The figure in the corner of the room was watching the young man sleeping. It hurt to know that he could no longer be there for the person he cared for, to hold and love him like he always wanted to. The ghostly figure of Ernest walked out of the shadows and over to where Garu was sleeping quietly.
"Garu...," he spoke softly, even knowing he couldn't hear him. His hand caressed his face.
It had been hard on Ernest watching Garu going though life while trying to accept that fact that he had lost one of his closest friends. He sometimes wished he could turn back time and try to fix the mistake he had made back then. He wanted to cry, but ghosts couldn't cry as they weren't alive; there was no warmth in a ghost, nothing but emptiness.
"Garu, if I had known what was going to happen, I would have told you how I felt, maybe things would have turned out differently then how it is now. If I had told you those three words...if you had accepted that fact, would things be different?" he kept asking the sleeping figure.
He wished that Garu could answer him, give him some comfort that this could have been different, but he couldn't live in a dream world, as much as he wanted to. The hard truth of how he died came rushing back into his mind, flashes of Garu's reaction to it.
flashback
The green haired boy couldn't believe what had just happened, he couldn't accept the fact that his best friend had just died for him. The other pilots were hurting inside and talking about how they also couldn't accept that fact that Ernest has gone. Garu couldn't hold it in.
"This can't be real!" he shouted with tears forming in his eyes. "I was the one to die! It was me!" He fell to his knees, pounding the ground with his hand, whispering now, "But still..." A single tear slipped from his eye.
end flashback
"Gareas!" Ernest shouted out, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I've put you through so much pain, I wish I could make you forget me, I cannot stand you living like you are now, I miss your smile. Why does reality have to be so cruel to the ones I care about!" he sobbed, wishing he could really cry.
"Ernest..." the figure whispered softly in his sleep, one hand grasping the sheets on his bed, where the blonde's hand also was. Ernest was slightly shocked as Garu called out his name in his sleep; was he dreaming about him, or was it perhaps because he could feel the presence of him in the room? Whatever the reason was, it had touched him.
"Garu..." He leaned in closer to whisper in his ear, "I've always wanted to tell you, but I could never find the courage until now...for the longest time Garu...I've always loved you..." The words finally slipped from his mouth. He wished he could know what Garu would have said to him, but just knowing he had told him lifted his spirits.
The night was coming to its end as the clock on the bedside table ticked the time away. The blonde knew he should leave, and got up slightly. "Garu, no matter how much time passes I promise I'll always be watching over you, till we once again can be together," he said, speaking softly again. As he finished his vow to his friend he lightly brushed his lips over Garu's in a soft kiss, then slowly a light appeared to take him back. As he was being carried away, he whispered one last time,
"Sayonara Garu, aishiteru..."
And for the first time, the ghost shed its tears.