Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ EXTRA! EXTRA! ( Chapter 2 )

EXTRA! EXTRA!

 

Malik folded the laundry as he watched Rhett playing in the corner. Kai was watching Barney on the television and clapping to the songs the large dinosaur was watching.

Malik folded Marik's black leather pants as Rhett examined a teddy bear carefully. He began sucking on the bear's ear.

“Here, Rhett, chew on this instead,” he said handing the baby a teething ring. “That would be better for you.”

Kai looked up at Malik and smiled. “This funny!”

Malik snickered. “I'm glad you like it, Kai. Your mother liked this show when she was young.”

“Did Papa watch it with her?”

Malik laughed. “Nope. When she watched it, Papa Bakura tried to find new and interesting ways of trying to kill himself.”

Kai laughed. “Papa Marik like this show!”

Malik laughed harder. He remembered his yami sitting and watching it once with Kai, but Marik's mind was nowhere near on the show. Malik was upstairs in the bath at the time and Marik spent most of the time molesting him through the mindlink. Malik giggled at the memory.

“Where mommy?”

“Mommy is going to pick you up in a couple hours.”

Malik heard commotion as three cars slammed their doors outside. He put down Ryou's green satin shirt and looked out the window.

Reporters were pulling television equipment out of their cars and chatting wildly.

“News cameras? I wonder what they want,” he said, returning to the laundry. “What they want is none of my business.”

Rhett continued to chew on the teething ring as Malik continued to fold laundry. The voices outside continued to become louder as more car doors began to slam shut loudly.

“What is going on?” Malik asked as he put down Bakura's blue striped shirt.

He looked out of the window again and saw the news has settled in their front yard. More newscasters stood in front of his yard, some of them trampling over his garden.

“What is all this about? Kai, stay here.”

“Where you go?” Kai asked, running to him.

“Just stay here.”

Kai tugged at Malik's leg. “Don't go!”

Malik picked up the little boy and looked out the window by the door. “It's like pandemonium outside!”

Television cameras were set up, newscasters dressed in their best were standing holding microphones. Above him, he heard helicopters flying.

`What trouble did Marik get into this time?' Malik asked himself as he saw another two vans pull up carrying equipment and news personnel.

Rhett waved his arms happily, chewing on the teething ring.

Malik shook his head as he looked into the crowd. “This could get ugly.” He walked around to the back of the house and saw a few cameras pointed towards the back door, the newscasters held their microphones. “This could get nasty.”

A knock sounded on the front door.

Malik locked the back door and bolted it shut. He walked slowly towards the front door.

“Who is it?”

“WKBL 57!”

“WKRU 95.7!”

“WUSX 69!”

A barrage of other radio and news stations were shouted among the throng of people.

Malik locked the door. “I don't know what happened, but if I open up that door, I'm gonna be swamped! I better call Marik! Bakura and Ryou are at Dr. Zira's office and I can't bother them.”

Malik ran for the phone and heard loud banging on the front door. Fists banged on the door in the front, begging and demanding entrance to the home.

Fists began banging on the back door as people looked in the windows. Their voices became louder.

Rhett looked up at the people in the windows and started crying loudly.

Malik ran into the living room and picked up the baby. “Don't worry, Rhett. Uncle Malik's got it all under control…..”

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

Marik leaned back in his chair as Seto took his seat at the furthest end of the table. He sat beside Donny and narrowed his eyes at the group. He looked around for Robbie, but remembered that the teen had to take Aten to the hospital for Cardiac Rehabilitation.

“Talk to me,” the CEO said. “And make it good.”

Marik watched one person stand up nervously.

“The Production Team has invented a new interface that is, essentially, a miniature version of a dueling arena. The duelist will be able to lay their cards down and the image of the monsters will pop up on virtual dueling field.”

Seto leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. Marik could see Seto's mind racing with thoughts.

“How great is the margin of error or malfunction?”

