Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Yami Virus ❯ Lost ( Chapter 26 )

Note: This Chappie happens 4 months later. It's now Mid-July.

Star: Some of what is happening to Yugi is explained in this chappie…Yami is stealing Yugi's lifeforce to appear young.

Liann: I need 'Kura back!!!! Some of what is happening to Yugi is explained in this chappie.

Little Uke Io: Aww…Glad you like tha story!

Lady Elfskye: What is happening to Yugi is explained in this chappie. Seto will accept him.

Shadow of Light: Alex and Donny will never look at her the same way again, even though they are two of the best men in "Public Relations"

Xenobia: Jaimen will fit in pretty well at KaibaCorp.

Marik Ishtar77: The pharaoh is aging Yugi so he can keep his appearance young. Yugi's gonna flip when he finds out.

Kura Magician girl: Jaimen will be fine. Promise.

Valea: Seto won't believe at first, but once the test goes through, his reaction is heartwarming.

Broken Time: This isn't the kid Isis was talking about. That kid hasn't come into the picture yet.

I Is Me: *hands Jaimen* Hug away.

Super JM: Seto will take good care of him.

Tari Helyanwe: I had to finish "Carry me home" to start working on a Seth and Aria story.

Lost

The blue car pulled in front of KaibaCorp. The woman opened the door and barking an order for the child to leave the car. "You're his problem now, kid."

Jaimen grabbed his pillowcase and stepped out of the car. He shut the door and the aunt sped away.

The little boy looked up at the tall building. He looked around, shaking at the sight of the strangers walking around. He carried his pillowcase up the many stairs and through the doors.

His eyes widened at the sight of the Blue Eyes White Dragon statue in the fountain. People scurried around in the lobby. Armed security personnel stood around the lobby.

Alex looked towards the door and saw a child standing alone holding a pillowcase. His shoes did not match. His clothing looked tattered and old. His hair looked dirty and his skin was covered in dirt. The child looked around, fear plain on his face.

Alex approached the child slowly. "Hello. Are you looking for someone?" Alex suppressed a gasp at the child's icy-blue sapphire eyes.

"I'm…I'm….I'm here to see my daddy."

"You're daddy? Well, little guy, come with me and we'll see if we can find your daddy in our computer."

Jaimen followed Alex to the guard's station.

"What's your daddy's name?"

"Seto Kaiba."

Alex scratched his ear. "Excuse me?"

"Umm…Seto Kaiba is my daddy."

Alex dialed Seto's number. The CEO picked up the phone.

[Yes?]

"Mister Kaiba, we have a problem in the lobby."

[How big of a problem?]

"A chibi-sized problem. I have a kid down here who claims to be your son."

[Bring him up here.]

Alex looked down at the shaking child. "Don't be scared, little guy. Seto Kaiba wants to see you." Alex saw the child's thin body shake more. "You hungry, cute stuff?"

Jaimen looked up at Alex with the same chibi blue eyes that reminded him of Seto when he was ten. Alex remembered those sad eyes looking up at him after Gozuboro beat Seto nearly senseless on several occasions. "No thank you, sir."

Alex gave the child a little smile. "Let's see Mr. Kaiba together. Come with me."

Jaimen accepted the man's hand and carried his pillowcase at his side. Alex watched the child slowly breathe beside him. The child looked scared and uncertain. Alex could only imagine why.

"What's your name?"

"Jaimen Kaiba Flemming."

Alex saw the resemblance between Jaimen and Seto as a child.

Alex knocked on the door and lead Jaimen into the room. "Mr. Kaiba, this is Jaimen."

Seto stood as he watched the child approach. "Take a seat, kid."

Jaimen sat on a chair in front of Seto's desk. He held his pillowcase on his lap and cowered behind it. His sapphire eyes watered.

"What's this about you being my son?"

Alex looked up at Seto. "The child is shaken, Mr. Kaiba."

Kaiba shot an irritated glance at Alex. "Thank you, Alex."

Alex left the room and Seto sat behind his desk.

