Death was only the beginning. That was what they told him. But an eight year old couldn't possibly grasp that concept. Did that mean that his father was somewhere else, alive and happy? Then why didn't he take him? Why did he leave him all alone? There was so much that he didn't understand. No one really took the time to explain anything to him. They only told him what a great man his father had been. Yet, Neji didn't want to hear that. He only wanted to know why.

Struggling to hold back the grief, tears flowed steadily down his small face. Hours had passed since the funeral, and he was allowed to go to his new room instead of attending the wake. Neji had hoped to cry himself to sleep like he did for the past week. It was just too much. Just last week his father was alive. Now he was dead— gone forever.

The door to his bedroom opened, and Neji gazed up to see his uncle standing in the doorway. Silently, Hiashi closed the door behind him, and locked it. There was a glass in his hand, amber liquid filling half of the container. Eyeing his nephew, he took a sip of the alcohol. When the glass was empty, he sat it on the nearby dresser.

Wiping his eyes, Neji straightened up in his bed. "Uncle Hiashi?" He asked, but received no answer. There were tears in Hiashi's eyes, they rolled down his face as he approached the bed. Again, Neji called out. "Uncle Hiashi?"

That time only a single name was uttered by his uncle. "Hizashi..."

And then everything went black.

"So, what do you say?"

Blinking rapidly, Neji returned to the present, and glanced over at his companion. "I don't go on dates," he smirked a little after giving it another thought. "I prefer the private portion of the evening. The kind that take place in the bedroom."

"We could just grab a bite to eat, and come back here to engage in those bedroom activities," Hidan whispered the last part as he moved in for a kiss. But like always he was brushed off.

Neji took that as his cue to leave. "You should be lucky that I'm still fucking you." But that was about to come to an end. Hidan was starting to get clingy. They only fooled around once every month, if that, and the man was under the impression that they were more than just convenient fuck buddies.

Glancing at the alarm clock, he noted that he had an hour and a half to make it back to the compound in time to get ready for class. He normally left earlier than that, but he was still recovering from a hangover. Last night, Hidan took him out for drinks. Neji reminded him that it wasn't a date, but he was free to pay for all of his drinks. Which he did. If someone was offering, Neji sure as hell wasn't going to turn them down.

On the foot of the bed, Hidan watched Neji get dressed. The man that he was looking at was so different from the timid, cherry boy, that he met seven months ago. Now, it was Seiji that initiated everything. Unlike their first time, the younger male had no problem telling Hidan how he wanted to be touched or how hard he wanted to be fucked. In a way, it was like Hidan was responsible for the transformation, but he knew better.

"Don't you think it's time for you to tell me your real name?" asked Hidan.

By that point he had already figured out that the person he slept with every blue moon was some rich, high school senior, that just so happened to be a martial arts champion. He only continued to use the fake name because it was obvious that Neji wanted him to do so. The fact that Hidan was sleeping with a minor didn't bother him that much, seeing that he, himself, had been screwing since middle school. In that day in age, who wasn't sleeping with a high school kid? Sixteen was where he drew the line, though. He was a criminal with a few morals.

Ignoring the question, Neji slipped on his socks. "I'm ready to go," was the only thing that he said in response to the question.

Hidan knew 'damaged' when he saw it, and Neji was so disfigured under his pretty skin that he didn't need to cut him open to see. Unfortunately, he didn't own a cape, and spandex weren't his thing. Nodding his head, he stood up and they both walked out of the room together.

Spring was evident in the vibrant hues of the Sakura trees that adorned the entire city. Everything was bright and jovial. Neji absolutely despised it. He didn't adhere to the assumption that because the skies were clear the day would be good. Blooming flowers, and the fresh smell in the air didn't mean a thing to him. Spring, Summer or Fall, his mood remained the same. The only good thing about the weather was that when he left the compound at night he didn't have to bundle up. During the colder months, he would often leave behind items of clothing after his, nightly walks. In any situation, less clothing was always better.

On Hidan's bike were the only intimate moments that they shared. Neji's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, their bodies pressed close together. Sex was never that personal. Hidan found himself dreading the familiar road that lead to Neji's destination because that meant the end of their embrace.

"My offer still stands," Hidan took his helmet when it was offered. "I'll even throw in some roses!"

Smirking, Neji raked his fingers through his tousled hair, and grimaced a little. He had a slight headache. "You just won't take no for an answer, will you?" It was a pity that the man had to catch feelings. The sex was great. "Goodbye, Hidan." But all good things must come to an end.