“It's very minimal, sir,” the man said with a small grin.

“Has it been tested?” Seto asked.

“It has been, sir. We still need a little more time before we can confidently say that it is ready for the market.”

“Then do it. Next.”

“We have been in the construction stage of the new Virtual Dueling Simulator, Mr. Kaiba, There are some bugs that need to be corrected in the primary mainframe,” another man added.

“Virtual Dueling Simulator?”

The man nodded. “Yes, sir. It fits like a visor and goes over the eyes. The subject duels an opponent and the duel seems very much real.”

“Big deal. We have dueling arenas in Kaiba Land and all over the world. The portable dueling arena that was last mentioned is another avenue for dueling. What makes this invention so different?”

“You can interact with any duel monster of your choice. Who here wanted to pet a Blue Eyes White Dragon? Charge into battle with the Battle Ox? The interface also allows the duelist to become his or her favorite monster in the game. We're still working out some bugs in the computer's hardware. It may be ready by the Spring of next year.”

Marik grinned. “I don't know if I would want to get too near the Lava Golem. He's gotta be hot has Hell.”

Seto nodded. “Very true. Is the safety of the subject assured?”

The man nodded. “So far we don't think it will cause any damage to the subject. Any product which is released is tested for both wear and tear and every avenue is explored.”

“It better be. The last thing I need for KaibaCorp is a lawsuit because some kid suffered third degree burns because the thing caught fire or gets too hot to handle.”

“We do test for any contingency,” the man assured the CEO.

“Good. I refuse to see KaibaCorp become the laughing-stock of the business world. We are one of the most powerful companies in the US! We will not submit to our competition because of someone's incompetence!” the CEO growled, slamming his fist on the table.

The table became quiet and the talking man sat down quickly.

Marik leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “Security hasn't detected any flaws in our new system. The new measures we begun several months ago have seemed to reduce the number of unwanted trespassers into our building. There have been no complaints or incidences where the new protocol was violated. Seems like things are back to normal.”

Seto crossed his arms. “Patrols around the outskirts of KaibaCorp?”

“They have yielded no suspicious activity, Mr. Kaiba,” Donny reported.

“Good work. Keep me updated on the status of your new experiments. The Department of Public Relations remain here for a few moments. This meeting is adjourned.”

Marik remained in his seat and watched the people not in his department file out of the room. Asher sat at his spot flicking a lighter and watching the flame mesmerized. Maxine checked her long nails and the Emerald green nail polish.

Seto turned to Donny. “This doesn't get put into the minutes, Don. I have an issue that I need….taken care of.” Seto removed a picture from his suit jacket and threw it on the table. “This man is Steven Rocher. He owns MagnaTech down by the docks. Look at him closely. Marik, tell them what you have found.”

Marik leaned back in his chair. “The word on the streets is that MagnaTech is attempting to undermine KaibaCorp's reputation by attempting to steal company secrets and paying a shit-load of money to anyone who can leave here with our secrets alive.”

“Are you sure of this?” Jay asked.

“One hundred percent sure. You guys know I have my….sources,” the yami grinned mischievously. “These sources are reliable and I bet you if I go to Bakura, his people would be able to discover the same shady dealings happening right under KaibaCorp's noses.”

“Are you trying to drag Bakura into our business?” Maxine asked, sternly. “KaibaCorp's business is KaibaCorp's business alone.”

“I would hold off on getting Bakura in on this as of yet,” Seto said. “If I need his services, I will contact him on my own. In the meantime, Steven Rocher poses a threat to KaibaCorp and I want him stopped.”

Asher grinned. “Should I fry him to a crisp, sir? I can make a crunchy snack out of him.”

“Not exactly.”

Karl grinned. “Tie him up and make an example out of him?”

“Not yet.”

“Eliminate him?

“Blow him to bits?”

