Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ Journey To The Underworld ( Chapter 34 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

*review responses next time, guys. Work has been insane and I've been pulling 50 hour work weeks.*

Journey To The Underworld

Aria looked down at the ground, holding Umi's hand tightly. The warm wind blew her white spiky hair around, the white strands flowing around her. Umi felt the girl's grip remain strong. Her eyes looked sad, but he could tell she was holding them back.

Aten looked over at his sister as Marik placed one of the baby's possessions into the grave. Her face was hard to read. He could tell she wanted to cry, but she wasn't shedding a tear. Robbie turned to watch Aria and looked at the white casket laying beside the open grave.

Aria kneeled in front of the white casket and put her hand on the smooth surface. Dr. Zira had kept the baby for an autopsy. After an extensive investigation, he found that the cause of death had been SIDS.

“Kailani….I'm sorry,” Aria whispered to the casket. “I must truly be the worst mother in the world.”

Marik stopped his Egyptian chants. “No, Aria. You are not to blame. Osiris wanted this child back. It was Kailani's time.”

Aria leaned over on the coffin and trembled. “Kailani….I want you back.”

Ryou stepped behind Aria and put his hands on her shoulders. “Now, now, Aria. We know how much you loved Kailani.”

Aria stood up and hugged her mother tightly. Ryou could feel her body trembling as she held him tightly.

Marik continued the Egyptian prayers and stepped back to allow Bakura to chant some blessings for the dead.

“My mother will watch over the baby, Aria,” Ryou said looking at his own mother's grave. “My mother will take care of the baby for you.”

Aria shook her head. “But I'm her mother! I should be the one taking care of my baby!”

Ryou sighed. “I know, angel.”

Seto and Joey walked up to the casket and placed matching pink roses on the white casket.

Aria looked up at Seto as he passed. She released her mother and hugged Seto tightly. “Uncle Seto…why?”

Seto held onto Aria, caressing her hair.

****Flashback****

The royal doctor emerged from the harem. Seth and Aria waited anxiously to hear the news regarding their daughter.

“My sincerest apologies, my Lord. I could not save your child. The disease has killed her.”

Aria burst out into tears. “KHEPRI!”

The High Priest held onto his shaking wife as she sobbed heavily.

From down the hallway he saw Pharaoh Yami approaching, his cape flowing majestically behind him.

The pharaoh arrived at his door. “What of the child's fate?”

“Our child is dead, my lord. A disease of the lungs has killed her.”

Yami looked down at Aria. “You….Aria.”

Aria looked up at the pharaoh. “Yes, my pharaoh?”

“Try again. And get it right the next time.”

Aria closed her eyes tightly and gripped onto Seth.

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

Seto shook his head and looked down at Aria clinging onto him. “Aria, it's going to be okay.”

Bakura watched his daughter cry in Seto's arms. He narrowed his eyes at the crying girl.

This was all Yami's doing.

Yami killed her children.

Yami had to pay.

Marik stepped closer to Bakura, hearing the white-haired yami growling louder and louder.

Malik stepped closer to Bakura, too, watching the yami's body tense. “Bakura, this is no place to make a scene.”

“That pharaoh deserves to pay,” Bakura snarled angrily. “There was no need for this death!”

Aten looked at the coffin. “Death is not meaningless, Father Bakura. The baby is in a place of eternal paradise. The baby surely would have passed Osiris' judgment.”

Aria sniffled. “Kailani….you didn't deserve to die.”

Seto kissed Aria's forehead. “Come on, Chibi Bakura,” the CEO said as he tilted her head up. “No more tears,” he said as he wiped away her tears.

Aria looked up into the blue eyes hovering over her. “I can't help it, Uncle Seto.”

“I know, Aria.”

Aria turned back to the coffin.

Marik and Bakura grabbed the coffin and lowered it gently into the ground.

Aria stepped beside the coffin and placed two roses into the grave. “Goodnight, baby.”

Miranda reached for Robbie's hand and squeezed it. Robbie turned to his mother and put his arm around her.

“I love you, Robbie,” Miranda whispered quietly.

Robbie smiled. “Love you, too, mom. Very much.”

Umi stepped behind Aria and put his hand on her shoulder.

