Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Yami Virus ❯ Taking Control ( Chapter 31 )

Liann: I need Yugi! Meh…you can have him. I got Ryou and Aten…and Bakura. Mmmm…Bakura.

Chibi Misu: Yugi's going to be fine.

Shadow of Light: I gave a rest from cliffies this chappie. After my dentist appt. tomorrow, my wife and I are going to get new booster packs! YEAH!

Xeno: Yugi won't be hurt. Aria and Aten stand up for him.

Lady Elfskye: Yami will pay soon. In chappie 33…*evil laugh*

star: Towards the end of the story is the cure. There's more I want to do yet. Aria blood can cure…but not the Yami Virus.

Little Uke Io: They'll find the cure, but not for a while.

Taking Control

Yugi saw Slyfer's attack aim at him. Aten's eyes narrowed as Aten drew another card from his duel disk, praying it would protect him from the blast of an Egyptian God Card.

Aten summoned a card with a bellowing voice. "I summon "Reaper on the Nightmare" in defense mode!"

Yugi felt the air in the room grow cold. The lights dimmed in the arena and dark clouds formed overhead. Slyfer's attack had stopped as a loud, piercing screech was heard overhead.

"NIGHTMARE DRAGON! DEFEND UNCLE YUGI AND MY BROTHER!"

A black dragon suddenly darted in front of them, absorbing the attack.

Marik looked over and saw Aria with her duel disk strapped to her arm. "ARIA!"

Yami looked down at the nine year old girl, scowling. "It's you, Demon Seed!"

Aria brushed her white spikes behind her ears. Her brother ran down and stood beside her. Aten had seen her eyes black and looked up at Yami.

"You missed me, pharaoh!" Aten cried to Yami. "Better luck next time!"

The Nightmare Dragon flew behind its master, wrapping its tail in front of the two children protectively. The black dragon leaned down its head and Aria pet it affectionately.

"Good boy," Aria whispered. "My dragon."

The Winged Dragon of Ra roared loudly as it looked at the Winged Dragon. Marik put his hand on his dragon.

Aria narrowed her eyes at Yami. "You tried to kill Uncle Yugi…and my brother."

Slyfer roared, coiling tightly around his master.

Yami narrowed his eyes. "I will succeed in destroying you and your brother, Aria!"

Aria and Aten laughed. "You can't destroy us!" Aten cried out menacingly.

Aria rolled her eyes. "You tried to get rid of us five years ago and you failed, thanks to my father! You FAILED, pharaoh! The same way you failed Egypt five thousand years before!"

Yami growled. "I've heard enough! SLYFER, ATTACK!"

Seto cried out in terror. "ARIA! NO! BABY GIRL!"

Seto blinked and when he opened his eyes, he saw Yami and himself facing off against Aten and Aria in the past.

*****Flashback*****

Yami called out to Slyfer the Sky Dragon. "SLYFER, ATTACK!"

Seto watched helplessly as Slyfer's attack knocked Aten off of the platform.

"Aten!"

Aria turned around and watched the teen's lifeless body fall to the ground, covered in blood. She turned back to Yami and Seth.

"Pharaoh! You killed my best friend! How dare you!"

Yami laughed. "You will join him shortly, Aria! Your separation will not be long."

Aria leaned forward, grabbing her stomach….the tiny life within her trying to come forth.

"We only have to destroy Aria, Seth. Then you will have fulfilled your duties."

Seth narrowed his eyes. "Aria! Think of our child! Please, just surrender!"

Aria shook her head. "No! I will avenge Aten's death! I'm sorry, my master. Please forgive me."

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

The Nightmare Dragon roared and wrapped itself around Aria and Aten, absorbing the attack.

The dragon lifted its head and Aten and Aria appeared unharmed.

"My Slyfer should have beaten your beast!"

Aria laughed. "My Nightmare Dragon can destroy an Egyptian God!"

"You shouldn't have survived that blast, even with him protecting you!"

