A/N: Please read the author notes at the end for some info…If you want.

Read and Enjoy!

Diclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Be Happy about that.

Chapter 9 – Final Stage: Revelation and Defeat

"You!" that was all Bakura could angrily shout out. He was beyond pissed at this point. This person, who he never really trusted to begin with, was responsible for all the troubles they had been having! Bakura swore that once he was out of these binds, he would make him suffer a lot.

Everyone just stared in complete shock at the man who stood before them, for in all honesty, they would never, ever, have suspected him. Well, why would they? They had not seen or heard from him since their high school days. This was just odd beyond belief.

"It is very nice to see you as well," the man amusingly said. He couldn't help but smirk as they stared at him disbelievingly.

"You, you . . . you bastard," Bakura really didn't know what to say to him, he was just that furious, and the man's smirk grew because of it.

"My, my, have you forgotten my name? Well, it has been quite a while, has it not? So maybe I should remind you," he continued to tease, sensing malice coming from some of the other men now.

"Shut up, you damn bastard, we know who you are, and when I get out of this, you're going to wish you didn't show yourself!" Bakura shouted. The smirk that the man had, disappeared; it was replaced with a frown.

"I do not think you are in a position to threaten, Bakura. After all, look around you, there is no one who can do anything. Besides, if I were you, I would hold my tongue, for you may endanger someone precious," he warned as he neared Tea who stared angrily at him.

"Stay away from her!" Bakura yelled, struggling with his binds, but they only tightened.

"I told you, the more you struggle the tighter the binds will get," he told him once more, still approaching Tea. Bakura simply growled.

"Do as he says, Bakura! I don't want to see you hurt!" Tea told him, wishing that there was something she could do.

"Always the one to worry about others, when it is really you who you should be concern about," the man took hold of Tea's chin as he forced her to look at him.

"I don't understand. Why are you doing this? Why . . . Krade?" Tea asked him, at last saying his name.

"Oh, you do remember my name. Unfortunately, it is not my real name," Krade said as he leaned in closer to her, whispering, "But I am sure you will know, if you pay close attention to the name I gave you, Anzu."

Tea's eyes widen since he used that name and also his voice changed to an all familiar voice. He smirked as she glared at him. She looked away afterwards and thought carefully at what he said. She and the others have known him as Krade since they first met; but all along it wasn't even his real name. So what was it? 'Krade, what's so strange about that name. Ah, what if I spelled it backwards,' Tea thought, 'Edark . . . something isn't right, something doesn't belong,' of course it only took a few seconds to figure it out and her eyes widen when she realized what his name was.

"Dark!" she yelled. Now she understood! When the scripture spoke of DARK, it was talking about a person, it was talking about him! Then that would mean LIGHT was a person too, and she may know who it was, and that scared her.

"Bravo, my dear, you have figured it out," he teased as he chuckled lightly.

"What? You're name is Dark? What kind of name is that?" Joey yelled out, but Dark simply ignored him.

"Well, now that we know who we are, it is time, Tea, to open the doors," Dark told her.

"What doors?" Tea asked worriedly.

He pointed to the waterfall, the same one that fell into the lake where her past self and all the ones she cared about swam so merrily, and told her, "the doors are behind the waterfall, and the moment I have the keys, they shall open!"

"What are you talking about? What keys?" she tried not to sound so worried, but it was difficult when a mad man was telling her strange things. Who knew what would happen if these 'doors' opened.

"The Sword of Light and the Sword of Dark," was Dark's simple reply.

"What the hell is this loony talking about?" Tristan questioned.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, I can tell you it's not good," Joey answered the obvious.

"The Swords of Dark and Light are the keys that shall open the doors of Desire! When they open, then the world shall be mine, and you, Light, shall stand by my side as my queen," Dark chuckled lightly as he explained.

"Light? Why is he calling her Light?" Duke, as well as the rest of group, was just as confused as he was. What was with all of this name changing, freaky doors, and sword stuff? Why couldn't this be like any other take-over-the-world-loony like Marik? This one was just plain weird and confusing.

"That creep must have amnesia or something. First he calls her Anzu, now Light. He probably can't even remember our names. Probably thinks I'm Bob or something," Joey joked, even though he knew it wasn't really the best time. But it was a way for him to calm down in theses certain situations.

"Do you ever keep that mouth shut?" Dark angrily shouted at Joey, annoyed by the men's excessive blabbering.

"If he ever did, that would be one excellent miracle," Seto mumbled, but Joey heard, turning to glare at him, but before he could comment, Bakura spoke up.

"Enough of this! Why are we here and what does Anzu have to do with any of this? Why her?" Bakura wanted nothing more right now to choke the life out of Dark for endangering everyone dear to him.

