Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ Love's Lament ( Chapter 32 )

WARNING: MALIK / BAKURA LIME AND SHOUENEN-AI!

 

Love's Lament

 

Miranda sat at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee. She looked down at the mahogany dinner table in dismay. She knew what her son was going through. Robbie had lost the love of his life, his partner, his best friend. Her own memories of Christa flashed through her mind.

She was with her infant daughter when she died. She was alone. Daniel was overseas and she had no support in her grief. Miranda had tried everything she could to help her terminally ill baby, but in the end, everything wasn't enough.

Miranda tried to ease Ryou's loss, but knew that nothing she said would help the other mother deal with the loss of her son.

She knew she had to help Robbie through his own grief and knew it wouldn't be easy for anyone involved.

Daniel put his arm around his wife and kissed her on the cheek. Miranda's eyes streamed with tears. “How are you holding up, beautiful?”

Miranda shook her head. “An old wound just opened up, Daniel. I keep thinking about Christa. I was so devastated when she died. I was so depressed. I can't imagine what our son is going through at this moment.”

Daniel looked up at the clock. “Aten's been gone for hours already. Has Robbie even come out of the Studio yet?”

“I haven't seen him. I suppose he's in there still.”

“Can't say I blame him. Aten was a good kid.”

Miranda turned and began to cry on Daniel's side. “I'm going to miss him, Daniel. Aten has been around here for so many years, I've grown accustomed to his presence. Now he won't be around here anymore.”

Daniel sighed and pet his wife's black hair. “Think about all the good times, Miranda.”

“I try, but it doesn't make it easier. I can't be like this in front of Robbie. I have to be strong for him.”

Daniel kneeled beside her and cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I'll be strong for you and Robbie, Miranda. We have to help Robbie any way we can.”

Miranda sniffled. “I know Aten had an obituary written. We can put that into the paper tomorrow. We also need to contact the cemetery, the church, and call Mervellin's for Aten's coffin. I think Robbie and Aten picked out a white one, but I don't know for sure. I know all the arrangements have been made. All we have to do is call them.”

Daniel nodded. “Okay. We can do that today.”
“I don't feel like cooking tonight. Can we go out for dinner?”

“Sounds like a plan. Let's have Robbie pick the place.”

“Okay. You go talk to him.”

Daniel stood up and opened the door to Aten's Studio. “Son?”

Robbie was sitting on the floor where Aten had collapsed. His eyes were cast downwards where Aten had lain as he took his final breath. Heaven was sitting on Robbie's lap, cooing.

“Rob, why don't you come out and be with your mother and I?”

Robbie shook his head. “No. I want to stay here.”

“We're thinking of going out tonight for dinner. It's your choice, Little Soldier.”

Robbie sniffled and shook his head. “I'm not hungry. You guys go out without me.”

Daniel sighed and walked beside his son. He sat down on the carpet beside Robbie.

“Dad, please don't sit there. Aten laid there.”

Daniel moved to Robbie's other side. He put his arm around Robbie's shoulders. “Son, I'm very sorry about Aten.”

A tear slid down Robbie's cheek. “What am I going to do, dad?”

“Move on, Robbie. Life continues. God took him back home for a reason. He was in a lot of pain, Robbie. I know you saw how much pain he suffered.”

Robbie nodded. “He was in a lot of pain. The painkillers weren't helping him at all. He could hardly move. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't do much of anything.”

“He's not in any pain anymore, Robbie. Let us be happy for him now.”

Robbie looked down at Heaven and held her in his arms. He cuddled her against him and sniffled. “Heaven will never know Aten as well as I have. I have to raise her by myself.”

“You have your mother and me to help you. We're both here for you.”

Robbie wiped his wet eye. “I hoped that Aten would live long enough to see her a little older.”

“Aten was lucky to survive as long as he did, son. Aten actually lived into old age for someone with his type of condition.”

Robbie buried his face into the side of Heaven's shoulder and sobbed. “Eighteen years old is not old age!”

