Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Hostile Takeover ❯ A New Heart ( Chapter 63 )

Disclaimer: I don't own "G.I. Joe" or Santa Claus or the song "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas."

WARNING: BAKURA X MARIK LEMON!!!!!!!!!!! ANZU BASHING!

Lady Elfskye: Aten is lucky everyone knows about Aku now, but Aku defends himself too well. BTW, you are right.

Elfs Lite: No, Yami isn't going to hurt Bakura again. He has one more thing up his sleeve, but Bakura will remain unharmed.

Jade: I hope Yami clears some things up at the end of this chappie. I think after hearing Isis' vision, he remembered the past more clearly.

Ryous Mistress: Aww…I like Aria! Chibi Yami!

Sweet Misery: I'm not sure what you mean by your question about Marik. No, Hayden isn't "The One." Nice guess though. I never thought about that possibility.

Pharaoh Yamis Princess: I loved the Rainbow Brite movie as a kid! Aww…Anubis plushie! How cute!!!!!!!

Terra: Umm..Yes, sure, why not? You can watch!

Kanika: I can't kill anzu off! She's plummeted down 40 stories, got mauled by lions, fell down a manhole, got stung by a scorpion, pinched by a crab, got hit by an eighteen wheeler. Seiyaryu is my wife's favorite card, too. She kicks my butt with it when we duel.

Isawa17: I love Hato chiisai! She's the one who inspired me to write Ryou x Bakura in the first place!

Shadow of Light: Aria attacks the 'elf'. Oh, I made up all of those cards. The Helpless Child just seemed to me to represent Aten. the Unfaithful Guardian came to me from seeing the Reliable Guardian card. The Loyal Servant described Aria and Seth's relationship.

artimus: I was thinking of giving Aria a dagger in the future. Good idea.

Seto Lover and Bakurasgirl worshipper: The kids will love those gifts!! *hugs Robbie plushie* THANKIES!!!!

crazy kins: You're right about "The one".

Amane Bakura: Eric continues to harass Aria in the future. Yami blocked Yugi when he said that last bit.

Elizabeth marie rose: I didn't really give too many hints as to who the one is, but it's someone special to Aten.

Marik Ishtar: Ryou will like that present. Poor Marik.

A New Heart

Marik looked around the dark alley, shrouded in night. "Bakura? Itemri? Are you here?"

Bakura reached out of the shadows and pulled Marik behind the dumpster. Bakura pressed Marik to the wall with his body.

The blond saw bloodlust in the white-haired yami's eyes.

"Itemri? Are you okay?"

Bakura pressed his lips to Marik savagely. "I need you, Ishtar. Now!"

Marik could still see some of the blood covering Bakura's teeth. Right now, Ryou would not be able to handle Bakura like this. Ryou wouldn't stand a chance. Marik did not want Malik to be harmed either. His largest concern was for Aten. If Bakura was furious at Aten, Bakura was capable of extreme violence. The last thing he wanted was to come home to a crying hikari, a raped Ryou, and a dead son. Bakura would never harm Aria, the product of his own flesh and blood.

The blond's injuries had just healed from Malik.

"If you want to do this," Marik said as Bakura unfastened Marik's pants, "Then you must prep me this time, Bakura."

Bakura let out an annoyed grunt. "Fine!" Bakura pulled down Marik's pants and buried his face in the side of Marik's neck and bit down on the flesh.

Marik's eyes closed and he let out a groan. The white-haired yami sucked on the tan flesh and intermittently biting down on the sweet flesh.

Marik reached down and removing Bakura's manhood from its confines. The yami gave a satisfied growl when his tan lover stroked him. Marik was pressed closer to the brick as Bakura tried moving into the hand surrounding him.

Bakura lifted up Marik's shirt and bit down on a tender nipple.

Bakura removed Marik's manhood from the confines of his jeans and stroked the blond.

"Gods…Itemri."

Bakura pulled Marik into a kiss and, much to Marik's surprise, Bakura had pushed a pool of blood into Marik's mouth.

The blond yami swallowed it unintentionally. The blond hair spiked and twitched. The blond growled.

Marik stroked Bakura harder and gripped onto Bakura tighter.

Bakura pulled back and gazed into the purple pools in front of him. Both of their eyes glazed over, compliments of bloodlust.

Marik grabbed Bakura's shirt and pinned him against the brick, kneeling before him. Bakura almost howled into the shadows as Marik engulfed his manhood with greed. Marik felt his lover's hands bury themselves deep in his spiky hair.

Marik deep-throated him and elicited a moan of pleasure from his lover. He could feel Bakura's body beginning to shake from an impending orgasm.

Bakura grabbed Marik's hair and pulled his head back. "Not yet….don't make me come for you yet."

Bakura pulled Marik on his feet and pulled down his pants. He turned Marik around so he faced the wall and stroked himself, covering his fingers with translucent fluid.

"Mine…" Bakura bit down on the nape of Marik's neck. Bakura shoved two fingers into his lover pinned to the brick.