"What joke are you trying to pull, kid?"

Jaimen looked down submissively. "I'm not pulling a joke, sir."

"What's in the pillowcase?"

Jaimen opened it up and handed a file folder to Seto. "My aunt told me to give you this."

Seto grabbed the file folder and read the note inside:

To Seto Kaiba…..he's yours. Deal with it.

Seto looked at the contents of the file folder. Jaimen's birth certificate read: Name: Jaimen Kaiba Flemming. Date of Birth: August 14th, 1997. Sex: Male. Mother: Diane Alissa Flemming. Father: Seto Kaiba.

Seto flipped through pages of proofs of paternity. 'How could she prove I was the father? No one approached me looking for a paternity test.'

"What makes you think you are my kid, Jaimen?"

Jaimen looked up at him with teary eyes. "My mommy told me that she raped you and I was born eight months later."

Seto's face turned red and his hands clenched into a fist. "What did you say?"

Jaimen looked down and he lowered his head. His hand slowly went to his face and he started sucking on his thumb.

Seto looked at the file again in disbelief.

A copy of Diane's Will and Testament was in the file. He read the highlighted section of the Will: In the event that Diane Flemming passes on, custody of the child shall fall upon Seto Kaiba, the child's father.

In the file was an envelope addressed to him. Seto opened it and read it: 'To My Dear Seto Kaiba. If you are reading this, your son is sitting before you. My last revenge on you, Seto Kaiba, is for you to live with the constant reminder of our blissful union. Jaimen is your son. Eight months after our little incident, I gave birth to your little demon seed. Let Jaimen's presence be a constant reminder of my power over you, Seto Kaiba. Enjoy.'

Seto looked up at Jaimen. "Jaimen?"

The boy stopped sucking his thumb and looked up timidly. "Yes, sir?"

"What about the rest of your family?"

Jaimen shook his head. "My mommy told me that I have to stay with you."

Seto heaved a sigh and picked up the phone. He dialed a number and groaned. "Doctor Zira? I need you to come over immediately….Sick?....No. I'm not sick. Get over here. I have a little problem. Bring what you need to do a paternity test."

Seto hung up the phone and looked at the child's pillow case. "What else is in there?"

Jaimen shivered and lowered his sapphire eyes. "Papers."

"What kind of papers?"

Jaimen handed Seto the pillowcase with a shaky hand. Seto opened the pillowcase and found Jaimen's medical files, dental files, and papers from Diane's lawyer stating that he could not give Jaimen away to anyone else to raise.

He had to raise the boy by law. Of course, Seto grinned. "I can always throw money at this problem. It worked in the past. Listen…Jaimen….where is your mother?"

"Dead, sir. My aunt told me her body was crushed when….when.." The child's eyes filled with tears and he started to cry. "She was…*sniff* crushed to death…s-s-sir…."

"Where did your mother work?"

"GeneTech."

Seto saw the child crying and handed him a tissue. Joey, hearing the sound of a child crying, entered the office.

"Seto? What's going on?" Joey approached the crying boy with a little smile. "Is big, bad Seto Kaiba scaring you?"

Seto sighed. "Very funny, puppy."

Jaimen looked up at Joey, who stared into the blue eyes. "Seto! He has your eyes! They almost look like Robbie's eyes, too. You wouldn't happen to be Robbie Morgan's brother, would you?"

Jaimen shook his head. "I'm an only child. I have no brother or sister…or…*sniff* mommy!"

Seto sunk into his chair more as the child started to cry again. "Come on, Jaimen, don't cry," Seto said, his voice trying to assume a more gentle tone with the boy.

Joey sat on the chair beside Jaimen. "What brings you here, kiddo?"

"My mommy was crushed to death and…and…and…I was told I had to live with my daddy."

Brown eyes shot Seto a quizzical look. "Father? Daddy?"

The phone rang and the guard called to say Zira had arrived.

"Send him up. Dr. Zira will be able to tell me for certain what is going on here."

"Who told you that Seto was your daddy?"

