Disclaimer: As Usual I don't own Yugioh or anything related to it…

Well I think I should say that this is the final chappie of this fic but don't worry I might do a one-shot sequel to it…if requested if not than I wont bother Lol. So enjoy and don't forget that reviews are an authoress's best friend. Ja ne!

I worked VERY hard on this and would like to know if ya'll liked it…so REVIEW!

Final Chapter: Risen Above

Footsteps could be heard throughout the castle of the Dark Lord. Yugi and his friends, minus our favorite lovers, were racing through the large building trying desperately to find their missing friends. As if life wasn't bad enough, they just HAD to go off on their own. 'What ever happened to everyone sticking together?' Yugi though sourly before closing another door seeing his friends weren't there. They had been searching for over 5 hours and it was almost noon and they still haven't found the slightest trace of either teen. "Maybe they went on ahead to fight what's his name…" Duke muttered out loud.

"You mean that Hatsuharu character?" Bakura raised an eyebrow. Duke snapped his fingers in remembrance. "Yeah that guy…maybe they went off to get him you know?" Everyone stopped to ponder this possibility. "Yeah they could have, but why?" Yami sighed about to make an answer to that question but was interrupted by a familiar voice. "You people are SO hard to find". Everyone turned expecting to see the two missing teens but found Alistor instead. "Oh it's you." Everyone groaned in unison. Alistor only smiled. "Well, now that I have finally found you all I can take you to Lord Hatsuharu now…wait a sec." He stopped rambling when he realized they were missing a few people. "Umm…I think you forgot to wake up a couple of people…" Ryou shook his head.

"No. Actually, they went off last night…and now we can't find them." He said quietly. Alistor shook his head disapprovingly. "The Dark Lord won't be pleased to hear about this…he wants to meet Joey so badly…" He said to himself before turning a bright smile to the others. "I'll go find them for you. The Dark Lord is expecting you all, and we can't keep him waiting." He clapped his hands together in agreement with his "brilliant" idea before ushering them towards another part of the castle. After a good deal of walking, and more of Alistors' long rambles, they finally arrived to a very large rusted door. Alistor turned around to address the others who were whispering among themselves. "Alright. Beyond this door awaits the Dark Lord…Once you enter, unless you win, you won't be able to exit. So you had better have everything you need." He warned in a semi serious way. "But what about Joey and Kaiba? Are you saying they won't be able to get in?" Yugi exclaimed. They needed Kaiba and Joey, especially Joey since he was the "chosen one".

Alistor waved him off. "Yeah they'll get in, just from a different way. I'll go find him for you." He said before walking off until he disappeared form sight. Yugi turned towards the others, a solemn look on his otherwise innocent face. Yami put his hand on his hikari's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "They'll come…until that time we'll just have to fight him off the best way we can." Everyone nodded, gathered themselves, before pushing the door open.

Elsewhere

"Seto I think we're lost again…" Joey complained, pulling on the brunet's sleeve. The other sighed to himself knowing that they were lost…again. "I know puppy but I really don't know where else to go." Joey stopped and leaned against the wall worried about the others. "Seto, what if they go off to fight without us? They can't beat him on their own…" Seto walked up and pulled Joey into a hug, hoping to still the blond boys' fears. "We will find them, I promise you that." He said, even though he wasn't exactly sure how they were gonna do it. "Now isn't' this sweet." A voice taunted from behind them. Seto quickly took out his weapon but wasn't quick enough when he was hit by something in his side. Joey, who was being shielded by Seto, knew his lover was hurt.

Joey caught him as he fell. 'How can this be happening…I don't see anyone…?' Joey thought trying to figure out what injured his lover. "J…Joey be careful. Don't let him get you…." Seto stuttered before going into unconsciousness. 'Who?' Joey thought before hearing footsteps from behind. A cold sweat ran down his skin, getting that feeling that he was being watched but no sooner did he figure that out, he felt a sharp pain through his head. Joey moaned in pain, holding his head. Than he realized that everything was starting to spin. He fell on top of Seto, on the brink of passing out when he saw a familiar pair of shoes. "T…Tristan?" He said before passing out like his lover. "I'm sorry…Joey."

