Spring was a good season. The sun was high in the sky with birds singing in the newly green trees and flowers of all kinds blooming. Yet, it wasn't summer so a light breeze still coursed the countryside.

Yamato was standing in the middle of all this, freshly cut green grass under his feet. He stared sadly at the new grave, the soil still golden brown from being overturned, and a headstone placed neatly at the top of it. The few others that had come to the funeral had left already, but he couldn't leave just yet. In the time that he'd spent with the recently deceased one, he'd grown to really care. Yamato swallowed back a lump in his throat. He couldn't cry.

"You know, it hurts worse this time."

Yamato turned slightly to see the newcomer, smiling faintly. "Yeah. I actually knew him well the second time around."

Taichi stepped up to look at the grave. His arm was in a sling, and under his funeral clothes he had several bandages and stitches. "At least he died knowing he stopped somebody. How is that you managed to get off free, again? Ken took care of my charges, but I didn't think he liked you enough…"

"Ganji took care of it all, my friend," Yamato answered. They stood quietly, listening to the birds chirp behind them. Yamato sighed and looked at Taichi. "You ready to go?"

"About as ready as I'll ever be."

Across the graveyard, Takeru watched Yamato and Taichi walk away from the grave through his slightly open window. He smiled a bit, and sighed.

"What are you going to do with those two?"

Takeru laughed. He put his sunglasses back on and rolled the window back up, turning to the person sitting next to him. "I'm not sure. Yamato is going back to college to get a degree in medicine, and Taichi is starting a job at the school. Probably a coach. I'll have to keep an eye on them for a while though. Both of them said it'd be hard to give up their previous jobs."

"And what about you?"

"Me?" Takeru thought briefly. "I'm going to continue with my life like nothing happened. You know, Taichi and Yamato still think I'm an author." They shared a good laugh. "What about you? What do you plan on doing?"

"I don't know. Continue with you, I guess." Daisuke peered through the window at Yamato getting into his car. He sighed. "Tell me again why I have to be dead."

"So you don't really end up dead. Dante-Shi Kenta isn't guaranteed prison just yet, and if by some chance he doesn't get life, you will not want to be listed in the phone book, you got that?" Takeru commanded.

"Yeah, yeah. I just wish I could tell Yamato," Daisuke mumbled. He shifted in the seat, wincing as pain shot through his side. He gave Takeru a mock-glare. "This wouldn't be a problem had you done what you were supposed to."

"I know. I'm sorry for that," Takeru apologized.

"I'm only supposed to get the information."

"I know."

"That was only the second time I even worked with a gun."

"I know."

"I could have died, and then you wouldn't have a partner anymore."

"I know."

"And what if I never escaped Dante-Shi's? Then Taichi, Ken, and Yamato would be dead."

"I know."

"Plus you wouldn't-"

"Why don't you tell me about when you fell in love with Yamato."

"… When he came after me."