"You've been distant." A soft feminine voice spoke to her counterpart.

A cold silence took over the room. Not a word was heard nor said; although their racing heartbeats could have been the only thing pounding in one another's ears.

"SAY SOMETHING!"

A visible flinch wasn't the only thing that caught its way to her eyes when her booming voice interrupted the tense silent treatment he was giving her, but also a slight and short shock was imbedded onto his stone-cold features.

"Yeah." His masculine voice replied--faintly.

"That's it? So you're not going to tell me!? What the hell am I to you, why do you think it's okay to leave me behind, in the dark like I'm nothing!?"

"I'm sorry."

Her glossy eyes glared over his tall form, displeased with his lack of response. "It's always 'I'm sorry,' I don't want an apology, I want an explanation!" 

"I know. I-"

She had cut his sentence short. "Let me guess--it's her isn't it." Her voice softened.

She knew she was right, but she was tired of guessing, she wanted to hear the words from him. She needed answers, not half-assed replies.

"Yes."

Her turquoise colored eyes widened as she watched from a short distance, his head turning away from her slowly, almost as if he didn't want to see the pain in her watery orbs. The simple fact that she was not only right, but that she knew she was right, twisted her stomach in a way that was almost indescribable. 

There was more than just pain in her eyes. She felt betrayed. 

The dying butterflies in her stomach, left a terrible ache in the pit of it, forcing her to ask the only revolting and backstabbing question she so dares to muster.

"Do you like her Sasuke?"

"What!?"

"DO YOU LIKE HINATA, SASUKE!"

"NO!"

"Then why? Why are you chosing her over me!?"

"I'm not chosing anybody over anyone! I'm putting first, what I think is a priority in the situation."

She clenched her fists tightly. "So, you're saying--that our relationship isn't a priority." Spitting the words out like venomous poison, she stared angrily at the ground.

Sakura was prone to overreacting, making something microscopic into an ordeal, and even "crying over spilt milk"; but she knew for a fact that her ears were not deceiving her. 

"That's not what I meant."

"Oh really? Then how else is it supposed to sound Sasuke, because that sentence sure as hell seems like it's meant that way."

"Hinata is like family! I have to be there for her."

"What about me, your girlfriend?! Why put family first if you can't do anything for them?!"

"I can do something for her!"

A loud bang echoed over his shouting. When he looked down slightly, he noticed Sakura's fist made contact with the wooden table next to her, leaving a dent in it.

"SHE'S IN PRISON SASUKE!"

His breath hitched.

Everything paused as if the every word needed to sink deep within their minds-or rather, his mind.

"She killed someone damnit! Do you understand, murdered someone, and for what?! And you mean to tell me that that bitch is more important than me!"

Sasuke stalked his way towards her, his dark eyes never leaving hers, but one thing was evidently clear:

He was pissed.

"Get out."

"Excuse me?"

"I SAID OUT!"

She flinched in her spot.

"because one thing's for sure, if you were in her shoes I would do anything to help get you out! Call her a bitch again, and I'll be the biggest bitch you've ever known."

Tears finally made its way down Sakura's face; after holding them back for so long, they were bound to escape their way from her whirlpool of emotions. She never gotten him this angry before, and it scared her.

It scared her because she wasn't sure if she put a damper on their relationship or not. She hurried out of the said Uchiha's household and left, slamming the door behind her.

The raven sighed.

He slumped his body in the chair that resided next to him at the table, heaving a heavy sigh for the second time, with his hands in his face. He peaked through the space between his fingers, staring gloomily at the imperfect dent his girlfriend left in the furniture. He grazed the indentation with his right hand, messaging his temples with the other.

'An imperfect dent' he thought. "--like the one I left in our relationship." now whispering solely to himself; a quiet whisper, that was barely audible to his own ears.

Wiping his left hand over his face a bit roughly, he said for the last time to himself, hoping his sorrowful thoughts could reach her. 

'I'm sorry.'

~*~

"I got an 'A' this time!" The blonde shouted in glee.

After having to study almost all day on weekends, and even getting some tutoring help form Neji once in a while during the week, Naruto was finally able to get his first 'A'.

Like Neji had planned, after finishing high school, he's been working more lately, but also put in some time to still help Naruto any chance he had. 

Neji hmphed in satisfaction. "Obviously thanks to me." He bragged.

Although he was bragging, he actually felt proud of Naruto. Folding his arms like a proud elder brother/father, he couldn't believe he was feeling the slightest bit pleased with the younger male standing in front of him. The very thought was imperceptible to him, which made him cringe a bit in disgust, hoping to drag the feeling away the second it was there.

Sasuke on the other hand, standing impatiently next to the front door, glared over at the two with his arms over his chest; rolling his eyes after the sentimental moment they were having.

And also like they planned, they all chosen a day to meet Hinata. Naruto was able to get off of work, and they were on their way to see her.

"Are we leaving or not?" 

"Jeez Sasuke, what got your panties in a twist." The blonde chuckled at his best friend.

"For one, don't ever say shit like that to me again. And two, you're taking too long because of some stupid test."

"Okay, calm down. You're in a worse mood than usual." He mumbled.

After hearing the blonde's words, he decided to lighten up the mood a bit. If the atmosphere were to become awkward because of him, he would be even more agitated. After all, Naruto wasn't the one he got into an argument with.

"Or maybe you're stalling because you're too afraid to see Hinata--I don't know, I could be wrong." Sasuke said sarcastically.

Then the dark, haired raven smirk when he saw the dark red blush expand over Naruto's cheeks.

"I'm not stalling jerk!"

