Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It's been a long time now, the last time Howard had a day out of bed, without wincing in pain. Breathing was getting more and more harder to do, his voice a constant wheeze, his vision more and more blurred... The old rabbit knew he wasn't long for this world now.
He still took his time, for how much his energy allowed, to pay a visit to his old friend: a long dead but still youthful energetic ghost owl named Barnaby, who had a constant goofy smile on his face and was always eager to welcome him with the best tea and a story to tell.

Howard treasured those moments with the ghost, smiling along as his host recalled anecdotes about his death. He could hardly remember how long he had known the owl, if it had been a year or a decade: they were so close, Howard could swear they’ve been friends since he was born.

"My dear friend" he'd started one day "Pardon me if I sound impolite for asking, but I can't help but wonder. You seem to have such a fascination about death, I've lost count of how many ways you described how one can die. How come you didn't do anything back when I came here the first time?"

To such a question, the owl covered his beak with a wing to hide his chuckle. "Hoo-hoo-hoo-howard, I thought it was obvious! I figured you weren't long for this world, so I'm just letting time take its course!"

Howard nearly choked on his tea after that revelation, most of all for how candidly morbid it sounded.

"Oh... is that so?", he responded slowly, not sure how to take it. So, maybe it wasn’t even a year ago…

At least Barnaby seemed to take notice of Howard's reaction, because he quickly added: "But-but that's ok! Because in the meantime I got to know you! I swear I've never had a guest who listened to my stories with so much interest, even though I've never had a guest in a long time! SO! Your friendship means a lot to me!" he concluded with an awkward smile.

Howard looked at him, and he smiled back: the more he looked at Barnaby, the more he was reminded of his earlier days, back when he was a young bunny, struggling to make friends without screwing things up by saying the wrong thing.
And with the ghost owl living on his own, who wasn't used to company, he could tell, Howard really appreciated how much effort he was putting in their afternoon meetings. In his old, lonely life, Barnaby's company was a breath of fresh air that ironically made him feel alive again.

'And I don't have a lot of life left ahead of me', Howard thought with a sad smile, looking at the tea.

"...and he said 'My favorites are booberries'! Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!~ Wasn't that funny, Howard?" Barnaby's cheery laughter distracted him from his thoughts.

"Hm?! Oh, ah, yes, it is funny.", Howard chuckled faintly, not sure what the source of the punchline was. Barnaby didn't pay much mind to it.

"It really is! Especially because, you know, booberries are-"

"Actually, Barnaby..." Howard interrupted the owl before he could continue, failing to stop a coughing fit. "There's... there's something I wanted to tell you."

He silently gulped: despite having mostly come to terms with it, he knew it wasn't going to be easy to tell to his only friend.

Barnaby quickly perked up. "Ooooh, really? What is it? I'm ready to hear it, I'm all eyes and ears!" and his eyes and ears grew bigger in size as he leaned forward to listen.

Howard sighed, trying his best to ready himself for what he was going to say.

"Barnaby... I just wanted to tell you... My life, these past few years, hasn't been easy. I've seen all my friends move on without me. I have no relatives. Everyday I felt my bones growing weaker and frailer. All the activities that brought me joy, like gardening, strolling, singing have become harder to continue due to my condition. For the longest time, I wasn't able to look forward to even facing tomorrow."

"But then I met you, Barnaby. You know, it's funny: once, I would have never predicted a ghost would've been able to bring so much life to someone. And yet, that's what you did to me: in all my days, I've never met someone as, for lack of a better term, so full of life like you are, Barnaby.You always had a story to tell, so many items to show me, and every time I came, you made sure to give me my favorite tea and treats. It may not sound like much, but it meant so much to me, and..."

Howard took a moment to open his eyes, and was met with a scary sight: the ghost owl had started melting, from his feathers to his very eyes; on his face, a wobbly frown.

"GOODNESS! BARNABY, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?! YOU'RE-"

Howard had barely started panicking that he felt himself covered in a gooey yet warm hug, from his melting host himself.