Dark sighed before he began to answer, "Must I explain everything?" he turned to Tea, "Has Light not told you anything at all?" Upon seeing her shake her head softly, he sighed once more. "Figures that she would keep you in the dark about all this, she was never one to interfere with her host's life until the very end. Very well, if it will make you all feel better, I'll explain."

Everyone looked at him attentively, waiting to hear what weird story he was about to unfold. Well, whatever it was, it couldn't possibly be any weirder than all those other world saving adventures they plunged into all those years ago, but then again, so far it had been.

Dark moved toward the edge of the lake and acted as if he were contemplating on how to tell them. His backed faced them as he began his tale.

"I am not really who you see, this body is merely the host that I have chosen to reside in. I, as well as Light, do not have a physical form. We are merely entities that were created to fight in a long-lasting war. Our only purpose was to destroy each other, but . . ." Dark paused for a moment, as if thinking carefully, "I grew bored of the tedious arrangement."

"But I don't understand! Why am I a part of this? What does any of this have to do with me?" Tea asked; bewildered from what Dark had said so far.

"Like I said before, we entities have no physical form; therefore we must choose bodies to reside in. We are meant to live in the hearts of our hosts until the day we meet at last to engage in a fight to the end. This battle happens every one hundred years. Ever since the beginning of mankind, this has been our purpose. We simply exist to destroy each other," Dark explained further.

"But . . . why?" Tea asked, not understanding how anyone could have such a purpose.

"Even I am not sure. We were created from the hearts of humans, from the darkness," Dark turned to look at her, "and from the light within. However, the moment we were created we simply knew our purpose. Knew why we existed, but as I said, I had grown tired of the arrangement. I wanted to change it. I wanted to live for my own reason, so after three thousand years from creation, I found my chance to change it."

"Okay, is anyone as lost as I am?" Joey interrupted. It wasn't surprising that he was confused; actually he wasn't the only one.

"He lost me after 'I'," Tristan jokingly agreed.

"Of course you fools would never understand," Dark snapped at them, his anger rising.

"But why was Tea chosen? Why must she be a part of this?" Bakura interfered.

"Light and I choose those we find worthy. The body you see held so much darkness within his heart, so naturally I chose him. I assume that Light had chosen Tea because she has a kind heart. That is the reason why she is now a part of this," Dark looked to the lake and contemplated, and smirked when he remembered something, "No, no, that is not right. How silly of me to have forgotten. The only reason that Tea is now a part of this is because she is the reincarnation of Anzu."

"What!" Bakura shouted what most of the group was thinking.

"Light had chosen Anzu five thousand years ago; she was the one I was originally meant to have fought, but due to the . . . tragic incident, things were forced to take a different direction. Light and I always change hosts every one hundred years, but since Anzu died by the hands of another, we had to wait until the reincarnations of both our hosts were born. It took five thousand years of waiting, but at last our hosts were once again alive," the enemy talked with much amusement in his voice.

"But why did it matter that she died by . . ." Tea hushed the moment she realized who she was about to mention. Yami still did not remember what happened all those millennia ago and she feared that it would soon be revealed once more to him.

"By the pharaoh?" Dark finished for her.

"What?" Yami looked from Dark to Tea, confused as to what he had to do with any of this.

"Ah yes, you do not remember your past, now do you, Pharaoh?" Dark teased, smirking at the baffled former ruler.

"Dark, don't say anything! It's best that he doesn't know!" Tea pleaded.

"As you wish, my dear, I shall not utter a word . . . for now," he told her as he smirked at her frowning face and continued to speak, "Of course, he should know what he had done, don't you think? After all, does he not wish to know about his past? It seems very unfair that you and your friends would keep it from him."

"It's best he doesn't know . . ." she repeated quietly, lowering her head to not gaze into the confused eyes of Yami.

"What is this all about! What does he mean you are keeping it from me?" Yami asked the questions Tea dreaded. How could she tell him, knowing that the last time he found out, he had become depressed? It was really best that he didn't know; it really was.

Dark watched Tea carefully, he knew she would not speak a word about the pharaoh's past, and knowing this, he decided then that he would simply move on to another topic. After all, he could simply tell him afterwards. "To answer your question, Tea," he began, ignoring the 'but' he heard coming from Yami, "when we chose our host, we unite with their hearts. There is a bond, you could call it, that cannot be broken by a weapon that is not your, or my, own and only one bond must be broken in order for us to move on, that is all it takes for us to complete our mission, but when he killed Anzu, no bond was broken; therefore, both, Light and I were forced to remain in the hearts of the same hosts for more than five thousand years."

