From Love Comes Great Joy, Part 8 : Danger Lurks in Every Corner

"Kaiba wants to make certain his gift doesn't go to waste," Lyla replied, scratching her nose, "A simple change in the plans will not be notice."

Seto had wanted to give Yugi and Yami an Easter gift for making his sister happy, so he decided that he can pay a work crew to renovate the game shop and put in a few more rooms and more space for storage. Lyla was given blueprints to show what will be done and asked her to talk to the elder Motou about it (he would have done it himself if not for a meeting at Kaiba Corp.).

"This should give us not only room for the new little ones coming," Sugoroku smiled, "but it should help me out a great deal with shipments. Please tell Kaiba I said thanks on behalf of my family."

"He states he's only doing it for his sister," Lyla grinned, "but we all know he's a softie on the inside."

Sugoroku chuckled, then heard the doorbell ring and went to answer it. As Lyla was getting the blueprints ready for the construction crew when they arrive later on, she sensed something not right in the air. Never one to ignore her instincts, she followed it until she saw the elder Motou with a woman wearing a postman's uniform, with blond hair, tanned skin, and green eyes. She was handing Sugoroku a package and immediately, she sensed danger.

"Thank you very much," Sugoroku said as the woman left, yelping as Lyla grabbed the package, "What are you-"

Before he can finish, Lyla had ripped into the package to find cookies inside. One sniff from them, and she threw them away.

"Why did you do that," Sugoroku demanded angrily, checking to see if any of the cookies can be considered editable, "What's gotten into you?!"

"Those cookies were poisoned," Lyla explained, looking at the piece of paper in her hand for a return address, "I can smell it. Whoever sent them to you wanted someone to die just from one bite."

"Who would want to do such a thing," the elder Motou asked.

"I'm not sure," Lyla replied, "but I will find out. Plus, I wouldn't trust that mail girl much. I'm getting bad vibes from her."

* * * *

Seto typed away at his computer, watching Joey with one eye, as he finished up some documents for work.

He couldn't take the holiday off for his family, so he brought his lovely puppy in with him for some fun later on. He also had Joey stay in his office s none of the perverted businessmen try to take him away from him. And with the twins growing every day within his koi, he didn't want to take any chances of getting them hurt.

"Mr. Kaiba," his secretary said through the intercom, "Your ten o'clock meeting has arrived."

"Send them in," Seto replied, saving his work. Joey looked up from the couch as much as his slightly-large belly would allow and smiled at his koi. The chestnut-haired teen was becoming more protective and lovable around him every day and he loved every minute of being pampered and down-right spoiled. Once the twins were born (with Mokuba's help), they would have their hands full with spoiling them senseless and making sure they have the best childhood the two can offer.

"Do you need me to leave," Joey asked, grunting as he sat up. He wasn't use to the growing weight yet.

"No," Seto replied with a smile, "unless you want to."

"Too comfty," the blond answered, then went back to lying down and basking in the afternoon sun. A minute later, a businessman with a young raven-haired woman walked in and Seto greeted them both before starting their meeting. During some parts of the meeting, the woman, who was the businessman's daughter named Vernia, was taking side-glances at Joey when she wasn't batting her eye lashes at Seto and trying to get his attention. After all, Seto Kaiba was the hottest man in the business world today, possibly due to his age. Finally, she had to ask.

"Who is that over there Mr. Kaiba," Vernia said in a voice so sweet one can choke on it, "An undercover body guard? He sure has a big gut for one so thin."

"He's my fiancée," Seto growled, getting pissed at her calling HIS pregnant puppy fat, "and you will not speak of him like that."

Vernia gasped while the businessman raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. In a sense, he respected Seto and thought it was high time he settled down. He was just off-guard that the young CEO, whom many were certain had a harem of women at his beck and call, swung that way.

"What can that slob possibly offer you," the raven-haired girl stated, treading on dangerous ground, "when I can offer you so much more? I can even give you a child, unlike him."

Seto was now snarling and Joey, who overheard her, was growling at the girl. Who the hell did she think she is, telling Seto that Joey can't give him what he wanted? Joey was everything he could ever need!

"Vernia," the businessman said in a 'no-nonsense' voice, "wait outside while I finish this meeting up right now."

"But-" Vernia began to protest, but seeing the death glare from Joey and the promises of pain and suffering from Seto made her change her mind. She was out as fast as she could go in her high-heels.

"I'm terribly sorry about that," the businessman said, "Vernia has had a crush on you for quite some time, as well as all the other young businessmen I meet up with, and she hates it when they are taken, especially when the ones she seeks are, how do I put it politely-"

"Gay," Joey stated.

"I was going to use homosexual," the man shrugged, "but that might as well due."

"We're use to it," Seto answered, then they went back to their meeting.

