Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Ryou Bakura: Time Master! ❯ From Nesce, with Love ( Chapter 29 )

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. Takahashi does, and he's glad the story's coming to an end soon. Likewise, so am I.

 

Tomorrow came too soon, Ryou thought, as the sun blared through his windows. In the dark, he hadn't noticed that they were stained glass, but as he opened his eyes and saw the colors swimming on his carpet, he soon saw the window in its full glory; it depicted a pink rose with a yellow gem in its center. He stood up, rubbing his eyes. It was way too early, he decided, as he made his way to his bags and picked out some clothes. He didn't err on the side of fancy, because the only thing he needed to be dressed for was saying goodbye to Sith. And she wouldn't give a damn about his clothing. He shrugged on a clean pair of pants and a shirt she had gotten him with a tacky-looking dice on it. She had gotten it as a joke, but today, it felt right to wear it for her. And he didn't care if Mello taunted him for it, either.

 

Ryou took a quick look in the mirror before leaving the room. His hair was orderly, and he didn't look nearly as ill as he had the previous night, after Sith left him. That was good to know, and after giving himself the okay, he walked out of the room and headed for the dining hall to eat breakfast.

 

Oddly enough, the dining hall was nearly empty by the time he wandered in. The only ones up and about were Malik, Katt, and Yugi. Sith and Mello were at the front of the table as well, but only Sith looked moderately awake, as usual. Mello looked ready to fall asleep in his food. Ryou was sure the only reason he was up was because Sith told him to get up. That was one thing that sucked about marrying Sith; she had things done a certain way, and never mind that no one else agreed with it. If she wanted it done that way, it was done that way. Ryou snorted as he sat down next to Yugi, who passed him a plateful of toast and butter.

 

“Morning, Ryou!” Katt said cheerfully, pouring him a glass of orange juice, “Did you sleep well?” As she passed it to him, he smiled back at her and took a sip. It was very fresh, and cold, too.

 

“About as well as I could,” he replied, though not nearly as cheerful as she was, “I'm nervous about heading back to Domino.”

 

“At least one of us got a decent night sleep,” Mello grumbled, rubbing his good eye. Ryou just laughed, shaking his head. Leave it to Mello to ruin breakfast with his bad attitude. No, leave it to Mello to ruin everything with his bad attitude. Ryou's eyes fell on Sith, however. She looked worried again. He hoped that wouldn't become her new usual look. He'd gotten so used to her irritability by then.

 

“What's bothering you, Ryou?” she asked calmly, one ear twitching as a breeze wafted through an open window. He smiled slyly and shrugged as he bit into a piece of toast. It was a bit too burnt for his liking.

 

“Nothing important, Sith,” he replied, “It just feels weird. All this time, you've always come back. This time you're staying here. It's going to take some getting used to.” Sith understood that, and likewise, said she felt the same way. Katt also expressed her feelings about his departure, but Ryou noticed that she hadn't mentioned Malik yet. But before he could ask, Mello reached over and took a few slices of toast, speaking again.

 

“Of course it will. You'd be a bastard if it didn't take time,” the older man stated, earning him a sharp glare from Sith, “Don't worry, though. I won't come to kill you even if you didn't feel sad. I've got what I wanted, so I'm just dandy.” Ryou stared at him flatly. Not only was that a little insulting, it was just plain stupid to say when Sith was sitting right next to him. So it wasn't a surprise at all when she smacked him on his arm, nearly knocking his drink over.

 

“Mihael!” she hissed angrily, but all that got was a chuckle from the offender himself. Ryou just shook his head again. They would be perfectly fine after he left, so long as Mello didn't continue to insult all of Sith's friends. And knowing his record, he might just do that. Ryou couldn't tell if his job would be hard or boring. As their knight, he'd probably be breaking up more fights between them than between Nesce and any other world that might try and fight them.

 

“I'm starting to see why Katt didn't like you,” Ryou told him, and that just got a roar of laughter from the older man. Sith sighed. She wanted a nice, peaceful breakfast. She should've known better. And if she was smart, she wouldn't try and stop them. She hadn't really succeeded the few times she did try.

 

“Didn't? I still don't like him!” Katt declared, brows creased as Malik patted her shoulder, “He's an obnoxious jackass who doesn't know when to shut his mouth!”

 

“You ought to talk, Katt,” Mello retorted slyly, his grin contradicting his words, “You're the one who chewed my damn ears off when you found out what happened. And you insulted me, too.” Considering how much Mello had royally screwed them all in the past, Ryou didn't think bringing up name-calling was a suitable defense in the man's case. Then again, Mello didn't exactly have much else. He was the one who technically started this mess, anyway. Sith's lips thinned. Clearly, her patience was being tested, and it was way too early in the morning for her to be allowed to drink. She turned to her husband.

 

“Mello, dear,” she began, and her voice went sharp, “Please, stop insulting everyone and eat your breakfast in peace!” Mello just snorted, but he did obey her. To an extent. He drank his juice, leaned back, and just gave that overconfident grin that seemed to be permanently plastered on his face. It didn't ruse Sith. She turned to Katt instead and asked, “So, then, where do we stand on this?” Ryou tilted his head. Despite the early hour, obviously he missed something crucial before their departure. Katt's lips pursed for a second as she glanced at Malik. The young man just nodded firmly, and Katt took a breath.

