Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Yami Virus ❯ Be Strong ( Chapter 46 )

Note: Marik and Aten's prayers come from hymns to a goddess, Hathor. She was worshipped with the Egyptian god, Aten. (Aten was the visible part of the sun which could help things grow or kill. Hathor was depicted as a 'celestial cow'. She was considered 'the lady of the sun' and by many, to be the feminine counterpart to Aten.)

IMPLIED YAMI X BAKURA ONLY!!!!!!!!!

lost light: star! It's been so long since I've seen you! *hands plushies*

Kura Magician girl: *hugs* It's going to be okay. Bakura will have his revenge.

yami no miko: You know me….those who I kill off are not dead for good.

lady Elfskye: *hugs and hands Bakura plushie*

valea: Rhea comes back here. But, she can't free him.

seto lover and Bakurasgirl worshipper: *evil grin* I admit to nothing.

Moshi Moshi Neko: *hands chocolate*

Be Strong

Ryou was startled awake. His dreams that night all centered around Bakura's death. He looked down, feeling white spiky hair underneath his chin.

He had forgotten that Aria had came into his room early in the morning with nightmares about her father. Her braided batwings fell over her face as she pressed herself against her mother.

Ryou gave her a kiss and slipped away from her. He covered her with the sheets and shut the door slightly behind him.

Downstairs, Malik was sitting at the kitchen table with a cold cup of coffee by his side. The kitchen table was covered with books and scrolls. Ryou looked at the books written in seven different languages. The blond slept quietly on the books, his body exhausted from an entire night of research.

Ryou made himself a hot cup of tea and grabbed a blueberry muffin from a brown bag.

If Malik was asleep here, where was his yami?

Ryou peeked outside of the window and onto the back lawn.

Marik and Aten were awake. Both of them were holding a book in their hands. Between them, they had a fire burning.

Marik took some spices and threw them on the fire. He spoke in English, his voice cracking with emotion.

"They cry out to Her Majesty every day.
The Beautiful Perceiver for those who follow Her Path;
TheOne who gives sight to the blind.
The excellent Guardian who protects the one who invokes Her on the day when he faces life or death."

Aten put in a handful of flower petals into the fire. He spoke once again in Arabic.

"I adore Your Majesty with Your heart's desire.
I invoke Your Image with the sacred texts,
I exalt Your Ka to the height of heaven,
Iworship Your Image to the limits of the rays of the Aten."

Ryou watched as Marik took a dagger. He pricked his finger with the blade and watched as a drop fell into the fire.

Marik and Aten put their books down and reached out their hands to each other. Aten and Marik pressed their hands together, softly.

"Let me worship the Golden One, from whom all Life shines forth,
Let me exalt the sweet lady of the Sun and bind myself to her blood to blood."

They kept their hands together as Marik's blood slipped between their palms and three more drops plummeted into the fire.

Marik stood up and took a bowl of water from beside the fire. He stood and watched Aten shift back and kneel before the fire, his forehead touching the ground.

Marik stood over his son and allowed the water to fall on Aten's hair.

"May Ra and the rays of the Aten protect my son from the scourge of Anubis. Ra, send your light to protect my son, Aten Bakari Ishtar, from the hands of Anubis. Shine over my child and protect him for all of his days."

Ryou watched as Marik returned to his side of the fire and kneeled like his son, bending and placing his forehead on the ground. Ryou let out a smile as the eight-year-old struggled to pick up the bowl of water, some of it splashing over the side and wetting Aten's bare feet.

Aten stood over Marik.
"May Ra and the rays of the sun, Aten, sine over my daddy and potet him from the …..the…sturge of Anabi." Aten poured the water over Marik's head. "May Ra give my daddy life and not teep him from the sitness, which tilled my Daddy Bakura. Ra, save my daddy."

Ryou covered his face, trying not to laugh as Aten shook the bowl over Marik's head to make sure that all of the drops of water had left the bowl.

When Aten was done, Marik stood up and shook the water from his white and grey spiky hair. He took another bowl of water and poured it over the fire, extinguishing it.

Marik looked down at his smiling son.

"How did I do, daddy?"

