Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Yami Virus ❯ Rise and Fall ( Chapter 40 )

Isawa17: I'll have more evil cliffies later.

Liann: I wasn't planning on Anzu showing up at the camp. Then again, I could always do a quick thing with her. Would you like to see her at the camp?

Jupitor Knight: Yeah, it was an evil cliffie, But I have worse planned.

ZL Chan: Glad you like it! See you next review.

Valea: Marik will always be there for Miranda. Vera abandons Robbie.

Lully Chan: Everyone will be there for Miranda. Guaranteed.

Kura Magician Girl: It's a good site. you should check it out. Vera will get her own in another story I'm planning.

Seto Lover and Bakurasgirl worshipper: You may have guessed whose wedding….I wonder who you are thinking of….

Shadow of Light: Miranda won't be able to get back at Vera in this story, but another story, Revenge is a dish best served cold.

I Is Me: Okay, if you're going to kill me, at least let me get a running start. Please?

Rise and Fall

Marik ran up the stairs and called Ryou out of Aten's room. "Miranda's in trouble, Ryou. She's bleeding. I have to get her to the hospital."

Ryou went pale. "What about Robbie?"

Marik growled. "As much as I hate to admit it, Vera is there for him. Besides, she should be back home by morning."

Ryou nodded. "Okay. Go take care of her for us, Marik."

"Love you. Bye."

Marik grabbed the Millennium Rod and the car keys. He started the car quickly and rushed over to Miranda's home five doors away.

He ran inside and found Miranda on the kitchen floor, blood flowing between her legs. He kneeled beside her.

Marik blinked and saw his dead wife, Amunet, in front of him. Her dead body was covered in blood.

He shook his head and Miranda was looking up at him with blue eyes pleading for help.

"I'm here to help you, Miranda."

"Vera….upstairs."

Marik ran up the stairs and burst into the bathroom. Vera let out a shriek.

"HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE UNANNOUNCED!"

"Miranda's bleeding. I'm going to take her to the hospital. We'll keep you updated."

Before Vera could respond, Marik helped Miranda carefully off of the kitchen tile.

She held her stomach as sharp pains spread throughout her.

"Marik…I'm afraid."

Marik held onto her as they walked. "It's okay, Miranda. I'm here to help you. Take it easy."

Once Marik had her in the car, he ran back into the house. He ran back out with a pillow.

"Do you like this pillow?"

"Not really…why?"

Marik gulped. "Spread your legs, Miranda."

Miranda managed a smile. "You do realize…this is the only time I'm doing this for you."

Marik rolled his eyes. "Just do it, bad girl."

Miranda spread her legs and Marik put the pillow between them. "Why on Earth did you do that?"

Marik ran around and sat in the driver's seat. He turned on the ignition and gripped the Millennium Rod.

"Dark of Night, hide our flight!"

Miranda shifted her eyes. "What did you just do?"

Marik put the car in gear. "Nobody will see us racing through the streets. We are literally invisible."

Miranda gripped her belly as Marik drove off. "How did you do that?"

"Our Millennium Items have specific powers. Bakura controls Shadow Powers. My Item allows me to control the elements..fire, ice, water, air. Since these are natural elements, I can control night and day, as well. The night will hide us from being ticketed. Now, don't talk. Lay back. Breathe deep."

Miranda moved her seat back. "You know a lot about pregnancy….that's interesting."

"My wife back in ancient Egypt was pregnant before she was murdered. I was taught how to birth the child and how to care for a pregnant woman with complications."

"What's the pillow for?"

Marik turned the car. "It's useful to control the bleeding, but it also prevents your baby from coming out….hopefully."

"What was her name?"

Marik sniffled as he turned again, driving through the cars and pedestrians on the streets. "Amunet Kah'li. I was so happy when I knew I fathered a child with her! That is how I know so much about pregnancy. Take deep breaths."

"What do you think is wrong?"

Marik felt a shiver go through his spine as he thought of the possibility.

He knew what it was…..but, he denied himself and her the answer.

Miranda reached over and put her hand on his knee. "Marik? Promise me one thing?"

"What is it?"

"Don't leave me alone in the hospital."

Marik grinned and pat her hand. "I won't leave you."

