Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ Ashes To Ashes ( Chapter 36 )

Ashes to Ashes

 

Marik and Ryou stood outside the church holding each other's hand. Marik's eyes gazed at the Holy Cross standing proudly on the steeple. He looked down at Ryou, staring at the open church doors. His hand gripped Marik's tightly and was shaking.

“Ry?”

Ryou sniffled, his bottom lip trembling. “I…I can't go in there.”

Aria walked beside her mother and stood beside him. “Mom? Are you okay?”

“Aria?”

Aria took her mother's other hand and held it tightly. “Let's go in, mom. I'll be right by your side.”

Ryou took a deep breath and walked into the large chapel. White lilies and red roses covered the altar and around the casket. Baby's breath were peeping out among the red roses. A white casket stood on a pedestal among the flowers, the same spot where its occupant had married Robbie two years before.

A man in black walked up to them and shook their hands. “You must be the family. I'm Father Flanigan.”

Marik nodded. “You married my son and Robbie.”

“Yes. I did. I want to extend my condolences for your loss. Aten was a good man.”

Ryou sniffled. “He was my only son.”

Aria looked at the altar. “You did a nice job on the flowers.”

“Robert ordered them. They do look very lovely.”

Marik broke away from Ryou and Aria and followed Robbie towards the casket. He was stopped by Mr. Hinney.

“Mr. Ishtar, I'm glad I had a chance to see you again. I'm sorry about Aten.”

Marik nodded. “I know. A lot of people say that, but they don't really know what the world has lost.”

“He was a great artist and the art world shares in your grief.”

Marik saw Robbie and Heaven standing beside Aten's coffin. “Excuse me, Mr. Hinney.”

“Of course.”

Marik walked around the man and stood beside Robbie. He looked down at the figure of his dead son.

Aten was dressed in his white suit and tie. The teen's arms were crossed and resting peacefully over his chest. In Aten's hand were gripped three roses.

“I tried to find something nice for him to wear,” Robbie said. “I figured he would like to be buried in the suit he wore to art shows.”

Marik nodded, wiping away a quiet tear. “He looks….peaceful.”

“Well, you said he didn't know what hit him. That's what he wanted. He always told me he didn't want to feel it happen,” Robbie said quietly.

Marik reached out and touched Aten's cold, stiff arm. He closed his eyes.

[Marik watched as the squirming infant was held in the doctor's hand. The doctors cleared the child's windpipe and the newborn baby boy let out his first cry. Marik watched as they cleaned the blood and amniotic fluid from the new life. The doctors hurried the newborn into the Neonatal ICU.

`Mr. Ishtar, your son is very sick. He's so frail, we don't believe your son will survive the hour.'

The yami walked into the ICU and looked down at the new little boy sleeping. He placed his hand on his child's forehead lightly. “Welcome to the world, Aten Bakari Ishtar.”]

The cold of Aten's arm chilled his hand. It was frozen, stiff. Dead.

[“Higher, daddy!” the little boy squealed happily as his father pushed him on the swing set.

“I don't want to push you too high, son! You'll fly all the way into the stars!”

Little Aten turned back and smiled at his father. “Push me higher!” he giggled as his long hair fluttered behind him.]

Marik looked down at the motionless face of the teen in the coffin. He didn't realize that Robbie had walked away and with Father Flanigan, sobbing and cuddling Heaven close to him.

Marik looked down at Aten and clutched the dead arm tightly. “Why did you leave me?”

The figure in the coffin gave no answer. It was silent.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned his head. Malik was holding him, hugging him supportively. “It's okay, Marik. Let's go sit down.”

Marik turned back to the coffin. “I love you, Aten.” Marik leaned down and kissed the frozen forehead. He turned and sat with Malik in the pew.

Seto and Aria walked to the coffin. Aria looked down at her brother and sniffled. Seto watched her as she tried to hug her brother. “I love you, Aten. I'm so sorry. I never meant to say I never needed you. You were a terrific brother. Any girl would have been lucky to have you as her brother. I guess…..I always took you for granted.”

Seto put her arm around her. “He was very special to all of us, Aria. We'll never forget him.”

Seto escorted her to her seat as Umi and the kids approached the coffin. Yugi sat beside them and put a supportive hand on Seto's shoulder.

Umi sighed. “Aten, you were always a good friend.”

“Daddy, is Aten sleeping? He looks tired,” Kai said.

“Aten is….sleeping… in a sense.”

Kai looked around. “Aten doesn't have his monkey in there. Uncle Robbie always said Aten loved his monkeys.”

Umi saw Aten's monkey in Robbie's arms. “Robbie has it, Kai. Let's go sit down by mommy.”