Marik forced his body to relax, but it was much harder to do so than before the incident with Malik.

"Itemri…..gods, yes!" Marik moaned as Bakura buried his digits deep inside, striking Marik's prostate.

Bakura stretched his tight channel while sucking on his lover's hot skin.

"Itemri, get in me now!" Marik growled as his own bloodlust burned in his brain. Marik forgot his apprehensions resulting from Malik and submitted to his old blood-thirsty animalistic self.

Bakura grinned as he removed his digits and replaced them with his arousal. Marik's body trembled with pleasure against the cold brick.

Bakura leaned into Marik's ear. "You're so tight, Ishtar! So..sexy."

Marik threw his head back, his body swimming in pleasure and trying to suppress the temporary discomfort of Bakura's throbbing manhood buried deep inside him.

"Bakura….please," Marik moaned.

A playful lick to Marik's ear was Bakura's response. "Yes, Ishtar?"

Marik turned his head to look Bakura in the eyes. Marik's purple eyes glowed a fiery red with lust. "Pound me into the brick, Itemri! I need you!"

Bakura's canines sparkled in the moonlight. "If that is what you wish, Ishtar….so be it!"

Bakura grabbed Marik's hips and began thrusting himself in and out of Marik's body. The blond yami responded by digging his fingers into the brick and growling with every strike of his prostate by the other yami.

Bakura grabbed Marik's manhood, pumping it fiercely.

Marik reached back and grabbed Bakura's hair and pulling it towards him.

When the white-haired yami let out a shriek of pain, Marik grinned. Bakura started thrusting harder into the body. The blond noticed that Bakura was so deep into the bloodlust that pain was arousing. That explained why he was aroused by Bakura's forcefulness.

Bloodlust affected both of them adversely. Pain was pleasure and pleasure was pain.

Bakura struck Marik's prostate precisely and caused the blond to tug on the white hair harder.

Bakura slammed Marik into the brick and screamed his release, filling his lover's body. The blond yami took Bakura and slammed his back against the brick.

Marik dug his teeth into the base of Bakura's neck, eliciting another cry of pain. The blond took Bakura's hand and made it stroke him.

Marik release erupted over Bakura's hand and both yamis nearly crumbled to the floor in a heap.

Marik fell to his knees in front of Bakura clutching his stomach.

Bakura shook his head as the effects of the bloodlust began to disappear. "Shit! Ishtar? Marik? Are you okay? Gods, I didn't know I was that bad!"

Marik took Bakura's hand and shook his head. "No…it's okay, Bakura. I'll just…go back into the Rod tonight. I'll be fine in the morning."

"Did I hurt you?"

"Doesn't matter…..you needed me."

Bakura growled. "You didn't answer me! Did I hurt you?"

Marik looked up at Bakura, the red gone from his eyes. "It was either me or Ryou, Bakura. I couldn't bear for Ryou to take this!"

Bakura sighed. "Ryou…..you're right. I could have done this to him! Gods! I can't expose Ryou to this! I can't go home and risk hurting Ryou."

"Do you feel better?"

Bakura wrung his hands nervously. "I haven't had enough. I need more."

"More of what? Blood or sex?"

Bakura backed away from Marik. "Both. But, I can't go home."

"Go somewhere, Bakura."

Bakura shrugged. "You're right. I do have to go somewhere. Let me take a walk. Can you walk?"

Marik stood up on unsteady legs. "Stings, but I can do it."

Bakura wrapped his arms around Marik. "I do love you, Ishtar."

Marik kissed Bakura's white hair. "I love you, too, you animal! Go find somewhere to stay."

Marik disappeared into the restaurant after dressing and straightening his clothes.

Bakura wandered the streets until he arrived at the Game Shop. He looked inside and saw Yami standing in the kitchen with Yugi.

"Yugi put the Puzzle together! Damn! As much as I would love to go in there and take my revenge on the pharaoh, I can't. I'm tired."

Bakura wandered through the streets deciding on the only place where he could go.

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

Ryou yawned as the dawn came. Aten had kept him awake all night with nightmares of the cabin and dreams about a stone table. He rolled over to snuggle into Bakura's back, but Bakura was not home.

Ryou rolled out of bed and walked over to the curtains, opening them slowly. The morning sunlight warmed his naked body as it stretched. He put on his bathrobe and went to check on the kids.

Aria was still asleep, a patch of white spiky hair sticking out from under the sheets was the only evidence she was still in bed. Aten was not in his bed. Maybe he had gone downstairs.

Ryou walked downstairs and found Aten drawing on a piece of paper.

"Aten, baby? What are you drawing?"

Aten was drawing a naked being with barbed wire around his wrists. The being had long fingernails covered in blood. The being's grinned sadistically.

"Aten, who is this?"

Aten shook his head. "No one peckial. Dis is for Dotor Sapin. Do you tink he will wike it, mommy?"

