Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Apocalypse ❯ Reconciliation ( Chapter 60 )

I much appreciate everyone's patience. *HUGS FOR ALL*

 

Reconciliation

 

Seto sat in the library with a hot pot of coffee beside him.  His tired, bloodshot eyes stared at the blazing fire.  The CEO sighed heavily as he looking into the steaming cup of coffee.

His eyes moved to the phone beside him.

'Why won't she call?......Should I call her?....No.....No. She won't believe me even if I told her that I didn't want to be a part of Yami's plans. She didn't believe me before. What makes me think she would believe me now?"

The phone rang and Seto quickly picked it up with his free hand. "Hello?"

"Mr. Kaiba?"

"Oh............Dr. Zira."

"You wanted me to call you regarding Aten's condition?"

Seto felt his heart sink into his chest. "Yes. Yes, I did."

"Well, Robbie's here with him now. He's not awake yet, but he should be regaining consciousness soon.  His vital signs have stabilized and it looks like Aten's out of the woods. He still will not be able to do much for a while.

"What about Aria?"

"She's gone home, Seto. I found no reason to keep her. She's moving around and the baby is healthy and alert."

Seto heaved a sigh. "Okay....thank you, Dr. Zira. Call me when Aten gains consciousness."

"I will, Seto. Goodbye."

"Goodbye," the CEO said quietly as he hung up the phone.

Seto's POV

I wanted nothing more than to jump up, grab Donny and race to Aria's houseboat.  I wanted to make it up to her. I wanted to make everything up to her.

But when she won't even listen to me, what am I supposed to do? 

It's so hard seeing her angry at me. She's been so close to me. She's been like a daughter to me....

And now look what I have done to her.....

I betrayed her.

I'm no better than Gozuboro was to me.

I put my coffee cup on the table beside the pot and stood up. What am I going to do?

Go try to speak to her.....or leave her be?

It's a difficult decision.

A timid knock sounded at my door. I slowly walked to it and unlocked the door. I opened it and found Jaimen standing there.

"Hi, dad. I was just going to take the plane for a short flight. Do you want to come?"

I shrugged. "I don't know if i should. I'm waiting for........a very important phone call."

"Are you going to wait forever for her to call you, dad? You know how Aria is. You gotta go see her.  Is she home from the hospital yet?"

"Dr. Zira said she was sent home today."

Jaimen smiled and slapped my arm. "Go see her!  I'm tellin' ya, dad!  Go see her and give her another chance."

I wanted to believe my son.

I really did.

“I have already tried to make amends with her, Jaimen, and she won't listen to me. She won't even give me the time of day.”

 

Jaimen slapped my arm again. “Dad, I can't believe I am hearing this! Where is the Kaiba determination you always had?! Where's that Kaiba spirit?!”

 

“Jaimen……”

 

“No, dad! You've always taught me never to be afraid of anything! You gotta face your fears and go see Aria, look her in the eye, and say `I'm sorry'!”

I took a deep breath and looked into Jaimen's eyes.

Maybe he was right.

I had to make it up to Aria somehow. I did owe it to her to try one more time.

“Okay. I'll try.”

Jaimen smiled. “I am proud of you, dad. Go out there and make the Kaiba Family proud! Wish me luck on my flight!”

I hugged my son tightly. “You be careful out there, boy.”

“I'm always careful. I've had a good teacher. Don't worry about me, dad. I'll be fine.”

I watched my son walk towards the elevator.

My son was right. I had to face my fears and go see Aria.

She is like the daughter I never had. She's always been special to me. Before I had these flashbacks of Egypt, I never really realized why she was so special.

But I never would have guessed that we were lovers back in Egypt.

Seeing Aria that way……sexually…..is a sick thing.

I'm her uncle….

And she means the world to me.

I've faced worse situations in my life other than this apology.

I took a deep breath and walked toward the elevator. I rode it to the lobby and saw Maxine bow her head to me.

“Hello, Mr. Kaiba.”

“Maxie, is Donny in the office?”

“Yes, he's in there with Jay and Karl.”

“Thanks, Maxie.”

