Emergence of the Tombkeepers

WARNINGS:‭ ‬HET BAKURA X RAYNA LEMON‭! ‬MARIK X BAKURA LEMON‭! ‬YAOI‭!

//........//-yami to hikari
/........./-hikari to yami

Retribution
‭****‬Bakura’s Dream Sequence‭***
So thirsty.....hungry.‭ ‬Where am I‭? ‬I opened my eyes in the darkness.‭ ‬My body lay on cold stone.‭ ‬So hungry.....haven’t eaten in days.‭ ‬The bitter wind from the night stung my open wounds‭; ‬my healing wounds throbbed.‭ ‬To my horror,‭ ‬I realized where I was.‭ ‬Yami’s dungeon.
The steel door of the cell squeaked open with an ear-piercing squeal.‭ ‬Rayna came in holding a torch and a cup.‭ ‬Praise Osiris‭! 
My lover kneeled beside me with the cup.‭ ‬My first sip of water in seven suns‭! ‬Her hand supported my weak head as I tilted my head back to drink.‭ ‬Even though I sipped the water,‭ ‬I wanted nothing more than to gulp it down ferociously.‭ “‬Drink this,‭ ‬love.‭ ‬Be careful.‭ ‬Sip.‭ ‬That’s a good boy.‭”
Drinking too quickly would place my body into shock.‭ ‬Rayna helped me sit against the wall.‭ ‬My angel removed a small chunk of bread from her robes.‭ ‬This is a dream‭! ‬By the gods,‭ ‬my hunger pains will disappear‭! “‬Here’s some bread.‭ ‬Eat slowly.‭ ‬You don’t want to get sick.‭”
I took a large bite and moaned as he chewed.‭ ‬Rayna smiled as I ate.‭ ‬While I was eating,‭ ‬she rubbed some medicinal herbs into my cuts and bruises.‭ “‬Thank you for the water and the bread.‭ ‬You saved my life,‭ ‬Rayna.‭”
Rayna reached out and pet the my bloodied,‭ ‬dirty white hair.‭  â€¬I’m surprised that she wanted to touch me at all.‭ ‬My skin was filthy,‭ ‬caked with dirt,‭ ‬dried blood,‭ ‬pus-filled wounds,‭ ‬sweat,‭ ‬and lice.‭  â€¬My ribs were protruding from my skin.‭ ‬Some of my white hair had fallen to the floor.‭ ‬Rayna saved me from certain death from starvation.
She took a wet cloth and began to clean my face.‭ “‬My poor Bakura.‭ ‬When was the last time you ate‭?”
I took another bite of his food.‭ ‬It was hard to eat.‭ ‬I was weak.‭ ‬It took much effort to chew and swallow.‭ ‬I sipped the water and swallowed.‭ “‬I don’t know.‭  â€¬I haven’t had food or drink for at least seven suns.‭  â€¬The food I have been getting are the rats and mice.‭  â€¬You know you’re hungry when you eat a rat alive.‭ ‬Lice aren’t very filling,‭ ‬either.‭”
Rayna looked with pity at me.‭ “‬I’m so sorry,‭ ‬beloved.‭”
I finished the bread as Seth peeked his head into the room.‭ “‬Everything going okay in there‭?”
Rayna nodded.‭ “‬He has to finish his water.‭”
Seth shut the door and Rayna cleaned off my neck and his chest.‭ ‬While I wasn’t ungrateful,‭ ‬I was concerned what Yami would do to her if he discovered that she fed me and gave me water.
‭“‬Rayna,‭ ‬why are you doing this‭?”
Rayna smiled at me.‭ “‬Because you are a good father to our child.‭  â€¬And‭…‬.I still love you,‭ ‬Bakura Osiris.‭  â€¬Yami can try,‭ ‬but he won’t take that away from me.‭”
I reached up and touched her cheek lightly.‭ ‬After many months of beatings and torture,‭ ‬I yearned for her touch.‭ ‬I yearned for anything other than a slap in the face or a whip across my back.‭ “‬I still love you,‭ ‬Rayna.‭  â€¬You will always be my lover,‭ ‬the mother of my child.‭”
Rayna leaned over and kissed my on the lips.‭  â€¬She touched my cheek,‭ ‬caressing it with the back of her hand.‭  â€¬I touched her shoulders and her hips.‭ ‬She is so perfect.‭ ‬Rayna deepened the kiss with me.‭ ‬It appears that even though High Priest Seth still owns her,‭ ‬she still feels deep love for me.
Her hands touched my bruised chest and drifted down my body.‭ ‬I tensed and turned my face to the side.‭ ‬The only person who has touched me is Yami....and he took what he wanted.....violently.
‭“‬No,‭ ‬Rayna.‭ ‬You can’t.‭”
“I have seen you naked before.‭ ‬Why does it trouble you‭?”
I sighed.‭ “‬You don’t want to touch me there.‭ ‬I’m…dirty.‭” 
The woman tilted my head towards her.‭  “‬Then let me clean you.‭”
Rayna resumed our kiss as she took the cloth and began to glide it over my length.‭  â€¬She giggled into the kiss as I moaned from her gentle touch.
She wrapped her hands around me and rubbed the cloth against the dirt.
I spread his legs willingly as my hands trembled.‭ ‬How I wanted to touch her again‭! ‬I touched her lovely breast and her nipple.‭ 
Rayna looked up at me and smiled.‭ ‬She caressed my cheek lightly again.‭ “‬I’ve never stopped longing for you.‭”
“Seth takes care of you.‭  â€¬He can provide a life for you that I never could,‭ ‬Rayna.‭ ‬You deserve these beautiful satin linens and a life of luxury.‭ ‬I couldn’t have provided you and our child with that life.‭”
Rayna smiled down at me.‭ “‬We would have followed you to the ends of the Earth,‭ ‬Bakura.‭”
“That would have been dangerous.‭ ‬Seth can provide so much more.‭”
“I know,‭ ‬Bakura.‭  â€¬We still love you,‭ ‬Aria and I.‭ ‬Your daughter loves you very much and she wants to see you free.‭”
I smiled.‭ “‬Someday,‭ ‬I will be free again.‭”
Rayna kissed the top of my forehead.‭ “‬I hope for that day when you are away from this horrible place.‭”
I lightly suckled on her nipple as she touched me.‭ ‬The skirt of her clothing felt good against my bruised body.‭  â€¬My hand slipped under her skirt and I began to touch between her legs.‭  â€¬It wasn’t long before we were making love.‭ ‬As hungry and sore as I was,‭ ‬I needed Rayna.‭ ‬I needed her comfort.‭ ‬She slid onto my arousal and I couldn’t help but thrust into her.‭ 
“I love you,‭ ‬Bakura,‭” ‬she told me.‭ 
I buried myself deep into her body and thrust into her body again and again.‭ ‬I knew what we were doing was treason.‭ ‬Neither of us cared.‭ ‬We needed each other.‭ “‬I want to carry your little boy,‭ ‬Bakura,‭” ‬she whispered in my ear.‭ “‬Give us a son.‭” 
That drove me wild.‭ ‬I thrust into her with every bit of energy I could muster.‭ ‬She pulled me tightly against her as we both climaxed.‭ ‬I was frozen inside her.‭ ‬I couldn’t move.‭ ‬She felt warm.‭ ‬I wrapped my chained arms around her tightly and trembled.‭  “‬I love you so much,‭ ‬Rayna‭! ‬I love you.‭” ‬He kissed her ear,‭ ‬cheek,‭ ‬and lips.‭ ‬Oh no....I remember what happened next‭!
************
Bakura’s eyes shot open wide as he quickly awoke from the dream.‭ ‬He gripped the sheets tightly in his hands as he looked around at his surroundings.‭ ‬He was laying on a soft memory foam mattress with soft and clean white linens.‭ ‬Feather comforters draped over him,‭ ‬trapping in warmth and welcoming.‭ ‬The pillow beneath his head,‭ ‬although in need of replacement,‭ ‬was more comfortable than the cold,‭ ‬desolate stone dungeon.‭ 
The side-table beside him was home to his dagger and Millennium Ring.‭ ‬A small lamp with a gold base and white shade provided light.‭ ‬At the foot of the bed against the wall was the Itemri’s dresser.‭ ‬One half held Ryou’s clothing and one half was Bakura’s.‭ ‬Ryou’s half of the dresser was decorated with a jewelry box and pictures of Aten and Aria as babies,‭ ‬their wedding pictures,‭ ‬and pictures of his grandchildren.‭ ‬Bakura’s half was separated by another treasured dagger.‭ ‬His black candles and skull candle holder stood in the corner of the dresser.‭ ‬A red and black box with a pentagram,‭ ‬a sharp contrast to‭   ‬Ryou’s tan jewelry box,‭ ‬rested in the center.
The long curtains of the bedroom fluttered lightly with the early morning breeze.‭ ‬The sun had barely begun to rise as he rest his head against the pillow.‭ ‬He ran his fingers through his white,‭ ‬spiky hair as memories of his dream ran through his head.‭ 
She felt so good.‭ ‬Rayna was so sexy.‭ 
Bakura looked over at Ryou continuing to sleep next to him.‭ ‬His husband’s long,‭ ‬white hair draped against the bed and over his shoulder.‭ ‬Ryou’s side barely rose and fell as he breathed.‭ ‬He’s so perfect.‭ 
Bakura reached out to Ryou and ran his hand lightly against Ryou’s arm.‭ ‬He feels so good.‭ ‬His skin is soft....when I’m with him,‭ ‬I’m complete.‭ ‬The yami began to ache between his legs as he could hear Rayna’s moans of ecstasy in his head.‭  
Bakura shifted against Ryou and tenderly kissed Ryou’s shoulder.‭ ‬The hikari whimpered in his sleep as Bakura’s arms wrapped around him from behind.‭ ‬Bakura pressed himself against Ryou’s back as he kissed his lover’s shoulder.
‭“‬Ry,‭ ‬wake up.‭”
Ryou groaned in his sleep.‭ “‬Huh‭? ‬Wha-What‭? ‬What you want,‭ ‬Ba-ur-a‭?”
“I had a dream.‭”
“Go back to sleep.‭”
“I love you,‭ ‬Ry,‭” ‬Bakura whispered as he rubbed Ryou’s chest tenderly.
‭“‬Love you,‭ ‬too,‭ ‬baby.‭”
Bakura’s hands drifted down between Ryou’s legs.‭ ‬Ryou groaned as he tried to shoo Bakura’s hand away.
