Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ Aten's Last Will and Testament ( Chapter 35 )

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

WARNING: SETO X RYOU LEMON!

[…………….]=flashback

Aten's Last Will and Testament

Bakura tensed as Marik bit down harder on his shoulder. Marik grabbed Bakura's shirt with both of his hands and tore the shirt in half, sending buttons scattering around the floor.

The blond's hands gripped onto the shirt and pulled it down forcefully.

“Marik---.”

Marik removed his teeth from Bakura's shoulder and gripped Bakura's jaw with his right hand. He squeezed the jaw in his hand and glared into Bakura's eyes. The yami pressed his aroused body against Bakura, pinning the yami against the door.

“You will say nothing!” Marik snarled.

Bakura saw a wild ferocity in his lover's eyes. He narrowed his eyes at Marik and removed a small knife from his belt.

Marik grabbed Bakura's wrist. “Are you planning to cut me?”

“You ripped my shirt off. It seems to be only fair I get to cut yours off of you.”

“We shall see about that, Itemri.”

Marik pulled back from Bakura and kept his hand on Bakura's wrist holding the knife. Bakura reached out and grabbed Marik's shirt. He tugged and the blond's shirt ripped in half.

Marik backed Bakura against the couch's armrest. The white-haired yami fell backwards as his hips rested against the armrest and dropped the knife.

Bakura looked up at the blond, who smiled down at him.

“Well, this is very fortunate for me,” Marik smiled, licking his lips.

Marik leaned over Bakura and kissed the yami hungrily. His tongue slipped through Bakura's lips and explored the familiar warmth. The white-haired yami whimpered and growled as Marik fumbled with the button on his jeans. The blond tugged and pulled in his lust-filled desperation.

Bakura reached between them and helped the blond unbutton his pants. Marik removed his hands and began to work desperately on his own pants.

The blond moaned into the kiss as he felt Bakura try to remove his legs from his pants. He pulled back and pulled the jeans from his lover's body. Marik removed his own pants and shirt. He rolled the shirt into a makeshift pillow and placed it behind Bakura's head.

He looked down at his lover's naked body and leaned over to kiss Bakura again.

Bakura moaned as he felt his lover's excited body press against him and rub him. Pinned helplessly under his yami lover, he reached up and pet Marik's hair.

Marik's kisses traveled down Bakura's jaw and to his shoulder. The blond lapped at the slight trickle of blood with his tongue.

Bakura licked and kissed Marik's shoulder as he reached between them to touch Marik's weeping arousal.

The blond breathed in sharply as his lover touched him lightly. His hands touched Bakura's chest and explored his body. The blond yami's body trembled as he grinded his arousal against Bakura's body.

Bakura's eyes widened and he clutched onto Marik's body tightly as he felt Marik slip himself inside without any preparation. Bakura's hips were set aflame by the sudden invasion. His nails dug into Marik's back, threatening to break the skin. Marik bit into the side of Bakura's neck, holding the white-haired yami still as his body adjusted.

Marik growled into the side of Bakura's neck, snarling viciously as he pinned Bakura almost folded in half. He began moving inside Bakura, plunging deep inside the yami's tight body.

Bakura grunted as his body flared with pain. He wrapped his hands around Marik's neck, trying to force him away, but the blond kept his grip on Bakura.

Marik felt Bakura's arousal stiffen considerably as Marik increased his motions. The white-haired yami enjoyed the feeling of total domination when it was with Marik. Marik was like a stone on top of him, there was no chance of moving it until the stone was finished its work. Bakura knew his partner was over-stressed and was releasing hiding aggression and frustration.

`One of us is not going to be able to walk right in the morning, and I think I know who,' Bakura thought as Marik continued his rough lovemaking through the night.

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

Seto laid against the pillows reading the last stock market report of the day. He scanned his stocks and studied which ones he could sell and for what profit. The majority of his investments were increasing in value again. A few investments were ready to be sold since they were not pulling in much revenue.

The bathroom door opened and he saw Ryou emerge from the door with a towel wrapped around his waist and his wet white hair clinging to his bare chest and shoulders.

Seto put his paper on his nightstand and turned towards the wet white-haired seraph walking slowly towards the bed.

“Ryou…..”

Ryou smiled shyly. “It's been a long time, Seto.”

Seto nodded and threw back the covers to the empty side of the bed. “Come join me, angel.”

Ryou approached the bed and removed the towel before slipping into bed beside the CEO. He pulled the covers over himself and shifted closer to Seto.

The brunette shifted closer to Ryou as the white-haired man cuddled close to him. He rested his head on Seto's chest, listening to his heartbeat. Seto's arm wrapped around Ryou, rubbing the other man's back. He kissed the top of Ryou's head as he felt Ryou's warm breath brushing against his skin.

“It's been so long since we have done this. I missed it.”

Seto smiled and nodded. “We would stay up all night. I'd hold you like this for hours.”

Ryou kissed Seto's chest lightly and nuzzled his cheek affectionately against Seto.

The CEO felt the other man shift closer and press his entire body against him.

Ryou took a deep breath and ran his hand against Seto's stomach. “Thank you for taking Malik and I in for the night, Seto.”

Seto tipped Ryou's head up. “Are you feeling any better? Did Marik hurt you?”

“I can't believe he blamed me for giving Aten his heart problem.”

“You're not to blame, Ry.”

Ryou nodded. “I know that. Marik's…..he's feeling so much pain now. He's hurting and I know he has a hard time expressing that.”

