My Oath

by Dark SpellMaster

Stars tell stories, if you listen they will tell you one about a Theif known as Bakura. About both the tragedy and the triumph of his life though the eyes of one who knew him.

2. Stuck Together

AN: Again, I don't own Yugioh. Hummm what else to say, only that I really hope you guys like this story. And I'm going to do my best.

My Oath

Stuck Together, part two

By morning light he was resting again, this time he didn't convulse or sweat in his sleep, and I slipped out to see my father. My temper was flared up after spending the night talking to him, and not getting a single straight answer. His nerve was much more then I assumed it to be. When he had finished eating my food he looked at me.

"Stop staring at me like that," he insisted and frowned.

"Like what?" I asked and he rolled his eyes.

"Like some love sick dog," and he turned his back to me. "You're giving me the creeps," and muttered under his breath. "Dumb girl."

I scowled, "I have a name, and it's Kanika."

"Yeah, well I don't care," he said swiftly, tossing me a look of utter displeasure, leaned his head against the side of the tent, and shook some. I got up and touched his shoulders but he flinched away and gave me a look of annoyance. "Don't touch me! I don't need your help."

"You needed it before," I told him, and he chuckled.

"Well not anymore," Bakura looked me over then and sniffed. "How long have I been in this damn tent anyway?"

"Three days," I informed him, and he nodded his head. Feeling a bit brave I asked, "How long have you been out on that oasis?"

"I don't know, and it's none of your damn business," he said heatedly and wrapped the covers around him. "I'm thirsty, water."

"You could ask," I stated getting up and he snorted.

"You're going to get it for me anyway, right? So what does it matter if I ask for it or demand it?"

I clenched my fists as he added, "From what it looks like, you're my nurse right? So you're supposed to take care of me."

I shoved the water into his chest as hard as I could and spat, "Here. Drink, O' king of illness."

"Thank you, Witch of a thousand gnats," he drank deeply then lay back down. I watched him settle and sigh staring up at the ceiling. His brown eyes seemed distant, cold. I knew the rest of the camp would be asleep, so I decided to wait till the light came up to see my father. As we sat there he asked, "What did I say when I had my fever?"

I lifted my head which I was resting in my crossed arms, and blinked, he repeated his question and I replied that he was calling out names, and for his mother and father. At this he scowled darkly, "What names?"

"Two," I told him, "Aneksi and Tsekeni."

"Were you the only one that heard them?" I nodded. I think he knew I was lying and he frowned at me, and then shifted over to turn his back upon me. "Never say them again, or I'll hurt you."

"Are you threatening me?" I asked sarcastically and I could tell by the way he moved his head that he was rolling his eyes. He looked back over his shoulder, and snarked.

"Oh no, O' wise one of travels, why would I threaten you?" he rolled his head back the other way and I heard him huff, "Dumb girl."

Growing agitated I stood up and gave his back a tap with my foot, "You have a lot of nerve insulting me after I saved you."

At this he broke out laughing, "Saved me? I already told you, I would have preferred you left me to die! But if you're too dumb to realize that, then that's your problem and not mine." He sat up and smirked at me, "You realize that you just wasted your time."

I felt the sting in the palm of my hand long before I realized that I had slapped him across the face. He didn't react, didn't touch his cheek; didn't even look like he was going to cry, he just said, "I guess that was for me nearly hitting you earlier."

I pursed my lips as he stat there just looking at me with a mixture of annoyance and discontentment. I suppose now, looking back on it, he had every right to be upset. After all he had just fought off a fever, there was no way he was in any mood to talk about anything rationally. He was in a place he didn't know, talking to a girl who could easily be poisoning him.

Bakura gave me a hard glare, then let out a long sigh through his teeth and lay back down. He looked up at me with a question, 'Well are you going to do something, or just stand there?' Kneeling back down I drew a wet cool cloth from a small pan of water, and pressed it upon his cheek, he didn't even look at me as I spoke. "I'm sorry. I had no right to do that. But you had no right to say that. I'm only trying to help you, you know. I don't need you to be so cruel to me," he made a slight snorting noise, and closed his eyes.

I sat beside him, and slowly touched his white hair as he closed his eyes. How, I wondered, could anyone want to capture him and sell him? He's far too stubborn to be a slave of any respect. His skin is so dry; it must be from staying out here in the heat. But where is he from? What would have made him come to live on this oasis in the first place?

