The Life of a Thief by Ryou Bakura

A/N: Kaley: Oh I'm so happy you all like my first chapter! I'm so so so so so so happy!!! Yay! (does her happy dance)

Sage: (shakes head) Maybe I should hit you with the frying pan…

Bakura: Heh, well I certainly liked the first chapter.

Kaley: Well you hafta cause you're my muse!! ^_^

Bakura: (shakes head) And people think I'm insane…

Sage: Now it's time to take a look see at the reviews…

Kaley: Firstly, I love the snow! Oh I could go on and on about how beautiful and so quiet yet romantic and so cold and dark but well it's wonderful ^_^ There's no snow here yet…it flurried today though!!

Bakura: Next on le list…We shall indeed take a look at your writing Saakura, though what good we, the humble muses plus insane happy go lucky authoress can actually do is up for grabs. From the bit we read it looks good and we shall review upon a later date.

Sage: So business like…anyway, yes, for those who have already read the AE arc-

Kaley: That's Ancient Egypt arc ^_^

Sage: You may already know Bakura's umm, lovely past history.

Bakura: (grins) I was a raving lunatic ^_^

Sage:…was?? (coughs) Anyway, so yeah that will be interesting…also we are going to have a bit of cute and fluff of course, look who's writing it…

Kaley: (waves enthusiastically)

Sage: -_- Let's see next is Sondra Chrono, you reviewed There's Something About Elk didn't you? ^_^ Glad to have you onboard for this story as well! Don't worry, you weren't rude in the slightest. I didn't even think about how Joey hates mummies, I forgot about it. I too read the manga. Oh well, only a small oversight. Though I thank you for noticing it. Means you really pay attention!

Bakura: Lastly, of course we're going to continue! What do you think this is??

Kaley: A long pointless rant?

Bakura: That too…oh and allow me to explain the difference between madness and insanity. (coughs) One who is insane will not know he is insane and therefore will never say he is insane for in his own mind he is sane. Now, a sane person who knows they are messed up will say they are mad because they are sane enough to know they are insane. This completes my mad thoughts ^_^

Kaley: Good job Kura-kun! ^_^

Sage: So, without further delay…

Bakura: ON WITH THE RA DAMNED FIC!!!

Ryou awoke the next morning shivering. He could feel the cold winter air flowing over his uncovered body. He tightened his grip on his sweater and opened his eyes to see the front door was wide open again. Bakura was leaning against it, talking to what looked like Yugi. Ryou sat up and listened over the gust to hear their conversation.

"So, um, Ba-bakura are you umm, happier now that you have your own body?" Yugi stuttered as he stood in the harsh winds. Bakura rolled his neck, a smirk on his face.

"So Yugi, your idiot other half wants to know if I've killed something yet?" He leaned forward, putting his face near Yugi's. Yugi shuddered and took a step back.

"N-no, that's not w-what I asked…" His face was flushed as he spoke. "I-I just wanted to know…I-if you're ha-happier…"

"Right, you know it's a very bad idea to lie to me Yugi…" Bakura leaned closer, grabbing younger boy's arm so he couldn't move away. "You really should just tell me the truth. It will make things a lot easier on you…"

"Pl-please I really am telling the tru-truth." Yugi said hastily. "Please, can you just answer my question!"

"Fine, if by happier you mean bored all the damn time then yes I am." Bakura rolled his eyes. "What did you think I'd say Yugi? That I like this better? Having my own body just means that I don't have to worry about hurting the boy when I'm fighting."

"Um, well…is Ryou um, here? I mean up or home?" Yugi asked, eager to get away from Bakura. The thief nodded his head back.

"He's sleeping and he's got work to do when he gets up." Bakura said. "So you're going to have to wait aren't you? Want to come in? I was making breakfast."

"Uh, no that's fine really." Yugi smiled nervously. "I made Yami some pancakes earlier." The multicolored boy took another step back into the freezing cold. "So, um, he is probably worried so…um, tell Ryou I said hi."

"So you're on the Pharaoh's short leash huh?" Bakura gave a harsh laugh. "He says he doesn't remember a thing but he didn't change that's for sure." He leered down at the smaller boy. "Yugi, here's a message for your other self. In the words of you modern day mortals, Fuck off." Bakura slammed the door in the poor kid's face, laughing with a disturbing joy. Ryou raised an eyebrow and much to his surprise, Bakura suddenly stopped his snickering. "What's your problem? I said it right. Fuck off, or do you prefer F you?"

