Project: Destiny

Thnx to my Reviewers:
Lilie
Yami Yuugi (I’ll double check to make sure ur on there. Sorry!)
… (Its freezing here with a chance of snow but it hardly ever snows here and when it does it ain’t much. I know what your going through, my finals are next week.)
Velvetina
StormyHaven (I’ll make sure to keep u on the update list.)


Disclaimer: Unfortunately anything dealing with Yu-gi-oh does not belong to me but to a very rich and lucky person. So no suing!
Includes: Yaoi (male/male relationships), slight AU but no spoilers, surprises (if you like the Engulf Trilogy then you’ll like the surprises *hint, hint*)
Pairings: Seto/Joey, Yami/Yugi, Marik/Malik, Bakura/Ryou, possible others
Forum(Created by my great reviewer, Jo-Lo): http://s11.invisionfree.com/Ravenx_Forum/
Beta(s): Jo-Lo: Is that a blimp? No, its just little Yugi.; Sarah Costa


General A/N: Okay, people, here is what happened. AFF fixed a glitch with the site but it deleted Chapters 21 and 22 along with the reviews to them. I posted them again but any reviews given before that to the last chapter are gone and I didn’t check them before they went bye-bye so if you did review for 22 and u aren’t listed above…gomen (sorry)…but it ain’t my fault!

The next update might be a while depending on how much studying I can get done. But after next week when my finals are over I promise that updating will come more often. Until then on with the story…


Project: Destiny
Chapter Twenty Three
by Ravenx

~December 20 – Yugi’s Birthday~

“Oh, this is killing me.” Joey whines as he leans forward from his position on the floor with his legs spread as wide as he can, his feet touching the bottoms of Malik’s feet as their hands are wrapped around each other’s wrists.

“Me too.” Malik agrees from in front of the sandy blonde, leaning forward as Joey leans back.

“Too bad, we have to do it.” Ryou says from next to the pale blonde, leaning back in the same position with Yugi.

“Why?” The sandy blonde asks.

“Because we need to exercise to stay health for the babies.” Yugi groans, leaning forward.

“This isn’t exercise, this is torture.” Malik sighs. “I thought we were done with torture last week when we had our finals but no, Dr. Morland has to have us do some.”

“It isn’t that bad.” Ryou smiles over at the pale blonde.

“Oh, just shut up.”

“Don’t be mean to Ryou, Malik.” Yugi says.

“You guys need anything?” Mokuba leans over the back of the sofa above Joey and Malik, his violet eyes looking around the boys on the floor.

“No thank you, Mokuba.” Ryou smiles sweetly up at the younger boy.

“Have you heard from Seto yet?” Joey looks up at his lover’s brother.

“Nope.”

“Is he going to be able to make it for my little birthday party?” Yugi asks.

“He said he would try but now that he is out of school he has more meetings.” Mokuba sighs as he holds up a large green wreath with a red and white bow on the bottom. “Ryou, where do you want this?”

“Hang it on the door please, sweetie.”

“Okay.” The younger boy quickly hops off the sofa and goes to the door.

“Isn’t it great having a little helper around?” Joey smiles.

“I love him to death since he said he’d help us decorate for Christmas.” Ryou leans back a little way, his large belly jetting out slightly.

“He has more energy than I’ve ever seen.” Yugi chuckles.

“Done.” Mokuba bounces back into the room and over to a box filled with decorations sitting on the coffee table, his violet eyes look next to the television in front of the window where a large Christmas trees stands covered in colorful lights and ornaments, piles of different shaped and sized presents wrapped under it. “What else should I do?”

“There should be some cut out snowflakes in the box somewhere, you could pin them to this wall over here.” Ryou nods to the white wall next to him.

“These are cute.” The raven haired boy pulls out a stack of different sized white and pale blue pieces of paper. “Where did you get them?”

“My parents and I made them when I was little. Every year we pin them to the wall, kinda a tradition.”

“That’s sweet, Ryou.” Yugi smiles as he leans forward.

“I’m hoping our little one can make some one day to hang up there with those.” Ryou ducks his head, trying to hide the blush that creeps over his cheeks and nose.

“Awe.” Joey smiles over at the blushing white haired hikari.

“Okay, enough sap and enough exercise.” Malik lets go of the sandy blonde’s wrist, his hands going to hold his belly. “Mokuba, could you run upstairs and get Marik to come down and help us up?”

