Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Apocalypse ❯ Partners in Crime ( Chapter 73 )

 

Partners in Crime

 

 

Araqiel stood in the park at night. He looked around in the dark, feeling uneasy. It wasn't safe to remain in the park at night. He covered a lot of stories where people were found dead in the park from muggings that turned into murder.

 

He looked at the note in his hands. It read, “For the last piece of the puzzle, meet me in Domino Park at ten o'clock. Bring no one. Yami.”

 

Araqiel heard a twig snap and he tensed. A squirrel ran across the field.

 

“Jumpy are we?” Yami asked, coming from behind a bush.

 

“Well, you would be too, standing around here. I don't feel too comfortable standing in the middle of the park in the middle of the night.”

 

Yami grinned. “Oh yes. Thieves and bandits do come here. Their leader is Bakura, that white-haired demon in that house I showed you.”

 

“Their leader?”

 

“Oh, yes. Every person in the Domino Underworld knows Bakura and Marik. They are quite the rogues.”

 

“What do you have to show me?”

 

Yami grinned. “Something very old. The only other copy is in the Cairo Museum in Egypt. I happen to be a collector of sorts.” Yami unrolled a scroll in his hand, complete with pictures of the Millennium Items.

 

Araqiel's eyes widened. “What is this?”

 

“This, my dear accomplice, is the evidence of the existence of Millennium Items. They were considered a great weapon if all of the pieces could be collected. The Millennium Puzzle…capable of condemning a person to death…The Millennium Eye…capable of allowing its user to see right into the soul of another. The Scales…capable of judgement….The Ring…capable of rendering a person a soul-less shell. The Rod…capable of Mind Control and controlling the Elements of Fire, Air, Water, Earth. The Necklace….capable of allowing its user to see the future. The Millennium Key…capable of unlocking the secrets of the mind. With these seven items, a person would be invincible.”

 

Araqiel looked at the hieroglyphics. “This is amazing! Are you sure it's genuine? It's not a fake?”

 

“It's real, I assure you.”

 

Araqiel looked at the images of the items. “The Ring I have seen. That Rod thing I have seen, too! How do I know they weren't passed down from generations?”

 

Yami grinned. “They were taken by spirits which were sealed in the Items. There live the Spirit of the Millennium Rod and the Spirit of the Millennium Ring. Both men are dangerous, but they can be subdued.”

 

Araqiel's eyes lit up. “This is extraordinary!”

 

Yami grinned more. “I know it is unbelieveable.”

 

“I had no idea all this was in our backyard! But, I can't just write a story accusing someone of being a spirit from thousands of years ago!”

 

Yami grinned and handed him a piece of paper. “Publish your story anonymously….and publish it to this magazine. After it gains notoriety there, you may be able to do a story in the Domino Herald.”

 

Araqiel raised an eyebrow. “Do you think it will sell?”

 

Yami nodded. “I have no doubt it will sell…and you will be famous.”

 

Araqiel grinned. “Famous…..”

 

“All I ask is that you keep my name out of the article for safety's sake.”

 

Araqiel nodded. “Done and done.”

 

Yami grabbed Araqiel's hand and shook it. “Nice doing business with you.”

 

“Partners?” Araqiel grinned, shaking back.

 

“Partners,” Yami grinned, squeezing Araqiel's hand firmly.

 

“When those spirits are exposed for who and what they are, they will be run out of town with their tails between their legs. More likely than that, they will be lynched.”

 

“I want to make Domino safe again. They'll be run out of town, if not killed.”

 

Yami grinned. “I can help you with both. I know them well. I know their weaknesses.”

 

“Good move. I'll need all the help I can get.”

 

“And I have some tricks up my sleeve,” Yami laughed. `Bakura. Marik. Get ready to lose Ryou and Malik…..FOREVER!'

 

 

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

 

Asher drove along the dark road with only the limo's headlights as a guide. It wasn't the first time he'd drove this at night, but it was the first time he did it without the knowledge of his boss, Seto Kaiba.

 

Joey sat in the back seat, wringing his hands nervously. “If I can see his grave one more time, I'll be satisfied. I'll feel better.”