"What weapons are you talking about?" Tea asked, knowing for sure she did not possess any weapon, unless Dark wanted to count her nail file, which she left at home(silly her), as such.

"The keys that will open the doors, the Sword of Light and Dark," he replied, and then smirked as an evil thought emerged in his head. "And I suggest you hand over the sword to me at once, dear Tea, or I can assure you that if you do not, it will cost someone their life!"

"But I don't know what you're talking about. I have no sword! I never even held one in my life! You can't do this!" she furiously shouted at him.

"Oh, but I can and I will if you do not hand it over, it is your choice. Now," Dark snapped his fingers, releasing both Tea and Yami from their binds and continued to say while pointing at Yami, "you best make up your mind or I fear the past will repeat itself, but this time there will be no mistakes."

Tea's eyes widen when she understood what he meant. She could see the change in Yami, she remembered those eyes, those cold and dark eyes. "Ya . . . mi?" was all she could utter as he walked in front of Bakura, a few feet away from him. Tea looked on in total horror when she saw something familiar, something she believed she had imagined back then . . . that dark shadow . . .

Anzu looked dazed for a moment longer, then she fell to her knees, and something caught her eye. As she looked forward, toward Yami, she saw something behind him…a shadow? Anzu didn't know whether she was seeing things or not, but every time she blink the shadow figure was still there, but what was it? Anzu's eyes opened wide, it couldn't be a shadow, but something more, something that was beginning to explain things…but she couldn't grasp what it was. 'Darkness…it couldn't be,' Anzu thought, but she couldn't continue to think about it anymore, because soon, she felt very weak, and now was falling backwards. (1)

"You!" Tea shouted as she understood, realizing why! It was him, it was all him! He was responsible for the way the pharaoh had acted, he was controlling him! "You made him do all those things! You made him into a murderer!"

"Ooh, you finally figured it out? Hmm, yes, it is true, I did control the pahraoh's actions and it was all too easy since he would have given anything to have you, so really I am not to be blamed for everything. Actually, Anzu is to be blamed, after all . . . she should not have impacted the lives she had met then and now," he grinned as if he knew something very important.

"What do you m-mean?" her voice trembled. What was he trying to tell her?

"Tea, had it not been for Light, you would not have been anything to anyone. You would have merely been nothing more than a peasant that no one would have given a second glance," he told her.

"You mean . . ." she didn't want to finish the thought.

"Did you honestly believe that the pharaoh would love a peasant? Did you honestly believe a high priest would have wanted to befriend a lowly being that was not worth his time? Did you actually believe that a thief would so quickly fall in love with you? My dear, they would not have if Light had not resided within your heart. It was not you, after all, that drew them to you, it was Light," he said, smirking as he saw her contemplating his words.

Bakura had heard enough, even though he couldn't help but mull over Dark's words as well. Could this Light really have impacted their lives? Could things really have gone different? Was it this Light that really changed them, and not Anzu? A conversation he once had resurfaced in his mind and the words spoken really made a whole lot of sense now.

"What about you?" Bakura asked.

"What about me?" Malik asked coldly.

"Ever since Anzu died, you changed. You have become so emotionless, so cruel. Just because she is dead, you think she wanted you to be the way you were before, a ruthless murderer? And you're even worse than before. Why is it that her death caused such an impact?" Bakura asked, curious to know.

"I don't know," Malik simply said.

"You don't know? Then what exactly changed you in the first place? Why were you so different when she was alive?" Bakura looked at Malik now and he could see that Malik showed a bit of sadness in his eyes.

"I really don't know what it was. There was something about her. Something I can't explain…just looking at her, I felt that I had more to live for in life. I don't think she wanted to change me or even you, but just being with her…you know what I mean, Bakura, because she changed you more than anything. You fell in love so quickly and…really…that isn't you," Malik paused for a moment, thinking of what he wanted to say, "it's almost like she was the light, and she lighted my way, I was covered in darkness, then when meeting her, I changed. I think that's what happened to you, but you fell in love."(2)

'Who'd ever thought that Marik would be right about something? But even if it was really true, that this Light drew me to Anzu, changed me, it wouldn't matter to me. I know that no matter what, I love Anzu, I fell in love with her, not Light, and I will always love Anzu . . . Tea,' Bakura thought as he gazed at his wife, who looked rather disheartened at the moment. Taking a deep breath, Bakura began to speak, "Anzu, don't listen to him! That bastard doesn't know what he's saying. I love you and that's all that matters. All he speaks is nonsense, believe me, we fell in love because it was fate, I truly believe that."

"But . . ." Tea wanted to believe him, more than anything. However, the words that Dark spoke wouldn't leave her mind, they lingered there, confusing her, "had Light not existed . . . everything would have been . . . different?"

