Yugi's eyes narrowed. He had been fighting, blending into the crowd. At seeing the fight slowing down, he had looked to where the armies were looking. At seeing Yami being strangled, he rushed forward. Blade bared, he was ready to take out Seto on his way...but saving Yami was his first order of business. Yami went limp and Yugi went insane.

Seto finished kissing Zorc, smirking up at Zorc. Zorc smiled down at Seto. "Now...after killing my traitorous second, should we kill the Pha..." Eyes bulging, Zorc dropped Yami. "What the fuck have you done?" Zorc rasped, scratching at his own throat as steam seeped from his skin.

Seto spit out the capsule from his mouth. "Killing you." He stated simply, as Zorc collapsed on the ground. Blood started seeping from Zorc's eyes as he clawed at his throat, scraping hide off, leaving gaping wounds as he gasped for air, feeling as if he was burning from the inside out. As Zorc started coughing, blood sputtering from his mouth, Seto stepped back, avoiding the flying liquid. Reaching up, he pulled a thin film off of his lips, dropping it on top of Zorc. As the hide of Zorc started melting away, a horrific methane smelled filtered through the air. Seto looked down and sighed. It seemed, in his death, that Zorc had defecated himself. How trashy.

Yugi rushed forward, grabbing Yami. Yami was still breathing. Seto's eyes flickered over to Yami and Yugi. Yugi looked up, hatred and confusion in his eyes. "He's alive." He spat. Seto nodded, a look of relief on his face as Zorc's armies started to scatter in confusion upon their master's death. Yami started gasping for air as his eyes flew open. Looking around frantically, he held Yugi's hand. Seeing Seto walking over, he rasped out, "Did it work?"

Seto nodded. "It did on my end. Was the Realm closed?" Yami nodded, still gasping for air as his burning lungs screamed. Seto nodded, satisfied. "Then it truly is finished." Turning, he looked for Atem.

The Pharaoh's men kept attacking, killing all they could. A few escaped in retreat. One of Atem's men ran to him. "My Pharaoh, should we follow?" Atem looked at him, still in shock. His mind couldn't process what had just happened. Numbly, he shook his head yes. The guards ran in pursuit. Atem picked his way through corpses, up to Seto, who was coming down to him. Opening and closing his mouth a few times, finally, he sighed.

"Seto..I..." Before he could say anymore, Bakura walked up.

"What in the fucking hell just fucking happened?"

Seto turned, opening his mouth to speak when a scream carried on the wind from the healing tents.

()()()()()()()()()()

Seto, Atem, Yami, Yugi, and Bakura headed back in tense silence to the healing tents. Running in, they were all instantly on alert. Men were wounded, bleeding, in various stages of healing. But none of that registered with them as the group saw the horrific scene in front of them. Malik was laying on a cot, eyes closed, a peaceful expression on his face. Ryou was sobbing on top of him. Bakura winced at seeing his brother so upset. He knew what that meant. Walking over, saying nothing, he put a hand on Ryou's shoulder.

Marik walked in, looking sad as well. Bakura looked at him. Marik sniffed, eyes red. "One of the troops of Zorc's came to attack the tents. Malik fought valiantly, and sacrificed himself to save Ryou."

Atem cleared his throat painfully. He hated death, and especially unnecessary death. Eyes sad, he sighed. Akeifa came in then, carrying Jonouchi. Akeifa had wanted to rush out, as he knew Ryou's cry, but Jonouchi refused to be left there. He wanted to go in case he could help. Akeifa had picked Jonouchi up bringing him in. Setting Jonouchi down, he went to Ryou, pulling him into his arms, holding him tightly. Bakura sat with his brothers, hand on Ryou's shoulder as Ryou cried. The rest of the group left quietly to give the brothers time to mourn and support each other.

()()()()()()()()

Once outside, Yugi swung, punching Seto hard. Seto's head snapped to the side as his arm went out, stopping Atem from advancing. Yugi then turned to Yami and slapped him hard across the face. "You both deserve that. You both are bastards to not tell us what you had planned." Yami took the slap, not denying the accusation.

Atem looked confused. "What did just happen?"

Yami had the decency to look embarrassed. "We figured that Zorc wouldn't fall for a straight up sneak plan. Seto and I put then decided to put this plan in place. We couldn't afford to tell anyone, because Zorc is so crafty, and so observant, he would have noticed any slight change of facial features. Seto reached out to Zorc, complaining that he was tired of Atem being such a pussy. He wanted more power, and he could only get that through a more powerful Pharaoh. Zorc believed him. I gave Seto a pill of poison from Sha'getheth. I needed a syringe to get through Zorc's thick hide. But if he ingested the poison...it only takes a small amount."

Yugi crossed his arms over his chest, still angry. Yami cleared his throat, continuing. "However, I needed to be able to get to the shadow realm while still physically being here, to keep Zorc out so he couldn't respawn. Therefore, I had to be unconscious. Seto had to wait until just the right time...basically, when I was on the edge of unconsciousness, to give the poison to Zorc. It was a delicately timed procedure. But it worked...Zorc is dead."

Yugi frowned. He hugged Yami. "I do appreciate what happened, but not how it happened... but I understand. We are partners, so don't do it again, you understand?" His face brooked no room for argument. Yami sighed, smiling sheepishly and nodded. Leaning down he planted a gentle kiss on Yugi's nose.

Atem looked at Seto. "What you have done is treason, punishable by death." He stated flatly, arms crossed.

Seto shrugged. "Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission."

Atem shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. Leaning up, he pulled Seto down, kissing him passionately. "I was so ill when I thought I lost you and you went to him."

Seto kissed Atem back. "You'll never lose me."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Jonouchi sat quietly to the side, feeling uncomfortable about being in such a private moment, but unable to move of his own free will. Marik came and sat by Jonouchi, mourning privately for his brother. Jonouchi said nothing, feeling bad for everyone. The three brothers mourned together for a while, finally separating. "We will give him an honorable burial." Akeifa stated.

Ryou nodded, eyes puffy and red. "I'd like to be alone with him for a bit, please." Ryou whispered.

Bakura nodded, his face stoic, but his eyes were heavy with sadness. Leaving his brother, Bakura went to Marik. Kneeling in front of Marik, he gripped Marik's hands. Kissing each hand, he looked up sorrowfully. "I am very sorry, Marik." Marik nodded, tears slipping from his eyes. Bakura just picked up Marik and headed out, frustrated that he couldn't do more for his lover.

Akeifa looked up at Jonouchi. Jonouchi just looked down at Akeifa. "I'm really sorry." Jonouchi felt the words inadequate, but he didn't know what else to say. Akeifa nodded, saying nothing. He picked Jonouchi up and carried him back to the palace, to Jonouchi's bedroom. Once there, he looked at Jonouchi. Gnawing on his lip, Akeifa suddenly looked shy. Jonouchi spoke up. "Care to stay here with me and lay with me?" Akeifa smiled gratefully and lay down with Jonouchi, Jo under the covers, Akeifa on top. Jo grabbed Akeifa's hand and held it, saying nothing. Both men fell off to a troubled sleep in this new kingdom of peace.