Gasps...touch...heat.

Eros chuckled warmly, littering Ryou's body with kisses, the pale youth pinned to the silken bed beneath the god of lust and romantic sex.

"A-ah...Eros..." he mumbled softly, closing his eyes and relishing the touches.

"Twilight, there need be no shame..." The amber eyed god said kissing a trail down Ryou's stomach.

A soft chuckling was heard from the doorway of Eros' chambers. "I thought as much...Eros you're so predictable." Selene said amused. "Must you toy with Twilight like that?" Eros let go of Ryou's arms, wrinkling his nose and settling for trailing them over the youth's body, one hand settling against Ryou's heated arousal, pumping him in agonizingly slow strokes.

"Ahh Selene, you know I cant help it." He said, looking at her while he worked. "Besides, it's a fine way to rid a servant of shame." Selene laughed loudly at the whimpering of her servant.

"You just say that as an excuse to indulge yourself. What if I were to tell Zeus of your actions?" Eros smirked, feeling Ryou's helpless passionate quivering beneath his steady hands.

"He'd probably want to join in, he's always up for a party..."

xoxoxoxo

Ryou whined loudly as Eros helped him find his way back to his bedchambers. "Oh hush little one, you enjoyed it." Ryou's hot face grew a darker shade of red. "I...had forgotten what a horrible sneaky thing you are.." he mumbled wrinkling his nose. He'd always enjoyed Eros' company, despite the activities that usually proceeded.

"It's nearing the end of Apollo's ride though the sky...he will likely be tired, hungry and in need of entertainment Twilight...We are all quite eager to hear your voice once more." The pale haired god said calmly. (hato would once again like to point out that it's HELIOS! NOT Apollo!) Ryou nodded slowly, as they entered his small chambers. "I will take leave, so you might dress for your journey to Earth...be careful." Eros said kissing Ryou's forehead once more, leaving.

xoxoxoxo

Marik sighed softly, watching as Yugi and Ootogi spread the sand, that Ryou's body had changed into after death, along the beach, and in the water. Both teens sighed softly when finished. "Visit him often..." They said bowing their heads. "He...would have wanted you to." they added sniffling and sighing. "We...will go home...and tell the others something..." Ootogi said softly.

Yugi nodded slowly. "Hopefully Neptune will not be angry."

Marik nodded dumbly, watching the two remaining merboys sink into the sea, giving a final wave before disappearing...

He sighed, looking at the sand around him. "So...the...inevitable end of all merfolk..." He said wiping his eyes slightly, scooping some of the sand into his hand. "From...the sand to the sand..." he mumbled, watching the grains of sand slip between his fingers...just as Ryou had.

Despite all the science he knew, all the theories he'd disproven, he hoped at that moment, that there was an afterlife...something wonderful for Ryou. "A place...full of the things he loved most...beach balls, lemonade...pillows and taffy." he said smiling and remembering Ryou's most adorable moments. He couldn't help but scold himself. If only he'd known sooner...if only the doctors could have saved his lover.

"Oh Ryou...if there are gods…I hope they're taking care of you now..." he mumbled wiping his eyes once more. "There's...nothing left..."

xoxoxoxo

Ryou gently brushed the silver stallions holding them steady, while Selene prepared for her journey. His soft glowing white and silver robes glistening with the movements. "Mistress..." he said softly, giving her a worried look. She smiled, while other servants adorned her in her celestial robes. "It's alright Twilight...no harm will befall you, tonight is your grand re-entrance into the night...the Earth awaits, as do the gods. Even dark lord Hades has arrived for your performance." She cooed, stepping onto the chariot. "I know you will do your best..." she added patting his head, before cracking her reigns, giving the horses the command to go.

Ryou hurried after her, to the edge of Olympus, watching as her robes spread through the air, cloaking the earth in a slowly growing darkness, as Apollo (Helios!) arrived on the opposite end of Olympus. Ryou sighed and looked down. He didn't know the words...to any songs. "I...cannot remember..." he mumbled, walking to the den of the firebirds.

Comet and Meteor chirped catching sight of their long lost keeper. They stood slowly and walked to him. "Twilight..." they cooed, seeming to smile. "It is a pleasure...to see our tendant once more..." They both cooed spreading wings that had longed for a flight with their friend. "Let us decorate the sky." Meteor chirped. Ryou nodded slowly. "O-of course..." he whispered kissing each firebird in turn, before padding out, his sandals kicking up bits of straw and bedding.

Comet chuckled and nudged Ryou with his wing. "You will remember Twilight...once we begin you will remember..." he said seeming to smile, despite being unable. Comet bowed his head. "Indeed...taking your first steps into the night will bring back centuries of our work."

xoxoxoxo

Ryou was still nervous, as he walked respectfully past the gathering of gods, each drinking merrily and watching him eagerly. Even Zeus and Hera smiled, before Zeus' thundering voice broke Ryou's stride. "I am eager to hear tonight's symphony, as are all of us." He motioned to the gathering. "It will be most pleasing to observe your voice once more...I believe even my brothers will agree..." he said sending a warning look to Hades and Poseidon.

