Twenty chapters! Yay! *celebrates* *hands out party hats and strawberry
milk* Thank you for reviewing the chapters! This one will be longer than
the others, because of the celebration ^-^
To Molly-chan: *sniggers* I like your attitude.
To Heather-Hezzer-and-Honaluki: *nods* You're perfectly right. We all have to mourn *wipes away a tear* Well, Yami's evil in here because I don't like his character of the series. . . and Bakura's nice because. . . uhm. . .
Bakura: Because you're insane!
Voice: Thanks ^-^ That's right. And because Ryou deserves to be treated nice.
Ryou: *nodnod* ^-^ *cuddles with Bakura*
To Lee-chan: Oh god, please continue breathing, I'll update as soon as I can! Angry mob? *hides behind Malik*
Malik: I'll protect you, don't worry.
Ryou: I wanted to protect her. . . *pouts*
Voice: *watches them fighting* ^-^ Now that's what I like. . . *grins*
To snow-shadow-wolf: Thank you so much. . . I really didn't want to make you cry ^-^ But if it makes you feel better and cheers you up, here you go with the saddest chapter I've ever wrote!
To GraveRobbers Aman: He'll show up some time now ^-^ I promise.
To RaineKitsune: O.O Uhm. . . ayways. Thanks ^-^
Tributes to Kairi!! *places flowers and stuff on the grave* And to Mariku! *puts daggers on his grave*
~*~
Ryou's POV
Ra, how I loathed to see him weep. Bakura silently cried into my shoulder, moistening my shirt, mourning over the loss of the older Blonde. His grip around my waist tightened as a small sob escaped his lips. I continued running my hands through his hair, over his back, as they had done when I had been downstairs in Anzu's room.
*~* Flashback*~*
"Anzu-chan? Are you in there?" The brown-haired girl looked up from the pillow she was clutching to her chest which was wet with tears. "Yeah. . . " "Can I come in?" The voice outside her room was soft, worried, timid. "Of course. . . Ryou-chan."
The door opened and the white-haired youth came in, obviously shocked when he looked at the girl, seeing nothing but reddened eyes and slightly swollen lips. Her lower lip was bleeding lightly; she had bitten herself to stop her from sobbing. Ryou walked over and sat down at the edge of the bed. Awkward silence came over them, broken with a few sniffs.
"You here to comfort me?", Anzu asked quietly. Ryou nodded. "Seto was here, too. He left a couple of minutes ago."
"I know, I've met him outside." The girl lowered her eyes and once again tears began to stream down her pale cheeks. Ryou shifted uncomfortably. "Please, Anzu-chan. . . could you smile for me again?"
Anzu looked up into these gentle green eyes pleading her silently. "Please stop crying. I can't stand seeing everyone sad." It maybe was harsh of him to say something like that when Mariku didn't return from Egypt, but the girl knew that the younger one meant no harm. She sniffed again softly and nodded.
"No, not like that."
"What do you except me to do? To go on as if nothing had happened?"
Ryou shook his head, silver-white locks swaying softly. "Of course not. . . Anzu-chan?", he said as he noticed Anzu's attention was somewhere else. The boy laid one of his hands on hers. "Please, could you tell me of him?" The girl's mouth curled into a light, sad smile. "Yeah. Come here."
She wrapped her arms around Ryou as if he was a child, pulling him close. Ryou snuggled against her.
"Well, he was. . . somewhat cruel. That might be a good description. I remember the day we all went to school and some guys started to pick on me. Of course they didn't see Mariku, Bakura, Malik and Seto, because I had told them to go ahead. I forgot something at home, and Shizuka was ill, so I tried and catch up with the boys." She smirked slightly as memories washed over her.
"And what happened?"
"These guys wanted to take my money, I think. They cornered me against a wall and started searching for it, at. . . very strange places. Anyways, I was scared, too scared to scream; but suddenly they're hands were off of me and Mariku and Bakura stood behind them. I even remember Mariku's frown and Bakura's smirk." Anzu's smile widened. Ryou looked up at her inquiring.
"And then he said, 'if I ever see you touch my girlfriend again, I swear I'll kill you'."
"Did they bother you again?"
"Yep. And Mariku made his promise become reality."
"Really? That's. . . kinda cute." Anzu nodded. Ryou sat up, trying to comfort her as well as possible.