 

“I'm heading back to Domino with Malik temporarily,” she replied, as Malik added, “Yeah, to pack some stuff and then tell Isis I'm heading out.” Ryou looked at Malik critically. From the sound of it, he planned on moving out. And while he was technically old enough, Isis would probably have a heart attack before letting her dear brother leave so peacefully. Sith, however, just nodded, sipping her water. For her not to be objecting must've meant she was in a rather good mood that morning. She almost always had some snarky comment on Malik otherwise.

 

“Where are you both headed?” Ryou asked curiously, brow raised. Katt blushed and turned away, but Malik was as proud as ever as he answered. His smile rivaled Mello's.

 

“We're going to be married in a few weeks,” he declared, and Ryou's mouth dropped. Sith's own wedding was even later than that. Quietly, he looked at the queen. Now she looked a little grim. But she didn't offer any insult. At that point, if Katt hadn't yet dumped Malik on his head, who was Sith to stop her? Mello just patted his wife's back.

 

“I told you we should've aimed for a double-wedding,” he said to her. That earned another glare, and not just from Sith. Katt seemed opposed to the idea as well, but for very different reasons. She crossed her arms.

 

“I want a wedding, not a disaster,” she said crossly. Mello sneered at her, but said nothing. With Sith sitting right next to him, bickering with her sister would only end in mild pain. And while he always found Sith's aggression cute, he knew she really could hurt him if he went too far. And he didn't want his other eye going blind, either. He merely leaned back, wrapping his arm around Sith's shoulder as she sighed, shaking her head.

 

“It wouldn't have been a disaster,” she mumbled. Then she remembered what Katt was getting at. Her eyes narrowed. Perhaps there was some merit to Katt's words. She looked over at Mello, and Ryou knew he understood what Katt was saying as well. And he looked proud of it. Was he really as smart as Sith said?

 

“Like I said, I already have what I want,” he replied cockily, “…well, most of what I want. I still have to kick Near's ass later, but that's another story for another place, eh?” Sith's look went even flatter, and she decided to just ignore Mello's remarks. Likewise, so did Ryou. Not that he knew who Near was, anyway. Malik just looked between everyone. By the looks of it, if he didn't intervene soon, the wedding details weren't going to be said. Katt and Sith were already in disagreement, and normally Malik wouldn't try to butt in. But this time, it directly concerned him.

 

“Okay, people. Wedding. Here. Any ideas?” he asked bluntly. Katt just snorted at his tone, but Sith didn't look particularly amused. She crossed her arms again, causing the shoulders of her gown to ripple slightly. Ryou knew he'd miss her look of utter annoyance when he left.

 

“Well, we have a set date. That's good,” she commented slowly, “But if you plan to actually hold it within the castle, we'll need to invite everyone now so they have time to respond. Even though this is in the heart of Nesce, getting through the Sabil range is tough, even for Espers. For humans, it'll be impossible without an airship, or without weeks of notice.” Ryou's face blanched as he remembered the few times he'd come to Nesce without aid of a ship. The first time, it nearly killed them. And the second time, it also nearly killed them. He shivered. He didn't want anyone else to have to go through that. Katt seemed to agree with her sister, for she nodded and smiled.

 

“Six weeks is reasonable, right?” she asked. Sith's lips thinned. She'd have rather had three months to fully prepare, but they might be able to make it happen with just six weeks. The hardest part was getting everyone Katt loved in Ryou's world to come. Sith just looked over at Ryou. He laughed. He knew what she was going to ask him.

 

“I'll ask them,” he replied. Sith gave a wry smile.

 

“Good answer,” she agreed. After that, the preparations seemed fairly smooth. Mello was willing to help out for once, but Ryou was sure there was a hidden motive somewhere. He said nothing about it. Malik was also going to see if anyone in his family, save for Rishid, would be able to come. Isis might be convinced, he had said, but he wasn't sure about anyone who might still be in Egypt. Sith let that one go, as there was nothing she could do if anything went awry. When Malik's part in the planning was done, Sith dismissed him, and Ryou, Yugi, and Mello all followed him out, leaving the two sisters to speak on details for Katt's attire. They went into the hall leading toward the front entrance. Sunlight spilled through the slits on either side of the walls, bathing the hall in a warm, blue glow.

 

“Six weeks, eh?” Yugi asked, as they all walked to one window, looking out of it. The sun shone off the black rooftops of the houses below and in the distance. Malik nodded, taking a deep breath.

 

“I know it's going to be rough on Sith. She's doing all of the work here while Katt comes with me to see family,” he explained, and Ryou noticed he sounded concerned, “Part of me doesn't think that's fair.”

 

“Maybe because it isn't,” Mello stated simply, and then said, “But life's full of unfairness, and Sith knows how to deal with it. She wants to help you two.”

 

“What about you?” Ryou asked him, and Mello looked up at him, “You're not mad, are you?” Mello laughed, and shook his head. He could have been, because this might seriously affect his wedding, but he wasn't. He looked out at the outskirts of Aeroglyph, a grin slowly forming on his face.

