Life Reborn

By: DJ Rodriguez

(Author's Notes: Hi, everyone. Sorry if it's been so long since I posted anything up here. Since is being a pain, all fanfics involving Yu-Gi-Oh is being sent to the two links that are in my profile.

Yugi: DJ decided to finish this one here, to have a sense of closure. This fanfic is one of the darkest he has ever made, and he wants to bring it to an end.

Darien: So, everyone. We hope you enjoy this little epilogue here.

Now, on with the fanfic!)

Mai Moto was on her bed, bawling like a baby and also covering her head with a large pillow. Twenty minutes earlier, she had just witnessed her husband dead on the ground. During that time, she also spoke with the officers and told them everything that had happened two nights ago. After the soul-heart shredding talk, she drove back home in tears. Upon arrival, she literally ran back upstairs and just sobbed her heart and soul out on the large comforter.

"Yugi, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!", she sobbed over and over again into the sheets.

She took the pillow off of her head, and when she gazed up, she saw a picture on the nightstand next to the bed. It was a picture of her and Yugi on their honeymoon in the United States, in a place called San Antonio, Texas. Both of them were grinning big time, standing in front of a monument called the Alamo and winking at the camera.

Mai took the picture off of the stand carefully and started to gaze at the pic of Yugi. She brushed a hand over his face, and was now holding the picture close to her heart.

All of a sudden, something entered inside her head. 'W-What about the others?!', she thought. That single thought then triggered images that flashed through her mind, and each of them was a nasty scenario.

{The first image was of Yugi's funeral, seeing her beloved husband in a casket and everyone wondering on what had happened. Standing over her husband, she nearly lost it. Mai cupped his face, tears streaming down like a waterfall. She whispered into his cold ear, "I'm so sorry, Yugi! Please, forgive me!".

The next scenario was much worse. During the funeral, everyone approached her and asked numerous questions on why Yugi had died. When she told them the truth, they immediately lashed out a torrent of verbal assaults on her.

"How could you do that, Mai?! How could you?!", Téa exclaimed with hot tears of anger coming forth.

"You actually had an affair with Joey, after all that Yugi has done for you?!", Tristen shouted out in the same manner.

Yami glared at her coldly and stated, "Mai Valentine Moto, you are a total fool for doing this to my hikari. I should send you and Joey to a place far worse then the Shadow Realm for what you did to Yugi.".

After the verbal attack, they left her without so much as looking back, disgusted by her very presence.

The last scenario was something unbearable, a fate worse then death. She saw her daughter, her own little Anastasia, crying badly with her back turned to her. When she reached out for her, she violently slapped her hand away and turned to face her mother.

Her violet eyes blazed with fury and hate, which caused Mai to recoil back. Anastasia cried out in anger, "I hate you!! I hate you!! You let Daddy kill himself!!".

The very words stabbed Mai right through her very soul and heart, especially coming from her own flesh and blood. Crying more in sadness and anger, Anastasia fled away as Mai tried to reach for her.

Soon, she was surrounded in darkness. Her little girl's words echoed loud and clear through the area, Mai sinking to her knees and having her hands over her ears to block the sound. It was in vain, as the yelling just got louder and louder. It lasted for a few minutes, until she let out a scream of misery and pain.}

Mai came back to reality, and really feared on what she saw in her thoughts. She could handle the verbal assaults from the others, but hearing her little jewel saying she hated her… it was just too much to bear.

"W-What am I going to do?", she whispered to herself.

Seeing little other options, she decided to lie to the others on how Yugi died. She would tell them that a prowler was in the woods at the time, and he killed Yugi. It would be sufficient enough.

"At least Anastasia wouldn't hate me.", she reasoned to herself. Her little treasure was all she had left, and she was not going to lose her no matter what.

Looking back at the clock, she saw that it was 1:25 p.m. It would be about 2 hours until Anastasia would be let out of school. Exhausted, physically and emotionally, she drifted off into an uneasy slumber.

Dreamworld

Mai was walking in a very dark, very cold place. Darkness enshrouded all, no light anywhere. An icy blast of wind kicked up, sending shivers up her spine. The place reminded her of her vision earlier, only more ominous. She rubbed her shoulders to try and keep warm, but it was in vain.

"W-Where am I?", she asked herself. Her voice sent out an echo, which sounded off everywhere.

All of a sudden, the area started to change. The blackness underneath her started to take form, and it was solid brown earth. The darkness around her started to change into a forest setting, and the blackness above turned into a starry night with a crescent moon.

"What just happened?!", she exclaimed in wonder. A quiet noise behind her made her turn around, and the sight before her made Mai gasp in shock.