"You know, he isn't gone completely." "He's not?"
"No.", Ryou smiled. "He'll always be a beautiful memory in your heart. If you don't forget about him, he'll be alive." Anzu embraced him.
"Thank you, Ryou."
*~* Flashback end*~*
Well, I couldn't tell Bakura Mariku would be in his heart, could I? He probably would've looked at me like I was a maniac. So I continued my soothing and placed a kiss on his forehead. Suddenly, he pulled away and turned his head.
"I'm. . . sorry.", he said. I blushed slightly as I found me still sitting on his lap. "No, don't. It's okay to mourn." I tried to make my voice as soft as I could. When he remained silent, I tried another thing.
I started humming. Almost immediately, he closed his eyes. "Stop that. . . ", he whispered. I ignored his protest.
~I know just how to whisper, and I know just how to cry~
"Ryou, please. . . "
~I know just when to face the truth and then I know just how to lie~
Tears began rolling down his face again. I knew he had to cry his heart out if he would ever be able to face Mariku's death.
~And I know the night is feedy, and I know the time's gonna fly~
His grip tightened once again. "Please, Ryou, stop it. . . " Finally he sobbed. I know it may sound like I'm cruel. But why couldn't he admit that even he had emotions? I went back to humming. That was the second night I spent with him, holding him in my arms soothingly.
~*~
The next morning Anzu woke me up. "Wake up, Ryou-chan, we're already late. . . " I sleepily opened my eyes just to find me in Bakura's bed; but without the bed's owner. "Try these.", Anzu said. Her eyes were their cerulean blue selves, I noticed, but her cheeks were pale non-the-less. She shoved a bundle of black clothes into my arms. I slipped them on, hastily fumbling with the buttons of the chemise. Anzu simply shoved my hands away and buttoned them. I let my gaze wander over her.
She seemed sad, again. Dressed in black. Not the kind of black she wore on missions; it was a different kind of black. Somewhat mournful. Her hair was tied up into a tight ponytail. She looked like she was going to a funeral. . . and then it struck me. Of course! Mariku's funeral. . . well, they couldn't get his body out of the pyramid, but Seto insisted of giving him one. I followed her out of the room, down into the hall, where the others were. I glanced sideward at Isis who was leaning onto Malik for support, wearing a black dress and some kind of cloth which was pulled over her head to cover her jet-black hair. Everyone wore black. Seto was holding Shizuka in his arms just as Malik was holding Isis, Bakura silently standing behind the siblings, with his arms crossed and a stony, cold expression on his face.
Without a word, Seto started moving towards the large backyard, leading the others to the very edge. A dark, mournful weeping willow hung its long branches over a gravestone, swaying softly in the wind. Our small group gathered around the stone and I narrowed my eyes slightly to read the name written on the stone.
MARIKU OSIRIS ISHTAR
Nothing but that. No date of birth, no date of death. On my left, standing between Bakura and Malik, Isis started crying again. I swallowed on the large lump of sadness and worry, and as I glanced up, I saw Bakura's cold expression falter. Seto raised his voice, pulling Shizuka nearer to him as if he needed her touch to keep speaking.
"You know, I'm no man of big words, but. . . I know I've got to say something. I want to tell you all that I'm terribly sorry for sending you on a mission for those items, it was successful, but now we lost a precious member of our organisation, one of the best men at his job", he stopped shortly and swallowed his own tears. His voice became softer, filled with emotion for the first time I heard.
"But we also lost an extremely loyal member, a beloved and good brother and, what regards all of us, a good friend. We'll never be able to replace him, and we won't even try. I may not know much about sensitive words and stuff, but I sure know the emotions concerning us all." He paused again and glanced at Isis who concealed her face in Malik's shoulder, trying to remain silent but sobbed every now and then.
"Sadness. Confusion. Love and Hate. I wonder just as you all do why that happened. Why this only happens to those who are in our hearts, who don't deserve to die." He glanced at me shortly. Yes, I knew that feeling, these questions.
"At least to say, he died like a hero. No, as a hero. He died to protect the ones he love the most. He died because he always wanted to perfect his missions. Of course, he could've left the Rod and the Necklace behind. Of course he could have run away and leave his partners - his siblings- behind. But he didn't, because he hated his enemies and loved his siblings. We can't blame him, or Malik and Isis. . . we can't even blame the ancient pharaohs to protect what was theirs. All we can do is keeping him in our hearts, so he won't ever be forgotten."
