Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ Dirt ( Chapter 20 )

*review responses next time…sorry, guys, lots have been going on*

*hugs to Anubiset for joining my fanlisting!*

 

Dirt

 

Aten opened his eyes when he felt someone touch his arm. He turned his head to the side and saw Katie standing by his bedside.

“Good morning, Aten. Dr. Zira was just in here examining you.”

The Egyptian yawned. “I didn't notice. I can sleep like the dead, you know.”

“He just went to get your blood test results from yesterday.”

Aten's head fell back on the pillow as Katie removed his IV. “I really hope I can go home today. I can walk all of the way down the hall now with almost no assistance!”

Katie smiled. “You've certainly come a long way, Aten.”

Dr. Zira walked into the room. “Well, how's our miracle boy today?”

Aten smiled. “Doing well, doctor. Ready to go home and sleep in my own bed.”

Dr. Zira opened Aten's chart. “Well, the oxygen level in your blood is doing well. Your blood sugar is average. Everything looks good. Your heartbeat sounded stable enough as it's going to get.”

Aten sighed. “Can I go home yet?”

Dr. Zira laughed and pat Aten on the arm. “Yes.”

The brown and purple eyes widened. “Really? Thank Ra!”

Zira looked up at Katie and Katie left the room. Zira pulled up a chair towards the bed. “Now, Aten, there are some things we need to discuss about your condition. There are some things that you must do to go home today.”

“Okay. I don't think I need to tell you to watch your diet. Restrict your fluids to one eight ounce glass a day. If your legs swell, elevate them. You will need to get plenty of sleep and rest. No running a marathon. You will need physical therapy to get your strength back. Be sure to come here three times a week for the first month. After that, we can see how you are progressing. I suggest you take up a light exercise. Dancing, for example. Walking is another good option, just don't overdo it.”

Aten nodded and sipped a cup of water by his bed. “What about school?”

“You are not strong enough to go back to school, Aten. This is what I wanted to talk to you about. I don't see you returning to school on a permanent basis. Your heart cannot take the stress of the school environment.”

Aten's jaw dropped. “But…..Robbie! I have to go to school.”

“It may not be a wise decision for you, Aten. You may try it, but you may find yourself exhausted before you even get to school. Even when you recover from this, your little ticker is not going to be the same. You must take it easy. I have paperwork for your father and mother to fill out to permit you to have a private tutor come to the house.”

Aten sighed. “A tutor?”

Zira nodded. “Yes. A Mr. Cullen has volunteered to be your personal tutor. He claims to have worked with you before.”

Aten's eyes lit up. “MISTER CULLEN?! MY Tutor!?!”

“You know him?”

“Know him?! Mr. Cullen was my teacher when I was a child! He helped me with my schoolwork, seeing as how my dyslexia made school very hard. It still makes it hard at times.”

Zira nodded. “I can understand, Aten. Trust me. It can make things difficult, but, when have you been the type to give up?”

“Oh, I don't give up easily.”

“You're going to take a defibrillator home with you. In case anything like this should happen again, this will come in handy. Your fathers and mother will need to be trained how to use it. It isn't hard.”

Zira closed his file. “Do you have any questions or concerns?”

The Egyptian teen blushed a crimson red.

“Boy, Aten…I didn't think you could turn that shade of red. What is it that you want to discuss?”

Aten took a deep breath and focused his eyes away from Zira. “I…..I…..I want to sleep with Robbie.”

Zira raised an eyebrow. “Oh….okay. Well, Aten…” Zira cleared his throat. “That would be no problem. However, I would wait until you get some of your strength back. Sleeping with Robbie now may stress your heart. If you do sleep with Robbie, I recommend using a position that keeps the weight off of your chest.” Zira started to blush. “Also, you may find it more……comfortable….if you were on top of Robbie.”

“Sounds reasonable.”

“Don't let him treat you too roughly, Aten. You can still have a satisfying sex life even after a heart attack.” Zira rubbed his forehead. “I brought you into this world and here I am discussing sex with you. It's too early for this.”

Aten laughed. “It is kind of funny, isn't it?”

“My point is not to rush this, Aten.”

