He never thought he would see such a beautiful sight. Orange, red, and yellow snapped and licked at his body; turning pale skin to blackened dust. It was a thing of pure beauty, to be whole one minute but a element of the earth the next. How humbling. How suiting to how he died.

Bakura was sitting cross-legged in the fire chamber of the crematory, watching his body burn. He couldn't bear to see Ryou again. It felt like dying all over again. So here he sat in flames, watching the blackened dust of his body turn to white ash.

The flames slowly died down and a young girl opened the chamber door. She couldn't have been more than fifteen years old. What a horrible job to have, to see so much death so young. She took a very clean soft brush and began to sweep the ashes into a metal box. Odd how someone could fit into a box, in death so many things changed. Bakura crawled out of the burning chamber and stepped down to hear the girl whisper "Who did you leave behind? A family? Perhaps a daughter like me? "

"No." Bakura whispered in her ear knowing full well she couldn't hear him. He felt she deserved an answer. "I left behind nothing, nothing important anyways." She tenderly closed the lid on the box. A small white card was taped on top on which a serial number was written. Bakura was nothing now, no more than a pile of ash and a number. He watched the girl walk away, carrying the box away to a room somewhere where he felt no desire to go. Malik was waiting for him outside, the blond was still annoying but they were both a little shocked by Tuesday's events. Bakura would have loved to get his hands around the neck if the blond slut Ryou was messing around with. Until he saw Ryou's face, then he wanted to get his hands around Ryou's neck. Malik had the good sense to distract him by resorting to any means necessary (but had not been so necessary for the days they spent together). Finally Bakura had decided he wanted to be at his cremation and torn himself away from the blond. Images started to form again, he tried hard to direct his chain of thought somewhere else but he was already seeing the betrayal again.

Ryou had sat down at his desk and started shuffling paper trying to get together some files but someone had been in and rearranged things differently. Most of his files were missing, along with Bakura's. He had no idea where anything was anymore. His eyes were swimming with tears which he held back. He dropped his head into his hands. He tried to breath but it felt like someone had wrapped a belt around his lungs and was tightening it. Marik walked in and saw Ryou, he looked so upset. Bakura wasn't sure what to do. He didn't have much power anymore, at least not over the real world anymore. Marik took Ryou's face in his own hands, and very softly brushed his lip over Ryou's. The saltiness of Ryou's tears mixed with the saltiness of his own as Ryou kissed him back softly at first, slowly building up momentum, before pulling back to breath. Bakura watched feeling anger and betrayal build up in his chest before he kicked the desk which did nothing. He tried to pull Marik away but of course that also did nothing. Then Malik hit him at a full run which sent him backward a little, seeing as Bakura was already a little surprised, Malik kissed him. It was short but enough to take the other boy's focus from the two living people. Bakura pulled the blond close and kissed him back, and even after Marik and Ryou left they stayed for days in that office (it 's not like they could disturb anyone).

Bakura was still infuriated by Ryou but Malik was so adorable and sweet, and as odd as it was, and as annoying as the blond could be Bakura loved him. He still wasn't willing to forgive Ryou; the boy would have to pay somehow. It was only a matter of time before Ryou died; he could only live so long. He figured he only had about sixty years or so to wait (or maybe a SUV could help him out). Bakura went to find Malik and saw Ryou coming towards the crematory. He was walking alone. He said hello to a young girl and handed her a slip of paper. She led him into a back room. Malik ran to Bakura, took his hand and dragged him after the silver haired boy.

"No... I don't care... let me go... Malik stop." He protested but Malik kept dragging him.

They entered a brightly lit room that had rows of shelves along the back. Boxes like the one Bakura's ashes had been swept into were stacked three high. A small desk with a register and a calculator was placed slightly to one side. A few chairs surrounded it. Ryou and the girl sat on opposite sides of the desk. The girl had a receipt book in front of her and was writing out the cost of cremation neatly. She read the contents of the bill out to Ryou:

"So body pick up, cremation, the box, certificate to get the ashes through customs, papers that allow you to scatter the ashes, service fee, taxes and taxes."

"I would guess so."

'It works out to three thousand two hundred and fifteen. Oh and twelve cents."

"I was told you only accept cash?"

"Well cash is preferred but cheques are fine."

"Ahh can I pay by cheque?"

"Of course, make it out to James Marlow."

Ryou took out his pocketbook and began to write out a cheque.

"How old are you anyways, to work in place like this? It's a little morbid."

"I worked here since I was adopted from the orphanage I lived at. My parents died you see so I work for my adoptive father."

"Oh my I am so sorry... for bring that... it I... it up." Ryou left the check and backed out of the room stammering until he hit the door. He simply squeaked "Sorry." Before leaving. He returned a few minutes later to collect Bakura's ashes from the girl who was waiting for him.

Bakura watched this whole episode unfold. He started following Ryou again who headed back to their (or rather Ryou's) apartment. It took him a good hour and forty minutes to walk back. He entered the apartment alone, where he packed and spent the night alone, much to Bakura's delight. He lay down beside Ryou again that night and talked to him. First yelling and screaming at him for (sort of) cheating on him, then apologizing for (sort of) cheating on Ryou. He talked about nothing at all for hours until an alarm started blaring at five in the morning. Two chocolate eyes opened and stared straight at Bakura before rolling over to shut off the alarm. Bakura watched him while he changed and checked his passport. The door opened and Malik rushed in followed my Marik.

"We have to go. We're late." He looked around at the apartment. Everything was packed into boxes.

"You moving or something?" He asked Ryou

"Yes, into the apartment above my office. It'll just be easier to work when I come back. I just packed everything and I'll move it when I come back." He took the handle of his suitcase and followed Marik out into the weak New York sunshine. Marik put his case in the trunk of the car.

"When does our flight leave?" Ryou asked as the blond pulled away from the curb.

"It leaves at seven, so we only have an hour to check in and get through security."

"You're sure you still want to come?"

"I do like to travel. Besides this way I don't have to pay rent." He smiled at Ryou who smiled back. Bakura and Malik, who had slipped into the back of the car, looked at each other.

"At least we don't have to pay airfare." Malik said causing Bakura to laugh a little.

"Yeah I would guess so."