Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ The Curse ( Chapter 7 )

WARNING: SLANDER AND LANGUAGE

Sweet Misery1: You can use Itemri if you want, just give me credit, okay?  Thanks for letting me know.  All us writers influence each other…..that's a good thing.

Kura Magician Girl: *hands knife*  Ryou is always going to be the understanding parent. Bakura, by nature, is unpredictable…most definitely.

Valea: Bakura will get over it.  Looking forward to reading your other reviews.

I is Me: My holidays were okay. A close family friend passed away, but I got lots of Yugioh stuff for Christmas.  He was an awesome guy, though.

Shadow of Light: I'd love to have parents like Ryou.  She told Umi about it. I'm not sure if she told Keith about it.  *hugs*

Lady Elfskye: It's nice your mom was understanding.  It was Umi's.  There will be more so don't worry.

The Curse

Aten gathered his homework in his schoolbag and Robbie's homework in his arms.  Aria stopped by his locker.  The Egyptian teen took his medicine and drank from the water fountain. 

"Do you think mother told father about my baby?"

"I don't doubt it.  Mother would never keep something like that from Father Bakura."

Aria shifted uncomfortably.  "Do you think he took the news okay?"

Aten looked around. "Seeing as the school is still standing and both of us are still alive, I'd say 'yes' to that."

Aria stamped her foot. "Can't you be serious?"

"I am serious!  Aria, I'm sure mother did the best he could."

Aria shifted again.  "I have to go, Aten. I have to meet with Gabby for a drink at Captain Smiley Buns."

"Okay.  Tell my father I said hello if he's working today.  Tell him I'll stop by if I can.  I have to go to Chapman's and make an appointment to see him."

"Okay. See you, bye!" Aria ran down the hallway without giving him a hug or kiss.

Aten picked up the books and suddenly felt a foot crash against his ass. He fell head-first into the locker.

"Where's your boyfriend, Ishtar?"

Aten stood up and turned to see Eric standing there.  "What do you want?"

"I heard your sister has a 'bun in the oven.'  Too bad I couldn't stick something into her and watch it bake."

Aten growled and grabbed Eric by the collar. "You stay away from my sister!"

Eric karate chopped Aten against his chest and sent the Egyptian teen staggering back.  "You can't beat me, Ishtar! You're too weak!"

Aten held his chest and panted at the pain.

"Besides, I want a piece of your sister. Getting a piece of you is not only disgusting, but no challenge at all."

Eric walked away and Aten picked the books off of the floor.

He staggered down the hallway, rubbing his chest.

He left the school and walked down the street towards his psychologist's office.  He walked inside and saw the receptionist at the desk.

"Hello, Jenny."

The woman looked up and blushed. "Hello, Aten Ishtar.  How are you today?"

Aten smiled back and winked at her. "I need to make an appointment to see Dr. Chapman. Do you think you could…..fit me in?"

The woman smiled. "Oh, I think I can squeeze you in somewhere in the schedule."

"Thanks, sweetheart. I'd appreciate it."

The African-American nurse beside her pointed to Aten. "Keep your eye on this one, Jenny. This one is a sweet-talker like his daddy."

Aten shrugged innocently. "Oh, Esi, I'm not a sweet-talker."

"Boy, only sugary sweetness comes out of your mouth around these girls.  You'se better watch yourselves."

"I can't help it if the women are pretty here."

Esi shook her head. "You never end do you?"

Aten grinned. "I hope not.  That's why I'm here, isn't it?"

Esi shrugged. "You're impossible."

"Me?  Little me?  Little innocent me?"

"Yes, you…Aten Bakari Ishtar,"  the heavy-set woman said.

Esi pat the girl on the back. "Make him an appointment, Jenny.  This way Mr. Sweeter-Than-Honey can be on his way."

Aten smiled. "Thank you, Esi.  You're so nice and pretty."

"Watch that tongue of yours, Aten."

"Yes, ma'am."           &n bsp;   

Jenny opened the appointment book.  "What about next week?  We have an appointment on Monday for four in the afternoon.  It's after you get out of school."