With that Seto pulled the now crying Shizuka into an embrace, and Anzu, who had been holding my hand, pressed it lightly. I watched Malik trying to stop Isis from sinking to her knees, but she did after taking a step ahead. Tears running down her once-calm face, she held her hands out and a slight, white glow could be seen; when she removed her hands, little plants came out of the earth in front of the gravestone and began blooming in a pure violet, even if it was still snowing.
Slowly, the group went back to the mansion one by one. Seto, Shizuka and Anzu were the first to leave, because the younger girl was shaking with sobs. Bakura lifted Isis into his arms shortly after they went because she trembled too much to walk, and Malik followed them. So I was alone now with an empty grave.
I started to think. Think about when I visited my family on the graveyard the last time. It was shortly after their death. . . My aunt, my mother, my father, and my sister, all of them next to another, resting in an eternal slumber. I didn't visited them again, I couldn't stand it. But now, that the memory was refreshed, I just had to think about them.
My sister's bright laughter. My mother's soft smile. My father's kind voice when he was at home, yet harsh when he discussed. My aunt's beautiful voice. Images flashed in front of my inner eye, images of that stormy night my aunt took care of Amane and me while Mum and Dad were on a special meeting.
I felt bad. I wanted them back. It was as if the emotions of all my friends floated inside of me. All of them wondered why this had happened, wanted Mariku back, or just wanted to see him one last time. It started snowing harder. Thick, white flocks fell upon me, the grave, and the beautiful little flowers. I wondered why they didn't die. . .
"You should go inside.", a cracked voice behind me said, and strong arms circled around my waist.
"I know. . . I can't."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. . . "
"I. . . want to be with him one last time."
I turned around at this confession, looking into sad dark red eyes. "I know. . . every one wants that." Bakura lowered his eyes. "Hey, he wouldn't want to see you cry again.", I stated softly. I didn't want to, either.
"I won't cry again.", he said quietly. "I. . . won't Thank you, anyways."
"What for?" He looked at me again, serious, but still sad.
"For. . . you know. Comforting me last night." It was obvious how embarrassed he was about that; I just had to smile lightly. "You're welcome. I'd do it every time again."
"You would?" I nodded. Bakura pulled me closer to him. "Then do it again tonight.", he breathed. I blinked. Did he mean it? I was allowed to stay with him again?
"Only. . . if you smile for me again."
"You said that to Anzu-chan, too.", he stated. "How come you know?"
"I comforted her after I brought Isis to bed", he said quietly, lowering his head. "Both of them don't take it very well. And not to mention Malik; he doesn't even speak anymore."
I sighed softly. My fingertips started to go numb. "Let's go inside."
*~*
Reader's POV
The now only Blonde sat down on his bed, staring blankly on the wall. His slender fingers reached to the night table, grabbing the golden Rod softly. Malik had managed to get it again from the commode of his older sister where the Necklace laid, too. Isis never wore it; she was afraid of his powers a bit. The boy turned the Rod in his fingers absently, stroking the bowl on top as if it was the head of a beloved pet.
/That was quite sappy, you know./, an echoed voice spoke inside his head; somehow familiar yet strange at the same time. Malik's head jerked up. "W- What was that?"
/The whole funeral thingy. Though I liked Kaiba's words of regret./
Malik stared around frantically, clutching the Rod to his chest. "Who are you??"
/I'm disappointed; don't you remember me?/
A transparent person appeared in front of the boy; it looked like a holograph.
/Don't you remember what I told you about a year ago? I would never leave Bakura. I would never leave Isis./ The person walked up to him, lifting a hand to Malik's cheek. The boy noticed that he stood on is feet.
/And I would never leave you./
*~*
Awww! He's "kinda" back!!
Mariku: About time -.-
Voice: Listen, folks, if you want to hear the song I'm mentioning in this chapter again, the one Ryou's aunt and mother and Isis sang all the time, just give me your Email-address and I'm gonna send it to you!!
Malik: That's kind of illegal, you know.
Voice: So. . . what?
