Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ Five Years ( Chapter 13 )

Kat: Awww…Robbie is Chibi Seto!
Caterfree: Cliffhangers are good!!!!

Nani: Awww…*hands Bakura plushie* I'm so glad you loved my fics! I've got 4 more fics planned.

Sakiyama: They are cute together, aren't they?

Broken Time: Malik will be okay.

Kura Magician Girl: Malik will be fine. His yami comes for him.

Shadow of Light: Robbie will kick Keith's ass.

Beysie: *hands Robbie plushie*

Lady Elfskye: I'll compensate in lemons.

 

Five Years

 

Marik staggered holding his head. He groaned as he walked without direction away from the temple.

/MARIK!/

Marik looked around him. He could hear his husband's alarmed cry and he held his side. “Malik?...Malik….I'm here!...I'm coming!”

/Marik! Help!/

He heard a loud roar above him. “Malik….hold on love….I'll find you!”

The blond fell down, his body aching from the stone giant's punch. He needed his Rod to rejuvenate. He was weakening without his item.

The blond yami closed his eyes, feeling the world spin around him.

“Ra…help me.”

Marik felt thin fingers caress his hair.

“Poor Master's daddy.”

Marik looked up and saw The Helpless Child stroking his hair. “You….”

The child leaned down and hugged Marik. “Pharaoh hurt you, didn't he? I can feel that he touched you somehow. He had his hands on you somewhere.”

Marik winced and laid his head on the ground.

“Poor Master's daddy…..I'll help you.”

A loud crash sounded beside him and Ra landed beside him. The Winged Dragon of Ra purred and lowered its head to nuzzle its master.

“Master Marik…..”

“Ra? Ra……help me.”

The Winged Dragon of Ra turned to the child and gave a growl. The child nodded.

“Yes, sir.” The Helpless Child put his hands on Marik. “I'm going to help you get home.”

Marik felt a slight surge in his energy. He had been given enough to get him to his feet. “Thank you, child.”

The Helpless Child looked up at the Egyptian. “You are my Master's father. I cannot let you lay here. I don't like to see anyone hurt. No one deserves to get hurt by Pharaoh Yami. He's really mean.”

Marik looked up at Ra. “Why did you not come earlier?”

“Stand on me.” Marik climbed on Ra's head. The dragon raised his head and turned. “That is why.”

Marik looked down at the machines and warriors running out of the Shadow Realm Badlands. Overdrive clattered ahead, the tank raising its gun into the air. The Decayed Commander and the Machine King ran side by side, leading the pack of charging monsters.

“What is going on? Where are they all going?”

“They are ready to duel.”

Marik saw the Skull Mariner sailing beside the group. “The Skull Mariner in the lead? Those are Robbie's monsters.”

“Looks like he's going to duel someone.”

Marik looked in the distance and saw another legion of machines charging. “Machines vs. Machines and Warriors?”

The Winged Dragon of Ra snarled. “He's dueling an old puppet of ours.”

Marik rubbed his sore head. He gasped and jumped back, shocked. “BANDIT KEITH!”

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

Robbie narrowed his eyes as he drew his first five cards. He scowled at his opponent, shifting his weight onto his good foot.

“We'll start at 4000 life points. I'm sure that will be no problem for a supposed expert such as yourself, Keith!”

Keith drew his five cards and smirked confidently. “Come on, twirp! Show me what you got, you amateur!”

Robbie drew his first card. “I draw `Warrior of Zera' (1600/1600) in attack mode. I place two cards face down end turn.”

Keith laughed. “That's all you've got?! I thought you were a machine duelist! Where's your machines?!”

“My deck is a Military Deck! I'll draw them. Until then, It's your turn, Keith!”

Keith drew a card and laughed. “I put `Disk Magician' (1350/1000) in attack mode and also put two cards face down. I end my turn….Limpy.”

Robbie narrowed his eyes. “What did you call me?”

“I called you `Limpy!' I know that's what the others call you, isn't it….Cripple?”

The blue-eyed teen growled. “I am NOT a cripple!”

Keith rolled his eyes. “Whatever, twirp. End turn.”

Robbie looked at the Disk Magician. `That card is weak. Why did he put it in attack mode? He must want me to attack him.'

Robbie picked up a card. “This is one of my personal favorite machines! It reminds me of my Uncle Chris who is in the U.S. Army. `Overdrive' (1600/1500) in attack mode!”

A giant tank appeared on the field, its engine roaring loudly.

“Two more magic/trap cards face down and end turn.”