Later

Thick eyelashes began to flutter as Joey began to wake up again. His first thought that everything had been a dream, and he should just go back to sleep. But as he reached down to scratch his leg, all he felt was metal. Eyes snapped open, and Joey shot up realizing that everything that happened had been real. Even worse, he remembered what had happened no longer than an hour ago. "I wouldn't get up too fast…" Too late for that because Joey stumbled out of bed in a dizzy stupor. Honey eyes widened as he realized who had brought him here. "Tristan…" Tristan smiled at his best friend. Joey bit his lip, fighting back tears. "Tristan you came back." He said happily as he hugged the other boy. The other only laughed. "I told you I would didn't I?" Joey laughed before turning serious remembering something.

"You need to help me find Seto, he's hurt and he could be anywhere defenseless." Tristan grabbed Joey's arm as he tried to leave the room. "Don't worry about him…" Joey stared at his friend looking for answers. "I fixed him up…after all I'm the one who did it so I felt the need to make things right…" Joeys' gaped at his best friend in shock. "YOU did this!" He exclaimed before turning angry. "What the hell were you thinking? You could have killed him." Joey accused. Tristan put his hand up stopping the others' tirade. Honey eyes stared sadly at the other. "I know you would be mad at me…I admit I didn't mean to do that much damage….I just needed to see you and talk to you alone Joey." He pleaded wanting the other to understand.

"I know…I didn't mean to overreact. So what is it you needed to say to me?" The blonde questioned. "You can't beat the Dark Lord by fighting…he's practically invincible against fighting…but he has a weakness." Joey stared at the floor, trying to process what he had just heard. "Weakness…so if fighting him won't help then Yugi and the others are wasting their time. But…what is weakness than?" Tristan sat down next to the worried blond. "You are…You and Kaiba. Only the two of you can bring him down." Joey nodded. "Yeah I guess that makes sense….but how do we defeat him without actually fighting him?" at the back of his mind, he had to admit he had a swell of pride that he and his lover could indeed take on the darkness themselves.

"When I was off on my own, I ran into Higurashi again. He told me that he found some more clues about the prophecy. It said that the only way to defeat Hatsuharu is for the phoenix to rise from the ashes or something like that. I didn't get it…but I thought maybe you could make some sense of it." Joey shook his head not knowing what that meant. "So we have to find this phoenix thing? I'll assume no one knows where it is…" Tristan shook his head. "Figures…" Joey muttered. "So I see you two have found the time to talk…" The two teens looked up to see a very much alive Seto Kaiba. "Seto!" Joey ran and hugged the other teen. Seto blinked before returning the hug. Tristan and Seto exchanged looks of a mutual truce…for now. Joey smiled up at the taller male. "I'm so glad you're ok Seto…I was so worried about you." Seto smiled a little. "I'm alright puppy…but I couldn't help overhear something about a phoenix of some sort?" He said looking at Tristan again.

Tristan nodded. "Yeah some phoenix thing needs to be…risen from the ashes or some crap like that…" Seto sat down, bringing Joey onto his lap. "It's funny…everything connects together." Joey and Tristan looked at the other boy quizzically. Seto sighed trying to explain. " I keep having these dreams…about a phoenix strangely enough…and in each one I get close enough to see a person inside it…but never enough to see who it actually is." He finished quietly letting the information sink in. "So…the phoenix is actually a person?" Joey questioned. Seto shrugged. "Maybe…" Tristan got off the bed and headed towards the door. "Well I don't know about you two…but I'm ready to kick some Dark Lord tail…we'll figure this out…" Joey and Seto exchanged loving looks. "Alright let's do this." Tristan guided the other two through the castle until they reached the same doors the others had gone through previously.

"Well…this is it. Once we go through here only the winner will come back out." He warned. Seto nodded gripping his Hiraikotsu. Tristan, seeing that they were ready, gripped his own weapon, and pushed the doors open. Joey gasped in horror at what met his eyesight. All of his friend were either passed out or weakly trying to fight the Dark Lord. Hatsuharu has long jet black hair, and crimson eyes. One could consider him handsome if his face wasn't contorted in an evil smirk. He was surrounded by a purple and black mist that made it impossible to hit him. The three ran up to their fallen comrades. Joey ignored the evil laugh from the Dark Lord as he tried to lift up yugis' head up as gently as possible. "Joey…" Yugi smiled up at him weakly. "Save your strength…what happened?" Yugi coughed and groaned in pain. "No matter what we did….we couldn't touch him…be careful…" Joey bit his lip as he felt anger swell through his body.

