Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Hostile Takeover ❯ Can't Fight Alone ( Chapter 59 )

Marik Ishtar: I like Joey sober…and naked. Mmmm..naked.

Lady Elfskye: Chapman won't start trouble.

bakachibi voidfox: Cuddly moments are nice.

Shadow of Light: The shrink's name is Chapman. I'll work in the dream catcher. Maybe during Christmas time.

Ryous mistress: But Aria is cool!! I liked when Aria killed Malik. It hurt her and she had no control over what she was doing. Baby of Mine was a good story.

Terra: Yeah, Joey will most likely go through withdrawal. hehehe…Rod-Boy.

Jade: Always expect the unexpected. Not even I knew about Seto's stepfather. That kind of just happened. Seto just wrote that scene for me.

Maruken: Who is stealing my reviews? I like those little encounters between Yami father and Yami daughter. So much potential.

Valea: That picture of Seto is the best! Me want one!

Seto Lover and Bakurasgirl worshipper: I'm from Philadelphia! Chapman is a good guy. In face he looks like me, but my hair is long.

Joeyrules: Thanks, Emily! Hope you liked!

Amane Bakura: With Aria's comment, I'm setting a lot up.

Can't Fight Alone

Joey was sitting at the canvas painting. Seto was reading and noticed Joey wringing his hands nervously at the canvas.

"Puppy? You okay?"

Joey looked over at Seto. "I need a drink, Seto."

Seto bit his lip. "I know you do, pups, but you can't."

The phone rang in the studio and Joey jumped in his chair. Seto picked it up. Ryou and the others had come to give Hayden back a remote control he left at Ryou's.

Seto said to let them come up. He put his arms around Joey. "Joey, Ryou and the others brought back a toy Hayden left at their house.

Aria ran for Seto, wrapping her arms around Seto's leg. "Unkie Seto!"

Joey kneeled beside Seto. "Aria? I'm sorry for trying to hurt you. I'm very sorry."

Aria walked up to Joey slowly and cupped his face between her palms. "Unkie Puppy, it's otay. That was mommy's bad yami."

Aten moved beside Bakura and wrapped his arms around Bakura's leg.

"Aten?" Joey asked. "I'm sorry for trying to hurt your sister."

Aten nodded slowly. "I know, Unkie Puppy."

"Where is Hayden?" Ryou asked.

Hayden opened the door to his bedroom and peeked his head out.

Aten turned and squealed. "AIDEN! You fordot your toy!"

Hayden ran to Aten and gripped it. "I did forget this! Thank you, Aten!"

Aten shrugged. "It was nuffin."

"Do you want to see my new car that Mr. Kaiba bought me?"

Aten and Hayden disappeared into Hayden's room. Seto picked up Aria and held her in his arms.

"I got a new type of M&M's for my little girl."

Aria's eyes lit up. "WHAT IS IT, UNKIE SETO?????"

Seto carried Aria to his office. Ryou, Bakura and Joey followed them. Seto took Aria to his desk and gave her a small bag of red and green M&M's.

"Aria, honey, we have to talk to Unkie Seto, so why don't you go and play with Mokuba?"

Aria nodded. "Okay." Aria kissed her mother and skipped away.

Seto sat behind his desk, crossed his legs and leaned back. Joey sat at the edge of the desk like he always did. "You wanted to talk to me?"

Ryou gripped Bakura's hands as they sat on the couch in the office. "Seto, tomorrow, Malik comes home from the hospital. We were wondering if you could take Aria and Aten tomorrow night. It's best if we get Malik settled in before we bring the kids into the house."

Bakura nodded. "If Aten's around, controlling him will be enough of a chore."

Seto nodded. "I understand, Bakura. Sure, Aria and Aten can come over tomorrow night."

"There's just one thing….umm…Joey? Can I speak to you in private for a moment?" Ryou asked.

Joey followed Ryou outside the room. "What's up, Ryou?"

"Joey….if my children stay here, I…I want to ask you not to drink."