Keith snorted. “That bunch of bolts doesn't scare me.” Keith drew a card. “I play `Ground Attacker Bugroth (1500/1000) in attack mode. All I need is a little boost to destroy your precious `Overdrive' card. I equip my Bugroth with `Machine Conversion Factory' and I attack your `Overdrive'!'”

Robbie watched with a grin as his Overdrive was destroyed. `It was a sacrifice I had to make, but at least he didn't defeat my Warrior of Zera. That would have made my plans go down the drain.'

Robbie's lifepoints fell to 3800.

“How does it feel, punk?”

Robbie shrugged. “If that's all you can dish out, then you're getting old and rusty, Keith.”

Keith growled. “You're just an amateur trying to play with the big boys! End turn.”

Robbie drew a card. “I play the magic card `Weapon Change.' I pay 700 life points and I can switch the attack of any warrior I have and any machine you have! Until the end of your next end phase. So, your Ground Attacker Bugroth and my Warrior of Zera switch attack points! My warrior is now 1800 attack points and yours becomes a little tiny 1500. I place `A-Team Trap Disposal Unit' (300/400) in defense mode. Now comes the moment you've been waiting for! My Warrior of Zera! Attack his Disk Magician!”

The Warrior of Zera charged towards the Disk Magician.

“I activate the trap card Raigeki Break!” Keith roared.

Robbie held up his hand. “Nope! You cannot destroy my monster with that trap! I send my A-Team to the graveyard to negate the activation of your Raigeki Break! My attack will succeed!”

Keith gasped as his Disk Magician shattered from the warrior's sword slicing through him.

Keith's life points fell to 3550.

Robbie's lifepoints fell to 3100 due to the activation of Weapon Change.

“You son of a bitch!” Keith growled.

“Don't worry, gramps! You're still winning!” Robbie laughed as he yelled across the arena.

“Gramps?! You little snot! I'll get you for this!”

Robbie ran his fingers through his curly black hair. “Calm down, old man! I want to finish you off quickly so you can take your nap! We don't want you to be a cranky old man, do we?”

“Do you end your turn or not?”

Robbie smiled. “I end my turn.”

Keith drew a card. `This little punk needs to be taught a lesson!....And this will be the card to do it!'

“I sacrifice my Bugroth and your attack points return to the original 1600. Okay! I play `Steel Ore Grotto #2' (1900/2200) in attack mode! I attack your Warrior of Zera!”

Robbie's monster shattered, bringing his lifepoints down to 2800. “Not bad, old man!”

“I also inflict 800 points of Damage with Ookazi!”

Robbie growled as his life points dropped to 2000.

“Try beating me now with half of your life points gone! End turn!”

Robbie drew a card. “I play the magic card `The Warrior Returning Alive!' Now my Warrior of Zera returns to the field! I play `Robotic Knight' (1600/1800) in attack mode! I equip him with the Sword of Deep Seated, raising his attack points to 2100! I attack your Steel Ore Grotto#2 (1900/2200).”

Keith's life points fell to 3350.

“My Warrior of Zera attacks your Bugroth!”

Keith's counter reduced to 3250.

Keith looked at his side of the field.

No monsters.

Robbie had Warrior of Zera and the Robotic Knight on his side of the field. If he couldn't get a monster on his side of the field in the next turn, he wouldn't have a chance.

“I activate `Fruits of Kozaky's Studies' which allows me to look at the top 3 cards in my deck and return those cards to the top of the deck in any order.” Robbie looked at the top three cards and smiled. `I don't know what freaks Aten about this card,' he said as he held the Decayed Commander in his hand. `His deck is full of zombies and yet this one scares the crap out of him.' Robbie replaced the cards on top of his deck. “You're turn, Keith!”

Keith growled. “Where's my god-damned Barrel Dragon? I place `Giga-Tech Wolf' 7(1200/1400) in defense mode and I place one magic/trap card face down. End turn.”

“Keith, I thought you were supposed to be a CHALLENGE!” Robbie complained as he picked up a card. “I play the Robotic Knight's right-hand man! The Decayed Commander in attack mode (1000/1500)!

“Go, my Robotic Knight! Attack his wolf!”

Keith laughed and activated `The Reliable Guardian raises his defense points to 2100! Nice try!”

“My Black Pendant raises my Knight's attack points by 500, bringing him to 2600!”

The Robotic Knight slashed the mechanical wolf.

“Your wolf has been dismantled! Now! This is for Aria! Warrior of Zera, attack his life points directly!”

The warrior slashed Keith, bringing him to 1650.

“This is for Aten! Decayed Commander! Attack his life points directly!”

The zombie lunged for Keith, reducing his life points to 650.

“You little runt! That's what this is about! What I did to your little girlfriend and your skinny weakling of a friend!”

