All my feelings broke in two,
And one day, you will notice they erase you,
When it grew out of your sight, the light was already caught in the night,

Listen, since the thread is still bound on to me,
You will see, it won't fall apart so easily,
We will meet sometime again, this is what promises are about,
No doubt...

+Our Let It Be-Hatsune Miku

(English Lyrics by JoyDreamer on YouTube)

'Why are you so determined to bring back someone who doesn't want to be here? It's not helping you reach your dream.'

'If I can't even save a friend, why do I deserve to become Hokage?'

I looked up at the sky; it was bright out, like usual. It rarely rained in the Hidden Leaf Village after all and it wasn't rain season. Why should I expect anything different?

Flashes of Sasuke, Sakura and I during the festivals popped into my mind and I wondered to myself at these things that were asked of me. Why wouldn't I go after him? My best friend, the one I considered a brother, my rival, my teammate; why not come to his aid when he's worth it? My dream is worth nothing if I can't achieve it with my friends.

And he is worth it. A little lost and a little dark, but there's a heart underneath and I know that there's more to him than he wants to admit. I know that he won't hurt anyone unless he deems it necessary. And it hurts me. It hurts me that he's in so much pain that he can't see how far he's strayed. That he can't see that no matter how far gone he is, he only has to turn around and we'll be right there. That we'll always be a step away and it's never too late. That he still has his chance and he always will, in my eyes.

But that's not important, because I'll never say it out loud; his pride is what keeps him from admitting his mistake. He doesn't know that darkness, anger, revenge, and hatred will only kill him in the end. He thinks he's getting stronger.

'You're smarter than that, Sasuke.'

'Come on, just come home.'

I think he's in too much pain to let himself see light. I think he thinks that he can't come back anymore, even if he wants to, subconsciously. I think he's emptier than ever. I think he needs a friend, even if it's not me.

I want him to come home, so, so much. I always tell him I'll take him by force, but the truth is, I won't. I want him to come back on his own. I wouldn't force him into it, otherwise it won't mean anything at all. And where would it leave us? More broken inside than ever and for what? My own heart's sake? I know better than to think just having him here will heal my broken heart. I know that he needs more to heal his own heart too.

The lights are so pretty in the village tonight and there's a great breeze blowing through the trees. It smells like freedom, but I want to cry. I'm too mixed up to know why. Am I happy? No… not quite right. But I'm not exactly sad. It's beautiful, the stars in the sky and the lanterns on the wires. The festival is starting and I should head to meet Sakura and the rest of the gang. It feels incomplete. It feels bittersweet.

'Can you see the stars tonight too, Sasuke?'

'Where are you right now?'

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'Are you crying too, Sasuke?'