Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Yami Virus ❯ The Way Things Used To Be.... ( Chapter 17 )

WARNING: RYOU X BAKURA LEMON! Very short though.

An issue has been brought to my attention, guys, and I have to let you guys know. I have discovered that someone…and I know who…has pirated a lemon scene written by me WITHOUT my permission. That is illegal and I do not appreciate my work being used without my permission. IF YOU WANT TO POST MY STORY OR A SCENE SOMEWHERE, ASK ME! I have permitted people to do this in the past. I want to be reasonable with all my fans and readers and if you ask me, more than likely I will not deny anyone. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, ASK! I will handle this, guys, so don't worry.

*review responses next time*

The Way Things Used To Be….

Ryou sat outside on the swing. He looked up at the bright stars, sighing. He looked at his watch and walked into the house with a sigh. He passed Malik finishing dishes from their stir-fry dinner.

Malik heard the door close behind him. "Hi, Ryou. How was the sunset?"

Ryou leaned on the door and sighed. "It was nice."

Ryou left the kitchen with his hands in his pockets. The other hikari ran to him.

"Ryou! Ryou, I wanted to give you something."

Malik wrapped his arms around Ryou's shoulders in a hug. "I thought you needed that."

Ryou nodded and smiled in return. "I did. Thank you." Ryou hugged the blond hikari in return. Ryou climbed the stairs slowly and went to Aten's room. He turned on the lights and found the room clean, Aten's oil and acrylic paints were still in their containers on the floor. In the corner was placed five canvases. Ryou looked at the paintings.

Two of the canvases were still-life paintings. Two were landscapes of Egypt and the Central Square in Domino. Aten drew a picture of young kids playing with the pigeons in the square. One of Aten's paintings seemed to be a self portrait.

The figure in the painting was on its knees and his mouth was open in a scream. The area around the figure was dark and was given a shadow effect. Blue Eyes and menacing hands surrounded the figure. Below the painting was Aten's name in Arabic and the title "Nightmare."

Ryou shook his head and replaced the paintings in the corner. He went to the bed and ran his hand gently over the pillow. "Goodnight, Aten."

Ryou slowly walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. He crept to Aria's room and opened the door. He walked to the rocking horse that Joey bought for her when she was four years old. She still played with it and enjoyed it immensely.

He went to her bed and picked up her red M&M's plushie that she adored. Ryou sat on the mattress and looked at the childless bed.

Ryou cuddled the plushie by his chest and looked at the stuffed plushies on the bed. Yugi's Dark Magician plushie was sitting beside the Man-Eater Bug plushie. Malik had given her a Winged Dragon of Ra plushie like her brother's. It sat next to the Newdoria plushie that Marik had given her.

A few white hairs covered the pillow still.

"My baby girl…..where could you be?"

Bakura walked into the room with his arms crossed. "Why are you in here?"

"I miss Aria, yami. I hope she is okay…wherever she is."

Bakura leaned against the doorway. "I'm sure she's fine. Moneybags will find her."

Ryou sighed. "I suppose you are right. Maybe I should go out and check again."

"It's late, hikari. Come to bed."

Ryou put the plushie on the bed. "I need a hug, yami."

He stood up and went to hug his yami, Bakura turned and walked away.

Ryou stood stunned and looked down the hall. Bakura went down the stairs.

The hikari lowered his head and wrapped his arms around himself. "Bakura…."

Bakura went downstairs and passed Malik in the kitchen, making a snack.

Bakura grabbed the container of milk and drank straight from the carton.

"Bakura? What are you doing?"

"What does it look like, Ishtar?"

Malik narrowed his eyes. "I don't like your attitude lately, Bakura."

"Ooo….I'm so scared I'm shaking in my sandals!"

Malik put his knife down. "Bakura, I know you haven't been well, but I didn't deserve that."

Bakura reached out and grabbed Malik. "What are you going to do about it, Malik Ishtar?"

Malik looked into the eyes of the yami, burning red with fury. "Bakura? I'm very concerned about you. You haven't been yourself. This illness has become worse, hasn't it?"

Bakura narrowed his eyes. "I'm not sick! I'm just beginning to see clearly. I am Yami Bakura Osiris Itemri. I do what I want, when I want."