 

Seto was sleeping. He was probably getting the best sleep he'd had in weeks. It wasn't right to wake him up out of a sound sleep. That wouldn't be right. Seto needed his sleep.

 

Joey knew he didn't need sleep. He'd spent enough time on the streets as a young teen to know you don't fall asleep at night. That is when danger increased. You had a better chance getting attacked in your sleep at night than during the day.

 

Sometimes, sleeping in the alley was the only way to go, but those days were long gone. He never had to worry about sleeping on the streets again.

 

Asher pulled up to the Kaiba Summer Home and activated the gate opener. The iron gate slowly opened for the limousine.

 

“We're here, Master Joey.”

 

“Good job, Asher.”

 

“Will Master Seto be angry at me for taking his car away without him knowing? I don't want him to yell at me.”

 

“He won't, Asher. He's sound asleep. He doesn't know about any of this.”

 

“Oh, okay. I don't want to be a bad man and make him angry.”

 

Joey shook his head. “You won't. I'll take the responsibility. Now, you know where to go….the Kaiba Crypt.”

 

Asher drove up the path to the front of the house. The mausoleum stood beside the house, the descendants of the Kaiba Family interred within.

 

Joey left the limousine and walked up to the mausoleum with the flashlight. Asher followed him close behind, looking around with his own flashlight.

 

“Do you have the keys?”

 

Asher removed the keys from his pocket. “I hope Master Seto won't yell at me.”

 

“You'll be fine, Asher. Trust me.”

 

Asher opened the door and Joey entered. He walked to the end and flashed the light on Hayden's grave.

 

“Hello, son. Daddy's here.”

 

Joey removed a candle from his pocket and a book of matches. He lit the small pillar candle and set it on the ground. He sat down on the bench across from Hayden's grave.

 

“Why are we here?” Asher asked.

 

“Because I wanted to visit my boy…..and tell him that no matter what happened…..his daddy loved him.”

 

“Fire good,” Asher said as he looked at the flame. Asher sat beside Joey and rubbed his eye. “Daddy didn't love Asher either.”

 

Joey pat Asher on the back. “I can understand why Hayden did what he did. I can forgive him for nearly killing me. He was a boy carrying a lot of pain inside….and he was brainwashed by those people.”

 

Joey reached into his pocket and removed a tiny toy car that belonged to Hayden. “Hayden, I have one of your favorite cars here. You played with this all the time. I wanted to let you know that I will carry this with me always…..That way, daddy will always have a piece of you with him.”

 

Joey wiped his eye. “I'll never understand why you had to go, Hayden. Sometimes, Seto and I seem so distant since you've been gone. We're trying to mend bridges, Hayden, but it's so hard.”

 

The blond sighed as he looked at the car. “You might think that you never made a difference in someone's life. You may have thought that you were not special to anyone. But you know what, Hayden……my boy…..Daddy loved you. You were special to me. You will always be special to me.” Joey smiled. “You're my little boy….and you always will be.”

 

Joey held the tiny car in his hands and smiled. “I'll always have a piece of you with me, Hayden.”

 

Joey watched the candle light flicker, but didn't detect a current of wind. The blond smiled. “Hayden heard me.”

 

Asher looked around. “I didn't hear anything.”

 

Joey took a deep breath and smiled. “I know he heard me. I feel him here.”

 

Asher looked around. “You and I are the only ones here.”

 

Joey shook his head. “No, he's here. You can't see him….but I can sense him.”

 

The candle's light suddenly stopped flickering and remained steady. Joey and Asher watched the candle burn and extinguish itself.

 

When the candle's light was gone, Joey stood up. “Come on, Asher. I had to say goodbye to Hayden alone. I owed him that.”

 

Asher stood up. “It's sad when fire goes out. Fire pretty.”

 

“I know, Asher, but it's time to go before Seto suspects something.”

 

Joey stood up and stepped up to the stone. “I love you, Hayden. Pleasant dreams.”

 

Joey followed Asher towards the door and looked back towards the dark end of the mausoleum. “Goodbye, Little Angel.”

 

The door to the mausoleum shut and was locked by Asher.

 

Joey returned to the limousine and took a deep breath feeling a calm that he hadn't felt since Hayden's passing.

