Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ The Rain of Tears ( Chapter 31 )

The Rain of Tears

 

Aria winced as Umi pulled back the curtains. “Do you have to do that now? I have a banging migraine.”

Umi turned to his pregnant wife. “There's nothing like the first light of the day!”

Aria rolled over in bed as she gripped the pillow. “I'm so dizzy this morning.”

“Do you need anything?”

Aria shook her head. “No, I know why my head is hurting.”

“Is it the baby?”

“No, Aten's not feeling well. I think he's having a hard time keeping up the mental blocks between us. I can feel he's struggling with it.”

Umi sat beside her and rubbed her back. “Do you need me to stay here today? I don't have to go out to fish if you need me here to take care of the kids.”

Aria looked up at her husband and smiled. “You can go fishing today. I'll be fine to take care of Rhett and Kai.”

“Are you sure, Little Mermaid?”

“I'll be fine. You should go out.”

Umi leaned down and kissed his wife on the lips. She moaned into the kiss, letting Umi's tongue slip through her lips. Umi's hand went to her side and caressed down to her belly bump. His hands rubbed her belly where the new life was beginning to move within her womb.

Aria rubbed Umi's back and pulled him on top of her. She wrapped her legs around him and grinded against him.

Umi grinded his hips against hers, moaning, and beginning to whimper.

Aria's headache intensified and she pulled back from the kiss. “Why don't we continue this tonight? I really do have a headache.”

Umi pouted. “You sure?”

“Yes, I have a really bad migraine at the moment.”

“Okay, Little Mermaid.”

Umi rolled off of her and she sat up. “I should spend some time with the kids before I get going.”

Aria nodded. “I need to find some aspirin or something.”

She stood up and walked towards the bathroom.

//Aten, what is going on?//

/I remember marrying Robbie, Aria. I was so happy that day./

//I know you were, Aten. Why did this come out so suddenly?//

/Father told me he loved me. I was so angry at him for hurting our mother. I forgave my father for everything he ever did./

//Aten? Are you feeling okay?//

Aria reached the bathroom and gripped the sink tightly as she felt her chest tighten. The sensation was as if someone was grabbing her heart as it was beating. It beat faster and it started to burn as if it were on fire.

//Aten, are you okay?//

/Hayden….I felt so bad for him. Aria, I didn't mean to have sex with Hayden…They forced me to do it. I tried to fight it off, but Dominick—Yami….wouldn't let me say no./

Aria leaned forward as pain radiated up her back.

/Sister, do you think Hayden forgave me for what I had to do?/

//Aten, something's wrong, isn't it?//

/I'm sorry, sister…..Please forgive me. I can't fight it anymore./

Aria felt the barriers between herself and her brother crumble. She felt a wave of pain flow through her body. Her chest burned, her head pounded, her body felt weak.

She released the sink and began to shake from the anguish.

“UMI!”

Umi ran from Rhett's room. “Aria?”

/You always said you didn't need me….You were right. Now you won't have to worry about me anymore. I'm going to die./

“It's Aten……he's--.”

The room began to spin around her and she found herself in Umi's arms.

//Aten, I do need you!//

“Little Mermaid, breathe! Stay with me! Breathe!”

Kai stood in the doorway to the bathroom, holding a toy. “Mommy?”

Umi helped Aria lay on the floor of the bathroom. “Do you need me to call the doctors, Aria?”

Aria looked up at the ceiling, gasping and wheezing. “My brother…..”

/My grandfather won't reach me in the Underworld….I'll be free./

//Aten, do you need me to call the hospital?//

/Aria………I'm sorry. Forgive----./

Aria gripped her head in agony, trembling all over her body.

Umi held her close and kissed her forehead. “Aria, hold on.”

Aria's breathing returned to normal, the gasping had ceased.

//Aten?//

/……………./

//ATEN!!!!! ANSWER ME!//

/………………./

Aria looked up at Umi, her bottom lip trembling and her eyes filling with tears. She wrapped her arms around Umi's shoulders and began to cry. “Umi, my brother……is dead.”

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

 

Robbie put Aten's body on the ground. “Maybe if I do CPR on him, it'll start his heart again!”

Robbie breathed into Aten's mouth and began pressing on Aten's chest. Tears fell down Robbie's face as he desperately tried to revive his fallen husband.

Miranda spoke into the phone as she watched Robbie. “Yes, we need an Ambulance at 9220 Arendell Avenue….There's an eighteen year old boy who just collapsed…..Aten Bakari Ishtar….no, he's not responsive and there's no pulse. Robbie's trying to do CPR on him right now….Any luck, Robbie?”

Robbie pulled back from Aten's mouth and pressed his ear against Aten's chest.

Aten's heart was at rest.

Robbie let out a loud sob. “I can't get his heart started! Tell them to send someone! Please!”

“Please send someone. We can't get Aten's heart started….Thank you.” Miranda disconnected the call.

“Nothing?”

Robbie shook his head, sobbing into his hands. “Nothing! Wake up, damn it!”

Daniel kneeled beside the Egyptian and continued the CPR. Miranda stood behind Robbie and hugged her son.

“Robbie, stay strong, sweetheart.”

Robbie let out a long, sorrowful wail and leaned over, covering Aten's body with his own. “Aten, I love you! I love you! I love you! Please don't leave me!”

