Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Apocalypse ❯ A Smile ( Chapter 47 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

WARNING: MALIK X RYOU SHORT LEMON! MALIK X RYOU YAOI LEMON! ANGST WARNING!

A Smile

Marik turned the corner sharply and blasted his music loudly. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel with the beat of the blaring base.

He saw a figure running down the street with something under his coat.

“Itemri?”

Marik slammed his foot on the brakes and Bakura jumped.

“What are you---?”

Bakura opened the door quickly and jumped inside. “STEP ON IT, JIBADE!”

“Why? What's the rush?”

Police sirens roared loudly.

”FUCK! HOLD ON, ITEMRI!”

Marik slammed his foot on the pedal. “Watch the pizza! You'll screw it up!”

“THIS IS THE POLICE! STOP OR WE WILL BE PREPARED TO FIRE!”

Marik turned the car sharply and ran through a red light, throwing Bakura against the door hard. “What did you do to piss

these guys off?”

Bakura grinned and removed two liters of Pepsi from under his coat. “Getting drinks for dinner.”

“You little shit!” Marik laughed as he put the pedal to the medal. “This isn't worth the soda!”

Bakura grinned. “No, but it's like old times! Running away from these modern soldiers, isn't it?”

A loud pop and the side view mirror shattered.

“Yeah, but these modern soldiers have their Fire Sticks, INTELLIGENT! These are harder to dodge than arrows and spears!”

“Yeah, and they hurt like a bitch, too.”

Marik narrowed his eyes as he turned down a narrow alley. “You're ass is so pounded when we get home!”

Bakura grinned. “OH YEAH, ISHTAR! We're home free!”

A police car stopped at the end of the alley.

Marik growled. “Hold on, Itemri!”

“You're not thinking of doing what I think you are going to do.”

Marik growled and stepped on the gas.

“YOU CRAZY BASTARD! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!”

Marik growled and turned the car sharply at the last moment. The car plowed through the police car and sped off.

“Malik's going to kick your ass when he sees what you did to the car!”

Marik grinned. “We're alive, aren't we?”

Bakura rolled his eyes. “As alive as we're ever going to be again.”

“See? I take care of my little minions,” Marik said as he pet Bakura's hair.

“'Minion?'”

Marik grinned. “I was going to call you my `sexy little bitch,' but I thought `minion' would be sufficient.”

Marik pulled up to the house. Bakura stepped out and looked at the front of the car.

“You are so dead for this damage, Marik Jibade Ishtar.”

The blond yami shrugged. “I'll make it up to him. Besides, I have a job now where we can afford to drive a better car.”

“Oh?”

Marik pulled the pizza box out of the car and opened it up. “Good. You didn't screw up the pizza.”

“So where are you working?”

“For moneybags. He gave me a job.”

Bakura snickered. “I'm sure he'll love you hanging around him all day.”

“I know he loves me. He just doesn't want to admit it,” the yami snickered.

“Let's get this food in the house before our hikaris resort to cannibalism.”

Bakura grabbed the sodas and Marik carried the pizza to the door.

They opened the door and found Malik and Ryou in the throws of passion on the floor.

“What the---?” Bakura asked.

“Hi, yami….oh gods….Malik, right there, baby….harder,” Ryou moaned as Malik slipped into him deeper.

Marik stepped over Malik's back. “It looks like our hikaris are having some appetizers, Itemri.”

Bakura cocked his head to the side. “A little more to the left, Malik. Ryou likes that.”

Malik moaned and shifted his body to the left. Ryou gripped onto Malik's shoulders tightly and bucked up against his

lover. “Gods, Malik…yes,” Ryou moaned as Malik hit his prostate.

Marik came out of the kitchen with two slices of pizza on a plate and an empty glass. “Itemri, bring over the soda.”

Bakura placed the soda on the endtable and Marik poured himself a glass.

“Now this is wholesome family dinner entertainment,” the yami commented as he took a large bite out of his pizza.

He placed his feet on the coffee table and watched the scene on the living room floor.

“Go get yourself some food, Bakura.”

Bakura stepped over Marik's legs and disappeared into the kitchen. He emerged a few minutes later with three pieces of

pizza on a plate. He sat beside his yami-lover and watched the scene in front of them.

“You guys hungry? I brought home the pizza,” Marik said with his mouthful.

Malik whimpered as he leaned over and kissed Ryou lightly on the lips.

“While the yamis are away, the hikaris will play,” Bakura snickered.

