Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, and all people, places, and events from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! were written and are the rightful property of Kazuki Takahashi (as it should be; if any of us fan fiction writers get our little hands on it... well, then it wouldn't be Yu-Gi-Oh!).

Author's Note: Gomen! I apologize full heartily for not updating as much as I really should… I have a huge writing project I am currently enthralled with. If you must know (and if you haven't checked out my profile lately) I am writing the sequel to a great fan fiction by layrna6 called, Do You Dream Of Me?... the sequel, which I am writing is called Do You Dream Of Me: Duelist. Check it out if you want, but you have to read laryna6's one first to understand what's going on.

In other news… wait there is no other news… um, forget that, just read.

#2 Author's Note: All thoughts are in italics.

Revival of the Heart

By: Angel's Nocturne

Chapter 54: Forlorn Freedom….

"Ryou, can I ask you a question?"

The albino boy looked up with brown doe eyes from his sitting position on a boulder, as Ishizu sat down on one of the rocks beside him. Bakura had allowed him to be out of soul room for a bit, so that he could have some fresh air and a little leg room.

He had been sleeping in there for who knows how long, his mind floating about in the white room that was his inner soul as he let Bakura take the reigns of his vessel. He never really knew what was going on in the outside world, since Bakura had a tendency to place barriers up so that Ryou could not see. Ishizu had filled him in on what was happening, and it filled him with terror. Anzu was nearly dead? Atemu was gone? He shivered to think what was happening back in Domino, back at his home.

At times like this he even enjoyed Bakura's harsh company in his body—even if he was crude and unstable at least he knew he had protection. Twisted caring protection, but nonetheless, protection. Malik would have killed him if it hadn't been for Bakura; once again he owed his life to this sinner and thief, even though he kindly made up for it by hurting his friends or himself. He still didn't understand why he tolerated him.

"Ryou, are you listening?" the boy jumped—he had been caught in his own thoughts so much that he hadn't heard Ishizu talking to him. He nodded gently, staring off into the distance.

"Sorry, Ishizu. I'm just thinking about stuff." He could see the look of concern in her sapphire eyes.

"Do not worry yourself too much with the past few events. We will make it through, we are all strong" she said, and then added, "Especially that Thief King of yours."

Ryou ran his fingers through his hair a bit. His Thief King? He knew Bakura would get a kick out of that one. "He is strong… sometimes too strong. He's so hard to control… if he was more reliable I think we would actually have a conversation to talk about how powerful he is." Ishizu chuckled a bit, before looking at Ryou very sternly—Ryou felt a shiver trail up his back at this.

"Ryou, I have to ask of you… how is it that you have the Millennium Ring in your possession?" she said as her eyes gazed upon the golden pendant that hung from a cord around the youth's neck. He looked down, and fingered it absently. It glittered under his soft touch as he sighed.

"Strangest thing, really" he said, as he stroked one of the dangling gold extensions. "When Yugi and Atemu battled at the temple, and the Ring was sealed away into the ground with the others, I thought all my worries were over. I went home and thought of how my life would be different, now that I was no longer plagued with this bloody spirit." The pendant seemed to glow at those words, and the golden arms moved a bit in response. Ryou smiled at this—Bakura must have been watching them now. "But when I went to sleep, I felt an odd tugging at my soul, like someone was calling to me. Like someone was trying to find their way home… the next day I woke to find I was wearing the Ring." He smiled as he looked up at Ishizu with his soft chocolate eyes.

"That's it really. He was back with me—just like all the other times I tried to loose the Ring, or not wear it in fear of his return, there he was, back around my neck and inside my mind. He says I'm his permanent host, that I led him to the Millennium Puzzle so that must mean something. He refuses to let go, even if he pretends that he doesn't care or give a damn…." He grinned at distant thoughts, before pulling himself back to reality and rubbing the nape of his neck sheepishly.

"Sorry, I got a bit carried away there" he said shyly. Ishizu shook her head.

"No, that's quite alright. I've just been meaning to ask, since I was so surprised to see that the Ring was back from imprisonment when it should have remained there." She got up from her sitting position, dusting herself off as she headed out the cave towards where Odion was working on the jeep. She turned back to glance at Ryou, and gave him a fleeting smile.