Poseidon coughed and nodded. "Of course." He said calmly, Hades merely nodding boredly.

"Hurry it up boy, I've got souls to torment for eternity." he said gruffly. Ryou nodded bowing and hurrying from the gathering, looking over the edge of Olympus. "Come Twilight...you will not fall..." Comet instructed, Meteor giving Ryou a slight push. Ryou gasped and closed his eyes feeling himself fall slightly, but when he opened his eyes, he smiled, he could feel a joy like he'd not felt in ages...it was good to be in the sky.

He grinned and seemed to fly of his own will, up to the birds. "Let us make this night, the most beautiful of all!" he said proudly.

xoxoxoxo

Ryou giggled as he fell from the sky, being caught in invisible hugs as the birds tackled and played with him, his giggles causing the feather dust-become stars to twinkle and shine brightly. He grinned and pounced on Meteor, rolling along the darkness with him, the bird giving smooth chuckles of his own. It went on like this for a time, the boy and birds chasing eachother across the expanses of Earth, decorating it's skies with shimmering stars, before the birds nuzzled Ryou. "Ahh...Twilight you've worn us out..." Comet cooed, preening a bit of Ryou's hair. Meteor nodded, landing on Ryou's outstretched arm. "It is now time that we return to Olympus..." he said as the youth nodded. "Of course." Ryou said smiling warmly. "You're older than time, you two cranky old birds." He teased, getting a sharp, but playful nip from Comet. "Watch your tongue you little imp." he replied chuckling. With those final words, the birds took flight, making the long journey home.

Ryou giggled watching them for a time, before slowly settling towards the ground below. He'd never had so much fun! He looked around the world before him, as his feet touched the soft grass. The night was deathly silent. Ryou blinked, tilting his head to the side. "Come, I know you are here my musicians of the night, lets have a wonderful night of music and song!" he said, giving his hands a soft clap. It seemed that was all it took, as the fireflies began to glow, flying around the area, the crickets began their soft singing. Ryou closed his eyes and sighed, listening for a moment, before he began to sing as well, the song lighting up the sky, the crickets chirping louder to keep time to Ryou's voice.

xoxoxoxo

Marik sighed, looking to the sky. "I wish Ryou were here...the night is perfect..." he mumbled looking to the sidewalk. "He was so wonderful..." he said sighing, a new wave of tears rolling down his cheeks. He walked to the park, not wanting to go home...go to that empty house, knowing there would no longer be eager brown eyes to greet him, the warm hugs and soft laughter...kisses of his lover to welcome him back.

The night would have been perfect...perfect to profess the love he had for Ryou. He choked back a sob as he walked. The fireflies and crickets...it was an evening that Ryou would have found simply magical...he'd never seen a firefly before, to Marik's knowledge. "I could have told him...told him how I had pulled down stars to dance for him...he would have believed me, he would have clung to me in awe and watched..." Marik mumbled, taking off his glasses and looking at them. "What do I have left to live for?"

xoxoxoxo

Eternity looked at the fabric, sighing. Now that Destiny and Future had taken Ryou's earthly thread from the imagery, the quilt seemed less than pleasing. She wove quietly, as her sisters slept. "Sweet little thing, to have loved and lost...I can only hope that Future will not notice my meddling, and undo the good I wish to do for you..." she breathed softly.

xoxoxoxo

Ryou breathed harshly, his song over, he fell back against the grass, giggling and breathing in the night air. "It is good, to be home..." he said dreamily, nuzzling into the soft grass, small dew sprites kissing his cheeks before giggling and flittering off into the night. A snapping twig startled Ryou, and he sat up immediatly, he gasped. A Mortal...

xoxoxoxo

Marik blinked away his tears and stared for a moment. "Ryou..?" he breathed rubbing his eyes, and running forward, tackling the youth to the grass, hugging him tightly. Ryou gasped frightenedly and shook his head, shoving Marik slightly. "I...I...you must not!" he squeaked shaking his head, trembling as he stared at his captor. His struggles ceased. There was something welcoming and familiar about those indigo eyes, though in an instant he was away from the mortal, sitting across the grass.

Marik stared down, tears dripping down his cheeks, at first glad to see Ryou...but realizing that...whatever he had seen, was just as soon gone. "Ryou..." he said collapsing to the ground and sobbing into the grass. "Why!" he wailed.

Ryou watched, a hand rising to his chest. This man...he remembered this man..."Marik..." he said softly, eyes wide. "Oh gods..." he whimpered shaking his head. "Marik!" he said, inching close to the form of his lover. "I'm here! I'm here Marik! I...I never left! I...I was at this place!" he said hugging his lover, though it seemed to do nothing to console Marik.