"OH, HOWARD!" he heard Barnaby, his voice sounding like a joyful wail. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME! I JUST TRIED BEING A GOOD HOST, AND KNOWING IT BROUGHT YOU SO MUCH JOY...! I...!!"

And he kept holding Howard tight as he happily melted and sobbed, leaving the old rabbit at loss for words. He genuinely thought he somehow hurt his best friend! Relaxing a little, he tried his best to hug Barnaby back, holding him as long as he could. He still felt worry in his heart: if this was Barnaby's reaction after such compliments, Howard feared for what could've happened next.

Slowly, he parted from Barnaby, looking at him while the owl was trying, to little avail, to compose himself. This was it...

"Which is why... this is going to be so painful for me to say...". Howard sighed, Barnaby looked at him worried.

"Howard?"

"Barnaby, I'm afraid... I'm not long for this world, anymore. I feel myself growing weaker and weaker, and in a few days, my time will come."

Barnaby looked at him in surprise. "You mean-?!"

Howard closed his eyes.

"Yes... Barnaby. I'll be dying soon. I... I wanted you to know. I wanted to spare you these news, but I didn't want you to think of me as cruel if I stopped coming to you-"

"Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Howard! These are AMAZING news!"

Howard stopped mid sentence, blinking in confusion, wondering if he heard right.

"Pardon?!"

Barnaby kept laughing, fluttering his wings in excitement, he just couldn't control his joy as he shouted to the ghosts around him

"Everyone! Have you heard?! HOWARD IS DYING!"

Every single spirit around started shouting and whooping in happiness at such words.

Howard stared at Barnaby: just... how???

"Barnaby, I believe I have to be clear, here: I. am. dying. Why are you cheering about it?!"

Barnaby stopped to look at Howard, his grin never fading.

"These ARE good news, Howard! You are dying! And the moment you do, you'll be dead! A ghost! And you'll get to stay here!"

Howard's eyes grew larger at that info.

"A... A ghost?"

"Yes, a ghost!" Barnaby repeated cheerfully. "All of my best parties are for the dead! They all come here to have a good time! And YOU, Howard, will be dead soon! There's no need for you to worry about not being able to see me anymore! You'll get to stay here forever as your new home, with me! You'll be the guest of honor and have the best celebration you'll EVER HAVE! OOOOH, I'M GETTING SO EXCITED I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!"

As Barnaby paced around the room in his joy, Howard took the chance to think about it. Truthfully, he had no idea, nor proof, if Barnaby's prediction would've come to fruition. He knew little about his friend's past, or how he became a ghost. Everytime he asked; Barnaby, the owl just deflected the question awkwardly by changing subject, as if not even he knew the answer to that. And those many orange ghosts in the mansion bore little to no resemblance to any person he met during his life. While he definitely wished it were true, and spend the rest of his undead eternity with Barnaby, he also didn't want to give his friend a false sense of hope. Not after he displayed so much joy about his imminent death. For how morbid that sounded, Howard admitted it was sweet.

"Barnaby. I'm honored. I’m truly flattered to know you’d welcome me to your home. But, I must admit, I do have my worries: how can you be sure it will happen?”

Barnaby looked at him, frowning a bit.

“Howard, I’m appalled! I thought you liked it here!”

Howard quickly replied. “Oh, no no no no my friend! That’s not what I meant! I’m just not sure… How do you know I’ll become a ghost?”

Barnaby quickly changed expression, giggling a bit.

“Oh Howard, of course I know! That’s how it works! I mean, look at me! Aren’t I dead? Come on, come on, guess~..."

Howard couldn’t help but smile: only Barnaby could find the fun in something as dreadful as death, which almost made him a bit less worried about it.

“You are?”

"EXACTLY! See?? That’s enough proof for you, hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!” he concluded with a laugh.

Howard chuckled along for a bit, then got serious again.