"If you feel like giving us a hand, I would not mind it" she said, slightly sarcastic now as her face lightened up from the absence of stress. "We already know your yami refuses to do any work, but perhaps you might." Ryou laughed softly.

"I might, but for now I'm just going to sit here. I need to think a little." Ishizu nodded, understanding, as she headed out into the bright sunlight of the desert landscape. Ryou waited until she was fully out of view to let out a long, heavy sigh. Oh, what a day it had been.

Why couldn't he live a normal life, with normal days and normal nights and normal events that did not pertain to magic and deadly enemies? Why was he cursed to house a five thousand year old spirit in his body, to carry the great Thief King Akefia around with him just to have him dragged into situations where his life could be in danger? Especially when most of that danger came from a certain Tomb Robber….

Ryou didn't understand why he even tolerated the spirit being housed inside of him. Maybe it was because he didn't have a choice—Bakura was so powerful that he had no options but to obey him and submit. Even when he tried to resist him earlier back in Domino the spirit rose up to silence his opposition, but luckily he was stopped by sensing Samira and Anzu's trouble.

That brought up another question: just why was Bakura helping out Anzu and the gang? Ryou knew that he hated them, what's more he was also quite willing to kill them many occasions… why the sudden change of heart? Being nice seemed far beyond Bakura's abilities—it was almost like the Twilight Zone for Ryou with the way life seemed to become so abstract and devoid of reality. He held his head in his hands.

He also sensed that Bakura was not feeling himself. Despite the fact that Bakura had their link firmly closed so as not to let Ryou hear or see whatever he did while in his body, Ryou could still feel him, he could still sense what Bakura was sensing, though it was more in feelings than it was in thoughts.

It was certainly a first. Before this whole Samira incident, Ryou never felt anything through their link—it was as though Bakura was a block of solid ice, never moving and never feeling, or at least never feeling anything beyond hatred and the sweet sensation of revenge. Those seemed to be his only emotions… or at least that's what Ryou thought before he was reunited with him after the Ceremonial Duel.

At first there was sadness, then guilt… though he did not know who the guilt was directed towards, it was still felt very strongly by Ryou from Bakura. Then there was excitement, the heart-pounding, adrenaline rush of a chase and the fight. There was regret, there was fury that was unmatched to the spitting hatred Bakura felt usually, and then there was something else… something soft and gentle but at the same time fierce and direct, strong and desired. The only thing Ryou could think of, when he felt this sensation in his half-sleeping soul last night, was love.

Since when could Bakura feel, let alone love? And who was it that this feeling suddenly burned for? Ryou was left in the dark, utterly clueless. Why was Bakura sending him these feelings, letting him know of their existence? But then a thought occurred to him: Perhaps he wasn't sending him the thoughts—maybe they were so strong that Ryou could feel them even through the closed link. But how could that be, and what changed to make that possible? Ryou shook his head.

It's not like Bakura would ever tell him if he asked. Of that nothing had changed. Suddenly he felt a cold presence surrounding him, and he shivered on instinct. He heard a dark chuckle in his mind.

"What has you melting your brains in thought?" Bakura asked him.

Nothing that concerns you, Tomb Robber, he stated coldly. He felt Bakura smirk.

"Being snippy, are we? Hmm, my influence must be rubbing off on you."

Ryou hoped not. What is that you want?

"Your time is up, I want the body back." Ryou mentally shook his head.

And if I refuse? He wanted to stay out as long as possible—being in his soul room made him feel lethargic and worn from over-sleep. He felt Bakura slightly through his mind, silently snickering.

"Then you cannot blame me if one of Samira's little minions starts choking you again—this time I might not be so willing to help you." Ryou shuddered in slight fear, remembering the way Malik's clammy hands had squeezed his neck, closing off his air. He unwillingly receded, to have Bakura wear his skin once more.

"Ah, to feel alive" he said sarcastically, chuckling as he clenched and unclenched his host's fists, as though trying them out for the first time. He leapt off his rocky perch, and sauntered past Anzu's still unconscious form. He glanced at it cautiously, scowling.