These thoughts swirled around as I walked to my father's tent. Inside the men of his council were gathered and gabbling like the cranes that I had seen resting on the banks of the Nile. As I brushed back the tent flap I heard my father bellow to a man called Zanbia, "I understand your complaint, but time must be spent fixing the wagons we have to pull out by tomorrow morning or else we will not make it to Kul Elna."

"Yes I understand this," Zanbia insisted but shook his head. "But Musad, what if the rumors of the town are true, that there is something dark and unspeakable waiting there for us?"

"You rely far too much on fears and superstitions," my father told him, then noticed my shadow and beckoned me in. "Kanika, how fares the boy?"

I bowed, "He is awake, Father. His fever broke last night."

He smiled in a way that I could tell he was pleased and patted my head, "Good, good. Is he well enough to speak yet?"

I thought a moment; if I was to tell my father that he was already up and about it would mean that Bakura would have to talk to my father and the council. But, right at the moment, he seemed to be in a foul mood and forcing him into such a meeting, would be signing him to his death. The way a council meeting worked was that the council men would sit in a large circle in my father's tent. My father would sit at the top of this circle and the men would, in their rank and post in the village, sit cross legged in this circular pattern attending him. The person in question would then sit in the center facing my father, and the men would question him.

Looking at my father I shook my head, he scowled. "He hasn't spoken?"

"He speaks sir," I said carefully, "But what he says is nonsense. I think he should be allowed to rest for another day or so."

At this my father frowned. "That can not be. We're leaving by tomorrow's dawn."

"Then at least let me tend to him till late this evening," I requested humbly. My father stared at me as he contemplated this request then waved me off. I nodded taking that as a yes and hurried out of my father's tent. Clearly, I realized, he wasn't in much of mood to discuss matters that didn't seem urgent to him. Racing across the camp I soon saw one of Kanzuma's assistants wandering up from where my tent was, wringing his hands. He was muttering under his breaths when he saw me.

"Terrible, terrible tidings," he bowed and waved his hand frantically to the tent. "The boy you had dwelling there, he has vanished! We've searched all over, I fear that some jinn has made off with him. I must to Kanzuma, stay away from there little lady, I do not want you being taken."

Rubbish, I thought and stalked determinedly to the small tent. It seemed in a right state when I got there, nothing out of place. I walked around the body of it, looking around for some proof that he slipped out, and scowled. Bakura could not have come through the front without being at least spotted by one of the men tending the horses, so that only left the back and sides. I ran my handover the right side of the tent, and found the canvas still taught and tight. Pleased, I went to the back, feeling a bit perplexed. I was certain that if the back was okay, that meant he had to have dug his way out. But the time I was away couldn't have been enough for him to do that. I shook my head when I saw the back looked okay, than went inside, pulling the flaps together to block out light. It was then that I saw it, in the back there was several small breaks in the canvas. I pushed at them with my fingers and ducked my head through them, when I realized that he had cut it so that the seams were invisible to the naked eye unless they looked inside. The hole was large enough for a tall boy to fit through. I crawled through and looked about, the oasis was the only place he would make his way to, and so I headed for it.

I lost my shoes when I tripped over a hidden rock, no doubt he set it as a trap, so I had to go bare foot the rest of the way. The sands were rough under my feet, scratching at my soles making them itch badly. They caused me pain when I settled my foot on the grass, and rubbed hard to push the grains away from the sweat. Stalking through the grass, I called out to him, "Bakura! I know you're here! You have to come out!"

Silence. The only reply I received was the wind through the palm trees. I sniffed and made my way farther into the oasis near the pond and called to it, "Oh Pond. Lovely and amazing mirror of the sky please show this humble traveler the location of her friend?" I stared at it, willing it to show me Bakura's location. Only the pond wasn't playing along with me, and all I saw was my flushed face. I kicked hard at the water, making a loud splash, and, pouting, flumped down under the shade of a palm.

This is stupid! I thought miserably, why was it my job to actually find him. Just because he couldn't actually stay in one place, and listen to me, didn't mean that I should have to attend to his scrawny ass. It was already late in the morning and the heat was enough, that I through back my head and stared up at the tree. A peculiar thought came to mind, if I could get a better view of the oasis I might be able to find him. Bakura knew better then to go wandering out in the heat; he would lay in wait till the night then leave.

