Of Puppets And Plots
Suddenly, I realize his game. I am Adriane, walking through the maze with the puppets. And he is the Minotaur, the master of puppets himself. And this time I have no Theseus to save me.



*********

I woke up to hear something dripping on a stone floor.
‘A stone floor? Where am I?’ I thought.
Suddenly, I saw a flash of red and black. A cloak of red clouds danced in front of my eyes.
‘Akasuki  What do they want with me?’ I said as I tried to crawl away, but a grip of iron grasped my wrist.

“Why are you so afraid, Sakura-San? You remember me, don’t you?” He said, his words are like the sweetest nectar. But in reality these words were poison.
‘Poison..Scorpion... Aka Suna No Sasori ’
“You  You’re dead  How can this be happening ” I cried in disbelief as I tried to break free.



He was wearing that face cover of his, so I couldn’t see his eyes laced with red, black, and brown. He moved toward me, another hand reaching for me.  He placed it on my chin, while the other hand of his went away from my wrist. He took off  his cover, as I saw the face that haunts my dreams and plagues my memories. His hand held me in place as he leaned into my face. On instinct, I started trying to pry him off. On of his arms wrapped around my waist, holding me in my place.

His lips, cold and wooden, crashed upon mine.
My eyes widened in panic. Here I was, being kissed by a S-Class Missing NIN, and the one which I was kissing had attempted to kill me and turn me into a wooden doll. For Amateratsu’s sake, he wasn’t even human

Sasori’s tongue pushed through my lips, and gave a gasp as the cold, foreign object started dancing with my tongue. I started to gasp for air, and he pulled away, hands still having a tight hold on me.

He leaned in to my earlobe and said “Lets play a game, Sakura-San.”
“Let me go, you sick puppet  I am not playing any games with you. I want to go home ”

“Why Sakura, a smart girl such as yourself would have noticed where we are.” Sasori smirked, hand slowly caressing my spine.
I stared at my surroundings.

“We are in a alternate reality, aren’t we?” I whispered.
“We are in Limbo, in the dream scape. Only this is my world to control, and yours to suffer through. I have planned your revenge all this time, waiting to see you fall at my feet.” He said, maniacal glint in his eyes.

I started shivering, for I remember that glint. He had it in his eyes when was attacking me. He had it in his eyes when Chiyo-Baa Sama and I started learning about his hideous deeds.
He liked seeing me squirm, and to see me begging for release or death, but he will not give it, sadist that he is.
“Now, let me show where we shall play our little game.” He said as we were raised up in there air. I saw a maze, made of gray bedrock, so that there was no choice to break through it.
“I purpose a challenge, where you have to make it through the maze, and then out of this world. I will be after you, and so will my puppets. If I catch you, I get to what ever I want to
you. And you will be with me here for eternity. If you win, you get to go back to your home, and have no memory of this incident.” He said.
“Fine.” I gulped. There was no way I could win. Maybe by a stroke of luck, but Lady Luck is indifferent to me.

“I want to see if you’re as powerful as I thought you to be. For it was Chiyo who controlled those puppets. Not you.” He said, his tone somewhat menacingly.

“How could a little slip of a girl, a green leaf chunnin beat me? No, it was definitely my Grandma. “ He says, his eyes flashing at me as he paces.
“But I have to make sure.” He said turning to me.
“Now, let’s do this.” He said as I experienced Deja Vu.
I see his eyes boring into mine as darkness over comes me.

**************************************************************************
I regained consciousness at opening of the maze. Upon me was a robe, not a kimono, but a chiton; what ancient Greeks used to wear.
I suppose it was fitting a bit. I was a gladiator going to my death.

I walked in to a small clearing a heard a clatter.
Looking behind me I saw that the gates I passed have been closed tight. I was trapped.

I started running, trying to find a way out. Then I heard a wooden sound.
I saw a head rise in the air and became attached with puppet parts strewn over the ground.
“Hiruko?” I said.

Senbon flew at me as I tried to dodge them.

I waited till I could get close enough to hit his shell and break it.
BOOM!
I broke open the shell, but to my surprise Sasori was not there.
“What kind of sick joke is this, Sasori!” I screamed up to the ‘sky’.
“Hehehe... All in good time, Sakura-Chan.”A voice boomed out from somewhere.
“H-How dare you!” I said as I heard the “Chan”.
‘That Teme! How dare he call me as if we were close friends. He is demented. He better be dead by the time I am through with him.’
Suddenly, I heard another wooden clang as Hiruko reformed its self. Hitting it again, I fled, but had no idea where to go.