Aria stood up and walked away. Her mother walked beside her.

Marik and Bakura filled in the grave with the dirt. Miranda continued to hold Robbie's hand as the grave was slowly filled with dirt.

Joey and Seto watched Ryou once again take Aria into his arms. “Poor Aria,” Joey sighed.

“Aria's a strong, healthy girl. How could she lose two infants?”

Bakura growled. “The pharaoh placed a curse on her. She can't bear a living offspring until the curse is lifted.”

Umi's eyes narrowed. “What?!”

“Aria was cursed by Yami,” Marik said as he shoveled the dirt. Malik and I have tried to search for a counter-spell, but our books hold nothing.”

Bakura grunted. “My soulroom's books are useless. Nothing I have is meant to counteract Noble Magic. Royal Magic can only be broken by a Noble's counter-spell. That means only an Ishtar has access to that kind of magic.”

Umi looked at Aten, Malik, and Marik. “Only one of you can break the spell?”

Marik stopped shoveling. “Yami wouldn't sink so low as to use Commoner's Magic….no offense, Itemri.”

“None taken…..I'll beat you later for that comment.”

“Yami would only use strong Royal Magic. The trick is that only Malik and I can command that type of magic. Aten may be able to, but it takes a lot of energy to channel that type of strong magic.”

Aten shrugged. “I've never tried to do any kind of magic….not that I remember, anyway.”

Malik sighed. “If we ever hope to find what we need, we may have to do what we did while you were ill with the Yami Virus. We'll have to go to Egypt to track down the counter-spell.”

Aten looked at Malik. “Are you serious?”

“Well, if it's the only way to break the curse, Aten, we have to try it. Your wedding isn't for another week. We can be back by the time your wedding starts.”

Robbie shrugged. “Are you sure you can find the spell you need by then?”

Malik shrugged. “The Domino Museum has a large library. My sister should be able to help me.”

Bakura covered the grave with the last shovel of dirt. He wiped his forehead full of sweat. “Sleep well, grand-daughter. Watch over her, Rhea,” the yami whispered.

Malik wrapped his arm around his yami's waist.

Marik held the Millennium Rod in his hands. “I'll have to return to chisel the name into the stone. I can't do it without my Shadow Magic.” A drop of rain fell on Marik's nose. “And it's starting to rain.”

Marik lead Malik away from the grave with a pensive look in his eye.

/Marik? What's wrong?/

//Nothing.//

/Liar./

//I was thinking of long ago. I had to bury Amunet. It's been a long time since I've felt what I do now.//

/It's okay, Marik. At least you and Bakura can go to the Underworld and see her whenever you want./

Marik scratched his hair. “Yeah, you're right. I haven't been to the Underworld in a very long time.”

Bakura turned his head. “The Underworld? Why on Earth would you want to go there?”

Marik sighed. “We can see that Rhea is taking care of Kailani.”

Bakura saw his daughter still crying on Ryou's shoulder. “If we can reassure Aria, it may make this easier on her.”

Bakura saw Ryou sit beside Aria in the car, her face sullen and quiet. Her shoulders sagged and her eyes fought hard to hold back the tears. “Maybe that is what she needs.”

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

Aria's POV

When we returned home from the cemetery, I walked quietly to my room. Everyone knew better than to ask me how I was doing as I climbed the stairs.

Even my mother was unusually quiet.

I closed my bedroom door behind me and sat on my bed.

Kailani has been dead a week….and her cradle still sits in the corner of my room. Father dismantled the crib. He says we'll keep it for a future baby.

No more.

I'm not losing another baby.

I can't go through this again.

I won't let myself have any more children if I'm just going to lose them.

Holding Kailani's teddy bear against my chest, I let myself finally cry.

Oh, Kailani….

My daughter.

I loved her so much….if only I could see her again.

Wait!

I can see her again!

Far back, I remember a portal to the Underworld that lies in the Shadow Realm. I remember being taken there when I was really little.

If I go into the Underworld, I can see Kailani. I'm sure I can find my way back from the Underworld if I go there.

How hard can it be to get back?

I put the teddy bear on the bed and walked to my empty wall. It's great being the one with the strongest magic. “SHADOW REALM PORTAL, OPEN!”

