Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Hostile Takeover ❯ Gifts ( Chapter 71 )

I don't own "Count Chocula" cereal, but it rocks. At least I like it.

*review responses next time, guys*

Gifts

Ryou descended the stairs the next morning and found Miranda making hot tea and hot coffee. Aten was awake and was sitting on the couch with his knees drawn up to his chest, cuddling his toy monkey.

His body was shaking and his eyes stared into an oblivion in front of him.
"Aten?"

"………"

Ryou sat beside Aten and brushed his fingers through the chibi's hair. "Aten, honey? We have some toys over at Unkie Seto's still."

"…….."

Ryou leaned over to look at him. "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

"………"

"It's okay to be upset, Aten. I know you are afraid. Mommy and Daddy are here and we will work all this out, okay, baby boy?"

Miranda came out of the kitchen. "I tried talking to him this morning, Ryou. He's not talking."

"Aten, baby, please say something."

"………"

Ryou sighed and kissed Aten's forehead. "I love you, Aten. Just sit and relax."

Ryou went into the kitchen and leaned on the countertop. "What am I going to do?"

"He's in shock, Ryou. That's normal."

"I have to call Dr. Zira. I want the kids to see him today. Can I use your phone?"

Ryou called Zira and left a message on his machine. Ryou called Tristan to have him bring over any medication he had from when the chibis were over there. Ryou called Seto to tell him about the house. Seto told Ryou he would call Donny and he would be over to Miranda's house as fast as he could.

Aria walked into the kitchen complaining that her hand hurt from the burns. Miranda and Ryou cleaned her hand and put more burn cream on her. Aria took some of Robbie's army men and played with them on the floor.

She took the large G.I. Joe dolls and raised an eyebrow. "Boy dollies are weird. Where are the dresses? Aten, where are the boy dollies' dresses?"

"………."

Malik staggered downstairs rubbing his back. He sat at the kitchen table shaking his head. "What am I going to tell my sister?"

Marik appeared from the Rod. "The truth. Isis will understand."

Marik turned to Miranda and saw her dressed in her satin knee-length robe. "Well, good morning, Miranda! Don't we look…delicious this morning?"

Miranda sighed. "Go play with your rod, Marik."

Marik grinned. "I seemed to have misplaced my rod. Can you help me find it?"

The woman crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. "Your rod is on the kitchen table. If you are going to stay here, Marik, I'll ask you not to place your rod on the kitchen table. My son has to eat there."

The grin on the yami's face spread, enjoying the banter with the woman. "I thought you wouldn't mind my rod on the kitchen table. Would you like to…..pick my rod up? Why don't you move my rod if it is in your way?"

"I guess I'll have to be careful. It looks fragile."

"I'll have to find a better place to stick my rod, then," Marik grinned licking his lips at the woman.

"It's not that big, it shouldn't take up too much space," Miranda winked at him.

Malik and Ryou snickered as Marik's jaw dropped. This mortal woman could banter!

Robbie limped into the kitchen. "Mommy, something's wrong with Aten! He's not talking!"

"He's upset about his toys and his house, Robbie, dear." Miranda picked Robbie up and put him in a chair. "Marik, can you move your rod so my son can have his breakfast?"

Marik grabbed the Millennium Rod and growled. He went into the living room and found Aten sitting on the couch with his knees tucked under his chin.

"Aten, son? You're upset about last night, aren't you? We escaped alright. You're safe now."

Aten sniffled, but kept his eyes focused on the void before him.

"Come have breakfast, Aten. You'll feel better if you eat."

Marik picked Aten up and Aten growled viciously. "You have to eat, son."

Marik put Aten beside Robbie and put Aria beside her brother.

Miranda poured some Count Chocula cereal for Robbie and Aria.

Ryou made some plain oatmeal for Aten. Aten stared into his bowl of oatmeal.

Malik looked over at Aten. "Aten, baby? Eat your breakfast. It will make you feel better."

Aten blinked, Malik's encouragement falling on his deaf ears.

Tristan and Otogi arrived with Aten's heart medication. Ryou took a pill and gave Aten a pill.

"There's your heart pill, Aten."