 

“Daddy loves you, Hayden.” Joey whispered as Asher pulled away from the Kaiba Summer Residence.

 

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

 

************Dream Sequence*****************

 

Aten opened his eyes and saw Malik smiling down at him.

 

“Aten? Are you okay?”

 

Aten looked around him. Malik was dressed in black. His eyes were sparkly with tears. The room was decorated as if a party had just finished and all the guests were gone. The coffee table in front of the couch was covered with bowls of half-eaten cheese balls, chips, and pretzels.

 

“Will you be okay going home?”

 

Aten yawned. “Yeah, I think so. I don't want to worry Miranda.”

 

Aten stood up and saw his father in the corner, his eyes trained outside into the darkness.

 

“Hello, father.”

 

Marik kept his eyes trained outside, his eyes blank. He was dressed in black and his face was pale white.

 

“Father? Can you hear me?”

 

Malik shook his head. “His soul is crushed. Ever since he left….your father has not been the same.”

 

Aten looked up and saw Bakura walk down the stairs. “Hello, Father Bakura.”

 

Bakura managed a small smile. “Hello.”

 

Bakura walked over to Marik and put his hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

 

Marik growled and elbowed Bakura in the neck, making the yami stagger back.. “LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE, ALL OF YOU!”

 

Aten staggered back at the sound of his father's booming voice.

 

Malik shook his head. “He's never coming back, Marik.”

 

“SHUT THE FUCK UP, MALIK! I HATE YOU ALL! ESPECIALLY YOU!” Marik growled, pointing an accusing finger at Aten.

“What did I do, father?”

 

“He's dead and it's all your fault!” Marik snarled.

 

“Me?” Aten asked. “What did I do?”

 

Bakura picked himself from off the floor. “You aren't the only one hurting, asshole.”

 

Aten looked around. “Where's mother? I should see him before I leave.”

 

Bakura became silent. “I better go.” The white-haired yami turned and walked quietly to the kitchen and out the back door.

 

“You better go, too,” Malik said, hugging him tightly. “And hey, I'm sorry you had to lose him. I know you loved him.”

 

“Is my mother dead?”

 

Malik bit his lip and hugged Aten again. “It's gotta be lonely over there at Miranda's without him to keep me company.”

 

“Who, Robbie? Is Robbie okay?”

 

“It's going to take a while to pick up the pieces. Just know that we are here for you through his time.”

 

“Is Robbie okay?”

 

Malik smiled. “Stay strong. It's time for you to go.”

 

Aten hugged Malik back and turned towards his father. “Do you want a hug, Father?”

 

Marik blinked. “A hug won't bring him back to me. He's gone.”

 

Aten looked up the stairs. “Can I look upstairs for mother?”

 

Malik shook his head. “He's……asleep.”

 

“I don't want to wake him up, then.”

 

Marik narrowed his eyes as rain began tapping on the window outside. “Nothing will wake him.”

 

Aten turned his head as a radio turned on in the kitchen. [The drought continues into it's second month as crops in the Midwest yield their smallest crop yet. Corn stalks are brown and withered. The ground is cracked from lack of water. The Midwest has applied for government assistance, but it is uncertain what will result. Meanwhile, in the South, a huge flood has submerged much of Florida. The Florida Keys, Kissimmee, Orlando, Tallahassee, all remain buried. Thousands of deaths are reported throughout the Florida state. Meanwhile in the west, huge earthquakes have been reported measuring 8 on the Reichter scale. California was the hardest hit, registering a 7.8 quake. Government and weather officials are at a loss to explain the recent weather phenomenon.]

 

Aten looked at his father, still seeing that blank look on his face. “I love you, father.”

 

Marik closed his eyes and covered his face. “Why did I lose him?”

 

Aten put his hand on his father's shoulder. “If you need me, father, you know where to find me.”

 

Aten walked towards the door, but Marik removed his hands from his face.

 

His face revealed a sudden look of horror. “ATEN, DON'T LEAVE ME!”

 

Aten tried to stop, but his body continued to walk towards the door. He left his home and walked towards Miranda's home in the cold night.

 

`I hope Robbie is okay. Father was acting funny.'

 

He looked up and saw the stars twinkling in the sky. The cold wind blew his long white and blond hair around.

