Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ I Will Be Your Cain ( Chapter 13 )

NOTICE TO READERS: I have been receiving numerous emails about the plot of my story….I will no longer be answering emails about the plot of my story. What's the use of reading if I give out my secrets? While I do not mind emails, in fact, I enjoy emails from fans who enjoy my stuff. I have been bombarded by questions and I do not wish to give away what will happen. So, if you want to know what will happen in the story… …. reading the story is the only way to get your questions answered. The only questions I will answer are those about what has happened in the story until now or in what order someone wants to read my stories.

 

WARNING: UMI X ARIA LEMON! SETO X JOEY SHORT LEMON!

 

Disclaimer: The title of this chapter is a line from the song “Cain” by Tiamat. I don't own the song or the lyric.

/………./=Aten to Yami Aten

//………//-Yami Aten to Aten

 

I Will Be Your Cain

 

Aria opened her eyes as the room continued to spin. She rubbed her temples as the fog was beginning to dissipate. An arm draped over her and pulled her close to a naked body behind her.

She felt a cheek nuzzle against the back of her head and a contented sigh.

She turned her head and her eyes widened. “UMI?!”

“Good morning, mermaid.”

She turned and sat up quickly. “How did I get here?”

Umi chuckled. “You took the car. You said you had to see your dad and you returned really late.”

Aria looked down at her bare breasts. “Where did my clothes go?!”

Umi chuckled and grinned. “They didn't stay on long after you got home. You came home hot and heavy.You told me to take my pants off or be sent to the Shadow Realm. Considering I really didn't want to be sent there, I obliged.”

“Oh no.”

“Then you called me your slave and you made me call you my queen.”

Aria covered her mouth in shock. “I did?”

“You said you had just come from the High Priest and the pharaoh needed an heir. We've never role played like that before.”

Aria reached over and picked the phone off of the hook. She dialed Seto's number and listened to the phone ring. “Come on…..pick up….”

[Hello. You have reached the voicemail of Seto Kaiba. Leave your name, number, and a message and I will get back to you at MY convenience.] Beep….

“Seto? Are you there?...............Okay. This is Aria. Can you call me back? Thanks.”

Aria hung up the phone and buried her face in her hands,falling back on the pillow. “Something isn't right.”

“Aria, what's wrong?” Umi asked, concern filling his blue eyes.

Aria closed her eyes. “I don't remember anything after I left my father. I remember looking up at KaibaCorp and seeing….the Palace in Cairo.”

Umi turned to face her. “Another Vision?”

“It must have been. I can't think of anything else it could have been.”

“Well, you did come home late. And I don't know of any High Priests here on the docks. Not many High Priests fish around here, either.”

Aria sighed and looked at her husband. “What happened after I got home?”

“Well, you came home and you immediately went to Kai's room. All you did was kiss his cheek. You went to Rhett's room and held him for about an hour. That's when I heard you say you came from the High Priest and you were upset at losing a baby. You've never told me about a miscarriage, so I knew something wasn't right.”

Aria lifted up the covers and saw Umi naked….and beginning to become aroused. “I must have still been in my vision when I got home.”

Umi nodded. “It would make sense why you were speaking funny.”

“Funny?”

“Yeah, words I have heard only Marik say. You spoke English, but every now and then a word would fly out of your mouth and I would have no idea what it meant.”

Aria scratched her head. “Marik was in the Higher Class. It would make sense if I was speaking like him. The richer people seemed to have had their own dialect. That is what Marik told me a few times growing up.” Aria shifted uncomfortably as she laid against the bed. “I need to get cleaned up. I'm all sticky.”

Umi snickered. “I should think so.You tied me up and drizzled honey all over me.”

Aria blushed. “Oh, don't tell me I did THAT?!”

“Yeah, you did. You licked it off of me after I was bathed in honey.”

Aria laughed. “ That Vision must have been something else to make me do that to you.”

“I have honey in places I never knew existed. It'd be a miracle if I can clean it up without pulling any of my hair out.”

Aria winced. “Ow. Sorry about that, Umi.”

Umi grinned and leaned forward, stopping inches from her lips. You enjoyed yourself……..immensely.” He planted a little kiss on her lips and she blushed. He pulled back and smiled. “Well, hello there, pretty lady.”

She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “You're naughty,” she giggled.

“Hey, I'm innocent. It was YOU who was naughty with that honey last night!”

“Innocent, hmm? How do you explain those two babies sleeping in those other rooms?”

Umi grinned. “Roommates.”