Aten shook his head. “No. I want…I want to be ready when I can.”

“That's my boy. Now I'll get the nurses to come help you to the shower.”

Aten ran his long fingers through his white and blond hair. “Yeah, I'm so dirty!”

Zira shook his head. “What am I going to do with you, Aten Bakari?”

Aten gave his doctor an innocent look. “Who, me?”

Zira opened the door and saw Robbie standing there. “Well, Well, Morgan. You're a half hour late this morning.”

“I overslept. Can Aten come home today?”

“Yes, he can, Robbie, but listen…..don't be too rough with him, okay?”

Robbie shook his head. “I'm never rough.”

“Good. He's ready for his shower. I don't know why his parents aren't here to pick him up yet.”

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

Aria staggered out of the bed and did her new morning routine. She slowly crept down the stairs, her white spiky hair sliding into her face slowly.

“Stupid hair…I should send you to the Shadow Realm…..but…then I'd be bald and look like Uncle Odion.”

She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl. She opened the cupboards and took the peanut butter jar. Moving to the table, she sat down and peeled her banana, and opened the peanut butter jar.

Empty.

No peanut butter.

Aria stared wide eyed into the empty peanut butter jar.

 

Aria's POV

We're out?!

No more left?

Great. Now I'm pregnant and I have no peanut butter……

Why?

How?

How could this happen?

WHY, RA, WHY?!

How could you do this to me, Ra?! I have a banana…..BUT NO PEANUT BUTTER TO GO WITH IT!

 

Normal POV

Ryou and Bakura opened their eyes as feminine sobbing sounded from downstairs. Ryou slowly rolled out of bed and put his bathrobe on.

Bakura slipped on a pair of boxers and staggered out of the room with his husband.

“That sounds like Aria.”

Aria's father and mother followed the sound of her cries into the hallway. Marik and Malik staggered out of their own rooms, dazed.

“Itemri, why is your offspring crying?”

Bakura shook his head. “I dunno…..”

The four adults followed the crying downstairs and into the kitchen.

Aria was sitting at the kitchen table with a peeled banana and a jar of peanut butter.

Umi approached the group and yawned.

“Aria, honey? What's wrong?”

Aria looked up at the five men with tears coursing down her cheek. “No more peanut butter……WHY? Why don't we have more peanut butter?! It's not fair!”

Aria's crying transformed into loud wails.

Ryou and the other men exchanged glances. “Oh, honey, I'm sorry. We'll get more today. I promise.”

“All I wanted is a banana and peanut butter when I woke up this morning….But no! All I wanted was a banana and peanut butter! Is that so hard to ask?”

Umi slipped between Ryou and Marik and hugged Aria tightly. “Now, now, little mermaid. It's going to be okay. We'll get some peanut butter for you.”

“But I don't have it now! This is the worst day of my life!”

Marik blinked. “I'm so glad I fathered a boy.”

Bakura walked up to his daughter. “We'll go food shopping today, honey. Is there anything you want besides peanut butter?”

“Fruit juice.”

Ryou snickered. “My, my, `Kura….doesn't that sound familiar?”

Bakura groaned. “Why me?”

Bakura and Umi rubbed Aria's back and hugged her.

“Anything else you want, Chibi Yami?”

Aria sniffled. “Orange Sherbet.”

“We can get that,” Umi said with a smile. “I'll go to the store and get you whatever you want, baby.”

Aria turned and hugged Umi around his waist, her tears still flowing. “Thank you, Umi!”

Umi caressed her hair.

“I'll go with you, Umi,” Aria said.

Malik turned towards the phone as he saw the blinking light out of the corner of his eye. “We have a message.”

“I didn't hear the phone ring,” Ryou said.

Malik picked the phone up. The digitzed voice announced. [You have a message. Message One: Hi, Ryou, this is Dr. Zira. Aten is a free man. You can come pick him up at your earliest convenience. I'm sending him home with a defibrillator as per our discussion. I'll show you how to use it when you get here.]

Malik bounced up and down on his toes. “Aten can come home today!”

Ryou smiled. “I'll get dressed now!”

The white-haired hikari ran upstairs excitedly along with Marik.

