Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Of The Night ❯ Confrontation ( Chapter 10 )

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

Confrontation

Snefru and Ausaira watched from a distance as the smoke rose into the air. Snefru chuckled as he saw the Winged Dragon of Ra hovering over the city and retreat. “If the Ishtars didn’t kill the pharaoh, they would have placed some fear into his heart,” Snefru said.
Ausaira turned to her brother. “The others are gathering their forces for our coup.  The pharaoh’s Egyptian gods will be a struggle to defeat.”
“Did you see Dark Demon Master Zorc, sister? Our brother still possesses that dark demon. Perhaps Bakura has not yet eliminated the evil from his heart. Perhaps we can persuade him to join us.”
Ausaira grinned as she turned to the steps that lead below the sands. “Spirits reincarnated into yami never lose their hatred and darkness. The evil part of them feeds their soul.  The fact that Bakura summoned his ultimate monster proves he is still Darkness and quite powerful.”
Snefru chuckled. “I’m not so sure of that, sister.”
“Why do you say so?”
“Did you see how our brother defended that boy at the Ishtar home?  While he is capable of such fury and hatred, he has adapted more....humanistic properties.”
“Master Snefru,” a voice said behind him.
“What is it Amenhemhet?”The man bowed before him. “We are nearly ready to obtain the throne of Egypt.”
“We must defeat the Egyptian Gods before we can successfully capture the palace. I must say, I hope the pharaoh enjoys his new accommodations in chains once we control Egypt.”
“What about your brother? What if he should fight to protect the pharaoh?”
Snefru laughed. “Bakura hates the pharaoh with such venom that I would not be surprised if he helps us to conquer the pharaoh. Would you not wish to see your tormentors beaten and suffer the same pain as you had suffered while in Yami’s prison? Bakura won’t interfere.”
“What if your brother does decide to fight against us?”
Snefru shrugged casually. “Destroy him with those who stand against us. If his friends wish to oppose us, their lives are forfeit.”
“We are prepared to summon our strongest monsters to swarm the palace.”
“Those we capture shall be placed into the dungeons below. Amenhemhet, I want you to destroy the stones of the gods.”
The man opened his eyes wide. “Destroy the God Stones?”
“Did I stutter? Destroy the God Stones in order the pharaoh cannot summon them to fight us.”
“What do we do about the Holy Tablet which depicts the pharaoh’s struggle against the High Priest?”
Snefru watched as Slyfer retreated from the palace. “Leave it in its resting place.  Maximillion Pegasus will find it where it rests. That is no threat to me. If we can stop the Gods from being summoned in our time, that is enough.”
Snefru stretched as he watched a figure ride from the city.  He watched the figure ride into the distance.  “Get our men to destroy the stones of the Gods.  We will be one step closer to victory.”
The Winged Dragon of Ra approached from the sky and landed on the ground. When it lowered its head, Marik slid off of the dragon’s head. Malik stepped off the dragon’s claws. Yami Marik held his younger self in his left arm. The boy struggled in his grasp. A younger boy screamed and struggled in Malik’s arm.
“Well, Little Master Marik, what did you do?”
Little Marik shook his head. “I was just playing with my friend! We weren’t doing anything!”
“Let go of him!” Little Bakura screeched as he punched Malik’s leg.
“Your father is below,” Snefru said as Yami Marik placed his burden on the ground. “Go find him.”
Little Marik looked at Little Bakura trembling in Malik’s arms.  “I want my friend to come with me.”
“Your friend knows where we are. We won’t let you both run around freely. Go see your father.”
Little Marik turned and grabbed the white and gold skirt of his older self. “Please, don’t hurt him! He’s my best friend and I don’t want him harmed.”
Yami Marik growled and pushed the child onto the ground. “Get into the tomb and find your father! Quit your pleading for it falls on deaf ears!”
Little Marik picked himself off the ground. He glared back at his older self. “I’m ashamed to grow up to be like you.”
Malik snickered as the seven-year-old descended into the tomb. “I guess he told you, yami.”
Little Bakura growled. “How dare you hurt my friend!”
Malik held the boy in front of him. “I think you need a Time Out, little one.”
Yami Marik pet his dragon’s snout and raised the Millennium Rod. “Thank you, my faithful beast. You have served me well.”
“My Master,” the Winged Dragon of Ra growled. “It is an honor to serve you.”
Malik pat the dragon’s snout. “You honor us with your service.”
Yami Marik watched the dragon disappear. “Bakura summoned Zorc, an unexpected development.”
“He also summoned Hades!” Malik exclaimed.
Snefru and Amenhemhet exchanged glances. “Impressive, but not something we should concern ourselves over.  Bakura will not be at the palace.”
Malik pointed towards the rider. “He flees from the city.”