“That's no excuse for doing what he did or saying what he said.”

Ryou looked into Seto's eyes. “It wasn't Marik who said those awful things. That isn't the Marik I've grown to love. That's the Marik who lost his son. I just hope that Bakura can handle him tonight.”

“I have no doubt that Bakura can handle him.”

“I hope you're right.”

Seto rubbed Ryou's back and let his fingers brush over Ryou's hip. “Bakura's never had a trouble keeping him in line. Bakura will work his magic and Marik will be back to his old, perverted self tomorrow.”

Ryou giggled. “Perverted, yes. That will never change about Marik. Some things always stay the same.”

“Very true. I think I've heard every Rod joke in the book by now.”

Ryou's hand rubbed Seto's side and down to his hip. “Just be glad there's no `Millennium Cock-Ring.' Marik would be digging up the desert just to find it.”

“He'd just use Bakura's Millennium Ring to find it. Marik would make one if he couldn't find it.”

Ryou giggled. “I'll talk to Marik tomorrow. He just needs some time with Bakura to do….yami things, whatever they may be.”

Seto closed his eyes with contentment as Ryou's hands brushed against his warming skin. His fingers brushed against Ryou's hips and fell lower, caressing Ryou's buttocks.

Ryou kissed Seto's chest, letting his hands brush lovingly against Seto's right leg.

The CEO opened his eyes and tipped Ryou's face upwards. “I love you, Ryou.” Seto's left hand raised and caressed Ryou's cheek. “You are so beautiful, angel.”

Ryou closed his eyes as Seto raised his head to kiss him. Ryou moaned into the kiss with the CEO. Seto caressed Ryou's white hair, letting the soft white locks flow through his fingers.

The white-haired man whimpered into the kiss as the CEO's tongue slipped between his lips and deepened the kiss.

Seto could feel Ryou's heart pounding as his friend pressed against him.

The CEO moaned into the kiss and rolled over on top of the other man. Ryou felt Seto's hands explore his sides and settle between his legs.

Ryou arched his back with pleasure as Seto kissed down his jaw and down the side of his neck. Ryou wrapped his legs around Seto's hips and moaned as the CEO sucked lightly on the side of his neck.

“Seto…..”

The CEO gave Ryou's neck a little nip, making the man squeal. He kissed the nipped skin tenderly, making Ryou start to sweat.

Seto moaned into the side of Ryou's neck, rubbing himself against Ryou's arousal. “My angel, Ryou, you are so beautiful,” Seto whispered into his ear.

A flood of pleasure spread through the mindlink with Bakura, making his body react to the lust transferred from his yami.

Ryou reached between himself and Seto and wrapped his hand lightly around Seto's arousal. “Kiss me…please.”

Seto pressed his lips against Ryou's lightly. His white-haired lover moaned into the kiss as his body shivered with anticipation. Seto thrust his hips into Ryou's grip with a moan. His breath quickened as pleasure flooded his body and mind.

Ryou moaned and whimpered into the kiss as Seto touched him, lightly massaging him between his legs.

Seto's warm breath brushed across Ryou's cheek as the CEO deepened the kiss. He pushed his hips into Ryou's grip, his body covering with sweat at the pleasure of Ryou's touch.

Seto kissed down Ryou's jaw and his neck. His hand wrapped around Ryou's arousal, touching his lover, and letting him indulge in the pleasured sensations.

Ryou felt Seto slip from his hands as the CEO kissed down his body. Ryou looked down as the CEO kissed and licked his left nipple. He reached for Seto's hair and began to rub it. He ran his fingers through the brown strands of hair, moaning as Seto kissed down his ribs to his belly button.

Ryou arched his back, breathing deeply as Seto lapped at his belly button.

Ryou raised his hip into Seto's grasp. He moaned and whimpered as Seto's kisses descended towards his manhood.

The CEO watched Ryou as he whimpered and felt him thrust up, his body wanting release.

“Please, Seto…..”

Seto watched the angel's body cover in sweat and shake with desire. Ryou and him had touched each other before. They had kissed.

Now Seto closed his eyes and kissed down the length of his friend. He opened his eyes and saw Ryou's arousal weeping, a single drop of clear fluid glistened on the tip.

He let his tongue touch Ryou's tip, cleaning off the flesh.

Ryou lifted his hips at Seto's soft tongue touched him. “Seto….please.”

Seto licked the tip of Ryou's arousal again and he kissed it. His kisses descended down the length of the hardening flesh, taking tender care to make sure Ryou felt every gentle kiss.

Ryou arched his back as more fluid slipped down the head.

Seto licked up the pre-cum slowly, kissing up the stiffening length. Seto let his fingers slip down from the base of Ryou's arousal to Ryou's entrance.

The white-haired man moaned and gasped as he felt Seto probing him without entering.

Seto kissed up the length and up Ryou's body. His white-haired lover moaned and bucked up towards Seto's body.

The CEO shifted towards Ryou and kneeled on the man's chest. “Am I hurting you?”

Ryou shook his head and moaned as he felt Seto continuing to touch his arousal. Ryou looked at Seto's arousal in front of him and gave the tip a gentle kiss.

The CEO closed his eyes and moaned. “Ryou…..”

Ryou licked Seto's tip and swallowed around the length.

Seto opened his eyes and watched the angel below him suckle lightly on his arousal. The CEO moaned as he slowly thrust himself against Ryou's heat.

“My angel….I love you, Ryou…”

Ryou felt Seto run his thumb over his tip, teasing him, urging him to buck into his hand.