“Aria is NOT my girlfriend, but she is a very close friend of mine! I'm going to beat you senselessly for hurting both of them!”

Keith chuckled. “Maybe you should have banged Aria, kid. Then you would have known what a delicious little fuck she was. But, Eric told me that you don't dig chicks.”

Robbie shrugged. “How dare you talk about Aria that way! She is a good friend and always has been! As far as Eric is concerned, he's next on my list, but I decided to take down the Machine King first. But, with the way you've been dueling, your title should really be Machine Chump! You haven't been dueling like an expert! You've just become one sad….OLD…pathetic has-been, Keith!”

Keith crossed his arms. “Well, Eric will mop the floor with you when you duel him. As far as my title is concerned, I earned the title of Machine King for a reason!”

“Who'd you have to rape to get that title, Keith? I hardly think that you deserve that title of Machine King!”

“Are you done flapping your fat mouth?”

“I end my turn, gramps.”

Keith slammed his fist on the panel. “STOP CALLING ME THAT!”

“Or what? You going to rape me, too? I wouldn't want you to exert yourself. You probably couldn't get it up anyway. I'm amazed you got it up with Aria. Very amazed. But, we're not here to talk about that. Go on already!”

Keith narrowed his eyes. `This little punk is better than I thought!' He drew a card. “I place one card face down in defense mode. End turn.”

Robbie groaned and picked up a card. “I play Tactical Espionage Expert' (1300/1200) in attack mode! Your trap cards are now worthless!”

Keith's eyes widened and a drop of sweat fell down his face. “Oh shit!”

Robbie growled. “You have only 650 attack points left! It's time to unleash my army upon you! Decayed Commander, attack!”

The zombie attacked Keith. “This will teach you!” the monster roared.

Keith's points dropped to 0. Robbie barked, “Warrior of Zera, attack him again!”

The warrior slashed Keith with a battle cry. “You will harm no one!”

“Tactical Espionage Expert! Attack!”

The armed man shot Keith with a ball of energy, knocking him back. “The battle is ours!”

“Robotic Knight! Attack him, too!”

The Robotic Knight's sword crashed against Keith. “This will teach you for mocking my Master!”

Keith fell down unconscious.

Robbie gathered his cards and walked over to Keith. The teen put his deck into his pocket. He kicked Keith's leg with his bad foot. “That's from me, the new Machine King!”

Robbie limped away. “Eric's next on my list, but I promised to let Umi have a piece of him. I had better get back to Aten and see how he's doing.”

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

Bakura ran down the block and saw Marik bolting out of a bush. The white-haired yami gripped onto Marik.

“Why the hell aren't you with Malik?!”

“Long story.”

Marik jumped at the sound of gunfire. “What's going on? Why are the cops discharging their weapons?”

Bakura shook Marik. “Your husband is in the middle of that gunfire!”

Panic seized Marik's chest. “Where's my Rod?”

“You don't have your Rod? How could you NOT know where it is?”

Marik sped off without answering. “My husband needs me, Bakura!”

Bakura followed Marik until they found the cops firing into the store.

//Malik!//

/Yami! Help!/

Marik turned to Bakura. “Make a distraction, Itemri! I have to get in there!”

The blond yami ran for the back where police were firing and breaking down the door for entry.

Bakura grabbed the Millennium Ring and a ball of energy formed in his hand. “HEY! YOU!”

Bakura threw the energy ball into the crowd of police officers. A police car exploded, sending hot flames around it.

The police turned and fired on Bakura. The white-haired Yami ran behind the corner of the building. He turned and saw Marik charge behind the building.

Bakura wiped his sweaty forehead. “Things never change.”

Marik ran for the nearest policeman and kicked him in the stomach. He tore the weapon out of the injured cop's hand and fired at the crowd of police.

Bakura ran behind the building and saw Marik grab the cop he had kicked. He held the cop ahead of him and pointed the weapon at the man's head.
”Stop! Drop your weapons! I am not kidding!”

The men stopped firing.

Bakura saw the police run around the side of the building and he emitted another energy ball towards the approaching forces. “My dagger's no use against their loud weapons.”

Marik approached the door of the grocery store, still holding his hostage. He entered the building with the man. Marik threw the man against the wall. “Why are you here?”

“We were told to apprehend the fugitive Malik Ishtar.”

Marik growled. “Why? Who put you up to this?”

“Malik Ishtar is a killer and a rapist!”

Marik's spiky hair twitched in frustration. “My husband is innocent! It's not him you have to worry about. It's me.”

The blond dragged his hostage into the shop area which was momentarily silent.

Marik found his husband curled up on his knees and shaking. “Malik?”

