Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Apocalypse ❯ Reclusive Tendencies ( Chapter 70 )

WARNING: SLIGHT ATEN / ROBBIE LIME!

/………/ = Aten's memories

Reclusive Tendencies

Aten dipped his brush into the teal paint. Carefully, he dabbed some of the blue into the sky, mixing it into the subtle green of the top portion of the canvas. Beethoven's `Moonlight Sonata' quietly played from the stero. The candles on the altar behind him released a delicate apple scent into the air. Robbie walked into the room silently, observing Aten's turned head and his careful painting. The painter's face was close to the canvas, despite the bright lighting. Beside him, he saw four canvases broken and torn into pieces. The colors of the broken paintings were clashing colors. On two of the broken canvas pieces were painted in red `worthless' and `whore'.

“Aten?”

Aten turned his head quickly. “Hello.”

“Aten, are you still working? It's getting late.”

“I have a lot of work to catch up on. I won't be going to bed until late. Go on without me.”

Robbie stepped closer, stopping a few feet away. “It really is late. Come to bed, baby.”

“I really do have a lot of work to do, Robbie.”

Robbie stepped beside his husband and put his hand on his shoulder. “Aten, you look tired. You need rest so you can recover from the hospital.”

“I can rest later.”

Robbie leaned into him. “Aten?”

The painter turned his head.

“Aten, Dr. Zira wanted you to rest. You need to relax now. Let's go upstairs. I got a warm bath ready for you and I got a little present that will take all those aches away.”

Aten raised his eyebrows. “Oh, really?”

Robbie nodded. “Yup.”

“Okay,” Aten sighed. He covered up the paints, blew out his altar candles, and washed his brushes. “You do remember you can't pound me to kingdom come yet, don't you?” Aten asked with a sly smile.

Robbie snickered. “I remember. I wanted to do something special with you. This is your first time home in weeks.”

“Sounds like you missed me,” Aten said with a smile.

“Well, yeah, I did!” Robbie exclaimed.

Aten chuckled. “I missed you, too.”

“You're gonna work yourself to death one of these days, Aten.”

“I know. I just want to make sure you have enough money to live off of when I die. I know it sounds morbid, but I do have to think about that. I don't want you to worry about money when I am gone.”

Robbie stopped and turned Aten to face him. “You're going to be around for a long time. I bet you that you'll be around for another ten years! You may even live into old age. Doctors don't know everything, you know. They told me that I would never walk! Look at me! I may need this cane to get around, but I can still walk.”

Aten looked into the icy-blue depths of his lover's eyes. `He is still having trouble accepting my illness.'

“You may be right, Robbie. You never know.”

“I gotta keep the faith, Aten,” Robbie said, leading Aten upstairs.

He lead Aten to the bathroom and opened the door.

The water in the bathtub steamed. Vanilla-scented candles burned on the sink and beside the tub. The scent of roses wafted from the tub.

“You like it, Aten? I put some Rose Oil in there to make it smell good.”

Aten smiled and hugged Robbie. “Thank you, baby.”

Robbie kissed Aten's cheek. “I wanted to do something special to welcome you back home.”

Aten stroked Robbie's cheek. “Thank you.”

The teen smiled and kissed Aten on the lips. “I've missed you. I've missed you alot.”

Aten nodded and hugged his husband. “I thought…I'd never come home after that fall. I remember being paralyzed…I couldn't move. Every bone in my body felt broken. My chest was just…..on fire.”

Robbie held onto Aten tightly. “You're home. That's all that matters. You're safe.”

Aten rested his head on Robbie's shoulder and hugged him against him tightly. “I thought that I would never come home again.”

Robbie pulled back and smiled at his husband. “Well, here you are.”

Aten smiled. “Here we are.”

Robbie smiled. “Yes. Here we are.”

Robbie leaned into Aten and kissed him slowly and softly on the lips, his hands running up and down Aten's back. The Egyptian teen moaned into the kiss and gently touched his husband's cheeks, running his fingers along Robbie's earlobes.

Robbie slowly brought his hands up to Aten's shoulders, rubbing them. Aten's kisses drifted down his chin to his neck, where he sucked lightly on the white skin. A quiet moan escaped him as he felt his shirt being unbuttoned slowly, button by button. When all the buttons were undone, Robbie slipped the shirt off of Aten's shoulders and tossed it into the hamper.

