Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ Madness Reigns ( Chapter 37 )

Madness Reigns

 

Robbie sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, shattered pieces of Aten's statues, and some ceramic glue. The new cane his father bought him rested against the back of the chair beside him. Heaven sat in her high chair, gumming a teething ring and drooling profusely.

“Heaven, do you think I can get all of daddy's statues back together?”

The baby watched him with bright blue eyes and cooed.

“Some of this will be easy to fix, but there are some pieces that are beyond repair.” Robbie sat back in the seat. “I'm so angry at my aunt and grandmother, Heaven! If they didn't break Aten's statues, they would still be in perfect condition. I don't know how I'm going to tell Aten what happened to them when I get to those pearly gates in the sky. If I could have stopped them, I would have.” Robbie shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he remembered Candice and her wandering hands. “I still feel dirty, kiddo. I think it's going to take a while to get clean. Don't worry, Heaven girl. Aunt Vera and my grandmother will get what is coming to them someday.”

The baby dropped her ring and took the pacifier sitting on the tray in front of her. She reached out for it, but couldn't grasp it. Robbie watched her as she tried to grab it.

“Do you need some help there, muffin?”

Robbie reached out and put the pacifier in her hand. He helped her place the object in her mouth and she began to suck on it. “There you go, muffin.”

Robbie turned his attention back to the broken statues. He picked up a piece of a broken arm and sighed. “I don't know if this belongs to Isis or Ra. Why do I have a feeling this is going to take a while?”

A knock on the door sounded and Robbie turned his head towards the front door.

“I'll get it,” Daniel said, walking towards the door.

Robbie's father opened the door. “Oh, come in, Umi.”

“Umi! I'm in here!” Robbie called.

Umi walked into the kitchen with a big smile on his face. “Hi, Rob!” The smile quickly faded into an open-mouth gape of surprise. “Holy crabcakes! Are those---?”

“Yeah, my grandmother broke into our house and broke Aten's statues. I'm trying to put them back together.”

“Need help?”

Robbie shrugged. “Sure, if you want.”

Umi gave Heaven a kiss on the forehead. “She's getting big.”

“I know. I didn't think she'd grow as fast as she is because of all the crap her mom did. She's put on some weight, though. The doctors said she's at a normal weight for her age.”

Umi sat on the opposite side of Robbie and began to sift through the broken pieces. “Which statue had a flail?”

“That's the Ra statue. Put it in the pile there. That's Ra's remnants. So what brings you over here tonight?”

Umi examined more pieces of the statues. “Aria wanted some time to herself, so she told me to come over here and check up on you. I know she's upset at the loss of Aten and I figured you could use some cheering up, so here I am.”

Robbie looked up at the chipper fisherman. “Yeah, I could use some cheering up. Mr. Hinney came to take Aten's paintings a little while ago and…well, I can't go in there yet. I'm not ready.”

“It will get better over time, Rob. Give yourself some time.”

Robbie sighed. “How long?”

“As long as you need. One day you'll be ready to go in there again. You might even want to find someone again. Sure, nobody can replace the one you love, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.”

Robbie shook his head as he applied glue to Isis' neck. “I don't know if I'll ever be ready for another lover. Nobody can replace Aten.”

“Oh, of course not! Nobody can replace him. But you might want to date again.”

“I'm not looking forward to that yet, Umi.”

The pacifier dropped from Heaven's lips and she began to cry. Umi stood up and took the baby in his arms. “Silly girl, you dropped your pacifier.” Umi placed the pacifier in the girl's lips and she began to suck quietly again. He rocked the baby girl in his arms and smiled down at her. “One day, Heaven, I'll take you out to sea and I'll show you all the constellations! Aquarius! Cancer! Scorpio! Out at sea, you can really see the beauty of the Heavens.”

Robbie smiled. “I'm sure she'd like that.”

“That's if your daddy lets me take you on a cruise to the open sea.”

Robbie chuckled. “I see nothing wrong with that.”

“She and my daughter will be close in age, so I'll know they'll have a real blast!”

Robbie looked up at his friend. “Daughter? Aria's…”

Umi smiled proudly, “Yup! Aria's having a baby girl! That is such wonderful news! I'll have a girl to take on my fishing expeditions! My little girl's going to be one of the best sea-faring women in Domino History! She may even be able to out-fish her brothers! Think of that!”

“That's great news, Umi! Congratulations!”

Umi chuckled. “Thanks, Rob. I knew eventually, Poseidon would grant a daughter to me! Now I'll have two strong boys and a very tough little girl!”

“I'll have my hands full with Heaven Raine here. I'm glad I have somebody, though. I think if it wasn't for her, I'd be very lonely.”

“I can imagine. Aria's getting big….very big. I don't know the meaning of the word lonely. I've got a wife, two sons, and a baby on the way. I have to go out and fish to feed them and I sell much of my catch for money. Kai is very excited. He's excited to be a big brother again. I don't know what to name my daughter, though. I need to find a good name.”

Robbie put Isis' head back on the remnants of her body. “What about the name `Persia'?”

“I don't know. Aria has been talking to Seto about names. Maybe Seto has heard of some names that I never heard before. She's been going over to KaibaCorp quite frequently. I know she's upset about her brother, so I figure Seto is helping her.”

Robbie withdrew his hands from the statue and sighed. “I don't think I can repair the Isis statue. Her neck has been busted and it's not staying right.”

“Here, let me try, Rob. Heaven, you have to get back into your seat, tadpole.”

Umi placed the little girl in her high chair and sat in his seat. He gingerly took the statue from Robbie and took the ceramic glue. “It's going to look a little strange, but I think we can fix it.”

