Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Hostile Takeover ❯ One More ( Chapter 54 )

Jade: Aria and Aten will be okay.

IYYASHI: Aria, Malik, and Joey will be okay. Promise.

Dragondreamer: *hands tissue* Bless you.

Kaikocat2x: Aria won't die.

bakachibi voidfox: Malik will live.

Ryou's Mistress: I live in Philly. I'll be there May 11-17th with my wife.

Shadow of Light: Aten's going to go to counseling. He'll need it.

Terra: I hope your lover loves the glompings! As far as taboo topics, these conditions exist! This is reality! Sugar coating it or pretending it doesn't exist is fruitless.

Marik Ishtar: No, I need both of them.

Whisper chan: ALL HAIL, TIM HORTON'S!

Valea: I'm going to do a story of when Seto first brought Joey in his home. Aria won't die.

Seto lover and Bakurasgirl worshipper: Don't hurt my puppy! *hugs Joey*

Amane Bakura: Cliffe: 'I've been bad…really, really bad!"

One More

Joey raised the dagger as his palm was crushed against Aria's face. Ryou and Marik arrived in the room and screamed when they saw Aria's little body pinned under Joey.
"WITNESS THE DEATH OF YOUR OWN DAUGHTER,RYOU!"
Ryou froze and his heart seemed to stop. Bakura reached out to the millennium ring around Ryou's neck and channeled what little energy he had gathered from his recovery.
A bolt of energy shot from the Ring. Joey dropped the dagger by the bedside. Ryou touched the Ring, trying to grab Bakura's hand and the bolt of energy intensified, making Joey scream.

Joey released his grip on Aria's face as the bolt of energy from both mother and father hit him.

Without warning, a figure with white, spiky hair and blue eyes stood beside the bed. Joey fell forward on top of Aria, trapping her beneath his body.

"Unkie Puppy! I can't breathe!"

The bolt of energy ceased and Bakura fell to his knees, drained of all energy.

The figure laughed, his canines shinning. "Hello, Ryou."

Bakura collapsed to the ground semi-conscious.

"Aku!" Ryou gasped.

Aku grinned and disappeared.

Aria looked at Ryou confused. "Who was that?"

Ryou pulled on Joey, trying to remove Joey from his daughter's thrashing, shrieking body. "Marik, get Bakura back to bed."

Marik picked up Bakura's body and carried him to Ryou's bedroom..

Ryou gathered his crying daughter to his chest and kissed her cheek. "My little girl! My baby!"

Aria buried her face in Ryou's neck sobbing. "I was scared, mommy! Unkie Puppy tried to hurt me!"
Joey opened his eyes and saw Aria looking at him with large, teary eyes. Joey looked down at the floor and saw the dagger. The blond heard a whimper and saw Aten curled up in the lap of his big gorilla, it's long hairy, black arms wrapped around him, encasing him securely.

Marik entered the room and went to Aten. Marik sat on the edge of the bed looking down at his son. He wanted to take Aten into his arms, but knew what happened lately when he tried to embrace his son, Marik put a gentle hand on his son's foot.

Ryou heard the downstairs door open as a voice called out. "Ryou? Joey?"

Joey covered his face with his hands and sobbed. Seto heard the crying upstairs and headed for the source of the sobs. He entered the kids room and saw Joey sobbing into his hands. Seto sat beside Joey and gathered the blond into his arms. Joey pulled away.

"Don't hug me," Joey whimpered.

Aria sniffled and reached out for Seto. "Unkie Seto, Unkie Puppy hurt me!"

Seto took the crying chibi into his rms. "Unkie puppy didn't mean it, princess."

Aria whimpered. "He tried to hurt me with Daddy Marik's Minimum Rod!"

Seto looked at the floor and saw the dagger.

Joey looked up a t Aria and reached out for her. "Aria…I'm sorry."

Aria tensed up and sobbed harder.

Joey clenched his fists as he looked into his lover's sapphire eyes. "I'm….I'm sorry, Seto. I'm better off away where I can't hurt anyone anymore. You can't help me, Seto. Tell Hayden that I'm sorry."