The Egyptian pulled back and removed Robbie's shirt over his head. “I wouldn't want to get your shirt all wet.”

Robbie grinned. “It's okay. It will be more comfortable washing you this way. That is….if you want me to.”

/My little grandson is so sexy…let's keep this our little secret. If Mommy finds out, mommy will have to be punished. And you will have to watch Mommy get fucked again. Be a good little boy and mommy won't get hurt./

`No! I'm not in the cabin anymore! I'm with Robbie. Robbie can be trusted. He's never hurt me.'

“Aten? You okay?”

Aten shook his head and nodded. “Yeah, I'm fine. Sure, Robbie. I don't mind.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I'm sure.”

Robbie stepped close to Aten, kissing his collarbone and massaging his chest lightly.

`It's Robbie. It's not like we've never done this before. On our Honeymoon we washed each other in the Jacuzzi. That was fun. I enjoyed it.'

Aten kissed the top of Robbie's head and ran his fingers through the curly ebony hair. The strands of hair felt soft as they webbed through his fingers.

“I love you, Robbie,” the Egyptian said softly.

“I love you, too, Aten,” Robbie said, kissing down Aten's flat stomach.

Aten closed his eyes, focusing on Robbie's presence. His fingers continued to touch Robbie's hair, letting the strands help him ground himself in the moment.

“Robbie, you feel so good,” he moaned as Robbie kissed just below his belly button.

“You feel good, too, Aten…. I missed you…. I missed touching you,” he told him between kisses.

Aten smiled. “So do I.”

Robbie's kisses drifted to the rim of Aten's jeans. He steadied himself on his cane as he kneeled in front of Aten, kissing and rubbing his lover on the outside of his pants.

A little whimper came from Aten as he used the wall to steady himself.

Robbie's eyes lifted up. “We should get you in that water before the water gets cold.”

Aten nodded. “I agree….or before I fall down from being weak in the knees.”

The other teen giggled and unbuttoned Aten's jeans, unzippering them, and slowly working them down to his ankles.

Aten moved to the toilet and sat down to remove his shoes and socks. Robbie stood up and removed Aten's pants. He ran his hands along Aten's thighs and kissed him. Aten's hands reached up and ran his thumbs over Robbie's nipples, eliciting a quiet moan of pleasure from his husband.

Robbie reached down and ran his palm over Aten's length, making the Egyptian whimper.

Aten stood up and kissed Robbie on the lips to avoid straining his neck. Robbie continued to touch him, wrapping his hand around his arousal and touching him carefully. Aten reached into Robbie's pants, touching his husband's arousal in return.

Robbie whimpered into Aten's mouth as his own arousal twitched in Aten's expert hands.

The Egyptian felt a tiny drop of fluid course down his palm as he groped Robbie. He pulled back from the kiss with a devilish grin. “I guess I should get in the bathtub.” Aten could tell Robbie was having a hard time holding back as he removed his hand.

“Bath…yeah. You're too good for your own good, Aten Bakari Ishtar.”

Aten grinned. “So are you, Robert Allen Morgan-Ishtar.”

Robbie grinned proudly. “Okay, you, into the tub.”

Robbie supported Aten's arm as he stepped into the tub. He gripped onto his cane with one hand and helped Aten into the tub with the other.

Robbie sat on the toilet seat and grabbed the washcloth. “This is going to feel so much better than the hospital shower.”

“It does already,” Aten said, relaxing and sighing with a smile.

Robbie lathered up the washcloth with soap. “Let me know if you want to do this yourself, okay?”

Aten nodded. “I'm with you now, Robbie. I'll be okay. I trust you.”

Robbie wet his hand and scooped the water onto Aten's tan, dark skin. The Egyptian closed his eyes and smiled.

“This already feels better than the hospital shower.”

Robbie smiled and washed Aten's shoulders. “I can imagine. It always feels better to be home.”

Aten leaned forward so Robbie could clean his shoulders and his back. The Egyptian whimpered and moaned in pleasure as Robbie washed his back.

“That. Feels. Good,” Aten moaned.

“I knew it would,” Robbie giggled.

Aten leaned back and splashed some water onto his own chest. Robbie ran the washcloth over Aten's chest lightly and down his stomach.

“Lift your arms. I gotta wash your pits.”

Aten covered his mouth as he burst into a fit of laughter.

“Well, how else am I gonna say it?” Robbie asked, laughing with him.