Little Bakura raised his head to see the figure ride through the desert. Yami Marik placed his hand over Bakura’s mouth to muffle his screams for help.
“Why does he flee into the desert?”
Marik grinned. “He’s heading towards his home, the oasis in the desert.”
Snefru grabbed his horse’s reigns.  “Take me to him."
Yami Marik looked at Malik. “We will wait until the Eye of Thoth has risen. When nightfalls, our presence will be harder to spot.”
“I will take our little guest to his room.”
Yami Marik watched his hikari take the boy into the tomb. “It’s hard to believe that little child grows up to be the one I had loved for millennia.”
“What plans do you have for him?”
Yami Marik grinned. “Teaching him an important lesson about befriending those above his station.”
***********************
Seto and Umi descended the dungeon stairs after Yugi had informed them of Bakura’s abrupt appearance and departure.  Umi followed Seto, hoping that his wife remained unharmed. The jailer hesitantly permitted them into the cell. When the door opened, Aria raised her head from the corner of the room.  “Umi! Uncle Seto!”
Umi ran toward Aria and hugged her tightly. Umi caressed Aria’s cheek. “Are you alright, mermaid?”
“I’m fine, Umi,” Aria sniffled. “I can’t believe my father just dropped from the sky.”
“How did you end up here again?”
Aria brushed her white, spiky hair behind her ear. “I heard the palace was under attack. Father Marik appeared on the Winged Dragon of Ra. My father became enraged and summoned two of the biggest creatures I’ve ever seen.”
“Who did he summon?”
Aria shrugged and shook her head. “I’ve never seen it. It was huge! It had horns and it looked....it looked like it had a penis that was a large dragon head.”
Seto’s eyes widened. “Zorc? He summoned Zorc?”
“It was a huge monster! Yami was angry at me for letting daddy run away with a Millennium Item. He said he would kill my father if he wouldn’t hand over his Item. He escaped before Yami’s guards could catch him.”
Umi kissed Aria’s forehead. “I’m going to get you out of here.”
“Yami’s not easily convinced, Umi,” said Seto.
Umi looked into Aria’s eyes with conviction. “I will get you out of here, Aria. No matter what.”
Seto looked down at Umi. “If you’re not careful, Yami will throw you back in here.”
Umi narrowed his eyes, ignoring Seto’s warning. “There must be some way.”
“Umi, we cannot infuriate Yami. You know how dangerous he is.”
“You don’t want to make the pharaoh mad, Umi,” Seto said.
Umi grit his teeth as Seto hovered over him. Umi released Aria and turned to the CEO. “First of all, Seto, this is MY wife! I can’t just let her sit and rot in here!”
“Pissing off a crazy, psychotic pharaoh will either lead you to the gallows or starvation in the dungeon in the cell next to her. It’s your choice,” Seto said flatly.
Umi growled with frustration. “You’re right.”
Aria stood up and hugged Umi. “Umi, you know Yami is bat-shit crazy.”
“Yami can’t obtain the other Millennium Items, Tsunami,” Seto added.
“If he comes after me, I don’t want him to come after you and the kids.  Don’t tell them I’m down here. They’ll worry.”
Seto looked at the chain fastening Aria’s ankles to the walls. “Yugi is taking care of Kailani now.”
“Tell Uncle Yugi I appreciate his help,” Aria said.
“We’ll take good care of Lani, Aria,” Seto said.
Umi turned to Seto. “Kailani is part of my family, Seto. She may be your daughter, but Kailani is my responsibility.” Umi glared into Seto’s eyes.
Seto stood his ground beside Umi. “After Kailani was born, Umi, I said I would help you support her and care for her.”
“I don’t want your money,” Umi snarled. “You slept with my wife behind my back!”
Aria tried to step forward towards the two arguing men, but the chain kept her fastened to the wall. “Umi, I told you that Seto and I were stuck in a flashback.  We couldn’t stop it!”
“That baby is looking more like you every day, Seto,” Umi said. “You don’t have to worry about me knowing. You have to worry about Ryou and Bakura, especially Bakura. They don’t know, do they?”
Seto swallowed nervously. “Umi, I had no control-.”
“Quiet!” Umi growled.
“Umi, stop!” Aria screamed at her husband. “Seto and I couldn’t stop.  We tried everything not to see each other, but one night....the flashbacks were too powerful for us to fight.”
Umi sighed and looked at Aria and Seto. Umi walked out of the cell and closed the door behind him.
Aria sighed as she looked up at Seto.  “I’m sorry, Seto.”
“No, he has every right to be upset, but I don’t think he understands.”
Aria wrapped her arms around herself and sat on the ground.  “Umi still hasn’t forgiven you. I don’t know if he ever will. I don’t think that he has forgiven me, either.”
