Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Yami Virus ❯ Where's the Bloodshed? ( Chapter 47 )

*I bought an actual Egyptian dictionary last weekend! So now I can have proper Egyptian in my story! GO ME! Before I was relying on websites...NOW I CAN DO PROPER EGYPTIAN! HORRAY!

WARNING: ANZU BASHING!!!!!!!!!!!! *grabs mallet and hands out Pepto Bismol…which I do not own*

Mariku182: *SQUISH AND HOLDS* I'm not sure what albums the new CD has. I didn't know they came out with one recently.

Kura Magician Girl: Eric and Rhonda enter. And they lose. Don't worry.

Redconvoy1: I made up Bakura's last name. His actual last name is something different.

Valea: Eric will lose, don't worry about that! Rhea couldn't do more than Marik could.

Tokyo Nights: Yami will get his dues.

Broken Time: *gets smothered by pillows and can't write* X_X

Stwabewwy Cotton Candy: *hands Aten plushie*

Angel Raven Dove: Your review really made me smile! I'm never going to stop writing. Even if I couldn't use my arms, I'd use my teeth to write! *hands Ryou plushie*

Lady Elfskye: Thank you for the lyrics. I'll look at the lyrics and see what I can do. Okay? And that chappie will be all for you! Aten has to learn sometime. When he grows up, that will be a big part of his life.

artimus: Anzu would squish Yami to death…..I don't know who to pity…probably Yami.

Shadow of Light: Hope you did good on the math test. *thinks of math and cringes*

Pharaoh yamis princess: *hugs you and gives various plushies* This chappie has Anzu in it. You know what that means???

Terra: *hands tissues*

Jupitor Knight: OMG! Are you okay? *hugs* Oh my god! I hope you get better, hon.

Where's the Bloodshed?

Aten dipped his brush into the dark blue paint. He dotted the canvas with his brush, placing a minute shadow effect on the figure. Aten cocked his head to the side. "Something isn't right…the lady needs more blush on her sheets. Her sheets aren't red enough."

Joey looked over at the picture of a woman white hair sitting by a river. She was smiling and held a lotus flower in her hands. "Aten, she's beautiful!"

Aten yawned. "This lady tame in my dreams last night. She told me that Daddy Bakura was otay." Aten began cleaning his brushes. "She gave me a big hug."

"She did?"

Aten nodded. "She told me that she world see mommy tonight. Mommy is her little boy, she told me. She says she loves my mommy and me and Aria very mush."

"That's Ryou's mom?! She's very pretty."

Aten nodded. "That's my mommy's mommy!"

Joey looked at his landscape, then back at Aten's painting. "You've outdone me, kiddo. We're going to knock their socks off tomorrow!"

Aten yawned as he covered his paints. "Unkie Puppy, tan you get me something to eat? My pills are…." Aten yawned and blinked tiredly. "My pills are putting me….sleepy. And I'm hungry."

"What do you want?" Joey asked, trying not to squeeze the little tired Egyptian boy to pieces.

Aten stretched. "Torpedo tips."

"Potato chips aren't good for your heart, Aten. What about some jello?"

"Chello with whipped team….low samaHt." (low samaHt-please)*

Joey put down his palette and covered his paints. He and Aten had been working hard to finish paintings for the art exhibit the next day. Joey worked late and found Aten listening to violin music and painting at the crack of dawn. Joey and Aten would paint all day and break only for meals and the periodic cuddle.

Joey put some jello and whipped cream in a bowl. He returned to the

studio and gasped.

Aten was sitting in his painting chair, his head tilted back and his arms dangling loosely at his side. Joey ran to him and checked his pulse. Aten's heart was beating fine. He had just fallen asleep. Joey put down the hello and picked the sleeping chibi up in his arms.

Even at eight years old, he weighed lighter than a feather. The blond carried the boy, no problem.

Seto stepped into the hallway. "Is Aten feeling alright?"

Ryou came bursting out into the hallway at Seto's question, programmed by his maternal instinct. "Is Aten okay, Joey?"

"Aten's fine, guys, he fell asleep painting."

Joey carried Aten to the bedroom he shared with his sister. "That medication knocks him out so quickly!"