Malik reached up and put a comforting hand on Bakura's shoulder. "Can I spend tonight with Ryou?"

"I spend tonight with my Light! He is my husband and right now, I want him."

"Bakura, you don't look well. Maybe I should stay with Ryou."

Bakura released Malik. "Ryou is my Light. You have no business fucking with what is mine, Malik Ishtar."

Malik narrowed his eyes. "I love Ryou as much as you do!"

"Nobody can love Ryou like I do. And I am going to prove it to you, Ishtar."

Bakura walked upstairs and found Ryou brushing his teeth in the bathroom. "Stop sniveling, Ryou," Bakura growled as he passed.

Ryou cringed, knowing not to return a searing comment when Bakura was in this mood. Ryou rinsed out his mouth when Bakura called from inside the room.

"Ryou, get your ass in this bed now!"

Ryou shivered. "Please, gods, I don't want to go to bed tonight."

Malik came upstairs and stood in the doorway. "Ryou?"

"Malik, I don't want to go into that bedroom! I know what he's going to do! I don't want to go into that bedroom."

Malik stroked Ryou's cheek. "Then don't go into that bedroom."

"If I don't, Bakura will be furious. I can't have him angry when we bring Aten home from the hospital."

Malik hugged Ryou. "Okay, Ryou. I'll tell you what. I'll stay nearby. If Bakura starts getting rough, give me a scream and I'll come running."

Ryou nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Malik."

"Baby, come into the room, please," Bakura called to Ryou.

Malik kissed Ryou on the lips gently. "I'll be nearby."

Ryou stepped into his bedroom where Bakura was already laying naked on the sheets. "Close the door, hikari," Bakura whispered seductively.

Ryou closed the door, relieved by Malik's close presence.

"Take off your clothes, hikari, and come here."

Ryou shivered at the familiar tone of voice. It was Bakura's old words, cloaked with gentle seductiveness.

Ryou slowly disrobed, keeping a cautious eye on Bakura.

The yami brushed back his spiky white hair. "I'm becoming impatient," he whispered seductively.

Ryou bit his lip as he slipped under the covers.

Bakura pulled the covers off of his side of the bed and slipped beside Ryou.

Bakura pressed himself against Ryou, running his hand over Ryou's chest and stomach. "So, Marik's gone. Malik is in bed. What do you want to do?"

Ryou's body gave a shudder. "I'm tired, yami."

Bakura crawled on top of Ryou before the hikari could turn on his side. "I'm tired, too, hikari, but that has never stopped me before."

Bakura leaned down and kissed Ryou's neck, licking up the sensitive vein. Bakura could feel his husband's skin warm under his tongue. The yami moaned in pleasure.

Ryou arched his back as his yami began grinding into his hips, sending sparks of pleasure through his body.

Bakura kissed to Ryou's collarbone and licked its contours. Ryou gasped as the yami flooded their mindlink with raw, lustful desire.

The hikari closed his eyes against the mental images that flooded his memory from the last time he felt this sensation.

Bakura's hands slithered up Ryou's side and pinched a perking nipple with his fingers. Ryou gripped the pillow tightly.

The white-haired yami growled in satisfaction as his lover's arousal started pressing against his own. "Is my little slave enjoying himself?"

Ryou grabbed Bakura's shoulders. "Get off."

Bakura grinned down at Ryou, his canines sharpening. "Why would I want to do that when I am enjoying your body so much?"

Ryou pushed, but the yami would not move. "There's more to me than what is between my legs, Bakura!"

"Funny, that is all I saw in you in the first place."

Ryou narrowed his eyes. "Get off! Get off of me!"

Bakura leaned over. "Give me a kiss, Ryou." Bakura pressed his lips to Ryou when Bakura's eyes glowed with anger.

"You let Ishtar kiss you!"

Ryou's body froze as Bakura growled. "Just a goodnight kiss!"

"Is that all it was? You didn't fuck him goodnight, did you?"

Ryou shook his head. "No. I didn't, yami."
"I hope for your sake, you are not lying to me, Ryou."

"I'm not, Bakura. I would never lie to you because I love you."