“Sure.” The youngest boy lays down the snowflakes on the back of the sofa and runs up the stairs.

“I can’t believe Jade tells us to do exercises that we can’t get up from after.”

“She figures one of the yamis or Seto will always be here with us. And she isn’t wrong.” Yugi giggles as he releases Ryou’s wrists.

“Now I’m hungry.” The white haired boy pouts.

“Me too.” Malik agrees. “I want something chocolate and sour.”

“First, yuck. Second, you shouldn’t be eating all that caffeine.” Joey scolds.

“I know but I crave it.”

“Like your sour pickles dipped in melted chocolate?” Yugi shudders.

“Mmm…that sounds good. We got any pickles left?”

“Don’t forget we still have Yugi’s cake for later.” Ryou speaks up.

“Is it chocolate?” The pale blonde asks.

“Kinda. It’s yellow cake with chocolate icing.” Yugi tells him.

“Close enough.”

“You boys need help?” Marik comes into the room followed by Bakura and Mokuba.

“Yes.” Malik holds his hands up to the large yami.

Marik walks around the sofa and stands behind his hikari, his large hands grabbing the smaller boy under the arms and lifting him up onto his bare feet. Malik turns around, leaning up to kiss his lover on the chin before snuggling into a strong hug, his large belly causing his hips and bottom to stick out slightly. Bakura follows close behind the other yami, moving to help his own hikari off the floor, bending to kiss the top of the white head, his hands rubbing around the belly of Ryou.

“Uh, guys. A little help here.” Yugi holds his hands up to the two yamis.

“Busy.” Bakura mumbles as he starts sucking on Ryou’s neck.

“Same here.” Marik’s voice is mumbles against Malik’s lips.

“Come on, Joey.” Mokuba bends down behind the sandy blonde, his arms hooking under Joey’s arms as he lifts up, Joey’s hand helping the younger boy with his weight by using the sofa until he gets to his feet.

“Thank you, Mokie.”

“You’re next, Yugi.” The raven haired boy moves over to do the same thing with the smallest hikari, Joey helping to get Yugi to his feet.

“Thanks. You’re strong for a little guy.” Yugi smiles at Mokuba as he straightens his shirt down over his large belly.

“Not really, I’ve just gotten used to helping Joey up off the floor at home when Seto isn’t around.” Mokuba shrugs.

“Where is Yami?” Joey asks as he walks around the sofa toward the kitchen with Yugi and Mokuba following him, the three ignoring the making out couples.

“Upstairs. Probably in our room.”

“Sorry I didn’t get him, I didn’t think about it. You want me to run up and get him?” Mokuba asks.

“No, that’s okay. He will be down later. He has been really tired this past week, working crazy hours at Kaiba Corp and he won’t tell me why.” Yugi waddles over to the counter, picking up banana and peeling it.

“I tried to tell Seto to not work him so hard but he says I don’t need to worry about anything.” Joey rolls his eyes.

“At least he likes being a game tester. It’s got to be the perfect job for him.”

“Even Marik and Bakura are doing well, even though they don’t work half as much as Yami does.”

“Its weird thinking that those two are working.” Mokuba giggles.

“I know. So, when are we going to have cake and open presents?”

“I don’t know. It’s your birthday so whenever you want.” Joey smiles over at the spiky haired teen as he carefully hops up on a stool with the help of Mokuba.

“Can I have a soda?” Mokuba asks.

“Yeah, they’re in the bottom of the refrigerator.” Yugi says around a mouthful of banana.

“Why did you guys leave?” Ryou comes in the kitchen pouting, Bakura’s arms wrapped around his waist as they walk to the island to stand next to the sandy blonde.

“Didn’t feel like watching you tongue wrestle each other?” Joey chuckles.

“We weren’t that bad.”

“Whatever you say. Where are Malik and Marik?” Yugi asks.

“On the sofa watching TV. Yugi, don’t ruin your appetite, we’re having cake in a little.” Ryou scolds.

“I’m not but I’m hungry now.”

“Mokie, come here and help me.” Joey whines as he rubs the right side of his belly.

“What’s wrong, Joey?” Ryou asks with concern.

“Just more kicking. I swear this kid is going to be the captain of the soccer team.”