Malik: That's my girl ^-^
Voice: I just want them to listen to it because it's an important part of this story!! ^-^ Review pleeaaase. . .
To Molly-chan: *sniggers* I like your attitude.
To Heather-Hezzer-and-Honaluki: *nods* You're perfectly right. We all have to mourn *wipes away a tear* Well, Yami's evil in here because I don't like his character of the series. . . and Bakura's nice because. . . uhm. . .
Bakura: Because you're insane!
Voice: Thanks ^-^ That's right. And because Ryou deserves to be treated nice.
Ryou: *nodnod* ^-^ *cuddles with Bakura*
To Lee-chan: Oh god, please continue breathing, I'll update as soon as I can! Angry mob? *hides behind Malik*
Malik: I'll protect you, don't worry.
Ryou: I wanted to protect her. . . *pouts*
Voice: *watches them fighting* ^-^ Now that's what I like. . . *grins*
To snow-shadow-wolf: Thank you so much. . . I really didn't want to make you cry ^-^ But if it makes you feel better and cheers you up, here you go with the saddest chapter I've ever wrote!
To GraveRobbers Aman: He'll show up some time now ^-^ I promise.
To RaineKitsune: O.O Uhm. . . ayways. Thanks ^-^
Tributes to Kairi!! *places flowers and stuff on the grave* And to Mariku! *puts daggers on his grave*
~*~
Ryou's POV
Ra, how I loathed to see him weep. Bakura silently cried into my shoulder, moistening my shirt, mourning over the loss of the older Blonde. His grip around my waist tightened as a small sob escaped his lips. I continued running my hands through his hair, over his back, as they had done when I had been downstairs in Anzu's room.
*~* Flashback*~*
"Anzu-chan? Are you in there?" The brown-haired girl looked up from the pillow she was clutching to her chest which was wet with tears. "Yeah. . . " "Can I come in?" The voice outside her room was soft, worried, timid. "Of course. . . Ryou-chan."
The door opened and the white-haired youth came in, obviously shocked when he looked at the girl, seeing nothing but reddened eyes and slightly swollen lips. Her lower lip was bleeding lightly; she had bitten herself to stop her from sobbing. Ryou walked over and sat down at the edge of the bed. Awkward silence came over them, broken with a few sniffs.
"You here to comfort me?", Anzu asked quietly. Ryou nodded. "Seto was here, too. He left a couple of minutes ago."
"I know, I've met him outside." The girl lowered her eyes and once again tears began to stream down her pale cheeks. Ryou shifted uncomfortably. "Please, Anzu-chan. . . could you smile for me again?"
Anzu looked up into these gentle green eyes pleading her silently. "Please stop crying. I can't stand seeing everyone sad." It maybe was harsh of him to say something like that when Mariku didn't return from Egypt, but the girl knew that the younger one meant no harm. She sniffed again softly and nodded.
"No, not like that."
"What do you except me to do? To go on as if nothing had happened?"
Ryou shook his head, silver-white locks swaying softly. "Of course not. . . Anzu-chan?", he said as he noticed Anzu's attention was somewhere else. The boy laid one of his hands on hers. "Please, could you tell me of him?" The girl's mouth curled into a light, sad smile. "Yeah. Come here."
She wrapped her arms around Ryou as if he was a child, pulling him close. Ryou snuggled against her.
"Well, he was. . . somewhat cruel. That might be a good description. I remember the day we all went to school and some guys started to pick on me. Of course they didn't see Mariku, Bakura, Malik and Seto, because I had told them to go ahead. I forgot something at home, and Shizuka was ill, so I tried and catch up with the boys." She smirked slightly as memories washed over her.
"And what happened?"
"These guys wanted to take my money, I think. They cornered me against a wall and started searching for it, at. . . very strange places. Anyways, I was scared, too scared to scream; but suddenly they're hands were off of me and Mariku and Bakura stood behind them. I even remember Mariku's frown and Bakura's smirk." Anzu's smile widened. Ryou looked up at her inquiring.
"And then he said, 'if I ever see you touch my girlfriend again, I swear I'll kill you'."
"Did they bother you again?"
"Yep. And Mariku made his promise become reality."
"Really? That's. . . kinda cute." Anzu nodded. Ryou sat up, trying to comfort her as well as possible.
"You know, he isn't gone completely." "He's not?"