Robbie attempted to assemble the pieces of Ra. “Thanks for giving me a hand with this.”

“Don't mention it, Rob. I wanted to come check on you anyway. You know, to see how you are holding up.”

Robbie shook his head. “It still doesn't seem real.”

“I know. It's hard to believe everything happened so quickly. I just wish I had a chance to talk to him before he….you know. I know he talked to Aria. Aten was my friend and I just wish I could have said some things to him.”

Robbie looked up at his friend. “Like what?”

Umi looked up from his statues. “What?”

“What would you have said to him if you had a chance?”

Umi looked Robbie in the eyes. “Well, I would have told him that I was happy to have him as a really good friend. I would have told him that he was a good person, no matter what bullcrap happened to him. I would have…..thanked him again for saving Aria from Keith and Eric.”

“He told you about that?”

“No, Aria did. She told me that Aten saved her. Even if he did arrive a little late, he helped her….and he paid the price for it.”

Robbie lowered his eyes. “I know. He had that heart attack the next day in English class. He couldn't read and he told me….that he loved me before he collapsed.”

“Aria always told me that she'd feel lonely, too, if it weren't for Aten. I know she feels that way now because he's not around. She told me this morning how strange it was to have a silent mindlink. She tries to contact Aten, but there's no answer.”

Robbie glued Ra's arm to his body. “It's odd sleeping in a bed all by myself. I'm still not used to it. I'm used to Aten sleeping beside me. The hospital took Aten's oxygen machine today. It's going to be strange for a while.”

Umi nodded. “Yeah, it will be. It will get better, though, Rob.”

“I hope so, Umi.”

Umi sat back in his seat. “Well, Rob, I think this is the best we can do with the Isis statue.”

“I think you're right. These things won't be the same anymore. But they were Aten's prized possessions. I won't get rid of them.”

“No, I wouldn't get rid of them either.”

Heaven began to rub her eyes and stick her lip out in a pout.

“I think she's getting tired. I should put her to bed. Back in a moment, Umi.”

Umi watched Robbie grab his new cane and picked the baby up into his arms. He limped away with the baby in his arms.
Umi stood up and walked towards the door to Aten's Studio. He opened the door slowly and walked inside. He turned on the light beside the door and saw the majority of Aten's paintings gone. His paints remained where their owner had left them. Aten's altar was bare except for a burned out white candle. Aten's plants hung from the ceiling, their leaves draping delicately over the edges of their baskets. Classical music CD's laid on a table as if their owner would return to listen to them once more. Bach, Beethoven, and Handel would be waiting a long time.

The carpet where Aten stood while he painted remained under an easel with a painting remaining. A puddle of red paint had dried onto the carpet beside a fallen paintbrush.

Umi reached out and touched the canvas with a quivering hand. “Aten, my friend, I'm going to miss you.”

His fingertips touched the paint lightly; the paint filled the crevices of the canvas.

“Umi…Why?” a sad voice whispered.

Umi turned his head towards the door, but nobody stood there. A cold wind blew through his blue hair and he shuddered. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. “Aten?”

“You don't belong here,” a deep voice threatened. “Go. Now.”

Umi pulled his hand away from the canvas and ran towards the door. He turned off the light and ran out of the room, closing the door behind him. He sat at the table, breathing quickly.

Robbie returned to the kitchen and saw Umi sitting at the kitchen table, his face pale and his eyes full of fear. “Umi, what's wrong?”

“Rob, I have to go!” Umi stood up and ran out of the house.

Robbie watched his friend run in terror. “What's gotten into him?”

The door to Aten's Studio squeaked and opened.

“Did Umi go inside?”

Robbie walked over to the door and looked inside the dark room. “Hello? Anyone in here?”

Robbie turned on the light and saw Aten's red paint can opened. Drop by drop red paint splatted onto the ground. Robbie shivered as a cold wind whipped by him as he turned the closed the red paint.

Robbie shut the door to the Studio and sighed. “I wonder what got into Umi.”

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

 

Bakura shook his head as he watched the news. Malik cuddled beside him, sitting with his head on the yami's shoulder.

[We are still searching for the suspects of this horrendous murder.] Sgt. Barnes said.

Bakura rolled his eyes. “This son of a bitch is so full of shit. I don't see why nobody else sees it.”

“Did he really kill Tris and Otogi?”

Bakura nodded. “Ishtar and I watched them die.”

Malik looked down. “Tell me what happened.”

“I can't, Hikari Ishtar. The details are…..disturbing.”

The blond removed his head from Bakura's shoulder. “I can handle it. Look at my yami.”

“I can't. He's locked himself away in the Millennium Rod. I can't reach through.”

“Not literally! Bakura, what happened to them?”

Bakura took a deep breath. “They decapitated Otogi and castrated him. They hammered Tris in the ass and then shot him full of holes from their firesticks. That's what happened. Marik and I saw every minute of it.”

Malik looked down. “Poor Tris.”

Bakura shrugged. “It's not a good way to die to say the least. I remember dying that way and the only thing you feel is terror. You can't stop what is done to you and all you can do is hope that they make your final moments painless.”

“Was it painless?”

Bakura shook his head. “Hell, no.”

“What are we going to do?”

The yami shrugged. “I know Barnes is crooked. My people have told me that for a long time, but I never thought he'd stoop this low. I could get evidence that Barnes is responsible for their deaths, but he'd have to be caught in the act. If any one of us goes to the media with this, they'd get back on our cases about us being dangerous spirits. They might not even believe us, seeing as some people put him on some kind of golden pedestal.”