Joey sighed and shook his head. "I'm trying to quit, Ryou. Yesterday was my last drink. I don't want to risk hurting Hayden or Mokuba. I'll be damned to hell if I risk hurting Aten or Aria."

"I tried to explain about Aku to them, Joey, but they are only three. Aria understands better than Aten. Aten has a hard time understanding that daddy lives in the Millennium Rod."

Joey nodded. "I promise not to drink around them, Ryou. I'm trying hard. I really, truly am trying! I want to quit."

Ryou gave Joey a hug. "I know you do, Joey, and we are proud of you."

Joey returned the hug and they both returned inside.

"Hey, puppy, what do you think about going out for dinner tonight? Bakura said he knew of a good place to go for some good food."

Ryou looked at Bakura and raised an eyebrow.

/And just where do you plan on taking us to dinner, Bakura?/

Bakura gave a wicked grin and knew Bakura was once again up to no good.

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

Donny pulled up to the restaurant and looked up. "Is this where you wanted to go, Mr. Kaiba?"

Kaiba looked out of the window. "Captain Smiley Buns? Bakura, are you certain you want to eat here?"

Aten leaned forward. "Bonnie tum in wif us???!"

Donny sighed. "No, Aten, I'll stay out here."

Bakura grinned, his canines showing prominently. "Oh, yes. Perfect family entertainment…I mean, dining."

Seto sighed and motioned his two bodyguards out of the limo. Adler opened the door and Joe hid his side-arm in his jacket.

Seto took Joey's hand. Hayden and Mokuba stood by Seto. Joe opened the door and the CEO walked in and were greeted with the scariest sight imaginable.

Marik……wearing a pirate costume…with the eyepatch.

Bakura let out a snicker as he saw Joey and Seto's chins drop to the ground.

"So…what do you think, moneybags?"

Seto and Joey stepped up to the pirate yami. Marik rolled his eyes.

"Can I take your arr-der, moneybags?"

Seto snickered and lifted up the eye patch. "So, you prefer being a pirate to working at Kaiba-Corp?"

Marik groaned. "What do you want, Seto?"

Seto released the eye patch and it fell covering Marik's eye. Seto's eyes filled with tears of laughter he suppressed. "Give me…..a….Pirate Platter…extra First-Mate Fries…..matey!"

Joey snickered. "I think I'll have…..gods…!" Joey burst out in laughter as Marik crossed his arms, his Millennium Rod hanging on his hip. "I'll have a Shipwreck Sub."

Joey held onto Seto to keep from falling down laughing at Marik's pirate costume.

Marik angrily punched in the numbers. "That will be $10.97. Cough it up, moneybags."

Bakura pushed forward. "Hey, Moneybags is paying, Marik! Ryou and I will have a Seaman Salad!"

Seto, Joey, and Bakura almost collapsed on the countertop dying of laughter. Mokuba tried really hard to restrain his laughter by biting his lip.

Aria pulled herself up to look over the counter. "There's sea people in the salad??? How do they get there?"

Marik turned fifty shades of red.

"The salad is made out of sea people, mommy??! That doesn't mean Umi is in there, do you? UMI!" Aria jumped up and down. "Mommy! We have to get the Seaman Salad and rescue Umi!" Aria had tears coming down her face.

Ryou picked up the crying girl. "Aww, baby girl. Umi's not in a salad."

"But Umi was put in the salad and I'll never see him again! I haven't seen him in a long time and they made a salad out of Umi!" Little tears swarmed down her face in buckets.

Aten's lip quivered. "Seamen are in da Talad? Wobbie's daddy wurts on da tea! Mommy! We dotta det a Temen Talad and bing Wobbie's daddy home to him!" Aten's eyes filled with tears and Ryou slapped Bakura on the back of the head.

/I hope you are happy, Bakura Itemri!/

//Just having a little fun, Ryou!//

/Now we have to bring home two Seaman Salads home!/

//I was already planning on having a little Seaman Salad myself tonight.//

Ryou rolled his eyes. /You can be so crass sometimes./

"Marik, I'll have a salad and Bakura will have the Sea Steak."

