The Thief
By The Inspector
Chapter 9
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Disclaimer: I don't own so don't sue me. No money being made. This is what I do for fun. Sad, I know.
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By the next day, Kura was starting to feel grimy again. Though it was no where near as bad as it had been in prison, Kura wouldn't say no to a bath. So when Kaiba found a tranquil part of the river, Kura only complained at little before jumping in. The water was cold, a fact the he pointed out loudly, but it was refreshing and it was nice to wash off the sweat and dust of the trail.
Kura swam around like a small, white-haired shark, poking the ankles of Malik and Kaiba with a large stick he found and tackling Ryou from behind, dunking him under the water. He hadn't had so much fun in a long time.
When Kura was done tormenting the other bathers, he got out, redressed, and watched Odion (who had gotten out first) cook breakfast. When Odion sent him away after he tried to steal a piece of bacon from the grill and scorched his fingers, Kura settled down under the trees and tried to put his hair into some order by combing it through with his fingers. It didn't work very well and he ended up ripping through the tangles and making a general mess.
"Here," Ryou said, settling down in the grass next to Kura. He held up a fine comb inlaid with some blue stone. "Let me." Ryou waited patiently, smiling, until Kura turned so that Ryou could reach his hair. Carefully, starting at the bottom, Ryou began to comb through the nest known as Kura's hair.
After a few moments Kura relaxed and sighed, propping his head up with one hand while Ryou worked on his hair. It was, soothing. "You're going to be a terrible Duke," Kura grunted. "You're too nice."
Behind him, Ryou blushed and nodded in guilty agreement. "Yes, I know," Ryou said with a small, distant smile.
"Your father knows too!" Malik said, smirking as he skipped out from behind the tree. He shook his head violently, sending water droplets flying from his wet hair.
"Stop, Malik," Ryou protested as the drops hit him. He covered his head with his arm, dropping the comb. "That's cold!"
"You're no fun," Malik scowled, twisting the water out of his hair over Ryou's head and making the smaller boy squeal in protest. Malik laughed and prodded him in the ribs with the toe of his boot, making Ryou wince. "Pathetic. You-" Malik suddenly found himself knocked off his feet and on his back, starring up at a very irritated Kura.
"Leave him alone," Kura warned, his hair fluffing out like an irate mother cat whose kitten is being tormented.
Malik rolled to his feet and tossed his damp hair over his shoulder. "You think you're so high and mighty," Malik said, glaring at Kura, his pride badly bruised. "Just remember, to the rest of the world, you're trash."
Kura growled made to go after Malik, but Ryou grabbed onto his shirt and hung on like a leech, preventing him from going anywhere.
"Please, Kura," Ryou said, looking up at the irritated thief. "Let him go. It's not worth it. He's just trying to make you mad."
Kura kept glaring at Malik's retreating form and Ryou tugged insistently at his shirt until he sat down with a huff.
Now Ryou resettled himself behind Kura and picked up the comb from where it had fallen in the grass. "Tell me a story?" he requested softly as he began to untangle Kura's hair again. "About Bakura?"
Kura shook his head helplessly and tilted it back to look at Ryou's hopeful face. He almost refused the gentle request, but for Ryou's eyes. Those eyes could get away with murder. "Fine," Kura agreed, turning back around, "But only because I like to brag about my patron god. First though," he added, "I want to hear your story. Since when does a future Duke get apprenticed to anyone?"
"He's more my tutor than anything," Ryou corrected as he pulled a few leaves out of Kura's hair. "Before I joined him, I was living at one of my Father's villas. It's right on the river. It's very beautiful there. My mother and sister stayed there with me." Ryou's eyes grew distant and his hands stilled on Kura's shoulders.
"But," Kura prompted, breaking the boy's trance. Ryou blinked and sighed
"Then my Father came for a visit and found that I couldn't fence, couldn't ride, and didn't like to go hunting. To his disgust, I liked to read instead." Ryou shook his head as through dispelling a bad memory. "So Father threw my riding instructor, fencing instructor, and tutor out the front gate. Then he told me that Odion would teach me riding and fencing and I'd stay with him in the city, where he could keep an eye on me."
