Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Of The Night ❯ My Friend, Bakura ( Chapter 9 )

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

My Friend, Bakura

Little Marik opened his eyes and yawned tiredly as he sat up. A shadow cast over him as he saw Little Bakura handing him a handful of berries.  The small, thin boy popped a berry in his mouth. “These are good. Have some, Marik,” the younger Bakura said.
“Are they edible?”
The younger child nodded and chewed hungrily. “I know these are good. My older self told me they are good. Don’t eat the ones with white dots on them. He said those can make your tummy hurt.”
Little Marik took a berry and popped it into his mouth. “Not bad.”
“Have you seen your older self?”
Marik nodded slowly. “Mine must have been a bad boy because my daddy was yelling at him and made sure he couldn’t move his hands.”
“Oh, that sounds bad,” Little Bakura said. “My daddy yelled at me, too. He called me a bad boy alot. He was always angry at me.  He made mommy cry.”
Little Marik turned and sipped water from the lake. “My mommy died when I was born. My daddy said that when I get older, I’ll have a mommy for my baby.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll be married when I get older. Her name is Isis. That’s what my daddy told me.”
Little Bakura’s eyes widened. “Are you going to marry a goddess?”
“No. I don’t think she has super powers like the goddess. She is pretty, though.”
The child Bakura sipped from the lake. “I don’t want babies.”
Little Marik stood up and brushed the sand from his robe. The boy yawned and stretched.
Ryou stepped from the bushes and kneeled in front of the boys. “Good morning, sweethearts. Did you sleep well?”
Little Bakura nodded. “I had a great sleep!”
“I kept dreaming about the older me that I saw,” Little Marik said. “He looked sad when he stood before my daddy.”
Ryou reached out and hugged the little blond boy. “I’m sorry you had a bad dream.”
Marik sighed as he returned Ryou’s hug sadly. “You don’t feel like my daddy’s hug.”
Ryou chuckled. “Well, you look like you needed a hug to know that somebody cares.”
Marik smiled. “Thank you.”
The adult Bakura rolled over on his back and let out a loud snore. Heaven crawled to Bakura’s face and looked up at Aten.  The Egyptian watched the baby closely as she looked back at Bakura snoring.  When Bakura’s mouth opened, she seemed to look into his mouth to see why it was making that rumbling sound.
Robbie stood up and looked down at the baby girl.
“Ah ah da?” Heaven tried to ask when Bakura’s mouth opened and his snore resonated into the air. Robbie and Aten chuckled as they saw the baby girl entertained and confused by the sleeping thief’s noises.
“What’s Papa Bakura doing, Heaven?” Robbie asked with a chuckle.
The ten-month-old girl looked up at Robbie. “Ah da?”
Aten snickered and covered his mouth to prevent bursting into laughter.
“Is Papa Bakura tired and loud?” Robbie asked.
The infant bounced on the sand as she sat and waved her arms excitedly. Robbie and Aten held onto each other as they chuckled at the baby’s curiosity. The stump of the infant’s right leg tapped against the sand as she giggled and bounced.
Ryou turned his head to watch what was amusing about his son’s suppressed laughter. “Heaven, what are you doing to Papa Bakura?”
“Ah da da?” Heaven covered Bakura’s open mouth with her hand. When she removed the hand, Bakura’s snore’s pitched changed.
The sleeping thief moaned and turned his head toward Heaven. “Aria, don’t bring that balloon in the shower anymore.”
Ryou chuckled. “He still dreams about that?”
“What was that about, mother?”
“Your father was in the shower and Aria snuck into the bathroom with one of her elongated balloons. She poked Bakura in the ass with it and he slipped in the shower.”
Aten snickered. “Oh, that must have hurt.”
“The faucet cut the back of his skull, but otherwise, he was alright. Just stunned. She was still just a baby.”
Heaven curiously reached out and pinched Bakura’s nose closed. The thief’s eyes opened and saw Heaven touching his face.
“Heaven Raine Ishtar,” Bakura groaned as he turned his head away.
Heaven burst into tears with her toy gone. Aten reached down and brought the girl into his arms.
“Is our girl sad without a toy?” Aten asked. Aten rocked her in his arms.
The thief stood up and stretched. “Heaven, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I had to wake up anyway.” The thief gave the girl a kiss on the cheek.
Little Marik looked at the thief when he kneeled down to drink from the water. “Are you taking me home?”
Bakura licked his lips and nodded. “Your place is at your home, little one, although I wish that I need not return you to that place.”
“Can he stay with us?” the Little Bakura asked.
“Bakura, he needs to go back to his father,” the thief said.
Little Marik looked down at the other little boy. “But, Bakura is my friend. He plays with me and my father just wants me to have my nose in a scroll all the time.”
“Can we play at his home?” Little Bakura asked.
The thief stood up and looked at Ryou. “Help me out here, baby. What do you think?”
“I don’t think Marik’s father will allow him to play with Bakura.  He turned us away when he thought we were a poor family.”
Yami Bakura sighed. “Perhaps we can pick Bakura up on the way from the doctor.  This way he and Marik will be occupied and they can play.”
Aten caressed Heaven’s hair. “Marik’s home is a mess. I’m sure his father will order him to clean.”