Ryou removed Aten's shirt and his shoes. "It's not only the heart medication that does it. Fatigue is part of heart failure. And his legs and ankles have been quite swollen. It's this heat, though, I think. When he has energy, getting him to stop is quite the chore. But when he's down, that's it. He's been slowing down a lot lately."

Seto removed Aten's socks. "He needs his rest for tomorrow. Aria should be getting out of the tub soon."

Ryou removed Aten's jeans and put on his flannel pyjama bottoms on Aten. "Sleep tight, my little angel," Ryou said kissing Aten's cheek.

"Goodnight, our little Rembrandt," Joey whispered, kissing Aten's other cheek.

Seto leaned down and kissed Aten's forehead. "Goodnight, baby boy," Seto whispered, covering the Egyptian boy in the sheets.

Seto, Ryou, and Joey went to the bathroom.
"Aria, honey, it's time to get out of the bath. Your brother is asleep, so try not to make a lot of noise."

Aria smiled and looked up with a smile that was so much like her father's. Even through the happy smile, her canines sparkled mischievously…as if she were always up to no good.

"Okay, mommy."

"Did you wash yourself?"

The little girl nodded excitedly. "Yes! I sure did, mommy!"

Ryou smiled. "Did you wash yourself well?"

Aria stood up out of the tub, much to Seto's horror. "I washed myself and my vagina extra good," the naked chibi said."

"Seto wavered and grabbed onto Joey before he could fall down.

"Okay, sweetheart," Ryou said casually. "Get dried and dry your vagina really well."

"Oh god…" Seto groaned.

"Then you can have a snack."

Aria grabbed the towel and began to dry her white, spiky hair that resembled her father's.

Seto followed Ryou and Joey out of the room, his face green.

"Ryou, I think you should consider getting Aria a training bra soon."

Ryou nodded. "Miranda and I are going to have to go. I know nothing about bra shopping for a little girl. It's been a while since I went shopping for a bra…and Isis was with me! And I was a girl then!"

Seto collapsed in a chair by the fireplace in the library. "Guys, please! Ryou, how can you be so…..calm about…her saying….the "V" word?!"

Ryou shrugged. "She's a girl. I am her mother. She has to learn about her body, Seto. We've had this discussion. It's my job to take care of her and teach her how to care for her body," Ryou smirked. knowing the reaction he would get from Seto. "I have to teach her to take care of her body….regardless if she had a penis or vagina."

Seto shook his head. "I need a stiff drink."

Ryou smirked and kneeled beside Seto. "What's the matter? Is it because I said 'vagina?"

Seto turned beet red. Despite his sick feeling in his stomach, it was nice to see Ryou laughing. He always said he would do anything for Ryou, even if it was at his expense.

"Hey Seto?.........Vagina!" Ryou laughed as he watched

all of the color drain from Seto's face.

Seto sighed in resignation. "Just what am I going to do with you, Ryou?"

Ryou rested his head on Seto's shoulder. "Love me forever?"

Seto sighed. "I guess I'll have to, Ryou. I've always loved you, you know that."

Joey sat in Seto's lap. "Love me forever?"

Seto kissed Joey's neck. "Always will, pupsicle."

Jaimen ran into the room with his Spiderman boxers and singing the Spiderman theme song. (I don't own Spiderman!) "Done my bath, daddy! Can I have some chips?"

Aria ran in with her white lacy nightgown with lace and pink ribbons. Her batwings were braided with pink and gold ribbons.

"I want some Gummi Bears!"

Joey stood up. "I'll get these two a snack. I've got some Jell-o in the studio that Aten couldn't eat because he fell asleep. I've got to finish my landscape."

Joey left with the boy and girl, leaving the CEO and Ryou alone.

Seto pat his lap. "Get up here, angel."

Ryou sat on Seto's lap and rested his head on Seto's shoulder. The CEO ran his fingers through Ryou's smooth, white hair. Ryou listened to Seto's heartbeat in the still silence of the room. The crackling of the fire set the background for Seto's heart. Seto wrapped his arms around Ryou, cuddling him close to his body. The CEO buried his cheek in the tuft of white, silky hair. Seto held the delicate body against him. The two men were so wrapped up in the comfort they gave one another to notice Jaimen and Aria running in greedily with their food.

