Carved in Stone

Screaming in the Night

            Yugi sat up in bed wide awake. Ever since the call from Yami had came in he’d had a
bad feeling. He felt guilty for snapping at the former pharaoh, but that wasn’t what was keeping
him up. He just had a very bad feeling growing in the pit of his stomach that he couldn’t shake.

            Yugi quietly got out of bed and started pacing the hall. Neither Yami or Isis had called
and it had been over two hours since Yami had been in touch. Yugi walked into Solon’s room
and checked on the sleeping baby. Solon’s little fingers were twitching ever so slightly as he laid
curled into a little ball. Yugi sighed softly as he covered Solon up with the blanket Yami had
given to him. The tri-haired hikari bit his lip as he recalled the day when he and Yami had
bought the soft blue blanket.

*~*flashback*~*

“It’s times like these when I wish I was a normal guy.” Yami grumbled as he walked down the
isle of the department store.

Yugi stopped to look at a display with blue and pink animal plushies.

“What do you mean by that?” he ask as he picked a blue dog out of the collection.

Yami stopped and looked back at Yugi.

“Normal fathers can give their offspring things that belonged to them whhey hey were infants. I
highly doubt anything exists on this planet of mine from when I was young that I can pass down
to my son.”

Yugi tossed the little blue plushie into the shopping cart and pushed it a little further down the
isle.

“What does that matter? When your son gets old enough to understand things, just the fact that
his father was pharaoh will probably knock his socks off!”

Yami pulled a light blue blanket off of a lower sheld und unfolded it. It wasn’t anything very
fancy, but it was nice.

“Here, we’ll get this. Now let’s pay and go home. I’m starting to feel scoptophobic*.” he said as
he refolded the blanket and set it in the cart.

Yugi chuckled as he spun the cart around and started toward the checkouts. “You know Yami,
you could give your son your Millennium puzzle, or any of the Millennium items.”

Yami made a sour face. “Are you on dope, aibou? I wouldn’t give one of those to my worst
enemy!”

Yugi burst out laughing. “Uh...that’s my point”

Yami looked at Yugi with a half grin on his face as they got to the checkout counter.“Even
though the Millennium Ring would make a great chew toy for when my son starts teething, I
think I’ll just stick with the blanket.”

Yugi covered his mouth and giggled. “You kill me, Yams! I love you.”

Yami smiled at Yugi and wrapped his arm around him. He lovingly kissed his hikari’s cheek.
“And I love you, aibou. Forever.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Yugi wiped a tear from the corner of his eye as he left Solon’s room. “Forever” he sniffled
quietly.

He wandered down to the kitchen and sat at the table looking out the window. He couldn’t shake
the feeling that something bad had happened. Yugi got up and started some water boiling to
make himself some tea.

* Fear of being stared at

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

 

            “Dude, wake up!” Duke exclaimed in a hushed voice.

Tristan slowly opened his eyes. “Where....am.....Oh..yeah. I wasing ing a bath.” he mumbled as
he started coming to. Duke’s bright green eyes were the first thing he saw.

“Hey man, what are you doing out of bed? You could’ve drown, you goofball!”

Tristan rolled his eyes.

“I’m just fine. What time is it?”

Duke looked at his wrist watch. “A little after 4. I had to close the bar down by myself because
Noa was being a prick to Serenity.”

Duke extended his hand to Tristan to help him up. “C’mon Tris, let’s get bac back into bed.”

“But Duke....I’m not tired. I feel like watching tv.” Tristan protested.

Duke helped Tristan up out of the water and wrapped him in a fuzzy big red towel. He walked
his kamikaze motorcycle wrecking lover out to the livingroom and helped him onto the couch.

“Fine, You can watch tv. I really have to get to bed though, I’m totally beat and I have to be up
by 8.”

Tristan nodded his head and ran his fingers through Duke’s raven mane. “I promise I’ll come to
bed so#822#8221;

Duke kissed Trist82178217;s lips lightly and smiled. “Can I get you anything before I hit the hay?”

Tristan paused and thought. “Uh......well.....actually, I could really go for some chicken. Is there
any left in the fridge?”

Duke nodded his head.

“Not up here, but I saw some in the kitchen downstairs. I’ll go it for you.”

Tristan kissed Duke’s cheek. “Thank you, I appreciate how nice you’re b to to me after what I
did to your bike.”

Duke shrugged his shoulders. “I can always replace the bike. Besides, I’ve been looking for a
reason to buy the one I was looking at down at Doc’s.”

Tristan rolled his eyes. “Oh no.....please don’t tell me you’re actually going to buy that neon pink
sportster!”

Duke wagged his eyebrows as he headed out the door. “Ha ha- Maybe!”he laughed.

Tristan chuckled as he turned on the television. “Fucken Duke......what a crazy shit.”

A commercial for beer was on and it made Tristan thirsty. He knew he wasn’t suppose to have
an alcohol while taking his prescribed painkillers, but he REALLY wanted a beer. Just one can
couldn’t hurt. The worst it could do is put him to sleep.