“Oh, Sakura. Need some help?” I heard his voice near.
Shit! He was gaining on me, and fast.
I focused on running but then noticed one crucial thing; My robe was mauve!
How could this irritating fact escape me, I   don’t know. But I was a easy target.
‘Wait, how did he get these on me? Did he see me naked. Oh my god, am I wearing underwear?’

No, I wasn’t.

“Sick pervert.” I mumbled as I ran the corner...

And straight into the Sandaime Kazekage puppet.
Shit.
I tried to hit it, but it blocked me, while managing to hit me. I clutched at my side, while delivering a punch. The puppet fell backward, as I managed to regain myself.
The Kazekage opened his mouth, and I braced my self for the sand, for I defeated it once.
‘You watch Sasori! I am not going to lose.’
I hit the puppet and ran.

“That all you can do, Sakura. Run, run for life? All you can do is cry? Where is the spitfire of a girl that beat me? Or was it my dear Grandmother? Admit it to yourself already. You are nothing but a weak, delusional girl trying to play konouchi so she can whore herself out for a boy whose life depends on revenge.” Sasori said.
“No! I am not weak! I am strong. Your just a demented piece of wood that is a sore loser!”
“Oh really? Care to prove that, Lovely?” Said a voice beside me.
He was right beside me!
“What’s wrong, Sakura-Chan. Surprised? Nervous? Or are you scared?” He said, tilting my chin towards his face.
“Well, look at me. Do you like my game? I find it exhilarating.”He said into my ear.
I pry him off myself, and run down the corner, and keep running straight foward.
“Kugutsu no Jutsu.” I hear Sasori say.
In my path I see the kazekage puppet and Hiruko.
Hiruko attacks first, followed by the arms of the Sandaime. I use the arms as a platform when I jump on them. I look for a second and see I am close to the end. I jump off, hitting Hiruko and running to the corner, where I swerve right on a fork and keep right.

Suddenly, I realize his game. I am Adriane, walking through the maze with the puppets. And he is the Minotaur, the master of puppets himself. And this time I have no Theseus to save me.
“Aka Higi: Hyakki no Soen!: Red Secret Technique: Performance Of A Hundred Puppets!” Sasori’s voice booms. He isn’t just agitated now, he is mad.
‘Damn Kugutsu! Now I won’t be able to do anything.’

I see six puppets chasing after me, so I quickly turn left, only to find I am in a dead end.
I see Sasori walking towards me, hands out stretched, and chakra strings coming at me.
He pulled me over and pinned me to the wall.
“Well, did you like my performance?” He asks, maniacal glint back in his eyes.
“What performance? All I saw was pieces of wood doing the bidding of a demented piece of wood.” I say as I glared at him.
I felt some thing sharp press at my chest.
“I don’t like your tone, Sakura. Now, be a good little girl and give in.” Sasori said, tracing my jaw line with his free hand.
“I am not a little girl! I am a Konouchi! And I killed you! So stay in hell!” I said trying punch him.
“You are still a girl, but a beautiful and strong willed one. And I hate that will, that will of fire of yours. I want to break it.” He said into my ear.

His lips started pressing unto mine, and he whispered to me “Be mine, and no one else’s. There is no Uchiha Sasuke, Hatake Kakashi, or Uzumaki Naruto. Repeat after me.” He said glaring with a sort of hypnotic trance.

Strangely, my lips parted, and my voice betrayed me by repeating his words.
“You only know me, Aka Suna no Sasori. Say it with me, Sasori.”
“Sasori, Sasori, Sasori . . . ” I said.
He hugged me, and I felt . . .  calm? I felt safe in his arms, like I don’t have a care in the world.

His hands went to my waist, but I strangely, did not care. It felt good, and I wanted him to kiss me.
He looked at me said “Seeing you naked the days highlight. I can hardly control myself.”
My eyes widened as I registered this information.

“Hell no!” I said, smacking him and running for it.
“Get her!” Sasori screamed, clearly so mad that if I got into his grasp he would clearly rape me there and then. Or kill me.

The Sandaime puppet lunged at me, his claws managed to hit my side, causing blood to fall at my thigh.

I ran foward dodging a swipe from the puppet.
I saw an exit, but I saw it was a cliff. If I jumped I would probably die.
‘Sick puppet! He knew this was going to happen.’
Jump or be with Sasori.
I felt Sasori behind me, probably smirking.
“Dead end, Lovely.” He said.
I braced my self. And I jumped.