Ryou looked up at the camel. "I cant ride that thing!" Bakura laughed. "Well the tour guide said you have to, unless you'd prefer walking." Ryou looked at his yami. "That thing could EAT me! Just look at it!" Bakura laughed. "Camels DONT eat people Ryou." Ryou made a face. "I know...but its so BIG!" Which was true...Ryou felt VERY small compared to the large animal. Bakura laughed. "If you dont ride the camel you have to walk. Just trust me and get on the camel." Ryou shook his head. "I may be naive and gullible but that thing could bite my head off!" It was that moment that the camel decided to spit at Ryou, the nasty gooey substance hitting the ground a few inches from him. "See?! He already doesn't care for me!" Bakura doubled over from laughter. "You're scared of a camel Ryou!" Ryou nodded. "Of course I am! Just look at the blasted thing!" Bakura gasped for breath in between fits of laughter. The camel leaned its head to the side and looked at Ryou. Ryou stared back, wide eyed. "N-nice...m-man eating beast..." The camel rolled its eyes, as if thinking 'stupid human' and was about to go back to eating when it caught scent of Ryou's rather 'yummy' smelling shampoo. The camel stepped toward Ryou. "Y-yami..." He yelped scooting back. Bakura began laughing harder. "Y-yami...it's looking at me...and...it's walking towards me...," Ryou mumbled sharply.

Ryou scooted further back. The camel, now curious as to what smelt so good about this white haired boy, continued advancing until Ryou was pinned against a wall and staring at the camel. "Yami!! Its going to trample me or eat me or - -" Bakura tugged the camel's reins a bit. The camel didn't budge, but proceeded to sniff Ryou. Bakura began laughing hysterically as the camel sniffed. Ryou made a face. "Get this thing away from me!" He yelped as the camel opened its mouth to bite some of his hair. "AHH! ITS EATING ME!" Ryou yelped swatting at the beast. "YOU LIED!! ITS EATING ME!!" Ryou yelped. Bakura tugged at the reins again and lead the camel away, before picking up a small backpack. "Camels DONT eat people Ryou." Ryou was breathing hard. "Well apparently THAT one does..." He said putting a hand on his chest. "Goodness..." Bakura chuckled. "It didn't even touch you!"

Ryou had a deathgrip on that camel's back. /I cannot believe you are doing this to me.../ Ryou whimpered through their link. //It's not eating you.// Bakura mused. It had taken a lot of persuasion, but Ryou agreed to ride the camel, if Bakura held the reins and lead the poor confused animal. Bakura chuckled as he walked. "I'll be sure to tell Yugi about your camel friend." Ryou groaned. "Dont! He'll laugh!" Bakura turned and smirked. "You mean like I have been, for an hour now?" Ryou huffed. "I wont tell Ryou." Bakura said chuckling as the camel turned its head lightly. Ryou's eyes went wide. "Uh....Camel!" He yelped, before Bakura gave a light tug on the reins. "They dont EAT people Ryou...just grass and hay and other plantlife." Ryou shook his head. "This thing tried to eat me, and there's nothing you can tell me that will make me believe that this creature isn't still trying to eat me." Ryou said crossing his arms and making a face. "Why couldn't we use horses?" Bakura chuckled. "Because it wouldn't be as funny." Ryou grumbled and wished he could bend down and get a pebble to throw at Bakura. Bakura smirked. "You can, but if you do I'll let go of the horrible fierce beast and he'll gobble you up in one bite." Ryou sighed. "I dislike you." Bakura smirked. "I could prove otherwise." Ryou blushed. "Shh!"

Bakura didn't mind the walking, heck it was how he'd gotten around the desert most of his life...and with Ryou riding on the camel he was leading it only made things more entertaining. Ryou would occasionally murmur through their link without thinking. Things like "I'll get him back..." Or "Why me?" often followed by a loud whine. It was amusing. Bakura had never known Ryou to be afriad of anything...so to find out he was petrified of camels was like the biggest treat he could ever witness. His hikari was like a new-age reflection of his soul, so it supprised Bakura at first that Ryou was afraid of something that he had grown up around. But when he thought about it, it wasn't too supprising. Ryou and him were alike and opposite. Ryou was pollite and proper and quiet, while he was loud, rude and wild. Though they were different they were two sides of the same coin, enjoying the same things sometimes and other things other times. Bakura peeked over his shoulder at his hikari, who was currently scowling at the camel. "Ryou, I dont think it cares if you plot against it." Ryou blinked and shook his head. "Oh...I wasnt. I was just thinking..." Bakura smiled a bit and shook his head. "Thinking about what?" Ryou smiled sweetly. "Oh...nothing really...just a little homesick..." Bakura chuckled. "We haven't even been gone that long!" Ryou nodded. "I know...but I really should have tidied up more..." Ryou said shrugging a bit. "Dont worry about it. You need to loosen up Ryou, instead of worrying about other things...how about you take in the sights? This is a once in a lifetime trip, as I assume you'll make sure of." Ryou nodded. "I never want to see another..." He glared at the camel. "Pardon..." He mumbled to it. "Next time you want to take a trip yami, you could just ask. Summer wasn't that far off...we could go anywhere." Bakura nodded. "I know, but I wanted to surprise you." Ryou blushed lightly. "Thank you..." He whispered. Bakura nodded. "You've already finished most of your work Ryou, how about you take it easy for a while? The sun will be setting in a few hours." Ryou nodded.