Tristan slowly got up off of the couch and hobbled into the kitchen. He was about to open the
refrigerator, but stopped when he thought he heard a woman’s voice talking to him.

“Hello?” he called out, looking around the kitchen. There was nobody in the kitchen except for
him, so Tristan opened the refrigerator to get a beer.

As he took a drink of his beer, the voice haunting him called to him again.

“Ser.....en....ity.....”

Tristan swore the voice came from....... the toaster?

He set down his beer and picked up the appliance.

“Hey lady, this isn’t funny!” he yelled at it.

It didn’t answer him back........

Tristan shook the toaster and glared at it.

“This is insane! What the hell!”

“Duke...Serenity.....” the voice moain hin his ear.

Tristan freaked out and dropped the toaster on the kitchen floor.

“AHHH! Talking toaster!!!” he shrieked.

Talking bread warmers were just a bit too much for him to deal with at this point! He let out a
girlish sounding scream and dropped his beer.

Just as the toaster hit the floor. Duke walked in and heard Tristan scream.

“Holy shit! What the hell!” he gasp as he rushed into the kitchen.

He found Tristan staring at the toaster on the floor like it was possessed by a demon.

“Dude! What’s going on in here! Are oka okay man?” he exclaimed as he set the chicken he’d
brought for Tristan on the counter top. He grabbed the roll of paper toweling and started
cleaning up Tristan’s beer mess.

Tristan backed up and gripped the counter tois mis mouth was open, but comprehendible
nothing was coming out.

“Ta- ta-live-ta......”

Duke picked up the toaster and looked it over. He didn’t look very happy.

“What the hell is wrong with you, man? How the hell are we gonna make toast if you go
dropping the damn thing? And why are you drinking a beer? The doctor said you can’t drink
while you’re on those pain killers! Damn dude!”

Tristan took a couple deep breaths until he regained his composure. He pointed at the toaster and
made a face.

“Dude, I’m not lying here, the toaster was talking to me!”

Duke rolled his eyes as he finished cleaning up Tristan’s mess. He tossed the wet paper towels in
the trash can and sighed in frustration.

“I think you’re sleepier than you realize, man. You better get you’re ass to bed.”

Tristan stuck out his bottom lip and pouted.

“Awe! No way dude! I want my chicken!”

Duke shook his head adamantly and took Tristan by his hand.

“Sorry, no chicken for you, not with the way your actiall all weird and creepy-like. With my
luck you’d turn into a gremlin if you ate the chicken I brought up for you. You’ll have to wait
until morning.”

“But Duke!” Tristan whined.

Duke latched onto Tristan’s good arm and started pulling him toward the bedroom. He ignored
Tristan’s cries of protest.

“Just shut up, you’re coming to bed........freak-boy. Jeeez, talking toasters. What’s next? The
coffee pot and the microwave making love?”

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

            The clock in the livingroom chimed five times reminding Yugi that time still existed.
Still no word from Yami or Isis. Yugi took Solon’s bottlt oft of the pot of warm water and
tested the temperature of the contents on his wrist.

Solon whimpered softly as Yugi cradled him in his arms. Yugi patted Solon’s back gently as he
they walked out of the kitchen.

“Hold on baby, we’ll feed you in the livingroom. I want to be near the telephone incase daddy or
mommy call.”

Solon’s whimper had escalated into a cry before they sat down on the sofa.

“There, there, Solon, here’s your bottle. Shhh........shhh.......it’s s’okay.” Yugi assured the hungry
boy.

Solon stared up at Yugi as he sucked eagerly on the bottle. His eyes were still glassy from
crying. Yugi swallowed back the lump growing at the back of his throat. Solon’s eyes looked
exactly like his father’s......or did they? As the first rays of morning sunlight came through the
window, Yugi noticed a slight purple-ish hue in Solon’s eyes. He smiled down at the now happy
baby.

“Must be from the Ishtar side.” he laughed.

The two of them sat quietly until Solon had finished his bottle. Yugi set the bottle aside and held
the sleeping child against his chest. It felt good holding a part of Yami close to him, but it still
didn’t make the bad feeling that something bad happened go away. Yugi ran his palm over
Solon’s silky soft bright blond hair and sighed. “Sleep akachan tenshi....daddy and mommy will
be home soon.”

‘I hope” Yugi thought to himself silently as he closed his eyes.

            Yugi was suddenly jolted out of his sleep by the sound of somebody knocking on the
back door. Solon was still sleeping, so Yugi laid him gently in the basinet.

Yugi went to answer the door, and was surprised to find Joey standing there with his hands in his
pants pockets.

“Hey Yugi, can I come in?” the blond ask in a solemn voice.

Yugi nodded his head and stepped out of Joey’s way. “Yeah, sure, what’s up?”

Joey walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. He sat staring at his tennis shoes and
twiddling his thumbs. Yugi sat across from him.

“Is everything okay? Did you and Kaiba get in a fight?” Yugi ask softly.

Joey shook his head and sighed.

“Nah, Kaiba and I are doin’ great. We’re suppose to fly to Mexico today........but....”