Malik sighed. “Can't your people go to the media or the mayor?”

“Nobody is going to listen to someone dressed in rags, claiming that the head of the police department of Domino is the leader of the Crusaders. They'll lock them up in the loony bin. Marik's people would also be poor candidates to blow the whistle on Barnes. I have my own plan.”

Malik reached out and touched Bakura's leg. “Please don't get hurt.”

Bakura smiled. “I'll be fine. If Barnes won't slip on his own, I'll find myself some bait.”

Malik sighed. “Just don't get hurt.”

“I'm a big spirit. I can hold my own. Is Marik going to join us here in the land of the living or is he going to stay locked up in the Rod for all eternity?”

Malik looked at the Millennium Rod sitting on the coffee table. “I don't know. He hasn't come out. I know he and Ryou are supposed to spend the night together.”

“If Marik disappoints my Ryou, I won't be a happy camper.”

“Well, I guess we'll have to sleep down here tonight. The new bed should be coming pretty soon.”

Bakura yawned. “I hope so. I'd like to have my own bed to sleep in. Though, I'm happy to have anything to sleep on at all. When the sand of the desert is your bed, you soon learn to appreciate having anything to sleep on.”

Malik looked at the Millennium Rod. “Marik's been busy in there all day. He hasn't been out since Aten's funeral.”

“He and Ryou need some time together. I know this is difficult for both of them. What is he doing in there?”

“The door to his soulroom is locked and all he keeps saying is that he is busy.”

Bakura sighed. “Yeah, I know what he's doing. Well, he has time before Ryou goes to bed. I should go upstairs and check on Ry. I'll be back.”

The yami stood up and stretched. “I wonder when Isis and Odion are leaving. I'm sure Marik doesn't feel too comfortable with them still hanging around here.”

Bakura climbed the steps and saw Ryou in the Ishtar bedroom. Ryou was looking through the window down to the street.

“Ry, you okay?”

Ryou nodded without turning around. “I'm okay.”

Bakura approached Ryou slowly and wrapped his arms around Ryou from behind. He nuzzled the back of Ryou's hair with his cheek. “You didn't come down for supper. Malik and I saved some for you.”

“I'm not hungry.”

“It's in the fridge when you are ready.”

Ryou nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

Bakura hugged his husband from behind. “It's going to be okay, sweetheart.”

Ryou lowered his head. “I wish I could believe that.”

Bakura released Ryou and walked around to stand in front of him. “Ry, I know you're in pain inside. I can feel it. I know you just….want to cry. I know it hurts,” Bakura whispered. “But we must be strong. There's no more pain. It's done.”

Ryou turned around and hugged Bakura. He put his head on Bakura's shoulder and cried.

The yami caressed his husband's white hair and sighed. “I know, angel.”

Bakura held Ryou close as his husband trembled. He looked out at the night, knowing there was nothing he could say that would bring his lover comfort. He let his fingers drift down Ryou's white hair affectionately.

“I keep going over and over in my mind what I could have done to make this not happen.”

“There was nothing that you could have done to prevent this, Ry. Death happens for all of us. It is a journey all of us must take. And hopefully, it is a journey that we only need to take only once. Aten has made his journey through the Underworld and his soul may finally rest.”

Ryou clutched onto Bakura tightly. “It's so hard to let him go.”

Bakura pulled back from Ryou and tilted his hikari's head up to look him in the eye. “You must, love. You must let him go. His soul is at peace. Someday you will meet him again when you make your journey to the gods. They will grant you peace when you have reached their sanctuary.” Bakura smiled at his husband and caressed his cheek tenderly. “You will rest then, angel.”

Ryou sniffled and wiped his eye. “What about you?”

The yami smiled down at his hikari, trying to disguise his knowledge of what was to come. “You will be able to rest, angel. Don't worry about me. I've existed for five thousand years. My soul has seen everything there is to see. I have seen societies crumble and cities rebuild. I have seen plagues and heard the cries of many dying mortals, many of whom suffered more than our poor Aten. As a yami, an immortal, a spirit, my fate is fixed.” Bakura leaned down and touched his forehead to Ryou's. “Your fate will not be mine. I will not die. Eternal unrest….that is my sentence. I do not wish that upon anyone I love. I want you to sleep, my angel. My heart will always be yours, even after you take your last breath.”

Bakura kissed Ryou's forehead and collected him in his arms. He carried Ryou to the bed and laid his lover on the silk sheets. He sat beside his lover and took his hand. “There will be nothing to fear, Ryou. I will be beside you. I will chase your fears away as your light fades.” Bakura kissed Ryou's hand lightly. “I will not leave your side when your moment arrives to greet Osiris and Anubis. Give praise for the dead, Ryou. They are the ones who are truly free.”

Ryou looked up into his husband's eyes. “You won't leave?”

“Never, angel. Never.”

Ryou smiled at his yami and covered his hand with his other. “Thank you, `Kura.”

Bakura stood up and slipped into the bed beside Ryou. He gathered his lover into his arms and sighed with contentment. He pet Ryou's hair gently as a smile crossed the yami's face. He inhaled Ryou's sweet cologne and felt the warmth of his husband's body against him.

“Has Marik emerged from the Millennium Rod yet?”

“No, not yet. Right now, I wouldn't want to make room for him anyways. I'm too comfortable right here.”

Ryou smiled. “So am I.”
************************

Marik tossed another book aside with an annoyed growl. “Where is it?! It has to be here!”

The blond yami opened a scroll sitting on the bookshelf as the fire roared in the fireplace.