 

`Poor father. I hope he is okay.'

 

“Stop right there.”

 

Aten lowered his head and saw Eric Barnes standing in front of him. “Eric!”

 

Eric grinned. “Thought you would have the last laugh, Ishtar? Guess what….I'm getting the last laugh.”

 

Eric pulled a gun from his leather jacket. “Say your prayers, you faggot!”

 

Aten stepped back, his heart pumping quickly, his body trembling. “Eric….why are you doing this?”

 

“Without your little fuck buddy here to protect you, you're helpless.”

 

Aten swallowed hard. Running was out of the question. If he turned his back, Eric would shoot him for certain. He couldn't wrestle the gun from Eric…he wasn't strong enough.

 

“This is the end, Aten. Say goodbye.”

 

“Why are you doing this?”

 

Eric grinned. “Because you have been nothing but a thorn in my side for fourteen years. And now it is time for you to die.”

 

Aten shook his head. “I don't want to die.”

 

“Tough shit. You're nothing but a worthless faggot. Nobody will miss you.”

 

“Not true. Robbie will miss me!”

 

Eric laughed. “Robbie has already fallen victim to my bullets. You will join him.”

 

Aten took a step towards Eric. “Give me the gun, Eric.”

 

“Only if you can pry it from my cold, dead fingers.”

 

Aten lunged for the gun and grabbed Eric's wrist. Eric pulled the trigger and shot Malik's car parked beside them. Eric grunted and growled as they wrestled for the gun.

Aten narrowed his eyes and grunted, trying to pry the weapon from Eric's hands.

 

“You cannot win, Aten! I will kill you!”

 

“I won't go down that easy!”

 

Aten wrestled Eric to the ground, the gun falling from his hands and stopping a few feet away. Aten pulled his opponent back from grabbing the gun, despite Eric's attempts at reaching for it.

 

“You're going to die!” Eric growled, his fingertips touching the gun.

 

Aten stood up, pulling on Eric's leg. “Stop!”

 

Eric pulled himself forward, grabbing the gun. “Die, faggot!”

 

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

 

Aten's body fell to the ground, his eyes wide, some air still in his lungs. His body trembled as his body spasmed with loss of blood and throes of death.

 

Eric stood up and looked down at him, smiling. “You're better off dead.”

 

Eric pointed the gun at Aten's head and pulled the trigger. Aten felt a final stinging sensation as the bullet burrowed into his skull.

“Good riddance,” Eric laughed as he walked away as the rain began to fall.

 

********End Dream Sequence*********

 

Aten opened his eyes, his body shaking in the bed. He looked back and saw Robbie sleeping behind him. His husband was laying with his back facing him.

 

He extended his arm and found it shaking horribly.

 

`Robbie's here…..maybe it was just a dream….yes, it had to be.'

 

Aten rubbed his eyes, looking at the moonlight coming through the window. “Was that just a dream? It felt so real.”

 

His eyes scanned the room slowly, making certain nothing was out of place. Robbie's old army toys were on top of his bureau. Aten's monkey figurines were on his own dresser. Aten's awards for artistic achievement remained hanging on the walls. On his nightstand, his pills remained lined in a row, waiting for him to take his first round of pills in the morning.

 

Aten turned over on his back and looked up at the shadows in the ceiling.

 

“Did I just dream of my death?”

 

 

 

 

Note: This story is finished. Certainly took me long enough….one year and a half. It's been a crazy year. I hope you liked this story. Thank you to all those who read and reviewed. Look below for the sequel…and the completion of this series.

 

 

SEQUEL: Yes, all good things must come to an end. The next story is the last in the series. The sequel will be called `Return to Paradise.' Rated NC-17, X, whatever the highest rating is on this site. You guys know me by now. *evil grin*

 

Same warnings still apply: YAOI, LEMONS, SOME HET, VIOLENCE, LANGUAGE, same old fun I put in every story….but in the sequel, I add the DEATH warning. *evil grin*

 

The secret of Shadow Magic is exposed to the world. How will the family deal with this threat? Will Yami actually try to reconciliate with the family? Where do you run from trouble when the whole world is out to get you and you are not safe even in your own home?