 

“I'll only be mad if Sith works herself into sickness,” he replied honestly, and laughed again, “As if I'd let that happen. She has me, Matt, Gustave, Kelvin, and Link here to make sure she doesn't kill herself. I'm sure she'll be okay.” Ryou nodded. Sith would do just fine. She was a strong person, even if half of what she did nearly killed them all. The point was, it hadn't and she always came out of it with a grin and her strength in tact. Or with a scowl, depending on what the outcome ended up as.

 

“So how long until your wedding?” Yugi asked the older man, blinking as the sunlight bent and shone in his eyes. Mello's grin turned soft, his eyes narrowing gently as he took in the scene. Aeroglyph was always beautiful early in the morning.

 

“Six or seven months,” he replied gently, “It depends on how much we need to coordinate. I have no family, and Sith has just her sister and all of you, but I have a feeling all of Nesce will want to celebrate.” What he didn't say was that he couldn't see why, considering everything he did to the Espers. Ryou just snorted. It wasn't about Mello; it was about seeing their queen married to, hopefully, a decent man. And while Mello wasn't exactly decent, Ryou began to understand, as time went on, why the man had gone completely ballistic. He just patted the older man's back.

 

“It won't be so bad,” he said encouragingly. Mello's grin returned.

 

“At least until Bahamut attends. He doesn't like me,” the man said truthfully. Ryou couldn't help but let out a laugh. Bahamut was always very patient. To dislike someone was a bad thing indeed. But he doubted the old dragon would do anything to hurt Sith, such as actually killing her husband.

 

About forty minutes later, both Katt and Sith emerged from the dining hall. Katt looked absolutely blissful, but Sith looked a little worn out. Obviously, whatever they were talking about taxed her more than it had for Katt. Mello just smiled weakly and stepped out to take her arm, with Ryou following him. They walked up the grand staircases and onto the second floor, where Ryou heard others starting to wake up. Miho and Anzu just came out from their room when they passed.

 

“Was there a court we missed?” Miho asked with a yawn as Anzu rubbed her eyes. Sith smiled slyly and shook her head.

 

“No, not yet,” the queen replied calmly, “But you may want to pack up. The good captain said the airship that'll take you home is leaving at 11. You have less than two hours.” This profoundly woke both girls up now. They gasped, and as Miho rushed back into their room to pack what they did bring, Anzu took to banging on the door across from theirs, in an attempt to wake its occupants up. Unfortunately for her, nothing really woke Jou up, and Honda was even worse. Sith just laughed, and they passed, heading deeper down the hall.

 

Ryou wasn't too sure where they were heading; the hall seemed to twist and turn in odd angles every few feet, and more than once he wondered if they had been turned back. But Sith seemed to know where she was headed, and no one felt the need to stop her. This was, after all, her castle. Finally, they came to a winding staircase in what looked to be the oldest part of the castle. The walls had gone from gold to stone gray, and the sunlight hadn't yet pierced the dim chamber. Sith ascended the steps, with Mello close behind her. Ryou noticed he had grown tense since they entered.

 

“Sith, where are you going?” Yugi asked her, as he, Malik, and Ryou remained by the base of the stairs. Sith looked down, and her glasses reflected the tiny rays of sun that did make it through the clouded windows. For just a second, Ryou thought he heard the ticking of a giant clock. Then he looked up toward the far ceiling. He saw that there were gears, big and small, turning and working. There were also other mechanisms he couldn't name, but he guessed where they were. Inside a clock tower, much like the one in Domino. Just much, much bigger, it looked like.

 

“What's here?” he asked her curiously. Sith's smile went gentle.

 

“Just come up here,” she said calmly, “Ryou, before you go, we need to do something.” Ryou glanced at his two friends. Yugi seemed just as bewildered as he was, but Malik snorted, shaking his head as he grinned. Ryou didn't want to know what Malik's thought was. He turned and followed the queen, pausing to look out the window. He could see the courtyard from there; the captain of their ship was already preparing said ship to leave. Sith had to hurry or they'd be late. Ryou rushed up the rest of the steps.

 

The stairs ended in a chamber that could've been bigger than even the audience room, and nearly as bright. There were crates and a few large gears, but the only other thing adorning the large room was a huge, circular window above a stained glass arch. The glass depicted a giant rose in full bloom, and the sunlight that blared through looked like a mixture of blue, green, and pink. Above, the circular window was dotted with twelve large dots, and two lines in the center. One pointed to the third dot, the shorter line pointing to the ninth. Ryou tilted his head, trying to figure out what the picture meant, until he realized it was a giant clock face. His eyes went wide.

 

“Sith, what's going on?” he asked, panic slightly creeping into his words. But Sith didn't look worried. She turned when she reached the stained glass. The sunlight made her look radiant. She held out a hand.

 

“I'm going to take the last dangerous piece of magic from your world,” she replied, with a smile, “Worry not, my friend. Your world's done its part for us.” Ryou's lips thinned. That wasn't true; Sith could take every artifact away and magic would still exist. Except that she didn't say just magic. She said dangerous magic. Still, he didn't move. He had nothing on him, or so he thought. But a clearing of the throat from Mello, as well as a point to Ryou's hip, showed that Ryou still carried Zerrkandr. Ryou had nearly forgotten the old sword, and now understood what Sith meant. He unsheathed it and handed it to her, hilt first.