Ryou and Bakura approached the coffin and Ryou kissed Aten's cheek. “My beautiful angel….”

Bakura took a deep breath and put his arm around Ryou. “Today is the day his soul will reach paradise. Until his candle burns out, he still journeys.”

Ryou sniffled and held Aten's arm. “Sleep well, my little boy.”

Bakura lead Ryou to his seat as Robbie and his family stepped up to the coffin. Robbie placed Aten's favorite monkey toy into the coffin.

“Aten always loved this monkey,” Robbie sniffled. “I thought he would like it with him. I also put a picture of all of us in his arms. He….won't forget us then.”

Miranda tucked the monkey with the singed tail under Aten's arms and rubbed his hair. “Pleasant dreams, sweetheart,” Miranda whispered.

“You put up a good fight, Aten,” Daniel sighed.

Robbie caressed Aten's ice-cold cheek. “I still love you, Aten. Someday, I'll join you again and we'll be together for eternity.”

The Morgans sat in the front row of pews as the priest stepped up to the altar.

“Friends, family, parishioners, today we celebrate the life of Aten Bakari Ishtar. Aten was a selfless person. He asked little of people and gave back so much to Domino and its community. In his short eighteen years of life, he encountered many hardships with his health. He fought his battles bravely, no matter his medical condition.

I remember bonding Robbie and Aten in Holy Wedlock only two years ago on this very spot. I saw this couple and knew that they would celebrate the ups and downs of married bliss. When they asked me to perform their ceremony, I was surprised at how quickly they wanted their union to happen. I saw potential in these two young men and in the life of his surviving partner that potential continues to thrive.

Aten may not have been a believer of the faith, but I still remember Aten coming to our services and playing his violin when his conditions allowed him. He loved to read to the children and tell them stories. He was a great entertainer and we honor him for bringing so much life into this congregation.

Though Aten's body might be gone, his spirit, his essence lives on. As long as we remember him, he is not truly dead. To his family, know that we all share in your grief, your loss. But from this tragedy, so many blessings have been born that it would take years to give name to them. Aten donated his liver so that one of his family members has a second chance at survival. Aten has donated his talent to benefit sick children, hungry children, and children whose lives have been touched by violence. That, my friends, is what makes his blessings so immeasurable. So let us not focus on what the world has lost due to the death of Aten, let us celebrate the good he has done in his short life.”

Robbie handed Heaven to his father and buried his face in his hands and began to cry softly. Miranda rubbed his back to comfort her son. “Aten….”

The priest lead the congregation in a series of short prayers and blessed the body of the dead boy with holy water.

At the end of the ceremony, Robbie stood up. “I'd like to thank everyone for coming. Aten will be laid to rest in Resurrection Cemetery for those who wish to attend. I'd like to lead us all in one of Aten's favorite hymns, `Amazing Grace.'

Robbie led the congregation in the song as he watched the body of his lover. When the hymn was over, he took the lid of the coffin and looked at the body of his lover one final time.

“Goodnight, Aten.”

Robbie slowly closed the lid and bit his lip to hold back the tears in front of the congregation.

Robbie felt a small gust of wind sweep past him, though no windows were open in the church.

“Will the pall bearers please come forward?” the priest asked.

Marik, Bakura, Daniel, and Malik grabbed the handles to the casket and lifted. The four men carried the casket out of the church and into the hearse.

Robbie and Ryou followed behind the white casket.

The family followed close behind and followed the hearse to the cemetery.

Robbie held Heaven and rocked her in his arms as the limousine drove to the cemetery. “Do you think Aten made it to the Underworld?” Robbie asked Bakura.

The white-haired yami shrugged. “It all depends. If the candle extinguishes by itself, then his soul has been accepted into paradise. But if the candle is extinguished before its time, then there will be no rest for him. His soul will not know peace.”

Robbie looked over at Marik. “I've kept that candle burning since we lit it. I haven't blown it out.”

“Very good, Robert. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For respecting our faith and our traditions and…..for loving my son.”

Robbie tried to smile at the yami, but the tension in his chest stopped any possibility. “I love Aten. I only wanted the best for him.”

“Me, too.”

The family arrived at the cemetery and the pall bearers carried the body to the grave. Ryou looked into the open grave. On the gravestone, `Bakura' was written in large letters, flanked by flowers. A tiny baby angel was kneeling beside the grave. Beneath the name `Bakura' were listed five names: Rhea `1963-1988', Steven `1955-2006',Kailani Baraka Itemri `2020', Baby `2020,' and Aten Bakari Ishtar `Sep 29,2004-Oct 25,2022.'

Aria held Umi's hand and looked at the gravestone. “Hello, baby girls. Mommy's here.”

