Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Hostile Takeover ❯ A Special Friend ( Chapter 3 )

Gralnak: I know. You sort of figure that Bakura and Ryou would have killed them both.

Lady Elfskye: All kids are like that at first it seems.

IYYASHI: Yes, they are animals….hehehehe..so bad.

Ryou's Mistress: I'm thinking of doing the missing Malik x Marik scene from that as a PWP for you.

Shadow of Light: I feel bad for Ryou and Bakura. Making love and they can't fall asleep….been there done that….with a crying chibi at midnight.

Caterfree: Naptime? Snacktime? That was the life, babe! Well, I had homework from my first day in Nursery school.

Dragondreamer: mmmmm……sex crazed light.

Pharaoh Yami's princess: mmmm….bunnies with a bondage fetish…..

Malik lover and Anzu basher: I love Seto, too. And I am a Bakura worshipper. I keep him under my desk at work.

valea: They learned not to walk in the room when Marik and Malik are having alone time.

Bwuebewwy sugar princess: Yeah, poor them…

Joey's Gal: Aria and Aten will join Hayden there at Domino Academy. Right now, they are in separate schools.

A Special Friend

Marik and Malik came down the stairs wide awake. Ryou and Bakura yawned, their eyes red and teary.

"Good morning, you two," Marik said putting his arm around both of their shoulders.

"Yeah? And what's so Ra-damned good about it, Ishtar?" Bakura asked grumpily.

"Someone's moody," Marik said pinching Bakura's cheek.

"Marik, if you value your finger for future activities…like let's say…last night's for instance, I suggest you take it out of my face before I chew it off."

Marik winked. "I dunno, Itemri.. I have something else you could chew on."

Bakura stared blankly at Marik. "I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that."

Aria ran into the kitchen and Ryou put her on her high chair. She quickly ate her Cheerios and strawberries. "I can't wait *munch munch* to go to school! *munch munch munch*"

"Aria, don't talk with your mouth full, sweetheart," Ryou said sitting down at the table with his tea.

Aten walked sheepishly into the kitchen and Marik put him in his high chair. Marik gave Aten his pills with his diluted grape juice. He quietly stirred his oatmeal and looked up at Ryou with large eyes. "Do I haff to dow to kool, mommy?"

"Aten, you'll learn lots of new things there and you'll be able to play with kids your own age."

"Will I wearn butt pee-mids?" Aten asked with bright eyes.

"You may learn about that," Marik said trying to encourage Aten. Marik headed to the coffee pot and Bakura blocked his way.
"Touch..the pot…Ishtar…and you die….again."

Aria finished her breakfast and took her vitamin. Ryou dressed her in a yellow dress and put yellow ribbons in her hair.

Aten took his pills and vitamins and grabbed his toy monkey. "Wan bing money wif me."

Marik folded his arms. "I'm not so sure. What if you lose it?"

"I no woose my money. Peas?"

Marik put his arm on Aten's shoulder. "Tell you what, mommy, Daddy Bakura, and I have to see your teacher before school. We'll ask if you can bring it today. If he says just for today, he has to stay home tomorrow."

Aten nodded slowly. "Yes, daddy."

"That's my boy. Let me get you dressed."

Marik dressed Aten in jeans and a purple shirt. Aten put his monkey in his schoolbag. Bakura and Malik made the snacks for the kids and put them in their KaibaCorp backpacks.

"Time to go," Bakura said opening the door. Aria ran out of the door. Aten cuddled his monkey close to his body and sheepishly walked out the door.

Ryou opened the car door and strapped the bouncing Aria in her carseat. Ryou held out his hands to pick up Aten and the chibi whimpered.

"I know, baby. You're going to be a big boy today, right?"

Aten nodded, clenching his eyes shut. Ryou ran into the house and returned. Malik locked the door when Ryou entered. For some reason, the door's locking mechanism seemed louder than usual to Aten.

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

Marik stopped the car in front of the preschool. It was a small building surrounded by a chain-link fence. There were swings, see-saws, slides, and hopscotch areas. There were a group of thirty children playing in the yard. Two adults stood outside to watch the children. Ryou put down Aria and Aten on the ground. Aria ran to the fence jumping with excitement.

"I wanna go to kool!"

Aten hid behind his mother's legs trying to stay out of sight. Ryou could tell the frail body quivered behind him. Aten was terrified.

Bakura opened the gate and Aria ran immediately to the hopscotch area involving herself in the game with the group of girls. Aten held onto Ryou's hand. Ryou and Marik kneeled to the scared little chibi.

"Aten, we have to see your teacher. Why don't you go play with your sister?"

Aten looked around at the other kids who were taller and heavier than himself. "Mommy I wan dow wif you!"

Marik ruffled his hair. "Please give this a chance, son. I'll tell you what, Malik will stay here with you until we get back."

Marik felt bad for the whimpering chibi. He gave Aten a kiss, Ryou gave him a kiss, and the three adults left.

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

Ryou, Bakura, and Marik walked into the classroom. The children had desks in one area, carpet squares were in a pile, and books lined the walls to the bottom of the windows. The children had many toys, paints, and pencils to keep Aten busy for a long time.

The teacher saw the three enter and stood up. "Hello, I'm Mr. Cullen. And you are?"