'I won't leave you…..I only wish I had never left Amunet behind,' Marik thought as he pulled into the parking lot of the hospital.

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

Marik helped her to the emergency ward. Marik had felt himself shaking with nerves and fear as the staff wheeled Miranda to the hospital room.

"Don't leave me, Marik."

"I won't, Miranda."

Miranda's doctor, Dr. Ginsby, examined her and performed an ultrasound on the pregnant woman.

"Get the Fetal Heart Monitor."

Miranda closed her eyes and prayed. "Sweet Jesus, don't tell me…..don't tell me."

Miranda gripped Marik's hand tightly.

A long, steady humming of the heart monitor made Miranda's heart sink.

She felt the monitor being removed. Dr. Ginsby removed the heart monitor and she took Miranda's hand.

"I'm sorry, Miranda. You lost the baby."

The color drained from Miranda's face as she heard the shocking news.

"Oh, dear gods," Marik whispered, looking at the motionless fetus on the screen.

Miranda let out a sad cry arching her back and wailing. Marik leaned down to her and kissed her forehead. He stroked her head as Miranda sobbed into Marik's neck.

"Marik, what am I going to do? What am I going to tell Daniel? How do I tell him my baby is dead?!"

Dr. Ginsby stroked Miranda's black hair. "I'm sorry, Miranda."

"Are you sure it's dead, Michelle?"

Dr. Ginsby nodded. "Yes, Miranda." Dr. Ginsby reached over and took a needle. She filled the syringe full of liquid.

"What in the name of Ra is that for?" Marik asked, seeing the needle.

"We have to induce her. She has to go into labor."

Dr. Ginsby gave Miranda a needle into her arm.

Marik held her as Miranda sobbed into his shoulder.

"Vera's right….I am a rotten mother."

Marik shook his head. "You are not a rotten mother, Miranda. You are a terrific mother."

"Then why did I fail to bring another child into this world……why?"

Marik kissed her cheek and brushed his kiss with his hand. "You didn't fail. Ra wanted that soul back."

A wave of labor pains shot through her body and she gripped Marik's hand tightly. The doctors put her legs in the stirrups and proceeded to do their job.

Miranda cried, holding onto Marik. It took one hour to complete the birth.

Dr. Ginsby stepped beside Miranda. "Do you want to see your baby boy, Miranda?"

Marik stepped back and released Miranda's hand as the doctor put the baby into Miranda's hands.

It was a boy. The baby looked perfectly healthy. There didn't appear to be any anatomical anomalies.

"Do you know what you are going to name him, Miranda?"

Miranda touched the baby's forehead. "Angel," she whispered. "Angel Christian Morgan."

Dr. Ginsby wrote the name in Miranda's file. "Take a few minutes, Miranda."

Marik watched the nurses and doctors leave with their condolences. "What are you going to do with it?'

"He'll be buried next to Christa." Miranda sighed sadly. "At least she won't be lonely anymore."

She looked around. "Marik, can you get me a glass of water?"

Marik left and returned with a cup of water.

Miranda dipped her fingers into the water and wiped some water on the baby's forehead. "I baptize thee, Angel Christian Morgan…."

Miranda rocked the child in her hands, singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

When she was done, Marik rest his fingers on the child's forehead. "Osiris, accept this innocent soul into your waiting arms. May you find peace in the Underworld, Angel…..until you rise again."

Miranda started crying again and kissed the baby's forehead. "How am I going to tell Robbie?"

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

Ryou paced the living room floor, waiting for news of Miranda. Aten and Aria had been tucked into bed.

Malik tapped his fingers on the couch nervously. When the phone rang, they both jumped. Ryou grabbed the phone and Malik ran to his side.

"Hello?"

[Hello, Ryou. I have news about Miranda.]

Malik shifted uncomfortably, his yami's emotions flooding the link. "What happened, yami?"

[Miranda lost the baby. They have to keep her overnight for observation.]

"Poor Robbie. He's going to be heartbroken when he finds out!"

[Miranda said that he's been tucked into bed already, so he doesn't know she is gone.]

"How is Miranda holding up?" Malik asked, his voice cracking from emotion.

[She's devastated. I just held her until she cried herself to sleep.]

"Is anyone with Robbie?"