A timid knock sounded on the thick, wooden door. “Marik! Are you in there?!”

Marik growled as he scowled at the door. `I can't find the scroll I need if Malik's breathing down my neck! Nobody can know about what I plan to do!'

“Marik! Ryou's waiting for you upstairs!”

Marik dropped the scroll in his hand and walked towards the door. He opened it up and looked at his hikari.

“I'm busy, Malik, come back later.”

“But, Marik, Ryou is waiting for you. He's really upset and I think you and him need to spend some time together.”

Marik leaned against the doorway. “I'll be out of the Rod soon, but for now I'm busy.”

Malik looked through the door and found Marik's books thrown about the room. Open scrolls were laying on the bed and the floor. The torches in the room burned brightly, illuminating even the darkest shadows of the Noble's room. The golden walls and the golden bed glittered in the firelight. The sandpit in the corner sparkled like glitter. The tiled floor danced with shadows. Torches set around the bed and by a leather chair blazed wildly. Marik's bowl of never-rotting fruit even glowed from the light of the fires around the room.

“You made a mess in there! What are you looking for?”

“Nothing!”

Malik crossed his arms defiantly. “I don't believe you. What are you looking for?”

“I'm looking for….something to console me.”

“Why don't you talk to Isis? I'm sure she'll be able to help you feel better.”

Marik raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Console me? Talk to her? Haven't you realized that for the past thirty-some-odd years I've been trying to get into her panties?”

“Isis helped me, though. And I think if you talk to her….and for once NOT try to get into her panties….she might help you feel better.”

Marik sighed. “I don't think so, hikari. I need to spend time in my soulroom alone, okay? I don't feel ready to talk to anybody about this yet.”

“Okay, but when you are ready, Isis will be more than happy to talk to you.”

“I know, Malik. I'll be out pretty soon.”

Malik nodded. “Fine. I don't want to see Ryou's feelings hurt. I'm sure he's looking forward to spending the night with you.”

“Alright, I'll be out soon.”

Malik turned and walked into his soulroom.

Marik closed the door behind him and ran towards the scroll case and unraveled a scroll in the light of the torches.

 

Marik's POV

 

This is it! I know I'd find it! This was the scroll that we used when Itemri and I were struck down by the Yami Virus. I know I kept that scroll for a reason. Now, let's see what I need.

It reads: `To bring a spirit from the Land of the Dead and offerings must be made to the God of the Underworld….These offerings must be made in the Temple of Isis. The spirit must be placed within its own corpse. The corpse must have all of its components. The entire body must be intact to complete the ceremony. If any piece of the body is missing, the ritual is pointless.'

Aten was mummified, but all of his bones are intact. Here is the spell that I must chant. I will need all of the Millennium Items.

Ra damn it! How am I going to get the Puzzle off of the pharaoh?! I'll need to borrow Itemri's Millennium Ring, too. Bakura will object to my plans bringing Aten back from the Land of the Dead, so he's not going to willingly give me his Millennium Item.

That means only one thing: I must steal it from him.

Steal from Bakura? How do you steal from a master thief?

I'll have to steal the Millennium Necklace and Millennium Ring.

I'll have to steal the Key and Scales.

I'll have to steal the Puzzle and the Eye. I know the pharaoh has the Eye.

I will never relinquish my Millennium Rod to anyone.

Aten's body will need to be removed from the ground, but that will be the easy part. I must get Aten's body to the Temple of Isis.

Into the fireplace, my eyes gaze. My son is dead and now I will bring him back. I was angry when I was ripped from the Underworld, but now I see that it was for the better. I'm not angry anymore. Though I will never know eternal rest, I will never be confined by mortal flesh. What illnesses Malik may suffer, I do not feel to the degree of discomfort that he does.

Aten would be able to live free of pain and illness. I would be doing my little boy a favor. He would no longer know the pain of death or the pain of a mortal existence. Robbie would agree with me that he wants Aten back. I know he longs for my son to return to him.

Isis might know what I have planned. She warned me not to bring my son back from the Dead. She might warn Itemri and Shaadi about my plans.

If I want to do this, I will have to fight my loved ones and my friends. It will be a test.

Bakura is a master thief, though. He knows the best hiding places of all of us. If he wanted to hide his Millennium Item, he could. Without the Millennium Ring, I would be unable to locate the other Millennium Items.

I will have to fight the pharaoh, but that won't be extremely difficult. Itemri and I have fought him before and lived. The only problem is, I had Itemri to back me up.

I'll have to do this alone.

Isis has told me that Aten would be a Yami of Vengeance. He would be deadly. He would be cruel. But I know my son. My son was not a cruel person. His yami, yes, could be cruel. I have seen it. But Aten's yami would have disappeared with his death. Aten would be the little boy I used to know who wouldn't hurt a fly.
I'll have that little boy back again….no matter what I have to do.

Like Bakura had taught me, you have to strike while your opponent least expects it.

It's time for me to get what I require….no matter what I must do.

 

Normal POV

Marik emerged from the Millennium Rod and took the Item in his hand. He looked around the living room and saw Malik entering from the kitchen.

“I'm glad to see you back, Marik. Bakura went upstairs to talk to Ry.”

“Is Bakura asleep?”

Malik shrugged. “I don't know. I'm just finishing with the dinner dishes.”

“I'll go upstairs, then, and send Itemri downstairs.”

Malik walked up to his yami and hugged him. He kissed Marik on the cheek. “I love you, Marik. I'm glad to see you with us again.”

The blond yami kissed his hikari on the lips. “I love you, too, tenshi.”