Keeping his smile, despite the perturbed feeling in the pit of his stomach, Hidan put his helmet on. He gave Neji one last look before he sped off.

Neji started the short walk back to the compound. There was a shortcut through the woods that would take him to the back of the complex. Hidan had been a disappointment. He had been sure that the biker would be the last person to go soft on him. Honestly, what did the man see in him anyway? They never talked about anything of value, and they only saw each other once a month. If Hidan thought that he had been the only one, he was sadly mistaken. There had been others. The loss of Hidan wasn't so bad. It wasn't hard to find someone else to fill that spot.

Often times, Neji thought about his future and what he wanted for himself. A few years ago, he simply wanted to be free of the clan. Seven months ago, he wanted Tokuma. Now, he didn't know what he wanted for himself. Graduation was next month, and he still hadn't applied to a single university. His test scores were high enough to get him a full ride to any college of his choice, but he no longer possessed the motivation to even meet with the academic scouts that came by the high school.

Besides, what was really the point? If he even attempted to attend a university in another city, Hiashi would find a way to keep him in Konoha. Neji saw no point in fighting a pointless battle. Hiashi always won.

Hearing a twig snap, Neji lifted his head. His heart was hammering in his chest, and his eyes widened. But once he saw who it was, he visibly relaxed. Though, his heart took a while longer to calm. "What are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that, Neji?" Tokuma's voice was stern, as though he were talking to a child. "Where have you been all night? Where do you go every night?" He kept his voice low since they were only a few meters from the back gate.

Crossing his arms, Neji took a step forward. "Wow, your wife must be terrible in the sack, Tokuma-san. To think that you'd spend your night worrying about me." Another step forward, and their chests were almost touching. Seeing the other man visibly flinch at hearing the honorific brought a smile to his face. "Truly, I'm flattered,"he teased.

Tokuma frowned. "I was worried about you." His hand reached out to brush a strand of hair out of the teen's face.

Neji moved away from the touch. "Don't waste your time worrying about me." Brushing past the older man, he headed for the open gate. "Maybe focus more on your duties as a husband. Nine months and still no sign of conception. You know how the clan likes to talk, Tokuma-san." He taunted without bothering to turn around.

Like always, the only thing Tokuma could do was stand there and watch Neji slip out of his grasp.

High School sucked, for obvious reasons. The fact that he had to only endure one more month of it made it easier for Neji to put on the godawful uniform and make it to class on time. For the past four years, he had been able to maintain his perfect attendance by some miracle. At school he was pristine on the surface, punctual, and studious. No one knew that the Class President was recovering from a hangover most mornings, or coming down from a pill induced high. They had no clue that he spent his nights in a different stranger's bed or jacked up on adderral at some nightclub. If Neji had any say so, they never would.

It wasn't any of their business. Even his close friends, Lee and Tenten, had no idea about his private life. He kept them at a distance as well. Although, he would admit that he was quite fond of them both, to a certain extent. Lee's enthusiastic personality came in handy and Tenten's ability to keep Lee from overreacting was also appreciated. Of course, they each had more defining qualities than that, Neji was just too self-centered to notice.

The halls weren't that packed since most students were already heading to class. Neji was at his locker when he spotted Uchiha Sasuke for the first time that school year. He wasn't dressed in the standard uniform, and was accompanied by a member of his family. Not his mother of his father, someone much younger. Seeing the younger Uchiha, Neji immediately thought about Itachi.

Since the telecast that had the entire city, and surrounding cities buzzing, he hadn't seen the Uchiha prodigy in person. In his mind, Neji labeled that night as The Prodigies' Descent. He found the title fitting, in a cynical sort of way. At least Ino was still holding strong. As far as he knew.

Sasuke looked as if he hadn't slept in weeks, there were bags under his eyes, and he seemed gloomier than usual. According to the infamous rumor mill, Itachi only wrote one suicide letter and it was addressed to his younger brother. The details of the note were still unknown. Fugaku, the Uchiha clan's patriarch, held a press conference ensuring everyone that his son would make a full recovery and take his rightful place as the CEO of Uchiha Enterprises.

The Uchiha manufactured weapons and the Hyuuga— owned a lot of shit? Irrelevant.

