"So, how's she doing?" asked Axl.
"Not good," replied X. "She's been in her room for hours now. Then again, I can't say that I blame her at all, after what's just happened."
"Any idea what's going to happen to her?" asked Zero. "She's still in trouble for breaking about a dozen rules during this whole incident."
"Signas decided to go lenient on her," said X. "Given what's she went through and is currently dealing with, he figured anything else would be insult to injury."
"That's generous of him," said Axl. "Hey, how come you're not in there with her?"
"Do you really think she'd want to be with me, the guy who killed her best friend?"
"Good point," conceded Axl.
"X, I know I'm not the best to talk about relationships, but you really should go talk to her about it," said Zero. "You're going to have to talk to each other eventually, so it'd be best to get it out of the way as soon as possible. Keep it pent up too long and it'll blow out of proportion."
"You're right, Zero," agreed X. "I'll go do that."
X headed off for Alia's room.
"Hey, how'd you get to know so much about girls?" asked Axl. "You wanna tell me about your old girlfriend now?"
"No, I don't think I'm ready to share that with you yet," said Zero.
"C'mon, please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"I said 'no'."
"Are you sure?"
"Shut up."
X knocked softly on the door to Alia's room.
"Hey, Alia, can I come in?" he asked.
"All right," said Alia.
X opened the door and walked into Alia's room. Alia was lying face down on her regeneration pod with her face buried in her pillow, which was noticeably wet with tears. X sat down next to her, not looking directly at her.
"Alia, I know there's nothing I can say that'll change the fact that I was the one who killed Jewel," said X. "I know she was your best friend and how much you two meant to each other, but if it's any consolation, I didn't want to kill her myself. You know how I am about killing."
Alia lifted her head out of her pillow and looked at X.
"I don't blame you, X," she said. "I knew she was gone before you showed up for the fight. It's probably for the best that she's dead now, but I can't help but feel this way now that she's gone."
"I don't blame you," said X. "I'd feel the same way if something happened to Zero…or to you."
"X?"
"Alia…no, this is the wrong time to be talking about this."
X got up.
"You know, we never did get around to having dinner," he said. "If you'd like, I could take you out, if it'd help make you feel better."
"Yeah, I think I'd like that."
Later that evening, Jewel was buried in the ruins of Gate's lab. It was a small ceremony, only attended by X and Alia. The only sign that anything had happened there was a small tombstone, which simply read as follows:
"Here lies Jewel, beloved friend. May she finally know peace."