorry, but I don't think that we can allow you to—"

"Wait," Sakura interjected anxiously. "Wait! He told me to tell you this if you wouldn't let me see Sasuke, 'cause he's the one who sent me here in the first place..."

"Kakashi sent you, didn't he? Well... then I guess you're allowed. C'mon back, this way to see Mr. Uchiha."

Sakura followed the cop down a hall and through a beige colored metal door. They entered a room with unpainted cinderblock walls; this section definitely had a more gloomy atmosphere, but it was still warm. There were only two cells, each with two walls of metal bars, two walls of cinderblock; one of the walls was the set of bars separating the two cells. Sakura bit nervously on the inside of her cheek as she spotted Sasuke sitting on a cheap, lumpy bed in the left cell, back resting against the hard, solid wall so that he was looking through the bars separating his cell from the other, towards the opposite grey wall. He looked at his two guests out of the corner of his eye, hearing the door close heavily.

The policeman hooked his thumbs in his pockets, wearing a half-frown on his lips, and looked at Sasuke. "You know this girl?"

"Sakura," the Uchiha answered, never having been one for a lot of words.

"Okay, well... she'll sit outside your cell. You can drag that chair over to it. You, Uchiha, will stay in your cell for security purposes. Drag the bed over if you want to be sitting... comfortably face to face."

"You honestly think that Sasuke... would hurt me?" Sakura asked, slightly aghast at the thought and insinuation and slightly incredulous. This was Sasuke they were talking about! What'd they think he'd do? Rape her? Kill her with the bed? Beat her senseless? This situation is so screwed up, she thought. Sasuke's not like that. What evidence do they have that he's killed anyone, in the first place?

"He's in here for a reason," the cop said. "It's a precaution. If you don't like it, don't come complaining to me. We're just a minor branch-off of the main station. By all rights, he should be held up there, given the nature of this case."

"What! Wait, you think Sasuke actually... actually did... that? Based on what evidence!" Sakura was beginning to think she didn't like this cop, even though she had initially thought he sounded like a pretty nice guy... How could someone be so accusatory, without even knowing Sasuke in the first place? It wasn't fair, at all!

"That's not information that's randomly disclosed to the public. Why don't you ask Mr. Uchiha himself? I'll be up front, leave when you want." With that he shuffled out of the room, closing the door loudly behind him, muttering something about 'kids these days.'

And now we're where we began. Sakura looking at the floor uncertainly, trying to ignore the buzzing of the flourescent lights above them. Sasuke continued to stare at the wall, refusing to look at her. She reached out to grab one of the bars... it was surprisingly cold, compared to the temperature of the room. Suddenly, as if the bar transferred all it's coolness to her, Sakura felt her body shiver slightly, and she tried to force back the sudden tears, gathering in her eyes. She couldn't cry in front of Sasuke, and definitely not in this pathetic excuse of a police station. She refused to.

She couldn't stand the silence, so she gripped the bar harder and broke it—the silence—stumbling over her words, unsure of what to say, and wondering if what she was saying was the right thing to say in the first place. Kakashi had told her to talk, hadn't he? But he hadn't told her what to talk about. Dammit. "Sasuke, are... are you okay?"

When the Uchiha turned his black-haired head in her direction, Sakura caught his equally dark, unreadable gaze, and looked down hurriedly. It was hard to look at him straight in the face... She was used to Sasuke having a look of nonchalance, possible superiority... and maybe a hint of amusement, but not this cold, confused, dead look. "What do you think? I'm sitting in prison. For something that I sure as hell did not do."

"I figured as much," mumbled Sakura, miserably. "I'm not really sure what to say—"

"Then why are you here?" The question was blunt, and quick. "How did you know where I was?"

Sakura gripped another bar with her other hand, feeling it's coolness and absolutely despising it. "Kakashi. He told me to come."

"Do you do everything Kakashi tells you to do?"