"My mommy."

Joey leaned back. "Who's your mommy?"

"Flemming. My mommy's name was Diane Flemming."

Joey felt a shudder through him. He went to look to Seto, who was heading towards the door.

He stepped out of the office as Zira stepped from the elevator.

"Seto? You don't look so good, sir."

Seto grabbed Zira by the shoulders tightly. "I have a kid in my office who claims to be my kid from a woman who raped me nine years ago. I don't believe a word of it and I need this taken care of now!"

Zira pat Seto on the arm. "I'll take care of it, Seto. Do you want to come inside or wait in the Library with Joey?"

"I want to see if this kid is exactly who he claims to be."

Zira took out a swab. "Roll this around the inside of your mouth."

Seto swabbed the inside of his mouth. He handed it to Zira.

"I want this answered today!"

"I can do the test today, but I have to take the swabs back to my lab."

Seto growled. "I'm coming with you to your lab. I want to make sure this kid is actually mine."

Zira nodded. "If that makes you feel more comfortable, Seto, that can be arranged."

Zira and Seto entered the office again to find Jaimen curled up on the chair, sucking his thumb.

Zira saw the sapphire blue eyes on the child and looked back at his employer. It was hard to tell them apart.

"Hello, son," Zira said calmly as he stood by Seto's desk. "How are you?"

Jaimen removed his thumb. "Fine, sir."

"I'm Dr. Zira, Mr. Kaiba's doctor."

Jaimen scratched his head. "Hello, 'Dr. Zira, Mr. Kaiba's doctor.'"

Zira chuckled. "Just call me Dr. Zira or just plain old Zira, Jaimen.

I'm going to do a little test to see if you are Seto's son."

Zira removed a swab from his medical bag. "Open your mouth, son."

Jaimen opened his mouth obediently. Zira rubbed the inside of his mouth as Jaimen scratched his hair again. Zira smiled. "Are you itchy?"

"My head itches."

Seto moved some files over. "I'm going to Zira's lab. Take Jaimen to the Library. Keep him on this floor."

Joey took Jaimen's hand and took the pillowcase. "Let's go, munchkin."

Jaimen grabbed the pillowcase and scratched his head again. Joey lead him from the room and took him to the Library.

Jaimen walked unsteadily, wincing when he walked on his right leg.

"You okay, Jaimen?"

"Yes, sir."

Joey sighed. Was this situation going to be like Hayden's? "My name is Joey, Jaimen. You can call me by my name."

Joey lead the child into the library. The child's head raised to see books lined up to the ceiling.

"Wow! Books! Look at all of 'em! You must really like books."

Joey nodded. "I read a lot. So does Hayden."

Jaimen's eyes lit up brightly. "You have another kid?"

Joey's jaw fell to the ground. "He's my son."

"Oh. I see," Jaimen said casually. "Did somebody rape you, too?"

Joey went pale. How was he going to answer THAT question? It was best to avoid that topic.

"Actually, Seto and I adopted him."

"Do you love him?" Jaimen asked.

Joey nodded. "Yes, we love him." Joey took a picture of Hayden as a child and showed it to Jaimen. "He's seven in this picture." Hayden stood between Seto and Joey, his face serious.

"Why wouldn't we love him?"

Jaimen scratched his head and gave a little whimper. He ignored Joey's question.

"Jaimen, why did you ask me if he was a product of rape?"

Jaimen shrugged. "I was. I thought maybe he was, too. I feel really bad that I was born, you know? My mommy hurt my daddy and I was born. I feel really bad about that."

Joey rubbed the child's head. "There's no need to feel bad about it, Jaimen. It was nothing you did."

Joey rubbed his hands across the child's scalp and saw patches of black. "Jaimen!" Joey looked closer, seeing lice in the child's hair.

"You have head lice, munchkin! I think I should get you a bath."

Jaimen nodded. "My head itches."
Joey took Hayden into the bathroom connected to his room. He filled the tub with water and Jaimen cocked his head to the side.

"What are you doing?"