"Sure, I'll take that one, sweets.  You still have your same insurance?"

"Yes, gorgeous."

Esi shook her head.  Jenny filled out an appointment card.

"We'll see you next Monday at four, then, Aten."

He took the card between two fingers. "Thank you, sweets.  I'll be here then.  Bye, Esi."

"Bye, Mr. Ishtar."

Aten turned and left. He pocketed his appointment card and left the office complex. Aten reached into his pocket and found some money.  'I should get Robbie something from the candy store.  I need something to drink.'

Aten heard a female laugh nearby.  It was his sister's laugh.

'Aria didn't say she was meeting Gabby in an alley.'

Aten retraced his steps to the alley and dropped his jaw.  Aria and Keith were deep kissing in the alley.  Keith had his hand on her chest.

"So!  This is your meeting with Gabby! I didn't know Gabby was old and hairy!"

Keith growled. "What's the matter, runt?  Don't you want some of this?"

"She's my sister!"

Aria stood beside Aten.  "Aten, just go home!"

"No!  You lied to me!  How could you do such a thing?!"

Keith grabbed Aten and pulled him into the alley.  Keith slammed the Egyptian teen against the wall. 

"Nobody talks to my girl that way and lives to walk again!"

Keith grabbed Aten's neck and the Egyptian froze.

///Steven held you this way, too…..///

Aten took a deep breath and slammed his knee into Keith's groin.  Keith released him and Aten grabbed Aria's wrist.

"Come on, Aria!"

Aria pulled her wrist away. "No!"

"Aria, come on!"

Keith held his hand on the front of his pants, wincing in pain.

"Aria, come home!"

"No, I can't leave Keith here!"

Aten narrowed his eyes. "You lied to me about meeting Gabby and now you are choosing him over me?"

"He never did anything to you!"

"He was choking me!  You're choosing this abusive bastard over me?!  Your own brother?!  What the hell is wrong with that?!"

Keith stopped wavering on his feet and pulled Aten again into the alley.  He held Aten against the wall and dug into his pockets.

"Aria!  Do something!  Don't just stand there!"

Keith pulled out Aten's appointment card.  "Dr. Chapman.  Psychologist.  Specializes in Family Counseling.  Substance Abuse Therapy, Sexual Abuse Therapy.  Sexual Orientation Issues.?  Do you have issues, Aten?"

Aten struggled. "Let me go!"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Or would you prefer that I take this to a whole new level?" Keith asked as he leaned against Aten.

"Let me go….please."

Aria watched as Aten lost his composure.  He had quickly become a pitiful, whimpering object in Keith's hands.  She wanted to intercede.  Keith had his violent times, but he always said he never meant it.  Aria wanted to help her brother, but was afraid of chasing Keith away.

"Well, Issue-Boy, I'll let you go….for now.  Come on, doll……let's go smooch back at my place where people with serious problems can't interfere in our fun."

Keith released Aten and Aria stood beside Keith. 

Aten narrowed his eyes at her.  'This is not over, sister!'

Aria and Keith left the alley as Aten stood with his back to the brick.

His body shuddered as he held his books.  He took deep breaths that Chapman had taught him when he found himself in a flashback situation.

When his body calmed down, he left the alley and bought some chocolate for Robbie.

He walked towards Robbie's home with his eyes downcast. 

Aten's POV

How could Aria be with someone like Keith?  He's abusive.  He's violent.  He's a complete bastard!  I thought my sister would have more brain cells in her head than to think that he loves her.  But nothing I do is going to convince her otherwise.

I've tried. You saw me!  Did I not try to warn Aria that Keith is bad news before?

It's a shame that she had to leave Umi.

I saw him in History class today.  He looks sad.  Very sad.

Three months later and he can't get Aria out of his mind.

What would make Aria want to dump a nice guy like Umi for a complete idiot like Keith?

Sometimes I don't understand why people would voluntarily put themselves in a position like that.

Human nature just confuses me like that.

When Robbie touches me, why do the old fears come back about my grandfather?

Why can't our minds just forget?

Why can't we block our feelings?