Malik smiled. “You haven't called me that in a really long time. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I'm fine. I'll see you in the morning.”

Malik watched Marik climb the stairs and returned to the kitchen.

Marik knocked on Isis' door. “Isis, are you in there?”

The yami turned the knob and opened the door. Isis was looking outside the window with Odion by her side.

“I know what you've come for, Marik,” Isis said sternly.

“Don't make this harder than it has to be, Isis. Give me your Millennium Necklace.”

Isis turned to him with narrowed, defiant eyes. “If you cause a raucous, Bakura will hear you and come to my aid.”

Marik stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. “Don't make this harder than it has to be.”

“Marik, please reconsider. In your grief, you have become mad. You are not thinking clearly. Think of the repercussions of your actions. You will unleash a great evil if you seek to resurrect your son, Aten. I have seen it.”

Marik clutched the Millennium Rod tightly in his hands. “I don't want to hear it, Isis. My son is not evil!”

“But the power dwelling within his bones is evil,” Odion growled at the yami. “If you try to take Isis' necklace, you will be making a big mistake that I will make you regret!”

“I will have my son back, Odion! I will not let anyone keep me from bringing him back to this world!”

Isis folded her hands in front of her and took a step towards Marik. “Marik, please. Listen to me. Heed my warnings. Once Aten returns to this world, all that will be left behind is a river of blood. The blood he sheds will be on your hands.”

“Give me your Millennium Necklace, Isis. Don't make me take it by force.”

Odion cracked his knuckles as he stood beside Isis. “I will fight you, Marik Ishtar. You will not get away with this, Jibade. I promise you.”

Marik grinned and lifted the Millennium Rod. “I have an advantage over you, Odion. I do not need to use my fists to fight you. All I need to do is control your mind and you will give me what I want. I do not wish to fight you, Isis, but I will get what I need some way.”

“Marik, please believe me! If you pursue this, you could destroy innocent lives! You would even be endangering Ryou's life!”

“How would I do that? Aten wouldn't attack his mother.”

Isis looked Marik in the eyes sternly. “Aten would not attack his mother, no. However, Yami Aten would not think twice. Aku still is part of Yami Aten. Evil, darkness, resides in Aten. Aku hates Ryou. That evil is deep-seated and he will not stop until Ryou lies dead. Yami Aten would not hesitate to slaughter his mother in cold blood without reservation.”

Marik glared at Isis. “You lie!”

“Lady Isis is trying to dissuade you, Master Marik. She is trying to help you see the error of your ways before you pursue your plans,” Odion explained. “You have seen what acts Aten's yami is capable of doing. Yami Aten did not hesitate to try and destroy you, remember? You and Yami Aten dueled, but Aten was able to overcome his yami. Aten's body is dead now. All that remains is yami. Yami Aten tried to kill you! Don't be a fool and resurrect evil incarnate!”

“I cannot die! I am immortal, or did you forget?!”

“Marik, Yami Aten could destroy you. He is the Yami of Death, remember? Or did you forget?” Odion retaliated, matching Marik's hostile, sarcastic tone.

Marik shook his head. “No, my son will live again!”

“What are you going to do when you see Aten kill his mother? What about Robbie? What if Yami Aten turns on Bakura? Marik, your son's yami is capable of destroying you. Would you want to see Bakura destroyed? Your son could kill my brother. Please don't let Malik suffer because of your selfish desire to have your son back.”

Marik glared at Isis, his left eye twitching between fury and hesitation. His mind raced with pros and cons of his decision. He didn't want to see Malik or Ryou harmed. If Bakura suffered, he would not be able to live with himself. Isis could see the future through her Necklace. Was there a chance that her Necklace was wrong?

“Marik, as much as you harmed my brother physically and mentally, I do not wish to see you gone forever,” Isis said calmly. “My brother loves you. He would be crushed without you in his life.”

“Master Marik, we say these things with the best of intentions. We do not wish to see others harmed because of your actions. We do not wish to see you suffer.”

Marik gripped the Millennium Rod so tightly, his hand turned white. His body began to shiver from frustration and fury. He held the Millennium Rod towards Odion.

“Millennium Rod, control his mind! Give me the Millennium Necklace, Odion! Now!”

Odion turned towards Isis and reached for her neck. Isis' eyes widened and she put her hands up in front of her to defend herself.

“Marik, stop this!”

“I'm sorry, Isis.”

Odion grabbed Isis by the throat. “Give me your Millennium Necklace! Master Marik requires it!”

Isis tried to scream, but Odion squeezed her throat. The tall Egyptian man pinned Isis against the wall and reached behind her to unclasp the Necklace from her neck.

“Mar---ik…stop…”

Marik glared at Isis, his bottom lip trembling. “If you would have given me what I asked for, I wouldn't have resorted to this.”

Odion unclasped the Necklace and released Isis from his grip.

“YAMI BAKURA!” Isis called.

Marik grinned. “He won't hear you. I placed a barrier on the other side of this door so he can't help or hear you. Odion, give me the Millennium Necklace.”

Odion walked around the bed and handed the Necklace to Marik. “As you wish, Master Marik.”

“Marik, what you are doing is very dangerous!” Isis protested. “You will unleash horror into the world if you bring your son back from the Land of the Dead. The Oracle of Isis has proclaimed it!”

“I have had enough of your protests and prophecies! I am going to bring my son back from death and I will let nothing stand in my way!”

A bright flash of light emanated from the eye of the Millennium Rod. When it diminished, Odion and Isis lay unconscious.

Marik looked at Isis, who had fallen on the bed. Odion had fallen to the floor at his feet.

