Miu's POV

"I don't understand. Why would Orochimaru send you figurines?" Isuke asked. "Because he thinks I'm still going to go with him. He has a naïve brain. After what he did to you, there's no way in hell I'm going with him." I said.

"Very well, Princess. But what's so special about the figurines?" He asked. "They have some sort of power inside them. I can feel it." I informed as I held one of the rabbits in my hands. I wonder where Sasori went? He's been gone for a while now.

I was in Sasuke's room, lying on the bed as I was staring at the rabbit figurine in my hand. I haven't told Sasuke about them because I wasn't sure if I should. "I don't know what to do." I said. "Why don't you go find Sasuke and see what he's doing?" Isuke suggested.

"I don't want to bother him if he's busy." I said. "I doubt that, Princess." He said with a sigh. "What we should do is find out what these figurines can do." I said, sitting up. I was about to get off the bed until my vision went black.

It didn't take me long to figure out someone had cover my eyes from behind. "Guess who?"

"Sasuke Uchiha." I answered simply. He removed his hands from eyes and kissed my cheek, making me smile softly. "Miss me?" Sasuke asked me. I nodded my head and turned around to face him. "Where were you?" I asked as I hid the rabbit figurines from him.

"I was with Kakashi." He answered. "Were you two training?" I asked him. "Yeah. Hey, who trains you?" Sasuke asked.

"My cousin trains me."

"Your cousin? Sasori, right?"

"Yes."

"Where is he, anyway?"

I shrugged my shoulders. I would like to know where he is, too. I worry about him a lot and I want to make sure that he's safe. I was so distracted by my thoughts of Sasori, I didn't realize Sasuke had planted a kiss on my forehead.

I blinked before my face went red. "She's so cute when she's blushing." I read Sasuke's mind. I backed away. "You're the reason why I blush so easily." I stated. "Right, I forgot you could read my thoughts." Sasuke said.

"Aren't you nervous about the fact I can read minds? Don't you find it weird or uncomfortable?" I asked nervously. "I already told you before that I didn't have a reason to be afraid of you." He reminded me, pecking my lips.

Sasuke took some of my hair and let it fall through his fingers. "How come you keep your hair so short?" He questioned. "Would you like me to grow my hair?" I asked, returning the question. "No, I was just wondering why you keep it so short." Sasuke answered.

I glanced over to the side with a sad frown. "I... used to have long hair." I confessed. "You did? When?" Sasuke asked.

"Back at the academy. But some girls got paranoid when they thought I was trying to make you like me. I wasn't. In fact, I didn't even know you at the time. So, to make sure you didn't like me, they cut my hair after they beat me. From that day on, I never grew my hair again. But the more I kept my hair short, the more I grew to like having it short." I explained.

Because I was afraid to get beat up or get bullied from that rumor, I made sure my hair was cut short. I skipped my classes or just stayed home most of those weeks. What I hated the most was when I walked into the classroom everyday and found a vase of flowers on my desk.

Whenever someone puts a vase of flowers on your desk, it means that person has passed away. I didn't know about that, so I thought someone was being kind to me. But I was wrong.

When Iruka called my name, I'd raise my hand to answer, but I heard people saying, "I don't see Miu anywhere" or "She died yesterday. See the vase of flowers?" That sick game went on for months and I hated it.

In those times, I wished I was dead. I'd be better off dead since no one liked me. I flinched when Sasuke hugged me while pushing me down on the bed. "Sasuke...?" I looked at him, confused. "I don't care that you have short hair. You look good with it. It suits you." Sasuke commented, making me blush.

Sasuke kissed me again, this time, I kissed back. That's when I remembered I had to speak to Kakashi about something. "Sasuke, I have to go." I said, trying to sit up. "Why?" He asked. "I just remembered I had to talk to Kakashi." I explained.

"I'll walk with you." Sasuke insisted.

"You don't have to."

"Nope. Remember what I told you before? I'm always going to be there for you."

I smiled and kissed his cheek. "I appreciate you sticking to your promise." I said before getting up. Sasuke walked with me to Kakashi as we held each other's hands. When we got to where Kakashi was, we noticed other jonin were with him.

But Kakashi was asleep in bed. Is he sick? "Is Kakashi-sensei okay?" I asked Asuma. "Uh, yeah. He's fine." Asuma said with a nervous expression. I frowned slightly and read his mind. "Uso." I said. Kurenai and Guy looked at me at the same time.

"You're lying. What's wrong with Kakashi? What are you trying to hide?" I demanded. "Hey! Is it true that Itachi has returned and that he's come here to get Naruto?" A jonin asked as he burst into the room.