When I got to Robbie's, I tried to arrange my clothes to make it look like I wasn't in a fight.

Miranda opened the door when I knocked. "Hello, Aten.  Come in."

I walked in and saw Robbie put a pillow over his German textbook.  "You don't have to hide it, Robbie.'

Who does he think he's kidding?

'Here, I brought you your homework."

Robbie reached out for his books. "Thank you, Aten.  How was school?"

Without a word, I found myself sitting beside Robbie, cuddled up to him. 

Mom let Robbie and I have our alone time.  We both needed it. I know I sure did after the encounter with Keith. A shower wouldn't be a bad idea either.

A really hot shower.  The kind of showers I still take.  The kind that turn your skin red from the heat of the water.

A hot shower with Robbie doesn't sound like a bad idea either.

"I ran into Keith."

Robbie held me tightly and turned my face to look at him. "Oh my god, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay.  He…..he was kissing Aria."

Robbie groaned. "That's gross."

"He saw my appointment card with Chapman.  He…he called me 'Issue-Boy.'"

Robbie stroked my cheek and kissed the corner of my eye. I love it when he does that.  It always soothes me and makes me feel better.  "Aten, you can't listen to a bum like him!  He's a push-over."

"I know, Robbie. Aria….Aria watched. She didn't even interfere."

My friend took a deep breath. I could tell from the tapping of his finger on the armrest that he was beyond angry.  Some people yelled when they were angry. Others hit something. 

Robbie tapped his fingers.

It must be a Morgan thing….a trait he got from his parents.  I don't see his father much, so I can't tell if he gets this from his father or mother.

"That's not right, Aten.  The next time I see Keith, his ass is mine!"

A knock sounded on the door and mom went to get it.

"Hello, can I help you?"

"Yeah, I'm Umi Tsunami….I…umm….I heard Aten wasn't home and I knew he'd be here.  Can I see them?"

Mom smiled and stood aside. Everyone loved Umi and Robbie had become part of our circle of friends.

He walked in slowly, his body sagging with sadness.  Poor Umi.

"Do you want anything to drink or eat, Umi?" mom asked him.

"No thank you, Mrs. Morgan."

Robbie smiled. "Hey, Umi! I'd get up, but I'd only end up falling down again."

Umi sat on the chair.  "Guys, I need to talk to you both."

I snuggled up to Robbie and crossed my legs. "What's wrong, Umi? I know you haven't been yourself lately."

Umi shook his head.  "I'm worried."

Robbie shrugged. "That History exam isn't for another month."

"This isn't about the test!  I'm worried about your sister, Aten."

Who wasn't worried about her now?  She's pregnant and is now dating an idiot.  Who wouldn't be concerned?

"How so?"

"She doesn't answer my emails. She hasn't called. I've seen her with this guy that is old enough to be her dad!  Doesn't….doesn't she like me anymore?"

The look on Umi's face was enough to break a heart of stone.

"Umi, I don't know what's gotten into her. I'm worried about her, too.  I've tried to warn Aria about him.  The other day she came home with bruises on her wrist and she said she banged them against a table.  She can't fool me."

She really can't fool me. I've had those bruises before. You don't get fingermarks on your wrists from knocking them into objects. Who does she think she is kidding?

Robbie reached over and pat Umi's arm. "Aria's stubborn.  I don't know why she decided to do what she did, Umi. But you aren't a bad guy.  There's plenty more fish in the ocean, Umi."

"But, I want that fish, Robbie.  I want Aria. I want to be with her."

"Umi, did you know she is pregnant?"

Umi nodded. "Yes."

"I know you slept with my sister, Umi.  That child has to be yours," I said matter-of-factly.  I wasn't going to sugar coat anything. 

"She doesn't want me involved in the pregnancy."

Robbie groaned. "What is going on in that girl's mind?!"

"I don't know, guys. But tonight I am going to talk to Aria.  Hopefully I can get her to listen to reason."

Umi looked down.  "Is it me?"

I shook my head.  Poor Umi.  "No, Umi. It's not you. I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Leave everything to me."