I tied back my skirts and threw my arms around the trunk then scurried up the side of the palm. The winds were dry and harsh, and up top I could see many things. I dared not go too high fearing I might fall and break my neck, but the view caused me to smile. I could see the people of the group scurrying about like small insects, possible searching for me and Bakura again, and the sea of sands that surrounded the oasis. Then somewhere out in the far distance, a village that seemed to be settled into an obscured darkness. This made me shiver for no apparent reason, and I started to slide down, disheartened at not finding Bakura, when I slipped and found myself hanging upside down. I screamed. The ground seemed to rush at me. My fingers ached from holding on so tightly, and I heard a voice above me say, "Are you trying to kill yourself?"

Bakura was leaning over the top part of the tree, like a ghost he had suddenly appeared, and that shook me. "Stay b-back!"

He gave me a puzzled look, then snarled, "Damn girl. What were you thinking? Give me your hand."

I shook my head no, I was far to scared of loosing balance and falling. His frown deepened. "What's wrong?"

"You may let go." I protested and he chuckled with a 'kukuku' sound.

"Of course I might," he told me, "But you don't have much of a choice. You'll fall if you don't let go, you think you're arms are strong enough to hold on?"

"I can do it!" I shrieked at him. Fear was gripping me, but I was too proud to even realize the danger. The men that had been wandering now scattered and Bakura turned his head around like an owl, listening. Suddenly he grabbed my wrist and dragged me higher. I screech, "What are you doing!"

"Come on, move!" he looked exasperated and yanked me along. I pulled back.

"Not till you tell me why!" I yelled, but I was in no position to fight against him, and he soon had me dangling over the water. "W-what are you…" I screamed as he suddenly dropped me, and I plunged head first into the water. Harsh winds whipped past me, and I felt the icy grip of the water. A moment later a second splash and he held me under the water, even as I scratched like a wild dog, struggling under the foaming water.

Let me go! I thought desperately, I couldn't breathe, I was scared, and all he was doing was fighting me. He gripped onto me tighter, the air wanting to force its way out of my lungs. We sank farther down, and my limb felt heavy.

How, was he doing this? I wondered, even as I withered in his arms. He got a better grip, pulling me against him, and I could see he was trying not to breathe either. Bakura jostled me some, and I had to go limp, eventually the soft sands of the pond's bottom touched the balls of our feet, and he sprang up without a word of warning, pulling me up with him. We exploded from under the water, and I gulped in the air, and then started to sink again, only to stay afloat by him holding me around the waist.

"You Jerk!" I screamed, but he turned my head for the camp.

"Look fool," I did and saw tons of sand covering the wagons. Eyes wide I asked.

"What happened?"

"Sand storm, like a twister, came too fast," Najja's voice came from our left. He had a cloth covering his head and mouth. There was seriousness to his eyes, and he offered me a hand. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I muttered and shot a dark glare at Bakura who seemed to be treading water pleasantly. There was a smirk to his face showing that he enjoyed terrifying me. I turned to Najja, "How is father? Akila and my sisters?"

"They're well, it wasn't as big as we thought it could have been," Najja took off his coat and wrapped it around me, then offered a hand to Bakura who shot him a dirty look.

"Sorry I don't take the hands of men who try to take more then what they're given," and he promptly pulled himself out of the water, taking long loping steps to the camp. Najja scowled and I touched his arm.

"It's alright, he's just worked up," I tried to explain unsure of what Bakura meant by his comment. Najja just shrugged and told me that I was to help the women settle the horses while the men dug out the wagons. It was hard work, the animals were restless, and Bakura was once more no where to be found. Returning to the tent later when the sun was setting, I found him resting again, only he was drawing things with his fingers. He glanced up at me, and then went back to the drawing on the ground. I didn't realize he was being attentive to me until he asked, "Your back okay?"

I glanced up drying my hair, "Huh?"

He repeated it slowly, "I said, is your back okay? You hit the water harder then I expected you to."

I shook my head, "It's fine."

He nodded, and I was surprised to see him looking down, but he said nothing more. I took out some tea mixture and heated it; this brought his head up again. He looked at me, and pursed his lips as the smell wafted over to him.

