Sayuka: ^^ Wow, I'm so surprised I even got ONE review…
Tsuki: o.o;
Sayuka: XD I'm having so much fun writing this!
Tsuki: uu; Yada, yada, yada…..on with the fic please!
Sayuka: O_O; OoOoOoO~! Bad mood…..
::Disclaimer:: Now, if I owned MK, I would be rich and famous…..XD But I'm not and I don't own it!
::Warnings:: Hmm….In this chapter….! I'm trying to put more Rio/Phil in and Tune too. *blinks* It seems that Tune just disappeared somewhere after chapter 2…u.u; Well, anyway here's the regular warning things: More yaoi ^-~ More Erts/Yu and….this is a mostly Rio/Phil in this chapter. Random Garu happiness…^^
::Dreams of Heaven::
"Garu!" Gareas continued to smile out the window, his fingers touching the glass lightly. "Goodbye…Ernest." Rioroute ran to his side, completely wide-eyed. "Garu, please tell me I did not just see Ernest with you. God, I'm hallucinating…" Gareas closed his eyes, a peaceful look on his face. "Rio…" Rio blinked and looked up from shaking his head. "What?" "We're brothers right?" Rio was slightly confused. "Of course we are. Always." "Then do this for me as my brother. Go talk to Phil." Rio was now very confused. "You want to talk to Phil?" If Gareas was annoyed, he hid it well. The last encounter with Ernest was still fresh in his mind. "Tell her…how you feel. You'll never know the pain if one day you are separated. It will be too late. I don't want it to be too late for you, Rio. Tell her."
Rio poked his head into the hangar for the Ingrids. He could see Phil working on Agui. Deciding to take a chance, he strolled over to her. "Phil," he squeaked. Phil spun around, eyes ablaze. She slammed the wrench down. "RIOROUTE VILGYNA!" Rio winced. Phil had an extremely loud voice. "Don't sneak up on me when I'm working!" she scolded, turning back to repairs. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "Well, what do you want? Are you hungry again?" she sighed, still sounding rather annoyed. "Actually…" Phil raised an eyebrow. Rio came to see her, and he wasn't hungry? This was new…
"No…I'm not afraid," Erts murmured, squeezing Yu. Yu closed his eyes. He had never really even bothered to connect with any of the other pilots, being that he just about never spoke. "Erts-san…" he whispered softly into Erts' soft hair. "Mm…" "I promise…to protect you." Erts looked up. "Yu…?" The dark-haired teen smiled vaguely. "I shall do it as a favor to Ernest…and myself." "But you…" Erts trailed off, his eyes large with concern. "Don't waste your life on me." Yu touched his face. "Waste? I do not think so. But also…Kazuhi…" He returned his gaze quickly to the small blond boy. "Erts-san, if I…" "Stop." Yu blinked. Erts covered his ears, tears running steadily. "Stop it. Don't start. I don't want to think that." Yu bowed his head. "Gomen nasai," he muttered. They fell into silence once again, holding each other.
Rio fidgeted nervously. "I kind of…well…" Phil tried hard not to look impatient, but it simply exploded from her. "Spit it out!" Rio looked away. "I just…wanted to talk to you." Phil blinked. "Ta…talk?" Rio nodded slowly. "Before I say anything that will break my heart," he muttered, "I want to know. Why are you always angry with me?" Break his heart…? The thought swirled through Phil's mind. The last thing she ever wanted was Rio hurt… Why did he have to be so dumb?! Angry tears leaked from her eyes. "WHY am I always angry?! Because you're such an idiot!" Rio flinched visibly. Those words were more painful than a dagger through his heart. "I'm sorry I asked," he mumbled before turning to leave. He halted at once when he heard Phil sniffle. "Phil…?" She turned away from him so he could not see her face. Oh god. He's right…I've hurt him. But I…I just can't fall in love with him. I can't! She trembled when Rio touched her shoulder. Her eyes widened when he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his head near her neck. It was forward of him, but he did not seem to mind. Although if she gets angry, it would probably cost him his life. Phil choked on a silent sob. "Stop…don't…touch me. I can't stand it when you touch me." The words were just barely audible. Rio squeezed his eyes shut and pulled away. "Sorry." He turned to leave.