Seto shook his head. “No, not yet. I think we need to make Steven aware that we know what he is up to. He just needs a little….persuasion….not to get in our way. Marik. Karl. You go to MagnaTech and tell Steven I don't appreciate the little game he is playing with us. You will go after his company closes for the night.”

“I have been staking the place out and he doesn't leave his office until 6:50 pm. He gets home at 7:23pm,” Donny added.

“Yes, sir,” Marik and Karl responded.

“Dismissed.”

Everyone stood up and Marik stayed behind with Seto.

“I'm trusting that you will not let me down, Marik.”

“Moneybags, I have never let you down. Well, that's not true. The password you gave me is a little….umm….non-intimidating.”

Seto chuckled. “It wasn't meant to be intimidating.”

“But…FluffyBunny12….couldn't it be something like…Annihilator666 or DeadlyAndSexy77? I would even have taken MafiaKing78!”

“Nope. You are FluffyBunny12, Marik.”

Marik shook his head. “I get no respect.”

“I had to make it difficult for anyone to guess your password. Besides, Marik….FluffyBunny12 suits you.”

“I am going to reset your password as `Asshole69.'”

Seto snickered. “Only Donny and I have the authorization to override passwords. Sorry, you're out of luck.”

“I don't like you.”

Seto grinned. “You don't have to like me. Just put up with me.”

Marik grinned and raised an eyebrow. “I'll get you back for that password, Seto Roka Kaiba. Mark my words.”

“I'd like to see that, Marik Jibade Ishtar,” Seto said with a pompous grin. “When you get done with Karl tonight, report back here.”

“No problem, Boss,” Marik snickered, walking away.

Marik's ears perked up at the sensation of his cell phone vibrating against his hip. He grinned. “Malik must be needing his after-meeting phone sex conversation.”

Seto rolled his eyes. “You never change.”

The yami reached beneath his black suit jacket and pulled out his cell phone. “Hey, baby, I just got out of my meeting and--.”

“Marik, get home right now!”

Marik grinned. “You need me that bad, Sexy Boy?”

“NO, DAMN IT! This isn't about sex….for once. There's a huge crowd here in front of the door and I need you to come home! Please! They're banging on the door, Rhett is crying! Kai is scared.”

“Crowd? What do they want?”

“I don't know! Please come home!”

“Okay, Malik, I'll be right there.”

“Please hurry!”

Marik closed the cell phone. “Hey, Seto, I have to run home. There's…..an emergency.”

“Emergency?”

“Malik said there's a crowd in front of the home. Apparently they are banging on the door and scaring the shit out of the kids. We got Rhett and Kai while Aria and Umi make whoopie.”

Seto groaned and shook his head. “Marik…..you're an adult.”

Marik laughed. “You're the one always telling me to watch my mouth around this fucking place.”

“Watch your language.”

“See?! You just did it again!”

“I was illustrating a point! Regardless, I have to get home to Malik and the kids.”

“You will still go on tonight's mission.”

Marik nodded. “I will. You know as well as anyone, Seto, that my family's protection comes first on my priority list. Nobody threatens my loved ones and gets away with it. I'm going to find out what this crowd wants.”

“Don't do anything stupid.”

“That's my line, Kaiba. You can't have it. I say that to Itemri all the time.”

“I heard it's the other way around.”

“I'll be back soon!” Marik ran down the hallway quickly and punched in his password into the keyboard. The door closed slowly as he growled at it. “Hurry up, you Ra-forsaken piece of shit….my family's in trouble.”

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

Dr. Zira flipped through Ryou's charts. “You will need to get your pacemaker battery changed next year, Ryou.”

“How is he progressing, doctor?” Bakura asked, holding Ryou's hand.

“He's doing slightly better, Bakura. His blood test came out better than the previous ones.”

Ryou squeezed Bakura's hand. “We've been walking during the day when it's not so chilly.”

Bakura smiled. “Yeah, it's always good going to the park, walking down the streets to the trinket shops….going into the adult stores looking for more porn to watch.”

