Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Hostile Takeover ❯ Private Sessions ( Chapter 57 )

*Marik's name at his new job was the great work of my wife, Mel, and Lisa! Both of whom are just as twisted as I am!

*review responses next chappie*

Private Sessions

Aten opened his eyes and saw his sister snuggling into her pink bunny plushie. Her tiny fingers twitched in her sleep. Aten watched her hand clutch the plushie to her chest. Her eyes closed and her breathing was quick.

"I'll catch the ball, Unkie Seto….I catched the ball. Throw me the ball, Unkie Seto."

Aten looked above him and saw the big gorilla doll looking down at him. He crawled out of bed and clutching his Winged Dragon of Ra plushie in his hand, dragging it across the floor.

Aten walked up to his sister as her body twitched with sleep. He smiled down at his sister and moved a ribboned bat-wing out of her eyes. "I wuff you, tisser." Aten leaned down and gave his sister a kiss on the lips.

Aten stroked her cheek and yawned. Aten stopped when Aria gave a moan and placed a kiss on her pink bunny plushie's ear. "I love you, High Priest Seth." Aten watched Aria kiss her plushie and found himself gripping his Ra plushie tighter, hearing the sound of her voice.

He started walking towards the bathroom. He looked down at the happy clown potty that Ryou bought for the kids to start potty-training. Aten cringed with the thought of being without his diapers.

'Aten, honey, this is what all big boys have to do,' Ryou's voice sounded in his head. 'I'll let you alone with your father. He'll show you what to do.'

Aten remembered running from the room in fear when Marik was explaining how to use the potty. Aten left the bathroom shivering.

He climbed down the stairs slowly and heard his mother in the kitchen. He heard a little chuckle come from Bakura. Aten peeked his head into the kitchen.

Ryou was sitting on a kitchen chair. Bakura was sitting on Ryou's lap facing his lover.

Aten's eyes grew wide. Aten remembered when Tim sat on his mother's lap as his grandfather cut his mother's hair back in the cabin. His body froze.

Ryou smiled as Bakura sat on his lap, stroking his cheek gently. Bakura let out a little playful growl and placed his lips to Ryou's neck, kissing and licking at the mortal's warm skin.

Ryou wrapped his arms around Bakura, bringing him closer.

Aten dropped his plushie and ran to Bakura. Bakura and Ryou gasped as Aten dug his nails into Bakura's skin.

"No hurt my mommy, Daddy Bakura! No hurt my mommy!"

"What the---? Aten?" Bakura asked as he looked down at the sad-looking chibi connected to his leg.

Ryou reached down a hand to Aten and cupped the boy's cheek. "Aten, honey, Bakura isn't hurting me."

"But he's tushing you! Wike dat boy dit!"

Ryou gripped onto the confused yami. "I see. Aten, honey, Bakura isn't trying to hurt me. He's touching me, but he is not trying to hurt me."

"But he's tushing you! I'll det him off you!" Aten exclaimed as he tried to pull on Bakura's leg.

Bakura stood up, afraid of making Aten hurt himself by pulling on him. "Aten, there are many different types of touch."

Ryou reached down and brought Aten onto his lap. "I know what he is afraid of, yami. When we were in the cabin, they cut my hair and Aten was forced to watch it. Tim sat on my lap like you did. Aten, sweetheart, Bakura wasn't touching me to hurt me."

"But tush hurt you, mommy."

Ryou shook his head. "No, it wasn't 'touch' that hurt me, Aten. Certain types of touch are good. Do you like it when I hug you?"

Aten nodded. "Mommy tush good."

"Certain people are allowed to touch you, Aten. Doctor Zira has to touch you today to check your injuries. Doctors have to touch you sometimes to examine you. If anyone touches you anywhere on your body that you do not like, then that touch is bad. If the touch makes you afraid, Aten, then that isn't a good touch."

Bakura kneeled beside Ryou. "Nobody is allowed to touch your body without your permission."

Aten lowered his head and looked up at Bakura with large eyes. "Daddy Bakura? Did you ass mommy's pertition to tush him?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow looking uncomfortable. "Umm…yes?"

Aten's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no! I tissed my tisser wifout her pertition! I have to doe tay I towwy!"

Ryou chuckled. "She's still asleep, sweetheart. You don't have to apologize to her."