Jaimen settled himself at Seto's feet, eating his chips and looking into the fire. Aria took a handful of gummi bears and showed them into her mouth hungrily.

Hayden walked into the library with some tortilla chips and sat on the couch.

"How was your car race, Hayden? Who won?"

Hayden shrugged and bit into his chips. "I have no idea. Mokuba, Jeanie, and I were watching the race and they started…kissing on the lips. That's gross."

Aria and Jaimen curled their noses. "GROSS!"

"Except when it's Umi and I. It isn't gross then. Umi's a good kisser," Aria said, smiling.

Seto narrowed his eyes. "Must get Donny to talk to Mako about that.'

Hayden nodded. "I know! Then Mokuba started making funny noises and kept talking to Jeanie how what she was doing was making him feel good."

Seto groaned. "Why me?"

"How come when we're watching T.V. and they do that stuff, they forget I'm even there?"

Ryou heard Seto sigh again. "They are in love, Hayden. When you love someone that way, nothing else matters but that one person. When you love someone with your heart and soul, everything else…..fades. It's as if only you and him exist. And…and…when they are gone…you are…incomplete." Ryou felt Seto hug him tighter. "Excuse me for a minute."

Ryou stood up and ran out of the room, sobbing silently.

Seto sighed. Ryou needed some time to himself.

"Did I say something to upset Ryou?" Hayden asked.

"No, Hayden. Ryou's still very upset over Bakura's death."

Aria lowered her head. "I'm sad that my daddy had to die. I miss my daddy…..a lot. I miss him kissing me goodnight….reading me stories…singing to me…"

Jaimen looked up from his bowl. "My mommy never kissed me. She'd lock the door to my bedroom. But my daddy kisses me goodnight all the time. He loves me, right, daddy?"

"Yes, I do, Jaimen. Very much."

Jaimen smiled and looked up at his father with large blue eyes. "Me, too, daddy."

Aria dropped her bowl of gummi bears. "My daddy loved me, too! But now he's dead! And I'll never see my father again!"

Aria ran from the room and burst into the bedroom she shared with Aten.

Aten, startled by the noise, woke up screaming. "GRANDFATHER!" he shouted in fear.

Aria ran to the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

Aten jumped out of the bed and ran to the bathroom door.

"Aria?"

"GO AWAY, ATEN!"

"Why are you crying, sister?" Aten asked calmly.

Aria opened the door, her eyes filled and flooded with tears. "I miss my daddy, Aten…what am I going to do without my daddy?"

Aten reached out and brought her into his arms. He held Aria agains him, yawning tiredly.

"I want my daddy, Aten," Aria whimpered.

Aten yawned and brought her to the bed. "Hop in, Aria."

Aria climbed into the bed followed by her brother. Aten pulled the covers up and covered them both.

Seto and Ryou came in. "Kids?"

Aten yawned. "We're otay, mommy."

Ryou came in and kissed them both on the cheeks. "It's going to be okay, kids. We'll get Bakura back somehow. Pleasant dreams, my angels."

"Mommy? Your mommy is going to come to you in your sleep tonight. Tell her I say 'I love you.' Otay?"

Ryou looked over at Seto. "My mother? Okay. Thank you, Aten."

"Pleasant dreams, you two," Seto said kissing the two kids on the cheeks.

Aten brought Aria against him and cuddled her. Aten breathed in her apple-scented hair.

"You smell nize, Aria."

Aria smiled. "It's been a long time since we did this….stayed in the same bed."

"Yeah. It's beened a long time since we've stayed in the same bed."

Aten coughed, shaking the bed with its force. He cleared his throat and sighed.

"You okay, Aten?"

"My meditation tauses my toughs. I toot my meditation before I fell aseep…and….I…was paining…and….was tired…and….."

Aria watched her brother's eyes slam shut and his body go limp.

Aria sniggled into her brother's chest, hearing Aten's heart beat continue to stagger and struggle, despite the best efforts of the pacemaker to keep his heart beating.

Aria wrapped her arms around her brother, dreading the day that someday, she would lose her brother just like she had lost her father.

"Aten….I love you, you know. You're my brother….and….I will always need you. And I never want you to go away. Don't leave me, brother? Please."

