"Arise from Darkness"
By Heikou and Janime
Chapter Thirty-Six
Epilogue
December 2099
"Marik. Marik, wake up."
All that Malik received from his older brother was a snore, mumbling and then he rolled away. The ten-year-old sighed and walked out of the teen's room, heading back to the kitchen.
"Ishizu, Marik won't get up."
His sister turned her head to look at her youngest sibling from her spot before the stove as she cooked breakfast. "Why don't you wake Keriam and ask her to wake Marik up."
"Good idea," he left the kitchen and quickly walked down the short hallway to his brother's girlfriend's bedroom. Quietly, Malik opened the door and stepped inside.
Keriam was fast asleep on her bed, the covers bunched up around her and she had one arm flung over a pillow.
Malik crawled onto the bed and shook the sleeping form. "Keriam."
"Hmmpha… ma… wha…?" Keriam opened her eyes. "Hey munchkin," she yawned. "What time is it?"
"Quarter after seven."
Groaning, Keriam plopped her head back down to the pillow. "It's too early."
"Can you wake Marik up?"
She rolled her eyes but sat up. "Okay I'll do it."
Malik smiled and ran off to tell his sister. Keriam couldn't fault the little guy, especially when his older brother was her boyfriend and they looked so much alike. Getting up she pulled on her robe and went to Marik's bedroom. Sure enough he was dead to the world so being stealthy she climbed onto the bed and straddled his hips.
"Marik... time to wake up..." she smiled down at him.
No response. Not a twitch. Absolutely nothing.
After last night, I'm not surprised, Keriam grinned. She moved to lie next to him, her hand slipping beneath the bedcovers.
Marik yelped and looked at Keriam, who had immediately jumped off the bed and was now standing at the end laughing at him.
"Good morning, honey!"
"Keriam!" Marik growled at her, angrily running a hand through his platinum hair, which was still spiked due to the gel he had used when they went to the club last night. "What the hell did you do that for?"
"I was looking for the breakfast sausage," she grinned.
"Oh, you are going to get it."
"Catch me if you can!" Keriam ran from the room.
Marik went to go after her but was caught up in the sheets that he fell to the floor. Mumbling, he pulled himself up and disentangled himself. He pulled on a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, and head for the kitchen. On his way, he saluted good morning to the picture of his deceased stepbrother hanging in the hallway.
Stepping into the kitchen his found his girlfriend, little brother, and older sister sitting at the table. Keriam smiled knowingly at him, Ishizu merely pointed to the plate at his place at the table, and Malik was grinning like an imp.
"Good morning brother, so glad you decided to join us," she said. "Now sit down and eat."
"Yeah thanks for the wake-up call," he muttered but sat down.
Malik looked at Keriam. "You gotta teach me how you wake him up."
Keriam spit out her orange juice as Marik nearly gagged on his toast.
"Malik, is your half of the science project finished?" Ishizu asked, saving the two from any more requests.
"Yeah, Mokuba's done with his," he said. "Are you still picking him up this morning?"
"Of course she is," Marik smirked, "do you thing that she's miss a chance to see you-know-who?"
Ishizu glared at him. "What is your problem? Seto is a very kind man."
"Only to Mokuba and you. As for the rest of the world, he could care less."
"I don't know about that," said Keriam. "Kaiba managed to keep my brother out of trouble. Remember, six months ago?"
"Duke's probably got something on him, that why," Marik finished his eggs. The family chuckled at this but ate and got ready for school. Today would be an interesting day like all the others.
An alarm clock beeped nosily on the nightstand before a hand reached out and hit the snooze button. The sleeper drifted back to sleep but when the alarm went off again his partner sat up and reaching over, turned it off. She sighed and lay atop her lover, not wanting to get up just yet.
"I'm not your pillow," came the gruff voice.
"Pillows don't talk," she said sleepily but sat up. "C'mon Kura time to get up."
He shifted but continued to hide under the blankets. "I'm not getting up. I got home late last night."
"I know I was with you." Pulling the blanket back she kissed him before getting up to take a shower.
"T.R.!" a cheery voice sounded as a little girl bounced on his bed.
"Gah! Amane!"
"Morning, bro," Ryou said as he walked into the guestroom and removed his sister from her jumping spot, sending her out to her own room. "Dad said it was nice of you to invite Cheri to spend the night."