Ryou shook his head. “Bakura…..”

The yami laughed at Zira's facial expression. “Hey, I might be dead, I'm still a spirit with an active libido.”

“You're worse than Marik sometimes,” Ryou groaned.

“I can't help it,” the yami grinned, putting his arm around Ryou.

Zira cleared his throat. “Yes, well, how is everything in that regard? No physical problems or difficulties, Ryou?”

Ryou shook his head. “No. I don't have problems in that regard.”

“Any pain?”

Ryou shrugged. “Not much. I use simple painkillers when it gets bad. It doesn't occur too often to be a real problem.”

“Well, everything is looking better, Ryou. Keep your diet the same way you've been eating. If you or Bakura notice some significant changes or your pain does become a problem, let me know.”

Ryou shook Zira's hand. “Thank you, doctor.”

Bakura shook Zira's hand. “Thank you, Dr.Zira.”

“No problem. Have a good day, you two, and keep up the good work.”

Bakura and Ryou stepped out of the doctor's office and saw a squad of police cars zoom by, their sirens blaring loudly, their lights flashing wildly.

Bakura dashed into the alley, growling as the cops sped by.

“Yami? You okay?”

“Force of habit. I see them cars and I hide. It's instinct.”

Ryou smiled. “I don't think they are after you. If they were, they would have stopped.”

“You never know with those types, Ry. You never know.”

Bakura stepped out from the alley cautiously, looking both ways. He took Ryou's arm and grinned. “I'm glad that you're doing better, baby. I was worried.”

“You worry too much about me. I'll be fine,” Ryou smiled up at his yami.

“Well, I have to worry about you. You are my Light….and I love the fuck out of you.”

“Umm……thanks?”

Bakura snickered and stopped. He pulled his husband into his arms. “You DO know that, right?” Bakura stared Ryou in the eyes and touched his face. “I wouldn't let anything happen to you.”

“Are you feeling okay, Bakura?”

“Of course I am! I guess….I was worried about you and I was hoping that you weren't getting worse. You weren't doing so well a few months ago.”

“I'm a fighter, yami.”

Bakura nodded and took Ryou's hand. They walked down the street together.

“You are a fighter, Ry. You've gotten to be a damn good one, too.”

“Thank you,” Ryou grinned. He looked up and saw a small shop. “Bakura, let's stop in here for a moment. I want to get Rhett and Kai a little treat. Besides…we need…umm…some supplies.”

“For?”

Ryou giggled. “You know what I mean.”

Bakura and Ryou entered the store and separated. Bakura saw a few people turn their heads and look at them enter.

The yami went to the right and strolled around the food isles. `It's like the marketplace in Cairo….the food was good….but expensive.'

He turned his head and saw a mother staring at him with her baby in a stroller. She looked at him with wide eyes.

Shrugging it off, he wandered to the snacks. He looked closely at a pack of cookies covered in chocolate candy. `It's like diabetes in a box.'

He stopped by the frozen section and saw frozen chicken sandwiches. `It's like Marik's pre-sex food. I'll have to ask Malik if chicken makes Marik more horny before sex. Chicken seems to have that affect on Jibade. Can't take that guy to a restaurant without him moaning over grilled chicken and Chicken Caesar Salad.'

From the corner of his eye, he saw one person eyeing something beside him. The man didn't approach him, just stared at him…..

And stared……

And stared……

`What's gotten into people today?'

Bakura turned the corner and saw Ryou by the condoms. Ryou was shifting his gaze between two boxes in his hands: a red box and a yellow box.

Bakura slowly approached Ryou, whose attention was on the red box. “'Ribbed for Her pleasure.' Hmm….Where are the ones that are `Ribbed for His Pleasure'?”

Ryou bit his lip to keep from laughing. “Well, if they are `Ribbed for Her Pleasure,' wouldn't they already be `Ribbed for His Pleasure,' too?”

