"Gary, how would you tell the person you like that you liked them? In an effective way you like, of course." Ash whispered, careful enough not to wake Pikachu or Eevee. He leaned his head against Gary's shoulder, snuggling into the warmth that he longed to be surrounded in from his best friend and only his best friend.

The boys were both watching the pink and orange sunset sitting on a bench at the Pallet Town dock; their buddy Pokémon resting on their laps respectively to give them just a bit of quiet time. It was then that Ash asked another question for Gary - a question of advice once again.

Ash had been asking a lot of questions lately. This girl he liked must have been a hard-to-get person. Oh how Gary yearned to know more about this girl that Ash loved so. It wasn't fair. He didn't even know. And wouldn't know until Ash was ready to tell him. Not yet, anyway.

"If they just kissed me then I'd know it. That's the way I'd like it." answered the emerald-eyed boy directly. "But of course, I don't know how you would like it. Kisses are sweet and succinct, you know?"

The ravenette shifted a little closer before mumbling something incoherent. "But I can't kiss. I don't know how."

"Hey, don't sweat. It's not hard. A quick peck on the cheek or her forehead would do. It's just a little gesture of showing they're special to you. Then follow it through with "I love you." It would be perfect for her, Ashy. She must be a really lucky girl."

The Eevee Trainer couldn't help but smile at his best friend. Ash was so cute. Back then he'd never known it was possible for someone to blush into a thousand shades of red. Everything about Ash made him happy, even as the time would come where he and this mysterious crush of his would get together someday, and Gary would be left, uncherished and alone. He made him happy no matter what. How the older boy loved him so.

Love. Could Gary really be in love with Ash? It was possible. They'd been together forever, plus the fact that the Eevee Trainer was overprotective of the younger boy and Ash found it difficult to leave Gary's side. They went in separate ways as they chased after separate dreams but in reality, nobody could break the bonds they have strengthened. If one could consider thinking more about somebody else other themselves as love, then yes, Gary Oak did love Ash Ketchum. With a capital L-O-V-E.

The raven-haired boy looked up from Gary's shoulder, chocolate eyes drifting afar to see a flash of yellow slowly disappear under the indigo-lined horizon. It was Gary's turn to lean on Ash, his eyes fluttering aclose in an attempt to nap just as well as their Pokémon were. After all, he was a Researcher - they had to do endless paperwork day in and out.

"Thanks for the advice Gary. What would I do without you?"

"No problem."

"I've never kissed anyone before, though." Ash muttered, chuckling afterwards in an attempt to hide his nervousness. His palms were sweating and his heart hammered violently in his chest, and Gary made him feel such things. The older didn't even know. He couldn't know. Not yet, anyway.

"Then they'd be the first for you, Ashy, if you do decide to kiss them..." The brunette smirked for what seemed to be the last time during that whole day, as he was falling fast asleep in the comfort of being beside the best friend he loved so much. Why couldn't he be the one? Why was he born a boy? Why couldn't he be together with the best friend he loved so much?

Meanwhile, Ash's mind wandered to Gary's spoken words of wisdom. Was it even possible? Ash giving Gary a kiss? The boy couldn't help but impersonate another tomato. He listened to his best friend's even breathing and wondered how exactly he would start acting on the feelings he concealed so much. A kiss. Didn't matter when, just as long as he gave Gary one. It didn't matter how either.

The Pikachu Trainer watched the snoozing seventeen year old lying next to him. He turned slowly towards the older boy and neared his face to Gary's, with his lips just centimetres apart the other's face. Then it happened. Just a quick peck on the forehead. A smile, and then the words, "I love you" followed suit.

Ash had done it, but Gary didn't even know. He had kissed him, but the latter was asleep. It didn't count. But he had done it and he was still too scared to let him know. Gary didn't need to know. He'd let his best friend know soon enough, Ash promised.

For now, he took his actions slowly. Little by little, he'd take Gary's advice. Soon. Fairly soon.

A weak grin crept up the supposedly sleeping researcher's lips, accompanied by a silent tear he couldn't stop. It was him that Ash had a crush on. Him. Ash never said anything about having a crush on a girl. but then again, Ash never said anything at all.

It made more sense to him now. Ash couldn't tell him because it WAS him. And he was scared. They were best friends. And boys. Society would dare itself to get in between them. But he had finally figured it out, all thanks to the advice he had given. A tiny piece of advice.

A tiny piece of advice was what he had to give back once more, if only it was all it took to let Ash know that he loved him too.

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A.N. Konnichiwa~ xD Chii here. It's been a while since I wrote this, so I hope it's not too bad! Thanks for reading anyways, you are awesome!