Rin stood across the street from Bakura's house. Demons from the past haunted her. It was in the dead of night. Only pure sociopaths would be lurking the streets now. And speaking of sociopaths … Yami Malik's scent was drifting three blocks away.

But his scent was all around her. He was standing behind her. In the shadows, a little far from her. Street lamp comfortably shined down upon her small figure, long black hair and dark red eyes. But light was not his style, he preferred to stay hidden by shadows. Normal human eye could not see him in the darkness, and neither did Rin because she choose to keep the proper distance and keep him behind her back. His scent was enough.

»Do you regret losing green colour of your eyes?«

»No … I don't mind it.«

Silence was heavy … at least for her.

»How was Bakura after I … left?«

He chuckled evilly.

»At first, not very good. But I modeled him good. He's like me now! I like it. We're sort of partners in crime. He's still submissive to me … after all, now I'm all he has.«

Rin closed her eyes. So Yami Bakura took advantage of the situation and turned Bakura into hateful person he is now. Is it too late to come now and try to … save some of the old Bakura? Opening her eyes, she wasn't sure how to continue this conversation.

»You've matured.«

»Really?«

»You're no longer that loud, obnoxious girl. You're calculated and sly woman.«

»I am living different life now. I died yet I live. It has it's toll on me.«

»Unlike on Morana.«

Dead on. He always knew how to hit the problem dead on. Even Morana hasn't noticed Rin's mental state.

Morana lived. She truly lived. She just stopped ageing. But … it's not like that with vampires. Rin had to die to wake up again. She's dead. She's a corpse. She's not warm. She … is against nature's laws.

A small ironic smile crept on her lips. Why among all inspiring and amazing people and creatures in this world, it's Yami Bakura, a sadistic blood-thirsty serial killer and sociopath, who understands? But does he really understand? Knowing something isn't the same as understanding.

»How's Malik?« she asked, ignoring his previous provocation. He grunted something, suddenly in a bad mood.

»Last time I saw you, you hit me,« she suddenly whispered. She felt him come a step closer to her back to hear what she whispered.

»I know. I didn't know Bakura would turn out so good,« he said, satisfied.

»I can't forgive that.«

»Who asked for your forgiveness? Who do you think you are?«

»I'll never forgive a man who hit me.«

He laughed loudly, sadistically. Before he could stop laughing she flew away without him noticing.

*M & R*

»Relax,« said Morana, leading Jounouchi down the hall, »it's nothing to be afraid of. You've been called here only to make your sister feel better. Now that the truth is out, no reason to hide it from the rest of you.«

»MY SISTER? How- wait- why-? What are you talking about? What is SHE doing here?« he screamed, pointing at Perky Blue, who winked at him.

»Rin told me to take you here, she has something to do, that's why I'm here,« continued Morana, ignoring his panic attack.

»Rin? I don't under-«

»Yeah, yeah, get in,« she cut him off and pushed him through open door where 'guests' were. As soon as she was seen, Isis opened her mouth, probably to ask about her brother. Morana would gladly answer her worries, but Seto Kaiba got out of his seat, walking towards her, so she quickly turned away and motioned for Perky Blue to close the door.

The door slammed right in Kaiba's face, but he screamed through it: »We need to talk!«

She kept walking.

»Please!«

Please? She stopped. There was nothing left to say to him, so-

»Here you go,« she heard Perky Blue's voice. She turned around just to see Perky Blue opening the door for Kaiba.

»Perky Blue! What are you doing? Close it!«

Blue girl looked at her with a wide smile and a raised eyebrow.

»Firstly, Morana-san, I only take Rin-sama's orders, not yours. Secondly, I love happy endings, so why don't you two work it out?«

Much to Morana's surprise, Kaiba didn't comment. He seemed hurt and lost.

»Fine. Let's go into the library.«

As she lead the way, he followed her closely, like he'd be afraid she'll run away. Opening library door, she stopped in the middle of it.

»What did you want to talk to me about?« Morana's voice was dry and quiet. She stood far away from him as possible, with her back facing him. He made no movements, but he did sigh. Not exasperated sigh, but a nervous one.

»I … Morana, look …«

She closed her eyes. This was the first time he had used her 'new' name. Strange feeling shot through her body. Fear of her carefully build defensive wall around her crumbling apart because his voice sounded so … warm. Naturally, it was only Seto who had the power to lower her defences … but only when he was like he is now. Showing a side of him no one else, except Mokuba, is allowed to see.

Her heart started to beat fast. No, no, no. Her self-control is like a stone wall, she spend three and a half years mind training it, yet this guy can break it like a house of cards. She must calm down. Don't let old, forgotten stupid romance get to her.