‭“‬No...no....‭”
“Come on,‭ ‬Ry...‭”
“Bloody no,‭” ‬Ryou groaned,‭ ‬shifting away from Bakura.‭ 
When Bakura tried to shift closer to Ryou,‭ ‬the hikari shifted to the edge of the bed.‭ ‬Ryou grabbed Bakura’s hand.‭ 
“Bugger off,‭” ‬the hikari groaned again.‭ “‬I’m too sore.‭ ‬Headache.‭”
Bakura rested against the bed.‭ “‬Ry....‭”
“Headache.‭ ‬Piss off.‭”
Bakura lifted the sheets and looked down at his erection.‭ ‬Damn it.‭ ‬I have to get rid of this somehow.‭ ‬Bakura rolled out of bed and stretched.‭ “‬I’ll check on Therion.‭”
Ryou shifted back into his original position in bed when Bakura left.‭ ‬The yami walked into the nursery and saw the baby sleeping peacefully.‭ ‬Bakura smiled as he looked into the crib.‭ ‬Cute as a button.‭ ‬The yami winced as the tightness between his legs persisted.‭ ‬One of these days,‭ ‬I’m going to have to explain why this happens to you.‭ ‬Thankfully,‭ ‬that’s going to be a long time from now.‭ 
Bakura shuffled down the stairs and passed Marik sitting on the couch.‭ ‬The blond spiky-haired yami sat on the couch against a pillow with his legs spread wide in front of him.‭ ‬A coffee cup was clutched tightly in one hand.‭ 
A variety of chips,‭ ‬Cheetos,‭ ‬popcorn,‭ ‬and an empty container of Haagen Daz ice cream littered the coffee table.‭ ‬A purple bedsheet at the foot of the couch was tossed in a bundle and folded haphazardly.‭ ‬Several movies including‭ “‬Thelma and Louise‭” ‬and‭ “‬Small Sacrifices‭” ‬were scattered on the entertainment center.‭  â€¬A box of tissues sat beside the yami’s Millennium Rod on the side table.‭ 
“What are you doing up‭?”
Marik shrugged and huffed.‭ “‬Couldn’t sleep,‭” ‬he answered sharply.‭ 
Something’s not right about him.‭ ‬Well,‭ ‬there’s always something not right about him,‭ ‬but this is different.‭ ‬First,‭ ‬coffee.‭ ‬Bakura walked into the kitchen and grabbed himself a cup of coffee.‭ ‬He stood in the archway between the kitchen and living room.‭ ‬Bakura’s eyes caressed his former lover’s shirtless visage.‭ ‬The blond yami was muscular and dark-skinned.‭ ‬His stomach was flat,‭ ‬making it necessary for him to tie his pajama pants so they would not fall to the ground.‭ 
He’s fucking sexy.‭ ‬Look at that.‭ 
Marik grabbed a handful of popcorn and shoved it into his mouth.‭ 
[Today on the shopping network,‭ ‬introducing the Blandco Rotisserie‭ & ‬BBQ‭! ‬Order it in black or order it in white.‭ ‬Then you can make a delicious six-‭ ‬pound chicken.‭ ‬Not one,‭ ‬but two delicious rotisserie chickens.‭]
Marik raised a curious eyebrow.
‭[‬A scrumptious,‭ ‬flavorful seven pound standing rib roast.‭ ‬A dozen tasty,‭ ‬juicy lamb chops.‭ ‬A six and a half pound carmelized honey ham.‭ ‬Three extra thick,‭ ‬healthy salmon steaks.‭ ‬A six pound mouth watering pork loin roast.‭ ‬Eight full sized beef and chicken kabobs that will melt in your mouth,‭] ‬the infomercial’s spokesman said.‭ 
Marik’s lips left the banana.‭ “‬Loins.‭ ‬Oh fuck yeah.‭ ‬Food porn.‭ ‬Bakura,‭ ‬we need this‭!” ‬Marik put down his coffee cup and rubbed his chest.
‭[‬A tender,‭ ‬flavorful‭ ‬Texas style tri tip.‭]
I’d like to give you a tip,‭ ‬you sexy bastard.
Marik moaned with a wanton grin.‭ “‬Oh yeah,‭ ‬baby....tips.‭” ‬Marik’s right hand landed on the front of his pants as he slowly turned his head to Bakura.‭ ‬Bakura was licking his lips from the coffee.‭ 
“Are you alright‭?”
Bakura bit his lip as he imagined kissing the blond yami’s chest and pulling down those pajama pants which hovered just over the blond yami’s private area.‭ ‬Bakura looked at the television screen.‭ 
[Call today and we will include our flavor injector‭! ‬Inject your favorite meat with flavorful seasonings such as garlic cloves,‭ ‬peppers,‭ ‬and even cheese cubes‭!] ‬A thick syringe pierced the flesh of the meat and squeezed garlic cloves into the flesh.‭ ‬Bakura bit his lip as he felt the pressure between his legs almost burst at the visual.‭ 
“’Kura‭? ‬Hello‭?”
“Huh‭? ‬What‭?”
Marik pat the seat beside him.‭ “‬Sit down.‭ ‬You need to see this.‭”
Bakura whimpered as he sat beside the blond yami.‭ “‬What are you watching‭?”
[Look what your new rotisserie and BBQ can cook‭! ‬Eight full-sized beef and chicken kabobs.‭ ‬A ten pound tender turkey.‭ ‬Enough hot dogs and sausages to feed a small army.‭ ‬A luscious looking six pound leg of lamb with rosemary.‭ ‬Four freshly caught whole trout,‭ ‬four half pound juicy hamburgers,‭ ‬three naturally flavored rock Cornish hens.‭]
“It’s an infomercial for this Rotisserie thing.‭ ‬We need it.‭”
Bakura raised a curious eyebrow.‭ “‬Why‭?”
“You can cook a dozen lamb chops‭! ‬A dozen‭! ‬A ten pound turkey‭! ‬And chicken‭! ‬We can cook a shit load of chicken in it‭!”
Bakura sighed with resignation.‭ “‬We are not getting this.‭ ‬We can cook all that in an oven.‭”
“But,‭ ‬Kura‭! ‬Look at that turkey‭! ‬It can be tender‭! ‬Look‭! ‬You can cook a whole duckling in it‭! ‬Think of it‭!”
“Marik,‭ ‬we don’t need this.‭”
Marik leaned forward on the couch and shifted to the edge of the seat as he watched chickens cooking in the rotisserie.‭ “‬Look,‭ ‬we can cook two four-pound chickens at once‭!”
“Why do we need to cook two chickens‭?”
Marik held out his hands to the television and looked at Bakura.‭ “‬Because we can if we get this thing‭! ‬We can make an extra one for lunches‭!”
Bakura sighed as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.‭ “‬No,‭ ‬Marik.‭ ‬No more shopping channel for you.‭”
[Call today and we will include a cheese knife at no additional cost‭!]
“You like cheese,‭ ‬Bakura‭!” ‬Marik gasped.‭ “‬You can enjoy yummy cheese if we get this‭!”
Bakura raised a curious eyebrow and Marik grinned.‭ “‬Answer is still no,‭ ‬Ishtar.‭”
“You considered it for a split second,‭ ‬didn’t you‭?”
“No.‭”
“Give me the credit card‭! ‬We need this.‭”
Bakura leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes.‭ ‬What am I going to do with him‭?‬ “Remember that sandwich maker you bought from this channel‭?”
“It paid for itself in the first week‭!”
Bakura opened his eyes and looked at his lover.‭ “‬Then you got pissed at the fact that we didn’t have bread and you sent it to the Shadow Realm‭?”
“I got it back‭!”
“Kitchen appliances are not meant to be sent to an ethereal realm where Duel Monsters can use it as target practice‭! ‬That’s what I told Aria when she sent the toaster to the Shadow Realm when she was a kid.‭ ‬I made her go back for it.‭”
Marik sat back in the couch and attempted to pout at the white-haired yami.‭ “‬Please‭?”
[Only five payments of‭ ‬19.99‭!  â€¬If you call now,‭ ‬you will receive the all-‭ ‬purpose non-stick basket,‭ ‬a package of chicken ties,‭ ‬barbeque gloves,‭ ‬and the loading platform.‭ ‬You will also receive an instructional video and booklet with recipe.‭ ‬And coupons worth‭ ‬$250‭! ‬You will get the‭ ‬30‭ ‬dual heating tray absolutely free‭! ‬That is over a‭ ‬$400‭ ‬dollar value‭!]
Marik’s eyes lit up.‭ “‬Come on,‭ ‬Bakura‭! ‬Free shit‭!”
Bakura sipped his coffee.‭ “‬It’s not free,‭ ‬numbnuts.‭ ‬You’re still paying for it.‭” 
[This offer is not available in stores‭! ‬So call today and enjoy succulent,‭ ‬juicy meat today‭! ‬Cooked the Blandco way‭!]
“Hurry,‭ ‬Bakura‭! ‬Get the credit card‭! ‬We can’t get this offer in any store‭!”
Bakura shook his head and rubbed his eyes.‭ “‬Sweet Osiris,‭ ‬strike me dead again right now.‭”
Marik attempted to pout,‭ ‬but Bakura shook his head.‭ “‬No.‭ ‬That pout doesn’t work on me.‭”
Marik laughed.‭ “‬BULLSHIT‭! ‬Aria got away with it all the time and your son is going to get away with it,‭ ‬too‭!”
“She did not,‭ ‬you bloody wanker‭!”
“She did,‭ ‬too‭! ‬She made you have a tea party with her in the backyard with her plushies because she gave you the cute little daddy’s girl pout.‭”
Bakura tapped his foot on the ground.‭ “‬If you had a little girl,‭ ‬you would have done the same,‭ ‬Daddy Dearest.‭”
Marik grinned proudly.‭ “‬Nope.‭ ‬No girl here.‭ ‬I make awesome baby boys.‭”
Bakura looked at the array of snacks on the coffee table.‭ “‬The only thing I see you make is an awesome mess.‭ ‬What is all this shit‭? ‬Cheetos....chips....empty ice cream container.‭ ‬Do I need to go to the store and buy you tampons,‭ ‬chocolate,‭ ‬and Midol‭? ‬Maybe more tissues,‭ ‬perhaps‭?”
Marik rolled his eyes and glared at the television with annoyance.‭ “‬Malik.‭”
“What about him‭? ‬Is that why you are trying to drown yourself in a sea of carbohydrates‭?”
Marik crossed his arms over his chest angrily.‭ “‬Malik asked if we could visit the tomb.‭”
“Which tomb‭? ‬The one---‭?”
