Disclaim: I don't own Naruto.
The moonlight shone brightly up at the clear night sky.
A little six years old boy walked through the cold darkened streets of Suna City towards the huge white mansion a few miles infront of him. After the work at the puppet store of his grandmother, he decided to continue on his own master piece he was working at the moment for the past two months.
It must be perfect but the thought of it made him nervous that he kept messing up.
Two little puppets sitting next to each other under a tree, the boy had crimson hair with brown eyes and the girl had bright pink hair with emerald green eyes.
The tree and the puppet boy were both already painted and layed on his desk waiting patiently for him to start on the puppet girl that was missing the picture. He asked his grandmother to craft him the wooden puppet he wanted since he failed many times thinking it was not perfect enough.
Once he got the puppet, he was really disappointed that the wooden puppet his grandmother made looked like the failed ones he made.
"Oh, welcome home, Sasori-sama,"
Snapping out of his thought, Sasori looked up to see the emerald green eyes he love so much. A tiny blush crept up his pale cheeks as he saw her smiling at him before stepping to the side to let him in.
He smiled back. "I'm home, Sakura-chan. Is Chiyo-baa here?"
"Chiyo-baasama visited earlier and told me to give this to you," Sakura took a folded letter out of her pocket and gave it to him. "She left a box on your table table too... Would you like something to eat, Sasori-sama?"
"No thank you, I already ate," Sasori replied quietly, unfolding the letter and started to read it.
Dear Sasori,
I met the daughter of an old friend of mine and won't be coming home for a few days. She's pregnant and her mother (my childhood friend) wants me to help her with her... moods till she got her baby. I've left something important on your table, something that you'd be grateful that I kept it with me for such a long time. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone or you'll get the consequence of choosing the wrong choice.
You're not alone, Sakura will be there if you need anything. She'll never leave your side when you don't want her to leave you alone... Take care of yourself, but most of all take care of her. I know that she's important to you ;)
From: Chiyo-baa~
P.S: Don't do anything stupid!
Sasori's eyes twitched in annoyance and ripped the letter in thousand of pieces. Don't do anything stupid? He's a prodigy for god's sake! Not many six years old child knew how to use a knife or other sharp dangerous things.
He and stupid? What a terrible joke.
The only one who's stupid is his grandmother for thinking that he is stupid. He made everyone with his art happy, everyone loves him and his puppet, Adults even asks him if he wants to marry their daughter in the future.
He doesn't knew anyone who dislike him or his art.
Everyone loves him... except for a ceitain person.
Her love, that's what he truly wants.
She is the only one who understands him, the one who feels his pain, the one he wants to spend all his time. Beautiful, kind, inteligent and different than other females he ever met in his life.
And she is the one thing he can't have.
"It's just not possible..." muttered Sasori in a sad tone.
"What's not possible, Sasori-sama?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. "You know that you can have everything you want."
"Uh, n-nothing!" Sasori laughed sheepishly and ran up stairs into his room.
Sakura stared blankly at the running young prodigy before she made her way back to work. Cleaning the living room, kitchen, library, bathroom, guest rooms, play room, basement and attic, Sakura notice that a little boy was watching her but she ignored him and continue to clean the entire mansion.
No sign of tiredness was on her face during her work.
'Isn't she tired?' Sasori frowned slightly, watching her how she water the flowers.
He got the feeling that the pinkett could work for hours without getting sleep if she doesn't take a rest. It was really... strange. The day, the pinkett got signed to be his personal maid, Sasori tested how long the new maid will keep obeying him and it shocked him at the end as she did everything for him.
Everything.
She once took her shoes, socks, gloves and nearly her dark red maid dess off like he ordered her to do but he stopped her from going any further.
He was only six years old and was not ready to see his sixteen years old female maid NUDE! That was stupid of him to order her to do that... but it proves that she'll go that far to keep him satisfied.
"Will she die for me?" Sasori whispered to himself without thinking.
...
...
Huh?
...
"WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING?" Sasori tugged on his red hair. "Why would I think that she's willing to die for me?! That's stupid! No, you're stupid, Sasori! She won't and will not die for an idiot like you!"
He won't allowed her to die! She can't die and leave him alone, he'll be lonely without her.
Tears stream down his cheeks, Sasori let out a few sobs as he sat on his desk still thinking of what he just thought. There's no way that he'll order her to die for him. He love her! He'll protect her even if it cost his own life yet he...
