A/N: Well, it seems a dreadfully long time since I finished Wherever you Go, but here we are, at last- Fall or Fly, Az's last fic; and, as you will shortly see, her last day. This is going to be a shorter fic then the rest- I'm looking at 10 relatively small chapters, and as always, I cannot promise anything close to regular updates. I'll do my best, though! I'm willing to admit I haven't planned this one as well as I should, but… Well, it's similar to WyG in style, so I think I can play it by ear a little… Well, shimasho! (Let's do it)

Disclaimer: Same old, same old.

Now then. Here we are at the beginning of the end, so lets begin with an ending. Enjoy- and please, forgive me… (Sweatdrop)

Fall or Fly

Prologue- Sorrow

The last bar swung it's way out to a fade, a punctuated note, a wail of the horns. As the presenter began to witter, Seto could bear no more, and turned the radio off. Jazz was a music he'd only begun to appreciate once she was gone, once he could not share it with her. Perhaps that's why he liked to fill the house with the howling syncopated rhythms. But, sometimes, days like today, it sent him spiralling out of control, and he could not help but head into that room; the room with the fantasy doors. The room that missed her as much as he did. He sank into the battered leather sofa that just about stood there, remembering the times they had shared upon it, from the days when she had been so ill, to when she would sit and play music, and fall asleep there again, her hand in his. Where she had held their daughter for all that time. Where she had held him, and smiled. He reached beneath it, and his hands pulled on a forgotten world that his head would not willingly travel to. He lifted it up with a cautious reverence, laying it on the small table before him. He did not want to see, hear, think, feel, anymore, but it could not be helped. He painfully examined the contents of the box.

It was a simple box, made of cardboard, dishevelled, and by no stretch of the imagination large. Yet it contained every possession Azreal had left behind, all the things Maya and Mokuba assumed he had destroyed; all the things he had locked away in the hope the memories would follow. It was strange how someone who had been so important to him had left so little behind. Story of his life, really. He took each item out carefully and individually, his eyes and face betraying nothing as he studied them. There were a few folded pieces of clothing, a handful of prize CDs- most others having been handed to Mokuba somewhere along the line- and other odd items that were more memories then physical objects. And, buried right at the bottom…

A photograph. Seto pulled it out, straightening the bent corners. Azreal had hated having her photo taken, that's why there were so few of them, but, as he could see, this one had been special. It was a completely natural photograph, taken on the sly by Azreal's father. He had caught them at their happiest- in the middle of a water fight with Mokuba on that first camping trip. They'd been barely sixteen then. Only hours before that historic trip to Wherever, when he'd believed her to be dead the first time.

He rubbed a hand over his eyes, and it came away wet. He watched with something akin to fascination as the salty water ran over his fingers and palm. Could they really be his? After all this time? Pathetic. He rubbed his face a final time, and, in a few fluid movements, the box was hidden away again.

It is said that everyone in the world can be happy. And maybe, for people that say such things, it's true. But he had tried happiness, and it hadn't worked.

And there was no room in his life for things that didn't work.

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Az lay on the bed, flicking idly the envelope in her hands. She stared at it for a moment, and then nodded to herself; building up her resolution again. There was nothing more she could do now.

Swinging her legs from the bed, she sat up, running a hand through her hair. She'd never worried too much about it, however, and there was no point in starting now. She allowed herself a small smile. It had been such a lovely day. The weather had been perfect, her friends, as she had visited them each in turn, had been happy and unsuspecting; her music students had been promising. Even Seto had managed to get home from work in time to eat a meal with her, although he was working again now. It had been a good day, long and peaceful and relaxing to her tired soul, as the sun had slowly wandered it's way across an autumn sky. She had even managed to find time to finish her book. Which meant there was only one more, slightly less pleasant, thing to do. She pulled a jacket from the wardrobe, putting the letter into the pocket, and wandered down the hallway of the cavernous mansion to the room where her husband was tapping away at a memo that had been causing him some difficulty. He was so absorbed, he did not even notice her entrance, and did not acknowledge her until she stood behind him, crouching slightly to wrap her arms around his shoulders. They were stiff, tense; although he tried to relax them slightly on her contact.

"Hello." Seto said, distractedly.

"Hey. Any luck?" She asked, sympathetically.

"Not really… I think I'm going to be at this for a while." He sighed deeply. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry." Az smiled. "I'm going to go bother your brother, okay?"

Seto glanced at the clock. "Now?" He asked, curiously.