“Yes‭!” ‬Marik snapped.‭ “‬The one where he grew up.‭ ‬Why the hell would he want to go back there‭? ‬Would you want to go back to Yami’s dungeon just to see how it has changed in the five thousand years since you’ve been gone‭? ‬No.‭ ‬You want to stay the fuck away from there at all costs.‭”
“Seems a bit odd why he would want to return.‭”
Marik’s lip curled in anger.‭ “‬I forbade it.‭ ‬I couldn’t.....I couldn’t even share the bed with him last night I was so pissed.‭ ‬Thinking of that place......‭” ‬Bakura sipped from his coffee as the yami stood up and turned off the television.‭ ‬The blond yami began to pace uncomfortably.‭ “‬I keep thinking about it,‭ ‬Itemri.‭ ‬It eats at me.‭ ‬The horrors of that place.‭ ‬Father was a loose cannon.‭ ‬He was a tyrant......a madman.‭” ‬Marik clenched his fists angrily.‭ “‬HE WAS A SICK SON OF A BITCH THAT DESERVED TO DIE A MILLION DEATHS‭!” ‬Marik took a deep breath and seemed to stare into a dark void before him.‭  “‬I just want to see that place burn and everyone associated with it suffer a slow,‭ ‬horrible death.‭”
Bakura drank from his coffee again and swallowed.‭ “‬Well,‭ ‬you did emerge from the Millennium Rod,‭ ‬cut off Malik’s father’s tattoo,‭ ‬and rub the bloody flesh in his face.‭ ‬Then you stabbed him to death.‭ ‬So,‭ ‬I would say that he suffered a slow death.‭”
“Not slow enough‭!” ‬Marik screamed furiously.‭ “‬They deserved a fuck of a lot worse than they got.‭ ‬That family put me through hell....pure....fucking hell.‭ ‬I never want to go back to that shithole‭! ‬Oh‭! ‬And why he would want to return to a place of torture and cruelty I don’t understand‭! ‬Please explain to me,‭ ‬genius‭!” ‬Marik turned angrily to Bakura.‭ ‬Bakura watched as a furious blond Yami Marik approached him and hovered over him.‭ ‬Marik’s eyes darkened,‭ ‬his canines sharpened,‭ ‬and his body trembled with fury.‭ “‬Explain it to me,‭ ‬o wise one‭! ‬If you are so fucking smart,‭ ‬you tell me why he would want to go back there...a place which deserves to be wiped off the fucking map‭!”
Bakura looked calmly up at the enraged yami.‭ “‬He’s dead,‭ ‬Marik,‭” ‬Bakura said calmly.‭ ‬Marik’s teeth grinded angrily as he watched the spiky white-haired yami stand up.‭ “‬He’s dead.‭ ‬He can’t hurt you no more.‭”
“He should have died more deaths than one.‭ ‬He should have died slower deaths than we.‭”
Bakura nodded.‭ “‬No argument there.‭” ‬Bakura shook his head.‭ “‬Why Malik wants to return to a place of torture and control is unfathomable.‭”
“I couldn’t even look him in the eye last night after we talked outside.‭ ‬Couldn’t share a bed with him.‭” ‬Marik’s amethyst eyes looked at the golden Millennium Rod laying on the table,‭ ‬the object which was his soul’s eternal prison.‭ “‬My father was the first tombkeeper,‭ ‬cursed by Yami to keep guard over his tomb until the Great Pharaoh returned once more.‭ ‬For generations,‭ ‬my family was forced to live underground in his tomb to await his arrival.‭ ‬We were his eternal prisoners with no chance for parole.‭ ‬He once said he chose the Ishtar family to guard his tomb not as a privilege,‭ ‬but as a punishment.‭” ‬Marik slowly walked over to the Millennium Rod and pick it up delicately.‭ “‬Why must Malik suffer again by returning to the place of so much.....‭” ‬Marik closed his eyes.‭ 
[[Becoming a Tombkeeper is your duty,‭ ‬your legacy,‭ ‬your responsibility,‭ ‬your heritage,‭ ‬your privilege.‭]] ‬Your prison.
‭“‬Pain.‭”
Bakura crossed his legs on the couch.‭ “‬I thought Malik wouldn’t want to return to the tomb.‭ ‬In‭ ‬Battle‭ ‬City,‭ ‬that’s all he bitched about was getting revenge.‭ ‬I don’t know why he would want to go back to the source of his vengeance.‭”
Marik gripped the Millennium Rod as he sat beside Bakura.‭ “‬We could have been free,‭ ‬Itemri.‭ ‬If our birth had not been in that dark tomb.‭ ‬Things.....might have been different.‭”
Bakura put a hand on Marik’s shoulder.‭ “‬You survived it.‭ ‬We both survived the birth of our own hell.‭ ‬In turn,‭ ‬our hikari’s survived.‭ ‬Be proud we survived it.‭”
“If only I had stood up and put my foot down earlier.‭”
“It’s a past we can’t deny,‭ ‬Ishtar.‭”
Marik’s head hung low as he ran his fingers through his spiky blond hair.‭ “‬So much pain.‭”
Bakura shifted closer to Marik and extended a fist.‭ “‬We still have each other after all that bullshit,‭ ‬don’t we‭? ‬Partner.‭”
Marik turned his head and slowly grinned.‭ “‬Partners.‭” ‬Marik fist-bumped Bakura with a grin.‭ ‬The blond noticed Bakura shifting in the seat next to him.‭ “‬So why did you come down the stairs looking like you slipped on the ice‭?”
Bakura sat back against the couch.‭ “‬Had an amazing dream that left me hard up.‭ ‬I tried to get amorous with Ry,‭ ‬but he told me to bugger off.‭”
A mischievous grin crossed Marik’s face.‭ ‬The yami grabbed a Hershey kiss from the table beside him.‭ ‬He unwrapped it and popped it in his mouth.‭ ‬The chocolate began to melt as he turned to Bakura and pulled up the other yami’s shirt.
‭“‬What the‭ ‬--‭?” ‬Bakura watched as Marik’s lips wrapped around a nipple.‭ “‬What are you doing‭?”
“Making you taste like chocolate.‭” ‬Marik sucked lightly on Bakura’s right nipple as the chocolate melted in his mouth.‭ 
Bakura closed his eyes as his hips shifted on the couch again.‭ “‬Not fair.‭”
Marik chuckled.‭ “‬I’ll show you not fair.‭” ‬Marik pulled back from Bakura’s chocolate covered nipple and teased it with tiny flicks of his tongue.‭ 
Bakura slid down the couch as his breathing staggered.‭ “‬You bastard,‭” ‬the yami whimpered as he watched the blond lick his nipple.
The blond licked his lips seductively.‭ “‬You taste like chocolate.‭”
Bakura buried his fingers in Marik’s spiky hair as the yami popped another piece of chocolate into his mouth and resumed sucking lightly on Bakura’s nipple.‭ ‬The white-haired yami gasped as he felt Marik’s hand slip under his pajama bottoms.‭ ‬Bakura shifted against the hand rubbing just above his aching arousal.‭ 
“Marik.....‭”
Marik Ishtar grinned wickedly as his hand roamed around Bakura’s arousal to his inner thigh.‭ “‬What do you want‭?”
“Fucking tease,‭” ‬Bakura moaned,‭ ‬squirming uncomfortably as his hips almost shifted off the couch.‭ 
Marik chuckled and grabbed Bakura’s hair with his left hand in a tight grip.‭ ‬He turned Bakura’s face towards him.‭ “‬Your wish is my command.‭” ‬Marik pulled Bakura into a hungry milk chocolate-tasting kiss.‭ ‬Bakura whimpered into the kiss as Marik’s hand lightly grazed his inner thigh.‭ ‬With small circular motions,‭ ‬Marik’s hand would approach Bakura’s arousal and retreat just as slow,‭ ‬building anticipation and prolonging Bakura’s torture.‭  â€¬Bakura bucked his hips upward,‭ ‬trying to entice Marik to touch him,‭ ‬but his only reward was Marik’s hand wandering away.‭ ‬Bakura reached for Marik’s hair,‭ ‬but Marik caught his hand.‭   
The blond glared at his lover with a snarl.‭ “‬No,‭ ‬no....you do not touch me.‭” ‬Marik trapped Bakura’s wrist against the couch as he sunk his teeth into Bakura’s neck with a vicious growl.‭ ‬Bakura felt Marik’s teeth sink deep into his flesh as he was pinned against the couch.‭ ‬Marik’s grip on his hair and wrist tightened as Marik moved to kneel between his spread legs.‭ ‬Bakura gasped for breath as Marik thrust his hips against Bakura.‭ ‬When Bakura tried to move,‭ ‬Marik’s hips trapped him.‭ ‬Bakura closed his eyes as he felt Marik’s growing arousal between his legs.‭ 
The Egyptian yami removed his sharp canines from Bakura’s neck and kissed Bakura’s earlobe.‭ “‬You belong to me now,‭ ‬you dirty,‭ ‬naughty boy.‭”
Marik released Bakura’s wrist and pulled him into a hunger-filled kiss again.‭ ‬Bakura gasped and moaned into the kiss as he felt Marik’s hand plunge into his pants and wrap around his arousal.‭ ‬Marik thrust against his victim as he touched him.‭ “‬I can feel you,‭ ‬Bakura.‭ ‬I want to feel all of you.‭ ‬I want you to beg for release.‭”
Bakura bucked against his lover’s hand as he felt Marik’s arousal spring to life.‭ ‬A bead of sweat slipped down his cheek and coursed down his neck as pleasure and desire filled his mind.‭ ‬The tension between his legs became painful as he felt Marik hardened against him.‭ 
“Please,‭ ‬Marik....‭” ‬Bakura was pulled into a kiss again as he felt his lover tug at his pants.