"But I tushed her wifout assing her pertition!"

Bakura and Ryou exchanged glances. "You only kissed her?"

Aten nodded. "I tissed her wips. Dat's all I dit!"

"Sweetie, you were showing your sister how much you love her."

"But, gantfatter was sowing me how mush he wuffed me, too. And it hurt."

Bakura took Aten's hand.

"Daddy Bakura, you haff to ask my pertition to tush me."

Bakura suppressed a growl. "May I touch your hand?"

Aten nodded and Bakura covered Aten's hand with his own.

"Aten, your grandfather was a sick man. What he did to you and your mother was wrong. Your grandfather did not love you. He hurt you. Love is not supposed to hurt. And just because someone says that they love you does not give them the right to touch you the wrong way. If someone says they love you, it does not mean that you have to return their love. If anyone hurts you, Aten, they do not love you."

Ryou put his hand on Bakura's cheek gently. "I love Bakura, Aten. Bakura loves me. I know he is not going to hurt me because I trust him. It's okay for me to tell Bakura not to touch me if I don't want to be touched."

"Mommy? You didn't ask Daddy Bakura's pertition to tush him."

"I can touch him, Aten. Daddy Bakura told me it is okay to touch him."

Aten snuggled into his mother. "I juss no wan you to be hurt, mommy," Aten said cuddling up close.

Ryou kissed Aten on the forehead. "That's my baby boy. My angel."

Aria let out a squeal from the upstairs. "MOMMY! DADDY! I WENT POTTY! I WENT POTTY!"

Bakura let out a shiver.

/Yami, we have to be excited for her! Positive reinforcement is necessary!/

//…..So we have to be happy she took a--.//

/Yes, and please don't finish that sentence!/

"That's my chibi yami! That's my little girl!" Bakura cheered running to the stairs and up the stairs.

"But, daddy….umm….I missed the potty."

Bakura's smile faded and his eyes went wide with shock. "You what?"

Aria lowered her head. "I went potty, daddy, but I missed."

Bakura opened the door in horror.

//RYOU! She missed!//

/She knew she had to go and she tried. That's the important thing./

//Aren't you going to clean it up?//

/I cleaned up the last accident, Bakura. And she was sick with that fever. It's your turn./

"I'm sorry, daddy," the little girl pouted with her large brown eyes.

"It's okay, baby girl. Are you dirty?"

Ryou bit his lip trying not to giggle as he heard the mental curses coming from their mindlink.

/You're cleaning her, aren't you?/

//……….ew. That's all I can say.//

/You mean to tell me that disgusts you? Yami, you watched me give birth to her!/

//Yes, but I didn't have to touch you! GOOD GODS! GROSS!//

Ryou watched Aria run into the kitchen, squealing and naked. "Honey, where are your clothes?"

Aria smiled. "They were dirty."

/Bakura, couldn't you have dressed her?/

//I'm a little busy cleaning up a mess from YOUR daughter.//

/She's yours, too! Need I remind you who was horny as a bitch in heat that night?/

//You.//

/Oh yeah!/

Ryou put Aten down on the ground and picked up Aria.

"Mommy! You haff to ask pertition to tush Awia!"

Aria squealed as Ryou held her tiny naked body in the air.

"Let me get you something before you get sick again."

Ryou left the room and Aten ran to Aria. He scanned her with his eyes and clenched his fists. Aria wrapped her arms around her brother.
"Aria! You have to ass pertition bifore tushing anybuddy!?"

Aria cocked her head to the side. "What are you talkting about?"

"Your daddy ted dat nobuddy tan tush us wifout our pertition!"

Aria's eyes opened wide and she covered her mouth. "Oh no! I touched you!" Aria wrapped her arms around Aten again. "OH NO! I did it again! Can I hug you?"

Aten nodded and opened his arms. Aria hugged him and jumped back.

The chibi girl gasped. "OH NO! I hope Unkie Tistan asked Unkie Togi if he could look for that quarter down his pants!"

Bakura ran down the stairs at Aria's startled noise. "What's wrong, Aria?"

Ryou ran down the stairs holding a clean gown for Aria. "What is it, baby girl?"

"I didn't know I had to ask someone if I could touch them before I could! I don't know if Unkie Tistan asked Unkie Togi if he could look for that quarter down his pants!"