“Not necessarily.”

Ryou shrugged. “I guess we'll have to get both and try them out.”

The yami grinned. “Alright! We'll try the yellow box first.”

Ryou giggled. “I just have to go to the toy section.”

Bakura saw one person turn the corner and start walking down the isle, then the man stopped short. The man stopped short and walked into another isle.

“Ryou, have you noticed how…..odd……these people are acting today?”

“'Odd?' No, I haven't, baby. I've been shopping.”

“I don't like how they're looking at me.”

Ryou picked up a small stuffed penguin for Rhett. “I'm sure they're not looking at you, yami.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes as he saw more people staring at him. “WHAT?! You got a problem?” He growled at the people.

“Yami!”

The people gasped and ran away.

“These people are nuts, Ry. Let's go home.”

“Do you think Rhett would like this penguin?”

“Fine. Get it. Let's go.”
Ryou held the toy against his chest. “I need something for Kai.”

“I'll be waiting up front, Ry. If you need me, scream.”

“We've been here many times, Bakura. I don't think I'll need to scream.”

Bakura approached the front counter, grumbling. `He's right. We have been here many times before. But…why does it feel so creepy today?'

The yami waited up front and grabbed a tabloid newspaper. “Let's see if they've discovered `Lobster Boy' living in the Domino River,' he chuckled.

He read the headline: `Dead Spirits Possess Ancient Magic that threatens to Destroy Domino City.'

The caption below read: `Ancient Magic exists in Domino! What danger does it pose to your family? How to protect yourself and your family from Dead Spirits!'

Bakura's eyes widened. `WHAT THE HELL?!”

Bakura opened up the newspaper and it had a picture of him sitting out back with Marik. There were other pictures, too. One was a picture of Marik summoning a monster in Domino Park.

`That's when Marik's monster injected me with that poison! I remember that time! Marik was attacking Yami and…..YAMI! That bastard! He's gotta be behind this!”

Ryou walked up to the front counter and Bakura ran to him. He slammed the paper on the counter.

“We're buying this.”

“A trash magazine? Yami, why---?”

Bakura pointed to the picture. “This! This is why!”

Ryou picked up the paper and his eyes widened. “Yami…..this is you….and Marik!”

“Read the headline.”

Ryou read the headline and he turned to Bakura. “What does it mean?”

The cashier looked at the paper. “Hey, you're one of the guys on the cover!”

Bakura growled. “Just ring our shit up so we can leave.”

“Wow…you're really dead?”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “I'm alive and well and you're going to see how alive and well I am when I shove my foot up your ass crack! Now move it, Junior!”

“Dude, you can't threaten me.”

Bakura grabbed the cashier by the collar and pulled him over the register. “I can and will! Now ring us up before I take my business elsewhere!”

Ryou pulled on Bakura's shirt. “Yami, let him go!”

Bakura pushed the teen away. “Ring us up right now!”

The shaking teen quickly scanned Ryou's items and took Ryou's money. Ryou grabbed his items. Bakura grabbed the paper and opened it up to read.

Ryou held the door for Bakura as they left. They walked down the street, Bakura reading as they walked.

“'Dead Spirits Possess Ancient Magic that threatens to Destroy Domino City. Thousands of years ago, Ancient Magic wasn't just in the hands of magicians and wizards.' Oh, please……This is nonsense!”

“Keep reading,” Ryou said.

“Ancient Magic was commonly used to protect one's property against evil or theft.'” Bakura snickered. “Ancient Magic didn't protect too many things that I couldn't steal. I took what I wanted.”

“What else does it say?”

Bakura skimmed the first part. “Okay…here it is….'Ancient Magic that belonged to the Ancients are now possessed by two individuals here in Domino City. These two individuals who possess such awesome magic, are not living people, but are actually spirits from the past who inhabit pieces of jewelry called Millennium Items.'” Bakura stopped and snarled. “My Millennium Ring is NOT a piece of jewelry!”