Miranda held Daniel's hand as she looked a few rows ahead. She gave Daniel's hand a tight squeeze and he looked at her.

“I want to see the kids before we go, Dan.”

“Okay, sweets,” Daniel said, kissing her cheek.

The priest stood beside Aten's casket and said a few more prayers. The casket was lowered into the grave. He dropped a handful of dirt on the casket. “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. We commend Aten's body to the ground.”

Kai looked up at Seto. “How can Aten breathe if he's underground?”

Seto kneeled down to Kai. “You're a little young to understand, Kai. You see, when people die, they don't need to breathe. They don't need to eat.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Robbie and Ryou dropped roses onto the coffin below. Marik and Bakura took one handful of dirt each and dropped it onto the coffin.

“At least Aten received a proper burial, Ishtar,” Bakura said. “It's better than being dumped carelessly into a sand pit and buried.”

Marik nodded silently as the clouds began to cover Domino. “I love you, son.”

Marik wandered away back to the limousine after the priest had left.

Ryou watched Miranda and Daniel walk away. “I wonder where they're going.”

Bakura tugged on Ryou's hand. “Let's follow them and see.”

“Hey! Where are you going?!” Ryou called after them.

Miranda and Daniel turned back. “We're going to see our kids.”

“I didn't know your family plot was here.”

Daniel nodded. “It's only a few rows away.”

Bakura and Ryou caught up to the Morgans and followed them to a stone decorated with angels and a baby lamb.

“This is where our children are, Ry,” Miranda said, kneeling beside the stone. She began to scrape some dirt off of the white marble.

Ryou looked on the stone with three names: Baby `2002', Christa Joy `2003-2004', Angel Christian `2013.'

Ryou shook his head. “Three babies. What a shame.”

Daniel nodded. “It was a shame. I wish I could bring them all back, but….they're in a better place now. They're with God. Happy.”

Miranda sighed. “I hope I never have to see Robbie's name on this stone, too. Not in my lifetime, anyway.”

“It was hard seeing Kailani's on our gravestone and the other baby Aria lost.”

Miranda stood up and stood beside her husband. She took his hand and smiled down at the grave. “It never gets easier no matter how many babies you bury.”

Ryou reviewed the names on the stone. It was hard not to ignore the religious significance to any of the names. “Did you know if your baby was a boy or girl?”

Miranda shook her head. “I didn't know. The doctors said they couldn't tell. They said my fall down the stairs damaged the baby and I was too early. Well, it was more of a push rather than a fall.”

Daniel squeezed Miranda's hand. “I found out and I searched for Vinnie. I beat him to a bloody pulp after I heard what he did. I married Miranda and Christa was born nine months later.”

Ryou felt the rain start to fall harder.

“We should get going,” Bakura said.

Miranda nodded. “Yeah, that's a good idea.”

“Robbie told me he wants to go home,” Daniel said. “I think the kid needs some time alone.”

Ryou nodded. “That seems like a good idea.”

The rain began to pour harder as the families ran to their cars.

Ryou and Bakura hugged Robbie before he climbed into his family's car. “If you need anything, Robbie, you call us. Feel free to come over whenever you wish.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

A lightening strike lit up the sky.

Malik sat in the driver's seat, the Millennium Rod sitting on the dashboard. “Come in, guys! It's gonna pour!”

Ryou and Bakura ran into the car. “Where's Marik?”

Malik started the car and tapped on the Millennium Rod. “In here.”

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

Miranda stopped the car and parked. Robbie limped quickly to the front door holding Heaven in his arms. Daniel unlocked the door as his son ran into the house to escape the pouring rain.

“I should take Heaven upstairs for her nap. I'll be in my room,” Robbie said sadly.

Daniel and Miranda watched their son solemnly walk up the stairs.

“I'll check in on him later,” Daniel said. “I'll give him some time alone with his thoughts.”

Miranda sighed. “I need some coffee.”

“Make a big pot, sweets. I think we'll all need it.” Daniel held onto Miranda's hand as she started to walk away. “Hey, sweets.”

Miranda looked into the blue pools of her husband's eyes. “Anything else with the coffee?”

Daniel caressed her cheek softly. “You're just as beautiful as the day I first saw you. You are my treasure.”

Miranda smiled and hugged him tightly. “You've always been there for me, Danny. I couldn't imagine anyone else being my husband.”

Daniel leaned down and possessed Miranda's lips in a romantic kiss. She closed her eyes as her husband moaned into the kiss.

The sound of something dropping came from the Studio and they stopped.

“What was that?”

“Is it the art dealer coming to pick up some of Aten's paintings?”

