Another update, I kept getting interrupted when I sat down to write this, so I'm posting before I lose my inspiration for the next few chapters. Anyway enjoy.
Warnings: Rating M, Swearing, Child Abuse. If this type of thing offends you then DO NOT READ! This is a fictional story ONLY and nothing more. Flames will be used to toast my marshmallows. Disclaimer: I own nothing!! But for the plot, the plot belongs to my Bunnies, Muses and me.
Chap 29: Room to Breathe.
Sakie Winhall paced back and forth in the interrogation room like a caged tiger, snapping and snarling. "I want my baby! You can't hold me here or keep my son from me."
"Baby, do you mean Ryou?" Yami asked casually unaffected by the woman's behavior.
"Who else am I talking about?!" She snapped.
"What about Bakura?" He raised his crimson eyes to her light green ones. She fell silent for the first time of being dragged into the room. She turned away looking out the small barred window, Yami was thankful for moments silence.
"I just want my sons back." She sighed a lot calmer now. "I've missed them so much and it's taken me so long to find them. I know I'm not perfect and I've made mistakes just like everyone else, but I love them." She rushed at Yami surprising him enough to make him stand as she took his hand in hers. "You know what I'm talking about; you have children, don't you? You know what I'm talking about?" Yami freed himself of her and forced her to sit down.
Mai entered the room followed by three others. The woman needed a lawyer. "Let's talk about Bakura, Ryou, your husband, Roy, Marcus and Jack." Mai slammed a folder down onto the table, making the woman jump in fright at the sound it made.
"I need to make a phone call," Yami glanced at Mai for a moment then at Sakie adding. "This is going to be a long night."He left the room.
"It's alright." Marik muttered as he placed Ryou down on to his bed and covered him over with blankets. Ryou mumbled in protests at having been moved about so much. He checked again on Malik to find the boy was in a good slumber.
Marik turned out the light and instantly the room was illuminated with a soft yellow glow from the moon-shape nightlight in the power-socket. He stood there for a few moments, wondering if their past lives could be put out of their minds and they could move on. Ra, walked between his feet and into the room, leaping effortlessly onto Malik's bed and curled up right next to the boy with a yawn and a purr, blinking sleepy at Marik.
A clock chimed from downstairs indicating that it was well past midnight. Marik was thankful that Mai gave him the okay to take the boys home. He didn't know what he would have done if Bakura and Ryou were taken from him.
Marik turned and started down the hallway, stopping by Bakura's bedroom door a moment and listened… no sound, no movement, no lights. Marik turned and headed back the way he come and entering his bedroom across from Malik and Ryou's.
Once changed he flopped down onto the bed with a heavy sigh and a cell phone in hand, with a few pressed buttons he sent a text message to his sister for her to call him. A few soft whiny yaps and Marik glanced down to see Milly beside the bed; he picked the dog up with one hand and placed her down on the covers. "You've had a pretty shitty start to life as well." The dog flopped down and wriggled about for a moment, before she became still. Marik reached down and patted her ear. "You're kinda cute, for a dog."
"Daddy," Came Ryou's soft pleading voice from the doorway, Marik only turned his head to the sound of the child's voice and Ryou had moved so fast that the boy was already climbing up onto the bed. "I wants to sleep with you." He muttered crawling over Marik to the other side of the bed. The older male grunted as Ryou unknowingly kneed him in his more sensitive places. To save himself grater pain, Marik picked the boy up and placed him down beside him.
"Hey Marik, do you mind?" Bakura asked beside the bed and had already lifted the covers to climb in; Malik too wriggled his way onto the bed. Not having much of a say, Marik moved over as all three boys settled down around him. Malik made himself rather comfortable on Marik's chest, Ryou and Bakura snuggled on either side of him, making it impossible for him to move.
A short time had passed and even breathing came from Malik and Ryou indicating that they were fast asleep and Marik too was starting to fall asleep himself. "Thanks Marik." Bakura whispered, his back to the older male.
Marik mumbled, "It's fine, the bed is big enough, once Ryou moves over."
"No, I mean" Bakura heaved a big sigh before speaking again. "For being there for me. Giving Ryou and I a place to live. A second chance at a real life… It, it means a lot." Marik didn't need to see Bakura's face for he heard the blush and strain in the other's voice.
"Get some sleep." Marik shut his eyes; he felt Bakura shift beside him before the boy spoke up again.
"Marik, you won't, you won't let her take us, will you?" Marik opened his eyes to see Bakura in the dark staring down at him.