Mokuba walks around to Joey’s right side, sitting down the can of soda on the island and moving his smaller hands to rub the place the sandy blonde’s hands moves from. Joey wraps his arm loosely around the raven haired boy’s shoulder, sighing as the baby starts to calm down.

“I’m so glad you decided to come over here with me today.” Joey smiles.

“Still doesn’t listen to you?” Ryou asks with a small smile on his lips.

“Nope. Only to its father and uncle.”

“You’re going to make a great uncle, Mokuba.” Yugi moves closer to the island with his half-eaten banana.

“I hope so.” The youngest boy smiles widely as he lays his head down on Joey’s shoulder, his hand still moving over the swollen belly.

“I’m going up to check on Yami.” The smallest hikari starts toward the door, leaving the banana on the island.

“You mean you’re going to try and get him down here so you can open presents.” Joey smirks.

“Maybe.”

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Yugi closes the door quietly behind him as he moves into the guest room him and his yami live in, his bare feet carry him silently over the plush white carpet to the edge of the made bed. Yami lays on his stomach, his head turned away from the smaller boy, his hands resting around his head, his black track pants the only thing coverings his lightly tanned body. Yugi reaches the bed and leans down, rubbing circles on his lover’s firm back.

“Yami.” Yugi whispers.

“Mmm.”

“Yami, wake up.” Yugi smiles as he receives a mumbled response into the pillows. “Yami.”

“No.” Yami mumbles.

“Yami, wake up, sweetie.” Yugi gently shakes his yami’s shoulder.

“Killer Rat!” Yami jumps up onto his knees, his dark purple eyes looking around the room lit by the sun pouring in through the window.

“What?” Yugi giggles as he sits down on the bed near the pillows.

“Huh? Oh, Yugi, chibi ichi, when did you get here?” Yami yawns as he sits on the bed next to his lover.

“A few minutes ago. What were you dreaming about?”

“Why?”

“You yelled killer rats when you woke up.” Yugi continues to giggle quietly.

“Oh, it’s on a game Kaiba Corp is testing. Guess I was dreaming about it.”

“Do you have to work tomorrow?”

“No, I won’t be working as much as I have been.”

“Good. I was going to jump on Seto when he got here for making you work so hard.” Yugi grins.

“It wasn’t Kaiba’s fault, chibi ichi. I requested to work as much as possible these last few weeks.” Yami fidgets with the black pants covering his legs.

“What? Why? You know I’ve been wanting you here while I’m pregnant.”

“I know but I really needed the extra money for something.”

“For what?”

“Well.” Yami gets up, moving over to the dresser drawers across the room, opening the top drawer and pulling out a small rectangular box. “I was going to wait for you to open it with the other presents but I guess I can have you open it now.”

Yugi watches carefully as his lover moves back over to him, sitting back next to him and handling the unwrapped box shyly to him.

“What is it?”

“You’re birthday present from me.” Yami watches as his hikari slowly opens the box, his eyes widening if possible and his mouth hanging open. “Do you like it?”

“Yami…I…it’s….you…how…oh…it’s beautiful.” Yugi pulls out a silver bracelet, diamonds in the shapes of hearts hanging from the thin chain.

“I’m glad you like it.” Yami smiles.

“How could you…it must be expensive.”

“It was but you’re worth it. And I didn’t use any money from out savings from the game shop.”

“This is why you’ve been working almost non-stop?” Yugi looks over at his love.

“Yep. I talked to Kaiba about it and he agreed to give me all the available hours he could, which turned out to be a lot. Good thing I get paid well or it would have taken longer to get it.”

“Where…I…I just can’t believe you spent this much money on me.”

“I love you, I don’t care how much it cost I was going to get it for you.” Yami shrugs as he takes the bracelet from Yugi. “Want me to put it on you?”

“Yes, please.” Yugi holds out his slim wrist, watching as the piece of jewelry is carefully fastened around it. “Oh, it’s beautiful.”

“So did I do well for your birthday?”

“Oh, you did better than good.” Yugi giggles, leaning and up to kiss his yami’s lips.

“Have you opened your other gifts yet?” Yami asks as he pulls back slightly.

“No. We are still waiting to hear from Seto but Mokuba and Joey says I can go ahead an open presents. But truthfully I think Joey and Marik just want cake.”

“Like you aren’t?”

“Well, maybe a little but that’s just because we can’t have a lot of sweets now.” Yugi plays with the bracelet around his wrist, his eyes watching the diamonds shine in the sunlight coming through the window. “Oh, guess what.”

