Before the Dawn

Jounouchi and Sugoruko were sitting silentlyin the living room of the game shop. They had contacted Ryou, Anzu and Honda who had come over immediately, distraught at the news and were also awkwardly percehed on the sofa', nobody really knowing what to say or do. They remained in silence, with the occasional choke from Anzu as she tried to keep her emotions under control. So when the phone rang it came as somewhat a relief.

Jounouchi got there first and shakily picked it up, trying to hold back the tears and clear his throat.

"Hello? Game shop."

"I am very sorry to bother you, but is Mutou-san there?"

Jounouchi glanced over his shoulder to where the old man was rubbing wearily at his eyes."Er, yeah...but I don't know if he'll be able to come to the phone right now...can I take a message?"

"Yes, of course. Someone by the name of Yami, he had this number in his wallet as a contact?" Jounouchi frowned and stopped his search for a pen and scrap of paper.

"Yeah, Yami. What about him?"

"He was involved inan accident, his carhit an oncoming vehicle. I am very sorry but he didn't make it."

"He's...dead?...No..." Jounouchi dropped the pencil he had found, the other watched confused as it clattered to the floor, unnoticed by the blonde.

"I am very sorry. But we need to ask a few questions, you see the accident may not have been an accident. Jounouchi sat down, ignoring Anzu who was asking who was frantically trying to ask who he was speaking to. He waved a hand in front of her to quieten her.

"What do you mean?"

"We have reason to believe that Yami deliberately drove into an oncoming car. Did he suffer from depression at all?"

"What?...No...He was always happy when he was with Yuugi- Listen, can this wait? Now really isn't the best time." Jounouchi didn't even wait for an answer, he switched off the cordless phone and turned to the others, who were all waiting to hear the news.

"Who was it, Jounouchi?"

Jounouchi turned away from Anzu, back to the plastic phone in his hands, attempting to summon the strength to speak without bursting into a fresh wave of tears. "I think Yami killed himself. And it's our fault..."

Anzu blinked a few times, tears prickling at her azure eyes. Honda's gaze felltothe ground, and Grandpa felt guilt well up inside him. None of them had cared how Yami felt, and now it was too late. They had lost two close friends in one day.

-

Yami was standing in a hospital corridor, it was so cold but he wasn't shivering. Looking around he could see two doctors conversing to each other, he walked over to them but they ignored him, so he listened in on their conversation.

"It's such a shame, that poor little boy."

"Yuugi Mutou, wasn't it? You weren't able to save him?"

"No. He hadextensive brain damage, he didn't stand a chance. How are your guys doing on his brother?"

"We lost him too, a few minutes ago."

"Damn. Hey let's get a coffee, yeah?"

Yami stood shocked as the two doctors walked off to a vending machine. He looked down at his hand, he hadn't noticed it had become transparent, only a hint of colour left.

"What is going on? I...died?...but what about Yugi? Where is he?"

"Yami! You came too!"

Meet me after dark again and I'll hold you
I want nothing more than to see you there

And maybe tonight...we'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn

"Yuugi?"

Yuugi smiled sadly and nodded, he too was in spirit form, his clothes were covered in blood but the wounds were now invisible. His big violet eyes sparkled with happiness as he watched his guardian try to touch a nearby trolley, only to have his hand slip through the metal rail.

"Yuugi what do we do now?"

"Anything you want to do."

"Anything?"

Yami grabbed Yuugi's hand and they ran out of the building, soon they ended up at the park, it was quite late and dark so nobody else was here. Yuugi ran straight for the swing set, and to Yami's surprise he was able to sit on it.

"Push me Yami!"

Smiling the other spirit walked up to him and began to push the smaller, who in turn cried out in happiness.

"This is so fun, you have to try it!"

"But there is only one swing."

"I'll sit on you, and you can swing us both."

If only night can hold you where I can see you, my love
And let me never ever wake again

And maybe tonight, we'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn

Yami and Yuugi were both laughing as when Yami pushed too high they had fallen off, and were now laying in the tall, damp grass exhausted from laughing.

"Yuugi, I wish we'd had some of those back in Egypt. In the palace I mean. And I wish I'd have had a friend like you to share it with." Yuugi smiled up at Yami and gave him a hug.

"You're sharing it with me now, aren't you?"

Nodding Yami went back to staring at the stars. Wondering for the first time why they weren't ascending to heaven or anything, isn't that what ghosts were meant todo?It was a little odd that they would just stay here as spirits.

"Yuugi-"

Yami stopped as a bright blue light suddenly glowed from Yuugi's chest, Yuugi looked up wide-eyed at Yami as his already spirit form began to fade further.

Somehow I know that we can't wake again
From this dream, it's not real but it's ours...

Maybe tonight we'll fly away
We'll be lost before the dawn

"Yuugi, what's happening?"

"Yami? I'm scared. Please don't let me go..."

Yami grabbed hold of Yuugi, holding his trembling formtightly, tears running down both of their cheeks, he whispered into Yuugi's ear. "I'll never let you go...I'm always here for you aibou."

Yami cried into Yuugi's soft hair, as the little hikari completely vanished, leaving his Yami behind. Yami felt himself too begin to disappear, his hands vanishing before his eyes. Smiling he looked up at the stars, noticing one shining brighter than the rest.

"I'm coming, aibou; I promise I'll never leave you."

And soon, both were gone from the world, always together, never to be separated again.

Maybe tonight we'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn

Owari