Ryou turned to Bakura and Joey. "You two go get us a table to eat."

Bakura and Joey staggered away.

"I'll have a Tugboat Tommy," said Mokuba, craving the hot dog covered in cheese. Mokuba ran off with Joey and Bakura.

Hayden looked up and approached the counter. "Umm…Umm…Aten's daddy, sir….umm…can I please have….a…

Shrimp Special? Please?"

Marik placed the order.

"Daddy Marik, I want an Ice Cream Float!"

Ryou leaned down. "Honey, you have to have dinner."

"Aww…Do I have to?"

Ryou nodded. "Yes. How about the Fish sticks?"

Aria sighed. "Okay."

"Aten, honey, what do you want?"

Aten looked up at the counter. "Ummm…I wan de Shitkin Nubbets!"

Marik shook his head. "They wouldn't be good for your heart, Aten. Let me get you a chicken salad. That would be better for you."

Aten gripped onto Ryou. "Daddy, when are you tumming home?"

"Tomorrow, baby boy."

"He's going to stay at Seto's tomorrow night so somebody can get settled in."

Marik raised an eyebrow. "Oh! I see! I'll call you tonight after work, alright, baby boy?" Marik ran his fingers through the baby's hair.

Marik punched in the total for the order and grinned as he told Seto the total. Seto still laughed as he gave Marik the money.

"It was worth fifty dollars to see you in a pirate costume, Rod-Boy!"

Seto laughed.

Marik grinned. "It's your Rod, moneybags, need I remind you! I'm just….borrowing it for the time being. And I'm not sure you're going to want it back when I tell you what I've done with it over a five thousand year period."

Seto's laughing died down as he got his food. "It was still worth it!" Ryou and Seto went to the table. Seto sat beside Joey. Hayden and Mokuba sat by Joey. Aten sat by Mokuba and Aria sat beside him. Ryou and Bakura sat together and they distributed the food.

Joey's POV

I ate my Sub sandwich and watched Marik at the cash register. He must really love his kid to work in a place like this!

Aten ate his chicken salad plate slowly after Ryou gave him his medication. Poor kid. I couldn't imagine needing pills to keep me alive every day. He didn't seem to fuss. He just popped the pill and drank his water.

When I told Ryou I really wanted to stop drinking, I really meant it. But….it's so hard. I don't know if I can do it.

Bakura leaned over to Ryou and gave him a kiss on the cheek It's nice to see them getting along with each other finally. Seto and I used to be like that. We still are. But, it just feels that things have changed between us.

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

Normal POV

Tristan and Otogi entered the restaurant and walked up to the cashier. Tristan and Otogi gasped and chuckled as they saw the pirate yami behind the counter.

Tristan's brown eyes widened. "Oh…….my….god! Marik is that you?!"

Marik rolled his eyes. "Just tell me what you want, Monkey-Boy."

Otogi covered his mouth with his hand to muffle his laughter. "I wish I had a camera! You better not let Aten see you!"

Tristan looked over, hearing a familiar squeal. "I think he already did."

"UNKIE TISTAN! UNKIE TISTAN!" Aria squealed as she waved to them.

Otogi's face was turning red with laughter. "Gods, Tris, order for me…I can't take it!"

Otogi dashed off and sat with the others. Tristan ordered between his fits of laughter.

Tristan ordered a coffee and Marik spit in it. He gave the coffee to Tristan and watched as Tristan immediately removed the lid and went to drink it.

"I spit in it, Taylor."

Tristan shrugged his shoulders. "It's still coffee." Tristan inhaled the scent of the coffee and his eyes rolled to the back of his head in exstasy. "Oh…..hell…..yeah….so good."

Marik crossed his arms. "Don't tell me you're being aroused by the coffee, Tristan."

Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are you jealous?"

Marik rolled his eyes. "Only you would get sexually aroused by the thought of coffee."

Tristan grinned and winked at Marik. "Mmmmm…..coffee."