Joey’s voice cracked as he stopped and looked up at Yugi. He bit his bottom lip and reached for
Yugi’s hand. “Oh Yugi”

Yugi felt Joey squehis his hand. Something wasn’t right. Yugi braced himself for whatever it
was.

“What Joey? What’s the matter!” Yugi exclaimed.

Joey took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Last night, Kaiba and I went out for something to
eat....and...and....”

Yugi nodded his head. “Yeah, go on, and what?”

Joey swallowed hard before mustering up the courage to continue. “And......we were just about
to leave when Malik’s sister came back into the bar all freakin’ out. She ask Kaiba and I if we
would help her look for...uh...”

Tears pooled up in Yugi’s eyes as he stood up and grabbed the edge of the table. “Yami, right?
Something happened to Yami!”>
<>

Joey looked down at the floor and nodded his head.

“Kinda......Can’t really say for sure though.”

Yugi threw his hand up and fisted his hair as he turned around and started pacing.

“I knew it! I could feel it! What happened Joey, tell me everything you know!” he begged as
tears streamed down his cheeks.

“Well, Isis said she waited for him at her car for like 10 minutes. He told her he was gonna call
you or something. Anyway, when she went to check on what was holding him up, all she found
was the phone hanging off the hook and no Yami.”

Yugi threwselfself at Joey and wrapped his arms tightly around his former lover.

“No, Yami!” Yugi sobbed against Joey’s chest.

Joey patted Yugi’s back comfortingly as he got up out of his chair.

“Don’t worry Yugi, Kaiba’s got his goons scouring the city for any trace of him. Just have faith,
okay? You need to stay strong for Yami......and his kid.”

Yugi took a deep breath. He exhaled as he looked up at Joey.

“Are there any leads yet?” he ask softly.

Joey shrugged his shoulders as he continued to rub Yugi’s back.

“Not yet really, but I’m sure we’ll find something soon.”

The words no more than left Joey’s mouth when the sound of a baby crying came from the
livingroom. A small smile spread across Joey’s face.

“Is that the little guy?” he ask.

Yugi wiped the tears out of his eyes with his pajama sleeve and nodded his head.

"His name is Solon.”

“Awe dude, I gotta meet the little squirt yet! Mind introducing me?” Joey grinned.

Yugi shook his head and waved for Joey to follow him. “I don’t mind, c’mon in the livingroom.”

 Joey stayed hot on Yugi’s heels as they walked into the livingroom by whimpering baby. Yugi
reached into the basinet and picked the baby up. He patted Solon’s back as he gently bounced
him in his arms. “Shhh akachan tenshi, uncle’s here....I got a new friend for you to meet!”

Yugi turned Solon around so he was facing Joey.

“Awe...he’s adorable!” Joey cooed as Solon stopped crying. “Can I hold him?”

Yugi nodded his head. “Sure, go ahead.” he smiled as he handed Solon over to Joey.

Joey carefully cradled the small child, smiling brightly down at him. “Hi Solon, my name is
Joey.

“That’s UNCLE Joey” Yugi grinned as he straightened up the area where he had fallen asleep.

Joey chuckled as he lightly tapped Solon’s little button nose with his finger. “Whatta cute widdle
guy, you wook just wike your weirdo uncle Malik, you poor widdle fing.”

Yugi rolled his eyes and tossed a baby blanket over Joey’s head.

“Isis would have your butt if she heard you say that, Joey.”

Joey giggled playfully as he pulled the blanket off his head. “Hey now! It’s a well known fact
that this kid’s uncle is a little screwed up.”

Yugi shook his head and laughed.

“Well yeah, Malik is quite a tool sometimes, but that’s not what I was talking about. I don’t
believe the words, ‘whatta’, ‘widdle; ‘wook’ and ‘wike’ are parts of the English language.”

Joey rolled his eyes. “Oh blow me” he snickered.

Yugi held up his index finger and shook it at Joey. “Now, now, watch the language Joey, littles
ears in the room!” he grinned.

Joey chuckled as he sat down with Solon. “I hear yah......Uncle Yugi. I’ll behave myself.”

The child seemed to take a liking to Joey, infact, when he went to hand him back to Yugi, Solon
wouldn’t let go of Joey’s shirt.

The time was now going on 8am, and they still hadn’t heard a word from anybody about Yami.
Yugi could very faintly feel fear and confusion through his bond with the pharaoh, but he tried
not letting it get to him. He knew he had to stay strong. After all, that’s what Yami would do.

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

Bet ya’ll didn’t think I’d actually post this chapter this week, eh? I know, I’ve been bad at
keeping up with this fic. Like I mentioned in Hellraisers though, I’m feeling a helluva lot better
now, and that means my updates will be much more frequent. My muses finally found their way
out of the Shadow Realm, so that makes things much easier!

Oh, yeah......*cough* Bakura/Marik lemon next chapter.....*cough*

I think my beta reader is out drinking again, so I’ll have to wait for her to crawl home before I
can edit this. I’m telling ya, that beta of mine really loves her Jack Daniels! Damn!

C-yaz soonies!

xoxox