i updated this one early...yay! Enjoy! oh, yeah, sorry for making you guys cry, i didn't think it would be that sad, which i guess is the problem, i didn't think. just be grateful that was the edited version, the original was worse. and don't ask why, but i randomly put in when they were told.

A million words won't bring you back,
I know because I've tried,
A million tears won't bring you back,
I know because I've cried

- Lillian

Joey sighed as he looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He was wearing a black suit, not as business-like as Kaiba brothers, but not very formal either. For the millionth time, he grasped his tie before letting his arm fall back to his side. His hands twitched, longing to take it off and Joey vaguely wondered if anyone would mind if he did.

"Joey?" A hoarse, weak, tired voice asked from the open door.

He looked to see Ryou, wearing a less formal suit. Black slacks and a black button up shirt with formal boots made up his outfit and Joey envied his simplicity. Despite being up all night, Ryou didn't look the least bit tired, except for his puffy eyes, which betrayed the fact that he'd been crying.

"Why don't you just take it off?" Ryou asked, sniffling and smiling slightly.

Joey scowled, turning back to his reflection. "It doesn't look right without the tie." He mumbled, tugging on it. The knot came loose and his tie now hung casually on his neck, making him scowl more and yank the whole thing off.

Ryou's smile widened and he laughed a little. "I came to tell you that they want the Pall Bearers out there now, we'll be leaving for the church in ten minutes."

"Alright." Joey sighed, following Ryou out of the bathroom, after giving his reflection one last dirty look.

Joey blinlked when he saw that there were more people in the living room than there had been the night before. He carefully scaned the entire room, looking at every face. He sighed and shook his head when he realized that Bakura wasn't there.

After Bakura had confessed, they'd just sat there on the roof, Joey staring at the sky and Bakura at the ground. After a while, Joey had left, leaving Bakura on the rooftop to be alone for a while. Joey had hoped that he'd come to the funeral, but he knew there was only a slim chance the former spirit would show.

Yami managed to catch his eye, jerking his head towards the casket. Joey nodded and made his way through the crowd of people, the feeling of loss heavy on his shoulders. When the six Pall Bearers were assembled around the casket, one of the curators from the mortuary carefully closed it. People watched with sad eyes as Joey and the others carefully lifted it and took it out to the hearse.

The ride to the church was painfully slow. Joey couldn't help but fidget the whole way, squirming in his seat and sighing impatiently. When they did reach the church, it was aleady packed with people, many of them were standing outside, silent as the hearse drove past.

When the eulogy was read and over with and everyone had said their speaches and the bands and choirs had played, the last viewing was the only thing left to do. It was the moment everyone had been dreading.

Fans lined up, silently whispering to each other and only quieting when it was their turn to look into the casket. The line spread around the entire church, going outside and onto the sidewalk. Music played softly in the background, someone having put in his favorite CD.

Joey did his best to not cry when people circled around to shake his hand. He was sitting in the very front row, reserved for family and close friends. People from tournaments and kids and teachers from school all gave him their condolences, looking at him with sorrow.

Two hours after the services began, it was time for the casket to be closed. All the people in the front row got up, walking slowly and painfully to the front, not wanting to reach it.

Grandpa Motou was the first to break down, leaning over and giving his grandson one last hug and kiss. Ryou and Tea were next, leaning against each other for support. Joey, Duke, Tristan and Yami tried to keep themselves in check, but failed misserably. Yami leaned in and gave his light a kiss on the cheek, squeezing his hand and looking as if he never wanted to let go. Duke and Tristan stood back, staring as if they were willing their friend to get up. Joey burried his face into his hands,his shoulders shaking with sobs.

When their throats were sore and their tears died down, they finally looked up. With gasps of surprise, they all saw that Bakura was there. He was looking into the casket, his face unreadable but his eyes were full of sorrow, ignoring the others completely.

Taking everyone besides Joey by surprise, he leaned down and kissed the body softly. His eyes softened as he came back up, tears sliding down his face. He stepped back, quickly wiping them away.

The curator of the mortuary walked up, patting Bakura and Grandpa Motou on the back. Suddenly, the church was filled with wails. People were leaning on each other and others were sobbing into their tissues or hands. Not being able to take it, they all gave in and cried loudly, except for Bakura, who somehow managed to keep his face stoic. Glancing at them,the curator slowly closed the lid of the casket.