Aria playfully shoved him. “I have to change our roommates' diapers still.”

Umi laughed and kissed her neck. “Next thing you know they'll be getting up at the crack of dawn to go to work like their daddy! Should be any day now.”

Aria grinned. “Yeah, Rhett's going to race out of here when he has just mastered rolling over on his own?”

“He'll be crawling to work in a couple months.”

Aria snickered. “Keep dreamin', Umi.”

Umi grinned. “Nope. I only dream of you…Pinky Poo.”

“Now that is cheesy!”

“It's not so bad. Next time you see your dad, call him PinkyPoo16. Watch what happens.”

“I'm afraid to ask.”

Aria kissed Umi, wrapping her arms around him. Umi kissed Aria's collarbone, running his hands over her side.
Aria looked at the ceiling during Umi's amorous advances. `What happened last night? Something tells me something isn't right at all. Call it `woman's intuition.' Why hasn't Seto called me back? Did something happen last night at Seto's place?'

Aria looked down and saw Umi covered up by the comforter……

 

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

Seto opened his eyes slowly. Something was rubbing against his hips. Joey's back was against him. The blond was moaning into his pillow.

Seto looked under the sheets as he realized that he was inside his lover.

The CEO held onto Joey tightly and stopped himself. “Joey……I'm sorry.”

Joey turned his head and whimpered. “Don't stop……”

Seto grit his teeth as he released before he could continue. Joey turned his head, kissing Seto as he did so.

Joey trembled between whimpers and panted heavily.

“Joey, I'm so sorry,” Seto said.

“It's been a while….I haven't been woken like that in a long time,” the blond whimpered.

“Did I hurt you?”

Joey shook his head. “No, it just woke me up. One minute I was sleeping, the next minute you were having your hands all over me and then you proceeded to make love to me. I figured you were dreaming of me and couldn't keep your hands off of me.”

Seto held Joey against him. “I'm sorry, Joey. I didn't mean to wake you up.”

Joey kissed Seto's hand. “I don't mind. I knew you were dreaming.”

“Dreaming?”

“Yeah, you were calling me your queen and your wife.”

Seto blinked. “I did?”

“Yes, you did. I find that really funny, actually….considering every time you think of a woman naked you cringe.”

The CEO closed his eyes a quick dizzy feeling was closing in on him again.

“Are you okay, Seto?”

Seto shook his head. “Not really. The room began to spin again.”

“Maybe we should call Zira.”

“No, I don't think he'd be able to do anything about this dizzy feeling.”

Joey shifted away from Seto and turned to face him. “Have you been overdoing work again?”

“I'll be okay, Joey. Don't worry.”
”But I do worry about you. You work your ass off. How could I not think about your welfare?”

Seto smiled at his lover and kissed his lips. “I'll be fine, Joey.”

Seto looked over Joey's head and saw a bottle of honey sitting on the side table. “Umm….Joey? What's honey doing here?”

Joey shrugged. “I had some honey with my toast last night. Why?”

The CEO shook his head. “No reason. Just curious. I should get to my office.”

“Already?”

“Yeah, I'll be back soon, though. I'll just check my messages and get back in time for breakfast in bed with you.”

Joey smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

Seto stood up and wrapped a bathrobe around him. He gave Joey one last kiss and left. The blond turned around and sat up. His eyes looked down at the honey.

“The bottle's almost empty! Did I use that much honey on my toast?”

Seto walked down the hall to his office. His jaw dropped at the sight of his desk.

Papers were laying all over the floor. His file folders were piled haphazardly on his leather chair. The daily planner calendar on his desk was leaning against the desk.

“What the---?”

[Hello…….my High Priest….]

Seto rubbed his forehead. “What happened last night?”

[My beautiful Aria…….]

“Aria!”

Seto ran for his phone and found a blinking light on his answering machine. He pressed the button to hear the message. [Seto? Are you there?...............Okay. This is Aria. Can you call me back? Thanks.]

Seto closed his eyes. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

The CEO quickly picked up his papers and arranged his desk. He placed the files on the desk and the calendar in front of him. He picked up the phone and dialed Aria's number.

He bit his lip nervously as he waited for her to answer.

He waited……

And waited……

Nobody must be home.

He hung up the phone and closed his eyes. “I have to see her.”

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

Aria closed her eyes as she felt Umi's kisses on her stomach. She bit her lip, trying not to make too much noise. Aria reached below the comforter and touched Umi's blue hair. The strands slipped through her fingers like silk.

