Note: Next week I am returning home, guys. My dad has cancer and, unfortunately I am not given access to the internet. I have to see if my sister will let me update on the house computer. I will keep you updated.

Kat: Otogi is the perfect guy for the boys to talk to.

Jupitor Knight: Sorry…not too sugary, is it?

Shadow of Light: Otogi was the most non-threatening of them all.

Kura Magician Girl: They won’t keep their hands to themselves, but Aten and Robbie won’t be their target.

Broken Time: Seto and Joey will be distracted with Hayden.

I Is Me: Well, both boys trust Otogi, but he’s stuck in the middle. At least the boys can trust him.

Lady Elfskye: Anzu will join in the hunt soon. Poor city.

Your Kind

Aten and Robbie paid their money to the cashier. They saw Hayden standing with a woman at the popcorn stand.

Aten squealed and ran to Hayden. “Aiden!” The Egyptian boy threw his arms around the red-haired adopted son of Seto Kaiba.

“Hayden!” Robbie smiled and pounced on the pre-teen.

The woman looked down. “What’s the big idea, kids?!” Serenity asked in fury. “Who do you think you are?”

Aten looked up. “Aunt Serenity! I’m Aten Bakari Ishtar! This is my friend, Robbie! Hayden is my Unkie Seto’s adopted kid.”

Serenity looked down at the two pre-teens. Hayden hugged Robbie and Aten back.

“Aten and Robbie are my friends, Aunt Serenity. Well, they are my family, too, if you want to be technical.”

“Family? My brother adopted these two, as well?”

Hayden shook his head. “No. Robbie is Aten’s friend. Aten is Ryou’s son.”

Serenity’s eyes opened wide. “My brother never told me that Ryou was a father! All I heard was that Ryou was having kids!”

Aten giggled. “No, Ryou is my mother. Marik is my father.”

Serenity’s face went pale. “YAMI MARIK?!”

Aten smiled and nodded. “Yes. Marik is my father.”

Serenity grabbed Hayden’s wrist. “Let’s go, Hayden. You don’t want to be around the son of a maniac!”

Aten cocked his head to the side. “Why is she so angry at daddy? What did he do to her?”

Robbie looked at his watch. “Aten! We need snacks before the movie starts!”

Aten looked at the ticket. “Oh, yeah!”

Aten bought some juice and unsalted, unbuttered popcorn and Robbie bought soda and a popcorn.

They saw Hayden and Serenity in their movie theater.

“Hayden, do you mind if we sit with you?”

“No, nobody wants to sit with a maniac’s son!”

Robbie growled. “Marik is our family’s friend! Aten is not a maniac’s son! Let’s go, Aten. We don’t need to sit with her if she’s going to be like that.”

Robbie took Aten’s hand and he lead Aten to the next row.

Serenity gasped as she saw the two boys sitting beside each other and holding hands in the dark theater. ‘I see that my brother has influenced Ryou’s boy! I’m going to have to speak to him about this!’

The movie started and Aten snuggled into Robbie’s side. Both of them let out a contented sigh, comforted by the darkness around them. It was difficult to see the two boys cuddling in the dark.

Serenity shook her head. “Do you see what they are doing, Hayden?”

Hayden leaned over just enough to see Aten leaning against Robbie. “What? They’re not doing anything wrong, Aunt Serenity.”

“They’re hugging! In a public place!”

Hayden shrugged. “My dad and Mr. Kaiba do it all the time. They don’t care if anyone sees them.”

Serenity leaned down to Hayden. “Don’t people stare at them?”

Hayden snickered. “Daddy doesn’t care. He loves Mr. Kaiba. That’s all that matters.”

Serenity shook her head. “Have you ever had people stare at you, Hayden? Look you up and down?”

Hayden’s smile disappeared from his face.

***Flashback***

“Come on, Mr. Fuller,” his uncle said. “He’s right in his bedroom.”

Four year old Hayden looked up at the tall man.

“Hayden, assume your position!”

Hayden sighed and stripped from his clothing. He stood looking up at the new client with his arms stretched.

Mr. Fuller leaned down and smiled at the kid. “So, you are Hayden. How well does he know how to give head, Charlie?”