“Has he told you that he loves you?”
Aria nodded. “He tells me that every day, but I wonder if he’s trying to convince himself or if he’s being truthful.”
Seto kneeled in front of Aria. He took her arms gently in his hands. “I know he loves you, Aria. He could have left you when you told him.”
“Seto, he cried when he heard that Kailani wasn’t his. He was hurt.  The fact that he is still with me must tell us something. He’s a good father and he loves Kai and Rhett.”
“I don’t like to see him angry at you for something we couldn’t help.”
Aria sighed. “I love Kailani. She’s our daughter, Seto, whether we want to admit it or not.”
Seto nodded. “I love our daughter. I know when Bakura finds out, the shit’s going to hit the fan.”
“All hell will break loose, more like it.”
“Yami won’t keep you here forever. Hopefully he will release you shortly.”
Aria hugged Seto. “I couldn’t let anything happen to my daddy.”
Seto wrapped her arms around her. “Don’t worry. Bakura is far away from here. He’s safe in the oasis.”
“What about Marik?If it wasn’t for my father’s monster, Marik could have taken the palace.”
“The palace is safe, Aria.”
Aria hugged Seto tightly. “Please keep my children safe.”
“I will. I promise, Aria.” Seto kissed Aria’s cheek and left the cell.
Aria watched the dungeon cell close behind Seto. The girl’s fingertips traced the warm, jagged stone. ‘When my father finds out, all hell really will break loose.’
**********************
Joey watched Rhett and Kai play Hide-and-Seek in the royal gardens.  Rhett ran around on his short legs. The toddler chuckled as he scurried around the garden searching behind vegetable plants and fruit trees.  
The blond watched Kailani watch her half-brothers run around as she laid on her belly.  The baby’s blue eyes blinked as she rested her head on the blanket.
Yugi saw the baby yawn and her eyes flutter. “I think it’s almost time for Lani’s nap, Joey.”
Joey nodded as he reached down and rubbed the infant’s back. “You tired there, little girly?”
“Yugi, have you noticed how Kailani looks so much different than Rhett and Kai?”
Joey nodded. “Neither one of the boys has brown hair. I find that a little odd. Considering there’s no brown hair in either side of the family, the fact that Kailani has brown hair like Seto---.”
Yugi watched Kai climb down the side of a fruit tree and sneak up to his brother. He touched Rhett on the shoulder and watched the boy jump in surprise. Rhett squealed happily and chased after his brother. “What about Seto?” Yugi asked.
Joey looked down at the baby girl sucking her thumb.  His hand reached out and touched her brown hair. “Oh my god.”
Yugi turned to Joey. “What’s going on, Joey? What did you say?”
“Yugi, do you think.......that Umi isn’t Lani’s father?”
Yugi looked at the sleeping baby. “Unless Ryou and Bakura have a recessive gene for brown hair in their genetics.”
“I don’t think they do. Bakura and Ryou have white hair and both Kai and Rhett have white and blue hair.” Joey shook his head. “It can’t be! Seto wouldn’t do....”
Yugi’s purple eyes rose to look into Joey’s brown, sparkling eyes. “Are you suggesting that Kailani isn’t Umi’s kid?”
“I don’t know, but I find it very strange that Kailani doesn’t look anything like Kai or Rhett.”
“Maybe Aria cheated on Umi,” Yugi said solemnly. “Why would she do that to Umi? Umi loves her so much.”
Joey touched the infant’s thin, brown hair.  “I wonder who the father is if it isn’t Umi.”
Rhett ran behind Yugi and giggled as his brother covered his eyes and count to ten.  “No tell Kai I’m here, Uncle Yugi.”
Yugi chuckled at the toddler hiding behind him. “I won’t say a word.”
“Do you think Yami will release Aria from the dungeon?”
Yugi sighed. “I want to talk to him, but he won’t listen to me.  As long as we take care of these two, Aria will have less to worry about.”
Joey watched the baby girl sleep. “We’ll keep a good eye on all of them. I just hope Aria isn’t in the clink for long.”
************************
Little Marik looked at the scroll as the candle flickered on his wooden desk.  He sheepishly raised his eyes to see his father standing over him. The man crossed his arms over his chest.
“Read! Don’t look at me!”
The boy’s eyes quickly descended to the papyrus in front of him. “Yes, sir.”
Malik watched the boy begin to copy the holy scriptures. ‘I wasted so much time copying lines writ by some dead man five thousand years before.  What was the point?’
Little Marik yawned as his head started to drop. “Father, I’m tired. Can I please rest?”
“You will work!”
Malik turned and walked down the hallway. ‘My father demanded the same diligence out of me.’