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

Ryou sat on the couch with his legs and arms crossed.  Aten was not home from school.  Another body of a dead gay teenager had been found in the park after school.  He was also stripped and shot.  Evidence had also shown that it was possible that the boy was also raped before his death.

Aria wasn't home yet either.

He bit his thumbnail waiting anxiously for Malik to return from searching.  The door opened and Marik walked in. 

"Did you find him?"

"I tried tracking him by the scent of blood. It didn't work.  I found nearly half of the 8th police precinct around Exeter.  Apparently, there was an entire gang of street thugs all massacred.  I smelled Bakura there, but the trail went cold."

Ryou stood up and helped Marik take off his jacket. "Did you find Aten?"

"Nope.  No luck. Why?"

"They found another dead boy in the park."

Marik grabbed his jacket when the door flew open.

Marik turned and came face-to-face with sunglasses.

"You……look….familiar," the yami said.

The man removed his sunglasses and put his arm around his girlfriend.  "Really, pops? Who am I, then?"

Ryou gasped. "BANDIT KEITH!"

Bandit Keith turned to Ryou. "Hey! You're the scrawny runt from Duelist Kingdom! You hung around Joey Wheeler and his Pussy Posse!"

"What are you doing with my daughter?"

Marik narrowed his eyes. "I remember you now! I controlled your mind in Battle City!  What are you doing with Aria?"

"This is my bitch.  My good bitch."

Ryou narrowed his eyes. "My daughter is not a bitch! How dare you!"

Aria turned to Keith. "Don't make them angry, Keith."

Keith chuckled. "Or what?"

Marik gripped the Millennium Rod in his hands. "Or you'll get more than you bargained for, you pathetic mind-slave!"

"You!  You were the one who made me duel that runt Yugi Motou!"

Keith found himself with the Millennium Rod under his chin. "Stay away from Aria….or you're going to find your balls in a sling for the rest of your natural life!"

Aria stepped in front of Keith. "Stop it, Father Marik!  Keith deserves a chance!"

"Aria, dear, I'm inclined to agree with Marik.  Keith, you are a no good cheat!  Get out of my house and stay away from my daughter!"

Marik raised the Millennium Rod threateningly and ran out of the house screaming.

"KEITH!" Aria called after her escaping boyfriend. She slammed the door shut angrily.  "What is wrong with you two?!"

Ryou crossed his arms. "Honey, I will not have you go out with him. I try to leave my own opinions out of your dating life, but this time I have to say something!  Honey, that man is a disgusting liar.  He's dangerous!"

"Mom, I know what you are doing! You're trying to control me!"

Ryou shook his head. "Aria, this is not about control!  I really don't think this is a good idea!  He's a dangerous man!  I knew him back in Duelist Kingdom when he was a scumbag then!"

Marik narrowed his eyes. "Time sometimes doesn't change anything, Ryou. He's still a scumbag."

"You don't know him now! He changed!"

Ryou rolled his eyes. "Yes, he's gotten older and fatter!  Aria, please!  Listen to me!"

"Aria, this man is dangerous," Marik growled. "You do not know what this man is capable of."

"Yes, I do!"

Marik leaned down, his canines sharpening. "No, Chibi Yami, you do not know what he is capable of.  And I don't want something to happen to you.  None of us want to see you hurt."

"I won't get hurt! I can take care of myself really well!  Nothing can hurt me!  After all….I have daddy's bloodlust."

Marik blocked her way to the stairs. "Sometimes, Aria, your powers and abilities are not enough to save yourself from a situation.  Bloodlust will not always make everything better."

Aria snickered. "Sure it can!  I can defend myself at will."

Aria walked past Marik and walked up the stairs. 

The blond yami leaned against the wall. "She sure is Bakura's kid…..she's so damn stubborn like him!  Both of them have the heads of jackasses sometimes."

"No wonder Aria and Bakura fight so often….they're too similar."

"Aten and I have little in common.  Action and bloody movies is all we really have in common. He takes more after you, Ryou."

The door opened and the Egyptian teen walked in.