Marik ruffled the child's hair. "Put your feet closer together when you stand by the offering, son."

"Lite this?" Aten looked down and put his tiny Egyptian feet close together. He smiled up at his father with his brown and purple eyes sparkling.

Marik hugged his son. "Just like that."

Marik lead Aten inside. "Good morning, Ryou," the yami said hugging Ryou tightly. "How did you sleep?"

Ryou shook his head. "Not well. Aria came into my room with nightmares. Marik, it took me almost two hours to get her to stop crying. What were you doing?"

"I was teaching Aten how to offer sacrifices to the gods. It's never too early for the boy to learn how to pray. We were praying for Bakura."

Aten limped to the countertop and reached up for a glass.

"Aten? What's wrong, honey?" Ryou asked, looking down.

Marik walked up to Aten. "You're walking funny."

"My antles hurt."

Marik picked up the boy and sat him on the counter. "Your ankles are swollen, little monkey! No wonder you couldn't stand right during our morning prayers."

Ryou approached and looked at the child's swollen ankles. "Aten, how many drinks did you have yesterday?"

"I had a glass of milt with eash meal. I also had two glasses of juice."

Ryou looked at Marik. "Dr. Zira told him to limit his liquid intake. He had too many liquids yesterday. Swollen ankles are a problem with heart failure patients."

Marik picked the child up. "We have to elevate your legs, Aten."

"Try not to have any juice today, Aten. It probably had some salt that irritated your legs."

Marik put Aten on the couch and elevated his leg. Aten let out a yawn. "You tired, baby?"

Aten nodded. "Yes."

Marik went for Aten's medication. Ryou began to make Aten some oatmeal when Malik woke up from his sleep.

"What time is it?"

"Eight O'clock."

Malik gasped. "Oh god! I slept for a whole hour! I can't sleep! I have to look for a cure!"

Aria ran into the kitchen and attached herself to her mother. Tears fell down her eyes. "Mommy, I woke up and you weren't there! I thought you had died, too! I thought you left me, too!"

Ryou kneeled down. "Baby, I'm still here. See? It's okay, precious."

Aria's fingers dug into Ryou's legs. "I thought that you died, mommy!"

"I'm not dead," Ryou said picking up the little girl. Ryou rubbed the girl's back and held her in his arms.

Ryou stirred the oatmeal and kissed her on the cheek. "All better. Are you hungry?"

"Can I have some cereal?"

Ryou smiled. "Sure you can."

Marik stood beside his hikari. "Have you found anything?"

Malik sighed in defeat. "No, I haven't. I think we have to go get more books. Nothing is in here."

Marik let out a growl and walked to the other side of the table. "We've tried everything! Where else is there to look?"

Malik closed the books on the table. "I don't know, Marik. If I knew, I'd be looking there right now for a way to bring Bakura back."

Marik narrowed his eyes at his hikari. "That's something else we have to search for! Do you remember reading anything that could bring a yami back from the dead?"

Malik rolled up the scrolls. "I don't remember everything I've read, Marik."

Ryou turned, hearing the frustration in both of their voices. "Guys, we'll find the cure. And we'll find a way to bring Bakura back."

Marik clenched his fists. With a quick, angry motion, he tossed the table over, making the books and scrolls crash to the floor.

"RA-DAMN VIRUS!"

Ryou gripped onto Aria as the house's foundation began to shake. Ryou turned off the stove and ran to Aten. Ryou covered both children with his body as the house shook.

Aten clutched onto him. "Mommy, I stared!"

Aria let out a wail. "Mommy! Make it stop!"

Ryou clutched onto the two children close as the shaking slowly stopped. When the house was still, Ryou went into the kitchen.

"Marik, what did you do?!"

Marik looked at the table on its side and the books spread on the floors. The scrolls had unrolled, much to Malik's dismay.

"I…I'm sorry. I just became…..Excuse me."

Marik left the room and walked up the stairs. He closed the door to his bedroom and bit his lip. He fought his tears back.

Someone knocked on his door.

"Come in."

Ryou entered the room and shut the door behind him. He walked up to Marik and brushed aside the gray and white hair.