“I guess you are right. Though, what if it’s not going to work? My friend, I just don’t want to go… without saying goodbye.”

Barnaby deflated, feeling a bit dejected that his own friend wasn’t able to believe him. Anyone who dies becomes a ghost, do they not? He died, he became a ghost! Simple as that! Ok, sure, he wasn’t sure HOW he died, but that was beside the point: he was dead, he was a ghost, he was surrounded by ghosts like him, it just made sense! And he’d show Howard!

“Ok, Mr. Doubtypants! Tell you what? I have a proposition for you~!”, he cheerfully asked as he absentmindedly started playing with Howard's ears with his talons.

Howard looked at him, a bit unsure. “I’m listening?”.

“Ok ok, so! You’re going to die in a few days, right? So, here’s what we can do! The moment you KNOW you’ll die, you’ll come here and die as I stay with you! I’ll get everything ready for your arrival, and I’ll keep watching all the way! So you WILL see that I’m right, and we’ll get ready to make your new 'life' as comfortable as possible!”

Howard looked at Barnaby, who was sorting a large grin: he REALLY believed it could’ve worked… The old rabbit still thought it was all going to end in tears, but, then again, what other choice did he have? None, other than dying all alone in his own empty house. And if he accepted Barnaby’s proposition… if nothing else he could’ve spent his last moments with his best friend. Not a bad prospect, all in all. Taking a breath, he looked at Barnaby.

“Very well, Barnaby. I’ll take you on that offer.”

Barnaby shouted in cheer. “Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo~! It settled then! Ooooh, Howard, please let me know when you’re ready! I just can’t wait for that day to come! There’s so much I’ll have to prepare! A cake 3 stories high, streamers everywhere, a giant room all of your own, a garden for your flowers-Oooooh, so much to do, so much to do!~”

Howard, too old to keep up with his friend’s enthusiasm, only chuckled at how much Barnaby began fussing about all the preparations. He still had some reservations about the whole plan, but at least he knew his death was going to be in good hands. Hopefully, what Barnaby told him would’ve come true.

But, just in case…

Howard slowly took a pen and some paper and started writing, only stopping once in a while because of a coughing fit. He didn’t have much time, but he hoped it would be worth it… for Barnaby’s sake.

Chapter Text

Two weeks passed ever since Howard came to Barnaby's. He'd offered to come to the mansion to have another meeting before the "big day", or at least help with the preparations; but the ghost owl wouldn't hear any of it: you just don't spoil yourself the surprise before it's due! "A party golden rule", he'd say with a tut. So Howard had to comply with a smile, not wanting to get in the way of the work in progress.

That meant he had had to stay at home almost all the time, save from how little strolling he was able to do outside. Staying inside the walls of his house while sick was't exactly the ideal way to wait for your own demise: that's why Howard, anytime he felt the energy to move around, took the time to clean around and tidy up his own items, like his favorite teapots, flower pots and cups.

Truth to be told, it was less tidying up and more dusting off, but it still did its job.

As he tidied up one afternoon, he managed to find a pin of a sunflower he always held dear, a gift from Jasper, a seagull friend of his that one day left the small village to travel the seas. For a while Jasper sent a letter to Howard at least twice a week to let him know of all the stuff he'd seen.

His last letter came many years ago: Jasper was telling him of a mysterious foggy spot he'd found in the middle of the ocean, a place supposedly feared by many sailors for its numerous cliffs unseen by the constant thick layer in the air.

Jasper had written him he was not afraid of such stories, he intended to explore that spot; and yet he still included the very sunflower pin Howard had been holding right now. The old rabbit never recieved any letters from Jasper ever since then.
The first weeks Howard wept for days, cursing himself for never replying a goodbye to his dear friend: if only he knew...

He was older now, wiser, and he came to understand Jasper's letter: the seagull voyager felt the danger of the fog, and still went in anyway. 'I'll keep exploring to the very end', he'd always say, not one to feel deterred by the danger. And the pin, in a way, was to help Howard reassure him he'd be ok, no matter what would've happened.