"Aten!" Ryou said, hugging his son tightly. "I'm so glad you're home!"

"I'm…glad to see you, too, Mother."

"Another teen was found dead, Aten. We were worried sick about you!"

Aten hugged his mother back. "I had to take Robbie's homework over to him.  Who was found?"

"They won't release the name until the family is notified."

Aten shook his head.  "That's a shame.  I really hope they catch the guy responsible.  Where's everyone?"

"Bakura isn't home yet. I told him about Aria and he hasn't come home."

"Oh…then I take that it didn't go well from the look of your cheek."

Ryou touched his slightly bruised cheek.  "I'll be okay, honey.  Malik went out to the store to grab something for dinner."

"Is Aria home?"

"Upstairs."

Aten walked up the stairs and stopped suddenly. He put his hand to his chest where he felt an uncomfortable pressure.  He grabbed onto the railing to stop from falling down the steps.  He gripped tighter as the room began to spin.

Aten closed his eyes tightly as the pain began to radiate through his left arm, leaving it numb.

'Hold on to the railing…..keep…holding…on.'

It felt like someone had grabbed his heart and was squeezing it unbearably tight.

'I took my angina medication…..this shouldn't be happening.'

The pain started to subside quickly, much to his relief. 

He climbed the stairs and put his books on his bed.  He walked to Aria's room and prepared to confront his sister.

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

Aria heard a knock on her door.  "Who is it?"

"Aten.  I need to talk."

Aria turned to the door. "Come in, brother."

The Egyptian teen walked in and shut the door behind him.  "How was your day in your classes?"

"Fine."

Aten shifted with the curt response.  "Aria, have you spoken to Umi lately?"

"No. I haven't."

"He's deeply upset.  I think you should speak to him."

Aria groaned. "Why should I see him?"

"Because Umi is a decent guy.   He loves you.  How could you betray him for Bandit Keith?"

Aria crossed her arms. "My reasons."

"Aria, I think there is something wrong with your reasons."

"There you go again!"

Aten held out his hand. "No, listen.  When Father Bakura got angry at you, you immediately dumped Umi, whom everyone loved.  You found Bandit Keith.  Coincidence? I think not."

"Umi and I were going nowhere."

Aten threw up his arms. "You didn't even give him a blessed chance!  You fucked him and dumped him.  Now, how do you think that made him feel?  Used?  Aria, I know what Umi is going through now, and it's not right."

"There you go again, Aten.  Trying to tell me how to run my life!"

Aten growled. "I am trying to give you advice from someone who has been where Umi is right now!  Aria, you hurt him deeply and the least that Umi deserves now is an apology!"

Aria stood up and put her hands on her hips. "An apology?  For what?"

"For using him and dumping him.  That wasn't right, Aria, and beneath that cold exterior that you are TRYING so hard to assume, I know you still love him. I know you still care for him."

Aria's shoulders sagged. "Father didn't want me going out with nice guys…..so I chose to go out with scum."

"Yeah, well, you picked King Scum, Aria.  Congratulations.  But Umi has been hurt through all this.  And I feel for what he is going through right now.  Nobody should have to feel used for the benefit of someone else, Aria.  Trust me….it's taken me nine years of psychological therapy to accept that.  That is not an easy road to travel."

"I feel bad for Umi, but he won't take me back!  Not after breaking up!"

"He's willing to let it go, Aria. He just wants you back."

Aria crossed her arms. Her white spiky hair twitched in thought.  "I wish I could go back."

"Aria, I've seen what Keith has done to you. You can't hide the bruises from me."

"They're not bruises….they're….ummm….."

Aten pulled off his shirt and turned around, revealing his scarred back to his sister.  His ribs stuck out from his emaciated body.  "You can't hide bruises from me, Aria.  I've lived through them."  He pointed to his back where "MINE" was still carved prominently. "You cannot hide anything from me. I've lived through it all, Aria."

Aria hid her wrists. "No, I just hit something accidentally."

Aten turned around. "And I just 'happened' to fall on a rake….that's how I got 'MINE' carved into my back like a Christmas Turkey!  Aria, you can't hide the tell-tale signs of abusive relationships from me!"