Miranda shook her head. “No, he said he'd come tomorrow.”

Miranda and Daniel crept to the room quietly. Miranda opened the door and saw one of Aten's canvases on the ground, torn and cut to ribbons.

Miranda and Daniel walked into the room and saw an old woman holding Aten's statue of Ra and Osiris.

“MOM?! What are you doing here? How did you get in?!” Miranda gasped.

“Thou shalt not worship any graven images, Miranda!”

The old woman dropped the statues.

“MOM, NO!” Miranda screamed diving for the statues before they could reach the ground.

The statues of Ra and Osiris shattered into pieces on the ground. Miranda fell to her knees beside the broken pieces of the Egyptian gods Aten worshipped daily.

Her eyes filled with tears at the loss of Aten's prized possessions.

Daniel stepped beside Miranda, glaring at the old woman. “Get. Out.”

The old woman returned the glare. “I heard of the passing of that heathen and I came to cleanse this house of his pagan evil!”

Miranda looked over at the candle. The black candle had been blown out. A white candle was glowing in its place.

“Where's Aten's candle?!”

“Black candles are evil, Miranda! They summon Satan! I'm burning a white, pure candle! That will bring God into this place.”

Daniel grabbed the old woman by her shawl. “Miranda, call the cops. Tell them we have intruders in our home.”

“Not so fast!”

Miranda turned around and saw Vera holding the phone. “Vera, give me that phone now!”

Vera held the phone behind her back. “It would be a shame if Child Services came here to take that little baby girl away.”

“How--?” Miranda asked.

“I took Candice upstairs to show her the bedroom she'll be sharing with her new husband and I saw the baby's room.”

Daniel turned furiously at Vera. “Candice? Who the hell is that?”

Vera smiled. “Robbie's new wife.”

“We just finished burying Aten, Vera! Robbie's not looking to marry anyone!”

“Wait until he meets Candy! She's around his age and she's a girl.”

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

Robbie changed Heaven's diaper and dressed her in her pajamas. “You've had a long day, baby girl. Time to take a nappie.” Robbie kissed her forehead and placed her in her crib. “Pleasant dreams, muffin.”

Robbie limped to his bedroom and closed the door behind him. He limped to the bed and removed his suit jacket and tie as he faced the bed. He slipped into bed and dropped the cane beside the bed.

He sniffled and let out a sad sigh. “Aten….”

“Well, well. Back from a hard day, stud?”

Robbie tensed and turned his head. A girl was standing in front of his door, smiling at him. She giggled at him and locked the door behind her. The girl was around eighteen, tall and slender, with long black hair and piercing green eyes.

“What are you doing here?!” Robbie gasped, sitting up.

“Calm down, big boy. I'm here to help you grieve,” she said, walking up to the bed.

Robbie reached down for his cane, but she stepped on it to prevent its use. “Get out of my room!”

Candice laughed. “Vera was right! You are a stud! Look at you with your curly, black hair and your sexy blue eyes!”

Robbie swallowed hard as she let her fingers sift through his hair. “You don't belong here, get out!”

Candice leaned over to Robbie. “I heard you lost someone very special to you. That truly sucks ass. But look at it this way. You lost a husband, but gained a wife.”

Robbie gasped. “WIFE?! No! No! I don't want to take a wife!”

Candy leaned over to Robbie's ear and gave it a little lick. “Shh….you say no now, but I know what can change your mind.”

Candice gave Robbie's ear a nibble, making the boy shudder with revulsion and pleasure. She straddled his hips and began to suck on his earlobe, moaning into his ear with need and lust.

“No…No, get off of me!” Robbie said, pushing against her.

Candy pressed her breasts against him and possessed his lips in a hungry kiss. She held the back of his head, keeping their lips locked tightly.

Robbie pushed against her and tried to pull back. He tried leaning over to grab his cane, but she kicked it away with her foot.

Robbie grunted in frustration and pushed her off of him, making her fall back onto the floor. “I just buried my husband! I don't need you! I don't want a wife! EVER!”

The girl stood up, fire in her eyes. “You can't say no to me!”

“I just did! Now hand me back my cane and unlock the door!”

Candy reached down and grabbed the cane, her body trembling in fury. “You won't be needing this anymore!” Candy took the cane and slammed it against the wall, breaking it in half. “I will care for your every need!”

“I need that to walk!”

“You will just lie here like a good husband and be quiet!” Candy exclaimed, pushing him back on the bed.

“Robbie? You okay up there?” Daniel called from the bottom of the steps, running quickly upstairs.

Robbie gripped the comforter. “DAD! HELP!”

Candy grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for a deep kiss. Robbie pushed against her as he heard the doorknob jiggle. He tried to push her away as he heard his father slam his body against the door.