"No.", Ryou smiled. "He'll always be a beautiful memory in your heart. If you don't forget about him, he'll be alive." Anzu embraced him.
"Thank you, Ryou."
*~* Flashback end*~*
Well, I couldn't tell Bakura Mariku would be in his heart, could I? He probably would've looked at me like I was a maniac. So I continued my soothing and placed a kiss on his forehead. Suddenly, he pulled away and turned his head.
"I'm. . . sorry.", he said. I blushed slightly as I found me still sitting on his lap. "No, don't. It's okay to mourn." I tried to make my voice as soft as I could. When he remained silent, I tried another thing.
I started humming. Almost immediately, he closed his eyes. "Stop that. . . ", he whispered. I ignored his protest.
~I know just how to whisper, and I know just how to cry~
"Ryou, please. . . "
~I know just when to face the truth and then I know just how to lie~
Tears began rolling down his face again. I knew he had to cry his heart out if he would ever be able to face Mariku's death.
~And I know the night is feedy, and I know the time's gonna fly~
His grip tightened once again. "Please, Ryou, stop it. . . " Finally he sobbed. I know it may sound like I'm cruel. But why couldn't he admit that even he had emotions? I went back to humming. That was the second night I spent with him, holding him in my arms soothingly.
~*~
The next morning Anzu woke me up. "Wake up, Ryou-chan, we're already late. . . " I sleepily opened my eyes just to find me in Bakura's bed; but without the bed's owner. "Try these.", Anzu said. Her eyes were their cerulean blue selves, I noticed, but her cheeks were pale non-the-less. She shoved a bundle of black clothes into my arms. I slipped them on, hastily fumbling with the buttons of the chemise. Anzu simply shoved my hands away and buttoned them. I let my gaze wander over her.
She seemed sad, again. Dressed in black. Not the kind of black she wore on missions; it was a different kind of black. Somewhat mournful. Her hair was tied up into a tight ponytail. She looked like she was going to a funeral. . . and then it struck me. Of course! Mariku's funeral. . . well, they couldn't get his body out of the pyramid, but Seto insisted of giving him one. I followed her out of the room, down into the hall, where the others were. I glanced sideward at Isis who was leaning onto Malik for support, wearing a black dress and some kind of cloth which was pulled over her head to cover her jet-black hair. Everyone wore black. Seto was holding Shizuka in his arms just as Malik was holding Isis, Bakura silently standing behind the siblings, with his arms crossed and a stony, cold expression on his face.
Without a word, Seto started moving towards the large backyard, leading the others to the very edge. A dark, mournful weeping willow hung its long branches over a gravestone, swaying softly in the wind. Our small group gathered around the stone and I narrowed my eyes slightly to read the name written on the stone.
MARIKU OSIRIS ISHTAR
Nothing but that. No date of birth, no date of death. On my left, standing between Bakura and Malik, Isis started crying again. I swallowed on the large lump of sadness and worry, and as I glanced up, I saw Bakura's cold expression falter. Seto raised his voice, pulling Shizuka nearer to him as if he needed her touch to keep speaking.
"You know, I'm no man of big words, but. . . I know I've got to say something. I want to tell you all that I'm terribly sorry for sending you on a mission for those items, it was successful, but now we lost a precious member of our organisation, one of the best men at his job", he stopped shortly and swallowed his own tears. His voice became softer, filled with emotion for the first time I heard.
"But we also lost an extremely loyal member, a beloved and good brother and, what regards all of us, a good friend. We'll never be able to replace him, and we won't even try. I may not know much about sensitive words and stuff, but I sure know the emotions concerning us all." He paused again and glanced at Isis who concealed her face in Malik's shoulder, trying to remain silent but sobbed every now and then.
"Sadness. Confusion. Love and Hate. I wonder just as you all do why that happened. Why this only happens to those who are in our hearts, who don't deserve to die." He glanced at me shortly. Yes, I knew that feeling, these questions.
"At least to say, he died like a hero. No, as a hero. He died to protect the ones he love the most. He died because he always wanted to perfect his missions. Of course, he could've left the Rod and the Necklace behind. Of course he could have run away and leave his partners - his siblings- behind. But he didn't, because he hated his enemies and loved his siblings. We can't blame him, or Malik and Isis. . . we can't even blame the ancient pharaohs to protect what was theirs. All we can do is keeping him in our hearts, so he won't ever be forgotten."