“For someone with Aten's heart condition, it is. I know it's a lot to take in right now, Robbie. You're still in shock.”

“I loved Aten so much, dad! I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him! I miss him already! I don't know how I'm going to survive the rest of my life without him.”

Daniel hugged his son. “You're young, Robbie. You might meet someone you love, but I know Aten will never be able to be replaced.”

Robbie shook his head. “I don't want anyone else. I'm not going to marry again. Heaven will be my world from now on.”

“Aten was loved by all who knew him, Robbie. You should feel special that you both have shared such a special bond.”

Robbie nodded. “I know. He always made me feel like somebody important. I would defend Aten any way I could, even if it meant putting my own life on the line. I did that for Aria when I battled Keith. Keith could have beaten me in that duel. Keith could have easily beaten me to a bloody pulp. I'd do the same for any of my friends. When Eric used to confront us, I'd try to protect Aten no matter how much punishment I took.”

Daniel smiled. “You are a good friend, Robbie. And I know that you will be just fine.”

Robbie kissed Heaven on the cheek. “Dad, can you put her to bed? It's time for her nap.”

Daniel stood up and took the infant girl in his arms. “So where do you want to go for dinner?”

“I'm not hungry, dad. You and mom can go out.”

“Okay. If you change your mind, feel free to let us know.”

Robbie watched his father leave the Studio. His blue eyes wandered to the black candle burning on Aten's altar. “I love you, Aten……I'll never forget you.”

The teen lowered his head and cried, his tears spotting the place where his love had fallen.

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

Bakura watched the rain form puddles on the lawn. The rain had been continuous since Aten had died without any signs of stopping. The yami had watched the news with Malik and heard reports of flash floods wiping out entire towns. Vesuvius had erupted, spewing lava out of its peak. The southern United States was reporting dangerous high heat around one hundred and twenty degrees.

The yami shook his head in resignation. Marik's grief was impacting not just those in the household, but worldwide.

His mind wandered to Aten's painting.

 

Bakura's POV

`Vengeance.' What could he have meant by that? If he meant Marik's anger at his condition, then he couldn't be more right. Marik's always been angry that Aten's heart has been bad.

Marik has always blamed Steven for Aten's heart condition, and he couldn't be more right there, too. If Ryou had not been so poisoned by his father, those toxins would not have affected Aten's development.

What gets me is why wasn't Aria affected the same way? They were both conceived the same night within a very short period of time. That little question has bothered me for eighteen years.

I'm glad Aria wasn't affected by the toxins, but I can't explain why she has always had such good resistance. Aria hardly got sick, so she hardly missed any school as a result.

Either I have good genes or my seed is just strong as steel.

I prefer to think the latter choice, personally.

Why would Aten write `Vengeance' into his painting? Was he trying to send a message to someone or am I just looking too deep into this?

He must have written in Common Arabic for some reason. The only reason I knew what it read was because it was written in the language I taught Aten. It is the Arabic I know well. Ishtar taught him the Royal Tongue, the tongue of the nobility.

Was there significance to me being able to read it? Ishtar would not have picked up on it as readily as me.

With Aten's dying breath, why would he write that?

There must be some reason…..

“Late night, `Kura?”

I turned and Malik was coming down the steps with a pillow and a blanket.

“Ryou wanted some time alone, so I figured I'd crash down here tonight. You?”

“Marik wanted the same. Besides, I can't sleep with the way he is right now.”

If I know Ishtar, he's up there grieving on his own, crying like a newborn infant, and doesn't wish anyone to see him show emotion.

I can't say I blame Ishtar, though.

I'm really going to miss Aten. I loved him like a son. He was as much my little boy as Marik's. He was a part of my family, a family I love and protect.

I was there for Aten when he needed someone to talk to when he felt afraid. When he needed a lap to cuddle up in, mine was always available to him. I'd gather his thin, little body on my lap and hug him, rock him, whatever he wanted.

I would have gladly suffered another death if it meant that Aten could be cured of his illness.

