The funeral was deathly quiet; the smell of flowers tainted the air. There were sobs, but Rin Matsuoka stood in front of the casket silently. It was open for the last time, and Rin knew it would be the last time he would ever see his best friend again. He looked so peaceful, like he was sleeping. The funeral director had applied makeup to conceal Nitori's bruised face and swollen neck. After Rin had begged the police and paramedics after they came in not to hang up the phone, they had went against Rin's desperate cries. It wasn't until the next day that Rin had found out that Nitori had lived until they got to the hospital, eventually passing because of internal bleeding and brain damage. They had told Rin and Mikoshiba that even if he had managed to live, that he would be in a state of comatose for the rest of his life.

Rin stroked Nitori's face, noticing it was stiff from rigor mortis. Nitori was wearing his school uniform, with his swim jacket folded in his arms. For some reason, he couldn't cry. Everyone was crying like a lost child, but Rin stood there silently, accepting the fact that Nitori was dead. "Hey, Ai." Rin smiled and clutched his hand. "Be good up in heaven. Maybe you can swim up there, in the clouds." He chuckled and sniffed. Tears were forming, but refused to cry. Rin knew Ai wouldn't want him to cry.

'Senpai must be strong! Don't cry, it makes me sad when people cry.'

Rin could hear his voice in his head. Rin, despite the gloomy mood, laughed loudly. Gou, who didn't know about the situation until the following week after his death, cried into the captain's shoulder. The captain held her tightly, both sobbing loudly.

Rin looked back at them and smiled. "Why are you crying?" He asked both of them, petting Gou's hair.

They both looked up at him, eyes red. "N-ni…Aiichiro." Mikoshiba's voice was hoarse and quiet, and Gou's was similar.

"You should be happy." Rin said, gripping his jacket. "He's in a place where he doesn't have to be sorry. He's in a place where he'll never be hurt again. And I know he's watching us; not wanting us to cry. He never did like seeing people crying." Rin reassured them, imagining Nitori's smiling face. "His parents faced justice and now he's at peace. He's even got a big place to be buried in!" He gestured around the graveyard, the graves several feet apart.

Mikoshiba helped Gou sit up and wrapped his arm around her. "Yeah…you're right." He said, voice still quiet.

"We just have to remember him! He's still our kouhai, and he always will!" Rin grinned, shark teeth gleaming.

Gou looked up at her brother. "Rin…how can you be so positive right now?" She said, wiping her eyes.

Rin smiled and looked back at the coffin, now closed. "If Ai could be positive going through that, so can I."

The three watched the casket lower into the ground, and the trio threw their flowers into the hole before it was closed up.

"Hm? What are you doing here so early, Matsuoka?" Mikoshiba looked down at the red head.

Rin looked at the flowers in his hand. "I could say the same to you." He said, gesturing to the patch of grass next to the headstone to sit. "I just wanted to visit Ai."

"You look like a mess." Mikoshiba sat and placed the flowers on. "What happened?"

The red head sighed and brushed the grass off his hair. "I visited last night. I must have fallen asleep." He smiled slightly.

The duo sat quietly for a few minutes, listening to the birds chirp. Mikoshiba looked over at the childrens' graveyard and sighed. The vases were smashed, the headstones vandalized, and small statues pushed over. "How could someone disrespect a dead child so much?" His eyes were sad.

"How could anyone hurt a living child so much?" Rin said, slightly angry from the sight. Mikoshiba dropped the conversation.

After a few more minutes of silence, Rin spoke up. "It seems like forever since we've all sat together like this peacefully." He grinned, voice quivering.

"Yeah." Mikoshiba nodded. "I wonder what Aiichiro's dreaming about." He went silent. "Hey, Matsuoka."

"Yes?"

"Is it true…that you liked Aiichiro?" The birds stopped chirping, only to fly away from the trees after Rin laughed loudly.