The adults watched Aten sniffle and sigh into his bowl of oatmeal.

Aten's eyes went to the pill. He picked up the medication and threw it on the floor.

Tristan grinned. "I can make the little man feel better." Tristan leaned over. "What's the matter, little man?"

Aten blinked, looking up at Tristan.

Tristan snapped his fingers. "OH, I see! You wanna meet Mr. Silly Face. Okay!"

Tristan stretched his mouth and wiggled his tongue out of his mouth. Aten's bottom lip trembled and his body started to shake.

"Umm….Tris, I don't think you're helping," Otogi said pulling on Tristan's jacket.

"Nonsense! He likes this!"

Tristan rolled his eyes in the back of his head and stretched his cheeks.

Aten burst out into tears, reaching up for Otogi. Otogi lifted Aten out of the chair and cuddled the baby against him.

"You scared him, you big doofus!" Otogi rocked Aten.

Aten wailed against Otogi's chest. Ryou stepped beside Otogi and rubbed the crying chibi's back.

"He's been quiet all morning, Otogi."

Otogi kissed the tuft of white and blond hair under his chin. "I saw the pile of rubble. Are all of you guys alright?"

"Bakura took the most damage. He's still asleep in his soulroom. Half of his face was charred. Aria and I suffered only minor burns."

Tristan sat at the table. "What caused it?"

Marik narrowed his eyes. He couldn't say anything about what he saw last night.

"We don't know," Ryou answered. "But we lost everything we had. That is why we needed our heart medication."

Aten held his arms out for his mother. Otogi passed the chibi into Ryou's arms.

Seto's limo pulled up and Donny entered behind Seto and Joey.

Everyone looked at the pink angel pin on Donny's jacket. Aten turned and reached out for Donny.

"Bonnie, you wear da tin I dot you!"

Donny sighed. "Aten, my name is 'Donny.' Not 'Bonnie.'"

Aten started to cry again. "You no wike my pennent!"

"No, Aten, I love your present! I'm just saying that my name is 'Donny.'"

Donny rubbed the child's back. How could he be considered a merciless killer and a master sniper with a pink angel pin reading 'Bonnie'? He knew the gift meant a lot to Aten and he wore it for the chibi's sake.

Seto rushed to Ryou and brought Ryou into a tight, consoling hug. He sat at the table as Miranda brought them over a hot tea.

"Ryou, tell me what happened."

Ryou told Seto the story of hearing Aten cough and trying to get the kids out of the room, found Aria tied to the bed by a jump rope. He told Seto how he almost fell into the fire below. Joey sipped his tea as he listened to the story.

Seto reached up and stroked Ryou's cheek. He didn't know why. Something told him inside that Ryou needed it. Seto stroked Ryou's cheek gently.

"I'm grateful you and the kids weren't hurt."

"Bakura was hurt the worst of all of us. He's asleep in the Ring still."

Seto sipped the tea as he shook his head. Miranda sat down across from Seto and Ryou.

"Thank you for taking my friends in, Miranda. Even though Marik isn't my friend, he's just a necessary evil."

Marik pouted. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me, moneybags. Come give us a kiss."

Seto rolled his eyes. "God only knows where your mouth has been last. Wait! I know where your mouth was last and I don't need to hear it!"

Donny brought in Aten to Joey. The blond took the chibi boy.

"Unkie Puppy, my monies burnted. My money's ear and dail was burnted."

"I'm sorry, kiddo. We'll get you new monies."

Aten started to cry again in Joey's arms. The blond cuddled Aten to his chest. The chibi whimpered in Joey's arms.

Seto took Ryou's hand. "Do you want me to bring the kids' toys over here?"

Ryou turned to Miranda. "I hope we're not intruding on you, Miranda."

"Ryou, feel free to stay here. Daniel won't be home for a few months. I don't mind if you want to stay here until you get a place of your own."

Seto gripped Ryou's hand. "Why don't you and the others come over tonight to pick up the rest of the kids' toys? This way they'll have something to play with. I'm not sure how Aria will enjoy boy toys."

Aria ran into the kitchen. "Unkie Seto, I can't find the dresses for Robbie's dollies!"