 

“So after this, I'm done?” he asked, and added, “With Mystics and magic?” Sith looked at the blade carefully before answering. It was blue, and it still had remnants of power. But it was much more faded than Zealacht was. Ryou had used its power too much, and too often, and with too much force. She took a deep breath and handed the sword to Mello. He gently laid it on top of a crate.

 

“Forever,” she stated, and he heard sadness in her voice that he didn't expect, “Ryou, if you choose to, you will never have to set foot in Nesce again. Nor will you ever have to deal with anyone from the ESB. It's entirely up to you.”

 

“I'd… I'd like that,” he replied honestly, and his smile grew weak, “But I want to come here and visit you. Sith, we're still friends, right?”

 

“Until the end of time,” she replied gently, “Now, before I take the power you absorbed from the sword, do you have any wish to retain any magic?” Ryou shook his head. As fun as magic had been, so far as sensing it, it wasn't worth it to keep. Not anymore. Without Sith, what use would magic even have in his life? What would he even be able to learn? No, magic wasn't worth keeping.

 

“I think I've had enough of it to last ten lifetimes,” he joked. Sith chuckled, but it felt forced. He realized he might've actually insulted her. But she didn't say if he had. He stepped forward, and she took his hand, closing her eyes as she recited a spell that Ryou knew he wouldn't be able to repeat. The syllables felt wrong, and her voice kept changing tones. This wasn't like the other spells she'd used. Then again, she was taking his power away. Espers normally didn't do that. When she finished, the sensation that went through Ryou was like a vacuum. He felt something leave him, but couldn't see or understand what it was. Nor did he feel tired afterward, either. He looked at Mello. The man seemed worried as he looked at Sith, but her chanting kept going, softly. Finally, she stopped fully, and opened her eyes. Her hands were glowing blue for a second, and then faded. She looked tired.

 

“You are now free of magic,” she stated, as the clock ticked loudly behind her, “Ryou, go on and live your life like a normal man.” Ryou nodded. Normally, the words would've been an insult, but somehow, hearing Sith speak took the sting out of them. Maybe it was because that was what he had wanted. Or maybe it was knowing he and Sith were okay. He didn't know. But he hugged her. She felt warm, and he smelled a strong scent of juniper on her, like always.

 

“Thank you, Sith,” he said, and let go, “I'll live as well as I can.” Sith chuckled, this time it being genuine.

 

“I will drop in before my wedding. I hope you come to it.”

 

“I wouldn't miss it,” Ryou promised. And it was true. Even if it wasn't, he would've said it was. At that point, it didn't matter what he felt, other than being happy that things worked out for the best. And from what he could see, they had.

 

When they came down from the large upper chamber, Ryou saw that Yugi was still waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. But Malik had left. And when asked, Yugi said Malik had gone out to check on the ship. Sith just nodded approvingly. The ship would probably be ready soon, and hopefully, so would the passengers. Taking Mello's hand, she led Ryou and Yugi out of the clock tower and down the halls again, toward the staircase that led to the front entrance. The doors had been opened, and the captain was waiting for her patiently. He bowed, his long, red coat dusting the floor as he took off his hat.

 

“Ship's ready, ma'am,” he told her quickly, “We're ready to set sail.” Sith smiled.

 

“Thank you, Piett. What of the passengers?” she asked. He gave a grin. Ryou saw his teeth were sharp, and many. He'd hate to be the one to piss the good captain off.

 

“They're ready. We're awaiting your presence,” Piett replied. Sith's lips went grim, and Ryou felt his heart plummet. Now was the time to say goodbye. Sith took a deep breath, and then walked through the doors into the courtyard. The sun warmed the stone pathway, and the roses were straight and clear. But it all felt wrong now, as they approached the waiting vessel. Ryou's friends all waited beside the ship, their bags being loaded by three werewolves, who stopped as their queen approached. She looked at everyone. And her eyes softened. This was the last time she'd see most of them.

 

Letting go of Mello, she walked forward, unable to place the exact emotion she felt as she looked at her friends. Ryou took his place among them, as did Yugi. Sith's breathing slowed. Last night, she had contemplated just how she'd go about the farewells, and thought she'd come up with a good way to do so. But her ways fled her now, as she looked at the group assembled. They'd come back for the wedding, no doubt, but then what? Then they'd move on. Ryou would come sometimes, but very few and far between. She didn't necessarily want to give up any of them. But she did. It was the right thing to do now.

 

“I suppose this is goodbye now,” she said, almost too quietly. Anzu and Miho broke down, running up and throwing themselves into her arms.

 

“We'll miss you every single day!” Miho declared as Anzu said, “We'd always considered you our best friend, Sith. No, I'd even say we were best friends.” Sith sniffled even though the tears didn't fall. They might as well have. She held them for just a moment, and then they pulled away.

