Chapter 22

Christmas was fast approaching and everything was hectic. Tsunade put out requests across the Fire Country to come to Konoha for a Christmas Festival on Christmas Eve and everything was to be ready for then. Shinobi and citizens alike were busy asking preparations for Christmas and getting ready for the festival. Sasuke was still in prison. The elders were taking their time to make the decision. It must be lonely to be in there on Christmas. I always wondered that but then I had an idea. Its Christmas Eve now and the festival is tonight. It should be good and I persuaded some of the Aburame's to come out even if it was only for the fireworks. I was sitting on the porch finishing my Christmas present.

"Aiko-san who's that for?" asked Hotaru

"Oh it's for a friend, he doesn't have anyone for Christmas and I wanted to make thins thing for him," I said holding up the dark blue shirt. It was true, I was going to be nice to Sasuke and give him something.

"What is it?" she asked

"A shirt," I replied holding it up to her, the Uchiha fan on the back standing out.

"That so cool," she squealed, I heard footsteps and stop behind me, Hotaru looked up and nodded then skipped off saying bye to me.

"Who's that for?" asked Shino,

"Sasuke," I said simply

"Why?" he asked, gee isn't he being persistent.

"Because it Christmas and he's been in there for almost 6 months," I answered flatly,

"Oh, just be careful when you visit him," he said wearily

"Ooooo is someone worried I'll get taken away," I said grinning; he nodded and nuzzled into my neck. I laughed and pried myself away from him.

"I'm going to go over now," I said standing up and folding the shirt. "I hope it fits, I had the guards get me one of his shirts to use," I added

"I'm sure it's fine," he answered, I nodded and walked to the gate,

"Bye, be ready for the festival, you are coming!" I shouted back waving, he put his head down in mock sadness and I just laughed and turned to walk out. I walked down the road and saw they had ramen take away at the ramen stall. I walked in to get some and take it with me.

"Hey this is new Ayame," I said smiling at the girl

"Hai, dad's new idea," she replied

"Well I'll have two for takeaway then," I said handing over the money and taking the steaming boxes from her. I walked out and towards Ibiki's office. Once inside everyone was staring, mainly because I never really showed up there very often and I was holding ramen and a shirt.

"Ohayo Ibiki!" I said smiling, he looked up and smiled "Merry Christmas," I said putting one box down,

"Hai, what do you want?" he asked

"Awww why would I want anything?" I asked pouting fakely

"Because why would you bring a present if you didn't want anything," he replied flatly,

"Okay fine I want to visit Uchiha Sasuke," I answered flatly as well.

"Why?" he asked

"Because it's Christmas, the time for making amends of the wrongs I have done," I said smiling,

"Fine but don't let anyone know I let you in for a bowl of ramen," he muttered

"Oh the charms of being a woman," I said laughing at him, I said bye and walked off towards the cell. ANBU were outside and stopped me.

"Sorry I'm allowed inside, Ibiki told me I could," I said smiling, they stared and one disappeared. After 5 minutes returned and nodded.

"Pass, but you may not stay long," they said, I nodded and walked in. The cell wasn't lit very well; in fact I think it had a tiny window so he wouldn't go blind.

"What do you want?" said a dark voice

"I came to visit," I replied smiling

"Why?" he asked

"Its Christmas Silly," I said sitting down near him in the corner,

"I brought you two presents," I said holding them up, "Ramen and the second is a surprise," I said handing over the ramen, he was a little hesitant but took them and ripped open the ramen and started eating it quickly. Then he paused.

"Why are you visiting me? Apart from Christmas," he asked curiously

"To make amends for being mean," I replied simply "Come over here I want to see what you look like," I said reaching for his arm to pull him.

"No, don't, my clan would be ashamed if they were alive to see it," he said quietly, I sighed and stood grabbing his arm and pulled him into the sunlight. He was right they might be. I gasped and stared at him. His hair had grown; he looked thinner and more gaunt. He had dark shadows under his eyes and he was paler then before. The clothes that he once fit so well were now hanging limply. I started wondering what Ibiki was doing to his prisoners. His hair looked scrappier and messy. It was no longer the sharp spikes they were before and his black eyes were dull now, no longer had the burning flame in them. His hands were thin and just as pale, they reminded me of the spiders I had seen Shino looking at. He was taller then me of course but he looked gangly and just awkward.

