Chapter 18: Scavenger Hunt
February 2012
Valentine's Day arrived and Hali was making dinner for the kids when the doorbell rang. "Hm, I wonder who that is..." she asked, then looked at Ryan. "Were you expecting a friend?"
"No mommy." Ryan said shaking his head.
"I'll be right back. No funny business." Hali gave Ryan a look and headed to the front door. She opened it and found a delivery guy with a clipboard. "Yes?"
"Hi are you Hali Motou? I have a special delivery for you." the boy smiled handing her the clipboard.
"I wasn't expecting a delivery." Hali took the clipboard and signed it. "What could it be?"
Rushing out to his van and then coming back, the young delivery boy had a very large brown bear on his back, a large bunch of roses in one arm and a heart shaped box of chocolates in the other. "Happy Valentines day, ma'am." he said, handing her the gifts.
"Wow, that's..." Hali was at a loss of words as she took the gifts. "Thanks." Once the boys had left, she carried the gifts inside. "Atem, was this your doing?" she wondered out loud.
"Wow, where did you get that big teddy from Mommy?" Ryan asked rushing back to his mother after hearing the door close.
"I think your dad had them delivered. Isn't it huge?" Hali grinned, setting the bear on the couch. "I think it's bigger than you, Ry."
"Ooh ooh!" Ryan said jumping up and down. "I can hear Daddy's car coming."
Hali heard a car door shut in the driveway and Hali said quickly to the kids. "Go to your rooms, quick. I'm sure you don't want to see me kiss Daddy, right?"
"Eww yucky, come on Kyle let's get out of here." Ryan said taking his brother's hand.
Coming to the door and opening it, Atem smirked when he saw his wife. "I see you got the gifts I sent you." he said purposefully undoing the top buttons of his shirt.
"While I appreciate that, the kids are home." Hali pointed out, giving him a kiss. "I promise if you will wait until after they are in bed, I will show you how much I appreciate the gifts."
"Well while they aren't here right at the moment, let me show you how much I love you." Atem said as he pulled Hali in close to his chest and kissed her passionately.
Hali kissed him back, then paused. "We'll have to move this to our room. I can't guarantee how much privacy we will have."
Sniffing the air, Atem smiled as his stomach growled. "I think it may have to wait." He chuckled.
Meanwhile two blocks over, Yugi was setting up a big surprise for Hailey who had been out grocery shopping with the kids. "I hope she likes this." he said as he finished dropping the last few rose petals on the floor.
Hailey arrived home from the shopping trip and put away the groceries. "Yugi? Alisa? Where are you?"
"Surprise, Happy Valentine's day!" Yugi & Alisa chimed, coming out from behind the door frame.
"Aw, thanks, you two. Is that card for me?" Hailey asked, taking the card Alisa held out for her. She read the inside of the card. "It's beautiful."
"Just like you Hailey." Yugi smirked as he walked up to his wife and kissed her. "Here take a seat, you must be exhausted."
"Yeah, I am. Had to get diapers for Matt." Hailey sat down on the couch with a sigh.
"Dinner will be ready in just a minute. Would you like a glass of sparkling grape juice while you wait?" Yugi asked holding up the bottle.
"Oh that sounds lovely. Do you want some, Alisa?"
"Yes please Mommy. But not too much."
Hailey took the glass of grape juice Yugi had poured her. Once Alisa had a cup she clinked hers with the girl's. "Cheers."
"Aww my girls." Yugi said as he put his glass down and began to massage Hailey's shoulders.
"That feels really good." Hailey sighed, closing her eyes.
"You deserve the best, Hailey. I love you so much." Yugi whispered in her ear before letting go of her shoulders and sneaking off to the bedroom.
Haliey opened her eyes and looked down at Alisa. "Where did your dad go?"
Shrugging, Alisa giggled at her mother and went back to her juice.
"Hailey, are your eyes still closed? Can you close them please if they aren't." Yugi called sneaking, back into the lounge with something behind his back.
Hailey closed her eyes. "They're closed."
Yugi snuck into the lounge with a bunch of roses in his arms. "Open your eyes beautiful." He said as he sat down next to her on the couch.
Hailey opened her eyes and saw the roses. "They're beautiful."
"I love you Hailey. Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart."
Hailey kissed him. "Thank you." she whispered.
"Hey we better have dinner before it's ruined." Yugi smiled.
"Sounds great." Hailey smiled.
Marik finished the touches on his surprise for Loretta and tucked the kids to bed. He waited, a small smile on his face. "I hope you like this Valentine's Day, sweetie." he said quietly.
Walking around the shop with Ishizu, Loretta stood rubbing her sore back. "Hey Ishizu my back is getting pretty sore."
"Here, we can sit down for a bit." Ishizu found a bench and sat down with her. She checked her phone and pulled an envelope out of her pocket. "I have something to give you."
"Thanks so much. I think this girl is going to be bigger than the twins." Loretta giggled nervously. "What is that Ishizu?"
"Just open it." Ishizu smiled mysteriously.
Opening the envelope, Loretta read the note that was inside. "What is this about, Ishizu?" Loretta asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Marik set this up and recruited me to give you the first clue. It's what's called a scavenger hunt. That's a clue where to go next and you'll find another clue at the next place. It'll lead you to a final place so don't worry about just wandering in circles."
