Life After Death

By Katia-chan

A/N: holds up shield I swear I wasn't being lazy this last month! I am so sorry that this update took so bloody long. I started writing this at the beginning of September, but then my family and I left the country for the month. I never got to finish the chapter, so that sucked.

Not kidding about the whole out of the country thing, that's what happened. So I shall say again, please forgive me! I am soooooooooo sorry! Please? cute puppy eyes

Bakura: We'll find out from the reviews if Katia-chan will live to see Halloween or not. Leave it in a review!

Thanks, thanks a lot, leave my life in the hands of a bunch of angry reviewers.

Bakura: The first time I had to beat the shit out of Ryou or kill myself in a fic of yours gave me rights to destroy you, so deal with it.

Fine grumbling evil bastard.

Bakura: I heard that!

Okey then, well I'll stop these interminable author's notes since the nonupdate time was long.

One last thing, Sozuki-chan and I are co-authoring a fic together, at KatiSozu, it's not up yet, but we'd love it if you reviewed it when it is!!!!!

Disclaimer: me no own, you no sue, me no cry, got it? Good.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Under Lock and Key

Everyone blinked at Ryou. Kaiba was giving him the strangest look of all. "You. You want to be in the casket?" Ryou nodded, looking around the circle of his friends.

"Why?" Tea asked, looking confused. He sighed and leaned back against the couch.

"I need to know his reaction." He would have said more, but Yami jumped out of his chair.

"Damn it Ryou! I don't like the selfish bastard any more then you do right now, but don't you think you've tortured him enough?" Now, a normal person would have looked sheepish, guilt would start to show in their features, but Ryou was not quite normal, and all he felt was anger towards Yami.

"How dare you judge me," he said quietly. "You never lived with him, you never fought with him, and you never stood outside his fucking closed door night after night just hoping he'd open the damn door!" Ryou's voice rose to a loud shriek. Everyone stared in silence at him. Tears welled up in his eyes and he brushed them away impatiently. "He never opened the god damn door." He whispered.

The only noise heard in the room was the buzzing of a fly against the window. This sound continued to be the only noise until Kaiba, annoyed, walked over and smashed the innocent bug to Jelly. Then he turned to Ryou. "I still think you are absolutely heartless, and even a little crazy," there was a pause as Yami coughed loudly and Yugi stepped hard on his foot, "But if you really want to do this then I'm not going to stop you." Yami looked as if he were about to explode again, but a look from his hikari and a nudge in the ribs forced his mouth reluctantly closed.

There was another pregnant pause and then Tea got up off the couch. "Now that that's settled, we should probably have this thing tomorrow." Everyone gaped at her except Kaiba and Ryou who was busy pulling threads out of the couch.

"Tea, are you nuts?" Joey asked. "We can't have it tomorrow."

"Yes we can, and we need to." She said, glaring at the blonde.

"But why?" the puzzled 'I'm Joey and I'm confused' look plastered itself all over his face.

"We have to do it tomorrow," Kaiba said slowly, "Because we've held off to long already, people are going to start to wonder what's taking so long. Also, if we don't do it then someone else will have one, and we can't have that." Tea beamed at Joey triumphantly.

"Can we do it in one day?" she asked. Kaiba nodded.

"Just leave it to me, I'm the most feared and famous of us all, I can get stuff done damn fast." Yami looked affronted and Kaiba chuckled. "Sorry Yami, but your 4-11 height isn't very intimidating." Yami pouted and Yugi patted his shoulder.

"It's ok Yami, its ok." He was fighting to keep down his grin. Ryou stood up.

"What do we need to do, it's getting late in the day and we don't have much time."

"I don't want you to do anything Ryou, not even I could deal with you planning your own funeral. Anyway, you can't make calls, someone might recognize you."

"Alright, but if there's anything I can do. . ."

"I'll let you know." Kaiba said. "Anyway, you look exhausted; go take a nap or something." Ryou nodded and stood.

"Oh, Ryou." Yugi piped up. "I forgot to tell you that Marik brought over some of your books, they're in the closet."

"Thanks Yugi." Ryou yawned and headed for the stairs. When he was gone Kaiba rounded on Yami.

"What the hell were you doing Yami?" he growled. Yami glared right back at the CEO.

"Don't you think what he's doing is awful? I can't stand it."

"Of course he is, but making him feel guilty about it won't change anything. He needs to do this for his own twisted reasons."