Robbie looked down from his chair. "My dolls are boy dolls! They don't have dresses! Army men don't need dresses! Boys don't wear dresses."

Tristan snickered. "Otogi does."

"Hey! I do not!"

"Then how do you explain the blue dress in your closet, Otogi?"

Otogi blushed red as all eyes shot at him. "I don't wear dresses! I'm not a woman!"

Miranda's jaw dropped at Tristan's revelation about Otogi's choice of evening wear.

"I don't wear dresses, Tristan!"

"It's okay, honey, you know I like that dress on you. I even like the little black one you got."

Otogi pouted and crossed his arms. Marik shifted away from Otogi a little.

"Marik, I don't have those dresses!"

Marik raised an eyebrow and shuddered. "Sure you don't…Otoga."

Otogi narrowed his eyes. "Screw you!"

Miranda cleared her throat and pointed at her son listening. "Language….Otoga."

"Ryou's the most feminine of all of us and he doesn't get any women jokes! He actually was a woman!"

Marik crossed his arms. "I don't mock the mother of my offspring. Besides, Otogi, you're more easy to tease."

Otogi clenched his fists. "If you need me, I'll be outside!"

Otogi left the house and sat on the steps.

"Aria, you are going to come over my house and pick up your dollies that you left at KaibaCorp. Aten, you left some of your toys at KaibaCorp."

Aten sniffled. "I wan my toys! Unkie Puppy, it was tarey! Hot tire effeywhere!"

"You're safe now, Aten."

Seto stood up. "We had better go, Joey. We have some….banking and shopping to do."

Joey handed Aten to Ryou. "Bye, little monkey. I'll see you tonight." Joey kissed Aten. "Bye, little princess. See you tonight." Joey kissed Aria.

Seto took Ryou's shoulders in his hand. "Everything will be alright, Ryou." Seto leaned in and kissed Ryou on the cheek, much to everyone else's surprise but Joey. "Leave everything to me."

Seto left the home with Donny and Joey. Ryou put Aten in front of his breakfast and sipped his tea.

"Miranda, can I call my sister and tell her what happened? I'll pay you back for the call. I promise."

"Okay, Malik. Go on."

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

Isis stood on the outskirts of Cairo among the crowd of digging men. Her aide stood beside her. Isis looked at the archaeological maps.

"I hope this grave hasn't been raided by thieves."

"No. These bodies have remained untouched for five thousand years."

Isis' cell phone rang and she answered it. "Isis Ishtar speaking."

[Sister! Sister, I have some terrible news!]

"Malik?"

[Sister, our home burned down. Luckily nobody was injured in the blaze. Bakura was injured, but he's alright.]

"What about my nephew and niece?"

[They weren't hurt. Ryou and I have to take them to the doctor. But they came out unharmed except for some minor burns.]

"Malik, I'm just glad to hear that everyone is okay. Nothing concerns me more than your safety."

[You're…you're not angry?]

"No, Malik. I'm just glad to hear that you weren't hurt. Where are you and the others staying?"

[We're staying with a family friend until we can afford another home.]

"We're you able to rescue anything from the fire?"

[Just Ryou's mother's jewelry box. Everything else burned.]

"Malik, take care of yourself, brother. I will send what I can."

[Okay. I love you, sister.]

"I love you, too, Malik. Ra be praised that you are safe."

[Love you, sister. Goodbye.]

Isis folded the cell phone. "Thank Ra my brother was not harmed by that fire. I don't want to see my brother harmed."

The diggers called to her excitedly. "We unearthed the bones! We found the bodies!"

Isis stood at the edge of the grave. Two skeletons were facing each other. One of the skeletons had white hair still clinging to its skull. The other skeleton had an arrow impaled in the back of one of the ribs. Blond hair came from its skull. Their bony hands were holding onto each other.

Isis' eyes widened at the remains. Her Millennium Necklace glowed and she gasped.

"Oh…my…god."

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

Bakura emerged from the Ring as Miranda drove Ryou and the kids to Zira's office. Miranda jumped and looked back in the rear view mirror.