Aten lifted his arms, shaking his head. “It was the blunt way you put it!”

“It's the truth! I gotta wash that hospital smell from them.”

“It could be worse,” Aten said.

“Very true.”

Aten let Robbie wash his arms and he wet his hair with a cup by the sink. He filled the cup up with water and dumped it over his head. It took a few cups of water to drench his white and blond hair.

He dumped some shampoo in his hair and lathered it in his hair as Robbie washed his legs.

“This shampoo smells like a Pina Colada,” Aten commented.

Robbie sniffed it. “Hey, yeah, it does!”

“Nice choice,” Aten grinned.

“I thought it smelled good when I bought it,” Robbie's hand helped Aten lather his hair as the other continued to wash him. “Your hair is so soft!”

“I got it from my mother. My father's hair is rougher.”

Robbie grinned. “My mom's hair is black, but curly hair runs on my dad's side. My grandpa had really curly hair.”

“My hair gets tangled really easy. I guess I get that from my father. I want to keep it long. Short white and blond hair doesn't look right.”

“It does look better this way,” Robbie said, making his way up and down Aten's belly.

Aten lathered some conditioner in his hair and laid back in the tub with a quiet sigh. “So good.”

Robbie leaned over and kissed Aten's forehead. “Do you want to do this? Or me?”

Aten opened his eyes and turned to Robbie. “I can tell you want to.”

“Well, yeah, I want to. But I want to know what you want. This is your decision.”

Aten kissed Robbie's lips. “I know you want to. I want you happy.”

“What about you?”

Aten smiled. “You can make me happy, too.”

Robbie kissed Aten softly as his washcloth dipped under the water to wash between his legs. Aten reached up to caress Robbie's cheek. The Egyptian spread his legs as the washcloth touched him and rubbed gently against its sensitive skin.

Robbie's tongue entered Aten's mouth as they kissed. Robbie continued washing Aten when he noticed his husband becoming aroused. Robbie knew that it was not a good time to get him too stimulated. Aten reached below the water and helped Robbie touch him. He guided Robbie's hand to where he wanted to be touched.

Robbie let Aten guide him to where he wanted to go. He swallowed hard as he kissed his husband, feeling his own excitement growing within him.

He felt Aten's arousal stiffen, but slowly diminish as he continued to touch him.

Aten clenched his eyes shut, trying to regain what he had lost, but it was no use. His arousal went limp.

Aten pulled back. “I'm sorry, Robbie.”

“No, Aten. It's okay. We can't really do anything while you are still recovering.”

Aten sighed. “If I take that pill I'm supposed to take, I can keep it up.”

“Aten, it's okay.”

“Are you sure?”

Robbie smiled and nodded. “I'm not going to hold it against you, Aten. Let's just get you cleaned and into a nice clean bed with clean sheets.”

“I wish I could perform for you.”

Robbie leaned down. “You can't perform now, anyway. We've gotta wait for a bit until you heal. I'm not going to pound you senseless until you are medically cleared.”

Aten snickered. “Is that a promise or a threat?”

Robbie grinned and looked around innocently. “It depends.”

Aten laughed. “I'll take it as a promise.”

“Okay, it's a promise. Let's get your hair rinsed out and let's get to bed.”

Aten nodded. “Good idea.”

Robbie helped Aten out of the tub and handed him a towel and a clean pair of boxers. “I'll get the bed ready.”

Robbie limped to his bed and turned on the light. He pulled back the sheets and removed his sweatpants. He slipped into bed and saw Aten come in a few minutes later.

Aten sat on his side of the bed and brushed and combed his hair. Robbie's eyes traced down Aten's exposed back. The `MINE' scar remained prominently carved into his back. Aten draped his long hair behind him, covering up the M and I. Aten's thin form curved down to his thin, exposed buttocks.

He turned and smiled down at Robbie. “I'm glad I could come home. I missed our bed.”

“It wasn't the same without you.”

Aten smiled and replaced his brush and comb on the table beside him. He turned off the light and slipped under the covers.

Aten covered himself and slipped beside Robbie. Aten opened his arms and pulled Robbie against him.

“I missed this,” Robbie said with a yawn.

“So did I,” Aten said, kissing Robbie's forehead.

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

The next day, Bakura and Ryou walked to KaibaCorp after a brief stop at the pharmacy for Ryou's heart medication. Ryou's mind raced with reasons why Seto had chosen to distance himself from everyone in the Family. He hadn't called or visited since before the battle with Yami and succeeded in keeping refuge in his Fortress.