Yugi's car was parked near the ridge of the forest which was a cliff overlooking the ocean. The young man was out, standing near the car door. Mai started to breathe rapidly, her heart following in tune as she saw her husband alive again. She slowly approached him, her left hand slowly reaching out for her love while the right was trying to steady her thundering heart.

"Y-Yugi?", she breathed out, hoping to God above that this was real.

It seemed he didn't hear her, for he made no sign of turning around and facing her. She heard him mumble something, but she couldn't make it out. Soon, Yugi reached into the car and pulled something out. What she saw shocked and scared her to the core. It was a pocketknife, the silver blade gleaming in the moonlight.

'No…', the wife of Yugi whispered in horror. She heard Yugi saying, "Remember, Mai. I'm doing this so you could be happy". She was then pondering on what he meant by that.

"Why would he think…", she started to say, when the answer hit her full force. He was doing it because he assumed that with him gone, she and Joey could be together with no interference!

"YUGI, NO!!!", she screamed at the top of her lungs. She lunged at him, a futile effort to prevent him from taking his life. She saw herself go through Yugi like a ghost, and when she landed on the ground, she turned back to see him plunge the blade deep into his heart.

"NNNNNNOOOOOO!!!", she shrieked out to the heavens above.

When Yugi plummeted to the soft earth, the astral form of Mai rushed to his side. Even though her hands went right through her husband, she tried to wake him up by any means necessary.

"Yugi, wake up!! Please, don't die on me! DON'T LEAVE ME!!!", she screamed at him, half-hystical from shock and grief. As his eyes slowly closed, Mai's own eyes were just swelling up with tears.

"Please, Yugi! Don't go! I'm so sorry I hurt you! But, I don't love Joey! I love you!! Please, don't leave me alone!", she pleaded to him.

Alas, he could not see or hear her. When his eyes closed, it was for the last time. His heart stopped beating, and his blood flowed down the cliff side like a river. Mai's heart was now thundering loudly, almost like it was straining to burst out. She backed away from her dead husband, shaking her head slowly in denial.

"No… no… NOOOOO!!!", she screamed out loud for all to hear.

She sank to her knees once more, this time beside her ex-husband. She cried loud and hard, burying her face in her hands. After a few moments, something strange happened. Mai felt a warm, soft touch on her shoulder. She turned around to see that the person standing before her was… Yugi.

It was strange for Mai, to see her husband floating in front of her and also to see his other self lying dead next to her on the ground. Mai immediately saw that the Yugi standing before her was transparent, and seemed to give off a very glowing golden aura.

"Y-Yugi? Is that really… you?", she spoke out.

The ethereal being nodded and answered in a echoing voice, "Yes, Mai. It is me.".

The blonde wiped away her eyes, her vision becoming blurry because of them. She asked, "H-How is this possible? W-What is this?".

Yugi answered her, "I am showing you the memories of what happened before I died, so you can understand on why I chose to kill myself.".

As soon as those words came out, the world slowly started to turn back into the darkness that Mai feared. In a matter of seconds, only she and her dead husband remained standing. Yugi's aura was the only source of light in the entire realm.

"Yugi, why did you do it? Why did you think that killing yourself would make me happy?", Mai demanded.

Yugi closed his eyes, seemingly gathering his thoughts before responding. A few seconds later, he opened them and gave Mai a pitying stare. He answered, "Two answers to that question, Mai. First, I assumed you did not want me anymore. Joey made you happy, and that was all that counted for me. Anything to make you happy and comfortable, I would have done without hesitation.".

Mai's eyes started to form tears once more, but she quickly wiped them away. 'All he wanted… was for me to be happy? Even, if he wasn't in the picture?', she said to herself.

He sighed a bit and continued on, "Lastly, I was in too much pain from seeing you with Joey. I loved you with all of my heart, and only wanted to do what was best for you and Anastasia. When I saw you two in bed… it was just too much… for me to bear.".

Mai looked down in shame and disgust, loathing herself for being in that situation. She whispered with strands of her front hair covering her eyes ominously, "I-I'm sorry, Yugi. I really am. I'm so sorry that I hurt you like that, and drove you to suicide. I-I'm not worthy of your forgiveness.".

She turned away from Yugi, feeling very unworthy to even look at her dead husband in the eyes. She soon felt a warm, gentle hand on her shoulder. Yugi was now solid, someone from above allowing him to take physical form in her dream.

She wanted to brush it off, but could not find the strength to do so. Yugi turned her around and gently told her to look at him.

"Please, Yugi. I don't deserve this.", Mai whispered.

With a firm, but gentle grasp of her face, Yugi tilted her head up and saw Yugi showing off a sad smile. He then asked, "Mai, even when you were with Joey, did you still truly loved me?".