Going out with a bang: that was Jasper's decision, and Howard could only accept it. Not one to enjoy adrenaline to begin with, Howard still wondered if he regretted the choice to not follow Jasper in his adventures to stay behind in his peaceful life, giving care to his flowers, visiting the woods and lake, singing along as he baked...

And yet, Howard still felt serene about it, especially since by such choice he came to find a friend in Barnaby. So what if he never went to adventures, discovering treasures or honing magical skills? In its simplicity, he lived life to the fullest. He found no regret to be had in his life choices, and he could only smile about it.

And he kept grinning as he glanced around the house, finding everything to be clean and in its place. He definitely earned some rest now.

Putting the pin in the pocket of his red jacket, Howard started going towards the living room, only to suddenly feel a huge pain in the chest, so strong it put him to his knees. Howard, clutching his heart, tried his best to take deep breaths, but to no avail, the pain just wouldn't stop.

The seconds passed, the pang, cruel like a stake in his heart, continued, and Howard felt himself growing paler and paler.

Was this it?

So painful... Please stop...

No, no yet, there's still... something... no time to lose.

Howard used the little magic he could muster to create a bright, red signal, and trying his best to focus on the location to send it off, he casted his spell.

One second later, he used all the strenght he had to reach the letter he had left next to his bed, finally managing to put it in his pocket. Finally... He could now lay down, still clutching his heart.

He'd only hope Barnaby would come quick...

***************

"No no NO! YOU CAN'T HAVE CONFETTI IN THE TEA ROOM! Think of our guest! He'd be so mortified to have paper on his tea! Put it somewhere ELSE!"

Two weeks had passed since last time Barnaby had seen Howard, and he spent all of it in the grand "Welcome to your new home" preparation for his dear friend.

...Ok, he still took time to sleep, but still! Every other moment was spent to make sure everything was properly set for Howard's tastes.

A new bedroom was all set with a whole array of gardening books on the shelves and a wardrobe of red hued clothes. The garden had been planted with lots of new flowers ready to be tended. The cake was ready, the biggest one he'd ever made, all filled with whipped cream and chocolate and decorated with countless amounts of sprinkles...

And every single nook and cranny of the mansion got filled with balloons, streamers, banners. Hardly a spot was left blank!
Truthfully, Barnaby finished decorating in only a few days, but it just didn't feel enough: a room needed even more balloons, the hallway definitely could use another banner! Did he say only one dozen of cookies? No, we needed 10!

Barnaby was never one to fuss so much about party organizations, but this time he HAD to put his all! This was all for Howard, and he deserved to be treated with the best party he could host!

Howard...

Barnaby always felt the need to flap his wings and laugh everytime he thought about him. How much he cared about the sweet old rabbit! He wished he could've killed him the first time he saw him, but how could he?
Howard had the prettiest blood tinted eyes so huge they'd read your soul, the cutest white, brown spotted fur that felt especially fluffy around the cheeks, the way he folded his ears whenever he felt flustered, so soft the owl couldn't help but always play with them, and Howard letting him do that with a smile.

That smile... so tired but so gentle that could light up a room...

Simply put, Howard was the prettiest (and only) guest Barnaby had ever seen, and was so charmed by that the first time he completely forgot to propose a death method to the rabbit.
And Howard kept coming, and bringing up the "whole dead thing" would've just been awkward now that he'd started attending his parties, and poisoning his tea without knowing would've just be impolite: everyone deserves to choose how to die!

So Barnaby decided the only way out of it was the good ol' 'waiting game', he got so good at that in waiting for guests! After all, Howard was pretty old already so it was only a matter of time! And it did help him getting to know the rabbit better, so there really IS a silver lining in everything, as they say!

And all that waiting finally was paying off now! Only some days, and they'd finally be together forever! Oh, Barnaby just couldn't handle the excitement! They'd do so much together: paint, fly to the stars, discuss the futility of existence...

"Uhm, sir?"