When Sasuke passed him, along with his escort, their eyes locked briefly. The underclassman's appearance made the Hyuuga prodigy wonder how Itachi was faring. There were also rumors that Itachi was sent to Kirigakure to recover at a prestigious mental health facility. Neji, even though he tried not to, could still remember their brief conversation almost a year ago. Did he feel guilty? No, but he felt something...

"Neji."

Hearing the soft call of his name caused his skin to bristle in agitation. Turning around. Neji stared at his younger cousin, with annoyance clear on his face. "Hinata-sama."

Smiling, Hinata bowed her head, and stared at her shoes. "Could you walk me to class, please?" She asked.

Un-fucking-believable. Neji thought to himself. If someone had almost beat him to death at a public tournament, and made it very clear that they didn't want him breathing the same air as them, Neji would stay clear. But apparently his younger cousin was a rare kind of stupid. How many times did he have to send the message for her to get it? His sweet, innocent, younger cousin knew what she was doing. Hinata knew that if Neji denied her, she could tell her father and he would have no choice but to obey. However, Neji was still suffering from a hangover, and didn't really give a damn about the possible repercussions.

Retrieving his textbooks, he slammed his locker. "I'm not your fucking guard dog," he bit out before turning on his heel.

What Hinata did after that was unknown to him because he didn't spare her another glance. Outside of his classroom, Lee and Tenten were there waiting for him. As always he greeted them dryly, and they walked in the classroom.

By lunch period, Neji had a headache, and a new potential life goal. Amazing how a few hours can change a person's life. Instead of eating in the courtyard with his friends, he was in the guidance counselor's office discussing his future. A topic that he hadn't cared to discuss for years. Even now, he wasn't all that enthused, but Umino Iruka was a very persistent man. He sought Neji out at the end of his history class, with a bright smile on his face. Neji had never met anyone that was genuinely happy about the accomplishments of others.

"With your grades you wouldn't have to pay anything for college, Neji." Iruka informed him for the third time that afternoon. "All you have to do is apply. The application fee is waived since you are a member of one of the nation's surviving clans, and although the deadline has passed, a few universities will extend that date for someone like you."

"Someone like me?"

"Well, you're a genius— a prodigy," Iruka stated. "And I am well aware of your other accomplishments, Neji. Everyone is aware."

There were only two members of the faculty that Neji could tolerate, and Iruka was one of them, with Maito Gai being the other. Of course, he didn't trust them enough to open up to them about things, but he knew they were trustworthy men. He even admire them.

Neji even felt a little bad about letting them both down. "Iruka-sensei, I appreciate you taking the time out to list all of the universities that will accept my late application and even going so far as printing out the applications for me. But as you are well aware, Hiashi-sama has the final decision. My uncle has made it very clear that my place is here in Konoha, with my clan."

That was the nice way to put it. He couldn't outright tell his counselor that his uncle wanted to keep him around for his own perverse reasons. Or maybe he could. Would Iruka believe him? What would he have to say about that? Neji reminded himself that he wore the proof of his abuse for years and nobody said a word. The bruises, bite marks, and lashes were all brushed off as injuries from Baguazhang training. That was enough to dismiss any thoughts of telling anyone about his uncle. Well, Tokuma knew. He told the older man because, he too, had suffered the same abuse at the hands of another Main House member.

Iruka opened his top drawer and pulled out a book. "Neji, are you familiar with the Senju Laws?" He flipped through the book to find the page he was looking for.

He simply nodded his head. The Senju Laws were one of the reasons why clans still existed. If Iruka planned on a history lesson, then it was time for him to take his leave. "I would like to eat before my next class," he moved to stand up.

"Don't worry. I'll write you an excuse," Iruka smiled. When he found the page, his face lit up. "Here we are. According to the revised laws, at the age of eighteen any clan member has the right to live outside of their compound, if it is their desire to do so." He summarized in layman terms. "That goes for members of the Hyuuga clan as well. This was revised 12 years ago so I can understand why you weren't made aware."

Stunned, Neji could only sit there and stare at the older man. Since he was three years old, he'd been told that his life belonged to the Hyuuga. Every decision had to be approved by the council, by his uncle, yet, now Iruka was telling him that at eighteen, he could be...free? It wasn't that simple. It couldn't be that simple.

Unintentionally, Neji's eyes started to burn with tears. "Show me," he needed to see it with his own eyes.