“Call me crazy, but I don’t think Marik’s father will work as a babysitter for the boy.”
The little Bakura crossed his arms defiantly. “Hey! I’m not a baby! I’m four years old!”
“You’re a big boy, Bakura,” Ryou said.
“We can’t leave him alone,” Robbie added.
“We can watch him,” Aten said. “He won’t be trouble.”
Little Marik looked up at Ryou and Bakura with large, teary eyes. “I never had a friend before. Please let me play with him?”
Ryou’s heart sank as he saw a small tear crawled down the seven-year-old boy’s cheek.  //Yami, he’s so lonely! How can we not leave him at the Ishtar home?//
/The place is destroyed, Ry.  It’s going to be hard enough to leave one boy there let alone two./
“Can I go with Marik?” Little Bakura pleaded.
Ryou and Yami Bakura exchanged glances. “If you get into trouble, return to the oasis," Bakura said. “Are you sure you want to go with Marik?"
The little boy nodded. “I want to play with him."
The thief sighed. “Very well, Bakura. But if you find trouble, return here. Understood, young man?"
The boy smiled and nodded. “I promise I will return here."
*******************
Yami Bakura walked the horse through the crowds who were still trying to rebuild their homes. Ryou rode the horse and watched the crowds sadly try to assemble their homes and sift through the rubble for anything salvageable.
A young woman approached Bakura and smiled at him. “Thank you for standing up to Khalfani. I’m glad to see that you have survived the attack."
Bakura blushed and ran his fingers through his spiky, white hair. “It’s of no importance, my lady. I won’t let that scoundrel harass you because I know how he can be."
“My name is Salihah," the woman said.
“I am Bakura. It’s nice to meet you," the yami said.
“You are always welcome at Khalfani’s."
The yami chuckled uncomfortably. “Well, thank you, Salihah. If you will excuse me, I have to take my friend to a doctor."
“Oh, is your friend injured? Sawakhet’s home is down the road.  He can help you."
“Thank you," Bakura said as he watched the woman walk away. “I still have it after five thousand years."
/Do you know her?/
//I remember her. She was a rough girl.//
Ryou looked down at Bakura. “Did you ever sleep with her?”
“No, she wasn’t my type.  When she found me sleeping in the streets, she would bring me some food.”
Ryou’s nose wrinkled as some bodies were pulled from the rubble of destroyed home. “Yami, this is terrible.”
“Marik and Malik really bitch-slapped this place, didn’t they? They have to be hiding somewhere. We’ll find them. Then we’ll find our way home.”
“I hope so, baby,” Ryou said.
Bakura looked up at a house with a hieroglyphics above the door. “This is it, Ry.” The yami helped his husband on his feet. “Whatever you do, don’t let him check your groin and your chest. Did you bind them up?”
Ryou nodded. “I wrapped up my....umm...man-ly parts in the linen as you showed me. I also bound balls of linen to my chest to make it look like I have breasts.”
Bakura chuckled. “It does sound silly to say it, doesn’t it?”
“Well, if the doctor sees me with a penis and testicles and carrying a baby, it could cause more problems for us than we have now.”
Bakura turned to Ryou and covered his hikari’s mouth with the material. “Just let me do the talking and try to keep his hands only on your belly.”
Ryou nodded. “Alright.”
The thief took his lover’s hand and stepped into the doctor’s home. Sawakhet looked at the couple when they entered. “What can I do for you?”
Bakura cleared his throat. “Doctor, please check my wife for she is six moons into her pregnancy. With the recent attack, I want to make certain that our child is unharmed.”
Sawakhet nodded and opened the door to his practice. “Please come in, my lady.”
Bakura followed Ryou into the room and watched his lover sit on a wooden slab. “Doctor, do not touch my wife between her legs or her breasts.”
“How else am I to examine her?” the doctor asked.
Bakura folded his arms sternly. “I will not have my wife’s chastity violated.”
“You placed a baby in her womb. Didn’t you already violate her chastity?”
/He has a point, yami./
Bakura growled and grabbed the doctor’s tunic and pulled him close. The yami snarled angrily. “Alright. I’ll state it this way. Keep your hands on her belly only or you will need to have surgery to remove my dagger from your flesh.”
The doctor trembled in fear as the yami shoved him. “Y-Yes, s-s-sir!”
Ryou laid on his back. /’Kura, I think you scared him to death./
//Well, at least he won’t go near your groin or chest. I still haven’t lost my touch.// Bakura grinned as he crossed his arms over his chest.
The doctor’s hands trembled as he pulled up Ryou’s tunic to reveal his slightly swollen belly. “She is five moons along?” the doctor asked as his hands touched the sides of Ryou’s stomach.
“Yes,” Bakura said.
Sawakhet looked at Ryou as he began to wince at the burning sensation on his skin. “Have you been experiencing any pain in this area?”
“Only the skin is sensitive and itchy. I’ve felt the baby move,” Bakura answered.
The doctor nodded. “Have you been urinating on barley and wheat?"
Bakura nodded. “The barley has sprouted."
“A male child will be born to you."
