Yugi: We still haven't reached PhantomBrat's picked number in reviews, so no lucky reader/reviewer gets the prize.
Ryou: A friendly reminder; She's picked reviewer number 129 for the sneak-preview of a future chapter. If we haven't reached the selected number of reviews when she posts next, she's picked another random number.
Malik: Why are you doing this, PhantomBrat?
*Looks away from latest story plot* Because I want to see who really wants to have the sneak-peek and I like certain numbers.
Mokuba: I thought everyone liked the number 1.
Not me. I love two numbers 29 and 86. Even my sister likes the number 17…a very painful number.
Marik: Why's that?
Amethyst-Jade: Never pinch someone born on St. Patrick's Day. They hit really hard.
I'm lucky that it takes a lot to bruise me. I ran into a desk once and should have bruised, but didn't.
Malik: Ok…Enjoy the chapter!
Bobby signed the last of the papers declaring Yugi as his son, but leaving his last name as Mutou. "Done," he sighed. "You're my boy now, Yugi. Now and forever, just like your brother."
Yugi beamed, "And you're my new dad!"
Ishizu pulled the wrap around Yugi's ribs snug, earning a wince. "Forgive me," she said, "But this is necessary to prevent further injury while those fractures continue to heal."
"I know, Ishizu. It just hurts when you do that," Yugi stated.
Malik came in with a smirk on his face, "I'm ready to go. Yugi's stuff's in the van and…"
"Malik Hikari Ishtar," Ishizu glared at her brother, "Go undo whatever wrong you have done."
"But it's funny and Dean deserves it for trying to flirt with you, Sister," Malik whined.
Ishizu shook her head, "Go clean your mess now."
Malik went back outside to remove the dead rattlesnakes from under Dean's car. He had coiled them up just under the driver's door and behind the left rear tire. He left the severed rattle wrapped up in a dirty shirt in Dean's seat just to be funny.
When he came back in, Bobby shook his head, "I'm going to miss my best Rattler Hunter when you leave boy. But I won't miss the dead snakes' heads and tails."
"You could have sold those to tourists or something," Malik pointed out. "I had fun killing those things if they got too close to the house or your scrap yard.
Bobby watched as his new son was loaded into the van on a specialized bed. Atem didn't want to take any chances of Yugi hurting his ribs further. "You take care of that boy," John told Atem. "We've grown attached to those three and I think your old man would be devastated if he were to get hurt again."
"I know. Grandfather is not going to be happy to hear that we nearly had to sedate them and ship them to the Arctic indefinitely. We'll keep in touch until the next time we come out here," Atem stated. He tossed the keys to Atemu, "You drive this time. I'm still tired from staying up with Yugi all night."
Bobby hugged his son, "You did good, boy. I think I'll try to make it to your place soon. Just to check on things and all."
The 'caravan' pulled into a rest area for the night. Atem assigned Malik and Bakura to create a perimeter with a Holy Water, salt, garlic, and iron mixture before they called it a night.
Shai had tracked his primary targets to where they were now 'camping'. He let out a low growl of frustration when he realized that there was a barrier preventing him from gaining access to the boys.
A moment later, a van door slid open. "I heard something out there, Atemu," a childish voice stated. "It sounded like a growl."
"I see nothing, Young One. Try to get some sleep, for tomorrow we return home."
"I swear I heard something out there," the boy argued weakly.
The man sighed, "I promise you that so long as we stay in here, no Demonic will bring you harm. Get some rest, Yugi."
The door was pulled shut and the site fell silent.
*****FLASH****
A boy sitting on a bed, looking at its occupant. "Nothing can get into your chambers. Father has guards out to keep the raiders out of the palace."
"But I heard something, big brother. Please check?"
The boy sighed, "Very well, but you have to promise to go to sleep if there's nothing there."
"Can I stay in your chambers then? I'll be good."
"Fine, but try not to make this a habit. Father and Mother want you to try staying in your own chambers all night."
"Thanks Atemu, you're the best big brother ever!"
*****FLASH****
Shai shook his head, trying to clear his mind. 'That's the first time a name has been revealed in these images,' Shai thought to himself. 'I wonder what these visions mean. Who is this 'Atemu' mentioned in this one?'
The caravan pulled into the long drive of the Mansion around dinnertime the next day. Ryou and Malik rushed into the large house to find their friends and teammates. Joey spotted them as they rushed into the parlor. "Hey, it's two of my favorite cooks," he greeted them. He noticed Ryou's injured arm and the faint bruises decorating Malik's arms, "What happened?"