What the hell is taking her so long? he thought, before stepping over to the opening of the cave. He leaned against the entryway, his hands in his pockets as he peered over the endless ocean of bronze. The sky was just getting to twilight, as the sun was just over the horizon now, about to make its descent. If he looked to the right he could see Ishizu and Odion over by the jeep, with Ishizu handing Odion a wrench as he went under the car to do something. Bakura smirked.

How the curator has all that equipment and food in her jeep at the right time is beyond me, he thought, before turning her gaze back to the desert. His thoughts were elsewhere, pondering old and nearly forgotten memories. Things that he wished he never had to remember again, but now his heart was enflamed with their essence… it was driving him insane.

Samira… as soon as I find you, I assure you that there will be no returning to the living world for you. He balled his hand into a tight fist. I can assure you of that.

He continued to stare out at the sea of swirling sand, his russet brown eyes harshly viewing the world, when he noticed something odd. There were two billowing streams of smoke coming from forms that were too microscopic for him to see, they were so far away. However, judging by all the sand trailing behind them, they were coming in fast and gaining distance. Then they drew closer, and if Bakura squinted enough he could identify them.

He groaned inwardly. Samira's soldiers! Not now…! He watched as the jeeps they rode in came to view, and now he could hear the roar of their engines. He could also hear rowdy laughs and shouts from what he could assume were the passengers. He crossed his arms, displeased by their misfortune.

"We have company" he said, directing his voice to Ishizu and Odion. Confused, the two stopped their work and followed Bakura's russet brown eyes to the jeeps. Ishizu's eyes grew wide, galvanized.

"Oh no…" she breathed. Odion grabbed the wrench he had currently placed in the jeep, as though he was going to use it as a weapon. "What do we do now?"

Bakura shrugged, turning away so that he now walked back into the cave. He smirked, looking back at them on last time.

"We fight" he said bluntly, before retuning to the cool darkness that was the inside of their hideout. He glanced again at Anzu's sleeping form, and mentally chided himself for ever getting involved with this. He scowled as he gazed upon her.

Anytime now would be nice… he thought to her. Wake up, already!

---

There was no hope left. There was nothing left in the darkness to hold onto, especially not hope. And even the prospect of it was fading fast.

Anzu didn't know what to do—Marik had taken her completely by surprise, by sinking her into the ebbing shadows that longed for her soul. How could she have trusted him, that fiend whom she knew to be dangerous, whom she knew to be a threat but still went along with him anyways? She had been a fool of hope, a fool of friendship and trust… she had longed for the light and in her search trusted a demon who longed for the same thing. Now look where she was—the darkness she wanted to escape.

It felt like sinking into tar at first, but as she passed through the surface Anzu realized that it was like floating in water… except water didn't drag you down with invisible tendrils that were made of pure darkness. Anzu was surprised by the shadows though, because it was like a two-way mirror in a sense—looking up though them now, it was so she was peering through water, as she could clearly see Yami Marik stalking his way over to the portal of light, the one meant solely for her. Her freedom, her escape… all gone because she trusted him, and he showed why she shouldn't have.

She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe… could she breathe before-hand, here in the Shadow Realm? She did not remember, but what she felt now was somewhat like suffocation. She was drowning in the darkness, in the inky shadows, and also in her failure.

She was supposed to save them—her friends, Atemu… she was supposed to come back and rescue them from the darkness that enslaved their world. Now she was enslaved herself, and all her efforts, all her friends' efforts, had been in vain… all because she wasn't strong enough to finish her task and return home to them.

What will happen now? she pondered as Marik grew farther and farther from her vision, as the blank darkness consumed her line of sight slowly, torturing her. What will they do, without me there? Images raced through her mind, of cities burning in infernos, of zombies plaguing the earth in armies lead by a tyrannical witch, of Yugi never smiling again, of Joey and Tristan never panty-tanking her in class (although that she could gladly live without), of Atemu all alone, maybe even dead… would they even miss her? Maybe they would forget, or maybe they would all be dead… she screamed into the darkness, but her voice was gone and her mouth only filled with the metallic sting of shadows. Tears silently slipped down her cheeks in a flood.