Ryou smiled. /A son, yami! It is a boy!/
Bakura approached Ryou and took his hand. The yami kissed his lover’s hand. //Ryou, I love you so much.//
Ryou sniffled and rubbed his eye. /Yami, you make me so happy./
“Have you been experiencing any changes in eating behavior or other symptoms?"
Bakura looked at Ryou. //Anything, Ry?//
/A little dizzy and I have heartburn sometimes, but otherwise alright./
“She’s been complaining of a little dizziness and some heartburn."
The doctor nodded. His hands traced the bump of Ryou’s belly. Ryou shifted as he felt the baby shift under the doctor’s hand. A familiar tap told Ryou the baby was acknowledging the doctor’s presence. The doctor lightly pressed on Ryou’s belly.
“I do not sense a problem with the child," Sawakhet said as he removed his hands from Ryou. The doctor walked to a shelf covered with jars of herbs. He reached for a jar and poured some herbs into a papyrus. He bound the leaves into the papyrus with reed. “Heat water and place these herbs therein.  Take this three times daily. Speak the prayer to Bes and Tawaret on the papyrus for a healthy child."
Ryou felt the baby kick as he sat up on the wooden table. Ryou took the leaves.
“Thank you, doctor," Bakura said.
The thief took Ryou’s hand and helped him to his feet. Ryou hugged his husband tightly. /Bakura, a son! It’s a boy!/
//So my instincts were true....I know I haven’t seen my infant in the Underworld for a reason. My boy has returned.// Bakura kissed Ryou’s cheek.
Bakura handed the doctor a handful of coin he had concealed in the sand.  “Thank you, doctor."
“If you need my services to deliver your child, please let me know."
Bakura lead Ryou out of the doctor’s home and hugged Ryou tightly. Ryou returned the embrace with a smile and laughed. Bakura cupped Ryou’s face in his hands and kissed his lover’s lips. “I love you, Ry."
“Wait until we tell the others, yami!"
Bakura nodded. “I can’t believe it myself, Ry."
The hikari mounted the horse with his yami’s help and the couple made their way towards the entrance to the city.  Bakura grabbed the horse’s reigns and lead his lover towards the gate.
//Now we have to think about names, Ry.//
/Do you want to give him the same name? What was it?/
//I named him Ilthien. I called him ‘Thien’ for short. I wasn’t allowed to see him very often. Yami kept him in the jail cell nearby. He never saw the sun except through the bars in his cell.//
Ryou licked his dry lips. /I don’t know what to name him. We both named Aria. You added ‘Kanika’ to her name./
“‘Beautiful black music’...Light and Dark...She’s as much beautiful as she is dangerous."
The people in the street screamed and scurried hastily from the caped and hooded figure.
Ryou’s eyes widened in fear as the figure raised a hand slowly. “Yami Bakura?"
Bakura narrowed his eyes and released the reigns. “Ryou, ride away! Get out of here!"
Jam Defender appeared before the figure concealed by the purple cape with gold chains.
Bakura growled and concentrated. “Dark Necrofear! Come to me!" Bakura exclaimed as a purple haze surrounded him.
Ryou watched as the alien-creature held its baby in front of Bakura.
Another Jam Defender appeared before the figure.
Ryou took a deep breath. “I summon Agent of Creation-Venus!"
Bakura turned as the winged male angel appeared before Ryou. “Ryou, no! Ride to safety!"
“I won’t abandon you!" Ryou called out as the angel before him flapped his wings.
The hooded figure summoned a third Jam Defender. Every Jam Defender shattered. Dark clouds appeared overhead.  Ryou and Bakura felt the temperature of the air rise as a large mass of molten lava appeared before the entrance to the city. The fire creature raised its lava arms and howled into the air.
Ryou and Bakura’s faces covered in sweat from the heat. Bakura narrowed his eyes.
“The Gross Ghost of Fled Dreams! Defend your master!"
The ghost appeared in a cloud holding a spear before Bakura.
“Agent of Wisdom-Mercury, appear before me!"  Ryou exclaimed as the monster appeared before him.
Slyfer the Sky Dragon roared as it curled around the palace. The dragon raised its head and fired a beam of light from its lower mouth. The force of the strike sent burning embers into the air.
“Defend your master!" Bakura called to the Gross Ghost. The creature held its shield over Bakura’s head.
Ryou screamed and leaned over as the Agent of Creation’s wings folded over him.
Lava Golem swung its rock fists at Slyfer.  Slyfer leaned down and bit the arm of the fiery creature.
Ryou and Bakura raised their heads to see Malik remove his hood and hold the Millennium Rod in the air. “Malik Ramses!"
The fire creature swung its free arm and punched Slyfer.  Lava Golem looked down at Bakura and Ryou and struck towards the couple.
Ryou gripped the reigns of the horse as it turned and fled from the assault. “Yami!"
Bakura saw Ryou’s horse gallop away in panic. “Ry!"
Dark Necrofear shattered as the Lava Golem’s fists punched the monster. Bakura screamed as hot fragments of lava flew around him. The yami was thrown across the ground. Bakura winced as he raised his head. Lava Golem’s fist hit Slyfer and regurgitated scorching lava towards the creature.
Bakura heard screams emanating from the palace. “Gross Ghost of Fled Dreams, attack Lava Golem!" The yami watched Lava Golem wince at the attack by his creature.
