Disclaimer: Watashi wa Yu Gi Oh o motsu masen. (Uhhh...I don't own Yu Gi Oh.) Kuso!!
~ The Last Straw ~
Bakura awoke that morning with a jolt. He had the most horrible dream last night. He dreamt that he was still tied up in Malik's dungeon, severely beaten and helpless, but as he was sitting there, Malik was raping Ryou, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Every time he yelled at him, Malik would only smile back before doing something more horrible to Ryou. Every time he would try to break free from the restraints, one of Malik's guards would beat him. The dream was so vivid. Bakura could still remember the tears that were in Ryou's dark brown eyes. He could almost feel the harsh snap of the whip as it sliced the skin of his chest.
He sat up in the bed, placing his hand over the healing wounds on his torso. The real memories still pained him as well. He could still feel his heart beating profusely.
It seemed as though every moment that went by felt like an eternity. Every minute that he spent sitting idly by, brought Ryou that much closer to death. He needed a plan, and fast. He knew he couldn't just march up to the palace, knock on the doors and demand to have Ryou back. The moment anyone spotted him there they would probably send him right to Malik. But that gave him another idea…maybe he could kill two birds with one stone…get his Ryou back…and rid Egypt of an annoying little pest that was causing quite a lot of pain…
* * *
It had been a while since Bakura had been in Thebes. He had lived there as a child, but after he met Ryou, he decided that it would be better if they moved to Karnak because it was easy access to a ton of tombs. Plenty of opportunity, and more then enough money for Ryou and he to live happily. However, he still remembered some old tomb-robbing buddies of his that he hoped still lived here. He was sure that they would be willing to help him, because he knew that each one of them had something precious taken from them by that bastard.
He made his way out of the tavern and down the packed streets of Thebes. People were busy with their mundane chores, working from sun up to sun down doing whatever it was that they did. Far off in the distance, on the banks of the Nile, Bakura could see the farmers busy at work, and on the very street he was walking on there were hundreds upon hundreds of venders bartering their goods. All of this seemed like a waist to him. Why spend your days, trying to scrape by in life pursuing an honest trade that ended up screwing you over in the long run? After all, ninety percent of everything that these pathetic fools made went to that good for nothing Pharaoh anyway. That was a new rule that Malik had made up when he became Pharaoh. Bakura just didn't see the point. There was much profit to be made in the business of tomb robbing, and he never had to give a damn thing to anybody, including the Pharaoh. Then again…if everybody did it, that would be a lot less for him…
"Pathetic." He snorted as he glanced down at a family with four children all sitting under a wool sheet held up by a stick. Heartless though he was, he couldn't stand that it was because of Malik that these people were sitting here like this. He would probably take the cloths off their backs if he could…it seemed as though he took everything else. As he passed, making sure no one saw him, he brought out his gold pouch and threw it down to the little girl, not stopping to even look back, but he heard the little girl's squeals. At that, he couldn't help but smile slightly.
Looking around cautiously; because he knew that Malik's guards were probably after him; he turned down a narrow alleyway and walked to the end, where a plain wooden door stood. Glancing around one last time, he gave it a small rap, and waited. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, if this plan didn't work, there would be no one that could save Ryou. After all, he had escaped death by mere inches last time, and he was sure that Malik wouldn't let him off that easy again.
Moments later, the door cracked open and a pair of hazel eyes were just visible.
"Let me in." Bakura stated gruffly before pushing the door open and forcing his way inside. He was in no mood to dawdle.
"What are you doing back here?" The voice asked from behind him as he shut the door. The man walked past Bakura and took a seat at the table.
"I was about to ask you the same, Jounouchi." Bakura snapped in his direction as he shot him a nasty look. He never did like Jounouchi, he always thought him to be an annoying goof-off. But, Bakura noticed something different in his voice today. He sounded angry, which was unusual for him.
"Where's Malachi? This is still his house isn't it?" Bakura asked, trying to sound less severe.
"He's out. But he should be back soon. He's got some business to take care of." He replied, shifting around and facing the other direction.
"Why isn't your sister with you? I thought you two went everywhere together." Bakura asked as he sat down at the other end of the small table staring down emotionlessly at Jounouchi. Almost immediately, he saw Jou's hands go into tight fists.