A dark hole appeared in my bedroom and I walked through. The coldness of the Shadow Realm bit my skin.

“NIGHTMARE DRAGON, COME TO YOUR MISTRESS!”

In the distance, she saw her dragon fly to her. The large black dragon covered in spikes and having large red glowing eyes arrived in front of her. “My mistress. Hello.”

“Nightmare Dragon, I wish to know the location of the Underworld Well.”

“But why?”

Aria lowered her head. “I lost my infant. I want to see her one more time.”

“My mistress, you cannot enter the Underworld Well.”

Aria clenched her fists. “I so CAN enter the Underworld Well! I want to see my baby again!”

“Those who have entered the Tunnel have done so because it is their time. It is not your time to enter the portal.”

Aria lowered her head. “I…I don't care. I lost two babies….my brother is sick…..what more do I have?”

“Your mate,” the dragon said lowering its head. “You will abandon him?”

“Umi…I love him. I really do.”

The dragon growled quietly. “Then why abandon the living who love you?”

“I didn't come here for a lecture! I came to find the location of the Underworld Well!”

The dragon growled. “Very well. I will take you to the Well. It is located in the Shadow Realm Badlands.”

Aria crawled on her dragon's head and the dragon flew off. Below she saw a temple. “I thought we destroyed that temple!”

“It was erected again….with a new inhabitant.”

Aria growled and the Sennen Eye appeared on her forehead. “I can sense the pharaoh!”

“He is below…..but his barrier is strong.”

Aria looked below and saw The Helpless Child playing with The Loyal Servant. Aria gasped as she looked ahead. “What…is that?”

A black flying fortress hovered in the sky.

“It looks like the Castle of Dark Illusions.”

The Nightmare Dragon snarled. “That is where HE lives.”

“He? He who?”

“The ultimate fiend with a scar and innocent blood on his hands.”

Aria narrowed her eyes at the castle. “Who lives there?”

“He violates the innocent….and has turned his back on his son. He is evil….incarnate. He survives in the Badlands because his heart is full of emptiness…his body feeds on despair. He does not stay in that castle….he wanders.”

Aria watched as they passed the castle. “He must be a strong monster. Where is this Well? Are we there yet?”

“Almost there, mistress.”

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

Bakura looked at Aria's doorway. He sat on his bed listening for the sound of her crying. Even if she had her door closed, he wanted to be nearby in case she needed him.

He approached the door and knocked quietly. “Aria? Are you okay, baby girl?”

Nothing.

“Aria? I know you're going through a lot right now, but I want you to know that your mother and I will be here for you.”

Nothing.

“Chibi Yami?”

Bakura turned the doorknob and opened it slightly. “Aria?”

Bakura saw a black portal on the wall. Aria had a bad habit of forgetting to close her portals. “ISHTAR!”

Marik ran up the stairs and stepped beside Bakura. “What's wrong?”

Bakura threw open the door. “Aria went into the Shadow Realm!”

Ryou called from downstairs. “Is Aria okay, guys?!”

“She went into the Shadow Realm, Ryou!”

“Sweet Isis! What does she want there?!”

Bakura scratched his head and gasped. “Shit. Ishtar, come on!”

Bakura grabbed Ishtar and ran into the Shadow Realm. “I hope we're not too late!”

“Itemri! What's going on?”

“Aria's not coming here for a friendly visit! She has to be around here somewhere!”

The White Magical Hat appeared before Bakura. “My lord? Why are you rushing?”

“Have you seen Aria?”

“I saw the Nightmare Dragon flying over the Badlands.”

Bakura gasped. `She wouldn't….go there….would she?'

“Did you see her?”

“She was with her dragon.”

Bakura growled. “Damn it! We have to get to Aria before she finds that Well!”

“GREAT BEAST OF THE SKY! WINGED DRAGON OF RA!” Marik called out.

A loud roar sounded and the Winged Dragon of Ra soared towards them. The God Monster lowered its head. “Take us to the Underworld Well, Ra. Come on up, Itemri.”

Marik pulled Bakura onto Ra's head. “Hold onto me tightly.”

Bakura grinned devilishly and grabbed between Marik's legs. “You mean here?”