"I see you cleaned yourself up." Joey stated idely when the others got to work on filling the grave.

Indeed, Bakura's hair was washed, his black suit was clean and his cologne was no longer masking his body odor. He still looked a bit sick, but no longer deathly so.

Bakura shrugged. "This is a funeral, it would be disrespectful to show up looking the way I did yesterday."

They were silent a moment, watching the others fill the grave tirelessly. The air held the scent of the many flowers that were standing next to the grave and someone had turned on the radio in one of the cars, playing some old song.

"It means a lot." Joey said suddenly.

"What?" Bakura asked, tearing his eyes from the rapidly filling hole and looking at Joey.

"You. Showing up. It means a lot." Joey explained vaguely.

"To who?" Bakura scoffed, looking back at the grave.

"To me, to Yugi, to even Yami, surprisingly." Joey answered, scratching the back of his head. "He was surprised you showed but he was glad."

"Yami was glad I showed up and kissed his light right in front of him?" Bakura said increduosly.

"Yeah, he said..." Joey trailed off, suddenly unsure.

"Said what?" Bakura demanded.

"He said, " Joey hesitated, "he said that Yugi...liked you and that he would've been happy to know you were there."

Bakura blinked.

"He was angry and protective when Yugi first admitted it, but he gave in when Yugi pointed out that you were cleaning up your act and were even almost civil. It meant a lot to the both of them that you cared enough to show up." Joey continued.

"How do you know Yugi was happy?" Bakura asked, glancing into the grave doubtfully, as if he thought Yugi himself had told Joey. "How do you know you don't just disappear when you die?"

"Bakura," Joey said flatly, "you're testament to the fact that there's life after death. I'm sure Yugi's around somewhere, giggling about having won your heart."

"When I get to the afterlife, I'm going to throttle him for dying on me." Bakura growled, but it was an empty threat and they both knew it. "I just wish there had been more time. If he hadn't died so early..."

Unwillingly, they remebered when they had been told their friend was dead.

FLASHBACK

Joey and the others stood in the living room, confused. Grandpa Motou had called them all there, saying that it was urgent. His voice had been filled with sadness and he'd been sniffling on the phone.

Yami was pacing the floor, his brows knit with worry, wondering where his light was. Tea was sitting on the couch, biting her nails and glancing around nervously. Ryou was sitting next to her, biting his lip. Duke and Tristan were both leaning against a wall, arms crossed, sending each other worried glances. Bakura was also leaning against a wall, arms crossed, and looking bored.

"Will you stop pacing?" Bakura finally snapped at Yami. "You're making me nervous."

Yami opened his mouth to reply but closed it and shook his head.

They all jumped when a door slamed and Grandpa Motou walked in, hanging his coat. He turned around and looked at them blankly, as if he couldn't understand why they were there.

"Grandpa! Where's Yugi? I can't reach him through our link, it just went dead." Yami said, looking even more worried when Grandpa Motou just looked at him sadly.

"Sit down." he said tiredly, motioning to the floor. "All of you." he added to Bakura, who hadn't moved.

Bakura snorted and slowly made his way to the couch, sitting on the arm rest next to Ryou.

Grandpa Motou sighed wearily and stood in front of them, looking at every one of them carefully before speaking.

"Yugi was in a car accident today." he started, his lip trembling, "and...and...well, he's gone and he's never going to come back."

They all stared at him blankly, not comprehending his words.

"He had internal injuries, they couldn't save him, he died just an hour ago."

Tea and Ryou gasped, their hands flying to their mouths. Joey, Tristan and Duke continued to stare blankly. Yami and Bakura's eyes widened.

"What? But-"Yami struggled to say something, but couldn't. Tea burst into tears and Ryou hung his head, crying silently. "NO!" Yami yelled, dropping onto the floor in dispair and staring blankly. "Not my light...not Yugi."

Bakura jumped to his feet, glaring at Solomon. "You're lying! You have to be!"

"I wish I was Bakura." he replied solemnly. "I wish I was."

Bakura's vision went black for a moment. He shook his head and gave the old man one last glare before rushing out, slamming the door behind him. He tried to run from the truth, but Solomon's words echoed in his head.

"Yugi's gone...and he's never going to come back..."

yeah, i know it seemed kinda rushed but i'll go back and fix some other time. it'll be better when i do. anyway, hoped you liked it! and it will be better when i fix it!