"A stupid, stuck-up Angel happened," Malik grumbled.
Ryou nodded, "He used a Blood-seal to find out who used his blood and, well, it wasn't pretty. We wound up getting hurt bad. I dislocated my shoulder and broke my arm at the same time, Malik was bruised, but Yugi ended up with broken and bruised ribs. Akefia put a Binding-spell on the Angel until he can be dealt with accordingly. We were moments away from a one-way trip."
Joey growled in irritation, "Where is this sissy-pants Angel? I outta put him six feet under in a lead casket."
Atem pushed Yugi's bed into the main room as Joey made his threat. "I would rethink that idea if I were you, Joey. This Angel is to be put on trial for his deeds," Atem stated as he locked the wheels to the bed. "There you go, Yugi. You'll be in here for a few days more."
As soon as the vehicles were unloaded, the angel locked up, and pizzas ordered, Tea gave Atem a list of messages. "Oh, and Bakura's parents are already here," she announced.
Bakura paled, "They weren't supposed to be in for a few more weeks. I'm not ready!"
"Ready for what, son," a man questioned him.
The woman at his side batted his arm, "Daryn, don't frighten our son. Hello, Bakura, I missed you, my baby boy. Come give mommy a hug."
Bakura hesitantly approached his parents and gave his mother a quick hug. She noticed Ryou trying to hide from view. "Aww, did you go and clone yourself, my precious little duckling? He looks so adorable."
"Actually, Mom Dad, he's not a clone, robot, or hologram," Bakura admitted.
His mother didn't get what was being said, "So he's a hologram of a robotic clone?"
"Um, no," Ryou spoke up in his British accent. "I'm not any combination of the three. I'm Ryou Ambrose Bakura."
Daryn glared at the Hikari, "Don't joke about such things boy."
"I'm not," Ryou countered softly. "I was found off the coast of Florida and the man who found me tried to locate my original family. After failing to find them, he adopted me and raised me in Domino City. I vacationed with my dad in England during the summer months, hence the faint accent."
"Who is this child, Bakura," his mother questioned him.
Bakura hugged Ryou, being mindful of his injuries, "He's my brother. We found him about a year ago."
"This isn't funny, son. Boy, this is not something you can poke fun of. Our baby boy died nearly twenty-five years ago," Daryn roared. "How dare you mention him in our presence! I'm disappointed in you, Bakura."
Ryou paled and turned to leave, crashing into a wall and falling backwards. Before Bakura could react, Ryou was up and running for his private sanctuary, the greenhouse. He cried the whole way, barely seeing where he was headed.
Bakura turned on his parents, "That was uncalled for! Now I've got to find him."
"Bakura-bunny," his mother cooed. "Leave that sad boy alone and spend time with Mummy."
Malik glared at the woman, "Ryou was excited to finally be reunited with his real parents and you shot him down. I hope you, you…YOU HALF-WIT HUMANS ARE HAPPY! I've seen Weres more accepting than you!"
"Young man, you will respect your elders," Daryn snapped.
"Show me some that are reasonable and I'll respect them," Malik huffed. "Atem, I'm going to bed. I'm not hungry."
Malik stormed off.
Ryou made it to the greenhouse and to the private inner building that the team had given him as a Christmas present. It housed his private herb garden and his favorite items to use in certain recipes. Bakura had the windows tinted so that sunlight could enter while giving him privacy and installed a special lock so that Ryou could relax when things were overwhelming for him. Each of the Hikaris had a special sanctuary of their own. This was Ryou's.
He bolted the door and leaned on the door, sliding to the ground and hugging his knees with his good arm. Ryou cried, his heart breaking at the thought of his real parents thinking that he was playing a cruel joke on him.
Bakura: You gave me a dimwitted mother!
There's a reason she's that way. She lost Ryou at a young age and clung to you, afraid that you'd vanish if she didn't keep you close. She wound up being mentally unstable from the shock and heartbreak.
Ryou: I can't believe that they didn't accept me and accused me of playing a prank on them. T^T
I'm sorry Ryou. *Hugs and hands hot chocolate* Forgive?
Ryou: Yeah. I forgive you.
I regret the lateness of this chapter and for falling behind on my other stories. I've had a pretty tough time starting with Christmas and ending a few days or so ago. I'm planning on posting new chapters for a few other stories on or before the 29th. Think of them as a 'reverse-birthday present' from me.
Malik: Until next time!