"Bakura! You scared me to death!"

"Sorry," he said with a devilish grin. Miranda had never seen him suddenly materialize from his item with the exception of when he was initially freed from the Ring.

Bakura turned to Aria. "How do you feel this morning, Aria?"

"My hand hurts, daddy."

"I know, baby girl. You probably have some slight boo-boos from the fire."

Ryou gave a snicker. He never thought in a million years that his yami would refer to injuries as "boo-boos."

"Are you laughing at me, Ryou?"

Ryou bit his lip and shook his head. "No. Course not."

When they arrived at the doctor's office, Ryou continued to bite his lip. He tried not to laugh at Bakura. Miranda held Robbie's hand as he limped beside her. Aten played with the wooden blocks as they waited for his appointment.

Aten tried to make a pyramid with the wooden arches. Robbie took the toy fire engine and pushed it under a bridge that Aten had made. Aria carried a book over to Ryou and asked him to read it.

Ryou held Aria on his lap as her little legs dangled. When the nurse came in, Marik picked up Aten.

"Wobbie…"

"After you see Zira we're going to Unkie Seto's to pick up the rest of your toys. Then you can play with Robbie all you want."

Zira entered the examining room and pat each of the children on the head. "My nurse tells me that your home burned down last night, Ryou. My sincere condolences on your loss."

"We escaped alive with the children," Bakura said. "That is the best we could hope for. It could have been tragic."

Zira nodded. "Oh, no doubt. We wouldn't want to lose these two little blessings."

Zira took their temperature through the ear. "Temperature is normal. So, why did you bring them in, Ryou?"

"Aria's hand was a little burned."

"Your arm looks like it needs some bandaging, too. Let me see your hand, little lady."

Aria held out her hand and Zira nodded. "Aria does have some minor burns on her hand and on her arm. Some basic burn cream and some mild painkillers will be okay for her. Her burns shouldn't give her too much problems."

"I lost my dollies in the fire, Doctor Zira. All my dollies…even my Jessica dolly…and my Angelica dolly….all my dollies went to the Dolly Underworld. Makes me sad."

Zira pat her head. "Aww….I'm sorry you lost your dollies, Aria. They meant a lot to you, didn't they?"

Aria nodded. "Yes. I'll miss my Jessica dolly. She was my best friend since I was a really tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny baby."

"Aten?"

Aten cuddled his toy monkey against his chest. Zira could see the burned left ear and the tail. Aten was clutching the toy as if it was all he had in the world….which it was. That was HIS toy.

"Aten hasn't said anything all morning, Doctor. He won't speak."

Zira took the stethoscope and put it to Aten's chest. "Can you take a deep breath?"

Aten took a deep breath. Zira could hear congestion in the lungs.

"He may have some smoke in the lungs. It's not uncommon in a situation like this. He's lucky to survive that fire with his poor heart. Aten, does your heart hurt now?"

Aten shook his head.

"Well, that's a good sign. I want a chest x-ray done of his heart. This way we'll see how severe it is. With his cardiomyopathy, if his lungs fill with fluid, it may be an indication that his condition is deteriorating. We have to keep an eye on that and I'd rather be safe than putting Aten's life in danger. One moment and we'll set it up. I'll be right back."

Zira left and Ryou ran his fingers though the child's hair.

"Do I haff to doe bat to da hopital?"

"It's just so we can look at your heart and see if it is healthy," Marik said rubbing the boy's back.

Aten shrugged. "Okay, daddy."

Zira returned. "Okay. If you go over to the hospital, they'll take the tests. Aten, can you lay down on your back?"

Aten tensed. "No!"

"Aten, I just want to feel your tummy. That's all."

Aten laid on his back slowly. Zira lifted up Aten's shirt and gently pressed on Aten's belly. "There doesn't seem to be any abnormalities here. Aria, honey, can you get on your back, too?"

Aria laid on her back and Zira pressed on her belly.

"They both seem fine, Ryou. Just take Aten to the hospital. These tests won't hurt. Here's a prescription for something to relieve his congestion in the meantime. Here's the prescription for his heart pills."