With that Seto pulled the now crying Shizuka into an embrace, and Anzu, who had been holding my hand, pressed it lightly. I watched Malik trying to stop Isis from sinking to her knees, but she did after taking a step ahead. Tears running down her once-calm face, she held her hands out and a slight, white glow could be seen; when she removed her hands, little plants came out of the earth in front of the gravestone and began blooming in a pure violet, even if it was still snowing.
Slowly, the group went back to the mansion one by one. Seto, Shizuka and Anzu were the first to leave, because the younger girl was shaking with sobs. Bakura lifted Isis into his arms shortly after they went because she trembled too much to walk, and Malik followed them. So I was alone now with an empty grave.
I started to think. Think about when I visited my family on the graveyard the last time. It was shortly after their death. . . My aunt, my mother, my father, and my sister, all of them next to another, resting in an eternal slumber. I didn't visited them again, I couldn't stand it. But now, that the memory was refreshed, I just had to think about them.
My sister's bright laughter. My mother's soft smile. My father's kind voice when he was at home, yet harsh when he discussed. My aunt's beautiful voice. Images flashed in front of my inner eye, images of that stormy night my aunt took care of Amane and me while Mum and Dad were on a special meeting.
I felt bad. I wanted them back. It was as if the emotions of all my friends floated inside of me. All of them wondered why this had happened, wanted Mariku back, or just wanted to see him one last time. It started snowing harder. Thick, white flocks fell upon me, the grave, and the beautiful little flowers. I wondered why they didn't die. . .
"You should go inside.", a cracked voice behind me said, and strong arms circled around my waist.
"I know. . . I can't."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. . . "
"I. . . want to be with him one last time."
I turned around at this confession, looking into sad dark red eyes. "I know. . . every one wants that." Bakura lowered his eyes. "Hey, he wouldn't want to see you cry again.", I stated softly. I didn't want to, either.
"I won't cry again.", he said quietly. "I. . . won't Thank you, anyways."
"What for?" He looked at me again, serious, but still sad.
"For. . . you know. Comforting me last night." It was obvious how embarrassed he was about that; I just had to smile lightly. "You're welcome. I'd do it every time again."
"You would?" I nodded. Bakura pulled me closer to him. "Then do it again tonight.", he breathed. I blinked. Did he mean it? I was allowed to stay with him again?
"Only. . . if you smile for me again."
"You said that to Anzu-chan, too.", he stated. "How come you know?"
"I comforted her after I brought Isis to bed", he said quietly, lowering his head. "Both of them don't take it very well. And not to mention Malik; he doesn't even speak anymore."
I sighed softly. My fingertips started to go numb. "Let's go inside."
*~*
Reader's POV
The now only Blonde sat down on his bed, staring blankly on the wall. His slender fingers reached to the night table, grabbing the golden Rod softly. Malik had managed to get it again from the commode of his older sister where the Necklace laid, too. Isis never wore it; she was afraid of his powers a bit. The boy turned the Rod in his fingers absently, stroking the bowl on top as if it was the head of a beloved pet.
/That was quite sappy, you know./, an echoed voice spoke inside his head; somehow familiar yet strange at the same time. Malik's head jerked up. "W- What was that?"
/The whole funeral thingy. Though I liked Kaiba's words of regret./
Malik stared around frantically, clutching the Rod to his chest. "Who are you??"
/I'm disappointed; don't you remember me?/
A transparent person appeared in front of the boy; it looked like a holograph.
/Don't you remember what I told you about a year ago? I would never leave Bakura. I would never leave Isis./ The person walked up to him, lifting a hand to Malik's cheek. The boy noticed that he stood on is feet.
/And I would never leave you./
*~*
Awww! He's "kinda" back!!
Mariku: About time -.-
Voice: Listen, folks, if you want to hear the song I'm mentioning in this chapter again, the one Ryou's aunt and mother and Isis sang all the time, just give me your Email-address and I'm gonna send it to you!!
Malik: That's kind of illegal, you know.
Voice: So. . . what?
Malik: That's my girl ^-^
Voice: I just want them to listen to it because it's an important part of this story!! ^-^ Review pleeaaase. . .
