Konnichi wa!

Okay people, unlike my other stories, this one and my other newest will not be updated as often.

Mainly because I don't know where the (BEEP) this is going! XD

But yeah, it's after Sasuke returns from Orochimaru, and it's a NejiSasu.

NejiSasu 8D What's not to like?

I hope ya like it! Read and review!

"Uchiha Sasuke is now under your care, Hiashi-san," the fourth Hokage told the head of the huge household, the dark-headed teen at her side.

Hiashi nodded.

"Understood Hokage-sama," the other replied. Tsunade nodded.

"Very well then. Try to behave, Uchiha." With that, she departed, leaving Sasuke on the Hyuuga's doorstep.

Wingless Flight

Chapter One – Invisible Wings

"You can't be serious, Hiashi-sama," Neji deadpanned, exchanging glares with the Uchiha as he entered the room after Hiashi.

"I'm afraid I am deathly serious, Neji," the older replied. "Since you are an ANBU officer – and a very talented one at that – the Hokage has deemed you suitable to guard Uchiha and make sure he doesn't do anything… foolish."

"Oh come on, Hyuuga-san. I know you hate me but there's no reason to act like I'm any sort of inferior," Sasuke said playfully, looking completely all right with being shoved into a room belonging to an entire clan that hated his guts.

Neji glared at the Uchiha. Dammit – why him? He hated the stupid traitor.

But then again, not many people didn't.

He forced himself to calm down.

"Very well, Hiashi-sama." He stood gracefully. Sasuke flashed him a flirtatious, mocking smile.

"After you, Neji-kun." Neji shot him a glare and went passed him, Sasuke trailing after leisurely, hands behind his back as he walked.

The Uchiha grinned as he walked.

This is going to be fun.

A WHILE LATER…

The two were outside – on the grounds of the Hyuuga Manor, lying in the grass.

Well – Sasuke was, lying with his upper torso shaded by a tree and the rest of him in the noon sun. Neji was sitting stiffly to the side, trying to force down his anger.

DAMMIT WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS? BARGING INTO OUR LIVES LIKE THIS –

"You're going to explode if you keep everything inside like that, you know." Neji glared at Sasuke, who had spoken, his half-lidded black eyes peering through the leaves to the sky, arms crossed behind his head.

"And what do you care?" Neji snapped.

"Because that exact same thing happened to me." Neji blinked. "That's what made me betray the village. I never told anyone about my brother – no one but Naruto – and he was too stupid to figure out what it meant." Sasuke's eyes narrowed further for a moment and then they closed. "I never really intended to go to Orochimaru. Just… after I lost my fight against Gaara and the Shukaku… it just… sort of happened. I exploded, and I left." He opened his eyes again, never once looking at Neji.

"Do you regret it?" The Hyuuga asked. Sasuke smiled grimly.

"That's a harder question to answer than you might think," he replied softly. "Because I went, I got the power I needed to finally kill off Itachi, and in my leaving Sakura and Naruto found their inner strength, but on the flip side of that, I started a war that killed thousands, and I nearly sent the only place I ever called home up in smoke. Whether I regret it or not…" he closed his eyes again. "It's hard to decide."

"I see…" Neji murmured.

"Heh – no – you don't." Neji shot him a look, but found a blank face looking up at the sky. "No one ever could – unless they went through EXACTLY what I did." The black orbs closed and the eyebrows furrowed. "You might be able to understand WHAT happened, but no one except me and my brother will know exactly WHY and HOW."

"And are you proud of that?" Neji snapped bitterly. Since when did the Uchiha become such a sage?

"No – I'm not proud of that. A part of me wishes that others know what had happened – every detail, every emotion – but at the same time… maybe it'sbetter if no one else knows." He smiled grimly once more. "Maybe it IS better if I take my secrets to the grave."

Neji looked away.

It was silent now.

Uchiha… he's grown a lot smarter.

He glanced at Sasuke's throat – where the swirling symbols of a Chakra seal lay tattooed upon the pale skin – the red standing out in dark contrast.

(LIKE BLOOD)

He knew similar markings lay on the Uchiha's wrists, stomach and ankles. If he closed his eyes – he could see them.

If Neji were to challenge him in an all out match – right now… Neji didn't want to think about it. Though he had a sincere advantage over the Uchiha, Sasuke unable to use his Chakra even for the Sharingan –

Neji would probably still lose.

His fists clenched.

Damned Uchiha! He has the power of a god!

"Neji…"

A hand was on his head, gently running through the strands. The prodigy bolted up.

"Get off me!"

Sasuke took a step back, his face blank but yet searching, his arms limp at his sides.

"Your eyes, Neji."

It took a moment for Neji to realize that his Byakugon had activated without his knowing, and he shut his eyes, disengaging his bloodline limit.

Sasuke said nothing – didn't provoke him or question him as he would have two years ago – ever since he got back from an eight year session in Sound, making the present day ten years ever since he left.

The twenty-two-year-old was wise – perhaps even more so than the Hyuuga prodigy.

Neji chanced a glance his way.

What he saw, he couldn't explain.

For one moment, Neji could have sworn he saw pitch black wings, sprouting out of the Uchiha's back and shielding him as he sat, looking down sleepily at the grass. The sun shone through the leaves above him, and Neji could see the rays as they poked through, making shadow and light play across the Uchiha's features.

For one moment, Sasuke looked beautiful.

Then Neji blinked, and the image was gone.

"You're going to explode if you keep everything inside of you like that, you know…"

Sasuke's words echoed in his head, and Neji shook his head darkly.

I don't give a damned about what the Uchiha says! I don't!

Sasuke watched him from the corner of his eye.

Stupid Hyuuga. He should know better than to lock everything inside. Because every time he does… His eyes glanced at the curve of Neji's back. Those invisible wings… that I see… every negative thought he has… a feather is stripped away.

Before his eyes, he saw a pure white feather gripped by an invisible hand and yanked violently away from the wing as Neji's fists clenched, and Sasuke's imagination let him see the entire wing being torn ruthlessly apart.

He's destroying his own future. Sasuke thought as he watched, not even trying to cover up that fact that he really was staring at the Hyuuga. When those wings become bare – he'll be left with no way out. He can't fly without wings. His eyes narrowed. Every feather is a dream he carries – we fly on the wings of our dreams. By all rights, mine should be stripped bare, but… he smiled softly. I still have… a lot of hopes for myself.

He stood up.

"Neji."

The soft utterance of his name made Neji look Sasuke's way. The Uchiha was still looking at the ground, but there was something different about his eyes.

"Let's go."

End Chapter One – Invisible Wings

Like I said – don't know where this is going. XD

Invisible wings… I'm even confusing myself. XD

And you know what? I found out that Haku's birthday is on January 9th – same as me!

And I love Haku! 8D

So cool!

Please read and review!

Ja ne!

DDB