Happy belated birthday, Sasuke-teme! Even though I don’t think you deserve anything, really. But since everyone’s doing it, I might as well join. Theme is AU and musical (every character has a talent in music), and there’s OCs and light SasuNaruSasu. Enjoy, bastard.
‘Say, teme, what do you want for your birthday? It’s tomorrow, right?’
Sasuke and Naruto were at the school gates waiting for transportation to come. They had just finished a late club meeting, so sight of other people were scarce at that time. Naruto inched closer to his friend, nagging at his ear. ‘Come on, there must be something you’d like. I’d do anything. Best friends, right?’
‘No, thank you, dobe.’ Sasuke looked like he didn’t care one bit about his birthday at all. He only stared off to the side, as if finding something else in the distance much more interesting than the current conversation he was stuck in.
‘Don’t be such a stuck-up. Come on, tell me.’ Naruto was starting to lean against him, which made Sasuke uncomfortable. His breath was against the other’s neck, just below hi ear, and it was quite nerving. ‘There’s gotta be something.’
‘Get off me.’ Sasuke shrugged him off, but the blonde only clung onto him even tighter than his previous attempt. He had his trademark grin on his face, giving himself dimples and showing his scars off in a way.
‘You do this every year. Why can’t you change? It’s your sweet sixteen, after all.’
Suddenly, a woman came around the corner while holding her violin case over her shoulder like some heavy load. ‘Sasuke-nii, Itachi-nii is waiting for us at the side gate!’
‘I’m going to keep bothering you on Facebook and Twitter if I have to, teme!’ Naruto exclaimed as Sasuke left with his cousin of sorts, Daisuke.
Itachi waved politely from the driver’s seat as the two younger teenagers crawled into the back seat while greeting him. ‘How’s your day?’
Sasuke only hummed in reply while the other chirped an ‘Okay’. Soon after Itachi ignited the engine and started driving for home, Daisuke turned to face Sasuke with an irritated expression. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to celebrate your birthday, Sasuke-nii?’
‘It’s a waste of money and time. I’d rather study in my room.’
She glared half-heartedly. ‘Your attitude’s disappointing as usual, nii-san. There’s a reason for birthday parties.’
‘Don’t make me break your violin, imoto-san.’
She scowled, and muttered, ‘Fine. Leave all the persuading to your koi.’
Sasuke twitched. ‘He’s not my boyfriend!’ he roared.
‘Daisuke-imoto, we can continue this after we reach home.’ Itachi smiled while looking at them through the rearview mirror. He only saw Sasuke staring out the window with an even gloomier expression, while Daisuke only smiled back apologetically, whispering ‘gomen’ to him.
There was another club meeting on Sasuke’s birthday, and for some reason he feels dissatisfied.
‘I do not care about birthdays.’ He kept repeating that phrase to himself for the whole morning, to the point majority thought him crazy, some of them even deciding to just skip their birthday greetings to him.
Daisuke only gave him meaningless glances in the classes they shared.
Naruto didn’t speak to him. He obviously had something planning in that brain of his, anyone could tell. Whenever Sasuke looked at him, he would only smile, giggle giddily, then either ignore him or leave immediately. It was like some shy middle school girl trying to control herself from going into full fan-girl mode.
Sometimes, Sasuke would wonder if Naruto had planned another surprise birthday party for him, which were exactly the same routine for the past four, five years? The whole band would gather at some random shopping mall, and then cause chaos in an unfortunate restaurant and karaoke all for his sake. The few days after that, they were sought after to pay the damage.
‘What are you chuckling at? Are you alright, Sasuke-kun?’ Sakura gave him a weird look while waving a hand before his sight. He quickly regained his senses and slapped her hand away.
‘Nothing, I’m fine.’
The bell rang, and after bidding farewell to Sakura and her best friend Ino, Sasuke headed for Biology class. Naruto the all-time klutz was already at the door, smiling at him again.
‘Stop the act, dobe.’ Sasuke snapped as Naruto started to follow him into the science lab. ‘I know there’s going to be another chaotic party tonight, and I’ll do everything in my power to escape the second after school ends.’
‘Aw, how would you know it would be just another party, teme?’
‘How wouldn’t I?’
Naruto only giggled again, before they took their seats before a table full of apparatus and plant samples. ‘Just wait and see.’
On that day, Biology was the only class Sasuke shared with his best friend. After that were boring lectures, exercises and notes to come his way. All the time, he thought of what would be the outcome of that night. Kiba would probably have to be under Shino’s care again if he turns into a happy-drunkard, and Hinata would be in HUGE trouble if her parents ever found out, in which they nearly did in what, last year? Or was that on Naruto’s birthday, which was way worse than his?