[Yeah, the bitch is there with him.]

"He's asleep. He should be fine until morning. Do the doctors know why she lost it?"

[The doctors are running an autopsy now.]

"What about Aten's camp? He has to be at the depot early in the morning?"

[When Miranda is asleep, I'll come home to take Aten to camp. He should go. Miranda knows he has to leave for camp.]

"Aten's really excited about going to camp. But, what about Robbie?"

[Robbie is taken care of, Ryou. Besides, I doubt Vera would be cruel enough to tell him the truth about his mother in the hospital. Maybe we can take Robbie over to our house tomorrow. Aria enjoys playing with him, too. I'll be home early in the morning to take Aten to camp.]

Malik took the phone from Ryou. "Yami? Marik, if you need to stay with Miranda, it's…it's okay with me. I know she likes you. She really needs someone around to help her and cheer her up."

[Thank you, koibito. I'll be home…as soon as I can.]

Malik bit his lip. His yami was hanging onto his emotions by a thread. Malik could feel the intense emotions flooding their mindlink.

"I love you, Marik."

A stifled sob came from the other end of the line. [I love you, Malik. Take care of Ryou for me.]

"I will. We'll call Vera and tell her what happened."

[Yeah. I don't have another quarter on me. Goodbye, Malik.]

"Bye."

Malik hung up the phone. Ryou had sat down on the couch and stared at the carpet.

"Poor Miranda. I'll have to let everyone know."

Ryou reached out for the phone as Bakura came down the stairs, alerted by his hikari's emotions through the mindlink.

Ryou dialed Miranda's home phone. "Miranda lost the baby, Bakura."

"She was doing so well! She was looking really good!"

Ryou sighed. "I know, yami, but we have to stay strong for her."

[Hello?]

"Vera? This is Ryou Bakura."

[Oh…..one of the fruits from the party. What's the matter? Do you need me to show you the wonders of sleeping with a woman?]

Ryou closed his eyes, his body tensing. 'Jessica……'

Bakura put his arms around Ryou as he caught an image from their mindlink. Jessica, a prostitute his father had hired, ran her hands over him in his mind. He could feel himself inside of her. His body quivered from the memory. His father held him down….Jessica rode him.

Bakura hugged him tightly and grabbed the phone, knowing that Vera had said something to upset Ryou.

"Look, you Wicked-Witch-of-the-West, we called to tell you that Miranda lost the baby."

[Oh…..she did?]

"Yes. She did. Don't bother waking Robbie. Let him sleep. The hospital is keeping her overnight at least to make sure she's okay."

[How could she lose that one? Hmph…it must have been all of the gay vibes that came off of you and all of your friends that killed that child!]

If it weren't for the fact that Bakura had his husband shaking in his seat and Malik sitting on his other side sniffling sadly, Bakura would have had her cut into tiny slices.

Bakura turned off the phone and threw it with disgust on the single chair.

Bakura sat back and brought Ryou into his arms. Ryou tucked his legs underneath him and shuddered violently.

"What did she say?"

"She wanted to know if she needed to know the wonders of sleeping with a woman."

Bakura shook his head and kissed Ryou's forehead. "It's okay, baby. It's okay. She's not here."

Ryou tucked his arms under his chin and buried his face in Bakura's shoulder.

Bakura caressed Ryou's hair, letting Ryou press himself against him tightly. "It's okay, Ryou. Just breathe deep."

Malik snuggled up to Bakura, sighing sadly.

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

Vera threw down the phone. She looked at the kitchen floor where broken glass and a small puddle of blood was found. Vera lit a cigarette and sucked on it quickly, throwing the butt into the puddle of blood.

She climbed the steps and opened the door.

Robbie was laying on his side clutching his teddy bear. His fingers twitched as he slept. His eyelids fluttered as he squeezed his bear tightly.

"Throw me the ball, Aten," Robbie moaned in his sleep. "Give me…Give me the ball."

Vera rolled her eyes and stepped into the room. She looked at the pictures on Robbie's desk.

One of the pictures was Aten sitting in a hospital bed. Robbie was sitting beside his smiling friend. Aten held a monkey plushie in his hand and had his arm around Robbie's shoulder. Both boys were smiling in the sunny hospital room. The picture had looked recent.