Ryou's father had what seemed to be an endless supply of money. He would go on archeological digs and wire them money at LEAST once a week. If Ryou left it in the bank, the daily interest would multiply it. He often left 300 or so yen in the bank, in case of emergency. So his savings were quite high. He could go on non-stop trips for four years and he'd STILL have more than enough money to support himself. It boggled Bakura's mind that Ryou had no interest in extravagent pleasures. He did however enjoy surprises and so Bakura would surprise him. Ryou stared at the large pyramid. "Its so big...Its so much different seeing it in person..." Bakura smiled. "I know this pyramid from top to bottom. It's one of my old haunts...heh." Ryou looked at Bakura. "You have no shame. Weren't there traps and all sorts of obstacles to stop you from stealing?" Bakura nodded. "Why do you think I kept comming back? It was a challenge." Ryou shook his head smiling. "Its almost sad to see how much it has aged...but I AM very pleased that it lasted so long." Ryou nodded. "No one built like Egyptians did." Bakura smirked. "No one ever will either."

The tour of the pyramid was simply fascinating to Ryou. /Can you read what is written on these walls?/ Bakura nodded. "Its boring." He said inspecting a paticular inscription. He smirked. "heh...." Ryou blinked and looked at it. "Well? Dont keep me in suspence, what does it say?" Bakura shook his head. "You're too innocent for that." Ryou huffed. "Now honestly yami, I'm not SO innocent. What on Earth does it say?" Bakura loved teasing Ryou...it was so easy and so fun. "Nope...its Rated R." Ryou made a face. "Now why cant you tell me what it says?!" Ryou was now very curious. "You cant just get me curious like that and then not tell me! You're worse than Yugi!" Bakura snickered. "Fine fine. It's a ward to keep the gods from penetrating the resting place, before the pharaoh of this tomb was ready for them." Ryou blinked. "What is so R rated about that?" Ryou blinked. Bakura cleared his throat. "Isis, you are the one without a vagina." (I actually quoted a tomb wall on that one! Boy those egyptians were mean to their gods...woo...) Ryou began blushing deeply. "Told you Ryou. It was how things were done. If you left nasty comments to the gods on the walls of a tomb...it would divert them from comming in because they would feel insulted." Ryou closed his eyes and grumbled, trying to stop his deep blush. Bakura chuckled. "You're so cute when you blush." He said kissing Ryou's cheek. Ryou opened his eyes and swatted at Bakura. "You can be such a pain!" He said huffing and crossing his arms.

Bakura smirked as the group went into a different chamber. "Hey Ryou...come with me." He whispered taking him down a different corridor. Ryou followed looking at the walls and inscriptions. "It's simply amazing..." He mumbled before looking at Bakura. "What are you doing?" He said walking closer and looking at the inscription he was looking at. "Oh...nothing." Bakura said pushing a paticular image and then shoving the wall to the side. Ryou stared. "Are you sure you're allowed to do that?" Bakura shrugged. "You gonna stop me?" Ryou blinked. "Well...no I suppose not...," Bakura tugged Ryou into the chamber and shut the wall behind them. Ryou blinked and stayed close to his yami. "What are we doing in here anyway yami?" He whispered as Bakura pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit a nearby torch, lighting the dark room. Ryou gasped. "This room looks...like it hasn't aged at all!" Bakura nodded. "It hasn't aged much, because tourists can't get in here to mutilate it. No one has been in here...not even bats I assume...but I'm sure the bugs have been." Ryou nodded, looking at the celing that had many small half-dollar sized holes in it, which lead out to the setting sun, but not providing much light. The chamber was round and had a small pit in the center, most likely a firepit. The walls still had the colors used in the paint showing clearly.

"This is a ceremony chamber." Bakura said nodding and putting down the backpack. "Many things happened in these types of rooms. Back before pyramids, there were public tombs where the people would go to worship the gods and praise the dead. But that was way before me. Pyramids were introduced later, as an exclusive thing for nobles and pharaohs. It cut off the people from the tombs. Ceremony rooms in pubic temples were used for marriages, blessings in the gods' presence and other such things." Bakura said waving a hand and lighting more torches in the room. Ryou nodded and smiled. "But when pyramids came along ceremony rooms were used as the last visitation before the great tomb was sealed. They would hold a funeral ceremony, have a great feast, wishing the passed on his way, and then celebrate as they left. Because the dead was now on its first steps to Amenti. Or the underworld in any other language..." Bakura said opening his pack and putting something in the firepit, before lighting it. "What are you doing?" Ryou said watching. "You'll see."