"So Odion works for your father then?" Kura asked.
Ryou nodded. "Yes, he's the captain of my Father's guard."
Kura let out a low whistle. A man's son has to be pretty important to him if he has the captain of his own guard give him lessons and then goes without his captain completely so the son can have a bodyguard. Ryou's father did care and was trying his best to show it, even if all Ryou wanted was his attention.
"So now I've told you my tale," Ryou said as he began combing the thief's hair again. But he paused when the boy remained silent. "Bakura, remember."
"What?" Kura asked, momentarily dazed. "Oh right, the story." Kura thought a bit and tapped his fingers against his chin before deciding to pick up where he had left off and launching into the legend of how Bakura stole The Sky's thunderbolts to give them to Horus, because The Sky always found some excuse not to deliver them to his son.
Kura was just winding up his story, gesturing with his hands to emphasize a point when a shadow fell over him and Ryou. Kura looked up and Kaiba threw an empty brown sack at him. Kura shucked it off and glared at Kaiba, but froze when he saw the fabled horse crop in the magus's hands. Behind him, Ryou squealed in protest when Odion picked him up and removed him from Kura's reaching distance, just incase the thief was thinking of using Ryou as a shield.
"I trust you ate well?" Kaiba said, his eyes hard and cold.
"Not lately," Kura replied flippantly, realizing as he said it that a more diplomatic answer might have been better.
Kaiba's eyes flashed. "Hold him," he snapped, twisting the crop in his hands.
Kura tried to roll out of the way, but Odion was quick and caught his arm in a grip like an iron vice. Still, Kura was not one to give up and he planted his feet, trying to overbalance the much larger man, but he only ended up with his head locked under Odion's arm. In one last attempt, Kura grabbed Odion's knee and tried to throw him off, but they both went down and Odion pinned Kura down, pushing his face into the grass and dirt.
Kura howled and screamed his curses into the ground as Kaiba beat him across the back and shoulders with the crop and tried to heave Odion off with all his strength, but he could not be moved. Kaiba did not stop until Kura was at last too tired to yell any more and then let Odion release the thief.
Kura was breathing hard and grabbed onto Odion's shirt in order to pull himself up. Odion let him, even helped him stand. On his feet, Kura glared up at the tall soldier and with a wordless snarl, chopped him under the beast bone, causing Odion fall to his knees as he gasped for breath.
Kura turned around slowly to face Kaiba, his eyes murderous. He had never been so angry in his life. Not even in prison had he been this humiliated. His mouth was so full of poisonous things he wanted to shout, that he couldn't get any of them out. How dare they treat him like this? How dare they?!
Kura took a step towards the magus, not quite sure what he was going to do to him, when Odion grabbed his arm and jerked him back while imposing himself, though still hunched over and breathing painfully, between Kura and Kaiba.
Kura glared at the magus, his chest rising and falling in sharp jerks. Then he turned slowly, hearing Kaiba sigh of relief, before he whirled back around and spat in his face. Kaiba jumped to avoid the spittle, but the point had gotten across.
Kura stomped back to where his blankets lay in a heap and threw himself down on them, rubbing his face into the cloak before draping it over his head. He didn't move after that. Breakfast was made and eaten and the camp packed up, but Kura ignored it all. When they were at last ready to go, Odion came over and touched Kura lightly on the elbow.
"Get up," he said very quietly.
Kura hesitated a moment and then climbed stiffly to his feet. He couldn't help but notice that Odion stayed out of arm's reach and watched Kura carefully, keeping his weight forward on his toes. Kura was tempted to make a sudden, sharp move, but decided against it.
He stomped over to the horses instead, ready to go and leave the place behind. Ryou was holding Dumb Beast III still, but as Kura approached, Kaiba leapt forward, pulling his apprentice away and holding him against his chest as though Kura were a hungry lion that would maul the pale boy.