The door burst open and Daniel ran into the room. He saw his son laying on the bed with Candy kissing him deeply. Robbie was pushing against her as the shattered cane fragments littered the floor.

“Get off of my son this instant!” Daniel growled, grabbing Candy's hair.

The girl broke the kiss with a scream as she was pulled off the bed. “Let go! Let go!”

Daniel grabbed her wrist. “You come downstairs this instant!”

Robbie watched his father pull Candice out of the room. His cane lay in pieces on the floor as his eyes filled with tears. He sniffled and rubbed his eyes. “Soldiers don't cry….”

Daniel pulled Candice downstairs and pushed her down on the couch where Vera and Miranda's mom sat defiantly.

“What was going on upstairs?” Miranda asked quickly.

“This girl was kissing our son.”

Miranda's mom smiled. “She's a girl. She will be Robbie's wife. He should get used to it.”

“Stop it!” Miranda snapped at her mother. “My son has just lost someone very close to him. If Robbie does not want to marry her, that is his decision. He doesn't even know her at all! Why would he marry her at all, mom?”

“We had the best of inten--.”

“Don't you say a word, you little witch!” Daniel growled at Vera. “What I saw happening to my son was not acceptable! You both broke into my house, destroyed personal property, and now you are guilty of assaulting my kid! You can't even fathom what I want to do to the three of you at this moment!”

“I'm going upstairs to check on Robbie,” Miranda said.

Daniel clenched his fists angrily. “We have to order him a new cane. This girl broke his.”

“Had you taken our money in the first place--.”

“Mom, shut your mouth!”

“Daniel, you can't talk that way to me!” Miranda's mom retaliated.

Daniel narrowed his eyes and leaned into her face. “Don't start with me. You picked the wrong day to mess with this family.”

Miranda walked up the steps, hearing quiet crying from Robbie's room. She looked into the room and saw Robbie sitting on the floor of his room, clutching a picture to his chest and sobbing quietly.

“Robbie? Son? We'll get you a new cane.”

The crying teen didn't hear her. He clutched the picture tighter. She sat beside him and put her arms around him. Robbie put the picture on his lap and hugged his mother tightly, crying into her shoulder.

Miranda looked down and saw a picture of Aten sitting on Robbie's legs. “Oh, honey. I'm so sorry.”

“Soldiers….don't….cry.”

Miranda pet his curly, black hair. “Crying is okay today, Little Soldier.” Miranda felt him shiver as she held him. “Did she hurt you?”

“No, she didn't. But she….she broke my cane.”

“I think we have a spare from your father when he needed one after his war injury. We should still have it. We'll buy you a new cane tomorrow.”

Robbie shuddered as he heard his father yelling at the girls downstairs. He sounded furious. The sound of his father's angry tone always sent a shiver through Robbie. His father was not pleasant during the rare times he actually let his anger take over him.

Miranda felt a shiver up her spine as Daniel barked at the women. She closed her eyes, holding onto her son tightly, petting his black hair.

[Miranda, you dumb bitch, I said I wanted gravy for my mashed potatoes and now you say you didn't make any? *smack* You are a useless little whore! It's hard to believe you have a brain in that skull of yours, girl! I only keep you around because you are a good fuck! Which reminds me, bend over! *slap*]

“Vinnie, you bastard,” Miranda whispered.

Robbie sniffled and began feeling weak. The room began to spin around him. “Mom, I don't feel good….”

“It's been a long day, Robbie. Let me help you into bed.”

Miranda placed Aten's picture on the table beside the bed. She stood up and helped Robbie pull himself onto the bed.

“Do you want to take your shirt off?”

Robbie whimpered as he clutched onto the bed. “The room is spinning. Too tired…”

“Here, I'll give you a hand.”

Miranda unbuttoned Robbie's shirt and removed it carefully. “I'll come check on you later, okay, brave soldier?”

“Okay…”

Robbie closed his eyes and Miranda kissed him on the cheek.

“I love you, Robbie.”

Miranda tried to close the door behind her, but the knob had been busted. She left the door cracked open a little.

She descended the stairs and saw the three women on the couch pale and terrified. “I hope you three are happy. Robbie is crushed right now.”

“How is he?” Daniel asked.

“He's not feeling well. Thank god he's sleeping.”

Daniel crossed his arms in front of his chest. “What you three have done is reprehensible. I can't believe you would do this to him after he just lost someone he cared about very much!”

“Your son is no better than that heathen you just buried,” the grandmother glared at Daniel.