Ryou:………

Bakura:………

Bakura shook his head trying to get the scary mental pictures out of his head of Tristan's hands down Dice-Boy's pants. He gave a shiver. "I'm going to have to have a talk with Dice-Boy and Caffeine-Boy."

"No, Aria. What Daddy Bakura meant is that nobody has permission to touch your…private parts without consent," Ryou said calmly.

Aria raised her eyebrow. "Like my vagina?"

Bakura's eyes widened and he grasped onto the table for support.

"Yes, Aria, like your vagina."

Bakura went whiter than usual.

"Like my penis?" Aten asked.

Bakura fell back in the chair, his face becoming more pale.

"Daddy? Did I say something wrong?"

//Ryou, how did she learn that was called a 'vagina?'//

/She asked me last night before she got in the tub about her anatomy, yami, I can't lie to her about her body!/

//She's too young to learn about her……you know!//

/Yami, please, she's a young girl and she has to learn these things! She's perfectly normal. Just wait until she asks what her vagina is for!/

//That's the day I go out and invest in a shotgun and a shovel.//

Ryou rolled his eyes. "Now that was completely unnecessary."

Ryou looked at the clock and gasped. "Oh my word! Aten's appointment! Bakura, get their cereal ready! I'll get their clothes!"

Bakura lifted the kids into their chairs and put Cheerios in two bowls. Aria liked a little bit of sugar on her Cheerios. Aten couldn't have any sugar. He put their respective bowls in front of them.

Bakura reached into the medicine cabinets. He put Aten's medication in front of him: His Daily Vitamin. His Water Pill to remove fluids from his body to relieve stress on his horse. Digoxin helped keep his heart rhythm steady and helped the pumping of his heart. And his Beta Blocker to improve the function of his left ventricle.

Bakura watched the two chibis eat. Aria quickly went to her breakfast, quickly bringing the spoon with her left hand from bowl to lips. She ate quickly and hungrily. Aria grunted and licked her sharp canines as she ate. Aten was a different type of eater.

Aten slowly ate his cheerios, gripping the spoon by his right hand. Bakura bit his lip trying not to chuckle as some of the cereal slid down his chin as he ate. The milk ran down his chin as he tried to get the cereal into his mouth. Bakura raised his eyebrow as Aten seemed to feed his shirt more than his face.

Ryou came downstairs and let Bakura go shower. Ryou made his breakfast for his yami and himself as Aria finished.

"Done!" Aria squealed.

Ryou cleaned her face and her body free of milk and cereal. "Go upstairs and get dressed, baby girl."

Ryou gave her a tiny pat on the butt when Aten dropped his spoon.

"Mommy! You should have assed Awia's pertition bifore hitting her!"

Ryou shook his head. "Aten, I was not trying to hurt Aria. I was giving her a little playful pat." Ryou kneeled before Aten. "Aten, sweetheart, I know you are having a difficult time with this. I would never harm you or your sister. You do trust me, don't you, baby?"

Aten looked up at Ryou with his large brown and purple eyes. "I…chust you….mommy."

"I would never hurt you or your sister. Neither would Daddy Bakura or your daddy."

"Mawik hewd me down on de tone."

Ryou brushed back Aten's hair. "Mommy Malik did not know what he was doing to you, Aten."

Aten lowered his head. He reached for his heart medications and sniffled.

"Mommy Malik is very sorry for what he did to you, Aten. When he comes home from the hospital, he wants to tell you how sorry he is."

Aten sighed. "Otay, mommy."

Ryou kissed his forehead. "Take your medicine, baby, and get dressed." Ryou gave him a glass of water.

Aten nodded. "Yes, mommy." Aten took his medication and finished half of the cup.

His mother put him down and he climbed the stairs slowly. Bakura ran down the stairs shortly after.

"Does Aten seem….a little….slow this morning? I carried him up the stairs seeing as he actually fell asleep on the middle of the steps."

"He does look tired. Maybe he didn't get much sleep last night."

Ryou gasped. "I hope he didn't hear us!"

Bakura laughed. "I don't think he did, love."

"I better go get my shower."

Bakura raised his eyebrow. "Need some company?"

Ryou gave Bakura a playful slap on the arm. "Yami! We have to get Aten to his appointment. As much as I would love for you to join me, we can't."