Umi hugged Aria and kissed her forehead. “We'll get that peanut butter while they're gone.”

“Okay.”

Aria stood up and turned to her father. “Sorry, daddy. I didn't mean to wake you up with my crying.”

Bakura reached out and stroked her spiky hair. “It's okay, Aria. I understand.”

Bakura gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek and walked upstairs.

Umi smiled at his girlfriend. “Let's go get ready, Little Mermaid. Then we can maybe go down to that little seafood place down the corner when we're done.”

Aria smiled and nodded excitedly. She threw herself at Umi and kissed his lips. “I love you, Umi! You're so good to me!”

“Of course I'm good to you! You're my pearl!”

Umi leaned down and kissed Aria gently on the lips. He held Aria close to her, her slightly bulging belly pressed up against him. Her arms wrapped around Umi and brought him closer to her.

The boy kissed down Aria's neck and kissed the base of the neck lightly.

“Umi…..”

Umi's soft lips lightly touched her white skin, sending shivers up her spine.

She turned her head and gave a quick lick to the side of his ear. “Careful, Umi….my parents.”

Umi pulled back with a disappointed sigh. “I know. Well, we can leave that stuff for later. Let's go get dressed.”

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

Seto crossed his legs as he looked out of the barred window. Beside him was his breakfast…toast and a warm cup of orange juice. The CEO turned his head as he heard heavy footsteps approach his jail cell.

He narrowed his eyes as Barnes appeared.

“So what do you want? Finally come to get me out of here?”

Sgt. Barnes sneered at the CEO. He removed his keys and unlocked the door to the prison cell. He threw open the door. “I have to let you go. There's no evidence in your files of anything criminal.”

“I could have told you that, genius. But then again, I'm sure you had to figure that out by yourself….slowly.”

“You're dirtier than mud, Mr. Kaiba. You are sneaky. I know there's dirt on you somewhere and trust me….I will find it.”

Seto chuckled. “Good luck, sergeant. My files are clean and I am not guilty of anything. I could sue your ass for wrongful imprisonment!”

“Go ahead. Make my day, faggot.”

Seto growled. “You're going to eat those words someday, Barnes. Trust me.”

Barnes stepped away from the door. “Just get your queer ass out of here.”

Seto passed by Barnes. “Oh…by the way. People who have called me `queer' and `faggot' sometimes disappear. I'd watch out for yourself, Barnes. Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

The CEO walked out of police headquarters. KaibaCorp was a short distance away and knew that the walk would do him good after being confined in a prison cell.

As he walked past the stores, he noticed some of the stores had removed KaibaCorp products from their windows. He paid these men good money to keep his products in the windows. And now they had been removed!

`Asher, Jay, and Karl are going to have their hands full in the next few days,' he thought as more stores pulled his products from the displays.

As he approached KaibaCorp, he saw his son arguing with a truck driver.

“My father is not like that!” Jaimen protested. “My father is a good man!”

The man unloaded another box from his truck. “You can tell your `good man' to go screw himself! We're pulling KaibaCorp products off of our shelves.”

Jaimen gasped. “You can't do that! We have a contract!”

“Piss on your contract, kid! We are not keeping any KaibaCorp products on our shelves!”

Seto saw Asher walk around the truck and stand beside Jaimen.

“Mr. Kaiba will be sad when he finds what you have done,” Asher said.

“I don't give a shit what Mr. Kaiba says!”

Seto approached the truck. Jaimen hugged his father tightly and looked up at him with his large eyes.

“This is the second shipment we've had, father. People are returning our products to us.”

The CEO narrowed his eyes. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Our company wants nothing to do with a criminal, Mr. Kaiba. We have no place for your products in our store any longer.”

Seto growled. “That's a shame…considering that we have a legal contract.”

“Like I said to your bastard…'Piss on your contract.' We are severing all ties to KaibaCorp.”

Asher laughed low in his throat. “Man go boom….”

“You cannot break a contract with me. That is illegal,” Seto said. “And…it can be dangerous to your health.”

“No, Mr. Kaiba. We refuse to sell your products. Good day!” the man closed the back of the truck and stepped into it.