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

Ryou showered alone and slipped into Seto's bed waiting for him.

Seto was turning off the lights in the library when Joey walked in wearing his boxers.

Joey walked up to Seto. "Goodnight, love."

"Where will you be sleeping?"

"With Jaimen. He's been excited all day because he gets to sleep with his other dad."

Seto brought Joey into his arms. "Are you sure you don't mind me sharing a bed with Ryou?"

Joey shrugged. "I don't mind. Ryou needs you right now. I'll just try not to keep Jaimen up with my snoring."

Seto smiled. "I love you, puppy."

Joey and Seto pressed their lips together softly. Seto buried his fingers in Joey's golden hair.

Joey pulled back from the kiss with hesitation, not wanting it to end. "Seto, I want you to promise me something."

"What is it, baby?"

"Whatever Ryou needs….give it to him. If he needs a kiss, cuddle, or……..or if he wants to make love, it's okay with me."

Seto's jaw almost dropped to the floor. "Joey…"

"No, Seto. Whatever Ryou needs…..give it to him. It changes nothing between us."

Seto nodded. "Okay, baby. I love you, Joey."

Joey smiled back at his lover. "I love you, too, baby. Goodnight."

Seto sighed as he returned to Ryou. He contemplated saying goodnight to Mokuba and Jeanie, but it was obvious that the couple were engaged in something that he would rather not see. Mokuba's quiet words of adoration and Jeanie's quiet moans were enough to tell Seto what was going on. "I love you, Jeanie…." Mokuba whispered as silently as he could.

'I am not turning my office into a nursery,' he wanted to yell at the door.

But, his brother was entitled to his privacy. He never wanted to be one of those 'not under my roof!' parents. He wasn't his brother's parent. He was his brother. That meant more to him than being a tight-wad and a disciplinarian.

Seto lived long enough with his stepfather, who dealt him strict punishment. He swore he would never return that on Mokuba.

Seto found a naked Ryou sitting on the bed, brushing his damp white hair.

Seto calmly went into the bathroom, cleaned himself up and stripped.

He went to the bed and slipped in beside his friend. He opened his arms and Ryou shifted close to him. Seto smiled as Ryou pressed himself against him.

It had been a long time since they had shared a bed together. It had been ten years ago since Ryou and Seto had shared a bed naked.

The cold satin sheets would feel good against Ryou's abused and bruised skin after one of Bakura's "lessons."

Ten years had changed a lot between the two boys.

School.

Seto's commitment to Joey. (They're not married, though.)

The attempted murder of Ryou by Steven.

Ryou's marriage.

Kids.

Seto sighed at the silky warm skin pressed closely to him. This is something he had wanted for ten years. He had missed Ryou and spending time with him like this.

"Where is Joey sleeping?"

"He's with Jaimen, Ryou. He said he wanted to give us time alone together."

Ryou snuggled closer to Seto.

Seto felt the thin body pressed against him begin to shake. "Ryou…it's okay."

"I miss him, Seto. Malik and I have been looking all over for a cure. And….I don't want to lose Marik, too."

Seto brushed Ryou's tear away. "Don't cry, angel. You'll find a cure. I've been trying to look through my resources, too. It's hard to find anything on the Yami Virus."

Ryou sniffled and Seto handed him a tissue. "Aria is very upset. She's been sleeping with me for the past couple of days. She's following me around like a baby duckling. Aria must be afraid she's going to lose me, too."

"Aria and Aten are like night and day, Ryou. Fire and ice. I can't imagine Aria acting any other way. Her temper has become worse and she doesn't know how to express what she's feeling. So, she's going to strike out like she did tonight. I understand."

Ryou reached up and brushed Seto's chest with his hands. "I missed you, Seto."

Seto grinned as his friend ran his fingers over his chest. It had been too long since Ryou touched it like him like this.

"I miss my other half, Seto."

Seto stroked Ryou's cheek gently. "I know, my angel. We will find a cure and find a way to bring Bakura back."

Ryou's teary chocolate brown eyes looked up at Seto. "Promise?"

The CEO leaned down to Ryou. "I've never lied to you before, Ryou. I don't intend on starting now."

