Chapter Fourteen: Tears

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Sasuke's POV

I slumped down my bed and closed my eyes.

Damn! It's been such a tiring day for me.

Just when I though giving Blossom a bath was hell, Sakura even made me clean the whole castle and cook them dinner! She wasn't kidding when she told me I was going to be her slave!

Staring at the ceiling, I remembered something..

"Where's Miko?"

I sat up and scratched the back of my head. I wonder where that gnome ran off to? The last time I saw him, we were at the hanging gardens this morning. I bitterly recalled the memory when we saw Sasori kissing Sakura flashed back.

"That damn bastard."

Once get back to Konoha, I'll make sure the ANBUs will give him the punishment he'll never forget. I don't know wha they're up to, but I'm going to make them pay. No one disrespects Sasuke Uchiha and live to tell the story.

But first thing's first,

"I need to find that Garden gnome."

-*-

"Ahhh, fuck!"

I've  been searching everywhere for that stupid Miko but there's no sign of him anywhere. I already roamed around the crystal palace but not even his shadow can be seen. And heck, I have to admit, I'm starting to worry about him.

"So, what do we do to her?"

I rapidly stopped in my tracks and hid behind the grand curtains when I heard voices coming near.

Peeking behind the cloth, two men walking came to view.

It was Kisame and Hidan.

"Psh. I don't know and I don't care either. As long as Sasori pays us cold hard cash, he could even fuckin' kill that kid."

"Heh. That's mean. So, we take turns checking on her?"

"Yeah, yeah."

When they were out of sight, I rapidly ran towards the nearest room. I don't know what they're talking about. Tsk. I still have to find my helper. I turned the door knob, and fortunately, it wasn't locked.

"Is anybody in here? Miko?"

I shut the door behind me and searched for a light switch. When I found it, I immediately turned it on and what I saw made me raise an eyebrow.

"Puppets?"

The  large room, painted in light shades of brown had puppets hanging from every corner. I looked up and noticed they were life-sized puppets. "What the heck?"

Creepy puppets.

Just then, I spotted a table with a bottle on top of it. I walked closer and examined the contents of the bottle and saw pink liquid.

My eyes widened.

"Dammit."

This is the same stuff Sakura drank earlier this morning! So that means, this room belongs to..

"On a fieldtrip, I see."

Turning around, I saw the redheaded knight smirking at me.

"Sasori.."

"So, what are you doing here, Sasuke Uchiha? Or would you rather prefer me to call you, KING Sasuke?"

I balled my fists. I have a bad feeling about this whole situation.

"What did you do to Sakura?"

He frowned and suddenly, chakra strings emerged from his fingertips and attached themselves to one of the puppets resting on the wall. Sasori made the puppet move, manipulating it's every moment. I gulped.

"Puppet master, huh? Tsk. Answer me!"

"You're in my territory, Uchiha. I have the upperhand."

And with that, the puppet attacked me. His smirk was the only thing I remembered before darkness took over me.

-*-

I woke up, sweating.

Holding my aching head, I tried to stand up, but found it difficult to do so. I recalled all the past events before I passed out, and cussed when I remembered Sasori's puppet attacking me.

He's doing something to Sakura, I can feel it!

I got up, not minding the almost unbearable pain in my legs, and headed to Sakura's office.

Without knocking, I slammed the door open which shocked the pinkette in return.

"Uchiha! What are you doing here? By the way, you need to cook me breakfast."

I ignored her words and stared at her, intently.

"Sakura-----!"

"QUEEN Sakura, how many times do I have to tell you?!"

"Fvck! Look, you remember the liquid Sasori made you drink yesterday? I think that's the reason why you're acting like that! We have to stop him, call the ANBUs and..."

Her laugh cut me off. When she was done with her laughing spree, Queen Sakura smirked at me.

"He's not the reason why I'm acting like this, Sasuke... You are."

My brows furrowed. "What?"

She shook her head and stood up.

"As far as I know, Sasori is only trying to help me ease the pain I feel whenever I miss you. Like what he said, that liquid is a cure for heartaches. Don't blame him. Yes, it has some weird side effects, but to hell with it.

This is the life I chose, you hear me? I chose to break free from you and live  freely! I chose this life the moment you chose to busy yourself with the Hokage work, instead of stepping out of your office to look for me. Five years, Sasuke.. what took you so long?"

And for the first time in five years, I saw my wife's tears again.

And I hate the fact that I'm the one causing them to fall.

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