Ryou looked at the pile of papers on the floor. The floor was covered in drawings of this being and an altar. Pictures of the cabin and the basement were included in much of the paintings. It looked like Aten had been awake for a long time.

"Aten, have you seen Bakura?"

The front door opened without warning, making Ryou jump. Bakura stumbled in scratching his head and looking tired.

"Yami Bakura? Where have you been?" Ryou ran to his husband and wrapped his arms around him. "Why didn't you come home last night?"

"Trust me, Ryou. You would not have wanted me to stay here last night."

Ryou could see the canines stained with red and the coppery smell attested to what he may have done. "Are you feeling better now?"

"Yeah, I went somewhere safe to sleep."

"Where did you go?"

Bakura shut the door and hung his jacket on the hook behind the door. "Well, I would rather impale myself on a spear than stay with the pharaoh's light. I looked into the Game Shop last night and discovered that Yugi had put the Puzzle back together."

Ryou's jaw dropped in shock. "He did?"

Bakura nodded. "Yes, he did. So then, I didn't want to go to KaibaCorp to stay. I had to stay somewhere, so I stayed with Caffeine-Boy."

"Please tell me you didn't hurt Tristan."

Bakura went to the kitchen and poured himself some Orange Juice. "I didn't hurt Tristan. I was thinking about it a couple times, especially at 4 a.m. when he walked down the hall moaning "Coffee." When I got to his place last night, he was trying to educate me on the different varieties of coffee. I told him if he didn't stop, I would be forced to send him to the Shadow Realm. I think he was lonely without Dice-Boy around."

Ryou started making toast for Aten's breakfast. "Well, Tristan loves Otogi, Bakura. I know I feel lonely when you're not around."

"Well, I wouldn't worry too much about Tristan, Ryou. I worry about him."

"Tristan is a good guy, Bakura. Yes, he can be a little unusual sometimes, but that doesn't mean I don't like him. Besides, he's so good with the kids!"

Bakura shook his head as he grabbed a bowl of cereal. "Why do I have a scary premonition that my daughter is going to grow up hooked on coffee because of him?"

Ryou buttered the toast for Aten. "Well, she's already hooked on chocolate, Bakura. Besides, I just want her to be happy and safe."

Ryou grabbed Aten and sat him on his chair with the buttered toast and a glass of water. This breakfast was a little bit of a treat for Aten. Bakura grabbed Aten's medication and gave the pills to him.

"Me, too, Ryou, but I'd rather not see her follow in his footsteps."

Ryou grabbed an apple and peeled it. He cut it up into little sections.

"So, what are we doing today, Ryou?"

"We have to take the kids out for their Holiday Shopping. You want to come along with us?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "You want to celebrate the holidays again this year?"

Ryou turned to Bakura. "We've celebrated it before and you enjoyed yourself. I want to celebrate the Holidays for the kids."

Bakura shrugged. "Yeah, I guess I can go shopping with you. Why not?" Bakura thought that this would be a good time to think about how to get rid of Aku. Forever.

Ryou turned to Aten. "We're going to go to the mall today, Aten, and go shopping for presents. Would you like that?"

"Pessents? For what?"

"Christmas is coming, Aten, and Santa Claus is going to come to our house and put gifts under our tree!"

"Caws????? Tanta hass Caws???? He be tary! I no wan to tee a man wif caws!!!"

Ryou giggled. "No, Aten, that's his name. He's a happy man with a big, round belly. He laughs and loves little children everywhere."

Ryou heard a laugh through the mindlink. Ryou turned to Bakura.

"Santa does love every child in the world, Bakura!"

Bakura finished his juice. "December 25th is also the celebration of the birth of Horus*."

Bakura rolled his eyes. //Whatever, hikari. I have to go get my girl out of bed if we ever want to leave. She'd sleep all day if you gave her the chance.//

"Today, Aten, you can see him and sit on his lap. Tell him what you want for gifts."

"He no mean and tary iss he?"

Ryou smiled. "No, baby. Eat your breakfast. You can even buy something for Robbie while you are out.

Aten's eyes lit up. "Really? I can buy tumting for Wobbie??"

Ryou nodded. "Yes, dear, but you have to eat your breakfast."

Aten ate his toast quickly as he thought about the perfect gift for his friend.

Malik walked slowly into the kitchen. Aten dropped his toast and started to tremble. Malik was careful not to come too close to the chibi. "Good morning, Aten. Did you sleep well?"

Aten looked down, his white and blond hair falling in front of his face. "No, sir."

Malik could see the chibi's fear. "Aten, that wasn't me you saw! It was somebody else! I would never hurt you."

Aten took his pills into his mouth and gulped his drink. When he was done, he put his cup on the table. "Mommy, I wan doe away. Peas?"

"Aten, you only finished half of your toast, angel."

Aten hung his head low. "I wan doe away, mommy," the chibi whimpered.

Ryou looked at Malik, who backed against the countertop, wrapping his arms around his body. Ryou put Aten on the ground. "Brush your teeth, Aten."

