Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Hostile Takeover ❯ Exploration ( Chapter 72 )

I don't own Barbie dolls…I never did.

Wow! Lots of reviews!!! You guys are the best!

Lady elfskye: Yup…but that's all we'll hear of this until the sequel.

Ryou's Mistress: I wish I had a friend like Seto, too. Mmmm…Seto. Aten's monkey is safe, a little burned, but safe.

Acidflower: Yami deserves it, that's for sure. Next story he'll get his just desserts.

Elffs light: Yami knows the true prophecy that Aria and Aten can destroy him. That's a really good idea. I may use that for a future story I am planning.

Caterfree: I hope you're okay. Uh-oh..Am I in trouble??? *hands Aten plushie*

Dragon Tears: Yeah, I know Bakura's village was slaughtered. Poor Bakura. In my stories, it's a lot different.

Valea: You'll hear more about the remains in the sequel.

Broken Times: Aww, babe, I'm sorry to hear about it. IF you need to talk, email me….my AIM is bakuralove…if you need to talk.

SuperJM: Neat, I'll have to read it. What can I say? Aria loves her barbies.

thunderchaos: There probably wasn't another house available. Besides, the people took the money without hesitation.

Seto lover and Bakurasgirl worshipper: awww….thankies! *hugs plushie*

Rezyra Sugamori: Aww…thank you! You know, I really love your idea. I never considered having Yami fall victim to the virus, too. I'm gonna use your idea. Thanks!

Maruken: Yeah, I know about parental troubles. If you need to talk, you know where to find me. We find out in this chappie about the ring that was in the fire.

Anon: Yeah, me, too, that would be cool.

bakachibi voidfox: Gotta love Seto's "Public Relations Department."

Dragon Pearl: Thanks, I'll look at those pics. Seto must have a lot. I never really thought about it.

Isawa16: Expect the unexpected. *grin*

Fey Hikari: I love Osiris. Well, Yami discovered his true past when he heard about the prophecy Bakura told him about. He kinda just snapped, I guess.

Terra: The Rod is Marik's least concern in this chappie.

Shadow of Light: Isis won't tell Bakura and Marik until the sequel. I don't know why, but it takes her 5 years.

Marik Ishtar: Not that I see. Isis is obligated to keep them in the museum. Instead of numbers, she may give their corpses names.

Pharaoh Yamis Princess: I hope you feel better, babe. Well, in my story "Carry Me Home" Seto reveals he does love Ryou. He always did…for reasons unknown to him. He wanted to sleep with Ryou a few times, but was afraid it would ruin their close relationship. They were very close, but the relationship never became sexual.

Star: Bakura and Marik told him about the prophecy where Aria and Aten have to fight him. Yami was reminded of the truth. Aria and Aten were fighting to PROTECT the world from Yami, not destroy it. So, Yami felt threatened by the birth of Aria and Aten, even though he never explained why.

Exploration

Marik, Bakura, and Ryou returned to KaibaCorp that night to grab the rest of the kids' toys. They went up the elevator and found Seto at the end of the hall locking Joey in the room. Kaiba walked down the hall, his bathrobe flowing behind him. Joey's cries of anger came from the end of the hall as well as banging against the door.

"Seto? Did we come at a bad time?"

Seto narrowed his eyes and disappeared into his bedroom as if he didn't even hear Ryou's question. They followed Seto into the bathroom connected to his room. Mokuba was sitting on the toilet seat with a wet cloth on his lip.

"What happened here, Kaiba?"

Seto growled as he examined Mokuba's lip. "Nothing that concerns you, Marik! I can handle it. It's not bad, Mokuba. Just keep that cloth on there for a while. Joey just had another setback. I'll handle it."

Ryou sighed. "I'm sorry, Seto."

"He had a few setbacks when I tried to help him the first time. Does it feel better, Mokuba?"

"A little."

Seto ran his fingers through his brother's raven-black hair. "Why don't you go check on Hayden? He's probably worried about you."

Mokuba jumped down from the toilet. "Okay, big brother!" Mokuba ran out of the room, the cloth still on his lip.

Seto sighed as he put the peroxide away. "It ticks me off to see Joey fall off the wagon again, but I know it was hard for him to quit the first time."

"Did you call Dr. Chapman?"

"Joey has an appointment tomorrow. I guess he's a little nervous going to see a shrink."