His uncle grinned. “He’s an expert.”

“Lay down, boy.”

Hayden obediently went to the bed. The man looked him up and down.

“I’ll take him for a quickie, Charlie. If he’s as good as you said, then I’ll pay you for a more….intimate session with him.”

Charlie glared down at Hayden. “You service Mr. Fuller or you can forget your ice cream for tonight’s dessert!”

“Yes, sir,” the child sobbed.

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

Hayden nodded. “I remember people looking down at me. I always hated it when people looked at me.”

Serenity grinned. “Do you know why people are looking at your daddy and Seto? Because it’s not………usual…behavior.”

“For Jaimen and I it is. We see it all the time.”

Serenity shook her head. “Not many people accept that type of behavior, Hayden. Why do you think that Aten and Robbie are holding hands in the dark?”

“Because they’re friends? Robbie and Aten have always held hands. They’re close.”

Serenity sighed. “No, Hayden. They should be hiding their secret in the dark.”

“But why?”

Serenity leaned into Hayden further. “Because it is frowned upon. Two boys or two men holding hands? No one would dare stop Seto. He’s too rich and powerful. But what they are doing is wrong….and should be kept away from other people’s eyes.”

Hayden looked down at Aten and Robbie’s hands folded into each other. ‘My uncle was careful to keep me inside. I never left the house once I went inside. What he did to me was wrong. Maybe….Maybe….How could it be wrong? They love each other. Then again…those men didn’t love me.’

“What if they love each other? My daddy and Seto love each other.”

Serenity looked down at the two boys. “It’s a wrong type of love. Very, very wrong. And very, very sick.”

Hayden shifted his eyes away. ‘What those men did to me was very wrong and very sick, too. Maybe Aten and Robbie shouldn’t…..hold each other like that. Maybe my daddy shouldn’t touch Mr. Kaiba in public.’

Aten took a piece of his unsalted, unbuttered popcorn and put a few kernels into Robbie’s mouth. A quiet giggle escaped them.

Serenity grinned. If she made Hayden doubt the appropriateness of this type of behavior, certainly Hayden would disapprove of Seto and Joey’s wedding.

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

When the movie was over, Serenity watched Aten lead Robbie out of the theater. She leaned forward.

“Driver, follow them.”

Donny looked. “Follow who?”

“Aten and his friend.”

Aten and Robbie walked down the street not holding hands among the crowds. When they arrived in their own neighborhood, Aten took Robbie’s hand.

“That movie was awesome!” the blue-eyed boy shouted when they were alone.

Aten smiled. “I know! I’ll have to take Aria to go see that! She’s probably already seen it with Umi, though.”

Robbie took a deep breath. “That was a really good time, Aten. I had lots of fun today.”

Aten gripped Robbie’s hand tighter. “So did I, Robbie. We’ll have to do it some other time, too.”

Aten walked Robbie to his house. “I had a good time, Robbie.”

“So did I, Aten.”

The two boys looked around cautiously. When they saw that all was clear, they pressed their lips together, holding each other’s hands.

The boys pulled back from their kiss with red, blushing faces.

Then the twin looks of horror crossed their faces.

Robbie bit his lip nervously. ‘Oh damn….it’s coming back!’

Aten went pale. ‘Oh gods….not again!’

“Aten, I have to go!”

“Robbie, I have to go! See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, sure! Bye!”

Robbie threw open his door and slammed it shut. He rested his back on the door, panting heavily, feeling the renewed arousal at his hips. He hit the back of his head on the door. ‘Not again!’

Robbie ran upstairs into his room, slamming the door behind him.

Aten ran to his house and saw Seto’s limousine outside. “Unkie Seto is here!”

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

Serenity’s jaw dropped in shock. “You’re…..their…….what?”

“Mother,” Ryou said, sipping his cup of tea.
Serenity laughed. “Ryou, you’ve always been a card!”

Ryou shook his head. “I’m not kidding. I still have their birth scar.”

Serenity waved her hand. “Ryou, it’s not possible for you to have a kid! You’re not a hermaphrodite, are you?”

Marik and Bakura narrowed their eyes at Joey’s sister. Where was her sense of tact?