The creature stood and approached Bakura. The yami jumped to his feet and slowly backed away from the approaching threat.
Lava Golem leaned back and Bakura fled away from the monster. When the creature’s mouth opened, a river of lava poured onto the city’s streets.
Bakura gasped as he ran away from the lava. Bakura heard a loud screech above him.  The thief’s nose burned with the scent of burning wood and flesh.  A thick fog enveloped him as he raced away. The yami struggled to see through the black smoke.
/Yami, I can’t see you anymore!/
//Don’t look back, Ry! Get out of the city!//
/Where are you?/
//RUN FOR SAFETY! PROTECT OUR SON! He is more important to me than my own life.//
Bakura heard another loud roar from above as light shone from the darkness. The thief struggled to see through the haze as the Winged Dragon of Ra appeared above. “Marik! Oh shit! Not now!"
Bakura grabbed the reigns of a horse tied to a post. With his dagger he quickly severed the rope.
The thief jumped onto the saddle-less horse and cajoled it into a full gallop towards the Winged Dragon of Ra.
The yellow dragon opened its mouth and fired towards Bakura. The force of the blast caused a fissure in the road, allowing the lava to fill the hole and stop its flow. ‘I don’t know whether to celebrate or curse.'
“Destroy him!" Marik called to the Winged Dragon of Ra. “Go, Egyptian God Phoenix!"
Bakura’s eyes narrowed as the Winged Dragon of Ra flew towards him. He cut his mindlink off with Ryou as the horse continued to race through the street.  The yellow dragon burst into flames above Bakura.
Bakura closed his eyes and bent over. ‘Ryou, I love you.'
The thief felt something grab the back of his shirt and pick him up into the air. Bakura looked down at the ground fading into the distance. The yami screamed in fear as he was carried into the air. Bakura turned his head to see the Evil Dragon Ananta carrying him in one of its mouths. Bakura’s eyes widened in fear as the snake-like dragon hissed and revealed their vicious fangs before him.  “Sweet Father Osiris!"
Bakura looked down at the city and saw the city streets filling with lava from Lava Golem. “RYOU!" Bakura looked down in horror as a tear crawled down his face. “My Ryou..."
Bakura lowered his head as his arms and legs dangled from the dragon’s mouth. Bakura covered his eyes with his hands. //RYOU! Please answer me!//
Yami Marik laughed. “Go, my beast! Bite him in half!"
/....................../
Bakura reached for his dagger and plunged the blade into the dragon’s gum. The dragon roared and released the yami from his grip. The thief plummeted onto the terrace beside his daughter.
“Daddy!" Aria exclaimed as she ran to her father. “Are you alright?"
“Ryou’s still in the city!” Bakura exclaimed.
Slyfer’s two mouths blasted Lava Golem into pieces.
Bakura saw Marik riding on top of Phoenix. The fiery bird hovered before the palace. The Ishtar grinned as his arms crossed over his chest. “You will not live without your lover for long, Bakura."
Bakura stood in front of his daughter. The Millennium Ring around his neck glowed brightly. Aria saw her father’s hair spike with fury and twitch.  The girl stepped back from her father as his body shook with rage.
“I will beat you, Ishtar!" Bakura growled as the sky darkened. The moon covered the sun in a solar eclipse. “You will pay dearly!" Aria saw her father’s body trembling with suppressed rage. The veins in his neck stood prominently against his skin. Her father’s nails sharpened and his hair hand spiked into sharp edges.
Aria looked above and saw a large creature with horns and sharp teeth. “What the hell?"
“DARK MASTER ZORC!  DARK RULER HADES! Come to me!"
Aria felt the castle rumble under her feet. Yami ran out of his balcony above the balcony of the father and daughter. Yami looked down at the thief with the glowing Millennium Item. “A Millennium Item! I must have it!"
Aria saw a zombie creature with a staff step beside her father. “Oh my god! I’ve never seen him summon these monsters!"
“I WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN, ASSHOLE!" Bakura roared as he clenched his fists.
Zorc’s snake head fired a stream of fire towards Phoenix. Zorc’s fist slammed against the fiery bird, knocking it backward. Marik dropped to his knees on the bird’s head.  
Dark Ruler Hades raised his skull staff and fired a burst of dark energy at Marik. Phoenix raised its head  as the energy struck it.
Marik clung to its feathers as he threatened to fall.
“STRIKE HIM AGAIN, HADES!" Yami Bakura snarled.
Aria watched as Hades’ dark energy stream struck Phoenix’s face.
“Slyfer the Sky Dragon!" Yami exclaimed. “Attack Phoenix!"
Zorc, Slyfer, and Hades struck Phoenix at once. Phoenix retreated as the attacks struck Phoenix from behind. The fiery bird soared down to the ground and rose into the air over the desert.
Yami Bakura seethed as he watched the bird fly away.  The yami fell to his knees as Dark Ruler Hades hovered above him with his skull staff.
“Da-Daddy?"
Bakura’s shoulders sagged. “Ryou..."
Yami overlooked Aria’s balcony. “SOLDIERS, GET THAT MILLENNIUM ITEM!"