"What is that?"

"Tea," I explained and brought the mixture up a bit higher to boil it. He scowled.

"To drink? It better not be, it smells like camel."

I rolled my eyes, "Normally it's to drink, but that's oil and wax in there that you smell." I added the ginger to the mixture and then a drop of sweet salts we had been given from a trader from the east. "I have to let it boil."

"If it's not to drink, then what are you doing adding those weird things to it?" He sat up attentive to me. I guess at the time it must have been fascinating to him, he probably never say anyone try to dye their hair. I stirred as I spoke.

"It's a tea from the far east, the green in it, if it's prepared right, can be used to dye hair. So that's what I'm doing," I brought the mix to a simmer and spread some on some camel hair that I had, then waited as it set in.

"So that's how you got the green hair?" he asked and I nodded.

"To be different," I explained, I hated being the same like my sisters, so this made me stand out.

He seemed to not like this, "Why would you want to stand out?"

I blushed, "I don't know. Because. I don't want to look like Akila, or Lapis or anyone else…"

"Or maybe you want to get Jajja's attention," Bakura smirked at me and I turned on him flustered.

"His name is NAJJA!" I crossed my arms. "And I am not trying to get his attention."

Bakura lay on his side and propped his head up on his elbow. "Doesn't seem that way to me, the way you look at him. You've got a crush on him don't you?" I blushed red and turned away saying he shouldn't speak of such things, but he just went on, it was his way. Bakura always had an opinion about something, and he would say it no matter what. "He's your sister's husband you know. Dangerous games you play. You're only nine aren't you? Don't you think you're a little young?"

This made me mad and I hissed, "I'm almost ten, and I'm more mature for my age then you'll ever be."

He chuckled, "Uh-huh."

"Oh, what do you know," I chided him and cleaned off the hair to see it green, and pulled the pot off the fire. "You've never been in love."

"Love's stupid," he snorted and stared at the top of the tent. "It makes you do dumb things," then he mumbled quietly. "Like not running away when you should have to save yourself like your husband told you to."

I glanced up, but looked down quickly to cover that I had heard him, and said briskly, "Well I think love isn't such a bad thing."

"You would," he laughed and looked at me with a cruel smirk, "You're probably going to wind up married to an old fusspot. If I ever had a wife, I wouldn't want her to be like you."

I glared, "As if I would want an insufferable toad like you."

"A toad; is that what I am?" he looked himself over. "Where do you see warts?"

I sniffed as I scooped up the mush and spread it over my hair coating it all over, from the tip of my bangs to the tail end of my locks. "You don't need to have warts for me to see that you're a toad."

Bakura laughed, "I see, so what does that make Najja, your prince?"

"He could be one if he wasn't born in such a low class," I told him, and glared, "Why do you see yourself as a king?"

That seemed to upset him and he spat, "I wouldn't be a king if you paid me. Pharaoh's are miserable monsters! They don't care about anything but their own greed!"

I was surprised at this out burst, and said quietly, "What makes you think they're evil."

"They just ARE!" he shouted and stood up to leave, but then stopped, realizing there was no where to go, so he sat back down in a huff. I was about to ask him why he thought this, when one of the ladies came in to inform us that dinner was nearly ready and that Bakura was to wear some clean clothing. She handed him a pair of clean pants and a maroon colored top.

He huffed and stared at them, "What for? I'm not going to your silly dinner."

"You have to," I told him and he snorted, threw the cloths on the floor and settled back down to fake sleep. I glowered at him. "Fine then, stay there like the lumpy toad you are, Prince of flies. You'll get nothing but cold lumpy rice!"

"Feh, I'd rather starve," he snorted, then looked up at me from under the blanket. "How long are you going to wear that glop on your head?"

"Huh?" I blinked and he pointed.

"It's starting to run down the side of your face."

I grabbed a cloth and wiped off the running dye. Bakura took one look at me and started to laugh. I scowled, "What now? What's so funny?"

"Your skin is green," he chuckled and sat up to get a better view. "Heh. You look better as a toad."