But we all have our deaths to suffer. We can only suffer them alone. I suffered my own death, tortured and strangled. Marik's death was literally a shot through the heart. The arrow had penetrated his lungs and his heart. Marik had me when he died; my death was alone. I wonder what death Malik and Ryou will have to suffer. I hope no suffering is involved. They don't deserve that. Marik and I have made them suffer enough.

When Ishtar and I perform our ceremony for Aten, we will discover, hopefully, what caused his death.

“I'd welcome the company,” I said.

Malik smiled at me. I don't know why Ryou wanted to spend the night alone. That was very out of character for him when he was upset. Maybe he plans to go see Ishtar later tonight.

If they did happen to see each other tonight and talk, it would be healthy for both of them.

I don't know how likely that is, though.

Malik placed his pillow on the couch and the blanket beside the pillow. “I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight.”

Truthfully, I didn't know if I could, either. I was still upset at Aten's death. Isis and Odion's cryptic conversation from tonight just irritated me more.

Malik walked behind me and wrapped his arms around my stomach. I could feel him pressing against me. “I'm glad I have you tonight, Bakura.”

I closed the curtains and turned around to see the shirtless Ishtar standing there. “Why would that be?”

Malik's bottom lip trembled. “I don't want to be alone tonight.”

I wrapped my arms around Malik and held him close to me. I rubbed his back and rested my head on top of his. His skin was warm, and his presence comforting.

“Ryou and Marik need some time alone, Malik. We'll leave them be for tonight if that is what they need.”

“I'm worried about Marik, Bakura.”

I can't blame the little guy for being worried. I'm worried, too. Marik had a history of being unpredictable. You never knew what could set him off like a firecracker. This would be a time where Marik's unpredictability could be a problem.

“Me, too, Malik. I'm here for you, though.”

The lightening flashed through the curtains. This was going to be a rough night.

“Let's turn the lights off before they go out.”

I took Malik's pillows and fluffed them up. I removed my shirt and laid on the couch. Malik removed his boxers and slipped on top of me. I covered us both in Malik's blanket and wrapped my arms around Malik.

The blond let out a comfortable sigh after turning off the light.

We laid in the dark, the lightening providing brief flashes of light. The rain pounded hard on the windows.

“At least I don't have to water the garden for a while,” Malik said optimistically.

“Hopefully the Bleeding Hearts don't drown. Those things were frickin' expensive!”

Malik chuckled. “I hope the lilies don't drown, either. The water will help the tomato plants.”

I slipped my arms under the blanket and wrapped my arms around Malik. The blond's warmth above me relaxed me.

“Am I too heavy?”

“No. I don't mind. You're not heavy at all.”

My hands rubbed Malik's back and he rested his head on my chest. He breathed deeply and relaxed as he listened to my heartbeat.

It might be a fake heartbeat, but nobody could tell. Not even those clowns at that the research facility could detect that Marik's heartbeat wasn't right.

That comes with the territory of being undead: Fake heartbeats. The pulse of life is simulated by your lifeforce, your spirit's energy.

Malik nuzzled my chest and I kissed his forehead. “I love you, Bakura.”

I looked down at my chest where Malik laid peacefully. I saw him looking up at me from my chest.

“Malik…..”

I tipped Malik's head up and caressed his cheek. My thumb traced the contours of his lips.

Malik was my lover's other half. How could I not care for him deeply?

Malik lifted his head. “Bakura? Are you crying?”

Am I?

I wiped my eyes and found that I was.

Fucking hell.

Great.

This can't be from Ryou. Our mindlink is shut tight.

This must be from me.

Damn it.

Shit.

Don't do this, Bakura Osiris Itemri.

Pussy. Wuss. Wimp. Weakling. Stop the damn tears.

……..

They won't stop.

I felt bad for everyone involved in this: Marik. Ryou. Malik. Robbie. Miranda. Heaven. Seto. Joey. Aria. Umi. Aria's kids. Heaven. Myself.

I wanted to mourn, but not now. Not in front of Malik.

It seems my resolve has other plans.