Tune stood frozen in the hall. Gareas was standing not too far down, gazing out the window. She had seen it…or rather, HIM. She saw him…Ernest. Her lost hope of love flooded back to her. She was still…in love with him. Tears streaming, she ran in the opposite direction. She whispered silently, "Ernest…I know you love Gareas…" She choked back a sob. "But I still love you! Always…ever since we first met…" She recalled their "conversation" at his…funeral… Despite what she had told Erts, it wasn't true. She could never forget Ernest. She never will. "I love you…"
"Wait…" she whispered. Rio stopped in his tracks, but did not have the heart to look into her face again. "How could you…" she trembled, "be so…so reckless…?" This had to be the first time Phil had asked him that question without screaming at him or hitting him in the head. Rio twisted and turned the bottle of fizzed water in his hands nervously. He directed his gaze to the ground. "It's because…I…I worry about you…" Phil spun to face his downcast face. Her eyes were wide with amazement and disbelief. "Me?! Worried about me?! Why would you worry about me? Just look at what you've done to Agui! Why can't you think of YOURSELF out in battle? How do you think I would feel without you?!" Phil stopped short when she realized what she had said. Rio blinked in surprise. "I mean…how the others…" Phil mumbled. Rio was still obviously surprised, for he opened the bottle of water and it fizzed all over himself. His eyes were still wide and he did not seem to have noticed that he was all wet. Phil looked up blinking when she saw he was wet. "Rio! You're all wet! What did you do?!" She sighed. "Take off your shirt before you get sick." Rio stared at her when the words were out of her mouth. Phil turned away so he couldn't see her blush. She hastily grabbed a damp towel. When she turned to face him again, he was slowly removing the wet shirt. Rio hung it on the handrail, hoping it would not drip onto the people below. "I'll get it later," he muttered to himself. For a moment, they stared at each other, each a bright shade of red. Phil cleared her throat and slowly and reluctantly began to clean Rio so he would not be sticky. Rio blushed when the damp rag touched his skin. This could not have been happening. It must be a dream…
"Garu…?" Leena slowly reached out to touch his shoulder. Garu had a dreamy smile on his face. "Yes, Leena?" "Were you…talking to…?" "I am at peace. Ernest…he has told me…he will never leave me." His hand snaked up to his heart. "He will always be here." Leena smiled. Garu…was so happy now. Not the bitter happiness when he thought he had kissed "Ernest"* but this was true bliss. He was calm and relaxed, a surprising way to find Garu. Leena smiled again. "I'm so glad you're happy…"
"You're an idiot," Phil murmured as she ran the wet cloth over his well-toned body. She flushed at the thought. "You always…" Rio cleared his throat and blushed before he continued, "you always seem more concerned about Agui then me, Phil." Phil clutched the rag. "I have to make her stronger. Stronger in battle. Stronger…to keep you safe." Rio grabbed her wrist and gazed intently into her eyes. "What…are you saying? Phil, I have to tell you. I lo—" "Don't say it!" Phil jerked away and leaned heavily on the dashboard. Rio was hurt. "Why? Why can't I tell you?" "Because," Phil cried softly, "I might tell you…that I feel the same." "But that…that wouldn't be bad, Phil! Then we can be together!" "You don't understand!" she yelled at him, tears falling freely. "What if something happens to you out there in battle? I'll never be over you…I'll never forgive myself! You just don't understand! I don't want to be left alone! Agui…has to be strong." She covered her eyes and sobbed into them. "Alone…?" Rio took a step closer towards her. "Phil, you won't be alone if you let me love you." Phil shook her head violently. "No! I can't! I just can't love you!" Rio stopped in his tracks, visibly hurt. "Why not?" "Because you're such an idiot! You'll get yourself killed and I'll be left alone forever, knowing that I gave you my entire heart!" Rio's heart nearly stopped. "Is that why…you are always mad when I'm hurt and repairing Agui?" When she did not respond, Rio took another shaky step towards her. "Please don't come any closer. It's best if we just…stay apart," Phil murmured, swallowing her sobs bravely. For the first time, Rio ignored her. Instead of stopping, he went to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you, Phil. I can't change that. If you wonder why I always step in the way of VICTIM…it's to protect you. It just frightens me to think…that VICTIM gets so close to GIS and you…I have to get in the way. I have to stop VICTIM from getting to you." Phil struggled weakly, sobs breaking out again. "This is way I can't love you. You'll kill yourself for me!" Rio squeezed her harder. "There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, Phil. I don't care what happens to me as long as you are safe." Phil's tears rolled down Rio's bare chest. "I…no…can't…" She seemed to have given up. Tears continued to fall, but she pressed close to him. Tears sparked in Rio's eyes as well. "Phil…" He squeezed her tightly to make sure this was not a dream. This was real. To be honest, he could not tell reality from dreaming anymore. But this…this was HIS heaven.
Yu stroked the blond head. Erts sat closely to him. He needed comfort. "Was Ernest really…?" Yu muttered. Erts nodded slowly. "I could feel him." A smile appeared on his lips. "It seems, you were right. Ernest really is…an angel." "Never doubted it," Yu whispered gently.
"I love you, Phil." The words rang through her mind and was captured in her heart. Yet…still, she felt she could not love him. This sandy-haired, cute idiot of a pilot… She buried her face in his chest. "I…" "Do you…love me?" he dared to ask. "I do…but I don't know if I should…" "Phil, if I have a reason to live, then I promise you I WILL be careful…careful for you. I just want to know…" "I LOVE YOU!" she finally burst. "God, I love you more than anything. Just please…be careful…" Rio pressed his lips against hers for a feather-light kiss. "For you, anything."
~*~
Sayuka: TT^TT AH! Another overly dramatic chapter!
Tsuki: *sighs* Sorry about all the OOCness of Rio and Phil…
Sayuka: XP and sorry, no Teela…X_X; Personally…
Tsuki: uu; we think it's Teela's fault Ernest died
Sayuka: XD Yah! She *COULD* have stepped in sooner…
Tsuki: U_U; no one's to blame, really…
Sayuka: ; oi, da point is…it's not that we HATE Teela…
Tsuki: ; just kinda mad at her at the moment
Sayuka: o.o; Oooo….long chapter…..
Tsuki: _ _+ P.S. This is NOT the end….
Sayuka: ^-~ Promise!
~*~
*"Ernest"~
This is talking about when Garu was slightly delusional in thinking Erts was Ernest…uu;