soooo.... this is the last chap... *sigh* this was.. difficult to write.

Yugi: i hope Joey gets to heaven

Shibby: we'll find out...

Chapter Ten: The Angel in the Cemetery

          Jonouchi opened his eyes.

          He was back in the cemetery. Staring ahead, his eyes slowly focused on the stones around him, the dappling sunlight through the thick trees. He turned around slowly to once again see his name written in stone, with a little saying beneath it. He gently traced his fingers over the inscription, feeling the kanji in the set stone. It read Things aren't always what they seem. It's the same with people. Jonouchi wondered where this had come from...

          His friends. His family. The people he loved. He had attempted, and somewhat succeeded. He didn't want them to be unhappy, but he didn't want them to be dead, either. He had tried; he had both succeeded and failed. The burden on his soul - the one he placed there - would be lifted.

          Finally.

          Jonouchi laid out on his back, closing his eyes. He couldn't feel the breeze blowing his clothes or brushing against his face; he couldn't feel the sun warming his body. He was dead, and he finally accepted this fact.

          The sting of the gun barrel connecting with his foot; the touch of the school uniform in his fingers; the feel of flesh and bone connecting with his palms as he pushed her out of the way... Three things... Shizuka's tears on his hands... The blood...

          They were the last things he felt.

          "Jonouchi," a voice called. A strong voice, a powerful voice, one full of confidence and apprehension. Jonouchi sat up, smiling as he saw her.

          Amane was next to the tree he had met her by, leaning against it, her hair falling over her shoulder. Her pale, white uniform had grown color; her skirt had become a pastel blue, her top blue and white, with a soft pink. Jonouchi recognized that school uniform as the one in the Tokyo school system.

          She stood straight, smiling brightly, and walked forwards, her hands folded before her. She stopped walking when she reached Jonouchi, squatting down so she was level with him. Jonouchi was taken aback at the life and the color dancing in her features, the way her eyes sparkled with invisible light. Jonouchi gaped in awe.

          "Whoa... Amane," he muttered, immediately blushing. Stupid hormones, he thought, smirking. Amane smiled brightly and stood up. The sun was pushing through the trees, shining down on them. She reached out to him, extending her hand.

          "Come," she said, her voice full of laughter. "I want you to come with me." It wasn't until then that Jonouchi noticed the stars. At least, he thought they were stars. Little white, glowing specs, were glinting around them. They seemed to dodge and tease Jonouchi and Amane, as if taunting the two to catch them.

          "What the..." Jonouchi muttered, his eyes traveling around. Amane closed her eyes, smiling, and pulled him back. The sun seemed to catch them in the middle.

          "Yugi's crisis has ended," she said softly. "As did mine own. Meaning we can leave now." Jonouchi raised his eyebrows.

          "Wait, wait a minute," he said, stepping back. He held up his arms in front of him, as if signaling defeat. "What do you mean? My other friends aren't better yet..." Amane chuckled.

          "Your only duty was Yugi," she explained. "You wanted to see your other friends, so you watched them. However, you would only be down here until Yugi's crisis ends." Jonouchi nodded slowly.

          "Not... Not even Shizuka?" he asked. Amane sighed.

          "We knew her death was coming," she said softly. "I'm sorry, but with your death, hers was predicted right away." Jonouchi closed his eyes painfully, his arms trembling.

          "So," he said in a thick voice, "my sister's death was inevitable?"

          "Not necessarily," Amane warned. "Just... Known." A tear fell from his eye, but he opened them, staring right at Amane. Jonouchi stepped up to her, sizing her up. A strange aura emitted from around her, as if she had been bathed in light. "Are you ready, Jonouchi?" she asked. Jonouchi sighed heavily.

          "I guess so," he said, smiling. "I mean, my other friends..."

          "You can watch them from Heaven," Amane explained. "Just not right away." Jonouchi bit his lower lip, then agreed.

          "Alright... " He took two steps, then stopped. "No one else's death has been chosen yet, right?" Amane laughed and shook her head.

          "I assure you, no one else's," she said. With that, Jonouchi took both of her outstretched hands, her arms pulling him in. They both laughed as he rammed into her. Jonouchi was smiling, tightening his grip on her, when a strange, warm breeze blew at them. They were still in the cemetery, and Jonouchi noticed the beautiful angel statue...

