I am reaching a difficult decision, to continue this as one fic or to create a sequel, and need the help of my ever-faithful readers. In order to help in this dilemma, all I ask of you is to vote in the poll posted on my profile page. Which ever is picked, there will be chapters waiting for either option. Please help... I'm leaving this open for at least a few more chapters.

PhantomBrat out...

While Raiden's list of crimes and punishments were being listed, Ryou and Malik cried out in pain. Their respective brothers knelt at their sides in worry. "It hurts, Bakura," Ryou gasped as he collapsed.

Malik looked up at his twin, who had caught him as he fell, "Brother…"

Raiden saw this and smirked, "There's nothing you can do to help them. Their fates were tied to that pathetic runt. If he died, so do they. I should have done the same with you three."

As he said this, the three boys vanished in a cloud of glitter. This shocked everyone but Atemu. "They were indeed the purest among us," he said, tearing up. "Never before had such innocent creatures existed on this plain. They were like angels."

Marik snapped while he was speaking, "Hikari-Malik was brother. My twin. You killed my brother, you monster! How dare you do that to our twin brothers!"

"Short-Life right, you kill innocent, break word to us. You had no right to do so," Mariku growled. "We gave up our lives to protect them 5000 years ago! Because of you we became what we had feared and hated. These seven and the rest of our families should have been protected with our personal sacrifice."

Apparently in their anger, something snapped causing them to speak normally.

Akefia went over to Bakura, who was still staring at the spot that his brother once stood. "I can't believe that he's gone. I just got reunited with him. We all did. And now they're gone. Our mother was going to come see him, despite the fact that he had been Turned. What am I going to tell her and Yugi's grandfather? Marik's going to lose it when his sister finds out," Bakura ranted.

Akefia placed his hand on his descendant's shoulder, "Mariku, Atemu, and I can try to reach the Egyptian Gods to see what they can do. Atemu said that they were protecting Yugi's soul, so they may have the ones you call Hikaris with them."

Lavender eyes opened and saw his friend lying next to him in a crumpled ball. "Ryou, wake up," he pleaded. His call was answered by a faint moan and doe-brown eyes fluttering open.

Ryou sat up, rubbing his eyes, "Where are we?"

"I don't know," Malik replied. "All I remember was pain and then, nothing."

"Same here," Ryou said, answering his friend's unasked question.

"We have prevented your unnecessary deaths, Young Ones. If you wish, you may return to your loved ones or pass on to the Afterlife," a voice called out as a small figure appeared. "Little One, please stay with these two until we call you."

The small figure nodded to the voice before walking into the lit area that the other two were in, revealing itself to be...

"Yugi," the two friends cried out hugging their friend.

He stepped back, "I'm sorry, but who are you? And is my name Yugi?"

Ryou nodded with tears in his eyes, "Yes, your name is Yugi. It's us, Ryou and Malik. We're your best friends and Honorary Brothers. We grew up together."

"What do you remember," Malik asked the confused Hikari.

He looked down, "I remember waking up here and meeting Atemu and the ones he called his Gods. They asked me if I would allow Atemu to use my body to save me and find his own. Then I felt really bad pain and then waking up again. I heard voices and Ra told me that I needed to come here. That's where I met you two."

Before anyone can do much else, three brightly colored lights appeared. "There is no need to call us. We have been watching and saw all that has occurred."

The lights formed into three figures familiar to the three Egyptians. "Ra, Slifer, Obelisk," Mariku whispered in awe as Slifer looked at him.

"I have heard your cry and felt your pain at seeing one of your line so callously destroyed."

Obelisk looked at Akefia, "I, too, have heard you, and have come to your aid."

"Tell me my child, what is it that you wish," Ra asked Atemu.

Raiden was shocked to see creatures that towered over everyone in the room. He had only heard legends of these three and felt that that was all they were. Atemu glared at him upon realizing that the killer of the Hikaris was staring at the group.

"If it is in your will," Atemu began. "I would like that the three called Hikaris be returned to their brothers. They needn't suffer for this fiend's greed. I would also request that this monster pay for what he's done."

Ra turned to the Council and Seto, "Do you allow for Raiden Takeshi to be handed to us for proper punishment?" They nodded, giving their consent. Ra then turned to the other two Gods, "We had prevented the young ones from passing into the Afterlife in order to return them to you."

"The Little One still has holes in his memory from the trauma to his soul," Slifer stated. "Please be patient with him. The damage will heal in time."

Atemu nodded, "We will, Great One."

Pleased with the ancient Pharaoh's response, Ra held out his hands and three lights appeared before the distraught brothers. Each one automatically reached out as the lights formed their twin brothers.

Raiden was furious, "HOW DARE YOU BRING THOSE FREAKS BACK! THEY WERE DESTROYED, UNABLE TO BE SAVED!"

Obelisk quickly tired of the doomed's ranting, "Can I just dispose of this thing? It's getting to be tiresome."

Everyone nodded and Raiden was sent to the Realm of the Gods for proper punishment. Ra looked at the three sets of look-alikes, "We wish to offer a gift rarely given."

"We feel that you nine have shown great courage in recent events," Slifer added.

Obelisk continued, "If you agree to this, we are going to make it so that if one survives, all three of that bloodline will survive. This applies to the Short-life in each set of three."

"When you said that the three called Hikari were like Angels, you were not far from the truth, Young Pharaoh," Ra stated.

The three looked down at their sleeping brothers' faces in shock as their ancestors did the same. Seto stepped forward, "This had been kept secret from all but a select few in the Hunter's Society. Those three were given Angel blood not once, but twice, in their lives. The first time was to save their lives as infants. The second was accidental while they were being Turned. The first time this was done may be the reason behind their pure hearts and innocence."

I know that Bakura's a bit OOC, but there's a reason. He just watched his twin brother die.

Bakura: How dare you turn me into a softie.

Aww, stuff a sock in it. You only act evil 'cause you're afraid to make friends.

Bakura: I am not.

I bet if I ask the others, they'll say the same thing.

Bakura: say that one more time and I'll set a Shadow Creature under your bed.

I highly doubt that it would fit, what with all the miscellaneous junk and two computer chairs. I've seen your cards and they hardly scare me.

Malik: Yeah, in fact, PhantomBrat's terrified of clowns.

Thanks a lot Malik. Like I needed Bakura to find out about that. Stupid killer clown movie. Creepy doctor that looked like 'IT'. (Hides under covers with teddybear named Jack, plotting revenge on Malik and Baka-ra.)

Marik: That don'ts works very well. Cuddly bear takes threats levels downs by much.

Awww, stop ganging up on me before I plot something against you.

Yugi: Aren't you already plotting something against them in another fic? I think that it's in YinYang Insanity.

You know, you're right. I just need a bit of help from a new friend. Well, until Next time, this is PhantomBrat saying that:

Bakura is a pain, Marik is a mental case, Malik has issues, Yami and Yugi are the best duelists ever, JOEY WHEELER ROCKS! (Bakura: More like has rocks in his head) Bakura has a deathwish an if he doesn't want attacked with Kuriboh, he'll do well to keep his mouth shut next time. No body bad mouths my favorite Yu-Gi-Oh person and gets away with it. Until next I post...
PhantomBrat out.