Another picture showed Robbie and Aten squirting Aria with a hose. Aten and Robbie were in boxers. Aten wore a shirt to cover the scars on his back and his front. Aria wore a pink bikini and was running away from the two boys.

Vera picked up the last picture. On the frame was written 'Friends Forever.' Aten and Robbie were sitting on the front step of Robbie's house. Both of them were holding ice cream cones, dripping with melting ice cream. Large smiles crossed their faces as the two boys looked into the camera.

Vera narrowed her eyes and scowled at the child in the bed. "You're gonna turn out like THEM, aren't you?" she growled as she approached the bed.

She looked down at her sleeping nephew, curling her lip.

"It would be so much easier if I just took that pillow and rid the world of another potential fruitcake….. I could rid the world of another freak."

Robbie nuzzled his cheek into the pillow. A contented sigh came from him. "Aten….I love your hair. It's so soft!"

Vera snorted in disgust. "It would be a painless death…suffocate you in your sleep, Robbie…..That would make everything better for my little sister. My poor….dear….sweet…misguided little Miranda."

Vera reached for the pillow, then hesitated. "No….I won't kill you, Robbie. If you turn out like one of THEM, then I'll have more satisfaction watching your sin destroy you."

Robbie kissed his teddy bear gently. "I love you, Aten."

Vera rolled her eyes and left the room. She returned to her room and packed her stuff. She carried her suitcase past Robbie's room.

"Goodbye, you little cripple."

Vera carried her suitcase and shut the front door behind her.

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

Robbie opened his eyes as the sunlight peeked through his window. He sat up and yawned. He staggered out of bed and limped to the bathroom. He stood in front of the toilet unsteadily. Robbie looked down to find the summer's heat had swollen his right ankle. The clubbed foot was sore this morning.

He limped out of the bathroom after flushing the toilet and went into his mom's room. His mother wasn't in bed.

"Mommy?"

Robbie limped down the steps, wincing. "Mommy, my foot really hurts this morning!"

No answer.

"Mommy?"

No answer.

He limped into the kitchen and didn't see his mother having her morning coffee.

Robbie screamed loudly as he saw the broken glass and blood laying on the floor. "MOMMY! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

He called down into the basement. She didn't answer.

His heart beat quickly as he hurried into the back yard. "Mommy?!"

No answer.

Robbie limped to the front yard, tears coming down his cheeks. "Mommy?! Where's my mommy?!"

Robbie ran into the house. "AUNT VERA!"

No answer.

Robbie started to cry. "Where's my mommy?"

Robbie limped out of the house, wincing as he felt his bad ankle throb in pain. He arrived at Ryou's house, almost dragging the leg behind him.

Robbie's loud cries echoed through the neighborhood. "ATEN!"

Robbie banged on the door, sobbing loudly. "ATEN!"

Ryou opened the door and saw Robbie on the step. "Oh my god! Robbie! What happened?"

Ryou picked up Robbie and put him on the couch. Bakura and Malik rushed downstairs to see Ryou elevating Robbie's swollen leg and ankle on a pillow.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't find my mommy! Aunt Vera isn't anywhere! I can't find her anywhere! I saw a broken glass and blood on the floor!"

Ryou sat beside Robbie and gathered the boy close to him. Robbie clutched onto Ryou like his own mother. "I woke up and my mommy wasn't there! Now there's blood on the kitchen floor and I can't find my mommy!"

Ryou looked up at Malik. "Can you get some Childrens' Tylenol for Robbie's leg? Shhh…Robbie. Your mommy is okay."

"I want Aten! I want Aten!"

Bakura shook his head. "Aten left for camp this morning, Robbie."

Robbie let out a mournful wail. "My mommy is gone and now I don't even have Aten!"

Ryou held Robbie close after he took some medicine for his bad foot.

"Your mommy is safe, Robbie. That's all you need to know."

Aria came down the stairs yawning and her hair twitching. "Who woke me up? Robbie? What are you doing here? Aten is at camp."

Robbie sniffled. "Where is my mommy?"

"She's at the hospital, Robbie."

Robbie sniffled. "Is she having my baby brother? Is my baby brother born yet?"