Marik pulled back from the kiss and looked into Bakura’s chocolate brown eyes as he slipped a finger into Bakura’s body.‭ ‬Bakura grit his teeth tightly as his body instinctively tried to move against the finger.‭ 
The blond grinned wickedly as he saw the pain and pleasure of his lover.‭ ‬Bakura’s whimpers of pain made him smile.‭ ‬Bakura couldn’t move his head due to the vice-grip on his hair.‭ ‬Marik leaned forward against Bakura,‭ ‬preventing his lover from moving.‭ ‬Bakura could only thrust his hips slightly.‭ ‬A second finger made Bakura tremble more and whimper.‭ 
“Need release.....so good.‭”
Marik chuckled as he looked into his lover’s eyes.‭ “‬You are so sexy right now.‭ ‬Begging me to end your pain.‭ ‬Your body wants me inside of you.‭ ‬I can feel your desire.‭”
Bakura thrust against Marik as he arched his back,‭ ‬desperate for more contact.‭ “‬Please...no more.‭”
Marik gasped.‭ ‬Malik’s father said that to me,‭ ‬too,‭ ‬before I ended his life painfully and slow.‭ ‬His back bled as I sliced the flesh from his body.‭ ‬Malik’s father lost his power......I gained power over him.‭ ‬His suffering was in my hands....his life’s candle flickered and suddenly snuffed out by me.‭ ‬Complete control.‭ ‬Complete domination.‭ ‬His fear fed me.‭ ‬His pain nourished me after starving for so long locked in the Millennium Rod.‭ ‬Malik’s anger and pain summoned me,‭ ‬released me from my prison.‭ ‬Now,‭ ‬Bakura,‭ ‬I will give you release,‭ ‬but on my own terms.‭ 
Bakura’s eyes and mouth opened wide as Marik buried himself deep into him.‭ ‬Marik snarled as he felt Bakura’s canines clench onto his shoulder.‭ ‬The white-haired yami growled as Marik bit into Bakura’s neck.‭ ‬The blond’s fingers grasped more of Bakura’s hair,‭ ‬tugging his head back in an attempt to regain control over his victim.‭ ‬Bakura struggled to free his neck from Marik’s teeth,‭ ‬but the blond thrust inside him violently and clenched tighter with an angry growl.‭  â€¬Bakura’s quick breaths brushed across Marik’s dark,‭ ‬sweat-covered skin.‭ 
Bakura’s nails dug into Marik’s back as the blond began to thrust inside him with a hard,‭ ‬rough rhythm.‭  â€¬Bakura’s body jerked with each forceful slam of his lover.‭ ‬Bakura reached between them to touch himself,‭ ‬but Marik grabbed his wrist tightly and trapped it against the couch.‭ 
“Marik...I’m never....going to let you watch infomercials with chicken again,‭” ‬Bakura grunted as Marik growled against his throat.‭ 
The loins of the white-haired yami were set ablaze as Marik pounded into him harder.‭ ‬A trickle of blood tricked down Bakura’s chest.‭ ‬Bakura’s attempts to scream were muffled by Marik’s teeth against his windpipe.‭ 
/Yami,‭ ‬why aren’t you in bed‭?‬/‭ ‬Ryou tiredly asked Bakura through the mindlink.
//Getting.......breakfast.......Fuck.//
/Bullocks.‭ ‬Why do I feel something in my arse,‭ ‬then‭?‬/
//Umm...........I don’t know‭?‬//
/Liar./
Marik released Bakura’s wrist and began to stroke Bakura’s arousal with his thrusts.‭ ‬A trickle of blood coarsed down Bakura’s thighs as he laid helplessly beneath Marik.
‭“‬Can’t breathe....‭” ‬Bakura struggled to say through his constricted airway.‭ 
Marik released Bakura’s throat from his bite and kissed his lover deeply.‭ ‬The two yamis thrust against each other as their bodies released hard.‭ ‬Bakura continued to thrust against Marik as the blond yami collapsed on top of him in a panting heap.‭ ‬Bakura relaxed against the couch as he panted heavily.‭ 
Marik released Bakura’s arousal and wrapped his arms around Bakura in a tight embrace.‭ ‬He rested his head against Bakura’s chest,‭ ‬listening to his lover’s fake heartbeat....a heart which had stopped five thousand years before.‭ ‬Marik closed his eyes as he felt Bakura kiss the top of his head.‭ ‬The white-haired yami wrapped his arms around his lover.‭ 
“Did I hurt you‭?” ‬Marik asked as he looked up at Bakura.‭ 
“Like hell you did.....but it was worth it.‭ ‬But,‭ ‬seriously....no more chicken infomercials for you.‭”
Bakura and Marik raised their heads when they heard Ryou clear his throat behind them.‭ “‬If I knew you were having sausage for breakfast,‭ ‘‬Kura,‭ ‬I would have asked you to bring some up for me.‭”
Marik licked his lips at Ryou.‭ “‬Come here,‭ ‬sexy,‭ ‬there’s more where that came from.‭”
Ryou approached Marik,‭ ‬still embedded in his yami.‭ “‬Good morning,‭ ‬Yami Marik,‭” ‬Ryou whispered,‭ ‬placing a gentle kiss on Marik’s lips.‭ 
“Be careful,‭ ‬Ry.‭ ‬He saw chicken on the screen a little bit ago,‭” ‬Bakura snickered.
Marik wrapped his arm around Ryou’s head and pulled him into a passionate kiss,‭ ‬making the hikari whimper.‭ “‬Good morning,‭ ‬sexy.‭ ‬Sausage sounds good.‭ ‬Can you make us a few‭?”
Ryou saw the array of chocolate and salty snacks on the coffee table.‭ “‬Seems as if you already had your share of daily calories...and then some.‭ ‬I’m sorry,‭ ‬Marik.‭ ‬I’m not feeling too well.‭ ‬I came to get a cup of tea and some toast before--.‭” ‬Therion began crying upstairs.‭ “‬Before the baby wakes up.‭” ‬Ryou turned to walk up the stairs when Bakura squirmed out from beneath Marik.
‭“‬Ry,‭ ‬I’ll take care of it.‭”
“No,‭ ‬no,‭ ‬I’ll get him.‭ ‬Can you prepare his formula for me‭? ‬I’ll bring him downstairs.‭”
Bakura kissed Ryou’s lips.‭ “‬Alright.‭”
“And pull your bloody pants up,‭” ‬Ryou winked at Bakura before climbing the stairs.‭ ‬He opened the door to the nursery and saw the newborn crying in the crib.‭ “‬Now,‭ ‬now,‭ ‬baby boy.‭ ‬No need for tears.‭ ‬Mommy’s here.‭” ‬Ryou carried the baby against his chest to the changing table.‭ ‬I’ll never understand how they turn formula into THAT,‭ ‬he thought as he wrinkled his nose.‭ ‬He wiped the boy’s bottom as he stopped crying.‭ “‬Who’s a handsome boy‭? ‬Who’s a handsome little angel‭?” ‬Ryou leaned over and kissed the boy’s stomach lightly.‭ “‬Your tummy is so cute‭!”
Malik appeared in the doorway and watched Ryou play with his baby.‭ 
Bakura’s baby.‭ ‬It’s only a matter of time before Marik plants his seed again.‭ ‬Ryou’s immortal,‭ ‬so this cycle can continue throughout eternity.‭ 
“Who’s mommy’s little handsome boy‭?” ‬Ryou asked,‭ ‬kissing Therion’s forehead.‭ 
Is he flaunting it now‭?
Ryou massaged the baby’s belly,‭ ‬arms,‭ ‬legs,‭ ‬and head.‭ “‬Handsome little boy,‭ ‬you are.‭ ‬Mommy’s going to get you cleaned up and give you breakfast,‭” ‬Ryou said,‭ ‬replacing the diaper.‭ “‬Would you like that‭? ‬Something to eat‭? ‬Eat‭?” ‬Ryou smiled and wrapped the baby in a blanket.‭ 
He doesn’t even see me standing here.
‭“‬It’s time to introduce you to the rest of the family,‭ ‬sweetheart.‭ ” ‬Ryou turned and saw Malik standing there.‭ “‬Oh‭! ‬Morning,‭ ‬Malik.‭ ‬Therion,‭ ‬this is Malik.‭ ‬He’s Yami Marik’s husband.‭ ‬I didn’t see you there,‭ ‬Malik.‭ ‬Did you sleep well‭?”
“The baby woke me up a few times,‭ ‬but Aten and Aria did the same when they were little.‭”
Ryou approached Malik and put a hand on his shoulder.‭ “‬I’m sorry he woke you up.‭ ‬He’ll be sleeping through the night soon enough.‭”
Doubt it.‭ “‬I guess it’s better than two babies waking me up in the middle of the night.‭”
“Are you okay,‭ ‬Malik‭?”
Malik sighed.‭ “‬Marik slept downstairs last night.‭”
“Whatever for‭?”
Malik walked past Ryou and sat on the rocking chair.‭ “‬I asked Marik if we could go back to‭ ‬Egypt to visit my old home.‭”
“Why in the world would you want to go back there‭? ‬From what I’ve always heard from you,‭ ‬you couldn’t wait to get out of there.‭”
Malik sighed.‭ “‬I want to go back.‭ ‬Something is pulling me there,‭ ‬something I don’t understand.‭ ‬Maybe its nostalgia or homesickness.‭ ‬We’ve been through a lot of trials in these past twenty years or so and I want to go back.‭”
“Marik’s reaction was less than desirable,‭ ‬I imagine.‭ ‬I know he hated it there.‭ ‬It’s a source of pain for him.‭”
“And for me‭!” ‬Malik said emphatically.‭ “‬Which is why I don’t know what is pulling me there,‭ ‬but I feel like...I want to look back at my past.‭ ‬I can’t deny it happened.‭ ‬He forbade me to return there and walked away.‭ ‬He said he couldn’t sleep next to me last night because of his nightmares of that place.‭”
Ryou rocked the baby in his arms.‭ “‬I agree with Marik.‭ ‬It was not a good place for you and it won’t put you in a good place when you return.‭”
“I’m going to be thirty-four years old this year‭! ‬I’m not a sixteen-year-old child anymore.‭ ‬I should be able to make my own decisions.‭”
“I agree,‭ ‬but if Marik told you not to do it,‭ ‬he has good reasons.‭ ‬Our dark sides have our best interests in mind.‭”
Malik narrowed his eyes at Ryou.‭ “‬That’s bullshit and you know it.‭”
“Language,‭ ‬Malik.‭”
“Oh,‭ ‬he’s too young to know what I’m saying.‭ ‬Bakura may have brainwashed you into thinking that he has your best interests in mind,‭ ‬but that’s not true.‭”
Ryou took a deep breath.‭ “‬If Marik says going back to the tomb is not a good idea,‭ ‬then he is trying to keep you from a place where you were mercilessly tortured.‭ ‬He’s not trying to control you.‭ ‬He’s trying to protect you.‭”
“What if you wanted to go back to the cabin in the forest with your father and Bakura forbade it‭?”
A shudder shot up Ryou’s spine.‭ “‬I never want to go back to that cabin,‭ ‬Malik,‭” ‬Ryou growled through clenched teeth.‭ “‬I would never in my right mind would want to go back to that horrible place.‭” ‬Ryou cradled the baby tighter against him.‭ “‬I survived that hell.‭ ‬You survived your hell.‭ ‬And...you know what‭? ‬No.‭ ‬I’m not discussing this right now.‭ ‬I can’t.‭”
Ryou turned and walked out of the nursery.‭ ‬He walked down the stairs.‭ ‬Malik followed after him.
‭“‬Ryou,‭ ‬I--.‭”
“No,‭” ‬Ryou said sternly turning his head to Malik.‭ “‬I’m not talking about this anymore.‭ ‬I’m done.‭”
Malik followed Ryou into the kitchen where he placed the baby in his carrier.‭ ‬Marik was sifting through the refrigerator.‭ “‬Morning,‭ ‬Marik.‭”
“Good morning,‭ ‬tenshi,‭” ‬Marik responded from inside the fridge.‭ “‬I know we had sausages.‭ ‬Where the fuck are they‭?”
