The moment the poor entertainer ran away in fear, I gave Sasori a warning look. "What?" He asked. I rolled my eyes and states the obvious. "You scared people away." I looked around and saw only a few persons were watching us. I averted my gaze at the ground and saw the cute little puppets, all broken.

He smirked.

"Then, a show you want? A show it will be."

He then brought out two scrolls from his sleeves and out came two human-sized puppets, dressed in traditional kimonos. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

The villagers were crowding back and watched as Sasori started to manipulate them while a lively music from the festival area filled the background. I laughed at what he was doing. He was making the puppets dance!

Soon, even kids gathered up in front as they clapped their hands to the beat. People started to move their body and dance with the puppets. Soon enough, two other puppets from the audience emerged and joined the little party.

I glanced at Sasori, with his boyish smile, he played his role as the puppet master. The setting sun's rays struck the glowing blue chakra strings that were attached to his fingertips. He looked so at ease and happy.

And for a moment, he turned his head and our eyes met. He smirked and suddenly, "Aah!" He had a puppet push me closer to him. Our faces only a few inches apart. He then whispered in my ear that made my heart beat erratically.

"Dance with me, my queen."

"What are you--"

But it was too late when he lead me to the small circle were everyone was clapping and dancing to the music.

~

After buying us something to eat, I glanced at my wristwatch as I took a last bite at my dango. 7:45 pm. Time really flies when you're having fun. I soon felt a warm hand touch mine. I looked up and drowned myself in coffee brown eyes. "Are you okay?" His baritone voice asked. I sweetly smiled and nodded as an answer, having no words other to say than, "Hell yeah."

Up ahead, I saw more and more villagers heading towards a, what a think, is their town's field. I gave Sasori a questioning look. "What's going on?" His eyes beamed in amusement the moment he looked like he just remembered something. "What time is it?"

*glances at wristwatch*

"Uh.. 7:50 pm. Why?"

The way his reaction appeared, I knew he was puzzled. "You wore your wristwatch while wearing a kimono?" Now, its my time to be confused. "What? Is it illegal to? The last time I checked, it wasn't even writin in any law book." He laughed and ruffled my hair as we headed towards the field.

"Hahaha.. You never fail to amuse me. Not then, and certainly not now that is.. Why do you even treasure that?"

His voice dropped at that last sentence. It sounded a bit bitter for me. I wonder what's wrong? I sighed and glanced at the watch again. Its silver frame glimmered as the light from some hanging lanterns hit it. "Its a gift from Sasuke."

I was expecting he'd drop the subject, but instead, he stopped in his tracks making me stop too. What now?

"Who told you that?"

I scanned my surroundings and found that we are already in the middle of the field. Hmm... Wait a minute, everyone is holding a sky lantern here! It kinda makes me want one too. TT___TT

"Sakura-chan.."

I looked back at him and gave him a 'duh' face. "Sasuke did. Why?" Sometimes I doubt I understand him. Damn. If only my memories would come back to me, then all of this would be less complicated. I would at least, have a clue on why he's acting this way. His sharp eyes pierced me.

"Well, he's a liar."

My green eyes shot wide open. W-What? A liar? What on earth is Sasori talking about? Sasuke said he gave me this when he courted me. He said that he bought this in Suna and found it quite beautiful and it reminded him of me, so here it is and the rest is history right?

Ugh. I wish I can remember that day. Good thing he reminded me the moment I woke up and started my amnesia struggle.

I was about to open my mouth to argue with him when he suddenly stepped back, with his head hung low. "I'm going to buy us some lanterns. Stay here." and with that, he left me standing alone. Well, not exactly alone, but I don't even know who these people around me are!

I just sighed and stared at my watch. 3 minutes left until seven. I guess that is what these villagers are waiting. Then, I remembered the banner at the front gates when I entered. Of course. This is their main event...

Hm.. Now that I think about it, I read it in a book that if you write your wish on the sky lantern and let it fly up in the sky during the Ivory village's sky lantern festival, your wish will come true. I know its childish, but I have nothing to lose right?

"Saku-chan."

I turned and saw the redhead, holding up a sky lantern at me. I smiled and took it, after grabbing a pen from my sleeves and started writing my wish, blocking Sasori's view. "What's that?"

"My secret wish!"

"Can I see?"

"Dummy, then it wouldn't be a secret anymore! Geez.. Use your brain for once Sasori-kun, shannaroo!"

Yeah, and that earned me a glare from him. I stuck out my tongue. "Stick that tongue of yours out once more and I'll bite it."

O____O "You maniac!! Get the hell away from me, cha!"

Ting. Ting. Ting.

"Its the bell for the sky lantern release. It's already seven." I heard him mutter. I nodded in understanding and watched as other couples and people started to count down. 10, 000.... 9, 999,....9, 998...9, 997.......

Okay just kidding.

10...

"Sakura?"

9...

"Hm?"

"You know that I love you right." I looked at him, confused. Why is he saying this now?

8..

"Uh..yeah? Kinda." I saw him smirked.

"I love you. So much... I promise, I will never leave your side and take care of you until we die.."

7..

The heck?

"...You are the only female in this world to own my heart, you know that? If you don't then now you know."

6..

"Oh....kay??"

This is really getting awkward for me. Is he insane?!

"..I'll never let anything happen to you. I'm always here to protect you from any harm."

5..

"Sasori, what are y---"

"Sshh. I'm not finsihed yet!"

"Okay, okay, fine! Sheesh."

4...

"..You may not remember me clearly, but I know that you feel something strange whenever we're around each other. Because I feel the exact same way too..."

3...

He was still looking at me, straight in the eyes.

"Sakura, the reason why I can't tell you about our past, is that, I don't want to be your source. I don't want to be the one telling you, because truthfully no one should. I want you to discover your past yourself and all I can do is help you by being here with you..."

2..

So, that's his reason, huh? Yeah. He told me that before a few weeks ago, but now he's really clearing it.

"Sakura Haruno..."

"What?"

We then lit up our lanterns and watched it fly in the starry night sky. It looked so magical and so mysterious at the same time. But I was pulled back to reality when Sasori's voice came in...

1..

"Will you marry me?"

***

Sorry for not upadating for so long! Anyway..enjoyed the chapters? :)

Next update, i'll complete this. Only three more left before the finale! Expect the unexpected...

SasoSaku or SasuSaku ?

New SasuSaku short story published (complete) >> Mistakenly Mismatched [SasuSaku]

stay awesome! Thanks for the support <3

~Misty