Marik bit his lip and held back a moan. “Bastard.”

Bakura grinned and continued to hold onto Marik tightly. “Are you sure?”

“Ra….go! Itemri….get your hands away from my crotch! You're unbelievable!”

Bakura shrugged as he kept his hands on Marik. “I can't resist you.”

The white-haired yami rested his cheek against Marik's back and looked down at Yami's castle. “We must find a way to bring that bastard to his knees, Ishtar.”

“We will, Bakura. We'll make him pay for hurting our family.”

Marik's eyes widened at the Castle of Dark Illusions. “Was that thing always in the Badlands, Bakura?”

“The castle? Yeah. You've never noticed?”

“It's been a while since I've actually seen it.”

Marik shrugged. “Hurry, Ra! We don't have much time!”

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

The Nightmare Dragon landed beside a castle which laid in ruin. Aria looked around at the debris.

“What is this place?”

“You do not remember when you were little and brought here?”

“No.”

The Nightmare Dragon folded his wings. “You were very little when you were here last. Yami used his `Mind Crush' on you and you were sent to the Underworld. Your father and Lord Marik came to rescue you.”

Aria looked around. “Where is the Well?”

“Go into the ruins. You will find the Well.”

Aria sighed and walked over the rocks. Her foot slipped, making a small cut on her ankle. “Damn rock.”

She climbed over the debris and found the Well in the ruins of a large room. She walked over the tile floor towards the Well. She looked down and sighed.

“KAILANI! ARE YOU THERE?!”

No answer.

Aria bit her lip. “Here goes nothing.”

Aria stood at the edge of the Well and closed her eyes. “Goodbye, everyone.”

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

The Winged Dragon of Ra approached the ruins. Bakura looked down and saw Aria standing at the edge of the Well.

“ARIA! NO!” Bakura screamed, his voice filled with fear. “ARIA! RA, LAND!”

The dragon landed and Bakura ran towards his daughter. `I can't lose my daughter!' Bakura thought as he ran over the debris.

Aria closed her eyes and Bakura watched her prepare to jump.

“ARIA! PLEASE DON'T JUMP! THAT'S SUICIDE!”

Aria jumped and Bakura dove for her.

Aria jolted as she felt a hand grab her wrist. She looked up. “Father? Let go of me!”

Bakura clenched his teeth. “Ishtar….help!”

Marik reached down and grabbed Aria's other hand. “Child, what are you doing?”

The two yamis pulled the girl out of the Well. Bakura held onto Aria, his body trembling with fear.

“My baby girl,” Bakura whimpered as he held her.

“Daddy, what are you doing here?”

Bakura kissed her cheek. “Saving your life.”

“What do you mean? I was just going to the Underworld.”

Marik sat at the Well's edge. “Aria, you cannot go into the Underworld. If you do, you will die.”

Aria's eyes filled with tears. She held her father, hugging him. “Daddy, I just wanted to go see my baby.”

“Aria, you can't go into the Underworld. I don't want to lose you, Aria. I don't want to see you die on me,” the white-haired yami pleaded.

Marik watched his partner. `I've never seen Bakura afraid of anything,' Marik thought. `Bakura has never been in this much terror….even when he was in Yami's clutches.'

“Aria, Marik and I will go to the Underworld for you. We are already dead. We can come back. Mortals will not be able to return.”

“You'll go down for me? And you will come back?”

“We will see the baby for you and tell you that she is in good hands. You stay here. Ra, Nightmare Dragon, take care of her. Protect her. We'll be back.”

Bakura and Marik jumped into the Well and landed on their asses. Marik winced and rubbed his butt.

“Can't we put some pillows on the grass here or something? How come jumping into paradise hurts? You would think that there'd be no pain here.”

Bakura and Marik looked around. The River Nile flowed beside them. The bank of the river was spotted with reeds. The warm breeze moved through their hair.

A large temple lay in the distance.

Bakura shifted closer to Marik, remembering what had happened to him last in the Underworld with Yami.

Marik looked around. He knew Amunet was not here. The more he was in Miranda's presence, the more he knew. Miranda was Amunet in the past.

But now she was taken already.

Bakura walked ahead. “Rhea? Rhea, are you here?”

