Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ Together in Darkness ( Chapter 1 )

Welcome to my new fic, new reviewers and new readers!!!  This is the sequel to "Return to Hades".

Warnings for story: Yaoi! LEMON ANDLIME INVOLVING MALE X MALE ANDMALE X FEMALE.  MEMORIES OF INCEST, NCS.

Short list this story.

History: I always put this before a new story to give new readers a little idea of what happened in the last story.  Aten, Robbie, and Hayden were kidnapped by Hayden's uncle, Charlie.  Hayden slipped into madness through what he endured with his uncle and he was committed into an insane asylum.

Note for Chappie: When I wrote the end to "Hostile Takeover", I never realized that Hayden would go through the ordeal with his uncle in "Return to Hades." So, a few things were changed from that version.  For example….Yami is not with Yugi anymore and Hayden is in the asylum.  So, obviously they can't be present in this chappie."

Together in Darkness

Fifteen year old Aten opened his eyes as he laid on his hospital bed.  The teen gave a yawn and stretched.  The sunlight peeked through the familiar curtains of his hospital room.  He gave a little smile as he looked at the clock which read 9:35 A.M.  The teen gave a little smile.

"Happy Birthday to Me," he grinned.  "Five hours and one minute until my birth time."

He had been in the hospital for two weeks following a series of severe chest pains.  His heart monitor was beeping unsteadily, despite his pacemaker. 

The clock turned to 9:36 A.M.

"Five. Four. Three. Two. One."

Katie, his nurse, slowly opened the door. She gave her familiar patient a little smile. "Happy Birthday, Aten."  She entered the room to check his I.V.  She cheerfully entered the room.  Aten had always seen Katie in a good mood.  She had been his personal nurse in the hospital since he was two years old.  "Any plans for today?"

The teen chuckled. "Not much I can do in a hospital bed, Katie.  I dunno.  Do you think Dr. Zira will discharge me for my birthday present?"

Katie checked Aten's blood pressure. "I don't know, Aten."

The Egyptian boy sighed.  He looked up at Katie with a smile reminiscent of his father when he wanted something. "Well, if he doesn't, can I make a special birthday request for dinner tonight?"

Katie smiled at him. "What would that be?"

He smiled up at her with that mischievous Ishtar smile and batted his eyes. "May I please have a second container of applesauce?  That would make my day!"

Katie sighed. Aten was a notorious sweet-talker and flirted openly with all of the nurses.  Some of them had made it clear to Aten that they were not interested in his advances.  The teen would shrug and remember to let them be the next time they came in to draw his blood.

"I can see what we can do for you, cutie."

Aten smiled and winked at her.  "Thank you. You're sweet."

Katie rolled her eyes. "You are a sweet-talker, Aten Ishtar!"

Aten shrugged. "Me? Nah. I've just been in this hospital room for too long."

"You haven't been here too long.  You were here for six weeks a few years ago."

Aten looked out of the window where the sunlight was streaming in.  Robbie had came to visit him every day in the hospital.  After school, he would take the bus to see him.  The Egyptian missed his time with Robbie. He looked at the table beside him where he had his American History, Remedial Algebra book, and his Latin textbooks piled.  Aten had to pick a language in Domino High, so he picked Latin.  His father was able to help him since he had several former hikaris who were Latin scholars and able to read and write. 

"Even one day is too long without Robbie here," Aten said.

A commotion sounded down the hall and he heard his father's voice.  He clenched his fist excitedly when the I.V. came out of his hand.

"Umm….Katie? I'm sorry. It came out."

Katie shook her head and slipped the needle back into Aten's hand.

"Thank you, doll!"

Katie removed her tourniquet and syringe. "I have to take a vial of blood, Aten."

Aten held out his arm as Katie wrapped the rubber tourniquet around Aten's arm.

"Clench your fist, honey."

Aten watched as Katie slipped the needle effortlessly into him.  Katie knew how to draw samples from him.  She knew what she was doing.

She put the cottonball to Aten's arm.  "All done, sweetie.  I'll have the lab take a look at this and you should be good to go."

Katie stroked Aten's hair. "Happy Birthday."