“No, when the yamis are away, the hikaris will get it on like a couple of rabid jackals in heat,” Marik commented.

Bakura shrugged. “I'm not complaining. This beats watching anything else while we eat.”

Malik wrapped his arms around Ryou tightly, holding the albino close. Plunging deeper and harder, he hit Ryou's prostate

with full force.

Marik shifted in his seat as he watched his husband take his albino lover harder and faster.

Bakura gulped his soda and watched as his husband wrapped his legs around the Egyptian.

“Hey, boys, the pizza's gonna get cold,” Marik said.

Ryou moaned and kissed Malik's ear. “Coming….Malik!”

The white-haired hikari whimpered as his release erupted against Malik's stomach.

The Egyptian moaned and whimpered. “Coming….too…Ryou!”

Malik kissed his friend on the lips and spilled his release into Ryou's quivering, twitching, and thrusting body.

When Malik had finished releasing, he collapsed on Ryou, panting heavily. With a final kiss, he whispered, “I love you, Ryou.”

Marik grinned. “ENCORE! AGAIN! DO IT AGAIN!”

Ryou laughed. “No…I…umm…I think I'm going to get some pizza. I'm hungry.”

Malik giggled. “You didn't have your fill before?” Malik asked with a grin.

The white-haired hikari blushed. “That was a good snack.”

Bakura laughed and shook his head. //Hikari, you are insatiable.//

Ryou cuddled Malik against him. /Hey, I couldn't help it. I needed Malik./

//I know you did.//

Ryou's smile disappeared. /Tomorrow, everyone will need me to be strong for them…..I needed…comfort and closeness with

Malik./

//I'm not upset, hikari…..I know that tomorrow, we will need to be strong for a lot of people….//

/Yami? Do you think…..we can have a cuddle tonight?/

//I'd never say `No' to that.//

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

Seto's POV

I sat beside Mokuba in the limousine. I watched the stores fly by as Donny drove them to the hospital to pickup Joey from

the hospital. My eyes didn't stray from the stores and the people walking. I saw a few kids riding their bikes and chasing

after each other….

I remember Hayden when he would play with Aten and Robbie. Robbie would ride his scooter and Aten would ride his bike.

Hayden would chase after them and buy candy down the street. The boys would come home and eat the candy….except Aten.

Robbie and Hayden would run circles around Aten, who would promptly fall asleep after taking his heart medication.

Hayden was slow to warm up to everyone….

Then…one day….we had a breakthrough.

Hayden and Jaimen wanted to make breakfast for Joey and I for our twentieth anniversary of being together. Joey and I were

served with two trays…both dripping with spilled milk and Fruit Loop pieces all over the tray. The orange juice they poured in

small glasses had also spilled over onto the tray. The toast was black……and covered in a big glob of butter. The breakfast looked like a heart attack waiting to happen…..but it was made by Hayden and Jaimen…..our two boys.

Our two special eight and eleven year old boys.

They tried so hard that morning….

We treated them both with cuddles in bed for their efforts on making breakfast….and for not burning down KaibaCorp.

Joey cuddled Hayden with a smile. That was the first time that Hayden looked safe…..truly safe. He didn't hesitate to let Joey

hold him. Joey was in his heaven. Hayden had been so used to men hurting him in bed that he was never accustomed to

someone just holding him in a non-sexual manner.

But…Hayden had improved….

…..Until Charlie returned.

Then our old Hayden….the Hayden we loved…the Hayden we protected and nurtured back to physical and mental health….or

so we thought.

After Charlie returned……Hayden was abused by him again……and that little boy we knew…was gone forever.

When Hayden had been returned to us, he tried to stab Joey and I while we were making love…we had to place Hayden in a

place where he could be protected and watched.

That was the hardest thing I have ever done.

Watching him struggling and screaming wildly was the hardest thing I have ever had to witness….and I was powerless to do

anything about it.

Powerless to take everything away that Hayden was feeling.

Powerless to make it all better for him.

Now, I feel the same type of powerlessness and vulnerability.

I can't make this any easier for Joey.

It was very hard to tell Joey what had happened to Hayden.

****Flashback****

Joey was in his physical therapy session. Katie was by his side as Joey held the bars on either side of him.

“Keep it up, Joey. One foot at a time.”

I walked in and found Joey stumbling forward. I ran and caught him before he could hit the ground.

Joey smiled up at me. “Thanks, love.”

I hugged Joey tightly. “You're getting farther. Great job, Puppy.”

“A little bit each day, Seto.”