Marik shook his hand. "I am Marik Ishtar, father of Aten Bakari Ishtar."

Bakura shook his hand. "I'm Bakura Itemri. Aria Kanika Itemri is my daughter."

Ryou shook his hand. "I am their mother, Ryou Thomas Bakura."

Cullen raised his eyebrow. Ryou was the most feminine of the three of them, so it did not surprise him that Ryou would call himself their mother. "I……see…"

'We came to talk to you about Aten," Ryou said awkwardly. "We wanted you to be aware of Aten's special health concerns. We know he's only going to be here for a few hours a day, but these issues need to be addressed," Ryou said quietly.

Cullen backed away to his desk and grabbed Aten's file. "How old is he?"

"Aten is…three years old."

"Food issues or concerns?"

Ryou nodded. "Aten was born premature and his stomach isn't quite developed. So, he's on some medication to help him digest food. He can have fruit, cookies, and crackers for snacks. I can send him with snacks if that is a problem."

"No," the man said shifting in his seat. "Shouldn't be a problem."

Ryou almost jumped in his chair. "I forgot! Don't feed him anything with pickles. He gets violently ill with pickles."

Cullen noted that in the file.

"Also, Aten has a heart condition known as diluted cardiomyopathy. His left ventricle was deformed since birth. His condition is caused by a swelling of the heart and his heart cannot pump the blood around his body. He's on heart medication which he must take morning, afternoon, and night. He can take this with his snack. It makes him drowsy, so if you do naptime, give it to him before so he can sleep it off. If he has chest pains, have him lie down and give him a pill." Ryou gave Cullen a small bottle of Aten's medication. "Call us immediately at 555-2474 if there is a problem. If we are not home, call Seto Kaiba at 555-4388."

Cullen wrote down the information in Aten's file. "What about Aria Itemri?"

"She tends to get hyper, but that's normal."

Bakura took Ryou's hand. "Ryou, go kiss Aten goodbye. I want to chat with Marik and Mr. Cullen here."

"Okay, yami," Ryou kissed Marik and Bakura goodbye and shut the door behind him.

Bakura and Marik turned to Cullen. "We need to tall you about Aten," Bakura said crossing his arms.

Marik crossed his legs. "My son Aten was kidnapped by his grandfather about…..one month ago, Itemri?"

Bakura nodded. "It was about a month ago." Bakura let out a low growl…remembering Ryou's father pinning his wrists to the bed as a woman raped Ryou. Aten was crying in the next room from hearing Ryou's cries of pain and mercy. It had been a month and Ryou still suffered from some depression, nightmares, and still carried the physical and emotional scars that attested to his abuse.

"Aten still has nightmares and he gets nervous when people touch him," Marik said clenching the golden object in his hand.

Cullen leaned back. "Was he diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?"

"Ryou and Aten both had it after we rescued them. The doctors have told us that they suspected that Aten was sexually abused. The doctors examined Aten inside and out and were never able to come to a final conclusion. The doctors never told us what they found. Apparently, Aten told the doctors nothing, but he told us that his grandfather touched him."

"Poor child," Cullen said sympathetically.

"He hasn't gone into detail about what happened. A child psychologist couldn't get any information when he asked Aten anything."

"So, you haven't sought professional help for your son?"

Marik shook his head. "No. Ryou doesn't know Aten was sexually abused by his father. Besides, we are having difficulty making ends meet. My paycheck is eaten up by Aten and Ryou's heart medication. We rely on my husband's sister to send us a monthly check for groceries and utilities. I couldn't afford a professional if I worked ten jobs."

"Where is his father now?"

Bakura and Marik's eyes turned dark, even Marik's hair became spikier. Both growled, "Where he belongs."

Cullen wrote in Aten's folder. "Good, he's in jail."

Marik and Bakura exchanged glances deciding it was better to let the mortal think whatever he wanted rather than know the truth.

"Listen, we will do for Aten what we can. We do have one psychologist here, but he is only part-time. It won't cost you anything."

Marik leaned forward. "My main concern is that Aten does well in his studies and recovers from what happened. He's afraid to come to school. In fact, he brought a toy monkey he's had since the day of his birth."

"Aten can keep it with him as long as he needs. Most children are afraid to leave their parents and with what Aten's been through, it is no surprise that he needs a security blanket."

Bakura and Marik nodded. Bakura narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell Ryou about this. If Ryou knew about this, it would crush him."

"Well, if Ryou is Aten's ….mother, he does have a right to know."

Bakura shook his head. "It would make Ryou's recovery much worse. Only I, Marik, and Seto Kaiba know."

"I see. Well, if you choose not to tell Ryou, that is your choice and I guess I have to respect that."

"We expect you to respect it AND follow it, sir."

"What was the perpetrator's name? I have to make certain I don't use his grandfather's name in my lessons. The last thing I need is to frighten him."

"Steven Bakura. Tim and Jessica were the accomplices."

"Ok. This is for Aten's file only. All the kids have files so we can keep a track of their emotional and physical development. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to finish preparing for the beginning of class."

Bakura turned back to Cullen before leaving. "Under no circumstances is Ryou to discover the type of monster his father was to our kid." Bakura slammed the door behind him.

Bakura and Marik left and found the kids in the yard. They found Aria playing with a group of girls by the hopscotch.