Seto felt his body shudder as he released a little into Ryou's throat.

Ryou swallowed the little slowly and moaned around the hardening flesh.

Seto reached to the side drawer with his free hand and grabbed a bottle. He released Ryou's arousal and squirted some of the liquid onto his fingers.

He reached behind and touched between Ryou's legs. His other hand reached down and pet Ryou's white hair.

“That's it, angel….just relax.”

Ryou's body tensed and whimpered as he felt a finger penetrate him. His breathing quickened and his body shuddered.

“It's okay, baby,” Seto whispered. “Relax.”

Ryou whimpered as he felt the intruding finger slip in slowly and move. He bucked up with Seto's movements and began to suck on Seto's arousal. He let his tongue lick the stiffening flesh.

The CEO moaned, thrusting into Ryou's heat. “Ryou, don't stop.”

Ryou felt Seto add a second finger and bury themselves deep to the knuckle. Ryou moaned around the flesh in his mouth. He reached towards his own arousal and began thrusting into his hand.

“That's it, baby…..pleasure yourself.”

Ryou whimpered as he thrust into his hand and a little more liquid slid down his throat from Seto.

Seto's thrusts into Ryou's heat were accompanied by whimpers of need and pleasure.

Ryou released Seto's length from his mouth and gave the tip a light, tender kiss. “Seto…please….I can't take it.”

Seto removed his fingers from Ryou and slid down his lover's body. Ryou wrapped his legs around Seto's hips and continued to thrust into his own grip.

He watched as Ryou thrust into his own grip, his body shaking and his length weeping with need.

Seto settled between Ryou's legs and positioned himself at Ryou's entrance. He leaned down and kissed Ryou on the lips as he slipped himself through Ryou's body and buried himself inside his lover.

Ryou's breathing came in short gasps of air as Seto kissed him. The thrusts of his hips had stopped as Seto buried himself deep, restricting Ryou's movement.

The CEO looked down at his lover and began to move slowly. Ryou moaned as Seto buried himself inside. His body quivered with the feeling of his lover.

“Ryou, I never imagined you'd feel so wonderful.”

Ryou moaned as he touched himself. “It's been a long time.”

Seto kissed Ryou on the lips again hungrily, his body thrusting into Ryou. The white-haired man shuddered with each thrust of his lover.

Ryou whimpered as he felt his arousal weep with the desire for release.

Seto thrust into Ryou and felt some release slip from him. He held Ryou against him and thrust himself into his lover faster and harder.

Ryou moaned and whimpered, feeling his own arousal trickle. He quickened his pace and thrust up into his grip.

“Ryou…..don't stop,” Seto whimpered, plunging himself into Ryou harder.

“Seto, I'm close,” Ryou whimpered.

Seto's body quivered as his arousal wept more inside his lover. “I love you, Ryou,” Seto moaned, pounding harder into Ryou's body. He propped himself on both hands and looked down, watching Ryou stroke himself desperately.

He plunged into Ryou hard as the white-haired man let out a cry of ecstasy.

“Let it out, angel,” Seto moaned, pounding into the same place that made Ryou scream.

“Seto…..I have to--.” Ryou arched his back and released hard against him and Seto's stomach.

Seto moaned and quickened his pace. “Let it all go, Ry. Give me all of it.”

Ryou tensed harder and whimpered as his body released hard.

Seto leaned down, stopping before Ryou. “Let me kiss you as I feel you come.”

The CEO kissed his lover, who finished his release. Seto moaned into the kiss and with a final whimper, released hard into his lover. Seto thrust his release deep into his lover and collapsed, panting heavily.

Ryou wrapped his arms around Seto, shaking with the remaining remnants of his orgasm.

Seto clutched onto Ryou. “I love you, angel.”

Ryou panted heavily as he held onto Seto tightly. “Thank you.”

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

Ryou and Malik entered the home and saw Marik sitting on the couch, his head lowered and staring at the floor.

“Marik? Are you okay?” Malik asked, walking up to his yami and kneeling beside him. “It's going to be okay, Marik.” Malik reached up and caressed Marik's cheek. “Did you and Bakura have a good night last night? Did you do what you wanted to?”

Marik turned his head to Malik and nodded silently. “We did.”

Ryou walked up to Marik and looked down at him. “Marik, I'm….”

Marik lowered his head again and shook it. “Don't, Ry. I was an ass. You did nothing wrong.”

Ryou put his hand on Marik's shoulder. “You always were a good father, Marik, and a good provider.”

Marik reached over and covered Ryou's hand with his own. “I tried my best, Ry. I just wish….things could have been different.”

Ryou sat beside Marik as Malik disappeared into the kitchen to give the couple some time to themselves.

“Marik, come here,” Ryou said, opening his arms and drawing Marik close to him. Marik gripped onto Ryou as tightly as he could and his body started to tremble.

“We knew this day would come,” the father said. “Why did it have to come so soon?”

Ryou pet Marik's hair. “It could have come sooner, you heard Zira. Aten was with us for a long time and he was with Robbie when he….” Ryou kissed Marik's forehead. “I was with my mother when she died. Aten didn't die alone. He had Robbie with him. Aten was a blessing, Marik. I never regretted having him. He was my treasure. But now he's not in pain anymore.”

Marik gripped Ryou's shirt tighter. “I know. That is what makes this so difficult.”

“It's okay, Marik. You are allowed to cry.”

Marik shook his head. “Not here in the living room. Ry, do you….do you think you could spend the night with me?”

