Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Apocalypse ❯ A New Identity ( Chapter 24 )

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A New Identity

 

Marik kissed his Light, running his hands over Malik's legs. The hikari moaned into the kiss as Marik's gentle touch massaged the front of his pants.

“Are you enjoying yourself, hikari?”

Malik pulled back from the kiss and nodded with a devilish little grin. “I can't complain.”

Marik's expert hands slid under Malik's shirt and let his long, dexterous fingers rub the expanse of his husband's tan chest. The yami's kisses trailed down to Malik's neck. “Is my little kitten going to purr for me?”

Malik giggled and let a soft purr rumble in his throat.

“Good boy,” Marik whispered, licking the side of the other Egyptian's sensitive neck.

Aria entered the room slowly. “Sorry to interrupt, but is my father home yet?”

Marik pulled back from his siege on Malik's neck. “Nope, Chibi Yami. I haven't seen him.”

Aria sighed. “Oh…okay. I'll be in the backyard for a little bit longer. I have to get home and get Kai to bed soon.”

“We'll tell him to come to you when…..we….see….oh gods, Marik….”

Marik chuckled. “Oh gods, yes….You're so hot, baby.”

Aria sighed and returned to the back yard.

Malik straddled Marik's lap and wrapped his arm around Marik's shoulders. The two Egyptians pressed their bodies together as their hands explored each other freely.

The yami leaned against Malik and kissed along the mortal's collarbone.

The hikari smiled and ran his hands along the front of his yami's pants. “Marik….”

The front door opened and Bakura closed the door slowly behind him.

“Where is Ryou?”

Bakura looked down at the floor. “He's in a better place….with someone who deserves him more than I do.”

“What are you talking about?” Malik asked.

“Ryou is at KaibaCorp. Kaiba can take better care of him than I ever could.”

Marik patted Malik's arm and the hikari crawled off. “Itemri, what brought this on?”

Bakura climbed the stairs quietly, without responding.

“I'll be back down, hikari,” Marik said, following his former lover up the stairs.

Marik followed Bakura into his room. “Itemri, you look like shit. What happened?”

Bakura sat at the edge of the bed. “I went to see Seto at KaibaCorp after we were done with Kendall and Donny. I tried telling Seto about Ryou's odd, abusive behavior…and the son of a bitch didn't believe me!”

“Itemri, you know Seto thinks Ryou walks on water!”

Bakura stood up and turned to Marik angrily. “That is not my Ryou! That is a stranger!”

“Itemri, we have to go to the Shadow Realm and get to the bottom of this! We have to go now.”

“But only Aria can get us to the Shadow Realm. Where is she?”

Marik leaned against the dresser. “She's outside waiting for you. She needs a Daddy-Daughter Bonding…Thing.”

Bakura sighed. “Out of the frying pan …..and into the fire. Okay. Give me a few minutes with her. I'll talk to her.”

An evil grin crossed Marik's lips. “Good, it gives me a couple minutes to finish up with Malik.”

“Is sex always on your mind one hundred percent of the time?”

Marik shook his head. “Absolutely not true!.......It's on there only ninety percent of the time!”

“What's the other ten percent?”

“The stuff that's not sex-related.”

Bakura rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Why do I even bother?”

“Because you like that ninety percent of the time,” Marik answered and left, laughing hard.

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

Aria turned as she heard the back door open. Her eyes glistened in the porch light as she watched her father step down the steps to the deck. He walked down the few steps and stood in front of her.

“Aria Kanika Itemri?”

“Dad.”

Only the night breeze made a noise. Bakura watched as her spiky hair flowed in the breeze. Her dress flowed in the wind current.

Her belly began bulging slightly in the front as her pregnancy seemed to advance without complications.

“Father…..we need to talk.”

“Likewise. Aria….I need to talk to you about this. You're old enough to know the truth now.” Bakura sat on the steps. “Aria, I was a monster when I first met your mother. I was a cruel, heartless savage who wanted nothing more than revenge on people who had turned to dust thousands of years ago. I was bitter…..angry. My heart was filled with darkness….and vicious hatred of all things good and pure. Aria….your mother was good….and he was pure….that is…when I first met him.”

Aria sat beside him. “When did you first meet him?”

“Your grandfather gave the Millennium Ring to Ryou when he was ten years old. Since then, he has been mine alone. I had always sensed that Seto holds a piece of your mother's heart, however. Ryou always ran to Seto after I lost my temper with him. Seto was always his guardian.”

Aria turned to him. “Why was your heart consumed in darkness?”

Bakura lowered his head. “Five thousand years ago, Aria, I was four years old and thrown to the streets to provide for myself. My mother had just had a baby…and my father could not afford to feed both of us. I learned how to hate intimacy early….I was betrayed by my own father. This is why, Aria, I never wanted to subject you to that type of cruelty. I wanted to be the best father I could possibly be to you and Aten. I've never wanted anything less. Ryou and I went without so you kids could have what you needed. I learned to hate intimacy and hate anything that was good and loving. On the street, everyone is out to get you. I soon earned the respect of the thieves, murderers, and thieves of Cairo until I became their King, so to speak. I wanted people who had nothing…..to have something. I never saw that as a crime. If I could have saved one child on the street from starving, I had the opportunity to show a child the love and compassion I never had. At four years old, Aria, the prostitutes nursed me and clothed me. I learned their trade….I learned things no four year old should know.”