Bakura pouted.

Ryou gave another playful slap. "I'm a mother, yami. That doesn't work on me."

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

Ryou carried Aten out of the doctor's office. Aten shifted uncomfortably in his mother's arms. Aten yawned and held weakly onto him.

A tiny "ow" came from the child.

"Why Dotor Siwa haff to go in my bum, mommy?" the boy asked, half-sedated.

Ryou rubbed the unscarred side of his back. "He had to check for any signs of infection, sweetheart. He wanted to make sure your bum wasn't damaged."

"My bum feels wike it's dawna fall off, mommy," he whimpered.

Bakura ruffled the boy's hair. "You did fine, Aten. You even got a sugar-free lemon lollipop!"

The boy yawned. "Tippie…..yeah…Wuff wenmon."

Ryou held Aten against him. Aten expended all of his energy fighting Zira when he went to examine the boy. Zira told him to lay on his stomach and relax and that he promised not to hurt him. When Zira started the examination, Aten let out a shriek and tried reaching behind him to claw at Zira. Ryou tried to calm his son, but Aten was screaming like someone was murdering him. Zira had to sedate Aten enough to examine him.

"Do you still want to go to Captain Smiley Buns for some Sherbert?"

Aria squealed. "ICE CREAM! ICE CREAM! I want chocolate!"

Bakura held her hand as they crossed the street. "I'm craving fish for some reason anyway."

Ryou nodded. "It will be a nice change to go there. I love that place! It's actually better than the Happy Fun Burger."

Bakura shook his head and rolled his eyes. "I don't know how you could have craved that stuff while you were pregnant with these two!"

Ryou shrugged. "I don't know. Pregnancy does funny things."

Bakura grinned. "I know. I remember."

The entered the restaurant and stood in line. Aria jumped up and down excitedly. "I want ice cream! Chocolate!"

"Aten, do you want raspberry sherbert or rainbow?" Ryou asked quietly.

Aten shifted in his arms again. "Bainbow."

Bakura and Ryou's jaw dropped when they saw the cashier at the front of the line.

He was tall with blond spiky hair, wearing an eyepatch. Bakura's ring flashed and pointed to the cashier. Bakura's eyes widened and a grin crossed his face.

"No…freaking …..way!" Bakura smiled.

Ryou looked at the Ring. "Yami? Is the Ring busted? Why is it….oh my word! Don't tell me!"

Bakura grinned. "Rod-boy is working today!"

Ryou slapped a hand to his face. "Here we go again."

Ryou and Bakura approached the cashier, snickering.

"Hello. What do you want?" the cashier asked with irritation.

Bakura looked at the name tag: Seaman Cheesy Weiner.

"Rod-Boy? Is that you?"

Aten turned around. "Daddy?"

Aria pulled her head over the counter. "Daddy Marik?"

Marik narrowed his eyes. "Can I take your arrrr-der?"

Ryou bit his lip. "This….this is your new job?"

"Yeah."

Aten looked up at his father with large chibi eyes. "Daddy? Tan I haff a Bainbow Terbret iced team?"

"Rainbow Sherbert ice cream? Sure, son. Aria?"

"CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM CONE!"

"Ring-Boy?"

Bakura started to chuckle narrowing his eyes. "You love it when I crucify you, don't you?"

"Two things, Bakura: 1. Bite me! 2. What do you want?"

"I want the Little Minnow FunPack, Seaman Cheesy Weiner."

Marik narrowed his eyes…again. "Just pick a toy, ayir." (Marik just called Bakura a "dick" in Arabic.)

"Boos Teezee." (Literally: Kiss my ass. Arabic slang.)

"You get two choices: Captain Happy Buns or First-Mate Fry."

Aria jumped up and down. "Daddy! Captain Happy Buns! Captain Happy Buns!"

Bakura grinned. "I'd like the Captain Happy Ass..I mean, Buns."

"Bite me! Again!"

Bakura licked his lips. "Is that a request???"

Ryou sighed. "Yami? You're holding up the line! Captain Happy Ass…I mean….Seamen….Cheesy…OH GODS!" Ryou started laughing uncontrollably. He grabbed onto the counter for support. Remembering he still had Aten in his hands, he tried to regain his composure.