Aria stroked her dragon's thick skin. "He's my dragon and he loves me! He's always been with me! My dragon has 5000 attack points. I offer up part of my Life Points and I can boost his power. Do you think an Egyptian god can stop us?!"

Aria grinned. "NIGHTMARE DRAGON! ATTACK SLYFER! DARK FURY OF NIGHTMARE!"

Marik snarled. "WINGED DRAGON OF RA! ATTACK THE PHARAOH!"

Slyfer roared and exploded behind Yami. The Winged Dragon of Ra blasted his attack at Yami, who screamed and fell to his knees.

The dust cleared and Yami's body convulsed as he kneeled.

Aten and Aria walked up the stairs to the arena.

"Reaper on the Nightmare, be gone," Aten ordered.

Aria glared down at the fallen yami. "That's for trying to hurt my father!"

Marik pet Ra. "Be gone, my great beast." Ra disappeared.

Aria turned to the Nightmare Dragon. "You have served me well."

"Goodbye, my mistress," the dragon roared as it left.

Aten leaned down, looking Yami in the eyes. "Why did you try to rape my Daddy Bakura?"

Yami looked up. "Because he deserved it."

Aten growled and his now-spiky hair twitched in fury. Aten took his nails and clawed Yami's face, making four identical lines, seeping with red blood.

"Daddy Bakura did NOT deserve it! I didn't deserve it either! I didn't deserve it and I didn't lite it!"

Yugi walked up to Yami. "Bakura didn't deserve it, Yami. I don't care what you say….I am not coming home with you tonight."

Yami narrowed his eyes. "Yugi, you WILL come home with me tonight!"

Seto stood beside Yugi. "No…he's not. He's staying here, Yami."

"I will not be left alone!"

Yugi sniffled as he started to cry. "You should have thought of that before you tried to kill Aten and I." Yugi removed the Millennium Puzzle from his neck. He put it on the floor in front of Yami. "Goodbye, Yami."

Yugi turned and walked away, sobbing.

Aten snarled. "Now you hurt Unkie Yugi's feelings!" Aten ran after Yugi, taking the duelist's hand.

Seto clenched his fists. He removed his cell phone from his pocket. "Security, get to the dueling arena. You will remove Yami from the building…and see to it that he can't get back in."

Aria growled at Yami. "You touch my father again and I'll bite off the finger that touches him! Goodbye….pharaoh!" Aria turned on her heal and looked up at Seto. "Take care of him, Seth. Get him out of here." Aria turned back to the yami on his knees. "The sight of him makes me sick."

Aria left the dueling arena, following her brother and Yugi.

Marik looked down at Yami. "You should know not to take the Ishtar family lightly, Yami."

Yami laughed. "It's quite sad, Marik. Your eight year old son can beat me….but you lost to me in Battle City."

Marik growled and punched Yami in the face, knocking him unconscious. "You bastard!"

Marik walked away. He found Aten standing at the end of the hallway leading to the dueling arena. Aten was facing the wall, his face buried in his hands. His hair had become smooth like his mother's again.

"Aten Bakari? Why are you crying, son?" Marik asked, kneeling.

Aten looked over at his father and threw himself at him, wrapping his arms around his father's shoulders.

"Daddy Bakura didn't deserve it, daddy. Why did the pharaoh try to hurt him the same way that my grandfather hurt me?"

Marik picked up his son. "Because he's a self-righteous bastard, Aten. Daddy Bakura wasn't hurt. He's safe, okay?"

Aten rubbed his eye. "Why would anyone want to hurt anyone lite that?"

Marik bit his lip. His son would never know the truth about Marik and Malik's earlier relationship. His son would never know that he hurt Malik and Ryou like that…before he had seen the error of his ways. Marik knew why he did it…..he enjoyed watching Malik suffer. His son would never know.

"Some people enjoy hurting others, Aten," Marik answered honestly.

Marik remembered the first time he had seen Malik. Malik had been given his initiation…Malik's anger and hatred summoned Marik from the Rod.

And Marik enjoyed getting his revenge on Malik's father.