The father narrowed his eyes at the old lady and approached her slowly. His fists clenched tightly and quivered with suppressed rage. He spoke in a low, quiet voice. “Don't you ever……ever….say that again. That's my kid upstairs and you have no right….absolutely no right…..to pass judgment on him. Robbie doesn't judge people according to their preferences in life and that makes him a better person than you.”

Miranda stood beside her husband. “Mom, how can you do this to our son? What you did wasn't right at all. My little boy upstairs is hurting. And for you, young lady, to do this to him was just cruel.”

“Hey, I'm good with kids! I'd be a great wife for him!”

“He's not interested, kid,” Daniel responded quickly. “Now, the three of you get out of my house this instant.”

The grandmother stood up slowly. “It would be a shame if you lost that little girl, Daniel.”

“Heaven isn't going anywhere. She's part of our family now and she is well cared for. There's not a law in America that will take a child away that is not being neglected or abused. Heaven's needs are all met and until you can prove otherwise, the cops won't even drive here. So, get out. All of you. For good.”

Vera and Candice stood up slowly. “You're making a big mistake, Daniel. Wouldn't you like to see your son happy?”

“I don't want him to be with someone he doesn't want. Being with her won't make him happy.”

Miranda walked to the door. “Get out of my home. All of you. This instant.”

The grandmother, Vera, and Candice walked towards the door. Miranda opened the door and the old woman turned to her daughter.

“Miranda, let me tell you something. You were always a disappointment.”

Miranda stared down at the old woman. “I have my family now. You were never my family. You just wanted to drag me down with you. No more, mom. I'm done with you. Goodbye.”

“Such a disappointment.”

Miranda slammed the door behind the three ladies and leaned against it looking down at the carpet. “Disappointment….”

She sniffled and saw two feet on the ground before her. Daniel tilted her chin up to look at him.

“Don't listen to her anymore, Mira. She's just a bitter person. She's better off out of our lives.” Daniel smiled and caressed her cheek. “I love you, Mira. We're your family and Robbie and I love you. That is what matters.”

Miranda hugged Daniel tightly and leaned her head against his chest. “We should clean up the broken statues. We have some glue that could maybe put them back together. That is, if they are not irreparable.”

“I'm sure Robbie would want to try and put them back together.”

“Thank you, Danny. For everything.”

Daniel kissed the top of her head. “Don't mention it. You sweep up the statues while I go get another cane for Robbie.”

“I hope they can be repaired.”

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

****Dream Sequence****

Robbie found himself in his bedroom laying on his bed. He looked around at his bedroom and noticed everything was as he had left it. Aten's Scepter of Ra was gone, given back to Marik. The wedding picture of him and Aten remained sitting on the dresser.

Robbie sat up in the bed and looked for his cane, which was nowhere to be seen. He pushed himself to his feet and was comforted by the fact that he could walk without his cane.

At his feet laid Aten's statues, shattered and broken on the floor.

“Oh gods, no,” Robbie sighed with disappointment. “Aten's statues are gone.”

A burst of cold air filled the room and he shivered.

The door to the room opened slowly, but nobody walked through.

“Aten? You there?”

He heard footsteps in the hallway and he ran to the door.

He saw a figure with blond and white hair walk into the baby's room. “Aten, wait!”

Robbie ran to the baby's room and saw Aten staring down into Heaven's crib where the baby girl slept quietly.

“Aten?”

The dead teen turned his head sadly towards Robbie and back down at the crib. “If only….”

“Aten, why are you here?”

The teen reached into the crib and brushed a chilled palm across the baby's cheek. “My candle……extinguished.”

“No, it's still burning downstairs right where Marik and I lit it! I know it's still lit!”

Aten closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. “No peace……”

Robbie approached Aten, who looked down at him. “I'll relight it if it's been put out.”

“No…..No rest.”

“It's going to be okay, Aten. I'll light it again and you can continue.”

Aten put a cold hand on Robbie's shoulder and walked out of the room. “Can't rest….No peace.”

Robbie turned and followed Aten. “There has to be some way!”

Aten slowly walked into the bedroom and kneeled beside his shattered statues. “Broken…..no peace.”

“I'll put them back together for you, Aten. I know I can do it!”

Aten's eyes filled with tears and he leaned over the statues crying. “My gods….my statues….my candle…..gone. All my life….gone.”

Robbie hugged Aten and felt a stinging cold flood his body. “I'll make it better, Aten. Please don't cry.”

“Why did they have to break? Why….why couldn't I go Home to paradise?”

Robbie pet Aten's hair. “I'll get you there someway, Aten.”

Robbie turned his head as he heard heavy footsteps walking up the steps. Aten's eyes widened and his body tensed.

“He's here….for me.”

Robbie turned and saw a tall man in the doorway, covered in barbed wire. His skin appeared torn by the wire and decaying.