“What?”

“Grandpa called me this morning to wish me a happy birthday.”

“That’s great. How is he doing?”

“Good. He said he is having so much fun digging up artifacts.” Yugi snuggles over into his lover’s side.

“That’s good. Did he say when he is coming home for a visit?”

“He isn’t sure yet. He has a very big dig that he is in charge of and he can’t afford to leave for a while.” Yugi pouts.

“You miss him, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. He raised me since I was little. It’s weird him not being around all the time.”

“But he did say he was going to try and come back when his great-grandchild is born, didn’t he?”

“Yes. I still can’t believe him and Ryou’s dad took the news so well.”

“They love you both, as long as this makes you happy they don’t care.” Yami wraps an arm around his lover’s small shoulders.

“But we’re boys, I could understand how they wouldn’t feel right about it, I mean it took us several weeks before we actually believed it.”

“Actually, I couldn’t really believe it until I felt him move for the first time.”

“Oh, you just had to mention moving didn’t you.” Yugi tubs his belly in circles.

“Getting active?” Yami slips off the bed and onto his knees, moving in front of his lover, his hands reaching out to rub the round stomach of his hikari.

“Yep, must be getting hungry.” Yugi smiles down at his yami sweetly.

“Hey there, little guy. You causing problems for you mommy?”

“Yami. I’m warning you.”

“What?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“I can’t help it, that’s what you look like. A little mother.” Yami chuckles.

“Don’t you dare get our child to call me mommy.”

“Fine. I won’t as long as I can get him to call Bakura, Uncle Baka.”

“Well…okay.” Yugi giggles.

“I guess we should be getting down stairs so you can open your other presents.” Yami slowly stands up, reaching for a black tank top laying across the bottom of the bed before slipping it on.

“I guess. Help me up.” Yugi holds his hands out to his lover, giggling as he is practically lifted off the bed and onto the floor.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“I’m going to kill your brother.” Joey grunts as he flops down carefully on one of the white chairs in the living room with help from Mokuba.

“This is usually how it goes when we are out of school.” The young boy shrugs his shoulders as he sits on the arm of Joey’s chair.

“Well, it had best change fast cause he is not leaving me and you alone with this baby all the time. We’ll need a break once in a while.”

“He has already talked about working more from home when the baby gets here.”

“He better.” Joey sighs as he leans back on the chair, rubbing his belly slowly.

“How are you handling the stairs at the mansion, Joey? I know just these here are killer to me at times.” Ryou asks from his sit on the sofa near the sandy blonde.

“I’m getting to were it takes me almost an hour to make it up, its quicker to go down though.” Joey chuckles. “Seto is talking about me and him sleeping in the room they have set up for us to stay in after the births.”

“That would be easier.”

“I even got Seto to hook some of my game stations up downstairs so we can still play.” Mokuba grins.

“Nice.” Ryou turns his head toward the sound of the kitchen door swinging open to see his lover coming out with a large cake in his hands. “Bring it over here on the coffee table, Kura. Thank you and be careful, don’t drop it.”

“I won’t, I won’t.”

“Mmm, that looks good.” Joey licks his lips as he stares at the chocolate iced cake with yellow writing reading ‘Happy 18th Birthday Yugi’ across the top with red icing balloons around it.

“Thank you.” Ryou smiles.

“You even did the decorating?”

“Yep.”

“He is a hikari with many talents.” Malik chuckles as he enters the living room from the dining room with an envelope in his hands, moving to sit on the other side of the sofa from Ryou as Bakura sits between the two hikaris.

“Don’t over exert yourself, kitsune.” Marik mumbles as he follows the path of his lover with three large boxes in his arms.

“I won’t.” The small pale blonde smiles up at his lover who sits the gifts down next to the cake. “Now can you go and get those plastic plates and forks that I left on the island in the kitchen? Oh, and don’t forget the knife to cut the cake with.”

“Yes, kitsune.” The large pale blonde sighs before heading off in the direction of the kitchen.

“Yeah, cake and present time.” Yugi grins as he walks into the room followed closely by his yami, moving to sit in the chair across the room.

Yami stands behind his lover as Yugi sits down, his feet moving to prop up on the coffee table next to the gifts, his hands rubbing his large belly in circles. Wide light purple eyes look over at the sandy blonde across from him, a small smile gracing Yugi’s lips.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Seto?”

