Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Apocalypse ❯ Faith ( Chapter 65 )

Note: This chappie happens two weeks later.

 

Faith

 

Seto stood in his office looking down at the street below. The tiny cars below him scurried around like ants. He crossed his arms in front of him as he looked at the tiny creatures below.

He yawned.

He was tired.

He hadn't slept well in days.

It was a relief to him that he had talked to Aria and reconciled with her.

Marik and Bakura had Ryou guarded like a fortress. There was no way to get to the one person he needed to talk to. He had tried going to see Ryou in the middle of the night, only to see a pair of glowing red eyes and blond spiky hair on the roof. He had tried meeting Ryou away from the home, only to find Bakura in a tree cleaning his nails with his dagger and glaring down at him.

The two yamis didn't let Seto near Ryou or Malik.

There was not only that.

Joey was disappearing quite often. He'd leave KaibaCorp at nine in the morning and wouldn't return until one in the morning. Asher had claimed that Joey asked him to take him to a bar and to the Kaiba Crypt.

Joey was still mourning for his lost son.

Mokuba and Jeanie had found a place to live and were planning the move.

Jaimen was continuing his flying lessons with Donny.

People were involved in their own things and were too busy to say much to the CEO.

Seto walked slowly to his desk and buried his face in his hands. “What can I do to make it all right?”

A timid knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Seto lifted his head and his eyes widened at Ryou who stepped through the door. “Ry?”

“Hello, Seto,” the British man said with a smile. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“No, no! Come in! I'm glad you came.”

Ryou approached the chairs in front of Seto's mahogany desk. “Well, it was difficult, but I distracted Marik and Bakura so I could come.”

“What did you tell them?”

“That I was going shopping with Aria. She's covering for me now. As far as they know, I'm over there. But you know how protective they are. They won't be able to hold themselves back from checking on me for long.”

“Ryou, I've really needed to talk to you.”

“I know you have.”

“How is Aten?”

“The doctors told us that he will live, but he lost peripheral vision in his right eye and he doesn't see colors right out of that eye anymore. He doesn't see colors like you and I see them. The colors are distorted and wrong.”

Seto leaned back in his chair. “Ryou, I'm sorry.”

“Seto, it's okay. I've come to terms with it. It wasn't easy, but I understand now why you did what you had to.”

The CEO stood up and walked around to Ryou. He got on his knees an took the British man's hands in each of his. “Ryou, do you really forgive me?”

“Of course I do. Your friendship is very important to me.”

Ryou leaned over and hugged Seto tightly, kissing his ear. “I'm still your friend, Seto.”

Seto kissed Ryou's cheek lightly and pulled back. “Ryou…..”

Ryou smiled back at Seto. “Hmm?”

Seto leaned in and kissed Ryou's lips. Ryou closed his eyes, allowing the CEO's tongue to slip between his lips. Ryou's hands slowly rose to rub the CEO's chest. Seto moaned into the kiss, shifting closer to the white-haired man.

Seto's kisses traveled to Ryou's jaw and around his left cheek and down to his neck where he sucked on it lightly.

Ryou wrapped his legs around Seto and threw his head back with a moan.

The CEO rubbed Ryou's chest as he continued to kiss, lick, and nibble Ryou's throat.

Ryou moaned lightly and could feel something pulling him to touch the CEO. This feeling intensified as he felt Seto's hand under his shirt touching his chest and rubbing it lightly.

Ryou arched his back in pleasure against the CEO's body.

Ryou rubbed Seto's chest over his clothes. Seto shifted closer to the other and felt fire burning in his gut again. He wanted Ryou. He wanted his comfort and affection.

Seto's hands drifted down to Ryou's hips, making the man whimper and moan.

Ryou pulled back and grinned. “Feel better?”

Seto smiled. “Yes, I do. That really helped.”

Ryou kissed the tip of Seto's nose. “Glad I helped.”

Seto sighed and leaned against Ryou, placing his head on Ryou's shoulders. “Joey is back to his old games again. Asher told me Joey's been going to the bar again, but apparently not ordering any alcohol.”

“That's strange.”

“Joey's been really trying. He's been going to Hayden's grave every day. He just disappears and is gone for hours.”

“Joey just needs some time to himself, Seto.”

“I know he does….I need to spend time with him , too.”

Ryou pet Seto's hair. “Tonight when he gets home, make it a special night. Have a bath together, cuddle, or just be with each other somehow. I'm sure he would appreciate it, too. Both of you are under a lot right now and you both need your space. But don't lose sight that you have each other.”

Seto smiled and closed his eyes. “You are right.”

Ryou giggled. “Course I am.”

Seto rubbed his cheek against Ryou's shoulder. “Comfy.”

“You don't have to leave, Seto,” Ryou said quietly, kissing Seto's hair. “You can stay here as long as you like.”