“It’s a long story, Serenity, but what did you want to tell me?”

“I saw your………son…..doing the unthinkable!”

Aten ran in with open arms. “Unkie Seto!”

Aten stopped short when Serenity looked down at him.

“Your son was holding another boy’s hand!”

Marik shrugged. “Who? Robbie’s? So?”

Serenity looked down at the twelve year old. “You should show him that he’s too young for such foolishness! He shouldn’t venture around the town holding another boy’s hand!”

Ryou crossed his legs. “Oh, really? You think it’s foolishness, Serenity? If I remember you correctly, you were excited when Tristan told you I was pregnant.”

“I thought your wife was pregnant!”

Ryou stood up and crossed his arms. “I’m gay! Why would I have a wife?”

“Your son has to know he shouldn’t be like that in public!”

Marik stood up, grabbing his Millennium Rod. “’He shouldn’t?’ I’ve got news for you, Serenity, YOU are not his mother. YOU are not his father. YOU have never even taken any interest in his existence! So YOU come in here and tell me how to raise MY son?”

Bakura stood up, standing behind Ryou. “How dare you come in here and criticize how we raise our child!”

Aten looked up at Serenity, who looked down at him with contempt.

“The world doesn’t need another one of your kind, Aten!”

Aten felt his heart sink as his mother put his hands on his shoulder.

Ryou growled. “Get out of my home. Now.”

Serenity turned on her heels. “Fine! I was just doing my job as a concerned member of the family.”

Marik revealed the dagger of his Millennium Rod. “Go before I put this dagger to good use!”

Serenity left.

Aten bolted to his room upstairs, knocking his sister down without noticing her at the top of the steps.

“Hey, Aten!” Aria shouted at him.

Aten’s door slammed shut.

Aria stood up and smoothed out her red dress as her mother climbed the stairs. “What’s wrong with Aten?”

“Your Aunt Serenity stopped by. She said some things she shouldn’t have.”

Ryou knocked on the door. “Aten? Son? Can I come in?”

Aten’s cry could be heard from inside the room. “Come in.”

Ryou stepped into the room. “Aten, son?”

Aten was sitting in the corner, his knees drawn up to his chin.

“Mother, I’m sorry.”

Ryou kneeled beside him. “Sorry for what?”

Aten rubbed his eyes. “She’s right, mommy! She’s right! I’m sorry for loving Robbie. I’m so sorry.”

Ryou stroked Aten’s hair. “Honey, it is nothing to be ashamed about. I’m not ashamed for loving your father. You should never be ashamed for feeling love, Aten.”

“Why can’t I be attracted to girls like other boys?”

“Because you are not like other boys, Aten. You are special. Love doesn’t care what gender the person is, Aten. I love your father and Bakura, even though they are boys. Son, there are a lot of people out there who want to tell you who you can and cannot love. They are all liars. You love whom you want to love.”

Aten looked up at his mother. “Why can’t I be like other boys?”

Ryou leaned down. “You’re different than the other boys, Aten. You don’t have to compare yourself to others.”

“Do you still love me because I love Robbie?”

Ryou hugged him. “I’d never stop loving you, Aten. I’d do anything for you, baby.”

Aten hugged his mother tightly, sobbing into his chest. “Love you, mommy.”

Ryou kissed his forehead. “I love you, too, baby.”

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

Joey, Seto, and Hayden sat in the library. Hayden was doing his homework on World War II. Seto flipped through the newspaper and read the financial section with care.

Serenity walked in and sat beside her brother. “Hi, Joey.”

Joey stood up. “Serenity, I need to speak to you outside for a moment.”

“What is it? I just wanted to get close to you.”

“I’m not in the mood. Let’s go.”

Hayden watched them leave. “Daddy sounds angry.”

“Let’s just say Serenity had a little too much to say about Aten.”

Joey closed the door behind them. “What did you say to Aten?”

“Nothing, big brother.”

Joey shook his head. “The call I got from Malik and Marik was not a happy one. ‘The world doesn’t need another one of your kind?’ What was that shit all about?”

Serenity’s bottom lip trembled. “I would never say anything like that! He took it the wrong way!”

