Porcelain

by Shoujo Junkie

Beauty is in the wiping of dust, the careful painting of lips and eyelashes, the delicate sewing of ballet slippers. It is in the simple but beautiful fairytale love between a red-haired toymaker and his little ballerina doll, who came to life dancing under the moonlight. It is in the eternal dance between him and her in the cherry blossoms, in life and in death. AU Sasosaku

10. Credits and Thankyous

Hi everyone! This Is just a tiny little note to give cred it to all my inspirations for this tiny little story. I'm grateful to all those who reviewed and genuinely touched to all those who said they cried from this story. I never expected that because my writing's so amateur! Thank you!

I give inspiration credit to:

The Little Prince/Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery: This beautiful miracle story is one of the best on earth in my opinion. For those who haven't read it, DO IT. This takes credit for some of the writing style, which I adored in this novella. This also inspired the personality of Sakura as a doll.

Last Carnival by Norihiro Tsuru: This gorgeous instrumental practically inspired the entire plotline just from me listening to it. The story literally formed visually as I listened to it and I just had to put it on paper. The plot of the story follows the feeling and tempo of the song almost exactly. I highly encourage people to check it out!

The Steadfast Tin Soldier: I don't know why I was thinking of this as I wrote the story because the plots couldn't be more different, but I guess a bit of it's in there! I really loved the heartbreaking ending of the two toys who died to be together in death forever.

The Little Match Girl: This partially inspired the setting, and also inspired the ending. Like the little match girl who lights matches to sustain a vision, is eventually taken away to heaven by the vision of her grandmother, and no longer has to suffer in the cold. Like the girl, Sasori grabs the cherry blossom petals (it's symbolic too) until a vision forms and Sakura takes Sasori's spirit with her to be together for eternity.

BJD dolls: I owe the appearance of Sakura to these beautiful, eerily lifelike dolls. If you've never seen them, be prepared to be mind blown if you do check them out.

Naruto: And definitely to Naruto! The story's way OOC for Sasori and Sakura, but where else can I find a handsome toymaker? The accidental 'black hair' slip up in chapter 1 if anyone noticed was totally because I was considering Sai for the toymaker, but realized that he only painted and Sasori was much more suitable. However I'm far too lazy to correct the mistake. Hehe.

A big shout out to all my reviewers (at this point in time) not in any particular order, Leontinees, Anella, Tinselplease, KagomeAngel91, princesa-Sherezade, RainingNothing, Arandomkonohaninja, Achlys, DeidaraLuver, Linda Chicana, Black-footed, the-ugly-friend, frankiegrande, and dedeiblueeyez for all the love, tears and support!

A new story may emerge soon! Stay tuned~!