"Huh? You knew I was up?" Ryou asked.

"Yeah, mental link remember?" Bakura tugged at the Millennium Ring around his neck. "I could hear your thoughts suddenly get very clear, not so wispy and dream like."

"You listen to my dreams?" Ryou was a bit shocked. That was kind of weird after all.

"I got bored." Bakura shrugged and walked into the kitchen. The lighter side jumped up to follow him, unsure of what Bakura's breakfast was. So far he'd eaten raw or nearly raw meat, beer, bread and water. Ryou hadn't seen him eat much more than that. In the kitchen he saw Bakura rummaging through the cupboards, throwing boxes and cans of food at the table. Ryou rushed forward, catching a few cans of soup before they could splatter on the floor.

"Bakura!" He cried, setting down the cans to catch a few jars of jelly. The ivory haired teen looked back at him with a grin.

"What? You don't want me to make breakfast?" He pulled a box of pancake mix out of the cupboard and tossed it to the astonished boy. "Never eaten pancakes, but they're made of the same stuff as bread aren't they? Bread's alright…"

"Um, well, next time could you try not to throw the cans at least?" Ryou shifted the jars in his arms and stood a bit taller. "Um, wait you are going to make us food?"

"Yeah, what you don't need food?" Bakura asked. "Cause I can eat all this by myself. I can make it too, I'm not helpless." 

"Right, ok…I'll help you though…" So with that the two look alikes set about making their pancake breakfast. The white haired teen wasn't sure what to think of the situation. He and Bakura were not only getting alone but they were making breakfast together. It was very strange indeed, as Bakura turned out to be good at flipping the hotcakes. Bakura snorted when Ryou's own flipping attempt splattered the food on the ceiling. He glared at Bakura, causing him to laugh harder.

"You really can't glare at people." He said as his laughter died away. "I should teach you how to do that at least." They finished cooking without another event and sat silently eating their food. Well, Ryou was quiet but Bakura gnashed his food loudly, causing the other boy to flinch. "What?"

"Nothing…" Ryou shrugged.

"Tomb robbers aren't famous for table manners you know." Bakura said, some food falling from his mouth. Ryou rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Right, about that…"

"Oh yeah, so…" Bakura leaned back in his chair, pushing his plate away. "Where should I start?"

"Um, well, if you don't mind…" Ryou said. "We could start once I'm done eating and have my report in front of me…" Bakura just nodded and left the kitchen, leaving his lighter side to clean up the mess.

%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@ (It might snow all week…)

Ryou peeked into the living room and saw his yami staring quietly out the window, watching the snowflakes fall past. He let the curtain drop back and pointed at the sofa.

"Your report is sitting there." He said simply.

"Thanks…" Ryou sat down on the couch and Bakura joined him, flopping one arm over his chest and the other over the top of the furniture. "So, um, let's start from…wherever you want to I guess."

"Kuru Eruna. That would be the best place to start I think." Bakura said softly, looking Ryou dead in the eye. "That is where I grew up. It was the village I lived in until I was eight years old." He paused. "I had a sister, a mother and a father." Ryou nodded, jotting down a few notes.

"So you said you lived there until you were eight…did you move?" he asked, still writing.

"Move?" Bakura repeated. "I was forced to relocate…you see, something happened to my village…" He grinned. "It was a massacre. The Pharaoh's army came in and brutally murdered every last villager."

"Why?!" Ryou cried out in surprise. Sure, he knew Bakura was going to tell him some weird stuff but this wasn't what he expected.

"I didn't know at the time…" The Egyptian said. "I was only eight…I was the only survivor of that…because I was number one hundred." Ryou gave him a curious look. "They only needed to kill ninety nine people. It was in their orders. I wasn't a part of that, I hide…" At this point, Ryou noticed a change in Bakura's voice, it sounded like the same angry tone he took on when he called Ryou weak.