Ryou sighed. "Dr. Chapman is really nice. Aten has to see him again this week."

"If Joey likes him, we're thinking of sending Hayden to him. Hayden's been through hell, too, and I think he'll need some help to get over what his uncle did to him."

Bakura crossed his arms. "So, why did Joey hit your brother?"

Seto shrugged. "Mokuba said he was just drawing in the library when Joey came into the room and slapped him across the face for no reason. Hayden was in his corner behind the chair reading to his race cars. Let me check on Hayden and then we can do what you want done."

Seto went to Hayden's room and found the little boy under the bed. "Son? Hayden, it's okay." Seto kneeled on the floor. "Daddy didn't mean what he did."

Hayden peeked his blue-green eyes out from under the bed. "Is daddy here?"

"He's in his room, son. He won't come out."

Hayden crawled out from under the bed and went to Seto. Hayden wrapped his arms around Seto. "Don't leave me alone, Mr. Kaiba!"

Seto held the shaking chibi close. "Bakura, Ryou, Marik, and I have to do something. You can come along if you want."

Hayden's fingers dug into Seto like talons as tears streamed down his freckled cheeks. "Don't leave me, Mr. Kaiba! Please!"

Seto picked up the chibi and lead everyone to the study. Hayden still refused to go into Seto's office because of the desk and the nightmares associated with it. The chibi sat on Seto's lap as Seto sat at the desk. Seto noticed Hayden wasn't afraid of this desk and often sat beside it playing with his toy cars. Only the desk in the office must have reminded Hayden of the desk in his uncle's home. Hayden tapped his fingers lightly on the desk and swung his tiny legs back and forth under the desk, periodically kicking Kaiba. Seto was so happy Hayden was sitting on his lap, being kicked wasn't much of an issue for him.

"What do you want me to do?"

Marik held out the Rod and a projection appeared on the wall. Steven was talking in a foreign tongue. "What language is that?"

Seto raised an eyebrow. "Play it again."

The Rod projected the image again. Seto raised an eyebrow. Gozuboro, asshole that he was, still hired the best tutors for Seto. Kaiba immediately recognized the language. "That's Latin."

"I know it's Latin, moneybags! What does it say?"

"You don't know Latin, Marik?"

Marik groaned. "One of my hikaris was fluent in Latin, but before she could teach me, I killed her."

Seto rolled his eyes. "Why does that not surprise me at all?"

"Hey!"

Bakura leaned on the desk. "Can you translate that, Seto?"

Seto turned on the computer in front of him. "Keep playing it. I'll run it through the computer's data banks."

Ryou raised an eyebrow. "Your computer has audio capabilities?"

"The speakers will get the text and translate it on the screen. With KaibaCorp offices in sixteen different countries, it's helpful to have a computer that can literally "hear" and translate whatever is being said. This little baby cost me a bundle, but it's worth it. I know about sixteen languages, but if I miss a word, this computer can translate whatever is being said instantly."

Marik whistled. "It must be some program if it can translate dead languages, too!"

Seto grinned. "Nothing but the best for Seto Kaiba." Seto ruffled the red hair of the chibi sitting on his lap. Hayden leaned back against Kaiba and snuggled into him. Seto wrapped his arm around Hayden and rest his hand on Hayden's belly. Hayden picked up the hand and moved it to his chest.

Seto opened the program on the desktop. He set the parameters for the program to translate Latin into English. "Play it back, Marik."

Marik played back the hologram. Steven spoke and the text appeared on the screen in English.

Seto's eyes widened when he read the screen. "This has to be wrong! Marik, play it back again."

Marik played back the image again and the color drained from Seto's face. Ryou stepped behind Seto and read the screen. His hand covered his mouth and he gripped onto Seto's chair to stop from falling down.

Bakura and Marik went around to read the screen.

Marik turned to Bakura. "Where is Steven's card?"

Bakura slapped his forehead. "I ripped Steven's card in half yesterday!"

Ryou's eyes widened in horror. "Yami…..does this mean….you're going to die?" Tears welled up in Ryou's eyes. His lip began to tremble. Bakura brought Ryou into his arms. Ryou broke into heart-wrenching sobs.

Marik gripped Ryou's shoulders. "We can't trust anything your father says, Ryou. He's lied to you before."

"Marik's right, Ryou. This may be one of Steven's empty threats."

Ryou wiped his eyes. "Yami, I don't want you to die!"