"Not now Jerry! Can't you see I'm fantasizing here?!"

"But, sir! A red spark just appeared in the big hall!"

"A-a red spark?! OOH! I KNOW! I KNOW WHAT IT IS LET ME SEE!!"

Barnaby quickly came in the hall where all the ghost had gathered to stare at the bright, scarlet light. The ghost owl gawked at it, his grin growing wider with joy. He'd recognize that red hue anywhere!

"Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!~ It's time! IT'S TIME, EVERYONE! HOWARD IS READY!!!"

Ghosts all around cheered and shouted: everyone was so happy to have a new friend in their midst!

Barnaby wasted no time: tinkering lightly with the orange gem in his vest, he opened a dimension fissure set to Howard's position. It would've allowed him to get to his friend's house in a heartbeat.

"I'll be quick! I'll bring Howard here and we'll start the dying process, so I want to see a bed ready for when I'm back! Don't touch the cake while I'm gone or I'll have to torture you, ok I'm going! Toodle-loo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!~"

And with that he was gone, the ghosts scattered around to get ready. Just a few more minutes now!

Chapter Text

"Hellooooo, Howard! I'm here!~"

When Barnaby stepped outside the portal, he found Howard laying on the floor, struggling to breathe evenly. 

He quickly walked over to his friend position with a joyful pep in his step, and hovered his head up the rabbit, who opened his eyes with some difficulty.

"B-barnaby...? Is-is that you?" Howard's voice was hoarse and weak, and in front of him he could only see a black and orange blur.

"In flesh and bone! Even if I don't have them, hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!~" Barnaby replied as he nuzzled his beak on Howard's cheek. "I came as soon as possible! Everything is ready for your arrival now!"

Howard smiled at that, despite his weakened state. "I'm... glad..."

"Shoo-shoo-shoo-shooshie! Don't strain yourself, you should not pass away here! Dying on the floor, what a silly idea! Too cold and uncomfortable, what funny tastes you have for passing away, my friend!" Barnaby tutted as he picked up Howard with ease in his fluffy wings.

Where he in a better state, Howard would've argued with those words by pointing out the obvious, but he could only moan in pain. Barnaby quickly changed his tone after that.

"But that's ok, because now we'll get in my castle, you'll stay in a warm bed and you'll die as you deserve!" He started to laugh "Oooh, Howard, you're gonna LOVE what we've done to the place! We've prepared lots of games, there'll be music, and treats and..."

As Barnaby kept going while heading towards the portal to the castle, Howard almost lost himself from the owl's familiar voice and the softness of his wings. Certainly better than the floor for sure, but he still had to hold on, just a little: he needed to be part of Barnaby's plan, and to tell him what was left to say.

Only minutes later, they both were in the castle. Howard's condition didn't allow him to visually register what changed about the place, but he could clearly hear cheerful chatter everywhere, music and laughter. He smiled: Barnaby really went all out this time...

"WE'RE BAAAAACK!~" Barnaby's voice was heard in the hall, excitement clear in his tone, as it got followed by ghosts' happy screams.

Howard felt himself laid down in something soft, most likely a bed, and got covered by a warm blanket. While it didn't do anything to ease the pain in his chest, at least he felt less cold.

"Barnaby... This is..." He wanted to praise his friend for everything he'd done for him, but words failed him; he took a second to swallow, trying to cure his sore throat, only to feel feathers softly caressing his face.

"It's what you deserve, my friend: it was all worth it. Take all the time you need now!"

Howard took several minutes to catch his breath, trying to talk to him. Breathing was getting harder and harder, but he kept going. "Barnaby... my pocket... for you..."

Barnaby nodded to that information and replied with a smile. "Don't worry! We can deal with that later! Now focus on yourself: I'll be with you ALL the way!"

Howard smiled at those words: while the owl's desire to witness his death was morbid in its eccentricity, the rabbit felt the genuine devotion Barnaby felt for him, and how it all came from a place of love. 