"Do you think I give a shit of what he thinks?" Bakura glared at his younger twin. "And when did you talk to him, anyway?"
"About fifteen minutes ago," Ryou answered. "He called to remind you that it's the first Friday of the new month."
"Yeah, yeah, I gotta see my parole officer at three this afternoon."
"That and he's coming home two weeks after he was scheduled to."
Bakura sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Why does he take those half-assed jobs that send him around the globe?"
"You know it's so we have clothes, food, and a roof over our head."
"I still say he's running from mom's memory." Looking up at Ryou he sighed. "Sorry."
"No you're right I just have a hard time accepting that." Shaking his head he smiled. "Breakfast is ready so hurry up."
"We'll be down." Watching him leave he fell back on the bed and laid there. He really didn't want to leave today but he had to if to just annoy his parole officer. Sighing he got up from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. Pulling back the shower curtain he smirked.
"Surprise."
"Damnit Bakura! You nearly made me slip!" Cheri yelled at him but stepped under the shower head to rinse her hair. "I thought you would still be sleeping."
"One word: Amane." He closed the curtain and went to wash his face. "Why does she like using me as a bouncing mat?"
"Because I like to but she's too young to know the real reason." The water stopped and she stepped out, wrapping a towel around herself.
"What are you doing around three o'clock this afternoon?" Bakura asked as he rinsed the soap off and wiped his face with a towel.
"Not much. Why?"
"I have to see my parole officer."
Cheri groaned.
"Sorry, babe, first Friday of every month, you know that," he looked at his girlfriend via mirror. "Unless you'd like to see me go back to every other week."
"Hell no!"
"Thought so." He smiled as she stepped behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Another fun filled Friday." Giving him a hug she pulled back and entered the bedroom. "Let's get dressed and hurry downstairs before Amane comes back up."
Yami yawned and ran his hands through his hair to tame the unruly spikes. He was always an early riser but it didn't mean he enjoyed it all the time. Looking at himself in the mirror he headed downstairs. He wished his girlfriend could have stayed longer but last time she got home late she had been grounded for two weeks.
That was a bit much even if she didn't get back until 3 in the morning, he grumbled to himself.
He entered the kitchen and was cheerfully greeted by Yugi. "Morning, Yami, when did you get up?"
"About twenty minutes ago," he answered his cousin. True to the fact that the two boys looked very similar to the point of being thought as brothers. Heck, they were born within minutes of each other. "How's Grandpa?"
"Still has that nasty cough. Rebecca is coming over later to help me with the shop so Grandpa can rest."
"You have such a sweet girl, cousin."
"How come you don't ask Angel to help when you watch the shop?" Yugi asked.
Yami stopped at the fridge; debating whether or not to tell Yugi the one time he did ask Angel to help, they ended up putting the "Sorry We're Closed" sign in the window for over two hours.
"I would but she has a busy schedule. Besides," he pulled open the fridge and took out the juice, "I think I can manage."
"Whatever you say." Yugi handed him a glass as he set their plates on the table. "What are you going to do today?"
"I have to head to the museum and get ready to open that new exhibit. But I was thinking that since it's Friday we could have lunch together and invite our friends." Yami went to school full time but he also worked at Domino's Museum of Ancient History and at the family game shop. At times it was hard to juggle three things at once but he managed.
"Are you and Seto going to challenge each other to a duel?" the younger cousin tease.
"He has plans with Ishizu so I am going to stay away from them."
"Point taken."
Tea threw a large bag out from her bedroom window, her boyfriend catching it when it came down. She closed the window and a few minutes later, came out of the house, shutting the front door behind her.
"What do you have in here?" Thomas asked.
"You wanted me to go away with you this weekend, remember? My parents would get a little suspicious if they saw me carrying that on my way out."
"They still think you're staying at Mai's?"
"Yup, and fortunately she lives just outside of town. That means the only way they can call me is through my PDT."
"You are one sly fox," he smiled at her.
"And you are one handsome devil." Smiling the two kissed and headed towards the red-head's car. They had been looking forward this weekend for a long time and it was finally here. Mai knew about the plan and would make sure the Gardners think their daughter was staying with her and not her boyfriend. Besides, she had plans with her own boyfriend this weekend as well.
Thomas opened the car door for her and hopped into the driver's seat. Putting his seatbelt on they were off. Yami had invited them to lunch and it would be cool to talk with the gang and such but afterwards it was all about his lady love.
