Since he had no living family, eventually the decision was reached to bury Ryou alongside the millennium items. That way, he would still be close to the one person, if the spirit of the millennium ring could even be called that, he felt was truly his friend.

Rishid carried the body outside into the desert, with the rest of them following close by.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon, Ra's eyes looking over a new day. But light was the farthest thing from the minds of Yugi and his friends. They knew that Ryou, a light in his own right, would never see another day go by.

"I… can't believe it…" Although hours had passed, Yugi could still barely speak. And of them all, he was being the most vocal. Everyone else kept their comments buried deep in their hearts. Waves of sadness waltzed with guilt, taking each and every one of them along for the ride.

"The millennium stone was originally buried right here." Isis managed to announce, her voice still trembling, thinking about the boy in Rishid's arms. She felt just as guilty as the other teenagers, although it wasn't as noticeable. After all, she informed him of the ritual, and ultimately, she felt his life would be held in her heart when it was weighed against the feather of truth.

"This way." Malik guided them. Their procession weaved between large boulders and small rocks, many of which were simply tossed aside while Ryou was digging out the seven golden items.

They nodded and followed.

Carefully, and with a solemn heart, Rishid lowered the body of Ryou Bakura onto the millennium stone. His cold, lifeless body stood out uncomfortably against the warm sand, causing everyone to cry again.

"… Here… we… should put the millennium ring around his neck." Honda eventually volunteered, finding his voice. "I… I won't throw it away this time. I… I promise."

The others nodded, and Honda carefully climbed into the small trench. He removed the ring from the stone. As he lifted it slowly, the metal spikes skidded against the rock, pointing to the millennium items around it.

Shocked, and rightfully so, Honda dropped the ring.

"What is it?" Malik asked softly, hearing the discord of metal crashing against stone.

"It moved!" he jumped back, temporarily forgetting the despair of the moment. "It pointed to the items, and it moved!"

"That's impossible, though." Isis breathed a heavy sigh. "The items have no more power. Not since the final battle with Zorc, where the pharaoh finally defeated… the thief Bakura."

She glanced back to Ryou, who ultimately paid the price of that battle.

"No, it moved!" Honda shouted again, crawling quickly out of the hole. He couldn't look at Ryou or the ring. He continued talking nervously. "It moved. I saw it move. I know it moved…"

"I'll do it…" Bravely, Yugi stepped forward to put the ring around his friend's neck. It was, of course, the least he could do.

But as he bent down to pick it up, a strange sensation filled his body. The last time Yugi held the millennium ring, it was deathly cold, indicative of the emptiness inside of it. But this time, something was very different. He could literally feel heat radiating off of the ring.

"H..Honda's right!" Yugi gasped. "Something's wrong with the ring!"

"That is impossible." Isis answered again, finally climbing onto the stone to see for herself. She picked the millennium item off the ground, and instantly felt the same sensation that had crawled through Yugi.

The ring was warm to the touch, as if something, or someone, had been put inside it!

"Malik!" she exclaimed. "There's something in the ring!"

"But the pharaoh destroyed the evil spirit." Her brother quickly responded, climbing into the ditch that remained of the great underground temple. The others quickly followed suit. He held the ring in his hands, and could not deny it. There was a strong sense of life inside the golden treasure, something that had not been there before.

"I don't think it's the spirit…" Yugi finally whispered.

"You don't think…" Jonouchi glanced at the ring, and then back down to Ryou. He shook his head in disbelief. It just couldn't be.

"Nah…" Honda shook his head as well.

"But… what if…" Anzu looked between them several times.

"I... I don't know…"

"Do you really think?"

"It could be…"

"Nah…"

"well… maybe…"

They all exchanged glances. And finally, after the longest time, Yugi cocked a small smile.

"It is." Yugi finally decided. There was no other way. "It's Ryou."

They exchanged glances again. The heat from the ring made him smile, even amidst such tragic circumstances. It was so strong that perhaps, Ryou wasn't alone in there.

"And I think…" Yugi paused for a moment, words and thoughts running through his mind. "I think he's happy…"