Malik looked up and ran for his yami. “Yami, I'm so glad you're here! They're firing at me!”

Marik took the Millennium Rod. “Don't worry, tenshi. I have you covered.”

The sounds of men's screams sounded from outside.

Marik kissed his husband. “It's going to be okay, Malik. Whatever you do, stay behind me.”

The blond yami grabbed his hostage and walked through the broken glass and out of the store.

Marik held up the Millennium Rod. “You will all go away! Fear us!”

The police pointed their guns towards Marik and the hostage.

“My Rod's not working! Why isn't its power activating? Stupid fucking Rod!”

A tall man stood up. “This is Sgt. Barnes! You will release your hostage and surrender peacefully!”

Malik shivered as he looked at the guns trained on him and his yami. “Why isn't the Rod working?”

Marik shuddered. “I don't know. It should work, but it's not! That Pharaoh must have done something to it!” The Egyptian's eyes narrowed. “When he kidnapped me the first time, he held my Rod and cited a chant! That must have rid my Item of its power!”

Malik clutched onto his husband. “So that means….it can't control minds anymore.”

Marik eyes scanned the legion of cops before him. “That means that we are helpless. I can't tap into the Shadow Magic if my Item doesn't have any magic of its own.”

The hikari swallowed hard. “That means…..if they shoot you…you can't heal in the Rod.”

“Exactly. The magic won't protect us from being hit. I'm weak as it is already.”

“Drop your weapon and your hostage and surrender!” Barnes barked loudly. “We will be forced to open fire if you do not comply.”

“Itemri…..where the hell are you when I need you?!”

Bakura jumped out from behind the corner and growled. His Millennium Ring glowed as he saw his two lovers in danger.

 

“Ancient Power of Darkness, surround us quick

Protect those within your dark and powerful grip!”

 

A dark light emanated from Bakura's Millennium Ring and created a dark wall separating the police force and his lovers. He ran towards them.

“I cleared out the back, Ishtar! We can escape that way and through the cemetery.”

Marik turned the hostage around. “We can't have you watch our escape.”

The blond yami punched the hostage, knocking him out.

Bakura lead the two men through the gate. “That wall will be there until we make our getaway. I cleared the back entrance!”

Marik and Malik ran out and saw the back of the store littered with bodies of the police. Each of them laid lifeless on the concrete.

“You couldn't just freeze them with Shadow Magic?” Marik asked. “You had to kill them?”

“I couldn't have them see our escape, could we? I had to do it.”

Bakura climbed the fence and helped pull Malik over. Marik gripped onto the metal bars and fell to his knees.

“So…..weak.”

“Ishtar, come on! That wall can't last forever!”

Marik put his forehead to the bars. “So…weak….tired.”

Bakura climbed over the fence. “I know, baby. Here, let me help you.”

Malik grabbed his yami and pulled as Bakura pushed him over the fence. Marik held onto his husband as he was pushed over the fence.

“Malik, I love you,” the yami whimpered.

Bakura jumped over the fence. “Now is not the time for that, Ishtar. Come on.”

Bakura and Malik held Marik's hand as they ran home cutting across the graveyard.

“Hold on, Marik. We're almost home, baby,” Bakura said, holding Marik on his feet.

The yamis and hikari escaped the graveyard down the street and ran home.

Aria saw her father and Malik carrying Marik inside. “Father Marik, are you okay?”

Marik sat on the couch and sighed with exhaustion. “Yes, dear. I'm okay.”

Umi shook his head. “You don't look good.”

“It's been a long day…..too long.”

Malik held the Millennium Rod. “Let's see if you can go into your Item. You may not be able to rest in there, but you'll be protected.”

Marik nodded weakly. “Okay.”

Marik crossed his arms and disappeared.

“Well, at least he can go into the Rod if he needs to,” Malik said.

Marik emerged a moment later. “Well, at least that works.”

Ryou walked down the stairs. “There you guys are! Malik, are you okay? Aria told me about the grocery store!”

The white-haired hikari threw himself at Malik. “Oh sweet gods, are you okay?”

Malik smiled at the touch of his friend. “Ryou, I'm fine. Marik and Bakura helped me.”

Bakura stood up. “Malik, why did you leave the house?”

“I needed milk for dinner.”

Bakura grabbed Malik and pulled him into the kitchen with a low growl in his throat. When the two men stood in the kitchen, Bakura brought the blond hikari into his arms tightly.

“Malik, you could have been killed,” the yami whispered. “You would have died…..I couldn't….I couldn't bear to lose you….just like I couldn't bear to lose Ishtar.”

Malik's eyes widened at the confession. “Bakura, I know I shouldn't have gone. But…..I had to take the risk.”