"I lost more than just my lover, Marik. I lost my husband. I lost the father of my child." Ryou started to cry. "I really need you to be strong for me, Marik. Because….Because I can't do this by myself."

Marik brought Ryou close to him. "I'm sorry. Gods, Ryou, I'm so sorry."

"We have to be strong for our son, Marik. I have to be strong for both of them. I need your help, Yami Marik."

Marik looked up, surprised by the formality. "You're right, Ryou. I was an ass. I'm sorry."

Ryou sat beside Marik. The couple held hands tightly.

Marik turned to Ryou. "I'll take Malik to the museum to return the books. We may find something there."

Ryou nodded. "Okay. Maybe I'll go to Seto's place. I really don't want to be alone."

Marik kissed Ryou's cheek. "You won't be alone, tenshi. You never have to worry about being alone."

Ryou wrapped his arms around Marik and hugged him. He closed his eyes and whispered, "Thank you, Marik."

Marik stroked Ryou's hair as rain started to tap on the windowpane.

"Can you hold me for a little, Marik?"

Marik said nothing, but held Ryou tightly against him.

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

Seto and Joey sat down at the dining room table for lunch. Hayden and Mokuba walked into the dining room, still a little spooked from the quake that hit the KaibaCorp building.

Jaimen ran in and hugged his father.

Seto ruffled his son's brown hair. "I will give my stepfather one compliment: He certainly made this place solid."

Joey sat down as the cook emerged with their lunches. "I wonder what the heck caused that! I've never heard of an earthquake hitting here."

Seto turned on the television and the reporter folded her hands on the desk.

[This just in….An Earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale has just hit the Domino Area. There has never been a previous record of an earthquake ever hitting Domino City.]

The weather man sitting beside her shrugged his shoulders. [This is certainly an odd occurrence, seeing as our city is no where near any fault lines.]

Seto and Joey exchanged glances.

Joey bit into his cheeseburger. "They're not going to find a reason for that earthquake."

Seto sighed and stirred his macaroni and cheese. "I know what caused that earthquake. A certain blond and gray haired yami."

Mokuba scratched his black hair. "Are you sure it was Marik, Big Brother?"

"This wouldn't be the first time that Marik's anger caused a natural disaster."

"I guess he's not taking Bakura's death too well," Hayden said, timidly looking up from his tuna sandwich.

Seto shook his head. "No, I know he's not. I wonder how Ryou and Aria are doing today."

Joey shrugged. "We'll have to call them up and check on them."

Seto tapped his finger on the table. "I need to do something to distract Aria and Aten from Bakura's death."

Jaimen watched his father think. Seto bit his lip, tapping his fingers endlessly against the dark wood of the table.

Mokuba took a bite of his lunch. "What are you going to do?"

Seto's eyes narrowed and a smile crossed his lips. "I'm going to set up a Duelist Tournament. This way, the kids won't have time to mourn Bakura's death. They'll be concentrating on the duels and not on Bakura."

Joey patted Seto on the shoulder. "That's a great idea! You can make the tournament for children under ten years of age."

"What about you, Hayden? You're ten. Do you want to duel?"

Hayden shook his head. "I'm not into Duel Monsters."

"What about you, Jaimen?"
Jaimen bit his lip. "I don't know how to play. I don't even have any cards."

Joey leaned on his arm. "Both of your fathers duel, Jaimen. You won't hurt for cards. Mokuba, do you still have your old deck?"

Mokuba nodded. "Yeah, I still do. I haven't played in years and the cards aren't too strong, though."

Seto sipped his drink. "A duelist tournament is nothing to jump head first if you don't know how to duel, Jaimen. I'll tell you what. I can teach you how to duel and the next time I have a tournament, you can enter and you'll knock them all down."

Mokuba raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying he'll be able to beat Aria? Not even Yami could beat her."

Jaimen smiled. "It doesn't matter if I win or lose, Uncle Mokuba.

It only matters how much fun I have."

Seto nodded. "That's right. Well, if you want to enter the next one, I'll make sure that you are ready."