Kura saw Ryou's sad eyes watching his every move and looked away. He made to get on the horse by himself, ignoring Odion when he came over to help. Kura hauled himself up onto the beast, snapping the reins sharply to keep from sliding, and the horse threw up her head in surprise.
Kura took a deep breath and tried to calm his churning rage. His teeth were clamped so tightly together that the muscles in his jaw twitched like an irregular heart beat. He took another breath and let it out slowly and reminded himself that he wasn't angry at the horse, this time. And if he didn't calm down, with his luck the horse would sense it and probably toss him.
Kura pushed his hair out his eyes and watched Ryou and Malik get on their mounts, his gaze lingering on Ryou. He wasn't stupid. He knew that Kaiba and Odion wouldn't let Ryou anywhere near him now, but it was probably for the best. He was getting too attached to the boy. He didn't have time for that. So what if Ryou had been friendly to him despite all warnings from the people he respected? So what if Ryou was the only one in the group who had seen him as a person? So what if, had the situation been different, they might have been friends?
Kura scowled and ran his fingers through his hair, noticing the lack of tangles thanks to Ryou. There was nothing but his ambition keeping him near Kaiba and his little bunch of overeducated adventures. He could walk away right now and neither the king's reward or Odion could stop him, but he wanted to be the Kingmaker. He wanted to be the first one to steal Horus's Gift in hundreds and hundreds of years. Only he couldn't steal the stupid thing if he didn't know where it was, and only the magus knew the location. Kura would stay with him until Kaiba led him to the stone, but he promised himself that someday he would shove a sharp knife into the man's arrogance and give it a good twist.
"We'll probably find some kind of village west of the river," Kaiba said to Odion as the mounted their own animals. "I think it's our best bet."
Odion agreed with a simple nod and Kaiba stuffed the map he had been consulting into the bag behind his saddle. "This way," he instructed, and moved into the trees. Kura's horse followed obediently, as always.
As they rode Kura took the opportunity to reflect on his anger. He'd been so mad that he had managed to frighten Kaiba, even with Odion between them! He was a bit proud of that. Not to mention that he had held his tongue. Saying things that he shouldn't have had been the source of most the painful episodes in his past. And it was an improvement on his own character if he was gaining control of his own tongue.
"Are you okay," Ryou whispered from beside Kura. He kept his eyes on his hands and his voice low, so not to attract Odion's overprotective attention.
"Yeah, sure," Kura said, waving off Ryou's concern. Kura shrugged his shoulders and squirmed a little in the saddle. His back hurt, but it would fade before nightfall. The horse crop hadn't been heavy enough to break the skin. After all, Kaiba couldn't afford to disable his thief. That was a heartening thought, in a grim sort of way.
They rode for a little while, Kura grumbling violently under his breath very now and then just to see Kaiba and Odion tense up like he was about to attack. Immature, maybe, but it amused the heck out of him.
Suddenly Kaiba stopped under a tightly clumped group of olive trees, dismounting from his horse and motioning for the others to do the same. "There is a town close by here," he explained, pointing off into the distance. "Odion and I will go and get more food." He turned sternly to Malik, the apprentice snapping to attention. "Malik, I am leaving you in charge. For the god's sake, don't take your eyes off the thief." Kaiba didn't bother to look back at Kura, but Malik took the opportunity to smirk at the disgruntled boy. Kura had a sudden nagging suspicion that he knew exactly where the missing food had gone.
"I have a name," Kura snapped, noticing the lack of his name, and folded his arms across his chest. "And I'm not a cow that's prone to wandering!"
Kaiba just gave him a dirty look and picked up his personal bag with his money, map, and journal. With Odion giving them all one last warning, the two set off on the trail that followed the river to town. They left the horses and packs with the three boys and told them to eat what food was left for lunch.
As they faded into the distance, Ryou opened the bags and took out the last of the bread and some warm, sweaty pieces of cheese. Kura grabbed the bread right out of his hands and broke off more than half of it before throwing the remainder at Malik.