“And how else was he supposed to take it, Serenity? That wasn’t very nice. Aten may very well be gay, but it doesn’t matter to us! We’d love him no matter what and THAT is a real family!”

Serenity narrowed her eyes. “We had a real family, too, Joey!”

“It’s nice that you THINK so, Serenity. We had a family until mom took you away and you both left me alone with dad.”

Serenity crossed her arms. “I don’t know who made Aten……that way……but he’s too young!”

“He’s exploring his sexuality with a friend whom he’s known for years. What’s so wrong with that?”

“He’s twelve years old!”

Joey shrugged. “He’s not an infant anymore, Serenity. We can’t treat him like one. He’s getting to be a young man now and he needs someone he can trust to help him through those rough teenage years.”

“Twelve year old boys shouldn’t hold hands and kiss!”

“Aten and Robbie have slowly stopped being so public about their displays of affection. They’ve been holding hands since they were three and we see them kiss. It’s no big deal.”

“Two boys should not kiss!”

Joey laughed. “Well, if that is your attitude, Serenity, then go back home to mom. Seto and I are going to be married whether you like it or not. You won’t stop me. And I won’t let my memories of dad stop me from living my life anymore.”

Serenity sighed. “Well, I still don’t understand how you could love someone that you absolutely hated in Duelist Kingdom and Battle City! He hated you, Joey!”

“He doesn’t hate me anymore. I love him. He loves me.”

Serenity pat Joey on the cheek. “It’s nice that you believe that, Joey.”

Serenity walked off to her room. Joey sighed and ran his fingers through his blond hair.

“I always thought she’d understand. I never thought that she would give me a hard time about this.”

Joey passed Mokuba’s room and stopped when he heard a long moan come from Mokuba inside.

“Jeanie, I love you, baby,” Mokuba moaned.

Jeanie’s moans of pleasure rose from the room.

Joey shook his head. “Seto’s not going to be impressed.”

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

Vinnie opened the door to his house. Vinnie took the two men into the house.

Charlie looked around, noticing the beam from the lighthouse shining into the living room at regular intervals.

The other man stepped into the house and looked around approvingly.

“This is where you’ve been hanging out, Vinnie? You’ve done well for yourself.”

Vinnie shrugged. “I bought this house with my cut from our robberies, Charlie. What do you think? White picket fence outside….nice garden…..view of the ocean. Best of all: this house in a really nice neighborhood. The houses are far enough away so as to allow for some privacy. The cops don’t swarm around like a bunch of fucking locusts.”

The stranger folded his arms. “This place is a safe hideout? Are you sure no one will notice anything strange?”

Charlie shook his head. “This place is too peaceful to warrant attention from the cops. This is just the kind of place we need. Besides, no one will think to look for the kids here.”

Vinnie shut the front door. “Everyone around here thinks I work for the Harvest Insurance Company. So, if anyone asks, that’s what everyone here believes.” The man with long black hair removed his jacket. “Let me show you around.”

Vinnie lead Charlie and the other man down a hallway where five doors were shut. “There are three bedrooms. The master bedroom has a metal frame.”
Charlie nodded. “Hayden can go in here. This bedroom can accommodate more than three bodies at a time. It needs to hold several people if needed. We have to allow for space in case more than one person ‘rents’ Hayden at the same time.”

The beam from the lighthouse shined into the room.

“We have to keep the window shades down and the curtains drawn to hide the light from the lighthouse.”

Vinnie lead them to the next bedroom where a double bed was placed. An oak bureau and mirror stood by the bed while above the bed, the beam of light from the lighthouse appeared from the window.

“The other two kids can stay in here. The windows are bolted and welded shut. They won’t be able to get out. I also replaced the windows with bullet-proof glass. I had to prepare in case the cops would find me, you know?”

Charlie pat Vinnie on the back. “Good goin’. You used your brain for once.”

Vinnie lead them through the kitchen and the other bedroom. “What do you think of this place?”

Charlie returned to the Master Bedroom and the one beside it. “We need to install hidden cameras in both bedrooms. I need to make sure we capture every movement and action of these boys. We don’t need them running away in the middle of the night.”

