Kinsako- Allo. Here I am once again, many hate mail messages later, to write a fluffy ending for my angsty story.

Tonde- Well, at least you deserved it this time, for once.

Kinsako- Heh. True, true. I must admit though, I was impressed by the intensity of the reviews this time. I know I killed off both of my characters quite horribly, but hey, at least I did it with style.

Tonde- … horrid demise with class. You're so weird.

Kinsako- So? Life would be too dull if it were normal. Why won't people just give up, and be a nutcase? You have so much more fun that way!
Tonde- You seem to be in a better mood.

Kinsako- Heh. Yeah well… sometimes I really kick myself for jumping to conclusions and getting so dramatic. It turns out that the object of my no longer secret desires did really want to go out with me after all, but for some reason was too shy, or something like that, to actually ask me. We did actually hook up shortly after my last chapter though. Even though I miss him now, he's currently in China right now on a student exchange trip.

Tonde- cough Drama Queen! cough

Kinsako- Silence plebeian! So maybe I do overreact in some situations, but hey, that's my nature as a secondary water element, who am I to deny it?

This is a story is done completely spur of the moment, I have no idea what the plot is yet, I'm just making it up as I go along. Oh, and I liked the first song fic I did, so I decided to do another.

Warning This story contains Yaoi, or a guy on guy couple. Don't like it, don't read it. It's that simple. Flames will be used to set fire to spare soul cards. This story is rather angsty, with a lot of violence and such.

You have been warned.

Kinsako- And, I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, in any part or way, nor do I own any other copyrighted items, such as songs by Linkin Park.

Kinsako- And I would like to thank all the nice people who reviewed…

SweetMisery1- Thanks! I'm always happy to hear that people liked my stories, I hope you like this ending as well!

Crazybb03- Thanks! So sorry I made you cry, but I guess that makes me a pretty good writer if it doesn't happen to often. Glad you liked it! Hope this ending makes you smile!

A Very Sad Fangirl- Mean? Hmmm, I did kill Ryou and Bakura off quite horribly, so yeah, I guess that makes me mean. And I did warn you that the story wasn't going to be all sunshine and roses, it says right in the summary, Ryou/Bakura Angst. I am quite happy with my story thanks, I know I killed off both of my main characters, but I think it's pretty well written. Well anyway, here's a cute and fluffy ending, but one thing. It really isn't polite to demand things of writers, you should at least say please. :-P

Dedicated to- I'd actually like to dedicate this chapter to the one person who I know isn't going to read it… Mike-kun, the not so secret object of my desires. Heh. I don't even think he knows about this story, and that's probably for the best, seeing as I really did go off on a rant in the last chapter. Oh, and the new laptop. Casue I love it, and it is more than worthy of honourable mention.

Kinsako- Here you go, idealistic yaoi lovers of the world, a cute and fluffy end to an otherwise angsty and morbid story. Enjoy!

(Oh, and a note, the first part of the chapter may seem as if it's the same as the last chapter, but just keep reading. Trust me. ;-)

/…/ is Hikari to Yami

…is Yami to Hikari

... is song lyrics

... is … well, you already know, but at least pretend to be surprised.

Fallen- Chapter 6
Breaking the Habit

"Memories consume
Like opening the wound
I'm picking me apart again"

Sounds. Strange sounds, that seem to be moving too fast to hear properly. Flashing lights, that flash red and white. Now bright lights. Too bright to look at, shining right in my eyes. Sounds again. Different this time. A high pitched beeping, someone screaming, many people crying. Cold. An icy cold that sinks right down into my bones. Crying. So much crying.

I try to move, but find my body won't obey me. I try to look around, but can't open my eyes. I try to scream, but no sounds escape my lips. What is this? Where am I? What's happening to me? Even my mind isn't working. My thoughts are jumbled and I can't seem to concentrate. I struggle to organize my thoughts, to understand what's going on. I try to focus...I try to see...

Ryou

"You all assume
I'm safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again"

My eyes snap open, and I surge to my feet. A wave of dizziness overtakes me, blurring my vision and forcing me back to the ground. I close my eyes and rest my head in my hands until the dizziness passes. I open my eyes cautiously, and blink puzzled at my surroundings.

Grey stones surround me, and endless field of erect slabs or grey rock. I twist my head around, and find myself sitting on a patch of fresh dirt in front of one of the stones. My eyes focus slowly, and I squint to make out the engraving on the stone.

