Hey guys! See, I try to update more often n_n I'm so very sorry for making you all sad again! But drama is fine. . . it really is. Sometimes you need something. Yeah.

Malik: That. . . was weird.

Voice: Oh hush. .

Malik: Go and thank your reviewers. It's a miracle they're still reviewing though you take so long.

Voice. . . –pouts-

To Aman-chan: No, please don't cry, don't make it harder for me. . . –gives you a Mariku plushie- It's water resistant! –winks-

Mariku: o.O Oh great. . .

To Lee-chan: 0.0 'Kay. . . oh well. It's not over yet, I still have to think of a proper ending!

To kaz: That's right, it can be just two of them together. But hey, maybe there will be a sequel with all their problems solved. . .

To LadyDarkstar: Thanks! YAY, group hug!!! –joins-

To Sugar Kat: Heyas. Thank you ^^

To Heather: -hugs- Don't cry, everything will be okay ^^ erm.. . . somehow. . .

Malik: You know you can't hold this promise.

Voice: -sighs- I was trying to comfort her!

To Pocketfirefairy: Flowers! Yay! I'm sorry that it's confusing. . . ^^"

To It'sHardToBelieve: -sniggers evilly- That's right. . .

To Fluffy: *lol*

To Rowan Girl: Thank you!

To snow-shadow-wolf: I'll try to put a fight in. ..but I think they will be friends, or something like that.

Ryou: You stole that from Romeo and Juliet. . .

Voice: So what? It's a great story, and its author is dead!

Mariku: That is right.

Voice. See ^^

*~*

Bakura's POV

What was that creepy girl saying?! I had to choose? Ridiculous! I couldn't choose between my brother and my lover. Even Yami wasn't that cruel. Stunned silence fell, and Anuki -Anuket- shifted uncomfortably.

"You don't have to hurry.", she said quietly. "But at sunrise, I need a decision."

Feh, sunrise; what time was it, by the way? I had lost track.

Next to me, Anzu was sobbing silently, holding Malik to her chest, and the little one trailed his small fingers over her cheek worried. I didn't think he understood everything, but he sure knew that something wasn't okay. And it wasn't indeed.

That was the first time I saw Anzu crying that openly since Kristin's death; except for Mariku's death, of course. She always tried to be calm and cheery. She was so much like me though – we both locked up our deepest emotions usually so we couldn't break down. Like a silent promise between us, and that's why we were friends. I couldn't stand see her crying, and Mariku's spirit form couldn't either. But I was the one pulling her into an embrace since my brother hadn't had a separate body. She cried into my shoulder a long time while Mariku was watching helplessly and Yami glared for some reason . . . weird.

Finally, Anzu's tears stopped, but she still clung to me, shivering and whimpering quietly. While she let me comfort her the best I could, I tried to get my brain to work. Kaiba seemed to be stunned like everyone else, petting Shizuka's hair absentmindedly, so one had to think, right?

Like him I searched an occupation for my hands, an ancient trick to think faster; I combined that and the comforting and rubbed Anzu's back. Rather gently, too. Only three beings ever experienced me being gentle, and I only showed who I thought they deserved it.

I kept thinking. Ryou was on the ground, playing with Malik quietly, so I had both arms around my best lady friend. Anuket had said something about these strange items, right? Well, Kaiba really hadn't thought.

"You. . . you have to turn them into teens again."

And Anzu's tears started to flow again; I felt it when my shirt got wet. Her body racked with sobs she tried to hold back. I glanced at Isis, for she always knew what to do, and she tore her gaze away from Anzu, tears glittering in her cool eyes. She just looked at me as helpless as I felt; we were torn.

Isis was hurt, too, I knew it. She loved both her brothers with all her being, she couldn't stand letting Mariku die again, but the small Malik reminded her of living without light, beneath the earth's surface, in a broken country with no one able to help her. It was the helplessness that tore us both.

I saw Anuket glance around unsurely. Even she was holding back tears.

"We got all night to decide, Seto.", Isis stated calmly. Kaiba looked at if he had lost it. He leant his back against the wall and slid down, cradling Shizuka on his lap.

"My fault, all my fault. . . ", he murmured.

"I will return at dawn.", Anuket said, and in a flash of light, she was gone. But I was sure I had seen tears streaming down her face.

Only our group was involved so far, except Yami and Yuugi, which wasn't really important to me; I just knew that I didn't want to lose any of them. I wanted to hold Ryou again, but I wanted to train with Mariku again too.

*~*

Reader's POV

Everyone who was just sad or confused went to sleep. Jou held Mai and leant his head against hers which laid on his shoulder wile she held Rebecca on her lap. Honda and Ryuuji sat on each side next to them.

Bakura was still holding Anzu who had fallen asleep as well, exhausted from her sobbing, but by now they were sitting on a box. The children were sleeping too, cuddled against each other, not caring if they would be friends or enemies of they would be in their teens. Isis was watching them, in their middle, giving their backs and heads light strokes every now and then. Her tears were flowing freely though no sound was heard from her, not even a single sob or sniffle. Mariku leant next to her on the wall, with his arms crossed, and Seto just sat there facing Yami. No one who would watch the scene would think they had fallen apart a long time ago.