“The medics are on their way.”

Miranda placed a hand on Robbie's shoulder. “Robbie, it's time to let him go, baby.”

Daniel watched his son weep loudly and kiss Aten's cooling lips.

The ambulance arrived and Robbie had to be pulled away from Aten's corpse. The medics used their defibrillator to resuscitate the Egyptian, but after many failed attempts, including their own CPR attempts, it was decided that Aten was, indeed, dead. The dead teen's heart was beyond any aid.

Daniel took the medics aside and explained that Aten's family would want to see the body. Robbie returned and clung to Aten's body, clutching onto his husband tightly.

Miranda called Ryou's house, dreading telling the family the news of their dead son.

[Ishtar-Itemri household.]

Miranda's eyes filled with tears and she sniffled.

[Hello?]

“Bakura...It's happened. Aten just passed away.”

[…………….]

Miranda sniffled and began to cry. “Bakura, it happened so fast.”

[……..Was he in pain?]

“I don't know what happened. Robbie just said Aten was down. We tried CPR and the medics are here. Nothing can get Aten's heart started again, Bakura. I'm so sorry. The medics are here. Daniel's telling them to wait to take the body so you guys can come over to see him.”

[I'll tell the family. We'll be right over, Miranda.]

Bakura hung up the phone slowly and closed his eyes. How was he going to tell the family about Aten's death? `May Ra grant that poor boy peace.'

Bakura saw Malik in the kitchen. The Egyptian was chopping carrots. “Malik?”

Malik turned and smiled at the yami. Bakura could almost see Aten smiling back at him, if it weren't for Aten's white hair given to him by his mother. “What's up? Who was that on the phone?”

“Miranda.”

Malik turned back to his carrots, continuing to chop. “What did she want?”

Bakura walked up to Malik. “We have to go to the Morgan home right away.”

Malik's eyes widened and he dropped the knife onto the counter. He turned to Bakura, tears in his eyes. “What?”

“Aten just passed away. We should go over there together.”

Malik looked up at the ceiling. “Telling Marik isn't going to be easy.”

“I'll tell him. You go over to Miranda's. I'll have enough on my hands between Ishtar and Ryou.”

Malik reached out and hugged Bakura tightly. “I can't believe he's dead.”

Bakura returned the embrace and kissed Malik's cheek. “There's no more pain for him, Hikari Ishtar. Go over there. I'll be with you when I tell the parents.”

Bakura climbed the steps and knocked on Marik's door. “Marik? Ishtar? You in there?”

“Come in.”

Bakura opened the door. “I need you, Marik. Where's Ryou?”

Marik walked up to Bakura and looked deep into Bakura's eyes. Purple met glassy brown eyes. Above the house, there was a rumble. Bakura took a deep breath and looked down. Marik reached out and tipped Bakura's chin up to continue exploring the other yami's brown eyes.

The blond's eyes started to water. “It happened…….didn't it?” the yami whispered, his voice cracking.

Bakura nodded slowly. “I'm sorry, Ishtar.”

The sunlight creeping through the window disappeared. The sky became dark and a lightening strike lit up the sky.

“My son…….My little boy……my baby…..my baby's dead,” the blond whispered, his bottom lip trembling.

Bakura looked down sadly and nodded. “A few minutes ago. Miranda said--.”

“ATEN!!!!” Marik howled in sorrow as he crumbled to his hands and knees. Tears flooded his cheeks as he buried his face in his hands. The yami bent over as he kneeled on the floor, loud sobbing coming from the cupped hands.

Against the window outside, rain pounded hard onto the glass. The wind was swaying the trees outside.

Bakura kneeled beside the blond yami, wrapping his arms around him. “I'm sorry, Ishtar.”

“MY BABY BOY! MY WORLD!”

Bakura kissed the top of Marik's head and sighed. There was nothing he could say that would comfort the grieving father.

“Bakura? Is it true?”

Bakura looked up and saw Ryou standing in the doorway, tears coursing down his cheeks.

“Has Aten….died?”

Bakura nodded. “Miranda said he had just passed away before she called. The medics are waiting for us to come over there and say our goodbyes.”

Marik's head snapped up and he jumped to his feet. “NOBODY IS TOUCHING MY SON'S BODY!”

The Egyptian bolted from the room as loud thunder rolled across the sky.

Bakura stood up and took Ryou's hands gently. “I'm sorry, angel.”

Ryou's lip trembled and he wrapped his arms around Bakura, sobbing into the yami's shoulder. “My baby….my little baby!”

The white-haired yami kissed Ryou's cheek. “We should go over to see him before they take his body away….and before Marik starts sending people to the Shadow Realm.”

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

 

Marik's POV

 

I can't believe it….

Aten died.

My baby boy….my treasure.

Dead.

I hauled ass to Miranda's house through the pouring rain. The thunder above me rolled and roared angrily. The lightening was filling the sky.

The rain was hammering the concrete all around.

I saw the ambulance parked outside the Morgan home and I burst inside.

“ATEN!”

Daniel walked out of the kitchen. “He's in the Studio, Marik.”

I ran passed Daniel and into the Studio. Robbie was sitting on the green couch, hugging his mother, crying and wailing.

My son was laying on the floor. His eyes were closed, his body was motionless.

I walked up slowly to him and fell to my knees beside him. The medics were standing beside my son's body.