Aria whimpered as she felt Umi kiss her inner thighs. He kissed her wrist beside him and kissed her inner thigh again. “Umi…..”

`It's so hard to do this and not think of last night…..How far did I go into my Vision last night?.....What did I do at KaibaCorp?'

Another moan escaped her as Umi kissed between her legs. Aria arched her back and moaned in pleasure, thrusting against Umi.

A slippery tongue licked her and she whimpered. “Oh gods……Umi…..do that again.”

A chuckle was heard under the sheets and another lick was felt gliding between her. She opened herself up more to him as she felt the wet object enter her. She removed her fingers from Umi's hair and pulled them out from under the covers. Aria raised them above her head and whimpered as the pleasure surrounded her.

She looked down and saw the person under the comforter shift.

Umi removed his tongue and kissed her between her legs again. He kissed her inner thigh and moved up to her stomach, finally emerging from under the covers.

Aria's back was arched, her hips were still thrusting up. Her nipples were peaked, sweat covered her body. Aria looked down and whimpered.

Umi kissed up her abdomen and placed his lips around Aria's left nipple. She held him close as Umi grinded against her, his arousal straining and weeping against her.

She bucked up against Umi…..

The phone rang.

Aria moaned, debating whether to pick it up or not. If it was her father, she could torture him by telling him she can't talk, that Umi is sucking on her boobies.

Bakura would use his pocketknife to pry out his eardrum after hearing that….and she knew it. He might have even poked his own eyes out if his mind formed a mental picture of his baby girl getting ravished by a boy.

But if it was Seto…….

Aria watched Umi lick and suck on her nipple. His hard erection was teasing her.

She couldn't pick it up now.

What Umi was doing felt too good.

Umi kissed over to the other breast as the phone stopped ringing.

He gave it a lick and a kiss. He pursed his lips around it and gave the right nipple the same treatment. He cupped the other breast in his hand and lightly massaged it.

The blue-haired teen pulled back and kissed his wife on the lips. Aria moaned into the kiss as she felt Umi guide himself into her.

Aria deepened the kiss, bucking against him to bring him in as deep as he could go.

Umi rocked into her, pushing himself deep. A sheer covering of sweat formed on his face.

Aria moved against him, arching her back and thrusting.

Umi kissed Aria's neck, rocking hard and moaning into her skin. He whimpered as he thrust faster, his body instinctively taking over.

“I love you, Aria,” he whimpered as he held her, kissed her, his body rubbing against hers.

“I love you, too, Umi,” she moaned as she went limp under him, allowing him to pound into at his own pace.

Aria felt Umi tremble as his release became imminent. His body was tense. His body needed the release.

Umi breathed heavily as his body continued to keep up a fast rhythm. “Aria……I'm coming…..”

Umi kissed Aria on the lips and released hard into her. Aria held Umi close to her as she felt him spill out his essence.

“Umi….stay still……don't move….”

Umi shook his head. “I'm not moving…….don't worry…..I can't.”

Aria pet Umi's hair gently as she caught her breath.

Umi snuggled her and smiled. “I will be your king.”

Aria placed a kiss on Umi's head and sighed. `I will be your Cain.'

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

Aten sat on the couch, nervously wringing his hands together. He bit his lip anxiously, thinking of the right answer to Chapman's questions.

“Aten, why do you feel that you cannot be a good father to this child?” Chapman asked again, noticing a blank stare coming from his patient sitting on the couch. The patient had sat there for close to five minutes, staring at the blue and gold carpet. His eye twitched as he thought about the answers he could give…..and which ones to keep to himself.

“I don't want to be a father to this kid. I'm hoping that someone comes forward and claims her.”

Chapman nodded. “Are you afraid?”

Aten's head raised quickly and an uncharacteristic sneer crossed his face. “I don't want to be like HIM!”

Chapman saw Aten stand up and move to the window with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Chapman noticed Aten's mental defense shields raise up again. When these defenses were raised, even Chapman could sense a darker self hidden within the Egyptian teen.

“Who is `him'?”

Aten turned, his eyes dark. “Steven.”

“Aten, there's been lots of studies done----.”

“I know the studies! Children who were sexually abused are more likely to abuse their own children! Do you think I want to be that kind of an animal? This baby is

not even a week old!”

Chapman sat calmly, despite the rising tension of his patient. He had been seeing Aten as a patient since he was a small child. He knew his peculiar moods and how to handle them.

“Aten, I don't see you raping that baby. I don't see you being a bad father to her, either, if Robbie does decide to keep it.”

