"If I make another move, if I take another step, then it all would fall apart. There'd be nothing of me left. If I'm crying in the wind, if I'm crying in the night, will there ever be a way? Will my heart return to white? Can you tell me who you are? Can you tell me where I am? I've forgotten how to see; I've forgotten if I can. If I opened up my eyes there'd be no more going back, 'cause I'd throw it all away and it all would fade to black..." ~Touhou, Bad Apple.

-Sakura- Age 30-

The lady eyed me in curiosity, but didn't take it.

"You liked the useless cow that much?" she asked, surprised.

"What if I did?" I said, and eyed the black rose sticking out of her pocket.

"Hmph, a nice girl like you doesn't deserve a cow like him... go back to the real world to find a real husband," she said, signaling to take back my rose. I took my arm back, and glared at her.

"No one's going to replace Leo," I said wearily.

"Oh, so you're suggesting you stay here... the answer's no," she said, "Leave, sweetie. You'll benefit a lot more in the real world. Forget about Leo..." I looked behind me, and there was the fabricated world painting.

"The real world is right there... go on ahead..." she said in a eerie manner, but I wasn't going to leave Leo here.

"Never," I said. In one quick movement, she drew my rose from my pocket, and plucked another petal.

"Leave,"

"No..." I said, clutching my leg.

"Leave," yet another petal was plucked.

"Never..." I said, trying to remain standing and not crumple to the ground. I wanted to let all my anger out out on this woman...so I looked to the black rose in her pocket. I took a step forward, and two more were ripped off. I was still, and advanced forward until we were inches apart.

"Honey, I don't know what you're doing but it's the wrong thing to do," she said, and plucked another. There were five petals left, and I remained standing... I couldn't collapse, and I fighted the strong urge to. As fast as I could, I threw my fist at the woman's face and she dropped my rose. I took that quickly and drew the rose from her pocket. The black rose.

"What are you doing...?" she said, and extended her arm, as if I would give it back to her. I let all my anger out at once, and gripped the top of the rose and tore all the petals off. She screeched in pain, and fell to the ground. I threw the many petals at her, and black petals danced in the air and reached the ground. There was one petal left on the rose, and it was barely attached. Whoops, looks like I forgot one. She could barely move, and looked up to me.

"Please... Sakura... spare me..." she said, reaching up.

"I hope you rot in hell," I spat, and plucked the last petal off in disgust. I threw the bare stem at my feet, and looked behind me.

There was the "Fabricated world," waiting.

-Garry- Age 30-

"I can take your spot," Mary said, eyeing me in hatred. She slowly walked over to me, and I took a step back.

"Mary... you've lived long enough. Stay at home..." I said, but my confidence failed me.

"But I want to live," she said, looking at the ground.

"You have lived," I pointed out, "You've been living for a long time,"

"I want to live," She said, a bit louder, and I looked at Maria and Vivian behind her. They were looking at us, confused what was going on. Suddenly, Maria bursted into a sprint and I ran wherever I could I charged up the stairs and out of the door, and found myself in the sketchbook. I knew the which houses had dead ends, and I could only go to the plastic house. I ran inside, Mary following me, and I toppled over into the toybox. It was a long drop, and when I got to the bottom I hopped up, and made sure my rose was with me. I lost a few petals from the fall, but I had a sufficient amount left. I had thought Mary was going to follow me, but no one came. But in a slumbering heap, Leo was collapsed by the wall.

"Leo...?" I said, and went over to him.

"Leo... are you okay? Wake up!" I said and shook him, but his eyes remained closed. What had happened to him? I looked around, but there was nothing but toys in sight.

"Leo, come on! Wake up..." I said, and I couldn't accept the fact he was dead, and I wasn't there. I wanted to know what happened, but there was no evidence to what had happened.

"Leo..." I said, remembering how kind he'd been all this time. "Thank you..." I dug in my pocket, and took out my a small lemon candy. I took his hand and gently placed it inside his palm.

"I wish I could've saved you... I'm sorry," I said sadly, and got to my feet. "May god bless you,"

-Ib- Age 19-

I moved on from that room, back and around the bed, and advanced to the next room. There were two girls in the middle of the floor with drawing books.

"Hello?" I said slowly, wondering if this was bad or good. There was a brunette girl with a braid, and Maria was sitting there with her.

"Hi..." the brunette said shyly, and I instantly knew that these girls had to get out of this dump. Maria didn't belong here in the first place, and the other girl... I bet she just got lost here the same.

"Are you lost here?" I asked the brunette.

"Yeah... Mom took me here to see a big painting, but I ended up here. Are we ever going to get out?" she asked.

