-In which, Sakura thinks back to her confession while a certain someone is thinking of her

Yay! This is my . . . let's see . . . 21st fanfic and my 6th oneshot! Yay! This is loosely based on Ayumi Hamasaki's song of the same name. I don't really know why I did it. I just had an urge to do it, and I did. So . . . yeah, this isn't my best piece of work, but please enjoy it!

❤❀~BALLAD~❀❤

She woke up in the middle of a dream. Her eyelashes were wet. She remembered those words clearly, "Please don't go." Those words that didn't help at all…

Her growing feelings would never change, it would seem… Her respect and adoration were always unshakable.

She sighed at her stupidity as she rested her head back onto her pillow, but she couldn't forget him. The red sky at sunset always reminded her of him. It was distant (and perhaps even fiery and scarring), just like him. But unlike the sky, she couldn't see him every day. She couldn't watch him grow stronger. She couldn't spend even a moment with him.

When he left, it wasn't a dream that didn't want him to go, so she shouted "Please don't go!"

It had been so long since then… And yet, the memories don't disappear, and they don't increase. They were just as painful as they were back then. And so as to not cry, the only words she would allow herself to say were "I wish you'd stay with me."

Maybe . . . just by pretending to be strong… No, she shook her head. She could no longer hold on. She had to move on. But still even if she was holding down her feelings, her love couldn't be removed.

She looked out her window. Even if he hadn't intended to do so, the moonlight every night was her guide to him—the guide he gave her. His back was too far away, and she could no longer see it. Her cries, "Please stay with me," would not be heard.

✿｡.:**:.｡✿

For once, it wasn't raining. The sunset was really beautiful today. The red sky reminded him of her. It was tender, just like her.

When he had left, it wasn't a dream. She knew that too, and so she shouted, "Please don't go!"

The regrets continued to pile up. And the moonlight tonight, just as it is for every other night, is the irresistible guide back to her. But she was too far in his past. He didn't want to see her in pain any longer. Those sad words she cried… "Please stay with me." He could sometimes hear them.

And sometimes he would speak to himself . . . to her, "If only just for now, please forgive me…"