“Depends. Is my room still in shambles? Do I have a bed for tonight?”

Marik sniffled. “No, but I'll take care of it.”

Ryou nodded. “Okay. I can spend the night with you. I think we may both need it after today.”

Marik sniffled. “Thank you, Ry.”

“No problem. I should go find Bakura. Is he home?”

Marik shrugged as he stood up. “I don't know. I think he went into the Ring. It's upstairs in Odion's room.”

“I'll check on Bakura and see how he's holding up.”
Ryou climbed the steps as he watched Marik disappear into the kitchen. A moment later, he heard Marik's sobbing on Malik's shoulder and the hikari trying to console his broken half.

“Bakura! I'm home! Where are you?”

Ryou climbed the steps and heard light sobbing coming from behind Odion's door. “Bakura? Baby?”

Ryou opened the door and found Bakura sitting on the floor, his back against the dresser. The white-haired yami was sitting with his knees drawn up under his chin and his face buried in his arms.

“Bakura?” Ryou asked as he slowly approached his quietly crying yami. “We'll get through today, I promise.”

Bakura raised his head as tears continued to caress his cheeks. “I know we will, angel. There are….some things that we never forget. Old feelings are never lost, they are just dormant until something awakens them.”

Ryou sat beside his yami and put his arms around his shoulders. “Are you referring to when you had to bury Marik in the desert after he was killed?”

Bakura shook his head. “No. It's about…..Ilthien.”

“Who is that?”

Bakura rubbed his eyes. “That was my son.”

Ryou's jaw dropped. “You had a son? You never told me about this before.”

“There's a reason. Yami had him killed as an infant when I was in his dungeon. I saw his body when I went to get the clothes for Aten's ceremony. It was there in a display case at the Cairo Museum. I never knew Isis found him. She never told me.”

Ryou rubbed Bakura's shoulder. “I didn't know you ever had a son.”

“It was just too hard to talk about. Not even Ishtar knows. Nobody knows. I didn't see him buried. I don't even know how she found him. All I know is that I watched the rats…..” Bakura fell silent as he lowered his head.

Ryou pet Bakura's hair. “Baby, I'm sorry.”

“Burying Aten today….just made me think of him.”

Ryou held Bakura's hand. “It's okay, `Kura. I know it's hard, but I promise we will get through today together.”

Bakura nodded. “I know. How are you holding up today?”

“I'm going to miss Aten, but I know he's not in any more pain. I think that's what's holding me together.”

Bakura put his arm around Ryou and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Ryou.”

The hikari smiled and returned the kiss. “I'm here for you, Bakura.”

“Same here, angel,” Bakura said, caressing Ryou's cheek.

Malik ran in from the hallway. “Guys, did you hear? There was another murder last night! Two men got killed!”

“People get killed all the time,” Bakura said casually.

Malik shook his head. “No, the murder sounds like the Crusaders are involved!”

“Is it on the radio?” Ryou asked quickly.

Malik shook his head. “It's on the t.v. Come downstairs!”

Ryou and Bakura ran down the steps with Malik and stood in front of the television.

[We don't have any leads as of yet.] Sgt. Barnes said as he stood behind a podium. [We found the bodies of two decapitated men in the woods. We are searching the area for evidence, but we don't know who is responsible for these horrific crimes. We have not yet been able to identify the victims since their heads are missing. We are currently doing DNA tests to identify the bodies.]

Marik and Bakura exchanged suspicious looks. “Did what we see last night actually happen or was it just a drunken dream?”

Bakura shrugged. “I don't know. We were both pretty liquored up.”

Marik rubbed his head. “I think I remember seeing Tristan, but I'm not sure.”

Ryou and Malik looked at their yamis. “Did you see it happen?”

The yamis shrugged. “We drank a lot. We don't remember much.”

“Was Tristan really killed by the Crusaders?” Malik asked.

“I thought I remember seeing him, but Itemri grabbed some good wine and we weren't too coherent when we saw anything.”

Bakura shrugged. “I just remember being horny and extremely hard from the scent of blood.”

“I just remember getting shot in the shoulder. Thank Ra for our Items and fast healing.”

“I do get the feeling that Sgt. Barnes was involved. I think I remember hearing his voice at that meeting.”

Ryou and Malik stared at their yamis. “You saw him?”

The yamis nodded. “We went to the park after the ritual for Aten. We were drinking and we found the Crusaders doing what they do best.”

Marik rubbed his head. “I do remember hearing him. He's lying through his teeth when he says he has no leads.”

“The Chief of Police is not going to publicly admit that he is the head of a group hunting down gays and executing them,” Bakura said flatly.

“Tristan's dead? The other dead man has to be Otogi,” Malik said sadly.

Ryou sighed. “I don't believe it.”

Bakura put his arms around Ryou. “They won't get away with it, hikari. I promise.”

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

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

Robbie heard a baby crying nearby. He opened his eyes and found himself sitting in the living room. He looked around and everything was as it had always been. The couch was flanked by two recliners. An entertainment center sat across from the chairs. A coffee table rested in front of the couch. Pictures of his parents and him with Aten hung on the wall.

The baby was sobbing.

“Hello? Can someone help Heaven?”

Nobody answered.

Robbie stood up, hearing the crying all around him. He walked into the kitchen and opened up the door to the basement. He turned on the basement light and walked slowly down the wooden steps.

He heard a young child giggling. It sounded like Aten as a young boy. Not many children around spoke Arabic with a British accent.

[I wanna pway hide and go seek, mommy! I count to ten and I go find you!] the voice laughed.