Joey turned and ran out of the room.

Seto handed Aria back to Ryou, chasing Joey. "JOEY! WAIT! COME BACK! I STILL LOVE YOU!"

Joey ran out of the house. Seto ran downstairs and out f the front door.

Joey had disappeared.

"JOEY! PLEASE!" Tears filled Seto's eyes. "Don't leave me again, Joey…."

Seto returned back upstairs to find Ryou and Marik gone from the kids' room. "What happened to Joey?" Seto asked sternly.

Bakura was laying on his back with a chibi on both sides of him. Aria and Aten rested their heads on Bakura's shoulders. Ryou and Marik exchanged glances.

Ryou stood up with Marik and they took Seto into the kids room. Ryou sat on Aria's bed and took her pink bunny plushie into his shaking hands.

Seto crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "Ryou, tell me what is wrong with Joey?"

Ryou bit his lip and sighed. "My other yami possessed Joey. Aku made Joey kill her."

Seto growled. "Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Aku is my other yami, Seto."

"I thought you only had one yami. Bakura is your yami."

Ryou shook his head sadly. "Aku…..Aku is…my hatred, my painful memories of what Bakura, Tim Cinetti, and my father did to me. He is the embodiment of all my fears and anger at what they have done to me."

Seto sat on Aten's bed, raising an eyebrow. "But you love Bakura. Yami married you with Bakura."

Ryou shivered. "Never mention him again, Kaiba! I hate Yami for what he's done to Aten and Bakura! He tried killing Bakura after he released him from the Ring."

"Bt, why would Bakura be a part of this creature?"

Ryou closed his eyes tightly and dropped the plushie on the floor. He covered his eyes with his hands. "Bakura took my innocence, Seto. Bakura raped me for two years before he changed. You remember how he was. He beat me, forced me to pleasure him, insulted me any chance he could. My father…… He….Aten…."

Ryou opened his eyes and uncovered his eyes. "Seto, my father made Aten watch as Tim raped me. Then Tim held Aten as my father took his turn. My own two-year-old son was held up in the air by his collar and MADE to watch. Do you have any idea what it was like, Kaiba? Knowing your son was forced to watch you be hurt like that? Do you have any idea how that has affected him? Aku was born that night in the cabin. Aku is made up of all the people in my life who hurt me the most: Bakura,, my father, and Tim Cinetti."

Marik leaned against the wall. "I thought Bakura sealed him away in one of your soulrooms."

Ryou nodded. "I don't know what broke the seal on the soulroom."

Seto's bottom lip trembled. Ryou could tell Seto' hands were trembling. "Ryou….I didn't know. I didn't know he hut you and Aten like that."

Ryou nodded. "He did, Seto. He preys on fears and painful memories. As Aku "feeds" on these memories, he grows stronger."

Seto bit his lip. 'Then this 'Aku' person made Joey do what h did to me!' Seto though angrily.

Seto narrowed his eyes. "How do we stop him, Ryou? This Aku has taken Joey away from me and I bet my fortune he is responsible for making Hayden so terrified of me."

Ryou shrugged. "I don't know. Bakura fought Aku before, but now he is weakened again. I can feel how weak he is."

Marik brushed back his hair as Seto removed his cell phone. "What brought you here, moneybags?"

"I came over here to inform you about Joey's disappearance, but there is another reason. Malik is in the hospital. He tried overdosing on my prescription medication and he found a bottle of Joey's wine. He's in Domino Regional Hospital."

Ryou and Marik's eyes opened wide. Ryou slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Oh, gods, Marik What have we done?"

Marik replaced the dagger into the Rod and crossed his arms. "There's nothing I can do about my hikari's condition."

Seto turned to the yami. "You need him to exist, Marik! Don't you care about ceasing to exist?"

Marik rolled his eyes. He reached out and grabbed Seto's hand. Marik placed Seto's palm against his chest. Seto felt a faint heartbeat.

"I ceased to exist five thousand years ago, High Priest. I'm dead, Seto. I was shot dead by an arrow through the lungs and a dagger to my back. This heartbeat is fake. I will never have another heartbeat again."