In the distance, he saw a woman holding a baby.

Marik and Bakura ran up to her. “Rhea?”

Ryou's mother turned, holding the baby in her arms. “Hello, Bakura. You look better than when I saw you last.”

“Marik and your son took care of my injuries. Your son never left me, Rhea.”

The woman smiled and stroked Bakura's cheek. “My boy loves you very much, Bakura. It's not hard to see that.”

Bakura placed his hand on Kailani's forehead. “You're in good hands, little one.”

“I will watch over my great-granddaughter, Bakura. Give Aria extra love. She needs it if her baby is down here.”

“I caught her trying to jump down here.”

Rhea shook her head. “She is young and impulsive…unlike my grandson. She is much like you.”

“That is the scary part. She is my daughter. She is more like me than Ryou. Sometimes that can't be a good thing.”

“Marik Ishtar, your son needs extra love, too. He needs time and patience…..and a shoulder to cry on when he needs it.”

“I've always been there for him. I'm his father.”

Rhea cradled the baby in her arms. “When he comes here, Marik, you know I will watch over him, too. You need not worry about that.”

“Rhea, does my son only have five years?”

Rhea looked down at the baby. “I am afraid it may be a little less than that. Only the gods know when they will take your son. But when he finally is out of his pain, I will here waiting for him.”

“Thank you, Rhea,” Marik said.

Rhea smiled. “No worries, Marik. I promise to look after them.”

Bakura hugged Rhea. “Thank you, Rhea.”

“Goodbye, Bakura.”

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

Bakura and Marik ascended the Well and floated back into the Shadow Realm. Aria stood by her father.

“Father, is my baby okay?”

Bakura nodded. “Your grandmother is watching the baby. Kailani is in good hands, baby girl.”

Aria looked into the Well. “I wish I could go with you to the Underworld.”

Bakura put his hands on her shoulder. “Baby girl, believe me….It's not all that great going there. It's not great being immortal either. Marik and I will never die. We will never know eternal rest.”

“Aria, we still want you with us. If we lost you, all of us would be very upset,” Marik added. “We don't want to lose our girl.”

Aria hugged Bakura tightly. “I love you, daddy.”

Bakura kissed his daughter's cheek. “You're my treasure, baby girl.”

Marik waved to Ra and the dragon lowered its head. Marik climbed onto the dragon's head. “I'm going on ahead. You two can come when you are ready.”

The Winged Dragon of Ra flew away.

Bakura sighed. “We better go. Your mother will be worried.”

“Nightmare Dragon!”

The Dragon lowered its head and the father and daughter climbed on top of the spiky dragon carefully.

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

“Oh my baby girl!” Ryou gasped as he kissed his daughter. “Are you okay?”

Ryou hugged Aria close to his body.

“Mother, I'm fine.”

Ryou sighed. “Malik and I were so worried about you!”

Malik nodded. “Yes, we were. Very worried!”

Aria smiled. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare anyone.”

Aten kissed her cheek. “Sister, I was so worried about you!”

“I'm fine, guys. There's no reason to worry.”

Umi held her hands and kissed her on the lips. “I'm glad you're okay, Little Mermaid.”

Aria wavered on her feet, but Umi caught her. “Aria!”

“It's been a long day.”

Umi nodded. “Yes. And you've been under terrible strain. Come on, love. Let's go to bed.”

Robbie turned to Aten. “I better get home to mom. I have to begin clearing out a space for you to move in, Aten.”

“Okay, Robbie. I'll see you tomorrow and I'll give you a hand.”

Aten kissed his fiancé on the lips and watched him leave. “I better head off, too. I better take my pills.”

Aten disappeared into the kitchen.

“I think we all better head off to bed,” Marik said. “Today has been a long day and Ra only knows what will happen tomorrow.”

Umi lead Aria upstairs as the adults said their goodnights. The couple washed up and disappeared into Aria's room.

Aria slipped into her pink lacy nightgown and crawled into bed. Umi slipped in beside her and put his arm around her, rubbing her stomach.

“Umi, please don't.”

“What?”

“I don't want to be touched tonight. I just want to go to sleep.”

Umi shrugged. “I wasn't going to touch you. I know you're still trying to get over the birth.”