"Yes." Az answered, trying to keep her tone light. "He borrowed a CD I'd rather like back… Besides, I'm bored. Now, Seto… if Maya wakes up with that nightmare again while I'm out, don't just leave her. She'll end up in counselling at this rate!"

Seto chuckled slightly, nodding, and got on with what he was trying to do. Kissing him lightly on the spot near his ear that she had long ago discovered he was quite sensitive at, she released him and quietly made her way towards the door, not wanting to cause him anymore unnecessary grief.

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Mokuba was sitting, quite comfortably, on the old sofa watching a film; while trying to write up a proposal on his knees. This was a method of working that Seto would actively discourage, if he knew about it. Mokuba, on the other hand, found it quite helpful. Well, he was in the R&D department. Right now, he was working on all the ins and outs of the 'Final Fantasy' style virtual reality game Seto had made for Az many years ago being sold or being used to make an original game; and Kaiba Corp's first release into the video game market. He knew it could outsell anything currently being produced, but would it be worth it? A new market brought new competition…

The doorbell rang suddenly, and, laying the work down on the sofa, he went to open it to Anna. This did not surprise him. Once upon a time, Anna had shared this flat with one Kaho Bijou, and sometimes it almost seemed as though she lived there still. At any rate, a visit from his sister-in-law was rarely a chore, and he smiled on seeing her.

"Hello." He said warmly, allowing her in. "I didn't think you were going to show up tonight."

Anna shrugged, heading for the living room. "Well, you know. Things came up." She sat down carefully next to the papers, picking them up. Ever since she had married Seto, and even before, she'd been quite closely involved with the company and it's dealings, and had given some invaluable advice- and ideas- over the years, although she couldn't make head nor tail of anything too technical. She scanned the sheets before her, looking mildly confused, but then stopped; finally recognising the subject matter, and turned to grin at him.

"I remember this." She said, happily. "That was the game Seto made for us, wasn't it? After we'd been going out a year, I think. It had a big water boss at the end… That was so much fun!" She smiled.

"Yup." Mokuba agreed, sitting beside her. "And now we're going to flog all your 'priceless' memories for a far smaller sum. About the cost of a city or two should do it."

Anna laughed wryly. "You're getting as bad as Seto."

"Don't scare me." Anna said nothing in reply, and played with something in her pocket. She didn't seem about to divulge anything, so, in the end, Mokuba felt forced to prompt her. "So, what's up?"

"I need you to do a favour for me." Anna said, smiling weakly at him. She pulled a letter from her pocket, and worried the corner. "I want you to give this to Maya."

"What?" Mokuba blinked, bewildered, as she pushed it into his hands. "Ann, she's not even two yet- I hardly think she can read, however smart she is. Besides, why can't you give it to her?"

"I never said give it to her now. But… when she's older. When you think the time is right, I guess."

"Anna…" Mokuba said, concerned now. "You're scaring me. What's happening? What's all this about?"

She said nothing. He realised she was crying, and felt like he was a little kid again. He hated to see her cry. She had finally seemed to have got better…

"Ann…?"

"Sorry." She said, quietly, wiping her eyes. "I shouldn't cry. I've been so lucky."

"What?"

"Just promise me you'll give it to her, please?" Anna begged. "And… you'll take care of her? And of Seto?"

"Of course." Mokuba answered, numbly. "But… Ann…You can't possibly…"

"Do you remember when Seto and I went to Wherever, Mokuba?" She asked, quietly. Mokuba nodded. "And… and my muse half was killed off?" Another nod. "It had been draining me for sometime. It took years from me. Plus, muses never live that long anyway, even half-muses…and so, now…"

Mokuba bit his lip. "You're being silly." He said, firmly. "How could you know, Ann? You shouldn't worry. What's all this really about, eh?"

"Mokuba." She said again, gently. "I know. I feel it, just like the muses do. I mean, I saw it coming… with… with Ellie," She gabbled. "And how tired I've been and how the world has seemed so… grey." She paused slightly, looking almost amused. "I woke up this morning, and I knew. I knew all the times people had asked me 'What would you do if you had one day to live' was finally relevant. It was the oddest feeling…"

"What are you talking about…?" Mokuba whispered, distressed.

"You know." She answered, unnaturally calm.

"…So this is it?" He asked, shocked. "You're saying you're… dying?"

"I think so."

"But…" Mokuba protested, weakly. "There must be something we can do, right? I mean, you're not old, or unhealthy or… anything."

"No." Anna agreed. "And yet, it's time all the same. Funny old world, isn't it?"

"Not the words I'd use." Mokuba said, quietly. "I… I can't believe this…You're dying? What are you going to do?"