I looked up at Katie. “Can I have a moment with my husband?”

Katie nodded. “Sure. I'll be back in a few. I have to check up on a couple patients. Can you help him if he needs it?”

“I can, Katie. Thank you.”

Katie left the room and I pulled Joey onto my lap.

Joey cuddled into me and laid his head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around him and cradled him against me.

“Joey, there's something I want to talk to you about. We need to talk about Hayden.”

Joey nodded. “Yes, Seto?”

“Hayden……he…..Hayden didn't……Hayden didn't survive the siege on KaibaCorp.”

Joey looked up at me with wide eyes that became teary quickly. “W-What?”

“Hayden didn't survive, Joey…..I'm sorry.”

“HAYDEN! NO!” Joey wailed loudly. “It's not fair! You're lying! He's not dead!”

Joey sobbed loudly as I held him. He let out an ear-piercing, sorrow-filled shriek.

“Joey, I'm not lying. I'm sorry…..”

“I wanted to see Hayden! I wanted to tell him that I forgave him for what he done to me! Now I won't be able to tell him

anything!”

I held Joey and nuzzled my cheek against Joey's blond hair. “He knows, Joey…..somehow, I think he knows that you forgave

him.”

Joey cried hard into my chest. His body trembled as I held him.

“How did he die?”

Knowing Hayden's pain as he died would make Joey hurt even more. How could I tell Joey that Hayden, the son that Joey

adored, was stabbed in the heart by Yami?

“I held him when he died, Joey…..he didn't die in pain alone.”

Joey sniffled and his volume reduced. “I can't believe he's dead…..Hayden didn't deserve to die. He just needed help! My

poor boy, Hayden! He was still a baby!”

I held Joey against me, rocking him in my arms. “Joey, Hayden's not in pain anymore…..He's with his real family.”

“What about me? I needed Hayden, too….I loved him! He was like my own son!”

I held Joey tightly and kissed his forehead. “Hayden had a hard life, Joey. He's at rest….with his family who have missed him

for thirteen years.”

Joey sobbed and wiped his eyes on my suit jacket….

It hurts to see Joey so upset…..

What can I do to help my lover feel better?

What can I do to ease his suffering?

Tell me…..

Please.

********End Flashback*****

When I told him about Hayden's funeral and what I had planned, he seemed more willing and determined to get back on his

feet as quickly as possible.

He wanted to be able to walk on his own up to Hayden's coffin.

So, I went every day to help Joey get on his feet. I motivated him to stand up when he fell….and cheered him on when he

took those first few independent steps by himself.

He was proud of himself that he was able to walk on his own…slowly…but on his own.

After each therapy session, Joey and I would sit and cuddle on the hospital bed.

I held him and he said very little.

The first thing he said to me was….'I'm craving.'

He wasn't craving food…..he was craving his Good Ol' Jack.

The doctors had told me that Joey could be discharged today.

It will be good to have Joey back home……but I instructed my staff that Joey was not to leave unescorted. I don't want him

buying booze and going back to using alcohol as a means of escape.

“We're here, Seto,” I heard a quiet voice say.

I looked over at Mokuba and saw concern in his gray eyes. “What?”

“We're here. Donny can't open the door if you are leaning on it. You'll fall out.”

I pulled back and Donny opened the door. “We're here, Mr. Kaiba.”

Unbuckling my seatbelt, I stepped out of the car. “Mokuba, stay here with Jeanie and Jaimen. I'll be back in a few minutes.

Asher, stay with them.”

“Yes, sir,” Asher said, flicking a lighter and watching the flame.

Donny walked into the hospital with me and straight to Joey's room. When we entered Joey's room, he was straightening out

his black tie. I had Donny drop off Joey's suit for the funeral last night.

Joey saw us walk in and he sat on the bed, his shoulders dropped low.

“Donny, give us a couple minutes. Go tell the nurses that we are taking Joseph Wheeler-Kaiba home.”

Donny left and I hugged Joey.

“How are you holding up?”

Joey shrugged. “I'm going to need a shot of something at the end of today.”

“How about this, Joey…..tonight, instead of reaching for a bottle of booze, why don't we just have a nice dinner, take a hot

bath, and spend some quality time together tonight?”

Joey shrugged. “I guess that's okay……I don't see why not.”

I knew how Joey was feeling now: numb.

We were about to go through with something neither one of us had expected.

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

Normal POV

Joey and Seto walked into the church. A large black hearse was parked outside. The Ishtars and Itemris were standing out

front waiting for the Kaiba Family to arrive.