Marik rolled his eyes. "Come on, Ryou," he said unamused.

Ryou wiped the tears from his eyes. "Yes, you can take my arrr-der! I'll have a Barnacle Burger."

"Do you want fries with that?"

"What kind of fries?" Ryou asked with a smile.

Marik groaned. "First-Mate Fries."

Ryou nodded. "Yes."

Marik added the amount. He turned to Bakura. "Gimme money now."

Bakura laughed as he handed Marik the money. Marik gave him their change and Ryou sat Aten on the counter. Aten turned to Marik.

Marik was ringing up other customers as he talked to Ryou. "How was his appointment?"

"Well, they had to sedate him to examine him properly. He's still a little sedated, but he wanted some ice cream. Can't deny my baby."

"Daddy? I wuff you."

Marik smiled. "Love you, too, little monkey."

Ryou and Bakura lead the kids over to a table to eat. Aten ate his sherbert slowly. The ice cream was a good treat after his appointment with Zira.

Ryou and Bakura were watching Marik behind the counter. Aria ate her ice cream hungrily when she saw Gabby across the restaurant.

"Mommy! Mommy! There's Gabby! Can I go talk to her? Can I? Please?"

"Yes you may," Ryou responded.

Aria went over to Gabby and the two girls squealed as they saw each other. Gabby jumped off her chair and squealed, wrapping her arms around Aria's body.

"Aria! Aria! Aria! Where have you beened? I've been looking all around the wide, wide world for you!"

Aria crossed her arms. "My mommy and my daddy tooked me and Aten out of the school because my mommy was angry at them letting Mommy Malik take my brudder without permissin."

Gabby's eyes opened wide. "Yeah. Well, my mommy told me that they closed the school because of Mr. Williams and because the school got in a lot of trouble. My mommy told me they closed it down. So, all the kids get to go to different schools and be happy!"

Aria's face drained of color. Her lip trembled. "Umi? What about Umi?"

Gabby scratched her head. "Umm…Umi's daddy came to the class and told the pim-ciple that he was not going to have Umi in the school because of Aten being taketen away from school without your mommy knowing. Umi's daddy was angry. He looked very angry."

"My mommy was sad."

Gabby nodded. "Where you go to school?"

Aria shrugged. "I don't know. But…..I miss Umi. I hope he goes to my new school."

Gabby nodded. "Me, too! Umi is a cool boy."

Aria nodded. "I like Umi! I just don't want to not see him anymore."

From across the restaurant, Ryou watched Aria and Gabby talking.

"It's good to see Aria so outgoing, yami."

Bakura looked over and saw Aten with his head on the table fast asleep. Around his lips and from the corners of his mouth, the sherbert slid onto the table beneath his head. "Umm, hikari? We better get Aten home before he is sleeping in a pool of melted sherbert."

Ryou turned around and sighed at the boy asleep on the table. "Okay." Ryou cleaned up his son as Bakura went to get Aria. Bakura returned with Aria in his arms. Ryou picked up Aten in his arms. "The little monkey tries so hard to be good, Bakura. That doctors appointment was too much for him."

Aria sat on Bakura's shoulders. "My brudder asleep? He must be really tired."

"He is," Ryou said cradling Aten against his chest.

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

Seto, Hayden, and Mokuba were eating dinner in the Dining Hall. Mokuba sat in the middle of the elongated table. Hayden sat at one end and Seto chewed his dinner on the other.

Hayden ate the meatloaf slowly, thinking about Joey. Seto looked worried from the other side of the table, the phone sitting quietly beside him.

When the phone rang, Mokuba and Hayden jumped in their chairs, dropping their forks loudly on their plates.

Seto reached for the phone. "Kaiba here."

[Sir, the police are here to see you. They have Joey with them.]

"Joey?"

Hayden jumped out of his seat. "DADDY!" Hayden ran from the room.

"Hayden, wait!" Hayden was out of range. "What is his condition?"

"Joey's intoxicated."

Seto dropped the phone. "Mokuba, wait here! HAYDEN! Come back!"

Hayden ran for the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator doors closed and it started its descent.

Hayden saw one number light on the panel. Seto had pushed the button, but the elevator continued to the lobby.

The elevator doors opened and he ran out of the elevator.

Hayden's eyes opened wide when he saw Joey wearing handcuffs standing between two policemen.