Marik gave Tristan his food. "Go before you start humping the counter. This IS a family restaurant and there's not enough thereapy in the world to help my kid if he sees you humping the counter screaming "coffee" in a state of sexual bliss."

Tristan narrowed his eyes. "I am NOT that bad!"

"Yeah, right, Coffee-Boy! Get going!"

Joey watched Tristan and Otogi lean on each other laughing. When they finally calmed down, Joey watched them hug and give each other a quick kiss.

Aria's brown eyes opened wide. "Unkie Tistan? Did you ever find that quarter down Unkie Togi's pants?"

The entire table coughed and all eyes pointed to Tristan, now grinning ear-to-ear.

"Yes, I did, Aria. I found what I was looking for."

Bakura wiped the corner of his mouth. "Oh, yes! I knew I had a bone to pick with both of you!"

"Bakura, we didn't know she was standing there!" Otogi said brushing his raven-hair back.

"Unkie Tistan must have dropped another quarter in the couch after I went to bed."

Tristan's face turned chalk-white. Otogi bit his lip nervously as Bakura's canines were displayed as he growled.

"Unkie Tistan must have dropped a quarter on the couch in the same place because Unkie Togi was looking between Unkie Tistan's legs for the quarter. It was really dark in the room and there was lots of funny noises coming from the room. But Unkie Togi must have been really tired because he had his face in Unkie Tistan's lap."

Ryou covered his eyes with his palms. /Oh, good gods! Don't tell me our daughter saw what I thought she saw!/

//I don't know what to do first: Kill them or send them to the Shadow Realm, then kill them.//

Bakura shook his head. "Freaks."

Ryou whispered to his yami, "Bakura, I don't think we should let them go over there for a while."

***********

Aku's POV

The Shadow Realm has rejuvenated me. Though still weakened some,

I still have the power to take control of someone. Feeding of their negative memories will increase my fold tenfold.

Appearing in my soulroom, I look through my hikari's eyes. It's taking everything I have to remain hidden from Bakura's detection. He knows I am free. He knows I am still lurking about. But, he's weak still. I can tell that his energy is low. His soulroom is still cold.

I need a new host. I need someone no one will suspect as I gather my strength. Someone who knows nothing about my presence.

Someone like…..that boy. Mokuba Kaiba.

Aria is too strong for me to dominate now. No one will suspect Mokuba is under my control. So easy. Painful memories need to fuel me again. The younger Kaiba would be a delicious little collection of painful memories. Then, there is always the other child, Hayden, a banquet of sensual pain.

Here I come, Mokuba Kaiba!

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

Normal POV

The entire table watched as Tristan finished his coffee in record time. Seto raised an eyebrow as Tristan grabbed an industrial size Thermos

Bottle and poured more coffee into the cup.

Tristan inhaled the smell of the coffee deeply and gave a satisfied moan. "Oh yeah…coffee."

Aria's eyes lit up. "Uh-Oh! Sounds like when Unkie Tistan dropped a quarter in Unkie Togi's pants! Unkie Togi, get the quarter out of Unkie Tistan's pants!"

Bakura pointed to Otogi. "Don't…..you……DARE, Dice-Boy! I have to go talk to Marik."

Bakura left and talked to Marik, who was getting ready to take his break. Marik grabbed a fish sandwich and sat with Bakura at another table together.

"How's the job, Ishtar?"

Marik shrugged as he bit into the sandwich hungrily. "It's a job. It's not great pay, but the boss understands I have a son with a heart condition and there may be times where I may have to leave if there is a problem. How are you holding up, Itemri?"

Bakura sighed and supported his head on his hand. "Still weak."

"Funny. You seemed just fine about twenty minutes ago when you came in here asking for a 'Seamen Salad.'"

"I still am very weak, Marik, and we have to get to Aku in the Shadow Realm."

Marik took another bite of his sandwich. "Do you have the energy to go into the Shadow Realm?"

Bakura shrugged. "I could get myself in there, but getting out would be a struggle."

