"So, the Etoile elections start tomorrow," Lovino mused, "Are you gonna put your name in, Antonio?"

"What would be the point?" the boy replied, his face buried deep in his pillow, "You have to pair up with someone else before you put your name in, and I don't have anyone to pair up with..."

The Italian dismissed the tiny flutter in his chest, gripping his bedsheets. "Not even your little boyfriend?"

"No," Antonio mumbled miserably. The last thing that he needed was for Lovino to taunt him about Arthur. What was he thinking, getting a relationship with a boy who was too broken by the death of his previous lover to care about anyone else? God, he felt stupid...

At this point, Lovino knew that getting Antonio back on his side would be pretty easy. All he had to do was feign a little sympathy, and the Spaniard would be putty in his hands...

"Fuck him," the Italian said, adding a rare smile, "How about this: I'll be your Etoile partner?"

B-B-B-B-B-B

Arthur's breath hitched as closed the box containing his and Kiku's Etoile pendants, and gave the golden latch a last polish.

This was it. He'd known that this day would come ever since he and Kiku became the Etoile pair...

But he was the first Etoile to perform the first ceremony of the election all on his own.

"I wonder who the new Etoile pair will be, Kiku?" he muttered looking back at his photograph of the boy. As usual, Kiku sat, smiling like no-one was watching, all dressed up in a crisp white shirt, with the red gem of his Etoile pendant hanging in the centre of his chest.

Hold on a second...

What was that little white slip of paper, stuck right at the bottom of the frame? Had it always been there...?

Arthur yanked the slip free from the frame, and unfolded it, to find a letter, written in shaky handwriting...

Dear Arthur,

I don't have much time left, but before I go, there's some things that I really need to tell you. First of all, thank you for everything. I've had a wonderful time here at St Miator's, thanks to you, and to Afonso. Really, I couldn't have asked for a better school life, even if it didn't last very long.

I'll never forget all of our treasured memories. The night we saw that comet shower, the time we made love under the moonlight, and...The Etoile Election. The day we got up on that stage, with all of Astraea Hill cheering for us...That was the best day of my life.

I'm like the flowers in the greenhouse. I was happy, being kept warm and dry here, even though I will never see the outside world, but you? You're like the flowers outside. You can stand in the rain, and you should always have someone have someone standing with you. Someone who loves you as much as I do.

Be happy, my love, and goodbye,

Kiku

"Kiku..."

Arthur trembled as he clutched the letter to his chest, choking back a weak sob.

"Kiku..."

St Spica's choir began the second that Arthur stepped into the cathedral door, clutching the Etoile pendants. The so-called 'heavenly' chorus harmonised perfectly as he took anxious steps towards the altar.

"Like the white of a sublime lily,

Like the spirit of a mysterious rose,

Like the green of a field of fresh leaves,

The queen of heaven smiles lovingly."

The altar was decorated with lilies. Sickly sweet white lilies, leaving only one spot to place the box. Arthur pressed on, in spite of every instinct telling him to turn away and run, run away with his last memory of Kiku...

"The shining light, our mother,

The weak coming thou protect the children and others too."

"Kiku...Kiku..."

Arthur forced himself to let go of the box, so it could sit on the altar, ready for the next Etoile pair...

"Goodbye, Kiku," he mumbled, looking up at the stained glass at the back of the church.

Amongst the saints in the picture, Arthur swore that he saw Kiku, waving and saying, "Goodbye, Arthur," as he floated up and away.

Somehow, it seemed fitting for the choir's hymn to finish, just as Arthur turned to leave. A single, beautifully sung, "Amen," to mark the end.