I didn't dignify a response, just grabbed the water bucket and rinsed off my hair. As I cleaned it off, I kept glancing over at Bakura. He just sat there blinking and watching, looking bored and distant. I flushed some thinking what he had said about Nadija. Who was he to criticize me and how I felt. After all he said himself he would never fall in love, so why should I care how he felt. When I finished I dried my hair and spilled the water into another bucket. Bakura tilted his head as I quickly explained that we tended to save even dirty water to rub down the horses and other animals.

"It gets really dry, and we need to preserve the pack until we get to the next town."

"Makes sense," he shrugged as I pulled off my cloth and stared harder at my head.

"What now?" I asked annoyed by the look and he turned his head, closing his eyes with a snort.

"You look like you have grass on your head. Better not go near the horses, they're sure to eat you bald."

I screamed and flung the towel in his face. It made a wet splattering sound, and he pulled it off, revealing some green spots. "What the hells was that for!"

"You're a jerk!" I shouted. "I don't see how anyone could like an ass like you. Even the sands probably his like you!"

"Feh," he wiped his face off, and tossed the towel on the side. "As if I care what people think of me? Where are you going anyway?" he added as I marched for the tent flap. I paused only to tell him that I was going to change, and if he wanted any food tonight he would be wise to wash, I pointed out a bucket of clean water, and dress, motioning to his clean clothing. Then I left, making my way to my sisters' tent. The walk gave me a chance to cool down, and I wondered why I had gotten so upset at him. It wasn't like me to take offense to what morons said. But then again this moron had saved me and paid me back for what I had done for him. I shoved the flap of the tent aside when I got there and Lapis glomped on me when I came in.

"He hasn't hurt you has he?" she asked me in a high pitched worried voice. I looked up at her like she was crazy.

"What?"

"Nadija told us about the sand storm…" Hasina explained and blushed. "He came in here to see Akila, and said that the boy threw you in the water. He didn't hurt you too much did he?"

"No," I said and heard the flap brushed aside as Akila came in. She looked at me carefully and crossed her arms.

"Your friend has been causing trouble."

"He's not my friend," I stated bluntly, then stopped. "He's just someone that I'm looking after. And he's not causing trouble."

"He had the camp thinking he ran off, or was spirited away." Akila told me as she ushered me to her dressing trunk and pulled out a green dress for me to wear. The simple pattern held a gold embroidering of flowers upon the skirt and around the cuffs of the sleeves, with little tassels at the very ends. I stared with awe at it even as she ranted about how worried everyone was.

"He's a bad omen," she was finishing, and I snapped back into reality. Daydreams plagued me about Nadija seeing me in that dress and kissing my hand (He was dressed as a prince.) and whisking me off to a palace far away from everyone and every thing. Feeling rather frustrated by the fact that my sweet dreams were butted into by my pretty sister I spat.

"He is not! He ran off because he didn't want to stay here."

"Then he should just leave…I mean really making Nadija go into the water and pull the two of you out. He could have drowned you." Akila went on, and I blinked.

"What was that?"

She shook her head, "Are you getting as bad as Lapis with your hearing?"

"No." I said quietly as she helped me into the dress and fixed my hair. "But…what did Nadija tell you?"

"About this afternoon?" she asked, and I nodded.

"Just that he found the boy and you in the pond and he had to pull you out of the pond. That the boy was pulling you down into the water." Akila finished putting up my hair into a braided weave with some small beads. "There now you look nice."

I stood up quickly to Akila's protests, and marched out of the tent. I raced across the camp to Nadija's tent that he shared with his cousin and found him standing in just his pants. My cheeks heated up and I looked away, but he saw me and smiled.

"Kanika, what are you doing here?" He looked me over and grinned, "And don't you look like a fair maid. Akila's doing no doubt."

I nodded as he strode over and felt my heart beat quicken as he touched my cheek. Nadija grinned gently at me, "You are going to be a flower when you get older."

I nodded as his hand slipped down to my shoulder. "Now what can I do for you?"

I swallowed as he sat on his bed and beckoned me over. I stood ridged, wondering if he would hate me. His eyes met mine and his smile slipped some, "Something troubling you?"

I bit my lip and spoke slowly, "Nadija, why did you tell Akila that Bakura was pulling me under the water?"

He blinked, and seemed to think a moment, "Is that what she said?"

I nodded and he laughed. "Little one, you shouldn't take everything your sister says as fact."

I looked at him puzzled, "I told her what I saw, and what I saw was he was holding you in the water."

