Here it is. The final chapter! I would like to thank everyone that reviewed. And now, I own nothing.

Chapter 14

Epilogue

Two Months Later

Life at Domino High had returned to a form of normal.

Kaiba had returned to school after his absence. His excuse being that he was absent to protect his image from anymore mistaken slander.

Bakura was currently residing in a mental institution after pleading insanity and having Shadi pull some strings. If everything went according to plan, he would be back to Domino High within a few months.

X

Anzu stood on the roof of the school. There was a slight wind that danced with her hair and blue skirt. She stood near the edge, her fingers curled through the metal wires of the fence surrounding the edge. Before her, the orange sun was slowly sinking behind the horizon causing the sky to light up like fire before her, while behind her darkness slowly crept towards her. A silver cartouche necklace twinkled in the sunlight.

It had been two months since that fateful day that Bakura had kidnapped her and forced Atem to play a deadly Shadow Game. No one had heard from Atem since that day, either. Anzu hoped that he had been able to return Mana's soul to her body. She hoped he was happy.

Because she would never be happy again. Without him, she felt empty. Like a piece of her had left when he did. She supposed that that was true. She had spent so much time with him and grown so close to him in those three days that she knew she was forever changed. She rested her forehead against the warm metal of the fence, gazing at the setting sun.

The roof access door behind her opened and she heard someone step onto the roof. "Anzu?" Yuugi called gently.

Anzu did not turn to look. "I'm coming, Yuugi. I'll be down in a few minutes."

Without looking, she knew that Yuugi nodded his head. She heard him turn and walk back into the school, closing the door behind him.

After she had been released from the hospital, things had been different between Yuugi and her. They were always careful around each other, afraid to say the wrong thing. Anzu hated how distance she and Yuugi had grown, but she figured that once she got over Atem –if she ever did-, their relationship would return to normal.

She felt terrible for making Yuugi hurt. Yuugi had done nothing but be a perfect friend to her and loved her, and she had chosen Atem over him. Atem, the guy that she had hated with a fiery passion because of the way he had treated Yuugi. Atem, the guy she now loved because of all that he had done for her. She snorted. There must really be a fine line between love and hate.

She heard the door open again and close. The soft clicking of her visitor's boots traveled through the air.

"Yuugi, I told you I would be down in a few minutes." Anzu grumbled. She remained facing away from him.

The person stopped behind her. "Anzu-chan."

Anzu gasped, her eyes wide. There was only one person in the entire world with a voice that deep, that sensual. A voice that made her weak in the knees. A voice she would never forget if she lived forever.

Anzu slowly turned, her body stiff. She felt her chest tighten and tears of joy prick behind her eyes. "Atem."

Atem stood before her, his black leather almost blending into the shadows. His puzzle hug from its thick, silver chain. His eyes sparkled and his familiar smirk was sprayed across his face.

"How could you confuse me with Yuugi?" He joked lightly.

Anzu's tears fell from her face, gleaming in the dim light. She launched herself at Atem, throwing her arms around his waist and holding him tightly to her. Atem remained like a brick wall, not budging an inch from her attack. However, he threw his arms around her own waist, holding her just a tightly. He buried his face in her soft hair as she sobbed into his chest.

"I…thought I…would never…see you again!" She cried into his chest, her hot tears damping his smooth shirt.

One of his hands moved up into her hair, tangling in the glossy strands. "Anzu." He whispered huskily.

She tilted her head back and looked up into his swirling crimson eyes. Atem removed his hand from her waist and cupped her face, whipping away her tears with his thumb pad. His eyes searched her face, as if he was seeing her for the first time.

"How are you back here? I thought you had to return to Egypt. What about Mana?" Anzu asked, a million more questions swirling in her head.

Atem took a deep breath. "After you were taken to the hospital, I left on the first flight to Egypt. I did not wish to leave, but I had to return the ring and Mana's soul."

Anzu nodded. "I understand. I just wish you could have waited until after I had woken up."

Atem's eyes saddened. "It was unbearable to leave you…not knowing how you were. I too longed to wait for you to awaken, but I figured it would be easier on you if I just left."

Anzu buried her face in his chest again. "I was so worried about you. I wanted you here, but I knew they needed you in Egypt. Mana needed you."

"Yes, Mana…" Atem whispered. Anzu tensed. "Once I arrived in Cairo, Shadi was waiting at the airport for me and together we went to Thebes where Mana's body was being preserved in the temple. Shadi had thought that we would not be able to return Mana's soul, but we were able to."