“I am sorry, Isis. I need to do this. Forgive me.”

A dark portal appeared beside him and he stepped through it.

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

Marik stepped into the cold of the Shadow Realm. The bitter chill hit his exposed skin as he clasped the Millennium Necklace around his neck.

In the air, he heard a roar. The Winged Dragon of Ra appeared beside him, shaking the ground with his landing.

“My lord Marik,” the dragon growled, lowering its head.

“Take me to the Pharaoh's temple.”

Marik climbed onto his dragon's head and looked down as his dragon flew. Armies of monsters were arranged on the ground in battalions. Dragons roared and monsters screeched with fury.

“What is happening down there? Are they preparing for battle?”

“War is almost upon us, my master. We must prepare to fight.”

Marik looked ahead at the floating castle ahead of him. Lights were blazing in the windows. Shadows were moving within the light. “Who moves in that castle? Has Steven really returned from the Land of the Dead?”

The dragon growled. “The Unfaithful Guardian stirs. He has regained possession of his prey, who now haunts the living.”

Marik narrowed his eyes. “My son? Is my son in that castle?”

The Winged Dragon of Ra growled again. “The Castle of Dark Illusions screams and blood trickles from its walls. What one sees in the castle may be no more than an illusion, a figment of one's own personal nightmare. It is never certain if what one sees in the castle is real or simply an illusion.”

“Have you seen my son in there?”

The dragon nodded. “I have seen him, but the castle is protected by a very strong magic. One cannot penetrate its walls.”

Marik clutched onto his dragon's scales. “Take me there. I have to see if it is him.”

The Winged Dragon of Ra flew towards the castle. “There are many windows illuminated. In which window do you wish to look?”

Marik squinted to look into the lights and listened intently to any sound creeping from the castle. The bright lights blocked his view until he saw something quickly pass in front of one of the lights in a tower. “Go for that window there! I saw something pass in front of it quickly!”

Marik watched as something passed in front of the light again quickly. He heard screaming coming from the window and Marik tensed.

The Winged Dragon of Ra moved his head towards the window close. Marik stood up and walked onto the snout of the dragon and looked inside.

Marik looked through the window and saw the Unfaithful Guardian grasping a whip in his hand. His body, covered in barbed wire, shook with the force of his laughter.

“I've waited so long for you to return to me, my boy. Now, because your Journey through the Underworld was cut short, you are mine.”

Marik's heart stopped as he saw his son chained to a table face-down. His back, scarred, seeped blood.

“This is the land where the dead dwell, boy. Those who do not end their Journey of Death, are doomed to reside here.”

Marik watched Steven's whip slice against Aten's back again, making the teen cry out.

“ATEN BAKARI!”

The monster stopped and turned his head. Aten turned his head to the side and saw his father from the corner of his eye.

“FATHER!”

Marik narrowed his eyes. “I'm coming, boy!” Marik stepped back and threw himself through the opening of the window, only to hit a barrier and tumble.

He screamed as he fell, the ground of the Shadow Realm Badlands approaching fast. He closed his eyes as he felt his dragon catch his leg. Opening his eyes, he discovered himself two feet from the ground.

“Ra, take me back up there!”

The dragon put him on the ground. “The castle is protected by a barrier as I have said before. I would have destroyed that castle, if it was not for that barrier.”

Marik looked up at the castle as another pained cry from his son echoed through the air. “My son…..he needs me. I won't let Steven torment him in death! If I bring Aten back from the dead, his grandfather won't be able to torment him further.”

The dragon looked up at the floating castle. “Let us hope that is the case.”

Marik walked up to his dragon and pet its claw. “Thank you for catching me.”

The dragon lowered its head down to its master. “You are my master. I am your servant. I would not see you harmed in any way.”

Marik reached up and pet his dragon's snout. “You are a loyal friend, my Winged Dragon. The gods could not have rewarded me with a better companion.”

The dragon purred under the gentle caresses of its master.

“Now I must go to Yami's temple. The sooner I collect the Millennium Items, the better. Follow me.”

Marik looked at Yami's temple nearby. He walked through the wasteland with his dragon following at his heels. Ra lifted his head and saw Slyfer curling around the temple columns and growling with its two massive mouths.

“He must have anticipated my arrival,” Marik said as he walked.

The blond yami walked up the steps of the temple and saw a figure standing at the top of the steps.

“Pharaoh.”

“Ishtar? I thought I caught your stench as you entered the Shadow Realm.”

Marik's hair spiked and his Millennium Rod began to glow. “I have come for something that belongs to you.”

Yami laughed. “And what would that be, Ishtar?”

“Your Puzzle and the Millennium Eye. I know you still own both.”

The head of Slyfer bent down towards Yami and its throat rumbled with discontent at the visitors.

The Winged Dragon of Ra lowered its head beside its master and threw its tail protectively beside Marik.

“What makes you think I'm going to give you my Millennium Items?”

Marik gripped the bottom of the Millennium Rod and pulled, releasing the hidden blade within the Item. “You can give them to me or I will take them from you by force. Which way will it be?”

Yami narrowed his eyes. “I will never give you my Millennium Items, thief! They are mine!”

Marik's eyes glowed red with fury, the sounds of Aten's agonized screams echoing in his head. “I will take what I came for, pharaoh! I won't let you stop me!”

Yami grinned. “Slyfer, attack!”

“Winged Dragon of Ra! Fight!”

The two Egyptian God monsters roared at each other menacingly. Slyfer uncoiled from the temple and slithered towards Ra. Ra threw his tail in front of his master as Slyfer lunged to attack Marik.