"Why are you meeting up with her?"
"Ma, she's my sister," Duke snapped. "Now will you drop it, please?"
"Half-sister, Duke. She's not mine."
Keriam should consider it a blessing. "It's not her fault, or her mother's that dad had an affair and he bought shitty condoms. Keriam's mom didn't even know he was married until she saw the two of you when you were pregnant with me."
His mother looked at him. "And you believe that."
"Yes, I believe it. We inherited his eyes, and I'm thrilled that both of us didn't get our looks from him."
"Don't speak about your father that way!"
"Whatever I'm gonna see her whether you like it or not." Grabbing his jacket from the coat rake he was out the door before she could call him back. Just because she wants nothing to do with Keriam doesn't mean I have to follow her way of thinking, he grumbled as he headed to his motorcycle. Putting his helmet on he turned the key and was off like a shot. He could count it a blessing when his father told him that he had a sister from another woman but that didn't mean he had to respect the old man or admire him for that.
He turned down the familiar street, heading for his girlfriend's house to pick her up. He loved Serenity so much and nothing was going to change that and he sure as hell was not going to cheat on her. She always reminded him of an angel and he cherished all the time with her. As much as he cherished the time he spent with Keriam. Good thing they're great friends or I'd have to answer to a lot of questions. Coming up the apartment complex he revved his engine a few times. He didn't know how she did it but she always knew when he was coming whether he told her or not.
Serenity bounded down the sidewalk with her helmet in her hand. "Duke!"
"Hey, sweetie," he smiled, flipping up his visor for a quick kiss. "Ready to rumble?"
"As always," she grinned and put her helmet on then climbed on the bike behind her boyfriend, wrapping his arms around his waist. "Are we meeting up with Tristen and Mina first?"
"Yeah, I talked to Tristen just before I left."
"Great. It's been a long time since we saw everyone."
"Yeah but don't tell me you don't enjoy our alone time."
"You know me better than that." Holding on tight they were off to meet their friends.
"Mina, you ready yet?" Tristen called out to his girlfriend.
"Five more minutes!" she called from the bathroom.
The brunette rolled his eyes but he didn't mind. Mina was the best thing to ever happen to him and he enjoyed every moment with her. When the bathroom door opened he whistled low in his throat.
Mina smiled and twirled around to give him the full view. "You like?"
"Like? I'm tempted to just stay home with you." He growled and she laughed. "You look hot, as always."
"Anything to please my man," she smiled. walking up to him hey shared a kiss, showing how much they meant to one another.
"Duke and Serenity should be here shortly," Tristen said, hands resting on her hips; he was fighting not to let them wander any higher or lower.
"What about Joey and Mai?"
"Serenity will know."
"It's a good thing Mai took Joey in when his mother kicked him out," Mina sighed. "Though I still blame Bakura for getting him into trouble."
"True, but Joey didn't have to hide Bakura's loot in his closet," Tristen pointed out.
"I guess... He's still a great friend," she sighed with a small smile.
Outside the sound of an engine revering caught their attention. Opening the front door they found Duke and Serenity waiting for them. The couple waved and grabbing their own helmets headed out of the house. Tristen climbed onto his motorcycle and waited until Mina was holding onto him before he started the engine. Both bikes took off in a mad race. before the girls yelled at their boyfriends for scaring them like that but over time they got used to it and actually began to enjoy it. the races were just to see who could get to the corner or stop light first but they still got several speeding tickets. Still they wouldn't have it any other way.
Mai opened the bed room door and sighed. Joey was still sleeping in the same position she left him in about an hour ago when she woke up. Going to the bed she tried pulling the sheets but he didn't budge an inch. I should really think about putting him on a diet, she thought to herself and grabbed her favorite toya long, violet ostrich feather. Leaning over she lightly ran it along his bare skin. One weakness she learned was that her boyfriend had very sensitive skin.
"Gah! Don't do that!" Joey yelped as he rolled away.
"Rise and shine, sleepy-head," Mai smiled at him.
"And whose fault is it for me being this tired?"
"A combination of the booze, the dancing, and me."
"Especially you, Mai," Joey grabbed her wrist and pulled her down on top of him. "Especially you."
"You never complained before," she winked.
"I never had a reason to be up this early before," he grinned and would have kissed her but turned his head to the side to release a large yawn. "I do not want to leave this bed."
