Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Apocalypse ❯ Divide and Conquer ( Chapter 14 )

Marik Ishtar77: mmm…naughty Yami

KuraMagician Girl: *hands Joey plushie* Yami's so good when bad.

ZL Chan: *hands seto plushie and blushes* awww..you're too kind

 

/……/-Yami Aten/Aku

\......\-Aten

 

Divide and Conquer

 

Aten wrung his hands nervously in the office. His head and his eyes were cast to the floor. His mind swirled with the topic of discussion. Chapman sat in front of Aten patiently, waiting the teen to answer.

“I wish I can take it all away. I wish I didn't have to feel this way.”

“Then you are wishing not to be human, Aten. Emotions are part of the human experience.”

Aten shook his head. “Being human bites. I don't want…..I wish I could just be with Robbie without…..being afraid.”

Chapman nodded. “I know that you've had problems with this since you became sexually active with Robbie.”

“If I get aroused, I can't stay that way for long. If I don't get aroused, Robbie may think that I don't find him attractive. Sometimes I get too afraid and I lose it. Even when I am enjoying what Robbie is doing to me….well, I always enjoy what he does…..it takes me forever and a day to get hard.”

“Hold on a moment, Aten.” Chapman nodded and turned over the pages of notes. His eyes squinted to see the pages. “This is a recurring problem. You know, Aten, my job is not only to make sure that your mind is being healed and helped. My job is also to make sure that you are taking care of yourself physically. I think it would be a wise idea to make an appointment to see Dr. Zira.”

Aten swallowed hard and bit his lip. “Zira? W-Why?”

“Because, Aten, your problems with arousal may not just be emotional….they maybe physical.”

Aten sat back on the couch and rolled his eyes. He jumped out of his seat. “I'm only seventeen years old! I'll be eighteen in two months! Have you ever heard of a seventeen year old having problems with…that?”

“Aten, I'm not saying you do. I'm saying that we can't risk you having a problem and not treating it.”

The Egyptian winced and rubbed his chest as a sharp pain spread through his chest. Aten folded his arms and walked to the window. “What's the point? I only have a couple of years left with my cardiomy-op-a-thy.”

“Aten, I care about you and want to make sure that you are taking care of yourself. When you take care of the body, the mind will follow.”

Aten shrugged. “I don't know if I can do that.”

Chapman crossed his legs. “Aten, you have made progress. What you have been through takes time and patience on your part. I just want to make sure that everything is working as it should.”

Aten sighed. “What will he do?”

“Do you check yourself for any abnormalities?”

Aten blushed and groaned. “Dr. Chapman….”

“Well, do you?”

“No.”

“Okay, Aten, did your father ever tell you to do it?”

Aten nodded. “Yes. He told me how. He wasn't nervous at all. But you should have seen Father Bakura and my mother talking to Aria about Self Breast Examinations. Father Bakura was red as a cherry and he kept stuttering. It was so funny.”

“Aten, you should check yourself for bumps and abnormalities. It's important.”

Aten laughed. “Prostate and tes…..testic…test-ic-u-lar cancer are the least of my problems, doctor.”

“Well, I know, Aten, but your physical well-being is also part of my job…..and my concern.”

Aten sighed. “Okay. What will he do to me, though?”

“He'll give you a prostate exam and just examine you for anything that could be wrong.”

Aten groaned. “Oh sweet Isis….”

“It's for your own good, Aten. I highly suggest that you look into it.”

Aten sighed. “Okay. I will.”

“Robbie will go with you, Aten. He can be your support. He's always been there for you before.”

Aten sniffled. “Robbie deserves better than me.”

“Robbie loves you for who you are…not for what you can and cannot do, Aten.”

The Egyptian sighed. “Robbie deserves someone who isn't afraid. Robbie is a wonderful person….he deserves much better. Maybe….maybe I don't deserve Robbie.”

“What type do you deserve then, Aten?”

Aten shrugged. “Men like my grandfather…..and the pharaoh.”

“You deserved to get hurt? You deserved to get taken without your consent?”

“Yes.”

Chapman shook his head. “You know that is not true.”

Aten wrapped his arms around him. “No. It is true.”