“For milk? Malik, I really want you to be safe. I can't protect my family if I don't know where they are.”

The yami pulled back and stroked Malik's face gently. “I can't lose you….I can't. Do you understand?”

Malik nodded. “I'm sorry, Bakura.”

“It's okay, baby. I really want you to be safe.”

Bakura leaned down and kissed the Egyptian hikari on the lips. Malik melted into Bakura's arms, his body pressing against the yami, needing the gentle touch and welcoming it. Malik wrapped his arms around his lover and held him close.
Their tongues stroked each other lightly as they used their fingers to stroke each other's cheeks and necks.

“Bakura…”

Bakura's kisses wandered down Malik's neck. “I love you, Malik,” Bakura moaned as he peppered the skin slowly with light kisses.

Malik kissed the pale yami's jaw. “Love you, too, Malik.”

Ryou knocked on the wall. “Bakura? Malik?”

Bakura pulled back slowly, still holding Malik in his arms. “Come in, love.”

Ryou stepped into the kitchen. “Dr. Zira said that he had the results of Aten's tests and he wanted to see us.”

Marik stepped behind Ryou. “We have to go, Itemri.” Marik wrapped his arms around Ryou from behind. “We should see Aten before we see Zira.”

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

Aten opened his eyes weakly as he felt a hand caress his cheek. He breathed through the oxygen mask as his eyes slowly focused.

“Hello, baby boy.”

The brown and purple eyes focused, bringing his mother into his sight.

“Mother……”

“Hello, son. How's my boy?”

Aten swallowed and gave a whimper. “Tired….sore.”

“We know, honey,” Ryou said, stroking his cheek. “We know.”

“We're going to see Dr. Zira now.”

Aten let out a staggered breath. “Okay. I'll be here.”

Marik took a deep breath. His son looked so weak. “We'll be back, son.”

Aten turned his head towards his father. “Okay…..daddy.”

Marik leaned down and put his forehead against his son's forehead. “My boy.”

“Father….” Aten reached up and touched his father's cheek.

Marik kissed Aten's forehead. “We'll be back.”

The family left and walked towards Dr. Zira's office. Marik and Bakura held Ryou's hands.

The mother's hands were shaking as they held onto the two yamis.

The family entered Zira's office. The doctor looked up.

“Sit down, guys. I'll be with you in a moment.”

Zira finished typing on the computer. He saved his work and removed a file from his desk. Marik and Bakura sat on either side of Ryou.

“Hello, Ryou. I concluded my tests.”

Marik leaned forward and clutched Ryou's hand. “What's wrong with my boy? Can you help him?”

“Did you find a new heart for my son?”

“I'm sorry, Ryou. I have not found a match yet. I am close, though. I have other doctors in the area doing tests on their patients to see if I can get one from the area. A local donor would benefit your son. But, I am still searching.”

Bakura rubbed Ryou's arm. “What did you find?”

Zira put his hands on Aten's file. “Ryou, I'm trying desperately to find Aten a compatible heart. However, this is not going to fix Aten's problem. People with heart transplants can live up to twenty years following their transplant date. However, I can't guarantee that this is possible.”

Ryou lowered his head. “I see.”

“Tell us what you can do,” Malik said.

“I give Aten five years to live, even with a heart transplant.”

Ryou blinked. His grip on both yami's loosened. “What?”

“Ryou, I only give Aten five years to live. I'm terribly sorry.”
Marik sat back, his lip trembled. Malik felt a surge of emotion cross his mindlink with Marik.

Fear.

Sadness.

Anger.

Denial.

Marik shook his head and narrowed his eyes. “No! My son won't die! My son can't die!”

“Marik, this is not easy for any parent to hear and I understand--.”

Marik stood up, tears falling from his eyes. “My son is NOT DYING! I won't let you sit here and tell me that I only have five more years with my little boy!”

Zira sat back in his chair, startled by the furious spirit. “Marik, your son's heart tissue has been seriously damaged by this heart attack. I'm deeply sorry for you, Marik. But right now, our job is to make Aten as comfortable as he can possibly be.”

Ryou buried his face in his hands. “I didn't want it to be this way.”

Marik gripped his head and grabbed a handful of his hair. “This can't be happening! No! This isn't happening! My son is not going to die! I'll show you, Zira! He's going to live! I'm NOT going to lose my child! I won't!”

Marik disappeared into the Rod as it dropped to the ground.

Bakura wrapped his arm around Ryou. “Oh, baby….come here.”

Ryou turned and wrapped his arms around Bakura's shoulders. “I don't want to bury my son so young!”