Jaimen nodded. "I'll try, but I know I can never be good as you, daddy."

"With practice, you can be just as good as your old man," Joey joked.

"'Old Man?' I'm only 25, Joey."

The blond snickered. "I couldn't resist."

"Then it's settled. I'll schedule a duelist tournament at the KaibaLands across Domino."

"Aten and I have our exhibit at the Domino Art Museum this Friday."

Seto smacked himself on the head. "Damn, I forgot about that! Okay, I'll have to set the Domino Tournament for next week."

"I'd really like to have Aten over so he can work on some paintings that he has over here."

Seto shrugged. "Well, Aten won't come without Aria. And Ryou needs a break to come to terms with the loss of Bakura."
Seto reached over and grabbed the phone. He dialed the number to Ryou's home.
"Hello, Ryou?"

[Oh…Hello, Seto.]

"How are you holding up, Ryou?"

Ryou sniffled and his voice cracked. [Fine.]

"Ryou, why don't you and the kids come over? Aten and Joey have their art show this Friday that I completely forgot about! Aten has some paintings over here that he has to finish."

Ryou let out a little sob. [Okay. I'd like that.]

"You guys can spend the night. I'm sure the kids would like that."

[Okay.]

"Also, Ryou, I'm going to set up a Dueling Tournament to help distract the kids from…..their loss. Aten and Aria can bring their decks and can practice downstairs in my private dueling arena if they want."

[A Dueling Tournament? So soon?]

"Aria and Aten need to focus their energy on something else other than Bakura, Ryou. This will help them do it."

[I'm not saying it's a bad idea. It sounds good. I know both kids would want to sign up.]

"I doubt that Aten or Aria would back down from the challenge."
[What's the prize?]

Seto thought for a moment and stroked his chin in deep thought.

"Free college tuition to the university of their choice anywhere in the world."

Joey and Mokuba's jaws dropped.

[That works. Sign my kids up.]

"Sounds good, Ryou. When do you want to come over?"

[Let me put Aten on the line.]

Seto waited for a few moments.

[Marhabe, Unkie Seto!] (Greetings, hello, Unkie Seto!)

"How are you, Aten?"

Aten started speaking Arabic, much to Seto's confusion. ['Andi waga'fil rigl…]

"Aten, I hate to disappoint you, son, but I can't understand a word of what you are saying."

The chibi giggled on the other line. [Oh, I'm sorry, Unkie Seto! Silly me! I was just saying that my antle really hurts today. It's all big and puffy.]

"Sorry to hear that, Aten. Listen, do you think you feel well enough to come over and work on your paintings?"

[I tan, but I have to teep my antle up.]

"You have a show with Unkie Puppy this Friday. Do you want to put your paintings in the show?"

[Yes! Yes! I have to finiss my paintings!]

"Do you remember how many you need to finish?"
[Umm….1…3….6….I thint I got 3 left to finiss. I dunno. I have to sheck.]

"Well, don't forget to pack your deck, Aten. I'm going to be holding a Dueling Tournament and you and your sister are invited to join."

Aten's eyes lit up. [Really??]

"Yes. I know you and Aria will do just great."

[Unkie Seto, tan I ass you a tession?]

"Yes, Aten?"

[When you see my mommy, I thint that you need to hug him. My mommy needs lots of hugs to mate him feel better.]

"How are you holding up, Aten?"

Aten shrugged. [I'm sad. I miss Daddy Bakura. But, I know he's with Robbie's baby brother in the Underworld. Daddy Bakura is probably playing with him right now. He's probably playing 'Peet-a-Boo' and holding him, just lite when I was a tiny, tiny baby.]

Seto heard a little whimper come from the chibi on the other end of the line. "Aten, don't cry. It's going to be okay."

[I know, Unkie Seto. *sniff* I just……..I just don't know why Osiris wanted my Daddy Bakura bat.]

"I can't answer that, Aten. I wish I could."

Aten's whimpering crumbled into sobs. [Daddy Bakura was so nice! He used to hold me…and tuddle me….and he used to tare away the bad dreams when they used to tum into my room….He used to tiss me on the sheet and he--.]