Aten looked up at his father. "I never want to enjoy hurting anyone. Hurting other people isn't very nice."

"No, little monkey. It's not."

Aten rested his head on Marik's shoulders as they returned to Bakura's room.

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

Bakura was sitting up, still clutching onto his husband's clothing. Ryou caressed Bakura's hair as Jaimen looked up at him.

"What's the matter with him?" Jaimen asked.

"My husband is very sick," Ryou answered.

Jaimen cocked his head to the side. "Why are you holding him?"

Ryou rested his head against Bakura's spiky gray hair. "Because I'm trying to calm him down and make him feel better."

Jaimen scratched his head. "But, how does holding him make him feel better?"

Ryou shrugged. "It makes him feel secure and safe," Ryou said as he rocked Bakura in his arms. "Besides….I love him."

Jaimen raised an eyebrow. "I don't get it."

Aria walked in with Yugi. She ran up to her father and hugged him.

"Hello, daddy. I got that meanie Yami back for you! He learned his lesson."

Ryou knew how Aria could be when her yami side revealed itself. Aria could kill.

"Aria, what did you do?"

Aria grinned, a single canine showing through her smile. "Nothing that Yami won't forget any time soon."

Ryou saw Yugi wander over to the window. Joey went over to the duelist.

"Hey, Yugi. What's up? Where's Yami? Did you find him?"

Yugi looked up at Joey with sad purple eyes. Yugi threw himself at Joey, sobbing into the blond's stomach. "Yami tried to kill Aten and I! He didn't even care that he was aiming Slyfer's attack at me!"

Joey wrapped his arms around Yugi. He knew Yami had become very ill from the virus, but he never expected Yami to strike out at Yugi.

"Joey, I can't go home with Yami! He threatened me! He said I had to give myself to him tonight or he would take me!"

Joey narrowed his eyes, turning towards the others. No wonder Yami had tried to take Bakura by force!

"Yugi, buddy, you can stay here as long as you want. I can pull out the hidden bed from the couch in the library. Just to warn you, Ryou and Bakura slept on that mattress."

Ryou shouted. "Hey!"

"Well, it's true, Ryou! I honestly don't know how you managed to bend yourself that way."

Ryou eyed his little girl sitting by her father. "Joey, my child is in the room!"

Marik and Aten entered. Marik put Aten down and went to Yugi. He looked down at the smaller duelist, gripping his Millennium Rod tightly. "Yugi? Are you okay?"

Yugi was shocked at Marik's concern. It wasn't like him to be concerned with anyone else's welfare except his immediate family. After Battle City, Marik and Yugi had little interaction. What words were exchanged between them now, were usually in the context of the children.

"Marik, he's my Dark. The Yami I used to know would never try to hurt me."

Marik ran his hands through his gray and blond hair. "The Yami Virus must be taking control of your yami. For him to strike at Bakura and I is one thing. To strike at you…..is a completely different matter."

Yugi nodded. "But, he was aiming for Aten, too."

Marik looked over at Aten sitting by Bakura on the bed, hugging him, and speaking to him in Egyptian. "Aria will always be a target for him. My son…will also be a target for Yami until he takes his last mortal breath." Marik looked down. "Yami won't be happy until I bury my son."

Yugi released Joey and stood in front of the yami. "I'm sorry my yami tried to kill Aten."

Joey growled. "You don't need to apologize for Yami, Yugi. It's not your fault he's acting like a jackass."

Seto walked through the door. "Yami is out of the building."

"Seto, Yugi's going to stay with us tonight. Is that okay?"

Jaimen ran for Seto and wrapped his arms around him. "Hi, daddy! I missed you!" Jaimen looked up at Yugi. "Wow! Your hair is really neat! Can I touch it??"

Jaimen reached up and touched the duelist's hair. "WOW! That is so neat!"

Seto looked over at Aria and watched her pet her father's hair.

"It's going to be okay, daddy."

Seto closed his eyes, seeing another image from ancient Egypt.