Aten scurried out of the kitchen.

"Give him time, Malik. He doesn't understand."

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

Ryou was zipping Aten's coat when the phone rang. Ryou struggled with the zipper when Malik appeared.

"Malik, can you get that?"

Malik picked up the phone. "Ishtar residence."

[Is Ryou there?]

Malik handed the phone to Ryou. "It's a woman."

Ryou took the phone. "Hello? Ryou Bakura speaking."

[Hello, Ryou!]

"Oh, Miranda! Hello!"

[Ryou, Robbie wants to know if he can come over to play after we get done our shopping for Christmas.]

"No problem, Miranda! The kids, Bakura, and I are going to the Domino Mall to do our shopping."

[Really? Wow! That's where we're going. Why don't we go together? That is, unless you and Bakura are on a date.]

Ryou blushed red. "No, Miranda, we're not on a date!"

Miranda laughed on the other side of the line. [I know you're married to him, Ryou. With my husband out at sea, who else am I going to play with? Would you like to come with Robbie and I to Domino Mall?]

"I'd love to, Miranda! I'm just getting Aten's mittens on."

[Robbie, hold still, honey. I think we have to get you a new pair of gloves, Robbie! You've got big hands like your father! Give me five minutes, Ryou. My kid's hands are bursting from his mittens.]

"Okay, Miranda. Bye." Ryou gave the phone back to Malik. "We're going to go shopping with Robbie and Miranda."

Bakura shrugged. "Fine with me."

"Malik? Do you want to go shopping with us?"

Malik looked at Bakura and the kids. "No, I'll go another time. I'm still kind of tired."

Aria ran to Malik's legs and hugged him. "Bye, Mommy Malik."

Aten looked up at Malik with his large chibi eyes. "Bye."

Five minutes later, Miranda pulled up in front of the house. When Ryou opened the door, Aten ran outside. Ryou buckled Aten in the back seat and sat beside Miranda in the front. Bakura held onto Aria.

"It's nice for you to come with us, Ryou. The base told me that Daniel won't be able to come home for the Christmas season."

"It must be hard for you without having him around for the season."

Miranda nodded. "It's hard not having him around. Daniel and I always do shopping for Robbie when he comes home. Not this year."

Robbie jumped excitedly in his seat. "But my daddy says that he got a special package from Santa for me. Santa must have dropped it off with him on his ship. Silly Santa. So, my daddy has to ship it to me."

Miranda smiled. "Robbie gets excited when his father sends him little things in the mail. He really misses his father."

Ryou turned to Miranda. "Well, would you like to come to Christmas dinner at KaibaCorp?"

"KaibaCorp? Why there?"

"We're good friends of Seto Kaiba. Every year, all of us get together and have a Holiday Dinner. Would you like to come?"

Miranda nodded. "I would love to come, Ryou! I don't have a family. As I said, my sister, Vera, is not involved in my life because she doesn't think that I had any business keeping Robbie. My mother doesn't approve of Daniel. My father died a while back, so Robbie's really my only family."

Ryou shivered. "My father doesn't approve of Bakura and I either. He won't leave us alone."

"Sorry, Ryou," she said reaching for Ryou's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Ryou squeezed back. "It's okay, Miranda. We'd love for you to come open presents with us, too, on Christmas morning. We always stay over at Kaiba's place for the night. This year it will be all of us, Seto, Joey, Tristan, and Otogi, Hayden, and Mokuba Kaiba."

Miranda giggled. "Tristan…..he's the one with the shark-fin haircut and the brown eyes, right?"

Ryou nodded. "That's him."

Miranda laughed. "He's a cutie."

Ryou giggled. "Miranda!"

"I just wonder if he's as built as he looks under those clothes! I mean, he certainly looks like he has great pectoral muscles!"

She peeked beside her and found the white-haired boy beet-red.

"Umm….I…wouldn't….know."

She let out another devilish giggle. "Tristan definitely has the body a girl would just love to run her tongue all over." (Thanks to my wife and MJ for this one!)

Ryou bit his lip and covered his eyes. "Miranda!"

Miranda shrugged. "Hey, I can look, can't I?"

"He has a boyfriend now."

Miranda patted Ryou on the shoulder. "I just said he's cute, Ryou. I'm not saying I'm going to whisk him off his feet!"

Ryou looked out the window. "I know, Miranda."

"Hey, I live by the motto: 'Look, but don't touch.' I'm happy with Daniel. I wouldn't trade him for all the gold in Seto Kaiba's vaults."

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

Ryou held onto Aten's hand as they entered the malls. Carols were playing in the mall and the place was decorated with wreaths.

Aria's eyes lit up at the fancy shimmering lights and the bustling of people all around her. She held onto her father's hand tightly.

Robbie held onto Miranda's hand with his left and gripped Aten's hand with the right.

"Hold onto me tightly, Aten! We don't want to lose each other!"

Robbie felt Aten cringe as he looked around at the multitude of people.