"Filling the tub for a bath."

Jaimen grabbed a washcloth. "I just need this for a bath."

Joey watched as the child rubbed the clean washcloth against his skin. "No, Jaimen, you need to get into the water."

"I do?"

"Yes. Get undressed and get into the tub."

Jaimen looked up. "My underwear, too?"

"Take your underwear off. Take all of your clothes off. That's how you get a proper bath. I'll be right back."

Joey ran out of the room and knocked on Mokuba's room. "Mokuba, open up!"

Mokuba's girlfriend opened the door. "Oh, hi!"

"I need to see Mokuba, Jeanie."

"Hey, Mo-by! Joey's at the door."

Mokuba ran to the door, textbook in hand.

"Mokuba, can you run down to the store and get some Head Lice medication?"

Mokuba snickered. "Why, you got fleas?"

"No, wise ass. I just need some. Can you run down and get it?"

"What do I get?"

Joey leaned in. "I'll buy you a pizza for you and Jeanie for dinner."

"Mushroom?"

"Anything you want."

Mokuba smiled. "Deal!"

Joey handed Mokuba some money and returned to Jaimen. Jaimen was standing by the tub without any clothes.

"Okay, Jaimen, get into the tub. Need help?"

Jaimen looked into the water. "I can't swim."

"You don't need to swim. Just sit in it."

"I won't drown?"

Joey shook his head. "No. I'll hold your hand." Joey held Jaimen's hand as he got into the tub.

Jaimen looked around. "This is a big pool."

Joey shook his head. "This is a bathtub, Jaimen. Not a swimming pool."

Joey took the shower head and turned on the water. Jaimen held his hands up.

"It's like rain! Wow!"

Joey rinsed Jaimen's brown hair and watched it slip slowly limp. His hair felt oily and rough.

Joey put some shampoo on his hands and worked it into his scalp. He saw old scars along the child's neck. They looked familiar….too familiar for Joey's comfort.

A sigh came from the chibi as Joey scratched his hair, working his fingers roughly through the itchy, lice-infested hair.

Joey rinsed the shampoo from the child's hair. He handed the child a washcloth. "Wash yourself and I'll be right back."

Joey left and sat on the bed, burying his face in his hands.

"Collar-marks……collar-marks on his skin…dog collar. Wonder who gave him that?" Joey took some deep breaths. "Head infested with lice….collar-marks along the side of his neck….child neglect."

Joey took another deep breath. "Can't let Jaimen see that I know."

He stood up and entered the bathroom. "Did you wash yourself, Jaimen?"

"No, sir."

"Why not?"

Jaimen looked up at him with sad blue eyes. "I don't know how to."

Joey took the soap and put it into the washcloth. He showed the boy how to lather the soap in the washcloth.

"Now wash yourself."

"How?"

Joey took the child's arm and washed his arm. "See? Make sure you wash everywhere."

"Everywhere?"

"Yup."

Jaimen looked down into the water. "Do I have to wash my naughty parts, too?"

Joey bit his lip. "Yes, Jaimen. Everywhere. I'll be right back."

Joey left again, running from the bedroom and into the hallway. Mokuba and Jeanie stepped off the elevator holding hands. "Here you go, Flea-Boy."

"Do you want that pizza or not, 'Mo-by'?"

Mokuba pouted. "Yes, Joey."

"Sorry about Mo-by, Joey. You know how he gets when he's staring at schematics all day."

"What did you need that for anyway, Joey?"

Joey shifted uncomfortably. "I'll tell you later."

Joey disappeared into the bathroom. Jaimen was crying. "Jaimen, what's wrong?"

"I don't know how to wash myself! I want my mommy! I want my mommy!" Jaimen screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Jaimen, I know you're upset about my mommy."

"She never kissed me! Never! I never saw her! She was never home!" Jaimen started to kick, splashing water all over the bathroom.

"Jaimen, you're getting water all over the place." Joey grabbed a towel. "Stand up, Jaimen."

Jaimen, still sobbing, stood up slowly. "She died! My mommy's dead!"