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid Akasuna no Sasori! Are you really a prodigy?!" Sasori shouted, clutching his heart in pain.
A gentle cold hand restend on his shoulder making him look up to see the person he doesn't want to see at the moment. He can't face her, he's not worth to be in her presence. She stole his heart and he was glad that she was the one who stole it.
"Of course you are... only a prodigy could think of something creative like crafting wonderful and unique puppets..."
"...D-don't leave me, Sakura-chan," Sasori hugged her side. "Don't leave me."
"What's the matter, Sasori-sama? You wouldn't be crying because of me since you know that I would never leave you," Sakura wrapped her arms around the little child, patting his back. "May I know what's bothering you?"
Sasori sniffed, wiping his tears away. "I-it's not so important... you'll not throw your life away if I order you to do it, r-right?"
"..."
"..."
"...I'd die for you..."
His heart shattered and more tears stream down his cheeks.
Why?
"...Because I love you," Sakura knelt down and stroke his cheek.
Sasori sobbed, burying his face in her soft pink hair. "I-i love you too! I love you so much, Sakura! Y-you don't k-know how m-much I-i love y-you!"
Her face softened as she planted a kiss on his forehead breaking the hug instead of pulling him closer. Sasori looked at her with confused eyes wondering why she broke the hug. It didn't surprised him that she pushed him since he knew that she wasn't comfortable so close to someone but it hurt him a little.
She didn't loved him that much...
"Go to sleep, Sasori-sama,"
"C-can you stay w-with me?"
Letting out a sigh, Sakura sighed and pulled the cover over them. He stared at her emerald green eyes before slowly drifting to sleep.
Dream-
"Oh, welcome home, Sasori!" smiled Chiyo brightly. "Come over here for a moment! I want you to meet someone!"
"I'm busy," sixteen year old Sasori replied in a cold tone.
"Oh come on! She's staying with us till she graduate from her school!"
'What?! A girl is staying at our place?!' Clenching his fists, Sasori stormed into the living room and saw his grandmother talking to a pink-haired girl. His eyes narrowed as he stared at her unique pink colored hair.
"Sasori, meet Sakura Haruno!"
"Nice to meet you, Sasori-sama," Sakura smiled at him. "I hope we get-"
"Forget it! Mind your own business, girl, and leave me alone," growled Sasori and walked up stairs into his room.
Chiyo sighed tiredly. "Sorry, Sakura, he is…"
"It's fine, Chiyo-baasama, I don't mind his behavior at all. I just hope he get used to me,"
"You'e such a nice girl. I'll still talk to him,"
"I said it's fine… If he hates me then let him hate me. I always knew that he'll change,"
'What are they talking about?' Sasori thought, leaning against the wall.
"He's not alone anymore, Chiyo-baasama. He's now part of the Akatsuki!"
"Tch, and here I thought you'd say that he had you now,"
"People change, his love for me back then is gone,"
'Love?! What the hell! I don't know her- Or do I? Gah!' Sasori grabbed his head in pain. 'What's wrong with me?!'
"Even though he hates me, I will always love him,"
End of The Dream-
"…!" Sasori snapped his eyes open and sat up breathing heavily. He looked next to him and saw the pinkett sleeping with a peaceful expression on her face. His own face softened and placed a pink lock behind her ear.
The pinkett slowly opened her eyes at the sudden movement.
"O-oh, I'm sorry, Sakura-chan," blushed Sasori in embarrassment.
"Hmmm, Sasori-sama?" Sakura rubbed her eyes. "What's the matter?"
"N-nothing! It… it was just a nightmare,"
"Well, I'm now awake so tell me about it," Sakura sat up and wrapped her arms around him.
Sasori's blush darkened, noticing that her maid outfit was now replaced by a black nightgown. He shook his head and pushed the perverted thought away.
"It was about an older me and you… In the dream, I-i was r-really mean to you,"
"Don't worry, Sasori-sama, it was just a dream," Sakura patted his back. "And even if you hate me, I will always love you."
His heart started to beat fast as he hugged her back. "I love you… Sakura,"
"I know," Sakura smiled. "Now go back to sleep."
"Okay, night," Sasori yawned and immediatly slept.
