Chapter 26

"Until the Next Life"

Aieko

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, watching it grow slowly lighter with the rising sun.

'When do you have to leave?'

'In a few hours,' I said, directing my thoughts to the shadow-figure sitting on the end of my bed. 'I need to be there early to get through security and… to meet Yugi and everyone before we all leave.'

Atena was quiet, her fingers on the Tauk. 'So this really is the end, isn't it?'

'I suppose so,' I said, my posture imitating hers. I hadn't taken the Tauk off—even to sleep—after Yugi gave it back to me yesterday.

'Aieko.'

'Hm?'

'I… I'm scared.'

I sat up to look at Atena. She was staring out the window, a faraway look in her eyes. 'Why?'

'I don't want to experience death again.' Her voice was hushed, and wavered slightly.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. 'I don't think you will. You're already dead, right? You have to be living to die again.'

She gave me a flat look. 'That makes me feel so much better.'

I grinned. 'You're getting really good that this sarcasm stuff.'

She rolled her eyes.

-0-

I shuffled through security, again marveling at how much more efficient and less panic-y it was than the airport security in America. Sitting on a bench, I put the Tauk back on, then shuffled through my bag, putting away my passport, ticket, and wallet, and bent down to put my shoes on.

'What's the purpose of all of this?' Atena asked, waving a hand around the security set up.

'To keep people safe,' I replied, tightening one lace and moving on to the next. 'The idea is that they'll catch anyone with weapons before they get on a plane and wreak havoc.'

'That's happened before?'

I pulled a face. 'Too many times. Way too many times.'

'Oh.'

She didn't say anything, but glided along and I went to a map and squinted at it, trying to decipher the tiny English print underneath the kanji.

"You look like you need some help."

I whirled around. "Bakura!"

The white-haired young man smiled at me, a small carry bag slung over his shoulder. "Hello again Aieko."

I relaxed muscles I didn't know were tense when I noticed it was Ryou speaking. "I didn't see you on the bus on the way here," I said as he stepped next to me and looked at the map.

"I was almost to the stop when I realized I had forgotten a couple of things; I went back to go get them and I missed the bus so I had to wait for the next one."

"Ah."

"Here's the place where we're supposed to meet everyone," Bakura said, pointing at a little restaurant between two wings of the building. He looked over at me, paused, then held out his hand. "May I carry your bag?"

I blinked, then smiled. "Sure; thanks."

Atena's head tilted in confusion. 'What…?'

'It's called chivalry,' I responded, falling into step next to him. 'And I'm glad to see it's not completely dead.'

We chatted about the results we got from our classes and other things in general, but we avoided the topic of Egypt and what would be happening there.

Yugi, Jonouchi, Honda, and Anzu were waiting at the restaurant, bags sitting next to their chairs. They were all smiling and chatting happily, though I could see the Pharaoh standing quietly a few steps away, his face unreadable.

Anzu looked up and waved us over. "Hey guys! Glad you could make it!"

I smiled and snagged an empty seat next to Jonouchi, and Bakura lowered himself into the other empty one next to mine. "I wouldn't miss seeing you guys one last time before everything changes," I said. "You all have been great friends to me while I was here."

Jonouchi slapped a hand on my shoulder. "Of course! But you make it sound like we'll never see each other again."

I shrugged. "Well… we're done and graduated, right? We'll all be going our separate ways?"

"Not for a while," Anzu said, rubbing the back of her left hand. "Even so, our friendship will always last and be a part of all of us, no matter how far apart in space or time we may be." She glanced at Yugi as she said this, looking down at his Puzzle.

I raised an eyebrow. "All of us? Or all of you?"

"All of us," Honda emphasized. "You're our friend too Aieko. We'll always be thinking of you along with everyone else."

I smiled, blinking several times to keep my eyes from getting wet. "Thanks guys."

"Of course!" Jonouchi said. "Now who else wants to eat something? I'm starved!"

We all got in line, and I was looking up at the menu, when Yugi tapped my shoulder. "You okay?" He asked.

I stared at the menu for a moment longer, then looked down at him. "I'm gonna miss her, you know."

He nodded. "I understand how you feel," he said, cupping a hand around the Puzzle. "We've been companions for years, and now…" he hesitated, then sniffed loudly. "Well, what'll happen will happen, and everything will work out in the end."

I couldn't help but smile. "You're a very positive person, Yugi. I envy that in you."

He grinned, a light blush spreading across his cheeks. "Well, sometimes, you just need a positive outlook to make it through to the next day. If things aren't good, it's not the end."

It's not the end… I repeated in my mind, and suddenly sniffled also. "Yeah. That's a good way of putting it. Thanks Yugi."

He smiled, but looked a little confused. "You're welcome."

We ate, talked, and laughed together, the six of us. All too soon, it came time to head to our separate planes and make our way to opposite sides of the world. We stood at the intersection of the two wings, and Atena materialized next to me.

'What I said yesterday still stands,' she said, smiling at me. 'Whatever happens, I will always have my memories of my time with you.'

I smiled back. 'And I won't ever forget you.'

She held her hand out, and I took it. 'I'll miss you.'

'And I you. Now go; be with your family again.' I squeezed her hand. 'I'll see you in the next life.'

Her soul hugged mine. 'Until then, Aieko. May Ra forever cast his smile upon you.'

I retreated from my soul room, fingers resting on the Tauk. I took it off and gave it to Yugi, and she was gone.

"Thank you Aieko," Yugi said. The Puzzle flashed and the Pharaoh stood in front of me. He looked down at the Tauk for a long moment, then looked up at me. "You helped me on my path to regain my memories. Though when I do, I will never forget the kindness you showed me… showed us," he said, indicating the Tauk.

I smiled, and tried to talk around the lump in my throat. "Anytime." I hesitated, then gave him a hug. "Take good care of her, okay?" I whispered.

He nodded. "I will."

We separated, and they waved good-bye and started down the hallway. I sighed and put my hands in my pocket. A piece of paper crinkled.

"Oh! Bakura!" I called.

He looked back, said something to the others, and came back towards me while they all went on. "What is it?"

I pulled the envelope out of my pocket and gave it to him. "Here," I said. "I don't know when you'll be back from Egypt, but I'll probably still be with my family. I'd like it… a lot… if you could come visit."

He frowned, then opened the envelope. "Aieko… I can't take this." He handed it back.

"Just give me a call," I said, pushing the envelope into his chest. "Let me know when to come pick you up. My number's on a note in there."

He stared at the contents of the envelope a moment longer, then he bent and put it into his bag. "Thank you Aieko. I would love to come visit you."

"Good," I said, taking his hand. "I'll be seeing you soon then."

He smiled, and on impulse I leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Have fun in Egypt!" I said, grabbing my bag and quickly retreating. His face looked about as red as mine felt.

"Fly safely!" He called back. "Until the end of the summer!"

"Until then!"

We waved and turned, walking away from each other.

As I walked, my fingertips rested on my throat at the spot where the Tauk used to be. "Until then," I repeated softly.

CELEBRATION CONFETTI

**\^_^/**

What was in the envelope you ask? You be the judge of that. :)

Next time: the epilogue

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