Katie left as his family and Robbie walked in.  Miranda followed the group carrying balloons and a present.

Robbie ran to his friend and hugged him. "Happy Birthday, Aten!  How do you feel?"

Aten hugged Robbie back. "Can't complain. The I.V. stings, but other than that, pretty well."

Aria, Aten's half-sister, hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.  "Happy Birthday, brother!"

Aten hugged his sister as the heart machines indicated a sudden rise in his pulse rate. "Happy Birthday, sister!"

"How's my boy doing today?"

Aten smiled. "Fine. I hope Zira discharges me today. Two weeks of looking at these same walls drives me nuts!"

Aten's mother, Ryou, kissed him on the forehead. "Well, sweetie, I miss you at home. We brought you some Angel Food Cake.  Otogi brought it over to my house and asked me to drop it off.  We thought it may be a nice change from the hospital food."

Marik and Ryou saw the light in Aten's eyes sparkle as he looked at his favorite dessert.  "Angel Food! Yummies!  I can't wait!  I'll wait until after my other blood test today."

Miranda, Robbie's mother, held up a box of presents.  Aten's eyes lit up as he looked through the classical CD's she bought him. The Egyptian boy loved playing his violin and she knew Aten listened to classical music while he painted, particularly Violin and Piano.

Beethoven and Mozart were particular favorites of his.

The Egyptian hugged her carefully, seeing as he didn't want to unhook himself from any of the machines.

His sister handed him a present.  Aten's jaw dropped as he reached into the box. "Sweet Isis……"  Aten lifted the statue of Isis out of the box.

"I know you would like it, Aten. You can put it on the altar in your room when you get home.  That will go great with your statue of Ra!"

The boy hugged his sister. "Oh, sister, this is beautiful!!!"

"This is from me, son," Ryou said.

Aten opened up the box excitedly. "Music books for my violin!"

"Aten!" Seto and Joey called to him as they entered.
Aten reached out. "Unkie Seto and Puppy!!!!"

Seto shook his head. "I'm still 'Unkie Seto?'  Why not 'Uncle Seto?'"

"I don't know.  Come here!" Aten said, bouncing in his hospital bed.

Joey and Seto hugged the boy as Mokuba and his family walked in.

"Aten!!!"  the three year olds squealed as they entered the room.

"Ceres!  Ivy! Lilly!  How are you guys???  Aria, can you pick them up?"

Robbie and Aria lifted the three year olds onto the bed.  The twins and the boy threw themselves on Aten, kissing his forehead.

"Are you feeling bedder, Untle Aten?" Ceres asked him.

Aten laughed as the twin girls kissed his cheeks.  "Be careful of my wires, guys.  It's so nice of you to come see me for my birthday!"

"Daddy told us we tum to see you today," Lilly said with a smile.

Ivy held up a paper plate decorated with sprinkles and macaroni.  "I mate you a pisher, Untle Aten!  It tays 'I hope you det bedder weawwy soon!'"

Aten bit his lip. He hugged the three children tightly. "MUST….SQUEEZE…CHIBIS!"

Jeanie, Mokuba's girlfriend, walked in.  "Don't squish them too much, Aten.  Chibis need to breathe."

Aten shook his head. "No, they don't!"

Three identical squeals came from the children as Aten hugged each chibi tightly.

"I mate you this!" Lilly said as she held up a figure made with popsicle sticks glued together and painted.  "It's a horsie!"

Aten smiled. "It's very nice, Lilly. Thank you."

Ceres held up a piece of paper. "I drawed you a pretty pisher!  Juss lite Untle Puppy!"

Joey sighed. "Isn't anyone ever going to call me 'Uncle Joey?'"

Marik snickered. "Nope.  You'll always be 'Unkie Puppy' or 'Untle Puppy.'  Get used to it, Fido."

Joey growled at the blond yami.  "I'll show you who's a Fido!"

Marik held up the Millennium Rod. "Don't make me use this on you again.  I'll just make you hit yourself on the back of the head."

Ceres smiled, proud at his picture.  "It says 'Det Well Soon and Happy Birfday!'"