She waited fifteen minutes and made sure that he was really sleeping before getting off of the bed, walked down stairs and out of the mansion. The cold wind hit her not much covered body as she stared lifeless at the black car oposite of the street.
A man came out and approached the oinkett with a gun in his hand.
Sakura locked the door behind her and gulped the key down.
"You're a crazy woman," He pointed the gun at her. "But I'll still get the key!"
Bang !
The bullet shot through her forehead.
She just kept staring emotionless at him and crossed her arms as if mocking him to do it again.
"W-what the-" He gritted his teeth.
Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! BANG! BANG!...
"Crap!" He cursed under his breath and ran back to his car. "What the fuck are you?!"
"It's only polite to introduce yourself first!" Sakura rolled her eyes.
"I'll be back! And I'll get those puppets Chiyo hid from us! You'll see!" He then drove off.
Narrowing her eyes, Sakura walked around the house and climbed up a tree before jumping on the balcony of the library. The door only opened with a code which was really helpful if sometimes like this happens.
It's also useful because the secret room, Chiyo gave her the first time they met, was the room that kept her deepest secret.
Opening the door with an inhuman strenght, Sakura stepped in and locked the door even thought she knew that no one else was at the mansion except herself and Sasori.
She lit up two candles on, placed them on the wooden table, stripped her nightgown off and took the knife that layed on the table. Sakura blinked then stabbed herself in the stomach making a big hole so she could take the key out.
After she got the key back, she walked towards the closet and took a big wooden body out.
"..." Sakura stared at it for a moment. "People change... his love for me will disappear."
She stripped her clothes off and changed her wooden body with the new one.
"But now... I just want to protect him... no matter what,"
3 Years Later-
Sasori, now nine years old, tackled the pink-haired woman to the ground. A chuckle escape her as Sakura ruffled his hair receiving a pout from him. He then placed a smal wooden box in her Hands.
"It's your birthday present! Open it, Sakura-chan!" Sasori said in an excited tone.
She did what she told and opened the small box then her eyes softened at the sight of two persons under the cherry blossom tree.
It was a Music box and it played the tune of her favorite song.
"There's a place that I know... It's not pretty there and few have ever gone," Sakura closed her eyes with a small on her face. "If I show it to you now. Will it make you run away or will you stay, even if it hurts, even if I try to push you out. Will you return? And remind me who I really am... Please remind me who I really am-"
"Oh, my! And I thought you would give her the neckla-"
"Chiyo-baa, what are you doing here?" Sasori grumbled. "I thought you'd be gone for two months."
Rolling her eyes, she huffed and sat on the coach. "I missed you too, Sasori. It was thanks to your new puppet ideas, I'm twenty-four hours talking to my- Your Clients!"
"Welcome home, Chiyo-baasama," smiled Sakura and bowed.
"My dear, I hope that Sasori hadn't done something stupid or idiotic?"
Sasori's eyes twitched and glared at the eldery woman.
"Not at all," Sakura shook her head. "Sasori-sama was a gentleman while you were gone. He carried the grocceries for me, cleaned the mansion with me and made me feel really happy."
"Ho? Interesting,"
"I was really happy too till you came back," muttered Sasori, blushing heavily.
Chiyo grinned. "Could you repeat that?"
"N-never mind,"
Ring~ Ring~ Ring~ Ring~
"I'll get it," Sakura walked out of the living room.
As soon as she was gone, Chiyo stared at Sasori who returned the stare but it was a Little colder than her. Sasori leaned back on the coach, crossed his arms and waited patiently for the eldery to speak.
"You won't like this..." whispered Chiyo quietly.
"If Sakura-chan's involved then forget it,"
"To late, she's already leaving tomorrow morning,"
"Hahaha," Sasori laughed loudly then glared at her. "Very funny, Chiyo-baa."
"..."
"... I don't belive you-"
"Chiyo-baasama, Sasori-sama," Sakura leaned against the door frame. "Looks like I'll be leaving tomorrow at 6 am. Rasa-sama wants to see me as soon as possible."
Sasori froze in shock at the news. This can't be happening!
"S-sakura-chan, w-why?" Sasori mummbled sadly. "I-i don't want you to leave. Do you really want to leave me alone?"
"You're not alone, Sasori-sama. Chiyo-baasama-"
"See? I'm all alone!"
"I'm only gone for two weeks that's all,"
He shook his head and let his tears out. "No! I don't want you to leave me, Sakura-chan! I thought you love me!"
