Close Your Eyes, and We'll Meet Again. [Uchiha Sasuke Oneshot]

Close your eyes, and someday, we might meet in our own world.

~~~

Silver white hair hid most of her face, as she walked down the merry streets of Konoha. It was a sunny December morning.She had no idea why she was out in a chilly day. Maybe she just wanted to.

Maybe it brought back old memories.

"You never pay." The young girl said, pouting at the raven haired boy.

"Whatever, Akiko." Sasuke snapped at the girl who was sending him a death glare.

"Fine." Akiko said, reaching in her tote made by her grandma, pulling out an embroidered wallet. As she was ready to slap eighty dollars on the counter of Ichiraku's, she saw a pale hand handing the money over.

"I-...I said I would pay, Sasuke!" Akiko said in surprise.

"I'm not that mean." Sasuke said, rolling his eyes in her direction.

She unglued her tongue from the top of her mouth, and opened her mouth. But she was lost for words.

"Um, thanks." She responded, smiling softly.

"But since you're paying...one more Ichiraku's deluxe ramen please!"

Which only caused the Uchiha to groan.

The white haired girl smiled sadly.

Akiko wasn't a prominent girl, she would always be the cheerful, sometimes naive, stubborn girl. She also had a quirky sense of humor. No one knew why Sasuke always hung around her.

Maybe it was her humor.

Her friendliness?

Her smarts?

It had been a popular topic around the village for sometime. The happy, lucky girl and the cold, mysterious boy. Some how those just didn't fit in the same category.

Sometimes even she wondered why. She tried to think of logical reasons, and even tried to ask Sasuke once.

But after several futile attempts, Akiko decided just to treasure the times she had with him, and just have fun.

She let a sigh escape from her lips, but not before hearing a familiar voice shout:

"Akiko-chan!"

She smiled before turning her head. Her white hair swished around, swinging across her back.

"Hey Ino-chan!" Akiko said, smiling.

"Ooh, peaches! Can I steal one?" Ino asked. She was standing in her family's flower shop. Akiko loved being here. It felt like being in a field of daisies, lilies, roses, and other flowers.

"Hey Yamanaka!" A gruffy voice said.

"Oh, hey. Just put those there." Ino said, helping the delivery guy.

"What are those?" Akiko asked, pointing at the heavy boxes.

"Just some...tulips and hibiscus." She replied. The blonde plucked a hibuscus from the bunch, and handed it to Akiko.

"For you." She said, snatching a peach in Akiko's shopping bag.

"Thanks. I gotta run now."

"Oh, don't forget. I know you forget these after Sasuke left. Tonight's new year eve. Remember?"

Oh.

"Right. Um, thanks for reminding me." Akiko giggled, and waved goodbye.

It was two years now. He was gone for two years. Two years has passed, and surprisingly she survived.

Part of her told her to forget him. It was just that night she decided to tell him her feelings about him.

But she never got the chance.

The stubborn part of her believed that he would return someday.

Akiko didn't cry when she found out he was gone.

She was just simply stunned. After all, she did see this coming.

Often times she found herself looking at her mother and father, their loving looks they gave each other, how they talked so easily and cared about each other.

She knew that her and Sasuke would never be that. Even if she dreamed as much as she wanted to, she knew that it wasn't real.

Unlocking the door to her empty apartment, she looked inside it. It felt lonely, without her mother stopping by, cooking her dinner; without her father scolding her about being more organized; without her old teammates, coming over to tell her about new missions.

Without Sasuke, standing emotionlessly, staring at nothing in particular.

~~~

It was rather cold outside that night.

She hugged herself and wrapped her coat tightly around herself, trying to stay warm.

Christmas lights used in Christmas were now used again, people were selling hot chocolate in stands, happy chatter, smiling faces, and families and friends filled the entire village.

Akiko felt like an outsider, standing by herself.

Just then, the crowd began counting down to the New Year and she stopped in her tracks to join in.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

Her eyes filled with tears, as she whirred.

"Seven, six, five,"

It was the end of another year without you,

"Four, three."

But the beginning of a new one.

"Two,"

She closed her eyes.

"One."

I miss you.

"Happy New Year, Sasuke." Her trembling whisper getting lost in the merriment around her. Fireworks lit up the sky. Families hugged. Couples kissed. Friends laughed.

A few meters away, stood a raven haired man. He was partially covered by the crowd around them.

A smirk was on his face.

"Sasuke...I knew you would come." She whispered, smiling.

But the lids of her eyes were still glued shut, emotional tears spilling out of the flesh, streaking her skin, reflecting the fireworks and bright lights.

So close together, but so far away from happiness.