Bakura leaned over until his face was against Ryou's on the bed. "Good. Because if I EVER found out that you have lied to me, you will not be able to walk for a month. Your ass will be pounded and broken. Do we understand each other?"

Ryou nodded. "Yes, Bakura."

The yami raised an eyebrow. "Yes, what?"

"Yes….master."

Bakura smiled. "There. Was that so hard?"

A tear fell down Ryou's cheek and nodded. "It was."

Bakura chuckled. "No, it wasn't. I'll take your mind off of it."

Bakura ran his hands over Ryou's chest, feeling the soft skin. "Ryou? I want to make love to you."

Ryou turned to his yami. "Yami, I'm sorry, I just don't feel like it right now. I'm sorry."

Bakura narrowed his eyes. "Are you denying me?"

Ryou turned to see his yami. "Bakura, I'm really sorry. I don't feel too…amorous tonight. I'll make it up to you. I promise."

Bakura reached up and cupped Ryou's cheek in his hands. "You don't feel…amorous?"

Ryou shook his head. "No, actually. I'll make it up to you tomorrow. I promise, yami."

Bakura leaned in to kiss Ryou. Ryou didn't respond as Bakura slipped his tongue into Ryou's mouth.

Ryou opened his eyes. "Yami, please. 'No' means 'no.'"

Bakura sneered and reached over to the drawer and removed two silk scarves that he and Ryou rarely used.

Bakura cupped Ryou's cheek again. "You may not feel like having sex, but I sure as hell do!"

Bakura pressed his lips to Ryou's and forced his tongue between Ryou's lips. Bakura's hand wrapped around the back of Ryou's head and held it against him as he deepened the kiss.

Ryou's eyes opened wide as he tried to push Bakura away.

"Bakura! Stop!"

Bakura rolled on top of Ryou and slammed Ryou's wrist against the headboard.

"Bakura, it's the virus making you do this! It's messing with your mind! Fight it!"

Bakura straddled Ryou's chest and tied his wrist to the metal.

"Yami Bakura! This isn't you! This isn't the yami I fell in love with!"

Ryou tried to punch Bakura off of him, but the yami grabbed that hand and tied it to the metal.

Bakura looked down at Ryou, his husband crying and shaking.

Bakura growled as he leaned into Ryou. "Just the way things used to be between us, isn't it, Ryou? It's nice to have a change of character every now and again."

"Bakura, I…we can't make love like this. It isn't right."

Bakura gripped Ryou's jaw in his hands and squeezed roughly. "I thought you learned your lesson never to deprive me of what I desire. I guess I'll have to teach it to you again."

Bakura leaned over and kissed Ryou on the lips.

Ryou tossed his head side-to-side. "I won't do anything wrong! Just don't hurt me!"

Bakura leaned into Ryou. "You do everything wrong anyway, hikari. You messed up everything you have ever done! Just look at Aten!"

Ryou closed his eyes tightly against Bakura's words. "I didn't mess him up!"

"You did, Ryou! Don't lie to yourself!"

Ryou struggled against the scarves. "I did not mess Aten up!"

Bakura growled into Ryou's ear. "You are lying to me again, Ryou. You don't lie to me!"

Ryou pulled at his restraints. "I'm not lying!"

"It's your fault Aten is dying! It's your fault I'm dying! It's your fault Marik is dying! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

Bakura shifted closer to Ryou's body.

"It's not my fault Aten is dying, Bakura!"

Bakura stopped yelling. His lips curling into a smile and a laugh. "You're so cute when you're wrong!"

"I am not wrong! Aten is not dying because of me!"

"You gave him his heart! You want Aten to die, don't you?!"

"NO!"

Bakura laughed. "Now, Now, hikari. You know what happens when you raise your voice to me, don't you?"

Ryou growled back at his yami. "I don't care, yami! You are wrong! WRONG! WRONG!"

Bakura raised his hand to Ryou. "You don't raise your voice to me, hikari! I thought you would have learned that lesson the hard way. It looks like I have to teach you that lesson over again."

Bakura raised his hand and Ryou turned his face away. Bakura turned his face to look at him. "Never…turn your head away from me, hikari."