Aten looked at the scribblings on the paper.  "You spell really well, Ceres."

The three year old smiled. "I do?"

"You sure do!  You guys are the best!"

Bakura stepped beside Aten.  "This is for you, Aten."

Aten released the chibis and opened the box.  "Wow!  It goes with my other statues!"

Aten smiled at the statue of Osiris in his hand.  Bakura looked at the statue blankly.  Osiris condemned him to suffer under Yami.  Osiris caused him nothing but pain and suffering.  But, Aten was dedicated to his faith and made offerings each morning at sunrise to Ra.  Before going to bed, he made offerings to Osiris as another day ended.

Aten treasured his statues and he cared for them tentatively. 

"Thank you, Father Bakura!"

Bakura pat Aten on the back. "I know you'd like it."

Yugi and his boyfriend, Glenn, entered.  Yugi went right to Aten.

"I'm sorry, Aten.  The shop was busy this morning."

Aten opened up new packs of Duel Monsters cards from Yugi.  His eyes widened as he saw cards that caught his attention: The Wounded Heart, The Army of the Dead, and The Restless Demon.

"Thank you, Uncle Yugi!"

"Enjoy them, Aten."

Aten smiled. "I love getting new cards.  'The Wounded Heart.'…That's going right into my deck!"

Glenn handed Aten a box.  "This is from me.  I hope you like it."

Aten opened it and saw a green knit sweater.  "Wow! I didn't know you could knit!"

"Sure I can!  Otogi and I get together every now and then.  We watch movies and knit.  It's just something I do to pass time."

"Thank you.  I love green!  It looks good on me."

"Well, if it doesn't fit--."

Aten chuckled. "It will fit me." Aten pulled up his shirt to reveal his skinny belly.  "I'm skinny as a rail.  It'll fit me."

Ceres and Lilly chuckled. "I tan tee Untle Aten bewwy bunton!"

Aten looked down.  "Oh, yeah. You can see my belly button."

Robbie shifted to the back of the group and wiped his mouth free of drool at seeing Aten's stomach.

Seto had bought a heart-shaped locket for Aten to put a picture inside.  "Now you can put a special someone's picture inside."

Aten kept his head lowered, but turned his gaze to Robbie.  Only Seto and Joey knew about his feelings for the boy standing at the foot of the bed with black hair, blue eyes, and who walked with an obvious limp due to a severe, irreparable club foot.

Robbie didn't know that Aten loved him.  Aten was too nervous to ever tell his friend how he felt.

'One of these days, Robbie, I will have the courage to tell you all what I feel for you.'

Aten's other gifts included new paints and brushes from Joey and a lifetime membership to the art museum so he could visit for free as many times as he wished, and a new Chess Set from Mokuba.

Robbie walked up to his friend. Beside Aten, the heart monitor beat faster as Robbie approached him.

'Stupid heart monitor,' Aten thought.

"I hope you like my present."

Aten opened the box and it was an angel dressed in a purple gown and a yellow halo encircling her head.  The angel was made of ceramic.

"She's a music box," Robbie said turning the key and the angel played 'Nearer my God to Thee.'  "I know you love that song, Aten.  I know you'd like this."

Aten smiled. "Thank you, Robbie."

"It reminded me of your music…because it is pretty."

Miranda shook her head, knowing her son had fallen in love with Aten.  When Miranda asked if Robbie loved Aten, Robbie would blush and stammer.  She had caught Robbie moaning Aten's name in his sleep on more than one occasion.

Aten hugged his friend and his father stood by his bedside.

"Aten, this is from Malik and I.  We hope you like it."

Aten opened the present quickly, the heart monitor beeping unsteadily.  "Oh, father!" Aten held up a silver Millennium Rod.  "Oh, daddy!  Malik! This is great! Wow! A Rod of my very own!  Thank you!"

//At last, I have found you, my new hikari! Together at last!//

Aten looked around. "Did anyone hear anything?"

The group shook their heads.  "No."

Dr. Zira entered. "Hello, Aten. Happy Birthday!  The big 1-5!  How do you feel?"

"I want to go home, Dr. Zira."