My eyes wandered below her chair where Alex was killed. The tiles have been replaced.

No more red stain on the floor….no more blood splatters on the wall….

It was all gone.

I could feel the lump starting in my throat. My people couldn't be able to see me getting emotional. They depend on me to be strong for them.

I walked across the lobby and into the Security Office.

Jay was sitting on his chair, laughing. Karl was sitting by his lover on the desk, laughing with him. Donny was telling the two men a joke and chuckling.

Donny saw me and stopped his joke. “Mr. Kaiba!”

Jay and Karl quickly jumped to their feet. “Sir!”

“Relax, guys. I need to go to see Aria at her home. Jay, I want you to drive me.”

“Yes, Mr. Kaiba.”

I heaved a sigh.

“Mr.Kaiba, are you okay?” Don asked me.

“I'm fine, Don. Jay, let's go.”

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

Normal POV

 

Aria held the baby in her arms and smiled down at him. The baby's eyes were half-closed as he sipped on his bottle of milk. Kai sat in front of her with a curious look on his face.

The new baby's fingers were balled up in little fists as he fed.

“My little boy like that? Mmm…that's good, isn't it?”

Kai scratched his blue and white hair. “How can you tell that Rhett likes his dinner?”

Aria smiled. “He's not crying, for one.”

Umi walked out of the kitchen and sat beside his wife. “You're not breastfeeding?”

Aria shook her head. “No. I'm too sore right now. In the morning, I will.”

Kai turned to his father. “Daddy, what's best-feeding?”

Aria grinned and chuckled. “Yes, daddy, what is breastfeeding?”

Umi's jaw dropped and he swallowed hard. “Well…..son…umm…when a mommy has a baby, her body makes milk.”

Kai raised an eyebrow. “Cows make milk. Iss mommy a cow?”

Aria snickered. “Moo.”

Umi's face went pale. “No, mommy is not a cow.”

“When you det milk fum a cow, you haff to pull de dangly thingies on a cow.”

Aria's face turned red from trying to hold in her laughter.

Umi ran his fingers through his blue hair. Aria could tell that Umi was struggling with this topic. “Umm….”

“Do you have to grab mommy's thingies to det the milk out of her, daddy?”

Aria's eyes squinted tightly and she handed Rhett to his father. “Excuse me……”

Aria ran into her bedroom and closed the door. A moment later, the bellowing sound of laughter exploded from the room.

`Please, Poseidon, save me from this conversation….'

The doorbell rang and Umi sighed in relief.

`Saved by the bell.'

Umi shifted the newborn boy on his chest and put down the bottle, making the baby whimper. “One moment, Rhett.”

Umi walked to the door and opened it up.

“Seto Kaiba? What do you want? Didn't I tell you to stay away from my wife and my family?”

Seto took a deep breath. “So you're still going to hold what I did against me?”

Umi narrowed his eyes. “I have to protect my family and you nearly killed my wife and baby.”

Kai ran out of the door and hugged Seto's leg. “Unkie Seto! Kai miss!”

“Kai, get back inside.”

Kai looked up at his father. “But I'm just hugging---.”

“Get in the house, boy.”

Kai swallowed hard and ran into the house.

Rhett's face contorted and he let out a fearful cry. Umi held the baby boy to his chest.

“I've said enough, Kaiba.”

Umi went to shut the door, but Seto stuck his foot in the door.

“I want to see Aria.”

Rhett cried louder in his father's arms and buried his face in Umi's chest.

“You're making my baby cry.”

“I demand to speak to Aria.”

Umi narrowed his eyes as Rhett cried louder. “You are not seeing her.”

Aria returned from the bedroom and took Rhett in her arms. “Umi, what is going---?” Her brown eyes looked up at Seto's. “Umm…hello, Seto,” she said, taking the newborn boy in her arms. “Umi, I need to be alone with Seto.”

“But, Aria.”

“I'm a big girl, Umi. I'll let Rhett have some fresh air.”

“Okay, but I'm not far away,” Umi said with a glare at Seto.