 

“I will never forget you,” she promised. Anzu led Miho away, who was still crying furiously as they boarded the ship. Jou and Honda came next, and both of them promised Sith they'd never go zombie-hunting. At least, not without her. Then came Kaiba and Ryuuzaki. For a minute, the three of them just stared at each other. Then, Sith hugged them both.

 

“I'll miss you both,” she said, and laughed, “A couple of assholes, we were.” Ryuuzaki snorted, nodding his head as he handed her his cap.

 

“Been a pleasure while it lasted, Winchester,” he said, and smirked, “Though if your husband does anything stupid, I'll probably be the one bringing him home.” Sith snorted as she took his cap. She doubted Mello would do anything that extreme, but with his sparkling personality, it was hard to say what he'd actually do. But with Ryuuzaki, as much as she didn't want to admit it, if Mello did get arrested, he'd be in good hands. Then she turned to Kaiba. The two never did warm up to each other completely, but they had grown a mutual respect for one another. He just nodded, and then sighed and looked back at the ship. Everyone save for him, Yugi, Ryou, and the three spirits had boarded by now.

 

“Well, Winchester, I guess we'll see you soon,” he said gruffly, and stuck his hands in his pockets, “It'll be weird, but I know we'll get back to our lives without… without…”

 

“Without magic,” Sith finished for him. He nodded. He didn't want to believe in it, nor did he want to admit it was real. But there it was. He looked around at the courtyard again. Every flower in sight had magic in it. Every cloud, every raindrop, every little grain of earth had magic in it. There wouldn't be getting away from it, not forever. As if reading his thoughts, Sith said, “Magic isn't bad, Kaiba.” He looked down at her. That was easy for her to say; magic was part of her, and she'd been around much, much longer than any of them. Everything they knew of it was bad, but not for her. He shrugged.

 

“We won't share that opinion, but whatever,” he told her, and smirked, “Well, this is goodbye, then. I'll see what I can do about getting some trade over to you if you want.” Sith grinned. In a way, that was Kaiba's way of extending friendship. And if that's what it took, it was fine for her. The two shook on it. Trade would be a good thing, and it'd keep their worlds linked, one way or another.

 

“Take good care of Anzu,” she said, as he turned and boarded. He gave her a thumbs-up before disappearing into the cabin. Yugi walked up to her, and gave her a hug. Sith watched the ship distantly, patting his head as he sniffled. Just a few minutes, and they'd all be gone.

 

“Come and visit us when you can,” Yugi said. Sith nodded, and smiled as he left it at that. Yugi was never actually good at saying goodbye, and Sith felt that might've been just as well. She let him leave without so much as a `so long.' Then she turned. The three spirits had come out now, not feeling so crowded with most of their friends already on board. Ishtar just crossed his arms and grinned cockily, the look being too familiar to everyone else. Bakura patted Sith on the back, and Yami gave her a hug as well. Ryou knew it'd be especially difficult for Yami and Bakura; Sith had been with them throughout most of their lives. And a nice portion of hers, too. The three smiled.

 

“Good luck out there, Sith,” Yami said, as Bakura added, “Hey, we're all royalty now. If you get hurt, just give us a call. We'll come and break down any moron who tries opposing Nesce again.” Sith laughed. The offer was nice, but she felt a need to remind Bakura that being the best criminal in Egypt didn't actually constitute being royal. Being `king of thieves' was a self-proclaimed title. But Bakura seemed proud nonetheless. So, she didn't remark on that.

 

“Thank you both,” she replied with a chuckle, “I'll take the offer, my friends.” They expected no less. Then, she turned to Ishtar and asked, “Anything you'd like to add?”

 

“Yeah. I still think you're annoying as hell and you don't know what you're doing,” the spirit replied smugly, and Yami turned to him sharply, “So we'll see you if you get sent to hell again.” Yami actually twitched, and Ryou was sure Mello didn't like that remark. But Sith seemed amused. Her grin returned, her glasses gleaming in the sunlight.

 

“See you there, jackass,” she replied, and Ishtar's smirk went serene. That was a goodbye he wanted, after all. Ryou just shook his head. He never did understand those three spirits, and watched silently as they boarded the ship. Then he turned to Sith. Katt and Malik were in the process of saying goodbye to her, too.

 

“Bye, sis. We'll let you know how things go once we're in Domino,” Katt said, hugging Sith as hard as she could, “Thanks again for helping with the wedding.” Sith just nodded, but didn't exactly speak. She wasn't sure what she should say; Katt was her sister, after all. When she let go, Malik embraced her, too.

 

“Next time you see me, I'll be your brother-in-law,” he teased. Her ears flattened in annoyance. Obviously, that wasn't something she was particularly looking forward to.

 

“Better hope I don't kill you, then,” she growled, and he laughed as Katt led him away and onto the ship. Finally, it was Ryou's turn. He looked down at Sith, and shivered. She seemed so calm, and he knew he was ready to fall apart on the inside. But he took a breath. This was what he wanted. Perhaps not the part about Sith leaving, but a life without magic was what he aimed for. Now he was getting it. He hugged her. This was all because of her. He was alive, and he survived because she helped him through everything. They both deserved whatever peace they could get. And when he pulled away, she saw he was crying.