Aten sighed. “Robbie wants to keep it. I am afraid of what will happen if we do. I don't want to harm the baby.”

“Are you jealous of this baby getting more attention than you from Robbie?”

“What do you mean?”
”You and Robbie have been friends since Kindergarten. Suddenly, Robbie has found a place in his heart for this baby. Are you afraid that baby will get all of Robbie's attention now?”

Aten shook his head. “No, it's got nothing to do with sharing Robbie. I'm not jealous of that.”

“Why does Robbie want to keep the child?”

Aten returned to his seat. “I guess because it has a physical problem like he has. He's always been good with kids. Even my sister's kids I get nervous around. I'm afraid that if I hold Rhett and touch his bottom, then he'll think I'm touching him inappropriately.”

“Aten, if you are just holding the baby, it's okay. Sometimes you do have to have physical contact with the baby such as holding or bathing them.”

“What if I'm bathing Rhett and I have to clean his…..private areas and my finger slips? I realize that what my grandfather did was not an accident, though.”

Chapman nodded. “What your grandfather did was wrong, Aten, and it wasn't your fault. Grown-ups have to touch children sometimes. When you are bathing a small child, you sometimes have to do things that might make you uncomfortable.”

“I bathed Kai a few times. I always told Kai that if I am hurting him, he has to let me know and that I won't be angry.”

“That's a good start.”

Aten clenched his fists. “I don't want to be like my grandfather, though. I don't want to be twisted. I don't think I'd be a good dad.”

“Aten, you have it in you to be a good father. You just have to give yourself a chance.”

Aten lowered his head. “It makes me so angry, though, sometimes. I don't want to be like him!”

“Aten, you could be a great father. I wouldn't just say that to anyone, you know. Your father was a good father to you. He did the best he could with what he had. I know you can make him proud.”

“It makes me so angry……..I keep trying to get his voice out of my head…..his smile….his laughter……my mother…….IT ALL JUST MAKES ME SO ANGRY!!!” Aten screamed at the top of his lungs, jumping to his feet. “I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THAT MANIAC! I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER! I CAN'T TALK JUST FOR MYSELF, THOUGH! I WANT ROBBIE TO BE HAPPY, TOO!”

Chapman swallowed hard, his body tensing. “Aten, I know you're angry. You have every right to be angry.”

“IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY!” Aten bellowed, his hair twitching and beginning to spike. “I DON'T WANT TO BE A CHILD MOLESTER!”

Chapman stood up. “Aten, I need you to take a breath.”

“FUCK TAKING A BREATH!” Yami Aten spat with venom at Chapman. “FUCK TAKING A BREATH! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!”

Chapman saw Aten's eyes become black. “Aten? I need you to stay with me.”

Yami Aten clenched his fists tightly. “I need you to stay away from me!”

“Aten? I need you to focus.” Chapman remained calm, noticing a change in Aten's breathing. A deep wheezing began coming from the teen's angry side.

“I'm nothing! Why do you wanna spend so much time helping a nothing?!”

Chapman looked Aten in the eye. “The Aten that has been my patient for many years is far from a nothing. He is a very caring and sensitive person….and he is worthy of respect and love.”

Yami Aten growled angrily. “People like me only deserve to be put on public display with a sign reading `Used Goods.'”

“I don't think that. I have never thought that about you, Aten.”

“Of course not. You look at me and see dollar signs.”

“Not true. I've enjoyed you being my patient.”

Aten's wheezing became heavier. “I'M SO FUCKING ANGRY!”

“Aten, you need to sit down.”

Aten's eyes began to become brighter…his hair less spiky. “Doctor Chap---.”

Aten fell to his knees, gripping his chest and trembling.

“Aten?! Aten, are you okay?” Chapman asked, kneeling beside Aten. His patient had a red face and was gasping for breath.

Chapman checked Aten's pulse and found it was racing.

“Pain……can't breathe…….hard……..suff----o---cating…..” ;

Chapman helped Aten on the couch. “Lay down, Aten. Try to take deep breaths.”

Tears came out of Aten's eyes as the boy tensed. “Burns……”

“Have you been taking your heart medications?”

Aten nodded.

“Any donors for a new heart?”

Aten shook his head. “No air……”

“Just try and breathe slowly. You got yourself all worked up.”

Aten gripped Chapman's shirt tightly. “I'm dying……..”

Chapman looked at Aten's fearful eyes. He knew of Aten's terminal illness and wondered how Aten had lived this long, even with the help of medical science. Ryou and Marik should have buried him thirteen years ago by all medical documentation.