Malik looked into the sacrificial chamber. Bakura  was bound face-down on the stone slab. Snefru and Marik stood casually beside the slab. Malik saw his other half glaring at the stone. Yami Marik’s lip curled in disgust as he growled.
Ausaira caressed the boy’s hair. “Don’t worry, little one. If you do what we say, you shall not be harmed.”
“Please let me go,” Little Bakura pleaded. “I won’t tell anyone you are here!”
Snefru chuckled. “I know you would run to your older self and tell him what your little brother and sister did to you.”
Little Bakura shook her head. “No! I want to go home!”
“You don’t have a home,” Ausaira smiled. “You don’t have a mother. You don’t have a father.” Ausaira whispered in Bakura’s ear. “You are all alone. Nobody cares about you. How could anyone love you, Bakura? You live on the streets and dine on rats.”
Snefru crossed his arms. “If your parents don’t even love you, what makes you think anyone would love you?”
The child sniffled as he clenched his fist. “Don’t say that.”
“Don’t be afraid to hear the truth, Bakura,” Yami Marik said. “You’ll have to face the truth sooner or later.  How could you expect anyone else to love you if even your family rejected you? What have you to contribute to humanity other than eating vermin?”
“I only eat them because I’m hungry!  How else am I to eat?”
Ausaira caressed Bakura’s hair. “I see our big brother is not so bright.”
“When my older self comes looking for me, you’re going to be really sorry!” Little Bakura cried as he pulled at the ropes keeping his arms and legs pinned to the stone.  
Yami Marik chuckled. “If Bakura does come down here to rescue you, I welcome it.  I will cut him down,” the yami grinned as he removed the sheath covering the Millennium Rod’s dagger. He stood before the child. “I wonder what would happen if I do this.” Marik took the dagger and lightly dragged the blade over the child’s arm.  
Little Bakura trembled as he struggled. “Marik! Help me!” Little Bakura screamed as his voice echoed through the forgotten tomb.
Marik pressed the blade against the boy’s arm until the skin broke and began to bleed. “How does that feel? Do you still think that your parents would care that you feel pain?”
Bakura tried to pull his arm away, but the rope kept him fastened down.
Yami Marik looked at his arm and at the blade. “I wonder....” Yami Marik took the dagger across his skin.
“Ah! What was that?” Little Marik’s voice exclaimed in surprise.
“Get back to work!” Kaemwaset bellowed. “Lazy boy!”
“Something sharp just scratched me!”
Yami Marik grinned. “How interesting. What an unexpected development!”
Malik approached his yami. “Your younger self felt it!  You know what that means, right?”
Malik, Yami Marik, Snefru, and Ausaira looked at the captive boy on the stone.
**********************
Bakura sat beside the fire with Heaven on his lap. Robbie and Aten had left to find the young Bakura.  The baby girl sat on Bakura’s lap and looked up at Ryou curiously. Ryou looked down at Heaven with a smile and caressed the baby’s hair.
“Ah da?”
“They’ll be back soon, Heaven. They went to find Bakura.”
Heaven turned her head and pointed to Bakura. “Ah da.”
The thief chuckled. “At least she knows who I am even if she can’t speak.”
“Yes, dear, that is Bakura. They went to find the other Bakura.”
Bakura held Heaven as she pat Bakura’s leg. “I was thinking of ‘Issa Menetnashte’ for our son's name it means ‘The power of God saves.'"
Ryou leaned against the tree as he rubbed his stomach. “That’s a nice name, but I haven’t really thought about names.”
“Well, we only have a few more months to think about it.”
The white-haired hikari smiled. “I’m glad we finally know.”  Ryou saw Bakura place Heaven on her blanket and resume his place beside the fire. The yami sighed as he drew his knees under his chin. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
Bakura sighed. “What did my brother do to Marik? What the hell happened to turn Marik into his yami self?”
“Do you think it’s more than bloodlust?”
Bakura shook his head. “What we saw was beyond bloodlust. Besides, Malik can’t get bloodlusted. He is mortal. Whatever affected them turned them both into monsters.”
“Didn’t Malik summon monsters? If he did, does that mean....Malik is dead?"
Bakura sighed. “I don’t know. I guess it could be possible. Ishtar knows the Noble Tongue script, so he can read spells that I can't."
“But you know Common Tongue. Wouldn’t you know some spells he doesn’t?" Ryou stood up and walked over to Bakura. He sat beside Bakura and put his arm around his lover’s waist. “I miss them, too, baby. I don’t know what your brother did.”
“What vendetta does he have against them or our family?”
Two sets of eyes peered at them from between the foliage.
Ryou watched Heaven close her eyes and slip into slumber. “Bakura, if we find a way to get back home, I don’t want to leave them behind.”