****Flashback****

Seth had Aria by the hand and walking her through the dungeon. People screamed in agony in the cells, some were reaching out for food. Others were praying for their deaths to come.

Seth ordered the guard to open the door at the end of the hall.

The guard opened the cell door and stepped in.

The guard kicked the inmate in the ribs. "You have visitors, you dog!"

Bakura opened his eyes to see Aria standing over him. Aria ran to him and kneeled before her father. Her child-like hands stroked her father's spiky hair, covered in dirt and dried blood. His naked body shivered in the cell.

Seth watched the child stroke her father's cheek.

"Father….Daddy?"

"A….Aria? My….angel?"

Bakura reached up a thin hand to touch his daughter's face. "I never thought I'd see you again."

"I brought her here to you. I had heard that you were here. You are Aria Kanika's father?"

Bakura curled up into a ball, attempting to hide his nudity. "Yes. I fathered her."

"Your name?"

"Bakura Osiris Itemri….your Grace."

Seth looked down at the prisoner, broken, bloody, starved, bruised, and dirty. His daughter beside him was dressed in fine linens and gold jewelry.

"I had to look upon the man who fathered such a beautiful child."

A small smile crossed Bakura's face. "That she is, your Grace. My lord, you…have come here and brought my child. Why?"

"I had heard her father was captured and dragged through the desert. He had arrived in Cairo and was now in the dungeon. She told me about you."

Bakura closed his eyes, panting heavily as a chill from the outside blew across his exposed skin. "My lord…..may I ask one favor?"

Seth narrowed his eyes. "If it is within my power, I shall grant it."

Bakura coughed harshly. His body convulsed from lack of food and exposure. "Please…..promise me….that my child will be cared for."

Seth looked down at Aria. The tears were pooling behind her eyes.

"Promise me that my child will be safe from Yami's claws."

Seth put his hand on the eight year old child's shoulder. "I promise to take care of your daughter, Bakura Itemri."

Bakura closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "I can die in peace now….knowing my little girl…..is safe."

Anubis opened the door of the cell. "High Priest Seth! What are you doing here?"

"Bringing my slave girl to see her father."

Anubis turned to the two other guards who stood behind him. "How touching."

Bakura reached out and stroked Aria's cheek, knowing it would be for the last time. "My daughter…..be good. Know this…your father loved you very much, Aria Kanika."

"I love you, too, daddy," Aria said, kissing him on the lips.

A tear coursed down Bakura cheek….his last mortal kiss.

Seth took Aria's hand. "Let's go, Aria Kanika."

Seth passed Anubis. "I hope you enjoyed seeing your daddy, little slave girl. It will be the last time."

Seth and Aria walked down the hall. Seth and Aria heard a scream of pain coming from Bakura's cell….

Seth knew what was happening in that cell.

The slow murder of Bakura had begun….

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

Seto shook his head. He reached out to Joey, grabbed him, and pulled him close. 'Damn flashbacks,' he thought.

Joey held onto him tightly. "What is it, Seto?"

Seto cringed, still hearing Bakura's screams in his head. "Nothing…I think I just need to lay down."

Ryou stood up. "We should get Bakura home anyway."

"Ya…mi!"

Ryou took Bakura's hand. "It's okay, baby. He won't come near us anymore."

Marik looked down at Yugi. "If you need anything, Yugi, just call us."

Ryou walked to Yugi and hugged him. "Marik's right, Yugi. Call us and we'll help you any way we can."

Aten and Aria ran to Yugi. "I made sure Auntie Yami won't hurt you anymore," Aria said.

Aten took Yugi's hand. "I thint that Auntie Yami must have a rod up his butt! Maybe that's why he's so mean!"

Yugi couldn't help but snicker at the little boy's observation. "Yeah, maybe."

"I bet the rod up Auntie Yami's butt is lite…one billion times the size of my daddy's Rod!" Aten accentuated his exaggeration by spreading his arms wide.

Yugi snickered. "The less we all hear about your daddy's Rod, the better, Aten."