Chapman saw tears coming out of Aten's eyes. “Aten, it's going to be okay. Robbie won't abandon you.”

Aten slowly propped himself up on one arm and hugged Chapman with the other. “Scared….”

Chapman returned Aten's hug cautiously. “Aten, I know you are afraid. Robbie cares a lot for you. And, if you give yourself a chance, this little girl will care a lot for you, too. You just need to give yourself a chance…..and give her a chance. Give her what your grandfather never gave you.”

Chapman heard Aten sniffle and his trembling intensified. He touched Aten's white and blond hair and sighed. “Aten, you are a wonderful person who deserves the best. Give this a chance.”

Aten sniffled. “I'll try.”

“That's all we can ask, Aten.”

Aten pulled back and rubbed his eye. “The baby won't remember me.”

“No, but she will remember the feeling you gave her that the world is a safe place and her caretakers love her and will protect her from anything. She might not remember everything, but that feeling will stick with her.”

Aten sniffled and blew his nose in a tissue. “I'll try.”

“I'm proud of you, Aten. You are a strong kid….always have been. You just have to discover your own inner strength.”

“Thank you, Doctor Chapman.”

“Anytime, Aten. Look, we're done our session for today, but I would like to suggest that one time you should bring Robbie here with you. I would like to meet with the two of you, if that will be okay. If not, I'll just schedule a meeting with Robbie on my own.”

Aten shook his head. “I'll bring Robbie in the session with me once.”

“I would leave the little bundle of joy at home for that meeting, though. That meeting will just be for you and him.”

“Okay. I'll work it out with his schedule.”

Chapman nodded. “Good job today, Aten. Do you feel well enough to stand up?”

Aten struggled to his feet and gripped his chest. “I think so.”

“Do you need a ride home?”

“No, I should be able to walk.”

Aten stopped at the front desk and paid the fee for his session. He scheduled two more sessions with Chapman before leaving the medical building.

He walked down the street, thinking about what Chapman had said. `Give her what my grandfather never gave me…….There's some truth in that.'

//That's just psycho-babble bullshit and you know it.//

/No, it makes sense. I'll just have to be on my toes not to cross the line. If I don't touch her in the bath or even hold her, there's no threat to crossing any boundary./

Aten stopped and turned quickly, sensing someone was behind him. The crowds walking along the street were dense. People crowded the sidewalks carrying their grocery bags and pulling young children along with them with their free hands.

He continued to walk along the street. A man in a black suit brushed against his arm and quickly turned, grabbing Aten's arm and placing something against Aten's back.

“Stay right there. Don't make a sound.”

Aten froze.

“Come with me.”

Aten tugged at his arm when he heard a click against his back.

“All I have to do is squeeze, kid.”

The man lead Aten to a van. The door opened and Aten was pushed inside. The man jumped into the van and the van sped away.

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

 

Donny pulled up to the docks with Seto in the back seat of the limo. He stepped out of the car and opened Seto's door. The CEO stepped out of the limo as the salty sea air whipped by his face. Two young boys were running with their fishing line and tackle boxes in their hands. They ran to the edge of the docks and began to unload their gear.

Donny walked with Seto to the Tsunami houseboat. Seto knocked on the door and heard Sekhmet's bark.

Aria opened up the door and swallowed hard. “Seto?”

“Can I come in?”

Umi stepped out of the kitchen holding Rhett in his arms. “Hi, Seto! What brings you here to the docks?”

“I was just in the area and I figured I'd stop by to talk to Aria.”

“Is this about the Vision she had? Did you have one, too?”

Seto nodded. “Yes, and I wanted to see if she and I had the same Vision.”

Umi rubbed Rhett's back. “That's fine. I'm just about ready to leave for work. The early bird catches the fish, you know,” he said laughing.

Umi descended the stairs with the baby and Aria sat on the couch in the living room.

Sekhmet sniffed Seto and laid down at Aria's feet.

“Donny, wait outside.”

“Yes, sir,” the tall man said before leaving.

Seto shifted on his feet. “I got your message.” The CEO, who had always stood confidently, now appeared vulnerable.

“What happened when you saw me last night?”

“I was with Joey and I remember the room getting blurry. I remember the scent of flowers and I followed it down the hall. I went into my office and that is the last I remember.”

Aria rubbed her arms uncomfortably. “Umi said when I came home I went to the baby's room and to the kids' room. Umi said I was with Rhett and was telling him about a miscarriage I had.”

“I only know of one miscarriage.”

Aria sighed. “I had that one miscarriage and my first baby I lost due to Yami's curse.”