“Aten?! Are you down here?”

[What is my bewwy twying to say? Mommy, can you hear it? What is it saying?]

Robbie looked behind a box and didn't see the little boy. “Aten, please tell me you are here! I need to speak to you!”

[“YOU SHALL NOT HARM HIM!”] Aten screamed from the living room upstairs.

Robbie gasped and darted up the steps. Aten had screamed that at Charlie, Hayden's uncle. Robbie raced into the Living Room, but didn't see Aten.

The baby cried upstairs as he heard more crying from Aten's voice. [“Mommy! I wan Wobbie! I nee Wobbie! Aten need Wobbie!i I no can wiff wifout Wobbie! Wobbie no weave me!]

“Aten, I'm right here! Where are you?!”

Robbie looked up the steps and saw Aten walking in the hallway.

“ATEN! STAY THERE! I'M COMING!”

Robbie ran up the steps and found Aten standing in front of Heaven's room.

The Egyptian looked sadly at Robbie and stepped into the room.

“Aten! Wait! Don't leave me!”

Robbie darted after Aten, but only found the baby in the crib.

“Aten? Why did you leave?”

The baby cried in the crib, moving its tiny arms and kicking at the blanket covering its skinny little body.

“Heaven? Daddy's here.”

Robbie approached the crib and found a baby with white and blond hair, sobbing. “Aten?”

The child looked up at Robbie with tear-filled eyes.

Robbie reached down for the infant and cradled him in his arms. He walked over to the rocking chair and swaddled the baby boy in a blanket.

The child shivered in his arms, cold. His little body was trembling and sickly. The child's skin was pale and chilled.

“Aten? Why are you crying?”

The infant looked up at him and trembled, panting heavily.

“Now, now, baby, don't cry. I'm right here.”

Robbie caressed the baby boy's cheek tenderly. “Aten, there's so much I wish to say.”

The infant blinked quietly and snuggled into the blanket.

“Aten, I….”

The baby boy started to cry loudly, his body shaking again.

Robbie grabbed a pacifier beside him and placed it into the infant's mouth. The baby began sucking on the pacifier quietly. He watched the baby's eyes flutter, struggling to stay open as he suckled contentedly.

“Aten, I…..I hope you didn't suffer.”

The baby looked up at Robbie and blinked.

Robbie caressed baby Aten's cheek again. “I'm so sorry, Aten. I wish I could have spared your life. I would have given you my own heart if I could.”

The baby's hands opened and closed in a mock-wave at Robbie.

“Aten, I….I love you. Please don't ever forget that.” A tear trickled down Robbie's cheek. “I love you and I miss you. It's so hard without you. I feel…..alone.”

The baby closed his eyes and drifted off into sleep.

“Aten? Please….don't you see how much I need you?”

The pacifier dropped from Aten's mouth and the baby turned his head to the side.

“Aten? Are you okay?”

[Forgive me….]

The little boy's chest ceased rising. Robbie could feel the child exhale and remain still.

“Aten! Please! Don't die on me again!”

[Robbie…...I'm…….sorry.]

Aten cradled the baby boy's body against him and rocked him, sobbing. “No, Aten! Don't leave me again! Please!”

Robbie felt a hand on his shoulder, but he clutched the dead infant to his chest. “No, no, Aten…..I've lost you again.”

“Look at me, Robbie,” the voice said above him.

The teen lifted his head and saw his dead husband standing in front of him. “I'm sorry, Robbie.”

The teen stood up, still holding the infant. “Aten…..” Robbie's tears were now flowing in streams down his cheek. “I wish it could have been me instead.”

Aten shook his head and caressed Robbie's cheek. “Don't wish that. You are needed here for now.”

Robbie sniffled. “Aten, I can't live without you.”

Aten gave his husband a small smile. “Don't be sad, Robbie. I never liked to see you cry.”

“How can I not cry?”

“Have faith like I did that everything will be okay, even if things do not always work out the way we wish.”

Robbie looked down at the baby in his arms. “Do you want him?”

Aten took the little baby into his arms. “Goodbye for now, Robbie.”

“Aten, wait! Don't go!”

*****End Dream***

“ATEN! DON'T GO!” Robbie screamed, sitting up quickly in the bed.

He panted as he looked around wildly for Aten, but the space beside him in bed was empty.

Today was the day Aten would be buried. His body would be placed next to his grandmother as he had wished.

Today was also the reading of Aten's Last Will and Testament.

He heard a baby crying in the other room. Heaven was awake and sounded very cranky.

`I can't say that I blame her,' he thought as he grabbed his cane and limped out of bed.

“Hold on, Heaven, daddy's coming.”

Robbie limped to Heaven's room and took the baby girl in his arms. Heaven's face was red as she wailed and cried.

“Heaven, what's gotten into you today?” he asked her as he changed her diaper. “Today's going to be a very long day for both of us, baby girl.”

Robbie picked her up and carried her down the stairs. The girl screamed loudly into his ear as he carried her.

“Okay, Heaven, I'll get you your bottle. You're probably hungry.”

Miranda and Daniel saw Robbie limp into the kitchen with the wailing infant. “Morning, Robbie.”

“Mom, can you get Heaven's bottle ready?”

“We ran out of formula, Robbie. We have some baby food for her, though.”

Robbie put Heaven in her seat and rubbed his tired eyes. “Okay, that will have to do, I guess.”

“She's not in a good mood today,” Daniel said, watching the baby cry.