Joey wrapped the towel around the child and picked him up. Joey could see and feel the kid's ribs under the towel. Jaimen wrapped his arms around Joey's shoulders tightly, clinging onto him for dear life.

Joey heard the door open and Mokuba and Jeanie ran in.

"Who's this?" Mokuba gasped.

"This…this is…Seto's…This is a guest."

Jeanie walked up to Jaimen and stroked the child's face. "Such a little cutie! What's your name, cutie pie?"

"Ja…Jaimen."

Jeanie gave the little boy a kiss on the cheek. "Don't cry, cutie. Did you hurt your shoulder? It looks all red."

Jaimen shook his head. "I didn't hurt it. I was a bad boy. I deserved it."

"Deserved what?" Joey asked.
"I deserved to be hit."

Mokuba narrowed his eyes. "Joey, did you hit him?"

Joey rolled his eyes. "Considering my background, Mokuba, do you think I would hit a child?"

"No, but, I had to ask."

"What did you do to be hit?"

Jaimen rested his head on Joey's shoulder and sighed. "I left my room to go to the potty without permission. I really had to go."

"Who hit you?"

"Aunt Gerty."

Joey held the boy against him. "I have to get him cleaned up, guys."

Jaimen snuggled into Joey's shoulder and began sucking his thumb contentedly.

Joey held onto the boy. "No one is going to hurt you here, Jaimen."

Jaimen yawned and continued sucking his thumb. Mokuba and Jeanie returned to their room to study.

As he carried the boy, Joey felt the child go limp. Joey carried the boy, either afraid or unwilling to put him down. Joey sat on his bed, cradling the boy in his arms. He could feel Jaimen's body twitching with sleep.

Time flew by. He couldn't tell how long he was holding the sleeping boy.

He watched the sunlight travel across the room as the hours flew by.

Hayden walked into the room and saw Joey with the child. He walked up to him.

"Who's this?"

"He showed up with a pillowcase and a bad case of Head Lice."

"Who is he, though?"

"We're not certain. He may be Seto's son. We're not sure, Hayden. How was your walk?"

Hayden nodded and his voice cracked as he excitedly spoke. "Good! I went to Turner's and grabbed some ice cream. I got the Caramel Chocolate Explosion! It was really good!"

Joey looked at the boy's face, covered in red blotches. Hayden now had a little belly, his arms were quickly becoming more muscular.

The blond took one look at the ten year old and thought how small Aten and Jaimen would look standing next to him.

"I'm glad you liked it."

"Is it hot out there?"

Hayden nodded. "Thank our lucky stars for air conditioning!"

"Don't wake up Jaimen, Hayden."

Hayden whispered. "Okay. I'll go play in my room then."

Hayden ran out of the room and Joey looked down at the sleeping boy still sucking his thumb.

Joey watched the boy sleep. He decided to wait until the child woke up from his sleep to do the treatment. It was obvious the child was exhausted and was enjoying the close body contact, even in his sleep.

Four hours had passed before Seto stepped through the doorway, his eyes watery and his cheeks red.

Seto had been crying.

He slowly approached the bed and looked down at Jaimen. He slowly reached out to Joey.

"Please hand me my son."

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

Bakura and Marik sat at the table looking at some of Malik's books. These books were brought from the tomb in which Malik spent his childhood.

Bakura ran his hands through his gray hair. His wrinkled hands thumbing through the book. "Ryou! Bring me that magnifying glass! I can't read anything!"

Ryou carried in Bakura's magnifying glass.

"Thanks, baby," Bakura said, placing his nose in the book again.

Aten and Robbie ran into the house from the back door, laughing loudly. They ran through the kitchen and into the living room.

"Quiet, you little monsters!" Bakura growled.

Marik narrowed his purple eyes. "Don't call my child a monster, Itemri."

"What?"

Marik rolled his eyes. "DON'T CALL MY CHILD A MONSTER!" Marik yelled to the deafening yami.