Obeying the command, Iruka slid the book across the desk. "It's not my place to pry, but I couldn't just allow one of the brightest youths at this institution to wither away. I chose this job for a reason, Neji. I'm here to help, allow me to do so." While Neji read, he continued to talk. "No one has to know. I'll send off your application. Any news of acceptance will come through me and I'll notify you personally. Just lay low until your birthday passes in July."

The truth was there; Neji read it with his own eyes. Not only could he leave the compound at eighteen, but his uncle couldn't do a thing about it. If Hiashi or anyone else attempted to keep him there against his will, he had the right to notify the authorities. Why didn't his clan know about this? Why hadn't anyone taken advantage of the revised law?

Neji didn't have time to ponder on that. He had his own ass to cover. "What do you want from me?" Surely, the information wasn't going to be free. Nothing in life was free. Sitting the book on the desk, he dried his eyes. Maybe Iruka was a closet pervert, and wanted a sexual favor from him. "What do I need to do...to earn this?"

"I'm glad you asked."

Just when he thought that there were still selfless people in the world. Shaking his head, Neji started to unbutton his uniform shirt.

Iruka's eyes widened. "No! Stop that!" Waving his hands frantically, the counselor looked away when he spotted a bare chest. "Neji. Please button your shirt back up. I was only going to tell you that majority of the scholarships require community service hours."

Sheepishly, Neji buttoned his shirt. "Community service hours?" He asked once he was covered. Secretly, he was beyond relieved that Iruka wasn't a pervert. That would have shattered his already fragile hope in mankind.

Peeking to see if it was safe, Iruka finally turned around. Clearing his throat, he spoke. "Yes, you appear to meet all of their requirements. You'll only need 90 hours of community service." He was still disturbed by the teen's earlier display, and made a mental note of it.

"90? How am I supposed to get that many by the deadline. By the way, when is the extended deadline?"

"Well 90 is pretty reasonable, Neji. You can use hours that you've obtained from middle school as well. The deadline is at the end of June."

He should have known that it wasn't going to be that easy. "I don't have any community service hours. All of my free time is dedicated to training," or getting high and fucked. "I doubt I'll be able to obtain that many hours by the deadline."

Sitting up, Iruka cleaned his desk off in order to look at the large calendar. He wasn't going to give up on the Hyuuga that easily. "You have 8 weeks before the deadline, but I'm going to give you 7, to get the hours you need. I can point you in the right direction and if you dedicate a few hours out of your day for the next 7 weeks, you'll be able to reach your goal."

Freedom isn't free.

Still, it wasn't so bad. Especially when he looked at the bigger picture. He would be able to live his own life, get away from his uncle, and the wretched clan. Devoting a few hours out of his day would be easy enough. Perhaps he could mention the revised laws to Tokuma as well.

"Okay. Point me in the right direction, Iruka-sensei."

For the first time since— well that was the first time that Iruka had ever seen Hyuuga Neji smile, and he hoped that it wouldn't be the last.

Neji spent the rest of the school day with a slight pep in his step. Nothing too noticeable, but of course his friends noticed. He didn't see them again until the end of the day when they were in the school's parking lot loitering. Hinata was already picked up for a doctor's appointment so he decided to catch a ride with Lee and Tenten. He didn't go into detail about his meeting with Iruka, however, he did enlist their aid with finding a place to get his service hours. All of the places Iruka gave him dealt with either children or the elderly. Two things that Neji didn't have the patience for.

"You can try the soup kitchen," Tenten suggested. She already had her required hours. "I volunteered once during the holidays."

How does one say 'hell no' in a polite way?

Lee piped in. "The local animal shelter would be a good choice! I like to stop by and pet the puppies!"

Dog shit, marvelous.

Both of those suggestions, while appreciated, were terrible. Neji didn't lie to himself; he was well aware that he didn't deserve his friends. They were genuinely good, while he was mean and spiteful. "I was thinking of something a little more...interesting?" That was putting it lightly.

Snickering, Tenten curtsied. "Well excuse us, your Highness. We commoners don't have much of a choice." She straightened up and continued to laugh and Lee joined in.

While they laughed, Neji mentally corrected her curtsy; it was more than a little off. Perhaps his friends had a point. He was far too snobbish for his own good. Blame his clan. Speaking of his clan...

A sleek, unmarked limousine pulled up in front of the trio. Lee and Tenten stopped laughing when they noticed the familiar car. Neji handed the papers that Iruka had given him over to Lee. He didn't have to say a word for the boy to put them in his satchel. His friends may have been ignorant to a lot of things that he went through, but both were smart enough to figure out a few things on their own. Like the fact that when Hiashi was around, they needed to always follow Neji's lead.