"We still need to decide.", Isis whispered, not trusting her voice completely. She glanced at Seto by that, but he was silent. Mariku snorted.

"I already told you that they have to be normal again."

"But that would be your death."

Mariku looked at Bakura. "So what?"

"I'll show you so what!!", the white haired teen raged, but being hushed by Isis' death glare when the children and Anzu shifted uneasily. Mariku sighed as his glance settled on Anzu's sleeping form. He didn't like that she was on Bakura's lap with her head cuddled against his shoulder, but that was the way she would be calm and able to sleep.

"It's not like I didn't die before, you know."

"But-!"

"No buts, Isis. I won't let you. This is my decision, and I'm the only one allowed to make it. It's my death after all."

"I. . . I can't. . . "

Mariku bent down to his older sister.

"This is hard for you, right?"

She nodded as fresh tears fell down her cheeks.

"You spent so much of your time raising us; I thank you. Thank you for all you ever did. You're the best sister one could have.", he said quietly, stroking her cheek with his barely visible hand. Isis lowered her eyes.

But Bakura. . .Bakura smiled. Smiled when everyone else cried.

"I won't forget you."

"I hope so.", Mariku grinned.

They hadn't noticed that dawn came. A light started glimmering, then Anuket stood in their middle. Her eyes were reddened.

"Did you make your decision?"

Mariku dropped on one knee.

"We have, mistress. But can I ask you a favour before I have to go?"

Anuket nodded; she knew what his decision were.

"I may grant you one. Make your wish."

Mariku stood.

"I want a body."

"I don't understand-"

"No, not a real one. Just something solid."

Anuket sighed. "I'll give you a body if you wish. But you only got five minutes, whatever you're up to."

The spirit nodded.

"Bakura, could you wake Anzu-chan?"

Said boy shook the girl's shoulders gently when Anuket laid a hand onto Mariku's forehead.

"Hn. . . ?"

"C'mon, wake up. Mariku leaves now."

Anzu quickly got up, brushing her hair out of her face and forced herself not to cry. Mariku became more solid by every second.

~How will I start, tomorrow without you here – is it too late, are you too far gone to stay~

"You've got your time now.", Anuket whispered and stepped back. Glancing down, Mariku touched his chest, proving if it was real.

~Distance forever, you never have to go away – what will I do, you know I'm only half without you – how will I make it through~

He stepped forward, holding one hand out to his sister who stood up, embracing him tightly.

~If only tears could bring you back to me~

Then he bent down, kissing Malik on the forehead; the Chibi smiled in his sleep and a single tear slid down his small face.

~If only love would find a way~

Mariku embraced Bakura, too, quickly, and laid a hand onto Seto's shoulder; but the CEO was in his own world. The now solid spirit smiled sadly, finally turning to Anzu.

~What I will do what I would give if you returned to me, someday, somehow, somewhere~

He wrapped his arms around her, the girl clinging to him. Mariku felt the soft hair on his chin, and the thought crossed his mind that this would be the last time he felt it. . .

~If my tears could bring you back (bring you back) to me~

Then he tilted her chin upwards, gazing into her eyes with his own, equally sorrow-filled ones, and pressed their lips together in a desperate kiss.

~I've cry you an ocean, if you sailed on home again, waves of emotion will carry you, I know they can ~

They both knew this kiss was precious and ever to be remembered; it was their first and their last one.

~Look in my eyes, you'll see a million tears I've don't buy, but still they I cry~

Lips tasted each other, touched and felt at the same time, but tongues never met. And soon, too soon, Mariku's arms around her waist became stable, parts becoming translucent and untouchable again, and Anzu opened her eyes to look into his a last time.

Mariku smiled.

"I love you."

~If only tears could bring you back to me~

"D-Don't leave me!"

~If only love could find a way~

"Please. . . "

His sentence was still tingling in the air.

But Mariku himself was gone.

Forever.

~I hold you close and shout out the words I only whispered before~

"Mariku!"

~For one more chance, for one last dance~

She reached out to the spot he was standing a second before, before her knees went limp and she dropped to the ground, one hand on her mouth were his taste still lingered.

~And all the things I would love and know~

"I. . . I love you. . . "

~If my tears could bring you back. . . to me~

*~*

Malik: -sighs- Since the so-called authoress isn't available right now. . . –glances down at a uncontrollably sobbing Voice in his arms- I'm forced to say how sorry she is.

Ryou: That was. .. sad.

Bakura: Aww! –huggles Ryou-

Yuugi: Aren't you sad?

Bakura: Nope.

Mariku: But I am!

Yuugi&Ryou: Mariku!!

Isis: Anyways. This isn't the last part.

Shizuka: Yeah, and V-chan said, if you readers want a sequel, you get one ^__^

Anzu: Will Mariku come back?

Malik: -.- She mentioned something like that. Because Aman-chan liked to wash his hair.

Mariku: 0.0

Malik: -pats Voice's back- Okay, she'll update as soon as she can. See ya.

Everyone: -waves-