'He'll pay for this...' Joey swore silently as he stood up to see Tristan was slowly healing the others with potions while Seto tries to fight the Dark Lord. Over where Seto was fighting, he realized that this wasn't gonna be as easy as he first thought. No matter how hard he through his Hiraikotsu, it wouldn't even cause so much of a scratch to the still chuckling Dark Lord. 'Damnit…' He cursed wondering what they could possibly do now. He turned when he saw Joey standing next to him, glaring up at the Dark Lord. As far as Seto knew, he had never seen Joey look so determined before…his puppy would find a way. He just knew it, and with that the battle continued. Seto had to admit it, with Joey by his side, he felt stronger but they still couldn't get through that barrier. No matter how strong Joey sent a silent telekinetic force towards the other man, it didn't even crack.

Hatsuharu chuckled darkly. 'Time to finish this.' He thought as he began to glow a dark red color and even stronger force hit both fighting teens, sending them flying in opposite directions. Joey flew farther back, head hitting the wall, slumping to the ground unconscious. Seto fared better than his lover, landing on the floor, before quickly getting up again. 'Jesus…he sent us flying with just one hit…and we can't even touch him' Blue eyes gazed at his lover from the corner of his eyes. 'And Joey isn't moving…that can't be good' He thought as he made his way towards Joey, dogging objects that Hatsuharu was flinging his way. Tristan show up, grabbed a bow and some arrows from the fallen Duke, and tried to fight back. Seeing this as the time to check on Joey, Seto made his way to his fallen lover.

Seto fell to his knees, hands body trembling. There was so much blood coming from his head wound. 'If this keeps up…he won't make it.' Seto cursed himself for thinking that way. "Joey…can you hear me?" He asked gently shaking to none moving blond, but to no avail Joey didn't move or respond. Seto turned Joey onto his back to look at his face only to see that Joey's eyes were half-way open and his normally lively golden eyes were dull and faded. Seto's heart sank at the realization that Joey was dying…and there was nothing he could do. He looked up when he saw a teardrop hit the ground next to him…and it wasn't his. Seto had wiped his own awhile ago.

Yugi looked down at his fallen friend in agony. Thanks to Tristan, and a lot of potions, everyone was able to be healed to an extent. But he had used them all up. "Yugi, you're a healer. You can heal him!" Seto exclaimed in hysterics. Yugi bent down and placed his hands on Joey's chest. A White light began to erupt from his fingers only to fizzle out and fade away as quickly as it appeared. Yugi frowned and tried again but to no avail it didn't work. "I don't have any more energy to heal…I can't do it." Seto growled. "Than get me a potion or something. Damnit Yugi work with me here." Yugi flinched at the sharp tone but realized that Seto was scared. He was scared of losing Joey. "We dot have any more…Tristan used them on healing us so we could fight…" Looking up at his beaten and bloody comrades, who were still trying in vain to fight, he sighed. "I don't know what to do…I'm sorry." Yugi hung his head in shame.

Seto had gone into shock. 'It's all over…we were foolish to think we could make a difference. And even worse…' Seto couldn't bring himself to finish that thought. He laid his head down on Joey's chest, stricken with grief. 'It had to end so soon…huh Joey...' Seto was so gone he didn't notice the one tear that escaped his eye and fell on the boy below him…nor did he notice that Joey was glowing now. Yugi looked up wide eyes… A/N: Can his eyes really get any bigger XDDD? "K...Kaiba look..." He stuttered amazed. Seto opened his eyes and shot up in surprise to see his lover glowing gold with bright colors mixed in. "What's going on?" By this time everyone's attention has turned to the glowing Joey. Hatsuharu glared in anger knowing where this was going.

"You won't defeat me." He declared as he attacked the crowd of fighters. Everyone had dodged the attack, except Seto, who knew that Joey would get hurt if he moved away. Kaiba bit back a scream as his back was hit full force; a moan being the only sound he would make. Yugi realized something from this. "You guys, he wants to get rid of Joey. He knows something could happen to him if Joey wakes up." Everyone nodded in agreement. "We must protect Kaiba at all costs while he tries to wake Joey up." Yami's voiced boomed across the room. Hatsuharu's red eyes glared at the group. He had to kill that brat before he woke up, or else everything will be ruined. While the other's stood there ground and continued to attack the Dark Lord, Seto stared down at Joey. "Please wake up…we need you. I need you." All of a sudden things started to become dim. Unbeknownst to the others, Seto had slumped forward over his lover on the border of unconsciousness.