“Ryou, I won’t let you get stuck in this time. If we find a way back home, I want you to go home.”
Ryou kissed Bakura’s shoulder. “Marik and Malik are part of our family.  We can’t just abandon them.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that. We came here as a family, so we should leave here as a family.”
Ryou nodded. “We’ll get home and then we can see Dr. Zira.”
Bakura grinned and put his arm around Ryou, cuddling his husband close.. “We’re going to have a boy, Ry.”
Ryou smiled as he snuggled against his husband. “A boy, Bakura. I hope he’s healthy.”
“He’s going to be very handsome like you,” Bakura said, kissing Ryou’s temple.
Bakura released Ryou with a shriek of pain. Ryou jumped where he sat and saw Bakura reaching for his back. “Son of a bitch!”
“Baby, what happened?”
Bakura screamed in pain again as he arched his back. “Holy hell!”
Ryou kneeled beside his husband and rolled Bakura onto his side. Ryou gasped as he saw Bakura’s back bleeding from gashes. “Oh my god, baby!”
“It’s a whip!”
Ryou took his blanket and placed it against Bakura’s back to stop the bleeding. “How could this happen? There’s nobody here with a whip.”
Bakura screamed again. Ryou saw Bakura’s flesh split as another invisible whip struck him.  Ryou gasped as he tried to stop the bleeding on the new wound.  A puddle of blood formed beneath the thief gasping for air.
“Bakura...what if something is happening to your younger self?” Ryou took Bakura’s hand as the yami felt blood trickling down his back. “Aten and Robbie could be walking into a trap!!”
Heaven rolled over on her blanket and began to cry from being woken from her sleep.
Ryou bit his lip nervously. “Aten....he could be in danger.”
“Ryou, you can’t leave the safety of the oasis,” Bakura pleaded. “This is the only sanctuary we have.”
“I can’t let anything happen to my son, ‘Kura,” Ryou said. Ryou released Bakura’s hand and walked beside Heaven. Ryou brought the baby girl into his arms and rocked her.
The pair of eyes narrowed as invisible, predatory grins shielded by night grimaced. //Hikari, whip him again.//
Bakura screamed and clutched his white hair with pain. “Damn it! Will they quit it!”
Ryou saw the yami bite through his lip, making it bleed. Ryou kneeled with Heaven and held Bakura’s hand. “Poor baby.”
“When I get my hands on whomever is whipping that boy, I’m going to pull his beating heart out of his chest and show it to him before he dies!” Bakura growled.
The figure hiding in the shadows grinned.
“What if Little Marik is in danger? The boys were playing together.”
Bakura’s head rested on the sand as his brow covered in sweat. “Marik was really hesitant about  leaving Bakura.  I don’t think Marik would have allowed Bakura to leave his side easily. The boy is lonely.”
Ryou sighed. “I feel so bad for Marik. He feels so alone and desperate for a friend.”
Bakura rolled over on his stomach and pushed himself onto his knees. Ryou watched his yami struggle to his feet, his knees trembling beneath him.
“Where are you going?”
“Aten and Robbie could be in trouble. Little Marik and Little Bakura are together somewhere in the desert. My little self is getting whipped.” Bakura shook his head as it hung low. “I can’t allow that boy to endure what I had to. I have to look for him.”
Ryou stood up with Heaven in his arms. “Yami, you can’t leave.”
“If your son falls into his father’s clutches, very bad things can happen to him. Because he’s dead does not make him invulnerable to everything. You know he still has that sore heart.”
“What about your back?”
Bakura opened his mouth when he heard a horse whinny nearby.   Ryou and Bakura looked towards the south. Ryou held his breath as he held Heaven. Bakura slowly walked towards Ryou and put his arms around his hikari.
Bakura swallowed nervously as Snefru and Yami Marik emerged from the bushes. Ryou shifted close to Bakura as he saw Snefru’s scimitar and Yami Marik’s sword pointed towards them.
“Hello, brother,” Snefru smiled at Bakura.
“You have no right to call me that,” Bakura said, holding Ryou close to him. “What are you doing to my younger self?”
Yami Marik chuckled. “Preparing him for his future as a slave.”
Bakura stepped in front of Ryou. “I am a slave to no one, Ishtar!”
“I heard that is not completely true,” Snefru said. “I heard your name among those of the city. I heard how you pleasured people for food when all you needed to do was to stand up to pleasure your masters.”
Bakura’s lip curled in disgust. “You try eating rats and going to sleep hungry. Then we’ll see how far you would go for a piece of bread or a piece of fruit.”
Snefru chuckled. “It wasn’t enough that you serviced men on the streets. I heard you pleasured the ladies in the brothel.”
“I didn’t sleep with all of them. I had my favorite. Rayna.”
