Chapter 1:

Weeks later, Neji was walking what was now a familiar road to the dungeons where his long time task was to be done.

Sasuke, he had found out, was everything the other caretakers in prison said he was. He would not talk, he would not move. Neji found himself lucky he was still eating, he was after all supposed to keep the Uchiha alive.

Neji however, was stubborn. He would always acknowledge the other boy and tell him that his food was there.

Sometimes Neji would even inform him about simple things, like the weather outside or that a new building was being made.

He knew the Uchiha would not care for it, but frankly Neji felt bad for him. He was young and yet he was locked up there, without a soul to talk to.

Neji knew he would feel lonely, even though he would never admit it.

Just like the Uchiha.

Today however, was different. Neji had just set down Sasuke's food and was about to leave.

But Sasuke spoke. For the first time in months, his low and now slightly raspy voice from not using it spoke a few words.

And they weren't about the weather.

"How are they?"

Neji looked at the stoic Uchiha, surprised slightly at the fact that he apparently did care. He hadn't moved an inch though and if Neji hadn't been so sure of his psyche, he would've thought he had imagined him talking.

'They' Neji assumed were Naruto and Sakura, maybe Kakashi.

"They're doing fine. Was there anything specific you wanted to know?"

Maybe he was being too formal with it, but really, what could he say? Sakura was still depressed, at least that's what he heard from Tenten, and Naruto was frantically trying to get his friend out of prison.

But Naruto didn't seem happy either. It seemed more like a necessity then a favour to Neji.

"I guess not." Sasuke said, his voice a little clearer now.

Neji really wondered if Sasuke was genuinely trying to figure out how everyone was doing. He might also be scheming something.

With a person like him, you never knew. However, Neji did not feel like he was trying something. The sound in his voice was more sad then scheming.

"If there is anything you want to know you can ask. I'll try my best to give you the best possible answer." Neji said.

It was silent for a long time and Neji was about to leave again, when Sasuke actually moved.

Now Neji really wasn't shocked very often, but this caught him off guard for sure. Sasuke sat up straight and Neji could see every muscle in Sasuke's body moving from the sudden movement.

They were stiff and it was obvious why. Lying on one side on a rock hard bench would stiffen even the most well trained ninja.

Sasuke kept his back towards Neji and his head held low. It looked like he was tired.

"Are they… happy?" The raven asked.

Neji pondered on that. Should he tell Sasuke the truth? It was clear the other still cared, but did Neji want to tell him the truth or just tell him what he wanted to hear?

Did it even matter to anyone what he said right now? Probably.

He did the only thing he could do as a respectable Hyuuga clan member. He told Sasuke the truth.

"No." Neji watched the Uchiha breathe through that answer, muscles slightly tightening when it was given.

Neji really had not expected Sasuke to react like that. It was really minor, but it only showed that not even the Uchiha could hold back his feelings completely.

It did upset Sasuke and Neji now realized why Sasuke refused doing anything. He could not say for sure of course, but Neji had always been good at reading people.

What he got from Sasuke was that the boy was going through his punishment, thinking that he deserved it.

And even though Neji also thought he deserved to be in prison, it was odd to see Sasuke had given up. He had never before, always making choices, even if they were wrong.

Neji had not known the raven that well, but he was easy to read. He had heard the stories and put one and one together.

"I see." Sasuke said now, wakening Neji out of his thoughts.

Neji could hear Sasuke take a deep breath and after that it went silent again. Neji stared at the Uchiha once again. Had it been any other prisoner, Neji would have walked away.

But Sasuke seemed so lost and Neji wanted to provide him with answers. He would have wanted them if it were him.

"Sakura, she's still an apprentice of Tsunade's. From what I've heard she's having a hard time realizing that whatever happened between you two, happened." Neji started.

"Naruto is trying to get you out of here. You know how he is, he just can't back off." Neji watched Sasuke closely as he was talking. Had his eyes not been the way they were, he would not have seen those little movements from the raven.

The slight twitch of his arm when he mentioned the situation of Sakura and the swallow after mentioning Naruto was still trying.

"He's mad at you though. And upset that you put them through this."

"Understandable." Sasuke replied briefly.

The two ninja's stayed silent once more, Neji having nothing more to say, Sasuke taking in the information.

"What about Kakashi?"

Neji contemplated on that. In all honestly, he had no idea what Kakashi was up to.

All he knew was that Gai sensei seemed to be covering for him if Kakashi was mentioned.

