A month later, Bast was brushing down Atsu, looking out over the sands as she did. Bakura had left a week ago, and had yet to return to Kul Elna. Sighing and shaking her head, she patted Atsu and led him back into the stable house. Once she had finished locking the horse up in the makeshift stable pen Bakura had built when they returned here, she glanced over at Kakra's pen. The female horse had gone with Bakura on whatever journey he had taken to. She shook her head again, leaving the stables and pouring water on the fire left from her dinner.
She climbed up the cliff faces that surrounded and protected Kul Elna, reaching the plateau with ease. She ran for the other edge that looked out towards Alexandria. She looked out over the sands, searching for any sign of her friend. Seeing none as the sun set and the darkness fell over the desert, she sighed and returned to the sleeping house, collapsing on her mat. Feeling sleep fall over her, she sent up a prayer to her Mother for the safe return of her partner and let sleep take her.
Sometime later, a strange feeling woke her. Her mark was stinging, and as she reached for her shoulder, she heard someone curse outside the building. She froze, hearing the person enter the building and stop in the doorway. Another whispered curse came as the person continued into the building, collapsing against one of the walls. Bast's eyes widened as the shadows around her stirred, the person chuckling darkly. A faint gold light illuminated the room and Bast's shoulder burned, causing her to gasp and the person to stop his quiet laughing.
She heard him stand and walk over to her, leaning over her. The pain in her shoulder became unbearable as the person touched her. He seemed to be looking her over, but she refused to move or speak.
"Bast," said the person. She was turned onto her back, looking up into amber eyes. She gasped again, this time not with pain as she smiled. "Are you okay?"
"'Kura, you came back," she said, lifting her arms to wrap them around his neck and pull him down into a hug. The tomb robber chuckled as he returned it as best as he could. "I was so worried about you. Where did you go?" The man pulled back, sitting beside her and she sat up. She looked him over, gasping at the Millennium Ring around his neck.
"I got it, Bast," he said. "I killed the Priest Mahad and took the Millennium Ring for myself. Now we need the others." Bast blinked, looking into the amber eyes. "And they won't find his body. That I promise you, for I hid it." He began to laugh quietly, the sound soon becoming so loud it bounced off the walls of the building. Bast watched him as his sadism became clear. Her anger rose and she slapped him across the face. He glared at her as he touched the spot, wincing.
"That's for taking off without telling where you were going," she said, her voice and eyes hard. "Did you not think I would worry about you?" The man looked away for a second, mumbling something. "I can't hear you."
"I said I did not want you to worry," he said, looking back at her. His Amber eyes were rough, but Bast could see his sincerity underneath. "I am sorry, Bast. I was wrong to do that to you." Bast smiled, hugging the man.
"I forgive you," she said, burying her face in his shoulder as she bit back her tears. "How could I not?" She felt him lift her head, looking into her eyes. The Amber was soft, seemly swimming with tears. She smiled again, watching him. His head tilted to the side as he watched her, and she realized he was tired. She looked over his shoulder to see that he had already laid out his mat on the other side of the room.
"Bast?" he asked, tilting his head the other direction. She nodded to the mat, causing him to look at it. He seemed to understand, standing and making his way over to it. She watched him take the Millennium Ring from around his neck and slide it under the shirt he was using as a pillow. He then turned onto his side, and she watched him until his breathing slowed and she knew he was asleep.
She stood herself, walking outside and going to check on the horses. Upon entering the stable house, she noticed that he had not unsaddled Kakra, nor had he placed her in her stable. She looked at Bast, seeming to ask if the woman was going to finish what Bakura usually did. Bast smiled, realizing how tired the man must have been. She went over to the horse, undoing the saddle and taking it off the poor beast.
She led the horse into its stable and, upon locking it, left the stable house and left the ruined village, heading for the treasure cove. Once there, she went inside, temporarily blinded by the light she had lit. Chuckling to herself, she headed over to a back entrance that lead under the village and to the location of the Millennium Tablet. She opened a chest that she had stolen when she was within her twelfth cycle, searching through the items that she had collected from around the village. She soon found a rag doll and, taking it out; she turned around and leaned against the chest, holding the doll close. She soon fell asleep, holding the doll to her chest.