"I'm sorry, master! I'm sorry."

Bakura lowered his hand and reached between them to stroke Ryou's length. Ryou closed his eyes and gasped. "You are so beautiful this way!"

Ryou slowly opened one eye to look at Bakura's eyes void of the red spark inside of them. His demeanor had changed completely from the stern yami he had once been.

"My hikari….so beautiful."

Bakura positioned himself at Ryou's entrance.

"Yami, wait! You didn't--."

Bakura slowly pressed inside Ryou. Ryou's eyes widened and bit his lip against a scream.

"My lovely Ryou."

"Bakura…you didn't……prep….me."

Bakura leaned in to kiss Ryou. "I never want this moment to end," Bakura smiled, looking into Ryou's eyes lovingly.

"Yami…please."

Ryou looked down as a familiar sight caught him. His head fell back as his body twitched with Bakura's motions. "Mal----Malik!"

Bakura let out a moan as Malik ran into the room.

"Bakura! Ryou!" Malik ran to the bed and grabbed Bakura's hair and pulled. "Back! Get back! Get off of Ryou!"

Malik tugged and Bakura fell backwards, hitting the back of his head on the wooden post at the bottom of the bed. Bakura fell sideways unconscious on the bed from the impact.

Malik rushed to Ryou and grabbed the silk scarf holding Ryou's right wrist to the bed.

"I have to go to Seto! I have to go to Seto! Take me to Seto! I have to go see Seto! Malik! I have to go to Seto! Please!"

Malik stroked Ryou's hair. "Okay, Ryou. I'll get you to Seto."

Malik untied Ryou and helped him to his feet. Malik grabbed a towel to clean up the red liquid slipping down his legs. "What happened, Ryou?"

"Bakura…he…he didn't remember…that he didn't…prepare me."

"Okay. I'll take you to Seto. Why him?"

Ryou clutched onto Malik. "Because I always ran to him when Bakura beat me….and I need him."

Malik dressed Ryou in his bathrobe and helped him out of the house.

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

Malik helped Ryou up the stairs to KaibaCorp.

The security guard at the door opened it when he saw Ryou and Malik coming up the steps.

"What happened, Ryou?"

Ryou buried his face in Malik's shoulder. "I want to see Seto."

The guard called Seto on the phone and turned to Ryou, who wavered on his feet.

Seto arrived in his bathrobe and ran out of the elevator.

"Ryou!"

Seto opened his arms and catched Ryou before he could fall on the ground.

"Ryou! Oh god…" Seto's eyes traveled downward to see a puddle of red below Ryou. Seto stroked Ryou's white hair. "What happened?"

Malik lowered his head. "I found Bakura…."

Ryou whimpered in Seto's arms.

Seto narrowed his eyes. "Bakura did this to him?"

"'Kura….."

"We have to get him upstairs."

Seto scooped Ryou into his arms and cradled him against his body. Ryou moaned as he grabbed onto Seto's bathrobe.

They left the elevator and Joey stood outside the bedroom waiting for Seto to return.

"Ryou?"

Seto carried Ryou into the spare bedroom at the end of the hall. He placed the boy on his back.

"Joey, get me a cold cloth and a warm, wet washcloth. Malik, tell me what happened."

Malik sniffled and folded his hands as he sat at the edge of the bed. "I heard Ryou call for me and I went into their bedroom. I found Bakura on top of Ryou, hurting him. I pulled Bakura back and hit his head against the bedpost. That's what happened."

Seto's fingers slowly went to Ryou's bathrobe and loosened the belt tied around Ryou's waist.

The hikari's eyes opened slowly. "Seto…."

"Ryou? Did he…..hurt you again?"

Ryou blinked, his eyes going in and out of focus. "It's the virus. He doesn't know what he is doing."

Seto untied the belt slowly and opened the bathrobe, seeing Ryou's naked body.

Joey entered the room and saw Seto's face red and flushed as he looked at Ryou laying naked on the bed.

"Oh, Ryou," Seto whispered compassionately.

Ryou sighed in defeat and reached out grabbing Seto's hand. "I know."

"Did you try to stop him?"

"I couldn't. You know what used to happen when I tried to stop him. He only became worse."