"It would have indeed," Dark's smugness could be heard in his tone of voice, "You were meant to be nothing to any of them, you were not meant to exist as anything special in their lives, and I can assure you that nothing that has ever happened was actually meant to happen. This world you live in, in truth, is nothing more than a false reality."

"But how can that be! No matter how I see it, you and Light do exist and everything has come to pass. No matter what, the past can't be changed and I believe Bakura, it doesn't matter that Light interfered in our lives, in fact, I'm thankful for it, because Light led us to each other. He loves me and I love him, and that is all that matters!" Tea argued, "So everything you say doesn't matter, this is the true reality!"

The enemy couldn't help but chuckle at the host of Light. Tea clearly showed confusion on her face, not knowing what exactly he found so amusing, and it simply made him chuckle more and louder, which almost sounded like he was cackling as most evil super villains would.

"I don't see what is so amusing," Tea said, looking at him as if he were crazy. Dark simply took a deep breath as he had, at last, stopped his laughter and gave her his now well-known smirk.

"It truly is a shame that Light has not told you anything," he told her as he moved once more to the edge of the lake, "Oh well, it does not matter, you will find out eventually if you actually manage to defeat me, but I really don't think you will. Anyway, enough of this babbling, I believe I had requested something of you, had I not? The Sword of Light, it would be in your best interest to give it to me."

"I already told you I don't know what you're talking about!" she shouted, wishing he would believe her.

"A pity," was all Dark said before he snapped his fingers and upon doing so controlled Yami's every next move.

'Raise your arm, pharaoh'

Yami heard the voice in his head and without any hesitation he did so. He raised his arm high, brought it down, making an arc shape in front of him, and, to Tea's and the others' total horror, Yami had a bow, which seemed to be made of pure darkness, in his hand.

'He couldn't be . . . no, this can't be happening again, not again!' Tea thought as she forced to move her shaking legs toward the past pharaoh, but dark would not give her a chance. He, with speed Tea had never seen before, appeared in front of her and grinned.

"This will be your last chance, Tea, give me the sword or your precious husband dies," he warned, but a bit of amusement could still be heard.

"I don't have it! Please, don't do this!" she pleaded as she tried to move passed the evil man.

"Then say farewell!" was all he told her before he turned to address the past king, "Kill him, pharaoh."

"No! Stop, Yami, please stop!" Tea shouted. Her heart was beating fast, thoughts of the past ran quickly through her mind and back then no matter how many times she pleaded, she couldn't stop Yami. Would this be the case once more? Her eyes began to water, she just couldn't believe Yami was being totally controlled. There had to be some light within him still! 'Please, Yami, please fight Dark off. Please!'

"Yami, snap out of it! I know you would never kill him! Please, Yami!" Yugi tried to help, hoping that his voice could reach his friend. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be working. Yami raised his other arm and took the position of readying an arrow. Moving the arm back, the arrow appeared like the bow and soon he was aiming to hit Bakura. All was needed was the final word from Dark.

"He wouldn't really shoot, would he, father?" Yasuo asked horrified.

"That damn bastard would," Bakura stated, though he knew it would only cause his son to panic, there was no point in lying when Yami would shoot soon.

"No, that can't be! Stop, Yami, stop! Please don't kill my dad! Please!" the youngest shouted and soon he began to shed tears as he saw no reaction from the soon to be killer.

"Yasuo," Tea whispered, wishing she could comfort her son.

'Get ready, pharaoh!'

Yami gripped the bow tighter as he was ready to let loose the arrow. He couldn't hear the cries of his friends as each one cried out to him to stop, to fight the darkness that took over him. His face showed no emotion, but deep within his mind, he was battling against himself and the darkness.

'I shouldn't be doing this! I can't do this!' Yami tried to grasp control of his body and mind.

'But you will if you want her, pharaoh! If you truly desire her, you must get rid of that which keeps you apart! He must be disposed of and then the two of you can be together forever!' Dark persuaded.

'Together . . . forever . . ?'

'That is right. Now do what you must do, kill him!'

"Yami, stop! Don't let the darkness control you! Yami! Yami!" Tea shouted as loud as she could, wishing nothing more than for her words to reach him and somehow they did, only her words, only hers.

'Anzu . . . no, Tea, I can hear her.'

'Ignore her, pharaoh, it is time that she learned who she rightfully belongs to! Now shoot!'

"Yami, please, don't do it . . . I thought, I believed you wanted me to be happy," she couldn't shout anymore, but the whispers still reached him, "wasn't that what mattered to you! Didn't you tell me . . . didn't you?"