          Wait a second.

          Jonouchi looked from the statue to Amane, then back at the beautiful angel girl, kneeling before God, set in stone.

          "Holy - Amane," he muttered. "That girl - you and her look alike!" Amane cast her eyes up at the statue, then turned back to Jonouchi.

          "Go figure," she said, smiling. Jonouchi stared at her open-mouthed, the breeze picking up.

          "But - but - how?" Amane just laughed, pulling Jonouchi into a hug, warm, subtle rays of sunlight bursting over their bodies. With one sweep of wind and what seemed like golden feathers, and a hint of laughter, the entire cemetery was empty. The only sound was the laughter of two people. Laughter of joy.

.

~In essence, we're all angels ourselves.~

.

          Yugi lay in a warm, comfortable bed, sound asleep with no fear of being choked in his sleep. He was sleeping in peace for the first time in what seemed like years. Although his sleep unnatural, it was still peaceful. The blankets pulled up to his chest, his head turned to the side, the soft pillow cushioning him. The sun dappled into his hospital room through the curtains, warm, summer air coming from the window. He moaned a little, turning his head to the opposite side, continuing to sleep.

          A ray of light appeared in his room, shining over the floor. It was followed by many others. Soon, soft sunlight etched over the room, raising the temperature a bit. Yugi's breathing slowed, and his lips curved into a smile unconsciously. The rays were welcoming and forgiving.

          A figure appeared, walking over to the bed. A tall body knelt down next to the bed, it's torso leaning on the edge of the comforter. A large hand settled on his shoulder, shaking him gently.

          "Yugi. Yugi," a voice said. Yugi's eyes opened slowly, making little moaning sounds. He cast his crimson eyes up to the person beside him. The medicine Yugi was given to subdue him was taking effect, making him feel drowsy. He blinked and smiled.

          "Hi, Yugi," the person said, pushing his blonde bangs off his forehead. Yugi just watched the person.

          "Jonouchi," he whispered. Jonouchi shushed his friend. Jonouchi's body wasn't bone-white and bleeding; he was transparent, although he looked alive. He had color in his cheeks, the golden sunlight hitting his back, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at Yugi.

          "Did you make it?" Yugi asked. He figured this was a dream of some sorts, not real life. Jonouchi nodded.

          "I'm going to, but I begged Amane to let me take a pit stop first," he said in a humorous tone. Yugi smiled softly, his eyelids drooping. "Go back to sleep."

          "Will I see you again?" Yugi asked. Jonouchi shrugged.

          "Hopefully not for a long time," he said in a soft voice. Yugi's face turned confused.

          "Why?" he asked.

          "Because I don't want to see you dead for a long, long time, Yugi. In fact, if I never see you in Heaven, it's fine with me."

          "But... I'll miss you," Yugi protested. Jonouchi shrugged.

          "Then I'll wait for the day you join me," he said, and disappeared, leaving Yugi with only his dreams.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Aww… its all over ;-;… Well, I hope y'all enjoyed this ficcy! *dances* I have 'Concrete Angel' stuck in my head… *sings*

"…A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate… When mornin' comes, it'll be too late… Through the wind, and the rain, she stands haaaaard as a stone… In a world, that she can't rise above… But her dreams, give her wings, and she fliiiiies to a place where she's loved… Concrete Angel…" For all those wanting to hear the song/want to get it, it has a single… Oh, God, not this song… I'm gonna cry…

"Hoooold on, if you feel like letting go… Hold on, it get's better then you know… Don't stop looking, you're one step closer… Don't stop searching – It's not over – Hold… On…"

I wish my crisis could end so easily…;-;
Yami: Oh, Shibby… You've got great friends online and wonderful ones offline! You're not the only one watching, you know.
Shibby: I know… But… I feel really helpless. I know what I can do, I just don't know how to do it.

Yugi: *sigh* Everyone, if you're curious, read her poem "Nothing I can Do", either in her blurty or on fictionpress.com.
Shibby:…

Tata, and remember –

Someone loves you. Don't throw that away.

Shibby-One