“Aten, you are a wonderful person. You are a wonderful artist! I'm coming to your art show, by the way. Aten, you have plenty to offer Robbie.”

“Oh yes? What, exactly?”

“Only you can figure that out, Aten. You offer Robbie something that nobody else can.”

Aten sighed. “I don't know what that could be.”

“You'll figure that out, Aten. You are a wonderful person. You offer a lot to many people.”

The teen shrugged quietly.

“Aten, we're out of time today, I'm afraid.”

The Egyptian pouted. “It goes so quickly.”

Chapman smiled. “Yes, it does, Aten. Look, I know you are worried about all this. But Robbie will be right there to hold your hand and help you. He loves you very much, Aten, and I know you love him.”

“I do.”

“Spend some quality time with him tonight. You both need it. I'll see you tomorrow at the art exhibit.”

Aten nodded. “Thank you, Dr. Chapman.”

The teen left the office and walked down the hall.

“Hello, Aten. See you next Thursday at this time?”

The Egyptian nodded. “Yes.”

`Okay, then, Aten. See you later.”

“Thank you. Bye.” Aten opened the door and walked down the steps. He opened the front door and walked into the crowds along the sidewalk. “What do I have to offer?”

*************************

Aten's POV

 

I sat at the kitchen table staring at the cell phone in front of me.

I have to call Dr. Zira. But what do I say once I call? It's so embarrassing!

I can't have a problem with my prostate or anything, I'm only seventeen!

Tapping my fingers on the table, I looked up to see Robbie's dad come into the kitchen.

“Hi, Aten. Waiting for a call?”

No…just waiting to get the guts to call Zira up and make an appointment.

“No, I have to call the doctor's office and make an appointment.”

“Oh, okay. You look nervous.”

I shrugged and nodded. “Yeah, I am.”

“Well, Aten, you're a strong kid. You've been through this stuff before. If you want to keep your ticker good, then you'll have to see the doctor when he needs to.”

My father-in-law was a trip! `Ticker'….I like that little word for my heart. Then again, my pacemaker is a literal ticker, too. Both of which I have no idea when they are going to literally going to blow on me.

I wince and felt another wave of pain in my chest. I clutched my shirt and leaned over, much to my Father-In-Law's horror.

“MIRANDA!”

I held up my hand. “Just…the usual….pains….dad.”

Miranda came running downstairs in her pink satin bathrobe. “What's going on?”

Robbie's aunt also came into the kitchen. I highly doubt it's out of concern that she came in to see me. She's made it clear that she doesn't approve of me. I don't care. Let her think what she wants.

Mom put her hand on my shoulder. “Aten, are you okay?”

“It's okay….mom….just a pain.”

“I thought the kid was having a problem,” Daniel said.

I took a deep breath and felt the pain subside.

“I'm okay…..really.”

“Aten, are you okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I'm okay.”

Robbie ran into the room. He looked worried. “Aten? Are you okay?”

“Yes, don't worry.”

“Well, I do worry. You're my husband. How could I not?”

I looked up and saw Vera pretending to gag herself with her finger. She turned her nose up and left the room.

Robbie stood beside me and put his hand on my hair. He rubbed it gently and I sighed. His hands always feel so good.

“How did your appointment with Chapman go?”

I looked down at the phone again. “I have to call Zira for an appointment….but I…I'm nervous.”

“Are you sick?” Miranda asked.

“No.”

“Aten, I think it's very important for you to take care of yourself. Dr. Zira won't do anything that will hurt you intentionally.”

I know he wouldn't….

But the thought is always there….

He's going to go inside of me…He's going to probe me to make sure nothing is wrong.

But I don't want anything going into me.

It hurts.

It feels bad.

It's scary.

I don't want to do it.

“Robbie, I'll make the appointment later.”

“Aten? If you wait, it's only going to delay it.”

“Robbie, I just don't want to go through with it, okay?”

“Why not? Aten, I said I'd be right there with you if you needed me.”

I stood up and faced Robbie. I could feel the blood beginning to boil in my veins.

//Let me out……I'll give him a piece of my mind.//

It's my Yami! I haven't heard from him…in a while.