Her words were beginning to take effect. His posture, which was once unmoving, began to shake. His eyes grew wide as they changed from their emotionless state to normal and back to emotionless. It was clear to those who were there, he was fighting. He was trying hard to stop himself, and the words Tea spoke reminded him of what he told her not too long ago.

"…I never would plan to separate you two, because I see how happy you are, and that's all that matters to me, to see you happy…"

'That's all that matters to me. I want her to be happy. That's all…that matters.'

'Don't be a fool! Kill him! Shoot!'

"Stop, please…"

'I . . .' Yami's hands shook with uncertainty.

'Shoot!'

"…don't…"

'I…' If Bakura was gone…Yami knew it wouldn't make a difference. Tea's heart could not belong to him, it would never.

'Shoot!'

"…do this…" Tea couldn't stop the endless tears from shedding.

'I…' Though he couldn't see her, he knew she was crying. His heart ached at the pain he was giving her. This wasn't what he wanted. He never wanted to make her cry, not now, not then…those tears had brought back memories, those which were erased from the very man he was told to kill. However, Dark was the reason for his revived memories, and as Yami remembered, he wondered why he was always causing her to shed tears. He loved her, but he made her cry…it had to stop. He didn't want to see her cry because of him, not anymore.

"…Yami!"

'Shoot now!'

'I…' he tried desperately to take control.

"Shoot!" Dark shouted.

"…Can't!" was what Yami shouted before he unwillingly released the arrow.

"Nooo!" was the cry of most who were there, while others shut their eyes tight, waiting for the impact.

"Bakura!" Tea's heart-wrenched yell was heard above all else, before silence took over.

Bakura's eyes were wide with shock. He really couldn't believe what just happened and neither could everyone else. Yasuo had the same look on his face as his father as he stared at the arrow. Yami, who was no longer under Dark's influence, fell to his knees, looking as shocked as everyone else.

For what seemed liked hours, no sound was made or any movement…that is, except for the white hair that cascaded down to the ground.

"That bastard…" Bakura, once he was out of his shock, began to say as a smirk appeared upon his face, "he missed."

"Yami," Tea whispered. She was relived that the past ruler had fought and won the battle against the darkness within him. She wiped away her tears and was glad to know her husband was alive, but, sadly, it might not last for long.

"You disobedient, pathetic fool!" Dark was clearly not happy like the others, his booming voice made everyone aware of that. He flicked his hand toward Yami causing a dark force to hit his back and, with a pain filled yell; he was pushed to the wall hard. Yami turned around, back now facing the wall, and glared at Dark.

"I won't be controlled any longer, not if it makes her sad," he told her, but Dark didn't care what he had to say, he simply snapped his fingers and Yami was once more fastened to the wall just like the others.

"It doesn't matter any more," Dark enlightened him, "After all, if you want something to be done right, you must do it yourself." He turned to Anzu and, to her horror, glared at her with, not green eyes, but the deepest red eyes she had ever gazed upon. She knew this wasn't a good sign, if anything, she believed he was going to take everything much more serious, much more.

"I'm giving you this one last chance, Light, and I strongly suggest you give me what I desire," his voice was like ice that sent chills down her spine and she knew that if she did not give him what he wanted, there will be a lot more at stake, and she was right. Dark lifted his arm, readying his fingers to snap and said to her, "or everyone you hold so dear will die a slow and painful death, just like what I had shown you."

Tea's eyes widened, he couldn't mean…no, not that, she couldn't bear to see it again; she couldn't bear to hear their deathly screams again! But only this time, she knew it would be different. Should she see it again, she knew it would be reality, it would really be happening. Their lives would truly perish if she didn't give him the weapon.

"But…I told you I don't have it! I don't even know what it looks like!" she told him once more.

"Like this," he lifted his other arm and in his hand appeared a sword. The hilt of the sword was gold and contained only one decoration on the pommel: a black orb that glowed fiercely with dark energy. The blade, if it could be called that, was simply pure dark energy shaped like that of a Bronze Age sword, which were leaf-shaped. "This is what it looks like except yours is white and silver."

"I don't have it," Tea didn't know what else to tell him. She seriously had never seen a sword like his, so there was definitely no way that she owned one. If only he could understand that, but he couldn't get it through his thick skull, and that, she knew, was going to cost her.

"I warned you," Dark said coldly and snapped his fingers.

"No, wait!" Tea implored, but she was too late. Unseen forces were attacking her friends, and she could see cuts appearing on them as they screamed. "Enough please! Dark, no more, stop it!"

She pushed herself onto him as she gripped onto his arm and begged him to stop. The attacks on her friends did stop; however, she knew it would only be for as long as she could hold onto him. But the problem was, he was strong and with little effort, he managed to push her off him, and slapped her in the process as well, causing her to fall unceremoniously to the ground.

