It was finally over.
Ryou's body was found shortly after they emerged from the Tablet again, passed-out on the ground, with absolutely no memory of anything that happened, just like back when he'd played his Monster World games. Yuugi had laughed until he'd cried with him, so relieved that he was alright that Ryou couldn't help but cry with him, even if he didn't remember anything.
Yuugi had accepted the Pharaoh's challenge without any need of it being asked. The entire night they prepared, Yuugi had fought through tears, but he'd managed to do it, managed to make his deck and make it count.
And he'd won.
They'd watched the Pharaoh as he left without a single word, smiling with a thumbs-up through the door. He became Atem before their very eyes again, and even if it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, it was also the most terrible.
He could feel it when he left the Puzzle, when he was finally alone again. He clutched the cartouche Atem had given him with his real name around his neck as he dropped to his knees a second time, scolding himself when he did so because a champion didn't belong on his knees, that's what he'd said.
The door had closed behind him, and he was alone in his head again.
The tomb had collapsed, the era of the Shadow Games finally coming to an end as Yuugi wiped his eyes, and looked out at the sun, sniffling into his sleeve.
"A new start." Jou finally said, crushing Yuugi against his side, and the other soon joining. "Let's go home."
It was finally beginning.
Ryou Bakura stood alone behind the group as they all comforted each other, and he looked down at his shoes.
He hugged his backpack to his chest closely, his face pressed into the rough polyester.
He smiled through the plane ride home, hugging Yuugi goodbye and promising to meet him again. He'd laughed with Jounouchi, he'd lost his breath in a tight hold from Honda, and he'd told Anzu he'd always remember him, too.
He unzipped the backpack, placing the Ring around his neck, sighing with relief that he could still feel the familiar darkness seeping back into his bones.
It was lucky he borrowed the spirit's quick fingers, or else he may not have gotten it before it fell with the rest of them. Really lucky...
"I almost thought you were gone with him." Ryou confessed, as the Spirit of the Ring wrapped his arms in a loving embrace around Ryou from behind.
"Did you get it, then?" The Thief King whispered in his ear, and Ryou pulled the Millennium Spellbook from his backpack, opening it to the ritual of the Millennium Items.
"How many more could we make with Domino City, do you think?" Ryou asked, fingers on the ancient page while the spirit hummed.
"We only need six, partner. But making the home of the Pharaoh burn for the greater good is more than enough reward that we need..."
A/N:
What happens next is up to you, I really don't have any plans for a sequel beyond this point.