Karkat was in another dream bubble. It was unfamiliar, and obviously not his. He was standing in the middle of a forest, and an antlered lusus wandered past him. Suddenly, as though he had known it the whole time, he realized where he was, and who's dream bubble he was in. looking around, he murmured, "Nepeta?"
"You found me!" came a very excited purr. Karkat turned around to see Nepeta, her white eyes gleaming with excitement. "It's just too bad I'm dead," she added with a sad little smile.
"Nepeta, I have to talk to you," said Karkat.
"What's wrong?" asked Nepeta, concerned.
"It's just...Nepeta..." He glanced at her nervously, " I... I think I have...flushed feelings for you." Karkat just stared at his feet.
Nepeta looked stunned. "Karkat...are...don't..." she stuttered, "Don't give me false hope."
"No, I really do!" Karkat was getting frustrated that Nepeta didn't think he was telling the truth.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Nepeta took a horrified step backwards. "Not again!" She gave him a pleading look. "Please, Karcat, don't do this to me again."
Karkat put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'll treat you better this time, I...I purromise."
"Karcat..." Nepeta looked him full in the face. "It's not about how you treated me. It's that you couldn't save me, or anyone. You got my hopes up, and then you let us all down."
Karkat took an angry step forward and said, "I didn't know where you were! I thought Equius was going to keep you safe. I was looking for Gamzee, I promise. It's just..." he looked down, his anger fading quicker than usual, "I didn't find him in time." He looked back up at her. "You have no idea how much I regret everyone's deaths."
"I understand that," said Nepeta kindly, "but you need to understand me. I've been dead for a while now."
"I know, I know."
"But I still have nightmeowres."
"About...about Gamzee?" Karkat asked, uncharacteristically quiet.
"I just see him," said Nepeta in a pained voice, "and I feel those clubs. And all I think about is how my knight couldn't save me."
"Nepeta, I would die a thousand times in order for you to be saved."
"Karcat," said Nepeta, smiling a little, "You did die a thousand times, but you didn't save me once."
Karkat looked down again and mumbled, "My best wasn't good enough. I know I don't say this very often, but I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't turn the clock back, so stop chasing me," said Nepeta flatly. "This cat has run out of lives. Go find someone else and let me stay dead."
"Nepeta..." Karkat said, slightly taken aback.
"Okay?"
"I...But..." Karkat looked at her resolute face and said, "Okay. I'll leave you be if it'll make you happy."
Nepeta smiled brightly at him again. "It's okay, Karkitty. Just remember you still have important things to do. So don't give up. Don't give up like I did."
"Okay," said Karkat, smiling for the first time in what seemed like forever, "You're right, I won't."
"Goodbye, Karkitty, and be happy."
"Goodbye, Nepeta. Try and find Equius."
As Karkat turned away from her and started walking away, Nepeta's grin faded. Karkat didn't know it, but death had turned Nepeta bitter. "Be happy, Karkitty," she whispered as he faded away into the waking world, "Even if it KILLS you."