\No. I will handle this.\

“Robbie, I know you'll be there for me, but…you wouldn't understand.”

His face appeared as if what I said hurt him. “What do you mean I wouldn't understand? I'm your husband! If you can't talk to me, whom else can you talk to?”

Daniel took mom's hand. “Let's leave these two alone.”

Mom and Dad left and Robbie and I were left to our battlefield.

“It's not that I can't talk to you, it's just….that….I don't know. I have my reasons.”

“Aten, I want you to take care of yourself and so does Chapman. Do you want me to make an appointment for you?”

Wait!

“Are you saying I can't make my doctor's appointments now?”

“No!”

“Robbie, I'm not going to call Chapman!”

Robbie grabbed the phone angrily. “Give this to me!”

“Robbie!”
I grabbed the phone as Robbie was dialing the numbers. He brought the phone close to his body, so it was hard to wrestle it from him.

“Aten, let go!” Robbie bellowed as he became unsteady on his cane as we fought for the phone.

“Robbie, you are not calling Zira's!”

“Yes I am! And I am going to go with you!”

My fingers gripped Robbie tightly. “Oh, so now you are my mother?!”

I wrestled Robbie to the ground and I heard a vicious snarl come out of me.

Robbie tugged desperately. “I am calling the doctor!”

“No, you're not!”

Robbie released the phone as I gave a rough tug. I fell back on my ass.

Robbie struggled to his feet. “Fine! Don't call Zira! You just keep pretending that nothing is wrong, Aten Ishtar! When you are done pretending, you come see me!”

Oh no….Robbie's angry!

“Robbie, I….”

“No, Aten! I'm not going to hear it! If you want to keep pretending that nothing is wrong with you, that is your own fault!” Robbie pointed his finger at me. “It's your own damn fault, Aten!”

Robbie left the kitchen and I jumped to my feet.

I followed him out to the living room and grabbed his arm.
”Wait, Robbie….”

Robbie tore his arm from me. “Leave me alone.”

`Leave me alone'……

It was like a bomb in my heart…that had exploded.

Robbie was angry at me….

Robbie hated me.

“Guys, calm down,” Miranda said.

Robbie limped up the steps with his cane. “I am calm!” Robbie screamed angrily and cried up the steps.

I waited until Robbie went upstairs and shut the door to our bedroom.

Robbie's cries could be heard downstairs.

I narrowed my eyes. “I'm out of here!”

“Aten, wait!” Miranda called after me, but I slammed the door behind me.

I walked down to the park. I was so angry, I had to walk off my anger before my anger turned physical.

It always happened with me when I became intensely angry.

The desire to hit Robbie was within reach…but I won't let myself do that.

I'm not the abusive asshole my grandfather was.

Never do I want to slap Robbie like my grandfather slapped me.

I love Robbie too much.

The park was my retreat when I needed to get away. The field, sky, and the river was a source of great inspiration.

I hurried down to the park and sat under the shade. I leaned over and held my chest.

My heart is beating a mile a minute….

It's hard to catch my breath….

It hurts….

I don't know what hurts more….the fact that I hurt Robbie's feelings….or the fact that the recent drama just upset the heart.
Every week I call the hospital for a heart transplant….

And every week it's the same thing…

`No, Mr. Ishtar, we do not have a matching heart donor.'

Or…

`No, Mr. Ishtar, the only heart donor we have is for a child.”

I wiped my eyes clear of tears.

Let a child have the heart.

The child has a whole life ahead of him.

Me? Not me.

I've lived longer than expected…..

I was supposed to die twelve years ago when I was five….at the latest. I'm seventeen now.

I buried my face in my hands and tried to hold back the tears. “Robbie, I'm sorry.”

I cried.

/Baby Aten…../

\Shut up….\

/Crying like an infant because you fought with your husband….how pathetic./

I cried harder….

“What's wrong? Are you okay?”

I looked up and saw a boy with brown hair and brown eyes. He sat beside me.

“Not to intrude, but what's wrong?”

“Nothing,” I said, wiping my eye again.

“Something has to be wrong, or you wouldn't be crying in the park.” The guy chuckled. “You don't see many guys crying in the park.”

I lowered my head. “I had a fight with someone…..very special to me.”