He knew why Seto wanted to distance himself. He felt responsible for Aten's injury, Aria's risk of her baby's life, and betrayal of the Family.

`Seto, it's not your fault. Why can't you understand?' Ryou thought as he walked beside his husband.

“He's a stubborn ass,” Bakura replied, hearing every thought from his Light. “I can't blame him, though. He was stuck between fighting a wooly mammoth and a saber-toothed tiger. You're screwed hard no matter what you do.”

Ryou stopped and turned back at his yami. “Do you blame Seto for what happened? Are you angry at him?”

“Aria wasn't harmed. You….I'm angry at him for putting my family in danger, but he couldn't help it. Death by stabbing or death by beheading….both really suck. I've seen both. Not pretty. If you were in danger, Ry….you know I'd do anything for your safety. If that meant fighting Marik, I guess I would have to do it.”

Ryou walked up to Bakura and took his hand. “What if you had to kill him?”

Bakura leaned in. “Anything, Ry. I mean it. I'd take on the gods for you.”

Ryou smiled and hugged him. “I'm worried about Seto, Bakura.”

The yami hugged his Light back. “I'd hate to be in their shoes right now…Joey and Seto. They are still coping with Hayden's death. I wonder how they are doing that, too.”

“Seto's withdrawl from everyone makes it hard to think what is going through his mind. This could be a long day.”

Bakura nodded. “Yeah, I had a feeling today would be a long one.”

“We'll have to check on Joey and Mokuba and Jeanie. I last heard that Jaimen was learning how to fly from Donny.”

“Yeah, he's doing quite well, so I hear Donny say,” Bakura added as they continued to walk.

“I wonder what Seto will say if he wants to join the military. He may have a hard time because of his stepdad.”

“I can see where he would have a major problem, but I know he can be strong and see things through Jaimen's perspective.”

They continued along the street looking around at the busy streets.

“Seto may be strong, yami, but do you think he can put his feelings aside?”

Bakura shrugged. He was very mistrustful of Jeanie when she first arrived and met him for the first time. It took a long time before he could trust her with his baby brother's heart. “He'll warm up to the idea just as he warmed up to Jeanie.”

Ryou giggled. “The only `warming up' he has yet to do is hearing Mokuba pounding her into the mattress….or vice versa.”

“Seto told you that?!” Bakura gasped, shocked.

“A little, yes. Remember that Seto and I talk about everything.”

“Wow…I better listen to your conversations more often through the mindlink.”

Ryou smiled. “You know my time with Seto is our time, yami.”

“I know, I know. I don't eavesdrop.”

Their eyes lifted as they approached the tall building. Above the building, Seto's helicopter was flying.

“Donny has Jaimen out flying again.”

Bakura shielded his eyes from the oppressively hot, bright sunlight. “He's doing well. He's handling that flying metal bird quite well.”

Ryou giggled. “Helicopter, yami. It's a helicopter.”

Bakura grinned. “You know what I mean.”

“'Fire-sticks' are called `Guns'. Cars are not horseless-chariots. Condoms are not balloons.”

The yami snickered. “I'm an ancient spirit thrust hard into the modern world.”

Ryou smiled. “You've been with me for….twenty four years now! You still call the television the `moving-picture box' sometimes.”

“Well, it IS a box with moving pictures! You can't deny that, Ry. Besides, it's better than calling the television a `modern piece of shit with moving pictures which fucks up every time you move the antenna' like Marik does.”

“Yes, I do agree with you there.”

Bakura stepped up to Ryou. “I've a neverending source of amusement for you.”

Ryou smiled and hugged him. “Very true. Next year is our anniversary, now that I think about it. Our 25th anniversary!”

Bakura shifted nervously. “But we were married six years later. We've only been married 19 years.”

“I want to celebrate our 25th anniversary, `Kura. I can't believe it's been that long!”

“It's been eventful,” Bakura said, trying to look happy. “I'd rather celebrate the anniversary of our wedding…instead of the year I started…..hurting you.”

Ryou put his finger on Bakura's lips and smiled. “It's all over now, yami. Let's remain positive, okay? You've done a lot of good. We have to stay positive…especially if we are going to talk to Seto.”

“Very true. He's the King of Pessimism.”

“He depends on us, yami. Let's go.”