"Hey!" Malik protested loudly, starting to get to his feet. "You can't-"
"I didn't have any breakfast," Kura snarled, and Malik backed away. 'Apparently,' Kura thought with a small smirk, 'My anger is still effective. I wonder how long it'll last?'
All too soon the bread and slippery cheese was gone and the stomachs of three growing boys were anything but satisfied.
"I'm still hungry," Ryou said mournfully. Kura couldn't help but notice that lack of proper nutrition made the younger boy look particularly fragile. Like he was made of porcelain from the Orient or fine glass.
"We could get some fish out of the river," Malik pointed out, snapping his fingers, "Odion has fishing line and hooks in his pack."
Ryou looked doubtful though and looked over at Kura. "What do you think?" he asked, his voice brightly hopeful.
"Well, don't expect me to help," Kura said hotly, still in a bad mood. "I've been hungrier than this before. The both of you are too spoiled and 'high-classed' to know what real hunger is."
Ryou looked slightly hurt at Kura's tone, but Malik rolled his eyes. "I don't think anyone in this world would ever expect you to be helpful, but I'll bet you're not so high and mighty that you'll refuse the fish we catch." Malik began to paw through Odion's bag. "The only question now is, what should we do with you?"
"Well," Ryou said slowly, "I could watch Kura while you fished, Malik."
Malik's head came up out of the bag to stare incredulously at Ryou until the other boy blushed. "Yeah right," Malik snorted at last, "If he got up and walked away you wouldn't do anything to stop him."
"Then you can watch him," Ryou amended, "While I fish."
Malik actually laughed at that. "You're terrible at fishing, Ryou," Malik taunted, turning back to digging through the bag. "No. What we'll do is tie him up."
"What?" Ryou squawked at the same time Kura shouted, "No you will not!"
Malik stood up, a long coil of rope in his hands. "Now come on, thief," he said as though cajoling a stubborn puppy, "Come here."
"Like hell!" Kura snapped, rolling to his feet. "Stay away from me! You're supposed to be watching me, not going fishing."
"It's just going to be for a little while," Malik said, stamping his foot like an irritated child.
"No," Kura said, folding his arms across his chest. If Malik thought he was going to be willingly tied up, he was more insane than Kura had given him credit for.
Malik frowned and thought hard for a minute before whirling around and slapping Ryou soundly across the face.
"Malik!" Ryou whimpered, holding his bright red cheek. "What was that for?"
Malik only grinned, noticing how ridged and tense the thief had gone. "No?" he asked. Kura remained silent. Malik shrugged and slapped Ryou again on the other side, causing the small boy to fall to the ground.
"Malik!" he cried, "Stop!"
"Stop," Kura hissed, his body shaking in anger. He came over and picked Ryou up off the ground, noticing the crystal tears clinging to the boy's eyelashes. All previous intentions of distancing himself from Ryou had evaporated the second Malik had touched him. How dare Malik pick on someone so much weaker than himself?! How dare he pick on Ryou! He wouldn't allow it. Kura thrust out his wrists. "I concede."
Malik grinned, his face flush with victory, and began to tie Kura's wrists together, ordering Ryou tie his ankles.
"You're tying my hands too tight," Kura complained as Malik pulled the ropes fast. "Malik, loosen the ropes, they are too tight."
"Shut up," Malik said in a bored tone as he tied the knots twice.
"I can't feel my fingers," Kura said, trying to convince him, wincing as the rope dug into his skin, "You have to loosen them."
"Malik," Ryou began timidly, his face still red from Malik's abuse, "Maybe the ropes are too tight."
"Don't be stupid, Ryou," Malik said with a sniff. "He's lying. His hands look fine."
"They aren't," Kura protested, holding his hands up for Ryou to see. The pink skin on both sides of the ropes was already puffy, but both Malik and Ryou were looking at his fingers.