Seto ran his fingers through his brown hair. “You don't remember anything from last night, do you?”

“It's not too clear, but I feel that something happened. Something doesn't feel right. I don't know if it's just me, but something about me isn't right. Maybe that Vision was just too deep for either of us to remember.”

“I don't ever remember being in that deep…..even when I kissed you that time on the lips. I don't even remember initiating it.”

Aria sighed. “What if something did happen last night?”

Seto shrugged. “I wish I could remember. Joey told me I must have been dreaming about a woman because I was calling someone `my queen' in my sleep.”

Aria leaned over and put her face in her hands. “What if something really did happen last night? What if we both did something that we both will regret?”

Seto sighed and walked over beside Aria. He sat beside her. “How could we be held responsible if neither one of us remember what happened? I know I tried to fight whatever it was that had a grip on my head. I fought it with everything I could. But still…..I lost control and the last thing I remember is waking up in bed with Joey without any recognition of what happened. All I had to show for it was a nearly-empty bottle of honey.”

Aria's head shot up. “Honey?!”

“Yeah, honey.”

“Umi said when I came home and after I was with the kids, I tied him down and poured honey all over him.”

Seto blinked. “You what?”

“I poured honey all over him.”

“You telling Seto all our sexy secrets?” Umi asked as he stood at the top of the stairs. “Think Seto might use that honey idea on Joey or something?”

Aria shook her head. “I don't think he would.”

Umi grabbed his fishing pole and tackle box. “I'm going on the Whalen boat today, so if you need me, you just call Gil, okay?”

“Okay, I will.”

Umi kissed her lips. “Good girl. Goodbye, Seto.”
”Bye, Seto.”

Umi walked out the door.

“Seto, I have no idea what happened last night. But, if what I think happened actually did happen, we couldn't control it.”

Seto sighed and shook his head. “Isis always told me the role that Fate and Destiny played in my life. From the moment I first saw Marik, she always talked to me about Destiny.”

“Well, we both tried to fight destiny and look where it both got us. I was destined to fight Yami. I nearly lost Kai because of it. I nearly lost my own brother in the process of fighting destiny. But destiny is something that is difficult to fight.”

“So you believe that you and I were destined to do whatever we did last night?”

Aria shrugged. “Neither of us remember what happened. Shouldn't we have some kind of memory?”

Seto turned his head to her. “I think we both know what happened. We just don't want to face the reality of what happened.”

Aria sighed and leaned back on the couch. “I love Umi…..how could I do that to him?”

“We both lost control.”

Aria closed her eyes. “I always promised myself that I wouldn't lose control. After my relationship with Keith, I promised myself never to let anything…no emotion…..no man…..nothing…control me. It pisses me off knowing I couldn't have fought that feeling last night.”

“Aria, you can't hold yourself responsible for anything that happened.”

“Yes, I can! I should have been tougher! Stronger!”

Seto pat her hand. “Look, it might look bad now, but let's not jump to conclusions as to what happened. Don't beat yourself up for something you could not control.”

Aria looked at the floor. “I will control it….from now on…I will control it and won't let it control me anymore.”

“Aria, you are not respons---.”

“I won't let that control me any longer, Seto! I have my husband and my kids I have to care for. I love Umi and I love my babies. I can't let these …..Visions….get in the way of my family and my happiness with them. I refuse to let them tear my family apart.”

Seto nodded. “I know. I love Joey. I can't believe that I can't control this, either.”

“What are we going to do?”

Seto's cell phone began to ring. “One moment, Aria.” He touched the button. “Seto Kaiba here.”

[Mr. Kaiba? Mr. Rocher is here at your office and wishes to speak to you.]

Kaiba narrowed his eyes. “Tell him I will be there shortly.” Seto closed the cell phone. “Aria, I'm afraid I have to cut this meeting a little short. I have some business to attend to. Aria, this will all work out.”

“I won't let it control me anymore.”

Seto nodded. “I wish I had the answers.”

Aria sighed. “I wish I knew what happened to us last night.”

“So do I.”

Aria stood up. “If that feeling comes over me again, I'll lock myself away if I must.”

“That's if you have the time. These visions come on quickly. If they are anything like mine, you don't have time to fight.”

“I will.”

Seto nodded and stood up. “Stay strong, Aria.”

“I will, Seto.”

Seto pat her shoulder. “Take care, Aria.”

Aria watched Seto leave nervously. “I will fight it. I won't let it get the best of me.”