I looked up, tears never-ending as they fell down my cheeks.

“You fuckers stay away from my little boy!”

The men stepped back, clearly intimidated.

Malik stood beside Aten. He took a step towards me.

“Get away from him!” I barked at Malik.

I looked down at my little dead boy. I leaned over and caressed his cheek. I pulled his upper body against me and I caressed his cheek.

“My everything….”

My boy's head hung limp and unresponsive as I held him.

Everything inside me went numb as I held Aten's body.

I knew this would happen eventually, but how do you prepare yourself for the death of your own child?

I pressed my forehead against Aten's cheek, which was beginning to cool. His body was chilly and growing stiff. Rigor Mortis was setting in.

“My little boy….”

It was difficult to hold my son and not feel his heart beating. His heart couldn't take the punishment of eighteen years.

Now my baby was dead.

I kissed my son's chilling cheek and watched as my rain of tears crept onto his face.

A hand touched my shoulder. Ryou was standing behind me.

I looked up and hugged Aten tightly. “Ryou….he's gone.”

Ryou kneeled beside me and touched Aten's hair. Ryou began to caress Aten's cheek.

“My poor baby boy,” Ryou whispered. “My little angel.”

 

Ryou's POV

 

Marik reluctantly put Aten's body back onto the ground. He stood and walked towards Aten's altar.

I took Aten's body in my arms and cuddled him against me. My little baby…

Dead.

My hands caressed Aten's cheeks. He looks so peaceful.

I heard Heaven beginning to cry in the next room.

I used to hold Aten when he would cry. I'd wipe his tears away and kiss his little forehead.

I won't be able to do that anymore to my little precious….my beloved boy…my sweetheart.

“ATEN! NO! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE?!” I sobbed.

I sobbed and held Aten against me. “I love you too much to let you go!”

 

Normal POV

 

Marik turned his face and looked at Robbie sitting on the couch, continuing to cry. “Morgan, come here.”

Robbie lifted his head and walked towards Marik slowly. “What is it?”

Marik put his hand on Robbie's shoulder. “It is time.”

The Caucasian teen looked down at a wooden stick Aten used to light his candles. The other candles on the altar continued to flicker.

Robbie reached out for the stick with a shaking hand.

Marik took Robbie's hand and closed his eyes as a tear fell down his cheeks.

“May the gods protect the soul of my son, Aten Bakari Ishtar. May his soul find its way into the Hall of Osiris and may the god judge him worthy to enter the Land of the Dead. Let my son pass through the trials of the gods and may his soul find rest…..and peace.”

Marik guided Robbie's trembling hand to the stick. He helped Robbie hold the stick over the fire of a flickering candle.

The stick sparkled with a tiny flame.

“May my son be accepted into the Halls of my Fathers. May my son's soul find its way to paradise within the Garden of the Nile.”

Marik helped Robbie light the wick of the black candle. The black candle's wick began to glow with a tiny flame.

The yami extinguished the little flame on the stick with a quick puff of air.

Robbie replaced the stick on the altar and covered his hands as he cried.

The yami looked up at Malik, tears creeping down his face slowly. “I must leave.”

Malik looked down at Ryou holding Aten and up at Bakura. The two exchanged a nod and Malik followed Marik out of the door.

“Marik, are you okay?”

Marik walked quietly down the street as the pounding rain soaked his hair. The hikari walked beside his Dark, their mindlink severing abruptly.

When they arrived home, Marik shut the door behind them.

“I'm going upstairs to my room.”

Malik watched his yami walk up the steps and jumped as a bolt of lightening made the lights flicker in the home.

Malik returned to the kitchen to chop the carrots. As he cut the vegetables, he wondered if anyone would eat tonight at all.

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

Ryou rocked Aten's upper body back and forth, humming softly.

Robbie watched Aten's black candle burn. “Aten told me not to blow the candle out. He said it would burn out on its own when he reached the Underworld.”

Miranda kneeled beside Ryou and watched the mother's tear fall on her fallen son. “Ryou, it's time to let him go.”

Ryou shook his head. “He's my baby. How can I?”

Miranda put a comforting hand on Ryou's shoulder. “It's hard to let go, Ryou. Believe me. I've had to do it three times already.”

Bakura turned to Robbie. “Ishtar told me that he wanted me to help him mummify Aten. Is this true, Robbie?”

Robbie nodded. “He wanted to do the rituals with you. Did you say yes?”

“Yes, I did. I told him it would be a bad idea because….well, Aten's his son. I can't say I would have an easy time mummifying my little girl. Marik is determined to go through with it.”

Bakura looked at the medics. “When you get to Aten to the morgue, Ishtar and I require time to do our own religious rites with the body.”

The medics raised their eyebrows at Bakura. “We have to prepare the body as soon as we get him there.”

“I never heard of such a thing,” the other medic said.

Bakura crossed his arms defiantly. “You would be wise to abide by my wish. Otherwise, I'll have to resort to drastic measures. Don't make me do that when I, myself, am grieving for my stepson here. Because if I have to resort to…alternative methods of getting what I want, then I will have to shed some blood, and I don't want to do that right now. It's your choice.”

The two medics exchanged glances. “We can't let you do that, sir. We must take the body for an autopsy to determine the cause of death and to prepare the body for burial.”