Bakura Ryou
1987-2004
Rest In Peace

Bakura Ryou. My mind struggles to grasp this concept. Bakura... Ryou...

Ryou.

"I don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused"

A scream rips through my throat, and I throw myself at the tombstone. No! No, it's not possible! He can't be gone. I called for help in time, they were going to save him. He can't have... there's no way... he can't be...

Dead

I whirl around with a growl, but the cemetery is empty. I push myself to my feet, and glance around in all directions. "Show yourself!" I snarl.

A sigh echoes through the tombstones. You really didn't care about him at all, did you?

I swallow thickly. This is not happening. Ryou is not dead. I am not hearing the voices of the Mieru Dakedo Mienai Mono. This is just a dream... an illusion.

No, tomb raider. Said the voice sadly. This is your reality. This is what you have brought to yourself. Ryou is dead.

"I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream"

"No!" I snarl, my voice cracking in spite of myself. "You lie! He can't be dead! They would have saved him in time!"

I wait tensely for the voice to answer, but the graveyard remains silent. I turn slowly, and crouch down to look ad the tombstone again. I reach out to trace the letters with my finger, but my hand goes right through the stone. I glance at my hand, and my eyes widen. My hand is almost completely see through, my entire body is little more that opaque air.

"What..." I say slowly. "What magic is this?! What have you done to me? What have you done to Ryou?!"

My voice echoes slightly through the rows of tombstones, but still the voice does no answer.

"I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean"

I rise slowly, and fearfully reach out across our mind link to Ryou. He has to be there. He has to be alive...

Nothing. The other side of the mind link is empty.

I scream out in rage. No! I will not allow this. I will not allow them to take him from me. I will not allow him to die. I will not allow him to leave me...

"Ryou..." I whisper softly, and sink back down next to the tombstone. "Ryou,ryou,ryou. Where are you? What have they done to you?" I swallow thickly, tears forming unwillingly in my eyes. "What... have... I done to you...?"

"I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean"

I rose suddenly, an overwhelming urge to run overtaking me. I wanted to get as far away from this place as possible. I wanted to escape, and leave everything behind. I wanted to get out of here, and somehow, somewhere, find Ryou alive. I wanted none of this to have happened. I wanted him back.

I stumble as I try to take a step, a numbing weakness spreading throughout my entire body. I try to fight it, struggle to get to my feet, but I fail, and the last of my strength leaves me. I lay on the ground, breathing hard, and the tears I had been so carefully holding back for over 3,000 years finally break free, and run down my face.

You can't run Bakura. The voice whispers. You can't escape what you have done. Not this time.

"I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright"

I try to speak, try fight the darkness that is creeping across my vision, but I fail, and I fall into the black nothingness of unconsciousness.

Darkness. Once again, the familiar suffocating element that seemed to dominate every unconscious hour of my life. My body felt strangely numb and I couldn't seem to focus on anything, I didn't even have the strength to open my eyes. I stayed in this strange half conscious state for an undistinguishable amount of time, until I slowly became aware of several sensations. There was pressure on my shoulder, and the sensation of movement, as if someone was jerking it back and forth. I could sense a bright light just beyond my vision, but my eyes were still closed. The strongest sensation though, was the sound of a voice. I couldn't make out the words, but the tone of the voice sounded urgent, almost panicked. I also sounded familiar somehow, and I struggled to focus on the voice.

"So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight"

The voice slowly became clearer, and I was able to make out the words.

"Bakura! Oh gods Bakura, please wake up! Please! Answer me Bakura!"

I forced my eyes open, but was blinded momentarily by a silver white light. I brought my hand up slowly, and shielded my eyes. I felt dazed and groggy, and I groaned and tried to sit up. A pair of hands grabbed my shoulders, and pulled me into a sitting position. I put my arm on my knees, and rested my head on it.

"Bakura!" Said a soft voice, "Thank the gods you're alright!"

"Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again"

I blinked, and slowly raised my head to look at the speaker. My eyes widened in disbelief.

Ryou. It couldn't possibly be him! Ryou was dead!

But it was him. Large jade green eyes filled with tears looked up at me worriedly through snow-white bangs. I reached over in wonder to touch him, to confirm that he was actually there, but he flinched away at my touch and dropped his gaze.

I lowered my hand, and swallowed thickly. Ryou wasn't dead, but it still didn't change anything. He still hated me for all the pain that I had caused him. I closed my eyes, and laid my head back on my arm.