Bakura put Ryou's hand against his chest. "I'm already dead, Ryou! How could a virus kill me? I'm dead! This heartbeat is fake!"

"Ryou, you can't trust anything your father said. He's a lying weasel! He lied to you too many times in the past. Why believe him this time?"

Ryou gripped onto Bakura tightly. "I just don't want to lose you, Bakura."

Bakura caressed Ryou's hair. "You'll never lose me, sweetheart."

Marik narrowed his eyes. "This is nothing but a joke of Steven! Where are the kids' toys, moneybags?"

Bakura turned to Marik. "Did or did you not just read that screen, Marik?"

"Bakura, that means nothing to me! We can't die! We can't get ill!"

"I almost died from Soulroom Sickness! Surely there must be a way for us to---."

Marik held up his hand. "No, Bakura. Let's just forget this happened and get home."

Hayden looked up at Bakura. "Do you feel sick, Uncle Bakura?"

"No. I feel fine, Hayden. Ryou, don't worry. Steven may have made all this up. Let's just get the kids' toys and get home to our daughter."

Ryou reluctantly released Bakura. "You may be right."

"I'm always right, Ryou. Let's get the kids' toys and get home."

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

Aten was in Robbie's room playing with one of his new monkey dolls. He had just had his bath and had became distracted by the doll when he had to get dressed.

He heard Robbie call for his mother from the bathroom. Aten heard the front door open and heard his father, mother, and Bakura enter the home. His sister's piercing squeal filled the house as Miranda's footsteps came up the stairs.

Miranda walked into the bathroom and lifted her soaking wet chibi out of the tub. Miranda wrapped a towel around her son and kneeled in front of him.

Robbie held onto the tub as Miranda playfully rubbed the towel on his short black hair. Robbie let out a squeal as Miranda dried his hair.

"How's your leg, little soldier?"

"Doesn't hurt as much as it did yesterday."

Miranda dried his arms. "The cemetery was too much walking for you, wasn't it?"

"It was cold outside."

Miranda dried his back and his belly. "Sorry, babe. We'll have to visit the grave before the weather gets bad so your feet don't hurt."

"It's okay, mommy. I can take it like a big boy!"

Miranda dried his legs and his feet. She carefully dried the foot that was twisted and turned inward. Miranda sighed at the foot and looked back at her son's eyes.

"I love you, Robbie. You know that?"

Robbie smiled. "I know you love me! I am Robbie!"

Miranda pulled the chibi close to her. "Dry yourself well, son. Then go get into your P.J.'s."

Robbie dried himself on his own and wiggled his little chibi butt. "Love you, mommy!"

Robbie limped into his room as Aten ran out. He ran to the bathtub and felt under the water.

"Aten? What are you looking for? Why aren't you dressed?"

Aten's arms frantically felt underwater. "I'm mating sore Robbie's penis not fall off in the tub. Nope! Not in here!" Aten scurried out of the room.

Miranda shook her head. "What am I going to do with him?"

Aten entered Robbie's room. Robbie was looking through his pyjamas when Aten ran up to him.

"Wobbie, dit your penis fall off in the bafftub?"

Robbie looked down at himself. "No." Robbie touched himself. "No, I think it's still on there. Wait…I'm not sure! Maybe you should check me."

Aten touched himself. "You teck me and I teck you! I no wan my penis to fall off eider!"

"What if they are falling off? What do we do?"

"Maybe we tan goo dem or tape dem."

Robbie raised an eyebrow. "Put glue on our penises? Is that a good idea?"

"We haff to tee if dey are falling off first! You teck me, Wobbie! I teck you!"

***********

Bakura and Ryou had disappeared into their room. Marik decided to tell Malik about Steven's curse later when they both went to bed. He didn't want to ruin Malik's night. He looked around for Aten. After hearing what Steven said, he needed to hold his son.

"Miranda, where's Aten?"

"I gave Aten and Robbie a bath. They should have been back down here by now."

Marik turned and headed up the stairs. Miranda followed him.

"Aten? Aten, son?"

Marik opened the door and found Aten and Robbie touching each other. Marik's jaw dropped.

"Aten Bakari Ishtar?! What in the name of Ra are you doing?"

Aten and Robbie jumped back. "Daddy!"

Miranda grabbed Marik's arm before he lunged at the two boys, fire in his eyes. "Marik, let me handle this, please."