Aria carried her son and rubbed his back gently as she lead Seto to the other side of the houseboat.

The both looked over the water and saw some seagulls diving for fish. The clouds rolled along in the blue sky.

“Seto….before you say anything. I wanted to apologize myself.”

“For what?”

“I shouldn't have doubted you. I would do anything to save my boys and Umi from harm.” Aria kissed Rhett's forehead. “I'd do anything to save my baby….even if that means doing something necessary that could hurt someone I love.”

Seto looked down at her and watched her white, spiky hair flow in the wind.

“I couldn't imagine my life without Umi. Had I ended up with Keith……….”

Aria went silent as she nuzzled her cheek against Rhett's head. “Had I ended up with Keith….I know I would not be living like this. I would not have had Kai…….or Rhett. I would have only myself....if Kailani had not died on me.”

“Aria, you would not have stayed with Keith.”

Aria nodded. “I would have….because I thought he loved me….and I would have dated him to spite my father. But I'm not sixteen anymore. I have a family now….and they mean everything.” Aria sighed. “I would have don anything to save Kailani. I would have done anything to save my baby girl.”

Seto nodded. “It was hard to lose her, Aria. It happened for a reason. Everything in this life happens for a reason.”

Aria looked up at her uncle. “Why did I lose my daughter?”

“Because Keith would not have supported you at all. Aten told me he wasn't treating you right.”

“Did Aten tell you anything?!” she asked quickly, praying that Aten did not talk to Seto about her rape by Keith and the pregnancy that had resulted.

“No, all your brother told me was that he wasn't treating you with respect.”

Aria looked at the water again. “Oh. Okay. Well, Seto, I know that if there was a way I could have saved Kailani….I would have done it. And I wanted to apologize to you, as well, because I know that Yami just didn't threaten me, my brother, or my parents. He threatened my family, too. He threatened my husband…..my little Kai…..and my Rhett. I fought Yami to keep my family save, even though I knew it put Rhett in danger. I'm glad it's over now.”

“Aria, I didn't want to hurt you.”

Aria nodded. “I know you didn't, Seto. I know you didn't want to hurt me. Yami's made everyone's lives a living hell. I just wish I could have stopped him five thousand years ago. Then I wouldn't have to hear that he wasn't even punished for murdering my father.”

Seto stepped in front of Aria. “You know I would have stopped it if I could have.”

“Does this mean you believe now? You never believed before. You thought it was all a lie concocted by Yami.”

Seto reached up and touched Aria's cheek. “I thought it was a lie….until feelings for you I couldn't explain started to burn within me.”

Aria stepped back. “Seto?.....Uncle Seto, I don't think of you that way.”

“I know you don't, Aria. The feelings I have from five thousand years ago have not faded. That is what is so difficult for me to separate my old feelings from the present.”

“That time is past, Seto. I love Umi. And I have Kai and Rhett I have to care for, too. You're….my uncle.”

Seto nodded. “I know, Aria. I love Joey. I'm not going to jeopardize that.”

“The past is the past, Seto. We can't live that way anymore. We have to live in the now. I'm a mother and you are the CEO of KaibaCorp. We can't live in our past lives. The present depends on us too much.”

The CEO nodded and shifted uncomfortably. “Yes. Quite. Well, Aria, I have to get back to the office.”

Aria grabbed Seto's arm. “Come inside, Seto. I think I should tell Umi that we have made our peace.”

“Are you sure that's a good idea?”

Aria nodded. “I think so. Come on.”

Aria pulled Seto into the house and saw Umi standing at the door protectively. “Umi, Seto and I have made our peace.”

“Seto? Are you sure, Aria?”

“Umi, he had no choice. He would have done the same as me if our roles were reversed. I would do anything to protect you, Kai, and Rhett. Do you believe me?”

Umi looked between his wife and the CEO. “What about Rhett?”

“The boy isn't hurt, Umi. Rhett survived.”

Kai ran to Seto and hugged his leg again. “Kai likes to hug uncle.”

Umi sighed. “Okay, Seto. We're cool.”

“Thank you, Umi. You have a special girl here.”