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

Aten was shoved into a seat at the back of the van as the vehicle sped away. His eyes shifted quickly between the five men who were nearby. Two of the men were holding his arms to a chair.

“What do you want with me?” he asked.

A woman stood up from the front of the van and walked towards him. “Don't worry. We won't hurt you. Just do what we say and you won't be harmed.”

Aten swallowed hard and began to shake. “I didn't do anything! Honest!”

The woman smiled and placed her hand on his skin. “Amazing. He feels real.”

“Of course I'm real! Do I look like a robot?”

The woman looked him in the eyes. “Remarkable. A brown eye and a purple eye. Two different color eyes. Very beautiful.”

Aten swallowed hard again. “Let me go right now.”

“What powers do you possess?”

Aten shook his head. “I don't have any powers.”

The woman smiled. “That remains to be seen. Who are your parents?”

“You have no right to kidnap me, miss!”

One of the men pointed a pistol at Aten's head. “That's not a respectful way of talking to a lady.”

“Since when was it respectful to kidnap someone?” he responded.

“We ask the questions around here.”

Aten looked at the woman. “Why do you want to know who my parents are?”

“You are the son of one of those spirits, aren't you? They do have powers which threaten Domino City…..and the world. I need to find out more information about those powers and how we can stop them.”

“My father is not a threat. If anything, you are the threat. You are kidnapping, which is a criminal offense!”

The woman smiled. “We are above the law, little boy.”

“You can't be.”

One of the men removed a syringe and one vial from a box. “Hold him.”

“GET OFF OF ME!” Aten screamed as the men held down his wrists. One man grabbed his jaw and shoved his head up. Aten closed his eyes tightly ashis neck was exposed.

“Be careful not to hurt him,” the woman said calmly.

“Let me do my job,” the man said, swabbing Aten's arm with alcohol.

Aten winced as his needle was slipped into the vein in his arm. Aten let out a scream. “LET ME OUT OF HERE!”

The woman smiled and stepped in Aten's line of sight. “We want answers. We will get them any way we can.”

He looked up at her, his eyes wide. The man's hand was shoved against his jaw keeping it closed.

“Did you get the blood sample?”

The man removed the needle from Aten's arm. “The sample has been successful.”

The man released Aten's jaw and Aten's head fell forward.

“There we go, little boy. Sorry, but you don't get a lollipop for that.”

Aten kept his eyes closed tightly. /I want out….I want out……/

//Let me out.//

/No…..I'm still tired from Chapman's appointment. If you come out, it might do more harm than good./

//Then they will kill you. Fine with me.//

The woman stood in front of him. “Aten, look up.”

Aten lifted his head. “How….how did you know my name?”

“We have all your information on file. Your name is Aten Bakari Ishtar. Your birthday is September 28th. Your mother is listed as Ryou Thomas Bakura. Your father is Marik Jibade Ishtar. Your sibling is Aria Kanika Tsunami. You are married and your spouse's name is Robert Allen Morgan. You are prominent among the artists of Domino, having participated in many art galas and have donated a lot of money to children's charities We have your address, name, social security number, blood type. We know everything about you.”

Aten looked up at her. “Why do you want me if you know about my family?”

The woman grinned. “We need to know what your parents really are. Do they have magical powers?”

“I won't tell you anything about my family.”

The woman smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. “Very soft hair.”

“Don't touch me!” he growled, pulling his head back.

“I've never seen anyone looking like you. I've never seen anyone with two hair and eye colors. Very unique.”

Aten kept his eyes focused on the woman. “I'm not telling you anything about my family.”

“Even at the risk of being used as target practice?” the man with the gun asked.

“Now, Rock, we can't do that to our guest.”

“What do we do with him?”

The woman smiled. “We have our sample. I don't care what we do with him. We can dispose of him now that we have the data we want.”

The man with the gun pointed at Aten smiled. “My pleasure.”

Rock raised the gun and whipped it across Aten's jaw, knocking him out. Trisha saw Aten's head go limp. “Let him go.”

The men released their grip on Aten and he fell to the ground. “Where do we leave him?”

“At his home. They'll know what to do with him.”

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

 

Seto stepped into his office. Karl and Jay were standing at the door. Rocher and two of his men were standing by the window looking at the cityscape.

“Mr. Kaiba, so nice of you to arrive! I figured I would come and stop by for a friendly visit.”

Kaiba narrowed his eyes at Rocher. “Let's make this quick.”

“My pleasure, Seto Kaiba. Have you considered my proposal?”

“'Your proposal?' Is proposal the new word for verbal threats?”