Snefru looked around Bakura to grin at Ryou. “She’s a beauty.”
“I’m not a woman,” Ryou said adamantly.
Bakura blocked Snefru’s view of Ryou. “You stay away from him or I will tear you apart.”
Yami Marik chuckled as he advanced on Bakura. “You can’t kill that which is already dead, Bakura. You know that of all people as the King of Shadows.”
“Do you have your younger self whipped as well, Marik? What have you done to those children?”
“I’m making certain that my younger self does as he is told. He sits and studies.”
Ryou looked up at Marik’s black eyes. “But, Marik, you hated that. You hated sitting and studying all the time. Don’t you remember? Why would you force your younger self to suffer when you know you hated it?”
“Quiet! If I am going to become pharaoh, I will need to know everything in those texts verbatim!”
Bakura raised a curious eyebrow and crossed his arms against his chest. “Why? As pharaoh, don’t you just point and give commands? Other people have to know shit. All you have to do is sit pretty on your throne.”
Snefru chuckled. “There is so much you do not understand, brother.”
“Enlighten me.”
“I have to educate the intelligent Bakura Osiris?” Snefru asked as he walked around the couple. Ryou saw Bakura turn with Snefru and felt his yami’s arms wrap around him protectively. Ryou held onto Bakura as he clutched onto Heaven.
“A pharaoh protects his people. He bears the crook as the shepherd of his people, ever watchful over his flock. He knows all, he sees all as the living Horus.  A pharaoh is wise above all.”
Marik stepped toward Bakura’s back, sending shivers up the white-haired yami’s shrine.  “A pharaoh bears the flail, ever ready to protect his throne. He deals punishment to those who would question his authority. He exerts punishment on those who would cross him. He subdues rebellion.” Marik brushed Bakura’s hair behind his left ear. “He destroys his enemies without mercy. He rewards his faithful. Which shall you do for me, Itemri?” Yami Marik kissed Bakura’s ear.
Ryou swallowed nervously as he watched Yami Marik kiss Bakura’s ear tenderly. He held his breath as he felt Bakura shudder.
Bakura turned his head to the side to look at Marik. “We are going to find our way back home, Ishtar. You and Malik will return home with us.”
Marik chuckled. “I am not leaving until I become pharaoh. Will you stand with Malik and I? You will want for nothing.”
Bakura narrowed his eyes. “I want you back.”
“Did you learn nothing when I stabbed you?” Yami Marik asked.
Ryou’s heart jumped into his throat. Ryou stepped to the side, pulling Bakura out of Marik’s reach. “Marik, what has happened to you?” Ryou asked. “Is Snefru responsible?”
“I merely opened his eyes to what his family was destined to be,” Snefru said.  “I have seen the Ishtar family fall and crumble, turn from what they could have been. All I did was open your friend’s eyes to his true nature.” Snefru smiled. “My dear brother, I can offer you the same.”
Ryou narrowed his eyes. “You leave my husband alone! He has abandoned his old ways!”
“You would think so,” Snefru said. “You must not know what is best for him, then.”
Ryou swallowed nervously, but tried to stand his ground against his husband’s brother. “You don’t know your brother at all.  I know what is best for him better than you ever will. You have somehow brainwashed Marik and Malik, but we will get them back.”
Snefru grinned and stepped toward Ryou. “You seem very convinced that you can stop him.”
“Not him. You. I know you are responsible for this. We will get them back.”
“You seem very sure of yourself,” Snefru said, shoving Ryou into Bakura. Heaven began to whimper and cry.
Bakura narrowed his eyes at Snefru. “Touch my husband again and I will cut off the hand that touches him.” Bakura felt Marik’s sword pressed against his back.
“You will find yourself skewered by the time you reach your dagger,” Marik growled as he grabbed Bakura’s shoulder. “If I try hard enough, I can stab Ryou in the process. You know what that would mean, 'Kura. That baby you have been waiting for will return to the Underworld.”
Snefru looked down at Ryou with a grin. “It is amazing, really.”  He traced Ryou’s jaw with his thumb. His hands drifted down to Ryou’s belly. “Who would have known that a man could carry the child of his lover?”
Ryou smacked Snefru’s hand away. “Keep your hands off me!”
Bakura felt Marik’s dagger pressing deeper into his skin. //Ryou....//
Ryou turned to Marik. “Marik, why are you doing this?  What has happened to you?”
“My eyes have been opened.”
Ryou slowly shook his head. “No. Your eyes have been closed. You see only hatred. Do you remember when you were sick with the Yami Virus? Do you know how sad Malik was and how helpless he felt when you were dying? I would have gladly suffered in your place if I could have spared you the pain.”