After a brief farewell, Neji opened the door to the car and climbed in. Across from him, Hiashi sat with a newspaper in his lap. The car didn't pull off until his uncle tapped the partition. Piece by piece, the teenager could feel every ounce of happiness that he felt earlier disperse. Knots formed in his stomach, and his dug his nails into his palms while he waited.

Finally, Hiashi looked up from his newspaper. "Is there anything that you need to tell me?"

Briefly, Neji eye's widened, but he quickly schooled his face. There was no way that his uncle found out about his talk with Iruka that fast. Even Hiashi wasn't that all knowing. Glancing out the window, he watched children walk on he sidelines with smiles on their faces. "No, Hiashi-sama."

"Come here."

Opening the car door and jumping in front of oncoming traffic seemed like a better idea. But Neji had never been able to deny his uncle anything. Sitting up, he moved across the limousine and sat next to the clan head. As soon as he sat down, Hiashi had his hands around his neck, not enough to bruise, but hard enough.

"You will stay here tonight. If I find your bed empty you will regret it." His hold on the younger male's throat eased, and he stroked the smooth skin with his thumb. "I've missed you," he leaned closer, kissing his neck softly. "I love you, Neji. You know how much I love you." It almost sounded like he actually did love him.

Neji knew better.

Hiashi's other hand caressed Neji's thigh. The higher that hand moved up his thigh, the sicker Neji felt. One day, he was going to chop that hand off and shove it up Hiashi's ass. But until then, he would do what he always did.

Surrender.

Downtown Konoha was overly crowded on Saturdays mostly due to the new shopping center that was recently built. Neji thought it was a poor location, but that wasn't really his business. His business was currently fifteen minutes late, and he was becoming antsy. It had been a week since he had his fix, thanks to Hiashi making him stay in the compound every single night since Monday. He had a few bruises on his back as proof of his uncle's undying love.

With training in the morning and the evening, Neji didn't know how he was going to get the service hours that he needed. Too much time had already been wasted. Now he was down to six weeks. There was a backup plan. Something that he formed in the middle of the night when he couldn't sleep. Once he turned eighteen, he could still leave the compound. He would need to somehow save up money for a bus ticket to another city, and find a job once he got there.

Or he could try to use his prodigy status in order to make a living for himself. Either way, he was going to get the hell away from Hiashi the first chance he got. There was nothing stopping him from running away right now, but Neji wasn't stupid. He was still a minor. A broke ass minor at that. Hiashi would simply drag him back to the compound, the authorities would even lend him a hand.

In order to obtain permanent freedom he would need to plan for it, and Iruka's plan was the best way to go.

"Damn! You're just as pretty as he described."

It sounded like his business had just arrived. Unfazed by the compliment, Neji glanced around to make sure that no one was looking in their direction. He had chosen the downtown park where he and Tokuma used to frequent.

Neji hated the process of buying drugs. Actually, he wasn't really buying them. "I don't have all day. Do you have what I want?" He hit the jackpot when he unknowingly fucked a drug dealer.

"Yeah. The boss told me that you may be interested in something a little more potent too."

"Give me what the fuck I came for and then get lost."

The lackey scowled, and dug in his pocket. "Snobby bitch," he tossed the small sack, and Neji caught it with one hand.

Standing up, Neji pocketed the pills. "Enjoy the rest of your day." He smirked.

Neji was in denial about his addiction, because geniuses didn't get addicted to tedious things like adderrall. The drug helped him get through the day— through life. He was going to need it in order to survive the next three months. Afterwards, once he was finally free, he would simply quit. At least, that was what he told himself. Pride was a dangerous thing.

Hiashi was out of town until Sunday, Tokuma was spending time with his wife since today was her birthday, or something like that. Neji didn't really know or care about Tokuma's wife. In fact, he didn't really care about his Senpai either.

Obviously that was a lie.

Regardless, he had the entire day to himself, and didn't have a clue on what to do. What did Hyuuga Neji like to do besides sleep around and party? Quite frankly, Neji didn't think he really liked doing either of those things. But he couldn't stop. Not now anyway.

On the crowded sidewalk, while he was admiring a traditional tea set through the windows of an antique store, someone bumped into him. Signature scowl in place, Neji turned around to face the person. When he saw that it was an elderly woman, his scowl morphed into a tight smile. He was prepared to tell her that everything was fine, but then another voice spoke.