Bakura looked down at Ryou. Miranda was hugging him. Robbie was standing beside Bakura, looking at the yami with red, teary eyes.

“Very well, but know that this is not over.”

The white-haired yami glared at the men. If Marik really wanted to do this, the Millennium Rod would make this much easier. No bloodshed required.

“Ryou, let's go home. We have to tell Aria and Seto what has happened.”

Ryou shook his head. “No, I can't leave him!”

Bakura leaned down to Ryou. “Ry, I know this is difficult for you, but you have to let him go. Come on, baby. Let Aten go.”

Ryou slowly let Aten onto the ground. The hikari looked at the painting on the easel. The colors were running together. Tiny marks in gray peppered the sky.

Bakura put his arm around Ryou's shoulders. “Let's go home, baby. I'd rather walk home before we have to swim home. That rain is really coming down.”

Miranda gave Ryou a tight hug. “Ryou, I'm sorry about Aten. If you need anything, come see me, okay?”

Daniel came into the Studio carrying Heaven in his arms. “We'll give you the funeral arrangements when we get things together.”

Ryou looked down on the ground, a blank stare covered his face.

“That sounds good. I'll call you later. Robbie?”

Robbie raised his eyes to look at Bakura.

“Let that candle burn, Robbie. Don't blow it out. Aten is in no more pain now. It is not the mortal shell we leave behind that we miss; it is the soul which animated the mortal body that we miss.” A small smile crossed Bakura's face. “Aten was a good soul, but he didn't deserve his affliction. Celebrate his life and how he lived.”

Bakura looked at the painting Aten had left unfinished. He saw the colors revealed discord and disharmony. The clashing colors were set in the painted sky. Bakura looked at the gray in the sky, which seemed to be more than circumstantial placement of paint.

Bakura stepped closer to the painting and squinted his eyes to trace the patterns of gray.

As he followed the patterns, he noticed that they formed a single word in the Common Egyptian tongue: Vengeance.

Bakura took a step back from the painting. `Why did he paint that?'

“Ry, let's go, baby.”

Ryou left, crying lightly.

Robbie watched Bakura leave with Ryou. He sat on the couch and took Heaven in his arms. The medics placed Aten into a black body bag and wheeled him out of the house.

“Goodbye, Aten……”

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

Seto rubbed his temples as Jay stood in front of him. “Are you sure it's taken care of?”

Jay and Karl nodded. “Rocher's attempt at murdering Bakura was unsuccessful. Since then, we haven't seen him around. His house was empty and we staked it out for four days.”

“Did he know it was you?”

Jay shook his head. “No, he had no clue.”

“Rocher should have been arrested for a number of crimes already, but he seems to never be charged.”

“He could be paying off the cops. It wouldn't surprise me. Barnes is as crooked as they come. I can see Rocher stuffing Barnes' pockets so full of money that they burst at the seams,” Karl said.

Seto leaned back in his chair. “Rocher has been quiet lately….too quiet. I haven't heard anything from him or his posse. It makes me think that something is amiss.”

“You can never be too careful, Master Kaiba,” Jay said.

“I can see Barnes taking bribes. It wouldn't surprise me. Like Rocher, he's been dying to shut this company down. He won't stop until KaibaCorp lays in ruins. Well, I don't want to give him the satisfaction to think that he has us.”

Seto's phone rang. He picked up the receiver.

“Seto Kaiba.”

[Moneybags, I hope you are sitting down.]

“Bakura? What's wrong?”

Seto heard the white-haired yami sniffle and clear his throat quickly. Hearing Bakura cry or show any emotions was a rare occurrence. Now it seemed that the yami was choked up. Something was terribly wrong with Bakura.

[Seto…..I hate to be the one to tell you this. Aten just passed away at Miranda's home. The doctors couldn't revive him.]

Seto's jaw dropped and his hand began to tremble holding the phone. He waved Karl and Jay out of the office. “How did he die?”

[The medics said they're going to do an autopsy on him to determine the cause of death.]

Seto closed his eyes and bit his lip. “How's Robbie holding up?”

[The kid's a wreck.]

“What about Ryou?”

[Devastated.]

“Marik?”

[Heartbroken. Crushed.]

“Malik?”

[He seems to be taking it well enough so far. I think he's the one taking the news the best so far.]

Seto sighed sadly. “It's a shame.”

[It is a shame, Kaiba, but Aten's been suffering for far too long.]

“You seem to be holding up.”

[I have to hold up for the sake of my family. I have to be strong for them. I'll mourn in my own way later, but now I have Ryou and Marik who need me.]

“Does Robbie have arrangements?”

[Daniel said he'd contact me with the funeral arrangements.]

“I'm sure Robbie will contact me.”

[No doubt.]

The light for Seto's other line began to flash. “Bakura, I'll come over later to check on Ry and Marik. I have to go.”

[Okay, Seto. Goodbye.]

Seto pushed the button for the second line. “Seto Kaiba.”

[Good morning, Seto. I have news for you. We finally have that liver for Joey. Bring him in today and we'll do the surgery.]

“Aten's dead, isn't he?”

[………………..]

“Dr. Zira, answer me.”

[Yes, Seto, from what I understand, the boy is dead.]

“There's an autopsy going to be performed?”