Ra bit Slyfer's neck and the two God monsters roared angrily. Ra pulled Slyfer down from the steps and began raking and biting Slyfer with its claws and jaws.

Yami narrowed his eyes at the blond yami and formed a dark ball of energy in his hands. Marik held his Millennium Rod up as the energy shot towards him. The black ball of energy disappeared in front of the Millennium Rod.

“You'll have to try harder than that!” Marik growled, charging up the steps.

Yami retreated into the temple as Marik held his Item in his hands. The blond chased the pharaoh into the temple and watched as Yami lifted a card into the air. “I summon `Lightening Blade'!”

A large sword with a gold hilt appeared in front of Yami and the pharaoh grabbed it.

“Let's see you take my Puzzle and Eye away from me now, Yami Marik Jibade Ishtar!”

Marik swung the blade of the Millennium Rod and Yami blocked it by his shoulder with his own sword.

“You will never get what I possess!”
“I'm taking your Items, pharaoh!”

Yami brought the blade down towards Marik's shoulder, but the blond jumped to the side. “The tomb-robber taught you well.”

Marik grinned. “Don't be so sure! I had to learn this from my father and my tutors! Bakura just sharpened my skills!”

Marik brought the blade across Yami's chest, but all he managed to cut was Yami's shirt before the pharaoh jumped back.

“I had the best tutors in Egypt, Marik! You can never beat me!”

Marik bent low to avoid Yami's strike at his head. “I will never surrender to you, pharaoh! Not in this afterlife!”

Yami grinned. “That remains to be seen!”

Yami kicked Marik in the stomach, making the yami bend over. “LIGHTENING STRIKE ATTACK!”

Bolts of lightening shot from the edge of the blade and swarmed around Marik. The yami fell to his knees and cried out in pain. The Millennium Rod dropped from his hands and Yami smiled down at his prey. “Hurts, doesn't it?”

Marik's breaths came in sharp gasps as little electric shocks ran up and down his spine. His hair sparked from the electric current.

“Still think you can beat me?”

Marik looked up at the pharaoh and grabbed the Millennium Rod. He staggered to his feet and narrowed his eyes at his opponent. “I'm fighting for my son.”

“Your son is dead, Noble. Didn't you know that? I saw you at his funeral. You didn't see me, did you? I was there, you just didn't see me.”

Marik glared at Yami. “My son…is dead. But he needs me now more than he did in life and I will not stop until I can save him.”

“Oh, you have read the prophecy, haven't you? Yes, well, we all have a part to play in the prophecy. While I would love to see your demise at the hands of your own flesh and blood, I'd rather have the pleasure of doing it myself.”

Yami lunged at Marik with his sword, but Marik jumped aside and elbowed Yami in the back, making the pharaoh drop.

“My son is not a vicious killer!”

Yami chuckled as he gained his footing back. “How ignorant you are! You know how they say `let sleeping dogs lie'? You need to hear the saying `Let the dead rest in peace.'”

“I'm tired of this! Give me those Millennium Items!”

Marik lunged at Yami, but the pharaoh blocked the attack. Marik kicked Yami in the stomach, making him bend over. The blond punched Yami in the face, his eyes red with fury.

Yami fell onto his back and saw Marik standing above him with the Lightening Blade pointed at his throat. The pharaoh stared wide-eyed at the blond.

“Give me your Millennium Puzzle and the Millennium Eye.”

Yami reached for the Millennium Puzzle and lifted it from his neck.

“Where is the Millennium Eye?”

Yami reached into his pocket and withdrew the Millennium Eye. “You are making a big mistake.”

Marik scowled down at his opponent. “You're beginning to sound like Isis. Now it's time for me to teach you a little lesson.”

The Winged Dragon of Ra and Slyfer stopped their battle as they heard Yami's scream of agony from inside the temple. Marik walked down the steps soon after with the Millennium Puzzle around his neck and the Millennium Eye in his other hand.

Slyfer broke away from Ra and quickly surrounded the temple.

Marik approached Ra with a grin, the Millennium Rod dripping with blood. “Time to leave, Ra. I must obtain the Millennium Key and Scales…including the Millennium Ring.”

Ra lowered his head and he let his master climb onto him. “What did you do to the pharaoh?”

Marik grinned as the dragon flew into the air. He licked his lips. “Payback is a bitch.”

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

Shaadi kneeled in the darkness of the catacomb. The dim light of the torches were the only illumination beneath the sands above.

He looked at the empty stone tablet in front of him. One day, the Millennium Items would return to their final resting place. The Millennium Trident and the Scepter of Ra would return to their resting places in time.

`This stone once held all seven Millennium Items. Some day, it will house them again. I must await the deaths of those who possess them. Then they will return safely here. The world is safe unless one person owns all of the Millennium Items. If the pharaoh has them in his possession, dark things will come of this world.'

Shaadi turned his head as he felt a gust of wind beside him. “Who is there?”

Shaadi stood and grabbed a torch. “Show yourself!”

The man froze as he saw a figure in the darkness with glowing red eyes. “Who…who are you? Show yourself!”

Marik stepped into the light with a grin. “Hello, Shaadi.”

The man took a deep breath and relaxed. “What are you doing here, Spirit of the Rod?”

“I've come for your Key and Scales.”

Shaadi shook his head. “No, I cannot give them to you. They are mine.”

Marik stepped into the light, the Millennium Items in his possession glistened in the light. “I suggest you comply. Give them to me.”

“Yami Marik, I cannot give you my Key and Scales. They must remain here should the pharaoh seek their power once more.”