"Forgive me." Itachi addressed the elderly woman with a polite bow.

Neji watched them both nod at each other before the woman hobbled down the sidewalk, cane in hand. "Itachi?" His mouth hung open, and he snapped it closed once he realized his mistake. "Uchiha-san," he corrected. Unconsciously, his gaze instantly dropped to the man's arms, but they were covered by long sleeves.

"Hyuuga-san," Itachi saw where Neji's eyes went, and he self-consciously pulled his sleeves further down.

Averting his gaze, Neji opted for anywhere but the man in front on him. Spotting a sheet of paper on the ground, he picked it up. "Is this your grocery list?" He read over the fine script, noting how many times the words 'don't forget' were placed in front of each item.

Looking over at Itachi, he saw the expression that had haunted him since their first conversation months ago. Again, he gazed down, but this time it was to look at Itachi's trembling hands. The Uchiha prodigy's chest was heaving, dark eyes skittish, and he looked seconds from making a run for it. Folding the paper, Neji slipped it in his back pocket.

Without fully thinking over his actions, he grabbed Itachi's hand. When the older male tried to pull away, he didn't let him. "We aren't going far. There is a less crowded place a block from here." He informed him, his tone was calm, and oddly soothing.

Neji had no idea what he was doing. Dragging the Uchiha prodigy through the bustling sidewalk like that. It wasn't his concern. Itachi wasn't his concern. Nonetheless, he didn't let go of his hand until they were standing in an empty alleyway. Itachi rested against the wall, uncaring of how filthy it was. His breathing was still labored, but his hands were no longer trembling.

"You picked the worse day to go grocery shopping," Neji saw the pained look on Itachi's face, and he cleared his throat. "Were you out with someone? Are you lost?" It was as if he were speaking to a child, but it was far better than his earlier tone.

By that point it was clear that Itachi was suffering from anxiety. Neji had never dealt with anything like that before. Of course he didn't know what was needed to be said. Still he continued to try.

"I didn't think that picking up my own groceries would require an escort." Itachi said.

"Did you drive? I can walk you to your car." Why in the hell did he offer to do that?

From the looks of it, Itachi wondered the same thing. "I didn't drive. I live over on 40th Avenue." He dusted himself off, and extended his hand. "My list."

40th Avenue was only a couple of miles from where they were. Walking Itachi home wasn't going to kill him. "Do you think you're ready to face the masses again, Uchiha?" He smirked.

Narrowing his eyes, Itachi silently stared at Neji. They weren't friends. The last time they spoke, the Hyuuga made it very clear that he hated him. So why was he so eager to assist him now? Glancing out of the alley, at all of the people passing by, he swallowed hard. The sidewalks were so loud. Buzzing with various conversations, each ranging from calm to earsplitting. Even thinking about it caused his throat to tighten. Itachi knew that he wouldn't be able to face that crowd alone. He'd been too prideful to remain in doors. Now he didn't really have a choice.

"After you, Hyuuga-san."

. . . .

"Forgive me."

"Hn."

"You can come up and wash your hands. If you'd like."

Neji did want to wash Itachi's sweat from his hand, and another part of him was curious to see the inside of the newly built penthouses. So he decided to take the man up on his offer. The walk to 40th avenue took longer than usual. In the end they made it there with no incidents. When they were on the elevator, Neji checked his pocket to make sure his pills were still there. He was pleased to find out that they were.

Out of his peripheral he noticed Itachi staring at him. "You look different," he said. Neji found that odd seeing that Itachi's hair was longer, and he was noticeably slimmer than he was months ago.

"So do you," Neji turned his head, looking at the other male. "Your hair is almost as long as mine." Would Itachi find it inappropriate if he touched his hair? Obviously it was soft, but he wanted to feel for himself.

Itachi touched the ends of his own hair, thoughtfully. "I'll be cutting it soon." His mother fussed about his hair every time she saw him. He was cutting it so he didn't have to suffer anymore of her nagging.

"That's too bad. I actually think it suits you."

The elevator finally stopped at the top floor. Neji faced the gold doors, and missed the small smile on Itachi's face. When the doors opened, they were met with a lavish foyer, decorated in neutral tones, with the vegetation being the only hints of color. This time, Itachi lead the way. He stepped off of the elevator, toed his shoes off and Neji did the same. Beyond the foyer was the den and skyscraper windows with a magnificent view of the city. Grey couches and chaise lounges with mauve decorative pillows, and a glass coffee table were situated in the large den.

