Once you choose hope, anything is possible. ~ Christopher Reeve


It's not until the Pharaoh crosses over to the afterlife and the cavern begins to crumble around him that Ryou realizes that this could be the end.

He runs, trying to escape the falling pillars. Over the stairs and into the midday sun, Ryou waits.

(Waits for the worst. Waits for the knowledge that the darkness is still there, residing somewhere in his soul. Because it has to be, it never leaves him and Ryou knows that but...he can't help but hope that the voice might be gone and he might be – )

Alone.

There is no cruel laughter ringing in his ears (saying I'll be here forever, yadonushi), there is no blinding light that comes when he loses control, there are no tassels of the millennium ring digging into his skin.

There is nothing and no one but him.

(Freedom! His mind shouts and his heart soars with gratitude towards the Pharaoh, Yuugi, everyone! It's over, he thinks and his heart returns from its flight to a calm, contented state.)

It's finally over.

He steps forward into the Egyptian sun and laughs, loud and happy.

Genuine.

And once again he mutters thanks, and promises that he make the most of the brand new day.


A/N So I realized that I've updated Fireproof twice and haven't update here at all. I was rewatching the Millennium World Arc the other day and saw this quote in a magazine and this plot bunny was born. I hope for Ryou's sake he was happy about the outcome, just because the other options are too depressing.

Anyway, review!