“Aren’t they near the bacon and steaks‭?” ‬Bakura asked.‭ “‬Wait.‭ ‬Check by the fish.‭ ‬Morning,‭ ‬Malik,‭” ‬Bakura said,‭ ‬peeking his head in the refrigerator.‭ 
Ryou mixed the baby’s formula and tested the warmth on his wrist.‭ “‬I’ll get it,‭ ‬boys.‭ ‘‬Kura,‭ ‬can you feed our son‭? ‬I’ll find them.‭ ‬Bloody hell this hurts,‭” ‬Ryou winced as he leaned over to look for the sausages.‭ “‬They’re right here in the front.‭”
“Damn it,‭” ‬Marik groaned.‭ “‬I looked there‭!”
Bakura chuckled as he sat beside the carrier and began to bottlefeed the baby.‭ “‬You’re blind as hell,‭ ‬Marik.‭ ‬Maybe you need glasses.‭”
“Maybe you need more sausage.‭”
“Wiseass.‭”
“Prick.‭”
“Chicken lover.‭”
“Asshole.‭”
“Yami Marik Jibade Ishtar and Yami Bakura Osiris Itemri,‭ ‬language,‭” ‬Ryou said.
‭ ‬Marik and Bakura exchanged grins.‭ ‬Both yamis said‭ “‬fucker‭” ‬simultaneously with a snicker.
‭“‬Do you two want to go on the naughty stool‭?” ‬Ryou asked.
Bakura grinned.‭ “‬It’s the naughty ACTION stool.‭ ‬The child is never naughty.‭ ‬It’s the action that’s naughty.‭” 
Ryou poured himself a hot cup of tea and sat on the opposite side of Bakura.‭ “‬That is Yami Marik.‭ ‬He’s a naughty boy with a naughty tongue.‭”
“That’s not what Bakura would tell you.‭ ‬He liked my tongue this morning.‭”
Malik sighed and poured himself a cup of coffee.‭ ‬He sat at the end of the table as Marik joined the others at the table.‭ 
Bakura drank from his coffee cup as the baby suckled from the nipple.‭ “‬Good boy.‭ ‬Oops,‭ ‬you’re dribbling a little there.‭” ‬Bakura took the baby’s bib and wiped the baby’s chin with it.‭ ‬The baby began to cry.‭ “‬Alright,‭ ‬alright.‭” ‬Bakura replaced the nipple in the baby’s mouth and he began to feed again.‭ ‬Ryou leaned his head on one hand as his eyes began to close.‭ 
//Are you alright,‭ ‬Ry‭?‬//
/Tired.‭ ‬The incision hurts,‭ ‬but I need to eat to take my medicine./
‭“‬Ishtar,‭ ‬make Ryou some toast.‭”
“Malik,‭ ‬make Ryou some toast.‭”
“I’m comfortable,‭” ‬Malik said.‭ “‬He asked you first,‭ ‬Marik.‭”
Marik’s hair twitched as he stood up.‭ “‬Malik,‭ ‬in the living room,‭ ‬if you please.‭”
Malik stood up and followed Yami Marik into the living room.‭ 
“What the fuck is up with you today‭? ‬You’re bitchy,‭” ‬Marik asked with his arms crossed against his chest.‭ 
Malik crossed his arms against his chest.‭ “‬I’m not bitchy.‭”
“I can feel it through our mindlink.‭ ‬You are ultra-crabby today.‭ ‬Is this because I won’t let you go back to‭ ‬Egypt to that fuck-hole of a tomb you called a home‭?”
Malik narrowed his eyes at his husband.‭ “‬Way to diffuse a bitchy attitude,‭ ‬Yami Marik.‭”
“Are you going to bitch until you get your way‭? ‬Is that what you want‭? ‬Do you want me to go to the store and get you some tampons and Midol‭?”
In the kitchen,‭ ‬Ryou closed his eyes tightly and rubbed his temples in a circular motion.‭ “‬Bloody headache.‭” ‬Bakura turned his head to watch the Ishtars verbal combat.
‭“‬I’m not a woman‭!”
Marik poked Malik in the chest.‭ “‬Sometimes you act like it.‭ ‬There’s only one person in this house who is entitled to be a little bitch today and you are not the one.‭”
“Hey‭! ‬I resent that‭!” ‬Ryou exclaimed.
‭“‬Watch your tongue,‭ ‬Ishtar,‭” ‬Bakura said sternly.‭ 
“Oh,‭ ‬because Ryou just had a baby,‭ ‬he’s entitled to be a little bitch‭?” ‬Malik growled.‭ “‬He’s more of a bitch than I am‭!”
Bakura almost jumped off his seat as Ryou slammed his hands on the table and rose to his feet.‭ ‬//This is going to be bad.//
Ryou stomped into the living room and stood between Yami Marik and Malik.‭ “‬How dare you‭! ‬I am not a little bitch‭!”
“I beg to differ,‭ ‬Ryou‭! ‬Bakura jumps and you ask how high‭! ‬Marik shows you just the slightest bit of attention and you are in his pants before they can even drop‭! ‬I bet you if Seto Kaiba were here,‭ ‬you would be cuddling up with your Blue Eyes,‭ ‬too.‭”
Bakura looked at the baby suckling on the bottle.‭ ‘‬Why isn’t he crying‭? ‬Most normal babies would be wailing at this point.‭’
“You are not a little bitch‭! ‬You are THEIR little whore bitch‭!”
Bakura turned his head sharply as he heard a thunderous crack in the living room and Malik hit the floor.‭ “‬Daddy will be back in a moment,‭ ‬baby boy.Here,‭ ‬have a pacifier for now.‭” ‬Bakura raced into the living room and saw Malik on the floor holding his bloodied lip.‭ “‬What the hell‭?”
Yami Marik stepped back from Ryou.‭ ‬That has to be the hottest thing he has done in a while.....
Ryou stood over Malik with shaking,‭ ‬clenched fists.‭ ‬The hikari drew breath slowly in and out as his teeth grinded.‭ 
Bakura put a calm hand on Ryou’s arm.‭ “‬Alright,‭ ‬Ry,‭ ‬calm---.‭”
“Keep your bloody hands off me‭!” ‬Ryou snapped at Bakura as he tore his arm away.‭ “‬He deserved it‭! ‬How dare you call me a little bitch,‭ ‬Malik‭! ‬Let’s see you carry a seven pound baby,‭ ‬tear open your stomach,‭ ‬and sew you shut‭! ‬Let’s see how bloody jovial you are then‭! ‬Do you think this is easy‭?”
Bakura‭ ‬turned to the two-day-old baby boy sitting in the carrier,‭ ‬his eyes directed at the chaotic scene before him.‭ ‬He’s still not crying.‭ ‬Is something wrong with him‭? ‬Aten and Aria would be sobbing buckets now.
Malik rose to his feet.‭ “‬Maybe you’ll think of this next time you open your whore legs to the next man-slut who wants to stick it in you‭!” ‬Malik rose his right fist to hit Ryou,‭ ‬but swept Ryou’s legs from under him.‭ ‬Ryou collapsed to the ground and gasped as Malik kneeled on top of him,‭ ‬punching him furiously.
‭“‬Bastard‭!" ‬Ryou exclaimed as he tried to punch Malik off him.‭ 
Malik’s fist connected with Ryou’s jaw harshly,‭ ‬splitting the hikari’s lip open.‭ “‬Fight like a man,‭ ‬Ryou,‭ ‬and not the little he-bitch you are‭!"
Ryou grabbed Malik’s t-shirt and pulled him down closer to him.‭ ‬His incision burned as Malik dropped his weight on the new wound.‭ “‬Get the hell off of me‭!" ‬Ryou’s fist connected harshly with Malik’s chest.‭ 
The yamis watched stunned as a flurry of blows was exchanged between the two hikaris.‭ ‬The table of snacks overturned,‭ ‬sending bowls and food scattering to the floor.‭ ‬Bakura and Marik watched‭ ‬confused‭ ‬as the two normally quiet,‭ ‬peaceful hikaris were locked in a bitter fistfight on the ground.‭ ‬Fists and blood flew quickly as their strikes connected.
‭“‬What the hell just happened,‭ ‬Ishtar‭?”
“Beats the hell out of me,‭ ‬Itemri.‭”
Malik grabbed Ryou’s hair and slammed his closed fist into Ryou’s face.‭ ‬Fresh blood trickled down Ryou’s forehead and chin.‭ “‬I hate you,‭ ‬Ryou‭! ‬I hate your fucking guts‭! ‬You took everything away from me‭! ‬You took Marik away from me‭! ‬Your father should have killed you‭! ‬He should have put a god-damned bullet in your head and Aten's‭!"
Yami Marik narrowed his eyes angrily at Malik.‭ “‬That’s enough,hikari‭!" ‬Marik lunged for‭ ‬Ryou‭ ‬and‭ ‬tried to restrain Ryou’s wild fists.‭ ‬Marik glared down at Ryou.‭ “‬Ryou,‭ ‬enough‭!"
Bakura rushed to grab Malik’s raging fists.‭ “‬Malik,‭ ‬stop this right now‭!"
Ryou grabbed Malik’s shirt and slammed his fist into Malik’s jaw.‭ “‬How dare you talk about my son like that‭!"
Malik snapped his wrist out‭ ‬of Bakura’s grip and slammed Ryou’s head against the floor enraged.‭ “‬It’s all about you,isn’t it,‭ ‬you greedy little pissant‭?" ‬Malik slammed his fist into Ryou’s throat.
Ryou wheezed as Bakura grabbed Malik’s fist.‭ 
“Ra damn it,‭ ‬Ishtar,‭ ‬control your fucking Light‭!” ‬Bakura snarled at Marik.
‭“‬My fucking Light‭? ‬Ryou started it‭!” ‬Marik growled back.‭ “‬Malik is standing up for himself just like I taught him‭!"
Malik turned to Marik.‭ “‬Standing up for myself‭? ‬Like you taught me‭? ‬You made my life a freaking nightmare‭! ‬You didn’t teach me anything‭!" ‬Malik growled,struggling in his yami’s grip.‭ 
Marik wrapped his arms under Malik’s arms and pulled him off the other bleeding hikari.‭ ‬Bakura kneeled beside Ryou,who struggled to his feet.
Bakura stood between the two hikaris.‭"‬All of you cut out this nonsense‭! ‬We’re adults here‭! ‬There’s no reason to cause a scene‭!"
“Malik was defending himself,‭ ‬Bakura,and he has every right to do so‭! ‬Ryou was out of line‭!"
Bakura narrowed his eyes at Marik.‭ “‬Ryou didn’t deserve that‭!"
“LIKE HELL HE DIDN’T‭!" ‬both Ishtars growled.‭ “‬He threw the first punch‭!"