"Well, no, I don't... But he was so urgent. And, Sasuke... Oh, Sasuke, you're sitting in a cell, for God's sake! I couldn't just sit at home, twiddle my thumbs, and think to myself 'Oh, I wonder how Sasuke's doing, all alone in a prison cell. Maybe I should have listened to Kakashi and gone to see him,' could I?"

"It's only overnight."

"But, Sasuke... what if they get evidence? If they've got enough to hold you overnight, then maybe they'll find more to put you into prison, permanently! Do you even know why you're here in the first place?"

"They seem to have learned that I was at the scene of the crime." Sasuke's tone was monotonous, and low. Sakura didn't like it at all.

"How do they figure that?" She challenged, staring steadily at Sasuke's bandaged hand, which was resting on his knee.

"Hell if I know."

"I thought that you couldn't, you know, remember anything about that night."

"I don't. That's the point. I could have done it, they think, and erased it from my mind."

"But you were so young! It's just... I don't believe that. I refuse to believe that. Someone must have told them something. A lie, I'll bet you. I just can't figure who would do something like that," mused Sakura. She noted that Sasuke's bandage wasn't clean. It was dirty, and when he moved his hand a little, she thought she saw blood. Had the cut reopened? Infection might settle in if it had. Her nurse-like thoughts were interrupted as Sasuke spoke, sounding quite sure of himself.

"Itachi."

"Itachi? But, he's your own brother! Surely he wouldn't do something like—"

"Why wouldn't he? You honestly think I accidentally got these cuts?"

"You said—"

"Do you believe everything anyone tells you?" Sasuke asked, voice raised, standing up and walking towards her, grasping the bars and staring hard at her shocked face. "I lied to you, okay? I didn't cut myself on accident, Itachi threw butcher knives at me. Five of them! Two hit, as you can see. You idiots think that, yeah, sure, that asshole and I have our differences, right? Bullshit. You don't know anything! My life at home is like fucking World War III, every time he enters the damn house.

"'Itachi wouldn't do that' is a load of crap. You don't know anything, so don't think that you do. Hell, I don't even know everything about the situation, and now, suddenly, I'm a key character—even though I didn't want to be. For all I know, that bastard's out there telling some important macho government official that I murdered my parents with my own hands!"

A long silence ensued. What to say? What to do?

"I..." Sakura was at an utter loss for words. How could one comment to that, on time, with a good response? "I... I didn't know. You never told me, anyone... I never realized that there was a mask," the tears in her eyes spilled over, and she blinked hard, looking sideways at the floor; anywhere but at Sasuke. "Someone must know where Itachi is... everyone knows him..."

"No one ever knows where he is. He disappears for days, and no one knows where he's gone. They never cared, either. Do you honestly think they suddenly know where he is, or even care, now?"

"They should... what if he was at the scene, too? They don't know that he wasn't. Shouldn't he be in here too?"

"Yes... But he's not. He won't be."

"And why not? How can they arrest you, when they can't or won't arrest him?"

"Because he's Itachi," muttered Sasuke, as if that simply answered everything.

"So because your brother has power and influence in the government, they won't arrest him?" Sakura asked, releasing her hold on the cool bars and folding her hands in her lap.

"It's bad publicity, isn't it? Petty governments can't make themselves look bad—oh, no."

"What the hell—that shouldn't even matter!"

"It seems our government isn't as smoothly run as we assumed, is it?" Sasuke murmured. "It's flawed, whether they realize it or not."

The policeman poked his head in through the door. "Have a nice chat?" He asked, not exactly friendly, but not coldly, either. "Well, sorry that it had to be interrupted. You—" he looked at Sakura "—your mother's here to pick you up, out front. Oh, and, Uchiha? I've got orders that we're to release you in the morning. Don't get too happy, you might have to come back in... But for now you're a free man, being held overnight."

Sakura stood up and clenched her fists. Sasuke was still holding onto the bars, watching her face closely. "This isn't right," the pink-haired girl said softly so only he could hear it. "We'll figure this out."

