My Favorite Little Puppet- No Strings Attached

© 2007Lack Thereof.

© 2007 Naruto Inc

Holy shmoly, the last chapter of MFLP! I am actually trying not to cry as I write this! But like EvilFaerie17 said, all good things must end. Thanks all for making this story what it is now! Every hit, every fav and alert, and every review shouted at me to continue, and now I am finishing it. Okay everyone, let's go!

Epilogue

Two Years Later...

"That's all for today." I stretched my arms into the air, and then started collecting the firewood I had been chopping in this extensive forest.

My arms ached from the labor, but not as much as they did

when Sakura and I first arrived and made a home here. Back then I didn't know what true hard work was. Now that I had to supply for myself and my wife, I sometimes missed the days when food was ready at hand at the ramen place in Konoha, and Granny Chiyo's delicious meals back in Sungakure.

Ah, how I reminisced those days...

It had been tough starting out a life in these woods in the beginning, especially the initial feelings of homesickness, but it soon got better after Sakura's friends visited us regularly.

Although they acknowledged we could never live in Konoha because of my less-then-honorable history, they still visited us and came over for Christmas last year. I've made friends with some of Konoha's men, such as Shikamaru, but none of them could fill the intimacy I felt with my fellow Akatsuki.

A rather large price to pay to be with Sakura. Now and again I missed them, even Deidara. Maybe it was the idiotic blonde whom I was most fond of.

Of course, a few months after homesickness passed, Sakura was struck by a new illness- morning sickness. When she discovered she was expectant, I almost keeled over in shock. But now I am the pleased father of Ryuu, a small boy of one year with my hair and Sakura's eyes.

Some days I fear what the Akatsuki may do, but they haven't done anything yet, and most days the Akatsuki never crosses my mind. I am far too busy between getting the food and teaching Ryuu how to walk and talk, and of course, loving my beautiful Sakura.

I stop in my tracks. Right across the forest clearing was a familiar blonde.

Deidara. He was sitting on a log, looking quite lonesome. I felt a little guilty. Now he had to work alone, when all he loved to do was work with people. I was at a loss at what to do.

Suddenly a man with an orange mask with one eyehold came tearing across the clearing. I recognized him as Tobi, Zetsu's subordinate.

"Deidara-senpai!" Tobi chortled, "I got it!" He held up a dead mole. "Sorry for slowing us down!" Deidara rubbed his forehead.

I felt a pang in my stomach- sadness and nostalgia. Somehow I remembered how that was the way we used to be- Deidara being Tobi and I being Deidara. I suddenly missed the Akatsuki and Deidara with great enthusiasm. I shook my head. I had Sakura and Ryuu now. I couldn't just turn away.

I heard Deidara mutter something like, "ADHD much?" He glanced up, and our eyes locked. I felt a little self-conscious. Like them, I was wearing my Akatsuki attire, except the red clouds had faded a long time ago and the sleeves were cut to my elbows to make them more convenient to work in. Deidara took a moment to recognize who I was.

It had to be the most awkward moment of my life.

Suddenly Deidara's face broke into a slow, but genuine grin. Sighing with relief, I gave him a true Sasori smile, a smile that rarely ever appeared. I waved goodbye and headed back up the cliff, back to Ryuu and my favorite little puppet- with no strings attached anymore.

No more guilt, no more worry. For the first time in my life-

I got no strings on me!

Yup, well that wraps it up! MFLP is finally done! The last line was from Pinocchio (hee hee I hope you enjoyed that one.) Before we go, I have some people to thank and some credit to give (myself included .)

Authoress

Lack Thereof

Beta Reader

Cherryburg YAY

Special Thanks To:

Cherryburg

EvilFaerie17

Thank You

Everyone who supported me through this! You guys rock my socks. (Tosses you all cybercookies) Go and write your own Sasori x Sakura story! We could always use more!

Credits

Cherryburg- (For the Main pairing and Artemix)

Naruto Incorporated- (For the majority of the cast)

Lack Thereof- (Hee hee shameless self crediting)

My Cat Hobie- (For keeping me company during the dark cold nights when I struggled to write.)

EvilFaerie17- For giving me support to write MFLP and being someone I could rely on when I needed help. I hope we can still be friends even when MFLP ends.