Seto pulled his hand away. "NEVER touch me without my permission again!"

Marik shrugged. "Malik doesn't love me anymore, Seto."

Ryou jumpedup and grabbed Marik's shoulders. "I love you, Marik. Aten lves you. Bakura loves you. Aria loves you. And I know Malik has always loved you in the past, even whn you hurt him. I' not entirely sure Malik was to blame for what h did to us. After seeing Aku free, I'm not sure what to believe."

Seto approached Marik. "You both check on Malik at the hospital. I have to find Joey. Keep me posted, Ryou."

Seto left.

Marik and Ryou ran into Bakura's room.

"Yami, can you stay with the kids? Malik is in the hospital."

Atenscreamed and hid his face in Bakura's shoulders. "NO! MOMMY MAWIK!"

Ryou stroked the boy's hair. "Malik's not here, sweetheart."

Ryou leaned over and kissed Aria's cheek. "Be good for daddy. Bakura? Are you alright?"

"That…tired…me," Bakura said yawning, gripping both chibis tighter.

"You relax, love. We'll be back."

Ryou and Malik rushed to the hospital.

****************************
Seto returned to his limousine and opened a panel on the seat in front of him. He pressed a series of six buttons and leaned back, crossing his arms.

Ronnie turned to Seto. "Where shall I go, Master Kaiba?"

"Take me downtown to 69th Street and Logan Road. I have a feeling Joey will be there."

"Attention, all units. This is Seto Kaiba, so drop what you're doing and pay close attention! Joey Wheeler has disappeared. I want him back at KaibaCorporation safe! All units will look for Joey Wheeler.

Search everywhere! Do anything! Bust a few heads open if you have to! I want Joey home alive!"

Kaiba closed the audio connection to his goons and sat back. "I can't lose him, Ron. I don't want to lose him!"

"I saw Joey run this way, but I don't see him at all. We'll find him, Master Kaiba."

"If he gets hurt, I'll never forgive myself!"

Seto and Ronnie arrived downtown. Ronnie prepared his pistol and shoved it beneath his suit jacket. Ronnie opened the car door for Seto and shut it behind him. "What are we doing here, Mr. Kaiba?"

Seto narrowed his eyes as he stood by an alley. "This is where Joey lived when he escaped his father. You go first."

Ronnie walked cautiously into the cold alley. Puddles of water and slime still covered the alley. Used needles and empty beer bottles littered the sides of the alley. Trash and rats carpeted the concrete below their feet.

"Master Joey?!" Ronnie called as he fingered the trigger of his concealed firearm.

"Here, Puppy, Puppy, Puppy!" Seto called. "Joey! Joey!"

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

Joey opened the door to his old tavern. When he entered his senses were flooded with old sights and smells. Two men played pool in the corner, smoking cheap cigars. Above them, a ceiling fan circulated the stale air and smoke.

Joey sat at the bar and grinned at the forty year old man wiping down a few empty scotch glasses. "Hey, Doug! Long time no see."

The man turned around. "Joey Wheeler? I haven't seen you here for….well, since forever! Where have you been?"

Joey sighed sadly. "Nowhere special. Give me a bottle of Jack, Doug."

Joey threw a twenty dollar bill on the bar.

Dough gave Joey a bottle and a glass. "I was wondering what happened to you, Joe. I thought you dropped off the face of the planet."

Joey smirked. "No. Though I wish I did."

Doug gave Joey a reassuring punch on the arm. "Don't worry about it, Joe. Things could be worse. Like my father always said, 'Don't worry, Doug. Things will get worse.'"

Joey looked at the bottle and opened it. 'Things have gotten worse. I lost Seto. I lost Hayden. I lost Mokuba,' he thought as he chugged several mouthfuls of the bitter substance.

Doug served another guy at the other end of the bar a tall bottle of beer. Joey looked around and wiped a tear from his eyes.

"This place hasn't changed, Doug."

Doug laughed. "I'd never change this dump! It's dark….it's dreary….it's like home….just without the nagging of the wife in my ear constantly. 'Do this…' and 'Do that…'. Dames are for the birds! Then again, you know better than I do, Joe."