"You didn't tell him to stop?"

"No."

Joey put the cool rag on Ryou's face and rubbed the cool water on him.

Seto took the warm rag and wiped down Ryou's legs.

"It was the virus that is making Bakura violent one minute and sick the next."

Joey raised an eyebrow. "The virus? What virus?"

Malik folded his arms. "Remember Steven five years ago? Well, he threatened that if anyone tore his card in half, it would release a virus. Bakura tore the card up and it has only been recently that the yamis have become ill."

"What about Yami?"

"He's sick, too. Marik and Bakura broke into the museum and found a source confirming that such a virus actually exists. But, they were unable to find a cure at the time."

Ryou looked over at Joey. "Marik and Bakura never told us exactly what they found."

Seto and Joey exchanged glances. "If Bakura returns to the way he used to behave, the kids are in danger."

Ryou began to sob into his hands. "He's wrong! It's not my fault!"

Seto placed his hand over Ryou's chest. "What is it, angel?"

"Bakura said it was my fault that he and the other yamis are ill! He told me it was my fault that Aten is dying!"

Seto gathered Ryou into his arms and caressed the white hair. "It is not your fault that any of them are dying. Aten's health will improve with this pacemaker, Ryou."

Ryou shifted and he winced. "Ow," he whimpered.

Seto turned Ryou's face to look at him. "Ryou, we need to clean you up."

Ryou struggled to sit up. "I can…do it."

Ryou sat up and gripped onto Seto, his eyes seeping tears. Seto clutched onto Ryou and looked up at Malik. "Malik, can you get a bath drawn for Ryou?"

Malik went into the bathroom connected to the room and filled the bathtub with warm water.

Joey and Seto helped Ryou to the bathtub and helped him into the water.

The bathroom resonated with Ryou's whimpers of discomfort. Seto gave Ryou a warm towel and washcloth.

"Do you need our help, Ryou?"

Ryou shook his head sadly. "No. I want….I want to be alone."

"Let us know if you need help getting out, Ryou."

Joey, Malik, and Seto left the bathroom. Seto leaned on the bathroom door covering his mouth to keep from crying. Malik wrapped his arms around himself.

"I'll stay here and help Ryou if he needs it. Joey, you can go to bed if you want."

Malik shook his head. "I don't want to go back to the house with my yami gone."

Joey grabbed Malik's hand. "No, Malik. You can stay with us. You can stay with me if you want."

Seto's ice-blue eyes looked up at Joey. "Joey?"

Joey's brown eyes looked up at his lover. "Seto, why don't you spend tonight with Ryou? He needs you tonight."

"Are you sure?"

"Seto, I know how you feel about Ryou. I don't think Ryou should be alone tonight. Not in his condition."

A series of deep sobs came from the bathroom.

The CEO nodded. "You're right, Joey. I can't leave Ryou alone. You won't mind?"

Joey leaned up and brought Seto into a deep kiss. "Goodnight, love. Sleep tight." The CEO gave Malik an encouraging pat on the back. "We'll straighten all this out in the morning. Get some sleep."

Joey and Malik left the room as Seto heard a splash come from the bathtub. The brunet ran into the room and found Ryou rubbing his back in the crimson water.

"I tried to get up and I slipped," Ryou explained.

Seto grabbed Ryou, who wrapped his arms around Seto. The CEO lifted the white-haired boy out of the tub.

Seto held Ryou in his arms. "You put on a few pounds since I held you like this, Ryou."

Ryou playfully slapped Seto's chest. "Well, I did give birth to two children since you held me like this the last time."

Seto put Ryou on his feet. "Two of the most gorgeous children I have ever seen, Ryou."

Ryou blushed and dried his hair. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

Seto lifted the towel to look at the same chocolate brown eyes that had always admired from afar. "You know me better than that, Ryou."

Ryou looked down. "I know. Bakura….he's almost convinced me that Aten's problems are my fault. I know it's not and I don't want to believe it."

"Aten is special, Ryou, but Bakura is not playing with a full deck here. Bakura isn't stable right now."

Ryou shook his head. "He tried to have his way with me yesterday and I kicked him off of me in time." Ryou sat on the toilet lid. He dried his arms and legs. "I do love Bakura. I wouldn't want to spend my life with anyone else."