"See," Malik said, throwing his arm around Ryou's shoulders and ignoring how the younger boy shrank away from him uneasily, "His fingers aren't blue."
"They will be soon," Kura snapped.
"They will not. Come on, Ryou." Malik threw the fishing gear over his shoulder and pulled Ryou away with him.
Kura struggled with the ropes and wanted to shout for them to come back, but so close to an Attolian town, he was afraid that someone else might hear him. It only would take one suspicious villager and they would all be locked in a cellar until the queen's guards came to interrogate them. Kura really had no interest in being publicly beheaded and the ropes weren't so tight that he couldn't stand it for a little while. And Kaiba and Odion were sure to be back any moment. So Kura sat quietly under the trees and watched his hands turn blue.
As it was, Malik and Ryou didn't return from the river until they had seen Odion making his way down the riverbank.
Kura was lying on his side under the trees, eyes closed, breathing quietly and trying to mentally force blood past the constricting robes. His hands, held close to his chest, were swollen and mottled a horrid bluish shade.
"Oh no," Ryou breathed, dropping to his knees beside the thief. "Kura?" he whispered, brushing the boy's long white hair out of his face, pulling a few stray strands out of Kura's mouth.
"Get the ropes off," Kura hissed. Malik began tugging at the knots in the rope and the pain for Kura was shocking. "Be careful!" he shouted.
But Malik kept jerking the ropes and the knots pulled tighter. "Stop, stop," Kura insisted. "Just leave it. You can cut it off." Malik ignored him and jerked harder.
"You're killing me!" Kura howled and Odion rushed into sight.
Odion pulled Malik away from Kura and looked down at the thief's hands and then at the fish lying forgotten in the dust. "Go get more fish, both of you," he said sternly.
Ryou rose tearfully from Kura's side and after a few uncertain steps backwards, hurried off after Malik. When they were gone, Odion set about carefully removing the ropes.
Kura didn't even bother to whimper suggestively. He simply lay quietly while Odion cut the ropes away, hissing when he pulled them away from the skin where they were stuck. Odion began to straighten Kura's curled fingers, but the thief pulled away. "Don't," Kura said.
"They've got to be flexed," Odion said, "The blood has pooled."
"I know," Kura answered, take a few deep breaths, "But I'll do it myself. I promise." Odion looked at the thief for a moment and then nodded. "Where's the magus?" Kura asked now as he slowly began to straighten his cold fingers.
"He sent me ahead with some of the food. And it's a good thing." Odion paused to look over his shoulder to the river and then turned back to Kura. "He doesn't need to know about this."
"Oh yes, he does," Kura hissed. By this time he wanted to see Malik flayed alive and then boiled into a pudding before being buried in a mass horse grave.
"No," Odion repeated, "He doesn't." He crouched down a little more so that for the first time, he and Kura were speaking eye to eye. "The Magus has staked his reputation and life on finding this silly stone, and he'll murder the person who prevents him from getting it. And that person is not-" he shook his finger in front of Kura's face, "Going to be Ryou. His father sent me to make sure he's safe and that he learns something on this trip. But I do not want him to learn what happens when you ruin the plans of a man like the magus."
Kura opened his mouth to protest and then shut it when he could not find the right words. There was no way to get Malik punished without dragging Ryou into it. And despite his better judgment, he kind of liked his timid, soft look-a-like. "Agreed," Kura finally said, turning his face away.
Odion got up and pulled the relief kit out of his pack and brought back the bandages and salve the Kura remembered from the first night on the journey along with a small paper packet of dried berries. "Chew two of these," Odion said, placing two of the berries in Kura's shaky hand, "They'll help with the pain. We'll just tell the magus that the old sores got infected."
Kura popped the berries into his mouth, trying to move his hands as little as possible and starred down the tail. "How long have I got, Odion?" he asked quietly.
"Till what?"
"Till we get to where we're going."
Odion frowned and shook his head. "How would I know?"
"You know how much food the magus bought."
Odion nodded and thought for a moment before replying. "Two more days."
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TBC
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