Malik caressed my cheek and pet my hair. “Don't cry, `Kura.”

“Shit. I'm not crying, Malik. I have….something in my eye.”

“You are a poor liar, like Ry.”

I sniffled. “I'm going to miss him, Malik. He was such a good kid.”

Malik leaned over near my lips. “Poor Bakura.”

He pressed his lips against my lips and we kissed. I closed my eyes as a tear fell out of the corner of my eye.

My hand ran down Malik's back, letting my fingertips brush across his mortal skin. Our kiss deepened as Malik's hands drifted down my neck to my chest.

I whimpered into the kiss, enjoying the peace in a time of great tension. His body was warm against my own skin. My skin might be warm, but even that isn't really.

Malik is really cuddled under a blanket with a dead body.

My life is nothing more than a lie….an illusion of life.

I held onto Malik tightly, knowing that someday, he will take his last breath, too. He'll die, Ishtar and I will mourn. Ryou will die and we will be together again.

We will wander this Earth, the walking dead.

Our immortal existence will be known only to each other.

Cursed, Banned from entering Eternal Paradise.

Malik's body became slightly warmer as he kissed my jaw down to my neck. His hands began to rub my shoulders.

“I love you, Malik Ishtar.” I kissed his ear lightly and let my tongue lick the earlobe.

Malik moaned as his left hand drifted down my body. His thumb brushed across my right nipple.

I kissed his ear again and his cheek as he kissed my left shoulder. I felt his warm breath brush against my skin. My kisses were planted gently on his ear and moved to his jaw.

My hands dropped to his hips and brushed against his stomach and his chest.

“Don't cry anymore, Bakura-love.”

Malik's kisses moved to the side of my neck. He lightly nibbled the skin on my neck, always careful to lick it and kiss it.

I rubbed Malik's chest and up to his shoulders.

His mortal body felt so comforting now.

I kissed his shoulders as he had kissed mine, letting my kisses pepper his warm body softly and lovingly.

I wondered who needed this comfort and reassurance more, Myself or Malik.

Right now, it didn't matter. We both needed this.

Malik kissed my throat and down to my chest. I watched his lips hardly leave my skin as he tenderly kissed my body.

My fingers buried themselves in Malik's hair as I closed my eyes.

His moist tongue brushed against my nipple and kissed it reverently.

A moan escaped me as I rubbed down his back again. My fingers explored every inch of his skin that I could reach.

Malik shifted on top of me and I could feel his hardness beginning to rub up against me through my own boxers.

“Malik….”

Malik didn't seem to hear me as I moaned his name. He kissed my sternum and I could feel him move lower, dipping his tongue into my belly button and kissing it lovingly.

I felt a tightening in my lower extremities as Malik worshipped my body with his tongue and kisses.

I felt unworthy of his worship.

The one he should be worshipping right now is upstairs grieving for his lost child.

Ishtar deserves this more than myself.

“Malik, shouldn't you…..be doing this…*moan*….to Ishtar?”

Malik looked up at me from my stomach. “He doesn't want me to touch him. I went to hug him and he told me he didn't want to be touched.”

Marik not want to be touched? That's like a fish walking on land and breathing air. It was very unusual.

“Are you sure you want to do this? We have had a very long day and I don't want to exhaust you.”

Malik smiled at me. “I just wanted to show you how much I appreciate you.”

“You don't have to do that by pounding me into the couch cushions. We can't afford to buy a new couch.”

Malik giggled. “What makes you think I'm going to pound you?”

“Ishtars do that. They pound.”

Malik smiled. “That's not quite what I had in mind. I just want to show you how much I care. I want to make you feel good.”

I shifted underneath him, finding it harder to distract myself from the fire burning in my loins.

“Well, you are doing that.”

Malik put a finger on my lips. “Shh…just relax.”

I laid my head against the pillow and felt Malik gingerly kiss my stomach. He delicately kissed around my belly button and kissed lower to the rim of my boxers.

I removed my hands from Malik as he had shifted just beyond my reach.