Even if Atemu died she would never see him again… she would never see any of them again… her heart broke into a million pieces as she struggled against the shadowy bonds that held her still, only making them tighter as she yanked and pulled on them.

Let me go, please let me go! She cried as she tugged and squirmed, her body jerking wildly as she triedto get away. It was a useless struggle, but still she continued. I want to be free! I need the light! I want to live again! To see Atemu, Yugi, Joey, Tristan… I want to see everyone again! I don't wanna die down here, all alone! I want to be free, I wanna go home! Please! LET... ME... GO! She screamed again but she couldn't even hear herself.

Tired and panting for non-existent air, Anzu's body went limp, too worn from her resistance. She tried to make her muscles move, urging them to oppose the bindings, but she could not. Her head hung uselessly from her neck, in surrender. It was over… she had lost this fight.

Her eyes clouded over to a misty blue, as two last tears traveled down her stained cheeks in defeat. Her hair swept over her eyes, covering them in shadow as she silently wept, trembling a bit as she whimpered helplessly.

Atemu…Yugi…everyone…I'm sorry. She sank deeper and deeper now, watching as Marik brought his arms out waiting for the light to accept his soul and take him back to the real world. She brought a tired left arm forward, reaching for the light, but she knew she could never get to it. It was too far away, out of her reach… just like her friends, just like her life… slipping below the folds of shadows….

Anzu was so content to fall into the abyss that she failed to notice the pale gold aura emitted from her cartouche. It was as soft as frost, and it warmed her soul like a soft candle flame; soon she noticed the gentle light and she looked down to see it. Her eyes glazed over, as she smiled down at the light. It was so small, it was nearly swallowed in the darkness… how sad it looks here in the shadows... it, like everything else, would not help her now.

"Maybe not by itself" a familiar voice said, "but with a little help, that light can grow."

Anzu slightly cocked her head upward, trying to see who said that. Beneath her bangs her tear-filled eyes widened, the familiar voice belonged to Yugi, who now floated above her as transparent as a ghost. He was surrounded by a golden aura, just like the cartouche, and he smiled like a saint as he reached down, and touched his hand to her reaching one.

"Yu…gi…" she whispered. He was here, floating in front of her. But how, why was he here in the real world? He seemed to hear her thoughts, because his smile grew bigger.

"Anzu, don't worry about my presence in this realm. You may not realize it, but in spirit we are always with each other. All of your friends are." Suddenly Joey appeared from the darkness to Yugi's right, and then Tristan appeared on Yugi's left. Both of the teens smiled widely at their companion, and she felt her heart skip a beat. They were here too?

"Yug's right, Anzu! We're always with ya!" Joey assured her, giving a thumbs-up and a wink. Tristan gave her the same thing.

"Yeah Anzu! You may not think about it, but we're right beside you, in your thoughts!" Tristan said. Yugi nodded along with both of them.

"You guys… I'm so sorry" Anzu's eyes were downcast as her head dipped towards her chest in shame. "I failed you all. I'm stuck here, and Marik's going back to the real world, not me." She was about to explain further, to try and tell them that she wasn't coming back, but the feeling of something touching her chin stopped her. A hand brought her chin up so that she could peer into accented amethyst eyes surrounded by bronze skin…. She gasped as she looked directly at the spirit of Atemu.

"Ate—" She was about to speak when he placed two warm fingers on her lips to silence her. He smirked as he leaned back, so that he stood—floated—with the others.

"Anzu, don't give up just yet" he said in his sultry voice. She felt her heart melt, she missed him so much. "Just like Yugi said, the light of your heart may be small alone, but combined with others, it is a blazing radiance that casts away the darkness." He then placed his hand to hers, the one that Yugi held firm, and suddenly the light of the cartouche grew stronger. Joey and Tristan joined in, and with it the symbol of friendship appeared on all their hands, glowing of a brilliant white light. Anzu smiled at it.

She remembered when she drew that symbol, the day Yugi went to fight Kaiba for his grandpa. She even recalled what she had said when she had finished, as she held up her hand to show everyone….

"This is a symbol of our friendship…."

Her eyes now looked into the light with a new-found determination. Her body overflowed with love and trust; she felt all their hands, all of their rich presence, soak into hers as the cartouche was shining like a star, nearly blinding her. She closed her eyes, took in the light… she could never give up, not when her friends were at her side!