 

“Goodbye, Sith,” he said, wiping the tears away, “I hope you'll be around forever. Oblivion needs a ruler like you.” Sith smiled weakly, but she didn't snort or chuckle like usual. Perhaps she agreed with him, however reluctant that was.

 

“Live a long and happy life, Ryou,” she replied gently, “And don't worry about Oblivion. You've done your share. Now leave the rest to Mello and I.” Ryou nodded. Whether he felt relief or despair, he didn't know. But he'd do as she said. With a nod from Mello, and a wave from Sith, Ryou boarded the ship. The door closed, and he sat by a window, looking down at the two as Piett started the engine, the ship beginning to take off. He wouldn't forget either of them, especially not Sith. She didn't stop waving at him, and he waved back, even though he knew she couldn't see him. Then, the ship was gone.

 

Sith and Mello stood out in the empty courtyard, watching as the ship shrank and eventually vanished far to the east. Now, with everyone gone, all felt silent. That was it. Just like that, her friends were gone. She looked down at the ground. The goodbyes felt so quick, so pitiful compared to how long she spent with all of them, over the years. But the quicker they were, the less painful. She wanted to spare her friends as much pain as she could. Sighing, she felt movement behind her. Mello put a hand on her back.

 

“They'll be all right,” he assured her, looking up where the ship disappeared, “You did good, Sith. Everything in their world's back to normal.”

 

“Then why do I feel so empty right now?” she asked him, her voice sounding strangely monotonous, “It all felt so small, Mello. That was the last I'll see of most of them.” Mello's lips thinned. He wasn't exactly sure how to respond; he went through similar, except that he left through death. Sith was still quite alive. He hugged her.

 

“It'll get better. Come on. We have things to do, Sith,” he said calmly. Reluctantly, she nodded. And then they both walked back into the castle together.

 

When Ryou made it to his house, he felt listless. Piett was kind enough to drop everyone off at their own homes, but even then, Sith's absence was apparent. Miho couldn't stop crying, and it took Honda nearly the entire ride to calm her down. Everyone else just kept silent, letting their own feelings culminate in their heads. But even Kaiba seemed disturbed now, as Piett passed through what looked to be a vast ocean, into darkness, and then out near Domino Bay. Ryou had been the last to leave the ship, alongside Bakura. And when they did, Piett didn't even give so much as a `farewell' before heading back west, where the voids connecting his world to Sith's lay.

 

Now Ryou sat in his room with Bakura, the two of them looking out the window, toward the city. Three days had passed by then. The sun hung low now, as it was close to evening. By then, Ryou was used to smelling food cooking on the stove; Sith was the best damned cook he knew. But with her gone, Yaten took charge again. And his cooking had always been less than satisfactory. Ryou sighed. As he looked at the city, watching the people drive by or walk down the street, he realized now how vastly different it felt when Sith was there. He certainly never felt he had the time to just sit in his room. Or to be bored. He shifted on his bed.

 

“Normal life's boring,” he stated simply, looking up at his ceiling. Bakura, who'd been at the table, reading, looked up and snorted in disbelief. Why it took Ryou six years to understand that, the old thief didn't know. But it was too late to complain. Ryou chose this.

 

“You're the one who hated magic. Deal with it,” Bakura reminded him, and went back to his book, “Besides, you really want to go running around, trying to avoid death again?” Ryou had to admit that was one aspect of magic he wouldn't be missing. He also had to admit Bakura had a right to say that. He'd been complaining ever since he came home. But what else could he do? Six years was a long time to be dabbling in magic. Expecting him to be over it in three days was a bit unreasonable. But Ryou didn't say any of this. He shrugged.

 

“No, but Sith always had things for us to do, you know?” Ryou said, his voice growing wistful, “I miss her, Bakura. Do you think she's okay?” Bakura looked up again. By this time, he was getting thoroughly annoyed with Ryou. He enjoyed reading, and he enjoyed doing it without interruptions. And Ryou was definitely interrupting him. Nearly constantly, at that.

 

“She's fine, Ryou. Chances are she hasn't bit the big one,” the old thief replied grumpily, flipping a page, “Now, why don't you go down and teach your father that mustard takes like shit when it's on chicken.” Ryou's face paled. He didn't think Yaten would actually try that, but Bakura's suggestion was warranted. Last night, the man thought mustard was an acceptable substitute for a light lemon and wine sauce. Ryou never, ever wanted to eat his father's version of zesty wine chicken ever again after that. And as if in agreement, Amane had hidden the mustard on their father, too.

 

“You don't think he'd do that… do you?” Ryou asked timidly, going to the door and opening it. He peered out, if only to hear what Yaten was up to. He was making something in the blender. Ryou didn't even want to know what it was. Bakura just snorted, grinning.

 

“He's no Sith, that's for sure,” the spirit said with a snort, “If there's one thing he could improve on, it's cooking.” Ryou nodded, and quietly stepped out into the hall. The blender seemed to have stopped, which meant either Yaten finished what could've been a biohazard, or he'd given up trying to figure out how to use the damn thing. Ryou's lips thinned. He wasn't sure what to make of that; either way, he'd probably be making a second dinner for himself and Bakura later. Going silently down the hall, he passed by what used to be Katt's room, and peeked inside. Katt was gone, too, and she wasn't coming back, either. And all of her possessions were gone. The house was just too damn empty. Ryou felt his eyes water, and quickly continued down the hall. The stairs to the first floor were dead ahead.