I whimpered as he kissed, pulling down the front of my boxers as he softly touched my flesh with his lips.

I closed my eyes, my arms now raised above my head, gripping Malik's pillow.

I breathed sharply as my body was flooded with tingling, anticipatory pleasure.

I felt a gentle kiss plant itself softly on the tip of my arousal.

“Malik,” I whimpered as I rocked my hips up against Malik's lips.

My body was shuddering from Malik's caresses. It was getting to the point of ache.

I ached for him.

Malik kissed the peak again and kissed gracefully down the slope. I arched my back, gripping onto the pillow tightly. My hips raised out of instinct. I couldn't fight the urge anymore.

The pressure in my gut was pulsing with need and desire. I felt Malik's warm tongue lick up my peak again and I shifted my hips. I slithered my hips against the couch, trying to goad Malik into more contact.

Malik flicked his tongue across the top of my arousal. The hard flesh throbbed as he kissed it. It pulsated with need as it as a drop of clear liquid seeped from the tip.

I couldn't control the rocking of my hips anymore. I tried to stop it, but my body dripped with need.

I needed Malik, though the timing seemed to be in poor taste.

Malik must have needed me, too. Since Ryou and Marik locked themselves away, I was the only one who could give him the comfort, consolation, and love that he wanted.

I raised my hips up, desperate to relieve the aching need pulsating within me.

Malik kissed the tip of my arousal again and swallowed around me.

I arched my back at the pleasurable sudden warmth. I lifted my hips, pushing myself deeper into his warmth.

Malik moaned around my flesh, sending shivers up my spine. Malik deep-throated me, burying myself completely in his warmth.

My body shivered and shuddered. I needed Malik more with each lick and tender kiss.

I looked down at Malik pulling back slightly. He gently sipped at the clear fluid seeping from me.

I reached down and caressed his cheek.

I smiled down at him. “Shh….carefully, Malik. Slowly. That's a good boy.”

Malik's eyes locked with mine as he continued. He began to whimper and moan around me.

I could feel the tension inside me building as I felt the need to release.

I needed relief from this tight knot within me.

It was harder to keep from exploding, from bursting at the seams.

Malik's mouth left my hard length and he began to kiss up my body.

I whimpered and thrust my hips up, aching for more of the lost contact. I was sweating and this pressure in my loins was getting extremely uncomfortable.

Malik kissed up to my lips and smiled down at me. “I love you so much, Bakura.”

I pulled Malik into a deep kiss with both hands. I let my tongue slip into his mouth, possessing the Light which was not mine to own.

Malik reached down and began to rub his own rigid flesh against my own. He moaned into our kiss.

I felt myself rubbing against Malik and I was getting close. Feeling Malik's hard arousal touching my own, feeling his warm, naked body against me, knowing we were both about to explode together made me want Malik more.

I thrust my hips up into Malik's grasp, moaning into our kiss.

Our arousals rubbed against each other, petting the other.

I kissed Malik's chin and down the front of his neck. “I….won't….cum….first.”

Malik grinded himself against me. “Yes…you….will.”

I felt a few drips of liquid seep from Malik's arousal onto my stomach.

Malik moaned. “There's a little…”

I raised my hips against Malik, bucking hard into the grasp. Holding on was going to be impossible.

I arched forwards, spilling my orgasm between us. I raised my hips as my release flooded out of me.

“Malik…..let me feel you cum for me,” I moaned.

Malik threw his head back as he thrust hard into his grasp.

His body quaked with his impending orgasm and its subsequent release. “Can't….not…yet.”

Malik kneeled, straightening up. Through the flashes of lightening, I could tell Malik was thrusting hard and desperately into his hand.

I grabbed Malik's hips with both hands. “Come here.”

Malik shifted up, kneeling on my chest. He gasped and whimpered as I swallowed around him.

I massaged the base of his arousal as I suckled lightly on him.

Malik thrust into my mouth, sweat covering his body in a thick layer.

I rubbed his hips lightly as I continued my motions on his arousal.