"Keith protects me."

"He's a bully!  You didn't even stop to see if I was okay this afternoon after he tried to rob me!  You saw me against that wall frozen stiff and you didn't even attempt to help me!  That is what I cannot understand!  You watched him pin me to that brick and you didn't even raise one lousy finger to help me!"

Aria stepped back. "I don't get involved with Keith's antics."

Aten growled. "You did, Aria!  You watched! You watched him go through my pockets!  I cannot believe that you allowed him to invade my privacy like that!"

"You can't take care of yourself like I can!"

"One day you're going to need me, Aria, and I won't be able to watch your back!  As much as you think you are impervious to misfortune, someday it will come behind you and bite you in the ass."

Aria laughed. "I won't need you to protect me, Aten! I can take care of myself!  I'll never need you!"

Aten narrowed his eyes. "You WILL need me!"

"No, I won't! Why would I want help from you? You can't fight!  You no sooner walk down the steps and you get tired! How are you ever going to help me if I'm in trouble?  That I'd like to see!"

Aten narrowed his eyes.  "One of these days, Aria, you will be glad to have me by your side!"

Aria narrowed his eyes when she felt a sudden pain in her abdomen.  It spread through her body, making her stagger.

Aten's anger dissipated as he watched his sister grab her belly in pain.

"Aria?!" Aten gasped as he caught her in his arms.

Aten held her in his arms, feeling a dual pain shoot through his chest and his stomach.

"Aten….I…it hurts."

"Mother!" Aten called in hysterics!

"Mother! Mother!" Aria called in pain.

Two sets of footsteps ran up the stairs at the sound of alarmed voices.

Ryou stopped short to find Aria kneeling, her pants becoming soaked with crimson.

"Marik! Get the car ready!"  Ryou gasped as he ran beside his daughter.

Ryou took Aria's arm. "Aten, do you feel well enough to help me get her to the car?"

Aten knew his mother also had a weak heart.  He didn't want his mother to bear the burden alone.

Aria winced as she struggled to her feet.  "Gods….this shouldn't be…"

"Just take deep breaths, Aria. It helps with the pain."

Aten helped Aria out to the car. Marik had put towels on Aria's seat to soak up any blood.

"Mother…it hurts."

"I know, honey," Ryou said, stroking her cheek.  "Aten, stay here with your father."

Marik put his hand on Aten's shoulder and watched as the car drove away.

"Father, is Aria going to be okay?"

Marik pat his son on the back and turned away, fearing to tell his son the truth of what he had seen.  "She's going to be fine, Aten," he said flatly before returning inside.

Aten went upstairs to his room and removed his violin from its case.

The bow slowly went across the strings slowly as he looked at his music.  His favorite music to play was from the songbook from Robbie's church.  Robbie had given him one of the songbooks as a present when he first started playing.

He tried to distract himself as he played. He could feel the discomfort in his chest as he put his heart into every note he played.

///Your sister's a very stubborn girl.///

/I feel sorry for her if she thinks Keith's love is better than Umi's./

///Do you think you convinced her?///

/No. She's going to end up staying with him, I fear.  I can't and will not stop my sister from living her life./

///Even if she is living a lie?  You're willing to let her live her life even if it is at the expense of her personal safety?  She knows about your abuse. She knows about Steven raping you.  Does she know about Charlie and Yami?///

/No.  Aria doesn't know about that. Robbie doesn't know anything about my past.  I'll end up taking that to my grave./

Another wave of stiffness filled his chest.

///From the feel of this, Aten, that won't be far away from now.///

/It's just my angina acting up.  I get chest pains all the time.  You learn to live with it.  Besides, I'm waiting for that new heart.  Dr. Zira is doing all he can. He was looking into a heart donor from Russia, but the heart is already taken.  I have to be patient./

Aten winced as his arm went numb. 

///You're dying, Aten.///

/So?  I've been dying since I was 3 years old. This isn't new news to me./

Aten put down his violin and rubbed his arm, trying to bring feeling back into it. A shudder ran through him.