 

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

 

Robbie handed Aten the small cup of orange juice. His husband took it with a weak hand, barely acknowledging Robbie's presence. The Egyptian slowly brought the cup to his lips and drank slowly.

“Robbie……”

Robbie moved to the foot of the bed to better position himself in Aten's line of sight. “I'm still here, Aten.”

“I couldn't see you….”

“I was standing on your right side. Sorry.”

The Egyptian heaved a sigh and reached over to put the cup on the tray. Instead, the plastic and the rest of the orange juice tumbled to the floor. “I'm not hungry.”

“Aten, you have to eat. You have to build up your strength for your physical therapy.”

“I'm not going,” Aten said defiantly.

“You have to go or you won't get better. You took quite a tumble off that platform.”

Aten crossed his arms and pouted in a manner quite uncharacteristic of him. “No.”

Robbie walked around the side of the bed and wiped the spilled juice with a towel. “Aten, I know this is very difficult for you, but you have to work with the doctors so they can make you feel better. I know you don't like staying in this place for too long. You don't want to spend longer than you have to here, do you?”

Aten's bottom lip trembled and a lone tear fell down his face. “No……” he responded quietly.

Robbie reached up and pet Aten's head. “I know you want to go home. This isn't easy for you.”

“Robbie, I lost part of my eyesight……I have a really hard time with colors now. How can I continue painting? How can I be assured that my paintings won't look……ugly?”

“Your paintings look bad???? That's unheard of. Aten, your paintings are still as good as they have always been! These paintings you did on this sketchpad look really good. You can hardly tell the difference!”

Robbie picked up Aten's sketch pad. He had bought it for his husband, knowing how much painting made him happy and figured it would be a welcome distraction from the TV which had no good shows to watch. It would keep giving him the creative outlet he needed on a daily basis.

Robbie sifted through Aten's recent watercolor paintings. You could really hardly tell the difference. Spotted throughout his collection of new art, Robbie could see places where Aten's figures were distorted. The people were no longer standing straight, but were wavy and wobbly. Their images were twisted and blurry. Aten had insisted that the blurry figures were clear and easily seen. He was able to point out noses and eyes and ears where Robbie saw nothing more than a brushstroke.

Aten had managed to make a sky in a painting yellow, the grass purple, and the flowers curled into vines of ivy.

Many of his new work reflected his old masterpieces…..

But the majority consisted of these wavy, featureless figures.

“They look really good, Aten. You should be proud of yourself.”

Aten shrugged. “They won't sell.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because they are not as good as my other works.”

“That's bull-crap, Aten, and you know it! These things are awesome! I bet if I took these to someone, they would buy them in a second flat!”

Aten sighed and waved his hand. “No way.”

“Yes way.”

Robbie put the sketch pad on Aten's legs where he found it. “You need to have faith. Faith in yourself. Faith in your abilities. I know that the loss of some sight is difficult for you to handle, Aten, but you will find ways to adapt. You think I enjoyed walking with a cane when I started? Heck no! How many eighteen year olds do you know who walk around with canes? I haven't seen too many of them around. It will all work out.”

Aten's eyes became entranced by the covers on his chest.

“Aten, look at me.”

Aten raised his head and his eyes towards Robbie. “Yes?”

Robbie cupped Aten's cheek in his hand. “Aten, it will all work out.”

Robbie leaned in and gave Aten's forehead a tiny kiss.

The Egyptian reached out and hugged his husband against him. “It's so frustrating….. I'm trying my best to get back to the way I was.”

“We'll get there together, baby. Have faith.”

Aten nodded. “I'll try.”

“I want you to get better so you can come home, Aten. When you come home, Aten, we'll have a party. We'll have a real blast! Then you get to sleep in your own bed.”

“I do miss that. This place is so lonely at night sometimes. I keep thinking that I'll feel you here beside me. I wake up and you aren't here.”

“When you get better and get out of here, Aten, we will be able to sleep in the same bed again. I keep thinking the same thing. I'll roll over and expect to put my head on your chest. I keep thinking I can just roll over and rub your belly and cuddle into you.” Robbie smiled and giggled. “When you get out of here, prepare to have your brains cuddled out.”

Aten snickered at first and then broke into a loud laugh. “That sounds appealing and creepy all at the same time.”

“At least I got you laughing.”

“I needed that.”

“I know you did. We both did. This has been a heck of a two weeks. I didn't even know if you would make it half the time.”

Aten smiled and kissed Robbie's cheek. “Have Faith. Ra will see us through. I guess he is testing my resolve before he will allow me to see him in the afterlife.”

Robbie nodded. “Yeah, we're always tested before we hit those pearly gates.”

“I guess you're right.”

A knock sounded on the door and both turned their heads towards the door.