Seto pressed his lips gently against the white-haired boy's lips. The CEO allowed his friend to slip his tongue past his lips. Ryou's hands dipped lower to run his hands along Seto's ribcage.

Seto's hands drifted down Ryou's chest, brushing against the prominent scar from his heart operation. Seto traced Ryou's jaw with a line of soft kisses.

The CEO kissed his friend's neck gently and nuzzled into Ryou's soft skin.

"Gods, Ryou, it's been so long since we've done this! I forgot how good you feel."

Ryou buried his face in Seto's hair. "I know. I missed doing this, Seto. I really do."

The CEO gathered his friend to his chest again. "Close your eyes, baby. We have a long day tomorrow."

"I…I love you, Seto."

"Love you, too, my angel. Close your beautiful eyes. Get some sleep."

Ryou closed his eyes, wrapped still in Seto's embrace.

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

Jaimen woke early the next morning and saw Joey. He let out a loud squeal and pounced on Joey, making the blond let out a scream.

"MORNING, MY OTHER DADDY! How are you?!"

Joey held his chest. "Jaimen, you scared the life out of me!"

Jaimen chuckled. "Sorry, my other daddy! Time for your morning tickle!"

Jaimen tickled Joey's stomach and armpits. The blond threw his head back and weakly tried to fight Jaimen off.

"Gonna tickle my other daddy! Gonna tickle my other daddy! Tickle! Tickle! Tickle!"

"Jaimen! Stop! Gods! Boy!"

Jaimen's happy giggles and squeals echoed through the room.

"That's it!" Joey laughed as he sat up and put Jaimen on his back.

Joey carefully sat on the boy's legs, careful not to scare him, and tickled his stomach.

"DADDY! OTHER DADDY IS TICKLING ME!"

Joey laughed. "You are so damn cute! Come here, chibi CEO!"

Joey brought Jaimen into his arms and the child laughed loudly.

Jaimen broke from Joey's clasp and ran down the hall. He ran to

Seto's room and burst in screeching.

Seto and Ryou jumped as the chibi threw himself on the bed with Joey in hot pursuit.

"Morning, guys! Just playing with Chibi Seto."

Jaimen snuggled under the covers as Aten walked into the room.

The Egyptian walked up to Joey and lifted his arms. The blond picked Aten up.

"How did you sleep last night, Chibi Marik?"

Aten yawned. "Slepted well. My antle still hurts a little, though. I'm still going to the art esshibit."

Joey looked at the clock. "We better get going if we don't want to be late."

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

Aten fiddled with the bow on his tuxedo. He didn't like wearing tuxedos to these events. He always grumbled that it made him look like a monkey. He called his 'tussedo' a 'money toot.'

When there, the art critics ran up to them. "Well, hello, Mr. Wheeler! So nice to see you!"

The older women shook Joey's hand. "So nice to see you came!"

They shook Seto's hand. "Well, Mr. Kaiba, it is an honor to see you have come with your partner! It's always a pleasure to see you here and your family with Mr. Wheeler!"

Hayden and Jaimen shook hands with the older men and ladies.

The old women saw Aten in his tuxedo. "Well, hello, Mr. Ishtar! So nice to see you!"

"Ahlan wa sahlan." (Hello.)

Jay and Karl carried in Aten and Joey's paintings into the exhibit.

"We'll show you where to put them."

The two men followed the older ladies as Aten showed his sister around the art gallery.

Aria's jaw dropped. "That lady is nakkie!" Aria pointed at one of the paintings.

Aten whispered in Aria's ear. "You tant yell 'nakkie' in an art esshibit!"

Aria leaned in. "Why not?"

Aten looked around. "Betaws this is a plaze to act like a growned-up. An art esshibit is a plaze to be a big kid. Let's go over to the table and get some sheeze and tatters!"

Aten and Aria ran over to the table and grabbed some snacks.

"Mr. Ishtar! Nice to see you again!"

"Oh! Hello, Mr. Hinney! Nize to see you again."

Hinney smiled. "Well, Aten, I couldn't resist coming when I saw that your wonderful paintings were going to be on display again."

Aria smiled. "I'm his big sister, Aria!"

"Nice to meet you, Aria. I'm a big fan of your brother's artwork."