///Can you feel her die?///

/Stop it! My sister is not going to die!/

///I don't mean her life….the life of her unborn daughter.///

/Aria's baby is not dying!  She's going to come home and in six months, I'm going to hold that baby in my arms!/

///You deny her mortality….just like you've tried to deny yours for so long.  You can't fight me, Aten.  I am your Yami….Yami Aten and Aku….fused in darkness. You cannot deny what you feel now.///

/STOP IT! SHUT UP! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYMORE!/

Aten opened his eyes and saw his fist full of blood and his window broken, the glass shards littering the floor.  He looked at his hand in shock.

"What just happened?"

///You don't like talking about what you feel, do you?  You have a really hard time with that.///

Marik burst into the room.  He saw his son's bloody fist.

"Aten!  Oh gods, boy!  Come with me."

///Daddy always comes to rescue you.///

/He loves me. I'm his only son./

"Aten, what happened?" Marik asked as he grabbed the peroxide.

"I felt…..angry.  I blacked out. I didn't realize I did it. Forgive me, father."

Marik removed a cottonball from the ceramic bowl.  "It's okay, Ibn (son).  Let me clean you up. This may sting."

Aten sat quietly, despite the discomfort the pain in his chest and his hand. 

Marik pulled a shard of glass out from Aten's hand. "My poor boy."

Marik inspected the injury closely, turning the hand over and wrapping the hand up in gauze.  "No stitches needed."

The father looked down at his son.  Aten was looking up at him with large brown and purple eyes.  His white and blond hair fell over his shoulders. His mind was suddenly flooded with the desire to cry.  He could feel his sister's emotions flooding his mind.

"Ibn, why are you crying?"

///It's done.  She's gone.  A moment of silence…..for blood spilled before its time.///

Aten reached out for his father, starting to cry. Marik held Aten against his stomach and pat his back.

"Aten, what's wrong?"

"Aria……"

Marik kissed Aten's cheek. "I know, son, I'm worried, too."

Malik opened the door downstairs. "Hello?  Yami?"

"Up here, koibito!" Marik called. 

Malik ran up the steps. "Oh my Ra! Aten, what happened to your hand?"

"I punched…..the….*sniff* …..window."

"It's okay, Aten.  That window can be replaced. You can't."

Malik ran into Ryou's room. "Where's Ryou?"

Aten cried louder.

"Aria started bleeding and Ryou took her to the hospital."

Aten pressed his cheek against the warm, comforting skin of his father.

"It's okay, Aten."

Malik rubbed Aten's hair.  "Are you hungry, Aten?"

Aten nodded quietly sniffling.

"Okay. It's almost time for your dinner pills.  Come on, boy. Let's wait for your mother."

Aten, Marik, and Malik waited downstairs for Ryou and Aria to return home.

"Is Bakura home?"

"No.  He's still out there," Marik said looking out of the front window into the dark.  "I know Bakura can take care of himself…..but….I hope he's okay."

Malik unpacked the groceries he bought. "I would think he'd be home by now."

The blond yami sighed. "So did I."

Malik made the dinner and Aten took his pills.

Aten waited for Ryou and Aria to return home.  Despite how tired he felt, Aten stayed downstairs until finally he fell asleep with his head on Marik's lap.  The teen curled up on the couch and put his head on his father's lap.  Marik ran his fingers through Aten's hair slowly.

Ryou walked into the house by himself around midnight, his eyes bloodshot and puffy.

"Ryou, how is Aria?" Malik asked.

Ryou looked down at Aten and slowly walked over to his son.  He stroked his boy's cheek in his sleep.

"Aria lost the baby.  They admitted her overnight because she was bleeding too much."

"Oh no," Malik said.

Marik looked down at Aten. 'I damn near lost him, too, when he was born.'

"They had to sedate Aria. She was hysterical.  I came to get her Change of Heart plushie.  She said she really wanted to hold it."

Malik nodded. "Okay.  Should we wake him and tell him?"

Ryou shook his head. "No….let the boy sleep.  He's been having a hard enough time as it is with his chest.  He needs all the sleep he can get."