“I know, baby. Aten has lived this long, right? He wasn't supposed to live past his fifth birthday. But, baby, we've taken very good care of him.”

Ryou buried his face in Bakura's neck. “Bakura…..I don't want to lose him at all!”

Malik picked the Millennium Rod off of the floor. “Marik…..”

Zira sighed. “It's not an easy thing to hear, Ryou. But we have to make Aten comfortable. When he goes home, I'm going to give the option of taking home a portable defibrillator. This way, if Aten goes into cardiac arrest again---.”

“Again? Are you saying this could happen again?” Malik asked.

“It's hard to say. I'll send a defilrillator home with you. This way you can revive Aten should this happen again.”

Malik looked at the Rod. “Please come out.”

//………………..//

Ryou sniffled. “I want to see my son! I want to see my boy!”

Zira stood up. “I talked to Aten this morning about this. Ryou, I know this is hard, but we must not excite Aten. We can't make him more anxious than he already is.”

Ryou sniffled. “It's….it's like a nightmare…..”

Zira sighed. “Ryou, this is very difficult to take in all at once. Nobody expects this to be easy. I was very concerned when I came out to see you in the waiting room. It wasn't easy to give you the choice of Aten's life or his death. I haven't given up on your son, Ryou.” The doctor stood up and walked around the desk. He put his hand on Ryou's shoulder comfortingly. “I don't want you to give up on him either, Ryou. I don't want you to give up on your boy.”

Ryou narrowed his eyes in an uncharacteristic glare which had shocked Bakura. Ryou's eyes sparkled with a determination never before seen in the hikari. “I will not give up on my son, Dr. Zira! My daughter and my son mean everything to me. When Anubis had their souls in his hands, I refused to give up on them. I risked my life for them. I risked death so they might live.” Ryou clenched his fists tightly. His hand turned white from the strength of his grip. “I promised my children that I would not give up on them….like my father gave up on me. I don't want to be my father!”

Zira pat Ryou's shoulder. “Ryou, you are a good parent. I can't see you any differently.”

Ryou held onto Bakura tightly. “Are you sure that Aten will die in five years? Are you sure?”

Zira leaned against his desk. “Five or less, Ryou…..yes.”

Ryou looked down. “I want to see Aten.”

Bakura held his husband. “There's one thing we are forgetting here. There's someone else who needs to know about this. It's wrong for us to keep it from him.”

Malik raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

Bakura wrapped his arms around Ryou and kissed his forehead. “Robbie.”

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

Robbie walked into Aten's hospital room and ran to the bed. Aten opened his eyes weakly.

“Aten? I took care of Keith.” Robbie stroked Aten's hair. “He won't bother either of you anymore.”

Aten blinked. “What…you….do?”

“I dueled him, Aten. I kicked his sorry ass real good! It didn't seem like he put up much of a fight, though.”

Aten extended a weak, shaking hand to Robbie. “Love…you.”

Robbie smiled. “I love you, too, Aten. You look exhausted. Didn't you sleep?”

Aten let out a slight breath. “I have time….to sleep…later.”

“Aten, you've just been through one hell of a blow to your system. You should sleep.”

Aten's brown and purple eyes looked up at Robbie. “Something….I…should tell you.”

Robbie shook his head. “Aten, shh…you'll have time to tell me about it later. Just close your eyes and get some sleep.”

Aten turned his head from side-to-side. “No….must tell you.”

Robbie leaned forward and stroked Aten's cheek. “What is it, angel?”

“Robbie…..”

The light-skinned boy brushed away a tear from Aten's face. “You know I'm dying, right?”

Robbie lowered his head and nodded sadly. “Yes, Aten. I know you are.”

“Dr. Zira…..only….gives me…five…years.”

Robbie looked up at Aten, the color draining from his face. “What? No….you can't.”

“Robbie….I've been sick for a very….long…time. Even with a heart transplant…..the doctors don't give me until I'm twenty.”

Robbie's eyes filled with tears. “No, Aten….you won't die. I know you won't.”

Aten shed a tear. “Oh, Robbie, no….don't cry for me….please.”

“Aten, you'll have longer than that. I know you will! Don't say that you're going to leave me….”

The corner of Aten's lips struggled to give a smile. “Ra decides everything, Robbie. I live for you, Robbie. Always know that.”

Robbie stood up. “Aten…I…I have to go.” Robbie grabbed his jacket and kissed Aten on the cheek. “I have to go.”

“Robbie….please….. don't go. Don't leave me. I'm afraid,” the Egyptian teen sobbed.

The weak Egyptian reached out to Robbie, the IV leads and wired flesh reached out to him. “For Ra's sake, Robbie, please don't leave me! Don't leave….please? I'm afraid….and I need you by my side.”