Giggling at Ishizu's statement, Loretta smiled. "Can you help me with this first one, where do I have to go."
Ishizu took the envelope and read the note, having no knowledge of what it said prior to giving it. "'Go to the place where we first met.'"
"Oh I know that place. It's the mall. It's where I accidently ran into Marik when running away from Duke." Loretta frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just bad memories. Sorry Ishizu."
"They can't all be bad. You met my brother." Ishizu pointed out.
"'Im so glad I did and he's been really good to me ever since. Now this young lady is due to come along." Loretta smiled.
"Well, we better get going if we're going to do this." Ishizu stood up. "Ready?"
"Yup lead the way." Loretta nodded steadily standing up.
Ishizu drove them to the mall and got out. "Where did you meet exactly? I'd assume that it would be there."
"Yea right in the door way I quite literally ran into him."
"Well, go look. I bet you'd find something there."
"If I was Marik where would I look for a clue?" Loretta said to herself as she looked around and spotted a familiar envelope. "Found it, Ishizu. What does this one say?"
"The next clue can be found where the trees are shady and the grass is comfortable for a picnic." Ishizu read aloud. "Any ideas?"
"Wow he's getting better with these. Um...oh Domino park, we went there on our first date" Loretta smiled & sighed happily.
"This is really fun, maybe I should think of some places for Marik to go next year." Loretta giggled.
Ishizu giggled as she started the car. She drove to the park and got out. "Where would the clue be, Loretta?"
"Well Marik's clue said something about trees, so it must be in a tree somewhere. I'm sure we sat under a tree talking, but I'm not sure which one now." Loretta frowned as she looked around.
"Well, does anything look familiar? What about that one over there with something white poking out?" Ishizu pointed to a nearby tree with a white corner sticking out.
"We were on a seat under a tree. Oh hey your right, good spotting Ishizu." Loretta said as she grabbed the envelope out of the tree and handed it back to Ishizu.
"Go to the place where I was on my knee." Ishizu replied, reading the card.
"Tha'ts easy thats where my brother and Yugi used to live. Marik proposed to me there on my birthday."
"Well, that's the next stop." Ishizu led her to the car.
"Oh boy, Marik certainly has me going all over the place today." Loretta huffed gently rubbing her stomach.
Ishizu drove Loretta to the game shop and the younger woman let them in. Solomon was at the front counter and smiled at the sight of them. "I'm assuming you are here for this?" he asked, holding up the envelope like a card.
"Thank you. I don't know how many more of these there is either." Loretta giggled.
"I'm sure this will give you a clue as to how many." Solomon handed the envelope over.
"Go to where Marika and Menkura were born...That's an easy one too. That's the hospital. But where in Ra's name am I going to find a clue in that big building?" Loretta sighed.
"I'm sure it could be found where they were born. The Labor and Delivery ward." Ishizu smiled. "Might as well go and talk to a nurse there."
"Good idea. I'm glad I have you with me Ishizu."
"Seto is away again and he made it up to me yesterday. So I have nothing to do but help you." Ishizu smiled. "Wish Seto was this creative."
"I'm sure he will settle down a bit as he gets older. How long is he away for? If you ever want to come and see Marik and I you are more than welcome to. You are his sister after all." Loretta smiled.
"Thanks, that's great." Ishizu smiled. She drove them to the hospital and led her up to the maternity ward.
The nurse at the desk looked up. "Ah, Mrs. Ishtar. I have something for you." she held out an envelope.
"Wow, that was easier than I thought, thank you. Do you want to read this last one Ishizu?" Loretta nodded to the nurse before walking away.
"The last clue is in the place where your heart is." Ishizu read, upon taking the card.
"Aww Marik, this must be the last card then so our final place is home." Loretta smiled relieved all this running around was finally over.
Ishizu drove her home. "Good luck." she smiled, stopping in front of the house.
"Thank you so much for taking me everywhere today Ishizu. I really apperciate it." Loretta smiled, hugging Ishizu.
"You're welcome." Ishizu hugged her back.
As Loretta entered the house, she found the living room was only illuminated by candles everywhere, revealing a trail of roses disappearing up the stairs.
"Marik, I'm home! I wonder where these lead to." Loretta smirked as she followed the rose petal trail.
When she reached the end of the trail, she found herself in their bedroom. Marik was stretched out widthwise on the bed, in nothing but a pair of black boxers, a rose in his mouth.
"W-wow Marik, y-you did all this for me?" Loretta stuttered being lost for words.
Marik removed the rose from his mouth. "I thought you would enjoy the game." he smirked.
"You really know how to wear a girl out. I did enjoy it, but please don't do it again when I'm pregnant." Loretta pouted plopping down on the bed.
"I'm sorry, I just thought it would be romantic."
"It's ok. I love that you put so much effort into giving me such a beautiful surprise." Loretta smiled up at him.
"Since you are so close to your due date, I'll have to settle for just a kiss." Marik smirked as he lowered his head to hers for a kiss.
"I really don't want to go into labor early, but then again this little girl is getting awfully big." Loretta smirked back as she reached up pulling Marik down into a passionate kiss.
Marik smirked as he pulled away after a bit. "Sorry, I'll have to make it up to you after the baby's born and you've recovered."
"Yes, and you better use protection this time." Loretta teased pulling him back down into another kiss.