They kissed Aria and found Aten standing by the chain-link fence.

Ryou, Marik, Malik, and Bakura kissed him goodbye. Aten watched Ryou leave. His mother was biting his lip, entered the car and buried his face in his hands.

Aten's fingers gripped the fence tightly as a tear ran down his face. "I wan my mommy….Mommy, come back."

Everyone in the car waved and the car drove away.

"Don't leave me, mommy…..Come back."

The car turned the corner and Aten rest his head against the fence and whimpered.

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

The teachers came out for the kids and put them in their classes. The desks were grouped in fours, allowing all the students to see each other. Their class consisted of 12 students. Aten sat beside Aria, trying to keep his trembling down.

"Good morning, kids. My name is Mr. Cullen." Cullen's eyes fell on the frail child shaking like a leaf caught in the wind. He was very thin and cuddled his toy monkey in his arms. "Welcome to your first day of school. You will be here from now until a little after lunch every day. I want each of you to stand up and say your names. I also want to know a little about you. Eric, you start."

A tall, brown haired, brown eyed kid stood up. "My name is Eric Barnes. I live with my mommy. I love zoo aminals and want to be a veteran when I gow up."

A red haired girl stood up. "My name is Mallary Curtis. I live with my mommy, daddy, and my goldfish. Heheehe….his name is Mr. Gills!"

Another boy stood up. "I'm Arthur Solomon. I like bugs…squishy, squishy bugs."

A blue haired boy sitting next to Eric sat up. He wore tattered Jeans and a white tank top. He wore a band around his forehead and his hair seemed untamed. "My name is Umi. I live on a houseboat with my daddy. My daddy and I tomtimes go out into the ocean to look for my daddy's daddy. I don't know why he's lost, but….my daddy is cool, anyway."

A little girl stood up taking a deep breath. "My name is Gabriel Donnor, but everyone calls me Gabby. I don't know why they call be Gabby. I was always taught that since I beginned to talk. I live wif my mommy, daddy, my cat, whom I called Mr. Happy Paws. I love my friends and I pay the piano. My bedroom is pink and I have a dog called Squiggles. He chases his tail and he barks. He can catch a ball and bring it to me. He loves doggie treats. I also have a ferret called Skittles. I also have a gerbil called Gumdrop and she's friendly with everyone. I love my friends. I'm not sure if I mentioned that yet."

Aria faced Gabby and stood up when Gabby sat down. "I'm Aria Kanika Itemri. I live with two mommies and two daddies. I live with my budder, Aten, and I wuv M's. Nobuddy tastes my M's, speckally the wed ones. My Unkie Seto said he gonda buy me an M'S fackey since I eat all his M's. My Unkie Seto Kaiba is the richest man in the world and a great drool monsters payer. His boo Eye White Dagon can kick anyone's butt! I'm done!"

Aten stood up. All of the eyes in the room turned to him. His knees began to quake and his mouth ran dry. "Umm..I'm Aten Bakari Ishtar." Eric's eyes scanned him up and down. "Umm…..Awia is my tisser. I'm done."

The boy sitting in front of Aten stood up. He used the desk to keep him standing upright. His balance was difficult due to an obvious club foot. The foot was tilted sideways to the point that he was almost walking on the side of his foot. "My name is Robbie Morgan. I love building things and I want to be an architect when I grow up. My dad is in the Navy and I live with my mommy. I miss 8my daddy a lot, but he sends me candy and letters. The best is when he comes home and reads me a story. He tucks me in bed and tells me how much he loves me." Robbie sat down and looked across the table. The boy was still cuddling his toy monkey.

"I'm Jason Ford. I like hockey."

"I'm Rhonda Taylor. I live with my older brother and mother. I love my family because they do everything I tell them to."

A girl in a blue dress stood up. "I'm Justine Harper. I don't like to see people angry. I have a mommy and a daddy. Oh. I also have a doggie called Pax."

"I'm Bruce Williams. I love duel monsters. I play all the time. I even have a deck of my own, but my mommy won't let me bring it in."

Cullen nodded. "That was very good. Today, we're going to make tent cards for our desks. This way we can learn each other's names!"
Cullen distributed colored construction paper. He appointed Justine to help him hand out glue, crayons, and safety scissors.

"The first step is to fold one piece of paper like this." Cullen held out a piece of paper and folded it lengthwise.

Aten watched the teacher fold the paper and looked down biting his lip. He looked back up at he teacher and he showed him again.

"Awia? How do dat?"

Aria took the paper and folded it for Aten.

"Take your crayons and print your name. If you do not know how to write your name, raise your hand and I will help you."

Some kids picked up the crayons and began printing their name. Aten took a red crayon and looked around at the others. What was the first thing the teacher told him to do? He couldn't remember. Robbie looked up and saw Aten biting his lip, his hand trembling. "Aten? Do you need help?"

Aten looked up at the boy with his brown and purple eyes watering. "I no memmer wat I haff to do."

Robbie leaned forward. "Write your name."

Aten nodded sheepishly and began to draw. Robbie finished his name and looked at Aten's progress. Aten had drawn two pictures with his crayon.

"Aten, write your name."

Aten held up the paper proudly. "Dis iss my mame in hiogifts! My daddy is Egishin and teashed me!"

"What is he?"