"We will..." I said quietly.

"Will I get out too? I've been here so long!" Maria said. I gave a weak smile and nodded.

"Follow me," I said, and they dropped their crayons and followed behind me as I went through another door and entered the dark gallery, and ran into Sakura.

"Ib?" she said, and hugged me.

"Sakura...!" I said, and threw my arms around her.

"Thank goodness your safe!" I said. She smiled, but that eventually disappeared.

"Where's Garry...?" I asked her, hoping she would know.

"I'm not sure..." she said, and the brunette behind me pepped up.

"Garry got chased by Mary," she said. "He ran out of here,"

"Really Vivian?" Sakura said, alarmed. Oh, her name was Vivian. But we had to go get Garry...who knew what kind of danger he was in...

"We have to find him..." I said, looking to Sakura.

"Wait a minute..." Sakura said, and turned to Vivian.

"Come here..." she said, and Maria and Vivian followed her to the Fabricated World. Sakura closed her eyes, and the frame came off.

"Jump Vivian!" she screamed, and Vivian hesitated for a second, then Sakura pushed her in. Maria followed her in, and there was a white flash and the frame was back on. Sakura took a breath of relief, and came over to me.

"Let's go get Garry now," she said.

"Alright, let's go,"

-Garry- Age 30-

I got to my feet and looked back at Leo one last time, and didn't think the guy deserved death... I advanced forward, and climbed up the stairs, but on the way I saw a bare stem with an orange petal next to it. Was this his rose? The petal was detached, but when I picked up the stem it was dangling from a final fiber. Yep... he was dead. The petal was completely detached from the rose... I took the rose and the few petals to him, and put them beside him and smiled weakly. There was a small puddle beside him, and I placed it there. I didn't know if it was water, tears, or anything really. It just kind of seemed appropriate.

"Thanks for everything, Leo..." I said, then advanced up the stairs. I walked up slowly, and at the top, Mary was waiting there for me... I figured. I eyed the staircase up, and wondered if that was Mary's room again. I didn't think that Mary noticed me, and she made her way up the stairs. Silently, I followed her and peeked around the corner to see what she was doing. There was a painting of a small boy with blonde hair in overalls chasing a butterfly. Mary collapsed in front of the painting and cried.

"I'm sorry Leo... I should've listened in the first place..." she said, and I looked to the painting. Was Leo a painting? The painting wasn't shattered at all, so I guessed he was a human lost in time. I looked to see if Mary's painting was there, and there was glass all over the floor. There were ashes everywhere, and no painting to be found. How had she resurrected then...? We may never know... I looked at the helpless girl cry, and she turned around and saw me.

"What are you doing here..." she said, and wiped tears from her face. There was a pile of ashes, and a palette knife laying on top. She took it, and advanced forward. I backed up a little, trying not to fall down the staircase behind me.

"I said what are you doing here!" she said, and ran. I turned around and ran, terrified of what would happen. I darted back towards the pink house, and ran into Sakura.

"Sakura?" I said, surprised.

"Garry?" Ib said, and she was standing next to her. I thought Ib was gone... what happened? I was so confused, but we had no time to think. I grabbed both of their arms and ran forward, and flew down the stairs. They ran by my side, and we entered the dark gallery. There was a hallway to the right, and we went down there, there was the bed, and a portrait at the very back.

"No! Don't go there!" Mary screamed and ran faster. We ran, I leaped over the bed, and looked at the painting. It was named, "Mary," just as before, and was shattered.

"STOP!" Mary screamed, and darted beside the bed, and an arm pushed her on the bed. She fell into a deep slumber as soon as she touched the strange leather mattress. Breathing hard, we eyed the painting.

"Burn it...?" Ib said, and I shook my head.

"Leave her off," I said. We were all breathing hard, and we made our way back from the bed, and eventually approached the Fabricated World.

-Sakura- Age 20-

We approached the large mural called, "Fabricated World,". It depicted the former gallery, and everything was white. There was a golden frame around the large mural, and we all held hands as the frame came off. We all eyed each other, than nodded. We all took a step back, ran up, than jumped, except I took an abrupt stop when I heard a familiar voice.

"Sakura..." I stopped in my tracks and looked to the left. Ib and Garry were in, and were alarmed that I stopped.

"Sakura! What are you doing!? Come on!" Ib yelled.

"Leo...?" I said, and looked at him, standing there.

"There's no way we can get out together..." He said, staring at the floor.

"Sakura! Jump in! HURRY!" Ib screamed.