"I know you do, Aten.  Parents, can I see you outside for a moment?"

Marik and Ryou stepped outside of the room. "How is he, doctor?  Can our son come home?"

Zira opened Aten's file.  "Aten's heart rate seems to be unstable again.  I checked the pacemaker we put in him three years ago and it seems to be having problems."

Marik growled. "Three years?!  That pacemaker is supposed to be keeping his heart going."

Zira held up a hand. "Marik, I checked the pacemaker.  It's having a hard time keeping Aten's heart regular.  The pacemaker is acting as it should. It's the heart itself that is the problem."

Ryou grabbed Marik's hand.  "The muscle is the problem?"

"Aten is going to eventually need a heart transplant.  I put the request in for a heart transplant donor, but it could be a while before I can get my hands on a compatible donor."

Marik gripped Ryou's hand.  "A heart transplant?"

"It may be a possibility, Marik."

"How long will it take to find a donor?"

Zira shrugged. "Organ donors are becoming harder to find.  And we must find someone who is compatible to Aten's blood type. He has AB negative blood….very rare blood type.  This is not something that Seto Kaiba can throw money at and make a donor magically appear.  This process takes time."

"Does Aten have that time, Dr. Zira?"

Zira nodded. "There is no point in keeping that boy here another day, Ryou. Take him home."

Ryou nodded. "Okay.  Thank you, Dr. Zira."

"I'll keep you posted.  I'll send a nurse to unhook him from those machines."

Ryou sighed. "A heart transplant."

Marik shook his head. "It's a good thing I still work….the insurance will pay for a large chunk of the surgery, but even with help, it's going to cost a bundle.  I'd do anything to keep him alive, Ryou."

Ryou turned and wrapped his arms around Marik.  "He'll be okay, Marik….I know he will be."

"I won't let anything happen to our boy, Ryou.  I promise."

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

Aten walked into his bedroom carrying his hospital bag.  His father and mother carried his present inside his room.  Robbie carried in his angel statue and put it on his dresser.

"What do you want to do, Aten?"

Aten sat and laid down on his bed with a yawn. "I'm really tired, Robbie. I'm sorry."

Robbie shook his head. "Don't be sorry, Aten.  I understand.  I'll see you later.  Happy Birthday. I'll check in on you tonight."

Aten smiled.  "Okay, Robbie, thank you."

Marik pat Aten on the arm. "If you need us, just call, okay?  I have to go to work, but everyone else will be here.  See you tonight."

"I will, father.  Goodbye."

The family left and Aten gave a sigh.  He stretched his arms and legs out on the bed.  In the corner he had his paintings ready to be continued.

//My hikari…….//

Aten sat up and looked around the room.  "Who's there?  I know I heard something…"

//It's been a long time, Aten Ishtar.//

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

A figure appeared before Aten's eyes.  His hair was shaped like Bakura's and his eyes were just like his grandfather."

Aten gasped and froze at the sight of his grandfather's eyes looking at him.

"So nice to meet you again, Aten Bakari."

"Who are you?"

The figure grabbed the silver Rod. "My name is Aku.  This is my home.  I am your missing half."

Aten shook his head.  "You can't be….."

Aku chuckled.  "Oh, I am.  I know all about you, Aten.  I know all about you.  There is a deep, dark force inside you, fueled by your hatred and anger at your grandfather."

Aten stood up and backed away from the bed. "How do you know about my grandfather?"

Aku chuckled.  "Because I have explored the corridors of your mind.  I know what scares you. I know what fuels your sadness and  anger. I know you, Aten.  You fear this."

Aku changed himself into the naked form of his grandfather. "You fear this."

Aten breathed heavy and he backed into his closet door.  "Oh gods……stop….don't come near me…."

Aku grinned. "You fuel me with your pain, Aten.  That is how it will be from now on.  I know you fear this. I know this sends your body into a state of shock and fear.  I can taste the fear on you right now. Your fragile heart races.  Your lungs struggle for your dying breath.  Memories of this naked body scare you."

Aten's legs weakened and he fell to his knees.  "Please….don't hurt me. Please don't come any closer…."  Tears welled up in Aten's eyes. "Please…..don't make me…"

Aku took a step closer. "What about this form?"