Never mind, not like he’s going.
Is Daisuke part of the plan?
‘Stop it, stop thinking about the party. I do not care about birthdays.’ He hissed to himself. Some people beside him flinched at his sudden outburst to none other than his own conscience.
Last birthday, Sasuke was forced to go to some new karaoke bar, and that was the party he’d ever been to with the most people giving into alcohol. All of them, excluding Hinata, had spent the night in a cheap hotel. Four had to share a room to spare the costs.
That next morning, Sasuke found himself snuggling with Naruto on the same bed.
The two of them caused another mishap that day, like the rivals they are.
‘I do not care about birthdays.’
‘Of course you care.’ Daisuke took a seat beside him in the classroom. ‘You cared to point you said you don’t care. Stop torturing yourself and just brace for what’s going to happen later tonight.’
Yup. Daisuke is definitely in part of the plan. If she’s part of the plan, then his chances of escaping are nil, because Itachi-nii would only send them both home together, otherwise it would be just inconvenient, and by different times they would have to take their own bus routes.
But that meant waiting. And while waiting he could be dragged away to God-knows-where by his oh-so-best-friend Naruto anytime soon again, like all the previous birthdays ever since Daisuke’s father died and she had to share he same roof with him.
That bitch. How dare she ruin his life.
‘I do not-‘
‘Yes you do, nii-san.’ Daisuke cut him off, clearly annoyed. ‘Remember to go to the club meeting after school is over.’
Now, come to think of it, it was strange. Usually club meetings would be cancelled for the sake of any parties and celebrations.
Sasuke ground his teeth, because if he said that he didn’t care about birthdays again, his cousin would be sure to make him speechless for the rest of Add Math period. They never liked each other in the first place, but still tried to get along for the sake of kinship.
He was thinking of skipping the club meeting, but he didn’t know if the meeting was all a prank for him or for real.
Of course it would be a prank. It’s his birthday, for Kami’s sake!
Daisuke stomped his foot, and he hissed.
‘Concentrate.’ She hissed back.
School was finally over. Sasuke slowly packed his things at his locker and was about to leave school.
‘SASUKE!!!’
Naruto grabbed his arm like a bolster in the middle of the hallway, and Sasuke was suddenly jerked backwards. They fell with him on top of the other louder man, whose giggling finally burst into fits of laughter.
Feeling uncomfortable again, Sasuke quickly got back to his feet away from Naruto. He was attempting to leave again, but who was he to do that with the almighty Uzumaki Naruto around him.
‘Sasuke-teme, what about the club meeting?! I’m not letting you escape!’ Naruto glomped him from the back, and they both lost their footing again bumping into the lockers, making sounds of metal banging.
‘Sasuke-kun! Naruto-kun! Stop fighting and come to the music hall already!’ Sakura’s voice could be heard from the other end of the hallway. Before he could do anything else, Naruto had already grabbed him by the hand, and he led Sasuke down towards their destination. The smile was still engraved on the blonde’s face, and Sasuke finds it kind of…heartwarming.
What are birthdays exactly for, really?
The music hall was equivalent to a concert hall, and bands usually use this place to rehearse, even if their own concert were to be in other venues. The school hall was another building altogether. This hall was a completely different story. It had rows of red cushioned seats nailed in its place, and tables at the inner perimeter to either serve food or make a mini convention. There were three layers of curtains for the stage, and the microphones for this hall had better quality compared to the other.
All three layers of curtains were closed today, probably for cleaning, and most of the band members were already at the front row of seats talking and laughing.
Sakura took over Naruto’s duties of preventing Sasuke from escaping as the cheerful man dashed in the direction of the men’s room. Sakura was like a mini manager for their band, which was named Akatsuki the Second after Itachi’s own gang back when he had his own band as well.
Sakura and Sasuke went towards the front seats. ‘Hey people, Sasuke-kun is here!’
Everyone turned around to Sakura’s response. Kiba was the first to greet him. ‘Hey, Sasuke-san! Happy birthday, man!’
Words of birthday greetings followed after that, and slowly Sasuke’s mood brightened, but he didn’t show it obviously. The band was used to his cold egoistic gestures, and they only kept on talking while trying their best to pull him into conversation.
But wasn’t this a club meeting? Sakura didn’t even announce anything first thing when everyone was already present, like she usually did.
Suddenly, the curtains opened slowly. The whole band suddenly shushed at each other and became quiet, and it surprised Sasuke. He turned to look at the stage as well, only to find Daisuke standing in the middle of it with her violin at the ready.