Marik grinned, advancing on Shaadi slowly. “I'm not asking you. I'm telling you. Give them to me this instant and I will spare your life.”

“Isis told me not to let you take my Millennium Items, Marik. She told me why you want them.”

Marik's Millennium Rod glowed. “Then she should have told you to hide them better from me.”

“Marik, you don't want to hurt me. You also don't want to go through with your plans.”

“My son needs me. My son is enduring punishment that he does not deserve! I will bring him back from the Land of Shadow and into the Land of the Living once more.”

Shaadi shook his head as nervous sweat formed on his brow. “Marik, that is dangerous. You have gone mad!”

Marik chuckled. “I'm as sane as ever!”

“Attacking your friends for their Millennium Items? Is that the mark of a sane man? What about the Spirit of the Millennium Ring? What will you do about his item?”

Marik stopped. “I…..I'll have to take his Item, too.”

“Steal from a thief? Yami Bakura is no ordinary thief. He will find you no matter where you hide. He will seek his Ring back with vengeance when he finds it stolen. You are risking more than you know by pursuing this endeavor.”

“Enough talk! Give me the Key and Scales!”

Marik lunched for Shaadi and grabbed the Key from around Shaadi's neck. He pulled, but couldn't break the cord around Shaadi's neck. Shaadi fell forward onto the sand as Marik pulled. The Key slipped from around Shaadi's neck and he smiled.

“One down, one to go. Where are the Scales?”

“I…will not tell you!”

Marik reached down and grabbed Shaadi by the throat. “Tell me where they are or I will turn this place upside down!”

Shaadi quivered in fear as he looked into the red eyes of the furious yami above him. “In….altar.”

Marik looked around and saw a stone altar with two doors in the front. “You are very wise.”

The yami released his victim and walked towards the altar. He opened the front doors of the altar and found the Scales sitting within. He grabbed the Item and turned towards Shaadi. “You are a very smart man.”

Shaadi watched as the wind picked up in the room and a black portal appeared. He shielded his eyes from the flying sand.

The wind died down and he opened his eyes to find the yami gone.

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

Malik turned out the kitchen light and laid down on the couch. He picked up a book and felt a tiny gust of wind come from the kitchen.

He shivered at the bitter cold.

“I hope I didn't leave the window open. It's gonna get cold.”

The hikari stood up and went into the kitchen. He turned on the light and found the window closed. “Maybe it was the door.”

Malik checked the door. “No, it's shut.”

The hikari heard the sound of a child giggling on the other side of the door. The Egyptian raised a suspicious eyebrow.

He opened up the curtains on the door and looked outside. A swing was moving back and forth. He unlocked the door and opened it. He stepped outside and looked around for any of the neighbor's children that could have snuck into the yard.

“Is anyone here?”

Malik heard the giggles stop and was replaced with a child quiet singing. The firepit in the yard began to smoke. “Hello?”

The child's singing continued in Arabic.

“That sounds…like Aten singing.”

Malik walked towards the firepit nervously. “Aten, is that you singing?”

The singing grew louder. Malik recognized it as a Hymn to the Dead.

The hikari backed away and bumped into a body. He turned around, screaming and saw Marik standing behind him.

“You scared the hell out of me, Marik!” Malik growled, hitting his yami on the arm.

“Why are you out here? It's cold.”

“This might seem odd, but I thought I heard Aten singing.”

Marik looked around the yard, listening intently. “I don't hear it now.”

“He was singing! I could hear it!”

Marik lead his hikari into the house. “You'll get ill if you go outside when it is that cold. I'll bring Itemri downstairs for you.”

“I thought you went upstairs for him already.”

“Oh, I was trying to fix their bedroom up a little more. They were asleep.”

Malik sat on the couch. “Okay. I wonder why my sister hasn't told me goodnight.”

“She is asleep already. So is Odion.”

The hikari shrugged. “Oh, okay. They must have been tired.”

“I'll bring Itemri down here for you.”

Marik climbed the steps and went into his bedroom. He found Bakura and Ryou asleep. Ryou's arm was draped over Bakura's body. The yami had his arms around his husband and breathed quietly.

He looked on the dresser for the Millennium Ring. He looked at the bed and found the Millennium Ring draped over a bedpost. He watched the two sleeping lovers, waiting to see if they would wake up with his presence.

Bakura turned his head towards Ryou and brushed the hair away from his neck.

Marik looked at his partner's exposed neck. It was pale and pulsing with his blood. He had kissed that neck many times. He had nibbled it in the throes of love and lust to seduce his yami-lover.

He reached for the Millennium Ring hanging around the bedpost and slowly lifted it up, hesitating to move it because of the dangling metal pointers.

Ryou moaned and shifted closer to his sleeping yami. He whimpered in his sleep as he nuzzled his yami's chest.

Marik gripped the Millennium Rod closely. `All it would take is one good strike to crack their skulls. They won't know what hit them.'

Ryou's eyelids fluttered as he whimpered, making Marik raise his Millennium Rod like a club over his head. Ryou's head rested on Bakura's chest.

He continued to lift the Millennium Rod over the bedpost. Bakura's fingers began to twitch in his sleep.

Marik tightened the grip on his Millennium Rod, waiting for one of the men to open their eyes and discover his theft-in-progress.

`Just one strike….I'll only need one strike to kill Ryou. Bakura would take more than one lucky hit.'

Marik lifted the Millennium Ring over the bedpost and he smiled. He crept out of the room and grinned.

“Now I must get the most important thing of all: Aten's body.”

 

 

Updates: 7/31