"You didn't see Bakura." Yami said softly. "This is destroying him."

"It must be." Kaiba said softly, and then rose to his feet, "But we have to get going." He dictated a list and then pulled out his cell phone.

The rest of the day passed quickly as they all scrambled to prepare for the next day's event. Finally at about 11 o'clock at night the thing was finished. Kaiba sighed and declared he was going home, and then everyone else went so they could find nice clothes to wear to the church the next morning. Yugi, producing yawns that shook his little body, said good night to Yami and went to bed. The spirit stood still in the dark living room for a few minutes and then went up to Ryou's room.

After hearing the quiet 'come in' he pushed the door open. Ryou sat on the bed staring out the window.

"Hello Yami." The boy said, and Yami watched his shoulders drop in tired resignation.

"Hi, do you mind if I sit down?" Ryou shook his head and Yami took a seat beside him. Ryou's face looked haggard and his eyes were red. Yami decided to skip small talk and go for broke.

"I'm. Sorry for being so blunt with you, I really am."

"It's ok." Ryou said.

"No, it's not. You're right, I have no right to judge you, I was just thinking of how I would feel if I thought I lost Yugi." Even the mere thought seemed to cause him pain. "And I almost feel pity for Bakura, because I saw him, and I know he's hurting badly." There was a muffled sob in the silence.

"I know, and I don't know why I have to do this to him, but I do. I need so much to see that he cares."

"I know you do Ryou, I know." Yami got up and patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Get some sleep, D days at 7:30 A.M tomorrow." He left the room and Ryou curled up under the covers.

"I'm sorry Bakura, truly so sorry." He whispered before slipping into sleep.

The next morning dawned grey and cold. Ryou rolled over and looked at the sky. "Damn," he muttered, dragging himself out of bed. "Even the weather is mocking me with clichés." He pulled on the suit that Marik must have snuck over late last night. He owed a lot to that psychopath.

Trudging downstairs he found Yami staring into the empty coffee pot and Yugi stirring around mushy cereal. Both boys looked exhausted, and even Yugi's usually cheerful face showed signs of strain. Ryou felt pity, especially for Yugi, who must be having a hell of a time understanding all of this.

He walked over to He walked over to where Yami still stood and quietly removed the machine from his vision. "You don't need a caffeine over dose at a funeral." He said before putting the thing down a few feet away. Then he walked over to Yugi, took his bowl, dumped it and squeezed the boys shoulder. "I think the spoon got more nourishment from that then you did my friend." Yugi smiled sleepily up at him.

"Probably." The silence that filled the room this time would have been quiet enough for that fly, if Kaiba hadn't made bug juice out of it. Ryou wondered if it was just him that made so many of these awkward pauses.

"You two ready to leave?" Yami asked. Both hikaris nodded silently and grabbed their coats. Kaiba's limo pulled up at that moment and they all climbed in. Ryou noted that Kaiba's face showed as much strain as Yugi's.

No one spoke on the ride over to the church. The atmosphere didn't leave much room for conversation.

When they arrived the group made a circle around Ryou, just incase anyone happened to be watching, and they hurried in through the back door. Kaiba lead them down a long dark corridor to a back room where a beautiful mahogany coffin lined in satin stood prominently.

"This is just slightly unnerving." Tea said, looking at Ryou.

"You're telling me?" He said, gingerly touching the side of the thing. Kaiba just shook his head and handed Joey a big brass key.

"Lock it before he goes out, ok?" They seemed to have called a cease fire for now. Joey nodded and slipped the key into his pocket.

"What do you want us to do Kaiba?" Yugi asked. Kaiba ran his fingers through his hair.

"You Yami Tea and I need to get out there and greet people. I'll need you all after the service to create a diversion while I come back here and get Ryou into the limo and the coffin in the hearse, filled with a sand bag. Maybe Tea could go into hysterics or something." Tea glared but nodded.

"I can do that."

"Good, now come on Ryou, get in there, we'll all be in the church. There are plenty of tiny air holes in that thing, so you should have no trouble breathing. Just avoid sneezing and we'll be ok." Ryou nodded and slowly climbed into the casket.

For a moment it looked as if he was going to be sick, but he took a few deep breaths and laid down. "Pretty comfortable." His attempt at a joke sounded hallow and very unconvincing.