Zira nodded. [Yes, it's already scheduled. But we have to get this liver into Joey.]

Seto breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, doctor. I'll bring Joey at once.”

[Goodbye, Seto.]

Seto hung up the phone and walked towards the master bedroom. Telling Joey was not going to be easy.

Joey had spent many hours painting with the little artist. The blond would take it hard.

Seto stood at the door, hoping if he focused on the positive, Joey wouldn't take the news so hard.

The CEO opened the door and found Joey sleeping in bed. Seto walked up to Joey and sat beside the blond.

“Joey, wake up. Open your eyes, baby.”

The blond moaned as he slowly opened his eyes. “What? Seto? What is it?”

Seto took Joey's hand. “Joey, we have to go to the hospital. They found a liver for you and we have to do the transplant.”

Joey's eyes widened as he sat up in the bed. “Seriously? They found a donor?”

Seto nodded. “Yes, come on, Joey. They have the donor ready for you.”

The blond stood up. “I was afraid something had happened with Aten.”

The CEO took a deep breath and kissed Joey's hand. “Aten is the donor, Joey.”

Joey turned to Seto. “What do you mean? How could he be the donor?”

Seto's bottom lip trembled and he looked down at the floor. “Bakura just called me, Joey. Aten has just died…..about ten minutes ago. He's going to give you the liver.”

Joey's eyes filled with tears. “Seto….he's dead?”

“Yes, Joey. I'm afraid he's dead.”

Joey buried his face in his hands and cried. His body trembled and quaked with the force of his sobs. “How could he be dead?”

“Joey, he's been sick all his life. We all knew this day would come.”

Joey shook his head. “I know, but it doesn't make it any easier!”

Seto kneeled between Joey's legs and embraced his lover. He cupped Joey's face in his hands and looked the blond directly into his brown eyes. “Joey, I'm sad, too. But right now, we have to get you to the hospital. If we wait too long, you won't be able to take his liver at all and we'll be right back to where we started.”

Joey sniffled and nodded. “I guess you're right, Seto. I wonder what Marik's going to say about this.”

“I think Marik knows about it, Joey. Besides, you're family. I don't think he'd object to this one bit.”

Joey kissed Seto on the lips. “Okay. Can you get me my clothes while I clean up a bit?”

“Zira will be ready for us when we get there.” Seto gathered Joey's clothes for him as the blond quickly cleaned himself up.

`When I get home, I'll have to read Aten's Last Will and Testament. I'm glad he wrote it in English.'

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

 

[Bakura, I am very busy at the moment. I have Joey to prepare for surgery.]

“Hey, look, I'm just telling you that Marik and I wish to prepare Aten's body for burial. Marik and I don't want the morgue to do whatever they do with dead bodies until Ishtar and I get there.”

[What, exactly, do you want to do?]

“Marik wants he and I to do our traditional prayers and rituals. Marik wants Aten to be mummified.”

[….Bakura, that is highly unorthodox. I don't know if I can allow that.]

“It's part of our religion and it's part of our beliefs and identity. Zira, if you could see his father right now, you would understand why this is such an important thing for Marik.”

Zira took a deep breath and sighed. [Okay. I'll tell the morticians not to do anything with Aten's body until you do what you need to do. I will sew Aten back together once I take out the liver for Joey.]

“Thank you, Dr. Zira. And thank you for caring for Aten all of these years.”

[Give Ryou and Marik my sincere condolences. I will contact them myself later. For now, I must attend to my patients.]

“Goodbye.”

Bakura hung up the phone and laid his head down on the kitchen table. “This is going to be a long night, Malik.”

Malik nodded. A loud roar of thunder sounded overhead as the rain continued to beat mercilessly on the town. “I'm inclined to agree. Do you think anyone's going to want dinner?”

The windows lit up with bright lights from lightening.

“I have a feeling we're on our own.”

Malik walked over to Bakura and stood beside the yami. Bakura wrapped his arms around Malik and buried his face in Malik's stomach.

“I can't believe he's gone,” Bakura said sadly.

Malik pet Bakura's spiky, white hair. The yami was holding back the tears and the blond could feel it. “I wonder what killed him.”

“Heart Attack, most likely. Ishtar and I will find the cause of death as we're doing our thing.” Bakura sighed. “I still think having Ishtar mummify his son is a bad idea, but you know how he can be. Stubborn, Pompous Noble Jackasses.”

Malik shook his head. “Poor boy. I wish there was something we could have done.”

Bakura shook his head. “There's nothing that could have been done, Malik. Aten was lucky. He lived thirteen years longer than he was meant to live. I'd call that a blessing that he was with us for that long.”

The Egyptian sniffled and wiped his teary eyes. “I feel bad for Marik. He's locked himself away in his room.”

“Ishtar needs time to grieve. I'm surprised Marik isn't with Ryou right now. They both need time to themselves. Ryou told me he wanted some time alone.”

Malik nodded. “That's what Marik told me. He wanted to be alone.”

The lights in the house began to flicker as the wind increased outside.

“We should light a candle in case the power goes out,” Bakura said.

Malik found a purple candle and lit it. He placed it on the kitchen table. “There we go. Bakura, can you see if Marik or Ry want to eat? Dinner looks done.”

The yami stood up and stretched. “Okay. If I'm not back in ten minutes, it means Marik sent me to the Shadow Realm.”