Aten leaned into Yugi. "I know. Lots of peoples are jealous about my daddy's Rod. You don't have to be jealous of my daddy's Rod, Unkie Yugi. And don't worry. My daddy doesn't have his Rod up anyone else's butt."

Malik slapped his hand over his mouth and ran into the bathroom dying of laughter.

Joey cringed. "Aten, the idea of your daddy's Rod up someone's butt is quite disturbing."

"I know! Unkie Puppy, if he lost his Rod up somebody's butt, I bet my daddy would be really sad."

Ryou covered his mouth and his face turned red from suppressed laughter.

Marik took Aten's hand. "Let's go, little monkey," he said snickering.

Jaimen ran to Aten. "Goodbye, Aten!" Jaimen kissed Aten on the lips. Aten jumped back. "No, it's a tiss on the sheets."

"What?"

"Tiss on the sheets."

Jaimen scratched his head. "Huh?"

"It's supposed to be a kiss on the cheeks, Jaimen. Not a kiss on the lips," Marik said.

Jaimen slapped himself on the head. "Silly me! Why didn't you say so, Aten?" Jaimen kissed both of Aten's cheeks.

Aten nodded. "That's it. Bye, Jaimen."

Jaimen reached out to kiss Aria goodbye, but she put her hands up in front of her.

"Nobody kisses me but Umi."

"Umi?"

Aria smiled proudly. "Umi Tsunami is my boyfriend. Nobody kisses me on the lips but him."

Marik raised an eyebrow at Ryou.

"Okay, then. Can I kiss your cheeks?"

"Only the left. Umi kisses me on the right cheek when we leave school."

Jaimen kissed her quickly on the left cheek.

Aria went to Seto. "Goodbye, Unkie Seto." Aria kissed him on the cheek.

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

Aten had arrived home and asked to visit Robbie. Marik had decided to take Aten over and offer his gratitude for helping Bakura the night before.

Daniel opened the door when Marik knocked. "Hello…Marik."

"Hello, sir. Is Miranda home?"

Daniel slapped Marik on the shoulder. "Come in."

Aten looked up at the man. "Hello, sir!"

"Why hello there, Aten! Robbie's in the basement playing with his toys."

Aten shuddered. "Tan you please ass him to tum upstairs to play with me?"

Daniel tried not to snicker at the boy's mispronunciation. Miranda and Robbie had told Daniel about Aten's struggle with English and his learning disability.

"Sure thing, kiddo," Daniel said, going to the kitchen. He opened the door to the basement. "Robbie, your friend Aten is here!"

A loud, happy squeal came from the downstairs and the sound of Robbie limping up the steps.

Robbie closed the basement door and threw his arms around Aten, kissing him on the cheek.

Aten kissed Robbie's neck, joining his excited squeals with Robbie.

Daniel grinned, watching the boys kiss. "I've never seen two boys be so excited to see each other. Go off and play, you two."

Robbie whispered into Aten's ear and Aten giggled. The two boys disappeared upstairs, giggling.

Marik walked into the kitchen, his face a little red with embaressment. After all, Miranda saw him naked.

Miranda turned away from the potatoes she was peeling for supper and she let out a smirk. "Oh! Hello, Marik….what brings you here?"

Daniel pulled out the coffee pot and made a pot of coffee.

"I came to thank you for bringing Bakura back to us."

Miranda rubbed her belly as the baby kicked. "It was no big problem," Miranda snickered, remembering what she had seen.

Marik grinned. "Well, I hope you liked what you seen, Miranda."

Miranda looked over at Daniel, who started to snicker. Obviously, Miranda had told Daniel what she had seen.

Daniel turned to Marik. "Are you hitting on my wife?"

"No, sir," Marik said quickly.

Daniel snickered as he grabbed the peeler and started peeling carrots. "Miranda's right, Marik Ishtar. You are a poor liar."

"I wouldn't dream of hitting on your wife," Marik said.