A love he had displayed in everything he'd done for him: organizing a death party just for him, talking about death with such ease, showing a lot of care as he laid him on the bed, declaring to stay with him... 

In his own eccentric ways, Barnaby had helped him dissipate most of the fears he had for dying. Oh, he still had doubts of the afterlife, what was in store for him, or even if he would've been able to meet Jasper in wherever he was headed, but whatever would've happened, he knew he was in good hands-er, wings.

The same wings he was holding as he felt succumbing to the fatigue. 

"Barnaby... Thank you for... everything..." A sharp breath. "Goodbye, my... friend..."

He closed his eyes. 

He was ready.

"See you soon...~"

A last exale, then...

Silence.

******************************************************

The paw went limp on his wing, his chest had stopped moving. Barnaby couldn't feel any heartbeat from his friend's wrist anymore.

"H-h-howard?"

No reply.

Howard was laying in bed, dead.

Several seconds passed as everyone in the room stared at the now lifeless body, drinking in everything that had happened.

The silence lasted for a while, then got broken by a loud, hooting laughter.

"HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!~ HOWARD, YOU DID IT! YOU DIED, YOU FINALLY DIED!!! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU-HOO-HOO!~"

The cheer that erupted from the ghosts exploded right as the ghost host barely finished his own cheer. Barnaby kept laughing and swing his wings as he expressed his happiness for his friend's departure from the living world.

"YOU DID AMAZING, MY FRIEND! TRULY AMAZING! Come on now, get out of that body so we can CELEBRATE!"

But there was no response from Howard's body. Still there, eyes still closed, no movements at all. Just utter silence.

Still didn't deterred Barnaby's spirits, as he got closer to the body in a chiding attitude.

"Now now, my friend! You know it's unfashionable to be LATE for a party! No need to be shy! You can come out now!"

But still nothing. The group of ghost had started noticing the lack of response from the body and began lowering their voices, utterly confused at what was going on.

Barnaby's smile started to falter as confusion settled in for him as well: something was wrong. Why wasn't Howard responding? He was supposed to become a ghost, for goodness' sake! Why wasn't he saying anything?

Starting to feel nervous, the owl ignored any resemblance of boundaries and started playing with Howard's ears, like he'd done many times before, in hopes to get any sort of reply. And to calm the agitation that was slowly but surely building up in his mind. 

"Hoooowaaard? It's me, Barnaby! Your dear friend Barnaby! Come out, come out, wherever you aaaaaare!~"

Still nothing. Barnaby felt himself getting more nervous and, at the same time, more upset.

"Howard, this isn't funny anymore! Say something AT ONCE or I'll... I'LL... I'm not sure what I'll do, but I'll STILL do SOMETHING, so say something now!"

There still wasn't any reply. Ghosts looked at each other with worry in their eyes, as the reality of the situation was getting clearer to them.

And to Barnaby too, only he'd fight tooth and nail before admitting all of this was too real. He started hyperventilating in front of Howard's body, trying to shake him.

"Howard? Howard?? Say something... ANYTHING... please...?"

As he shook Howard harder, drops of orange and black, gooey matter started landing on the rabbit's body. Barnaby didn't care about it: he didn't care if he was crying, or melting. He could stop existing for all he cared: he just wanted his friend back, and kept shaking him as his sobs grew louder.

"WE ARE SUPPOSED TO STAY TOGETHER FOREVER, HOWARD! WE WILL PARTY, AND LAUGH, AND PLANT FLOWERS... EVERYTHING YOU LIKE!! ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WANTED? YOU WANTED SOMETHING ELSE?! IS-IS IT ME?! DO YOU NOT WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH ME?! DID I UPSET YOU?! PLEASE TELL ME IF I MADE YOU UPSET!! WHY... WHY..."

Barnaby couldn't take it anymore: fatigue took over his body as his feathers and eyes melted. He had barely any strenght left to hug Howard tightly, as his sobs faded into soft, weak whimpers.