“Aww…that's too bad. I had a fight with someone I loved, too. It was a long time ago. He never took me back.”

Never took him back?

What if Robbie never takes me back?

I cried again and he pat my leg.

“Come on, don't cry. It's hard to fight with someone you love. I know. But, maybe it's time that you spend some time apart. Do you live in the same house?”

“Yes.”

“Ahhh…there's your problem. Well, do you two fight often?”

“No.”

“That's good. My name's Kadin.”

I turned to look at him a bit. He looked a couple years older than me. He had a nice tan. His eyes were sparkling and his arms looked strong. His muscles were not huge, but it was obvious that he did work out.

“My name is Aten.”

He smiled at me. “Wow! Where are you from?”

“Well…my father is Egyptian….my mother is British.”

“That's an interesting combination.”

I smiled a little.

“My folks didn't come from any places like that. My family came over from France a couple hundred years ago.”

Kadin put his hand on my shoulder. “Look, I know that it's not easy fighting with someone you love. I wished my boyfriend took me back….but he didn't. He left me alone. He found someone else.”

“That's hard. Sorry.”

“Well, I'm playing the singles circuit again. It's hard getting back in the dating game after being out for so long.”

I sat up and crossed my arms. “I'm actually married to another guy. That's who I fought with.”

“Oh, I see. You play on my team, then.”

We both chuckled. “I never thought of it as a game or a team. Robbie and I have been friends since we were three years old. We were still in diapers.”

“That's a long time to be close to someone. Why did you fight, if you don't mind me asking?”

“I have to make a doctor's appointment and I didn't want to. I was afraid.”

Kadin crossed his arms and legs. “Yeah, doctors suck. I don't like doctors. They're creepy and they put ungodly things up your ass. I don't like them one bit.”

“Robbie grabbed the phone and wanted to dial the number.”

“Sheesh….he sounds controlling.”

I sniffled. “I could have made the appointment myself, there was no need for him to do it for me. I'm not an invalid! This isn't the first time we've fought about letting me do things for myself.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I have a bad heart. I have car-dio-myop-athy. I need a heart transplant. Two years ago, I had a heart attack….in the middle of English class.”

Kadin chuckled. “Well, that explains it. School sucks, too. I would have had a heart attack, too, if it meant me getting away from that `To Be or Not To Be Bullshit.'”

“I had a hard time in school. I'm dyslexic.”

“Oh, really? That must have been a bitch.”

“No, I got help from a tutor.”

“At least they helped you.”

I watched the children run for the swings and the slide.

Robbie and I used to play on those swings. We would take turns pushing each other when we were really little. In the sandbox, we made sand castles and used Robbie's army men to protect it.

Robbie….

Maybe I was too hard on him.

Kadin turned to me. “I like you. We should hang out more often, Aten.”

I smiled. Wow…someone other than Robbie likes me? There's a first.

“I should go. I want to stop home and visit my family. Then I'll go home and talk to Robbie.”

“Hey, Aten, let's hang out sometime. What do you say?”

I scratched my head. “Sure. We can meet here again on Monday. By then I'll have to paint again.”

“You paint?”

I nodded. “It's what I do. I don't work. I live off of the money from my paintings and drawings.”

“I'd love to see them sometime.”

“Sure. I'll be here around noon. I usually bring my paints, my brushes, and my canvas. I sit by the river and have lunch and begin painting.”

“I'll see you around, then, Aten.”

“Goodbye.”

I started walking home, thinking of Robbie.

I wonder if Robbie's still crying…..

*************************

Yugi searched through the new shipment he received. He quickly flipped through the new cards before he placed them in the glass display case.

Yugi gasped and his jaw dropped. “Winged Kuriboh Lv10! Oh wow! This could really do a good deal of damage! I'll have to put that in my deck!”

Yugi flipped through the cards and grinned. “Hey, here's one for Seto! `Chaos Emporer Dragon-Envoy of the End.' Wow….he'll really like its effect, too!”

Yugi heard the door open and the jingle of the bell on the door. He looked up and saw Seto Kaiba walking towards the register.

“Seto? Wow…to what do I owe this pleasure?”

Seto looked down at Yugi. “I need to speak to you.”

