Chapter 3 (Seal – Kiss From A Rose)

At first Ryou was terrified. Here he was, racing across the desert with no idea where he was going, clinging to the back of a homicidal thief. But as the town disappeared behind them and the horse settled into a manageable canter, Ryou relaxed. They had been riding for what felt like hours, and he had barely slept. He didn't notice that he had rested his head on the thief king's back until the scent of sweat and musk reached his nose.

Ryou's eyes shot open and he jerked back, even as he felt a laugh rumble through Bakura's body. "Tired, Ryou?" Bakura asked, looking over his shoulder.

Ryou nodded, not trusting his voice at the moment.

"Look ahead." Bakura said. Ryou leaned over and looked past the thief king. The horizon was broken by a jagged line of black. "That's camp. It's still a long way off, but we'll be there soon." Bakura straightened his stance and kicked his heels, urging the horse to go faster. The legion of thieves behind him followed suit and once again they were thundering across the desert.

The noise of the horses' hooves preceded them. As they got closer, the camp erupted into activity, people rushing from tent to tent, greeting the raiders like lost family, leading the horses to makeshift stalls, and sorting through the loot. Ryou was astounded at the sheer number of people.

'How does he command all these people?' Ryou felt his body tensing with fear again. 'This isn't a camp, this is a whole city!'

The horse moved calmly ahead until they reached a giant tent in the center of the noisy crowd. Bakura twisted around to help Ryou from the horse before he dismounted.

"Master Bakuraaaaaaaaa!!!!" Ryou almost jumped out of his skin and tried to hide behind the horse. A tanned young man rushed from the huge tent and straight into Bakura's open arms. He was smaller than Bakura by several inches, with tanned skin and blond hair falling down to his shoulders. He wore a gold collar around his neck and kilt around his waist, held in place by a belt of shining gold. Around his ankles were several golden loops that jingled over his bare feet.

"You're finally back! What did you bring me?" Lavender eyes sparkled with mirth as the man broke from Bakura's embrace. Bakura smiled. Ryou shivered.

'He's insane! How could he be so familiar with the King of Thieves?' Ryou closed his eyes, not wanting to see the exuberant stranger punished.

"Now is that really polite?" a new voice asked. "You haven't even allowed him to introduce his companion."

Ryou opened his eyes to see a girl looking straight at him. Her eyes were a deep blue, almost black, accented by her dark skin and wavy black hair. She wore a sleeveless white dress, held at the waist with a belt of silver disks. Larger disks clipped onto the straps over her shoulders, holding a white cape in place. The cape fluttered and stopped behind her knees, while her dress continued and ended at her ankles, where shining silver sandals were tied.

Bakura grinned and beckoned Ryou forward. "Malik, Nebit, this is Ryou, the newest member of my "Miniature Harem." Please get him cleaned up, he's been through a lot tonight."

'Miniature Harem!' Ryou's inner voice screamed. 'He's going to make a sex slave out of me!?" His face paled and his knees grew weak as Nebit stepped forward and took his arm, practically dragging him towards another tent. Malik laughed and tagged along, sprinting backwards and waving goodbye to the thief king.

Ryou was in a daze as they entered the next tent. Malik dashed about, dragging up a large wooden tub and throwing buckets of water into it. Nebit knelt before him, quickly pulling off his robe and collar.

"Ryou. Ryou can you hear me?" her voice broke through his stupor. "W-what?" he asked.

"Why did you come with Master Bakura?" Nebit asked.

Ryou took a deep breath. "H-how did you know I came willingly?"

"Bakura does not take unwilling captives if he can help it." Nebit replied. "And certainly not if he wants you to be in his harem."

"Harem?" Ryou couldn't suppress the shudder that ran through him.

Nebit laughed. "Don't worry, it's just a nickname. The 'Miniature Harem' is actually just Malik and I. Bakura took us in, and we…well…"

"What she means to say," Malik chimed in. "is that Bakura is one very sexy thief king and we just couldn't resist."

Ryou turned to look at Malik, startled. Malik gave a big grin and gestured for Ryou to climb into the tub. "I've been here for almost four years now. I was being sold as a slave in the market. Bakura happened to be passing and bought me." He began scrubbing soap into Ryou's hair. "To say I was suspicious would be an understatement. When he brought me new clothes to replace my rags I just about bit his hand off. But as time went by, and I got to know him a little better…" Malik gave a deep sigh as his voice drifted off, lost in his own memories.

Nebit stepped forward, spreading a mat in front of the tub and handing Ryou a pot of soap. She settled on the map and started wiping the dust from Ryou's new collar. "Malik was already settled in with Bakura by the time I arrived. They are often very loud at unreasonable hours at night."

Ryou looked at her, trying to let it all sink in. "How long have you been here?"

"Almost two years, I think. I was on the streets before Bakura came along." Ryou's mouth opened. "You don't want to know." Ryou's mouth snapped shut. "Let's just say that I had some marks even worse than yours. Anyway, Malik's constant praise of Bakura made it easier for me to warm up to him. He was quite surprised when I made my first advances."

"You mean Bakura-" Ryou started.

"Likes men and women?" Malik finished. "Yes, is it that strange?"

Ryou shook his head. "No, that's not what I meant. Bakura didn't make the first move?"

Nebit clapped a hand over her mouth, reducing her laugh to a suppressed giggle. "Are you kidding?" Malik asked. "I almost had to tie Bakura down before he would listen to me. Seemed to think he was 'taking advantage of my fragile state' or something. Nebit was smarter than me though. She just got him really drunk."

Nebit finally lowered her hand. "The thief king was extremely amusing the next morning."

Ryou slowly looked from Nebit to Malik and back again. 'Bakura may be the thief king,' he thought. 'but I think I just met the prince and princess of thieves.'