"Yeah, my brother's paintings are really nice."

Mrs. Golding, one of the directors of the art museum, brought a young man over to see Aten.

"Mr. Ishtar, I would like to present Monsieur Leroux. He's a big fan of your artwork, Aten. He comes from the Louvre in Paris."

"Monsieur Ishtar, it's an honor," the man said, shaking Aten's hand, "It's an honor to meet such an esteemed artist! I have heard rumors that you were a young artist, but I did not believe them when they said that you were only eight."

Aten's head cocked to the side, hardly understanding what the man with the thick French accent was saying.

"Umm…thant you. I'm glad you lite my pishers."

"Your pictures…they….burst with passion….heart…..angst! They are soulful! Where do you get your inspiration, Monsieur Ishtar?"

Aria looked around at the men in tuxedos and the women in glittery dresses. She looked at the pictures and sat on a chair bored.

She looked up and saw Malik standing there. "What are you doing here?"

"Marik and I couldn't miss Aten's art exhibit. What kind of fathers would we be?"

Aria hugged Malik tightly. "I'm glad you're here. This place is boring as hell."

"Aria? Who taught you that?"

"Daddy."

Malik sighed in resignation. "What are we going to do with you?"

Marik walked up to his son talking to M. Leroux. "Hello, son!"

"Miss-her Leroo? This is my daddy, Marik Ishtar."

Marik shook the man's hand with a firm grip. "Bonjour." (Hello.)

"Votre fils est un garçon brillant." (Your son is a brilliant boy.)

"Merci beaucoup." (Thank you very much.)

M. Leroux shook Aten's hand again. "Have a nice day, Mr. Ishtar. I must go meet the other artists!"

Leroux walked away and Aten looked up at his father and said in Arabic. "I didn't understand him too well."

"That was a French accent, Aten."

"You know that langish?"

Marik nodded. "That was French. I can teach that to you, too, someday."

Aten smiled. "Otay, daddy!"

"So, show me those paintings you've been working so hard on."

Aten took Marik's hand. "This way, daddy!"

Aten showed Marik the picture he drew of Rhea, Ryou's mother sitting by the Nile.

He painted a park scene with happy children playing. But, much to Marik's surprise, some of the trees cast eerie shadows on the ground. One of the shadows……was Steven's silhouette.

One of his paintings was an angel holding a beam of light in her hand. Around her, white clouds hovered. Marik saw that the angel's features…..were similar to Bakura's face. Some of his hair looked like it was white and spiky.

"Aten, is this Bakura?"

Aten looked up with his large brown and purple eyes. "Don't he loot happy, daddy?"

Marik looked at the angel's face. When he looked closer, he saw the faintest teardrops coming from the angel's eyes. He didn't see them when he looked far away, but upon closer inspection, the painting looked like an angel sobbing…despite his happy face from far away.

"He looks sad."

"No, daddy, loot at it fum far away. He loots happy. If you loot at something tlosely, it loots different. The nearer you loot at some things, the sadder they are. But if you see something from far away, it seems happy. See?"

Marik nodded. "I see. Very nice, son."

Aten smiled proudly. "Damn, I'm good."

Marik shook his head. 'I can deny him,' he thought.

Aria leaned back in her chair, sighing heavily. People were talking softly among violin music. People were sipping their drinks and eating their shrimp cocktails.

"This place is sooooooooo boring! Where's the mayhem? Where's the bloodshed? I bet if I call in the Nightmare Dragon, this place would go crazy! It would be like 'Ahh! Nightmare Dragon! Run!' Hehehehehe……Then something exciting might actually happen here!"

Aria's head popped up at the voice of Marik's horrified voice.

"What is SHE doing here????!"

Anzu cocked her head to the side with that famous blank stare that made her famous throughout Domino. She smiled blankly at Marik and smiled ear-to-ear.

"MALIKY-POO! It's so friendly to see you!"

Marik tightened his grip on the Millennium Rod, trying to hold his anger back for his son's sake. "I'm Marik!"

One of the yami rules was this: No Shadow Magic in front of mortals. If mortals knew about Shadow Magic, then the yamis and their families would be in great danger.