"Anzu!" Bakura cried out to his wife, infuriated that Dark would lay a finger on her.

"You brought this upon them, Light," Dark looked at Tea intensely, angry at her actions.

"Please, just give me time…I'll give you the Sword of Light, if you would let me find it! I'll give you the sword, I swear, just don't hurt them anymore!" she begged, she was even on her knees now, her head bowed and her figure trembling.

Dark looked disgusted at her position on the ground, and with no sympathy he told her, "You have five minutes to give me the weapon, no more, no less, failed to do so by then, will be their immediate death." He dropped his sword in front of her, walked away to the edge of the lake, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes, "You cannot harm me with my own weapon, I leave it there for you to remember what yours will look like. You're five minutes begins now."

'Five minutes!' she could only think as she gripped at her shorts tightly, 'there is no way I can find it in five minutes! It can't be done…its…over.' The young woman was surprised that tears could still form after all the tears she had already shed, but it didn't matter, she wanted to just cry for she gave up. 'It's hopeless.'

'Is that your decision? Will you chose to give up and let your friends die? Will you really let darkness win?' It was that gentle voice from her dreams that spoke to her.

Tea opened her eyes only to find herself no longer in Hikari, but in an all too familiar void. It was blinding white everywhere she looked in this empty space, just like she remembered when she was last there.

"What else can I do? I don't have the sword; I can't give him what he wants!"

'You cannot give him the sword, Tea. It is the only weapon that can destroy him.'

"But if I don't he'll hurt them!"

'If you do, he will still hurt them.'

"Then what else is there for me to do? Please tell me! Don't leave me in the dark any more, just tell me!" Tea was obviously frustrated and had enough of this. She wanted, more than anything, to be able to protect her loved ones. She would do anything!

'I would never leave you in the dark, Tea. I have always been with you and now I shall guide you,' the gentle voice assured her. Tea closed her eyes as a flash of light appeared. Upon opening them again, she saw Light, in the form of herself, except Light was completely white.

"So you are Light," Tea stated, knowing she didn't need to ask. "You have no physical form so you appear looking like me."

'That is correct,' Light said, her voice as calm as ever.

"Tell me, then, Light, what is it that I need to do?"

'You must remember: everything is your decision. You will not be forced to do anything you do not want to. It all just comes down to what you are willing to give.'

"I'd give anything to protect them, anything," Tea was sure of that.

'Past hosts have said that, yet have failed to do so, but you are different, Tea. Ever since I had found Anzu, I knew you were.'

"How have they failed?"

'I will be honest with you,' Light began, 'they had succeeded in destroying Dark, but…they could never destroy me."

"Destroy you, but why?

'So this tiresome game will end permanently.'

"I don't understand."

'As Dark has told you, we entities only have one purpose, to destroy each other. It is true, but the meaning goes much deeper,' she paused for a moment, making sure she chose her words carefully before she continued, 'If only one entity is destroyed, one will still remain in this world, and one hundred years later the other will return. This is the cycle; this is the never-ending sequence that we must endure until the end of time, unless…we fulfil our purpose.'

"But I thought you have been fulfilling your purpose," Tea said, confused with Light's words.

'We have only been completing half.'

"You mean…just destroying one of you means nothing unless both are destroyed together?"

'Exactly,' Light said, 'Where there is light, there will always be darkness, where there is darkness, there will always be light. Destroying one only ensures its return. One simply cannot exist without the other, which is why the cycle goes on. It will never end until we are both eliminated.'

"What will happen if both are gone? Will darkness and light no longer exist?" the brunette asked.

'Darkness and light will always exist in the world, there simply will not be any entities trying to disrupt the balance. Everything will be as it should be,' the last part of what she said tugged something in Tea's heart.

"…as it should be? Light, tell me, was Dark right about your existence within my heart to be the cause of how everything turned out? Had you not existed…would I have ever fallen in love with Bakura?" Tea was worried and frightened of the answer, and when she had not received one immediately, she began to panic, "Light?"

'Tea…' the way she spoke raised Tea's heartbeat with fear, 'if you destroy both Dark and I, there is a chance you may not wake up in this reality. You may forget about everything and everyone, time will begin anew for you and your friends in another universe. You will all play your parts as it should have been without our interference.'

"We were never meant to be together?" Tea asked mostly to herself.

'There is a chance that you can return to all that you now know, that is, only if your love is strong enough. I truly believe it is, but in the end, as I said, this will be your decision.'