Hayden's bottom lip trembled as a memory hit him of policemen taking his uncle away in handcuffs. He heard his uncle's voice in his head. //I didn't do anything! I loved that kid like he was my own! Hayden! Hayden, tell them that your uncle was good to you! Tell them, boy! I never did anything wrong!//

"D….Da…Daddy? Why are you….wearing……those handcuffs?"

Joey staggered. "Hello, Aten…..what a pretty boy you are!"

Hayden stepped back and hit a body. He turned quickly. Seto was standing behind him with a look of shock on his face.

"Mr. Kaiba, we found him downtown. We were going to arrest him for underage drinking and prostitution, but we saw who it was and decided just to bring him home to you."

Hayden wrapped his arms around Seto's leg, shivering. "Daddy…..smells…..like……my……uncle… ;."

Seto brushed his fingers through Hayden's red hair. "Mark, call Mokuba down here."

Seto watched Joey sway unsteadily and saw the handcuffs on his wrists. Joey's clothes were dirty and his hair looked disheveled. 'This is going to break Mokuba's heart,' Seto thought as the elevator door opened.

Mokuba's eyes widened and he gasped when he saw Joey. "Joey!"

Joey leaned down. "Hello, little pixie! Why aren't you sweet?"

Mokuba growled at Joey. "I am not a pixie! But you are a jerk!"

Seto grabbed Mokuba's shoulder lightly. "Mokuba, take Hayden upstairs and finish your dinner." Seto leaned into Mokuba's ear, "Do not leave Hayden's side. He said Joey smells like his uncle. Keep him away from the room at the end of the hall."

Mokuba nodded. "Yes, Seto. Hayden, come upstairs, Hayden. We'll eat and--."

"Not hungry," he whimpered, sinking to his knees by Seto's feet.

"Okay, then, Hayden, we can just go play in your room. Let's go race our cars again."

"Can I race from under the blankets?"

Mokuba heard Seto sigh. "Yeah, sure, Hayden. Let's go play with your racecars."

Hayden ran for the elevator and Mokuba looked up at Seto.

Seto gave him a reassuring nod and the two chibis disappeared into the elevator.

Seto turned to the blond. "Thank you for bringing him home. Consider yourselves receiving a nice Christmas bonus this year."

The policemen smiled and removed the handcuffs from Joey. "He got a little violent on us, Mr. Kaiba. Will you be okay with him?"

Seto took Joey's wrist in his hand. "I know how to handle my puppy!" Seto pulled Joey to the elevator as Joey began to giggle.

"What the fuck is so funny, Wheeler?"

Joey looked at Seto with wide eyes. "WOW! This guy looks just like Seto! NEAT!" Joey pinched Seto's cheek. "This has to be a mask, man," Joey said tugging at Seto's cheek.

Seto growled and slapped Joey's hand away. "I don't mind you screwing around behind my back, but when it hurts Hayden and Mokuba, then it becomes my business!"

Seto pushed Joey into the elevator. "Where the hell have you been?"

Joey shrugged. "Like you'd care, moneybags!"

Seto grabbed Joey's shirt and pulled it to him. "You lied to me, Joseph! You lied to me! You lied to Mokuba!"

"So, what?! What's it to you if I lie?"

Seto released Joey. "I wanted to raise our son better than this!"

"Like he would care what happened to me?"

Seto crossed his arms. "You know that is a lie."

Joey put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall of the elevator.

Seto narrowed his eyes. "Hayden loves you and you know it!"

Joey crossed his arms defiantly. "Nobody loves me! Nobody gives a rat's ass about me! Not my dad! Not Seto Kaiba! Not….anyone else!"

Seto reached for Joey and cupped his face in his hands. "Joey, your dad is dead! I saw to that! And, I AM Seto Kaiba! I love you, can't you see? I love Joey Wheeler! I love you!"

Joey pushed Seto away. "Screw you, bitch!"

Seto's body shook with rage. He knew Joey was beyond drunk. He didn't mean anything he was saying, but it still hurt.

"Joey, I don't want Hayden or Mokuba to see you like this."

Joey rolled his eyes. "Screw them! Both of them!"