"Don't be afraid, Aten! I'm here!"

Ryou took Aten into a dollar store to pick out a few toys for Hayden. Miranda pulled Robbie down one isle and Aten kept his grip onto Robbie. Ryou let Aten go with Robbie so he could buy some stocking stuffers for him.

Ryou gave Aten three dollars and told him to buy stuff for Hayden. Robbie gasped at the army dolls and pointed to it. "I want that, mommy! Can I get it? Please?"

"We're here to find something for you to give to daddy."

Robbie gave her puppy dog eyes.

"They don't work on me, little soldier! Come on."

Miranda pulled them to the next isle where Robbie picked out a picture frame.

"I'm going to take a picture of me and give it to my daddy. He'll like it."

Bakura and Aria found Aten with Miranda and Robbie at the cash register.

Aten let out a loud squeal. "Awia! Tum here! Wook what I found!"

Aten pointed at a little pink angel pin with a delicate pink ribbon bow that read "Bonnie."

"I haff to det dat for Bonnie!"

Bakura snickered and nodded. "Get that for Donny, Aten. I think he will really enjoy that!"

Bakura laughed insanely through the mindlink with Ryou. //Ryou! Your son is buying a pink angel pin with a big scary bow for Donny! And…And…And…it says 'Bonnie' on it! Oh, Osiris, take me now!!//

/Did you tell Aten that his name is 'Donny' and not 'Bonnie?'/

//I HAVE to be there when Donny opens his present from Aten! His wife would LOVE that!//

Aten jumped up and down excitedly. "I wan to det dis, Daddy Bakura! Tan I?"

Bakura nodded. "Donny will love that present, Aten."

Aria held up a red dog leash. "Unkie Puppy may need a new doggie leash! I also got a cute little M's holder for Unkie Seto's desk!"

Bakura lead the group out of the store as Ryou walked to the cashier with toys for the kids' stockings. Ryou left and took Aten's hand again.

They walked into a place which sold coffee beans. Ryou and Bakura bought two different types of coffee beans for Tristan. Miranda bought him a different kind of coffee.

Aria's nose twitched at the scent of the coffee. "I never eat coffee beans again, Robbie. They make you sick to your tummy."

Robbie shook his head. "I don't like coffee either. It smells like poop."

Aria and Aten giggled. "Robbie! That's gross!" Aria snickered.

"Wobbie! You no tan tay 'poop' in pubick! It a bad word!"

Robbie giggled. "You said 'poop,' too, Aten!" Robbie snickered.

"Robert Allen Morgan, watch your language in public, mister," Miranda scolded quietly.

"Sorry, mommy," Robbie sighed sadly.

Ryou told Aten and Aria to pick out a different flavored coffee for their Uncle Tristan.

When they were done in the coffee shop, Robbie let out a chibi squeal when he saw Santa Claus.

"Mommy! Oh, mommy! Look, Santa Claus!!!"

Aria raised an eyebrow. "Who is he?"

Robbie clenched his fists and his entire body shook in excitement. "He gives toys to children all over the world on the night before Christmas day! He knows if you have been naughty or nice. I know I've been nice this year! I'm good every year! Even when I was a baby I was good because I got lots and lots and lots of gifts from Santa and my mommy and my daddy! He sees you when you're sleeping and he knows when you are awake!"

Aten inched closer to Ryou. "Mommy, I no wan to shit on Tanta's wap."

Ryou ruffled the chibi's hair. "Aww…there's no need to be afraid of Santa Claus, Aten."

Robbie took Aten's hand. "You can go up with me if you want, Aten. I'll just say you are my brother! When you are done telling him what you want for Christmas, he gives you a big, huge, humongous wowwypop! It's so big that your mommy will have to carry it in his purse!"

Ryou shook his head. "Robbie, I don't carry a purse."

Robbie blushed. "Oh, right….Sorry, Mr. Aten's Mommy, sir."

Ryou took a step forwards and knocked into a woman, knocking her presents to the ground.

"Oh my word! I am so sorry, miss! Let me help you!"

Ryou picked up a few of her wrapped gifts when he looked up and saw the woman.

"JESSICA!" Ryou gasped as he dropped the parcels. Bakura and Miranda turned around to see Ryou shaking.

Aten's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He wrapped his arms around Robbie screeching. "CHESKA!!!"

Robbie held his shaking friend not really understanding what was happening.

Bakura rushed to Ryou's side and growled.

The woman raised an eyebrow. "My name isn't Jessica."

Ryou's face broke out into a sweat at the sight of the woman who looked exactly like Jessica.

"I did have a sister named Jessica, though. Sorry for knocking into you," the woman finished picking up her parcels and walked by oblivious to the boys' condition.

Ryou grasped onto Bakura. "Oh gods….oh gods…."

Aria ran to Ryou. "Mommy, what's wrong?"

Ryou backed away to a chair and sat down, wrapping his arms around himself protectively. "Do it for Aten……Do it for Aten."