“You sound pissed.”

“I'm concerned.”

Yugi placed the cards in a pile and looked up at Seto. “Seto, I'll have the payment for your last shipment on Friday. It's been a slow week.”

“No, no, it's not about the shipment. It's about Yami.”

Yugi narrowed his eyes. “I have nothing to say about him, Seto!”

“Yugi, Yami attacked Alex and Kendall the other night….along with me.”

“Oh no! Are you okay? Seto, I'm so sorry!”

Seto held up his hand. “It's not your fault your yami is an ass. Yugi, Yami wants me to help him destroy Aten and Aria….and he accused me of sleeping with Ryou….Which I did not do! EVER!”

Yugi scratched his chin. “Really? I thought you and Ryou were together back in high school.”

“We were just close friends. We hung out and had some fun…but Ryou had feelings for Bakura. I couldn't let what I felt get in the way of Ryou being happy.”

“So…you never slept with Ryou?”

Seto shifted on his feet uncomfortably. “I admit to nothing.”

Yugi gasped. “You DID sleep with Ryou, didn't you?”

“Can we get back to the topic?! Yami threatened Ryou and the kids' lives! That is more important than if Ryou and I ever slept together!”

“You're hiding something.”

Seto groaned and rubbed his temples. “Yugi, I'm not discussing my sex life here. I'm talking about very important stuff here.”

“Oh, I understand, Seto. It's just…you and Ryou are so close, it's hard NOT to believe that you've never slept with him.”

“Yugi, your yami threatened the lives of all that oppose him. That includes the kids, Ryou, the Ishtars, Bakura, even you. He's even…threatened Joey.”

“Joey?! Why?”

“Yami threatened to kill Joey if I did not help him.”

“That's awful!” Yugi looked down and bit his lip nervously. “I've messed things up for everyone. I should have left the Puzzle shattered. I just…I thought Yami would change for the better.”

“Yugi, what's done is done. There's no use beating yourself up about the past. You wanted your yami. We're not going to hate you because you wanted your dark.”

“I thought he would change for the better.”

“We all thought so, Yugi. Has Yami stopped by?”

Yugi shook his head. “No. I haven't seen him.”

Seto growled. “Damn it!”

“I can't believe he would threaten Joey's life! Joey and Yami were so close back in Duelist Kingdom. Joey even put his life on the line to help Yami save the world and to save my Grandpa from Pegasus. I cannot believe he would just turn on us like that.”

Seto narrowed his eyes. “The mutt did help. Joey was very brave.”

Yugi sighed. “I don't want Joey hurt. I want to talk to Yami, but I can't get into the Shadow Realm without a portal. I can't make a portal.”

“No….but Aria can….and any other yami.”

Yugi sighed. “Maybe I should go speak to him. I can't have him threatening my friends' lives! It's cruel of him to even think of hurting Joey!”

“Yugi, I won't allow any harm to come to Joey or my company! I refuse to give in to intimidation! I won't let anything or anyone hurt Joey!”

Yugi nodded. “I'm going to the Shadow Realm and talking sense into Yami. I won't have him hurting anyone.”

Seto nodded. “I was hoping you would have seen Yami. This way I can confront him myself.”

“No, Seto. He's my yami. He's my responsibility.”

“Yugi, do me a favor. Don't go alone into the Shadow Realm.”

“I won't, Seto. I promise I'll take someone with me.”

Seto nodded. “Okay, Yugi. Do that. Yami is dangerous and you don't want to be caught in a bad position with him around. I've said my piece. I have a company to run.”

Seto turned and Yugi picked up the dragon card. “Seto? I have something for you.”

Seto turned and Yugi handed him the `Chaos Emporer Dragon' card.

The CEO gave the shorter duelist a little smile. “Thank you, Yugi. I know this will come in handy someday.”

Yugi smiled. “I know it will.”

The CEO turned and left.

Yugi clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes. “Yami! How could you do this?!”

The shorter duelist locked the register and ran to the open sign. He flipped the sign to closed and ran out.

“I'm coming for you, Yami!”

After locking the door behind him, he ran for the only ones who could open a portal to the cold, dark realm where his dark resided.