'Egishin….umm…pee-mids, tand, and hot tesserts?"

"OH! Egypt! My daddy's beened there."

Aten nodded. "Yes, I Egishin, too. I not wight wike my tisser. See's ite as a pooky ghost!"

Aria was too involved in a conversation with Gabby to hear Aten's remark. The teacher came over to Aten and Robbie.

"Nicely done, boys. Ummm……Aten? That's not your name."

Aten nodded. "Is in hiogifts."

"Aten, son, you need to use English here. The other kids can't read this."

"Is no wight?"

"Aten, can you write your name in English?"

Aten shook his head and looked down.

"I can help him," Robbie said raising his hand.

Cullen pat Aten on the back. Robbie walked to Aten's side. Aten held the crayon. "I no know how to pelt my mame, Wobbie."

Robbie looked over at the blocks and brought some over. He put the "A" down and Aten drew ة"." Aten was able to do the "t" without a problem. For "E" Aten drew " ﻎ". For "N" Aten drew "گ". Cullen returned to Aten. "Aten, that is not English."

"But, I no can wead or wite Ingish."

"Let me see you try again, Aten." Cullen watched Aten rewrite the letters. When he finished, his name looked like "Δ-T-З-Z".

Robbie scratched his head. "That can't be right."

The other kids had finished and Aten still not had written his name. Aten felt the eyes of everyone on him again and his hands shook.

The teacher glanced at Aten's name. Aten's letters were looking confused and backward. His speech was suffering and he wondered how his motor skills were developing.

"Ok. Class, take your scissors out and cut out your letters." The teacher approached Aten and Robbie. "Aten, your name is spelled A-T-E-N. Now you can cut the letters out."

"Wif what?"

"Use the scissors."

Robbie cut out his name. When he finished, he looked up and Aten was watching Aria.

Aten took the scissors and held the piece of paper uncertain. He had a difficult time holding the paper and cut. He put the paper down and held both handles. He put the point of the scissors to the paper, but couldn't understand how to operate the scissors.

Aria turned to him. "Aten, like this." Aria put the scissors in his hand and helped him cut some of the letter "A". When her hands left him, he stopped.

"Robbie?"

"Aten?" Robbie asked watching Aten struggle.

"What do I do wif de sisser?"

Robbie stood beside Aten. "Aria was helping you and you were fine until she took her hands off of you."

Aten's eyes filled with tears as he grew more frustrated trying to remember how to move the scissors. "I no no what to do wifout her to tell me."

Robbie took Aten's hand and helped Aten cut his name out. The teacher went to Aten's file and noted Aten's lack of motor skills and his ability to form letters.

"Ok, Class, now we are going to glue our letters to our folded paper."

Aten looked at the other kids. The teacher went to Aten as Robbie glued his letters on the other piece of paper.

"Aten, do you know what you have to do?"

Aten looked up at Cullen near-to-tears. "No. You newer toll us."

Robbie looked up from his glue surprised.

"I said to glue your letters to this paper, Aten."

"How I do dat?"
Cullen looked at Robbie, concern plain on his face. "Watch Robbie. Aria, keep your voice down, sweetie."

Robbie showed Aten how to glue. When the class had finished gluing, they had to decorate their tags.

Aria ran up to the teacher. "Do you have tometing to make tiny wound dots?"

Cullen gave her a bag of confetti in the shape of little dots. She bated almost every dot in glue and stuck it on the folded piece of paper.

Gabby looked at them. "What are they?"

Aria showed Gabby her tent card covered in her name and little

dots. "Dows dots are little M's! I love M's! I love M's! I love

M's! I hope it time for snack soon. I got M's in my snack!"

Robbie cut out sun and a variety of colors. He made a rainbow. "There. That looks perfit! Aten, what are you going to put on yours?"

Aten sunk his face into his chest and sniffled.

"Aten?"

"I no can cut payer."

"Then draw sometin on it. Can you draw?"

Aten lifted his head and nodded. "I wuv dawing wif Unkie Puppy."

"Then draw sometin."

Aten picked up a crayon and drew. Cullen stepped behind Aten and saw the child was drawing more hieroglyphs. When he was done, he covered the front, back, and the concealed part of the tent card in glyphs. Robbie looked at the detailed work. "Wow! Aten! Does it say anything?"

Aten shook his head. "No," he said with a sigh.

Mr. Cullen leaned down and saw Aten's work. "Wow! You are a great artist, Aten! Where did you learn to draw like that?"

Aten shrugged. "I wike to daw wif my Unkie Puppy. I pain wif him wif pity cudders."

Mr. Cullen saw each child's tent card. Eric had made lions and tigers for his tag. Arthur made a spider. Umi made fish and a boat. Gabby made a fish as well; Bruce said he had something at home he wanted to use for his tag. Aria had dots that she claimed were M&M's.

Eric turned to Umi when he saw Robbie's nametag. "What boy has rainbows and a happy sun? That's fruity."

Umi turned to Eric. "Fruity?"

"Yeah, you know….girlie."

Umi shrugged. "I dunno. Why do you have animals? I had animals on my blanket when I was a little minnow. Are you saying that you are a baby?"

Eric's face turned red. "You take that back!" Eric grabbed Umi's shoulder and pushed him off his chair onto the floor. Eric pointed to the fallen boy and laughed. Umi growled and kicked Eric off his chair.