Ryou stood on shaking legs as Malik rose to his feet.‭ “‬Get out of this house,‭ ‬Malik,‭ ‬you pillock‭!”
Yami Marik and Yami Bakura quickly stepped back as Ryou grabbed Malik and pulled him angrily to the door.‭ ‬Malik continued to punch Ryou as Ryou opened the door furiously.‭ “‬Get the hell out,‭ ‬you wanker‭!” ‬Ryou threw Malik out of the house and slammed the door angrily.‭ 
Marik and Bakura watched as the typically placid hikari growled and glared,‭ ‬enraged.‭ ”‬Fuck this.‭ ‬I‘m out of here,‭” ‬Marik said as he turned and walked out the back door with the Millennium Rod.
Ryou heard the back door slam and he leaned against the front door,panting and shaking.‭ ‬Bakura turned around and saw Therion sitting in his carrier with his pacifier bobbing up and down from his‭ ‬calm‭ ‬suckling motion.‭  â€¬I didn't hear a peep from him during the fight.‭ ‬Strange.
The white-haired yami turned to his Light.‭ “‬Did you get it out of your system now‭?”
“I....I don’t know what happened.‭”
“You punched him is what happened.‭ ‬Malik didn’t deserve that.‭ ‬Granted,‭ ‬he shouldn’t have been such a dick,‭ ‬but you didn’t need to pound his face in.‭”
Ryou ran his fingers through his white hair.‭ “‬I can’t believe I did that.‭”
“Believe it,‭ ‬Ryou.‭”
“Was I just supposed to stand there and let him talk to me like that‭?”
Bakura shrugged.‭ “‬Words aren’t bullets....or fists.‭ ‬You could have just stayed in the kitchen with me.‭ ‬That quarrel was between yami and hikari.‭ ‬Marik would have handled it as he saw fit.‭” ‬Bakura approached Ryou and wiped away a trickle of blood from his husband’s forehead.‭ “‬Let’s get you cleaned up.‭ ‬How’s this looking‭?” ‬Bakura lifted Ryou’s shirt and looked at the red,‭ ‬swollen scar.‭ 
“It bloody hurts now.‭”
Bakura took Ryou’s hand.‭ “‬Let’s go into the kitchen and I’ll get that cleaned up.‭”
Ryou and Bakura entered the kitchen and saw Therion looking at them calmly.‭ ‬Ryou sat beside the carrier and removed the baby’s pacifier.‭ ‬He held up the bottle as the baby began to feed.
‭“‬I can’t...can’t believe I did that.‭”
Bakura stood beside Ryou with a cotton ball and alcohol.‭ “‬This might sting,‭ ‬but you could have avoided this.‭”
Ryou winced as the alcohol stung his cut.‭ “‬You’re right,‭ ‬yami.‭”
“Your body is thrown out of wack by the baby,‭ ‬but that still isn’t an excuse for putting yourself into their argument.‭”
“I’m sorry,‭ ‬Bakura.‭”
Bakura sighed as he put a supportive hand on Ryou’s shoulder.‭ “‬It’s been a very long couple of days.‭ ‬Give the Ishtars some time alone.‭ ‬They’ll be back eventually.‭ ‬In the meantime,‭ ‬you need breakfast,‭ ‬medicine,‭ ‬and rest.‭”
“I don’t feel well.‭” ‬Ryou put the bottle on the table and ran from the table upstairs.‭ 
Bakura looked up to hear Ryou vomiting upstairs.‭ “‬Looks like it’s just going to be you and me,‭ ‬boy,‭” ‬Bakura said to his son.‭ ‬Therion yawned and kicked his leg.‭ ‬The baby made an odd face and began to cry.‭  â€¬The yami sighed as he looked at the dishes in the sink that needed to be washed,‭ ‬the overturned table in the living room,‭ ‬the floor littered with snacks,‭ ‬and the baby crying in the carrier.‭ ‬Ryou’s vomiting had transformed into sobbing.‭  â€¬This is going to be a long day.
‭*******************
Malik grit his teeth as he walked down the block.‭ ‬He winced as he wiped his bloody lip on his arm.‭ ‬/Damn Ryou.....Sometimes the truth fucking hurts./
//Malik...stop.‭ ‬Where the fuck are you‭?‬//
Malik stopped as he looked behind him.‭ ‬Marik was walking behind him with the Millennium Rod in his hand.‭ ‬Marik approached him and leaned into Malik’s face.‭ “‬Let me look,‭ ‬tenshi.‭”
Malik winced as Marik touched his bleeding lips.‭ “‬That hurts‭! ‬Don’t touch it.‭”
Marik‭ ‬saw the red marks on his lover’s cheeks,‭ ‬arm,‭ ‬and near his collarbone.‭ “‬I’m proud of you for sticking up for yourself.‭”
Malik crossed his arms against his chest as he glared at Marik.‭ “‬Took you long enough to stop him.‭”
Marik took a deep breath.‭ “‬If Bakura and I hadn’t intervened,‭ ‬he would probably continue the fight.‭”
“He started it,‭ ‬Marik‭! ‬You saw it‭!” ‬Malik pointed angrily towards the Ishtar-Itemri home.
‭“‬He did,‭ ‬yes.‭ ‬We need to get you cleaned up.‭”
The amythyst-eyed hikari watched his yami take his hand and walk with him down the street.‭ “‬I cannot believe he would just sock you one like that‭!”
Malik stopped and tore his hand away from Marik’s grip.‭ “‬Why do you care what happens to me‭? ‬You pulled me into the living room to ask me why I have been bitchy.‭ ‬Now all of a sudden,‭ ‬you want to be pals with me.‭ ‬What’s your problem‭?”
“Ever since last night’s discussion,‭ ‬you have been quiet and moody.‭ ‬When we came back from the hospital,‭ ‬you were fine.‭ ‬It was only after we discussed your desire to return to your family’s tomb that you seemed to avoid me.‭”
“You wouldn’t even spend last night in bed.‭ ‬You would rather sleep on the couch alone rather than beside me‭? ‬Oh,‭ ‬yes,‭ ‬and by the way.‭ ‬That is not OUR family’s tomb.‭ ‬That was Yami’s tomb where we were forced to live for centuries until his return.‭”
Marik held up his hands.‭ “‬Okay,‭ ‬okay.‭ ‬Good point.‭ ‬My point is,‭ ‬you know how angry the memories make me.‭” ‬Marik stepped up to Malik and tilted Malik’s head up gently with his fingertips.‭ “‬I was born.....summoned....by your hatred.‭ ‬Your pain.‭ ‬I was nourished by the hate you bear your father.‭ ‬I am your fear.‭” ‬Marik’s fingers drifted down Malik’s neck to his chest.‭ “‬I am your hate.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬my dear,‭ ‬handsome,‭ ‬sexy husband,‭ ‬I am also what protects you.‭”
Malik closed his eyes as Marik leaned into his ear.‭ ‬He felt his yami’s warm breath caress his skin.‭ ‬“I protected you so long ago as a little boy...wandering the darkness‭ ‬in a tomb of a pharaoh long since dead.‭ ‬I came to your aid as your father’s hot knife pierced your back and carved the tombkeepers‭’ ‬mark upon your young,‭ ‬tender flesh.‭ ‬All you wanted was freedom.‭ ‬It was I who made that freedom possible.‭ ‬I intervened to protect you and remove you from that terrible hell of neverending darkness and oppression.‭” ‬Marik placed a light kiss on Malik’s forehead.‭ “‬I destroyed him.....for you,‭ ‬my Light.‭” ‬Marik took Malik’s hand and held it to his own chest where his fake heart beat.‭ “‬This heart stopped beating five thousand years ago in the sands of‭ ‬Egypt.‭ ‬You ask me why should I care what happens to you‭? ‬The simple answer is a shallow one....without you,‭ ‬I have no hikari.‭ ‬I will be a prisoner once again in the Millennium Rod until the next host is appointed.‭ ‬That would have been my answer in‭ ‬Battle‭ ‬City.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬now....throughout all that we have been through together.‭ ‬Our highs and lows.‭ ‬Our exchange of vows.‭ ‬My answer is not shallow.‭ ‬We need each other.‭ ‬Darkness cannot exist without the blessing of the Light.‭ ‬You cannot appreciate the Light until you see the beauty of the Dark.‭ ‬We need each other to feel complete.‭” ‬Marik caressed Malik’s unbruised cheek lightly with his palm.‭ “‬I won’t allow any harm to come to you.‭ ‬I couldn’t believe what I was seeing with Ry.‭ ‬That is not like him.‭ ‬But you know what‭? ‬Let’s leave the Itemris to whatever the hell they want to do.‭ ‬Today is all about you and I.‭”
Malik’s eyes wandered downward.‭ “‬I know how that place affected you.....us.‭ ‬It was hell.‭ ‬All I wanted was to feel the gentle breeze and feel the warmth of the sun against my skin.‭ ‬I wanted......a friend.‭ ‬That’s all I wanted,‭ ‬Marik.‭ ‬One friend.‭ ‬Someone to talk to.‭ ‬Someone besides my sister to play with.‭” ‬Malik lowered his head.‭ ‬“I prayed to the gods for a friend who I feared would never come.‭ ‬That’s all I wanted,‭ ‬Marik.‭ ‬I was alone.‭ ‬When you first appeared and took me away from that place,‭ ‬I didn’t know if I should trust you or who you were.‭”
“I know I was not always the best friend you deserved.‭ ‬But,‭ ‬I can certainly hope that I am the lover you always wanted,‭” ‬Marik said with a grin.
Malik winked at his yami-husband.‭ “‬Hell yeah.‭”
Marik kissed Malik’s forehead again.‭ “‬Why don’t you and I get you cleaned up‭? ‬We’ll go out to the snootiest,‭ ‬richest,‭ ‬most expensive restaurant and mind-control the waiter into giving us their best bottle of wine‭?
‬Malik giggled.‭ “‬Sounds like a plan.‭ ‬What then‭?”
“Let’s see.....you know,‭ ‬Aten stole that lawnmower from Mr.Gillam and caused quite a bit of raucous.‭ ‬What do you say to causing a little mayhem on our own‭?”
A mischievous grin crossed Malik’s face.‭ “‬It’s a date,‭ ‬partner‭! ‬Why don’t we go to see a movie‭?”
Marik tapped his foot on the ground and the Millennium Rod against his leg as he thought.‭ “‬Hey‭! ‬What about Straps Theater‭? ‬I like the movies,‭ ‬but that place never feels clean enough.‭ ‬Why don’t we....borrow....a movie and take it to Domino Cinema‭? ‬That place is much cleaner....and they have better cheese pretzels than Straps.‭”
“Popcorn with extra butter,‭ ‬too‭?”