"All I can do is try my damn hardest to not let that happen."
"What if she lies? I know she will and everyone will believe her!" Malik shifted at the raised voice but remained asleep.
"It'll be alright," Marik reassured him. "Mai is damn good at her job that she can see through any lie. Besides, Mai works for you not your mother."
Bakura laid back down his back once again to Marik's side. Still, anyone who faced off against his mother had to have a strong resolve not to fall for her have-pity-on-me act. Bakura had seen so many fall before his mother and take her side, even their father had from time to time.
Sleep didn't came that easy for Bakura that night, despite the feeling of being safe, warm and cared for, for in the back of his mind told him that a darker time was fast approaching for them all.
"The seat is hard?" Ryou complained as Marik had placed him on the bench like seat. He pouted when Marik didn't take any notice of him, but ruffled his hair and gave him a half smile, before turning and talking to Bakura and Mai.
Malik intently watched all the people file into the room. It was all confusing for him, Mai had called that morning and right after the phone call Marik had rushed them from the house. Marik hadn't said much at all as all his attention was on Bakura and Ryou didn't stop his complaining in wanting Marik's attention the whole time.
"Daddy." Ryou slid from his seat and walked over tugging on the older male's jacket. "Daddy." He gasped as Marik picked him up, but was still ignored as Marik listened to Mai in what she had to tell Bakura.
"Just be honest and we'll get you through this," Mai said looking through folders and papers in her hands making a last minute check to see if she had everything. "It's going to be quick as you're not the only one to be seen by the judge today." Bakura glanced about and saw the rows of seat filling up rather fast. "It's more of a hearing to see where'll be the best place for you and Ryou."
"I want to stay with Marik." Bakura said knowing what he wanted without having to think.
"I understand that, but it has to be made legal by the court seeing as your mother is being held in custody and I don't think she'll be let out any time soon."
The Bailiff called for attention and announced the arrival of the judge who entered the court room and sat down. "Miss. Valentine." The old man waved her to approach the bench. "What have you got for me this morning?" His eyes swept over his court room summing up what kind of day was before him.
"Morning." Mai greeted, handing up the folders and took a step back from the bench as she listed off all the charges and offenses that Sakie Winhall had committed. Sakie was brought into the room from a side door and was seated across the room.
The judge placed down the folders Mai had given him and lent back in his chair for a moment, before the very businesslike conversation broke out between Mai, Sakie and her lawyer that lasted a good few moments. "What are they talking about?" Ryou asked not understanding anything they had said, he slid from the chair again only to be stopped and placed back on the bench by Shizuka.
"Sakie Winhall," The judge called and the woman stood before his bench. "You'll remain in custody until your bail can be paid and this hearing will be adjourned and resume in three months. As for your children they'll go into state care until suitable places can be found for them."
Sakie cried about in protest as she was being pulled away. "You can't take them from me!"
"That's not far!" Bakura shouted out at the judge over his mother.
"Your honor," Mai stood up and spoke over the noise. "The children have a place!"
"Silence!" The Judge slammed his gavel down a few times the room once again fell quite and Marik had gotten Bakura under some control. "Miss. Valentine." He urged her to continue with what she was saying.
"Your honor, the children Ryou and Bakura have a place to live in the home of Detective Marik Ishtar, who has cared for them for the past weeks. They both now hold a normal schedule for children their age, a bed time and they both attended school. They wish to remain in Mr. Ishtar's care where they can stay together." The old judge nodded his head and turned his attention on Marik.
"Mr. Ishtar. If I recall you already have a child in your care, to which you'll be facing me for full custody for this child within days. Two more seems like a handful for someone as young as you and the income you earn. A state home would be able to find the boys a home where they could be together."
Marik stood. "Despite of how many children are in my care. The boys get along with me, each other and my family and I'm financially able to care for all of us just fine and I've grown attached to them in our time together."
The room fell silent again as the Judge study them for a moment, Sakie glanced from her children to the judge waiting. "Ryou, would you come forward and talk to me for a moment." Whispers again rose in the court room as Ryou stood and was guided to the large bench and seated next to the judge. He glanced at his brother and Marik for a moment and both males gave him a reassuring smiles.
"I am goings to jail? I've been a good boy, Santa said I was good."" Ryou suddenly gushed out and the court room was filled with soft laughs.
"I'm sure you're a good boy." The judge smiled and lent forward a little to better see the child and said. "But I wanted to talk to you about living with Detective Ishtar."