Aria reached over and took her father's shaking hand. “I'm sorry….”

“I learned how to hate early. But, Ryou showed me….through his patience and suffering, that love is possible…and intimacy can be a wonderful thing shared between two people who love each other. Love wasn't some bozo who paid a few lousy cents to give him a handjob.”

Aria's eyes filled with tears. “Daddy…..”

“Aria, I never wanted to be that heartless monster I was. I had Ishtar….and when we died and we spent eternity searching for each other in the Shadow Realm, it broke my heart. I couldn't find him. I was alone…hurt….angry….and lonely. I had nobody. I lost everything I cared about. I loved Marik and I lost him. So, after being released from the Millennium Ring, I was a bitter asshole with five thousand years of isolation and hatred to work through. What I did to your mother was wrong…but, honey….Chibi Yami…I never imagined how special your mother would become in my life.” Bakura laughed. “And no way could I ever predict that I would have you.”

Aria smiled and shifted close to her father. “I see.”

“I know I'm responsible for my own actions, Aria….and I deeply regret everything I did to your mother. The last thing I wanted….was for you to have a cruel, barbaric father like me, Aria.”

Aria hugged her father. “I never knew.”

“And I never hoped you would, baby girl. The truth is, Aria, that I was so happy when I found out that you were going to be coming into our lives. But, I was also afraid. I didn't want to repeat my father's mistakes.”

“You didn't. You were a great father…you put up with a lot of my nonsense.”

Bakura hugged Aria. “You are not nonsense.” He kissed her cheek. “You were my little girl. I can't deny that you are my daughter. You're so much like me…and the way I used to be.”

Aria sighed. “I'm sorry I was so angry, dad. I never knew….”

“I can understand why you are mad. And you have every right to be, but what I told you was the truth.”

Aria hugged her father again. “I was wrong, father. I'm sorry.”

“You have nothing to be upset about. Look, Aria, you may leave here, but you will always be my daughter. You will always be my special little girl. Nothing will change that.”

Aria smiled. “Thanks for talking to me, dad.”

Bakura hugged her. “You're my daughter. I owe you honesty.”

“Thanks, dad.”

“You're welcome, angel. Listen, Marik and I have to get to the Shadow Realm. Do you think you can open a portal for us?”

“Why are you going there?”

“We're going to see if the pharaoh is behind Ryou's odd behavior.”

Aria raised an eyebrow. “Will the two of you be okay?”

“We will. Promise.”

Aria stood up. “Okay. You go get him.”

Bakura opened up the door. “Hopefully he can get his paws off of Malik for a couple moments.”

Aria chuckled and felt a chilly breeze blow through her. She looked at the stars twinkling in the night sky.

A moment later, Bakura dragged Marik out of the house by his arm. “Oh, come on, Ishtar, you can pound Malik into the couch when we get back.”

Marik pouted. “You're no fun,” the blond yami said as he stuck his tongue out at Bakura.

“Don't stuck it out unless you intend on using it.”

Aria cleared her throat. “Are you two done yet? I have a son and a husband to get home to.”

“We're done.”

Aria nodded. “Good.”

Aria walked the yamis towards the shadows so their portal would be undetectable at night. She crossed her arms and recited her chant to open the portal.

The portal opened and Bakura hugged Aria. “Thank you, sweetheart. I can take it from here. You go back and be with Kai and Umi.”

Aria shook her head. “I am the only one to close it. Just be quick about it. I'll stand guard here.”

Bakura hugged her again. “That's my good girl. Be back soon.”

Marik and Bakura stepped through the portal.

The two yamis shuddered as the bitter cold of the Shadow Realm stung their skin.

“I never could get used to the cold here,” Marik said.

Dark Necrofear materialized in front of Bakura, holding her doll in her arms. “Hello, Lord Bakura.”

“Dark Necrofear, is the Pharaoh here?”

“I do not travel to the Shadow Realm Badlands. I keep my distance. The Helpless Child is the only one who has been to the Badlands and remains on the border. No one will venture into the Badlands….where evil lurks and vicious creatures threaten to cause suffering to any creature who travels there.”

Marik looked up and heard the roar of a familiar dragon. The Winged Dragon of Ra landed beside Dark Necrofear and lowered its head. “Master Marik.”

Marik reached up and pet the dragon's nose. “Hello, my Treasure. Have you felt the Pharaoh's presence?”

The Winged Dragon of Ra growled. “I do not go the Shadow Realm Badlands for fear of meeting the monster in the Castle of Illusions.”

“Monster?”

“We do not speak his name. He has grown more powerful than before.”

Bakura looked into the sky at the hovering castle in the distance. “A new monster?”

“Oh, no…he is old.”

Marik climbed on Ra's head and helped Bakura up behind him.

Bakura turned to Dark Necrofear. “You may go.”

“Yes, my lord,” the monster said before disappearing.