“No, he’ll be at the office till late tonight.” Joey sighs.

“I’m sorry, Joey.”

“It isn’t your fault, Yug. Besides, this is your day so open gifts!”

“Open ours first.” Malik speaks up. “The purple one.”

Yami moves around to pick the large shiny purple wrapped box off the coffee table, handing it to his hikari before moving back around the chair and leaning over it. He watches as his lover carefully removes the large white bow off the top of the present and then rips the paper off to reveal a plain box, opening to show a wad of white tissue paper.

“What is it, Yugi?” Mokuba asks.

“I don’t think you should find out.” Yugi giggles as he pokes around in the box.

“What? What did they get you? Can’t be any worse than the flavored lube they got me.” Ryou says.

“Or the dog collar they got me.” Joey speaks up.

“Let’s see we have…a pair of handcuffs…” Yugi holds the silver items up before dropping them back in the box, holding up the next one. “A blindfold…and a…oh my…a thong.” He holds up a tiny piece of dark purple material.

“You’ll just have to wait until after the baby is born to wear it.” Malik says.

“Like this is every going to be worn.” Yugi drops the underwear back into the box before putting it on the floor next to his chair.

“Whose is this?” Yami asks as he hands another box to Yugi, watching as his hikari starts to pull away the white and red paper.

“That’s from me and Seto.” Joey smiles.

Yugi grins widely as he rips the paper away, his eyes scanning over the words written on the box.

“Oh, I love you guys.” Yugi giggles. “A foot massager, I’ve been dying for one of these the last couple weeks.”

“We figured you use it a lot with all the complaining you do about how much your feet hurt. We got the top of the line.”

“That’s nice. I have a foot massager too.” Malik smiles up at Marik as the larger pale blonde reenters the living room, setting down his arm full of supplies on the coffee table before sitting on the arm of the sofa by Malik.

“What?” Marik asks his lover.

“Nothing.”

“I’m going to use it tonight.” Yugi smiles over at Joey. “Thank you and Seto.”

“I’ll tell him you like it.”

“Whose is next?” Yugi holds out his arms for the last box to be dropped in his lap by Yami.

“That’s from me.” Mokuba says.

Yugi opens the midnight blue paper decorated with small white balloons, placing the white ribbon wrapped around the thin present with the first one he got.

“Oh, Mokuba.” Yugi holds up a dark wooden frame, in the center a crisp Duel Monster card, the Dark Magician looking back at him.

“It’s the first Dark Magician ever made, never been used.” Mokuba smiles. “You like it?”

“I love it.”

“Very nice.” Yami agrees as he looks over his hikari’s shoulder.

“I thought you two would like it.”

“Thank you, Mokuba.”

“Malik, can you quit bending mine and Bakura’s present and give it to Yugi?” Ryou asks the pale blonde.

“Oh, sorry. I forgot.” Malik hands the plain white envelope to the small tri-colored haired boy.

Yugi opens the envelope and read the content quietly to himself, his yami reading over his shoulder.

“I figured since you are basically living her now and we’ve been making plans for after the babies are here that you guys need to feel more at home. So that is a gift certificate that should cover any paint or furniture you want to get to make your room…well…your room.” Ryou smiles.

“Thanks, Ryou. This is great.”

“I thought you might be getting tired of the flower wall paper.”

“It was getting a little too much.” Yami mumbles.

“So, did you get all the presents you wanted?” Joey asks.

“That, plus some.”

“It has to suck having your birthday this close to Christmas. I mean I thought mine was bad.” Joey shakes his head.

“It was kinda hard growing up. Grandpa said I could either have one present for my birthday and the rest for Christmas or all of them on Christmas. I always chose one for my birthday.”

“Isn’t Seto’s birthday close to Christmas?” Ryou turns his attention to the youngest boy in the room.

“Kinda. His is January twenty-fifth.” Mokuba says.

“Now that is going to be someone hard to buy for.” Yugi says.

“I know, I don’t even know what to get him yet.” Joey pouts.

“You do have him something for Christmas, don’t you?” Malik asks.

“Yes, I’ve done all my shopping on line to avoid crowds and staring.”

“I never thought I’d say this but…I think that was a smart idea.” The small pale blonde sighs.

TBC
081105/20744