Ryou stopped and held Bakura's hands as people around them stopped and began to stare at them. “I know it's not, yami. Let's not try to attract too much attention to ourselves. Let's just get home before we cause a scene.”

“THERE THEY ARE! ONE OF THEM FROM THE PAPER!”

Ryou and Bakura turned and saw a few people stopping a van short and racing out of the van with cameras.

Ryou gasped. “YAMI!”

Bakura grabbed Ryou's wrist. “Follow me!”

They ran down the street, pushing their way through the crowded Domino streets. Ryou turned his head back and saw them still pursuing them.

“What do they want?!”

“I'm not stopping to ask! Run!” Bakura turned left and made a sharp right into a store.

They watched the cameramen rush by.

Ryou panted heavily and leaned against the door. “Yami….we need to get home.”

Bakura nodded. “I know. Maybe we should take the back roads.”

Ryou nodded. “That might be the best idea.”

“Hey! You!” A man called to them.

Bakura and Ryou raised their heads and saw a tall man pointing them out the door.

“Take your business elsewhere! This store is for living people only!”

“We're not dead, sir!” Ryou exclaimed. “We're living!”

The man grinned and pointed to a magazine rack with the tabloid magazine. “Not according to this! Now get out of my store before I shoot you!”

Ryou swallowed hard. “I'm sorry, sir, but we were being chased and---.”

“I said, leave!” the owner growled, pulling a pistol out of his jacket.

Ryou screamed and pulled the pissed Bakura out of the store.

“LET ME GO BACK THERE AND KICK HIS ASS, RY! LET ME GO!”

“NO! We're going back home where we can think this out!”

Ryou pulled Bakura down the block and made a left. Towards the end of the block they saw a large crowd in front of their home.

“What in the name of Ra is going on?” Bakura asked.

“They're in front of our house! THE BABIES! Bakura, the babies are at home!”

“Malik's home alone, too…..”

Bakura and Ryou ran down the street towards the house and saw a throng of newscasters and crew in front of their home.

As they approached, the bright lights blinded them from their cameras. Microphones were shoved into their faces.

“Is it true that you are a Dead Spirit?”

“What is your connection with him?”

“Are you a poltergeist?”

“Is it true that you sleep with a Dead Man?”

“No comment! No comment!” Ryou exclaimed as he pushed through the crowd, determined to get to the door.

“Get away from here!” Bakura growled. “All of you get the fuck out of here!”

Ryou struggled to the door and fumbled with the keys as the crowd of cameramen shoved and pushed into him. He dropped the keys and reached down, finding them among the sea of feet.

He opened the door and pushed his way inside, Bakura following soon after.

Bakura shoved the door shut and growled. “IDIOTS!”

“Malik!” Ryou cried out.

Kai ran to Ryou, crying. “These people are scary! They bang loud!”

“I'm sorry they scared you, sweetheart. It's going to be okay.”

Malik carried in a wailing Rhett. “Here, Ry.”

Ryou took Rhett into his arms. “Aww…poor little boy. Shhhh….it's okay. I know it's scary. I'll take them upstairs, Malik.”

Malik nodded. “I called Marik. I wonder what is taking him so long.”

Bakura shrugged. “Until he comes home, I'll protect you guys.”

Ryou kissed Bakura's cheek and carried Rhett upstairs.

Bakura watched out of the window and saw the reporters blinding him with their photo snapshots again.

“We're surrounded, Bakura. I tried going out the back and it was no use. They are out back, too.”

Bakura handed Malik the paper. “This is why.”

Malik read the headline and flipped to the page. His eyes widened in disbelief. “This is….unbelievable!”

Bakura nodded. “Yup….It's unbelievable and I don't think I need to tell you that I smell a rat behind all this….and that rat's name is Pharaoh Yami.”

 

Updates:12/19