Malik snickered. “You can find your way back now that you have your powers back.”

Bakura walked up the stairs, listening intently for sounds from the two occupied bedrooms.

Bakura heard Ryou's quiet sniffling in his bedroom. He walked towards the bedroom and knocked softly on the door. “Ry?”

“Come in, `Kura.”

Bakura opened the door and found Ryou looking through photo albums. “What's up, Ry?”

Ryou wiped his teary eyes. “I'm looking at old pictures. He was such a beautiful baby, Bakura. I thought there was nothing that could be wrong with him.” Ryou shook his head and let his fingertips lightly caress the baby picture of Aten. “He was perfect.”

The yami sat beside his husband and put his arm around his shoulders. “Ryou, I can't imagine how hard this is for you. But Aten's conditions were not your fault.” Bakura smiled at a picture of baby Aten and baby Aria burying him in the sand. Aria stood on top of her father, smiling, her canines sharp. Her arms were crossed triumphantly over her chest. Aten was kneeling beside the buried yami, holding a shovel and bucket. Aten's chest was without the pacemaker scar and without `MINE' carved into his back. Baby Aten held the shovel in his hand with a smile on his face, his long white and blond hair flowing around his shoulders.

“We had a fun day,” Bakura said, smiling. “The kids enjoyed burying Marik and I. At least I was able to keep my head out of the sand. I think the kids completely buried Ishtar.”

Ryou chuckled. “Marik burst out of the sand, screaming that he was a sand monster here to eat baby yamis. Aria jumped at him, trying to wrestle him back under the sand.”

“For an infant, she fought him pretty well. I didn't know babies could do what she did.”

“Baby yamis, I guess, are different.”

Bakura nodded. “I guess so. I don't know of any other yami spawn in the world other than our kids.”

“Aten ran back to us crying, remember? He didn't want to be eaten by the sand monster.”

Ryou's bottom lip trembled. “I loved holding him when he was a little baby. He was always so affectionate.”

“Remember that Halloween?” Bakura asked, pointing to a picture of Aten and Aria dressed in their Halloween costumes. Aria smiled in her pretty pink princess outfit. She held a tiny, shimmering wand and a tiara on her white, spiky hair. Aten wore jeans and a t-shirt. He spiked his hair up and held Marik's Millennium Rod. “He wanted to be his father for Halloween.”

Ryou sniffled and smiled. “He wanted to be like his daddy. He was so proud of his father. I wish…..I wish I could say the same for mine, `Kura. I can't say I would be proud to be like my own father. I wanted to be a good mother to the kids.” Ryou shook his head. “I wanted to give my children what I never had.”

“I know, Ry. We loved the children, cared for their needs, and raised them well. We did our best. I never heard Aten or Aria say that we were bad parents.”

Ryou turned his head to Bakura. “Did you call Aria?”

Bakura nodded. “I did. She said she felt something was wrong with Aten right before he died. She told me she felt something wrong with her head. I don't think it was a heart attack that killed Aten, but it could have contributed to his death. Ishtar and I will find out.”

Ryou looked back down at the photo album. “Is she okay?”

“Oh, yeah, our daughter is made of tough stuff, Ry. Come on, she's my little girl. She's our little firecracker.”

Ryou sighed as he touched the pictures of Aten.

“Are you hungry? Malik says dinner is done.”

Ryou shook his head. “I'm not hungry.”

Bakura stood up. “Okay. We'll save you some. Try to have some later, okay? Did you see Isis or Odion today?”

“They said they would be back tonight. They had some business to take care of around town.”

Bakura kissed Ryou on the cheek and closed the door behind him as he left the room.

The silence of the Ishtar bedroom made the hairs on the back of Bakura's neck stand up on end. His body tensed as a loud thunder crack sounded above the house.

The floor beneath Bakura's feet seemed to shake.

Bakura knocked on Marik's door. “Ishtar? Open up.”

“Door's open.”

Bakura opened the door and saw Marik sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. The light from the streets pierced into the dark room, sending a ray of light over the yami.

Marik's head was lowered as he sat on the floor. Marik's right arm was covering his chest.

“Isis and Odion here yet?”

“Ry said they had some business around town. They'll be back later. Dinner's almost done and we have some downstairs.”

Marik continued to look down and shook his head. “I cannot eat.”

“Ishtar, please. You need to have something.”

Marik sniffled. “Leave me in peace.”

Bakura kneeled beside Marik and saw the blond looking lost. His eyes were vacant of life. They were blank, emotionless. “I'm here for you, partner. I always will be.”

“My son is dead, `Kura. My world is gone.”

Bakura shook his head and put his hand on Marik's shoulders. “Malik is here for you. Ryou will be here for you, too. I won't leave your side ever again. How can you say that your world is destroyed when it has never been stronger?”

“You don't understand. You won't understand until you bury Aria in the ground.”

Bakura reached for Marik's face and tipped up his chin to look the blond in the eyes. “When you have been ostracized by your family, when you have to survive on your own, and you don't have a place to call home for the night, that is when your world is gone, Ishtar. When all you have is yourself, that is when you feel truly alone in the world. You have people who love you here. Your world is not gone, Marik. We are here for you.”

Bakura leaned over and gave Marik's cheek a kiss. “Come down for dinner.”