Bakura raised his head and saw Yami pointing towards him. The yami jumped to his feet. “I love you, baby girl." Bakura kissed Aria’s cheek and disappeared into the room.
Yugi and Joey raised their heads with the women to see Bakura run into the room. “Bakura? What are you doing here?"
Bakura raced from the room and down the hallway. The thief heard soldiers approaching him from the front and behind. Yami Bakura turned his head behind him. “Magical Thorn! Grow!"
A briar of thorns crawled from the ground and formed a wall behind him, preventing the soldier’s advance. The thief grinned as a wall of thorns advanced as he ran towards the wall of soldiers. The wall of thorns grew over the soldiers, encasing them in a dome of thorns. Bakura climbed the wall of thorns and down the opposite side. Bakura ran towards the entrance gate. Dark Master Zorc’s blast blew open the gate. “Zorc and Hades disappear!" Bakura growled as he disappeared into the city.
Yami clenched his fists as he saw the Millennium Item disappear into the city. “I will own that Item!"
***********************
Ryou held onto the horse’s reigns tightly as the steed raced through the desert. Tears crept down his face as he last saw Bakura fleeing from a wall of lava. ‘RUN FOR SAFETY! PROTECT OUR SON! He is more important to me than my own life.’
Ryou sobbed as the Agent of Wisdom-Mercury and Agent of Creation-Venus flew beside him.  The Change of Heart flew above Ryou as he fled the smoldering city.  
“Master, do not cry," the Change of Heart said comfortingly.  
“Bakura, what if something happened to him?"
Ryou looked up and saw the oasis coming into view. Ryou’s monsters lead their master into the oasis.
Robbie and Aten looked up in surprise as Ryou’s monsters stood beside him. Robbie stood up slowly as he held Heaven in his arms. “Ryou? What are you doing?"
“I summoned my monsters to help me," Ryou sobbed. “Something terrible has happened."
Aten slowly approached his mother. “Mother? Only the dead can summon their monsters."
Ryou lowered his head and sniffled. “I know, baby boy."
The Egyptian reached out and grabbed his mother’s arm. “When? When did it happen?"
Ryou sniffled and raised his head slowly. “Five months ago." Ryou rubbed his teary eyes. “Bakura woke up and found....." Ryou looked into his son’s eyes. “I died in my sleep, baby.  My left ventricle burst." Ryou reached out and hugged his son. “I died of a broken heart."
Aten wrapped his arms around his mother. “I...I had no idea that you had died."
Ryou sighed. “Yes, baby. I’m dead like you....like Bakura....like Robbie."
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?"
Ryou released Aten and shrugged. “I didn’t want to upset you.  Besides, baby boy, nobody knows. Not even Marik and Malik know that....I am dead."
Robbie stepped closer to Ryou. “If you died six months ago and you are six months pregnant...you conceived not long after Bakura revived you."
Ryou nodded. “Yes...it was not long after."
Robbie looked at the Agent of Creation standing over Ryou protectively. “Where is Bakura?"
“We went to the doctor, but the city was attacked after we were done. Malik attacked us with his Lava Golem. Marik cut off our escape with the Winged Dragon of Ra. Bakura told me to leave the city without him. He was going to stay behind and fight them." Ryou sniffled. “Marik’s attack upon me was deflected by the Change of Heart and the Agent of Creation-Venus."
Aten hugged his mother again. “I can’t believe my father would attack you."
“Aten, I don’t know if he even recognized me.  Malik certainly did not even acknowledge us."
“Do you feel that he is still alive?"
Ryou lowered his head. “I hope. I saw a strange creature soar over my head with Bakura in one of its many mouths.  He was carried into the air.  I don’t know what happened to him."
Aten tipped his mother’s chin up. “Father Bakura will be alright, mother."
“Should I have waited for him?"
“Are you crazy?" Robbie asked. “Marik and Malik could have really hurt you. You may be immortal, Ryou, but your baby isn’t."
Ryou sat on the ground slowly. “I know, Robbie."
“What did the doctor say?"
“You’ll have a new step-brother, Aten."
Aten smiled. “That’s great news, mother!"
“Did you bring back baby Bakura?"
Ryou shook his head. “I was so afraid, I came straight here."
Aten reached for the reigns of Ryou’s horse. “I’ll go get him. Robbie, stay here with mother."
“What if Marik and Malik are still out there, Aten?"
“I have to go, mother. I’ll be alright." Aten kissed Robbie on the lips. “I’ll be back, baby."
Aten mounted the horse and rode out of the oasis.  Ryou dismissed his monsters and kneeled beside the water to sip the cool liquid from his hands. “I hope Bakura is alright."
****************************
Yami growled as he knocked his golden goblet off his altar.  Yugi and Yami’s little boy servant ducked. Chatha trembled as he ran behind Yugi. Yugi saw Yami’s Millennium Puzzle glow.
“To think another Millennium Item was within my reach and that girl let him get away!"
“Yami, I thought the Millennium Items were sealed away in your tomb."
Yami huffed angrily at Yugi. “They were dispersed from their resting place.  I thought they were gone forever."
Two soldiers grabbed Aria’s arms tightly as they dragged her before the pharaoh. Yugi gasped as the men threw the teen to the ground. Yugi helped Aria to her feet. “Aria, are you alright?"