Bakura and Ryou climbed the steps slowly. Bakura had to let Ryou stop to catch his breath one time as they ascended. As Ryou caught his breath, Bakura looked up at the tall building. It towered over every building in Domino. `It's like the Palace in Cairo. From his palace, the Pharaoh could see all around the city and look down on them. Bakura narrowed his eyes. `My people were nothing but ants to him…expendable life, worthless insects.'

“Yami, you ready?”

Bakura shook his head. “What? Oh…yeah….”

When they walked into the lobby, Jay greeted them.

“Hi, guys!”

“Hello, Jay! Nice to see you today!” Ryou greeted him with a smile and a handshake. “We came to see Seto.”

“Oh, sure, no problem. Before you go to the elevator, I've got to check you both.”

“Check us? For what? Lice?” Bakura asked defensively.

Jay shook his head. “No. New security measures, I'm afraid. Mr. Kaiba has cracked down on security. I have to check everyone who comes in. Maxine checks the ladies.”

The Chinese woman smiled, winked, and waved at them before continuing to file her nails.

“Put your arms out, Ryou.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “Nobody touches him.”

“Then he can't go in, Bakura. I have my orders. Please understand I am doing my job.”

“Your job is not my problem,” Bakura growled.

Ryou spread his arms. “Yami, it's no big deal. We have to see Seto.”

“Grope him wrong and I will kick your ass, Jayden.”

Jay stepped behind Ryou and patted his chest, sides, hips, and legs down. He checked Ryou's pockets and inspected them.

“Thanks, Ryou. Bakura, you're next.”

Bakura growled and spread his arms.

“I'd rather be growled at than moaned at.”

Ryou giggled. “What?”

“Marik moans and grinds against me every time I pat him down when he comes to work. He keeps saying things like `Ohh, baby, that's what I like!' and `A little to the left.' And `You need to inspect my package before I enter?' If it were anyone else, I'd consider that sexual harassment.”

“Yeah, for Marik Jibade Ishtar, that's a normal behavior for him. He's always molesting someone at home…Malik, Ryou, or myself…….or himself.”

Ryou laughed. “He enjoys groping.”

“A little too much,” Bakura added.

“Ishtars are all about the groping, alright,” Ryou giggled.

Bakura let out a final growl as Jay pat his shoulder.

“All done, Bakura. See? That wasn't too bad.”

Ryou giggled. “Does Bakura get a lollipop for being a good boy?”

Jay snickered. “Yeah, he can have Cheery Cherry or Squishy Strawberry.”

Bakura glared at Jay. “What if I give you a big, heaping cone-ful of `Kiss My Ass' with Rainbow sprinkles?”

Ryou hugged Bakura and pet his spiky hair. “Cranky yamis don't get lollipops.”

Bakura rolled his eyes. “Kiss my ass, both of you!”

Ryou laughed with Jay loudly. Their echoes sounded through the lobby. “Thank you, Jay. Have a good day!”

Jay waved. “You, too!”

Ryou ran up to Bakura, who was standing at the desk to the elevator. “Hi, Karl.”

“Hi, Ryou! I saw Jay was giving you a bit of a hard time, Bakura.”

“I don't like being felt up by too many people.”

“Jay wouldn't harm you. He's just there to do his job.”

“Don't tell me you are the Cavity Search Department.”

Karl snickered. “No. I only search Jay's cavity. I haven't found much up there of interest. A few things here and there that vibrate, but nothing out of the ordinary.”

Ryou giggled and saw Bakura blush. “Karl, we need to see Seto. Is he in?”

“Yeah, I'll call him and tell him you are coming. Oh, by the way, you need new access numbers to get into KaibaCorp. Seto had us erase all the old ones and assign new ones.”

“Moneybags thought of everything,” Bakura groaned.

“Seto had to rewrite all of the security protocols with Donny and Kendall. Ryou, here is your access code.”

Karl handed Ryou a piece of paper reading `Rainbow2.' “When you get into the elevator, Ryou, push the numbers that correspond to the letters. Then the last four digits of your Social Security number.”

Bakura's jaw dropped. “That's a hell of a lot of numbers! Couldn't Moneybags make this a little easier than punching every number into that Ra-forsaken touch pad? How does Kaiba know your Social number anyway?!”

“Mr. Kaiba has ways of getting any information he needs,” Karl answered. “Yours is much easier, Bakura. Since you don't have a Social Security ID, Bakura, just punch in Ryou's number. Your password is….”