The dragon soared into flight towards the Temple in the Badlands.

“The pharaoh has to be here!” Marik said, holding onto the dragon.

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “The pharaoh is always there.”

They looked down and saw The Helpless Child standing on the border of the Badlands.

“Why does he stay there?”

Bakura shrugged. “He's just standing there looking at the temple. I have no idea.”

The Winged Dragon of Ra arrived at the fortress and lowered his head. The two yamis jumped off of the head and ran up the steps.

The Pharaoh's Servant appeared at the top of the steps.

The two yamis stopped. “What is your purpose here?”

“We've come to see that pharaoh! Ryou has been acting very strangely and I'm here to choke the truth out of him. Is your master hurting my Ryou?”

“Your lover is acting of his own accord. Our leader has nothing to do with it.”

Bakura growled. “I don't believe you!” The tomb robber charged up the steps. “Out of my way!”

The Pharaoh's Servant raised his hand and Bakura narrowed his eyes. “Die!”

Bakura removed the dagger from his belt and growled. “Ishtar! Cover me!”

Marik removed the dagger from the Millennium Rod. “Already done!”

Bakura threw his dagger at the servant. The dagger embedded itself in the monster's shoulder. The monster's hand sparked and threatened to send a wave of lightening towards Bakura.

“Itemri! Get out of the way!”

Bakura jumped to the side and Marik threw his dagger at the creature.

The dagger pierced the monster's head.

Bakura jumped behind the screaming monster and kicked it in the back, sending it down the stairs. Marik jumped over the falling monster and stood beside Bakura.

“Good job, Ishtar.”

“Good job, Itemri. Let's go get that pharaoh.”

The two yamis ran into the Temple and towards the large throneroom.

They looked around the empty room. Marik walked towards the blood-stained altar and picked up a pair of jeans and a red t-shirt.

“What is all this?”

Bakura walked to the altar and inhaled deeply. “I smell Ryou's scent on the altar. It's a familiar scent. It's not his blood on this altar, though. So why do I smell him here?”

Marik held up the clothes. “Why is Yami wearing jeans and a red t-shirt? Doesn't he just wear the same gauky outfit he did in Duelist Kingdom and Battle City?”

Bakura held up the clothing and looked at the size. The Tomb Robber laughed. “Yami is not a size small! These couldn't possibly fit him!”

“So why does he have these if he couldn't fit in them at all?”

Bakura shrugged. “I have no idea. Do you think he's trying to change his image?”

“We better warn Yugi about this, too, Itemri. If Yami is stalking Yugi wearing this, then he has to be warned. You know he tried killing Glenn and he's fully intent on getting Yugi back, no matter what.”

“Very true,” Bakura said. “Yami has a jealous streak a mile wide.” Bakura looked down and narrowed his eyes. “Here's more clothes behind here. What is Yami doing with all of these clothes?”

Bakura reached into the box and a comb fell out. “Black hair? A box? Contact lenses?....What is the meaning of all this?”

“Yami's using these things to create another identity.”

“But why wouldn't he just use his Shadow Magic?”

“Because maybe he knows we can detect it. Even if we can't detect it as well anymore, Aria still can. She can sniff Shadow Magic a mile away. It's in her blood.”

“Are you calling your daughter a Shadow-Magic-sniffing bloodhound?”

Bakura shook his head. “No, but she can sense it from a long distance away. Aten probably can, too, but not from as far away.”

Marik narrowed his eyes and grabbed a blue shirt. “Yami would want to move around as undetected as possible…especially around the kids.”

Bakura walked around and looked around. “YAMI! GET OUT HERE! SHOW YOURSELF!”

Yami didn't appear.

Bakura shook his head. “Yami's not here.”

Marik dropped the shirt. “He could be anywhere right now.”

Bakura growled. “We'll have to track him down in Domino. This place doesn't look much lived-in anymore.”

The two yamis walked towards the entrance and picked up their weapon and Item.

“Yugi deserves to know about this,” Marik said.

Bakura nodded. “I will go talk to the Short Stuff tomorrow. I have to get Aria's birthday present.”

“Do you know what you are getting her?”

Bakura smiled. “Something….special.”

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

Alex patrolled the hallway during his late-night rounds. He peeked into Jeanie and Mokuba's room and found the couple fast asleep. In the children's room, the toddlers slept quietly.

“Throw me the ball, Cassie,” Ceres moaned in his sleep.

Alex smiled and closed the door. `I heard Seto all the time in his sleep,' the old man reminisced.

He searched the library and Seto's office and found nothing unusual.

He opened the door to the Living Room and found Seto sitting by the fireplace, his face buried in his hands.

“Seto?”

Seto turned his head slightly. “Hi, Alex. Everything…secure?”

The old man approached his boss. “So far, so good, sir.”

Seto turned his face away from the old guard as he approached. “Carry on, then. Nothing to see here.”

Alex looked at Seto holding his left wrist in his hand. “Seto? Seto, are you okay?”

“I'm fine, Alex. Goodnight.”

Alex remained where he was standing. “Isn't your friend Ryou over tonight?”

“…………………”