"I don't have to call my new Daddy Ers, I asks him that's what I wanted to call him and he said I could call him what I likes. I don't like Ers, I like Daddy." A little confused the judge glanced at Marik and Bakura.
"Our real father preferred to be called Sir. Ryou was more than ecstatic when he was free to call Marik dad." Bakura filled him in.
Ryou nodded his head, "And I gots a new brother, Malik, but he doesn't likes playing much but I make him… he doesn't talks, it's broken, but I knows what he wants." Ryou's eyes widened and he gasped standing up on the chair and leaning over the bench, startling the Judge a little. "If Malik can't talks do you think Santa will knows whats to get for Christmas?" The court room was once again filled with chuckles.
"I'm sure Santa would know." Judge held in his laugh and tried to keep the conversation on track. "But tell me Ryou, what about your mother? Doesn't she take care of you? Don't you miss her?" Ryou pulled back and glanced at the woman for a long moment.
"No, Kura always takes care of me, even whens I was sick. Kura worked all day and he gots into a lot of fights because bad kids wanted his money. I had to wait outside because mommy was always having tea parties with mean men who didn't likes me. Kura always got mad at her said I was too little being outside on my own. But it was okay; I waited for Kura and didn't talk to anyone."
"Thank you Ryou, you can step down now."
Ryou got down off the chair and turned back to the judge. "No one took care of Kura before, but now a new Daddy takes care of him." Ryou was guided back to his seat.
"That's a lie!" Sakie called out. "He's manipulated my sons."
"Given on the information just heard, I'm giving Marik Ishtar full custody until your next hearing three months from now and I'll evaluate their situation again." He slammed his gavel down and Sakie was pulled away from the court room by a side door. "Next case!" The judge called out.
"What does that mean?" Bakura asked as he was lead out of the court room.
"It means that you can legally stay with Marik." Mai said with a smile. "Though I was surprised that he took the time to speak with Ryou."
"Ryou, did you hear the good news!?" Bakura turned about and picked up his little brother. "We get to stay with Marik."
"I already knows that," Ryou rolled his eyes, wondering where his brother's head was at considering they had been living with their new Daddy for the past few weeks and he did say that they could stay with him forever.
"How about we go out for dinner tonight?" Marik picked up Malik.
"Yeah!" Ryou cheered and listed off a few places. "Kura," He lightly tugged on Bakura's hair. "Did I get mommy into troubles?"
"Mom got herself into trouble." Bakura explained while Marik and Mai walked ahead of them talking.
"What will they do with her?" Ryou's eyes widened and he gushed out. "They won't hurts her, wills they?"
"Mum will be put in a very long time-out."
"Oh." Ryou shuddered not having fond memories of Kura putting him on a time-out when he had miss behaved. "I don'ts like time-out."
"Neither will she." Bakura smirked and by the time they entered the car-park it had felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders and the days ahead seemed a little brighter.
Isis paced the small basement like a caged animal looking for a way out. Her head was throbbing with pain and crusty dry blood from a wound on her forehead covered one side of her face. He had taken her cell phone and forced her to call her brother and lie to him about what she was doing and where she was. She only hoped Marik was smart enough to see through that lie… he wasn't a Detective because of his good looks. How those looks would be twisted up in grief once Marik found her body, mutilated and bloody and put out like house-hold trash.
She shook her head as she once again lightly fingered the wound on her head and grimaced in pain. She had to stop thinking like that, but it was hard. She had searched every box and unused object that was stored down here with her and found not one thing that would make a good weapon or help her to escape.
She shivered again and rubbed at her bare arms. The bastard had taken her shoes, jackets, shirts and pants, leaving her in her bra and g-string… oh god, why did she have to wear it? She could see the head-lines in the news papers: 'Dead prostitute found with a taste for good lingerie' She wondered if the forensic anthropologist would clean her lingerie up, gift wrap it and give it to his wife or girlfriend as a gift… what a shame that she never really got to show it off for that someone special.
"Stop thinking such stupid thoughts and look for a way out." She hissed at herself. She moved once again to the bared window for another inspection. The snow and ice had built up over the glass. He took her shoes in case she did escape her feet would be the first thing to go numb and the lack of clothing, she'd have a few hours, maybe one to find help before hypothermia set in. "Fuckers!" She hissed angrily at the glass, she'd make him pay. Isis wouldn't play the victim, not again, she wouldn't cower in the corner and sob and cry for mercy nor would she give in without a fight.