“Un-tle Seto? What are--?”

“What are YOU doing here?” Robbie asked, standing in front of Aten protectively.

“I came to see Aten,” the CEO replied.

Donny and Kendall appeared behind Seto on either side of him, both men dressed in black business suits and black sunglasses concealing their eyes. Robbie knew under those suit jackets were hidden revolvers….most likely, Donny had a second firearm concealed elsewhere. He was always armed to the teeth.

“What makes you think I will let you in?” Robbie growled.

Seto narrowed his eyes at the blue-eyed teen. “Robbie. I have to speak to him.”

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Aten asked, keeping his straight gaze on Kaiba.

Kaiba entered with Donny and Kendall. “Aten, I'm sorry.”

“Why did it take you so long to come and tell me?”

“I tried, but Robbie's been a good guard dog.”

“HEY!” Robbie barked.

Aten blinked tiredly and turned his head straight. “Thank you. That is all I needed to hear.”

“I would have come and told you earlier, Aten, but you were either asleep or in therapy.”

“I understand. I have been difficult to get a hold of lately. I have to start moving around now a little bit.”

“Does it hurt?”

Aten cracked a small smile. “Pain doesn't mean much to me anymore. It's nothing new. It's nothing that will go away. I have learned to accept it.”

“Accept it?”

“Yes. Life is too short for grudges. Right now, I just want to get back on my feet and go home to my own bed in my own room. That's all I want.”

Seto sighed. “I really tried to make sure you were not hurt.”

“Un-tle Seto?”

“Yes?”

“I'll live. Don't worry.”

Seto walked up to the side of the bed and took Aten's hand. “Your mother told me about your eye.”

Aten heaved a sigh. “Yes.”

“Sorry, Aten.”

Aten released Seto's hand. “My paintings will never be the same.”

Robbie showed Aten's recent watercolors to Seto. “They don't look bad.”

“They look good, Aten.”

Aten chuckled. “You're just being nice because you can't tell me they are a piece of crap.”

“No, Aten, they are really good.”

Aten sighed. “I don't think so, But thank you.”

“They are, Aten. I've always been an honest critic.”

Aten chuckled. “There was one time I remember that you told me you didn't like a painting I did. I changed the colors.”

“And then what happened, Aten Bakari Ishtar-Ibn Marik?”

Aten smiled. “I changed it and it actually did look better.”

“I wouldn't lie to you, Aten.”

Aten smiled a little. “Thank you for your help that time.”

“Anytime. Well, I had better let you go. I'll talk to you later, Aten. I will check in again to make sure you are okay.”

Aten waved to Seto. “Goodbye.”

When Seto left, Robbie turned to Aten. “Seto's lucky you are forgiving.”

Aten sighed. “I would get nothing from being angry at him. Besides, Robbie, if I did something wrong……I hope you would forgive me the same way.”

Robbie smiled and pushed back a white hair from Aten's shoulder. “You bet I would forgive you.”

Robbie leaned down and kissed Aten on the lips. He stroked Aten's cheek and smiled. “Thank you.”

 

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

 

The man sat at his cubicle typing quickly. People were frantically typing on computers and phones were ringing.

Printing deadlines had to be met without exception.

He had been given a story that had to be ready for the morning paper.

It wasn't even an exciting news story.

A man had broken the Guinness Book of World records for making the tallest statue made of toothpicks.

He rolled his eyes.

He wanted to report REAL news….not some trivial toothpick story.

His phone rang and he picked it up. “Domino Herald. Araqiel Tillmann speaking.”

“Hello. I need to speak to you for a moment,” a deep voice said.

“Who is this?”

“Who I am is not important….but……my information is.”

“What do you got for me?”

The voice chuckled. “I have a story for your paper. A lead that will make you a very rich and popular writer.”

“Oh, you do, eh? No offense, but I've been burned by people claiming they have a lead and it ends up to be something lame.”

“This isn't lame. It impacts the welfare of Domino directly. This entire city is in danger, Mr. Tillmann. There are forces in this city which threaten to destroy it and turn Domino into nothing more than a wasteland. This city is in the grip of forces you could not possibly comprehend. Dangerous, deadly forces. And these forces….my dear Mr. Tillmann….are practically right in your backyard.”

“Is this for real?”

“Very much for real, Mr. Tillmann. The people who wield these forces are just as dangerous.”

Araqiel rubbed his forehead. “Well, I have to see this for myself before committing myself to it.”

“Of course. You will have your proof. Meet me on the corner of Arendell and Horatio Streets at nine o clock tonight. We will discuss more then.”

“Wait…”

The person at the other end of the line hung up.

Araqiel hung up the phone and sighed. He continued writing his story. If he wanted to get this done by deadline and meet this mysterious stranger, he had to hurry.

 

Updates: July 21st