“I have come for what's mine.”

“Mine?”

The creature stepped into the room. “That—,“ he said pointing to Aten, “Is mine.”

Robbie looked down at Aten and ran his hand over Aten's back. The scarred back still bore the carvings reading the word `MINE'.

“You can't have him!” Robbie stood up defiantly. “You're his grandfather, aren't you?!”

The creature grinned. “He's my little whore of a grandson. He is mine. Aten, come to your grandfather like a good boy.”

Aten trembled as he remained kneeling beside his broken statues.

“How dare you hurt him!” Robbie growled. “I know all about what you did to Aten as a child and I find you one of the most despicable people ever to walk the Earth! How dare you put your hands on him!”

“That's not all where my hands went, right, boy?”

Aten kept his head bowed low.

“I won't let you hurt Aten again! You hurt him in life and I will not let you hurt him in death, either!”

The creature smiled and laughed. “You can't fight me.”

“I can and I will!”

The creature's barbed wire crawled on the ground and wrapped around Robbie's legs. The wire jerked, sending Robbie falling to the floor. The wire curled up Robbie's body as he watched the creature approach.

The man grabbed Aten's hair and pulled the teen's head back. “Give your grandfather some sugar, little boy.”

The creature leaned down, kissing Aten on the lips hungrily.

“ATEN! FIGHT HIM!”

The teen froze as his arms were bound behind him with barbed wire. The man threw Aten on the ground.

Robbie squirmed as the barbed wire encircled his arms, keeping him immobilized. “Aten!”

Robbie watched as the barbed wire snaked from Aten's wrists, up his arms, and up to the teen's neck.

The creature grinned with pride at the immobility of his captives. “What makes you think I can resist Aten's body? Just look at him….that hair….those eyes. The Unfaithful Guardian takes what he wants.”

Robbie watched the creature touch Aten's leg. “Get your hands off of him!”

“He's mine, Robert. You don't have him anymore. He belongs to me.”

The wire constricted, piercing Aten's skin around his arms and wrists. The Egyptian screamed.

“His scream is…..melodious. Don't you agree, Robert?”

“No! Aten, I'll find a way out!” Robbie said, struggling with the wire that bound him.

The guardian laughed again. “Maybe you would like to share his pain?”

The wire constricted around Robbie's body and he screamed loudly.

“Maybe you would like to know how I enjoyed my time with Aten. You always asked questions about my time with Aten. Maybe it's time you see what good times we had.”

Robbie shook his head. “No, I don't want to see you hurt him!”

The guardian smiled and lifted Aten onto the bed using the barbed wire. The wire separated Aten's legs as the teen began to struggle.

“NO, PLEASE! DON'T DO THIS!” Aten pleaded loudly.

Robbie closed his eyes and turned his head away. “I have to wake up….I have to wake up.”

“You're missing all the fun, Robert,” the creature said as Robbie heard the tearing of clothing.

“PLEASE STOP—AH!!”

******End Dream****

Robbie sat up quickly, screaming loudly. He looked around in a panic. His cane was broken on the floor as footfalls rushed up the stairs.

“Robbie, are you okay?”

Miranda ran into the room and saw Robbie shaking. “What's wrong, Robbie?”

Robbie looked around frantically. “Where's Aten?”

Miranda sat beside Robbie on the bed. “We buried him today, remember?”

“I just had an awful dream! His candle was out and his statues were broken. Then this guy came in…his grandfather….and he wanted to hurt Aten.”

Miranda sighed on the bed. “Robbie, Aten's candle was snuffed out. His statues were broken.”

“Who…Who broke them?”

“Your grandmother and Aunt Vera broke into the house while we were at Aten's funeral.”

“Can they be glued back together?”

Miranda nodded. “Hopefully we can. We have some glue downstairs. If we can't fix them, we'll try and replace them.”

Robbie sniffled. “I'll fix them. I hope I can, anyway.” Robbie's eyes laid on the few fragments of broken cane remaining on the carpet.

“Your father is going to get you a new cane. He should be back shortly.”

“Is grandmother and Vera still here?”

Miranda shook her head and picked up the pieces of the shattered cane. “No. We kicked them out.”

Robbie took a deep breath and relaxed against his pillows. “It was a nightmare, mom. I don't know what was worse: Aten's burial or the dream I just had.”

“They are both over now, Little Soldier.”

Robbie closed his eyes. “Maybe all this is just one bad dream. Maybe I'm sleeping and I'm dreaming that Aten died and this is all just one bad dream.”

Miranda took Robbie's hand and rubbed it gently. “I'm sorry to tell you that this is not a dream, baby. This is how it is and it is very real.”