Ryou, Bakura, and Malik exchanged uncertain glances. "Mommy is being taken care of, Robbie. She's okay. Did you eat?"

Robbie shook his head. "No."

Malik smiled down at the chibi and moved his black hair behind his ear. "What do you want for breakfast? We have cereal, waffles, pancakes, toast."

"Can I have some pancakes? With maple syrup? And butter? Please?" Robbie looked up at Malik with his large chibi blue eyes.

Malik ruffled the child's black hair. "I can make that for you. Aria? What do you want for breakfast, baby girl?"

Aria jumped up and down. "Bacon and Eggs! With toast! Don't forget the jelly!"

Malik kissed Aria's forehead. "Okay."

"Don't cook the bacon all the way!" Aria called to him.

"I won't," Malik said, disappearing into the kitchen.

Robbie winced and rubbed his ankle. "This heat is making my ankle swell like this. If my mommy is in the hospital, can I go see her and the baby?"

Ryou looked up at Bakura. Ryou couldn't deny the child the chance to see his mother.

"When you are done eating, you can see her."

Robbie nodded. "Okay, but I'll have to go back home for some clothes. I can't go in my underwear. That wouldn't be good. Nobody wants to see me in my underwear."

Bakura nodded. "I'll take you home before we go to the hospital."

Ryou looked up. "You should call the others, yami, and tell them about Miranda. I'm sure everyone would want to see her."

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

Marik sat by Miranda's bedside, holding her hand reassuringly.

Miranda looked out of the hospital room window, staring up at the sky.

"Miranda, you should eat something."

A tear fell down her cheek. "I don't want to eat."

Marik sighed and turned his head, seeing someone by the door. Otogi and Tristan were standing by the door. Otogi was holding something wrapped in foil.

"Hello, Miranda," Tristan said, leading Otogi over to the bed.

Miranda turned her tear-stained face to the two men. "Hello."

Otogi walked beside her and put the wrapped object beside her. "I made you Banana Bread. I made this early this morning and I heard what happened. I made another bread for you."

Miranda grabbed Otogi's hand. "You didn't have to do that for me, Otogi."

Otogi leaned down and hugged her. "It's no problem at all, Miranda. I wanted to do that for you. Tristan even mashed the bananas for me."

Miranda raised an eyebrow. "A strong, husky man like you mashing bananas?"

Tristan stepped beside her and wrapped his muscular arms around her. He kissed her on the forehead. Miranda wrapped her arms around her and sniffled.

"Miranda, we're here for you. If there is anything we can do for you, you let us know. We moved to the Crestwood Apartments down the street. If you need us, just give us a call." Tristan wrote his phone number on a piece of paper. "There's our new number."

Miranda took the paper and looked at it. "I don't want to be a bother."

"You're not a bother, Miranda. We just want to help you."

She smiled up at them. "You guys are the best! Do you know that?"

Otogi blushed, turning his face almost away from her. "Aww…you're too sweet!" Otogi grinned.

Seto and Joey knocked on the door. Miranda turned her head and saw Seto, Joey, Hayden, and Jaimen standing by the doorway.

"Seto? Joey? What are you guys doing here?"

Joey walked up to her and took her hand. "Ryou called us. We hurried over here as soon as we could."

Hayden and Jaimen stood on the other side of her bed. "We heard about what happened," Hayden said. "We're sorry."

Joey stepped back and Marik stepped back.

Seto looked down at the woman with the teary eyes. "Miranda?"

"Thank you for coming, Seto."

Seto raised his arms and stepped towards her. He leaned down and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He pressed her to his body, resting his head against her shoulders. Seto could smell her perfume and feel his soft skin against his. He pressed his fears down in favor of giving Miranda the comfort that she needed….a hug.

When he pulled back, she looked stunned. "Seto…you…you hugged me."

Seto shrugged. "We were all worried about you, Miranda."

Miranda wiped a tear away. "You were?"

Hayden nodded. "Of course we were. Mr. Kaiba was very worried about you. All of us were."

Miranda's bottom lip trembled and she sobbed into her hands. "You guys have been so great! I don't know what I would do without you."

"Did the doctor tell you what caused it?"

Miranda shook her head. "The doctor said she couldn't find a reason. I told her not to worry. I want to bury my baby with his sister. I don't want Christa to be alone."