Aku took the naked appearance of Hayden's uncle, Charlie.  "You remember this body, too."

Aten looked up. "He…He made me kiss him.  He…He held me down….he made me give Hayden……."  Aten covered his mouth.  "I need to throw up…."

Aten jumped to his feet and ran to the door.  He pulled on it, but the door wouldn't open.  He turned the knob and turned it.

"MOTHER! FATHER! LET ME GO!"

Aku laughed. "Pull and tug all you want.  I pulled you into your mind.  Your parents are not in your mind right now."

Aten turned. "I can't be in my mind! Robbie, mother, and father were right here. They closed the door to my bedroom."

"You said you were tired.  You fell asleep.  You are sleeping in your bed right now, but in your mind, you are with me now….forever….well, at least until you take your last permanent breath…which, will be in a short time."

Aten balled his fists tightly.  "I am not going to die!  I can't leave Robbie!"

"Of course not, you cannot leave The One."

Aten narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Aku returned to his form.  "Let's go for a walk, Ishtar."

Aku opened the door and Aten stepped out of the room. A hallway of wooden doors lined the corridor. 

"What is this?  These doors…."

"These doors look just like the ones in the cabin that you remember in your childhood.  Here we have a door for Greed, Lust, Fury.  Your yami lives behind Fury, Aten.  Your other Yami half resides in that room…..locked up…waiting for you to release him.  Weakness…and the ultimate door….your own Death."

Aten looked at the black candle carved with hieroglyphics.  "The Black Candle…..the symbol of death."

"This is a door for you to open, Aten. But, it is not the final door to your existence.  This door cannot be opened until it is time."

Aten read the hieroglyphics on the candle. "I'm….Does it say when I'm going to die?"

Aku turned his back.  "It is not written.  It will not be carved until you take your last breath in the arms of who loves you the most."

"Robbie?"

"It does not say.  This door has no key.  You cannot open the Death door with a key or a doorknob.  This door only opens with three words.  Only The One will be open the door to Death.  Only He can say the words to open this door.  When these words are spoken, this door will open…..and you will be dead."

Aten looked up at Aku. "Robbie is "The One" isn't he?"

"Have you ever stopped to realize that maybe Robbie isn't for you?  Maybe he isn't meant to be with you."

Aten growled and the door to Fury shuddered. "Robbie is made for me!  I love him!  I've known this for a long time that he was meant to be with me!"

"How could you know?"

A shriek resounded through the hall as Fury's door opened.  The dark shadow raced towards Aten. 

Yami Aten stood beside his other half.  Aten turned and looked up into the face of his demon….the creature conceived by the first rape by his grandfather….and formed through the subsequent encounters. 

The dark shadow stood in front of Aten, his fingers were claws and his mouth dripped with blood. 

"Who are you?"

"You have never seen me before. I…am the Real You….Cruel….Sadistic….Angry…I am a reflection of your true soul."

Aten backed away.

"I kept you safe. I killed Charlie. I saved The One's life so that he may live.  I have saved you from harm."

Aten growled. "If you could save me, why didn't you save me when I was forced to give Hayden head?!  Why didn't you make me stop Charlie from kissing me?!  Why did you let that bastard have his way with me?!"

"Simple," Yami Aten said. "I needed to grow stronger.  I feed on misery. That is how I grow stronger.  But, I am not complete."

Aku approached Aten. "The ancient scriptures say that one day, the seed of a yami will be a brutal, fearless, merciless killer.    He will bring justice to injustice. He will dominate with an iron fist.  That yami seed was to be the child of the Spirit of the Millennium Rod and a mortal vessel, your mother, Ryou Thomas Bakura.  Just like your counterpart, I, too, feast on painful memories.  Your yami cannot protect you indefinitely.  But, I….I am eternal.  I have scanned your Malik's mind and I have studied the ancient scriptures.  I was your mother's second yami, born from his experiences with your grandfather."

Aten clenched his fists. "I couldn't help my mother….I watched my grandfather stick his…THING….into my mother….I was only two years old and I had to watch him rape my mother…..I couldn't help my mother!"