Marik pet Malik’s hair.‭ “‬Remember what we used to say during‭ ‬Battle‭ ‬City‭? ‬Our Millennium Rod will always give us what we want‭!”
Marik and Malik laughed as they continued to walk down the street.‭ ‬Marik took Malik’s hand again and was pleased when the hikari didn’t pull his hand away.‭ 

******************
Aten groaned as his head throbbed vigorously.‭ ‬The Egyptian teen’s eyelids fluttered as his fingertips brushed across the white bed linens.‭ ‬Through his closed eyes he could see a faint light coming from the edges of the curtains.‭ ‬With every second,‭ ‬he cursed those tiny beams of light.‭ ‬Aten’s tongue rubbed against the surface of his mouth which felt dry and uncomfortable.
‭“‬Axra min kida mafiiš.‭” (‬There’s nothing shittier than this.‭)    
“Well,‭ ‬well,‭ ‬look who decided to wake up.‭ ‬How are you feeling‭?”
Aten struggled to open his eyes and saw the fuzzy,‭ ‬blurry world before him.‭ “‬Thirsty.‭”
The blurry figure sat beside him and put his hand against his back.‭ “‬Do you need anything‭?”
Aten leaned over the edge of the bed and vomited harshly into an empty bucket.‭ ‬Robbie held Aten’s white and blond hair so it would not fall in front of his face.‭ ‬Aten’s body trembled and wretched as nausea flooded his body.‭ ‬When finished,‭ ‬Aten’s head hung off the bed.‭ ‬Robbie helped the other eighteen-year-old onto the bed again.‭ ‬Robbie handed him a toothbrush with some toothpaste on the bristles.‭ ‬Aten wrinkled his nose as he brushed his teeth.‭ ‬Robbie offered him a cup of water and a bowl.‭ ‬Aten’s head laid back onto the pillow.‭ 
“What do you remember of last night‭?”
“Painting.‭”
[God damn it,‭ ‬the mower’s out of gas‭!] ‬Robbie heard Mr.Gillam yell angrily from the outside.
‭“‬Keep it down‭!” ‬Aten screamed from the bed.‭ “‬Grouchy old fart.‭”
The German teen giggled.‭ “‬Seems like you had a little too much fun last night.‭”
“What happened last night‭?” ‬Aten moaned as he rubbed his hair.‭ 
“Let’s see.‭ ‬You broke into Mr.Gillam’s garage,‭ ‬stole his beer,‭ ‬stole his riding lawnmower,‭ ‬darn-near woke up the neighborhood with your screaming down Arendell,‭ ‬stripped bare-butt naked in the park,‭ ‬played on the equipment,‭ ‬humped me,‭ ‬then drove the mower back home.‭” ‬Robbie paused.‭ “‬Oh‭! ‬And you picked a fight with your penis.‭ ‬Oh‭! ‬And you threw up and peed on Bakura.‭”
Aten chuckled and moaned with the pain in his head.‭ “‬I’m going to hear about that later from Father Bakura.‭”
“I’m also never going to let you forget the night you tried to strangle your penis hanging upside-down in the park while hanging naked on the monkey bars and you gave yourself a boner as a result.‭ ‬That’s definite blackmail fodder.‭”
“Go to hell.‭”
Robbie laughed as Aten plugged his ears.‭ “‬Your father helped me put you to bed.‭” ‬Robbie gasped.‭ “‬Oh‭! ‬One more thing‭! ‬You said you were No Pants‭ ‬Man...Defender of‭ ‬....the F-Word.‭”
“Fuck.‭”
“That’s the one‭!”
Aten groaned.‭ “‬Please don’t tell me mother was here,‭ ‬too....‭”
“Nope.‭ ‬Only your father,‭ ‬Father Bakura,‭ ‬and Malik showed up.‭”
“At least mother didn’t see me naked.‭”
Robbie sighed.‭ “‬No,‭ ‬but your father seemed quite impressed.‭”
Aten paused.‭ “‬Oh that’s embarrassing.‭”
“They tried to blame that all of last night’s chaos on me‭!”
“Why didn’t you stop me‭?”
Robbie looked up in shock.‭ “‬I tried to,‭ ‬but you just didn’t listen to me.‭”
Aten groaned as he held his head.‭ “‬I feel like crap.‭”
Robbie ran his fingers through Aten’s hair.‭ “‬It will be better soon.‭ ‬Just relax.‭”
Aten’s body relaxed as Robbie pet him.‭ ‬His eyes closed and Robbie thought he heard a low purr come from the dark-skinned teen.‭ “‬Hell yeah.‭”
Robbie sat quietly as he watched Aten drift into slumber.
‭***************
Umi tucked Rhett into bed with his stuffed dolphin toy.‭ ‬The two-year old boy yawned as the houseboat’s waves gently rocked him to sleep.‭ ‬He caressed the boy’s hair as he smiled down at his son.‭ “‬Pleasant dreams,‭ ‬little starfish.‭ ‬Sleep well.‭”
Rhett yawned as he stretched.‭ “‬Love you,‭ ‬daddy.‭”
Umi watched as the boy’s chocolate brown eyes closed as he drifted into slumber.‭ ‬My little starfish,‭ ‬I don’t know what will happen to your mom and I.‭ ‬I know how much it hurt for my father to grow up without his own father.‭ ‬He became stronger because of it,‭ ‬more self-reliant,‭ ‬I think.‭  â€¬You look so much like me.‭ ‬My hope is you grow up to be self-reliant,‭ ‬strong,‭ ‬and confident in your own abilities.‭ ‬You have so much power within you.‭ ‬Your magic can be used for good.‭ ‬I have seen you touch wounds and heal them.‭ ‬My hope is you use that magic for good purposes.‭ ‬Your magic comes from your mother.‭ ‬You are definitely our little boy.‭ ‬Be good for your mother.‭ ‬She loves you.‭ ‬I love you.‭ ‬I hope you understand why I do what I must do.
‭“‬Love you,‭ ‬Rhett Bakura Tsunami.‭”
Umi approached the door and turned to see Rhett sleeping one last time.‭ ‬He walked next door to Kai’s room.‭ ‬Kai was sitting on his bed with his Duel Monsters cards on his bed.‭ “‬Kai‭ ‬Neptune Tsunami,‭ ‬what are you doing awake past your bedtime‭?”
“Playing with my cards,‭” ‬the four-year-old smiled.‭ 
“You want to make a dueling deck,‭ ‬hmm‭?”
Kai smiled.‭ “‬I want to be a great duelist like grandfather and mommy‭!”
Umi approached the bed slowly.‭ “‬Great duelists need to go to bed.‭ ‬It’s getting late.‭”
“Should I have this card in my deck‭?” ‬Kai asked as he held up a card.‭ 
“’The Legendary Fisherman‭?’ ‬That was your grandfather’s favorite card.‭”
Kai’s eyes lit up.‭ “‬Wow‭! ‬Yes‭! ‬I want it‭!”
“Perhaps your mother can show you how to play.‭ ‬I’m sure she’d be happy to help you.‭ ‬If you ask nicely,‭ ‬perhaps Seto Kaiba will......‭” ‬Umi paused as images of Seto Kaiba and Aria having sex flooded his mind.‭ ‬He could imagine her writhing beneath him,‭ ‬her screams of passions echoed from when they made love.‭ ‬Damn you,‭ ‬Seto Kaiba‭!‬ “Maybe Seto will let you use his dueling arena to train with mommy.‭”
The white-and-blue-haired boy bounced excitedly on his bed.‭ “‬That would be fun‭!”
“You will have to ask mommy and Uncle Seto,‭ ‬though.‭” ‬Don’t I mean mommy’s man-whore‭?
“Can you teach me,‭ ‬too,‭ ‬daddy‭?”
Umi sighed.‭ “‬I have to go on a little trip,‭ ‬Little Minnow.‭ ‬Tell you what.‭ ‬When I come back,‭ ‬then you and I can have a little duel,‭ ‬alright‭? ‬By the time I get home,‭ ‬you will be really good at it.‭”
Kai clapped his hands.‭ “‬Yay‭! ‬Will it be tomorrow‭?”
Umi shook his head.‭ “‬No,‭ ‬Little Minnow.‭ ‬I’ll be gone tomorrow.‭”
“The next day‭?”
Umi paused.‭ “‬Maybe.‭”
Kai smiled.‭ “‬I will be the best duelist ever,‭ ‬daddy‭! ‬I will be really good‭! ‬You watch‭!”
“I know you will be,‭ ‬Kai.‭ ‬I don’t doubt it.‭ ‬In the meantime,‭ ‬you take care of your brother and mother,‭ ‬alright‭?”
“And Lani‭?”
Umi nodded.‭ “‬Yes,‭ ‬and Lani.‭”
Kai smiled up at his father.‭ “‬I will‭!”
Umi tucked Kai into bed and kissed his cheek.‭ “‬Daddy loves you,‭ ‬Little Minnow.‭”
Kai wrapped his arms around Umi’s neck.‭ “‬Love you,‭ ‬daddy‭!”
Umi ruffled Kai’s white and blue hair.‭ ‬He turned off Umi’s lamp and sadly walked out of the room.‭ ‬With a deep breath,‭ ‬he went to his bedroom that he shared with his wife of four years.‭ ‬He had packed the suitcase while Aria was running errands with the children during the day.‭ 
Moment of truth.‭
‬He walked with the suitcase to the living room where Aria was sitting on the couch.‭ “‬Little Mermaid‭?”
Aria looked over at him holding the suitcase with a worried look on her face.‭ “‬Umi‭?” ‬She stood up from the couch.‭ “‬Where are you going‭?”
“Aria,‭ ‬I....I’m leaving.‭”
“Umi,‭ ‬please,‭ ‬we can work through this‭!” ‬she pleaded as she walked over to him.‭ “‬I promise I couldn’t control the flashback.‭ ‬I didn’t mean to sleep with Seto.‭”
Umi closed his eyes tightly as she wrapped her arms around him.‭ “‬When I look at you,‭ ‬all I can see is‭ ‬him‭!‬ I look at Rhett and I see a lot of you in him.‭ ‬I look at Kai and there is‭ ‬us‭!‬ I look at that baby girl and I know she is not ours.‭ ‬That is Seto Kaiba’s child created by you cheating on me‭! ‬Do you know how hard that is‭?”
“Umi,‭ ‬I couldn’t stop it‭!”
“You’re a whore‭!” ‬Umi growled at her.
Aria narrowed her eyes as tears coursed down her cheeks.‭ “‬Are you calling my mom a whore,‭ ‬too‭? ‬Aten is my stepbrother and we don’t come from the same father‭!”
“That is your parent’s problem.‭ ‬You are my problem.‭” ‬Umi narrowed his eyes at Aria.‭ 
“We tried to stop it.‭”
“There’s something else you won’t be able to stop,‭ ‬mermaid.‭” ‬Umi stepped around Aria and walked towards the boathouse door.‭ 
“Where are you going‭?”