Marik lowered his head. “Tomorrow night we will go and perform the ceremony on my son.”

Bakura nodded. “Okay. That gives me time to prepare what I need to do.”

“Now. Please go, Bakura. Let me mourn my son.”

Bakura stood up. “We'll save some dinner for you.”

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

 

Isis and Odion arrived and ate dinner with Malik and Bakura. Malik looked over at his sister and took her hand.

“Isis, sister, Aten passed away today.”

Isis nodded. “The prophecy has come to pass.”

“May Aten find peace in the arms of Osiris,” Odion said, folding his hands in prayer.

Bakura gave a stern look at Isis. “You knew?”

Isis returned Bakura's glare. “My Necklace does not lie.”

“Why didn't you---?”

“Tell you? Why didn't I tell you that Aten was going to die? Because I cannot influence the future. Had I told you that Aten was going to die today at 10:35 a.m., it would have been futile. Nothing you could have done would have stopped the death of Aten. Nature has taken Aten back into her arms.”

Bakura gripped his fork angrily. “That explains everything! You show up out of nowhere and visit!”

“Bakura! Sis, I guess what Bakura's trying to say is that we would have liked to know why you came.”

Isis looked at her brother. “Aten is my nephew, in a sense. I wanted to be here for his passing and his funeral. What kind of aunt would I be if I did not show up and be with my family? Besides, there is another reason why Odion and I linger here.”

Bakura pointed his fork at Odion. “Tell me. And no bullshit. I'm in no mood for bullshit after the day I've had.”

Odion looked at the fork in the yami's hand. “To stop Marik from pursuing a very dangerous road; one that will result in much bloodshed.”

“Marik's going to go on a killing spree? Without me? Not likely,” Bakura said.

Isis shook her head. “Not him, Bakura. Marik will kill nobody. Yet, his coping with his boy's death will not be a pleasant experience for anyone involved. It will bring much heartache to everyone, including the widower.”

“Robbie? Why are you here for Robbie?” Malik asked.

“We are here to witness a very important event, my brother. One that could very well turn the hunter into the hunted, the assailant into the victim.”

Bakura shook his head. “Malik, we need to teach your sister to talk in the plain English tongue.”

Isis smiled. “What I speak is very plain. What you do not know are the events about which I speak. Everyone has ears, Bakura, but very few people listen.”

Bakura crossed his arms. “I saw something painted into Aten's last work of art. It was painted in the sky. I don't know why I looked or how in the hell I even managed to pick it out, but there was something written in the sky. It was the word `Vengeance.'”

“'Vengeance?' Just written out there and nobody picked up on it?”

“No, it was written in Arabic. Nobody would have picked it out if they weren't looking for it. It was written in the Common tongue. I thought Aten would have written it in that Royal Tongue.”

Isis closed her eyes. “It is as we feared, Odion.”

“What is that all about, Isis?”

Odion looked at Bakura. “Our arrival was not mere happenstance. Some things are best remain unspoken. You of all people know about that, Yami Bakura.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes at Odion and stood up. “Malik, I'm not feeling well. I've had too long of a day to deal with your cryptic nonsense, the both of you. Dinner was good, by the way.”

Malik watched Bakura leave and groaned. “Odion, why did you have to bring that up?!”

“I was stating what needed to be said.”

“Well, you didn't have to say it that way, did you?”

Odion stood up. “I must go to my room. It has been a long day. Excuse me.”

Odion left the room, leaving Isis and Malik alone.

“So what were you and Odion doing all day?”

Isis smiled at her brother. “Business.”

“Okay, what KIND of business?”

“Odion and I had to return to the Domino Museum to…..check on some information that will prove useful very shortly.”

Malik raised a curious eyebrow. “What would that be?”

Isis shot her brother a serious glare. “How to turn a yami mortal.”

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

Odion knocked on Marik's bedroom door. “Master Marik? Are you in there?”

“……………”

“Master Marik, I offer my condolences for the loss of your only son.”

The door's lock snapped and the door opened.

Odion looked into the door and saw the room vacant. He stepped into the room and looked around.

Marik flew out from behind the door and grabbed Odion's neck, shoving him against the wall. The blond yami slammed the door shut with his free hand and growled at the intruding Egyptian.

“What the fuck do you want?” the yami snarled, grasping onto Odion's throat.

“I…came….to ….offer….condolences….for….your son's…..death.”

Marik narrowed his eyes. He pinned Odion against the wall with his body, keeping his hand gripped tightly around Odion's neck.

“Tell me what I need to know or I will kill you.”

Odion nodded, gasping for breath. The yami released his grip slightly, enough for the Egyptian to breathe.

“Why did you really come here, Odion? Tell me! How come you and Isis just pop out of nowhere? Tell me the truth! Why did you come here?”

“We knew…….about your son's impending death. We came…to support you.”

Marik narrowed his eyes. “Why didn't you tell me my son was going to die today?! Why didn't you tell me, damn you?!”

Odion looked Marik in the eyes. The purple orbs were red, but not from fury. Tears were still streaming down Marik's eyes. The yami's body was shaking. “We are forbidden to reveal anything about future events lest they change the course of the present.”

“If you had told me my son was going to die today, I would have been right there by his side! I would have been there for him! But I couldn't be and it is all your fault!”