Robbie saw the Egyptian boy sob in the bed, his hands desperately reaching out and falling slowly from lack of energy.

“Don't leave me, Robbie,” Aten sobbed again as his arms started to descend weakly.

Robbie bit his lip as his mind was torn.

Flee to escape the reality of his friend laying in the hospital bed.

Stay and risk crying over Aten like an infant.

“Robbie, I've never asked…anything from you before. But please….now….don't leave me alone.”

Robbie dropped his coat and returned to his chair by Aten's bed. “Okay, Aten. I won't leave.”

Aten took Robbie's hand. “I am so sorry, Robbie.”

Robbie lowered his head to hide his teary eyes. “No need to be sorry, babe.”

Aten held Robbie's hand as tightly as he could. “I never want you to leave me, Robbie.”

“I won't, Aten. I promise you that I will never leave you.”

Aten reached out. “Hold me, Robbie….please.”

Robbie shifted closer to Aten and brought his friend's upper body in his arms. Robbie held Aten against him and felt the Egyptian teen's fingers dig into his shirt.

“Never let me go, Robbie. Hold me.”

Robbie kissed the side of Aten's neck. “I love you so much, Aten. Gods, I love you so much it hurts.”

Aten sniffled. “I wanted to grow old with you, Robbie. But I guess that won't happen now…..will it?”

Robbie grabbed Aten's hair and rubbed the silky strands. “It's okay, Aten……you know you'll always be in my heart.” Robbie kissed the side of Aten's neck and his jaw. “We'll be together forever, Aten. I know we will. Nothing will tear us apart.”

Aten sniffled as he nodded. “Death won't separate us, Robbie….I won't let it.”

Aten's body began to shake as his grip weakened.

Robbie cradled Aten's head in his hand. His arm wrapped around Aten's back and he laid his friend down on the bed.

“Sorry, Robbie…..still…..weak.”

The Caucasian teen wiped a tear from his friend's eye. “I understand, Aten. Get some sleep.”

“Stay here…..until I fall asleep.”

Robbie watched as Aten closed his eyes and drifted into sleep. The door opened behind them and Ryou walked in.

“Sorry, Robbie. Is Aten still awake?”

Robbie stood up. “No, he just fell asleep again.”

Ryou stood by Aten's bedside. “He needs his sleep. Robbie, you should go home. You've been here constantly and I don't want your mother to worry about you.”

“She doesn't mind that I'm here.”

Malik put his hand on Robbie's arm. “She probably misses you, Robbie.”

Bakura nodded. “You look tired, Robbie. You really need to go home.”

Robbie looked at Aten. “I promised I wouldn't leave him.”

“Robbie, you need to go home,” Ryou said, hugging the teen.

The teen gave a defeated sigh and leaned down to Aten. “I'm going, Aten. I promise I will see you after school.”

Robbie placed a gentle kiss on Aten's cheek. “I love you, Aten.” He grabbed his jacket and left.

The teen left the room with his hands in his pockets and his mind racing with ideas.

 

Robbie's POV

 

Aten has five years to live.

……

What's life going to be like without him? He's been my entire life. He's my only friend.

Aten's the only one I could ever have feelings for. I can't love anyone else like I love him.

……

It's going to be hard when he's gone.

Who am I going to spend time with? Aria has Umi. Who am I going to have?

I don't know what I'm going to do when he's gone.

I love Aten very much.

The thought of being away from him is like telling me not to breathe air. How could I not breathe air and live?

Likewise, how can I not have Aten and continue living?

Aten means so much to me!

How do you show someone how much you love them?

Aten's in no condition right now for THAT type of expression of love. How do we explain THAT to our parents? `Yeah, we were making love and he had a heart attack on me.'

I'd have to run from not only three outraged father, but a crazy girl who enjoys raw meat and can send anything she wants to the Shadow Realm.

I've seen her send my scooter to the Shadow Realm once because she couldn't operate it.

Aria scares me sometimes.

She's a great girl……but she scares the hell out of me on a daily basis.

I can see her kids becoming just as insane as she.

There's only one way that I feel that I can show Aten how much I love him.

I may be young……but I do not have much time left with Aten.

There won't be any time when we are older for us to do this.

Seize the day, right?

It's either I do this now……or never.

This is a big decision.

I need to talk to someone about this.

Someone I can trust.

Someone who won't send me to the Shadow Realm or cut my tongue out.

Someone like……

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

Tristan twirled his lover and dipped him low in the living room. The Dice Master giggled.

The tall brunet leaned down and kissed his husband on the lips. “Having fun, pussycat?”