Eric looked stunned and jumped up. "You must be fruity, too! Fish-boy!"

Umi threw himself on Eric and slapped Eric's face.

Mr. Cullen turned around and wrapped his arm around Umi's waist. Aten grabbed onto Aria and buried his face into her hair, trembling.

Cullen separated the two boys and sat them on a chair in opposite corners of the room. "I will not tolerate fighting in this class, boys and girls. We are here to learn and have fun. Everyone put down their tags. Bruce, can you help me here?"

Bruce ran to the teacher and they distributed papers with a large letter "A" on it. It also had a happy apple, an airplane, acorn, and an cartoon alligator.

"This is the letter 'A'. We're going tot work on the letter 'A' today. A is for Apple. Repeat after me….Ap-ple."

The kids repeated. Aten said "Attle."

"Airplane. Air-plane."

The kids repeated. Aten said "Arr-pane."

"Acorn. A-corn."

The kids repeated. Aten said "A-porn."

Cullen noticed. He didn't want to correct Aten and bring his mispronunciation to the ears of the other kids. "Alligator. Al-lig-a-tor."

The kids repeated. "Agader," Aten said.

"You can color your pictures and the letter A."

Aria and Aten colored their papers. Aten colored his alligator red.

"Alligators are green," Robbie said.

Aten looked up "But dis agader ass tunburn."

Robbie smiled. "Oh yeah! He is sunburned!"

Aten and Robbie laughed. "I never would have thought of that, Aten."

Aten colored his apple yellow. "I no wike wed attles. My tisser wike geen."

Robbie picked up the red crayon. "I like apples. My mommy gives me an apple every day for lunch."

"I wike attlesass."

"What?"

"Attlesass. It's like……attles that have been pounded and mushed up."

"Applesauce?"

Aten nodded.

"Me, too. Love applesauce. It's nummy," Robbie said rubbing his tummy.

Aten licked his lips. "Me, too…ummy."

The kids stopped coloring and they had to turn their papers upside-down.

"What other words begin with "A"?" Cullen asked.

Eric giggled and shouted, "ASS!"

"Eric, we don't use language like that here."

"No, I mean donkey!"

Aten nodded his head. "But, sir, he's wight. A donney is an ass."

Eric turned to Aten glaring. This boy had dared to steal his spot-light?

"He's right, Aten but it is also a naughty word that we will not use here."

"ATEN SAID ASS!" Eric mocked, pointing at Aten.

"Eric, do you want some Time Out again?" Cullen asked seriously.

Eric sat down and pouted. "No."

"What other words begin with 'A'?"

Arthur raised his hand. "Ant!"

"Ok…Anyone else?"

"Angel," Justine said happily.

"Anabi!" Aten said.

"He means 'Anubis,'" Aria said correcting Aten.

"Arms," Robbie said.

"Good, Robbie. I want everyone to draw pictures of things that start with 'A'."

Justine drew an angel with a happy sun for decoration. Bruce drew Alligator Sword from his dueling deck. Rhonda drew an alligator that she copied from Bruce's picture.

Cullen went to Aten and gaped. "Aten? What is that?"

"An ankh."

Cullen shook his head in disbelief. How could a boy this young know about this? "Aten, can you write it for me?"

"What? 'It'?"

"No, Ankh."

Aten bit his lip and wrote slowly. "A-H-K."

Cullen nodded. "Good job, Aten." Cullen knew the word was misspelled, but he didn't expect him to get the word right. Cullen went around and looked at the drawings.

Cullen closed the lesson by having Rhonda help him pass pieces of apple to the other kids. Cullen called Aten to his desk and he gave Aten his medication to have with his snack. Aten returned to his seat. She got to Aten and pinched a small piece in half. It wasn't even enough for him to taste. Every other kid in the class received a large piece…..except Aten.

Robbie saw Aten look up at him and down at his big slice of apple.

"Here, Aten," Robbie said handing his apple slice to Aten. "Trade you?"

"You wan my attle?"

Robbie nodded. "You can have my piece."

Aten's eyes widened. "Weawwy?"

Robbie gave Aten his large slice and took Aten's smaller slice. Rhonda saw this and narrowed her eyes. "Hmph!" She said turning up her nose at the two boys.

Robbie chewed on the bite of apple. "Where's your mommy, Aten? I see your daddies, but where is your mommy?"

"My mommy is da boy wif ite haya. Not de pikey one wike Awia. My mommy has site haya and my daddy ass bond!"

Gabby looked over. "But boys can't be mommies, Aten! Boys can onee be daddies."

Aria nodded. "My mommy is a boy, but he till my mommy!"

Jason whispered to Rhonda. "Hear that? Aten's mommy is a boy!"

"EW!" Rhonda said curling her nose.

Robbie turned to Gabby. "Well, I think boys can onee be daddies. I dunno."

"My mommy had Awia and I. My daddy is de big 'ami wif de bond, pikey haya. Awia's daddy ass ite pikey haya, dough."

Robbie took another bite. "I live with my mommy. My daddy is in the Navy, so he goes all over! He's away now, dough. He's in……ummm….I tink it's called Spain. He sends us letters! And he sent me tocklates from Gernany."