After all, who wouldn't want the power over nature? Or the power over illness? Who wouldn't want an army of monsters, who would obey you at your every whim?

Marik grinded his teeth and turned to the old woman standing next to her. "Why on Earth did you bring her here?"

The old woman leaned in to Marik. "Because I hope to lose her here so I can go home…and be free from her evil!"

"Well, you got that right, old woman. She is evil."

Anzu shrieked, making a heavy piece of pottery crumble into dust.

"I'm not evil! I'm friendly and I've come to spread the word of friendliness and HAPPY BUNNIES and happy pictures that make people feel all warm and fuzzy and friendly inside! YEAH FRIENDSHIP!"

Aten sighed heavily and looked up at his father. "Sidr I biyuwga'ni." (My chest hurts.)

Marik sighed. "I know, son. I know."

Anzu squealed and everyone covered their ears from the shrill, sharp sound. "Aww!!!! HOW CUTE! HE'S SPEAKING LIKE WHEN HE WAS A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!! BABIES ARE LIKE FRIENDSHIP!"

Aten growled. "It's not baby talt! It's Egyptian!"

Anzu reached out to grab Aten, but Marik stepped in her way, his hair twitching angrily.

"Don't you lay a finger on my son!" the parent growled, his canines showing angrily.

"I'll go look at the friendly pictures that people drew and painted!"

Aria heaved a labored sigh from her chair. "I shouldn't have said anything."

Anzu bounced through the crowd. She came to the first painting. It was a cityscape by Joey.

"OOO!!! It looks like I'm flying like a friendly bird! Wee!!!!!!! I'm bring friendly! FRIENDLY BIRDY I AM! WEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"

Aria growled, seeing her effect on Aten, who was leaning against his father's leg.

Seto rolled his eyes. "Oh, great……how did she get in here?"

Anzu turned, her tiny, tiny brain registering that Seto had said something. "SETO-POO!!!!!!!!"

Seto blinked and before he knew it, Anzu's slimy arms were wrapped around him, hugging him tightly.

"I haven't seen you since we had that baby!"

Seto pushed Anzu, trying to get the twit off of him. "Anzu! We never……ouch…..had a baby! Now get off of me!"

"I danced naked in front of you and you made me pregnant! YEAH! PREGNANCY IS LIKE FRIENDSHIP!"

Ryou shook his head. 'Boy, is she misinformed,' Ryou thought. 'She won't find it so friendly if she gets pregnant.' Ryou stopped and he shivered. 'My, what a disgusting idea! Tea as a mother?' Ryou tried to think of the possibilities. An army of friendship-toting idiots spreading throughout Domino telling people that bee stings are like friendship. 'I think I need a hug.'

Ryou went looking and found Malik by Aria.

Quiet grumbles spread through the crowd as Jay and Karl ran to help their boss.

"I danced naked in front of you and then I had your first son! GO ME!"

Jaimen ran up to Anzu, and seeing the unrestrained terror in Seto's eyes, grabbed Anzu's leg. "Get off of my daddy! Don't hurt my daddy!"

Anzu looked down at Jaimen. "I HAD ANOTHER BABY! I touched Seto and I just got another baby! COME HERE, BABY!"

Anzu reached down and grabbed Jaimen.

Karl grabbed Anzu's arm and twisted it behind her, making Jaimen fall to the floor in a heap. The little boy ran behind his father.

A loud snap and Anzu smiled. "I think my arm is broken! Yeah! BROKEN ARMS ARE LIKE FRIENDSHIP!"

Seto kneeled and brought Jaimen into his arms.

Anzu jumped around with her arm making disgusting noises. She stopped and screamed at one of the paintings done by another artist.

"OH MY GOSH! THAT WOMAN IS NAKED! SHE LOOKS LIKE ME WHEN I'M NAKED!"

Every stomach in the place churned with sickness. Ryou and Seto leaned on their lovers, their stomach's turning.

Aten looked up at his father. "Daddy…..please hold me."

Marik picked Aten up into his arms and rocked him. "It's okay, baby boy."

Anzu bounced around, her breasts flying up and down in front of the men and women as she did so. "See? She looks like me? SEE?"

Anzu tore open her shirt and a two loud thuds was heard.

Seto was found on the floor, muttering something incoherent.

