Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Hostile Takeover ❯ Taken ( Chapter 35 )

** Because I know I am dead meat after this chappie, I'll do review responses next chappie**

Taken

Ryou woke up early and made himself a cup of hot tea. He watched the sunrise sitting on the couch. Beside him was the empty seat his yami used to occupy while they watched the sunrise.

//How is the sunrise, love?//

Ryou sighed. /It's not the same without you. Though, the purple is very nice this morning./

//I'd give my left arm to touch you, even to hold you right now, Ryou.//

/I know, yami. I miss you./

Ryou looked down to see large brown and purple eyes looking up at him.

"Mommy? You otay?"

Ryou tried to crack a smile. "I'm fine, honey."

"Wat you two-ing?"

"Watching the sunrise."

Aten looked up at the window. "Tan I wook, too, mommy?"

Ryou picked Aten up and put him on his lap. Ryou watched as Aten squinted when he was placed on his mother's lap. Aten cuddled into Ryou's lap and looked at the sunrise.

"Tunwise iss pity, mommy."

Ryou pointed at the window. "See the colors? What colors are in the sunrise?"

Aten cocked his head to the side and scratched his cheek. "Dere's tink."

"Pink. Ok? What else?"

Aten looked up at him. "Umm…Boo?"

"Blue."

Aten looked out the window again. "Wed?"

"Red."

Aten scratched his head. "Umm…pertle?"

"Purple."

The chibi nodded. "Tunwise's are pity in Eshipt."

Ryou looked down at Aten. "Why are you up so early?"

Aten wrung his hands together nervously. "Bad dweam."

Ryou clutched Aten to his chest. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Aten shook his head slowly. "No."

Ryou nuzzled into Aten's hair. "If you need to talk to me, Aten, I'm here for you. Ok?"

Aten bit his lip nervously and shifted uncomfortably. "Mommy? Do you wuff me?"

Ryou smiled. "Of course I love you, Aten."

"If you wuff me, why you no tush me wike your daddy?"

Ryou tookAten's hand. "Because what my father did, Aten, was not love. If someone loves you, Aten, it doesn't mean that it's right if they cause you pain. My daddy hurt you?"

"Yes."

"He didn't love you, Aten. I love you. Your daddy loves you. Daddy Bakura loves you. And Malik loves you, too."

Aten looked down at his hands sadly. "He ted he wuffed me one tine."

Ryou shook his head. "He didn't, Aten. Just because someone says they love you, doesn't make it true. I love you because you are my son. I feed you, I play with you, but I would never force myself upon you. That is true love. I would never hurt my baby boy," Ryou said kissing Aten's forehead. "If someone hurts you, it does not mean that they love you. What my father did was wrong, Aten. My father was bad. You did nothing wrong."

Aten smiled and nuzzled into Ryou's chest. "If it hurt me and if it was wong, why it posed to feel good?"

"'Feel good?'"

"He ted me it posed to feel good, but it no feel good. It hurt."

Ryou looked down. "He lied to you, Aten. He was saying it was supposed to feel good for him. What he did, Aten, was satisfy his own needs. If he loved you, he would not have hurt you. Love is not about hurting someone on purpose, baby boy." Ryou kissed Aten again. "I love you, Aten. My special angel."

"I'm peckial?"

Ryou nodded and Aten let out a chibi-sized squeal. The boy wrapped his arms around his mother and squeezed lightly.

"I wuff my mommy!"

"Love you, too, angel." Ryou looked at the clock. "It's time to wake Aria."

Ryou stood up and lifted Aten into the air, watching his son's bony arms and legs dangling. "Let's go wake your sister, what do you say?"

Aten nodded and stretched out his arms. "Wook, mommy! I'm a pain! I fwy high!"

Ryou held Aten up into the air. "Let's wake your sister, baby."

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

Aten ran into the school yard and hugged Robbie. Ryou kissed Aten and Aria goodbye and talked to Miranda at the school gate.

Robbie took a pile of cards from his pocket. "My mom went out and bought me a bunch of Duel Monster cards! Do you know how to play?"

Aten gaped at the cards. "WOW! CHAIN OF HEART! Dat's my mommy's fay-fit tard! I dot tum tards fom my Unkie Seto de wast tine I goed teed him! We tan pway if you wan!"