"I do love you-"
"Then don't leave! Please, don't leave!"
"Sasori-sama, I-"
"I want you to change your mind! Don't leave! Don't LEAVE!"
"Listen to me, Sasori-"
"Sakura-chan! I love yo-"
"SASORI! Shut up and LISTEN TO ME!"
He immediantly got quiet at her outbrust and send her pleading glazes for her not to leave. Sakura sighed tiredly and shook her head before going into her room to pack her clothes together.
Sasori jumped up and ran with tears in his eyes after her.
"Poor, Sasori," sighed Chiyo. "If he only knew that she's not the person he sees in her."
It started to rain. Hard. Sakura watched out of her window how the rain drops fell down from the clouds. Oh, she wanted to feel the emotion that matched the weather... She then turned around to stare at Sasori's tears.
Why is he crying?
"P-please don't leave,"
He's crying even though he knew that she'll come back soon so... why?
"I'm leaving," replied Sakura emotionless. "End of the conversation."
"B-but-"
"Sasori-sama, I'll just teach Rasa-sama's son the art of puppetry. That's all. It's not like I'll never come back to you,"
"Why you and not Chiyo-baa?! I want you to stay- No, it's an order!"
BAAM!
Sasori tensed as the pinkett slammed her hands on the table.
"You're an idiot," said Sakura, took her bag and left her room.
"..." Sasori cried silently, following her. "I'll do anything for you! Don't leave me! Don't leave! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! SA-"
"I'll never leave you, Sasori-sama. You know that I'll always love you,"
"Then stay! Stay with me-"
"But... I know that you'll hate me if the time had arrived. It's better if I leave now instead of tomorrow. Goodbye, Sasori-sama,"
Sasori grabbed her hand.
Her eyes silghtly widened and looked down at their hands.
"I-i'll let you go but..."
"But?"
"But it's not a 'Goodbye' it's a 'see you later', okay Sakura-chan?"
Sakura nodded mutely, waved Chiyo goodbye, kissed his forehead before making her way to the train station. He touched his forehead as he watched her figure disappearing behind a few buildings.
Patting his head, Chiyo took a pendant looking lock out of her pocket and gave it to him.
Sasori wiped his tears and stared at the pendant in confusement.
"Don't you dare lose it. I gave Sakura the key for the pendant-"
"We'll never forget each other nor are we going to be separeted by someone or something!" yelled Sasori angrily but still wore the pendant around his neck as he walked into his room. "Me and Sakura-chan will live together!"
"Geez, hadn't he listened to me when I told him about the meaning behind the key and the lock?" Chiyo sighed then looked up at the sky. "I wonder if he had also forgotten what's inside the pendant... Oh, well, Sakura then must open the pendant... if he let her in the future."
He couldn't stop thinking about the pinkett. True, he was sad and angry but he knew that he can't force her to stay with him.
A sigh escape his lips, Sasori turned his head to his left to look at the alarm clock next to his bed.
11:00 p.m...
Seven hours already passed after the pinkett had left and Chiyo was already sleeping. Only two weeks and his lovely beautiful girlfriend is back... Girlfriend, he liked that word. Soon, with a small smile on his face, Sasori finally fell asleep.
He had a dream about himself living with the pinkett in a normal two story house. He was probably in his middle twenties and Sakura- Nah, he doesn't care if Sakura was ten years older than him.
Then, a little figure appeared in the picture. Sasori wasn't sure if it was a little girl or a little boy but he or she stood between him and the pinkett.
It was perfect.
Suddenly, the picture shattered in thousand of pieces as he felt someone shook his shoulders. He immediatly snapped his eyes open to see his grandmother with a shocked look plastered on her face.
Before he could ask, Chiyo picked him up and stormed out of his room.
"C-chiyo-baa?!" Sasori then notice the red and yellow flames around the place.
"Hang on, Sa- Gaah!"
"Wah!" Sasori was thrown up in the air and landed with a loud thud on the ground. "Ugh!"
"S-sasori! Are y-you a-alright?!"
Looking up, Sasori saw his grandmother under the wooden book shelve. "Chiyo-baa!" He tried to stand up but a wave over pain shot through his legs making him fell on his knees as he started to cough heavily.
"Try to get out of here and find help!" demanded Chiyo.