Miranda went to the oven and opened it. She basted the turkey she had cooking. She stood up…"Marik, how many times do I have to ask you to stop touching my ass?"

Daniel's turned his head to Marik quickly. "Marik, are you touching my wife's ass?"

Marik turned red. "No! No! I didn't put a hand on her!"

Miranda smiled seductively, "Would you like to baste my turkey, Marik?"

Daniel snickered at Marik's look of shock. "Marik, do you want to baste my wife's turkey?" Daniel asked, laughing.

Marik rolled his eyes, realizing Daniel was just as bad as his wife. "I don't mind basting your turkey, baby."

Daniel turned and watched Marik basting the turkey. "Did you enjoy that, Marik?"

Marik grinned. "I like basting."

Miranda laughed. "So I hear from Malik."

Daniel shook his head, laughing quietly.

Marik looked at Daniel. "You're just as bad as her, do you know that?"

Daniel grinned wickedly. "Why do you think I married her?"

Marik threw his arms up. "I'm surrounded!"

Daniel and Miranda nodded. "Yup. You are."

Daniel poured a cup of coffee for himself and Marik. "I've been all over the world, Marik. I know it would have been rude of me if I did not offer you a drink or something to eat."

Marik took the coffee and bowed slightly. "Shokran."

"My little Robbie has been walking around practicing Arabic, too. Aten's been teaching him some, I hear."

Marik nodded. "Well, if he has to learn Arabic. It's part of his culture and who he is. I would teach him all the languages I know, but it would take me the rest of my afterlife."

Daniel sipped his coffee. "Yeah, I heard from Miranda you're dead. How's that working out for you?"

Marik raised an eyebrow as Daniel snickered. "I dunno. How's life?"

Daniel pat Marik's arm. "I'm just kidding, Ishtar. So, what languages do you know?"

Marik sipped his coffee. "I know Latin, Ancient Greek, Ancient Egyptian, Modern Arabic, English, Spanish, Hebrew, and German."

Daniel whistled. "That's impressive! I know some German, some Arabic, and a dash of French."

Miranda turned to Marik. "He doesn't speak much French, but he sure can kiss that way."

Daniel grinned and pulled her over to him. "My girl likes it when I do…admit it."

Miranda laughed and shook her head. "I won't admit to anything."

Daniel turned to Marik. "See what I have to put up with?"

"You like it, Daniel. You admit it."

Daniel nodded. "Oh, I do."

Miranda leaned down and kissed her husband, brushing her hand across Daniel's face lightly. Marik's jaw dropped as Miranda's hand went to Daniel's chest, rubbing it. He shifted in his chair, feeling a little uncomfortable around his hips suddenly. The sight of Miranda kissing her husband was exciting him.

Miranda pulled back, seeing Marik shift in his chair. "What's the matter, Marik?"

"Umm…nothing," he lied.

Daniel grinned. "So, Marik, I know that back in your day you had arranged marriages. Have picked a girl for your son?"

Marik ran his fingers through his gray and blond hair. "I haven't decided. My father had arranged a marriage with a girl back in Egypt, but I didn't want the girl. I had already had a girl with whom I was in love. With everything that Aten has been through, I would rather that Aten choose his own mate. Besides, we have no girl in the family besides Aria and Aten doesn't like girls."

"Yeah, but he's eight years old. What boy likes girls at eight years old?"

Marik shrugged. "I'm not worried. I just want Aten to choose his own mate."

Daniel nodded. "Yeah, I just want Robbie to be happy. I just want what's best for my boy."

Marik looked up at the blue eyes of the father. "I just want someone who will treat my son right."

"I was just curious about your plans. I wanted to know if you decided to continue your old customs."

Marik nodded. "We do…to an extent. I still pray to Ra for guidance. Bakura and I follow the Egyptian feasts and observe the holy days. In fact, I know Aten's heart is weak, but this year, I want him to celebrate Ramadan with Bakura and I. He can eat and drink to have his medicine. I just want to see if he can do it."

