A/N: I'm coming a little late to this scene. So I already have a bit of a compilation of other stories on the 9 Forum. To satisfy my own sense of organization, I will be publishing them here in the order I published them over there. So if you don't like this one or the next one, you still might want to check back later. I improve with time.

The rest of my stories are also longer. XD

Until later! Read and enjoy! :)

- Jazz

The five of them stood, silent, at the edge of the water, watching the oily ripples lift 2 on his makeshift funeral bed towards the broken grate's bars that stood like gaping teeth, waiting to swallow the remnants of their friend.

Where did he go, 6 heard them all thinking, wondering the same thing, mourning the same way. Where did he go when he couldn't stay here? Where is he now?

He wished he had answers for them, but he had tried to find them, and Seen nothing but green light.

The twins always had each other. 9 and 1…they stood alone, one at the front, one at the back. 6 almost thought he could feel the shame and sorrow streaming from them, though it came for different reasons. But they needed nobody. Especially not now. Wanted, maybe – yes – but needed? No. Not the way the others did, at least.

5, though, 5 needed someone. He had had 2, and now 2 was gone, and 5 was alone. And 6 was alone, too, had always been. They were alone together now, if nothing else…

He took a step toward 5 and put one hand on the other's arm. They could at least be alone together.

After a long moment, 5 put his own hand on top of 6's, and they stood that way, silently, and watched one last clear wave lift 2 past the patiently waiting grate's mouth and into the darkness of the tunnel beyond. 6 imagined 2 drifting on, farther, farther, until at last he came out under the open sky somewhere, drifting forever, lost, gone, at peace…

For a long time they stood there, and for a long time the only sound was that of the water carrying 2 farther and farther away, and that of tearless sobs. And again 6 could hear the others' thoughts: all this water, and yet nothing to cry with…