Aria and Umi ran down the stairs and burst out of the front door.

"Keep it down, Andrea!"

Marik raised an eyebrow. "Umm…Itemri….your daughter's name is Aria."

"Don't you think I would know my own child's name?!" Bakura's body twitched spontaneously. In the past month, Bakura had suffered from spasms in his body. His memory was not the best. Ryou had caught him wandering in circles in the living room, forgetting where he was or where he was going to.

Marik sighed. "Just keep looking."

"I'm not sure I can find the recipe for pound cake."

Marik looked up. "What? Recipie? Bakura, we're looking for a cure for the Yami Virus! Not how to make a fucking pound cake! Do I look like Betty-fucking-Crocker to you?"

"Oh! Really? I was wondering why it wasn't mentioning anything about pastry."

"Pound cake is not a pastry! Bakura, why don't you let me do this?"

Marik watched Bakura's eyes glaze over and slump forward, a line of drool slipping from his lips. "Great. Ryou! He's doing it again!"

Ryou ran in and saw Bakura unresponsive. "Baby? Bakura? Speak to me, angel."

Bakura didn't respond.

Ryou wiped a line of drool from Bakura's chin, suppressing a wave of tears. "Bakura……my husband."

Malik ran into the room. "Did he have another seizure?"

Ryou kneeled beside Bakura and stroked his cheek. "Bakura? Come back to me, baby."

Ryou's only response was more drooling and a twitch of the hand.

Malik put a comforting hand on Ryou's shoulder. "Have you found anything?"

Marik closed the book. "I found no cure, but I found a way of delaying the progress of the virus."

Ryou looked up, his eyes full of hope. "What is it?"

"This book said that since a yami was part of a hikari, they were connected by a bond."

"Yeah, the mindlink."

Marik held up his hand. "True. I have access to Malik's memories, but that is not all I can access. I can access Malik's soulroom. In his soulroom is his lifeforce. In essence, his lifeforce is his youth and his vitality. In order to slow the progress of my own degeneration, I must borrow lifeforce from my hikari. However, this has dangerous repercussions."

Ryou and Malik exchanged glances. "How so?"

"Instead of myself aging, Malik would age at an accelerated pace if I borrowed his lifeforce."

"What if you did this on a constant basis? What if all the lifeforce is gone?" Malik asked.

Marik sighed. "You will die if I drain all of your lifeforce. If it is done slowly, the progress of deterioration is hardly noticeable. But if it done quickly, it will kill you instantly…like a major heart attack. Your body wouldn't be able to take the stress."

Ryou wiped a line of saliva creeping from Bakura's mouth. "I'd give anything to see Bakura healthy, Marik!"

"Ryou, Bakura would never do that to you. It's important to him that you are here for the kids. Besides, Ryou…..I don't even know if Bakura even knows where he is or how to get into his soulroom."

Ryou's bottom lip trembled. "Don't say that. Bakura knows where he is. He has to know where he is."

"That is the only way I can see to slow the progress. I would have to tap into Malik's lifeforce to appear young. The virus would continue to advance, but it would minimize the physical appearance on the yami."

Aria ran into the room and grabbed a cup from the counter. She filled the cup with water and went to her father.

"Daddy?" Aria tugged on Bakura's arm gently. "Daddy? Are you okay?"

"Daddy's not feeling well again, is he, mommy?"
Ryou shook his head. "No, baby girl. He's still sick."

Aria pat her father's cheek. "Daddy's been sick for a long time. Is he ever going to get better?"

Ryou sniffled and rubbed his eyes. "I don't know, sweetheart."

Umi ran into the room. "Aria? Are you okay?" Umi saw Aria rub her cheek against her father arm. "Is your dad okay?"

"My daddy is very sick."

Ryou kissed Aria's forehead. "Go play with Aten and Robbie, sweetheart."

Umi lead Aria out of the kitchen by her hand.

Malik looked down at Marik. "Why haven't you taken any of my lifeforce? If it will help you, Marik, you can take what you need, you know."