She was walking through a burning village, familiar faces staring at her. Eyes blank and faces bloody, she looked around, looking for a face she knew. She found that face, in the underground chamber. The young girl's body was draped across the stone tablet, the rag doll clutched in her hand as the blank muddy eyes stared at her, seemly blaming Bast for her death. Bast began to shake, staring at the girl as she lifted from the stone and began to stumble towards her. The mark on her back began to burn, causing her to scream.
Once again, like when the shadows attacked her, she heard her name being called, the voice familiar. A sting on her face woke her from the dream and she opened her eyes to find worried amber staring back at her. The amber disappeared as the man forced her to turn. He loosened her shirt and pulled the shoulder down to check her mark.
"It's bleeding," she heard. She could only grunt, feeling the man wipe the blood away and check for any injuries that would cause the blood. "I woke up to find you gone and Kakra and Atsu in their stables. So I came here and found you screaming. I don't think you were screaming for very long, but still." Bast glanced at him when he had tightened her shirt again and helped her up.
"Why did you come for me?" she asked, hanging her head to hide her eyes. She heard him chuckle and pulled her into a hug. She relaxed in his warmth, realizing that she was cold in the underground cove.
"I had to," he told her, the sound reverberating in his chest. "You're my partner, and my friend. I was worried about you, just like you were worried about me when I took off." He chuckled again, forcing the woman to walk back to the village and to the sleeping house. He set her down on her mat and left the building. She could hear him cursing as he started setting a fire to start breakfast. She leaned back on her hands, listening to the man do what she normally did for him.
Her back still stung from the bleeding. She reached back to rub it, and then realized that she had never put the rag doll down. She looked it over in the dusty light of the sleeping house, running her fingers over the blood stains. She did not hear Bakura enter the sleeping house as she stared at the small toy. A noise caused her to look up to see Bakura sitting beside her.
"It was Mika's, remember? I brought it to her the night I was asked to stay in the village," Bast asked him. He nodded in response, a slight frown on his face. "I found it when I first returned here a year after the night of the attack." She laid it down on the mat, looking up at the amber eyes. "When I found the tablet, I swore that Mika was lying across the tablet, telling me that it was my fault that she died."
"But you saw her," said Bakura, fear in his hard eyes. "She died, you know that. Mika took off when we returned to the village. It was her fault, and you know this."
"Yes, I know. And the spirits here have allowed me to use the shadows they created to avenge them. And I have you to protect me." She smiled at the man as he nodded and stood. He left the building, cursing as he checked on the food. When he reentered, he had two plates with him, handing one to her. "We usually eat outside." He laughed, not speaking as he ate. When he finished, he stood, taking Bast's already empty plate with him.
Bast stood, her pain gone, and slipped past him as he played with the fire. She went into the stables, measuring out feed for the horses. Petting Atsu when she was finished, she looked to the door to see Bakura watching her. He smiled at her as she nodded.
"Saddle Atsu," he said. "I'll get Kakra. We're leaving here, so call the soldiers as well." Bast blinked before moving to do what she was told. Once Atsu was saddled, she tied on the saddle bags and took her mat from Bakura. When she finished, she led Atsu outside the stable house and waited for Bakura to finish with Kakra. When he brought the horse out, she saddled Atsu and watched as he pulled himself up on Kakra. She followed him back to the cove, where he entered, removing several of her items.
"Now what, 'Kura," she asked. He nodded in the direction of Alexandria and she smiled. She stirred Atsu into a walk, riding beside Bakura until they left the village, and then they both stirred the horses into a full run, riding across the desert to the city. Bast understood and leaned low on Atsu, letting the horse put on a burst of speed. Kakra kept pace with her brother and the tomb robbers made good time getting to the city.
Bakura took them to a rundown inn, giving the horses over to a young boy and grabbing Bast's arm, pulling her inside. He stopped to talk to the inn keeper, handing over one of the chokers he took from her before having her sit at the bar. The inn keeper handed them a couple of drinks, smiling at her.
"Got yourself a cute girl there, Bakura," he said. Bakura growled, downing the drink and setting it out for a refill.
"Keep your hands off of her, Hequet. She can get pretty mean," he replied. The man looked at the woman, searching her eyes as she sipped on the wine that was given to her. She tilted her head, feeling her necklace slide across her shirt. Hequet gasped when he saw it and went to reach for it, but Bast grabbed his wrist, twisting it until the bone began to pull.