Another layer of curtains were also pushed away to reveal Naruto by the grand piano waving at him, like a child would to a mother before his huge performance. Then he played a short intro of the notes randomly rising.
Daisuke made a polite curtsy, and soon started playing. It was a slow and sad song of Happy Birthday, and it made Sasuke raise an eyebrow. So they’re making a mini performance for him instead of causing chaos again. Well, that is good, for a cha-
The music ended with a higher pitch of note.
Suddenly, friends stood up with an uproar and ran onto the stage. Sakura and Sai each took the shocked man by his arms and led him onto the stage as well by the small flight of stairs by the side. Naruto started playing an upbeat tune, while Daisuke’s feet tapped to the beat.
Everyone started to make a semi-circle while Sasuke was led to the center of it. Sakura and Sai retreated into the crowd that consisted of people bobbing their heads, snapping their fingers and waving their bodies to the rhythm.
‘What the-‘
‘This is for you, teme!’ Naruto yelled from the piano, and he started to play faster in bass. Daisuke also started playing again, also matching the cheerful and upbeat tone. Everyone swayed side to side, while singing a harmonized Happy Birthday song to the birthday boy. There were lots of clapping between bars, and soon Sasuke found himself swinging with them.
‘One more time!’ Kiba shrieked.
Suddenly, the semi circle broke into two quarters as Ino stood in the middle, rapping while still swinging to the beat like everyone else. The whole band shouted at some ends of a phrase, which at first shocked Sasuke a little. The violin still played, but in a softer tone to bring out Ino’s words.
‘Happy sweet sixteen, then you’re seventeen
Any longer and you’ll be as old as the greens
You have people like
‘US!’
‘Even though we’re a fuss
But we do bring you happiness
In this dull life of yours
Especially
‘NARUTO!’
‘He’s your everything
So cherish this life and
‘DON’T GIVE A SHIT! Don’t give a shit, don’t give a damn fucking shit, because it’s your birthday you gotta cherish this day! So Happy Birthday to you!’
The song repeated after the rap, and the words in the rap sunk into Sasuke’s head. Only one person he knew would make such a crap load of lyrics with too many curses for his liking.
‘Happy Birthday, Sasuke!’ Everyone shouted, and suddenly rounded in on Sasuke like happy, drunk zombies just so they could do a group hug. Sakura was taking pictures from every angle, and Sasuke …he looked like he was paralyzed by a feeling called happiness.
After he wormed himself out of the group hug cursing insults at everyone, but everyone knows he didn’t mean it, Sasuke gave Naruto a knowing look. The other man left the grand piano and made a run for his best friend forever.
‘Happy birthday, temeeeee!!!’ He jumped at the last few steps, and Sasuke actually yelled out loud before they fell again onto the solid wooden floor of the stage. Friends laughed and cheered at the scene.
Suigetsu and Karin helped them both up. ‘Dude, you’re lucky. Naruto wrote the rapping part just for your birthday. Of course, after the happiness part was our doing. We all know you feel more for that guy.’ The guy with dyed silver hair commented.
Karin suddenly whacked him on the head. ‘Shut up, you’re spoiling everything!’
Naruto didn’t hear any of that because he was so busy laughing and crying because of laughing. He put an arm over Sasuke’s shoulders, and started ranting about what else the band should do in honor of Sasuke.
Sasuke started to look around. Time seemed to slow down in his eyes.
Akatsuki the Second consisted of many members. Naruto, himself, Sakura, Shino, Kiba, Hinata, Lee, Neji, Gaara, Tenten, Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji, Sai, Daisuke and Reiichirou. They all have been together since they were twelve, excluding his imoto and her friend, who only joined them only two years ago. Like some plague, memories started to storm his brain. The times when he would fight with Naruto, when Sakura would nag at their fighting like a mother would, when they got into trouble with the music hall, when they had to compete with other bands in the very same school, all those moments and hardships.
Birthday parties are meant to show you how far you have gone in life and how your friends have accompanied you through it.
‘Hey teme! We’re going to Lee’s neighborhood and get some barbeque, then crash some karaoke bars. Can’t break our partying routine now, can we?’ Naruto still had his arm around him, and Sasuke looked back with a blank expression.
Naruto really was something. He brings out everything in everyone.
‘I’m not going home tonight, am I?’
‘Neh, I’m sure Lee’s guardian would find us some free or cheap place to stay over!’
There were groans from the band. Neji even exclaimed that they would possibly end up in some gay-themed room with double rainbows and flash-colored spandexes, which made Lee switch himself into his lecturing mode about youth again.
Sasuke smiled. How was it that he never saw his own happiness in sixteen years of life?
‘Well, let’s go!’