* * * *

Nikore giggled as Yugi and Yami snuggled closer to her on her bed, watching TV with little interest and being careful not to put too much pressure on their bellies, which were quite large with child.

They were going to the mall alter on to pick up some baby supplies for the little ones, along with some furniture now that they will have their own rooms instead of just staying in the guest room and sharing. Although it was Seto who came up with the idea, Yugi was most certain that it was Nikore that put him up to it. He would do just about anything to make his sister happy, much like a certain blond-haired puppy.

"Hm?"

Yami looked up from his comfty place on Nikore's shoulder, seeing the blond had a confused look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"I felt something," the middle Kaiba answered, then turned to Yugi, "I think your kid moved."

"Really," Yugi exclaimed, who didn't feel it until a second later when he felt something fluttering inside of him. The baby was kicking.

"Let me feel," Yami almost squealed, launching an arm over Nikore's stomach to feel Yugi's. A minute later, he felt his own daughter move, trying not to be outdone by her brother.

Nikore giggled as she felt the new life kicking and moving around her, her kois trying to feel it as well. After awhile, once the twins settled down, Yugi looked at the clock.

"We gotta go," he said, "We're suppose to meet the others at the mall soon."

With a groan from Yami, the trio got off the bed and headed for the garage, to where Nikore's navy jeep was. As she was fishing her pockets for the keys, Nikore sensed Lyla trying to contact her.

{Lyla?}

{{I'm heading to your direction hikari}} Lyla informed, {{Someone sent poisoned food to the Motou residence.}}

{Who} Nikore became worried for her kois and their grandfather now, {and why?}

{{I don't know, but watch yourself and your kois. I sense evil afoot and heading in your direction.}}

{We're heading to the Domino Shopping Mall right now] Nikore got in the driver's seat and started the engine, {Meet us there.}

* * * *

"Hey guys," Mai grinned, giving Yugi and Yami each a kiss on the cheek as they walked to the small group consisting of Mai, Tristen, Joey, Mokuba, Ryou, and Bakura. The white-haired thief tried not to laugh at Yami, for he was cladded in sweats and an over-sized T-Shirt due to his leather clothes not fitting him anymore.

"Where's Malik and Marik," Yugi asked, looking around a bit.

"They had a guest coming over and couldn't come," Tristen replied, "They said maybe next time."

"Let's get going before all the good sales are gone," Mai said, leading the way.

Nikore felt an evil presence nearby, but with all the people around, she could pin-point it. Just in case, she clutched her hidden weapon as she walked with her friends.

* * * *

"Who could our guest ever be," Malik asked in a sing-song voice, the kind his sister really hated. He wanted to get some stuff for the baby, since Yami Malik was busy with getting the baby's room ready, but Isis told him they were going to have company and he couldn't leave.

"You'll just have to see Ototo," Isis said with strained patience. She was certain that the pregnancy had made her psychotic brother even more psychotic, for now he can get away with just about anything he wants with the baby.

The doorbell rang, and Isis went to answer it. Highly aware of her brother following her. She opened the door just a crack before shooing Malik off while talking to whoever it was outside. The soon-to-be mother (Author: snickers) growls as he got a craving for some Chinese food dripping in soy sauce and went to see if they had any leftovers. He barely notices the shadow following him in the kitchen.

"You can come out now," Malik growled, hand near his Millennium Rod, "You can't sneak around me that easily."

"Then I guess I lost my touch," a familiar voice smirked as the owner made himself known.

"Rishid," Malik nearly squealed as he launched himself into his stepbrother's awaiting arms, having not seen him since he and Isis moved back to Domino a few years ago.

"It's so good to see you Malik-sama," Rishid smiled, glad to be back with his former master, "and I'm also glad I will be here to see the birth of your son."

"How did you know," Malik asked, eyes wide. Was it THAT obvious already?

"Isis-sama told me over the phone," the taller Egyptian explained, "She also asked of me to come because I apparently know more about our family's birthing rituals than she and you do."

"We were planning on having the birth at the hospital," the blond Egyptian said, sitting down at the table, "I may not know all our family's traditions, but I don't want to take any chances in case there are any problems."

"That is very wise," Rishid agreed, also sitting down, "When you were born, father said a prayer while holding you over his head before you were given to your mother. I can teach Marik-sama the prayer if you want."

"Rishid," Malik said timidly, now realizing a crucial fact he had never known in his family and had forgotten many times to ask, "What ever happened to my mother? Isis rarely talks about her at all."

"She was a very kind person," Rishid said slowly, remembering the kind woman that was like a mother to him, "Our father loved her very much and was much kinder back then. However, after you were born, she had lost too much blood and had passed away in her sleep two days after you were born. Our father became very cold after that."

"Oh," Malik said quietly, then touched his swollen belly. Would that happen to him? Was it his fault that his mother died?

"Malik-sama," Rishid asked, noting the distant, but depressed look in his lavendar eyes.