Seto clenched his fists tightly, his hands clenched so much that blood came from his palms. The elevator door opened and Seto grabbed Joey by the shirt and the hair. A growl came from Joey. "LET ME GO! SHIT! GET OFF OF ME! ASSHOLE!"

"Shut up, Joseph! You'll scare Hayden!"

"FUCK! GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME, YOU FREAK!" Joey grabbed Seto's arm and raked his sharp nails across Seto's skin. Blood dripped from Seto's wound as he tried to maintain that tight grip on the blond.

Seto threw Joey into the room at the end of the hall and locked the door behind Joey. A loud crash was heard against the door.

Joey was trying to kick the door down. "Let me out of here, you fucking asshole!"

Hayden peeked his head out from his bedroom.

"The minute I get out of here I am going to fucking kill you! YOU'RE DEAD, SETO KAIBA! Get me out of here, you whore! You bitch! You asshole! You…you…..god-damned, shit-for-brains, fuck-head! I'm going to fucking kill you when I get out of here!"

Hayden disappeared into his room and rushed under his bed.

Seto turned around and put the key in his pocket. He couldn't expose the kids to the banging door and Joey's profanity all night.

Mokuba and Hayden could not be with him that night. He went to the Dining Hall and picked up the phone. "Ryou?"

[Oh! Hello there, Seto! What's wrong?]

"Joey…was arrested for…he's here….drunk…and--."

[Seto, let me take the kids for the night. They shouldn't be around that….Good heavens, what is that banging sound?]

"That's Joey. I locked him in the back guest room for the night."

A loud crash came from the room in question and more banging.

[Seto, have someone bring the kids over. You've done so much for me. It's time I return the favor for you.]

"Thank you. Donny will bring them over."

[I'll be ready for them. Have they eaten?]

"Very little."

[I have food here in case they get the munchies.]

"Thank you, Ryou."

[No problem, Seto. Bye.]

Seto called Donny at his house. When Donny picked up the phone, Seto heard the crying of a baby.

"Donny?"

[Yes, Mr. Kaiba?]

"Donny, I know you are busy with your baby and all, but I need you to come here and take Hayden and Mokuba to Ryou Bakura's home."

[Yes, sir. Let me put the little chick in bed and I'll be right there.]

Seto hung up the phone, the banging on the door replaced with the sound of breaking glass.

He walked down to the end of the hallway and saw Mokuba huddled up beside the bed, knees to his chin, rocking himself.

Seto crept into the room slowly as he approached his brother. He kneeled down and brushed some black hair away from Mokuba's eyes. "Little brother?"

"It's just like our stepfather all over again, Seto," Mokuba whimpered.

Seto nodded. "I know, Mokuba. You and Hayden are going to Ryou's house tonight."

Mokuba let out a sob and clung to his brother. "Don't make me leave you, Seto! I can't leave you alone with him!"

Seto hugged the trembling chibi. "Mokuba, nothing concerns me more than your safety. You and Hayden are everything to me and---. Where's Hayden?!"

Hayden's head timidly poked out from under the bed. "Here I am, Mr. Kaiba."

"Hayden, you and Mokuba are going to Ryou's house tonight. So, you may want to pack your pyjamas and one of your toys."

Hayden's body cringed at the sound of louder bangs and more threats.

"Hayden, I know this is scary, but you'll be away from this tonight. Do you want me to help you pack?"

Hayden nodded.

Seto and Hayden packed some books and a few of his toy cars. Hayden packed a few books to read. When Mokuba packed and Hayden was done, Seto took them downstairs.

Donny was waiting. "Come on, you two. Time to go."

"Thank you, Don."

Donny bowed. "No problem at all, Mr. Kaiba."

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

Donny knocked on the door and Ryou opened the door.

"Hello, Mokuba! Hello, Hayden! Come on in."

Aria and Aten squealed loudly.

"DONNY!" Aria squealed.

"BONNIE!" Aten squealed.

Hayden dashed behind Ryou as Aria connected herself to Donny's right leg.

Aten limped over to Donny, connecting himself to his left leg. "Hewwo, Bonnie! You tame to tee us?"

"Donny! Do you have M's? Do you have any M's???"

Donny shook his head. "No, Aria, I have no M&M's. Aten, my name is 'D-onny.' Not 'B-onnie'!"

Aten cocked his head to the side. "BONNIE! Do you haff a money?!"

