Puppet Love

(Hurls yet
another grenade at her persuers):

Lay off, already! It�s only a fan-fic, and I�m sure as hell not the first author to kill off those two, so gimme a break! Sheesh, some otakus ar just so..!

Well, this one here�s as slow and quiet as it is long, so lean back and relax.

Ja ne!^^

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23.
Leaving

They buried them next to each other, seeing as they had died at exactly the same time, 04.13 am.

Everybody was there, even the Ishtars, to give the two duelists the final honors.

Sugoroku Muuto was a broken man, he had aged incredibly over the past few days, and couldn�t find the strength within to even cry.

Anzu did, and although there was no sound, her body shook with the sobs whacking it.

Honda and Shizuka stood next to each other, each supporting the other one. Both had lost their brother, but the young man had to say good-bye to his two best friends aswell.

He really didn�t know, if he could go on anymore.

Shizuka felt sad. For Yami, for Yugi, for Jou, even for Seto. But mostly for Jou.

Her brother had returned to life, just to have his best friend die in his arms.

Green-brown eyes glanced at Honda�s chest.

Jou�s dogtags had arrived the day before with the mail, and although no note or letter was included, the unspoken message was clear:

Honda had been donned with the role of her protector, because Jou would no longer be able to do so.

Otogi was both jealous and relieved. He knew, it would have been too much of a burden for him to carry, never mind how much he liked the younger girl.

Even though he had befriended Yugi, Honda and, in time, Jou, he had always felt a little left out.

Still he couldn�t help the tears escaping his emerald eyes.

Mokuba was the silent mourner.

No tears, no sobs, no cries.

The boy only stared at the ground, movements automated and gaze absent, as he put his elder brother to rest.

However, he refused to be taken from the graveyard, and after several failed attempts of coaxing him into the waiting limo, his bodyguard only shook his head and left the young boy standing there.

In the deserted graveyard, the boy's form stood out like a dark candle.

Leather, softly rustling on cloth, announced the black-clad figure coming to a stop next to the boy.

�I'm
sorry.�

Mokuba nodded, then sighed and, for the first time in days, rose his head to stare at the wooden plate engraved with Seto's name.

�Why did
you have to-�

�It was either him or me. Sooner than later, it would have been me.�

Minutes passed in silence, only disturbed by the soft pitter-patter of the rain which had started falling. Finally, the man asked:

�You knew, what he did to me?�

Again Mokuba nodded. This time, a single tear trickled down his cheek, only to be brushed away by a strong, calloused finger.

�I..I knew it, but, I-I couldn't stop him. He was-was so..happy, he always..smiled��

A choked
sob, before he concluded:

�He..he really loved you, you know?�

The face beneath the well-trimed black hair contracted a moment in a pained expression, but the eyes remained hidden beneath dark bangs and even darker sunglasses.

�I know. It..it could have been magic.�

Mokuba watched the young man's adam's apple move up and down, as the elder fought with his tears.

A small hand was offered and enclosed by a larger one, each sharing the hurt and comfort of the other.

Finally, the younger one sighed and whispered:

�What should I do now. I'm all alone��

�No, you're not. And you know it. They'll always be there for you.�

Mokuba blinked.

�What about-Kaiba Corp.?�

A smile, teetering on the egde of being a smirk, quirked the elder's lips.

�You've seen the best at work. I know, you can make it. You're smart and strong, and you got people backing you up.�

One slender hand snuck into Mokuba's coat, dropping a folded sheet into the inner pocket, even as the young man bent down and rasped:

�Remember, if you should ever really need me, I'll be there. Wakarimashita?�*

Blue-grey eyes glistened, and then Mokuba threw his arm's around the elder one's neck, sobbing:
�Yes. A-arigato gozaimasu, Jounouchi.�

Returning the embrace, the former blond hushed:

�It's the least I can do.�

Watching the younger Kaiba enter the limo, Jou frowned.

'You need to get out of here' whispered the eye hovering over his left shoulder.

Katsuya
shook his head.

'There's one more thing left to do.'

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yes, there is one more chappie to this story and, if I get enough reviews, even an epilogue...maybe.

*Jap: understood?