Umi put his arm around Aria's waist and kissed her cheek. “I know.”

Kai looked up at Seto. “Unkie Seto, tan I ask you a quesshion?”

“Go on, Kai.”

“Did you know dat cows give milk?”

Seto smiled. “Yes, I did, Kai.”

“Do you also know dat when girls have babies, they make milk for their babies?”

The CEO leaned against the door, trying to mask his uncomfortable feelings. “Yes.”

“Do you think my daddy has to grab mommy's thingies to det the milk out of her so she can giff it to Rhett?”

Seto blinked as he looked down at the starry-eyed little boy. He stared at the little boy with a blank stare.

Umi and Aria chuckled. “Go on, Seto. Answer the boy,” Umi giggled.

Seto looked at his watch. “Wow. Look at the time. I better go. Aria, it was nice to talk to you. Umi…you too.”

Aria grinned as Seto ran out the door. “That was entertaining.”

 

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

 

Robbie arrived at the ICU desk as the nurse hung up a phone. “Hi, I came to see Aten Ishtar.”

“Oh, Robbie…you must be Robert Allen Morgan-Ishtar. I was just calling you. I talked to your mom. Mr. Ishtar just regained consciousness.”

Daniel felt Robbie lean on him. “How is he?”

“He just got placed in his room upstairs. He's in Room 215 upstairs.”

“Thank you!” Robbie exclaimed as he limped as fast as he could towards the elevators.

“Robert, slow down!” Daniel called after him.

“Aten's awake! I've gotta see him!”

Robbie pushed the button on the elevator and felt his heart racing as he anticipated seeing Aten.

When the elevator doors opened, Robbie pushed inside impatiently, followed by his father.

“Now, Robert, you gotta be careful with Aten. You can't move him around too much.”

Robbie's eyes remained fixed on the lighting numbers on the elevator. “Come on………..come on……..”

When the elevator doors opened, Robbie limped to Room 215. He opened the door and saw Dr. Zira shining a light in Aten's right eye.

“You don't see the light, Aten?”

A quiet whimper came out of the patient in the bed.

“Aten…..”

Dr. Zira looked up. “Wow. You got here quick!”

“We just got here when the nurse told us he was moved,” Daniel explained.

Robbie limped to Aten's bed and took his hand. “Aten, I'm right here.”

A gentle squeeze was attempted by the patient, but it was barely a weak grip.

“Mr. Morgan, can I see you outside for a moment while we leave Robbie and Aten together? Robbie, don't move Aten.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dr. Zira lead Daniel outside and closed the door. “The surgery we did on Aten's neck has been successful. We had to place special pins in his bones to keep them aligned while they heal. He's going to have to stay here for a while to make sure that those pins hold and that we monitor his brain waves and his heart.”

“So he is progressing pretty well?”

“Aten didn't notice the light on the right side of his right eye. That would be the result of the traumatic brain injury. We won't know what else was injured in the back of his skull until we monitor the healing process.”

“At least he's alive,” Daniel said optimistically.

“Yes, but he's still not out of the woods yet. He's still in a danger of collapsing.”

Daniel shook his head. “That kid needs a lot of prayers.”

“Aten's made of tough stuff, Mr. Morgan. Very tough stuff. I've seen this kid survive premature birth and was so tiny you could fit him in your arms. He was a tiny two pound skinny little thing you could hold in your hand. This kid has cheated death. This kid will keep doing this for years to come.”

Daniel peered into the room and found Robbie kissing Aten's forehead and crying.

“Aten….I'm so glad you are okay…..I was so worried about you. Everything is going to be okay. Trust me. When you get out of here, you can come home and you'll have your own bed…your own sheets. I even organized your paints this morning. I had to go to the store to replace a couple that had dried out on you, but I washed all your brushes and everything is ready for you when you return.”

Aten reached up and pat Robbie's cheek.

Robbie sat beside Aten's left side and held his hand. “We're together again. Nothing and no one can stop us now.”

Robbie kissed Aten's hand and smiled. “Nothing will tear us apart ever again.”

 

 

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