"I told you so," he said,

"What has been happening here?" I asked astonished at him,

"I didn't eat and had no visitors," he replied

"I don't particularly blame nobody for coming but it's still cruel. Look come here I'll fix your hair then you can change into your new present," I said smiling at him, his impassive face nodded and he sat down. I pulled out a kunai and started cutting his hair. Slowly the locks came off onto the floor. Covering it in a mat of onyx hair. I started shortening it then cutting it for the sharp spikes of hair it once was. After 10 minutes it was back to normal and he looked almost the same.

"Look at your new present I made for you, and then decide what to do," I said grinning; he nodded and picked up the shirt. I heard a shallow in take of air as he looked at it.

"It's like my old shirt," he said

"Hai I every wondered why ANBU took your shirt for a day. I nicked it to make that. Though right now it might be too big for you, it'll be fine once you get out," I said cheerily, he nodded and took off his old shirt. I gasped when I saw his back. It had scars on it and same along his chest. His body wasn't the well built body it was and the proof was the lack of visible muscle. He put the new shirt on and I smiled seeing him as the old Sasuke again, a little pale and skinny but the same.

"What happened?" I asked

"Well life's not easy training with an evil Sannin," he replied sighing and sitting down.

"Also how come you haven't been training, or have you just sunk into depression," I said darkly

"Because I won't be a Shinobi after this," he replied

"What! You can't stop! Just because you ditched Konoha years ago doesn't mean you can't work here again. It's happened before and you'll be accepted again!" I shouted at him

"I can't I won't!" he shouted back

"So you're going to give up trying to stop Itachi and Akatsuki! You may have hurt everyone so much after you left. I was only in Root Anbu at the time but I witnessed it and I witnessed how much you made Sakura and Naruto suffer! They tried to get you back along with many of the other Shinobi here!" I screamed at him, I was fuming; he was going to give up everything everyone worked for and for what so he wouldn't be ashamed.

"Damn your clan! You were a potential Anbu candidate! It was talk in Anbu the great Uchiha Prodigy was going to work in Anbu! How can you just give it up! I guess you are a coward Uchiha Sasuke," I finished shouting as I made it to the door. There was a shadow and he was in front of me blocking my path.

"Take that back, I am not a coward," he said darkly

"Yes if you give up being a Shinobi then your family will be ashamed. My father knew the Uchiha family well and told me stories of their bravery but now I see it was a waste of time, Naruto has surpassed you, Sakura his stronger then you, Shikamaru and Ino are married and parents, Chouji has developed new techniques, mine and Shino's genin are the only five element genin, Neji and Tenten are living together, Shino and I are engaged and have led jounin armies and won against you too many times, if you want to be a coward and run away from everything you strived to be good at then be my guest. You were like a brother to Naruto, Sakura although a little obsessed loved you and Naruto as family and now even though they worked to get better and impress you and take you on so you might come back you're going to give it up. You are nothing but a coward," I explained darkly at him, he had his head down and wasn't looking up. He moved out the way and turned back to his corner.

"Tell Naruto and Sakura I'm sorry and that I will fully explain when I am out of here. Merry Christmas Aiko-chan," he said quietly

"Hai, Merry Christmas Sasuke, I'll have Ibiki give you more food if your going to started training again," I said walking out. The Anbu were stood there even though I knew they heard everything.

"You are not to repeat what you heard, am I understood," I ordered to the Anbu

"Hai Aiko-Taichou," said the one on the left,

"Arigatou but you know I'm no longer that Ryo," I said smiling at the dog masked Anbu, "Merry Christmas," I said waving

"Merry Christmas Aiko-san," he replied and I waved as I ran off. Today was interesting. I shouted at the Uchiha prodigy but I won't forget how I saw him today, it was horrible but life will get better once he gets out of there. Let's hope just after Christmas. I wonder how everyone will be after it though.

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A/N: Sorry it was late updating but I was up in St Petersburg from Thursday and got back last night only to finish this chapter now….