"Ow, Okay girl," he said, trying to pull away. "I just wanted to take a look." Bast growled, but feeling Bakura touched her shoulder, she let him go. Hequet looked between Bakura and Bast for second. "You're right, man. She's vicious, and strong." He nursed his hurt wrist, frowning at her.
"Many a rouge has tried to take that from her. It's her most treasured possession, so she gets a little rough if you try to touch it," said Bakura, laughing slightly. Bast looked at the man, growling at him. He nodded, tilting his head towards the inn keeper. "He's one of the black market traders here. Your friend, Kasiya, introduced us when I left you in Kul Elna."
"May I ask why?" the woman asked. Bakura looked away for a second, saying something about needing money. When he did, Hequet gasped and disappeared. Bakura blinked, shaking his head and looking at his friend. "Why are we here?"
"I needed a place to stay, and Hequet owes me a favor. I gave him the choker to pay for the drinks and a couple of stable stalls for Atsu and Kakra." He looked up as Hequet returned with something in his hands. He gave it to Bakura, who grinned.
"Don't open it here, Bakura," he said as Bakura began to unravel the cloth. "It's that thing you had me order. I don't want anyone here to see it. Not many in here fear the shadows, you know." Bakura nodded, placing the cloth back in its place. Bast frowned and Bakura gave her a 'we'll talk about it later' look. Shaking her head, she downed the rest of her drink and nodded to Hequet.
"Give me something stronger," she said. The man shrugged and poured her drink, which she downed in a second. The man blinked as he watched her, shocked when she didn't react to the bitter alcohol. She glanced up at him and held her glass out for another. This one she drank slower, watching the man who was staring at her. She heard Bakura chuckle beside her and felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Take it easy on him," said her friend. "I do not think he has ever seen a woman who can drink something that rough." Bast raised an eyebrow, glancing at her friend. "And besides, not many women take on the role of thieves." He chuckled again, and Bast smiled into her drink. "Come, friend. We need our rest for tomorrows work. We have a lot to get done. It is time for the end."
Bast shot back the rest of the rough alcohol, standing as she did. She waited for Bakura to take his stand and whisper something to the shocked inn keeper, and then turned to follow him upstairs. As she did, a man who had been sitting on her other side grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. She felt metal against her neck as Bakura turned, his hard amber eyes flickering with anger.
"Hey, now, let the girl go," said Hequet. "I won't have any fighting in here." Bast bit her lip as she stared into Bakura's eyes. The amber changed, and Bast called the shadows about her, biting back a scream as they shot through her and into the drunken man. Her vision blacked out, but she felt a hand on the front of her shirt as the knife slipped and the man holding her slump backwards onto the floor. When her vision returned, she looked up at Bakura, who was still staring at the soulless man.
"Told you she could hold her own," he said, glancing at Hequet. The man nodded, speechless. "By the way, you are bleeding, Bast." The girl blinked, reaching up to her neck a brushing the spot where the knife was. She didn't have to look to know the scent that was beginning to fill the area.
"Ra damned Bastard," she growled. "The fucker cut me." She chuckled, looking back up to Bakura, whose arm was still tight around her waist. "Can I play with him a bit longer, Bakura?"
"No Bast," was her reply, causing her to slump. "Besides, we have things to do tomorrow, and you have already sent him to the shadows." She tilted her head and looked as innocent as possible. Bakura laughed, causing her to smile. "No, come with me. You need to rest after this. The shadows went right through you and I know you are in pain," he whispered to her. She frowned and snapped her fingers. The man began to moan as Bakura turned her to the stairs and up to their room. "I should hurt you for that."
"What?" she asked, looking up at him. "Bringing him back or sending him there?"
"Sending him," was the reply. "If a soldier had been in the room we could have been arrested. And they would either kill you or use you to their advantage." Bast tilted her head as Bakura unlocked one of the rooms and led her inside. He let her sit on the bed while he locked the door.
"I cannot be killed by mortal means," she said. He turned to her, sitting on the end of the bed. "It is one of the advantages of being who I am. I do not think they would use the right technique to kill me, for you have to properly use the shadows." Bakura smiled, patting her on the head and pushing her back onto the bed. He lay down beside her and pulled the blankets up around them.
"Well then," he said, his voice getting tired. "They just have to let you go if they do catch you." Bast smiled, leaning into his embrace and falling asleep as she listened to his breathing slow.