"I hurt much more
Than anytime before
I had no options left again"

So this is how it was going to be. Nothing could change between us. I knew he could never forgive me for all the pain that I had caused him, I knew that he could never feel anything but fear and hate towards me.

Are you certain of that, tomb raider?

I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, and shook my head slightly. I knew it. The Mieru Dakedo Mienai Mono were real. It hadn't all been a dream, Ryou was still dead.

Tears stung the corners of my eyes. This must be Hell. The image of Ryou would haunt me for the rest of eternity.

"Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused"

No Bakura. The silent voice said sadly. This is not the afterlife. You are not dead, and neither is Ryou.

I blinked, my head still on my knees. Who…I said slowly, who are you? What is going on?

The voice laughed softly. One gets forgetful after three thousand years I suppose I felt a rush of air around me, and raised my head to look. An everlasting darkness had once again replaced my soul room, and a woman with dark hair and bronzed skin stood in front of me. She wore traditional Egyptian clothing from my time, dyed a fierce blood red. She wore a headband of a similar colour, from which protruded a large black feather.

My eyes widened, and I tensed. "Maat…?" I said in disbelief.

She smiled. "The Goddess Maat, the Goddess of truth, justice, and order to be precise."

"I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream"

"But…" I said. "Why… why have you done this? Why did you save Ryou? Why did you save me? I forsook the gods over three thousand years ago!"

Maat sighed. "Just because you have forgotten your gods, it doesn't mean that they have forgotten you!" She knelt down beside me, and tilted my chin up so my eyes met hers.

"You have a choice Bakura, a second chance that not many mortals receive. You have caused much pain and suffering in your time, but you have suffered much as well. This is your last chance, which I was allowed to offer to you by The Hidden One, the great Amun himself. What you have seen was only an illusion, but it was real. It was the future that could take place if you continue on the path of suffering and hate. So I offer you the chance to change your future. Change your ways, Bakura. Stop causing your Hikari to suffer, admit to him how you truly feel, and give up the hate of your past. If you do this, the cycle of pain and suffering that you are trapped in will finally be broken.

" I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright"

I turned away from her gaze, my eyes once again filling with tears. "I… can't." I said slowly. "He will never accept me. He will never believe what I tell him. How could he? Since he first freed me from the ring all I have done is cause him so much pain."

I lowered my head tears streaking down my cheeks. "How can he ever love me?" I said quietly.

Maat placed a hand softly on my shoulder. "That is something that you must ask Ryou himself." I glanced up at her. "But if you wish to find out, then you know what you must do."

I got to my feet slowly and nodded. She smiled at me and took my hand. "Do you swear, Bakura?" With her free hand she reached up and plucked the feather from her headband, and placed it in my hand

"Do you know what this is?" She asked softly.

I swallowed, and nodded. The feather of truth, which Maat weighed against a person's soul. If the person's soul was lighter than the feather they would be granted access to the afterlife, but if the feather weighed more than the soul, they would be fed to Ammit, the Devourer. Is this what it came to? Would my soul be lighter than the feather, or would I face oblivion in the jaws of Ammit?

Maat shook her head, and closed my hand around the feather. "In the legends of old, it was told of how my feather was used to judge the souls of the dead." She placed her hand at her sides. "But what the legends did not tell is that the feather of truth was actually made for another purpose, the truth. It reveals the true nature of a person's soul, but it also binds the person to the truth. Any oath you swear on the feather of truth must be upheld. If you break the oath, you will pay the price with your soul." Her dark eyes searched mine. "Do you understand?"

I stared warily at the feather. Did I really want to do this, risk my soul to the most horrible fate imaginable? But… this was the only way. It was as Maat said, I done unspeakable things in my past, how did I know that I wouldn't one day face the Devourer anyway? I closed my eyes, and took a shaky breath.

"I swear." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I swear on my soul that I will never hurt Ryou again. I swear that I will protect him and keep him safe, as I was meant to." The feather in my hand became warm, and it suddenly seemed that a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I opened my eyes, and saw that the dark feather has turned a radiant sliver white. Maat took the feather from me, and slid it into her headband. It faded slowly, and once again became a dark blue black.

She smiled, and laid a hand on my cheek. "I'm happy for you Bakura, I'm happy that you were able to finally find peace." She turned, and began walking into the darkness. "Go, Bakura. Go back to your hikari. Go back, and find happiness." She glanced back over her shoulder. "Let's hope that the next time we see each other, that he has saved your soul."