“Bakura……coming….”

Malik thrust his hips forward, moaning and panting heavily. His body trembled as his body ejected his release hard. “There's…. so much… of it,” he moaned

I consumed Malik's release slowly and carefully.

When Malik stopped thrusting his hips, he pulled back slowly. He covered me with his body again and he caressed my cheek.

“I love you, Malik Ishtar,” I whispered.

Malik smiled and leaned into me. His tongue slipped between my lips as he tasted himself on my tongue. His heart raced as he stopped trembling.

I allowed him to taste himself and kiss me deeply. I kissed his lips, his cheek, and his ear.

He nuzzled me with his cheek and kissed my ear in return.

“Thank you.”

“Shh, just relax,” I whispered, pulling the covers back onto us.

Malik soon fell asleep on top of me.

My eyes were focused on the ceiling, feeling unsettling sensations flowing through me.

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

 

Robbie ran his fingers through the carpet where Aten had died. He felt compelled to touch it. If he touched it, Aten would still be near.

Heaven had fallen asleep in his arms.

He watched the baby girl sleep, unaware that her daddy wasn't coming back.

Robbie stood up carefully, afraid of waking the slumbering baby. He walked slowly towards the door and looked back down at the spot where he had kept a constant vigil. The paintbrush that Aten had dropped still remained on the floor. The paint had dried into a permanent pool on the carpet.

“I'll just be a minute. I have to put our daughter to bed,” Robbie whispered. “I'll be back.”

Robbie limped out of the room and slowly walked up the stairs. He placed Heaven in her crib and watched the baby's chest rise and fall slowly.

`It must be so nice….to be completely ignorant of death,' Robbie thought. `Aten just died and she has no idea what that means.'

Robbie walked down the hall to the bedroom he shared with Aten.

Aten's oxygen machine sat beside the bed, its owner never breathing again.

Aten's pillows remained propped up, their owner permanently sleeping now.

Aten's Scepter of Ra laid on the dresser.

`Aten's scepter. What am I going to do with that now?'

Robbie heard the doorbell chime. He took a deep breath and sighed. `I really don't want to talk to anyone right now, but I guess it would be rude of me to ignore them.' The bell chimed again. The teen limped down the stairs slowly. `I'll just make this short and get going to the Studio again.'

Robbie opened the door and Umi stood there holding a pizza box. “Umi?”

“Hi, Rob, I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd come cheer you up.”

Robbie shook his head. “Umi, my husband just died. I don't really feel like entertaining.”

“It's pepperoni and sausage.”

Robbie sighed and sniffled. “Fine, come on in.”

Umi carried the pizza inside and shut the door behind him. “Where do you want to eat?”

Robbie ignored Umi and walked into the Studio. He returned to the place where he kept his vigil.

“You want to eat on the floor?”

Robbie lowered his head and his bottom lip quivered. “I can't believe he's gone, Umi….just like that….so quick.”

Umi sat in front of Robbie and put the pizza box on the floor. “He's a good friend, Rob. I know you loved him a lot.” The teen grabbed a slice of pizza and bit into it, moaning happily. “Oh hell yeah! I'm sorry, Rob.”

“Don't be sorry, Umi. I didn't expect him to just fall on me.”

“What happened?”

Robbie folded his legs and crossed his arms. “Aten was painting and I started hearing some funny noises coming out of him. He started wheezing and swaying again. He told me he was sorry and asked…..for me to forgive him. He said `I can't--.' That's when he said he was sorry and then he just fell. No scream. No sound. He just collapsed. The EMT's said that Aten was dead before he even hit the floor.”

“Well, Rob, he died doing what he loved. Painting was everything to him. Painting to him is what the sea is to me. It's in my blood and, no matter how hard you try, you have to answer the call if it beckons you.”

Robbie wiped his teary eye. “I can still see him painting here. I can still feel him, even though he's been dead about….” Robbie looked at the clock by the altar. “Nine hours, I can still feel his presence.” Robbie lowered his head as tears raced down his cheeks. “I can still feel him here, but I can't touch him, I can't talk to him.”