"Bakura…" Ryou hesitated, then spoke up. "You had to hide, you might have been killed if you hadn't…"

"Yeah, instead I watched them run through my family, then drag their bodies away for their little ritual." His eyes turned back to their normal cold look. "Their bodies were used for the ritual to create the Millennium items." He reached out and touched the ring around Ryou's neck. "This treasure was made out of the blood, flesh and souls of my family and all the others in my town…"

"I-I see…" Ryou pulled away, suddenly feeling disgusted. "I, I never knew…that…I'm sorry…"

"Well, you didn't kill them so you shouldn't be. See, the Pharaoh figured no one would miss Kuru Eruna because it was a village of thieves. Everyone in it knew the trade, we were all highly skilled at what we did. So, the Pharaoh got his items and got rid of a bunch of low lives at the same time." He held up two of his long fingers. "He killed two birds with one stone you might say."

"That's terrible…" The boy shook his head, though his pen still ran across the paper. "I can't believe that Yami did that…it's inhuman…"

"Oh Yami didn't do it." Bakura waved his hand. "His father was Pharaoh when this happened. Akunamukanon was his father's name. He was the one who gave the go ahead anyway so it's all his fault…"

"Aku…namunon?" Ryou tested the name.

"Akunamukanon." Bakura corrected him. "You were close…So let's see, what have you got so far?" He asked, peering over his light's notes.

"Um, when you were eight your village of thieves was destroyed in order to create the Millennium items." Ryou flipped the page over. "And it was the fault of Yami's father Akunamukanon." Bakura nodded as he finished the summary.

"Good boy." He grinned. "Let's see…now for a little insight. As a child who watched his family murdered, what do you think ran through my mind?" Ryou looked over Bakura thoughtfully.

"Revenge." He said simply. He knew his darker side well enough to know that that's what he'd want.

"Actually not at first." He laughed. "First I thing I thought was get the hell out of there. So I ran and on the way out I got my scar…I don't quite remember how, I think I tripped and hit a spear impaled in someone I can't remember…that day is a bit blurry…"

"Scar?" Ryou questioned, leaning closer to Bakura. "I don't see a scar…"

"Well of course you don't!" He said. "I look like you, I looked different in Egypt." He reached out and gently brushed Ryou's right cheek. He blushed a bit and pulled away from the touch. "That's where it was. I had shorter hair too, about to here…" Bakura ran his hand along his neck "…and I was also much stronger then you, I didn't look so weak." He poked Ryou in the stomach.

"I get the point." He grumbled, sketching down what he thought Bakura might look like. After a few minutes, he held up the picture. "Like this?"

"Got the clothes wrong." Bakura ran his finger along the drawing. "I was pretty famous for my clothes too you know…" Ryou gave an exasperated sigh as he fixed his picture.

"Fine, what did your clothes look like?" He asked.

"Well, I wore a long red cloak with a hood and let's see, lots of jewelry and I also wore…well, best way to describe it to you is a white skirt but it's not what you think it is." He grabbed the pencil from his other half and drew it on. "See? Like that."

"Right…why did you wear so much jewelry?"

"Because it looked damn good on me." He smirked. "Anyways, that's me once I became the king of thieves. For awhile I was just a petty thief, living on the streets." He paused. "Then I met a certain someone's past self and they helped me get started in the world of thieves."

"Who's past self?"

"Marik." He grinned. "Marik was the only one that I might even consider calling a friend." The phone rang and Ryou jumped. "Damn, you are too jumpy." He reached over and picked it up. "What do you want?" He demanded of the other end. "Oh, hey…right now? Sounds good to me…does she know? Right, we'll be right there." Ryou raised an eyebrow as Bakura hung up.

"We?" He repeated.

"Yep, you've done your homework for the day." He snapped Ryou's notebook shut. "You're coming out with me and Marik."

"Wait, what are we doing?" The silver haired boy asked as his yami dragged him off the couch.

"We are going to war!" Bakura giggled insanely. "Now grab your coat, it's cold out." He added as an afterthought. Ryou did so while staring at the older boy.

"War?"

!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#!#! (Was Marik in Ancient Egypt? Oh well)

"War!" A sandy haired Egyptian roared as he chucked a snowball down the hill. It smashed into the side of Ryou's face, causing him to fall over. Marik snickered and quickly scooped up more of the powdery white stuff. "You suck at snowball fights Ryou. We've been going super easy on you too."

"So I noticed…" The latter grumbled, wiping the snow from his cheek. Bakura nodded in agreement as he chucked another orb up the hill. It nailed Isis square in the face. The older woman sighed heavily and wiped the snow away.