"Why are you so defensive, I was just stating the obvious-I mean stating my opinion."

"Hey!-"

"Are you two children done now." The oldest of the three interrupted with a  roll of his eyes.

Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other then glared at Neji.

"Children!?"

"I said what I said, now I'll be waiting for you guys outside when you're done playing."

The two younger males groaned, and all three exited the apartment for their leave.

~*~

"Although, it's farther away from the city, it's surprisingly closer to Konoha." Neji explained, after their three hour drive of torture.

Naruto sighed heavily. "You say that as if we didn't survive almost killing each other." he spat.

Sasuke folded his arms over his chest. "You two really piss me off, I could never be in a car with you guys again." Slamming his car door, he walked forward towards the entrance.

"What about on the way back!?" 

After hearing no response, Naruto shrugged, and followed after him quickly, while Neji did the same.

They were greeted by two, huge glass doors and inside were metal detectors and a security guard.

The man was tall, masculine from the thighs up, and wore shades although they were indoors. He was fitted in an all brown uniform, and a small cap to go with, covering the majority of his raven hair, although some strands successfully seeped from underneath the cap. Not having to see his eyes somewhat made him slightly more intimidating, and Naruto, staring painstakingly intense at the guard, twitched in irritation when he held tightly on the taser in his belt. Sasuke set his car keys on the table next to the detector and walked through without a second glance or thought, taking the keys after. Neji noticed Naruto's stare down with the security man, elbowed him on his side rather roughly, and shoved Naruto through the metal detector.  

 Neji let out a fake cough, "Sorry about that." he stated a bit embarrassingly. 

The security guard nodded his head, loosening his grip on his belt, and watched them continue straight into the building.  

"Could you not be stupid for one second?" Neji scolded the blonde.

"He was going to use his taser on me for no reason!" 

He ignored him and once they gotten through another set of glass doors, a small cramped waiting area awaited them. Neji walked up to the receptionist at the desk, smiling gently at her as he said his greetings. While Neji was talking to the woman up ahead Naruto glanced around the room. There were two doors for the male and female bathrooms, and a short hallway next to it, leading, once again, forward. He guessed that's where they would be going to see Hinata. He did a lot of wondering before they had all agreed to come and meet her today. He wondered if she was safe; worrying about whether she's getting beat up and tortured, or even other things he seen happening to prisoners when he watched a few movies to learn more about "jailtime." He just figured that they were all made up, and highly over exaggerated to twist the truths of what it's like to be under the government's complete capture. He wasn't really sure what to expect, but he did expect Hinata to come out of her cell or isolated room covered in bruises, restricted in her handcuffs; eyes dull and the most horrid of eyebags one can imagine. He pictured her hair in a disarray, oily and badly tangled. He also imagined Hinata in the most brightest and baggiest of orange jumpsuits he could think of; cringing slightly at the use of one of his favorite colors, understanding why the color orange was sickening to most people.

Again--maybe it's just overly exaggerated. He had to remind himself. 

As easily as his thoughts came to him, he quickly dismissed everything. 

A second later he felt a jabbing pain to his side again. Turing to face the culprit, Sasuke was the one who hit him this time, and he was glaring at his dumbfounded face.

"Are you even listening you idiot?" his sharp voice whispered/shouted at him.

Naruto glanced dumbly at the faces staring at him. He could easily tell Neji and Sasuke were annoyed, but the smile the receptionist gave him made him unsure if whether or not she thought of him as an idiot as well.  

"What?" 

"I need to see some form of id sir." 

"Oh--sorry." 

Scratching the back of his head, Naruto pulled out the school id Neji forced and made sure he brought with him. 

The woman behind the desk punched in a set of keys, scanning each id, and staring at her computer screen before sayin that Hinata would meet with them shortly and to go through the hallway and that there will be another lady waiting inside. 

The three followed each other in tow, one behind the other.

After their short journey through the hallway, they were face to face with a huge glass wall, and on the other side were other prisoners and their visitors talking to them. They entered and no one really paid them any mind or attention, since each had their own guests to pay attention to. 

Neji, yet again being the adult here, walked up to the lady at the counter, who in turn given him their table number, the small plaque reading the number eight, to which they went to the designated table. 

Naruto and Sasuke were the only nervous ones, now that they actually made it inside, and were finally getting to meet her for the first time since her imprisonment. 

Naruto was practically bouncing around in his seat, while Sasuke rested his arms on the table, and Neji folded his out of irritation towards Naruto. 

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"My thoughts are coming back." Naruto stated worriedly. 

Now Sasuke turned to glare at him too. "What?!" they both asked annoyed. Since they had no idea what the he was babbling about, they were naturally confused. 

"My god, it's like taking care of a child." Neji groaned, putting a hand to his face, rubbing his eyes and temples as if he was indeed a father taking care of a tiresome child. 

"Are you guys done now ?"

Snapping their heads in the direction of the voice, they stared at the person that's been on their minds all day. She stared amusingly at them all, as her previous statement was the opposite of what she wanted to happen. 

"Hinata." Naruto whispered to himself, going unheard by the others. 

She took her seat at the only empty chair in front of the table, sitting next to Neji and across from Sasuke and Naruto. 

Neji said his fair share of greetings, but the two teens on the other hand stared tongue-tied at her.

"Jeez, thanks for the warm hello you guys." she stated, trying to break the awkward silence.

A second after, and Sasuke was next to greet Hinata, giving her a hug just as Neji did when he greeted her. Naruto waved awkwardly towards her, which didn't stop her from giving him a welcoming smile. 

It seemed like before he had so much to say, but at this very moment, it looks like Neji and Sasuke were doing most of the talking.