Ryou and Malik hugged Joey when they saw him.

“We're sorry, Joey. We're glad you could make it, though,” Malik said.

“You're walking very well, Joey,” Ryou commented.

Joey sniffled and lowered his head. “I wanted to be here….for Hayden………………..Excuse me.”

Joey walked past Marik and Bakura and towards the alter where Hayden laid. The mahogany coffin revealed Hayden;s chest

and up to his fiery-red hair.

Seto had given Hayden his black suit which Hayden wore to formal dinners when he went with Seto on his trips to visit foreign investors.

Joey reached up and ran his fingers through Hayden's red hair. “Hayden……..it's daddy.”

Hayden's green eyes remained closed, his hands were folded on his chest and were holding a red carnation against his chest.

Joey reached into the coffin and ran his fingers through Hayden's red hair. The blond shivered at the cold sensation of

Hayden's scalp....

So cold.....

So still.......

"Hayden?" Joey whispered as he looked into the coffin. "I forgive you."

Joey's eyes filled with tears as he looked at his son's body. "I forgive you, Hayden.....I love you....so very much." He

brushed Hayden's hair from in front of his face. "I'm sure you're happy with your mom and dad and your sister, son.

Just....why?" Joey reached for Hayden's hand and held it. The cold, hard hand didn't close around his like he wanted to. Joey

wanted to hold Hayden.

Clasp him in his arms and never let go.

Cling to him.

Kiss his cheek.

Joey leaned down and kissed Hayden's cold, dead cheek. He leaned over and let out a sob. "Why did you have to leave me?

Hayden! Come back to me, baby boy! Please!"

Joey buried his face in Hayden's chest as he felt a pair of hands on him.

The blond looked up and saw Aten and Robbie flanking his sides.

Aten shook his head. "Un-tle Joey...that's not going to bring him back."

Joey sobbed and Aten brought him to his chest. "Aten......I don't want him to go!"

Aten caressed Joey's blond hair and held his uncle in his arms. "I know you don't want to....but he had to return to Paradise.

It was his time."

Joey looked up into the brown and purple eyes of the Egyptian Teen, which were glistening with serenity. "I didn't want him

dead."

"He's in no more pain. Nobody can hurt him now. Come sit down."

Aten lead Joey to the first row of pews and sat beside him.

'Hayden.....I'm sorry, too,' Aten thought as he sat beside his uncle. 'I'm no better than those men who hurt you....Please

forgive me.'

Robbie sat beside Aten and took his hand. "You okay, Aten?"

Aten nodded. "Yes...I'm okay."

Seto walked up to the coffin and stroked Hayden's cheek gently. "I love you, Hayden." With a sigh, he placed Hayden's

favorite Blue Hot Wheels car under his cold hand. “Play with that….wherever you may be….my boy.”

Seto returned and sat by Joey's other side. "Joey......" The CEO clasped Joey's hand in his own and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Marik and Malik walked up to the coffin holding hands.

“He looks peaceful, doesn't he, Marik?”

Marik nodded. “He does. I couldn't imagine looking peaceful at the moment of death.”

“That's because you didn't have a peaceful death. You were murdered.”

“True.” Marik blinked. “I died in Bakura's arms…..it was the only place where I would have wanted to be at my time of death.

Itemri….Bakura died alone.”

Malik leaned against his yami and nuzzled his shoulder. “You'll never have to be alone anymore, yami. Both of you are

immortal now.”

Marik looked down at his hikari trying to give him a smile. The yami turned and hugged his husband. `I will go on,

hikari…..but you will not. But you're right…..I won't be alone when you take your last breath. Itemri and I will forever be……the walking dead.'

Marik laid his hand on Hayden's forehead. “Sileo In Pacis. Rest in Peace.”

Marik lead his hikari to a pew as Bakura and Ryou approached Hayden's coffin.

“Such a shame,” Ryou said sadly. “I can't imagine what Joey and Seto are going through right now.”

Bakura nodded. “This is not an easy thing. Ryou…..Seto may….Seto needs you right now.”

“I know he does, yami. But for now, I think Joey and Seto need to grieve together. They need each other right now. I don't

want to interfere.” Ryou placed a rose on Hayden's body.

Bakura looked at Hayden's face. “He was so young.”

“I know. Hayden had a lot of promise.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “There was no reason for his death….the pharaoh had no right to kill this child.”

“Yami, don't make a scene. I know it is a shame….but let's not make this harder on Seto and Joey.”