"Come on Sakura!" Garry shouted, but I couldn't hear them. Leo was standing in front of me.

"I was wondering if you could stay here..." he said. I widened my eyes, as that was what I wanted.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Ib screamed, but it passed my mind that she was speaking.

"With me... forever," he said, and extended his arm. I blinked and took a step forward.

"You mean... we can stay here, together, forever?" I asked.

"But of course... just take my hand," he said, offering his hand.

"SAKURA!" Ib and Garry screamed at the same time.

"Sakura, stay here with me..." Leo said. I lifted my arm to take his hand, but stopped when I head Ib and Garry's screams.

"SAKURA DON'T GET TRAPPED HERE AGAIN!" they screamed. I looked to them, and heard Leo's voice again.

"Sakura... you won't leave me... alone, will you?" Leo said.

"You can get out with us now! Jump in!" I said to Leo, and he backed up.

"I can't, Sakura..." he said. "This is my home..."

"Sakura... Please come home!" Ib said in a despair of agony.

"Leo... I'll stay here with you... always," I said, and took his hand. He smiled at me, but there was something different about his eyes. They weren't bright deep hazel, they were a strange dull hazel.

"NO SAKURA!" Garry cried, and I stopped. Didn't Leo die? How was he resurrected? Should I care?

"Sakura, come on..." Leo said, and I looked back to him, but his eyes weren't glinting like they normally did.

"Sakura... please..." Ib said, and extended her arm.

"Sakura... I have so many things we can do here..." Leo said. "I just want you to be happy..." I froze. Leo... he wouldn't let me stay because I wouldn't be happy here... what's with the random change?

"I'm sorry..." I said, and whipped around and grabbed Ib's hand.

"Sakura!" Ib said, and threw her arms around me as there was a bright flash and a tingly feeling.

-Garry- Age 30-

I opened my eyes, and I was floating in a black space with the Fabricated World mural on one side, and Ib on the other. In front of me, there was a man in a white shirt with messy blonde hair.

"Wh-who are you?" I said.

"I'm Weiss ... and I'm making you an offer," he said, and I widened my eyes at the artist.

"Guertena?" I said, and he smiled gently, but sadly.

"Yes... however, my world has defeated its purpose... and now you have a choice," he said. I looked up to him curiously.

"I'm giving you permission to burn it," he said. Confused, and looked back up at him.

"Burn it?" I asked.

"Burn the bridge between my fabricated world and the Earth," he said, "So no one can ever live the nightmare again,"

"Why me?" I asked.

"You have the lighter, son," he said.

"Is there a catch?" I asked, cautious and afraid it would cost my life.

"No, you don't have to sacrifice your life," he said, reading my mind. "If you burn it... you will forget all about it. The people you have met there, what you've seen there, and you can live a normal life,"

"If I burn it... does that mean... Ib and I would've never met...?!" I asked.

"I'm afraid..." he said. "But think about it... if you burn it, think about all the people you might safe from your nightmare..." I thought about that, then thought about Ib. All the times... the wedding... the macarons... the roses... would be gone. We would've never met...

"I know you two are close... but this is a sacrifice that is your choice. Take it or leave it..." he said. This was the hardest decision of my life... doing what was right, against losing someone I deeply cared about.

"How long do I have to decide?" I asked.

"You must decide now..." There was a lighter on one side of me and Ib on the other. I looked both ways, and closed my eyes. What to do... I thought about all the memories I would forget about Ib... helping at the art shop... Maria chasing us, laughing... happy... She was the only person of worth in my life. The only one.

"Ib!" I cried, and ran to her, then put my arms around her. Everything turned white, and I slowly faded white as well. We awoke in the white gallery, and I was holding hands with Ib. She opened her eyes, and looked up at me.

"We did it, Garry," she said, and I threw my arms around her, thankful I remembered. I would never do anything to keep her... She put her arms around me, and we turned to Sakura.

"We got out safely! Yes!" she said, and gave Ib a hug. We walked around the corner, and there was a large painting on the wall of a woman with long platinum blond hair, and she was licking a dark black rose and appeared to be glaring at someone.

"Who's this? She seems..." Sakura said, "Terrifying..."

"I'm not quite sure..." Ib said, and looked back at the painting. She was pale, and her extremely long eyelashes and deep red lips made her look unreal. She was wearing a long red fluffy dress, and her eyes looked kind of looked like they were focused on Sakura.

"It's kind of creeping me out..." Sakura said, starting to walk away. Ib and I followed her, and left the museum. We were right in front of the museum, and breathed in fresh air once again. It was late evening, and we all waved goodbye to each other and left. I took the bus to my house, and Ib and Sakura made their way to their own apartments. I got off the bus and walked down the block to my house, and plopped down in bed after changing and dozed off into a dreamless slumber.