“What about us, Ishtar?” Bakura asked. “Did I ever say I hated you because you were rich? Did I ever hold it against you? I loved you for who you are, Ishtar.”
Yami Marik grit his teeth and grabbed Bakura’s hair. Bakura raised his hand and grabbed Marik’s wrist as Marik pulled his head backward. Ryou pulled back his fist and punched Marik in the face. Marik’s head snapped backward, making him release his grip on Bakura’s hair.
Snefru reached for Ryou’s hair as Bakura tackled his brother to the sand. Bakura and his brother crashed to the ground. Snefru removed his dagger from its sheath as Bakura grabbed his wrist.  The brothers grappled on the ground for the weapon. Bakura rolled on top of his brother and slammed Snefru’s hand on the ground.
Marik staggered back and regained his balance. He held the Millennium Rod’s dagger in front of him.  “I think it’s time to bring that baby into the world a little early, Ryou. Get over here.”
Yami Marik reached for Ryou, but the hikari ran away with Heaven in his arms.  His heart raced as he fled Marik’s assault.
“Ryou! Marik! Stop!” Bakura exclaimed as he saw Ryou and Marik disappear into the bushes. Heaven’s frightened scream made Bakura’s heart jump into his throat. Bakura tried to abandon Snefru, but his brother grabbed his ankle before he could chase. Bakura fell onto the ground and turned around to Snefru.
“Son of a bitch!” Bakura growled as he kicked Snefru’s arm.
Ryou’s painful scream echoed through the oasis along with Yami Marik’s battle cry. Bakura shifted quickly away from Snefru’s grip and disappeared into the bushes. Snefru grabbed the dagger from the sand.
Bakura ran through the bush and found Ryou on the ground, holding his leg. Yami Marik grabbed Ryou’s tunic and pulled his upper body off the ground. ”No, Marik! Please!”
“Time to die!” Yami Marik growled.
Bakura flew at Yami Marik and knocked him onto the ground. Ryou heard the two yamis snarling at each other. The bushes thrashed wildly with the struggles of the two yamis for the Millennium Rod. Ryou laid on the ground struggling for breath as his legs cramped.  Ryou turned his head and saw Marik raise the Millennium Rod and bring it down hard toward Bakura’s head.
Ryou sat up and threw himself at Marik’s back.  “Marik! Stop!" He wrapped his arms around Marik from behind. The blond yami growled and thrashed to throw Ryou onto the ground. “Please don’t hurt my husband," Ryou pleaded.
Bakura heard Ryou’s muffled scream and watched his hikari fall onto the ground beside Yami Marik. Marik and Bakura watched Ryou collapse onto the ground, his scream silent, his eyes closed.
“Ryou?” Bakura whispered.
Marik slammed the Millennium Rod against Bakura’s head. The blond stood and looked at his two unconscious victims. Heaven laid nearby crying loudly in alarm. Her arms and leg flailed.   Marik reached down and grabbed Heaven. He brought the baby to his chest and chuckled. “Marik will save you from a terrible fate. Winged Dragon of Ra, come to your master!”
A bright light appeared as Ryou struggled to open his eyes. Marik turned his back and stepped out of the oasis.
/Bakura...can you hear me?/
//..........//
Ryou felt a burning pain in his shoulder as he shifted closer to his yami. /I must protect....the baby./
Ryou felt the ground shake as the Winged Dragon of Ra landed on the ground.  
“Winged Dragon of Ra, destroy Bakura’s oasis.”
Ryou reached out to the Millennium Ring around Bakura’s neck. His shoulder flared with pain as Snefru’s dagger pierced deep into his body. Ryou gasped for air as he weakly gripped onto the Millennium Ring. He placed his head on Bakura’s chest.
The hikari saw the Winged Dragon of Ra rise into the air. Ryou closed his eyes as he felt his body grow weak. His heart intensely raced as the world spun around him.
“Millennium Ring, shield.....Bakura.....and...-”
Marik looked down at the oasis as the Winged Dragon of Ra shot fireballs into the oasis. Snefru watched the oasis burst into flames.  “Two down, Marik.”
Marik nodded silently from the head of the Winged Dragon of Ra. “Our work here is done.”
***********************
Robbie looked sideways at Aten’s horse wrapped in mummy bandages. For a decaying mount, Nightmare Horse didn’t smell like rotten, fetid flesh. It’s glowing red eyes signaled any life in the Zombie creature.  Robbie held the reigns of Bakura’s horse and sighed.
“No sign of the kids. I hope they’re alright.”
“One would think the other urchins would know where Bakura was.”
Robbie shook his head. “Unless Bakura didn’t know them well enough yet.”
“If they are in the desert, it could take us another five thousand years to find them.”
Robbie’s nose wrinkled at a bitter smell in the air. “Do you smell that?”