"I'm sorry to say I don't know." Neji finally answered and noticed how Sasuke was tense about the answer.

He didn't seem relieved when he didn't get one.

"Do you… want me to figure out?"

It was silent for a while, Neji wondered if Sasuke had even heard what he had said.

But then the raven answered.

"Maybe."

Neji suppressed a smirk. Stubborn as ever.

"I'll see what I can do." Neji said.

He watched Sasuke nod slightly, then the two went silent.

After a while, Neji said his goodbye.

Not getting an answer from the sharingan user, he left with an odd feeling.

Something about the Uchiha made him feel strange. Like he needed to help, needed to get him back on his feet.

It was probably only because he wanted to repay Sasuke for saving him.

-.-.-

After the first time Sasuke had talked to Neji, it hadn't happened again.

Neji had only briefly informed Sasuke about his progress with figuring out what Kakashi was up to.

Or the lack of it was more like it.

Kakashi was a high rank ninja, so Neji knew it was gonna be hard finding information.

But he never expected it to be this hard.

It seemed like all the older ninja had been protecting him and after Neji found out some things, he could understand why.

As a ninja, no one wanted to be seen in an emotional state.

Neji had heard from Gai sensei, after many times of asking, that Kakashi was taking everything particularly hard.

Gai had said it was understandable, what with Obito dying.

As Gai sensei was explaining the emotions that had hit Kakashi, said person decided to turn up.

As if he knew Neji was prying in his business. He certainly knew they were talking about him at that very moment.

Kakashi hadn't said much, but what he said surprised Neji.

"Tell Sasuke that no matter what he did, I will always stand behind him. He let me down on more than one occasion, but he does not deserve to be locked up. People have been forgiven for much worse."

Is what he had said, and with that he had walked away.

Neji had stayed silent, not sure what to make of that.

Until Gai had told him that it was quite simple. Kakashi believed Sasuke wasn't locked up for what he had done. He was locked up for what he might do in the future.

Neji had looked at his sensei and understood. And as he thought about it, it could very well be the truth.

People had been forgiven for worse, but that curse. It was a curse for Sasuke in more than one way.

Neji once again picked up Sasuke's food and headed over to the dungeon.

Sasuke had a right to the truth and Neji felt obligated to deliver it to him. It was the least he could do.

As Neji got to Sasuke's cell, he greeted him and placed the food through the bars.

He then spoke.

"About Kakashi." That caught Sasuke's attention, Neji could see him stiffening.

"He seems upset, but not just because of you."

Neji watched Sasuke sit up, then continued.

"He's clearly disappointed in you. But he's more disappointed in the village."

"Why?" Sasuke asked, his voice still sounding raspy.

"You're here because you might be dangerous in the future. Not because of your previous actions. At least that's what Kakashi thinks."

Neji could tell Sasuke was confused about that.

"How do you know?" Sasuke asked after a moment of silence.

He seemed distrusting and Neji couldn't blame him.

He himself didn't even know why exactly he was putting so much time into this.

"He pretty much told me." Neji replied.

It was silent again, until Sasuke took in a deep breath and Neji slightly relaxed.

All his senses were put on sharp though as soon as Sasuke got up and turned around.

Neji didn't trust that much movement out of the Uchiha, but Sasuke just looked at him.

He wasn't being hostile, nor did he seem angry in the slightest.

"Why are you doing this?"

Black orbs looked at Neji distrusting and Neji now got why people faltered under those eyes.

Even without the sharingan activated, they were piercing and as weak as Sasuke was, his eyes reflected otherwise.

"You saved my life." Neji finally answered.

The answer was simple, but true.

Sasuke seemed to understand, Neji could see him think about it.

The Uchiha knew it was a repayment of saving him.

But what Sasuke said next was not something Neji thought he'd ever hear.

The words were few, and they were spoken softly and delicately. Maybe it was because Sasuke barely said it, or maybe it was because he truly meant them.

Either way, Neji was unprepared for it.

"Thank you."

Both of the previous Konoha prodigies tried to keep their composure, Neji for being so baffled from the words and Sasuke from saying them.

They locked eyes for a few seconds and Neji regained his posture.

There was definitely more to Sasuke then met the eye. He was not the cold hearted bastard people made him out for.

Neji realized that now.

It was sad to think a guy like Sasuke, with so much potential, might face a lifetime in prison.

Or worse.

There had to be something Neji could do.

-.-.-