-Ib- Age 19-

I came to our apartment, and Sakura followed. Changed quickly and fell into bed. We were so exhausted and happy at the same time. We closed our eyes and slept peacefully.

The next morning, I got up early, got changed, and walked to the art shop. But before I left I noticed a gift bag by the door. There was a small note on it, and I read it carefully.

"You left this at home, honey. Go change the world!" it read, and I smiled at the handwritten note and I placed it on the fridge. I looked inside the gift bag, and there was a long rectangle inside. I almost forgot... I didn't know what today was, but I'd ought to take it to him. I walked along the frigid streets to the art shop, and waited at the door until Garry arrived. Not long after, Garry arrived and unlocked the door, and we let ourselves into the warm art shop. We went to the back, and without saying a word, Garry took out a circle box with a bow on it. I smiled and handed him my gift, and I took mine. I tore off the ribbon and carefully opened the box, and there was a beautiful red scarf inside, just like the one on my uniform. I looked at Garry, and he was looking at me, smiling. I took the scarf and wrapped it around my neck, and Garry took his new watch and put it around his wrist. We looked at each other of a few seconds, then tackled each other into a passionate hug.

-Sakura- Age 20-

I woke up, and made breakfast and called Ib over, but no one came. I looked into her room, and no one was there. She probably woke up early to see Garry. I ate eggs and the pancakes that I made, and put some in a fridge for Ib later. I decided I better head to the art shop as well, and I went to my closet and picked out some warm clothes. I went to the bathroom and soaked in some warm water, and got dressed. I took my furry jacket and wrapped it around me, then took my hat and put it on. I dug around for my gloves, and put them on. It was very chilly outside, after all. I didn't quite know what day it was, and I guessed it was maybe a few days after Christmas, maybe New Year. I was walking to the door to head to the art shop, when there was an unexpected knocking on the door. Slowly, I walked over and opened the door, and froze.

"Good morning, Sakura," I blinked, then dove into his arms, and we shared a passionate kiss.

"Good morning, Leo,"

-Epilogue-

-Ib- Age 26-

I sat down and smiled as the crowd buzzed with excitement. Garry was sitting beside me, and we watched as Sakura walked down the aisle. She looked fantastic... not too much makeup, which I tried to tell her to hold back on, and her dark black hair hung down loosely and was blown back gently by the spring wind. Leo was waiting there at the end, and the man was standing there with a bible. He muttered some prayers, and many things that no one really cared about.

"Sir, Leo. Do you accept Sakura as your beloved wife?" He asked, finally.

"I do," he said and smiled.

"Miss Sakura, do you accept Leo as your husband?" he asked.

"I do," she said, and returned the smile.

"You may kiss the bride," he said, and Leo took Sakura's hands, and slowly, their lips came into contact; it was the most beautiful kiss I'd ever seen in my life. Everything was silent, there were butterflies fluttering around, Sakura and Leo were happy, and Garry and I were here, watching. When Sakura slowly opened her eyes, Leo put his arm around her and everyone cheered. I smiled at Garry, and we clapped together at the sight. Sakura had a wide smile I bet she couldn't take off her face, and Leo had a gentle smile. Sakura's mother and father were there, hugging each other and crying at the beautiful sight... Sakura was a married woman now. Then, Sakura let go of Leo and went behind the podium to get something, and Garry and I eyed each other, wondering what she could be getting. He checked the time on his watch, and we looked back to the podium. I started to tinker with my red scarf, as Sakura came back up with something wrapped in paper. She smiled as she unwrapped it, and it was a large bouquet of flowers. She whispered something to Leo, and he sniffed it and smiled. She turned around and chucked it behind her, and everyone put their hands up. Surprisingly, Garry and I dove for it at the same time, and caught it, hands together. The bouquet was beautiful, and we inhaled the scent of beautiful white roses.

Hey guys. Thank every single one of you for reading and reviewing. I probably wouldn't of had the motivation to do this without your guys' support. Thank you all so much. I even said before I updated the first chapter that I might abandon this one day! If you read that before it was updated. I can't thank all you guys enough, and you guys were the best. Everyone that read this, it will be updated many many more, as some of the chapters are kind of... let's say... bad. There will also be more events added, and lots more to read! This fic might have reached the end, but stop by now and then to read some updated chapters! I thank every single one of you that favorited, followed and reviewed!

Everyone... keep reading fics and keep being awesome.

~Sxphyre