Seto grabbed a brush and began to brush the white locks of hair. "I don't what I'd do without Joey. I couldn't imagine my life without the mutt."

Ryou dried himself and leaned back into Seto's body, letting his friend brush his hair. Bakura never brushed Ryou's hair. This was one luxury

Seto had always enjoyed.

Seto finished brushing the hair as sighs of contentment came from the hikari. "Do you want some pyjamas?"

Ryou sighed. "No. I just want to get into bed."

The brunet watched as his friend limped to the bed and crawled under the sheets with a moan. Seto stood beside the bed and removed his bathrobe.

The white-haired hikari moaned as Seto's bare skin touched his. Ryou rested his cheek on Seto's chest and wrapped his arms around Seto.

"When did Bakura start changing, Ryou?"

"After Aten went into the hospital. He started having episodes where he couldn't breathe. His temper has returned to the way it was before we were married. I was thinking about going to the Archives in the museum and trying to find a cure for the Yami Virus."

"How are you going to get in?"

"Isisworked for the Domino Museum some time ago. All I need to do is give Isis a call and I can have access."

Seto held Ryou closer to him. "What about Aten?"

"I'll have to get someone to watch him."

Mokuba called to Hayden down the hallway. "You ate my bag of Doritos, Hayden!"

"So?!"

Seto sighed as he heard Joey play referee. "I wouldn't mind taking Aten, Ryou, but Hayden is becoming a handful."

"How so?"

"Puberty."

Hayden's cracking voice sounded down the hallway.

Ryou pat Seto on the cheek. "Good Luck."

Seto shook his head. "It's not bad..only.." Seto looked at the clock on the bedside table. "…eight years of this left."

"Bakura's going to find Aria a chastity belt when she begins. I keep telling him not to worry. Aria's a good kid."

Seto buried his face in Ryou's white hair and sighed. "She's a good kid, Ryou. They both are."

"Maybe Tristan and Otogi can watch Aten. I really want to talk to Bakura before I let Aten come back home."

Seto tilted Ryou's face up. "You think that is a smart idea?"

"I don't want Aten home if Bakura is going to be violent. Besides, Tristan and Otogi need to spend some time with Aten."

Seto snickered. "With all the coffee Tristan drinks, he can stay up all night to watch Aten."

"They have Aten's medication and all the necessary emergency numbers. I just want to keep my son safe, Seto. I don't want him to see Bakura if his violent temper has returned."

Seto cupped Ryou's cheek in his hand. "I don't want to see you hurt either, Ryou."

Ryou managed a smile. "My son is more important than my own safety, Seto. It will always be that way."

"But, Ryou…."

Ryou shook his head. "No, Seto. I'd rather see Aten and Aria safe, no matter the consequence to me."

Seto clutched onto Ryou tightly. "Ryou…"

Ryou sniffled as he rested his head against Seto's chest. "I miss her, Seto. Who could have taken her?"

Seto wiped his eyes on Ryou's hair. "I don't know. My men are looking around the clock trying to find her."

Ryou buried his face in the warm chest. "I am a horrible mother."

Seto caressed Ryou's hair. "No, Ryou. You are not a horrible mother." Seto leaned down and tilted Ryou's face up to look at him. "I've never met anyone so selflessly dedicated than you, Ryou."

"How could I not be? I love those kids! They are the only blood family I really have. With all the danger I went though having them, how could I not be dedicated to their safety and happiness?"

Seto cupped Ryou's face in his hand. "I know I will always be dedicated to your safety and happiness, Ryou, as well as to Aten and Aria's. I will always be there for you. I haven't broken that word for ten years."

Ryou smiled. "No, you've always been a man of your word."

Seto leaned down and kissed Ryou on the cheek gently. "Go to sleep now, angel."

Ryou closed his eyes. 'Angel.' Bakura called him that before he became sick.

'I have to find a cure for the Yami Virus before I lose my husband forever,' Ryou thought as he closed his eyes.

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

Donny and Joel walked along the pier looking behind crates and calling out for the lost chibi girl. They saw a houseboat with a man and his son standing on the deck.