“I hope she's hungry. I didn't realize she had such powerful lungs on her.”

Miranda began to warm Heaven's breakfast. “Do you have something to wear to the funeral?”

“I put my suit in the dryer last night. I just need to iron it.”

Miranda saw her son's sad face and gave him a reassuring embrace. “I'll iron it for you. I know today's going to be hard on you.”

“Thanks, mom. I saw Aten in my dreams last night. He left before I could tell him very much.”

“Take it one day at a time, son,” Daniel said. “It's going to be tough for a while.”

“A while? It's been hard without him as it is and it's only been two days since he died!”

The father put a hand on Robbie's shoulder. “I know, son. It's going to be okay. I had better get ready. I'll be upstairs if you need me.”

Miranda walked down the basement steps to finish Robbie's laundry as his father climbed the steps to go upstairs.

Robbie removed Heaven's jar of food from the microwave and grabbed a spoon. “Okay, Heaven. We have to get you fed and cleaned up so we can put a nice little dress on you.” Robbie sat in front of her chair and spooned a little food towards her mouth. The baby continued to cry and wail, her face turning red from the force of her cries.

“Heaven, please, we have to get you fed. Why are you crying, baby?”

The baby's bottom lip trembled and she sobbed loudly.

“I know you miss daddy, but daddy won't be able to live with us anymore. He went to sleep and we have to put him in his bed today.”

The infant wiped her eyes as she continued.

“Heaven, what do you want? Your diaper is changed, you're cleaned up. If you're hungry, I have food for you here. Now, please, open up.”

The baby's eyes streamed tears.

“Heaven……stop crying. Everything is going to be okay.”

Robbie closed his eyes as the baby's pitch pierced his eardrums. He rubbed his eyes, tears threatening to commence their ballet down his cheeks. Aten wasn't here to help. Aten might have been able to stop her crying. Towards the end of his life, Aten had proven himself to be a good father to the baby girl.

Now, Robbie was on his own and today was the day that he would bury the only one in his life that he had ever loved more than existence itself.

“Heaven, daddy isn't here to hold you. We have to get moving, please, try and eat.”

The baby let out another ear-piercing cry.

Robbie stood up quickly from his seat. “YOU KNOW WHAT, HEAVEN? YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY? FINE!”

Robbie took the jar of baby food and threw it at the wall, shattering it into tiny shards. He threw the spoon onto the ground and stormed into Aten's Studio, slamming the door behind him.

The baby's cries had turned into a shriek of fear and surprise.

Robbie walked to where Aten had died and glared at it furiously. He clenched his fists in rage. His body trembled from fury and restrained tears. “I hate you,” he said to the ground at his feet. “I hate you for leaving me! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! YOU LEFT ME ALONE! HOW CAN YOU JUST DIE ON ME? I hate you for dying, Aten!” Robbie fell to his knees where his husband had expelled his last breath and buried his face in his hands. “How could you leave me? Why? Why did you leave me alone? I hate you for dying! I hate you! Aten, I hate you!” Robbie's fists punched the ground as he bent over, sobbing.

The Studio door opened and his mother stood in the entrance. She watched her son shiver and wail into the carpet, stained with fallen paint.

She walked over to her son and watched him. “Robbie?”

Robbie gripped his curly hair and whimpered. “He's gone…..”

Miranda heard her husband in the kitchen trying to calm Heaven. She sat beside Robbie and rubbed his back. “Aten didn't have a choice, sweetheart. He had to go.”

Robbie shook his head. “I hate him for leaving me!”

“Don't hate him. Hate the fact that his heart was bad. Ryou or Marik couldn't prevent that from happening.”

“Mom…..why?”

Miranda rubbed Robbie's back gently. “I don't know. Maybe someone up there saw how much he was suffering and decided it was best to end it before Aten knew what was happening.”

Robbie sat up and looked down at the floor. “I got so angry…..I….I was afraid I was going to hurt the baby.”

“You're angry, Robbie, but that little baby didn't do anything to deserve what you've done.”

“I don't know why she's crying! She has a clean diaper! She wasn't eating!”

Miranda shrugged. “Maybe she's got colic. You were colicky, too. You cried and cried sometimes and nothing I could do would help you feel better.”

Robbie sniffled and wiped his cheeks free of tears. “Poor Heaven. I must have scared her to death.”

“I think you need to collect your thoughts and go back to her. She doesn't understand what will happen today. She won't remember it. She will remember if her daddy was there to hug her and kiss her….or was there to yell and scream at her.”

Robbie sighed. “Now I feel like an ass.”

“Stay here until you feel you are ready to come out.”

Miranda left and Robbie looked at Aten's table with the flickering candle and statues. The flame continued to burn and it was almost to the point of extinguishing.

“Aten's soul will reach its final destination when that candle burns out. He will be in paradise…..and I will still be here.”

Robbie looked down at the ground and let his hands brush over the carpeting. “I'm sorry, Aten.”

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

Seto watched as Bakura and Ryou entered the room holding hands. Bakura's grip on Ryou's hand seemed to be tighter than usual.

Yugi walked up to Ryou and gave his friend a hug. “Ryou, I'm sorry to hear of Aten's death. How are you holding up?”

Ryou sniffled and returned the hug. “It's not easy, Yugi. I miss my son terribly.”

Yugi turned to Marik, but the yami stepped back from Yugi's attempt at a hug. “Please, Yugi. I can't.”

“I understand. I'm sorry, Marik. He was a really good kid.”

Marik nodded. “Aten certainly was one in a million. Ra broke the mold when He made him.”