Aria sighed. “I don't think I can ever be a mother again, Umi. I just can't do this anymore.”

“Aria, it's normal to be upset.”

Aria shook her head. “I just don't want to lose any more.”

Umi kissed her neck. “Well, Aria, we're still in school. I know I don't plan on trying again until after school is finished.”

Aria wiped away a tear. “Sorry, Umi. I just can't do it.”

“That's okay, Aria. Don't cry.”

“Just go to sleep, Umi.”

Aria closed her eyes.

********Dream Sequence******

Aria opened her eyes to find herself in Keith's apartment. She gasped and ran for the door. She tugged at the doorknob violently.

“LET ME OUT! SOMEBODY! ATEN!”

“Well, hello there, angel drawers!”

Aria turned and saw Keith standing there. “KEITH!”

Keith grinned as he approached her. “How's my dirty little girl? Care to give daddy some sugar?”

Keith grabbed her wrist.

Aria tugged. “No! Go away!”

Keith laughed. “Now that we don't have that brat anymore, we can try all over again! Do you want to get pregnant?”

“No! Keith! Let go!”

“We can try again, you know.”

Aria try desperately to tear her arm away as Keith removed his length from his pants.

“Come give daddy a little head, dirty girl.”

Aria raked her nails down his face, making him release her.

Aria kicked down the door and ran out of the room. She ran down the hallway and stopped short when Eric jumped out at her.

He grabbed her and threw her against the wall. “What about bearing my child this time, Aria?”

Aria's knee connected with his groin and she ran away screaming.

“ATEN! FATHER!”

The girl ran down the steps and ran into the street. Umi tackled her as she emerged from the building.

“What about bearing my child, Little Mermaid?”

Umi pressed his lips against hers in a hungry kiss. Aria struggled to push him away, but it didn't work. Umi reached between them and struggled with his zipper.

“This will only take a second, Aria. Don't worry.”

Aria screamed. “UMI! GET OFF OF ME! I DON'T WANT TO GET PREGNANT AGAIN!”

Aria kicked and bit Umi, but the boy pulled down her underwear.
”Here I go, Aria….Let me plunge into your ocean!”

Aria screamed again as she felt Umi begin to press himself into her………

***************End dream*******

Aria opened her eyes and wiped her forehead. It was 4:oo am. It would have been time for Kailani's feeding. Aria felt Umi's arm draped over her hip.

She slowly removed his arm from her and she slipped out of bed. She looked down at Umi and backed away slowly. `I can't sleep in the same bed tonight. That dream felt too real.'

Aria opened her bedroom door slowly and closed it behind her.

Loud snoring emanated from the Ishtar bedroom. She looked inside the Ishtar bedroom and found Malik sleeping in Marik's arms. The hikari was pressed against his yami and sleeping with his head buried against Marik's chest. The Egyptian yami snored loudly as he cradled his hikari against him.

She crept to her parents room and found the door slightly cracked. Her mother slept on his side facing Bakura. The room was warm. The window was open, gently moving the curtains. The sheets revealed Ryou's scarred back and a little of his buttocks. Bakura's hand rested on Ryou's behind as the two slept quietly.

Aria sighed and walked towards her brother's bedroom. She slowly opened the door and found Aten sleeping peacefully on his back, his arms crossed over his chest.

She slowly approached her brother and gently nudged him awake. “Aten?”

Aten opened his eyes quickly. “Sister?”

“Aten, I had a nightmare. Can I slip in there with you?”

Aten moved over and pulled back the sheets. Aria slipped into bed beside her brother and held him.

“It's been a long time since you've come into my bed,” Aten yawned. “I always used to come to your bed.”

Aria looked up at her brothers two different colored eyes. “Aten, I….I love you.”

Aten yawned again and held her close to him. “I love you, too, sister. The pain that you feel will fade, Aria. She is well cared for where she is.”

Aria sighed. “I know, Aten.”

Aten kissed her forehead. “You're safe with me, sister. Close your eyes and go to sleep.”

The girl closed her eyes as her brother held her. He kissed her forehead.

“Sleep, sister.”

The brother and sister closed their eyes and relaxed as slept overcame them.

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