He fell back on the grass and laughed harder. "That's like saying is the sky blue! I did. I just didn't like him. He was my best friend, my support, and my love. I loved him more than anyone I've ever met. But now…it's like part of my world is gone. But I know we'll be re-united one day. I'll be able to see him without harm, without bruises, without tears! I'll be able to hold him and tell him it's okay, that he's safe now, nothing can hurt him. And-" he went quiet before shaking his head, wiping tears away.

Mikoshiba smiled. "It's okay. Say, what were his parents charged with?" He knew, but he wanted to hear again, making sure that they would be in hell in prison and in death.

"Child abuse, battery, neglect, manslaughter, rape, statutory rape, child pornography, and assaulting an officer because they hit one of the police officers and tried to attack Ai on the gurney."

"So he was still alive?" Mikoshiba was shocked; he thought he was dead when they arrived.

Rin nodded and explained, "He was unconscious, but when they got to the hospital he had passed from internal bleeding and brain damage. If he had lived, Sei…there's no telling how long it would take him to recover, if he could recover."

Mikoshiba laughed. "But now he's an angel. I remember he once told me that he had to play an angel in a school play in elementary school. Ironic, right? A kid who played an angel would eventually be one."

Rin looked at the grave and its inscription. "Nitori Aiichiro, an angel who returned home." He read aloud. "When I was talking earlier and I was telling you about what I'd do when I see him again…there's one more thing."

Mikoshiba looked over at him, and grinned. "Your secret's safe with me."

"Since I never got the chance…"

"Yes?"

Rin looked up at the sky and smiled, tears finally being released after weeks of holding them in. "I'd tell him I love him."

Epilogue

Mikoshiba stood up after the sun had set. He and Rin had sat at the grave, talking about Nitori and laughed about the silly stories about him. Rin had told him that Nitori once got nightmares and wanted to sleep with him, he had walked into the wrong class, he once wore a dress after losing a bet, and how he was the most popular maid at their traditional café. Mikoshiba had told Rin about how Nitori would ask him for prank ideas (Rin finally figured out who had put dye in his shampoo then!), ask him for school and swim help, and when Nitori's hair would get longer, he would go to Mikoshiba to get it cut.

"Come on, Rin." Mikoshiba grabbed Rin's hand and pulled him up.

"Why? We could stay for a little longer." Rin protested.

Mikoshiba shook his head and dragged him away. "We have a match tomorrow."

Rin's mouth was open in shock. "So soon! Why right after the funeral?" He wanted to make sure he heard that right.

"I gave orders that we will not let this phase us." He said, looking ahead. "Did you walk here? I'll give you a ride back."

When they got back to the dorms, Rin opened his door slowly. The captain was already inside of his, ready to close the door until Rin spoke up. "Hey Sei…do you think Ai would be cheering us on?"

The captain scoffed. "That's a stupid question, Rin! Of course he will! If he's not, I'll personally go up to heaven and kick his butt for not coming!" He grinned and shut the door. "Get some sleep Matsuoka!"

Rin sighed, smiling. He pushed the door open, the warmth welcoming him. "I'm home, Ai. It was a long day today." He sat at his desk, looking at a picture of him, Nitori, and the captain.

"You're such a handful." He groaned and took the picture in his hand. "Why'd you have to go home so early? We have a match tomorrow. I expect you to be there." He laughed and walked to the window in their room and looked up at the moon. It was cover by the clouds.

"I see you've made it home safely." Rin turned away and walked back to his bed. He sat on it and said one thing.

"Good night, Ai."

He dreamed about Nitori that night.

'Rin!' He saw Nitori standing there, eventually turning around to reveal his injury-free face. 'You've been crying.' He put his hands on his hips. 'You know I don't like that!' He pouted. 'Ah…I forgive you. I want to tell you to swim good tomorrow! If you don't…er….I'll haunt you!' He giggled. 'Bye bye for now, senpai! Be good! I love you!'