Daniel scratched his chin. "If the boy is sick, Ramadan's fasting might be a little hard on the little guy."

"My son can do it. If he can't, it's not the end of the world."

"Miranda tells me she and Robbie enjoy celebrating Christmas with your family. I wouldn't want these two alone on Christmas."

Marik shook his head. "Malik didn't like being alone then, either."

"Nobody should be alone during the holidays."

Marik nodded. "True. I heard you're going to be leaving soon."

Daniel sighed sadly. "Yeah, I won't be around for the birth of my baby. The military denied me leave for December. The baby is due December 23rd. A Christmas baby! I can't wait!"

Miranda rubbed her side again. "The baby won't stop kicking. He's being an active little boy tonight."

Marik grinned. "A blessing on the both of you. Don't worry, Daniel. I'll take good care of her while you're gone."

Daniel finished his coffee. "I know you will, Marik."

Miranda brushed her hair behind her shoulders. "Yeah, I'm sorry, Marik, but you won't be able to make love to me until after the baby is born."

The Egyptian snapped his fingers. "Damn it."

Daniel put his cup in the sink. "And don't forget to take your Rod with you when you leave. Don't let your Rod out where Robbie can see it."

"I promise to hide my Rod from your son."

Daniel grinned. "Good. Because otherwise, you'd have to pay for years of psychiatric therapy for my son."

Marik stood up and put his cup in the sink. "I take what I said earlier back. You are worse than your wife."

"I take that as a compliment."

Marik shook his head and called up the stairs. "Chibi Marik! Aten, we have to go."

Aten peeked out his head from the room. :But, Robbie and I aren't done playing yet."

"We have to eat dinner, son. Let's go."

Aten sighed. "Otay!" Aten turned to Robbie "I have to go home." Aten crawled up on the bed, where he had been cuddling with Robbie.

Robbie pouted as Aten slipped beside him. "Aww….I was just getting comfortable," Robbie said as he buried his face in Aten's hair.

"My daddy talled and said I have to go, Robbie. I'm sorry."

Robbie rubbed his cheek in Aten's hair. "Okay, I guess."

Aten and Robbie jumped off the bed and opened the door. Robbie limped, following Aten down the stairs.

Miranda and Daniel stood by Marik. "I hope Bakura feels better," Daniel said.

"So do I. It's hard to see him like this. Ready to go, Aten?"

Robbie stood by his parents. "Aten! Aren't you forgetting something?"

Aten smiled. "Sorry, Robbie!" Aten ran to Robbie and planted a kiss on each of Robbie's cheeks. "Goodbye, Robbie," Aten said softly.

Robbie buried his face in Aten's hair. "Goodbye, Aten."

Daniel looked up at Marik, watching for a reaction. Marik didn't seem repulsed or bothered by what he had seen. Miranda had told him it had been a common greeting and parting ritual between the two boys since they were three.

In the four months that he had been home, he had seen this ritual performed more than once between the two boys. The first time, it confused him. By now, he had come to accept it as a token of close friendship between the two boys.

"Thank you for the coffee, Daniel," Marik said, taking his son's hand.

"Goodbye, Aten," Robbie sighed as he watched his friend leave. Robbie followed them out the door and watched Marik and Aten walk five doors away to their house.

Daniel and Miranda watched Robbie outside.

Daniel watched his son's attention on the two people walking away.

He had never seen Robbie take someone's departure so seriously as he did Aten's. Robbie sat on the front step sadly.

Daniel turned to Miranda. "I should spend time with him before I leave."

"You boys play catch while I finish dinner," Miranda said, rubbing Daniel's arm.

Daniel went over to Robbie's corner and picked up the catcher's mitt and the baseball.

Miranda went into the kitchen, the baby in her belly moving restlessly. She caressed her belly. "Sleep, little one. Mommy's trying to make dinner."

The baby continued to move, despite her best efforts to calm the unborn child.

Updates: Tuesday

Next Chappie: Yami breaks into KaibaCorp….injuring two of Seto's most trusted members of the "Public Relations Department."