Aten's language slipped again due to his emotions. His Arabic took over again.

[Moneybags, what did you say to my kid?]

"I was just asking him if he wanted to bring his deck when he came over to finish his paintings! That's all!"

[Well, I have a chibi spouting off Egyptian to me and crying his little heart out.]

"I was telling Aten about a Dueling Tournament I'm setting up. I knew he would enjoy something like that."

[It's okay, Aten. Yeah, Aria and Aten would welcome the distraction.]

"Aten has to finish some paintings for his art exhibit. I was going to invite the kids and Ryou to come stay a night."

[Yeah, that would be good, Seto. I…..I..umm….I need a night alone with Malik.]

Seto was silent for a moment. "You're scared."

[If you just saw your best friend crumble to dust in front of you, wouldn't you need the same, knowing you were going to suffer the same fate?]

"You don't know that, Marik."

[Even still…I need a night alone with my Light. And I know…Ryou really needs someone he trusts near him.]

"I know. Well, I'll be happy to take them, Marik."

[Thank you, Seto. I appreciate this.]

"Don't worry about it. Now, I have to go. I have a Duelist Tournament to arrange."

Seto hung up the phone.

Marik brought his chibi on his lap and rocked him.

"Aten, it's okay."

Aten sniffled as Marik rubbed his swollen leg. "Daddy Bakura used to hug me…and tiss me…..he helped the bad dreams go away…He stared them away. He used to hold me in his arms….I want him to hold me again…"

Marik blinked. "So do I, Aten. So do I."

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

Bakura's head whipped to the side from the impact of Yami's slap across his face. The thin, white linens of the bed and the sheer drapes around the bed had been speckled with crimson.

Bakura panted heavily after Yami's assault. 'This is my punishment for harming Ryou,' he thought. 'I deserve this.'

Bakura's bound arms and legs twitched from lack of circulation. Yami had tied the bonds tighter, making sure his prey could not escape this time by dislocating a bone voluntarily.

Yami looked down at Bakura's naked form and grinned. He ran his finger on the inside of Bakura's thigh. He licked the blood off of his finger. "So sweet, Bakura. When I bathe and rid myself of your filth, we shall play again. And the next time, I hope you are much more willing to please me than you were this time."

Yami left his room, leaving Bakura laying on the bed, naked, bleeding, and covered in his own release.

Bakura closed his eyes, seeing Ryou behind them. Tears poured from Bakura's eyes. "Ryou…..please forgive me! Baby….I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!"

The bound yami sobbed, his body hurting more from his sobs.

He felt a cool breeze brush his skin. He looked over.

"Rhea!"

The woman stood by his bedside. "Poor Bakura."

She sat by his bedside.

"Rhea…..don't sit there…..blood."

Rhea reached out and brushed his hot cheek with her cool hand. "How does this feel?"

Bakura sniffled. "Your touch is like your son's. You feel so much like Ryou."

The yami cried again. "Ryou….I am sorry."

Rhea walked over to the bedside table and poured a glass of water for him. "This will help you."

Bakura shuddered as the cold liquid fell into his mouth and down his throat. He laid back and panted.

"Rhea, can you break these bonds?"

Rhea shook her head. "Those bonds were forged by the gods. I cannot break them. Only the gods can break them."

Bakura let out a defeated sigh. "It's okay. I deserve this punishment. For all I've put Ryou through, I deserve worse than this."

Rhea stroked Bakura's cheek again. "It's going to be okay, Bakura. You will see my son again."

Bakura shook his head. "I lost him. I had heaven in my arms….and I never knew it. He is my heaven, Rhea. Your son is my heaven on Earth. Without him, I'm in hell."

"My son misses you…..deeply."

"I'd give anything to see him again….even for a moment."

The door opened up and Rhea disappeared.

Yami looked down at his victim. "Time for Round 5, Bakura."

Bakura closed his eyes as Yami crawled on top of him again. The pharaoh grinned down at him.

"Are you scared?"

Bakura closed his eyes. "No."

"You should be, Bakura. You should be!"

Yami bit down on Bakura's neck and continued what he saw as his "royal right."

Updates: Friday