The very, very last part. Really. Unless either Erin-neesama or I or both of us wind up writing a lemon branching off the fic. Which both of us are seriously considering. ^_^ I've already SEEN pieces of hers, so...
WARNINGS:
Shounen ai. And anime/manga/me universes. And dead people. ^^
Hopefully, this piece will make you feel better about the depression in the last piece. ^_~
SEDIMENTARY PERCUSSION
EPILOGUE: Finale
by Kay Willow
Gareas waited until even he could tell that Erts' presence -- so eerily similar to Ernest's, and yet so completely different -- had faded away. Once he was sure that the boy was gone, he rearranged himself on the bed and commented out loud, "You weren't kidding when you told me that your kid brother was messed up."
Instantly, the genuine presence made itself known. ::I never told you any such thing, Garu.::
If his contact had weakened at all, it wasn't noticeable to Garu's diminished EX. The images that sparked in his mind were as bright and rapid as ever, and the sense that Ernest was THERE with him remained strong. He could almost lie to himself and pretend that Ernest was still alive.
But he wasn't that pathetic. Nor that cruel.
"You did so."
::I would never,:: asserted Ernest, seeming amused. ::I have a very good memory, Gareas, and it never happened.::
"Well, you would've been right if you had," he groused, receiving an impression of laughter in return. "Broadcasting all over the place like that..."
::Oh, you can forgive him for THAT, can't you? He was excited!::
"YOU never broadcasted--"
::YOU broadcast all the time, and EVERYTHING. There will be no accusing my brother of being a black kettle, Pot-san...::
Gareas heaved a sigh. "And now you're mangling quotes in addition to making irrelevant points."
Ernest hadn't told him why his spirit had lingered, although he'd asked almost the first thing. His only answer had been a distinctly unhelpful comment about death being a relative term in times like these, and he got the distinct feeling that if Ernest had been physically present he would've been looking sideways. When he'd pressed the issue, he'd only gotten the even-less-helpful response that Dr. Kuro had some very interesting theories and if he really wanted to know maybe he should ask HIM.
That wasn't even a feasible option, so Garu had let the matter drop.
Wistfully, Ernest asked him, ::Do you think he's going to be okay?::
"I'm no psychologist. I don't know." He shifted uncomfortably. "You're the one who goes rooting around inside other people's heads; why don't you go find out for yourself?"
::I don't think...:: Ernest was silent for so long that Garu almost wondered if he'd left, and realized somewhat belatedly that what he'd said could be considered offensive. But Ernest was too accustomed to him to be hurt by something so simple, and the contact resumed again momentarily with a quiet, ::I don't think he would find any peace in the knowledge that I lingered.::
"What? He'd think you were in pain? Or that you weren't happy? Correct him." Gareas snorted. "You didn't hesitate to correct me."
::That's different. You're always wrong anyway.:: A gentle nudge. ::But I think that if he knew I was still around, he might assume that it was because I didn't trust him to do his job, or because he was afraid that I would be watching him and criticizing him...::
Garu stiffened. "Well, he doesn't know you very well, does he?"
::How could he?:: Ernest responded pointedly, shooting down Garu's insults before he could even voice them. ::We were only occasionally allowed to see each other during my Candidacy, and once I became a Pilot I was only at GOA for a few days out of every year. Our only contact was mental, and two trained telepathists can hide a lot of things from each other.::
There wasn't much to say to that. Being Gareas, he added anyway, "That's your excuse for hiding from your brother when I'm talking to him?"
More laughter. He wondered why humans could ignore something so simple as a sound like that while it was readily available, only to miss it once the source was gone. ::But you DID talk to him, didn't you, Garu?:: he teased. ::You were worried about him and you wanted to help him. You INSISTED on staying awake until he went to sleep, even though I offered to help you. You're a softy in spite of yourself.::
"I am NOT," he protested, but mildly.
::Thank you.:: Warmth touched him, appreciation and gratitude and something that it had taken him much, much too long to recognize as love. ::For looking after him.::
"It's the least I can do," Gareas grumbled. "Helping hook him up with HIS clueless moron is as close as I'll ever get to happiness."
The moment the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back. WHY did he keep saying such stupid things?
Sure enough, Ernest answered with a faded sending, ::I'm sorry, Garu. But... there's nothing I can do about that now.::
Garu closed his eyes. "Erts isn't going to make the same mistake. That'll just have to be enough until we get to be together again, naa?"
Ernest gave him a mental poke in a sensitive region of his mind; he flinched as though it had been a physical gesture as the telepathist warned him, ::You'd better not still be nursing that death wish, Garu. I'm warning you: if you kill yourself, I'll make you regret it for the rest of your afterlife. My death will have been totally pointless if you go on to commit tactical suicide, and I don't love you THAT much.::
Gareas grinned. "Yes, you do. Why are you still here?"
::Go to sleep, you great fool.::
"You'll stay, won't you?"
::Of course. No matter how long it takes.::
That same contact that had supported him for so long soothed away his
concerns and controls and brought him peace in waves, but the real peace
he found simply in the thought that Ernest would be there, watching over
him, waiting for him. Even in times like these, when life was short and
filled with dangers and uncertainties, it was reassuring to know that,
in spite of it all, the things that were meant to be could not be denied.
~das ende~
Dedications go to Erin-neesama and Li-san, for pre-reading and encouragement, and Ryan-san, for adoring feedback and "DO IT, POBRECITO!", and Swythangel-san, because I just thought "Juxtaposition" was terribly cool. >D Although the idea for a lingering Ernest was NOT taken from that fic -- Erin-neesama suggested it, and actually our Theory as to the past/future of the MK universe DOES at least peripherally support that possibility -- it was still damn cool, and that was the inspiration for me to write stuff of my own for MK, as opposed to what I usually do: THINK about writing stuff, and then never actually do so unless seized instantaneously by the urge. And my sister, because she's building me layouts for a webpage I'm planning on making in regards to MK. ^_^ Look for it soon~.
Zero and Erts and Garu and Ernest and everybody else belong to Yukiru Sugisaki. So do I. >D She kicks my ass, and I love her for it. She's my God. This is but a humble work of tribute.
--Kay Willow, done now, and returning to her translations of the manga
AIM: Savinsilk
Erts: Fighting, and fighting through this...
I don't feel that we're near the "end" so soon.
Zero: Well, that's only natural!
Even once we've won, it won't be the "end"!
We'll go down to Zion and live on the planet!
What we stand before is a "beginning"!
--Erts and Zero, towards the end
of Myth 14, which I've translated.
It still boggles my
mind that the Inspirational Message here comes
from ZERO. I mean...
Zero! ^^