"I could choose to only eliminate Dark, but…"

'It will be difficult, Dark has gotten stronger than the last time and the fact that he has your friends hostage will be hard to overcome, but I believe in you, I know you can defeat him.'

"Not only him, but you as well."

'Tea, you do not have to.'

"I know, but I want to," the young woman gripped at where her heart was, "I remember hearing you say how tired you were of this game and all you want is rest at last. I want to give you that and…I don't want anyone else going through everything I had. I don't want them facing the heartaches or the pain of losing people they love. I want it to end here and now."

'Tea…'

"Besides, I also believe that my and Bakura's love is strong enough to endure anything. It has survived for so long; there is no way that we will lose it now!"

Light smiled at the confidence that her host had, and any doubt that she had vanished. She truly believed she will at long last receive her eternal rest.

'Thank you.'

"It's the least I can do," she told her.

'Then you know what you must do?' Light asked, 'What are you willing to give for them?'

Tea smiled and answered, "Everything."

'Then take sword in hand, and do what you so courageously did long ago.'

The blue-eye woman nodded determinedly and soon afterward she was back in the real world, ready to face the darkness.

She was still in the same position as she was before she spoke to Light and she had only been for a minute since Dark was kind enough to announce she only had four minutes left. She glared at Dark's back, but stopped when she felt something in her hand.

Looking at her right hand, she could see the Sword of Light materializing before her just like Dark had done with his. 'It was always here, wasn't, Light?' she thought as she smiled a little, 'But I don't need it right now. I think I have a plan. I just hope it works.'

The sword disappeared, and Tea could only assume that when she needed it, it will appear once more. Reaching for the Sword of Dark, she took hold of it and stood up at last. Looking toward Bakura, she smiled once more, assuring that everything would be fine.

Bakura had this feeling in his heart that it simply would not be the case. 'What is she thinking?' was his only thought as he kept his eyes on her.

Dark kept his back to her even though he saw movement in the corner of his eyes. He knew she couldn't do anything to him, she was simply too weak and it amused him to no end. In truth, he was pleased, for soon it was to come, he knew. Everything that he worked so hard to achieve would finally come to pass, albeit he did have a few little problems, especially when Anzu had died back then or when sending the letters to Tea's friends did not keep them in Japan while she came to Egypt alone. But it turned out fine, and now it was only a matter of time before he got what he wanted.

Tea had turned her gaze to the evil man that stood a few feet away from her as she clutched the weapon tighter. Now looking at the weapon, her heart began to pound furiously. 'What am I willing to give?

Everything and anything, I will give my life, but…' more endless tears began to form as she placed one hand on her stomach, feeling a slight bulge, 'if only…I'm sorry.'

"Dark!" she called out, putting aside every worry she had. She was determined to end this; she was not going to back down.

"Oh, you found the sword already? I was beginning to worry since there was only one minute left," he amusedly said and turned around to face her, but upon turning to look at her, his eyes widen, as did Bakura's and the others'.

The point of the dark sword was placed in front of her heart, indicating Tea's intention. This was her final decision; this is what she was determined to do. She had to, for the sake of everyone.

"Dark, it's over," she spoke with great confidence, "you lose. I know you need me. Without me, Light will disappear, as will you!"

Dark only smirked at her words, "my dear, if you think that I believe you are capable of ending your life, you are terribly wrong. I know you would never, for as long as I can remember, not one host of Light had ever been able to do it. They all had failed to end this cycle, and the fact you are weak-minded gives me no doubt of your incapability to end it!"

"You're wrong," she told him, making him raise a brow, "I may be weak-minded, but my heart is strong!"

What she did next made Bakura and the others gasp with worry. Tea pushed the blade enough to draw blood, proving to Dark that she was determined to end it all.

"Anzu, stop! What do you think you are doing?" Bakura shouted.

"Mom! Don't do this!" her son cried out, but it was ignored.

"If you do not stop now, then I can assure you that your friends will get hurt!" Dark tried to persuade her to stop.

"If you don't let them go, then I can assure you that it's over!" she countered.

"Tea, this can't be the only way!" Seto tried to reason with her.

"Anzu!" called once again Bakura.

'I'm sorry everyone, but it's the only way,' she thought, 'Bakura, please believe in me.' She stared at him, her eyes filled with tears, yet had so much hope, 'I love you.'

"Where there is light, there will always be darkness," she repeated Light's words, as Dark's eyes widen, "Where there is darkness…"

"Stop!" Dark shouted as he swiftly ran to her, wanting to stop her, but it was too late.

Within seconds, Tea had forced the Sword of Dark through her heart. "…there will always be light," she said before she began to fall forward. However, she never reached the ground for Dark had grasped her shoulders and shook her vehemently.