Marik bit into his lunch again. "What if we both went together? I could get us both in and out."

Bakura bit his lip. "You could get us in, but I don't have the strength to fight Aku yet. It took all my stored energy to get him out of Joey."

"I couldn't fight Aku alone either. We need to think of something powerful to destroy him."

Bakura leaned back. "Look, we have to think of something to destroy Aku. Neither of us can defeat him on our own. We have to think about it."

"Malik should be home tomorrow. Aten will be at moneybags' place?"

"Yes. They'll be home tonight, though. We have to register Aria and Aten at the new school. We're going to take the kids to Seto's after we're done there. Malik needs to become readjusted to being with us before I bring my daughter back into that house. Besides, we may have our hands full with Ryou and Malik. Let him settle in and then bring the kids back home."

Marik finished his lunch. "Well, my hikari is improving."

"How are you handling him, Marik? Are you okay with seeing him after what he did to you?"

Marik shook his head. "No. But, Bakura…..he is my hikari. I can't ignore the fact that I love him. He's my husband, Bakura, and I cannot give up on him."

"I understand."

Marik looked over at Aten. Ryou was wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin. "I want to see my son."

Marik went over to Aten and put a gentle hand on Aten's head.

"Daddy!"

"Aten, can I hold you?"

Aten opened his arms to Marik and Marik quickly brought him into his arms. Marik felt the slight bump of the bandages on Aten's back.

"You still have your bandages on, little man?"

Aten nodded. "Dotor Siwa ted dat a foo more tays. Den my bastitches tan tum off."

Marik kissed his cheek. "Love you, son."

Aten giggled. "Daddy wook tunny wif eye pats!"

Marik buried his face in Aten's neck and snarled. The chibi arched his back and laughed, his fingers digging into Marik.

Marik kissed Aten's cheek. "My little boy. Love you."

"Wuff you, too, daddy!"

Ryou looked up at Marik. "Tomorrow we take Aten and Aria to Domino Academy."

Aten wrapped his arms around Marik's neck. "I tared to doe dere, daddy. What if de tids waff at me? I no haff Wobbie. Dat mates me tad."

Marik cuddled his son by his chest. "You'll keep making friends, Aten."

"But I no tan wead or wite, daddy."

"You are getting better with it, Aten. And when you get home, mommy and daddy will be there to help you with your homework."

Aten sat up in his father's arms.

"Aten, we love you no matter what. Even if you struggle with school all the time, we will still be there to help you and give you extra hugs when you need them."

A smile crossed Aten's face. "Really?"

Marik smiled. "You're the greatest kid I know!"

Aria pouted. "HEY!"

"You're the greatest kid I know! Do you know why, Aten?"

Aten grinned. "Why, daddy?"

Marik cupped Aten's cheek. "Because you are my son. And I love you dearly."

Bakura put his hand on Aria's shoulders. "I STILL say the fruit of my loins can beat the fruit of your loins any day of the week, Ishtar!"

Marik put Aten down the in booster seat. "Finish your chicken salad, baby boy." Marik turned to Bakura. "You wish, Itemri!"

Ryou turned to Marik. "Bring Malik home after lunch time, Marik. We have to run out to the school, drop the kids off at KaibaCorp, and I have to pick up some groceries."

Marik kissed Ryou's forehead and returned to work.

"Thank you for taking us out for lunch, Seto," Ryou said.

Seto shrugged. "No problem, Ryou. I thought it would be a nice change."

Aten tugged on Ryou's shirt. "Mommy? Detting tired."

The families finished their lunches and rushed home to get Bakura and Ryou to their car.

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

Aku's POV

I bury myself deep into Mokuba's subconscious. He fears losing his brother. Poor child.

Then…a deeper fear lurks within….a fear of the blond whom I had possessed earlier, Joey Wheeler.

Mokuba fears Joey taking Seto away from him? Yes. But that is not all.

Mokuba fears Joey's drunkenness. Feeding on the memories of these fears will be just perfect.

No one will suspect me!

Updates: Thursday or Friday