Yami Aten grinned. "I will make sure that never happens again to anyone you care about, Aten. Aku and I will combine our forces. Aku and I will become the most powerful yami known in the ancient scriptures!  Aten, you will be unstoppable!  You will be complete!"

Aku and Yami Aten walked towards each other and combined.  A bright light appeared, making Aten hide his eyes.

"TOGETHER IN DARKNESS!  BOUND BY HATRED!  FORMED BY DESTINY!" Yami Aten cried out loudly.

"THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES FORETELL THE CREATION OF A YAMI OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION! ATEN, WE WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY!"

Aku and Yami Aten combined.

In his bed, Aten opened his eyes and sat up.  He heard Aria and Robbie laughing downstairs.  Aten stood up and looked at his hands.  He stood up and picked the Silver Millennium Rod off of his bureau. 

A grin formed on his face as he crossed his arms.  "All Fear Yami Aten…..For we are The Omega….we are the Destructor…..We are now complete."

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

Marik growled as he put on his pirate outfit.  He was grateful he didn't have to wear the stuffed parrot on his shoulder like some of the others.

He put on his pirate hat and put on his new badge reading: First Meat Mate.  It was a promotion from the cashier position where he was known as Seaman Cheesy Weiner. 

He looked in his locker which held a picture of Aten as a tiny baby.  Aten had a large smile on his little face, his brown and purple eyes full and happy. In his arms, he clutched his Change of Heart plushie tightly.  Aria was in a different picture hugging her pink stuffed bunny plushie.  She was dressed in a while lacy dress with pink ribbons in her hair.  Her brown eyes were sparkling.  The two kids were not more than one year old when those pictures were taken.

"First Meat Mate Ishtar?" Marik's boss stepped inside.

"Yes, sir?"

"Seto Kaiba wishes to see you."

Marik's boss left.

Seto Kaiba stepped into the locker room and shook his head. "So, you're still here after all these years?  Have you sent anyone to the Shadow Realm yet?"

"No, but it's getting harder each day.  What's up, moneybags?"

Kaiba reached into his jacket and Marik grabbed the Millennium Rod hanging on his hip.  Kaiba pulled out a letter. "Relax, Ishtar. This is for you and your family."

Marik took the envelope and read it:

Seto Roka Kaiba

And

Joseph Wheeler

Request the Honor of your presence as they exchange their wedding vows

at St. Augustine's Cathedral at 12:30 P.M.

on Friday, April 5th.

The Wedding Reception will take place at the Kaiba Summer Mansion at

Precisely 3:30 P.M.

Marik grinned. "Congratulations, Moneybags!  Is Hayden still going to be your Ring Bearer?"

Seto sighed. "He doesn't seem to be doing any better.  They had to sedate him the other day because he attacked a male nurse and ordered him to……to…..to do some unmentionable things."

Marik sighed. "Sorry, Seto. I would have thought Hayden would be better by now."

"He's not, Marik.  I can't put off my marriage to Joey anymore.  We've been lovers for almost twenty years. I want to be legally bound with him.  I want to marry him, Marik.  I love him."

Marik watched Seto lean against the doorway.  The blond walked up to Seto and grabbed Seto's shoulder.  "Despite the fact that your adopted son is not better, be glad he is still alive, Seto.  We should all be glad that Aten, Robbie, and Hayden are still with us."

Seto nodded. "I know. I just….I wish we could be a family again.  I never had that growing up, Marik."

"Mokuba, Jeanie, and their crew are living with you, right?"

"Yeah. Lilly, Ceres, and Ivy have Hayden's old room.  It was a hard decision.  Joey just stayed in Hayden's room for days after we admitted him to Peaceful Harmony Hospital.  Oh, in speaking of Hayden, his birthday is coming up.  Are you guys coming?"

Marik nodded. "We'll be there.  We'll bring Robbie with us….and Umi will come if Aria is there."

Seto gave the spirit a tiny smile. "Okay.  It wouldn't be the same without you and the rest."

"Count us in, Rich-Boy. Now I have to go to work."