Mai's eyes watered again, and the answer from her this time was without words. She embraced her husband tightly, and started to sob heavily on his shoulders. He embraced her as well, holding her shaking body tightly.

After she calmed down some, she whispered truthfully, "Yes, Yugi. Even after being with Joey, I still loved you. Even after all of this, I still love you.".

Yugi quietly breathed a sigh of relief, but Mai didn't catch it. She was still holding on to Yugi, holding him for all she was worth. After a long time of holding to one another, Yugi slowly broke the embrace.

"Thank you, Mai. It really means a lot to me to hear that. And, I forgive you.", he told her.

She smiled at him, the first smile she had shown in a long while. She wiped her eyes clear of her tears and replied softly, "You're welcome, Yugi. And, it was also the truth.".

Yugi smiled right back, but then it turned into a small frown. He then asked, "But, what are you going to do now when the others hear of this?".

Mai was now scared to tell her husband on what she had originally planned. Now, it was evaporating in her mind. She shook her head as she rubbed her shoulders to keep warm. She replied, "I don't know, Yugi. I'm too scared to tell the truth to them. I'm scared on what they might do or say to me.".

Yugi then added knowingly, "You're also scared on what would our daughter does when she finds out too?".

Mai looked down, and weakly nodded her head. She admitted, "I just don't have the strength to face them alone.".

Yugi then took her hand in his and grasped it gently and firmly. He told her, "You won't be alone. I'll be by your side, even though you can't see me. I'll give you the strength you need to face this obstacle.".

Mai looked at him in the eyes, and she saw the old fire and determination burning brightly in them. It was the same look he had when he faced off against Panic, Pegasus, and Malik.

She smiled and hugged him tight once more. She whispered, "Thank you, Yugi. Thank you very much.". Now, she felt her old strength returning back to full glory now. At that point, the world around them started to change once more. The darkness was now becoming pure white, but it was gradual.

"Please, take care of Anastasia now, Mai. She'll need the love and care only you can give her.", Yugi told her.

Mai nodded, totally vowing to fulfill Yugi's request to the very end. She then confessed to him before he left, "Yugi, listen to me. Even after all of this, I won't go back to Joey.".

He was about to say something, when she put a slender finger to his lips to silence him. She continued, "I love you so much, and I still do. It would be a disgrace for me to go to him, after what I did to you. So, I'm not going to get together with Joey, now or ever.".

She finished, "I'll raise our daughter by myself, and wait for another to come into my life. But, he will have to be like you. I won't accept anything less. You were the best to me, and still are. I want to have a husband, a father for Anastasia, to be on the same level as you are.".

Yugi sighed, knowing his wife stubborn streak. He nodded, then kissed her on the forehead. He whispered, "Take care Mai, and remember me.".

She pulled his head down to her level and gave him a full kiss on the lips. It lasted for about a moment before she answered, "I will, Yugi. I'll take care of everything, and I'll always remember you.".

She slowly backed away from Yugi, and it was at that point the entire world blazed with white light. Yugi dissolved into nothingness, and soon Mai followed.

End of Dream

Mai woke up with a start, some sweat forming on her forehead. She felt a little bit hot, and fanned herself to cool down. Quickly, the visions of the dream she had kicked into her brain full force. She slowly and gingerly touched her lips to where she kissed Yugi on, wondering if it was all for real.

She closed her eyes and lifted her face high up. She whispered, "Yugi, I promise to be strong. And also look after Anastasia the best I can.".

She looked back at her clock, and saw that it was 3:30 p.m. Anastasia would be getting off school right now, and it was time to pick her up.

Mai went back downstairs, exited the house, and hopped into her car. Before she turned the ignition, a gentle wind picked up and it caressed her face. She smiled, knowing on whom that was. She the turned on her car and drove out to pick up her angel.

'It'll be a very tough road ahead, but I'll endure it. I won't quit now or ever.', she told herself as she started to plan out on what was ahead of her.

(Author's Notes: I know it's a bit long, but it's the best I could come up with. I hope you all like it.

Yugi: I really must admit, this is a very long and moving chapter DJ. Even I'm surprised by this one.

Darien: Let's hope other agree with you there, Yugi.

DJ: Now, for the questions for the Yugi fangirls out there!

1.) Think Mai's first vision on what the others would say to will come true?

2.) Was Yugi right to forgive Mai? Would you forgive her if you were in his shoes?

3.) You think Mai made the right decision on being single until another comes along? Would you do the same?

4.) Finally, does Mai have what it takes to carry on her promise? Would you have the strength to do so?

R&R, no flames, enjoy, and leave long reviews!)