Marik stood up, holding his back. The blond yami now had grey hair with blond streaks. The yami had been suffering from back aches for some time. He walked to his hikari and took him by the arms.

"I don't want to see you suffer, Malik. I won't do that to you, hikari."

Malik looked up at Marik. "But, I don't want you to die on me."

Marik brought Malik to his chest. "I know how you feel, Malik-love."

Ryou drew a chair close to Bakura and cupped his cheek. "Bakura?"

Bakura blinked and he looked around the room. "What? What? Where? Where am I?"

Ryou looked into Bakura's eyes. Marik could see the hurt behind Ryou's eyes. "You're home, Bakura."

Bakura reached out for Ryou's face with shaking, wrinkled hands. His fingertips touched Ryou's skin. "Ryou? Ryou? Is that you?"

Ryou nodded, a tear falling down his face. "Yes, baby."

Bakura wrapped his arms around Ryou and brought him close to his body.

Ryou broke into a sob. "I love you, Bakura. Gods, baby, I love you!"

A knock sounded on the door and Marik went to open it. When he did, he was confronted by a belly.

"Well, hello, Miranda!" Marik grinned. "Aren't we looking….desirable…today?"

Miranda smiled. "Yeah…unless you want cow. I'm huge!"

Ryou called from the kitchen. "Come in, Miranda!"

Bakura called out. "Who's there?"

Miranda entered the kitchen. "It's me, Bakura."

"Who's 'me'?"

"Miranda. Robbie's mom."

"Oh."

Ryou looked up at her with teary eyes. "What did the doctors say?"

Robbie squealed loudly and ran to his mother. Robbie kissed her belly and jumped up to kiss her. "What did the doctor say, mommy?"

Miranda smiled down at her son. "You're going to be a big brother, Robbie."

"I know that, mommy! Is the baby a boy or a girl?"

Aten ran into the room. "Hi, mom!" Aten had started calling Miranda 'mom' as a term of endearment. "What did the dotor say?"

"The doctor said the baby is a boy."

Robbie squealed and jumped up and down excitedly. "I'm gonna be a big brother! I'm gonna be a big brother!"

Aten grabbed Robbie and hugged him. "You're going to be so luty, Robbie! Mommy, tan we have another baby?"

Ryou shook his head. "No, baby, I can't have another baby."

Aten pouted. "Aww….I wish we tan have another baby."

Robbie went to his mother's belly. "Hey, baby. This is your big brother. I can't wait until we can play together."

Miranda saw Bakura sway on his chair. "Bakura, you're not looking too well. Maybe you should go lay down."

Bakura blinked and narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"Go lay down, Bakura," Miranda said a little louder.

Miranda walked over to Bakura and took his arm. "Do you want me to help you?"

Bakura stood up, his hip snapping. "Ow. That hurt."

Ryou took Bakura's other arm. "Miranda, I can do this. I don't want you to be hurt."

"I've done worse while pregnant, Ryou. Don't worry about me."

Ryou and Miranda helped Bakura to the couch and laid him down. She covered him with a blanket and he let out a sigh.

"Thanks, Mindy."

"My name is Miranda, Bakura."

Bakura started snoring loudly as Ryou sat beside him.

"Has he been to the doctor, Ryou?"

Ryou nodded. "He's been to Zira several times already. He's given Bakura medicine for his back pain. But, Bakura is losing his memory. He can't seem to remember anyone anymore. He goes into these seizures sometimes and I have to bathe him now because he can't do it himself. He had these times when he wanders around in circles in the living room."

Marik stepped out of the kitchen. "Zira thinks that Bakura has Alzheimer's."

Miranda looked up at Marik. "Really? You don't seem to be affected like Bakura."

"Well, I'm affected in a different way."

Malik snapped his fingers. "I have to run out and get more pills, Marik! I forgot!"

Marik slipped his hikari some money. He whispered into Malik's ear. "Get some more oil while you're out, tenshi. We're fresh out."

Malik kissed Marik and ran out of the house.

"The military called us. They want Daniel to ship out in a few days."