"What? Someone's after Naruto?" I asked, looking at him. I looked at Sasuke when I noticed his eyes widened. "Miu, I need you to go home and stay there until I get back." He said, facing with me with a serious look.

"Huh? Why? What for?" I asked. "Don't ask questions and do as I say!"

I flinched at the tone of his voice and gave a small nod. "Okay."

Sasuke ran out of the room, heading somewhere. "What was that about?" I mumbled. I left the room as well, heading back to the house. Why was Sasuke so eager for me to get home? Did he know this Itachi person when the jonin mentioned his name?

After I got to the house, I took off my ninja shoes and headed to the living room. "Where's Sasuke, Princess?" Isuke asked as he appeared on the coffee table. "He went somewhere. He asked me to stay here until he got back." I answered.

"Did he ask you to stay here or did he command you?" He said. I looked at him, then gazed down at the floor. "Isuke, how come you haven't you're still in this form? Weren't you going to look for a more suitable body?" I asked, looking at him.

"Well, I was, Princess. But it's really hard to find a body in this village." He said as he hopped onto my lap. "But you were able to find a body before. Why is it so difficult now?" I asked as I petted his head.

"Because I'm this form, I hardly have enough magic to make myself a body. After Orochimaru killed me, most of magic disappeared." He explained before purring contently from my petting. I smiled at him, then look out the window.

I hope Sasuke's okay. I couldn't stop thinking about how his eyes widened like that. Who is Itachi? How does Sasuke know him? "Princess? Princess?" Isuke said, but his voice sounded faint. I closed my eyes and fell on my side, on the couch, falling asleep.

(Two Hours Later)

I woke up, screaming at the top of my lungs. "Princess! What's wrong?" Isuke asked in a panic. I panted lightly before looking out the window. "Sasuke... I heard him screaming." I said. "Screaming? I didn't hear anything." He said.

"I could hear him. I don't know how, but I did." I said. "Are you sure it wasn't just a dream, princess? You have been asleep for almost two hours." Isuke explained. "Two hours?" I repeated. I looked out the window, seeing the sun was almost going down.

"Sasuke still isn't back yet, is he?" I asked. "No, Princess. He hasn't returned home yet." He informed. I got off the couch and ran outside. This doesn't make any sense. Why hasn't Sasuke come back yet? Where is he?

"Hey, did you hear? That boy, Sasuke Uchiha was taken to the hospital today."

I stopped running when I heard that information. "Really? What do you think happened to him?" Someone else asked. "Beats me. I just heard Guy-sensei carried him to the hospital."

I ran to the hospital and asked the nurse at the front desk for his room number. Once she told me the room number, I ran there and opened the door to find Sasuke lying in bed. Sakura sat in a chair, next to the bed.

"Sakura... What happened?" I asked, taking a step closer. She looked at me, then frowned. "Is he okay?" I asked her. Sakura got up from her chair and approached me before slapping me. "This is your fault! You're the reason why Sasuke's like this!" She screamed at me.

I rested my hand on my cheek as it started to turn red. "You should've been with Sasuke when this happened! If you weren't in his life, none of this would've happened! You're a freak, Miu. A freak!" Sakura screamed at me.

"No... I didn't do anything. Sasuke... He told me to stay at the house." I said, trying to avoid her insults and hateful comments. "A freak! You should've been killed at the Land of Waves! I wish that Zabuza guy killed you! You're nothing but a nuisance to this team! Everyone knows it! Even Sasuke!" Sakura yelled at me.  

That's when I broke down. I ran out of the room, running to who knows where. It wasn't my fault. Sasuke told me to stay at the house. What happened to him wasn't my fault. I ran until something tripped me.

I looked behind and found that Isuke had hold of my foot with his small paws. "Princess, you must stop running. You could exhaust yourself and black out." He said. I stared at him as tears continued to fall down my cheeks.

"Princess, you're crying." Isuke noticed. I didn't respond as I continued to stare at him. "Did something happen?" He asked. I sat on my knees as I started crying, my hands in the dirt. "Princess, please tell me what's going on. I wish to help you." Isuke said as he rested his paw on my knee.

"Sasuke... He's in the hospital... and it's all because of me..." I said, sniffling. "Sasuke?" He repeated, confused. "Sakura said it's my fault why he's there. If I hadn't have shown up and got involved in Sasuke's life, he wouldn't be where he's at now." I said.

"Princess, you mustn't listen to Sakura. She's just upset. You know she's only trying to put you down." Isuke said as he climbed up my lap and licked away my tears. "But what if she's right? What if things would be different if I... if I didn't exist." I said, lowering my head a little.

