Please READ THIS NOTE:: OK, so not only do I think some of you misunderstood the ending, but it appears that not very many people were happy with the ending they thought they saw. So here's a short epilogue or new ending. This should clear up what I couldn't get across in the last chapter. Those of you who know Sasori at all should know what he had done XD

So read and enjoy. This actually opened it up for a sequal, so I might be writing one. MIGHT...i dunno . depends how you feel.

IF YOU LIKED THE WAY IT ENDED, then don't read or whatever...lol

The Marionette

Epilogue: Of New Beginnings

"You, sir, are on my shit list right now," her voice carried through out the shop. He only smiled at her. When she looked at him, it was still full of love.

"You, ma'am, are cute when you're angry," he pressed his forehead to hers, "It's been a long time and I'm not letting you go now…never again."

A smile graced her lips and she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I wouldn't want it any other way…".

The door slammed and they looked up to see an old woman hobble in, "Did I interrupt?" she chuckled, "I brought the things you said you needed…"

He smiled and jumped off the table and ran over to the old woman, "Good…I can get to work then…"

The young woman spent the next several months watching her lover scrape away at the supplies. Half a year went by and he stepped back and admired the work.

"Not as pretty as the real thing…" he muttered sadly.

She only laughed at him, "Are you kidding me? I was never that gorgeous!" Feeling slightly better that she approved, he grabbed her and took her into his arms. His forehead rubbed against hers and he smiled softly at her.

"I don't have too much left in me, but the old lady will help us…"

The girl nodded and once again sat back and watched her lover and this time, the old woman, mess with the work. The old woman pulled another similar piece from the closet and the young woman gasped. He had been planning this for a long time, it seemed. She wasn't surprised. He had almost and eternity to work on this plan.

"Ok, my love," he walked up to her, "Are you ready?"

She nodded. If she had a heart, it would have been pumping 200 miles a minute. He grabbed her hand and helped her sit on the table. He caressed her face and kissed her gently. "Just close your eyes and relax…"

Fear rose in her, but she did as she was told. Her eyes slid closed and she chewed her lip. She felt an intense energy around her and she felt pulling at the small core in her chest. Suddenly she felt the world shift beneath her. She could no longer see, no matter how hard she willed her eyes to open.

Panic. That was her instinct reaction. She wanted to fling her arms and kick and scream, but she just couldn't.

Just relax. His smooth voice echoed in her mind and she felt at peace again. A calm feeling over came over her. She felt her control come over her body again, and she leaned against a wall. She felt slightly dizzy. She went to open her eyes, but her love's voice stopped her.

"Not yet," he whispered. A few minutes passed with the fluxing power beside her. To her, it was an eternity. Curiosity began to take over her and she had to physically will herself not to open her hands. Odd. Something felt off about her hands…

"Okay…" she felt him grab her hand and pull her up to standing. He wrapped his hands around her waist from behind, "You can look now."

Despite her deep curiosity, she felt fear rise. Slowly her eyes fluttered open, taking in her surroundings. She was face to face with a mirror. A long red dress covered her body and her soft short hair, was splayed around her face. Her lover was standing behind her nuzzling his face into her neck.

She felt it. She felt his touch. "What…what happened?" she turned to him. His eyes met hers and then he kissed her. She felt the motion, the intense burning it gave her.

"I made things as right as I could…"

Her eyes shifted to the table and eyes widened. A small lifeless body was laying on top of the table. She looked down at her hands. They weren't made of little pieces of wood strung together carefully, but actually looked like normal hands. Of course, she knew they weren't, because she watched the man holding her, working on it.

"Do you like?" he asked.

She also realized she was no longer only a foot tall, but now she was about 5'4".

"Oh…like it…I love it…I love you!" she wrapped her arms around his and nuzzled him. He chuckled and kissed her lovingly.

She may not be a human, but she wasn't a marionette anymore, either. She looked up into her lover's chocolate eyes and smiled as he caressed her soft pink hair and placed another kiss on her lips. This time, they would not be pulled apart.

Do you understand now? I hope you enjoyed this.

Lady Pyrien