"If you don't you're gonna miss seeing Serenity and Duke will hold you to that," she reminded but didn't move from her perch.
"Okay okay you got me there. You are something else Mai."
"Back at you lover boy." Getting up she threw some clothes onto the bed. "Now get dressed we're running late."
"I'm going. Hey what about breakfast?" he asked, getting up to slip on his boxers from last night followed by a clean pair of black jeans.
"You can eat it along the way now hurry. or do you need me help?" the look in her eyes showed that she would helped him alright but not in getting dressed.
"Come in," Ishizu said after the knock. The door of her office opened and Seto entered carrying two luncheon containers.
"Your lunch, Miss Ishtar," he said with a smile.
Smiling, the museum director stood up. "I don't remember ordering anything. Are you sure that you've brought it to the right place?"
"I am quite sure, Miss Ishtar," Seto answered as he walked towards her and placed them on the desk.
"Alright then, how much?"
"Nothing."
"I find that hard to believe that I have a free lunch."
"Well, I do have an idea for payment." Seto caught her face in both hands and kissed her deeply.
"Are we taking this role-playing a little too far?" Ishizu asked when they broke for air.
"Who cares," Seto's eyes held a lustful gleam. "When was the last time you and I were alone?"
"Too long," she answered, her fingers playing with the buttons of his dress shirt.
"And this is the only place where our siblings can't ruin the moment."
"Malik and Mokuba are young, they didn't know any better."
"I was talking about Marik."
She paused. "He's still upset about the camera."
"That's what he gets for trying to take pictures of us," Seto growled.
"He also said that when we get married, he's moving in with us."
"Malik can move in. Marik is staying where he is with his girlfriend."
"That's what I told him."
"How in the world does she put up with him?"
"I have no idea but this is ruining the mood." Ishizu looked at him.
"You're right," Seto agreed. "I locked the door."
Ishizu picked up the phone and pressed a button. "Sara, hold all my calls until I call you back." She hung up. "I'm glad I put that couch in here."
Seto picked her up. "So am I."
"Well, well," Marik smirked, "look who finally arrived. The Bakura Brothers, Touya Ryou and Ryou Touya."
"Piss off," Bakura snapped. "Call me T.R. or call me Bakura. You call me Touya again, and I'll kick your ass."
"Don't mind him guys," Cheri said. "It's the first Friday Syndrome."
"Gotta meet with your P.O.?" asked Duke.
"D'uh!" he growled but clamed when his girlfriend sat in his lap, playing with his hair. "Where are the others?"
"They're coming. Including Yami."
"Oh great just what I need." Bakura winced when a lock of his hair was pulled.
"Behave Kura." Cheri gave him a stern look but broke into a squeal when his fingers dance under her shirt. "Tease!"
"You're the one that's dating him," Keriam said with a smirk.
As they talked two couples made their way . Tristen and Duke nodded to Bakura and Marik while Serenity, Mina, Cheri and Keriam greeted each other at the same time. They sat and began to talk about how their lives were going that it wasn't long before Yami arrived with his girlfriend Angel and shortly after them was Yugi and Rebecca. They waited a bit longer and the remaining couples arrived.
"Lemme guess, Ishizu and Kaiba are having one of their moments?" Joey said.
"Please I don't need a mental picture!" Marik shuddered and pulled Keriam closer.
"You think she'd get that stick outta his ass," Bakura laughed.
"Ishizu has her work cut out for her I'll say that much," Mai said as she leaned back at her chair.
"You're all are mean," Serenity frowned at them. "Kaiba has his own problems and he's just acting that way to protect those he cares about."
"Only 'cuz he sprung your boyfriend," one of them coughed but they cracked up laughing.
"Tell me, bro," Keriam faced Duke, "why did he pay your bail, and managed to have the charges dropped?"
"All right, the truth," Duke placed his hands behind his head. "Concerning a certain talent I have mastered over the years-"
Several giggles and snickers went about, and Serenity blushed.
Duke glared at them. "That's not what I'm talking about!" he hissed.
"Oh really?" Angel grinned from her spot on Yami's lap with his arms wrapped around her waist.
Duke groaned and rolled his head back to look at the sky.
"I think he means a certain hacking talent," Keriam informed once her laughter subsided.
"Thank you, sis." Duke looked at the group again. "Yeah, he needed something from one of his rivals and asked me to search through the files. Found it, but this guy had a new security feature I've never come across before."