»After … Perky Blue told us what's really happening …«

He moved closer to her. She turned around and clenched hands into fists so that they would stop shaking. His gaze was intense, almost too intense for her and she wanted to cut him off, fly away, keep the distance between them …

… but a very small part of her wanted to stay so desperately to hear the truth. If she goes now, Seto might never swallow his pride again and she will spend eternity in regret, wondering what he wanted to say …

»Morana,« he said huskily. It showed on his face that he has been through a lot this couple of days. He looked tired and very, very sad. Morana knew him enough to know, he never showed this expression to anyone. So she is still the only one he feels comfortable enough to be himself with …

»It's been such a … a mess since you and Rin came back. And … I …« He swallowed. Morana's head started to hurt at the back and she inhaled sharply, knowing this kind of pressure in the head means she'll start crying soon which she really didn't want him to see.

»I … I played my part well. Acted like everyone expected me to. But inside …« He swallowed again. It was so hard … so hard for Seto Kaiba to talk about his … feelings.

Do me favour, Seto. For once in your life, drop your defenses and be honest with your emotions. There is a person who you once tried to protect by your defenses and it only cut her so deeply, she bleeds to this day, though she won't admit it.

Mokuba's letter danced through his mind. For this once … maybe … he really should …

»I know … we know … this is not about vampires, fairies, Melania or saving the world we're talking about,« she whispered, »it's …« he voice broke off and tears gathered in her eyes. She wanted to look elsewhere and blink them away, but she didn't. Instead, her now blurry gaze was fixed stubbornly on the man before her, determined to find out the truth.

» …about us,« he finished her sentence with a whisper, like it was to hard for him to speak it out loud. She took a step forward, completely casting aside any emotionless mask and self-control. If he's showing her his true face, then so will she.

»Seto, I need to know the truth.«

He closed his eyes for a moment when she spoke his name.

»I need to know … was there even an us back then.«

»No,« he said, shaking his head, looking her in the eyes. »There was not an 'us'. But … after … after you …«

Suddenly he raised his arms and buried hands in his hair, frustrated. He took three deep breaths, before calming down and opening his eyes, looking at her with an expression of a broken man.

»Aftern you left … it was a drought. A never-ending drought. It was so dry ... never-ending desert. Not even a sand storm, not even a breeze.«

»I'm not sure what you're trying to say to me,« she whispered. Two hot tears made their way down her cheek, closely followed by two more. She stepped closer and closer to him, never breaking their gaze. He didn't step back. »But I know how it feels. Like wondering a desert for a thousand days … with no rain to ease you. To refresh you. To save you.«

They were so close now. He just nodded, his eyes unusually emotional. Like he made his soul empty, completely empty, just so he can fill it again. With rain.

»Day without you is like a year without rain.«

The truth.

Finally.

They hugged intensely, passionately and Morana cried harder.

»Let's start over again,« he whispered.

»I'd like that.« She smiled with all her heart after a long, long time.

But it was short lived. When they separated, her eyes were dry and moment of magic vanished like a bubble. Reality shadowed their fragile bodies again, like a looming cloud ruining a sunny day.

Rain never lasts long in the desert.

»It's foolish, though. I'm immortal and you're … not.«

»But we can still … be like … we were back then.«

»You mean friends?« she smiled shortly. It was amusing Seto still couldn't say 'we're friends' to anyone.

»Y-yeah …« his voice trailed.

For a moment, they stood there, staring at each other. Then she sighed, and walked out of the room, leaving Seto there alone with his thoughts.

Every step she took was so heavy. She feels so empty. How … how do you go on for eternity … knowing you will never be with the one you love?

Her steps became smaller, unsure and painful. Is Seto feeling the same way? Is this as far as they were allowed to go?

»Morana!«

His loud yell made her jump a little, but she turned around, holding her breath. He was standing by the door, with his usual serious expression.

»I'll do it.«

»D-do what?«

He swallowed.

»Take me to the Fairy Council. That is what you said I'd have to go, three years ago right?«

Her heart skipped a beat.

»Yes, but-«

»Even if I become a werewolf. I … want to become immortal.«

»Wow. I sure do pick the wrong time to show up.«

Morana and Kaiba jumped. Rin stood between them, looking a little guilty, but mostly amused.

»Carry on, carry on … I'll just go this way … to Perky Blue …«

When she passed Kaiba she hissed something like you could use a little more hair, giggled and disappeared.

Morana couldn't speak. Kaiba looked serious but also confused.

»Let's hurry,« she said happily, walking towards him with her hand streached out, »I'll fly you there. We need to hurry, come on.«

»Why do we need to hurry? So Melania doesn't find out?«

»No, she can find out, it's nothing she'd be against. We need to hurry before you change your mind!«