Marik picked up Aten and carried him. Bakura put Aria on his shoulders and they left.

Miranda and Robbie stood up when they entered. "How did it go?"

"We need to take Aten to the hospital for some tests."

Miranda took Robbie's hand. "Okay, let me get the kids in the car."

Miranda took the crowd to the hospital. Robbie held onto his mother's hand tightly. Robbie shuddered as they walked through the halls. Aten looked calm as he held Marik's hand.

A male nurse walked by carrying packaged syringes. "Hello, Aten! Are you feeling any better?"

Aten looked up at the man. "My houze burnted town wast night, Dames."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Aten."

"Thank you, James," Ryou said. "We're here to get Aten a chest

x-ray."

James pat the chibi on the head. "Well, Keysha will be happy to see you again. See you next time, Aten."

Ryou walked them towards the Radiology department as they encountered another nurse.

"Aten Ishtar! What are you doing back here, little cutie?"

"I need de doccors to wook at my heart again."

The woman kneeled down. "How is your back, baby? We were so worried about you when you came in last. Does it still hurt?"

Aten nodded. "A wittle."

"Well, your mommy will take good care of you. He always has. Isn't that right, Ryou?"

Ryou nodded. "I always will."

The woman pat Aten on the head. "Go get your test done, Aten. See you around, little cutie."

Robbie turned to Aten as the woman left. "Do you know everybody here?"

Aten nodded. "Effeybody knows me. I was bornded in dis hopital."

"He's been here so often for tests and has been in the hospital so many times, the staff knows him quite well. He even has his own room," Ryou whispered to Miranda.

They arrived in the Radiology Department. Ryou went to the desk and the woman at the desk leaned over. Keysha was a young nurse with beautiful mocha skin. She smiled down at Aten.

"Hello, darlin'! Back for another x-ray, baby?"

Aten nodded. "Siwa wans to wook at my heart, Deesha."

"Well, let's look at your heart, darlin'."

Keysha turned to another girl. "Aten Ishtar is here for his chest x-ray."

Another young nurse came through the door and lead Aten to the back room where the nurse took his x-ray.

"Take off your shirt, cutie," the nurse said.

Aten shook his head.

"I need to take pictures of your heart, Aten," the nurse said.

"Gace, do I haff to?"

"Yes, Aten. I promise not to hurt you."

Aten sighed and removed his shirt for Grace. She scanned his heart as he watched her.

"Dat's my heart?"

"Yup. Take a deep breath for me, sugar."

Ryou watched as Aten took a deep breath. "How does his chest look?"

"Everything looks normal. There's some signs of congestion, but it doesn't look related to his heart defect. Breathe normally, Aten."

The nurse continued to scan Aten's chest until she was finished. She gave Aten his shirt. "Your heart and lungs look fine, Aten. He has a little congestion, but that can be treated."

Ryou put Aten on the ground and held his hand. He followed his mother out of the room.

Keysha leaned over the desk. She gave Ryou a sugar-free lollipop for Aten.

"What do you say, Aten?"

"Tankoo, Deesha!"

Keysha smiled. "No problem, darlin'. We keep them here for whenever you stop by. See you later, darlin'!"

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

Seto and Joey went to the bank with Hayden and Mokuba. Hayden and Mokuba were let loose in a toy store. They tried to replace the toys that Aten and Aria had lost in the house fire. Mokuba found some books and dolls for Aria. Seto went around the Barbie section and bought one of each Barbie, complete with different dresses for the dolls.

Hayden found a bunch of monkey dolls for Aten. He bought Aten a Doodle Writer and a bunch of coloring books.

Seto replaced Aten's alphabet books and his Nursery Rhyme book that he enjoyed.

Joey walked up to Seto chuckling. "Marik will like these."

Seto raised his eyes at the Barney videos. "Do you WANT to go to the Shadow Realm again?"

Joey grinned. "That's not all. Here's the entire collection of Happy Bear Jamboree."

"You are so dead, do you know that?"

"These are from me!" Joey threw the videos in the shopping cart and ran off.

Seto shook his head as he found a large pink bunny plushie. He wasn't sure if she lost hers in the fire.