Robbie squealed and jumped up and down excitedly. "Really? WOW! Aten, you are the best! I could…I could…..!" Robbie gathered Aten in is arms and squished him against his chest. He picked Aten off the ground, still hugging him in a death grip. "Gotcha, Aten!"

Aten squealed and grunted. He put his fingers on Robbie's side and began tickling him. Robbie started laughing and tears fell from his eyes. His grip on Aten loosened.

Robbie released Aten and fell backwards.

Aten sat on top of Robbie and tickled Robbie's ribs without mercy. "Totcha, Wobbie!!!"

Robbie's head flailed from side to side.

The bell rang and the two boys ran to their mothers by the gate.

"Bye, mommy," Robbie said blowing his mother a kiss through the gate.

"Wuff you, mommy!" Aten said repeating Robbie's action.

"Bye, my little soldier! See you after school! Love you," Miranda smiled.

"Love you, Aten," Ryou said.

Miranda and Ryou chuckled as both boys ran to the school doors together and holding each other's hands.

Miranda leaned against the fence. "They sure do look cute together, don't they, Ryou?"

Ryou nodded. "They really do."

Miranda looked over at the tired boy. "Ryou, have you slept?"

Ryou shook his head. "No. With Marik hurt, Aria sick, and Bakura not around, I haven't slept too well."

"Bakura's gone? Where'd he go?"

Ryou sighed. "Somewhere where I can't be with him. That hurts most of all."

Miranda gave Ryou a tight hug. "I'm here for you, Ryou. If you need someone to watch your kids, Aria and Aten could come over my place."

Ryou hugged her back, sniffling. "Thank you, Miranda! Thank you so much."

"Robbie loves having Aten over our house anyway. Have him come over with any medication he'll need and I can take good care of him."

Ryou sighed. "Thank you, Miranda. It's so hard to find people who understand."

Miranda nodded. "I know how you feel, Ryou," she said sadly. "I'm glad you can rely on me."

Ryou pulled back. "We can take Robbie anytime you need some time to yourself."

"Hmm…I'll have to think about that. I miss taking a nice long bubble bath. Daniel left a while ago and all I have is Robbie for company. Maybe I do need some time to myself. I'll think about it, Ryou. I better get home. Laundry needs to be done. Robbie has more clean clothes than I do right now. Bye, Ryou."

"Bye, Miranda. Thanks again."

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

Malik/Aku's POV

I stood outside of the door grinning. Now was time to implement the next phase of my plan for revenge. Marik is of no use to Ryou. Seto and the puppy are pleasantly distracted. Bakura is locked away in the Millennium Ring. And that pharaoh doesn't suspect a thing!

If the Unfaithful Guardian and I are going to fight against Bakura, we will need a strong army. And who better to use against Bakura than the flesh and blood of someone whom he loves? And who better to dominate than someone who will not and cannot fight back?

I entered the school without incident. I went to the school office.

"Hello, I'm Malik Ishtar and I need to take Aten Bakari Ishtar to his doctor's appointment."

The secretary told me to sign a little book, which I did. I went to the classroom and peeked my head in.

"I'm Malik Ishtar and I need to take Aten to his doctor's appointment."

Aten lifted his head from his drawing of a kangaroo. "Mommy Mawik?"

The substitute teacher shrugged. "Whatever."

Aten ran to Malik and wrapped his arms around Malik's legs. "Mommy Mawik? I no teen you in a wong tine! You otay?"

[ATEN, DON'T GO WITH HIM!]

//He trusts you, Malik. And there is nothing you can do from implementing our plan!//

"I'm fine, Aten. I'm going to take you to your doctors."

Aten smiled enthusiastically. "I wuff Siwa! He diffs me tandy when he wistens to my heart!"

Marik took Aten's hand as Aria and Robbie yelled behind him, "BYE, ATEN!" Malik took Aten out of the school and walked him to the corner.

Malik stopped and picked Aten up. "We're going to go somewhere special, Aten. School won't teach you anything. It's a waste of time."

"But, my daddy tays…'

"Your daddy doesn't have a brain cell in his head, Aten. He doesn't know what I know. I know so much more than your daddy ever will. I'm going to take you someplace you've never been before."

Aten's eyes lit up. "PONY WIDE?"

Malik grinned. "Even better than a pony ride, my boy."