'I wont let you go…if you die…I'll come with you…' He thought as he started to drift away. Under him Honey Eyes snapped open, glowing a bright gold. Yugi turned around to check up on Kaiba, only to see him on the ground…and Joey on his feet. His body was no longer glowing, but his eyes were, and a strange symbol was glowing on his forehead. 'I won't let you win…' Joey thought as his body was consumed entirely by a bright light. Everyone shielded their eyes as the light spreaded throughout the room and they could vaguely see an image of wings. Tristan's eyes widened at his realization. 'The phoenix we had to find…it was Joey the whole time…well I'll be damned...' He thought. Hatsuharu, in fear of what he knew was to come, attacked the glowing body that was Joey. Everyone stared in amazement as the attack hit Joey but fizzled out upon impact.

Once the light dimmed away Joey was finally visible. He stood on the ground, a dim golden light silhouetting his body. Large, gold, and shimmery wings stretched out from his back. His eyes were now longer and more pointed; a black symbol of a feather on his forehead. His arms were decorated with golden bangle bracelets. Joey stared up at Hatsuharu with a look of superioty, an annoyed frown on his face. Hatsuharu bristled, not liking that he can't strike fear in them anymore. Not now with that damned phoenix on their side. In anger, Hatsuharu attacked Joey again not letting up. Honey eyes stared impassively as the attack either bounced off of him or fizzled out completely, and his still continued to frown.

Seto groaned as he came back to consciousness. He turned over and gasped when he saw his lover. 'Is that…MY Joey?' He thought in amazement. Once he figured out the "mystery" of the phoenix Seto smiled secretly to himself. 'I knew he could do it…' Seto stood up, groaning when a sharp pain went through his body. Joey turned quickly upon hearing him. Ignoring Hatsuharu completely, Joey made his way slowly over to his lover. Hatsuharu smirked when he found Joey's weakness. 'That blue eyed boy…' He thought as he sent a dagger flying over, past Joey, over to the kneeling Seto. Joey's flew in front of Seto, blocking him. He turned his head quickly and glowing red eyes, that were once gold, flashed angrily and the dagger erupted into flames before falling to the ground as ashes.

Joey turned back to his lover, his eyes once again a beautiful gold. "Joey…look at you…" Seto whispered in awe as he touched a soft and silky wing. Joey smiled softly and nodded. "But I can't do this alone. I need you Seto…" He said as he stood up and offered a hand to Seto. Seto nodded and grabbed Joey's hands and he too began to glow. Joey smiled knowingly when the glow cleared up and Seto stood there in what was considered, in that universe, clothes of the Mighty Lord Seth. Think of his clothes in ancient Egypt without the hat thing…. Seto stared down at his clothing and the strange blue marking on his arms. He also didn't have the Hiraikotsu anymore, but wielded a large staff mage staff instead.

Hatsuharu growled and began to glow red also, and thousands of tentacles A/N: gross… began to sprout from his back. Yugi and the group, minus our favorite two, gasped and began to dodge as the tentacles attacked. Joey's eyes glowed gold again and half of the tentacles exploded into pieces falling to the floor. Seto raised up his staff, before sticking it into the ground a little, and the blue ball attached to it began to glow as well. As the blue crystal ball began to glow, a large wind flew in the tentacles direction and upon contact the tentacles were cut into slices, and fell to the ground. Hatsuharu stepped back angrily. Seto smirked as Joey continued to stare at his daring him to try it again. "Now we're going on the offense…" He sneered at the Dark Lord.

Honey Eyes regarded his friends. "You guys I'm gonna need you all to close your eyes for a second please…" He trailed off quietly. Once everyone did Joey raised his hand and the bracelets began to glow, as did everyone else. When the glow died down, everyone looked at themselves to see that they were completely healed but feeling a bit tired. Joey smiled. "It's ok. I only took some of your spirit energy…" He trailed off before staring back at Hatsuharu who didn't know how things could have changed on him. 'This wasn't supposed to happen damnit!' He screamed internally. "Once he is defeated, I will return it to you." Joey said before looking Hatsuharu in the eye. "You want to kill? Well here I am, come and get me than." He hissed. Hatsuharu glared before attacking the two with all he had. Joey grabbed Seto's hand, the two exchanging smiles before they began to shine together. As soon as Hatsuharu's body made contact with the teens he began to feel an excruciating pain throught his body, and now he knew why. His body was beginning to melt and fizzle away piece by piece.