Ryou ran from his bedroom to Robbie's room next door. He saw Robbie and Aten with their arms wrapped around each other's naked bodies.

"Marik, Aten's doing nothing wrong."

"Aten, did Robbie force you to touch him?"

Aten shook his head. "No….daddy…"

Ryou pulled Marik out of the room. "Marik, what was he doing?"

"They were….touching each other!"

Ryou put his hand on Marik's shoulder. "They're just exploring each other. It's perfectly normal for children of Aten and Robbie's age to be curious about their bodies and how they look different. It's nothing to be upset about. Aten and Robbie are curious. There was nothing sexual about what they were doing. This is normal sexual development."

"How do I know Robbie didn't force himself on Aten?"

"This is Robbie, Marik! Robbie wouldn't hurt Aten. Besides, Marik, we should be glad he wasn't afraid of doing it. Considering everything that he has been through with my father, it's amazing he isn't afraid of exploring himself."

Marik shook his head. "I just don't want to see my son hurt again. He's been hurt like that already."

Marik went downstairs. Ryou sighed as Bakura left the bedroom.

Ryou returned into the kids' bedroom and found Aten and Robbie sitting on the bed.

Miranda was kneeling before them. "Boys, don't cry. You did nothing wrong. It's okay."

Ryou went to Aten and kissed the chibi's cheek. "Aten, you did nothing wrong."

"Daddy wooked weawwy angwy wif me. All I was towing was tecking Wobbie's penis to mate sure it not fall off."

Ryou shook his head. "He's not angry, sweetheart."

"I juss…It fewt good when Wobbie tushed me."

"I know it did, baby, and that's okay. You did nothing wrong, Aten."

Aten sniffled when he looked up. "You no angwy wif me?"

"No, Aten. I'm not angry with you. Neither is your daddy."

Robbie sniffled. "I didn't mean to make everybody mad. I just…I just wasn't sure if it was falling off."

"No, Robbie," Miranda said. "We're not angry. It's okay that you did this. It's okay if it felt good, Robbie. Just keep this type of exploration in your own room."

Robbie wrapped his arms around Miranda, whimpering. "Sorry, mommy."

"No need to apologize, sweetie. This is nothing to worry about. You boys should get dressed before you both get a chill."

"Yes, mommy."

"Yes, mom," Aten said hanging his head.

Miranda kissed both boys on the head. "Get dressed, angels."

Ryou kissed Aten and Robbie's foreheads and left with Miranda.

Miranda and Ryou went downstairs and saw Marik sitting on the couch, gripping the Millennium Rod.

"Marik, Robbie wouldn't have hurt Aten. They're just three years old. It's normal for children that young to be curious."

"Getting angry is going to make Aten think that what he is doing is wrong," Ryou added. "He'll grow up thinking that his body is dirty and exploring it is wrong. He already has a problem with changing his diaper."

Marik gripped the Rod tighter. Bakura went down the stairs and knelt on the floor with Aria.

"What's wrong with you, Ishtar? You look like you've seen the pharaoh."

"My son and Robbie were touching each other."

Bakura gasped. "What?!"

"Yami, it's natural for children to want to explore themselves and each other. Aten knows that if anyone touches him in a way he doesn't want, he is to come to us and tell us. Marik, I don't want our son to think his body is dirty. If he grows up thinking his body is dirty, how can he ever have a serious relationship with someone? I don't want him to think that sex is only dirty, Marik. Because you know what? That's what he's going to grow up to think if he doesn't explore his body in a safe environment where he feels comfortable and with someone who he feels comfortable with?"

Miranda crossed her arms. "Robbie doesn't have anyone close to him, Marik. I don't want my son hurt either, but he knows what to do if somebody touches him in a manner that he doesn't like. I don't want my son to grow up ashamed of his body. His body is not dirty. He knows that when he does that stuff, he has to do it in the privacy of his own room. You owe your son to sit and talk to him, Marik. I heard what Aten went through. I don't think you want your son to suffer anymore than he already has concerning sex."

Bakura covered Aria's ears. "Can we not discuss sex in front of my daughter?"

Miranda turned to Bakura. "You'll have to face the topic of sex sooner or later, Bakura. You don't want her pregnant at an early age."

"My daughter won't have sex until she is forty!"

Miranda laughed. "You can't keep her locked in her room, Bakura. You'll have to talk to Aria about pregnancy and having her period."