"I beened to de wand of spinx and pee-mids! I tee my daddy's ome! My daddy and Daddy Bakura are fwom dere!"

The kids finished their snacks and Cullen stood up.

"Ok, I want everyone to stand up." The kids stood up. "I want each of you to go around this room and find something that begins with the letter 'A.' Then take a carpet and sit down. Go!"

Aten turned to Aria rubbing his eye and yawning. His medication was beginning to work. "Awia, I seepy."

Aria's eyes lit up. "ATEN! I have my word!"

Aten grabbed his monkey and Aria grabbed a red carpet.

Robbie turned to Aten. "You ok?"

"I seepy affer mecation," Aten said staggering to Aria.

Aria sat on the floor and crossed her legs. She opened her arms and smiled. "Come here, Aten." Aten crawled into her lap and snuggled up to her. He sat on her lap cuddling his toy monkey. Aria stroked his hair and rocked him. Jason and Rhonda were looking at the boy nuzzling his cheek into his sister's white,spiky hair.

Cullen looked at the two and noticed the difference between brother and sister. Aten nearly disappeared into his sister's embrace. The girl was double his size and the boy was thin and bony. He also wondered to what extent his thin, frail frame was affected by his abduction and abuse at the hands of his grandfather.

Eric looked around the room when he saw Aten's toy monkey. "Ape!" Eric ran up to Aten and grabbed the toy. Aten's eyes opened wide when he saw his monkey being grabbed. Aria's eyes turned red.

"Hey! Give that back!"

Aten's grip was weak, but Aria held onto the monkey.

"Give it to me, kid!"

"No! My money!"

Robbie turned and saw the bully ripping it away from them. Robbie tackled Eric and Aria grabbed Eric's ankle.

"You tay away from my brudder!" Aria growled, her spiky hair twitching angrily. Cullen separated Aria and Eric. Robbie kneeled beside Aten and put his hand on his shoulder.

Aten cried as he looked up into Robbie's blue eyes. He held out the monkey and smiled.

"Here's your monkey, Aten."

The boy took his monkey into his arms and kissed it repeatedly. "Tankoo, Wobbie," Aten said trying to smile.

Cullen told Aria to return to Aten. She pulled Aten back onto her lap and rocked him. Robbie grabbed a toy and sat next to Aria and Aten. Eric sat down on a green carpet with crossed arms.

Cullen went around and the children said what they had found that began with the letter "A."

Eric growled. "I'm angry!"

"Well, that does begin with "A," Eric, but I told you I would not tolerate you bullying classmates. Arthur?"

"Ant!"

"Mallary?"
"Aminal!" the chibi said excitedly as she cuddled the toy giraffe.

"Robbie?"

Robbie held up a doll dressed as an angel.

Eric pointed and laughed. "HA! A BOY THAT PLAYS WITH DOLLS!"

Jason and Rhonda snickered while the other kids ignored his outburst.

"Eric, Jason, Rhonda! No more of that! Aria?"

Aria pointed to Aten. "Aten! Aten! My brudder's name bedins with "A"!"

Cullen looked at Aten snuggling up to his sister. "Aten Ishtar?"

Aten looked up at Cullen. "Awia. My tisser is an 'A'."

"She sure is, Aten!" Eric laughed, making Jason fall over laughing.

Aten's eyes narrowed and he tried to get up from his sister's lap, but he couldn't find the energy. "What you tay butt my tisser?"

Jason began to turn red from laughter "Aten said butt!"

Aten's eyes flooded with tears. "Top dat! No waff at me!" Aten rubbed his eyes as he began to whimper.

"Jason! Eric! Jason, get into the corner! I will not--."

"BUTT! BUTT! BUTT! ATEN SAID BUTT!"

Aten buried his face in Aria's chest. "Make dem top, Awia….."

Aria's face turned red and her fingers dug into Aten. "You boys are mean!"

Robbie stood up. "You two want to laugh at someone? Laugh at me! I'm not scared of you!"

Cullen grabbed Jason who darted for Robbie and put him in the corner. "You will sit here until your parents come to get you!"

Cullen approached Aria cuddling her brother. "Aten?"

"Dey waffed at me!" Aten said whimpering.

Cullen rubbed the boy's hair and he seemed to tense up. His parent mentioned that Aten didn't like to be touched. His nurturing side forgot that for a split-second. "It's ok, Aten. I will deal with them. Good job, Aten. Umi? What did you find?"

Umi laughed. "Air! The wind wish moves our boat!"

"But, what is in here that begins with "A"?"

Umi laughed again. "The air is everywhere! Sea air is in my blood and if it is in my blood, it's in my lungs, too. The sea follows me!"

The other kids said what they found and were able to play with their toys.

Aria played with Gabby who sat beside her. They played with Barbie dolls they found. Both of them began chattering endlessly almost without breathing. Eric approached Gabby trying to take her doll away from her. Aria growled at him, flashing her canines.

"You stay away from Gabby and my brudder or you'll get tubble from me!" Aria threatened shaking her fists at him. Her spiky hair twitched in anger and Cullen put Eric in the corner again until he mom would come pick him up.

Robbie took Aten to the corner to play blocks. "Let's build a castle, Aten!"

"Otay!"

Robbie looked at the thin boy rubbing his eyes. "Are you awaked enough?"

Aten nodded. "I get weawwy seepy affer my mecation."