 

Ryou walked down the stairs, and risked a peek into the kitchen. Yaten was serving a green smoothie into three glasses, and god only knew what he actually put in it. Ryou hoped it fruit, and not something like broccoli or spinach. Or algae. He really didn't want to get sick that night. Taking a breath, he walked past the kitchen and into the dining room. The sun was bright orange as it fought to stay within the horizon, way past its setting point. Ryou couldn't help but stare out. And he stared right into the garden Sith had planted two years ago. It flourished now, covering more than half his yard, with more than thirty different plants, many of which he couldn't even name. Sith had taken good care of it. But how long would it last? Ryou shook his head. He doubted it'd go another three years before dying out. A bark caused him to look down. Rush was staring up at him expectantly.

 

“You miss her too, don't you?” Ryou asked the large dog, who snorted and laid down next to him, “Don't worry. She'll come get you in a few weeks. She just needs time to prepare.” Rush just snorted again and turned away, plopping his head on his massive paws. Ryou shook his head and looked back out the window. Rush was always stubborn, even for being Sith's dog. He sighed. Rush and Dithrambus were the only things left of Sith now; soon even the dog and cat would be going back to Nesce to live with her. It truly felt like each passing second erased her even further from his life. He leant forward until his head hit the glass. It felt so cold, and now he saw the sun was losing its valiant battle. The sky was deepening in color, and he saw clouds were moving in to further obscure the orange orb. As if to mirror his own feelings.

 

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself and help daddy make dinner,” came an annoyed voice behind him. Ryou looked up, but didn't turn around. He'd recognize that voice pretty much anywhere. And lately, Amane seemed even more annoyed than usual. Probably because she lost what she thought was her older sister.

 

“Amane, I'm not feeling sorry for myself,” Ryou said tiredly, “I'm looking out the window.”

 

“And feeling sorry for yourself, too,” Amane added, brows creasing as she put her tiny hands on her tiny hips, “Stop dawdling and tell me why! You said you made the right choice, and daddy says that's what's important!” Ryou bit his lip. It wasn't as simple as making the right choice. Then again, Amane was only six. How was she supposed to understand that? He let out another sigh. Anything he'd try to explain, she wouldn't understand. All she knew was that Sith wasn't coming back, and Ryou did something that kept her from coming back. And that was enough for her. But she didn't have to be rude about it. This time, Ryou did turn around. His little sister walked, or more glided, over to him, and he knelt down. She never said `explain everything so I know what's wrong.' She just wanted to know why her brother was upset if he did something good. He never thought he'd have to explain this to her. But there he was.

 

“Amane, you know that sometimes, even when it's the right thing to do, you don't want to do something?” Ryou began, and she nodded, “Well… I had to do something I didn't want to do. And I don't like that I did it. But it made Sith happy, and that's why it's okay. I'm not feeling sorry, but I miss her. She was living here with us for a long time. And she moved away now.” Amane nodded again. That at least made some sense to her. She looked out the window too. The sky was practically black now, the stars twinkling dimly. She frowned. Sith used to tell her about stars and why they shined. She'd even make up stories if the ghost child couldn't sleep. Slowly, she looked up at her big brother, and her eyes watered a little.

 

“Why did she move away?” the little girl asked. Ryou frowned for a split second. That was an answer he wasn't confident he could explain. He let out a deep breath.

 

“Because she finally found someone who loved her and she started her own family,” he said at length, “And because she's over four thousand. She should go wherever she wants at her age.” At that, he chuckled. And then he just laughed. That sounded wrong. But it was true; Sith was just so old. No wonder she always treated him like a kid. Amane's brow rose slightly, unable to understand just what Ryou found to be so damn amusing. Sith was his best friend; why was he laughing that she left? Amane just shrugged. Sometimes, she didn't understand Ryou.

 

“Didn't you love her, Ryou?” she asked suddenly, and Ryou stopped laughing. He looked out the window again, his eyes growing distant. Then he knelt down, looked at his sister, and smiled weakly.

 

“It's not the same thing,” he said gently, “Sith and I are friends. We… were never anything more.” His voice cracked a little bit, but he held steady. It was the truth, underneath it all. “Amane, there are a lot of different kinds of love. Sith needed one that made her really happy all the time. I couldn't help her with that. She had to find it by herself.” Amane's lips thinned. Either she was accepting this or Ryou was confusing the hell out of her. It was always kind of hard to tell the difference.

 

“But why did she move away?” she asked again. Ryou snorted. Somehow, he couldn't see Mello ever wanting to live in Domino for the rest of Sith's life. It wasn't interesting enough for him. Ryou just shrugged.

 

“Her husband wouldn't like it here,” he simply said. Amane just nodded, and then tapped her hand on the glass. It made a slight clink sound. She wanted to say she hoped Sith visited soon. But something told her it might make Ryou sad again. So she didn't. Just then, Yaten walked in with a tray, which held four glasses of that vile, green smoothie he had managed to make, and set it on the table. Amane just made a face; it looked like he forgot again that his daughter was just a ghost. Likewise, Ryou shook his head in disbelief. He wasn't actually going to serve that for dinner, was he? When he passed out the glasses, it seemed as though he just did. Ryou stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked over, sitting down next to his father. He took a sip of smoothie. It was kiwi and broccoli. Not nearly as bad as he thought.