Otogi smiled. “Dancing in the living room? Hell, yeah! I can't remember the last time we danced to this CD.”

Tristan pulled Otogi up again and wrapped his arm around the Dice Master's waist. “It has been a long time. Things have been crazy lately.”

Otogi nodded as he put his head on Tristan's shoulder. “I know.”

Tristan moved his husband to the music and kissed his forehead. “I love you, Ryuugi Otogi.”

The Dice Master smiled as `Embrace Me' started playing on the stereo.

Otogi smiled. “Remember this?”

Tristan stroked the other man's raven hair. “Our song, pussycat.”

Tristan tipped his husband's chin up and placed a slow kiss on his lips. Their tongues caressed each other and stroked each other gently. Otogi felt his lover slowly unbutton his shirt and touching his skin lightly.

“I love you, Otogi,” Tristan moaned as the Dice Master pressed against him.

“I want you, Tris,” Otogi moaned as he reached to stroke his husband's arousal through his jeans.

Tristan laid his lover on the carpet and started to kiss down his husband's neck. The brunet slowly unfastened the buttons on Otogi's shirt. Pulling back the fabric, he revealed the Dice Master's stomach.

“My pussycat,” Tristan moaned as he kissed Otogi's stomach tenderly.

Otogi squirmed under Tristan's touch. The brunet's hands wandered to Otogi's pants.

“Baby, please….”

A knock sounded on the door and Otogi sighed in despair.

“Who could that be?”

Tristan groaned. “Talk about bad timing.”

“Mr. Otogi? Mr. Taylor?”

Tristan raised his eyebrow. “'Mr. Taylor?' Only one person calls me that.”

Otogi jumped up and buttoned his shirt. “Robbie!”

Otogi ran for the door and opened it. He saw the distressed teen figiting nervously and shifting his weight off of his bad foot.

“I need to come in. Please, I need to talk to you!”

Tristan shut off the music. “What's wrong, kiddo?”

“I can't discuss it out here, Mr. Taylor. Can I please come in?”

The couple stepped side.

“Robbie, you are always welcome here and there's no need to call us `mister.'”

Otogi lead Robbie to the couch. “Do you want something to drink? Some cookies? They're fresh. I baked them about an hour ago.”

“No, thank you, Mr.---I mean, Otogi.”

Tristan sat beside the teen and crossed his legs. “What's up, man? You look…distressed, to say the least.”

“Do you know that Aten is very sick?”

The couple nodded. “Yeah, Aten's been a sick pup since birth. But Ryou and Marik are good parents. They kept the little tyke alive this long. Heaven only knows how they did it, though,” Tristan commented.

“You know Aten is going to die….right?”

Otogi sighed. “Aten's been sick a very long time, Robbie. But Aten's been a happy kid, despite the fact he has a deformed heart. You both played together and he never let it get in the way of your fun, did he?”

“No. We always stopped and let him catch his breath before we played.” Robbie looked up at Otogi. “The doctors only gave Aten five more years to live.”

Tristan lowered his head and shook it. “Poor Ryou. I bet ya' he didn't take that news well.”

“That's gonna crush the little guy,” Otogi sighed.

Robbie nodded. “It's not easy to hear. That's why I'm here. I have a problem.”

Otogi took Robbie's hand. “Rob, you know we're always here for you. You told me three years ago that you loved Aten. This must be very difficult for you.”

Robbie nodded. “It is. That's why I'm here. I need your advice.”

“Anything you need, Robbie, we're here,” Tristan said.

“That's good to know. Now….I love Aten. I really, really do. But, I know that he won't be around for much longer. I want to show him how much I love him. I know I'm young. I may be even too young to think about this.” Robbie's hands started to shake. “But I want to show Aten how much I love him. I want to bond with him.”

Tristan pat Robbie's leg. “If you want to sleep with him, Robbie, you'll have to wait until he recovers.”

Robbie shrugged. “Well, I know I have to wait until he recovers. I'm not going to pounce on him now, Tristan. I know better than that.”

Otogi smiled. “Wait until Dr. Zira gives you guys clearance. No reason to rush.”

Robbie wrung his hands nervously. “Well, that's partially what I was thinking, but that's not what I want to talk to you guys about.”

“Spill, Robbie,” Tristan said casually.

“Just tell us what you're feeling, Robbie,” Otogi said with a smile.

Robbie took a deep breath and turned to the couple. “As I said, I know we may be young, but…….I want to ask Aten to marry me.”

 

 

Updates: Saturday

 

Note: Next chappie will have a foursome lemon…..maybe even a little Robbie self love. I know a lemon will make it all better, but do you guys want a little solo action? I'll leave that up to you guys.