"Hello! Have you seen an eight year old girl with white, spiky hair around here?"

The boy looked down sadly and wrapped his arms around his father's leg. The little boy sobbed into his father's jeans.

"No, we haven't seen her. We've looked along the pier. We haven't seen her, but we'll keep an eye out for her."

"Thank you," Joel said as they moved on.

Joel and Danny walked up the pier to the bar and inquired there. The bar's owner told them to try a few piers down where there was a row of businesses which were open into the late hours of the night.

Donny and Joel ran down to the row of businesses and saw lights illuminating the buildings. Donny looked up at the sign on the first building by the pier: GeneTech…Building the Future of Genetic Technology.

Joey reached into his suit jacket and cocked the weapon.

"Why are you doing that for?" Donny asked.

"You never know when good ol' Betsy will be useful, Don. Keep on your toes."

Donny and Joel cautiously walked up the steps to GeneTech. Donny reached into his pocket and pulled out a fake detective badge.

The security guard opened the door. "What is it? We're not open."

Donny showed the guard his badge. "I'm Lt. Donald Rathman and I've come to speak to your boss."

The guard narrowed his eyes. "What is your business?"

"There was a murder on the pier and I am questioning all the businesses in the vicinity. What is the name of your employer?"

"Doctor Diane Flemming."

"Your name, sir?"

The guard growled. "Panik."

"Well, Panik, is Diane Flemming available for a few minutes?"

Joel looked around, keeping his eyes on the surrounding shadows.

Panik called up to Diane's office. "Dr. Flemming?"

[What is it? I'm very busy with the girl.]

"I have two policemen here to see you."

[POLICEMEN?! Stall them while I shove the kid somewhere!]

Panik placed the phone on the receiver. "She'll be available in a moment. We are a busy corporation, you know."

Joel crossed his arms. "What is it that you do here?"

"Genetic research. What we do exactly is classified and privileged information. I'm not at liberty to discuss GeneTech and its research."

Donny nodded. "I do realize that, sir. Thank you for your cooperation. My captain will appreciate your help in this matter. Murder is such a messy business."

Panik nodded. "It certainly is."

Diane emerged from the elevator with a pleasant smile on her face. "I'm Diane Flemming, Head of Scientific Research here at GeneTech."

"I'm Donald Rathman and this is my partner Joel Branson. We came to ask you a few questions in private, Ms. Flemming."

Diane lead Donny and Joel to her office. She sat at her desk and crossed her legs, leaning back on the chair. "What can I do for you two gentlemen?"

"We are investigating the murder of a gentleman on Pier 21. We are also searching for his eight year old daughter who was with him at the time."

Diane gasped. "Eight years old? What a shame!"

"The child is missing and we have come to see if you have found her. She has white, spiky hair and is four feet tall."

Diane shook her head. "No, I haven't seen such a child around here."

"Are you certain, ma'am?" Joel asked raising an eyebrow.

Diane nodded. "Absolutely! I never seen a girl with white, spiky hair. If I hear anything about her, rest assured I will call the precinct at once! Which district are you located?"

Donny stood up. "We're located in the 8th District. I work with Captain Kai Baesto." (Kai Baesto=Seto Kaiba...the letters are mixed.)

Diane stood up. "Perfect. If you don't mind, gentlemen, we still have much work to be done before we can close for the night."

"What is it that you do here, Ms. Flemming?"

"Genetic engineering and research."

Joel bit his tongue, trying to keep down his protest against the work GeneTech performed. "Interesting."

"We are finding new ways to make technology benefit ordinary working people."

Donny turned to Joel and back to Diane. "Do you mind if we look around?"

"I'll go with you in case you have a specific question."

Diane held her breath as Donny and Joel opened the door to the operating room where they held Aria most of the day. The operating room was clean and spotless.

Donny and Joel looked around. "You run a tight ship, Ms. Flemming."

Diane smiled. "We're strict about cleanliness. If something were to leak out into the public, it could be hazardous."

Joel and Donny moved to the next room where they found an examination table.

"This is another operating room."

"Why do you have operating room in these facilities?"

