First, I'd like to apologize. I wasn't able to complete this story. There was a time when this fandom was very dear to me but things change. I still love this pairing but I find it hard to write for them these days. I did want to give readers closure for this story, however. I hope this will work.
Chapter 12 deals with Neji opening up to Itachi about the abuse he endured from his uncle Hiashi. It's a very heart-wrenching moment, of course. Feeling as though Neji is in danger if he stays in the city, Itachi and Neji agree to run away together. Yes, Fugaku is helping to shed light on the horrors of the Hyuuga clan but Neji is so damaged that he doesn't even want to stick around for that. He finally has a way out and a chance at happiness so he takes it. Growing up, Itachi had a close relationship with Madara. Unlike what people think, Madara never abused anyone. He was just considered strange because of his ideologies; he supported same-sex love, he was a feminist and other cools things(very unlike how he is in the series because he has misogynist moments but yay fanfiction!). So, Itachi and Neji flee to Madara's home. The man lives alone and is known as a recluse these days. When Madara sees Neji, he is reminded of Hizashi.
A flashback is shown of a young Hizashi hanging out at a hotel bar trying to get an older man to take him to his room. This takes place before Hizashi meets Fugaku. Madara takes Hizashi up to his room, but it's not for sex. He only does so so no other older man will take advantage of Hizashi. Instead of sex, they just talk all night and share stories. Madara teaches Hizashi a lot in that one night and Hizashi develops feelings for Madara even though he knows they can't be together. Madara remains a sort of role model for Hizashi throughout the years.
Back in the present, Neji and Madara talk. Neji learns more about his father and Itachi learns more about his father's relationship with Neji's father. Madara says that Itachi and Neji are soulmates and all of that.
Back with Fugaku: He finally learns the truth about Madara and how Madara was never the bad guy based on what he reads in Hizashi journals. He also realizes that he was wrong to assume that Madara and Hizashi were romantically involved (this is the event that causes Fugaku and Hizashi to lose touch. At a party, Hiashi had raped Hizashi and afterward, Madara comforted Hizashi and tried to urge Hizashi to tell someone. Fugaku walked in on a naked Hizashi whispering with Madara and he drew his own conclusions. All of this is revealed in a flashback)
This misunderstanding caused Fugaku to act brashly and have Madara kicked out of the clan. The chapter pretty much ends here. Because I can't remember scene for scene for the other chapters from here on out, I will just say what happens with each character and tie it all together in the end.
Tokuma: Hiashi learns that Neji has runaway so he has Tokuma tortured and lets Tokuma call Neji and tell him that if he doesn't come back, he's going to die. With the help of Shisui and other Uchiha members, he's rescued. Shisui and Tokuma have sex but they don't end up together for a reason I will explain later. Tokuma leaves his wife, leaves the compound and finds happiness outside the compound.
Sasuke and Sai: This takes a while but Sasuke and Sai end up together. Sai helps Sasuke overcome his depression and hatred toward Itachi. They continue therapy together and eventually go to the same university. Itachi and Sasuke take time rebuilding their relationship. Sasuke realizes that his feelings for Itachi were not what they seemed. That was just the time when his sexuality was awakening and Itachi was the only person he was very close to. He and Itachi talk about this and all is well. They even do therapy together sometimes.
Hiashi: A lot of things happen and Fugaku and Shikaku work hard to gather enough people to testify against everything Hiashi has done, even murdering Hizashi. Madara even returns(after Fugaku apologizes) and is prepared to testify but nothing can be done without Neji and the lawyers Hiashi hires basically torment all of the victims and it goes how most abuse trials go. This happens this way because Neji and Itachi are still out of town because Neji is afraid to go back. He gets to walk away from the courthouse. Mikoto slaps him in front of everyone and it's epic.
Neji: Guilts eats him up. He and Itachi return. But he stays with Itachi's family until they figure out how to take Hiashi down. But Neji knows that no matter what they do, it won't work. So, he sneaks out of the house and returns to the Hyuuga compound. In his room, he sets up a webcam and does a live broadcast where he talks about his abuse by his uncle. At the same time, Hiashi bursts in the room. He's so pissed about everything that he doesn't even notice the camera. Neji allows his uncle to rape him, on camera and Hiashi basically admits to everything, killing Hizashi, raping Hizashi for years, and how fucked up the clan is. A lot of Neji's friends see it (Lee and Tenten and Hinata) and they call the cops and rush to the compound.
Everyone basically rushes to the compound so by the time it's over, they're rioting outside and demanding Hiashi let Neji go and turn himself in. Hiashi tries to kill Neji, but the branch members come to Neji's aid and all of them beat the crap out of Hiashi and have him running outside of the compound with tattered clothes. The entire city knows he's a monster.
Itachi is there to comfort Neji and all of that good stuff. Neji informs the clan about the Senju laws and he plays a major role in getting them all sorted in the "real world" and they begin to see him as their real clan head. But Neji just wants a normal life and gets that! Neji writes a book using his father's journal and uses the funds to help Branch members get on their feet and adjust to the real world.
Itachi: His relationship with his parents and brother is mended. He convinces his father to let him live his life how he wants. Fugaku agrees because Shisui offers to rule as clan head in Itachi's stead because he's fit for it. That gives Sasuke and Itachi the opportunity to be themselves. Shisui is happy because he feels more like family because Fugaku gave him something that only a son should have. Madara also helped in convincing everyone to agree to this major change. Itachi has Madara brought back to the clan and Madara is so happy because even in canon he really does love his clan(even if he has a fucked up way of showing that in canon). Itachi and Neji move to a different city together, get an apartment, and legit live happily ever after. When they adopt a child(after they get married) years and years later. Lee is a godparent!
Once a year, on Hizashi's birthday, they return to his grave to pay their respects.
Fugaku and Mikoto: They assist in reshaping the Hyuuga clan. They also work endlessly to ensure every abusive member in the clan is dealt with. Shikaku helps them. They have a monument built at the clan in Hizashi's honor. They become better parents to their sons and become the adoptive parents to Neji like they were meant to be. Every holiday all of them spend time together(even Sai comes around too)
Hiashi gets his ass kicked in prison. He tries to kill himself but fails and he rots there for the rest of his life. He loses his mind like 6 years in and has hallucinations of Hizashi and they torment his sick ass just like he deserves :)
Hinata becomes the clan head but the Hyuuga clan isn't the same. Some of the branch members refuse to live outside the compound because it's all they know and since all the bad apples are taken out, it's safer to stay there so Hinata is just there to keep the good history of the clan intact and overlook all the remaining members. Hanabi suffers from depression after learning what her father did but Hinata and Hanabi see a therapist together.
The entire story is basically about how a parent's actions can have a major effect on their child and how abuse victims can be some of the strongest people despite what they've been through. Neji started out as a selfish and mean and bitter person but he develops into someone to be admired. There was a time where he left the clan behind but he came back and he didn't abandon them anymore. He made sure they got the help they needed before he led a happy, healthy life with Itachi. Thanks to Neji, Itachi learned to spread his wings and fly(hence the title). Honestly, they helped each other fly.
If there is anything or anyone that I missed, I apologize. I haven't thought of this story in years but it came to mind randomly today. If there is something you wanted to know please fill free to message me and I will respond when I can!
Thank you!