Odion swallowed hard. “Even if you knew the day, minute, hour or Aten's death, it would not have changed anything. Aten would have died regardless today.”

“So that is the only reason why you came here? To watch my son die and tell me you're sorry?”

“That, and to warn you, Marik Jibade, against playing god. Dead is dead. Aten shall evermore remain deceased.”

Marik's bottom lip trembled. “I should rip your heart out for saying such things, Odion! Let me tell you something, baldy, my son…..my Aten…meant the world to me. His loss…..it's more than I can bear. He was my son. He was part of me. That part of me died today. Now, I will mourn my son and bury him according to our tradition.”

“Allow the dead to rest, Yami Marik. Allow Aten to cross into Paradise. You will only make more sorrow for yourself and for those around you if you do not allow him to remain dead.”

Marik released Odion from his grip. “Get out of my room.”

“As you wish.”

Marik pushed Odion out of the room and slammed the door behind him. The angry yami put his back against the door and glared in front of him.

On his dresser was the little box Aten had given to him. `He told me to open this box after his death,' Marik thought. `I wonder what's inside.'

Marik walked towards the dresser and opened the tiny box slowly. Inside were Aten's ankh necklace and a tiny statue of Anubis. His fingertips grazed over the necklace that his son had worn for practically every day of his life. He picked it up slowly, the silver chain dangling from his fingers.

“Aten….”

Marik unfastened the necklace and fastened it around his neck. He looked at himself in the mirror, the black ankh resting over his heart.

“Aten had so much faith in the gods…His faith was so much stronger than my own. He offered sacrifices to the gods every dawn and prayed to them for courage and bravery to face his heart condition.”

 

********Flashback******

 

Marik walked down the steps to see Bakura and Ryou watching the sunrise together. “Morning, you two sexies.”

Ryou turned his head and smiled at him. “Good Morning, Marik. Can Malik walk this morning?”

Marik grinned. “Barely. I did a good job.”

Bakura shook his head. “I guess I'll have to get an icepack for his butthole when I get to the kitchen?”

“Maybe. He's a tough boy. I think he can handle a nice night of Position 39.”

“Nasty,” Ryou said, giggling. “I'll bring him breakfast in bed. I'm sure he'll need it.”

Marik looked around. “Is Aten awake yet? We have to get to the hospital in an hour.”

“He's in the backyard doing his thing,” Bakura said, hugging Ryou tightly. “I listened to him for a while, but I didn't understand what the hell he was saying.”

“Is he dressed? Showered?”

Ryou nodded. “He's all ready to go. His hair is brushed and he says he's ready to go.”

Marik walked to the backdoor and saw Aten kneeling in front of the little firepit that they had used for their ritual prayers….and for burning any evidence that they didn't want anyone to find.

Eight-year-old Aten kneeled in front of a small fire he had started in the pit. His hands were folded across his chest and his head was bowed reverently. His lips moved as he spoke.

Marik heard the little boy pray in the Noble Tongue. `No wonder Itemri didn't understand what he was saying!'

The father listened intently to his son's prayer.

“May Ra the Sun God bless my path to a speedy recovery. I beg that of the Glorious, Radiant God, who is glorious and gives Life to all who dwell within this world. May the rays of the Aten heal me, bathe me in His healing light. May no fear follow me, may no terror consume me.” Aten dropped a handful of herbs into the fire. “Should I perish under Zira's knife, may I find eternal rest in your arms where there is no pain.” Aten raised his head to the sky. “Please, Mighty Ra, may I find eternal rest in your spirit when you decide to take me home. Don't let evil souls take me to Ammut. I don't know if Ammut would want to eat a bad heart like mine. It might not taste any good. It might be yucky.”

Marik snickered quietly at Aten's addition to the prayer. `My boy is creative.'

Aten bowed his head again. “Please hear my prayers, Ra. I'm….afraid. I don't know what's going to happen at the hospital today, but I pray that if bad things happen, my daddy won't be too sad. I love my daddy and I don't want him to be sad.”

The yami smiled at his son's concern. He opened the door and stepped into the yard.

“There's my daddy now!” Aten sprinkled the rest of the herbs on the fire. “Thank you, your faithful servant, Aten Bakari Ishtar Ibn Marik.”

Aten stood up and ran to his father. “Daddy!” Aten wrapped his arms around Marik's leg.

Marik kneeled down in front of his son. “You were praying very well, Little Ishtar.”

“I always do.”

Marik touched Aten's cheek lovingly. “You are a good boy, son.”

“I always pray because I don't know when my heart will not let me pray anymore.”

Marik's smile faded. “I'm proud of you, Aten.”

“Is it time to go yet?” Aten asked with large eyes.

“It's almost time. Why don't we watch the sunrise? Ryou and Bakura are inside watching it. We can watch it out here.”

Aten nodded and sat beside his father. “I like the sunrise. It's Ra looking down at everyone and saying `Good Morning.'”

Marik put his arm around his son, hugging him. “Yes, it is.”

**********End Flashback******

 

Marik put his back to the wall and slid down, blocking the door with his body.

The yami buried his face in his hands and wept. The hard rain began to strike the roof with ferocity.

A lightening bolt struck, lighting the room up in its glow. The lights turned off in the house.

Marik raised his head to the darkness. “Aten…I will see you alive again, even if I have to defy the gods' will to do so.”

 

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