"Very little, I should imagine." Anna joked, but suddenly hugged her adoptive brother. He hugged her back, although still not able to accept what she was telling her as truth.

"No-one should know about their own death." He insisted. "It'd drive you mad…"

"Or give you one last shot at making your life worth something." Anna pointed out, choking a little on the words. "I just hope… I…" She trailed off uselessly.

"Of course you have." Mokuba assured her. "And… and I'll give the letter to Maya, don't worry. I promise. But… are you really sure? I mean, what if… you know, you just woke up this morning, and imagined… maybe you're sick, or something…thinking weird things."

"Mokuba…" She pleaded. "Please. Stop."

At length, she let go of him, and they sat in reflective silence for a while; until, at last, she left for the final time; and Mokuba was left alone with his disturbing thoughts. Feeling wretched, he did not manage to get any sleep until he convinced himself that she couldn't possibly have known, and had only made him believe it through speaking with such conviction. It couldn't be true. That was the only comfort he had that night.

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Az entered the house quietly, because, unbeknownst to her, it had gotten quite late. The hours were sneaking up on her. She was tired. So tired… she just wanted to crawl into bed. First, though, she went into the room where Maya was sleeping, whispering a goodnight, and eventually, reluctantly, withdrawing. Heading back to the bedroom, she passed the room Seto had been working in, and was surprised to find he was still at it. She went and regained her accustomed position with her arms around him.

"Still working?" She asked, resting her head on top of his.

"Clearly." He answered, grumpily. "I need this done by tomorrow." He continued typing as best he could with Az leaning on top of him, irritation at the document and the world in general evident in his entire demeanour.

"…I'm going to bed." She said, eventually. "Goodnight, Seto. Don't stay up too late."

"No." He responded, not looking up as she left the room. He continued working away for an hour or more, until the night was almost into morning. At last, it was done, and, gratefully, he stood up, stretching. Shutting the computer down, he made his way as quietly as possible along the hallway and into the bedroom, silently getting ready for bed. Az lay sleeping on the bed, and he did not want to wake her.

Although Seto did not make a sound, and slipped gently under the quilt, she still stirred slightly, rolling over a little so her body lay close to his, and, welcoming the intimacy, he draped his arm across her waist, pulling her close. Closing his eyes, feeling sleep come upon him, he whispered to his sleeping wife and love that he was sorry, meaning for working so long, for being so irritable, and for every other short coming over the last few weeks he'd been working on this project. Her only response was to sigh in her sleep, and he was soon asleep to, enjoying the warmth of having her so very close to him. At that moment, the troubles of tomorrow were forgotten, forgiven.

He had slipped quietly into the room as she had slept. By the time he woke up the following morning, she had quietly slipped away.

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Maya woke up once again, groaning. Rolling over to look at the luminous numbers ticking over on her alarm clock, she saw it was a time not designed to be seen by anything other then owls and certain breeds of rabbit. She knew what had woken her, of course. That dream, again. The nightmare she'd had every so often ever since she could remember. She was tempted to believe it was some sort of far distant memory, because she knew the woman in it was her mom. She knew it, somehow; but she'd like to believe it was just a dream. In the dream, she felt safe in the arms of her mom, but then… there was panic, chaos, and a small, dark space, where she was crying and crying but no-one came. All these years, and still, no-one came. It was a horrible dream, unnatural and unfeeling, and made her shiver now even though she was far too old for such things. She closed her eyes and gradually willed herself back into sleep. After all, tomorrow was another day. Time did not stand still. Days, weeks, years all rolled on by. You had to live them while you had the chance.

And that could not be done when suffering from sleep deprivation.

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A/N: Well, can you believe it? I actually killed her off this time. (Cry) I'm sorry… Hopefully, my reasons will become clear as we follow the story of Maya, Michael, Yami; and all those Az has left behind. Of course, we will be seeing so much of her via flashbacks, it'll hardly make a difference! (Sweatdrop) I know this short prologue leaves a lot to be answered, but I'm getting to it, I promise- and it won't all be angst-y! So! It's that time again! Just who are Michael and Yami? What kind of person is Maya? Who was Ellie? What has become of Seto, Mokuba, and all the rest? And how will they react to a school trip to take place on what used to be a rather deadly island…? Please join me Fall or Fly Chapter One- Song! I'm quite excited, actually. I've been planning this fic for so long, it's nice to see it finally coming to something, even though it's changed a lot and a lot's been cut. Well, whatever. Hope to see you soon!