Miranda approached Ryou, an expression of confusion clear on her face. "Ryou? Are you okay?"

Bakura held onto Ryou tightly. "He just needs a couple minutes."

"Mommy?" Robbie gagged.

Miranda turned and saw Aten squeezing Robbie so tightly, his face was turning red. "Aten, honey, let go of Robbie before you hurt him."

"No, mommy……no, Cheska…..no tush," Aten whimpered behind hazy eyes.

Aria was pulling at Ryou's shirt. "Mommy!"

Bakura turned Ryou's face to look at him and saw Ryou's eyes also glazed over.

//Ryou…she's gone. I killed her, remember? I mummified her along with your father.//

/……….Daddy, no./

//Ryou, Jessica is dead! Dust! Gone! No more! Finished! Deceased! Rigor Mortis! Come back to me, hikari.//

"Yami?"

Bakura cupped Ryou's cheek in his hand. "Yes, love?"

Ryou wrapped his arms around Bakura. "Hold me! Please! Don't let go!"

Aten gazed into Robbie's eyes. "No wet doe, Wobbie, peas?"

Miranda leaned down to Ryou. "It's just us now, Ryou. You take your time here."

"Sorry about this, Miranda."

"No, it's okay. We need a break. We can wait here."

Aten and Ryou took a good while to calm down. Miranda bought Robbie and Aria some ice cream to distract them from Ryou and Aten. Robbie offered to share his ice cream, but Aten refused with a shake of the head.

Bakura took Ryou's hand and helped him off of the chair. "Ryou, it's okay, love. Look at me, hikari."

Ryou had been conditioned early to obey that order on command. "Yes, master?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "Ryou, this is me! Your Bakura! I'm not the monster in your flashback, Ryou," Bakura whispered. "I'm your husband who loves you more than anything else in the world. No one is going to harm you, Ryou."

Ryou lowered his head. "Yes, yami."

Bakura gave Ryou a quick kiss on the cheek, much to the shock of some passers-by. "Look, Ryou. I love you. Nothing is going to make me stop loving you. Take a deep breath, okay? Just relax."

Ryou turned to Miranda. "I'm sorry for ruining our shopping trip, Ryou."

"Heavens, no, Ryou! You didn't ruin it. We needed a break."

Robbie jumped up and down excitedly. "Can we go see Santa now, mommy?"

Ryou looked down at Aten. "Aten, honey? Are you okay?"

Aten looked up at Ryou. "Mommy? No wet doe uff my hand."

Ryou grabbed the chibi's hand. "I'll keep a hold on you, baby boy."

Robbie jumped up and down. "Yeah! Let's go, mommy!"

Robbie pulled on Miranda to the line to wait to sit on Santa's lap.

"Aten, do you want to sit on Santa's lap with me?"

Aten shook his head side to side.

"Aww…you get a big candycane!"

Aten shook his head. "I no wan doe shit on wap."

Ryou cleared his throat as some parents turned their heads to Aten's language. "It's 'sit,' dear. Aten's not allowed candy, Robbie. It's bad for his heart and his tummy."

Robbie cocked his head to the side. "Bad for his heart?"

Aten nodded. "My heart, the dotor ted, is weawwy sick. I no tan haff tandy. My heart is bad, Wobbie, and da dotor ted I haff to tate tare of my heart or I det weawwy sick."

The smile on Robbie's face faded. "Your heart is sick, Aten? Does it have a cold? Maybe it just needs some chicken soup."

Aten shook his head, but tried to give a smile. "No, Wobbie, not dat tind of sick! A part of my heart no work wight. Dat is what Siwa ted to me. I tate good care of my heart. I pay to Wa and Isis to mate my heart big and stwong!"

Miranda rubbed Robbie's head. "Aten is well cared for, Robbie. Don't worry."

Robbie crossed his arms and smiled. "Don't worry, Aten! I'm going to ask Santa for a good heart for you! One that's not sick! I'll get a good heart for you, Aten, even if I have to go out and buy a new heart for you! It may take me all the money in the whole wide, wide, wide, wide, wide, wide world, but I'm gonna get you a good heart!"

Aten looked up at the man in the red and white suit with a long white beard. "He tan det me a new heart?"

Robbie nodded. "Yeah, Santa can put anything but a piano into his sleigh! My mommy says his sleigh is really huge!"

Aria, Aten and Robbie were next in line to sit on Santa's lap. Robbie let Aria go first. Aria let out a squeal and ran to Santa's lap.

"Ho-Ho-Ho. What's your name, little girl?"

"I'm Aria Kanika Itemri, daughter of Bakura! I want a horse, a pony, a whole bunch of dollies, a sled, My Little Ponies, a Barbie Dreamhouse, a Barbie Summerhome, a pool to swim in, a dolly that walks, a dolly that talks. More Duel Monsters cards! I want books and a new coloring books, and crayons! I want a purple bunny plushie. Umm…I think that's it."

The man laughed and handed her a candycane. "Here you go, little lady!"