The sun began to set to their right, reducing the light of day around them.  Smoke in the distance rose into the sky.  Aten’s eyes widened as he saw flames rising from the sands.
“Mother!” Aten exclaimed as he forced Nightmare Horse into a gallop.
Robbie followed his husband as his heart leapt into his chest. “Heaven Raine! Oh my god, what happened?”
As they approached, they saw a six-winged figure descend  from the sky.  Aten looked up as Wingweaver stood guard before the flames. “My mother’s monster. What is she doing here?”
Aten jumped off Nightmare Horse and stood before the angel as flames and smoke bellowed into the air. “Is my mother in there?”
The angel held a spear in her hands as she stood before him. “I have come to protect my master.”
“Where is he?”
“The Lady of Faith is within keeping him safe.”
Robbie watched a tree fall nearby from the flames. “Is Heaven in there?”
“My master and his lover are within with the Lady of Faith.”
Aten took Robbie’s hand. “We have to find mother. He will have some answers.”
Wingweaver lead Aten and Robbie around the side of the oasis where the brush had burned away. The Lady of Faith stood over Ryou and Bakura folding her hands over her chest and praying.
Aten ran towards Bakura laying on the ground. Robbie’s eyes shifted frantically for Heaven.  “Heaven! Baby girl?”
Aten entered a protective area of light provided by the Lady of Faith.  The heat of the flames did not burn his skin as he kneeled beside his mother. The Egyptian’s brown and purple eyes looked down at a dagger protruding from his mother’s left shoulder.
“Robbie, mother’s been stabbed!”
Ryou’s head rested on Bakura’s outstretched arm. The hikari’s hands rested upon the Millennium Ring. Ryou’s eyes were closed as he laid beside Bakura.
Robbie stood beside Aten and pressed his fingers to the side of Ryou’s neck. “His heartbeat is really faint.”
Aten grabbed the hilt of the dagger and timidly tugged at it. “I have to remove this without hurting mother.”
Robbie kneeled behind Ryou. He held onto Ryou’s arm and shoulder. Aten grabbed the hilt of the dagger and carefully dislodged the blade from Ryou’s shoulderblade. Aten removed the dagger and cut a piece of material from his clothes. He pressed the clothing against his mother’s shoulder to stop the bleeding.
Robbie looked around in alarm. “Heaven?” Robbie stood up and felt a tear creep down his cheek. “HEAVEN! Aten, she’s not here! What if she’s dead?”
Aten looked up at the Lady of Faith. “Have you seen a baby girl around here? She’s missing her right leg.”
The Lady of Faith opened her eyes and looked at Aten. “She was not here when I was summoned.  I heard a baby cry from the sky as a golden dragon flew towards the horizon.”
Robbie looked at the praying woman. “What dragon?”
“An Egyptian God.”
Aten gasped. “The Winged Dragon of Ra! My father was here?”
“Marik did this? He caused all this....devastation?” Robbie watched as the flames slowly began to diminish from lack of further brush to burn.  “Marik has Heaven, Aten! What are we going to do?”
Aten felt Ryou’s back slightly moving from his shallow breathing. Aten reached for Ryou’s belly. “Are you alright, Little Brother?” Aten didn’t feel the baby moving and he lowered his head. “No...” Aten moved his hand gently around Ryou’s belly, praying to feel something. Aten sat beside his mother and removed his hand. “Robbie, I think mother lost the baby.”
Robbie looked at Ryou’s belly and kneeled beside him. He touched Ryou’s belly and shook his head. “Maybe the baby is asleep.”
“I hope so.”
The Lady of Faith looked sadly at her master. “I pray for his swift recovery.”
“Father Bakura’s going to be devastated when he wakes up and finds that he not only lost his home, but his baby, too.”
Robbie looked up at the Lady of Faith. “Which direction did the dragon flee?”
The Lady of Faith pointed towards the west. “They disappeared into the sands.”
“Aten, I have to look for Heaven.”
“Robbie, night approaches.  You shouldn’t wander the desert at night. We do, however, want to find some place to call home.” Aten heard Ryou whimper in his sleep. Aten turned and pat his mother’s arm. “Mother? Mother, wake up.”
Robbie sighed as he sat beside Aten. “What if Marik hurts Heaven?”
Aten swallowed nervously. “My father wouldn’t hurt a baby.” Aten felt a little tap against his leg that rested against Ryou’s back. The Egyptian sighed with relief. “The baby’s not dead, Robbie.”
“Thank God,” Robbie said as he touched Ryou’s back.  The baby tapped Robbie’s hand through Ryou’s skin.
Aten took Ryou’s hand. I know what my father is capable of. I don’t know what my father would do to Heaven, but I don’t want to alarm Robbie. Mother, wake up....