"She's at home…I…I cant bring her with me…it's too dangerous." He whispered, choking on his words.
"What happened?"
Jou looked him right in the eyes, and said one word. "Malik."
Bakura understood instantly. They were both here for the same reason…but…if his sister was home, what did Malik have to do with it?
"What happened to her?"
For a while, Jou just sat there, unable to talk, but when he finally found his voice, he looked back at Bakura.
"A few days ago a man came to our village and took a bunch of people to the temple of Osiris…and none of them returned…except for Shizuka. She was so scared, she wasn't even herself…and she couldn't talk about what happened…but I know that bastard did something to her. And I'm not going to let him get away with it."
Bakura couldn't say anything. He couldn't help but feel the littlest bit of sympathy for the blonde. Jounouchi loved his sister as much as he loved Ryou.
Pushing his emotions aside, for they were getting the best of him, Bakura continued to stare emotionlessly down at the table. A million things were running through his mind. Priority number one was freeing Ryou, but how he was going to go about doing that was another story. He needed Malachi.
"Where the hell is he? My patients is growing thin." Bakura growled as he got up from the chair and peeked out the window. He saw someone approaching, but it wasn't Malachi.
"Oh shit." He whispered as he quickly moved away from the window and pressed his body against the wall.
"What is it?" Jounouchi asked as he gave Bakura an odd look.
"It's one of Malik's soldiers." Bakura said quietly as he reached for something under his cloak.
"But why…?" Jou started, but before he finished there was a rap on the door that made him jump.
"Answer it." Bakura mouthed almost silently to him.
With a nod, Jou got up from the chair and walked to the door. He opened it slowly and peered out from behind it.
"C-can I help you?" He asked nervously.
"I am here on the order of the great Pharaoh Malik, and I have reason to believe that the slave by the name of Bakura is staying here." The grubby solider spoke to him.
"Uh…I don't know what you're talking about, I've never heard of a Bakura." He lied as he looked over to Bakura who was standing in the corner.
"Let me in." He demanded, and before Jounouchi could do anything, the man forced open the door and barged in. With a quick glance around the room his eyes rested on the platinum haired tomb robber in the corner. He gave a wicked smile as he advanced on Bakura.
"Well, well… what have we here?" He started. "You're coming with me." He reached out his hand, and smiled at the look of what seemed to be fear on Bakura's face. "Heh heh heh…don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you…but as for the Pharaoh…" He grabbed onto his arm, and Bakura remained calm and still. "Come on!" The solider yelled as he yanked on Bakura harder. But he didn't budge, and to both Jounouchi's and the soldier's surprise, Bakura started to laugh.
"What the…" But before the soldier had a chance to do anything else, Bakura latched onto the man's arm and put his leg behind him.
"I'm not going anywhere." He said with an evil grin. The man gave him a nervous glance before Bakura lifted his leg a little and tripped the man knocking him to the ground and pinning him down with his free hand.
He brought his other hand out from behind his back to reveal a small dagger. The soldier's eyes went wide with fear, and he started to struggle against him. "N-no!" He whined, which only gave Bakura more satisfaction.
"Go to hell for your heretic Pharaoh." He said maliciously before slicing the blade across the man's throat.
Bakura smiled as he stood up, letting the man's motionless, partly severed head fall limply to the floor. He wiped the blade on his robes, putting it back in its holder hidden under his cloak.
"That felt good." He said to Jounouchi who looked awestruck.
"Y-you just killed one of Malik's royal guards! You'll never get away with that!" He said loudly.
"Yes…I did didn't I? Well, before everything's all said and done with, I hope to kill at least one other…"
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Gomen…gomengomengomengomengomen nasai!! I am so sososososososo sorry that it took so long to update…see I don't have the internet at home so I can only update when I get to a computer…and well now that schools started…that can be a problem…the other night I actually had to call my friend and get her to read my reviews to me over the phone and after she did I felt so sososososososo bad because all of u said to update A.S.A.P. and well…I failed you!! But it wont happen again!! (Probably) Tee Hee But anyhew…thanks for all the reviews!! I never expected that many!!
P.S. Malik's a hottie bla bla bla…so is Bakura bla bla bla…Ryou's cute too!