Bakura put his hand on Hayden's forehead. “May you see the face of Ra.”

The service started and Bakura lead his husband to his seat.

The priest blessed the casket and prayed the traditional prayers for Hayden. Aten had brought his violin with him. The

Egyptian teen stood in front of the congregation and began to play “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” in Hayden's memory. He knew

Joey loved that song, so he chose to play that particular song.

Joey kept his eye on the coffin and mouthed the words slowly and softly. “….Coming for to Carry Me Home…..”

Robbie watched Aten play the hymn. Aten's eyes remained focused on the casket, his playing was gentle….soft….and

reflective.

Robbie watched Aten's eyes move towards him. The two boys locked glances as Aten played the hymn….The Egyptian gave

his husband a tiny smile and looked back at the coffin. The light from the stained glass windows shone around Aten as he

played.

Robbie watched, amazed at Aten's peaceful countenance.

After the service, Seto and Joey were the last to leave. Seto had Donny and Asher escort the sobbing Joey back to the car.

The CEO remained in the seat, waiting for the crowd to dissipate to shed a tear.

Ryou and Malik walked up to Seto and hugged him. "Seto.....we're sorry."

"We're here for you," the Egyptian hikari said.

Another tear escaped Seto's eye and crawled down his cheek.

"It will take a while for the sadness to go away," Ryou said comfortingly.

"You know, Ryou....I'm not crying because I'm sad that Hayden isn't with me anymore."

Malik raised an eyebrow. "Why are you crying if you are not sad?"

"Hayden died a painful death....but...he smiled when he saw his parents and sister." The corner of Seto's mouth smiled

slightly. "He died with a smile on his face."

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

The hearse and the limousine arrived in front of the Kaiba Summer Residence. Donny opened the gates and escorted the

hearse and the following cars.

Seto stepped out of the limousine with Jaimen and Mokuba.

Jaimen's eyes widened at the height and the magnificence of the Kaiba Crypt. Every time he gazed upon it, he was amazed

at the architecture and the sheer elegance of the structure.

Two large marble dragons flanked either side of the mausoleum. The crypt was made of grey and white shining marble. Its

edges were trimmed in gold.

In large letters along the top read `KAIBA'.

Seto took a deep breath. “The Kaiba Family Crypt.”

Jaimen shivered. “It's so…huge!”

Seto grinned. “Hayden will be its second occupant.”

Jaimen raised an eyebrow. “Second? Is your stepfather in there?”

“No.”

The pallbearers picked up Hayden's coffin and walked into the crypt. Joey stopped outside the crypt and looked over the

front lawn. “Hayden used to play here as a child…..he loved to play on the front lawn.”

Ryou took Joey's hand. “Hold onto me, Joey.”

Ryou lead Joey inside.

They placed the coffin in a slot on the wall which had already been engraved: Hayden McGinnis-Kaiba. Aged 18 Years.

Jaimen looked at the wall beneath Hayden's name: Noah Kaiba. Aged 10 Years.

Jaimen turned to Mokuba. “Who was Noah?”

Mokuba gave his nephew an uncomfortable look. “I'll tell you later.”

Jaimen shrugged and Mokuba gripped Jeanie's hand tightly.

“You okay, Mo?”

Mokuba shook his head. “I need some fresh air.”

Mokuba stepped out of the mausoleum.

Donny and Asher pushed Hayden's coffin into the wall and they closed the marble door to Hayden's final resting place.

Joey walked up to the marble door and ran his fingers over Hayden's gold name plate. “Sleep well….Hayden.”

Ryou put his hand on Joey's shoulder. “Come into the house, Joey. You must be hungry.”

Seto wrapped his arms around Joey from behind. “Let's get some lunch, puppy.”

Joey shook his head. “No….I want to stay here a little bit. I want to make sure Hayden is settled.”

Seto nodded. “Okay, Joey. Take as long as you want.”

Marik stayed behind as the others filed out of the mausoleum. Joey sat on a bench facing the wall.

“Marik, aren't you hungry?”

Marik shrugged. “I don't have to eat as often….I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I'm fine. I just want to stay here a bit longer.”

Marik approached Joey and put his hand on his shoulder. “Don't spend time thinking about the past, Joey….Worry about

tomorrow, for it will eventually come.”

The blond yami turned and walked out of the crypt.

Joey sniffled as he looked at the glistening gold plaque bearing Hayden's name.

“Even in death, Hayden….our love goes on….my son. Daddy forgives you.”

Updates: Tuesday.