"You'll be ok Ryou." Yugi said, and squeezed his hand. Yugi could see the doubt beginning to creep into his friend's face. "Good luck." Ryou nodded and Kaiba slowly shut the lid over the boy, for which he was grateful, no one could see him shaking.

"Everything ok in there? Air ok?"

"All good." Came the shaky reply.

"Good, Joey, when the people come in to carry the coffin out lock it right before they take it. If they give you any grief say you are under orders directly from Mr. Kaiba. That'll shut them up. Ok guys, let's role."

They all left the room, save for Joey. The two boys didn't speak, but after about 5 minutes Joey's cell rang. He talked for a moment and hung up.

"Ryou, I'll be right back, Serenity is going into hysterics out there and Mai called me. I'll be right back." He ran out of the room and Ryou was left in silence. If this wasn't something from a horror movie then nothing was. He waited for a few more minutes, and sighed with relief when he heard footsteps. Thank god Serenity was ok.

He froze when it wasn't Joey's voice but someone else's. "They want this brought out now? With all those people out there?"

"Guess so, but hey, it came straight from Seto Kaiba himself, so let's just do it." Ryou felt the big thing being lifted. "Wow, this is some heavy oak."

"I know, but oh well, this is our job." Ryou tried to relax, he would need to be. He was safely locked in, there was no way Bakura would know he was here and he could listen in peace. He was almost calm when a realization hit him that nearly made him gasp out loud, and then almost made him throw up.

Joey never locked the casket.

A/N: That wasn't very kind to delay update and leave it at a cliffy too.

Bakura: No it wasn't. I think the "Will she make it till Halloween" votes just turned against you Katia.

Guess I'll just have to take up track so I can get away.

Bakura: lame!

Shut up!!! Well, there's chapter 10 for you. Just so everyone knows, chapter 1 will be rewritten when this is finished. Thanks to Orangeaura868 for pointing out some mistakes, now I shall go and fix them! Hugs OA appreciate it! gives plushy

And now it is time for review thank yous!!

Nonymous: I shall never reveal Ryou's evil plans!...or maybe I will...I haven't figured that one out yet. Thanks for reviewing!

Koumori wolf: You added me to your favorites list? I feel so loved! Thank you! hugs and gives Bakura plushy you are awesome!

Misty Magic: I'm glad you're back! Hope you can find your password, I missed you! Yesh, Ryou is not as good of a hider as we all thought at first, and not even I know how kura-chan will react. Thanks for the review! Welcome back!

OrangeAura868: Thanks for the advice! I shall rewrite chapter 1, I went back and read it after I got your review, and I think you were much to nice in what you said about it, it desperately needs a make over, thanks for pointing it out! glomps...and you have a very active imagination...me likes it. Thanks for the suggestions and the review!

Princess Krystal01: Yesh, Ryou's lost it ne? Thanks for reviewing!

Animeluvr: Like Yami like hikari...it is rather kawaii...if it weren't so twisted...I'm glad you liked! Sorry the update was so slow in coming. Thanks for reading!

Shinagami: Is Bakura ever a good influence on anyone? Thanks for reviewing!

MENace tenCHI: I'm glad you liked it, and gaping's not a good idea, little flies like open mouths gets slapped by her yami :)( sorry...I speak from personal experience...Thank you so much for reviewing!

Dark Magician Girl / Hikaru: I updated, then left you at a cliff, then took 2 months to update again...me so sorry! falls to knees forgive me! I shall try really hard to update sooner. Thanks for sticking with me!

The Queen of Games2: ...no more LLAMAS for you. Let's hope Ry-chan doesn't have claustrophobia, or else he is in trouble...and Malik doesn't know because Marik must have the ability to hide some thoughts from his other, especially since he is the yami, which should mean he has more power...I don't know, just work with me. Thanks for waiting for this update so long!

Windswift: I have returned...and the authoress has no control if the motou's like to have cupboards big enough for people, it's their furniture, so there: p. Anywho, I always thought 2 cups of sugar wasn't much of a zip...dispite what the doctors say...Maybe Ryou needs thicker curtains? Thanks for reviewing, hope you keep reading!

MusumeMarron: You were the first to update again! You're good. I think Ryou likes complications...because he seems to create a lot of them. Thanks for your review!

sighs and that's the show. Hope you enjoyed and that you review.

Random Quote: What we obtain cheaply we esteem to highly

Thomas Paine from "The Crisis"

TTFN

Katia-chan