"SQUEEEEEE!!! Thank you!" Aria squealed and jumped excitedly as she clutched her candycane to her chest.

Robbie sat on Santa's lap with a smile. "Hi, Santa! I'm Robert Allen Morgan! Remember me?"

The man laughed. "Yes, Robert. Ho-Ho-Ho!"

"I want a Cyber Commander action figure, a new set of tanks, a new set of army men, ships for my bathtime! I need more G.I. Joe action figures, too! I also need more clothes to put on them. The ones I have are all old and torn. Oh, I also have a friend with a bad heart. Can you fit a new heart into your sleigh?"

The man sighed. "Santa will do what he can, little boy."

"Okay. Thanks, Santa."

The man gave Robbie his candycane. Aten timidly walked up to the man.

"Ho-Ho-Ho! What's your name, little boy?"

Aten shivered on the man's lap. "Ummm…..umm…I'm Aten Bakari Ishtar Ibn Mawik."

The jolly man smiled. "What do you want underneath your tree, little boy?"

Aten looked up at Santa with large eyes. "My heart is sick and I nee a new heart, Tanta. I wan a heart dat no hurts. Tan I haff a new heart? Peas?" Aten's bottom lip trembled and his eyes filled with tears.

The jolly man rubbed Aten's hair. "I'll see what I can do, Aten."

"A heart is weawwy tiny. I wan no penents. I juss wan a heart dat iss not sick and won't top. You know why? I wanna gow up to be a big kid! Toe, tan I haff a new heart, Tanta? Peas?"

"I'll see what I can do, Aten."

"I no tan haff tandy. It mate my heart sick and my tummy hurt. Diff it to anutter tid."

"Oh, Friendly, I need more candy canes!"

Aten jumped down when Santa's "assistant" jumped out of the gingerbread house.

"OOOOOOOOOO!!! I'M FRIENDLY THE ELF!!!!"

Aten stopped as he looked up at the brainless girl holding a handful of candy canes and dressed as an elf. Aten let out a little shriek.

Ryou picked up Aten.

"Hi, Ryou! Look at me! I'm Friendly the Elf and here is Santa's other Little Helper, PINCHY!" Anzu removed her pet scorpion from her pocket. She had the little creature dressed as a reindeer.

"Pinchy loves Christmas!!! Pinchy loves allll of the holidays of the world! YEAH FRIENDSHIP!!!! GO PINCHY!"

Aten cowered in Ryou's arms.

Ryou went to walk away when Anzu threw the candy canes at Santa.

"CANDYCANES ARE LIKE FRIENDSHIP! They're hooked and they look like friendship! I love candy canes ……AND PUPPIES!"

Anzu jumped around Ryou as he walked away with a whimpering chibi in his arms. Miranda picked up Robbie, whose face bore a look of terror. Aria was up in Bakura's arms growling and snarling.

Anzu began to sing off-key to the tune of "It's Beginning to Look like Christmas."

"It's beginning to look like Friendship!

Everywhere you go!

Take a look at the friendly puppies!

Barking everywhere!

Just squeeze them 'til their little eyes bug out!

It's beginning to look like Friendship!"

Bakura wished to the gods he could drive something sharp into his ear canal….it would be less painful than listen to Anzu try to sing.

Robbie buried tried to bury his ear against his mother's shoulder.

"YEAH! That was a friendly, happy-slappy song! It makes me all warm and fuzzy….like Friendship!"

Aten gripped his chest. "Mommy, my heart hurts aden."

Ryou narrowed his eyes at Anzu. "Go away, Anzu!"

"Season's Greetings to you, Ryou! FRIENDSHIP HUG!"

Ryou and Aten choked as Anzu wrapped her slimy, long arms around mother and son and squeezed like a cobra squeezing the life out of its prey.

Bakura was surprised as Aria jumped from his arms and onto Anzu, digging her claws into Anzu's skin.

"You no touch my mommy and my brudder!" Aria growled as she clawed Anzu.

"BEING TORN APART BY A CHIBI IS LIKE FRIENDSHIP! YEAH FRIENDSHIP!"

Miranda watched as Aria stood over her bleeding victim. Aria skipped back to her father, who lovingly brought her up into his arms.

"Who's got daddy's bloodlust?"

Aria's hair twitched. "Me, daddy! I'm Chibi Yami! I got daddy's bloodlust!"

Anzu smiled and laughed insanely. "I'm covered in red! Yeah! Friendship color! BLEEDING IS FRIENDLY! HORRAY FOR FRIENDLY COLORS!"

Ryou and the group walked away from Anzu, who was singing "Rudolf the Friendly Reindeer."

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

Miranda pulled up to the front of Ryou's house. Ryou invited her inside for a cup of tea. Aten and Robbie drew pictures with Aria on the floor. Robbie drew a Christmas card for Aria and Aten. Aria and Aten drew Holiday cards for Robbie.