Umi reached out and put a hand on Robbie's shoulder. “Come on, man, pull yourself together. I know it's hard losing someone that close to you. But let's look at it this way. Aten was in a lot of pain, big guy. I could see it whenever I looked at him. Aria picked up on it a lot these past few weeks. I'd find her laying in bed just exhausted. She said she was fighting with Aten to break down the mental barriers between them and Aten didn't want to do it. You know, Aria collapsed this morning at home.”

Robbie looked up at Umi and rubbed his eye. “Is she okay? How's the baby?”

“They're both doing fine, but she could feel Aten pass away.”

“How could she feel that?”

Umi took another bite of his pizza. “They've always had this link together. I think it's kinda like what Bakura has to Ryou and Marik has to Malik. She said Aten was talking strange. He was talking to her about marrying you, and talked about Hayden.”

“Hayden? What about Hayden?”

“She didn't say. She said that was something secret between herself and her brother. She started collapsing in a lot of pain. Aten said one thing about his grandfather and then asked for her forgiveness. Aten said….he said he couldn't fight it anymore. When the link cut off, she knew her brother was dead.”

Robbie looked down again and rubbed the carpet with his hand. “I'm sorry Aria had to feel that, Umi.”

“Aria and the baby are okay. That's all I was worried about. If Aten was in as much pain as Aria looked, dude, I feel relieved for Aten.”

Robbie nodded. “Aten was in a lot of pain. That medicine wasn't helping him. Bakura said he'd find out what killed Aten.”

“The dude had heart failure! How hard is it to determine?”

“He'd been having migraines, too.”

Umi shrugged. “Lack of oxygen to the brain, maybe? I don't know. I'm better at Oceanography, not body-ology.”

Robbie snickered. “Biology or physiology.”

Umi laughed heartily. “Yeah, that one!”

Robbie grabbed a slice of pizza and sighed. “I don't know if I can eat at all. My stomach is still upset.”

“Just eat slow. You have to take care of yourself. Hey, where are your folks? Maybe they want a slice.”

“They went out to dinner. They told me I could pick anywhere I wanted, but I told them I wasn't hungry. They went out together.”

Umi grabbed another slice of pizza. “More for us, Rob!”

“I don't know if I should.”

Umi shot him a glare. “Eat or I'll dangle it in front of you with fishing line and my rod I have in the car!”

Robbie chuckled. “What? Have me eat it like a fish eats a worm?”

Umi grinned. “That's the idea! Hey, I caught a good many fish the other day! The pile was enough to sell for good money and I still had fish for my family left over! I'll have to bring you over some one day.”

“Well, thank you, but you don't have to. Your family needs to eat first. How's Aria's pregnancy coming along?”

Umi shook his head. “The other day, she had me go to the grocery store at three in the morning for bacon and Cool Whip! Who the hell eats bacon with Cool Whip?!”

“Apparently, pregnant women do.”

“Yeah, there's a little belly on her now. I keep trying to think of names. We have Kai and Rhett, two good sea names! Now we need a third. I was thinking of naming the baby `River' if it is a boy. If it's a girl, I'm not really sure. All I know is that I'll have three kids to add to my little school of spawn!” Umi smiled proudly. “I'm hoping for a healthy baby, that's all I wish. But if I had to choose, I guess I would choose a boy. This world needs more fisherman.”

Robbie bit into the pizza and chewed slowly. “Heaven's not going to be easy to raise. My parents said they would help me. I want to see what I can do for her missing leg. I might ask Seto if a prosthesis would be covered under my insurance. If it's not, I'll have to find some way to pay for it.”

“Aten had money, didn't he?”

“Aten said he gave Seto his Last Will. In there he said he made provisions for anything Heaven needed.”

Umi finished his second piece quickly. “I figured Aten would. How is she, anyway?”

“She's over the withdrawal, finally. She's a baby. She eats, sleeps, and poops. That's about it.”