Sasuke gave her back a hard stare, before it disappeared behind the heavy door. "Of course," he muttered, sarcastically. "Easy for the optimist to say. At least the pessimist's thoughts run closer along the lines of reality."

Turning his own back, Sasuke walked over to and fell on the uncomfortable, lumpy bed that would have to do for the night. Like he had much choice in the matter, anyway. He fell into an unsteady, dreamless sleep.

- - - - -

As was usual, as soon as the alarm went off, Sakura slammed her hand on it and groggily got out of bed. She stumbled down the hall towards the bathroom, locked the door, and took a shower that helped to bring her back to full consciousness. She was vigorously scrubbing her head with shampoo when she remembered—Sasuke! Any positive thoughts that had been running through her mind were instantly replaced with worry. He was supposed to be released this morning. What time? Would he be at school? Should she call his house—maybe he was already there? Who, what, when, where, how...?

She got out of the shower in due time, dried her hair, wrapped herself up in a towel, and headed towards her room. She rummaged through the drawers of her dresser, and pushed clothes aside in her closet. What to wear today? No, wait, that wasn't important at the moment! What about Sasuke? But it's always important to look good, right?

She decided to tug on a pair of blue jeans, threw on a green shirt with a decorated white camisole underneath that. She hurriedly pulled on socks, and slipped her feet into her dark-brown leather clogs. After running a comb through her hair, and going down the stairs she pulled the pink locks up into a messy bun, elastic band holding it in place. Finally downstairs, she slung her already packed bookbag over her shoulder, took the piece of toast her mother offered her, gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and ran out of the house with a swift "Bye!"

Sakura wasn't expecting anything when she got outside, much less Kakashi's car, complete with Kakashi inside of it, sitting outside her house, engine running... but, well, there he was. She hesitantly walked across her lawn to the silver-haired teacher and when he rolled down the window bluntly asked, "What the hell are you doing?"

Kakashi regarded her with an innocent stare. "Whatever do you mean? And don't use profanity around the people controlling your future—ah, I mean grades."

Sakura rolled her eyes, and snorted. "Don't play around today, Kakashi. What are you doing here? How'd you even know where I live?"

"Questions, questions... all so pointless, with obvious answers," said Kakashi, in a mildly sing-song voice. "Why don't you get in and I'll explain?"

"I grew up being taught not to get into a car with a stranger."

"What... you consider me a stranger? After these long, past three years? Just get in the car, unless you want to walk to the police station."

"Police station... is something wrong with Sasuke?"

"Of course not. He's a stubborn mule. I need you to give him his clothes and then walk him to school, to make sure he doesn't skip or do anything... stupid."

"The school's thirty damn minutes away from the minor station!" Sakura practically yelled. Nevertheless, she got into the passenger seat of Kakashi's car, taking note of Sasuke's change of clean clothes and school stuff in the backseat. "You expect us to walk there and arrive on time? Hell, school starts in nearly thirty minutes anyway! Why do we have to walk?"

"Because I am a teacher," said her silver-haired companion. "I'm supposed to be on time. I'm a role model, you know. I've heard some students say they look up to me."

"Imagine that," muttered Sakura. "I don't see anything to admire. And it's not like you've ever let the whole 'teachers should arrive to school at least ten minutes earlier than the students' rule get in your way before."

"There's always time for change with the new day." Sakura rolled her eyes at her teacher, and kept silent the rest of the ride, looking out the window and reminiscing on all the times she'd spent with Sasuke and Hinata before. Nothing like this had ever happened to them. And what about Naruto? How would he fit into all of this? He had only known them for two days... but Sakura had a feeling he'd be with them for the rest of these unfair, insane weeks. The recently reopened case wouldn't be closed so soon... not without any answers, and a new suspect within their grasp. Even if the suspect was innocent—Sasuke would never killed his parents. Ever.

- - - - -

After Kakashi pulled away blowing Sakura "kisses" and Sasuke had begrudgingly pulled on the clothes Sakura handed him ("School? After this? I hate Kakashi. If he thinks that I'm actually going to go, he's kidding himself." "Sasuke! You have to go to school... it's school!" "I'm over sixteen, I do not. Go away so I can change." "Ch-change...? Oh! Oh, right! Sorry, I'm going!") the two found themselves wandering aimlessly around town.