Robbie's bottom lip trembled as his eyes lowered. “I…I think I need to be alone for a little bit, mom. If Mr. Hinney comes for Aten's paintings, he knows which ones he can take.”

Miranda ruffled his curly black hair and nodded. “I'll get the glue out and pile the statue pieces.”

“Okay, mom. Thanks.”

Miranda stood up and left the room, closing the door behind her. She took a deep breath, wishing she could make this process easier for her son.

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

The blond raised his head as he heard a knock sounding on his door. He put down his paper cup and set it beside his bed. “Come in!”

Joey looked down to see Yugi opening the door with a smile on his face.

“Hi, Joey, I came to check up on you!” the short duelist said happily.

“Aw, Yug, that's so nice of you! The doctors said I'll be able to come home tomorrow. My body's not rejecting the liver at all and all my tests are coming back better than ever.”

Yugi pulled a chair over beside the bed and sat down. “I'm really glad to see you doing so well, Joey. I know Aten would be happy that he….gave you a second chance.”

Joey nodded. “I know. I'll have to thank him after St. Peter lets me through the pearly gates.”

“I'm sure he knows that he did the right thing by helping you.”

Joey turned off the television in the room with the remote. “How was his funeral?”

“It was nice. Aten looked good.”

“I wish I could have been there. I mean, if it weren't for Aten, I'd be the one pushing up the daisies.”

Yugi smiled at his friend. “Your place is here recovering until the doctor gives you clearance to leave. I think Aten would have understood that. He won't yell at you for missing his funeral.”

“How did Ryou handle it? Marik must have been a wreck. What about Robbie?”

Yugi sighed. “Ryou and Marik were upset, but I think they handled themselves well. I can tell Marik was really fighting back tears the entire ceremony. Robbie did cry a few times, but that's to be expected.”

“None of those freak Crusaders showed up at his funeral, did they?”

“Thankfully, no. I think you would have heard of Bakura going on a killing spree if he would have seen them there protesting. The news would have been all over it.”

Joey chuckled. “I'm sure Aria would have let loose her dragon on them. A funeral is no place to start nonsense.”

“They've done it before, Joey. I'm just glad they left Aten's funeral alone.”

“I still can't believe he's gone. It's going to be hard not having him around.”

Yugi nodded. “I know. He stopped into my game shop and we had our last duel. I think he knew it would be the last time that I would see him. Something didn't seem right when I saw him leave. Glenn agreed with me later that night.”

“I still remember taking him to all of those art shows. I think he was the only five year old boy you could fit into a tuxedo and not have to worry about him getting it dirty or ruined. I think he actually enjoyed that suit.”

“When you get better, Joey, we can all visit his grave.”

“Seto said he'd take me there already, but if you could come, Yug, that would be a real help.”

Yugi took Joey's hand. “Seto had the ceremony recorded at the church for you, I think. I'm just glad you're going to be okay, Joey.”

“I guess I owe Marik more than what I gave him. I always thought he was a crazy nutcase, a psycho. Now I know that he's not a bad guy, just a little insane. I never thought it possible that the same Marik who threatened all our lives during the Battle City Tournament could end up raising such a nice boy like Aten.”

Yugi looked up as rain tapped against the windows harder. “Marik's taking this very hard. I don't think the weather will improve until Marik has recovered from his loss.”

Joey looked at Yugi's eyes. “You never recover, Yug. I still miss Hayden. I'd give anything to have him back. I felt so bad for that poor kid. He had a shitty life until he came to KaibaCorp. I guess the past was too much for him to handle.”

“I know you miss him, Joey. It will take time for Marik to accept Aten's death and continue living.”

Joey listened as the rain pounded harder against the window pane. “Let's hope he does before the entire planet floods and we have to gather two of every animal again.”

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

Marik sat in his soulroom, the torches giving off a bright light. He looked into the sandpit in the corner of the room where two roses laid on the grains of sand.

`At least I gave Aten a proper burial. He wasn't buried in sand like Itemri and I.'

He looked over towards the roaring fireplace beside his shelves of scrolls and books.
`I have to find a way to bring him back. I can perform the Yami ceremony on him. That is the only way to see him alive again.'

Marik reached into the sandpit and grabbed a handful of sand. He raised it and let the sand slip from his fingers back into the pit. `As time passes, so do our lives…one of many.'

The sand finished slipping through the father's fingers. He bowed his head and put his hands on the sand. Throughout the room, a loud, sorrowful wail echoed. The thin, white satin of Marik's canopy moved with a wind from nowhere.

“My boy, I can't live without you. My Aten, I will bring you back…no matter what it takes.”

 

Updates: 6/26