Ruby entered the dark apartment, dropping his bag on the couch and flipping the lights on carelessly.
"I'm home, Sprout." he called down the hallway, assuming that since the other wasn't in any of the common areas he was in the bedroom.
After getting a drink from the Kitchen, he walked back to the bedroom to see if Sprout was there. Although he wasn't, Ruby did find a perfect charlotte sitting on the desk in front of the north-facing window. The ladyfingers were perfectly aligned, with five large, perfect berries crowning the top.
When Ruby walked closer, he saw that there was a note tucked under the plate. He slid it from between the two surfaces without disturbing the pastry, and unfolded it. What he saw written didn't make any sense.
You said even if you cried, nothing would change
You said even if you were gone, nothing would change
But then why are you crying?
Why are you closing your eyes as if this was the end?
Everything is in the past, now smile my baby
Ruby didn't remember getting in a fight anytime recently. He and Sprout had been on good terms. In fact, Sprout had just recently said yes to him. He also hadn't noticed anything being wrong with Sprout. He wondered, but kept reading.
Even though many people will leave you
I will stay with you forever
Even if many friends all leave you
I'll continue to stand here by your side
Baby don't cry, just give me your smile
Ruby knew something was wrong now. What was Sprout talking about? Had he been planning on leaving him? Was something going on with his friends? He still couldn't figure it out.
I already went through all this
Last night,
The good that I know about you
You knew the best.
But then why are you crying?
Ruby became more and more confused the more he read the note. Sprout usually wasn't like this, writing cryptic lines of poetry and leaving them next to offers of his baking. What's gotten into him?
Even though many people will leave you
I will stay with you forever
Even if many friends all leave you
I'll continue to stand here by your side
Baby don't cry, just give me your smile
The note was over with that. What reason would Ruby have to cry? Everything was going perfectly recently. He'd been happy and he and Sprout, with all of their friends, had shared a journey filled with fun and excitement. What was wrong? He was beginning to get frustrated, angry with Sprout. He wished he would have just waited until they could talk face to face again, then tell him what was going on.
Wait. Sprout had been off in Hoenn, so how did he even get here to leave this? Ruby could have smacked himself, he was so stupid. When did Sprout leave this, and was he still here somewhere? Visiting someone? Coming back to me later, with that same calm aura that always brought me comfort?
Ruby looked back at the dessert, then noticed there was a small reddish orb nearby on the desk, sitting perfectly still. He held it in his hand and noticed it was a pokéball.
He pressed the small button connecting the two halves, and the energy materialized into a Jirachi.
"Sprout left his Jirachi here? But why?"
The Pokémon drifted toward Ruby slowly, seeming depressed. Seeming like it knew something was wrong.
Ruby's heart sank. He looked back towards the window, remembering. And sure enough, he saw it, flowing slowly.
The sun sparkled on its surface, warming it, giving it life. Ruby felt the tears building up, because he knew what was wrong now. The note made sense now. His Jirachi. The trail of footprints leading into the warm water of the river.
He felt the first tear roll down his cheek, followed by a heavy sob. The Jirachi nudged Ruby, staying near him for the rest of the night, until there was a knock on the door the next afternoon.