Bakura took the slip of paper from Karl and shot him a dirty look. “What the hell is the meaning of this?!”

Ryou looked at Bakura and covered his mouth to keep from laughing as loud as he did before.

Bakura narrowed his eyes at Karl. “PinkyPoo16?”

Karl grinned. “You should see Marik's designated number. He thwaped me on the head when I gave him his.”

“I ought to send you to the Shadow Realm and feed you to the Blue Eyes White Dragon.”

Karl grinned. “Seto, Donny, and Kendall assigned them. Don't shoot the messenger.”

“I'd shoot you in the ass right now if I could.”

Ryou giggled. “Yami, let's just go upstairs.”

“When Malik comes here, I'll give him his ID.”

“What did you give him?”

Karl shook his head. “Confidential, Bakura. You know I can't give it to you.”

“I bet it's HardOn69 or some shit like that! I get stuck with fucking PinkyPoo16!”

Ryou laughed internally at Bakura's outrage. “Yami, deep, healing breaths.”

Bakura grumbled into the elevator. “Just take me to the top floor so I can kick Seto's PinkyPoo ass.”

Ryou giggled. “It's okay, yami. Thank you, Karl. See you around.”

Ryou walked into the elevator and typed his access ID. The elevator doors closed and began to rise to the top floor of KaibaCorp where the Kaiba Family resided.

“PinkyPoo16….” Bakura repeated shaking his head.

Ryou giggled again. “I'm sorry for laughing, yami, but it is quite funny.”

“I'm the King of the Shadows! I'm Hatred! I'm Anger! My name should not be PinkyPoo16!!!!”

Ryou giggled. “Fear the wrath of PinkyPoo16.”

Bakura threw his hands up. “I GIVE UP!”

Ryou laughed and hugged his yami. “I'm having fun with it.”

“Glad to be a laugh at other people's expense.”

“Yami, don't worry. Don't take it to heart.”

“The King of the Shadow Realm does not go by PinkyPoo. I wonder what Ishtar's is.”

“You can ask him…but, he may not tell you if it is confidential.”

Bakura grinned. “There's ways of making an Ishtar talk. Chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and such.”

Ryou giggled. “Oh, yami. You're too much.”

The elevator arrived at the top of the building and they stepped out. Two new guards stood at the door.

“Stop there, please.”

“Oh, what do you want? We already had the cavity search and molestation downstairs!”

One of the guards pulled a pistol from his belt and pointed it at Bakura. “Sir, don't make me restrain you!”

Ryou gasped. “Stop! Don't shoot!”

Seto ran out of his office. “Stand down! That's Ryou and Bakura Itemri. They are allowed in here.”

“He was getting rowdy,” the man with the gun said.

“He's just like that. Ignore him.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “PinkyPoo16?”

Ryou saw Seto disappear into his office. Bakura followed him, looking back at the two guards at the door.

`I don't trust them.'

“They're new, yami. They're not used to us,” Ryou replied.

“Still…..I've seen them before somewhere….but I don't know where. I'll have to get my Underground to do some snooping.”

Ryou entered Seto's office and saw the CEO by the window. “Hello, Seto.”

Seto turned his head slightly. “Oh. Hello, Ryou. Nice to see you.”

Ryou approached Seto slowly and gave him a hug. His huge, brown eyes sparkled when he saw Seto. “I've missed you.”

Seto's face looked down with a frown and he slowly pushed Ryou away. “I don't deserve something like that from you.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes as he saw what transpired. “And a merry fucking good day to you, too, moneybags.”

“Yami!” Ryou scolded. “Be nice!”

“Nice is not in my blood when it comes to certain things, Ry. Hey, Kaiba, where have you been?”

“Here.”

“I know that!! Why haven't you called or written or even sent an “I'm alive!” fruit basket or something! Smoke Signals, anything!”

Seto shrugged. “I'm busy with things here, Bakura.”

“That can't be all there is to your recent silence.”

Seto shook his head. “No, that's not all there is.”

Ryou sat down in front of Seto's desk, surprised. Never since Seto had known him had he pushed him away from an embrace. “Seto? Please sit down and talk to me.”

Seto took a deep breath and walked to his leather chair behind his desk. “What do you want to know?”

“Where babies come from,” Bakura said coldly. “We want to know what's up. Why have you completely isolated yourself from everyone?”

