You, Always {Uchiha Sasuke}

Sparks to Fireworks

        Shit.

        After the tenth call, Sasuke still wasn't able to pick up, driving and motivating the brunette in her tight kimono and loose sandals to speed through the street while kicking herself out of breath.

        Did he really think she wouldn't find out? Was he planning to do something reckless again?

        All she could think of is Sasuke trying to make another horrifying attempt in harming himself. The idea of it scared her as she sprinted faster than lightning strike, not letting a second waste. She didn't bother taking an elevator and ran through a flight of stairs up to the floor he lives, appearing by his doorstep.

        "Sasuke!" she pounded on his door numerous times in a panic. Her fists hit the hollow wood loudly that may disturb his neighbors. "Sasuke!! Open the door!"

        After a couple of seconds, the door was replaced by someone who opened it urgently but immediately got punched by Ayu's powerful swings. She suddenly stopped and finally opened her eyes to see an injured Uchiha clutching his bruised head.

        "I didn't hear you open the door! Are you okay?!" she panicked while trying to appease his needs by smoothing the bruises she made.

        But he gave a glare in reply and rubbed his cheek in annoyance with the back of his hand. "You stupid idiot. You woke me up from my nap just so you can hit me?!" he scolded.

        Her head hung shamefully by his bark. "I'm sorry. I thought you were..." Then she stopped abruptly as realization dawned her.

        He only looked at her with irritated eyes. "You thought what?"

        Sasuke watched as her lips pressed together at the thought of him killing himself; alone in this apartment. A rush of sadness came over her as her brown eyes aimed down at the ground.

        "I was worried." Then he lost his expression by her words. "You lied."

        It took a few seconds for him to process her vague statement, and eventually he turned his head away. "How did you know?"

        "That doesn't matter," Ayu said harshly but she kept down the anger within her. She clutched her fists tight as her gaze looked like betrayal, which it shocked the raven boy.

        It just made him question even more as to why she would get herself involved more than she should. Why must she care so much about him when there are a lot of things that can occupy her? Why does she always have to think about him?

        Sasuke didn't answer right away but he stayed hesitant and lowered his solemn eyes at her silent form, finally realizing his importance to her.

        "Ayu... I'm not going to do it again, I told you," he promised but there was still something lingering on his face. "I just wanted to be alone. I didn't mean for you to worry," he muttered softly.

        "Did you really want to be alone?" Once Ayu looked up again with shaking eyes, she can manage to see the slight desperation over his profile; that he needed comfort. She saw through him.

        So he answered, "No."

        And suddenly tears streamed down her face that disheartened Sasuke the most. It was the relief that made her believe there is a tinge of hope in him - that he is the same Sasuke she remembered. He didn't lose all of himself. She was glad that she dropped everything and ran the way here.

        Deeply moved by her facial expression, the weight of his hand fell on her head, half patting her gently and roughly. Ayu eyed him carefully as she saw that his hypnotized face of her expression as a slight glow rose to his cheeks.

        "You seriously need to stop crying for me, Ayu," he said flatly. "It's starting to really bug me to see you like this."

        She was wordless of his confession as it stopped the tears from flowing her vision. What does he mean by that?

        Sighing, Sasuke placed his hand over his forehead before walking inside to his toasty apartment complex, obviously avoiding her gaze. "It's getting cold outside. You should come in since you came all this way for nothing."

        Surprised at his offer, Ayu felt herself smiling cheerfully and nodded, following him to the welcoming living room that said new year's all over. Sasuke brewed hot tea for themselves in the kitchen as the brunette suggested to step outside of his patio door and stare at the joyful city below them, watching as the New Year's countdown began.

        "Next time, you should try calling before showing up here," Sasuke lectured, watching her roll her eyes.

        "I did."

        "Or perhaps, you shouldn't bang on people's doors, you ba-ba," he mentioned which she grew red.

        "Why do you always call me that?"

        "Call you what?"

        "That," she pointed. "What does 'ba-ba' even mean?"

        Sasuke only stayed silent for a brief second, but then he pinched a good amount of Ayu's cheek and shook it violently.

        "Ow!" She whined and then felt her cheek being released. "Why did you do that?!"

        "They're like bubbles." Ayu arched her brows attentively. So he continued, "Your cheeks. Baburu. Ba-ba for short."

        It must have sound terrible that way he explained it so carelessly like that, but it didn't appear like that to her. Instead she was flattered and stunned as if it was a compliment to her.

        This was the first time that Sasuke ever noticed her face - that she was blushing under the dim moon light.

        The chafed atmosphere stopped when sounds of explosion echoed as the two caught fireworks sprouting in the sky above their heads. Infatuated by the bright lights, Ayu beamed at the sparkling colors rippling in space. She gaped in awe.

        It was a new year.

        "That one was pretty!" she darted her finger at a particular yellow firework but Sasuke gave his infamous 'hn', uninterested to watch.

        But he side glanced at the girl beside him, looking amazed and dazzled by the whitening light flashing her face. With his palm over his mouth while he leaned on the rail, Sasuke couldn't deny the content seeping to his heart when Ayu smiled at him warmly after another firework cracking.

        He didn't notice that she looked awfully... adorable like that, not sure if it was the touch of make-up that made her look youthful or her girly kimono she wore. But he felt somewhat different because of that thought - to the point where he was confused.

        "I should text Satoshi," she suddenly announced.

        Then his admiring impression of her went down the drain, shaking his head. Ayu pulled out her cell, ready to text away but she found an unread message appearing on her screen. So she opened it.

I wish you a happy New Year from your beloved boyfriend! (~￣▽￣)~

Thinking of you while I watch the fireworks tonight, and you'll be the first person I think of this year ≧◡≦

Hope you and the others are doing well! I love you, Ayu! Forever and always (╯3╰)

        Grinning at the brunette boy's message, Ayu immediately replied back with similar words and giggled to herself.

        "You look so creepy when you do that." Sasuke disapproved her abrupt laugh by narrowing his bothered eyes at her. "By the way, where's Naruto and Sakura?"

        Then he saw her face froze when she heard those names, imagining the two still waiting for her at the festival with her oversized panda at a cold bench. She was about to tear her hair off.

        "I completely forgot about them...!"