Anzu looked back up at Atem's face. His eyes were guarded. "Something went wrong?"

Atem nodded. "Sort of. Not all of her soul was returned to her body. A piece of it, her Ka, did not return and instead created a new being."

"New being?" Anzu was confused.

Atem sighed. "I am not sure how to explain it all. Her Ka animated a Duel Monsters card, giving life to the Dark Magician Girl."

"So…there are two Manas?" Anzu asked, puzzled. "Like, how there were two Bakuras?"

Atem grinned lightly. "Something like that."

"That only partially answers one question." Anzu reminded him softly.

"After Mana was…revived, I returned the ring to Mahado and resumed my responsibilities as Pharaoh. Though this feeling kept interrupting me. I was even more muddled than before." Atem leaned his face closer to hers.

Anzu felt weak under his penetrating gaze. Her eyelids fluttered. "What feeling?" She breathed.

"An odd mixture of depression and love, Anzu-chan. Shadi realized that I could not fulfill my responsibilities while my heart was not in them. I have been granted temporary leave so that I may complete my schooling in an actual school…and be with you."

Anzu's throat tightened with emotion. "Atem…"

His eyes saddened. "It will only be for the remainder of this year and next year."

"And then what?" Anzu asked, afraid of his answer.

"I will have to return to Egypt and accept my throne." Anzu stared up into his sincere eyes. She could see in their depths a sadness deep within his heart.

She smiled encouragingly. "Well, I'll just go back with you."

Atem's breathing stopped for a moment, his eyes wide with surprise. "Anzu…You do not have to give up your life…your friends…I want you to be happy."

"Atem, I haven't been happy since the day you left. How could I ever hope to be happy the rest of my life without you? Besides, I could still come back to see my friends." Anzu's voice was strong and her eyes were firm. Atem understood that she was serious.

"Anzu," Atem breathed as he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her softly. Closing her eyes, Anzu moved her hands up to his neck and pulled him closer, returning his kiss. After a moment, he pulled away from her slowly and rested his forehead against hers. Their eyes slowly opened. "Anzu, I am in love with you. I have thought of nothing but you since I left and I am overjoyed that you are willing to return to Egypt with me."

Anzu smiled happily. "I love you, too, Atem."

His lips crashed back to hers and they resumed their kiss. Their mouths moving roughly and passionately across the others. Electric sparks tingled throughout their bodies.

Between them, Anzu's cartouche lightly pressed into their chests. Right where their rapidly beating hearts would be.

X

Yuugi closed the roof access door closed behind him quietly, careful to not make too much noise. A tear escaped his eye and he rubbed it away fiercely. He should be happy for Anzu. Because if he truly loved her, he would want her to be happy, no matter whom she wanted to be with. Even if it wasn't him.

He miserably walked down the flight of stairs that lead to the hallway. He watched his feet as he slowly walked through the hallways and to the main door. Yuugi started home, wanting nothing more than to curl up in his bed.

He heard delicate footsteps ahead of him, but he figured the person would walk around him and continued looking down. He didn't want anyone to see the hurt in his eyes.

Yuugi yelped when he ran into something hard and fell back to the ground on his backside. A girlish yelp filled the air as someone else fell to the ground before him, thick books falling to the sidewalk and papers fluttering in the breeze before landing beside the textbooks.

Yuugi looked up, his eyes wide and face red. "I'm so sorry!" He sat up and began to collect the books. The girl before him sat up and also reached for books. Yuugi refused to look at her.

"It's fine. I wasn't watching were I was going. I was so captivated by the pretty surroundings." Her voice held a thick accent. French, Yuugi thought.

Yuugi placed his hand over a red book the same time the girl did, their hands brushing the others. He looked up and was face to face with a girl with long blonde hair and eyes a color lighter than Anzu's. Glasses hung down her nose, making her eyes look larger. They both blushed deeply.

"Um…Is that a Domino High uniform?" The girl asked, breaking the moment. Yuugi nodded. She smiled and reached up her hand. "I'm transferring there. My name is Rebecca."

Yuugi smiled and took her hand, shaking it. "I'm Mutou Yuugi."

Rebecca winked. "Pleased to meet you, Yuugi-kun."

I just could not leave Yuugi all alone. I'm not that cruel. Lol. And I'm sorry that this didn't end with vaseshipping, Aqua Girl 007. Review, please!

~Azarath101