Seto leaned back in his chair and flexed his fingers. “Because I have hurt too many people to be a part of the Family.”

“Seto, it wasn't your fault,” Ryou said calmly. “You were manipulated by Yami.”

“I still should have been able to stop him.”

Bakura crossed his arms and legs. “If the Pharaoh had leverage with Joey's well-being, then we can see why you did what you did. Shadow Magic is impossible to beat unless you have the magic yourself. If Yami decided to kill Joey with the snap of his fingers, he could have. He still could do it.”

“That is why I have removed myself from pretty much all contact.”

Ryou leaned forward. “Seto, you are not to blame.”

“How can I believe that?!”

“Yami had you dangling like a puppet on a string, Moneybags. The Pharaoh is the yami of life and death. He can control both. Marik and I can pretty much control the elements, but I would give anything for the power of life and death.”

“So would any of us,” Ryou added.

“I was ashamed that I had caved in so easily.”

Bakura turned to Ryou. “I need a moment alone with him. Can you go check on Puppy really quick?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, go on. I'll promise to behave myself here.”

Ryou stood up. “Okay. I'll be back in a few.”

Bakura shrugged when Ryou left and closed the door behind him. “You did what you had to do. Yeah, sure, I'm allowed to be pissed at the fact that you damn near killed my daughter and her baby. In fact, by all rights, I should take you, strip you naked, and hang you from Domino Bridge. BUT……you are a part of our Family. And I happen to know that you mean a fuck load to Ryou. I'm not going to hurt him by removing you from his life. That would devastate him. I'm not doing that to him.”

“I should have been strong.”

Bakura grinned. “If you had taken the strong route, Joey would be dead. You would have lost more had you been foolish.”

“Strong and foolish are not the same.”

Bakura tapped his finger on his arm. “Choose your battles. Didn't your stepfather ever tell you that? That is something I had to learn on the streets and it is not an easy lesson to learn. I learned that on the streets of Cairo. The bigger kids would always try to steal my food that I had stolen for myself. I had to run from them and sometimes I had to fight them for my scraps of food…especially from the Nobles' homes. When I was eight, I remember a fourteen year old boy pulling a knife on me. He told me that I could either hand over the scrap of lamb that I found or be found floating in the Nile with my throat cut. I was a scrawny thing. I was physically tired and hungry. I couldn't have fought him for the food. Oh, I could have fought, but I would not have won. I would have been killed for the few pieces of meat that I found. I couldn't fight that battle and win. Reluctantly, I gave the boy my food.” Bakura looked down at his chest. “I went hungry that night. I didn't get any food until two days later.”

Seto crossed his arms as he listened to Bakura's story. “That must have been difficult for you.”

Bakura nodded. “It was hard. But I had to survive. I had won a few battles against the older street urchins for food, though. I would sit in the shadows and eat what little food I fought for.”

“Did you ever have to step on your own friends to get what you wanted?”

Bakura shrugged. “I was alone on the streets. I had no friends. I watched the other orphans play with each other. I never did. I would look through the gates to the Nobles' homes and daydream sometimes that I was rich with parents and all the food I could eat. It was only a daydream. When I woke up, I was usually covered in mud and lice.”

Seto let out a deep sigh. “I know all about daydreaming of a better life, Bakura.”

Bakura stood up. “Seto, we can make a better life for ourselves now. We can take what we learned and make ourselves stronger people. Yes, we had to do a lot of things we didn't want to do just to survive. But let's used what we learned and make our bonds tighter. Let's not let `what if's' get in the way of how we relate to each other now.”

The yami walked around to Seto behind the desk. “Ryou cares a lot about you. He was very worried that you had dissociated yourself from him. He deserves better than that.”

Seto sighed and nodded. “He does. I love him a lot.”

“Then, damn it, don't shut him out of your life!”

Seto nodded. “You're right. I shouldn't.”

Bakura backed away. “Good. Maybe I should check on Ryou and Joey.”

Seto stood up. “Bakura. I need to talk to you.”

“You've been talking to me.”

“This is about Joey.”

“What about him? He's growing a tail and fur?”

“No. We've found a possible match for an organ donor for him.”

Bakura approached the desk. “Who?”

Seto reached into the desk drawer and removed a picture from his desk. “Him.”

Bakura's eyes widened in disbelief…..

 

Updates: 10/6/06 (I broke my hand fishing, guys, but despite that, I still intend on updating on this day.)