Umi shrugged.‭ “‬I don’t know.‭ ‬My father is out there somewhere.‭ ‬Maybe I’ll join him at sea.‭” ‬He looked over his shoulder at Aria.‭ “‬If you’re feeling lonely at night,‭ ‬you can always climb into Seto’s bed.‭ ‬I’m sure he won’t have a problem with you joining him.‭ ‬Goodbye.‭”
“Umi,‭ ‬come back‭! ‬Please‭! ‬I was stupid‭! ‬What I did was stupid‭!” ‬Aria sobbed.‭ “‬Our past came back to haunt us and we tried to fight it.‭ ‬Damn it,‭ ‬we tried to fight it‭! ‬I never wanted to hurt you.‭”
Umi hung his head low.‭ “‬You did.‭”
Aria sniffled as she grabbed a tissue.‭ “‬I’m sorry,‭ ‬Umi.‭”
“You certainly will be,‭” ‬Umi grabbed the doorknob and shut the door behind him.‭ 
Aria narrowed her eyes and chased after Umi.‭ “‬You can’t just walk out on us‭!”
“I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for you‭! ‬You cheated‭! ‬You were in the wrong‭!” ‬Umi growled at her.
Aria grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back into the houseboat.‭ “‬You belong with your family‭! ‬Get back inside and we can talk‭!”
“I’m done talking.‭ ‬I have nothing left to say.‭ ‬Let go of me,‭” ‬he snarled as he freed his arm from Aria’s grip.
Umi turned to walk away from her as he heard her growl behind him.‭ ‬A moment later,‭ ‬Yami Aria stood in his path.‭ ‬Her hair appeared spiky like her father’s and her eyes were dark as onyx.‭ “‬Get back into that house,‭ ‬Umi Aquarius Tsunami.‭”
“You are causing a scene‭! ‬Stop it‭! ‬I’m not going back into that house.‭”
Yami Aria growled and gripped the front of his shirt.‭ “‬You will,‭ ‬bastard,‭ ‬if I have to drag you back inside‭!”
Lights flickered on in the surrounding houseboats.‭ ‬Doors opened and some neighbors peeked their heads out.‭ “‬Hey‭! ‬It’s late‭!” ‬one neighbor shouted.‭ “‬I have to get up for work in the morning.‭”
“FUCK YOUR WORK‭!” ‬Yami Aria growled.‭ “‬Umi,‭ ‬you can’t leave me‭!”
“I can and I will,‭” ‬Umi stepped around her.‭ 
Yami Aria stood in his path once more.‭ “‬I will not let you abandon your children‭! ‬Your family‭!”
“What about you when you decided to fuck Seto Kaiba‭?! ‬What do you think would happen to your family‭? ‬How do you think you would feel if I got another girl pregnant‭? ‬Would you be alright with that‭?” ‬Umi snarled.‭ 
“Course not‭!”
“Thank you.‭ ‬Goodbye.‭”
Yami Aria grabbed his arm again.‭ “‬Get back in that fucking boat‭!”
Umi turned to Yami Aria once more.‭ “‬You were always Daddy’s Girl‭! ‬Spoiled little brat‭! ‬You think I will give into you this time,‭ ‬Little Mermaid‭? ‬No‭! ‬You screwed up‭! ‬Not me‭! ‬You‭! ‬I have remained faithful to you‭! ‬I’ve defended you.‭ ‬Not this time.‭ ‬This time you are going to sit in the filth that you created.‭” ‬Umi paused.‭ “‬I loved you,‭ ‬Aria.‭ ‬I’ve loved you for a long time.‭ ‬But,‭ ‬you betrayed my trust.‭ ‬You’ve cut me deep like the ocean.‭ ‬All I can see is you with‭ ‬him.‭ ‬We need time apart,‭ ‬Aria.‭”
“You.‭ ‬Can’t.‭ ‬Leave.‭ ‬Me.‭”
“What are you going to do,‭ ‬mermaid‭? ‬Tie me up and keep me below deck‭?”
Yami Aria’s lip curled in a sneer.‭ “‬If I have to.‭”
Umi swallowed nervously.‭ “‬You wouldn’t do that.‭”
“My father is Yami Bakura.‭ ‬Do you think I would be his daughter and not learn how to restrain a man‭? ‬Dominate him‭? ‬I was born of darkness.‭”
“Your Light side wouldn’t allow you to do it.‭”
Yami Aria chuckled.‭ “‬Yes,‭ ‬but my Light side isn’t here,‭ ‬is it‭? ‬You’ve got me now,‭ ‬motherfucker.‭ ‬And you’ve pissed me off.‭”
“Well,‭ ‬you pissed me off‭! ‬I wasn’t the one to get myself knocked up by a man other than my husband‭!”
“Who are you‭? ‬The fucking morality police‭?”
Umi stepped around Yami Aria.‭ “‬This conversations over‭!”
“Well,‭ ‬I’m not done conversing‭!” ‬Yami Aria growled.‭ “‬If you leave here,‭ ‬I swear to Seth,‭ ‬I will send my Nightmare Dragon after you and he will bring you back‭! ‬In pieces,‭ ‬if need be‭!”
“So now you are threatening me‭? ‬That’s definitely going to make me want to go back into the boat‭!”
“Mommy‭?”
“Daddy‭?”
Umi and Yami Aria turned and saw Rhett and Kai standing at the door to the houseboat with worried looks on their faces.
‭“‬See what you did,‭ ‬Aria‭? ‬You woke the kids‭!”
Yami Aria pointed to the children.‭ “‬Do you see them‭? ‬How could you abandon them‭?”
“I didn’t abandon them‭! ‬It was you whoring around with Kaiba‭!”
“I told you I was sorry‭! ‬A real man would stay with his family‭! ‬Now get back into that fucking house‭!” ‬Yami Aria grabbed Umi’s arm again,‭ ‬but he broke her grip again.‭ 
Rhett and Kai watched wide-eyed as Umi turned to walk away,‭ ‬but their mother continued to try to pull him inside.‭ ‬Rhett began to cry as he held onto his brother.‭ 
“Aria,‭ ‬I don’t want to fight in front of the kids,‭” ‬Umi growled.
Yami Aria stepped around Umi and tried to push him into the house.‭ “‬Get the fuck back into the house‭!”
“Aria,‭ ‬let go of me‭!”
Yami Aria punched his arm.‭ “‬You listen to me‭!”
“Mommy‭! ‬Daddy‭! ‬Don’t fight‭!” ‬Kai called to them as tears rained down his face.‭ 
“Aria,‭ ‬stop causing a scene‭!”
Two police cars arrived at the docks.‭ ‬Umi watched as the police officers stepped out of their cars.‭ ‬Umi turned back to the crying children.‭ ‬He walked to the boys and hugged them.‭ ‬They hugged their father tightly as they watched the officers approach the scene.
‭“‬Hi,‭ ‬folks,‭ ‬we have a report of a domestic disturbance.‭ ‬Is everything okay‭?”
“He’s trying to abandon his family‭!” ‬Yami Aria pointed at Umi angrily.‭ 
“The girl hit Umi‭!” ‬a neighbor said as he approached the officers.‭ “‬I saw it‭! ‬We all saw it‭!”
“Ma’am,‭ ‬please come with me,‭” ‬an officer said as he directed Aria to the squad car.‭ ‬The other policeman stood with Umi and the boys.
‭“‬Ma’am,‭ ‬you cannot assault people,‭” ‬the officer said calmly.
Yami Aria glared.‭ “‬What about a man walking out on his family‭?”
“I know you’re angry,‭ ‬ma’am,‭ ‬but you can’t--.‭”
“Stop calling me that‭!” ‬Yami Aria growled.
The officer took a deep breath.‭ “‬Please tell me what happened.‭”
 “My husband is walking out on me‭! ‬That is what happening‭!”
“Assault is a crime.‭ ‬Are you aware of this‭?”
“Are you aware he is an asshole trying to abandon his family‭?”
The policeman removed handcuffs from his belt.‭ “‬Ma’am,‭ ‬we’re going to have to take you down to the station.‭”
“WHAT‭?!”
“Assault is a crime and it is obvious that you need some time alone.‭”
“Get the hell away from me‭!”
Umi watched the police officers handcuff Aria and put her in the squad car.‭ 
“Mommy‭!” ‬Rhett cried as he reached out to her,‭ ‬sobbing.
‭“‬Where are they taking mommy‭?” ‬Kai sobbed as he held onto his father.
The police officer beside Umi kneeled down to see the kids.‭ “‬Boys,‭ ‬your mommy will be home soon.‭ ‬Have either of you boys ever had a‭ ‘‬time out‭?’” ‬Kai nodded sadly.‭ “‬It’s just like that.‭” ‬The officer stood beside Umi.‭ “‬Do you have any bruises‭?”
Umi looked at his black-and-blue upper arm.‭ “‬Wow,‭ ‬she has a good grip.‭”
The officer took pictures of Umi’s injuries.‭ “‬Sir,‭ ‬do you need information on domestic abuse shelters‭?”
Umi watched as the squad car pulled away with Aria in the backseat.
Umi shook his head.‭ “‬No,‭ ‬officer.‭ ‬ I don’t want to upset my kids further.‭”
“Do you need a safe place‭?”
“No,‭ ‬officer.‭ ‬We will be fine.‭”
The officer looked down at the boys.‭ “‬You kids be good for daddy.‭”
Rhett watched the officer walk away.‭ “‬I want my mommy‭!” ‬he sobbed loudly.
Umi brought the boys inside.‭ ‬He sat with them on the couch and hugged them.‭ 
“Why did mommy go away‭?” ‬Kai asked.
‭“‬Mommy needs some time to think about her naughty actions.‭ ‬In the meantime,‭ ‬why don’t we pack your bags and go to grandma’s‭?”
Rhett sobbed.‭ “‬I want mommy‭!”
“I know,‭ ‬Rhett,‭” ‬Umi said,‭ ‬trying to console the crying toddler.‭ “‬You’ll see her soon,‭ ‬buddy.‭”
Kai sniffled.‭ “‬I miss mommy.‭”
“She’ll be alright,‭ ‬Kai.‭ ‬I’m sorry you had to see mommy and daddy fight.‭ ‬Even though mommies and daddies fight,‭ ‬they will always love their kids.‭ ‬Alright‭? ‬You did nothing wrong.‭”
Kai rubbed his teary eyes.‭ “‬I’m sad.‭”
Umi hugged the boys.‭ “‬Me,‭ ‬too,‭ ‬son.‭ ‬Me,‭ ‬too.‭”
***************
Let our vengeance begin.‭ ‬It is time to resurrect the pharaoh.