Joey ran his fingers through his hair. "Come on, Doug, you know I'm bisexual!"

Doug laughed. "I know, Joe. Hey, don't worry about anything, Joe. Just enjoy your 'happy water' and let me know when you need a fill-up, okay?"

Joey guzzled more of the bottle with tears in his eyes. 'I promised Seto that I'd quit! this is the last one. I can stop after this.'

Joey took a deep breath and guzzled more. 'Good Old Jack Daniels.' He never let me down." Joey guzzled more, finishing the bottle. "Where do I go from here?" Joey asked, putting the bottle down.

"Damn. Empty. One more. One more won't kill me. Doug? Give me a shot of gin. One more and I can stop."

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

Tristan paced the showroom nervously wringing his hands. His mind was racing with hundreds of thoughts. The most pressing was…'Where is Nick with my coffee?!'

The phone rang and Tristan picked up the phone. "Hot-Rod Motorcycle Shop. Tristan here."

Seto's voice came through. [Tristan, I need you to keep yoru eyes open for Joey. He ran away from Ryou's house and I know your shop is in the district he used to frequent when he lived on the streets.]

"Joey's gone? Ok, bud. I'll try to keep my eyes open."

[If you see him, call me immediately.]

"I will, buddy, don't worry."

[Tris, you sound…..strange.]

Tristan's eyes opened as he looked at the clock. "OH MY GOD! IT'S 9AM AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY COFFEE YET TODAY!"

[Tris, you have to admit you have a caffeine addiction.]

"I can quit anytime I want!"

[Yeah, right. Bullshit.]

"No! Really, I can! It's just…by now I would have had about a pot, but I had no coffee at home and I came to work and I have no coffee here and…Seto! GOING CRAZY! NEED COFFEE!"

Seto sighed. [Whatever, Caffiene-boy. Just keep an eye out for Joey.]

Tristan hung up the phone as Nick came into the shop carrying a can of coffee.

"I got your coffee, Tris."

"AH! GIMME!" Tristan ran to the coffee pot and intently watched as each drop filled the pot. When it was done, Nick poured himself a small cup and held the pot out to Tristan. "Want some?"

Tristan pulled up his sleeve quickly. "JUST HOOK IT TO MY VEINS!"

Nick's eyes widened and he put the pot down.

Tristan took the pot and caressed the glass.
Nick raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to leave you two alone?"

Tristan rolled his eyes and chugged the pot of coffee without cream or sugar. When he was done. Tristan went to his desk with a contented sigh. 'Oh…hell yeah…Coffee…better than sex,' he thought as he heard the shop door open.

Tristan and Nick stood up and went into the retail area. Tristan gasped as Joey was standing in front of a new Harley Davidson. In his hand, Joey held a brown bag that was obviously a bottle.

"Take care of him, Nick. Don't let him leave."

Tristan went to call Seto as Nick went to Joey.

"Hello, Joey. Long time no see," Nick said, noticing the blond's blood-shot eyes and dilated pupils. "You want a new bike, Joey?"

Joey staggered. "Nah," he groaned with slurred speech. I don't need no bike, Joey," Joey replied, unsteady on his feet. "I'm juss lookin' for shits and giggles." Joey laughed. "I love that phrase, man! 'Shits and giggles'. HA!"

Nick tried to figure how to keep Joey in the shop. "Do you want to see our new bikes, Joey?"

Joey hiccupped. "Nah, I don't need no trike. Thanks anyway," Joey turned to leave.

"Joey! NO! I said 'bike' not 'trike!'"

Joey staggered to the right. "I don't know anyone called Mike!"

Tristan came out of the back and called to Joey. He ran up to Joey and grabbed him.

"Joey! Let me show you our new cycles!"

Joey pulled himself away. "Don't grab me, Tristans! Both of you keep your hands to yourselves!"

"Joey! It's Tristan! There's only one of me here. Joey, why don't you go back to Seto? He misses you, pal."