Umi laughed. “Those are the good days, Rob! You had all your needs taken care of! All you had to do was eat, sleep, and poop a little and you were good.”

Robbie laughed. “I'm trying to eat here!”

“You brought it up, Rob! Not me!”

Robbie shook his head and finished his piece of pizza. “The pizza is good, Umi. Thank you.”

“Hey, no problem. I figured I'd come over and check up on you. Remember when we were in first grade and we did finger-painting? Your mom was repainting the kitchen and so you, me, and Aten bathed our hands in paint and touched the newly painted walls?”

Robbie laughed. “Mom was so angry! She had to buy two new gallons of paint to cover what we did!”

“Really? She didn't yell at us or anything. I didn't think it made her angry.”

“Mom told me she really couldn't get mad at us. She said we were only little boys who wanted to help her paint.”

Umi chuckled. “That was a fun time. We all got covered in paint! I think Aten's hair was blue for a week!”

Robbie laughed. “Yeah, the blue took forever getting out of his white hair! The blond hair was easily washed away, but that white stained for a while.”

“I think I had red hair.”

Robbie nodded. “I think mine was purple or something like that.”

“Those were good times. Aten wrote his name in hieroglyphics.”

“That was a fun time. I don't think mom ever let us out of her sight after that. At least, not for a long period of time.”

Umi grinned. “What about the time we went on my father's boat?”

“I burned so bad!” Robbie smiled. “I was like a cherry!”

“I'm so used to sunburns that they don't bother me. You learn how to protect yourself after a while from the sun's rays. I thought Aten was going to burn to a cinder that day.”

Robbie took another piece of pizza. “His skin color was already dark enough. I think he did get darker that day, though. That dark Egyptian skin of his made him look even darker when he tanned.”

Umi nodded. “Yeah, you couldn't tell that his mom is British. With Aria, you can tell her parents are both very pale.”

“Aten looked like his father, for certain. He had his dark skin, but those eyes, Umi…..I'd never seen anyone with two different colored eyes before I knew Aten. I'd never even seen someone with two different color hairs, either!”

“Well, Kai has that blue and white hair. Blue from me and white from his mother. Rhett's hair is starting to come in now and we can see he's going to take after his mommy. It's white and it's hard to pin down. He's gonna have white, spiky hair like mommy.”

Robbie looked down at the floor. “I wonder what Aten's kid would have looked like if he actually fathered one.”

“Hmm….that's interesting. I don't know. His kind was rare, Robbie. I don't think there's going to be another Aten anymore.”

Robbie shook his head. “No, Umi, you're right. A lot of girls would walk up to him in the mall and try to say how cute he was. I don't want anyone else.”

“You never know what's in the cards for you, Rob. Someday you might find someone, but don't think about that now. Just take your time with this first.”

Robbie took a bite out of his pizza. He chewed and swallowed. “Umi, thanks for coming over. I really appreciate the pizza.”

“Don't worry about it, Rob. Hey, you and Aten were my buddies! I'm still your friend and I want to be here for you since things really suck for you now.”

“Yeah, they do.”

Umi pat Robbie on the shoulder. “If you need anything, call me, okay?”

Robbie put down his pizza and hugged Umi. “Thanks for being such a good pal.”

“Anytime, Rob. I have to go, but you can have the rest of the pizza. My Lady at home needs her special man.”

Robbie laughed. “Okay, Umi. See you later.”

Robbie put the pizza in the refrigerator and locked the front door. He checked on Heaven, who was still fast asleep in her crib.

Robbie changed into his boxers and turned on the light in the bedroom.

The bed was empty.

Aten never took much room on the bed, but Robbie saw it looked bigger than ever now that it was empty.

Robbie rested his cane beside the bed and slipped under the covers. He shifted over to his own side of the bed and turned off the light.

He cuddled under the sheets, aware of the absence of another body in the bed.

In the darkness of the room, he felt more alone.

His hand drifted over the place where Aten usually slept. “Goodnight, Aten….sleep well.”

 

See next chapter for continuation!