"Are you crazy?! I won't leave you alone-"
"If you stay here we'll both die!"
Sasori gulped then looked around the burning place hoping to find a way out of the mansion. It was useless, the flames surrounded them and blocked the way to the front door.
"W-what should I-i do, Chiyo-baa?" Sasori felt tears in his eyes but held it back. "I-i'm s-scared."
"Don't g-give up yet! W-we'll get out of here!"
He closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around his shaking body.
'Sakura-chan... I wish you're here,'
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
"SASORI-SAMA! CHIYO-BAASAMA! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"S-sakura-chan?" Sasori looked around. "Sakura-chan! SAKURA-CHAN! WE ARE HERE-"
"Chiyo-baasama! Hang on, Chiyo-baasama!"
His eyes turned back to his grandmother and saw his angel trying to lift the book shelve up. For some reason, he was sad that the pinkett ran to the eldery first instead of hugging him and asking him if he was alright. He shook his head and ran to them.
"S-sakura..." Chiyo coughed.
"Don't talk, C-chiyo-baa. I-i'll save you!"
Sasori watched how the pinkett cried for the first time. Tears streamed down her cheek but her face somehow remain emotionless.
'She also called Chiyo-baa, Chiyo-baasama,'
"Get S-sasori o-out of here f-first!"
"No! I-i-"
"Sakura... g-get out of h-here... a-and be happy w-with S-sasori-"
"I said don't talk!" Sakura cried loudly. "Don't leave me- Don't leave us!"
"S-stop it, S-sakura... I'm a-an old w-woman... I'll d-die anyway i-in a f-few y-years..."
Sakura knelt crying next to the woman. Sasori just stood there and watched.
"I-i'm happy... t-that I-i could sa-save you and b-bring y-you back to l-live w-when... you w-where l-litte..."
"Tell me," Sakura hung her head. "Tell me why saved me!"
Chiyo let out a dry chuckle then her eyes slowly closed.
"C-chiyo-baa! Tell me why! At least tell me... how can I return to my old body..."
"T-take care of S-sasori a-and yourself... T-thank you f-for everything-..."
"..."
"..."
"...C-chiyo-baa?"
"..."
Dead.
Chiyo, the hard working, stric yet carring eldery is dead.
Dead...
"NOOOOOO!" Sakura shouted. "CHIYO-BAA!"
Sasori suddenly felt really sick and fell face first on the floor. Her body automaticaly picked the little boy up and ran through the flames towards the front door and out of the mansion. The firefighters were already outside and tried to save the mansion.
Sakura ran to the ambulance, handed Sasori to a suprised doctor and left.
o~O~o
"...Gone... Poor boy... Memorise... nothing-... Pink... "
Sasori slowly woke up by the voice, he assumed, of the doctors. The birght white light forced him to close his eyes again but one of the doctors notice him moving.
"I know you're awake, boy. I'm Senju Tsunade, the one who'll treat your wounds till you're cable to do things on your own,"
"...Where am I?" asked Sasori quietly.
"Konoha Hostpital. You couldn't be taken care in Suna Hostpital since someone might attack you again..."
"What happened?"
"Someone set your house in fire... I'm sorry to say this but you're grandmother couldn't make it-"
"I see...
"...What's your name?"
"Akasuna no Sasori,"
"Well, Sasori, mind telling us who the pink-haired woman was who saved you from the fire?"
"... Who?"
"The pink-haired person with emerald green eyes-"
"I don't know what you are talking about, Tsunade-san..." Sasori then lost conscious.
Tsunade blinked and stared at him for a moment then shifted her eyes at the pendant looked lock next to his bed. If she remembered correctly, the mysterious pinkett wore a key around her neck.
She shook her head and left with the doctors to let the boy sleep. It was three in the morning so it's better to talk with him as soon as he feels better...
The window opened and a petite figure jumped in approaching the bandage wrapped boy.
"I'm so sorry, Sasori-sama," She cares his cheek, watching him sleep. "This is my fault... everything is my fault."
She bend down and kissed his forehead.
"Now, I'll never leave your side. I promise, that I will always watch you from afar. I'll protect you even if it cost my life... we'll meet again Akasuna no Sasori,"
Sakura quickly jumped out of the window as she heard the foot steps of the doctors. Looking up at his room, Sakura's eyes softened before she ran away while holding the key pendant around her neck thightly.