Malik called out to Marik. "RYOU'S DOWN!"

Karl and Jay ran to help their boss. Marik ran Aten to Ryou.

Ryou was panting and sweating, his face was pale. "Jessica….no…."

Malik turned to his yami. "Anzu reminded him of Jessica!"

Marik narrowed his eyes. "Shit."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "Who is Jessica?"

Aten's eyes widened and he looked around quickly. Marik could feel Aten's body tightening, his muscles tensing.

"Jessica was a lady who hurt mommy, Aria. Looking at Anzu reminded him of Jessica."

Aria growled and reached into her pocket.

"Aria, no!" Marik said, immediately knowing she was fishing for her dueling deck to summon a monster. "Not in public! Especially not here!"

Aria growled. "But, she hurt my mommy!"

"Aria, Jessica is dead. She can't hurt mommy anymore."

"Daddy Bakura made sure of that," Marik said solemnly.

Aten's body became less tense. "She's dead? Like Daddy Bakura?"

"Yes," Marik said unbuttoning Ryou's shirt to give him some ventilation.

Anzu was approached by two police men.

"Miss, you must remain in our custody until the police arrive. You will be arrested for indecent exposure."

Joey turned to the guards. "What about being a crime against nature?!" Joey patted Seto's cheeks gently. "It's going to be okay, Seto."

Seto opened his eyes slowly. "Joey? That you?"

"Yes, Seto?"

"I need a hug…..and a stiff drink."

Joey hugged Seto tightly. "A drink I can't do for you. I gave that stuff up. Remember?"

Karl ran to get a shot of whiskey for Seto and returned to his boss. Seto gulped it down and shuddered. "Okay. I think I'll have to go see Dr. Chapman….now I'm scarred for life."

"That makes all of us," Joey commented.

Ryou opened his eyes and clung tightly to Marik. "Marik, don't let go of me."

Aria hugged her mother. "It's okay, mommy. The bad woman isn't here."

Aten's grip tightened on Marik. "Cheska……"

Malik rubbed the back of his hair. "Umm…Marik, we should get these two home right away."

Anzu jumped up and down as she was being handcuffed. "HANDCUFFS ARE SO FRIENDLY!!!!!! YEAH HANDCUFFS! YEAH FRIENDSHIP!"

Joey helped Seto to his feet and then helped Ryou.

Ryou looked up at Malik with his brown eyes full of tears. "Marik, I want to go home…..please?"

Malik looked at his watch. "It's almost time for Aten's medication, Marik. We should go."

Marik carried Aten to the art museum directors. "I apologize, but I must take my son home. He's not feeling too well, poor little boy."

"Oh, that is a shame, Mr. Ishtar. We will be certain to mail a check to your house should someone sell one of your son's masterpieces."

Marik nodded. "Thank you. Let's go, Chibi Me."

Ryou gripped onto Marik's hand and refused to let him go. Aten's grip was impossible to remove. So during the drive home, he had Ryou and Aten clinging onto him as if their lives depended on it.

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

Joey took Seto home and Seto immediately staggered to his bed.

Seto laid in bed, with his hand over his eyes. "I think I'm going to burn out my retinas tonight. Vision is overrated."

"Mr. Kaiba! I have good news!" Ray Holston, Seto's Head of Public Events came running into the room. He was in his mid-twenties and had a lot of energy. He seemed, like Aria, to have a natural sugar high.

"Ray, I'm in no mood….what is it?"

Ray's entire body quivered with excitement. "You should see how many kids signed up for your tournament! Just in the first day we had about two thousand kids sign up! Think of the revenue this will create! Two thousand kids at ten bucks a head!"

Joey's jaw dropped. "Wow! Think of that, Seto!"

Seto chuckled and broke into a laugh. "Those kids can sign up. Just more for Aria to knock down. I know she'll win. Nobody can defeat my little girl! Not even Yami could beat her! And he's the King of Games! Well, he's been dethroned. Aria will kick some serious ass all by herself. Watch the fireworks, boys! None of those kids stand a chance!"

Update: Monday

Next Chappie: The Sea Prince vs. The Nightmare Dragon (Umi vs. Aria) and Machine vs. Beast (Robbie vs. Eric)