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

Malik carried Aten into the Shadow Realm. The child clutched onto him looking around at the purple haze. A shiver spread through his body.

"Mommy Mawik, why are we here? Is told and I nee a setter."

"Oh, don't worry, boy. You'll get warm once we get you to the temple."

Aten looked around nervously and he began sucking his thumb. Malik stopped in front of the temple and pointed to it. "This is where we're going. You're gonna meet an old friend, son."

Aten's eyes filled with fear. "De Dark Mishin no in dere is he?"

"No, Aten. I'm going to show you to an old friend who is dying to see you again."

Aten watched as they ascended the stairs. Aten looked down and saw the Change of Heart. The devil smiled in triumph as the angel frowned. The Change of Heart followed slowly.

Aten smiled and waved happily. "Hewwo, Chain uff Heart! You meet de fend wif us?"

The angel side hesitated. "Devil, please understand. He is our master's child! We cannot allow him to be injured."

"He threatens our new master. We have to let this happen."
"Devil…..the child….the child may die."

The devil narrowed his eyes at the waving, happy chibi. "We cannot turn back now."

Malik approached the entrance to the temple and smiled. "Close your eyes, Aten. There's a big surprise waiting for you."

"A pise? For me?" Aten smiled and closed his eyes. He covered his eyes with his hands.

Malik approached Steven, grinning with satisfaction.

Malik held Aten out to Steven. "He's yours."

Steven took Aten, holding him at arm's length.

"Open your eyes, Aten."

Aten uncovered his eyes and his body tensed. Aten let out a wail of terror.

"Hello, grandson," Steven said with a sadistic smile crossing his lips.

Aten's breathing increased and his heart beat painfully fast. His thin, little body began to shake and his left hand gripped his chest.

"Long time no see, Aten, my boy. Did you miss me?"

Aten shook his head, his lip trembling as badly as his body.

"I missed you, Aten. You're my good little boy, aren't you, Aten? You always did as I told you."

"Mommy Mawik! I wan doe home! I wan doe home!"

Malik folded his arms and laughed. "And miss out on playing with your grandfather? I wouldn't miss this for the world, Aten."

Aten clenched his eyes tight and he tried to curl himself into a protective ball in Steven's arms.

"I finally have you back, Aten."

"I wan my mommy," Aten whimpered.

"I'll make you feel better, Aten. Let your granddaddy give you a big, strong hug."

Barbed wire emerged from Steven's wrists and coiled around Aten's body. Aten arched his back as the wire twisted around him. A shrill shriek of pain came from his lungs as his arms, legs, stomach, chest, neck, and head was covered in wire.

"Feel better?" Steven asked smiling.

Aten let out a choked sob. "No hurt me….peas?"
The wire slowly receded into Steven's hands. When the wire retracted, Steven carried the boy over to an altar of stone. Steven sat the boy down and stroked his cheek gently.

"You are mine, Aten. You will always be mine. Remember that. I marked you as mine in that cabin. Do you remember?"

Aten whimpered and nodded clasping his stomach. "It hurt."

"Don't worry, my boy," Steven ran his hand over Aten's

clothed chest. "You're beautiful like my son, Aten. You are my blood. You are my family. You are mine."

The Old Vindicive Magician opened his book and read a passage. Steven pushed Aten down on his back and Aten let out a scream. Aten gripped Steven's wrist trying to break free from the grasp. "MOMMY! MOMMY!" Aten began kicking his legs shrieking and wailing. Steven tried turning Aten on his back and Aten squirmed around trying to free himself. "MOMMY! MOMMY! NOT ADEN!"

Aten arched his back trying to avoid being pinned down.

"MOMMY! I WAN MY MOMMY!"

Malik stepped beside Steven and turned Aten on his stomach. Aten let out a cry of fear as manacles appeared out of nowhere and chained him face-down to the stone table by his wrists and legs.

"Mommy Mawik, are you angwy wif me? I'm towwy! I be a good boy!"

Malik stepped in front of Aten and grabbed his hair.
"I endured these worthless carvings on my back since I was ten years old! It's only fitting that you be marked as well!"

Malik took Aten's hair and pushed Aten's head to the stone. Steven raised Aten's shirt covering his back.

Aten clenched his fists. "Mommy……."

Steven raised the dagger……….

*************END CHAPPIE************

*HIDES BEHIND WIFE*

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