When they were done at the toy store, Seto's limo pulled up to a house by Robbie's. He walked up to the house.

A man opened the door. "Yeah? What is it?"

"I'm offering you three million dollars if you leave this house in three days."

The man raised his eyebrow. "Three million dollars? Yeah right."

Seto opened the briefcase. The interior was lined with hundred dollar bills. "Here it is. Three million dollars. You're a fool not to take it, Mister--."

"The name's Mr. Gillam! I've lived in this house for twenty years. I raised my kids here and I was born here. I'm not leaving."

"You're giving up three million dollars? Are you insane or just plain stupid?"

The man narrowed his eyes. "I know who you are, Seto Kaiba. And I'm asking you to get your fag ass off my property before I call the cops!"

Kaiba narrowed his eyes. "I was right. You are stupid. In fact, you're more stupid than I realized! Nobody says 'No' to Seto Kaiba and lives to tell about it."

"I'm shaking in my boots! Now get off before I throw your prissy little ass off my property!"

Mr. Gillam shut the door in Kaiba's face. Kaiba walked to the house beside Gillam.

'Mr. Gillam is going to need a visit from my Public Relations Department.'

The people beside Gillam weren't home, so he went next door.

He opened the suitcase. "This is three million dollars. You have three days to move out of the house."

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

Miranda returned home after the pharmacy. Aten needed his medication and was getting sleepy. Marik was upstairs in his room, the Millennium Rod playing Steven's Latin speech.

Bakura walked in. "What are you up to?"

Marik raised an eyebrow. "I'm replaying what Steven told us in the temple. It sounded important."

"I don't know what language that is. It isn't familiar."

Marik cocked his head to the side. "That's Latin. I don't know much about it though. I once had a hikari who spoke Latin, but I killed her before she could teach me any of it."

"That sucks. If you would have kept your Rod to yourself, we'd be able to translate what he said!"

Marik pointed the Rod's dagger at Bakura. "Don't insult my Rod!"

"Okay, Rod-Boy, I get it. I don't know Latin. None of my hikaris knew Latin. I don't know who'd be able to translate that."

"I don't know. I wouldn't rely on Caffeine-Boy or Otogi to do it. I doubt Yugi knows how to do it."

Marik and Bakura paused when they heard Seto call out downstairs.

"I bet moneybags knows it. If not, at least he'll know how to translate it."

Marik and Bakura went downstairs. Robbie was nudging Aten on the floor.

"Aten? Aten? You asleep?" Robbie nudged Aten's body again. Robbie looked up at the adults. "He sleeps really deeply when he has his medicine, doesn't he? ATEN! YOU WANNA PLAY?"

Miranda stepped beside Robbie. "Aten needs his sleep, Robbie. Yes, he sleeps very deeply when he has his medicine."

Joey picked up Aten, limp, snoring, and asleep from his medication. "This belongs to you," Joey said holding out the sleeping chibi to his father.

Marik took Aten upstairs to Robbie's bed. Seto went into the kitchen and found Malik on the phone with the insurance company and Ryou sitting at the table with a hot cup of tea.

"Hello, Seto. How are you?" Ryou asked, staring into his cup.

"Ryou, we have to talk in private."

Ryou picked up his tea and brought Seto into the living room.

"First, how was the kids' doctor's appointment?"

"Aten's lungs are a little congested, but he'll be okay. Aria just has some burns on her hand."

Seto sat beside Ryou. He took Ryou's tea from his hand and put it on the coffee table. "Ryou, I have something to tell you. It's important."

Ryou raised an eyebrow. "What about?"

"Ryou, I bought you a house. You move into it in three days."

Ryou's jaw dropped and his eyes widened. His hand went to his chest, gripping it tightly. "You…you what?"

"I told the family three doors down to leave their home. I offered them three million dollars."

"Seto…you…you did that for me?"

Seto nodded and covered Ryou's hand with his own. "I couldn't let you and the kids go homeless, Ryou. I won't have it. When the family accepted my offer, they showed me around the home. It has enough bedrooms. Aria and Aten can have their own rooms now. You and Bakura can still have your own room. There's also an extra room for Isis when she comes home."