Asher laughed low again. “Man go boom…..”

Seto and the gang watched the truck drive away.

Jaimen sighed. “Sorry, dad. I should have stopped them.”

“The boom will stop him,” Asher murmured.

Seto took his son's shoulders in his hands. “It's okay, Jaimen. It's good to be out of that jail cell.”

“Why did they let you go?”

“The police took my dummy files. Never leave your real files out where people can get to them, Jaimen.”

The teen smiled and hugged his father. “It's so good to have you home again!”

A loud explosion sounded down the block and Seto grabbed onto Jaimen tightly.

Asher grinned. “Man…..go….boom.”

Black smoke rose from down the street. Asher stared at the flames engulfing the truck that had been parked in front of KaibaCorp a few minutes before. His left eye twitched as he looked at the flames.

“Fire…..so….pretty….Dead man burning….Fire…..sexy.”

Seto groaned. “I'm not even out of jail one hour and now I'll probably have this pinned on me.”

Asher began to pant heavily and sweat formed on his forehead. “Fire…..sexy.”

“Asher, inside. Come on.”

“But the fire….beautiful.”

Seto snapped his fingers. “Asher, heel! Come, boy!”

The pyromaniac shifted his gaze between his boss and the truck bellowing black smoke and flames. He kept his eyes on the flames as he walked up the stairs with his boss.

When Seto entered, everyone saw him and crowded around him, talking excitedly.

Xiao Shen ran up to Seto and bowed. “Hello, Mr. Seto Kaiba-san!” (I don't know what the younger to older greeting is in Chinese, so if anyone knows, please educate me.)

“Hello, Xiao Shen.”

Maxine ran up to Seto as she pushed through the crowd. “Sir, how did you get here?”

“Walked.”

“That was dangerous, sir. There have been more threatening letters made against you and your brother.”

Seto narrowed his eyes. “That's not news. It's been my way of life since I was ten and took over this company.”

“The threats have begun to mention the kids and Jaimen, in particular.”

Jaimen stepped closer to his father. “Me? I didn't do anything to anyone.”
”You're a Kaiba, son. That makes you scum in some people's eyes. Jaimen, you are not to go to school unattended. I will speak to Karl about taking you to school and picking you up at your locker. We can't be too careful.” Seto looked at the crowd. “It's glad to be back, but we must all stay on our toes. Report any suspicious persons entering the building or any suspicious packages. Keep up the good work, everyone. Hopefully this will all be over soon.”

Seto pushed through the crowd and walked to the elevator with his son. Jaimen and his father entered the elevator.

Jaimen leaned against the wall of the elevator as he pushed the button. “It's really great to have you back, dad. I really missed you a lot.”

“I know you did, Jaimen. It's been a very rough month.”

“Ivy and Lilly missed you to death. Don't be surprised if they run to you and cling to you like flypaper. But they're down for their nap now, so it should be no problem.”

Seto and Jaimen walked out of the elevator as Jeanie was carrying Ceres in her arms and rubbing his back. His cheeks were red and his arm swung limp by Jeanie's side.

“Seto! You're home!”

The CEO walked up to the woman. “What's wrong with him?”

“He's got a bad flu.”

“Hi, Unkie Seto…..hi,” the chibi moaned.

Seto reached out and took the child from Jeanie. “Hello, little man. You not feeling well?”

“No. I thowed up on daddy.”

Seto tried not to laugh at the thought of Mokuba covered in chibi vomit. “Well, you drink plenty of juice and get some sleep. Okay?”

“Yes, Unkie Seto.”

Jeanie took Ceres back into her arms. “It's good to have you back, Seto. Mokuba's doing all he can to keep this place together.”

“He's doing a good job. The place is still standing.”

“I'll go see how he's making out. He's in the office, right?”

Jeanie nodded. “It's his home now. He hasn't had time to be a daddy.”

Seto sighed as he looked at his son. “I know how that is, Jeanie,” he said as he turned and walked towards his office. Jaimen followed him.

“I've been helping out whenever I can, father.”

“Thank you, Jaimen. Anything you can do to help further will be a big help.”

