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Yuugis grandfather had been the first to meet Atem in death. It had been a happy reunion, a feast had been arranged and with drinks and food they chatted the whole night away, or was it a week? He hadn’t been sure, as time flowed differently, or, if time flowed at all.
Suguroku had known it was his time to leave his old life behind, and he was ready for what adventures death would bring. He and Atem got to know each other properly now, and what a magnificent man he was. As he had been in life, more so he was in paradise. They both hoped it would be long until they saw familiar faces in the fields.
But they were both surprised when a bewildered Yuugi took his first steps into the fields of reed. His eyes almost looked clouded as his head tries to understand where he was. But then, his eyes fell upon his grandfather and he burst into tears. “Grandpa?” His voice was raspy and thin, it sounded weak, but he sprung into action, hugging his grandfather.
Then Atem stepped closer to them, voicing his presence to Yuugi. Yuugis eyes widened in disbelief, tears fell still and his body froze in shock. “Atem?” His name was a mere whisper, like a prayer said in faith to a goddess. Atem tilted his head and smiled sadly, “I’m here, I’m real.”
The two of them embraced each other, arms around each other in a tight hug, crying in each other’s arms.
”I never thought I would see you again!”
“Oh, Yuugi..” Atem took Yuugis face in his hands and looked into his eyes with a smile. “Of course you would see me again, I never doubted you for a moment to find me!” He leaned forward and pressed their lips together. “I have waited for so long to do that.”
Yuugi reached his hand to cradle Atems cheek and with the softest voice whisper, “so do it again.”
And there, in each other’s embrace they talked, voiced concerns and feelings, love and pain and all there was to talk about.
—
“How long has it been? From what I gather time works differently here then in the world of the living” Suguroku asked Yuugi, taking a sip of some tea.
“It’s only been a year..” Yuugi sighed. “I don’t know what happened, I was at home making tea and the next Anubis is looking at me and leading me to the hall of truth. It’s all so confusing.”
“Maybe it’s for the best, my dear boy, maybe we shouldn’t know everything.”
“Hm, maybe.”
—
A while later a girl passed through the hall of truth into the fields of reeds. She looked lost and confused but when she saw three familiar faces she quickly perked up. “Oh I have missed you guys so much!” She called out while running towards them.
—
Not long after a young man walked into paradise. He had this look about him, like he already knew, like he had been halfway there for quite some time.
“Hey! I can finally see you! Man I’ve missed you! You’ll never believe what has happened since you’ve gone….”
—
Scared, that was the only thing one could tell about the girl who passed into the fields next. She was so utterly terrified, as she’d been when she died. “Miho? It’s okay, you hear me? It’s only me, Honda, and over there is Anzu and Yuugi and grandpa and Atem, it’s all right, we will take care of you, don’t you worry, let’s go have some tea and talk all right?” Miho could only nod as she was lead further into the new world.
—
“Hey Yuugi! Man I’ve missed you so much! And Atem! Wow! I honestly wasn’t sure I’d ever meet you but here you are, come on give me a hug man!”
“Jounouchi take it easy! We are all here!” Yuugi laughed at the sight of Jounouchi giving Atem a crushing bear hug.
“Man I’ve missed you all so much.” Jounouchi started crying as his emotions caught up to him.
“We have missed you too, it is good to see you.” Atem patted his back and gave into the hug, as Yuugi hugged them both.
—
Both Seto and Mokuba were the next ones to pass through, although Seto had been pissed with the living world and it took him a while to calm down and realise that he could not do revenge.
Mokuba was happy to see so many people he knew and had missed in his life.
—
Yuugi died at the age of 25, a year after his grandfather passed. It was never clear if it was suicide or murder. Media speculated but there wasn’t enough evidence to anything.
Anzu was the next to go, in a shooting at a mall. She was 27, teaching dance at a prestigious school in America.
Honda was in a car accident the year after, he was in a coma for three months before they unplugged his life support. Miho died by the hands of a jealous ex boyfriend when she was 29. Jounouchi was 31 when he faced death and joined his family.
Kaiba was 34 when he was assassinated, Mokuba haven’t been seen since.
There was so much Ryou wanted to say to his friends, so many moments he wanted to share. But then again, he never thought he’d be the last to leave the land of the living. The lingering darkness of the shadows that are his body from the inside out was proof enough. It was just so slow. Ryou had found out about his body slowly shutting off the year before Jounouchi passed away. They had been an amazing help, with doctors and medication and motivation. But it never worked, he was only getting worse, and all his friends were now dead.
Ryou wonder if he will see them when he dies, if his soul is worthy of seeing his friends and family in the field of reeds, or has he already seen them all for the last time, will his heart be eaten by Ammit, condemning him to suffering for what he’s done.
He’s been alone for a year now, all the others have already passed on, and if Ryou believes in himself and in them, they are all in the field of reeds, happy and reunited. They are all where they belong, with their King of old.
—
March 14th
I walked by the graveyard today. I exchanged the flowers on their graves.
The trees have started to bloom. It is a little bit early.
I quit my job yesterday. I can’t do this for much longer
I cried when I got home.
—
April 16th
I’ve made my peace.
I’ve done what I can.
This has been my punishment and I have suffered.
I just want it to be quick.
—
Ryou reached the seaside shore by noon on the 17th of May. He parked his car and left the keys inside.
Ryou walked along the shore, humming a song he heard on the radio, thinking back on his life. He may be over thirty but he was the only one left. His friends had fallen like dominos, one often the other. Until he was alone.
But he always assumed the be the first of his friends to die.
To be the last one left, well, the gods sure do have a sense of humour.
The darkness inside of him made him weak and the hike to the cliffs long and painful. His organs were near failure, if you believe what the doctors told him last week. Ryou looked back down toward the parking lot, there was still no one else here. Maybe the gods were kinder than he thought. He stared out to the ocean for a while, taking a small break before continuing upwards.
—
May 17th
I am currently standing at the edge of this cliff. Please do not be sad for me, I was already dead. This is my last note, please, do not grieve, I may find peace on the other side.
If I am lucky, I will meet all of my friends again. I have missed them terribly.
And if this is my last note, then know I have pleaded and will do so even in death to the gods to let me know that they are alright before my soul gets eaten.
I do not believe I will see them again, but I wish I do.
I am sorry for whoever finds my body. Please forgive me.
This is my last goodbye
Bakura Ryou
—
Then, last of all, a white haired man stepped into the fields of reed and laughed. He had found his happiness and been granted a place with his friends. Now the true adventure could begin.
—
(His letter had been placed under his shoes, that were underneath an oak tree on the top of a cliff by the sea. His body has never been found. )