Miranda sniffled. "I want to see my son. I want to see Robbie."

Marik stroked her hair. "Robbie will come, Miranda. Don't worry."

"Mommy!"

Miranda looked up to see Robbie limping quickly into the room. Robbie jumped up on the bed and hugged his mother.

Miranda wrapped her arms around Robbie tightly, sobbing into his red hair uncontrollably.

Robbie whimpered as he hugged her. "I was so worried about you! I didn't know where you were! Aunt Vera wasn't in the house when I woke up this morning! I was all alone!"

Miranda clutched him to her chest. "It's okay, baby. It's just you and me now."

Robbie looked up. "Where is my baby brother?"

Miranda looked into the teary blue eyes of her son. "God took him back, Robbie. He's with Christa now. And they're smiling down on us."

Miranda clutched Robbie to her. "I love you, Robbie. I love you with all my heart…my little boy."

Miranda sobbed quietly, knowing that Robbie would always be her only son.

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

The bus arrived at Camp Sitting Bear later that morning. He watched the city streets become forests and dirt trails. He gripped his toy monkey tightly as his eyes sparkled at the open fields and wildlife which roamed the roadside.

He pointed to a fawn and its mother. "See, money? You've never seen a deer before!"

His stomach tightened in anticipation. His father had told him to take his heart medication when he arrived at the camp.

When the bus stopped, he jumped out of the bus and his eyes widened at the nature surrounding him. Tall oaks and pines surrounded the little camp. He saw children in wheelchairs and on crutches.

Two camp counselors came over to him and his group. "Hi, Kids! My name is Lilly and this is Issa and we'll be taking you all to your sleeping quarters. Follow us, kids!"

Aten clutched his toy monkey to his chest and breathed the clean air. His eyes widened at the pool.

"I tant go in there without my shirt on. Nobody will lite me if they see my bat."

He saw some kids playing volleyball and smiled. "This place is gonna be so mush fun!"

One child dropped his bag and Aten picked it up.

"Thank you very much," the little bald African boy said with a thick accent.

Aten smiled. "It's no problem. I'd hate it if I dropped my money. I tant live without him."

The other small boy fixed the baseball cap on his head and looked at the monkey in Aten's arms. "You got one of those? My uncle gave me one of them when I first got sick. Now I play it all the time and it drives my daddy crazy."

Aten looked over at the boy. "Do you have a bad heart, too?"

The boy shook his head. "Nah. My heart's fine. My mommy told me I have bad cells in my head."

Aten pat the boy on the shoulder. "I have a bad heart. Really bad. But, I got a patematter for it."

The two counselors lead the children to the dormitory. Aten ran for an empty bed and put his schoolbag on the soft mattress. The little boy threw himself on the bed beside him.

The little African boy bounced, laughing happily. "My name is Kenan. What's yours?"

Aten opened his schoolbag, searching for his heart medications. "My name? My name is Aten Bakari Ishtar Ibn Marik. I'm sorry if I'm having a hard time speating Ingish. I tant speat it very well."

"What do you speak?"

Aten pulled out his pillbottle. "I speat Arabic. I'm Egyptin."

Kenan's brown eyes widened. "Wow! We speak Swahili to my grandmother. She doesn't know too much English."

Aten took a bottle of water that his mother had packed for him and swallowed his pills. He sighed in relief as he felt the medications go down his throat.

"That's a lot of pills. I got a lot, too."

Lilly and Issa helped some of the kids to their beds. Aten looked around at many of the children. Many of the children were bald and had what looked like lesions on them. Two children were in wheelchairs.

"Okay, gang!" Issa cried out to the kids. "Let's go have some fun! What do you say?"

The children cheered and, those who were able, ran out of the dormitory.

Kenan jumped off his bed. "Come on, Aten!"

Aten grabbed his paintbrushes and his paints. He grabbed his art book and hugged them close to his chest.
"Here I tum, Teen-an!"

Aten ran, following the rest of the crowd. He ran outside and looked around at the freedom surrounding him.

He looked into the sky and saw a hawk circling.

"I wonder what I could paint for Robbie. I wonder what he would lite me to paint for him."

Aten followed after the group, feeling the wind flowing through his hair as he chased the other children.

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