Neji could only imagine what the rest of the place looked like, but he didn't want to overstay his welcome. "Where's the bathroom?" He had more important matters to attend to, anyway. Well, not really.

"Follow me," Itachi softly beckoned.

While they walked down the carpeted hallway, Neji ignored the paintings on the wall, and kept his attention on the long, inky tresses. It was a pity that Itachi was going to cut it all off. Also, now that they were inside, Itachi's stride seemed more confident— more comfortable. Though, he supposed that made sense. Itachi was now in his comfort zone, instead of being surrounded by a ton of people, strangers.

Itachi stopped in front of an open door. "The switch is behind the door," he told him, before walking back down the hallway.

Nodding his head, Neji stepped in and closed the door. Finding the switch wasn't a difficult task even in the dark. The first thing he looked at was the toilet paper, and seeing the white tissue made him snicker a little. Tokuma once told him that the Uchiha wiped their asses with gold. He would have to tell his Senpai that he was wrong. Instantly, Neji's smile dropped at the thought of his old friend. Sucking his teeth, he moved to the sink and washed his hands.

. . . .

Things were not going according to his plan. Neji was still lingering when he should have left immediately after washing his hands. However, Itachi didn't seem to mind his company. They just stood in the kitchen; Neji leaning against the bar, Itachi leaning against the sink. What could they possibly talk about? Actually, Neji had a few things that he wanted to ask, yet, he knew that it was inappropriate. Yes, he was a little shit, but even he knew when to chill.

"Do you have anything to drink?"

"No."

Frowning, Neji tilted his head. "Not even a bottle of water?"

Instead of answering, Itachi moved to the large refrigerator and opened it. It was completely empty. Not even a slice of cheese or random condiments were present. What was the point of that massive refrigerator if there was no food? Then Neji remembered the grocery list that was still in his back pocket. That answered a few of his questions, and those answers only lead to more questions.

"Shouldn't there be someone taking care of you?"

"I can take care of myself."

"And you're doing a fine job of it." Neji deadpanned.

Itachi closed the fridge with more force than necessary. "Why are you here? Last I checked, you hated me. So why are you here?"

Great question. Why was he there? Why did he bother helping Itachi in the first place? Neji didn't know. He also didn't know why he didn't just turn on his heel and walk away right then and there. Admittedly, he was mildly fascinated by Itachi's attempt at suicide. For the past eight months, he read every article regarding Itachi's descent, with morbid curiosity. He tuned in to every news broadcast, and press conference on the matter. Of course, he wasn't going to admit that to Itachi, he had a hard enough time admitting it to himself.

"I don't care about you enough to hate you." Itachi's frown deepened when he heard that, but he remained silent. Sighing he moved back to the sink, and rested against it.

"I fired my nurse," he finally said. "She didn't know how to keep her hands to herself." It was while he had been sleeping, or jacked up on meds, that his gracious nurse did more than she was hired to do.

Raising a fine brow, Neji gave the man an incredulous look. "Your nurse..." He couldn't even finish the sentence.

"Yes."

"And you didn't notify the authorities?"

Scoffing, Itachi moved away from the sink, and scratched his wrist a little. "As if they were going to believe that story. I handled it on my own and fired her. End of story."

As if they were going to believe that story. He had a point, Neji noted. So Itachi fired his nurse because she was molesting him. That seemed like a justifiable reason. Theoretically, Neji was aware that women could also be predators, but he had never heard about it happening to anyone that he knew. Still, the man could easily hire someone else, or enlist the aid of his family. From his understanding, Itachi had a lot of cousins. Couldn't one of them help him recover? Obviously, there was more to the story. The fact that Itachi was living in a penthouse downtown instead of in the Uchiha compound was a clear indicator that something was amiss.

Again, none of that was Neji's business. However, the opportunist in him couldn't help but to see Itachi's predicament as a good thing. For him, at least.

The cogs and gears in Neji's mind started to turn. "I believe I can be of some assistance to you. In fact, we could help each other."

Itachi saw the mischievous glint in the teenager's pale eyes. He knew that look all too well. Cold, calculating, and duplicitous. It was the look of an opportunist. Apparently, he had also misjudged Neji during their first encounter. He didn't pick up on how desperate the younger male was. Desperate for what, exactly? One could only guess.

"I'm listening."

TBC