Miranda, Marik, Malik, Bakura, and Ryou sat around the kitchen table discussing presents for their children and the holiday plans.

Marik grinned. "I give Bakura two seconds before he tries to attack Yami with Shadow Powers."

Bakura growled. "That pharaoh better behave himself! If he lays a hand on me, Ryou, Aria, or Aten, I will personally take his eyeballs and shove them up his---."

Ryou elbowed Bakura in the side. "Yami, behave yourself! We have company!"

"I hope Seto Kaiba will not mind Robbie and I coming over to stay."

Marik sipped his tea. "Moneybags? No, he won't mind. We do this every year. We celebrate the Holidays for the children, you know."

Ryou smiled. "Marik and Bakura have a period of Fasting after Christmas, so they indulge in the Holidays in more ways than one."

Bakura folded his arms. "It's a time of spiritual cleansing, Miranda."

She nodded. "Robbie and I will arrive tomorrow night around nine. Robbie and I always go out for Christmas Eve dinner and then we go to the cemetery and then mass."

Bakura and Marik exchanged glances. "Cemetery?"

Miranda lowered her head and gripped the handle of her cup. "Yes. You see, I lost a baby girl to a heart defect much like Aten's. She was only a few days old. Robbie doesn't remember her too well. The doctors tried to show me what to do when she would have difficulty breathing. So, Robbie and I go every year to her grave and we put a little flower on it. So, we'll be a little late tomorrow night."

Ryou gripped Miranda's hand. "Sorry, Miranda. We're all very sorry."

"It wasn't easy, Ryou. But, I believe that there was a reason she was taken back to Heaven. Daniel was upset when I told him about Christa. He did get to hold her for ten minutes, though. For that alone, he was grateful."

Bakura pat Miranda on the back. "We're sorry, Miranda. We shouldn't have--."

The woman shrugged. "You didn't know, Bakura, it's okay.

It makes me feel better to know I have something to remember her. We put in another bedroom upstairs, so we use the extra room for storage space right now. It's hard not to think about it, but Robbie is what I have to focus on. He's my little treasure."

Marik finished his tea. "Well, now you don't have to spend the Holidays alone, Miranda. You can spend them with us and Rich-Boy. He can afford to feed two extra mouths."

"I do have to ask him and let him know they are coming," Ryou said. "It's only polite that I do so."

Ryou went to the living room to get the cell phone when he saw the three chibis drawing.

Aria drew a happy fish wearing a Santa hat for Umi. "I hope Umi likes this!"

Robbie was drawing a wreath with holly. On the top of the card was written 'For Aten: Merry Christmas, From Robbie'

Aten drew a picture of himself cuddling a new heart against his chest.

"Aten, what is that a picture of?"

"Diss iss my new heart dat Tantadiff me for Kistmas! I'm holding da heart and I'm happy! Tee? I tmiling!"

Ryou pat the chibi's head. "It's a nice heart, Aten."

Aten looked down at the paper and continued to draw. "I weawwy wan a healty heart."

Ryou sighed and grabbed the phone. Aten was not a candidate yet for heart surgery. He had a suspicion that Aten would need a pacemaker when he grew older, but that was an option only if Aten's heart worsened beyond the ability of the medication to control his heartbeat. Ryou didn't look forward to explaining why Santa could not put a new heart in his sleigh.

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

Yami's POV

The Holidays are upon us once more. All of us are going to gather at Seto's place. I didn't mind the Holidays when it was just Yugi and his friends. But now, we have the kids. I'm not worried about Hayden and Mokuba. They pose no threat.

Aten and Aria, however, are a threat to my immortal existence.

I enjoyed them as babies, but that all ended when I heard of Isis' prophecy. Seto told me about the prophecy one day when Yugi and I had visited him. Seto was upset and afraid he was going to lose Aria.

I went into my soulroom and was reminded of the past. Aria and Aten did fight Seth and I back in Ancient Egypt. But, they had stopped me from gaining the power of the seven Millennium Items which would make me immortal. It was Aria who stopped me in the battle, but I got my revenge on her! I made Aria pay the ultimate price for trying to stop me from gaining the power I desired! Death.

Now, Aria has returned to try to stop me again. Her brother, just as in the past, will be the first to be destroyed.

The Millennium Items should be in my possession. I am the pharaoh! I own the Millennium Puzzle! All of the items should belong to me alone!

Yugi thinks I have changed. I love Yugi, though. He is my other half. He is my Light. I am his Dark.

Aria and Aten must not be allowed to stop me! I know Seto is working hard to make Duel Disks for the two kids.

What a better way to show my superiority than to challenge them to a duel! I can destroy the kids early. I can disengage the safety protocols. When the Dark Magician wipes away the remainder of Aten's life points, he will be killed.

Aria would suffer like her brother. She's not immune. I will destroy that spawn of the tomb robber!

This plan will work! I will see to it personally.

Updates: Sunday

*--- I got this info from this site. So, I'm going to go with this: http://showcase.netins.net/web/ankh/calendar1.html