Donny raised an eyebrow. "No, Aten, I do not have a monkey."

Aria jumped up and down excitedly. "I WANT M'S! I WANT M'S! I WANT M'S!"

Donny emptied his pockets. "I have no chocolate, Aria."

Aria pouted and her hair gave a little twitch. "Aww…."

Ryou leaned down to Aria. "Aria, why don't you take Mokuba upstairs to unpack his stuff? Hayden, do you want to stay with Mokuba?"

Aria let out a little growl. "That KID is staying here, too?! NO!"

Bakura looked down at his daughter. Ryou watched as father and daughter faced each other.

Both of their hair spiked simultaneously. Aria's hair gave an annoyed little twitch. They folded their arms defiantly as they faced each other.

"Aria, Hayden is staying here because he has no where else to go."

"Doesn't Unkie Seto want him anymore?"

"Yes he still does, Aria, but Hayden is staying over tonight whether you like it or not, little missy! And if I hear that you are tormenting Hayden, you get no M&M's for a week!"

Both father and daughter snarled at each other with irritation. Ryou stood between them.

"Aria, dear, don't snarl at your father! Hayden is staying here and I want you on your best behavior."

Aria's hair twitched.

"And no twitching your hair at me either, Aria Kanika Itemri!"

Aria's hair stopped twitching and she pouted to her corner, playing with her dolls.

"Thank you for bringing them, Donny."

Donny bowed and left. Ryou shut the door and leaned down to Hayden.

"Where do you want to sleep tonight, Hayden?"

Hayden lowered his head, keeping his eyes on Aria in the corner. "Umm….I don't know. Where do you want me to sleep?"

Ryou smiled. "You can sleep anywhere you want."

Aten squealed happily. "Aiden tan teep wif me, mommy!"

Aria growled and clawed at the carpet. 'Nobuddy sleeps in that room besides Aten and me!'

Hayden saw Aria's fierce reaction and shook his head. "Can I…umm….umm…stay with Mokuba?"
Ryou nodded. "Sure you can! Are you hungry?"

Hayden shrugged.

"Well, we have food if you are hungry. Bakura, can you help him with his bag to Marik's room?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "I hope you changed those sheets and flipped the mattress."

"Yes I did, yami! Go on."

Bakura took the bag and Aten followed him. Hayden followed behind the limping boy.

Ryou went to Aria and kissed her. "Aria, we still love you. Unkie Puppy is…sick. Hayden and Mokuba--."

Worry crossed her features. "Unkie Puppy is sick?"

Ryou nodded. "Hayden and Mokuba are staying here for the night so Unkie Seto can care for him."

Aria nodded. "I'll do this for Unkie Puppy."

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

Seto stood in front of the door listening to glass break and furniture crashing to the ground.

Seto stood in front of the door listening to Joey curse at him.

"Let me out you Cocksucker! Dammit, Seto! Let me the fuck out! I'll bang this door down if I have to!"

The mighty CEO…..rich….strong…..helpless.

He closed his blue eyes. A lone tear escaped Seto's eyes. It slid down his cheek.

Mokuba was right.

He lived through this with his stepfather. His stepfather lost his temper with Mokuba and Seto on several occasions. Each "session" had ended with Seto cuddling chibi Mokuba in a corner, shivering. Of course…….his stepfather didn't stop with verbal threats and insults..

His stepfather went further with his "sessions." The last "session" was with Mokuba. Seto walked into the office, and caught his stepfather kissing Mokuba deeply……and threw his stepfather out of the window.

Seto brought Mokuba off of the desk and cuddled the five year old boy against him.

Seto pushed the thoughts of these "sessions" from his mind. It was better to forget it. The past was the past. Move on with the present.

But his present wasn't much better.

"I'm going to kill you, Seto! Stab you through your black, black heart!"

The banging suddenly stopped. The glass in the room stopped breaking. The screams became silent.

Seto felt another wave of tears escape. Damn tears.

Joey slid down the door. A tiny whimper escaped him. "Seto, please let me out."

Seto bit his lip and walked away from the door. He entered his room, shedding his clothing and limping to the corner like he did at ten years old.

He curled up naked in the corner of the room, the moonlight surrounding him.

He buried his face in his hands and cried. Never since after the first "private session" with his stepfather did he cry so desperately.

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