Bakura growled. "My daughter is not getting pregnant while she lives under my roof!"

Miranda shook her head. "Okay, Bakura. Keep believing that."

"Bakura, we can't lock her in her room! I don't want my daughter to get hurt or pregnant."

Malik came downstairs with Aten and Robbie. Ryou and Miranda gave the kids their snack and they returned to the living room.

Aten hung his head as he walked past Marik.

"Aten, son, come here."

Aten stood in front of Marik as Bakura and Aria started playing on the floor, snarling and growling at each other.

"Yes, father."

Marik put Aten on his lap and spoke in Arabic. "Son, I want you to know that I'm not angry at you. I understand. I should not have become angry."

Aten shifted uncomfortably on his lap. "I'm sorry, daddy."

"Don't be sorry. There's nothing to feel sorry about. I love you, son. You know that, right?"

"Yes, daddy."

Marik kissed Aten on the cheek. "Good. Go play with Robbie."

Aten walked over to Robbie and sat down. Robbie and Aten played with Robbie's new army men.

Aria played with her new Barbie dolls as she ate her snack.

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

That night, Malik slipped into bed naked with his yami. He smiled, resting his head on his yami's chest.

Marik held Malik close as his hikari started planting tiny kisses on Marik's chest.

"Malik, we have to talk."

Malik straddled Marik's waist as he continued to kiss Marik's chest. "We can talk and do this at the same time," Malik said with a devilish smile.

"No, hikari, we really have to talk."

Malik pulled back and sat up. "About what?"

"Before the temple was destroyed in the Shadow Realm, Steven said something in Latin I couldn't quite understand. Well, when Ryou, Bakura, and I went over to KaibaCorp, Kaiba translated it."

Malik tilted his head to the side. "You look worried. That's not like you."

"The computer said that when we destroyed Steven's card, it would release a virus. Bakura and I….may….die. Of course, the pharaoh would also die, too, but that's no big loss."

"Where is the card?"

"Bakura tore it in half."

Malik's jaw dropped. He fell forward, covering Marik's body with his own. "You can't die, Marik! I can't live without you!"

Marik shrugged as he stroked the blond hair above him. "Now, Malik, I'm not so sure I believe Steven. He's lied to us about everything. I'm not so sure I believe him."

"Still, yami, I don't want to see you die."

"Nothing can kill me, Malik. I'm immortal."

Malik shook his head and kissed the skin over Marik's fake heart. "I don't want to lose you, yami."

Marik brought Malik into a deep kiss. "Don't worry, my beautiful hikari. We're together now. That is more important."

Malik's tears fell over Marik. "I really do not want to lose you, Marik."

Marik held Malik close to his body. He always thought he would out-live this hikari like he did the other hikaris he had. Somehow, the loss of this hikari would hit him more deeply than the losses of all the other ones.

"Marik, I need to make love to you," Malik whimpered with unshed tears in his eyes.

Marik cupped Malik's face in his hands. "Make love to me, hikari. Please."

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

The man held the ring burned in the fire. Its round shape was contorted by the heat of the flames, but it didn't melt the metal. He wondered why. With the destruction of the house, one might have thought the ring would be destroyed.

The man walked through the streets to the local pawn shop. He entered and the owner smiled at him.

"Mr. Gillam! What did you find this time?"

"I found something from the house that belonged to the four fruits with the two brats. It's a ring."

The owner examined it. "Mr. Gillam, this is worthless! You can't wear this ring, it is all bent!"

"But, you do buy pieces of metal meant for the scrap heap, right? You can buy this thing and melt it down into something."

The owner looked at the metal and shrugged. "Yeah, I can pay you for this junk. I'll give you ten bucks for it."

Gillam shrugged. "Yeah, sure. I'm sure you could use that metal for something."

The owner nodded. "Yeah. It will melt down into a nice piece of jewelry."

"Who knows those fruits will be good for something! Yeah, Mr. King-Queer himself came to me today offering me three million dollars if I left my home. The nerve of that guy!"

The owner handed Gillam ten dollars. "Well, I'll use this gold ring for something. Thanks, Gillam."

"Bye, Ed! See you when I get more junk!"

Ed held onto the ring. His eyes focused on the metal as a voice entranced him.

//You will not toss this ring away. You shall not use this ring until I tell you. I am meant to be someone's yami in twelve years time. I am darkness. I am evil. I am Aku.//

Updates: Saturday

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