“If you or Ryou need anything, you let me know. I don't care if it's in the middle of the night! I'll be there for you.”

“Thank you, Yugi.”

Mokuba and Jeanie approached Marik and Ryou. “Guys, we're sorry. Same thing that Yugi said is true here, too. If you need anything, just give us a call.”

“Thank you,” Ryou said quietly. “I'll give you a call if we need anything.”

Jeanie looked around. “I'm surprised Tristan and Otogi aren't here.”

Bakura and Marik exchanged uneasy glances. Now would not be a good time to reveal to anyone what they had seen the night before.

“Coffee-Boy and Dice-Boy are probably off on some kind of coffee scavenger hunt,”

Bakura said.

The door opened and Robbie walked in with his parents and Heaven.

Jeanie walked over to Robbie and hugged him. “You poor thing. I'm sorry, Robbie.”

Robbie sniffled and cuddled Heaven closer to him. “Thanks, Jeanie. I'll be okay.”

Umi walked up to his friend and put a comforting hand on Robbie's shoulder. “Aten was a good guy, Robbie. I have no doubt he went to Heaven or wherever he believed in. He was a good friend and I want you to know that I'm here for you anytime. If you want to talk or just to go out and do something, I'm your man.”

Robbie handed Heaven to Miranda. “Mom, can you hold her? Umi, can I see you in the hall?”

Robbie and Umi left for the hallway. Umi suddenly found himself with a sobbing, shaking Robbie clinging to him tightly.

“I loved him so much, Umi…..”

Umi hugged him back and patted his back. “I know you did, Rob. He was a great person.”

“I don't think I'll find anyone like him again.”

Umi chuckled. “I should say not. Not everyone walks around Domino with two different colored eyes and two different colored hair who is skinny as a rail and who can talk Arabic with a British accent. I always envied how nice he would tan. I always burn when I'm out on the water. It must have been the dark skin of his.”

Robbie sniffled. “And I'm just pale as a ghost.”

“Consider yourself lucky to have had him, Rob.”

“I do,” Robbie nodded. “Every day when we'd wake up, I'd always thank God that I had him one more morning. When we'd lay together in bed, I'd just touch him and see how dark his African skin looked against my paleness. We were night and day.” Robbie paused, wiping a tear from his eye. “He was so beautiful, Umi.”

Umi smiled at Robbie. “He was a handsome guy. I'm not saying I'd do anything with him, though. I love Aria to death. I only want her. The baby is developing nicely. The doctors say she is doing well and the baby appears healthy.” Umi rubbed the back of his hair nervously. “Listen, Robbie. I was thinking about something. If the baby is a boy, do you mind if we use Aten's name?”

Robbie looked Umi in the eyes. “Are you serious?”

“Well, that is, if it wouldn't upset you or you wouldn't mind. We'll be able to know the baby's gender next month during the ultrasound.”

Robbie shrugged. “That's between you and Aria. It doesn't matter to me.”

“I'd thought I'd ask, that's all. We'd better get back in there before they start without us.”

Robbie and Umi returned to the room and sat in front of Seto's desk where the CEO was sitting.

“I won't keep everyone long so we can get to the church. Aten was a great kid and a wonderful person. Today, we honor his legacy and celebrate his passage.”

Marik and Ryou held each other's hands. Bakura and Malik were sitting together in the back. Robbie sat beside Marik, holding Heaven on his lap.

Seto picked up a piece of paper and cleared his throat as he began to read.

[I, Aten Bakari Ishtar Ibn Marik, hereby do attest with a sound mind, my final wishes. I wish to be buried beside my grandmother, Rhea Bakura, according to Egyptian tradition. My property will be dispersed as follows:

Yugi, you have always been a good friend to me, despite the fact that you are the pharaoh's hikari. Please know that I bear you no ill will for what the pharaoh has done to me or to my family. To protect you from him, I leave you a white candle that I have personally made. It is a white candle with gold lettering which contains a blessing for safety and good fortune. It is in my Studio underneath my altar.]

Yugi sniffled. “I was supposed to come pick it up. He told me he had something for me, but I couldn't make it that day. The shop was too busy. I should have gone over to his house. At least I would have seen him one last time.”

“It's okay, Yugi,” Mokuba said. “We all get busy sometimes.”

Seto looked down at the Will again and continued to read. “Tristan and Otogi aren't here, so I'll skip them. Aten said that they get his coffee mugs.”

[To Mokuba, Jeanie, and his family, I leave my paint sets, including brushes, cans, canvases, easels, and mixing boards. I hope that one of your children will benefit from these some day. I know Ceres always enjoyed my paintings and I hope these get put to good use. Don't worry, Jeanie, I'm also including the paint remover so you won't have to worry about paint all over your floor or walls. I also wish that four thousand dollars go to Mokuba and Jeanie for the children's college fund. That will be enough to start Lily, Ceres, Ivy, and Cassie's college fund.]

“They already have college paid for,” Mokuba said. “We don't need Aten's money.”

“We can use the money to start a savings fund, then. We have to teach them about saving money while they are young,” Jeanie chimed in.

[For Uncle Seto, I leave the painting of Lake Winnebago. I have this painting in my Studio. When we used to go on vacation, I'd love to paint the landscapes. I hope you enjoy the painting, Uncle Seto, as much as I enjoyed painting it.

For Uncle Joey, I leave my collection of books. You can take what you wish, Uncle Joey. Some of the books will help you as they have helped me. Feel free to take some of my art books and sketch books, too. If Robbie wants the sketch books, please leave them for him.