Diane leaned against the door. "We used to experiment on volunteer subjects. We also used to experiment on corpses."

Joel turned to Diane. "Do the dead need restraints?"

Diane brushed back her brown hair. "No, Mr. Branson, but when a delicate operation is being performed, we need the body to remain still. That is why the restraints are necessary."

"What is GeneTech's purpose, Ms. Flemming?"

Diane grinned. "Why, producing the perfect soldier, Mr. Rathman.

Our purpose is to create the perfect human being. It's no easy task, I assure you. It can prove quite taxing."

"So, your purpose is military, not civilian. Correct?"

Diane smiled. "We can benefit all people, civilian or military. We are on the edge of a major breakthrough which will not only create the perfect person, Mr. Rathman. We are on the edge of eliminating disease once and for all."

Joel's eyes widened. "Eliminating disease? How?"

"We have created a serum which will cure cancer cells. It's still in the experimental stage as of now, but it will revolutionize science as we know it."

Joel bit his lip, trying to hold back the thousands of questions.

Donny nodded. "That is interesting. Who funds your research?"

"KaibaCorp used to fund our experiments. However, when Gozuboro Kaiba died, his successor terminated our funding. We're funded by alternative sources."

"What would those sources actually be?"

Diane smiled. "That is classified information. If Captain Baesto wishes to see our files, he is welcome. However, I don't see what searching for a little girl has to do with GeneTech's classified information."

Donny started to become nervous, but knew better than to let others sense his discomfort. "Everything you tell us is in strict confidentiality."

Diane grinned. "Good. See to it that it is. My superiors will not be pleased if they discovered our research has been made public." Diane gave him her business card that read: Doctor Diane Flemming, Head of Scientific Research. Tell Mr. Baesto to give me a call at his convenience if he desires an interview."

Donny put the business card in his pocket. "Thank you, Miss. This will prove helpful to our investigation."

Donny and Joel opened the sliding window to the next door and found the room empty.

Joel turned to Donny. "I think we've seen enough, Don. Time to split."

Donny turned and shook Diane's hand. "Thank you, Ms. Flemming."

"No problem."

Donny and Joel left the building. When they returned to the car, Joel and Donny took deep breaths.

"We found nothing. Mr. Kaiba won't be happy."

"We're trying, Donny! We'll try the next place."

Donny banged his fist on the steering wheel. "If I don't find that little girl in time, I'll never forgive myself."

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

Diane returned to the supply closet in the operating room. She threw open the doors and found the little girl tied and gagged with another scientist holding a needle to her throat.

The little girl clutched onto the Boarder Collie in her arms.

"That was too close!" Diane growled. "We're not save with this brat here! We have to get rid of her!"

Aria's terrified eyes remained on the needle.

"Where do we put her?"

Diane smiled as she kneeled down to the child. "She's not safe here and we still must do extensive study on her. We will have to send her to our sister lab outside of Cairo."

"Send the child to Egypt? How are we to do that?"

Diane took the needle and sedated the dog. Diane removed the needle and placed it in Aria's upper arm. The little girl whimpered as she fell limp in the doctor's arms.

"Take her to Cairo. Nobody will find her in the middle of the desert."

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

Morning came and the light filled the bedroom. The dawn's light surrounded Bakura, making the yami groan in protest.

He opened his eyes and shook his head. He rubbed his aching head.

"Oh dear Ra….what happened?"

Bakura sat up, acutely aware of his naked body aching. He looked down at himself and saw dried blood on his limp member. He gasped and looked over at the sheets covered with dried blood. "Ryou!"

Bakura stood up, his legs weak and unsteady. "Ryou! Where are you?"

Bakura limped to Marik and Malik's room. Malik was gone and Ryou was absent. "Ryou? Love?" Bakura looked in each of the childrens' rooms. Ryou wasn't there and neither was Malik.

The yami put on a pair of boxers and rushed down the steps as fast as his aching legs could carry him. "Love! Ryou! Where are you?"

The house was silent.

Bakura looked down to see a tiny puddle of blood by the door.

The yami opened the door and found the car gone.

Bakura returned into the house and sat at the kitchen table. "Sweet Isis! What have I done?" Bakura sobbed desperately into his hands.

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