Robbie's blue eyes looked sadly up at her. "Daddy has to leave again?"

"Yes, sweetheart."

Ryou stroked Bakura's hair in his sleep. "Is he feeling a little better?"

"I was glad to have him home. But, he wants to go back to his ship. The Navy has always been an important part of his life. He doesn't know if he'll be able to come home when the baby is born. I promised to send him pictures."

Marik walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "If you need us to be there for you, Miranda, you know you can count on us to help you."

Miranda pat Marik's cheek. "You're a sweetheart, Marik, but I'm a big girl. I tie my own shoes and everything. I'll call you if I need anything."

Marik grinned devilishly. "Really? Anything?"

Miranda chuckled. "What exactly did you have in mind, Ishtar?"

"Oh…I don't know….tuck your son into bed, dinner, candlelight, a nice hot….steamy….bubble bath…., then, I lay you down by a roaring fire, and we make sweet, sweet love."

Miranda smiled. "Oh, really? You'd want to make love to me while I'm big as a cow?"

Marik leaned in. "Miranda, I don't care how you look on the outside…It's what's inside that counts."

Miranda rolled her eyes. "You are something else, Marik Ishtar….I'm just trying to decide what you are, exactly."

"I'm just trying to help, Miranda. My offer stands."

"As I said before, I'm not into sleeping with dead guys."

Marik gripped his Millennium Rod. "I'm not dead. I'm a spirit."

"No, you're dead," Ryou added.

"Okay, but just because I'm dead doesn't mean I don't enjoy the finer things in life."

Miranda took Robbie's hand. "I'm flattered, Marik, by your proposal, but I'm happily married."

Marik grinned. "So am I. So, what's the problem?"

Miranda snickered. "You are impossible, Marik. I have to get Robbie home. It's almost time for me to start dinner."

Ryou nodded. "I guess I have to start dinner, too."

Robbie hugged Aten and kissed him on the cheek. "Goodbye, Aten. I'll see you tomorrow. Maybe we can play something else tomorrow."

"Otay, Robbie! I have to see Dotor Chapman. See you tomorrow." Aten hugged Robbie tightly and kissed him on both cheeks.

Marik and Aten watched Miranda and Robbie walk down the street. Both gave a sad sigh.

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

As Ryou was waiting for dinner to boil, he sat by Bakura, watching the yami sleep. He heard Aria and Aten playing upstairs. The laughter of the two children brought a smile to his face. He could hear them both squealing and giggling as they played with each other.

Their sounds of joy echoed through his mind. He remembered feeling that there was a time where he thought that he would not hear Aten and Aten playing together. There was always the anxiety over Aten's heart defect.

But, Aten played just as much as before his pacemaker surgery.

He saw Malik sneak into the room with a paper bag.

"Hello, Malik. What's in the bag?"

Malik hid the bag behind his back. "Nothing."

Ryou stood up. "Come on, Malik! What is it?"

"Nothing! Ryou, it's nothing."

Ryou looked behind Malik's back. "What's in the bag, Malik?"

Malik gave a sigh, knowing he could never win against Ryou. He handed the bag to Ryou and Ryou opened it.

"Oh…my….god! He's not!"

Malik blushed fifty shades of red. "Yes."

"Marik? Is---?"

Malik nodded.

Ryou removed the pill bottle from the bag. "Viagra? Marik….our Marik? OUR Marik?"

Malik blushed again. "Yes. Marik is on Viagra."

Ryou bit his lip. "I never thought I'd see the day that Marik would be put on Viagra!"

Malik grabbed the bottle. "Neither did I, Ryou. The Yami Virus caused him to be impotent."

Ryou shook his head, chuckling a little. Sex-crazed Marik… who usually needed sex in the morning and night….needed to be on Viagra.

Malik grabbed the pills and put them in the bag. "Don't tell Marik you know. He'd be really embarressed."

Malik ran up the stairs and Ryou sat beside Bakura covering his mouth to stop from Malik hearing him laugh.

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