Robbie made a square of blocks to use as a foundation for the castle. "Ok, Aten, you put a block on top to make a wall."

Aten picked up a block and bit his lip. Cullen watched Aten put the block to the side of the foundation.

"No, Aten, on top," Robbie corrected.

Aten picked up the block and began to tremble. His eyes filled with tears. "I can't…….do it. I no tee air de bock it goed on."

Robbie took Aten's hand and guided Aten's hand to where the block had to go. "See, Aten? This is top. This is where the top of the block is."

Aten's face turned red and his head sunk into his chest. "Towwy, Wobbie. I no tee air de bock dows."

"It's ok, Aten, I can show you where the next one goes."

Cullen crossed his arms. Aten could not tell top from beside or next to? Something was either wrong…or Aten had a problem with placement. But, there was definite deficiency in motor skills.

Robbie put a block next to the one Aten placed with his help. Robbie guided Aten's hand to place the next block. They finished their castle alternating turns putting blocks on the fortress. "That castle is fit for a king! Agree, Aten?"

Aten nodded happily as he looked at his accomplishment.

"A castle fit for DORKS is more like it!" Eric mocked from the other end of the room.

Aten's head dropped and he backed into the corner, drawing his knees up to his cheek. Robbie crawled over to Aten.

"Look at the crawling baby!" Eric snarled at Robbie.

Robbie put his hand on Aten's shoulder. "Just ignore him, Aten."

"He's mean…..like my daddy's daddy!"

Cullen heard Aten's lament and put Eric in the corner. The door opened and Eric's mother entered. She saw her kid in the corner and ran up to him.

"Eric! Why are you in the corner?" She picked her little boy up and kissed him. "How's my darling little boy? Have a good day at school?"

Eric turned to Robbie and Aten, pointing to them in the corner. "Those boys were mean to me!" He pointed to Umi. "He pushed me!"

She walked up to Umi and Bruce who were playing with the Preskool firehouse.

"Don't you every put your filthy hands on my son again! He's delicate!"

"Your son made fun of Robbie's card. That is not honorable!" Umi said closing his eyes and folding his arms.

"Well, I'll have to talk to your daddy!"

Umi shrugged. "My daddy will say the same thing I just did."

The woman walked to Robbie and Aten, still in the corner. Aten began to cry as he gripped onto Robbie. They had no where to run.

"You leave my son alone, you bullies! My son doesn't deserve to be in the same class with you brats!"

Cullen stepped in front of Robbie and Aten. "Your son misbehaved in my class, Mrs. Barnes."

"My boy is not a troublemaker! He's a well-behaved little boy and he does no wrong!"

"We had this same problem with him last year, apparently."

Barnes smiled. "Yes, and the teacher before you failed to give him passing grades. Do you know where he's working now? At the Happy Fun Burger flipping patties at minimum wage! So, if you like your job, I suggest you keep quiet and pass my son."
"If your son deserves to pass, he will. He will not be treated differently than the other students."

Barnes glared down at Aten. Aten scrambled into Robbie's arms shaking at the glare.

"My son is better than the other kids in this class! He deserves to pass more than that…..weakling!" She said pointing at Aten angrily. "The call is yours, Mr. Cullen. But as head of the school board, I will make sure you never work in the Domino Public School System again if my son does not pass this year!"

Mako Tsunami walked into the room and put his hands on his hips proudly. "Where is my Little Minnow?"

Umi looked up and squealed. "Daddy!"

Mako picked up his little chibi and hugged him. Barnes came up to him.

"Your son is a bully and I demand an apology!"

"Bully?"

"Your son pushed my kid!"

Mako looked at his son. "Is this true, Umi Aquarius Tsunami?"

"Eric grabbed my collar and pushed me off my chair. He was making fun of Robbie's desk tag and Eric laughed when he pushed me."

Mako looked at Mrs. Barnes. "There is no honor in taunting others. Your son hit mine first. I am not angry with Umi for standing up for others."

Ryou and Bakura walked in. Aria squealed and ran to Bakura.

Eric whined. "That girl pushed me and hurt me!"

Bakura lifted Aria off of the ground and kissed her on the lips. He held her up in the air and pressed his face to her belly, growling at it.

Barnes walked over to Bakura. "Your little girl should learn to keep her hands to herself. Do you know what kind of girl she's going to grow up to be if she likes touching little boys?"

Ryou and Bakura narrowed their eyes. "My daughter is three years old!" Ryou said angrily. "Besides, my daughter knows better than to touch someone else without their permission!"

Bakura snarled at th8e woman who staggered back. "Stay away from my daughter or you'll find yourself in a dark, cold place…..and I'm not talking about the grave. If Aria did touch your son, I'll have to bathe her in alcohol. No telling what kind of parasites she could pick up from your kid!"

Barnes pouted and left angrily.

Mako waved to them. "Hello, my friends! It has been too long!"

"Mako! Mako Tsunamii?" Ryou asked looking at the man.

"That is me! Fisherman of the Seven Seas!"

Bakura cocked his head at the similarity between father and son. "Since when did you procreate, Mako? One would think you'd have no time for…….you know……THAT…when you are looking for your dad."

Mako looked at the chibi in Bakura's arms. "And..does that mean you had time to reproduce, too, while you were planning world domination?"