The third man ran his fingers through his brilliant hair. “We need strong locks. Deadbolts are needed. I can make it so the locks are secure. One of these kids is good at picking locks. His one father taught him how.”

Vinnie and Charlie narrowed their eyes. “That kid will be a problem.”

“We have his friend. We have leverage. Besides, he wouldn’t want to see his cousin meet an ‘unfortunate end.’”

The stranger nodded. “That will work to keep Aten in line.”

Charlie sat on the bed and ran his long, wrinkling fingers over the comforter. “I won’t let anyone take Hayden from me again. When we get the brats, we must eliminate those who care for them. Seto Kaiba’s been my mortal enemy for years. He thinks he’s gotten rid of me. Ha! He has to try a lot harder if he wants to get rid of Charlie McGinnis!”

“We’re going to ‘off’ their parents?”

Charlie nodded. “If you destroy the parents, you get the kid. Hayden is mine!”

“Robbie’s mother is Miranda Morgan.”

Vinnie’s jaw dropped. “Miranda? Tall woman? Thin? Blue eyes? Black hair? The kind of body you just want to lick all day?”

The stranger nodded. “Yes. I don’t know her personally. I’ve never actually met her, but Aten has spoken to me a lot about her.”

A sadistic grin crossed his lips. “Miranda was my high school sweetheart. She was first trophy. I get that kid! I’ll take care of Miranda just like I did so many years ago.”

“Her husband is Daniel Morgan.”

Vinnie growled and punched the wall angrily. “She married him! The bastard who beat me up! He took her away from me! I get her kid! I’ll take care of Miranda permanently this time! And by luck, her kid will follow her into the grave!”

“Then it’s settled, Vin. If you kill off Miranda, you can have her kid.”

“I’ve been a family friend of the Bakura family for years. I know the family’s weaknesses,” the stranger said.

“Then if you destroy that child’s parents, you may have the boy.”

A smile crossed the stranger’s face.

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

***Dream Sequence***

Aten opened his eyes and saw his grandfather hovering above him. He tried to scream, but the sound was muffled by the handkerchief tied around his mouth.

“Stop screaming, you little brat!” Steven growled as he slapped the two year old across the face.

Aten stopped screaming, the fear too much to allow him to make any sound.

“You belong to me, my little grandson. Your body….so beautiful…like my son’s.”

Aten turned his head to see his mother beside him screaming on the bed.

Ryou was laying beside him with Tim pounding into Ryou’s screaming body.

Ryou cried, tears flooding down his face. “My boy is only two years old, daddy! Don’t do that to him!”

Aten jumped as his grandfather slapped Ryou’s face.

“Shut up and let Tim do his thing! Now, Aten, let’s see if you make a good whore like your mom….”

******End******

Aten opened his eyes and looked around the room nervously. He screamed loudly and ran to his door. His scream resonated through the house as he ran down the stairs.

Aria opened her door and saw Aten running down the stairs in terror. “ATEN!”

Marik ran out of his bedroom, pulling his boxers up. “Aten?”

Ryou ran out of his bedroom, tying his bathrobe around his waist. “Son?”

“MOMMY! MOMMY! I can get us out of here! I can get us back to daddy!”

Ryou and Marik ran down the stairs and saw Aten pulling at the front door.

“It’s locked! I can’t open it! Oh gods! Get me out! Please!” the terrified boy banged on the door with his fists.

Malik, Bakura, and Aria slowly descended the stairs.

Aten pulled at the doorknob violently and banged on it angrily. “GET ME OUT! PLEASE!”

“Aten?” Ryou asked calmly.

Aten turned to see his parents standing in front of him. “I can’t get out….trapped…..can’t get home.”

Marik bit his lip. Damn flashbacks. “Son? Aten, it’s going to be okay. You are not in the cabin. You’re with your family.”

Aten looked up. “Aria! Sister!” The boy ran up to Aria on the steps, pulling at her nightgown.

“Take me home! Take me home! I don’t want my grandfather to touch me anymore! Please! Take me to my daddy!”

Aria turned to her father. Bakura nodded.

“Okay, Aten.”

Aria took her brother to his teary-eyed father. “Here’s your daddy, Aten.”