Also, in the event of my death, I wish for my liver to go to my Uncle Joey. I know he is very sick. If he has already passed on, then I'm sorry….] Seto paused. [I'm sorry I didn't die early enough to give it to him. I love my Uncle Joey. He understood me when I went through difficult times. Nothing I can do can repay him for his love and kindness. All I can do is give him a new liver if that is what is needed for him to live.]

Marik lowered his head. “He was such a loving boy….”

“My poor little baby,” Ryou sighed.

[To my sister, Aria, and her family I give the sum of….] Seto looked up at Aria. “You might want to make sure he doesn't fall over, Aria.”

Aria grabbed onto Umi's shoulder.

[To my sister, Aria, and her family I give the sum of fifteen thousand dollars to do with as they wish.]

Umi's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Aria gasped and covered her mouth.

Seto looked up at the shocked teen. “Umi?”

“………………”

“Umi? Earth to Umi.”

Umi blinked. “Oh. My. God.”

“How can we accept this money from my brother? It's not right.”

Umi looked down at Aria. “I've never seen so much money in my life!”

Aria shrugged. “I don't feel right about this.”

“We can use it to pay for the baby's delivery, Aria!”

[Umi, you were always a wonderful friend to Robbie and I. Thank you for being there for us. Umi, please look after my sister. I love her and I wouldn't want to see anything bad happen to her. Aria, I know we had some hard times growing up. You always said you wouldn't need me, but I always knew you were wrong.]

Aria lowered her head. “I always needed you, Aten. Now that you're not here, I know that's true.”

[It doesn't matter, though. You are my sister and nothing can change that. I love you, sister. If Kai or Rhett wish to have some of my painting supplies, feel free to share with Mokuba's family. I don't think they would mind.

[To Malik, please know that you were very special to me. You weren't my father or my mother, but you were there to help me when I needed you. I want to give you my monkey doll that was almost lost in that fire when I was young. You used to play with me with that doll and I figured you would like to have it.

Bakura, you were like a second father to me, even if you weren't my real father. I wish to give you my statues of Isis, Osiris, and Ra. My father has my statue of Anubis. The statues are on the altar in my Studio. I know you will look after them and care for them. They were my treasured possessions and I'd hate to see them broken or destroyed. Since Osiris was always special to you, I know you would enjoy them. I know you were always angry at the gods for some reason. I hope one day that you can renew your faith in the gods. They might not always do what is right, but they will hold you up when you fall.]

“Aten….always so full of faith in the gods,” Bakura sighed. “That kid had faith of stone.”

[To my father, Yami Marik Ishtar, I have left my ankh and my statue of Anubis. Please take my Scepter of Ra. Don't mourn, my father. My chest no longer hurts and I am resting. I have tried to make you proud in life and, in death, I hope to make you proud. I love you like any loyal son should adore his father. One day in the Underworld, we will meet again.]

Marik leaned over and buried his face in his hands. `I can't enter the Underworld, Aten….I've been shunned by the gods. They have refused me entry into paradise.'

[To my mother, Ryou Thomas Bakura, I wish to thank you for all you have done for me. Thank you for giving me the privilege of being your son and giving me life. I give you my jewelry, along with ten thousand dollars. If you need surgery for your heart or medication, please use my money to help you. I have put some in a fund for you if you need more. Just ask Uncle Seto for the information.]

Ryou wiped a tear from his eyes. “I can't believe it…..”

[To the Center for Child Abuse Prevention, I leave the sum of sixty thousand dollars to pay for programs to help children who have suffered abuse of any kind. I know how these children feel and I wish for them to be helped as I was.

I leave Camp Sitting Bear one hundred thousand dollars for their programs to help terminally ill children. I enjoyed my time at that camp and I want other children to have as much fun as I did.

To the Domino Museum, I leave my paintings, except the one entitled `Angelus Santorum.' That painting is to go to my husband, Robert Allen Morgan-Ishtar.

To my beloved husband, Robert Allen Morgan-Ishtar, I leave the remainder of my wealth to be placed in a fund for Heaven Raine Morgan-Ishtar's medical needs. When she is of age, I wish for her to get a prosthesis to help her mobility. Robbie, please take care of Heaven. Love her. Keep her safe. Don't let her fall victim to my fate.]

“How much could there possibly be left after all he's given away so far?” Miranda asked.

Robbie turned to his mother. “There's a figure around seven digits, mom. Remember that check Mr. Hinney offered? Aten was a very good artist.”

[Robbie, feel free to disperse my possessions as you see fit if you do not want them. I love you, Robbie, and wish nothing but the best for you. I will await you and will watch over you. Farewell.]

Seto put the paper on the desk. “That is his Will.”

The group fell quiet.

“Robbie, we know that the next few months will be hard on you. We'll work with you to pick up what Aten stated in his Will. We don't want to swarm your place like a hive to get our stuff right away.”

Robbie rocked Heaven in his arms.

“Does anyone have any questions before we go to the church?”

Bakura raised his hand. “Where's Puppy?”

“The hospital is going to keep him one more day to make sure no complications from the transplant occurs. The surgery went well and Joey is recovering. I told Joey that tomorrow we can visit Aten's grave since today the hospital is still keeping him.”

The group sat silently.

“If there are no other questions, we can head to the church.”

Robbie stood up and sadly looked down at Heaven in his arms. “Well, baby girl, let's go say goodbye to your daddy.”

Updates: 5/29