Ryou sniffled and cried into his lover's back, unable to soothe, to touch his lover. "I don't understand..." Ryou said wiping his eyes. "Why...why cant you hear me? Why cant you feel me!" he said sniffling. "Marik...I want to help you please...I'm right with you!"

xoxoxoxo

All that night, Ryou followed Marik...longing to be just a bit closer, clinging to him as he walked, heart wrenching at his pained sobs and murmuring. "But Marik...I am here..." he whispered walking beside his lover. "I love you...I'm here...I wish you could hear me..." he said looking down. "It pains me to see you so sad...Marik I hate seeing you so...unhappy..." he mumbled following Marik home after seeming hours of pained tormented walking.

Ryou grinned and dove through the window, his soft glow lighting the room with the moon's light. "Marik!" he said proudly, hugging his lover once he'd entered, welcoming him home, despite Marik's inability to see or feel it. "I am still here...to welcome you home after your weary days...see?" he said smiling slightly. "Oh please see...I know! I'll...I'll help you cook some dinner just like you taught me!" he said hurrying to the kitchen and flicking on the light, yelping slightly before flicking it back off, wincing. "I...I have forgotten..." he mumbled looking down. "I cannot be outside of Olympus and touch the light..." he mumbled grumpily, pouting.

"Well I'll just have to cook in the dark." he said reaching for the cabinet and pulling. He blinked when the normal force he'd put into opening cabinets no longer worked. "W-what?" he glared. "I will! I will show him I love him just as much! I want to make him something!" he howled, tugging the cabinet with all his might. With that, the cabinet flew open, startling Marik from his dazed sitting on the couch, examining Ryou's ribbon from that morning.

He raised an eyebrow, as the cabinet in the kitchen swung back and forth, stopping finally, the contents spilling out and onto the floor. Ryou however was horrified. "No! Oh...I've made a horrible mess!" he said hanging his head. "I just...I wanted to cook him something and now look what I've done! I've spilt the...rice...the flour..." he sighed and closed his eyes. "Maybe I'm still...not ready for cooking..."

Marik sighed and stood, walking into the kitchen and flicking on the light. "What a mess..." he mumbled, walking to the corner to get his broom and dustpan. Though, the light flicked off the moment he'd taken half a step. "...What?" he grumbled and turned, flicking the light back on once more, looking up at it. Click.

"What...is going on here?" he said, pulling his glasses from his pocket, cleaning them and putting them on. "I'll get to the bottom of this..." he grumbled, turning on the light once more and looking up at the bulb. Click. "Oh for the love of...!" he grumbled, flicking the light on again. This time, he watched the switch.

...click...

Marik blinked. "...what the hell? There must be something wrong with the latch..."

Ryou winced. "Stop it! That hurts!" he grumbled at Marik, yelping when his lover would turn the light on, and turning it off quickly. "I dont want it on!" he howled, kicking a nearby bag of flour, the bag falling forward barely.

Marik groaned and rolled his eyes. "Fine! I'm getting that stupid switch replaced in the morning..." he grumbled, walking to the cleaning supplies and cleaning Ryou's mess. Ryou blinked and sighed. "I didn't want to make you mad...but the light hurts my eyes!" he said softly, looking at a nearby clock. "Big hand...is the hour...a-and the little is the minute..." he mumbled tilting his head to the side. "Four and five minutes..." he deduced. "But...that..." Ryou shook his head. Soon he'd be called back to Olympus. "But I cant! Marik! He needs me!" he said shaking his head. "I have to find a way...a way to tell him I'm still here...still by his side..."

Marik cleaned the mess and looked at the clock. "God...I havent slept at all..." he mumbled brokenly. "It's four in the morning..." he walked to his room and stripped, laying on the lonely sheets and hugging Ryou's pillow, taking in the remaining scent of the sea. "Ryou..."

Ryou sat on his side of the bed and crawled towards Marik, leaning down on his hands to stare at him. "My Marik..." he cooed touching foreheads. "I...I will ask the gods...I'm sure there is someway to be near you once more...B-but I cant let mistress Selene know...if she saw she would be furious!" he breathed, as the first rays of dawn began to shine over the horizon. "Marik..."

Marik groaned and opened his eyes. For a brief moment, he smiled, staring into the eyes of his lover, but when he blinked away the sleep in his eyes, the image of his angel was gone as quickly as it came. Marik sighed and looked down, blinking once more and puzzling over whether it had been a dream.

AN: As sad is this is guys 115 people looked at 39, 77 (so far) have looked at 40. I got 3 reviews each. It SEEMS some of you aren't very grateful for my writing. It hurts me that you cant take 2 minutes of your time to write a small 'great chapter!' or 'thanks! Update soon!' in my review section to thank me for 2-5 hours of MY time to write the chapter...so regrettably I will now be putting a cap on updates. I will no longer update every monday unless the following are met.

5 reviews (2 more people could get off their ass and say thank you)

OR

130 hits.

It's up to you guys, flame me if you want, as long as it's in the reviews you'll still get updates, sad as it is that I'd even count flames at this point. But an authoress has her limits, and I really feel underappreciated (those of you who reviewed, are exempt, if the terms haventbeen met, you have my aim,send me amessage and you will get exclusive viewing of the updated chapters on mondays, but you have to remind me, I'll likely forget.)