"Marik, must you insist on playing this childish game?" Isis asked.

"Well, let's see, Marik the Snow fighter or Marik the Duelist Master?" He pondered innocently. "Which should I be? Hmm…"

"Marik, one of these days it won't work on me." Isis said, right before hurling a snowball into Marik's face. He ducked and managed only a quiet laugh before getting hit with two more spheres.

"Hey!" He shouted, rubbing the snow from his eyes. Bakura and Ryou laughed while Marik sulked. "No fair ganging up on me!"

"Well, wasn't my first plan but it sounds good to me!" Bakura grinned as he grabbed more ammo. Ryou and Isis joined him while Marik backed up against a tree.

"Ha-hang on a second guys! Sis, Bakura, Ryou!" He yelled as the air filled with snowballs. He laughed loudly as he sank to the ground, covered in snow. Bakura smirked and stood over him.

"I think I win." He said smugly. Ryou, who had been busy trying to make a snowball, had finally made a good one. He looked between Isis and Bakura, then finally lobbed it at his yami. He smashed into the back of his head, causing to fall over on Marik. He jumped up instantly, glowering at his light.

"Err, I win?" Ryou smiled sheepishly. Bakura walked over to him, until he was only an inch from Ryou's face. He looked so serious that Ryou began to apologize, only to have snow stuffed into his mouth. He fell over gagging while Bakura fell next to him laughing.

"Now who won my dear former host?" Bakura cooed.

"I did!" Ryou choked out as he mashed a handful of fresh powder into Bakura's open mouth. He started coughing along with Ryou. Isis stared at them as she helped Marik up.

"I'd have to say that I won." The woman said calmly, though only Marik heard her. Bakura had pinned Ryou and was threatening to send him to the shadow realm. "I guess they don't get along after all…" Isis said thoughtfully.

"Nah, Bakura's having fun." Marik noted as he pushed snow off his coat. "Listen to his voice, he's happy."

"Only you can tell the difference between Bakura happy and Bakura pissed." His sister sighed and shook her head. "Why did you invite them over anyway?"

"Well, I thought Ryou felt left out." The teen grinned. "I wanted to make him feel better, more a part of things."

"Uh-huh…" Isis raised an eyebrow. "You wanted Ryou to come over then?"

"Got a problem with that?" He asked, blowing warm air into his ungloved hands.

"Not at all, in fact I'd rather you and Ryou spent more time together. It'd be good for you."

"Hey, what are you two doing?" Bakura said as he walked up to siblings. He was covered from head to toe in snow. He shook his hair like a wet animal, spraying Ryou with more white flakes. "You guys missed the fun!"

"Nah, we didn't miss much really." Marik said. "I saw you and Ryou were having fun though."

"Heh, I won." Bakura said, patting Ryou on the back. "But he didn't give up easy, I give him that much."

"You shoved snow down my pants…" Ryou mumbled, rubbing his thighs and shivering. "I say that was unfair…"

"All's fair in love and war." Bakura quoted, still laughing. "Besides, what do you have down there to freeze?"

"Bakura!" Ryou shouted, shoving him.

"Heh, yes?" He smirked, shoving back. "You screamed?" Marik watched the two shove and push each other for a while before he decided that he was right. Bakura was enjoying himself and not just because he was tormenting his poor hikari. The ancient thief was happy being with him.

"I wonder if Ryou noticed…" Marik pondered, breathing on his cold hands. "You know what? It never snowed in Egypt."

"It's a barren hot desert, what did you think it'd do?" Isis asked. She moved herself between the feuding light and dark and sighed. "Alright boys, enough games. If you wish, I will make some hot chocolate for you." She then swiftly went back up the hill and went about making the drinks.

"Hot chocolate huh?" Bakura ran after her, leaving Marik and Ryou standing in the cold.

"Having fun?" The blonde boy asked.

"With you or Bakura?"

"Both I guess." Marik shrugged.

"Yeah actually…except my insides are frozen thanks to my demon of a dark side…" He groaned and massaged his thighs again. "God it's cold…"

"Heh, nuts a bit iced up?" Marik smirked.

"Oh be quiet…" He rolled his eyes but he too smiled. "I'm glad you invited me too…thank you Marik…" The tan boy's frosty cheeks tinged pink and he turned away.