Bakura rolled his eyes. "I was on my coffee break from planning world domination when it happened. You?"

"I fell in love with a girl. We had…amorous encounters…and I explained I had to leave in the morning to find my father. I left port and promised to return to her. I returned one year later to find my Little Minnow on the deck of my boat crying, cold, and hungry. Attatched was a note that read, 'He is yours. Love, Kimono."

Ryou looked around and saw Aten cuddled in the arms of a dark-haired boy. Ryou approached.

"Aten, baby, you ready to go home now?"

"Robbie?" A brown-haired woman wearing jeans and a sweater entered.

"Over here, mommy!" Robbie smiled and waved.

Ryou looked up at the woman in her mid-twenties.

"Did you meet a new friend, Robbie?"

Robbie smiled and nodded excitedly. "This is Aten."

"Hello, Robbie," Ryou said smiling down at the dark-haired chibi with large, blue eyes. "I'm Aten's mother."

"Hello! I'm Robbie! Robbie Morgan!"

"My name is Ryou Bakura."

Aten nuzzled against Robbie. Mrs. Morgan turned to Ryou. "Your son is so adorable! Look at that unique hair!"

Ryou stroked Aten's cheek gently. "Thank you. He's my little boy. Aten, you want to go home?"

Aten looked up at Robbie. "You be at kool torrow?"

Robbie nodded. "I don't see why not."

Aten looked up at his mother. "I no wan to weave Wobbie, mommy."

Mrs. Morgan kneeled in front of the two boys. She marveled at the little boy's two different colored eyes. She never saw a little boy who looked so unique..two different colored eyes, two different colored hair, tanned skin, and so thin, he would have to run around in the shower to get wet…or two of him to cast a shadow. "Aten, maybe sometime you can come visit Robbie at our house."

Robbie and Aten's eyes lit up. "Really? Today?"

"Well, maybe not today, son," Mrs Morgan said chuckling. "We'll see if we can fit it in sometime this week."

Aten whimpered. "No weave Wobbie."

The other parents came to pick their kids except Rhonda. Bakura tugged on Ryou's jacket when he saw Tristan walk into the room.

Bakura walked up to Tristan. "Well, it's about time, Taylor. Where the hell have you been lately?"

Tristan shrugged. "I've been busy, man. Then Serenity and I began to have problems. And now we split up. I'm with Otogi now."

Bakura's eyes widened. "Wow…that was unexpected. Why?"

"I began having feelings for Otogi and I told her that I was attracted to him. She didn't like the thought that I was bi."

"You were engaged to her, right?"

Tristan nodded. "Yeah. It really hurt me. I really loved her, too, Bakura. But, she couldn't accept me for who I was..so maybe it was for the best. We're better off as friends, though. We still talk and stuff, but, it's not the way it used to be." Tristan looked at the little girl in Bakura's arms. "I still can't believe you had a kid, man. How is fatherhood?"

"Well, it's hard to plan world domination when you are changing diapers at 2 a.m."

"Tristan!" Ryou was pulling Tristan's sleeve. "Come meet Aten!"

Aten looked up at the tall man. His large, chibi eyes widened and he pressed his body closer to Robbie. "Umm….."

"This is Uncle Tristan, Aten. He bought you the motorcycle for your birthday."

"Umm…Umm….Ummm…..tankoo for de mokikle, Unkie Tissan."

"No problem, Aten."

Aria bounced up and down in Bakura's arms. "Tank oo for the pussy cat, Unkie Tis!"

Bakura looked at Tristan with a wicked grin. "In speaking of pussy cats, Tris…"

"UNCLE TRIS!" Rhonda stamped up in front of Tristan. "Where were you? You are to be here on time! I don't want to be speted to wait for you!"

Tristan rolled his eyes and sighed. "Just get your things."

Ryou saw the chibi cross her arms defiantly. "Is she yours, Tris?"

"If this is what having a kid is like, I'm going to get fixed…so is Otogi. No,she's my brother's brat…I mean, kid."

Rhonda stuck her lip out. "I am not a brat! I am a princess!"

Tristan took her hand. "Yeah, and I'm the king of England. Let's go, kid."

"But Uncle Tristannnnnnnnnnnnnn……….."

Tristan turned to Ryou and Bakura. "Correction..I'm going to be castrated. Bye, you two."

Ryou and Bakura waved as Rhonda whined all the way out. Ryou turned back to Robbie and Aten, still cuddling. "Are you ready to go now, baby?"

Aten looked up at Robbie. "No weave wif-out Wobbie."

Mrs. Morgan turned to Ryou. "Maybe we should leave together."

Ryou nodded. "Sounds good."

Ryou took Aten's hand and Mrs. Morgan took Robbie's hand. Aten and Robbie both held hands as they walked to the parking lot. "Time to go home, Aten."

Aten and Robbie locked eyes for a second. "Tee you torrow, Wobbie." Aten wrapped his arms around Robbie and nuzzled his cheek into the base of Robbie's neck. "Bye, Wobbie."

Ryou lead Aten back to the car. Aten kept his eyes fixed on Robbie until his mother strapped Robbie into the car. "Bye, Wobbie," Aten whimpered as the car pulled away.

Updates: I will update Tuesday.

Next Chappie: Aku begins his plan.