"That sucks," said Yami.
"Tell me about it. Fortunately, I was able to get the files off to Kaiba before I was arrested. He paid my bail, blackmailed the rival to have the charges dropped and to sign over his company."
"Aye black mail, the best way to get what you want," Marik said with a dramatic sigh.
Rebecca frowned as she leaned into her boyfriend. "You all must have been born under a lucky star. Several of Domino's most wanted criminals are right under the police's nose."
"And we plan on keeping it that way for the rest of time," Cheri said proudly. Sure the group was full of odds balls but something just pulled them together. "That reminds me." She reached into her pocket and tossed a small, brown wrapped package across the table. "Belated birthday present."
"Aw, how thoughtful!" Tea grinned and opened the bag. "You're only four months late this year." She peered inside. Her eyes widened and she quickly closed the bag. "How in the world did you get your hands on this!"
"What is it?" Thomas asked. Tea quickly showed him the contents. "Holy…"
"That's my girl," Bakura grinned and hugged Cheri.
"And my aunt said that you would never teach me anything," Cheri smiled.
"I taught you plenty."
"Not what her aunt had in mind," Ryou chuckled.
Cheri merely stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
The bag was passed around and the others could only gasp. It was of a diamond about the size of a walnut set in red-gold. It looked like a serpent dragon holding the jewel within its tiny claws and it could be pinned to her blouse or jacket. It had also been reported to have been stolen from a jewelry store a short while ago.
"Damn girl! You have great taste," Yami commented with awe.
"Only the best for my friends."
"What about Kaiba?" Joey asked.
"He has the money he can buy them himself."
The time went by smoothly and everyone had fun. Bakura's watched beeped, signaling that he had half an hour before meeting up with his parole officer, and he and Cheri walked off. Eventually, everyone else went back to their homes or off someplace to spend time with their partner.
Marik and Keriam went home, discovering a note from Ishizu that Malik would be spending the night at Kaiba's place for Mokuba's sleepover party, and most likely that she was not going to be home that night either.
"Thank the gods!" Marik cheered, grabbing Keriam around her waist and kissed her. "So where to? My bedroom? Your bedroom? The shower? How about the living room, we haven't done it there."
Keriam raised an eyebrow. "Did Bakura slip you an aphrodisiac again?"
"Last time he slipped me one; you really didn't have much of an option, did you?"
"True, but I have to admit, though, it was great."
Marik kissed her gently this time. "Third times a charmer," he whispered.
"What did you say that for?" Keriam asked with a quizzical look.
"I have no idea," her boyfriend confessed. "I've been wanting to say that ever since you and I became serious."
"Hmm well let's enjoy our night together," she smiled at him.
"Whatever you say." Picking her up in his arms they headed to his room for some playtime.
Authors' Notes:
Heikou: You know, part of me isn't really upset at Seto being paired with Ishizu.
Janime: Because you have the King of Thieves.
Heikou: And you have the last of the Tomb Keepers.
Janime: Ha ha. Anyway this is the final chapter to 'Arise from Darkness'. It's been over a year but it's finally done.
Heikou: And it was fun but now we have a surprise for you all. Our next story is going to be about the Sisters over 5,000 years ago. A prequel you can call it.
Janime: Pretty much we'll be going back in time from when they were born to the last day they died.
Heikou: It'll be a history lesson in the form of a fanfic!
Janime: We talked about it around Chapter 20 I think so yes, Nekhbet Uto, you will see how the Daughter of Isis and the Sisters of the Moon came to be.
Heikou: We're not going to start it right away, though. We're going to take a little break to do some research on daily living in Ancient Egypt, and the Egyptian Arc in Yu-Gi-Oh.
Janime: Plus I have to get back on my other fics. I haven't updated Warrior Call in almost a year and a half.
Heikou: And I gotta get back into my Ronin Warriors kick. Cute guys is way cool armor... (squeals)
Janime: Did you have any sugar tonight?
Heikou: Nope! But I had a nap.
Janime: We hoped you enjoyed the fic.
Heikou: 'Cuz we sure did!
Janime: We like to thank everyone who has read 'Sisters of the Moon' and 'Arises from Darkness'.
Heikou: A big thanks out to those who gave us suggestions and to Thomas Drovin for giving us a new character.
Janime: Happy Easter, Angel, I put you in Yami's lap.