Ryou wrinkled his nose. "Lately you're so secretive..." He mumbled before looking at the celing. Suddenly the many holes made sense, they were to let the smoke out in an unnoticable way. Ryou sat down across from Bakura and watched him pull things from the backpack. "I AM allowed to watch right? Or is that supposed to be a big secret too?" Ryou said making a face at Bakura. "Yes you can watch..." Bakura said chuckling. "But its still a secret." Ryou nodded. "Brat." Bakura chuckled. "Oh? I'm a brat...then what are you? King brat?" Ryou huffed. "I'm NOT a brat." Bakura laughed. "Fine, you're a big chicken when it comes to camels." Ryou grumbled. "Stop it! It WAS trying to eat me!" Bakura shook his head as he pulled a paper bag, a bowl, two melons, a water bottle, a small eye pencil and three small bottles of some different colored powders. Ryou blinked. The room was begining to smell of Iris. "What did you use to start that fire anyway?" Bakura smirked. "Secret." Ryou twitched. "You're doing that on purpose aren't you? To get my goat...you bloody - - urgh! fine...I wont ask. I dont care to know anyway." Ryou said crossing his arms and looking at a nearby wall. Bakura chuckled. "Yes your majesty."

Bakura closed his eyes and began whispering an ancient prayer he had learned long ago. A prayer that asked for the gods to bless the ritual and watch over them. Ryou blinked. He wished he understood what Bakura was saying, but didn't dare ask aloud...or through their link. Something told him that it was important to remain silent. Bakura silently opened one of the three small bottles and emptied the powdery substance into the fire, causing the flames to rise high and appear to be blue for a moment. Ryou blinked. /...is it ok to.../ Bakura nodded. "You can talk Ryou...its ok." Bakura said smiling and picking up the eye pencil. Ryou blinked as Bakura sat down in front of him. "Close your eyes." Ryou blinked and nodded, closing his eyes. "This might tickle...but try to keep still." Bakura said, tracing the traditional Egyptian makeup on Ryou's face. Ryou smiled a bit. /You're....you're sure you cant give me a liiiittle hint? All this is very exciting!/ Ryou said remaining still as Bakura worked. "If I told you, it wouldn't be as exciting." Ryou stuck out his tongue, keeping his eyes closed and his face still...for the most part.

Bakura smiled as he finished, before putting on some himself. "Now be careful not to wipe it off ok?" Ryou opened an eye, just as Bakura finished putting on his own. He grinned a bit. "I wont...but I still dont understand - -" Bakura silenced him with a kiss. "Shh..just watch." He whispered pulling away. Ryou blushed and nodded. Ryou looked so sweet and innocently beautiful...it was a refreshing glimpse of what he might have looked like back before Bakura was imprisoned in the ring. Bakura sliced the first melon in halves and gave Ryou the first half. "Eat this...," Ryou nodded and tried to eat it in a non-messy way. Bakura smiled and ate his as well. Once he finished he sliced the other melon and scraped some of the fruit into the bowl. He opened the second bottle of power and pouring it into the bowl as well, following it with some of the water.

Ryou blinked as Bakura mixed the strange substance. Bakura began mumbling once more in his ancient language. 'I really need to learn Egyptian..' Ryou thought as he watched. He jumped when the substance in the bowl caught fire, extinguishing just as quickly as it had started, which didn't make sense considering how much water was actually in the mixture...maybe there WAS more to the Egyptian ways. Bakura handed the bowl across the pit to Ryou after drinking half. Ryou looked up at Bakura, who nodded to him, before drinking the opalescent substance as well. It tasted almost like sprite, but it had a strange numbing effect on his throat and an even stranger dulling of his vision. Bakura picked up the paper bag and reached into it, pulling a white Nile lily from it, and going to sit next to Ryou. Ryou blinked a bit dully. "This, is my love for you..." He said giving the flower to Ryou and pulling a smaller flower from the bag. "This is your acceptance of my love." He said placing it behind Ryou's ear. Ryou blushed.

Bakura placed his hands around the hand Ryou held the flower in. //Trust me.// He whispered as he lead Ryou's hand into the fire. Ryou closed his eyes and waited for pain...but opened them after a moment. "This is the blessing of the magic above...below and the forces of love that binds us to one another." Bakura said pulling their hands back. The flower had crystalized and glowed slightly like freshly smithed metal. Bakura opened the final jar of powder and dumped it into the fire. The fire shrank, extinguishing after a few moments. Ryou stared at his yami...he didn't know what to say at his yami's unexpected burst of romance. "That," Bakura said hugging his hikari. "Was the ritual of the lovers." Ryou blushed. "...Thank you...for showing me all of this." Bakura tugged Ryou onto his lap. "I will do anything for you...You are my life, my love...and my friend." Ryou snuggled closer to his yami. "Thank you...,"

(Welllll who would have suspected that lil twist? ^_^ do you liiiike? well if you dont I guess its kinda tough...but just to let you know that was and will remain, the mushiest Bakura will ever get and I dont think an outburst like that will EVER be repeated...or at least not soon... ^_^ Leave a review!)