"What did Zira say about Aten?"

Marik sighed. "Aten may need a heart transplant.  Donors are hard to find."

Seto put a hand on Marik's shoulder. "You know I'm always willing to help you, Marik."

"This is something you can throw money at, Seto.  You can pay for another summerhome, but you can't pay for a heart."

Seto laughed. "Everything has a price tag."

"My son's life doesn't have a price tag, Seto.  Why do you think I am still working here in a job wearing a pirate costume and earning minimum wage?  I love my kid…and his life doesn't have a price tag."

"I know how you feel, Marik."

Marik shook his head. "It's nice of you to think so.  But you don't have a dying son, Marik. I do.  But I refuse to give up on him.  I will not give up.  Thank you for the wedding invitations. Count us in, Seto."

"We're going to the Hospital tomorrow night at six.  We'll meet you in the lobby."

Marik nodded. "Consider it done."

Marik returned to work.

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

Aria dialed the phone number to her boyfriend.  "Hi, Umi!"

[Little Mermaid! What's up?]

"Marik just called up from work and said that tomorrow we are going to Peaceful Harmony to see Hayden for his birthday.  Do you want to come?"

[Tomorrow night?  We were supposed to go out tomorrow night.]

"I know, but we can go there and stay a little bit. Then we can go out.  What do you say?"

[Sounds like a plan. There's something I have to show you tomorrow night!  It's something you don't see everyday and it's really pretty.]

Aria laughed. "What do you want to show me?  You've already shown me your collection of seashells."

[No, it's not that.  I can't tell you what it is or it will ruin the surprise.]

Aria sighed. "Okay.  I guess I'll just have to be surprised, then."

[I'll drive over after dinner tomorrow night.  Will Aten be back to school tomorrow?]

"No, he's going back on Monday though."

[Okay. Tell him I hope he feels better.]

"Okay. See you tomorrow."

[Okay, Little Mermaid.  Hey, Aria?]

"Yes, Umi?"

[I love you.]

Aria smiled and sighed. "I love you, too.  Goodbye."

Aria placed the phone back on the receiver and smiled. "Umi loves me….."

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

In the Shadow Realm……..

The pharaoh paced a room in the the empty temple. He looked out of the window at the Badlands.  He narrowed his eyes. 

"I've lost Yugi…..the most important thing in my life…….where do I go from here?"

Yami growled and threw a glass across the room.  It shattered onto the floor. 

"Those kids are still alive!  I've tried for fifteen years to destroy them and I failed in every attempt!  The time has come where I must eliminate them both or I will find myself faced with more threats than Aria and Aten."  Yami walked over to a table by the throne.  "In her fifteenth year, the daughter of the King of Thieves shall bear a son.  THAT CANNOT BE!  I have to stop her from conceiving that child!  Aria must not be allowed to breed more threats to me and my safety!  I must stop her!"

Yami flipped through the Book of Prophecy.  "She shall bear the High Priest's child on her eighteenth birthday.  I must stop Aria from bearing any offspring.  It was her child who sealed me inside my Puzzle.  It was her child who sealed me away.  I must not allow Aria to conceive any children.  I shall make her womb barren.  She will not be able to bear any living child.  She will not bear any living heirs.  Then, my safety will be assured. And my victory over Aria and Aten will be simplified." Yami closed the book. "I cannot just walk in there.  I'll need to change my form so I'm not detected."

Yami grinned. Marik had interfered with his duel with Aria three years prior.  Marik protected Aria from Yami.  Yami had been close to slitting Aria's throat when Marik intervened.  "Bakura and Marik have been known to break into the museum.  How else would they have done so much research on the Yami Virus when we were ill?  If I pose as one of them, I will be safe.  But in order to do that,  I will need them. PHARAONIC PROTECTOR!"

A zombie dressed in an Egyptian soldier's garb appeared. "Yes, Master."

"I need you to bring me Marik Ishtar….Bring him to me unharmed."

"Yes, Master."

The zombie rushed away to carry out his orders. 

The pharaoh growled. "Marik, when I am done with you, you are going to wish you had never been born."

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