Yami stood before Aria and slapped her to the ground.
“Yami, stop it!" Yugi growled.
“Are you ordering me?" Yami asked furiously as he stared at his smaller counterpart. The pharaoh grabbed Yugi’s collar roughly. “Hold your tongue, boy!"
Chatha cowered behind Yugi, squatting behind the shorter adult.
Aria held her cheek as she looked up at Yami. “You’re gonna pay for that!"
“First you need to remind you of your place and now you are threatening me? Girl, you are asking for a visit to my dungeon."
“What do you want?"  
Yami turned and sat on his throne. “Chatha, come here." The trembling boy approached Yami and sat beside his throne. Yami’s hand reached down and lightly pet the boy’s hair.  “Why did you let that person get away with a Millennium Item?”
“I wouldn’t turn him in to you, you butcher! I know what you would do to him!”
Yami grinned as he caressed Chatha’s cheek.  “What would I do to him?”
“You would torture him!”
“I certainly would if he wouldn’t give into my demands.”
Aria stood beside Yugi and clenched her fists angrily. “I would never turn my father into your custody.”
“Bakura‘s far from here, Yami. You‘ll never catch him!” Yugi exclaimed.
“Bakura, hmm?” Yami asked as he looked at Chatha. “Go get Anubis.”
Chatha bowed and scurried out of the room.
“I find it unfortunate that my High Priest consorts with the daughters of those who have stolen what rightfully belongs to royalty.”
“I want that Bakura found!”
Yugi stood before Yami. “Yami, please! That Item belongs to Bakura.  It’s the Ishtars we have to stop from overtaking the palace.”
“They won’t become pharaoh, Yugi. I would rather blow the palace into pieces before those rogues becoming pharaoh.”
Yugi’s eyes widened in alarm. “You would rather destroy the palace? Yami, are you hearing yourself?”
Yami nodded. “I need not answer to you, my son. If your life must be taken, fear not for we will dine well in the Hall of Osiris.”
Yugi backed away to Aria. “You are insane!” Aria exclaimed.
“I will not be forced into submission!” Yami bellowed. “I would advise you, young lady, to hold your tongue. Because the High Priest favors you does not mean that you are immune from me.”
Chatha returned with General Anubis.  The little boy ran beside Yami and lowered his head solemnly.
“General Anubis, you will take your men and scour the city for one named Bakura.  He has a Millennium Item.  Bring him here!”
Aria bit her lip nervously as she thought of her father. Aria ran towards the door.
“Guards! Grab her! Don’t let her get away!”
“Yami, no!” Yugi exclaimed. The guards chased after Aria.  “Yami, she’s innocent!”
“Why did she flee if she has nothing to hide?”
Yugi stood face to face with his counterpart. “She is worried about her father!”
Yami gasped. “She is the daughter of a Millennium Item bearer? She will know his whereabouts!”
“Let go of me! SETO! UMI!” Aria screamed as she struggled in the grasp of Yami’s shoulders.
Aria looked up at the pharaoh with fear.
Yami stepped towards Aria, but Yugi blocked his path with outstretched arms.
“I will not let you hurt Aria!” Yugi demanded.
Yami pushed Yugi to the ground and calmly walked towards the girl. Chatha ran towards Yugi and kneeled beside him. The boy’s small hands touched Yugi’s forehead. “My Prince!”
“Where is your father?”
Aria swallowed nervously. “I will never betray my beloved father! Especially not to a snake like you!”
Yami slapped Aria across the cheek. “Insolent girl! Guards, take her to the dungeon. Perhaps chains, hunger, and vermin can teach her some respect.”
Yugi raised his head to see Aria dragged from the room. Chatha sighed with relief as Yugi sat up.
“General Anubis, leave here and find Bakura!”
Yugi watched with wonder at the General who Bakura identified as his murderer. Yugi looked at Anubis’ large hands that Bakura said had beat and strangled the life out of him.  The man’s large, heavy physique would have crushed the starving, bone-thin thief.  “Anubis, don’t hurt Bakura when you find him!”
Anubis bowed toward Yugi. “If he resists, I will kill him, my Prince.”
Yugi watched Anubis leave the room.
Yami returned to the throne. “Yugi, heed my warning. If I discover that you have released Aria before my order is given, you shall join her.”
“But, pharaoh, I-!”
“Chatha, come here.” The little boy hesitantly rose to her feet and slowly walked towards the pharaoh. “Yugi, leave me.” Yugi watched the pharaoh bring the boy onto his lap.
Yugi stood up. “I want to take Chatha with me.”
“Chatha will remain with me."
“What are you going to do to him?"
“Run along, Yugi," Yami said sternly.
Yugi crossed his arms defiantly. “I want Chatha to walk with me."
Yami groaned. “Very well. Chatha, report to me when you are done with my son."
Chatha jumped off Yami’s chair and ran to Yugi. “Yes, sir!"
Yugi walked the boy away from Yami, satisfied that he had saved the child from his other half....for now.