Ryou's eyes filled with tears. "You…you got me a home for my family, Seto?"

"I even went out and bought you new furniture. It gets delivered in four days."

Ryou wrapped his arms around Seto and cried. "Seto, I…I don't know what to say. You saved my life paying for my heart operation. You paid for the birth of my children. Now you…bought me a home."

Seto held Ryou close to him. "Ryou, remember before Joey and I became a couple and Bakura was still beating you senseless? That night after Bakura whipped you, I told you then that I would always be there for you no matter what happened. You've always been special to me, Ryou, and I promised to be by your side. I was right there at the hospital when Aten and Aria were born. When I held Aria for the first time, I knew she was special like you. Nothing will keep me from helping you, Aria, and Aten."

Ryou nuzzled into Seto's chest. "Thank you, Seto."

"Joey, Hayden, Mokuba, and I went out to buy the kids new toys. I know you lost a lot in the fire, so we went out and bought them new stuff."

"You did? You've been busy today."

Seto nodded. "I was. Is there a place to put the toys here?"

Ryou looked around. "Miranda, Seto bought the kids some toys. Is there a place we could put them?"

Miranda walked into the living room and looked around. "You can put them in Robbie's play corner."

Seto, Joey, Hayden, and Mokuba brought in the toys from the limo. Aria watched as Seto put down two big bags full of Barbie dolls. Aria's eyes lit up and she jumped, squealing at the top of her lungs. She ran to the bags and looked through the dolls. "JESSICA! MOMMY! IT'S JESSICA!"

Aria showed Ryou a Barbie with black hair. Aria squealed again. "It's Angelica! John! Thank you, Unkie Seto!"

Aria wrapped her arms around Seto's legs. "I thought I lost my dollies forever!"

Seto pat her head. "I wouldn't let that happen, baby girl."

Joey brought in the video bag. "I bought the Happy Bear Jamboree for Aria and Barney videos for Aten."

Marik growled, glaring at Joey. "That infernal purple dinosaur is going to see the Shadow Realm if I have anything to say about it!"

Bakura growled. "Joey, you are so dead!"

Joey laughed. "I thought you loved the Happy Bear Jamboree, Bakura!"

"Bite me, Wheeler!"

"We have the rest of the kids' Christmas toys at my place."

Marik crossed his arms. "Bakura and I will be over later to grab the toys. In the meantime, moneybags, we have a favor to ask of you."

"I'm afraid to ask this, but what do you both want me to do?"

"We need something translated from Latin."

Seto sighed. "Okay. Come over tonight and I'll see what I can do."

"Good. See you then, moneybags."

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

Isis climbed into the grave and examined the body with the blond hair. She touched the arm of the corpse lightly and part of it crumbled into dust under her delicate fingers.

She leaned over and examined the injury on its back. The arrow was positioned between two ribs.

"This body was shot through the ribs. The arrow would have punctured its right lung. The second and third vertebrae are completely severed."

Isis touched the faded blond hair and clenched her eyes shut. Images flashed in front of her: Marik was kissing a pregnant woman, Marik finding his wife dead in the middle of the desert, Marik kissing Bakura in the heat of passion, running from the guards, and laying in Bakura's arms taking his last breath.

Isis drew her hand away. "This….this cannot be! If this is Marik…."

Isis looked at the corpse beside the blond. Isis went over to examine the body. This body was much more battered. Two of its ribs were broken. Its wrist was broken, reset, and looked like it had been broken again. The bones in its neck were broken. One of its fingers had been shattered. Part of the skull looked like it had been shattered. The jaw of the body had been broken and reset as well.

Isis touched the white hair of the corpse. Images flashed through her head: Bakura being kicked out of his home at four years old, Bakura running from the guards, Bakura looking up at Marik, holding a dying Marik in his arms, Bakura being whipped publicly by Anubis, Yami hovering over him with his face contorted in pleasure, Bakura being beaten by Anubis, Bakura's strangulation at the hands of Anubis.

"Bakura Osiris…..oh dear Ra."

Isis stood up and staggered back. "I found the corpses of Marik and Bakura!"

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