"You fool!" Dark yelled furiously, 'all the waiting, all the hard work for nothing.' "You idiotic fool!"

Bakura stared on in complete shock. He tried to call out to her, but no words could form, how could he cope knowing that he once again lost her? He vowed to protect her, but he failed again, he couldn't do anything once more! She was gone, and his heart felt that familiar pain once again. The pain of loss and sadness, what he had feared since he had found out that Tea was Anzu. Once again it was all over.

Everyone there was silent, no words uttered for what could they do about any of this? She gave her life to ensure that the world would be safe, that they would be safe. She gave it all for them.

Dark had stopped shaking the motionless body, but he trembled furiously as the woman rested her head on his chest. He couldn't believe that it was over, that it would all end… 'Wait a moment!' a realization hit him. He was still there, when he shouldn't be. The moment the blade of either one's sword had pierced its opponent, the binds that were created were cut off, and the entity that was no longer bind to the heart disappeared, whereas the other entity was forced to reside deep within the heart until the end of the host's life. So why hasn't his host taken control yet?

It became clear to him the moment he felt her move. He slowly gazed down to meet with amused eyes and a smirk. His eyes widen once again when he felt it, the Sword of Light had pierced him straight through the heart, shocking everyone once again.

Tea had survived long enough to bestow Dark that one last assault and her final words, "You lost…it all."

"You…bitch," was his last words before they both fell backwards, their lives gone before reaching the ground.

The gang, who up until now, had been quiet and bind to the wall, were released from there binds and began to yell, when they felt the place begin to shake.

"Look over there!" Yasuo shouted as he pointed toward the exit.

"We have to get out of here before the exit is completely blocked!" Marik told them as they all began to run toward the exit.

"Anzu!" Bakura, however, was running toward his beloved wife.

"Bakura, don't be stupid!" Seto grabbed the past thief's wrist, trying to pull him toward the way out.

"Let go, Kaiba! I have to get to her!" Bakura told him as he desperately tried to get out of Seto's grip.

"Bakura!" Seto yelled, "Don't let her death be in vain! She died for us, for you, to live! Think about Yasuo!"

"Dad!" Yasuo called out, tears spilling, scared that he was about to lose his only parent left.

"Yasuo," Bakura whispered as he ran toward him followed by Seto. When he reached the young boy, he grabbed his hand and, hand-in-hand, they ran out of the cave.

Tea saw them run out, and was glad they were safe. That's all that mattered to her, but tears still fell, and she couldn't help but speak these words, "Was this how it was meant to be?" before her eyes shut closed at last to remain that way for however long it will take to break free from the curse bestowed upon her then and now.

It was love that will determine their fate now.

0000000000

They all stared at the cave entrance, well, what was the cave entrance. The opening had caved in and now there was no way in or out. They had escaped the cave unscathed, but with heavy hearts. Especially Bakura, who though seemed calmed, was hurting more than anyone else. Him and his son.

"Mom…mom, how could she…it just can't be," Yasuo sobbed, hugging his father tight.

Bakura wanted to say something to him, but he didn't know what. If anything, he wanted to cry too along with his son, but he couldn't seem to. He couldn't seem to do it like he had last time. Perhaps he didn't truly believe her to be gone. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that she would return. But he knew that wasn't the case, and he would eventually have to accept it. But he didn't want to, and his heart just couldn't.

'Anzu,' he called her name in his mind, before he whispered, "together forever, this you promised me, didn't you?" He sighed as he looked up to the moon, wishing, more than anything, that promise was kept.

'Have hope and you shall see that your love will bring you together once again,' a gentle voice whispered into the wind.

A/N: Done! Finally! Arg, after soo long I am at last done this damn chapter and you know what that means! One more chapter to go! I'm so happy! Anyway, if you can't remember who Krade is, please go back to the first chapter of You and I…Forever, and near the end of it, he is introduced. I would also like to mention that the 'e' in Krade was taken from Liv (his given last name) which would have spelled 'Live' and then backwards it would be 'Evil'. I just thought you would like to know. Also, I did not take the names from D.N. Angel when I thought of Dark's name, I swear that I watched that anime way after I thought of my villains name. Ok, I guess that's all I have to say about his name, now other things:

(1)You and I…Eternity, chapter 19

(2)You and I…Eternity, chapter 20

Words in bold: You and I…Eternally Forever, chapter 1

I guess that's all I need to say. I really hope that everything that I explained in this chapter wasn't confusing and boring. If it was, I apologize; this story just isn't interesting enough for me to write something great anymore, I've just come to hate the story, but I am determined to finish it, especially since there is one chapter left. Anyway, until next time!

Any questions? Don't hesitate to ask!