****************************
Little Marik crept around the corner of the house quietly.  He looked around the building as Little Bakura ran around him.  Both boys laughed as they chased each other around the lands.  Kaemwaset was not home to scold the boys for their play. Marik had grabbed his toy that he had dropped when the soldiers captured him. The seven-year-old carried it around as he chased after the younger boy.
Little Bakura stopped when he heard a loud, menacing roar. Marik bumped into him and fell to the ground.
“Hey, why’d you stop?"
“What is that?"
Little Bakura ran for the entrance gate to the lands, followed by Marik. The older boy clutched his toy tightly as he followed his friend to the entrance. Bakura and Marik looked up at Slyfer the Sky Dragon hovering over the palace.
“What is that?" Little Bakura asked as he pointed towards the sky.
Little Marik’s eyes widened as he clutched his toy to his chest. “That is one of the guardians of Egypt and the pharaoh, Slyfer the Sky Dragon! I read about it in my texts! I’ve never seen it before!"
Little Bakura saw a mass of fire and rock emerge from over the gates of the city. “Holy Osiris! What is that?" The boy asked as he grabbed onto Marik’s arm.
“I don’t know! Whatever it is, it looks bad!"
Slyfer fired energy bursts at the fire monster, making both boys grab onto each other in fear.
“I hope my father isn’t in the city!" Little Marik exclaimed.
Little Bakura’s bottom lip trembled. “My older self and his friend are in the city! Oh no!"
Both boys saw dark clouds roll over their heads.  A large black dragon appeared in the sky. Large spikes protruded from its body as its low roar sent vibrations through their bodies.
Marik shuddered as he watched the fiery creature vomit a sea of fiery lava through the city. “Our friends are in trouble, Bakura!"
“Look! The serpent dragon!" Little Bakura screamed as the Evil Dragon Ananta dived into the city and rose into the air.
Marik clutched his toy against him as he saw the Winged Dragon of Ra hover over the city “It’s the other guardian of the pharaoh! The Winged Dragon of Ra!"
Bakura buried his face in Marik’s clothing. “I can’t watch!"
Marik gasped when he saw a person falling from the sky. “The dragon just dropped somebody!"
Little Bakura cried as he turned one eye to look towards the city. “Who was it?"
“I don’t know! They’re as small as baby scarabs!"
Little Bakura heard a low growl and turned his head. A large monster with horns appeared over the horizon. Bakura turned his head and felt his fingers dig into Marik.
“Oh no! It’s Dark Demon Master Zorc!"
“Who?"
Little Marik swallowed nervously. “The creature is the embodiment of evil! Whomever summons him is corrupted by evil. I read he only responds to one master....the King of Shadows."
“Who is the King of Shadows?"
“It doesn’t say...just that Shadows fill his heart and flow through his veins."
Little Bakura looked towards the city. “My friends are in there, Marik! I have to find them!"
Little Bakura released Marik and ran towards the city. “Bakura! What are you doing?"
“My older self needs help!" the boy exclaimed as he ran toward the city.
*********************
Robbie and Ryou heard a horse approaching quickly. Ryou watched Bakura’s horse ride through the brush. The thief was leaning forward in his saddle.  Ryou helped Bakura off his saddle.
Bakura wrapped his arms around Ryou tightly. Ryou felt his yami shivering as they shared their embrace. “Baby, are you alright?"
“I thought I had lost you," Yami Bakura whispered. Yami Bakura kissed Ryou’s cheek and held his hikari tightly.
“I was so worried about you," Ryou cried. “I thought you were gone."
Aten and Robbie watched as Bakura grasped onto Ryou as if releasing him would mean a permanent separation.
“How did you escape?" Ryou asked.
“I stabbed the creature in the gums. It dropped me and I fell. Luckily, I fell beside Aria on the terrace.  Yami ordered his soldiers after me. I summoned ‘Magical Thorn’ and managed to escape with a horse. I rode to the Ishtar home to bring Bakura back, but I didn’t see him."
“I didn’t find him when I went to pick him up." Aten shifted on his feet nervously. “What if Marik did something to his younger self?"
“I don’t think Marik would harm his younger self if it would know it would affect himself."
“I don’t think the Marik we saw would care if he hurt anyone, even that child," Bakura added.
Robbie watched Heaven crawl beside the lake and swat it with her hand. “You did tell Bakura to run here if there is a problem.”
Ryou felt Yami Bakura lean against him. “Baby, you need to lay down. You’re tired.”
Aten grabbed Yami Bakura’s arm before his legs collapsed under him. He helped Bakura onto his blanket and watched the tired yami close his eyes. Bakura’s spiky hair relaxed as the yami drifted into sleep.
Ryou sat beside Bakura and caressed his yami’s hair. “Malik didn’t seem to recognize us at all.  Marik and Malik possess very powerful monsters.”
“Perhaps the palace can withstand an attack with Yami’s Egyptian God monsters,” Aten proposed. “With Slyfer and Obelisk, the palace is impenetrable.”
Ryou scratched his head. “Malik must have had some way to tap into the magic of his monsters and he isn’t dead. How could Malik summon his monsters?"
Robbie and Aten looked at Ryou. “How do you know?”