Malik ran to the kitchen and made up a quick dinner for Ryou to eat at the hospital.  Knowing Ryou, he would stay the night.  Ryou came down the steps with the plushie in one arm and his hospital blanket in a bag.

"Ryou, I made this so you won't go hungry."

Ryou slowly smiled at Malik. "Thank you, Malik. That was sweet. Is 'Kura home?"

"No, he's still out on the town."

"He's not opening his mindlink. I can't tell him what happened.  Tell Bakura when he comes home."

Ryou kissed both Ishtars goodbye.

"If he comes home," Marik added.

Malik sat on the couch. "Aria lost the baby……..that's horrible."

Marik nodded. "Isis was not looking favorably on her.  This will not be easy on her. We almost lost Aten a few times."

"I know……you hardly left the hospital."

A small smile crossed Marik's lips. "How many fifteen year olds fall asleep with their heads on their father's lap?"

"We're lucky, yami."

"Aria's pregnancy must not have been intended by Isis.  It is a shame.  I would have liked to have another chibi to growl at and play with.  This boy's always been a cuddler……so much like his mother."

Malik sighed. "Poor Aria."

"She's going to need all of us there for her when she comes home tomorrow.  I'll talk to Miranda.  Maybe she can talk to Aria.  It won't do any good if we try to talk to her. We're men.  She needs a woman to confide in.  In a scenario like this, that would be the better idea."

"Okay. That sounds like a good idea. Ready to go to bed?"

Marik looked down at his sleeping son.  "I can't get up.  I don't have the heart to leave him."

"Aten can sleep through World War Three.  He'll be fine down here."

Marik sighed. "I'll be upstairs in fifteen minutes.  I'd….I'd like to have a few moments with my son."

The hikari stood up and kissed his yami. 

When Marik was alone with his son, he gave a contented sigh.  'I'm so lucky to have you, Aten.  Life wouldn't be the same without you if you've never came into my life.  My boy….I don't know what I'd do without you.  I pray every day that the gods bring you a new heart.  Knowing how the gods now disapprove of me, they may not even answer my prayers…or worse….take you away from me.  Sitting with you now like this makes all of those sleepless nights worth it, son.  I love you, Aten.'

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

Mr. Barnes slammed a pistol onto the table. He looked around at the men gathered in the forest.   Two new possible recruits, Eric and Jason, stood among the men dressed in black.

"Who's got the brass balls to pull off such a mission?"

Eric raised his hand. "I'll do it! Let me prove that I am good enough to join your group!"

The elder raised his hand.  "No, son…..you must go through an initiation first.  This mission is for members only!"

"What mission?"

"Ass-rammer Seto Kaiba is formally announcing his engagement to his lover Joey Wheeler in three days.  This disgusting, vile union must be stopped!  It is appalling that these faggots be allowed to marry in this great city of ours!  They must not be allowed to join in the most holiest of bonds!  Marriage is between a man and a woman and we will make sure it stays that way in Domino City for all time!  We will not rest until every single homosexual lays dead in a pool of his own diseased and tainted blood!  Who is going to go through with this?"

Jason stepped up. "People have tried to murder Seto Kaiba before and it hasn't worked! He's surrounded by his security personnel."

"Gentlemen, if we kill Seto Kaiba, then the rest of his friends will crumble!  His friends are all faggots!"

Eric cracked his knuckles. "That Morgan kid is mine!  Mr. Know-It-All going to get a bullet in his brain if I have anything to say about it."

Mr. Barnes smiled proudly. "If you do that, Eric, you will earn the privilege to be part of our group.  But you must bring him here first.  You must show your trophy to the group…..then you may put a bullet in that fag's little head. But, our target now is Seto Kaiba.  Who's going to do it?"

One man stepped forward. "I'll do it."

Mr. Barnes stood up and handed the pistol to the man.  "You have three days to watch him.  Then, you will take this gun and kill Seto Kaiba."

"Yes, sir.  I shall not fail."

Updates: Monday (sorry, guys, but I need a 'mental health day' over the holidays)