She placed her hand on the cold glass and wiped away the fog, to see nothing but white. She couldn't tell if it was night or day. "Hurry up Mare and find me." She whispered felling tears sting at her eyes.
Someone was at the door, Isis spun about upon hearing the door handle jingle and the door creaking open. She rushed to the stairs and hid under them and waited.
"Isis…" The stairs creaked with every step he took. "Come out, come out wherever you." He didn't get to finish his little song as she grabbed his ankle and tripped him over. He tumbled down the rest of the way and hit the floor hard at an awkward angel.
Isis not hanging about to find out if he was okay, she moved out from under the stairs and leapt over his sprawled out limbs and charged up the stairs. "Not so fast!" He grabbed at her leg and tugged her back. Isis gasped falling face first on the stairs; she turned as he grabbed her knee and tried to pull himself up over her. She pulled back her free leg and kicked him square in the face to get him off and a few more hits to get him away from her.
Isis scrambled up the stairs on her hands, knees and feet until she reached the top and fell out the door landing face first again, in what looked to be a living room. She pushed herself up, only to be pushed back down by a heaver weight. She growled into the dusty dirty carpet for a moment before she was flipped over onto her back. "I like them with a little fight in them." He slapped her across the face hard and grabbed her chin as he lent down to her. "I was going to take you somewhere a little more comfortable. But if you prefer it here, I don't mind treating you like the whore you are." He crushed his lips to hers and forced his tongue into her mouth as she screamed.
Isis brought her knee up hard and getting him right between the legs, he howled in pain and rolled off her grabbing at his crouch. She stumbled to her feet and backed up a few steps, spitting on the floor and wiping at her mouth with the back of her hand watching him the whole time. Something came over her as she minded screamed that he was all too willing to rape her.
"You bastard!" She snapped moving forward, she started to kick him, landing a few good blows to his body. She felt his rib break under her foot, his nose when she got him in the face for the second time. She was going to make sure that he couldn't follower her that her escape was insured or at least she would have a damn good head start before he pulled himself together.
She turned and ran, stopping briefly in a hallway, a few doors were closed and a staircase leading up to the second floor. She didn't want to go up, she wanted out. Which way was out?
That one! She rushed forward to the end of the hallway and pulled open the door. The cold gust of window stunned her for a moment, but not so much as the darkness of night. It was going to make things difficult to see where she was going and easier to hide in from her captor.
She took in that moment to take in her surroundings and for the best direction. Trees surrounded the house in all directions. Was it a forest? Or was it her captor's love of trees that he grew them so thickly around his house and there was help on the other side. A sob tore from her lips as sickening realization struck her; she was in the middle of nowhere. No sound of cars on a highway, no lights from other homes… nothing. There was help beyond those trees, but the coat was the distance she would have to go to find it, before he found her.
Isis threw herself down the stairs and started running at full speed across the yard.
A cracking sound filled the area like thunder and pain ripped through Isis's leg and with a scream she fell into the snow. Twisting herself about she saw blood spilling out from her outer thigh onto the white ground, she clutched at her leg to stop the bleeding and pain. There was so much blood, her mind raced and her heart hammered in her chest. "I'll be the hunter, you be the doe." She looked up at him as he cocked the bolt and the bullet-casing popped out, landing near her foot as he reloaded it casually, then aiming it at her head with a grin, blood drooled from his mouth and down his chin from her well placed kicks, it gave her a little satisfaction that she caused him some pain. "Nothing personal, sweetheart."
Isis looked away, not having the courage she thought she had to see it her own end coming head on. "NO!" Someone shouted and then hot pain surged through her arm and she cried out again falling back onto the snow. "We need her alive if you wish to get Malik back." Isis glanced up to see not only one, but two men fighting over the gun. "This will all be for nothing if you kill her now."
"She fucking kicked me. The damn bitch knocked out a tooth."The rifle was lowered and the attention on her was gone momentarily.
"I think you'll live." Was the snide comment as her ankle was grabbed and she felt herself being dragged back to the house by her wounded leg, a trail of blood followed them from her wounds.
"Fucking bitch," Was the snarl as Isis opened her eyes and looked up, all she saw the was the butt of the rifle coming down towards her face.
TBC.
Okay, I don't know the workings of a court room procedure and T.V shows only give you so much information and to be honest I haven't wanted any such shows in months so lack of knowledge is limited unless you know what you're looking for in goggle and if I had to research such information then this chapter would take months. Anyway Review (love and Cookies)