She looked around, and saw all their expectant smiles. "I have to get outta here!" she said, remembering that the portal of light was still open. She could see Marik still waiting for the light to accept his soul. "I have to get to the portal and get home!" Atemu placed his free hand on her shoulder.

"Then we had best hurry." Without warning the cartouche exploded with a wave of light that banished the darkness away in seconds! In reverse to the shadowy tendrils pulling her down, Anzu felt them burn away with the holy light, leaving her free to fly towards the portal. Her body felt like it had wings, like she could soar through the air and into the light….

"C'mon, Anzu! Let's go!" she heard Yugi say. She could feel herself gliding upward, and she could sense all her friends surrounding her, pushing her spirit up to the light. Never had she felt so much power, so much strength… now she knew that their friendship was strong, because as it filled her soul she shot through the air, straight towards the opening in the Shadow Realm fog….

Marik stood beneath the light that led to the next world. He grinned manically as he felt the tug of the beam lead skyward, into the portal so blinding he could not stare directly at it. He placed himself directly where the radiance banished the shadows, and he felt the warmth of it like sunlight basking over him.

This is IT! He laughed maliciously as his face contorted, stretching out and veins popping from it, his right eye extended cynically. He spread his arms out, accepting the warm light even though it burned his dark soul. He chuckled as he though of the destruction he would cause, as soon as he was free.

Malikit will be good to see you again, when I take control of you once more! he thought. And that wretched Pharaoh will pay for what he did to me! All of them will pay, once I wreak my revenge! He could feel his feet lifting slightly off the ground, and the light growing more intense as his grin appeared even more demonic. He was almost there, almost towards the light—

But then something shot up under him—he could hear the swish of air as something broke through the surface of the shadow underground, and it came up right beneath him. He glanced down to see Anzu, glowing with a heavenly light as her body was suddenly above his, and heading for the portal. He could see the determined smile on her face; she nearly resembled Guardian Angel Joan, in all her brilliance and holiness. Marik regained his composure and quickly took action.

I have to stop her! he screamed to himself. Instantly he grabbed her ankle, and started to drag her back down.

Anzu was dazed by the prospect of seeing the real world again, of being far from this vengeful darkness and back with all her friends—then her happiness was suddenly torn apart when she felt something grab her ankle. She twisted around to see Yami Marik grinning like a maniac, holding leg as he tried to yank her back. She yelped in pain at her leg being jerked like that.

"Let me go!" she cried, pulling her leg up and trying to kick Marik. He dodged, and only managed to grab her leg up as far as her knee. He chuckled insanely.

"Why my dear? Maybe there's enough room on this ride for two!" He held onto her as she slightly dragged them both towards the light. She caught a hold of his intentions, and instantly tried to kick him again.

"I won't let you go back to my world!" she yelled, and she grabbed her cartouche firmly. Without thought she summoned from it all its power, all of her power, and as she did her body became illuminated like a light bulb at full wattage. Marik covered his eyes with his free hand, but laughed to himself. If this was the best she could do then he was going back in no time.

But what he didn't expect was what came next. He felt an eerie sensation all around him, like he was surrounded by some sort of force. A strong, powerful, merciless force. Then he saw it, he saw what was making him feel like this—four souls had grabbed his arm, and were concentrating on forcing light to enter his soul. Marik's lilac eyes went wide as he felt his arm suddenly burn with a scalding pain. He watched as his arm disappeared into shadowy particles.

"NOOOO!" he bellowed, as the light that came from the portal suddenly activated—the opening was ready for passage. Anzu flew up into the light on invisible wings, her hands being held by the unseen souls of her friends, the ones she always held dear in her heart. She heard Marik scream at her from below, before the only sound she heard was the thundering of power as she was swept through a vortex of light, and out of the Shadow Realm for good, and the only thing she saw was the blinding brilliance of the world of light….

She was finally going home.

---

Author's Note: Yes, cheer your hearts out! Anzu is going back to our realm! WOO!

But what surprises await her there? Oh, you'll just have to wait and see what I have in store… tehehe, the fun's just getting started!