"...why did you leave me...?"

The ghosts hovered closer to the ghost owl, hugging him to bring him some comfort. Sadly, Barnaby wasn't able to register it: the only one who could've truly comfort him was now gone forever.

"Please don't leave me..."

******************************************************

Hours later, everyone gathered in the cemetery to properly give Howard the burial he deserved. The party suppliers in the hall brutally teared down by Barnaby, in an attempt to lash out his grief, only to feel even worse afterwards.

Every ghost had gathered to witness the burial, looking at Howard, laid in a casket and Barnaby next to him as he shared the speech he struggled to prepare for the occasion. He looked completely dishelved, melted feathers and still orange goo leaking from his eyes no matter how hard he tried to remain composed.

"I... I knew Howard for a short while. But, for the little time we spent together, I... I consider him the best friend I've ever had. We shared stories, took tea, made each other laugh... And he kept coming back, to spend time with me, and I-I couldn't bring myself to kill him."

"So, when he told me he was going to die, I felt so happy, I-I thought it meant he was going to join my party and be with me forever! I thought I'd finally stop being alone after so long! But... but..."

He took a sharp breath as he let out a sob.

"But that didn't happen. He-he didn't become a ghost, and left this world. I... I have no idea why that happened. Maybe if I knew better, or I had been a better friend and killed him as soon as I had the chance, Howard would..."

Barnaby couldn't continue anymore, so he shifted his gaze to Howard.

"I'm sorry, Howard. I wish I had been better for you..."

As he kept his gaze lower, Barnaby registered the pocket in Howard's jacket, and suddenly got reminded of what the rabbit said before his death. He quickly put his talon inside the pocket, and as he withdrawed it, he was holding an envelope. He quickly opened it, and found a letter with an elegant handwriting.

"Dear Barnaby.

If you're reading this letter, it means I'm dead and not around anymore. 

In my heart I really hope your prediction is true, and we'll get to spend the rest of our days together. But if that doesn't happen, please do not blame yourself: if anything, I'm the one who ought to apologize. It just means that you're special for being able to become a ghost while I couldn't.

Because, to me, you are special, Barnaby: you always took care of me, took interest in everything I said, always made me laugh. When I thought there was nothing in life that was worthy anymore, you were there showing me how important it was to live life to the fullest in everything you choose to do. And for that, I'll be forever grateful. 

I just wish I could've spent more time with you.

And if things do not work out, I want you to have this sunflower pin I own. It once belonged to someone I wasn't able to properly bid farewell to when I had the time. I do not intend to repeat the same mistake. Not with you.

I know it won't be the same, and it'll hurt deeply at first, but I can assure you, no matter what will happen to me, I'll always be close to you, loving how much of a sweet individual you are.

I love you, Barnaby. Please take care, and do not let my departure make you lose your smile.

Farewell, my friend. It's been fun.

With infinite love,

Howard"

Barnaby read the letter aloud, while clenching the sunflower pin that was also inside the envelope. And the more he read, the more his throat tightened with sobs; tears formed once again in his eyes, but this time, there was no bitterness behind them, and for the first time that afternoon, the owl was smiling.

"Oh... Howard..."

With those words, Barnaby slowly returned to his seat, and a couple of ghosts lowered the casket, followed by several ghosts that helped covering the grave with dirt.

And when everyone left, Barnaby came back once again, the flower pin gently positioned on his suit, in front of the newly settled tombstone featuring a photo of a smiling Howard. In his talon, he was holding a sunflower seed that came right from the garden he had prepared for Howard with so much care: with patience, he moved some dirt to plant it, then gave it some water.

One would've said Barnaby was lonely again, but he would've begged to differ. Gazing at the photo of Howard, he saw his friend smiling up, and could feel his warm presence in front of him. He was compelled to smile back.

They were separated now, and chances were, they'd never see each other again. But Barnaby knew in his non-existing heart, they'd be friends forever.

"Howard... I love you too."

Not even death could change that.