Joey narrowed his eyes. "No he doesn't! He doesn't love me! I have to go, Tristans." Joey turned and ran from the store.

Tristan saw Joey run down the block as Seto's limo arrived. Seto jumped out, running to Tristan. "Where is he, Tris?"

Tristan sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Umm…"

Seto grabbed Tristan's shirt. "You let him go?"

"He ran away from me!"

Seto released Tristan and held his face on the car door under his folded arms. "Joey…I'm never going to find him!"

Donny stepped out of the car and Tristan pointed to the right. "He went that way!"

Donny ran down the street as Tristan took Seto into his office.

Seto sat on the couch , sobbing. Tristan gave him a tissue. "What happened to Joey? I haven't seen him like that since high school."

Seto sobbed into the tissue. "Joey started drinking again, Tris."

Tristan sat on his desk, lowering his head. "Shit. He was doing so well, too."
Seto leaned back. "What am I going to tell Mokuba? Mokuba had it rough before. He saw Joey attack me with a broken whiskey bottle! I still have the scar on my chest! I'm more worried about Hayden. Hayden loves Joey! How am I going to explain this to a five year old?"

"Well, Seto, just let Hayden know that Joey still loves him. Be there for Hayden."

Seto sighed sadly as Donny entered the room. "Well?"

Donny shook his head. "I couldn't find him, Master Kaiba."

Seto sighed and wiped away the rest of his tears. "Then that's it, Donny. Let's go home. I need to talk to Mokuba and my son."

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

Seto's limo arrived back at KaibaCorp. Donny opened the door for Kaiba. The CEO remained in his seat.

"Master Kaiba?"

Kaiba looked down at the floor. "You may go, Donald. Give me the keys." Donny gave the keys to Seto. "Go home to your wife and kids. They need you home."

Donny nodded. "Yes, Mister Kaiba. I'll be sure to tell Lori you said hello."

Kaiba nodded. "You may go, Don. Good night."

Donny left the car and jumped into his new white Chevy Impala. "Good night, sir," Donny said driving away.

Kaiba slowly left the car and walked to the building. The guards saluted him, but Kaiba ignored them.

Seto rode the elevator to the top floor of KaibaCorp. Mokuba ran down the hall with his arms outstretched.

"BIG BROTHER!"

Mokuba wrapped his arms around Seto's waist and squeezed. "I missed giving you your daily hug after school! Did you miss it, too?"

Seto let out a sigh, trying to smile and hide his fear about Joey. "I sure did, kiddo. Where's Hayden?"

"In his room. We were playing with his new remote-controlled race car! That thing is so neat, Seto!"

A small smile found its way to Seto's lips. "Glad he likes it."

Mokuba followed Seto down the hallway. "I can't find Joey anywhere, Seto. I have to give him his daily hug, too! Hayden's missing it, too!"

Seto took Mokuba's hand and entered Mokuba's bedroom. Seto sat on Mokuba's large waterbed. Mokuba's room was decorated with purple wallpaper and his floor was covered in stuffed animals and board game pieces.

"Seto? You never come into my room! You never even sat on my bed before! What's wrong?"

Seto pat the bed and Mokuba jumped up on it. The waterbed moved as Mokuba climbed up on it. Seto took Mokuba's hand. "Mokuba, I have something very important to tell you. I don't want you to get upset."

Mokuba sat back slightly, worry clear on his face. "Hayden's not leaving us, is he?"

Seto shook his head. "No, Hayden isn't leaving us. I found a liquor bottle in the library. Joey began drinking again."

Mokuba's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "No…..Seto…he can't!"

Seto nodded. "Yes, Joey began drinking again and now he has run away. I have every available unit looking for him, though."

Mokuba squeezed Seto's hand. "You got your hired goons looking out for him?"

"I prefer not to call them 'hired goons,' Mokuba. I should have said, 'I have my pubic relations people looking after him.' Some people don't like the sound of 'hired goons.'"

Mokuba's eyes filled with tears. Seto gathered his brother to his chest. "I'm afraid, Seto! What if he hurts you again like he did the last time?"