“Before Aten and Aria were born, Yugi, Bakura, Seto, and the others were finalists in a tournament run by Kaiba called ‘Battle City Tournament.’  Seto gathered the best duelists so he could obtain the God Cards. We learned the Duel Monsters started in Egypt five thousand years before. Great summoners called forth ancient spirits we know as monsters.  Magic transformed human beings into creatures. These former people’s souls were trapped within stone tablets and could be called upon by men of magic.”
Robbie held up his hands. “Wait! So all these people were human beings at some point?”
The hikari nodded. “Yami had transformed many people. It is said we form a bond with our monsters.  The Change of Heart card has always been special to me. When your father and Bakura were beating me, starving me, making my life unbearable, I clung to that monster.” Ryou looked down at his baby bump and lightly touched it. “I knew Bakura could change. I believed that Bakura was just as capable of great love as he was of great hatred.”
“It’s like when we go to the Shadow Realm, Aten, and the Helpless Child follows you around.”
Aten nodded. “I felt helpless once.  Now, I know that my family loves me and I’m no longer the frightened child I was. However, he will always be special.”
Ryou caressed Bakura’s cheek as his yami slept peacefully. “If summoners could call forth the monsters on the tablets, Seto may be able to do the same. But, Aria couldn’t call forth her Nightmare Dragon. It may only work for those of us who are already dead.”
Aten sat sadly on the ground and drew his knees under his chin.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I had no idea you had died, mother,” Aten sniffled.
“Baby, I’m right here,” Ryou said. “I haven’t left you. I’m just like Bakura and Marik now.” Ryou smiled at his son. “I’m like you and Robbie. I didn’t want to believe that you had died either, sweetheart. When you died in your father’s arms for the second time in the Shadow Realm, we were devastated. Your father felt guilty. He wouldn’t eat or sleep."
Aten sighed. “I wanted father to stab me. I couldn’t take Yami Aten’s control anymore. I wish I could tell him now that I couldn’t have thought of a better place to die than in the arms of my husband and the arms of my father."
Ryou nodded. “You will be able to tell your father that someday, Aten. We just need to find him and return him to himself."
Robbie sat beside Aten. “We’ll get your father back, baby."
Aten rested his head against Robbie’s shoulder. “I hope so. I wish I knew where he’s hiding."
**************************
Marik kept close to Bakura as they walked through the streets.  The streets smoldered as they were covered with smoking magma.  Bakura looked up at Slyfer with large eyes.
“That is a huge creature!"
Marik nodded. “He protects the pharaoh and the palace."
People staggered around them in a daze. Marik looked down at his stomach. “I’m hungry, Bakura."
Bakura heard his stomach rumble. “I’m hungry, too."
Marik looked at the smoking cinders and people with blank expressions. The boy walked up towards one woman. “Excuse me, my lady, do you have any---?"
“Get out of here, you little whelp!" the woman growled as she swatted at the boy.
Bakura and Marik ran down the road and hid behind a corner.  The boys relaxed against the wall and caught their breath.
“Why was she so mean?" Marik asked. “I only told her I was hungry."
Bakura narrowed his eyes. “I’m gonna make her pay!"
“Bakura, don’t do anything!"
“And why not? You’re hungry and she is mean!"
“Didn’t I tell you to get out of here, boy?" a voice bellowed behind them.
Bakura and Marik turned to see a man holding a hammer. “Father!" Bakura screamed as he backed away.
“Get out of here, boy!"
Marik and Bakura ducked as the man’s hammer struck against the wall beside them. Bakura grabbed Marik’s hand and ran. Dakarai followed the two boys down the street. “May the Tombkeepers sacrifice you to Apep!”
Tears streamed down Bakura’s cheek as he fled down an alley to escape his hammer-wielding father. Marik turned his head and saw the man halting his pursuit.
“Bakura,” Marik panted. “Who was that?”
Bakura sat against the wall with his knees drawn against his chest. The boy’s arms folded in front of him as he hid his face behind his knees. Marik heard his friend crying.
“That is my father,” Bakura sobbed. “He hates me. He kicked me out of his home three moons ago.”
Marik kneeled in front of Bakura. “I’m sorry, Bakura.”
“Don’t pity him,” a voice said above him.
Marik and Bakura looked up to see two caped figures standing above them. Marik and Bakura gasped and tried to run, but the figures grabbed him.
“Help! Let me go!” Marik called for help as his captor removed the hood covering his head. “It’s you!”
Yami Marik chuckled. “Now, now, I wouldn’t let anything happen to my younger self.”
Bakura struggled in the hands of his captor. “Let me go!”
Malik grinned. “I know somebody who is dying to meet you, Bakura.”
“Let him go!” Little Marik struggled.
“What are you doing here all alone without your big bodyguard, Bakura?” Malik asked the boy.
Bakura pushed against Malik. “I’m here with my friend!”
Yami Marik chuckled. “I know Yami and Bakura were bitter enemies.  I wonder what would happen if we deliver you into the hands of the pharaoh,” Marik said, tracing the young Bakura’s cheek with his finger.
Bakura shivered in Malik’s arms.
“Once we eliminate Bakura, he will cease to be a threat,” Marik said with a grin. “No, I think there is someone else who would love to meet you before we deliver you into the pharaoh’s hands. Then the others will fall to our blade...starting with my son.”