Aten threw himself at his father, sobbing and shaking. “Don’t let him get me, daddy! Please! Please, Ra, don’t let him get me! Tell him to stop touching me!”

Marik held his son against his body. “He’s gone, Aten. He won’t touch you anymore.” The blond yami rubbed his son’s white and blond hair softly.

“Where’s my mommy? Where’s my mommy?” the chibi whimpered in a high-pitched sob.

Ryou kneeled down. “I’m here, baby. I’m here.”

Aten’s breathing was sharp and heavy. His body was shaking profusely. “Don’t let go.”

“He’s gone into a panic attack again,” Ryou said. “Bakura, he can’t sleep alone tonight. This is the worst that he’s had it in a while.”

Bakura returned upstairs and grabbed his pillow. He walked down the stairs and pat the chibi on the forehead. “Sleep well, Aten.”

Ryou carried Aten upstairs. Marik helped him tuck the chibi in bed. Ryou slipped into his bed.

Aten held onto his mother tightly, suddenly feeling a dizzy feeling overwhelm him.

Ryou watched as his son went limp suddenly. He shook his head and stroked the unconscious boy’s cheek. “My poor boy.”

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

Aten opened his eyes in the morning and gasped that he was in the same bed with his sleeping mother. His arm was draped over Aten as he slept.

Aten slipped from under his mother’s arm.

Aten’s POV

Why am I here? Why aren’t I in my own bed?

I left my mother’s room and felt the hallway spin around. My muscles are so achy. They hurt.

Gods…do they hurt.

They hurt as if I just had a flashback.

Going down the stairs, I see Daddy Bakura on the couch.

I love Daddy Bakura. I feel safe with him.

He yawned. “Good morning, Chibi Marik. How are you feeling this morning?”

I scratched my head. “Why was I sleeping with mommy this morning?”

“You gave us all a scare last night, Aten,” he told me with a worried voice.

Uh-oh. What did I do last night?

“Oh no! What did I do?”

Daddy Bakura ruffled my hair. “You just had a little flashback last night. Mommy took you into bed because you were having a bad panic attack.”

Oh no! I bet I worried my father and mother so much!

“I’m so sorry,” I hung my head in shame.

I shouldn’t let this bother me. I shouldn’t let what happened to me rule my life.

Why can’t I just forget and move on with my life?

Why can’t I……just be like everybody else?

“It’s not your fault, Aten.”

“Yes, it is!”

Daddy Bakura put his hand on my shoulder. “No, it’s not, Aten. It was a bad dream that you had that sparked your flashback. We’re just glad that you’re better now.”

Yeah, right. “Better”…..for now.

I felt a pair of strong arms hug me from behind and I jumped.

“Good morning, son. How do you feel this morning?”

“My body hurts. Everywhere.”

My daddy kissed me on the cheek. It’s kinda funny. Even though I am twelve years old, my father and mother have not stopped their displays of affection towards me. I’m not complaining. I love it when my father and my mother hug and kiss me.

“A nice breakfast and a hot bath will take care of that, Aten.”

I followed my dad into the kitchen.

No. Nothing will ‘take care’ of this. This won’t ever leave me alone. It never has.

It’s followed me since my childhood.

It will probably follow me into the grave, too.

There is only one thing that will ‘take care’ of this.

I have no other alternative.

This is my last resort.

Tonight……..I will end everything.

I’ll no longer have to listen to my grandfather’s voice in my head.

I’ll no longer have to put my family through my flashbacks and panic attacks.

My dad put my heart medication on the table like he does every morning.

I won’t bother anyone anymore.

Robbie………….I’d promise I’d never leave him, that I would always be there for him.

He won’t ever love me. He wouldn’t want someone ‘used’….’tainted.’

Robbie deserves someone who is pure and untouched.

I’m not that person.

Robbie won’t understand if I tell him about my grandfather. What if he doesn’t believe me?

What if he accuses me of starting it?

What if he doesn’t return my affection?

I’m sorry, Robbie.

You don’t deserve someone who has been ‘used’ like me. You deserve someone else.

You deserve better than the nothing I’ve become.

I’m sorry.

I can’t go on like this.

I just can’t.

It ends tonight.

Update: Tuesday