Seto tilted his brother's chin up. "I can take care of myself, kiddo. I've been doing that since I was ten. Let me handle the Puppy."

Mokuba sniffled. "What are you going to tell Hayden?"

Seto shrugged. "I don't know. But I do know I will need you to be there with me since he's terrified of me. Also, if he kicks me or punches me in the crotch one more time, I'll be a soprano for the rest of my life!"

Seto lead Mokuba to Hayden's room. Mokuba knocked on the door timidly. "Hayden? I'm coming in with Seto. We have to talk to you."

Hayden opened the door. A single eye peeked out. "Well…umm….umm…okay…," Hayden said opening the door.

"Son, we have to talk to you."

Hayden's eyes filled with water and his head dropped. "Did…ummm…..did I…do something wrong……Mister…..Kaiba?"

"No, Hayden. This is nothing you did," Seto said walking past Hayden.

On the floor was Hayden's new red remote-controlled racecar. Seto bought it for him as a "Welcome Home" present not long ago. Ever since then, Hayden would play with it in the halls of KaibaCorp.

"I'm glad you're enjoying your present, Hayden."

Seto sat on the bed, taking the car in his hands and looking at it. "I wished I had this toy when I was your age in the orphanage! We didn't have half of this neat stuff!"

Hayden kneeled before Kaiba, his usual pose if Seto or Joey was sitting on the bed. Seto wondered why Hayden kneeled beside the bed when he sat on the bed. Part of Seto didn't want to know the reason.

"I…love that toy, sir….Thank you….very much."

Seto cracked a smile. "I'm glad you like it, Hayden. I want to see you happy."

Hayden lowered his head. "I am happy, sir."

Seto remembered Joey telling him that Hayden's uncle would scold the boy verbally and physically if he showed any joy or happiness.

Hayden hid his eyes so he never saw the blow coming.

"Hayden, this is going to be hard for me to say. Joey….Daddy…started drinking again."

Hayden's face drained of color. "Drinking…..clear stuff? From a bottle?"

Seto crossed his legs. "I have people out looking for Daddy right now."

Hayden's body began to shiver. "Will daddy…..get angry..after he drinks the clear liquid?"

Seto leaned forward. "I will take care of daddy, Hayden. I don't want you to worry."

Mokuba, seeing the boy's distress, stood beside the kneeling boy. Hayden wrapped his arms around Mokuba. "Mokuba, keep daddy away from me! I don't want my daddy to hurt me like my uncle!"

"Joey won't hurt you," Mokuba said, trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to reassure Hayden.

"Hayden, I will not let daddy hurt you," Seto said sternly. "Daddy will not hurt you and I will not let him do anything to you."

Hayden's eyes widened at Kaiba. "Promise?"

Seto nodded. "Promise."

Hayden shifted on his knees closer to Seto. "Mr. Kaiba?" Hayden's large blue-green eyes were filled with tears that were beginning to spill over. "Can I hug you?"

Seto bit his lip and nodded. "Yes, Hayden."

Hayden wrapped his arms around Seto's legs and squeezed them, sobbing.

"Hayden? Son?"

Hayden looked up at his father. "Yes, Mr. Kaiba?"

"Can I please run my hands through your hair? Please?"

Hayden nodded silently, his entire body tensing up as Seto's long fingers trailed through his red hair. Mokuba ran beside Hayden and hugged Seto.

Seto sniffled as he ran his hands through Hayden's hair. 'Joey, come home to your family…..Please.'

Updates: Tomorrow

Next Chappie: Ryou gives Aten a stone to battle bad dreams.

Sequel: I'm trying to come up with ideas for a sequel. I have a few, but I wanted to see if you guys had any additional ideas.

The sequel that is planned will be about a virus that attacks the yamis. Seto gets his memories back and Aten and Aria will be six years old. Ryou and the hikaris have to find a way to save their immortal counterparts before they disappear forever. (one of the yamis falls victim to the virus, but I will not say who…not even all the naked, snarling, horny Ryou and Bakura plushies will make me tell!!!!)

Do you guys have any alternative ideas or additional ideas? This story isn't done yet, but I'm open to suggestions.