"Oh, they're going to call my mom, aren't they? I'm going to get into so much trouble!" The pink-haired girl was jabbering anxiously, just like she had been all morning long.

"The school doesn't call home if you're absent." Sasuke had replied many times, trying very hard to ignore the incessant chatter beside him.

"Oh, maybe not them, but—Kakashi! Kakashi will. He's just like that... he would do it for fun!"

"Get over it," Sasuke huffed. "I've got more important things to deal with than your... your pointless worrying."

Sakura has lapsed into a forced silence, following behind Sasuke's steps until it was time for lunch. Well, Sasuke said it was time for lunch. They were eating burgers and fries, and sucking down their ice-cold sodas at an outdoor restaurant when something familiarly yellow caught Sakura's eye...

"Naruto!"

Sasuke looked around, willing with all his might that Sakura was just exclaiming something random. There was no way they could run into that blonde nuisance here. Wasn't he supposed to be in school? Are you supposed to be in school?

"Sakura...?"

There was that voice... where was it's owner?

Great, Sasuke thought as he spotted the blonde-haired blue-eyed loud-mouthed pain-in-the-ass, making his way toward their table. Even if he'd only known the guy for less than a day... Just fantastic. I actually go and cut school, and that idiot decides to cut too. Luck and karma... what do they have against me?

"Naruto!" Sakura sighed, giving the blonde a small smile. "What're you doing here? What about school?"

"Skipped it... Iruka'll probably chew me out tonight, but I can live with that. What about you... two? I got the idea that you both were the studious 'perfect students' or something."

"Sasuke's hardly the perfect student," snorted Sakura. "But me? Well... I can't really answer about myself—"

"Oh, yeah, right, like you're just so superior," muttered Sasuke. "'Sasuke I didn't do my homework, can I copy yours? Please?'"

"That was only once," Sakura said, thrusting her nose in the air, rolling her eyes. "And don't even go there... Wouldn't want to be hypocritical, would you?"

"Oh, fear the hypocrisy." Sasuke said, not even bothering with theatrics. "It kills."

"I see you're both feeling cheery this morning," said Naruto, looking around a bit nervously. "Lovers' tiff or somethin'?"

"Lovers'... tiff...?" Sasuke's eye twitched. His mouth frowned.

Sakura's reaction was much different, she laughed out loud, shaking her head. "As if! Sasuke's just being particularly pessimistic and bitchy today. I suppose you didn't sleep well, did you?"

"Fuck off, "the Uchiha said, voice low. "I'd rather not—"

"Oh! Yeah, I heard about that." Naruto was nodding sagely. "I heard about your... er... night in the, uh, slammer."

Sasuke blinked. How could anyone know about that? Oh, wait...

"Kakashi." Sakura rubbed her temples. "No remarks about how much you hate him, Sasuke. I know. We know."

"How'd you guess?" Naruto asked, looking mildly surprised. "Shikamaru told me that he heard Kakashi telling the office secretary that you'd been pulled into overnight custody as a suspect in... well... yeah. You know."

"So basically the whole school knows, because Shikamaru talks to Ino who talks to everyone. I told you it was a good idea to just ditch school today."

Sakura frowned, shaking her head. She took one last sip of her soda, and got up to throw her trash away. "I told you we'd find a way out of it," she told the dark-haired Uchiha. "Don't act so skeptical."

"What are you talking—" Naruto began, but he was cut off as a shadow fell over him.

"Hello, you three. Having a nice day...? Sakura, I haven't seen you in a long time. And, Sasuke, how are those wounds of yours?"

Naruto gaped. "D'you have a twin...?"

Sasuke was livid.

- - - - -

There's that. I'm sorry there was more dialogue and less of everything else. I hope that you could enjoy it all the same.

Reviews are love. Until next time!