 

“So, son, did you do anything today?” Yaten asked, sitting down, “Or did you just stay inside?” Ryou looked down. For the past three days, Yaten had been a bit more lenient with him not doing as much around the house. And he knew it was because the man understood Sith wasn't coming back, either. But if he kept staying indoors, Yaten might start complaining about it, too. He shrugged.

 

“Stayed inside, dad,” he replied uneasily, “I might call Yugi and Shimbou later, but I don't know.” He risked a look up. His father was frowning. But it wasn't a disapproving frown. He looked worried as Bakura rushed down, realizing dinner was served.

 

“Son, I think you need to go out,” Yaten said carefully, and Ryou frowned as well, “Look, I'm not saying go out and have a party. But you can't stay in your room and mope forever.” He looked out the window this time, and took off his glasses, “When your mother died, I was sure I wouldn't make it. And for a year, I didn't. But I had you, and I had my museum. So I started living my life the way she wanted me to. And that made the gap feel not so big. Do you understand, son?” Ryou shook visibly. He did. And for once, it was a good piece of advice from his father. But Sith didn't die. She simply chose differently, for her own life.

 

“She's not dead, though,” Ryou reminded him, and sighed, “It's just… a normal life isn't what I thought it'd be. Not anymore.”

 

“That's the way it goes, son. Sometimes what we think we want ends up being different than we wanted it. But that doesn't mean you should regret it,” his father replied seriously, “And I know Sith's not dead. But that's not the point, son. The point is, you should live your life the way you want now. There's no real thing as normal, because what's normal for you isn't normal for others. It's not normal for you to use magic, but it was for Sith. Just like it's not normal for her to want to be human, but it is for you.” Ryou nodded slowly. His father was right. Normal didn't mean much of anything. At least, not the way he thought. But he understood what Yaten was trying to say. He should find his own happiness now. He smiled. Sith would want that.

 

“Thanks, dad. I'll try,” he said sincerely, and then his frown returned, “But where do I start?” Yaten took a sip of his smoothie, cleaned his glasses, and turned toward his son again. This time, he did smile.

 

“I asked myself the same thing when Reiko died,” he replied slyly, “You start at the beginning. What makes you happy? What do you want to do with yourself?” Ryou hummed. He liked creating things. He liked working with iron, and paint. And he smiled. He knew what he could do. Domino had recovered nicely over the years, but there was much work to be done. And not just Domino, but all over, even in other parts of Oblivion. And, as Sith's knight, he was allowed to travel through worlds, too. He nodded, but didn't answer Yaten's questions. Likewise, the man didn't press further. They simply drank their dinner, though Ryou noticed Yaten seemed to be looking directly at him, as though reading his mind. Then he shook his head. Yaten didn't have that power. It was just a habit from living with Sith for six years.

 

After dinner, Ryou rushed up to his room and turned on his computer. He emailed Shimbou and told him to meet him tomorrow at the ESB building, saying only that he knew what he wanted to do that weekend. Shimbou agreed, though he did ask what it was Ryou was planning. But Ryou hadn't responded yet. For immediately after, he wrote to Sith. He didn't know if she had the time to check email, but he knew when she did, she'd respond. He wrote quickly, telling her what Yaten said and what that made him think, and asked if she needed any help in Nesce at all. He just hoped she used the same email as she had before she left. Then, he left it at that. He couldn't tell Shimbou until he heard from Sith.

 

Sith had received the letter. And she sent a reply. She did need help, and she'd love for Ryou to come and see for himself. She had expressed hesitancy, because of his age, but she trusted him, and knew that with training, he could help her repair the statues of the Blessed that Rath had destroyed. So, she accepted his offer. And Ryou couldn't be happier. This would be the ultimate test of the one skill he did excel at, that was almost like magic, but not just quite. He couldn't help but grin. The only problem was telling Yaten and convincing Shimbou to go, too, but he had a feeling that both would support him. At the very least, they probably wouldn't stop him. He shrugged, and turned out the light. He'd worry about the details tomorrow. For tonight, he'd do the normal thing and just sleep it off. And tomorrow, he'd do the normal thing and visit his friend again. Yaten had been right, after all. This felt completely normal to Ryou. And that was all he ever wanted. And now he knew that was what he could make.

 

Magic no longer felt so terrible anymore.

 

-----------------------------(End Chapter)

 

After saying goodbye to Sith, and leaving his magic back in Nesce with her, Ryou returns home to contemplate what a normal life is. And he finds his idea of normal is absolutely boring. Yaten and Amane gave him advice to help him transition back into a `normal' life without magic, but the true support had been from Sith. With an understanding now that normalcy had been with him from the start, Ryou now knows he's free to live his life. And with that, the threats from the terrible forces of magic have ceased Ryou's world for good, and this is the end of his adventures. There is only one more chapter, the final aftermath. So click that Review button!