"Jut thinking," Malik said after a minute with a smile, although he wasn't happy at all on the inside.

* * * *

"How about this," Mai squealed at the pink frilly dress in her hands, which she pressed against Yami's belly.

"You have got to be kidding me," the former Pharaoh was appalled at the idea of his daughter wearing something so.... poofy.

"You're right," Mai said, pulling the dress away, only to press it on Ryou's belly, "It would look so much better on your kid Ryou."

"How would you know what my daughter would look like," Ryou asked, smiling, as Bakura looked horrified at the idea of his daughter, who would be learning how to steal at his level, in that dress. He was more on the lines of jeans and shirts with funny logos like 'Of Course I Don't Look Busy; I Did It Right The First Time Dimwit!'

"It's a little thing called an imagination," Mai smiled, putting the dress in the shopping cart.

"We bought some furniture," Yugi said as he and Nikore walked over to the group, "They'll deliver it to the game shop in a few days."

"We will have to find some room until the babies' rooms are done," Yami replied, picking up a chibi leather attire that looked like his own, "Do you want to pick up some paint while we're here?"

"We can get it later," the tri-color teen replied, trying not to laugh as Tristen was used to hold up a chibi shirt with a duck on it for Bakura to gawk at before they pay for their purchases and left the store.

[[I am never shopping with Mai again]] Bakura growled through his mind link.

[It's not that bad Bakura] Ryou smiled, wrapping his arm around his yami's waist, [Just think. Thanks to her, we will be only doing this when our little one is here and we can find outfits best suited for her.]

[[Yeah]] Bakura agreed, [[You're right.]]

As everyone stopped for a moment to rest their feet, they were unaware of someone, putting a sniper rifle together on the second floor above them, looking through the periscope to see Yugi in it's line of sight.

"Darn itch," Yugi said, trying to scratch his shoulder with his right arm, and not doing well at it.

The sniper cocked back the hammer and squeezed the trigger.

"Here Aibou," Yami said as he went to scratch it for his little tenshi.

BANG!

"Aaaaah," Yami screamed, sudden pain searing through his right shoulder. Everyone began to scream and run, Ryou and Yugi going over to Yami's side while Tristen and Mai watched their back. Nikore and Bakura looked at where the shot was fired, only to see a ski-masked person trying to aim at Yugi. Nikore growled, body glowing with energy before it disappeared, her armor cladded to her like a second skin. The sniper panicked, and tried to shoot the blond reploid. The shot bounced off the armor, the bullets not strong enough to penetrate it, before Nikore used her Dash Boot System to jump high enough to get on the next level, chasing after the sniper. The sniper flew into the crowd and disappeared, leaving the blond reploid alone in a crowd of scared people. Lyla, appearing out of the crowd, ran up her hikari, but before she could ask, Nikore's face told her everything.

"Someone call an ambulance," Nikore heard Tristen scream and she instantly went back to the group, hoping Yami will be alright. As she and her yami got there, she saw that he had passed out and his stomach twitching.

* * * *

"The shot ripped through the muscles of his shoulder," Yami heard someone in the infinite darkness say. He couldn't really open his eyes, feeling very groggy and not well. His daughter was also very frightened and he tried his best to figure out what's going on.

"My God," another voice exclaimed, "He's going into pre-term labor!"

Wha?

"We gotta do something," a third voice roared.

"It's too far ahead," another said sadly, "He's gonna lose the baby."

WHAT?!

"Find a volunteer quickly," the second voice ordered. A pause.

"We got a volunteer ready and willing to go," the first said, and there was nothing but silence. He tried to find his daughter, but he found nothing but blackness. Soon, he succumbed to sleep.

Yami awoke to find himself in a dimly-lit white room, lying on a soft mattress. From the strong smell of antiseptics, the beeping of the machines nearby, and the fact the room was mostly white, he concluded that he was in a hospital room.

He groaned as dull pain from his shoulder and stomach reached him, remembering that he was shot earlier. He found his arm in a sling and his shoulder patched up, but what got him was who was it trying to kill his Aibou? Was it someone he knew, a new enemy?

He tried sensing for his daughter again, but he felt nothing. Panic began to worm through his senses, and he slid his hand under the white hospital gown he wore to touch his stomach.

Only to find that he can feel his abs and stitches.

TBC

Author's Notes: Did Yami's child died? You'll have to find out next chapter. And yes, women can go into pre-mature labor when they are stress or are hurt really badly and yes, even though modern medicine has advanced over the years, pre-term babies can die if born too early.

Next chapter, everyone tries to find out who the sniper was while Yami Malik calms his hikari from his fears in his own way. Lemon in the next chapter and Seto gets the mansion ready for the twins while Mokuba plans on telling him of his relationship with a friend of his. Who is it, well you'll just have to wait and see. Ja ne !