"Don't say that, Princess! Nothing would've been the same if you didn't exist! If it weren't for you... If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gotten the chance to meet you. I wouldn't have had the chance to fall in love with you." Isuke said as he gazed at me.

I smiled sadly and hugged him. "I love you, too, Isuke. I love you, Sasori, and Sasuke. But maybe..." I trailed off, then shook my head. "Forget it." I said. I stood up as Isuke climbed on my head. "Where are we going, Princess?" He asked. 

"To my house." I answered before walking forward. I went to the area where my house was burned down. I walked through the debris, seeing nothing but black and burnt objects. My foot stepped on something, making a cracking sound.

It sounded like glass shattering. I moved my foot to the side so I could see what I had stepped on. It was picture of my mother and father with me in between them. I was happy then. I missed those days.

"I never meant to drive you away. I just... I just wanted to make you happy." I said as tears started to swell in my eyes. I quickly wiped my eyes with my arm before the tears could fall. "It's getting dark, Princess. We should head back to the house." Isuke said.

"Go on ahead. I'll catch up later. There's something I have to do first." I said. "Okay. But please be careful, Princess." He said before walking down the street to Sasuke's house. I, on the other hand, went back to the hospital.

"I'm sorry, miss. But visiting hours are closing soon." The nurse said. "I know, but may I please see Sasuke Uchiha one more time. Please? I promise, I'll make it quick." I pleaded. "Hmm... All right. But I'm only giving you five minutes." She said.

"I understand. It won't take me long. Thank you very much." I said to her as I bowed my head slightly before heading to Sasuke's room. Sasuke slept soundly as the light shade from the moon shined through the open window.

I approached his bed, then gazed down at him. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I should've bee there with you. I should've been there to help you. None of this would've happened if I had just been there." I said.

I grasped his hand with both hands as the emotions started getting the best of me. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Sasuke." I said, resting my head gently against his hand. "I don't want you to die. I promise, I'm going to find the person who did this to you. I won't let something like this happen to you again." I whispered as my body began to shake.

"Miss, time's up." The nurse said as she knocked on the door. "Okay." I replied. I wiped my eyes, then kissed Sasuke's forehead. I left the hospital, heading home. "Welcome back, Princess." Isuke greeted by the door.

"Hi, Isuke." I replied as I walked passed him. I went into Sasuke's room and noticed a bow and arrow lying against the wall.

"Isuke, did you make this?" I asked him. "Make what?" He asked as he hopped on my shoulder. I pointed at the weapon to show him what I was talking about. "No, Princess. I haven't even been in this room. I've been patiently waiting for your return in the living room." Isuke said.

"Orochimaru." I growled. I stomped over to the weapon, grabbed it, then threw it out the window. "I don't want your offering! Just leave me alone!" I yelled out the window, wanting Orochimaru to hear me.

I slammed the window shut before going back to the living room. "Princess, why does Orochimaru still assume you will join him?" Isuke asked. "I don't know. I don't want his offers. I just want him to leave me alone." I said before laying on the couch.

"Princess, you must rest your body. You're going to exhaust yourself." He said. "I don't care. I just want that snake to... to..." I trailed off as I started feeling lightheaded. My head started to feel dizzy.

"Please, Princess. Rest. I don't you to overdo anything in your body." Isuke said as I started to lie down on the couch. "But I have to... make sure Sasuke is... okay. I have to..." I said. I could feel myself losing consciousness fast.

Was I really that tired? I closed my eyes, falling asleep on the couch.

Isuke's POV

"Forgive me, Princess. But I didn't want to have to do this. You must rest." I said as my eyes changed from pink to red. I was making Princess sleep so she wouldn't have to exhaust herself. Once my princess was asleep, I grabbed a blanket off the coffee table, then hopped on the couch.

I draped the blanket over her, stopping near her shoulders. I must protect my princess at all cost. Sasori may be doing his own thing right now, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't look after my princess.

But what I don't understand is why Orochimaru still assumes Princess will join him. Unless... Princess still trust Orochimaru. No, that can't be. That's not my princess. I know she wouldn't do that. There's just no way.  

I jumped off the couch and headed to Sasuke's room. I went under the pillow, grabbing the wooden mannequin Sasori had given to my Princess. Sasuke has never seen this mannequin because Princess made sure he wouldn't.

My Princess can be shy when it comes to showing things to other people. I walked back to the living room and placed the wooden mannequin near Princess Miu's hand. "Sleep well, my Princess." I said, gently stroking her hair with my paw.

I truly love my Princess. I always want what's best for her. You could say I'm like a parent. But in this tiny form, it's almost impossible for me to protect her. But I still have to try. I will protect my Princess. No matter what.