Life After Death

By Katia-chan

A/N: O...M...G...I am soooo incredibly sorry! I waited another 4 months to update! I have had NOOOO inspiration for this lately but I had intended to update way sooner.

Bakura: In other words, she's a lazy ass.

Hey! Only I can say that. It's true, but still!

Cali: Just get on with the bloody story already.

Okeys, as usual review thank you's will be at the bottom.

Disclaimer: I refuse to state the incredibly obvious, and if you can't figure it out you are a member of the incredibly stupid.

Enjoy!

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Chapter 8: Fountains and Musings

Ryou continued walking after leaving his house. He now realized that it was not a beautiful time of day, but a lonely one. He sighed loudly and turned the corner into the cemetery. If he was pretending to be dead then he may as well visit his eventual resting place. He had been absent from here for far to long.

Spotting a fountain he went and sat on the edge of it. From here he could see his mother's grave, and his sisters. He had spent countless hours here as a child, wondering if things could be different, and knowing they couldn't.

He sighed an enormous sigh again and plunked a pebble into the water.

"Damn you Bakura, did you have to make me feel so guilty?" he hissed at his reflection. "I was enjoying revenge, why did you have to ruin it for me you fucking bastard. I wouldn't have had to do this if you would've just listened to me in the first place."

"What did I do wrong?" he asked, flicking the icy water with his finger to erase the image in the water.

"You didn't do anything wrong Ryou." He jumped and fell backwards into the shallow fountain.

Coming up sputtering he looked at Marik who stood watching him from a few feet away.

"M, Marik?" he sputtered, brain moving in slow motion to figure out what he was going to do.

"Yah."

"How, what?"

"Hang on," he said, putting up a hand. "I get the first question, what the hell is going on." Ryou slumped down in the water dejectedly. He was horrible at hiding.

"Do I really need to explain this to you?"

"It would be nice." Ryou sighed irritably.

"Alright, I faked my own fucking death, sort of by accident to get Bakura's attention for the first time in my whole damn life! Happy?" Marik stared at him. He didn't look shocked or even angry, just thoughtful.

"Explains quite a bit. You've been hanging around the Pharaoh's house, that's why he acted so strangely when we were there." Ryou nodded and pulled himself out of the water.

"Now do I get a question?"

"Sure."

"How did you know I was here?" Marik gave a little smile and plopped down on the grass.

"I saw you look into the guest room, yes," he said at Ryou's open mouth. "I was awake. You looked in for a moment and then moved on. I went into your room and aw you and Bakura trading stares. He thought you were a ghost, but I didn't, so when you left I decided to follow you to see what was going on."

"Well, you found me." Ryou said and joined him on the grass.

"Guess so." He turned and studied the white haired teen next to him. "Revenge hurts, doesn't it." It wasn't an accusation, nor advice, just an observation. Ryou nodded.

"It does, it hurts more then I ever thought it would, but how do you know."

Marik sighed and rubbed his temples. "If you haven't forgotten, I spent 5 or 6 years of my life seeking revenge. It's an unwinnable battle Ryou. You can never get exactly what you wanted."

"I know, and it hurts."

"Yes, it does, but when you stop looking for it things work out." They were both silent for a few minutes.

"So, are you going to tell Bakura?" Ryou asked pensively.

"No, I'll leave that to you."

"But you want me to tell him, don't you?" Marik smiled.

"If I was the good guy, always wanting to do right I would insist, but since I don't believe in murder unnecessarily I'm going to say wait a little while." Ryou looked extremely surprised.

"Why?"

"Because if you tell him now he's so emotionally drained that he's likely to kill you." Ryou grinned and then shivered. "You should probably go back to the Moutos and get some dry stuff on Ryou." Ryou nodded.

"Thanks Marik, and never scare me like that again!" he punched the Egyptian playfully on the shoulder.

"Dito Ryou, now get out of here." Ryou smiled and hurried back to Yugi's house.

He opened the door to see Yami pacing in the kitchen.

"Where did you go?"

"Just out walking." Ryou said.

"You scared the shit out of me."

"Sorry, but I went walking, and then I ran into Marik."

"Marik!?" Yami looked panicked.

"It's ok, we talked, he's not saying anything." Yami didn't know weather to looke happy or not so he just gestured at Ryou's clothes.

"What happened to you?"

"Marik scared me and I fell in a fountain." Ryou blushed a little.

"Go get something dry on and go to bed."

Ryou nodded and hurried up the stairs. It had been a long night and he had a lot to think about, but he knew it would all wait until he had a few hours of sleep under his belt.

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A/N: Lame ending, but not a cliffy. I know, another person found out, it's happening really fast, but I had to have something, didn't I? I couldn't have him angst to himself for the entire chapter.

Anyway, I have to do thank you's now!

Nonymous: I am soooo glad you liked this! Poor Kura is right. I love him and yet continue to torture him. Someone thinks I write cute! *does CUTE happy dance* thanks so much!

MENace TenCHI: Thanks so much for reviewing! I'mloved!

DerangedButMagic: *hands tissue* don't cwy! *chibi eyes* pweese? Tanks fow weviewing!

MusumeMarron: You reviewed another of my stories! You are so nice! And I promise that I will start updating more. Good luck with the dsl!

Queen of Games2: No! You is not bad! You is awesome! I woves you!...llama? I won't ask. Thanks for coming back!

Molly-chan the Anime/game Fan: You haven't updated yet...*glares* just kidding! I know writers block, it's so hard to get rid of! Yes, Kura thinks it was a sad dweam...*reminds self to talk in grown up ways* You are mean! Laughing at poor Kura, but you have a right to! Thanks for reviewing!

Solar: I'm glad I still have readers. I appreciates it much. Thanks so much!

Kelly Noel: *chokes* no strangling! YnKN is right, air is a good thing for finishing stories. If you can spare a puddle it would be greatly appreciated. Don't be mad! *returns to chibiness* pweese? I wove you! You weviewed and You ish cewl! Specticews is neat! Tank You soooooooo much! *grabs at spectacles*

Windswift: Are you sure not everyone's gonna kill me? Even you probably will after how long this took. Yes, Ryou is very good at turning the tables in his favor. You is right...they should go to couples counseling. Soul's Face is awesome! I will supply all motivation and inspiration I have...which is none, sorries! Thanks for reviewing!

Princess Krystal01: It's ok that it took you a bit. I hope your internet is doing better *kisses internet*...I'm really ok...really.

Saakura: Imoto! Thanks for the review...and if Darrien won't get sad smack him!...I have violence issues. Thanks for reviewing!

Manga Nut: You is reading! And if you thought that was a cliffy, the last one was worse. I haven't ended with a cliffy in 2 chaps...be proud! Thanks for reviewing!

Darkangal322: Yes, feel bad for poor Kura-chan, feel for him. Thanks for reviewing again!

Ryuujitsu: You reviewed! Bakura was very greatful for the tissues btw. Yes, said love prospect may be a little irritated...to say the least. And in response to your critique, thanks for it. Yes, Ryou does show a little to much backbone, but I just can't stand to see him get run over like a carpet! I will update let Go soon. Thanks for reviewing!

Dark Magician Girl/Hikaru: Finally! Someone who agrees with me that he deserves it! Thanks for the review!

Well, that's it, review!

TTFN

Katia-chan