Chapter Six- Tomb Talk

Mahad breathed a sigh of relief as he put the last piece away. Finally done and everything from the four tombs was returned. Bakura fulfilled his promise. Honestly, I was surprised when I saw how much he brought back. This proves that he does want to be friends; indeed he called me his friend as we parted. It would also seem he wants to repent as he's offered to help in designing traps. He turned to where he had the layouts of some tombs, one of them belonging to Atem. He wanted to lay special and unique traps to protect his friend when he was laid to rest; he only hoped it was not for a good while. I do not know when it will be my time but I hope it is either peacefully in my sleep or defending my pharaoh. Both outcomes appeal to me. Maybe Bakura will have some ideas when I see him in a day.

Bakura was lying on his back, arms folded under his head, his legs crossed, and his gaze on the ceiling while his band stood nearby. The second-in-command took a step forward. "You returned almost everything we stole, Master?"

"I did, but it is all part of the plan. Once I have Mahad's Item, we will simply rob the tombs again."

"Brilliant, Master."

"Of course it is. Now, leave me in peace." He heard his men leave and he rolled his eyes. There were times when he felt like he was the only one who made the plans while those he led simply followed his orders and never suggested ideas to him. It's not easy being the smart one all the time. On the other hand, at least I don't have to worry that my men will turn on me.

His four men gathered in a separate chamber and the second said, "Master said nothing of returning what we stole. I know he said it is part of the plan, but suppose he is giving up his life of crime, thinking of atoning and allowing himself to be caught."

"You think that's possible?" another asked.

"Yes and if he does, he may try to have us arrested and judged. We will keep an eye on him and if he does show signs of repenting, we will kill him." The other three nodded in agreement.

Bakura continued to stare up, his mind sorting through the traps that he had defeated in his life. Some of there were ones any thief could avoid with some effort, others were avoided by experienced thieves like his men, and others still were ones that only an expert like him could detect and avoid. I still don't understand why Mahad doesn't just use magic to protect the tombs. Hmm, I think I'll ask him and, depending, on the answer, I may discover a weakness of his. He smirked at that as his eyes slid closed and he fell asleep.

The guards gaped at the sacks that sat in Mahad's chambers. "You found them, Master Mahad?"

"I went out to the trap to wait for the robber and found these along with a note of apology. It seems the one responsible now regrets his actions and wants to atone for them. I have already sorted which ones go to which tomb, so pick u the sacks and let's return them to where they belong."

"Yes, Master Mahad." The guards hefted the bags onto their shoulders and followed Mahad out to the burial sites to put everything back where they belonged. Throughout the entire process, Mahad pondered on other matters.

Isis kept alternating between her concerns for him due to her vision and being too friendly for his liking. There were times where she looked like she was going to kiss him or some other display of affection. So far, she hadn't, but he felt it was only a matter of time before she did. I will gently but firmly tell her that I am flattered by her affections but she is just a dear friend and nothing more.

I hope to have a friend in Bakura. The more time we spend together, the more it might make Bakura consider giving up his thieving ways and become a good person. He smiled at the thought of the teen repenting because of friendship.

Mahad arrived early for their get-together and disabled the traps, feeling that the stone would be a better surface to write on than sand, plus it guaranteed privacy. He then stood at the doorway, waiting for his young friend. His wait wasn't long as his Ring indicated, when it began to glow. He looked where it pointed but saw nothing. He smiled in amusement: Bakura was invisible. "You can't hide from the Ring. It senses the evil within you."

"'The evil within me'?" came his voice as he appeared. "That's quite a thing to say to a friend."

"Nonetheless, it is true and honesty is one of the cornerstones of friendship." He swept an arm at the tomb. "I disabled the traps so I will be able to write our ideas down easily and on one will see us or disturb us."

"Perfect," Bakura remarked as he followed Mahad inside to the spot where they met face-to-face for the first time. Mahad conjured several white orbs for lights before sitting and opening the layout designs.

"Mahad," Bakura said as he sat. "Why not use your magic to protect the tombs?"

"Protection spells are complex and must be constantly maintained. It also causes a drain on the magician."

"Ah, okay. So you would like some input with this one? Looks like it has no traps at all."

"This one is special and I want to design clever and unique traps. This will be the resting place of the current pharaoh."

"The pharaoh's tomb? Yes, I see how that would be special. It would require the best. Have you had any thoughts about it?"

"I've considered traps that work like games as he is a lover of games, but I also want traps that honor our beliefs in our king's divinity."

There was silence as both pondered trap ideas before Bakura said, "What about statues with real swords? Ones that move if someone does not walk with their left foot forward and have the statues put in a zigzag pathway so the robber must pass the trap to move one?" Bakura moved his finger over the papyrus to show what he visualized.

"Yes," Mahad said slowly. "They'll move when the right foot is forward but stop when the left if forward and the statues will be carved with the left forward as a clue to beat the trap." Mahad etched the design and how it worked.

Bakura felt proud that Mahad took his idea and built upon it. It would seem they worked well together. That observation held true as they continued to discuss traps for Atem's tomb as well as others. We do make a good team, Bakura thought and said as much to Mahad as the magician etched in their recent trap design.

"Indeed we do. You have some good ideas."

"And you build on them. I never would have thought of those additions."

"Thank you." Mahad looked at Bakura and his eyes drifted to one side. "May I ask how you got that scar?"

Bakura fingered it reflexively. "it was a rite of passage and I received ti shortly before the attack. I had just proven myself an exceptional thief and this scar serves as a badge of honor and a means of identification."

"It certainly does make you identifiable. I had thought it came from a narrowly missed trap."

Bakura laughed. "A very narrow miss at that. I can't imagine the weapon that would leave these lines."

"In any case, it also gives your face character and it suits you." Mahad rolled up the papyrus and stood as did Bakura. "I will be busy for a time with architects, doing patrols, and teaching classes." Mahad vanished the orbs and the pair started walking.

"In other words, it will be a while before seeing one another again."

"Yes, but maybe not. After all when tombs are being built I tend to be there."

"Ah," he said as they reached the exit. "Perhaps we can meet during those times."

"Agreed," Mahad said as the pair parted ways.