"So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight"

I opened my mouth to speak, but my vision began to blur, and a wave of dizziness forced my to my knees. I clutched my head in my hands as the darkness closed in on me.

I opened my eyes slowly, and blinked, trying to adjust my eyes to the bright light. The light slowly faded, and I found myself staring into the tearful eyes of my hikari. His eyes widened as he saw me stir, and he smiled, and rubbed his eyes.

"Bakura!" He said tearfully. "I'm so relieved!" He started suddenly, and lowered his eyes. "I mean… you passed out suddenly during my… lesson, and you out most of the night." I stared at him in disbelief, but he took my expression as something else, and dropped his gaze. "G,gomen Bakura-sama. I… I shouldn't have tried to shake you awake, but…" He bit his lip, and tears welled up in his eyes. "I was scared. I didn't think that you were going to wake up."

I sat up slowly, and glanced at Ryou. After all that I have done to him, all the pain I've caused him, he still cared about me. Was it possible... could he return the feelings I had kept from him for so long?

I reached up slowly, and placed my hand gently on his cheek. He flinched, but didn't pull away. "Ryou…" I said softly. "Look at me." He raised his gaze slowly, his eyes filled with tears. I smiled at him, and pulled him into a gentle hug. I felt a wave of shock and amazement through our mind link, and he automatically tried to pull away. I pulled him back, and buried my face in his shoulder.

/Bakura…/ he said in disbelief over the mind link. /What… what's going on?/

I sighed, and pulled away from him. I set my hands on his shoulders. RyouI said softly. I… I'm sorry.His eyes widened in surprise, and he opened his mouth to say something, but I stopped him. I know the things I have done to you are unforgivable, and I know that you may never be able to trust me, but…I took a deep breath. "Maybe one day," I said quietly. "You can learn not to hate me all the pain I have caused you." I lowered my gaze, and prayed to every god I knew.

A few moments passed in silence, and then I felt a soft touch on my cheek. I looked up, and saw Ryou smiling widely at me, tears streaming down his cheeks. /Bakura,/ he said softly, warmth flowing through our mind link. /I forgive you. It doesn't matter anymore. I don't care how much pain you caused me, I could never hate you./

My eyes widened. But…I whispered. How can you just forget all the horrible things I've done to you, just like that!?

Ryou smiled, and my heart skipped a beat. Gods, he was so beautiful. "Don't you understand Yami? I've loved you since the first moment I've met. You were the first real friend I ever had, and even though you hurt me sometimes, you were always there for me, and protected me." He closed his eyes, and smiled again.

I tried to speak, but I found that I couldn't speak. My eyes brimmed with tears. The vision Maat showed me had been true! Ryou did love me, he always had! All these years that I hurt him because I thought he hated me…

I sobbed, and threw my arms around him. I don't care. I don't care. It doesn't matter anymore if showing emotions makes me weak. All that mattered right now was him.

RyouI said over our mind link, still to overcome with emotion to speak. Oh gods! I love you, my hikari. I… I thought you hated me. I thought that you could never love me… I hurt you…I thought…I swallowed. Ryou wrapped his arms around me, and squeezed me so hard I thought I was going to pass out. He buried his face in my shoulder, and we sat like this for what seemed like forever, crying freely.

At last I got a hold of myself, and pulled away. Ryou peered up at my through his bangs, smiling shyly. I smiled back at him, and cupped his chin with my hand.

"Ryou…" I said slowly, enjoying the sound of my tenshi's name on my tongue.

"Hai, Bakura?" He said with a radiant smile.

I brought my face down close to his. I love youI said softly, and captured his lips with mine.

"I'll paint it on the walls
'Cause I'm the one at fault
I'll never fight again
And this is how it ends"

And there, my loyal and devoted readers, you have it! That is the end! Or at least, the second end anyway. A cute, fluffy, and all together happy ending! I hope you liked it! It was pretty fun to write.

Well, I'm off. The new laptop is wonderful, and it's all thanks to it that I actually finished this chapter! If you'd like to know more about the Egyptian deities, this is the site that I found the information on:

Anyway, I'm off! Reviews rule, so please take the time to let me know if you liked this ending or not! I may or may not write and epilogue, but more likely I'll do a few PWP's now, since I already explained how Ryou and Bakura got together.

Thanks for reading my story. Even if you didn't like it, you're still awesome for reading it. Ja Ne! :-)