He jumped back staring at his arm, which was melting away onto the floor; disappearing upon contact. "THIS CAN'T BE" Seto smirked. "That's what happens when you mess with us." He said cockily. Hatsuharu's screams continued until there was nothing left. Everyone cheered for they had finally defeated the Dark Lord. Seto turned to Joey only to see him falling towards the ground. "Joey!" he shouted as he caught the falling boy. He cradled the other in his arms, and pushed some of Joeys' bangs away from his face. "Joey speak to me…say something." Yugi walked up sadly and put his hand on the boys' shoulders. "Sacrifice…" Seto gasped when he remembered what had mad him so fearful for Joey so early in their adventure.

"To defeat him…Joey had to be sacrificed…But that's stupid Yugi. He's STILL HERE!" His rant ended in a scream. "But the prophecy never said we had to actually do a ritual or anything. A sacrifice means that the person has to die…once the Dark Lord is dead…Joey's job is finished." Yugi whispered. "Seto hugged Joeys' lifeless body to his chest. " No…" He moaned into Joeys' hair. "NO!" Seto's scream rang throughout the castle.

Seto stared outside of the window to his room in sadness. He has been like this for the last week. It wasn't until a low moan reached his eyes did he turn around. Eyelashes fluttered together and honey eyes came into view. Joey shot up accidentally bumping heads with the dragon master. "Shit…" Joey hissed. 'That hurt…' He thought holding his head until the pain subsided. "Some things never change puppy." Joey's eyes snapped open to see his dragon lover smiling at him. "But I thought….human sacrifice…remember?" Seto sat next to Joey. "And that's what we did…we were able to sacrifice Hatsuharu in your place…it's a long story…" He chuckled. Joey looked down at his leg to see that it didn't have the metal prosthetic leg it had before. Seto noticed where he was looking and frowned.

"When we got back home, we saw that you couldn't take the prosthetic leg back with you" He said before smiling again. "But I wouldn't worry, if my other self can make one in a world without technology I'm sure I can make one too." Joey hugged his lover with a laugh. "How are the others?" Seto smirked. "Why don't you ask them yourself?" Joey blinked as everyone burst into the room. Joey laughed as Yugi ran and hugged him. After a lot of chatting, and a few tears Joey sighed. "So what do we do now? I mean do we go back to our lives now?" Tristan playfully hit Joey on his arm. "Yeah we do…but that doesn't mean we can't hang out more often or anything…we'll see each other at school in about a month." Yugi nodded in agreement. "Plus I don't think Kaiba is too fond of sharing you." Everyone laughed as Seto shook his head. "Hey…whatever happened to Alistor?" Joey questioned. Seto shrugged. "He said he belonged in that world and wished to stay there…" Joey blinked. "And I wanted to thank him…at least he wasn't all that bad." Joey sighed as the others announced their departure.

In Kaiba's Garden

"So what now Dragon?" Joey asked when the others left to go home; it being close to midnight. Seto hugged him from behind, pulling him into a lawn chair. "Nothing…let's just take life one day at a time…but I promise you though, everything will be alright…I love you Joey." He whispered as he pulled Joey into a soft kiss. Joey smiled when they pulled apart. Their feeling hadn't changed after all. "I love you too…" He whispered as the two star gazed together, awaiting the fast approaching day they would tell the world love could bloom...from a single thought. The future was looking bright.

Zutto… Issho ni… Eien ni. (1)

Owari

YAY! blows party favors I'm finally finished. Thank the good Lord…man I'm so hungry right now. Chi…Anyways it was a pleasure writing this fic and I hope everyone enjoyed it. So REVIEW! And I like I said before I might write a one-shot sequel if ppl review and tell me.

Look out for a new fic from me hopefully by the end of this coming weekend k? JA!

1-

Zutto: Always

Issho ni: Together

Eien ni- Forever