Jaimen scratched his head. “I could go help in the marketing department. Some people up and left without notice because of the scandal surrounding KaibaCorp and you. They're short staffed. I'll go see what they need!”

Jaimen ran away excitedly as Seto opened the door to his office.

The younger Kaiba stood at the desk clutching a phone in his hand. “KaibaCorp is not a company that endorses criminal behavior!.........My brother is not a killer!............This is ridiculous! My brother is not violent!....He wouldn't….He would never touch my kids that way!..........That's sick! This conversation is over!”

Mokuba Kaiba slammed the receiver into the cradle and fell back into the leather chair with his eyes closed.

“Rough morning?”

Mokuba opened his eyes. “SETO!”

The younger Kaiba jumped out of the seat and ran up to his brother. He wrapped his arms around him and gave him a tight hug. “I'm so glad to see you!”

“It's good to be back.”

Below they heard a truck pull up to the front of KaibaCorp. The two brothers looked down at the truck unloading boxes.

“That's what's been happening, Seto. People are pulling our stuff off of the shelves. We've gotten two more stores returning our products to us.”

Seto narrowed his eyes. “Someone is trying to destroy KaibaCorp…..and me along with it. I don't like this.”

“I had to run out to get my baby medicine and I saw a shop that read `Boycott KaibaCorp' in the window. It looks like people are doing exactly that.”

Seto growled low in his throat. “I will handle this myself. First….I have to see my puppy. Do you know where Joey is?”

“He's in the library.”

Seto left the office and walked briskly to the library. He opened the door and Joey was sitting on the couch with his face in his hands.

“Puppy?”

Joey looked up at Seto and his eyes widened. “Seto? Is…is that really you?”

Seto nodded and walked towards the blond, who jumped out of the chair and ran towards him. Joey threw himself at Seto as the CEO opened his arms to catch him.

The couple kissed deeply, longing for this kiss where metal bars did not separate them.

Seto put Joey on his feet and cupped Joey's face in his hands. “My puppy…..”

Tears flowed out of Joey's eyes as he wrapped his arms around Seto's shoulders.

Seto pet the blond hair and held his lover against him. “Shh, baby….don't cry.”

Joey sobbed. “I missed you so much, Seto…..”

Seto held Joey against him as he felt the blond's legs give out under him. “I've got you, Joey. Shhh…”

“I love you, Seto.”

Seto smiled. “I love you so much, puppy.”

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

Aria picked up an apple and checked it for bruises. She tensed as she felt someone watching her.

She looked around……

Nobody was looking at her.

`Something isn't right,' she thought as she pushed the shopping cart.

Umi packed the shopping cart as she pushed it.

They were in the dairy isle and Aria turned around, swearing that she felt someone watching her every motion.

Aria and Umi walked to the cash register. Umi unpacked the shopping cart.

“Mermaid, I can handle this.”

“You sure?”

Umi smiled. “Of course I can handle this.”

Aria kissed him on the lips and stepped outside. She looked around at the crowd and suddenly felt someone crash into her, knocking her off balance. She looked over…..

Bandit Keith.

Keith grinned. “Sorry, doll…..ARIA!”

Aria narrowed her eyes and pushed Keith pack violently. “You bastard! I have a bone to pick with you, you no-good-asshole!”

Keith ran, pushing through the crowd to get away from Aria. Aria followed Keith, her heart pumping quickly with her sprint.

Aria snarled as she pushed people out of her way. “GET BACK HERE!”

Keith grinned, seeing her following him. `I got you where I want you, Chibi Bakura.'

Keith turned the corner and ran down an alley. Aria looked around at the crowd.

There was a rule that no Shadow Magic was to be performed when other mortals were watching. They would not understand.

She turned the corner and ran into the alley. She felt something heavy knock into her as she turned the corner.

Keith grabbed her and held her against the brick of the wall. “Long time no see, Aria. Where have you been hiding yourself?”

“You got me pregnant, asshole.”

Keith grinned. “Prove it.”

Aria narrowed her eyes. “You are a bastard!”

Keith laughed. “Think of me what you want. There's a better place to do what I want to do.”

Aria growled. “You keep your hands off of me.”