Rocher chuckled. “They have a word for businessmen who intimidate their rivals. There are scandals that can erupt from such unorthodox and illegal business practices.”

Seto sat behind his desk and folded his arms. “My company can bounce back from anything you choose to do to my reputation.”

“So you would be willing to risk jail time?”

“I've lived through conditions that are worse than jail for many years.”

Rocher grinned. “Gozuboro Kaiba wasn't exactly known as a compassionate man, Seto Kaiba.”

“No, you're right about that.”

“So what would happen if I give this video to the authorities? Your man will be arrested for breaking and entering and intimidation. How does that sound to you?”

Seto's lip curled in disgust.

“So what do you say?”

Seto looked outside. “What do you want?”

Rocher grinned victoriously. “You know what I want. Your deepest, darkest secrets…..and 40 percent of your stock.”

“FORTY PERCENT MY ASS, ROCHER!” Seto screamed furiously.

Rocher calmly shrugged. “It's up to you, Seto. Such language befits more of a gutter-mouth than a business professional.”

“You are not getting any stock in my company.”

Rocher grinned. “Then get ready for all your press conferences, audits, and IRS investigations….not to mention the Better Business Bureau breathing down your neck. Those men who broke into my company killed several of my men. What do you suppose we do about that?”

Seto swallowed hard. “I am sticking to my guns.”

Rocher laughed loudly. “I'm enjoying watching you squirm, Seto. I hope you realize that.” Rocher put his hands on Seto's desk and leaned over with a smile. “I am the cat….and you are my prey, Seto. I'm going to expose you when the time is right. What do you have to say about that?”

“Get out of my office. Now.”

Rocher stood up and looked at his men. “We've got you cornered, Seto. Admit it. I believe it is obvious that you cannot run KaibaCorp ethically. Seto Kaiba, I am calling for your resignation.”

Seto chuckled. “Oh, really?”

“You're calling my bluff, aren't you?”

Seto grinned. “I am.”

“I'm enjoying this game with you, Seto…but I only have so much patience. I will be seeing you again real soon, Mister Kaiba.”

Seto watched Rocher leave with his men. Seto sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

“Leave.”

Karl and Jay left the room.

Seto picked up the phone and pressed a button.

[Yes, Seto?]

“Marik, get in my office. We have a problem.”

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

Miranda picked up the bottle and held the baby in her arms. “Okay, little girl, bottle time.”

The baby girl sucked hungrily on the bottle as she cuddled against Miranda. She shivered severely as Miranda placed a soft blanket on top of the feeding baby. “Are you cold, baby girl?” Miranda asked watching the baby eat. “You have an appetite all of a sudden. I guess that's a good sign. Robbie was a hungry baby, too.”

Daniel entered the kitchen. “So what do you think about this whole situation?”

“I only want what's best for the baby. Robbie has certainly taken a shine to her. He was up with her again last night.”

“If the baby does stay, I can see Robbie being a good father.”

Miranda smiled. “He had a good role model.”

“I don't know how good it was. I spent most of my time in deployment. I didn't get a chance to spend time with my son as much as I wanted. I missed a lot of his boyhood.”

“Robbie still looked up to you and looked forward to seeing you every time you came home.”

Daniel sighed. “Still, I wish I could have----.”

Something banged against the door.

“What the heck was that?” Daniel asked.

He stood up and walked towards the front door. He opened the door and saw Aten laying on the front step.

“Oh God…Aten!”

Miranda stood up and walked quickly towards Daniel. “What happened?!”

Daniel leaned over and pat Aten on the cheek. “He's got a shiner on his cheek.” Miranda looked around and didn't see any cars around. Daniel slipped his arm under Aten's shoulders and under his leg. He picked Aten up and turned, carrying him into the house.

“It's a good thing he doesn't weigh much,” Daniel said.

Miranda looked at Aten's bruise. “Who did this?”

Daniel shrugged. “I wonder if the Crusaders got to him again. I'll get something for that bruise.”

Miranda sat on a chair and watched Aten. Daniel left the room and returned with a cold, wet towel. He put the towel on Aten's forehead and waited for him to wake up.

Daniel checked Aten's pulse. “His pulse is okay.” Daniel checked Aten's arm. “His arm is bruised a little.”

Miranda shook her head. “At least his pulse is okay. We'll have to see what happened when he wakes up.”

“That's if he can talk about it.”

Miranda looked up at the clock. “Robbie will be home soon.”

“The sooner the better,” Daniel said.

 

Updates: 7/27