"Anytime Ryou…like I said don't be a stranger…you're my friend too…" Marik murmured under his breath. Ryou nodded and stood quietly next to him.

"The snow's pretty isn't it?" Ryou said finally, looking up into the gray skies above. Marik titled his head back and bobbed his head.

"Yeah, but it's too cold!" He sighed. "But…when it's falling like this…"

"It's romantic…" Ryou said absentmindedly. Marik turned round, looking surprised.

"You think this is romantic?" He queued.

"Huh? Oh no not this!" Ryou's face turned red. "I, I meant the snow…when it's falling it's romantic…umm…hot chocolate sounds nice…" With that he raced up the hill, away from Marik. The Egyptian laughed and followed after him.

"Poor kid, he's going to have some heart troubles soon…"

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* (So much for a snowball fight…)

Later that night, Ryou had made himself a nest of warm blankets and pillows on the couch. He nestled himself down in them and sighed contently. Bakura came down from upstairs and watched his lighter side for a few moments before sitting next to him. Ryou jumped, opening his eyes from his rest.

"Geez, do you need to jump every time I come near you?" Bakura asked, propping his head up in his hands. He crossed his legs and stared emotionlessly at Ryou.

"It's not just you…I jump when people come near me and I'm not expecting it…" He said, trying not to hurt Bakura's feelings…if he had them anyway.

"Oh, I see…" Bakura leaned into his hand. "So, what do you think of my life so far?"

"Violent…and tragic…it's terrible…" The white haired boy said sadly. "I can't believe you had to go through so much when you were that little…is that why you're so…umm…well…"

"Violent? Insane? Psychotic? Scary?" Bakura helped.

"Well, yeah…"

"It's not just that but…" He laughed softly. "Probably didn't help much."

"I'm sorry…" Ryou looked down.

"For what?" Bakura raised an eyebrow.

"For your loss." He said honestly. "No one should have to see that…"

"Yeah well, I got back…more or less." Bakura jumped up. "Don't forget to write some of your report down."

"I won't…and Bakura?" Ryou stopped him as the yami began to walk away.

"Yes?" He turned back around.

"Um, thanks for telling me all this." Ryou smiled. "You must be changing if you're sharing such personal things with me." Bakura scoffed.

"Changing, right, whatever you say." He walked back upstairs, leaving Ryou to write down his day's findings. After he had, he curled back up on the couch, to tired to go upstairs to his bed.

"Maybe Bakura isn't changing…maybe it's just me…" He whispered into the darkened room. "Maybe I'm just…dreaming…"

%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$% (Bakura would look cute sitting like that…)

The Life of a Thief

There were many thieves in Egypt, due to the large gap between the very rich and the very poor. Stealing was the only option for some commoners. A select few stole for pleasure or fun. However, there was one tomb robber whose mere name caused guards to go on high alert. Wherever he went, his unnatural silver hair and long red robes complete with beautiful gold jewels gave him away. This didn't bother him one bit though, he was quite confident in his abilities. His ego was well earned, for he was the only true enemy of the Pharaoh. He was rich, powerful and deadly. His name was Bakura…

Bakura had grown up in a small thief hide away called Kuru Eruna. In this small village he grew up relatively normally with a mother, father and a sister. However, the Pharaoh had begun a magic ritual to the Gods, to create sacred items of tremendous power. He needed only one more thing to complete the ritual: Sacrifices. So, he choose the village. After all, who would miss a bunch of thieves? The guards came and slaughtered the ninety-nine people needed to create the Millennium Items. However, they missed one…number one hundred, who watched his family murdered in front of him. Number one hundred, who would grow up to terrorize Egypt for what happened to him. Number one hundred, Bakura…

A/N: Kaley: Yay, yet another chapter done!

Sage: Before Christmas even, nice job…

Bakura: Glad people like it but what type of reviews will this chapter bring?

Kaley: Um, good ones I hope…

Sage: I seemed to have noticed Marik acting a bit…odd in this chapter.

Kaley: He was?

Bakura: You wrote it, you should know…

Kaley: He seemed fine to me…(pouts)

Sage: Whatever yaoi fangirl…Ryou's report is sounding good though…

Bakura: Anywho, review everyone, happy a Merry Christmas-

Sage: Happy Holidays-

Kaley: And a Wonderful New Year!

Bakura: We'll see ya next year, next chapter.

Kaley: Review ok? Bye!