Keith leaned in. “Would you like them inside you instead?”

“You let go of me right now! UMI! HELP!”

A dark purple haze filled the alley. Aria's fearful brown eyes looked around.

“Shadow Magic?! You're not Keith!”

“I heard of what Keith has done to you, Aria. It is a pity.”

Aria struggled. “Yami! You worm! Let me go!”

“I don't think so, Aria. I'm going to need you for my master plan….and the child you bear.”

Aria ground her teeth. “You stay away from my baby!”

“You're only going to lose this baby anyway, Aria…..why should it matter?”

“I am not going to lose this baby!”

The man grinned. “You are, Aria. I will see to it….in the Shadow Realm.”

“THAT'S HIM!”

“THAT'S KEITH!”

“LORD BAKURA WANTS HIM DEAD!”

The man and Aria turned their heads to see a group of men running towards them. Three of them pulled out guns and aimed them towards Keith. The man held Aria in front of him.

“If you shoot at me, you'll kill Aria and her unborn baby!”

“Don't fire!” Aria cried out, her heartbeat still racing.

Keith backed away laughing when he bumped into someone. He turned and saw a row of men in suits and ties standing there.

“Marik Ishtar wants you dead,” one man said with an Brooklyn accent.

Keith grinned. “Not today!”

The men watched as Keith disappeared laughing.

“Where did he go?”

Aria backed away and sobbed. “He went into the Shadow Realm. That wasn't Keith! It was Yami!”

The criminals surrounded her. “We have to take her back to our master.”

“I'm shopping with Umi.”

Two men in the suits stepped forward. “We will take her to this…Umi.”

The criminals growled. “She is our princess! She is the Thief Princess!”

“Master Marik would feel better if we cared for her.”

Aria sniffled. “No fighting. I'll go back myself. Thank you for your help.”

Umi carried the shopping bags out of the store. “Aria?”

He looked up and down the street. Aria was missing.

“Aria?!”

“Umi!”

Aria ran up to him. “Sorry! I…saw someone I knew.”

“I was worried about you, Little Mermaid.”

Aria threw her arms around Umi. “Don't leave me, Umi!”

“Who did you see?”

Aria looked up at him with large brown eyes. “Keith.”

Umi narrowed his eyes. “That bastard! Where is he?”

“Well, it was actually Yami in Keith's disguise. I….I want to go home.”

Umi nodded. “Let's go home, angel.”

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

Ryou sipped his tea. Glenn sat quietly in the chair beside his boyfriend. He looked into his own cup of tea, trying to mentally absorb what he had just been told.

“You mean…..it really wasn't Seto who beat me up and tried to kill me? It was Yugi's other half?”

Ryou nodded. “Yes, Glenn. He's been pretending to be other people in our family. He's the spirit of an ancient pharaoh bent on world domination and chaos.”

Yugi shook his head. “I know he'd be upset….but….I didn't think he would go so far as to try to murder Glenn.”

“I wouldn't put it past him to try something like this, Yugi. Yami has always wanted you to himself….even in Duelist Kingdom you can see that. We just didn't know the extent to what he'd go through to keep you to himself.”

Yugi sighed. “All this time….I have been angry at Seto for what he did. It never occurred to me it could have been anyone else.”

“This presents a problem,” Ryou said. “If Yami can pretend to be anyone else in the family, he could strike anywhere.”

Glenn shook his head. “I had to lose hearing in one ear for that asshole! The next time I see him, I'm going to kick his ass!”

“He's not going to show up as himself, Glenn. He's too smart for that.” Yugi put his tea cup down. “I never should have reassembled that Puzzle after I smashed it.”

Ryou shrugged. “It's not your fault, Yugi. You wanted to give Yami another chance.” Ryou looked down. “We all thought he could change. Sometimes, people don't change.”

The three men sat quietly.

Yugi looked up. “So what are we going to do about this?”

“There's not much we can do, Yugi,” Glenn remarked.

“We have to stop him before he tears us apart,” Ryou said with a sigh.

 

Updates:Wednesday

Note: Sorry for the few and far between updates, guys. Things have been really hectic and uncertain on my end. Hopefully all will be cleared up by next week.