Epilogue…….

Duke and Tristan were the only ones in the hospital wing early the next morning. They had found the Millennial Puzzle and placed it in Yu-Gi's unconscious hands. They were now waiting anxiously, hoping he would wake up. If he didn't, they were about to give up hope.

"Ugh…" Yu-Gi groaned, faintly.

"I think he's waking up!" exclaimed Duke.

"Come on Yu-Gi! Say something!" urged Tristan.

"Ugh……..Tristan?" asked Yu-Gi, his eyes fluttering a little.

"Yu-Gi! You're awake!" exclaimed Tristan, embracing him.

"Are you feeling okay?" asked Duke.

Yu-Gi struggled into a sitting position. "What happened?"

"You lost the duel with Marik," answered Tristan. "You've been in here for over two days now."

"But I still have my puzzle!" exclaimed Yu-Gi. "How is that possible? I thought Marik would have taken it."

"He did, but we got it back," answered Duke.

"You had us really worried," added Tristan. "We though we almost lost you."

"I'm okay, now," answered Yu-Gi, which was almost all true. "Where is everyone else?"

Tristan and Duke exchanged a look, not sure what to say.

Yu-Gi picked up on it instantly, "What happened?"

"Well…Drake, Lara, and Kevin just went to get breakfast," started Duke.

"Yeah, and Kaiba and Mokuba have shut themselves up in their room…you know," added Tristan.

"But what about Téa and Joe?" asked Yu-Gi.

Again, there was an uneasy silence.

"Are they okay? Did something happen to them?" asked Yu-Gi, now sounding a bit nervous.

"Yu-Gi, I hate to be the one to tell you this…but you have to know," started Tristan. He paused, searching for the right words. "It's been a nightmare here since you were knocked out."

"What happened?" asked Yu-Gi, anxiously.

"Right after you lost to Marik…we…we lost Mai," answered Duke.

"You don't mean…" said Yu-Gi, his eyes growing wide.

"She…she died," said Tristan swallowing.

"But…everyone…" stammered Yu-Gi.

"You and Joe both weren't doing too hot either," said Tristan. "But yesterday…Joe…he…"

"No, no, no, Joe's not dead, he can't be," gaped Yu-Gi.

Their expressions answered him.

"NO!" Yu-Gi cried.

"It's worse," said Duke. "Téa thought that getting the puzzle back to you would snap you out of it, so she went after Marik by herself… He…He killed her in cold blood."

"No…not Téa," said Yu-Gi, tears sliding down his face.

"Marik was completely out of control," said Tristan. "He went after the Kaibas next. He got into a fight with Kaiba, and got impaled on his own rod."

"Serenity and Shayla haven't stopped crying in days," added Duke. "And we have no idea where Bakura—"

The hospital wing opened and two doctors entered, carrying an unconscious Bakura between them.

"Bakura!" gasped the three guys.

"We found him unconscious in one of the upper halls," answered a doctor as they laid him down on one of the spare beds.

/When Marik died, I guess that meant Bakura could get back from the Shadow Realm,/ Yu-Gi said to Yami. /What do you think Yami? Yami?/

Yami did not answer. Curious, and feeling dread that something might have happened to another one of his friends, Yu-Gi entered Yami's soul room.

He didn't have far to look for his alter-ego. Yami was laying unconscious on the floor of his own soul room. He was beaten and bruised, his body was covered with abrasions.

"Yami!" called Yu-Gi, running to his side.

Yami didn't move.

"No, Yami," said Yu-Gi, trying wake him. But Yami didn't wake up. He had been beaten too badly by Yami Marik to recover easily.

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Seto Kaiba knocked on the door of Ishizu's room.

"Come in," Ishizu said.

The door was once more unlocked. Kaiba opened it easily and entered. He was surprised to see that Ishizu wasn't alone. Odion was on the bed. As Kaiba watched, he groaned slightly, as if struggling to awaken. Also, Shayla was sitting quietly at the table.

"What brings you here?" Ishizu asked Kaiba.

"I thought you'd like to know that we'll be landing in half an hour," answered Kaiba. "In case you want to get Odion to a hospital." He glanced over at the bed, where Odion was laying. Odion seemed to be waking up, but wasn't near fully conscious yet.

"That won't be necessary," said Ishizu. "But thank you."

Kaiba shrugged and turned to leave. He glanced over at Shayla, wanting to say something to make her feel better. But one look at the dead expression on her face drove any encouraging words from his mind. But then Kaiba noticed the Millennial Necklace, laying on the table a few feet away from Shayla. Tristan had given it to Ishizu, but she wasn't sure if she should keep it or not, so there it sat. The Millennial Rod was next to the necklace, given to Ishizu by the medical staff. The Millennial Ring had disappeared again, but most thought it would reappear in Bakura's possession soon.

"Odion?" asked Ishizu, gently, walking over to her adopted older brother.

He groaned once, but did not reply.

"He will wake soon," said Ishizu. "Then…then we will head home, back to Egypt…" She looked away suddenly, thinking of Marik.

"Leaving? Already?" asked Kaiba.

"Yes," answered Ishizu. She walked back to the table and picked up the Millennial Rod, then walked over to Seto Kaiba and placed it in his hands. "This is yours now."

"W-what?" he gaped. He didn't like the thought of touching the thing, after he had used it to kill someone, even if it was unintentional.

"The Millennial Rod belongs to you now," said Ishizu.

"I don't want it," he replied, trying to hand it back to her. But Ishizu refused to accept it.

"It's yours," she said, forcefully. "In time, you will understand its powers."

"I don't believe in that garbage," he said, coldly.

Ishizu gave him a look that said 'tough luck and turned to Shayla. "You will be ready when we land, right?"

Shayla nodded slightly.

"What do you mean?" asked Kaiba.

"Shayla will be returning with us to Egypt," answered Ishizu.

"You will?" Kaiba asked Shayla, surprised.

"I have no reason to stay," she answered softly.

"I see," said Kaiba as he turned to leave. He could help but feel disappointment. He had missed his chance with her.

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The airship hovered over downtown Domino. A few of those on board gathered around the window to look out at the town below. It seemed so odd. It had not change a bit since they left. But they had all changed. Four of their closest friends had died, and that will leave a mark on anyone. Three more were slowly recovering from a nightmare experience. Then again, the entire past few days had been a living nightmare. The sun was bright and warm overhead, but inside the mood was somber and cold. Everything had changed.

The End