"But she said you said you pulled me out."

"Which I did," he smiled again.

"Yes, but…you didn't swim in the water to get to me. You got wet because I hugged you on the way back. You weren't even in the water." I watched his face as he gave a small soft laugh then looked at me in a way that gave me a chill.

"Sweet Kanika, things of this nature are not for you to worry about." He got up again and pulled me into a hug. I could smell the sweet oils on his body and heard ringing in my ears from the blood that pounded through me. "In time you'll understand. I simply told your sisters what they wanted to hear. Don't you trust me?"

I looked up at him and nodded my head as he leaned closer to my face. I could feel his breath near the top of my nose when I heard a loud, obnoxious cough, from the front of the tent. Nadija looked up and stared darkly at the figure behind us. "Don't you know how to announce yourself?"

"Nope," said Bakura as I glanced behind me. He was holding up the tent flap, and had a smirk on his face that didn't meet his eyes. The purple color seemed to hint at an anger that was boiling to the surface and Bakura intended to keep it in check for now. I blinked some seeing him there, dressed neatly, or as neatly as he could get, in the outfit he had been given. He had ripped the sleeves off and turned it into a vest, slitting the center of the shirt in one slash. "You have a problem with that?"

"I do if you come wandering into my tent without my permission," Nadija glared at him holding me by my shoulders. Bakura grinned, and came over to me grabbing my wrist, pulling hard.

"Yeah well, too bad for you, Jaja. I came here to find my nurse, she's supposed to be taking care of me. And I'm hungry," he yanked hard at me and Nadija let me go. Bakura put me in front of him and glared back at Nadija, adding as we left. "You might want to keep with what you got and be grateful for that."

He shoved me out of the tent and I turned on him as we strode away, "What were you doing?"

"Looking for you," he said walking farther ahead of me as if nothing had just happened. "What were you doing in that idiot's tent?"

"Talking to him," I spat and crossed my arms.

"Yeah…that sure looked like talking," Bakura chuckled and turned to look at me. "Don't be a fool. He's just using you, dumb girl."

"He is not!" I yelled and he scowled. "He was just telling me…"

"What?" Bakura stopped and I realized we were getting closer to where the food was going to be set out. He crosses his arms and glared. "Look if you want to be an idiot and get hurt. Fine, I really don't care. But I got hungry and you're supposed to be looking out for me right?"

"I thought you can look out for yourself," I hissed back. He snorted.

"I can. I just don't know where you fools keep your food. So I had to find you."

"You could have asked anyone," I pointed out and he strode past me.

"Could have but didn't. Now when do we get some meat?"

I blinked, Could have but didn't. What do you mean by that? Even as I thought this I covered the fact that I felt a bit realieved that he had found me in Nadija's tent. Was my brother going to kiss me? But he loved Akila, or so I believed. I sat beside Bakura and waited, thoughts whirling around my mind. The feast was lovely as ever. To celebrate full moon our tribe gathered and feasted in honor of Thoth. This event usually was the highlight of our travels and one of my favorites. It was also the ending of our rest period. Normally at the feasts I was excited and danced with my sisters. But that night I just sat and watched. My mind was muddled, not only on what Akila had said Nadija had told her, but also about the fact that once the men had settled into my father's tent they would call for Bakura.

The Prince of snakes, as I was now referring to him in my mind, seemed unaware of my feelings. He happily feasted on third and fourth helpings. I had to wonder where it was all going, since his frame seemed so lanky. Eventually, after downing some beer we had, he nudged me.

"Aren't you going to finish that?" he poked at the food on my plate. I shook my head so he took it from me. I frowned. "What? You aren't going to eat it are you?"

"That's not the point," I said to him, and turned to face the fire with my knees curled up tucked under my chin. He shrugged, ate the remains of my food then bluntly asked.

"Exactly why aren't you out there acting like some drunken fool?"

I glared, "They're dancing for fun. They're not drunk."

"Well they look that way to me," he snorted then sighed. "I'm tired. I'm going back to my tent."

I pulled my head up, "You can't."

He stopped mid way up, and sat back down with a thump, "And why not? I'm tried. I'm still sick remember."

"No you're not. You just ate like a pig."

"Pigs get sick too," he pointed out and motioned over to Nadija, so I hit him hard in the arm. "Hey! Dumb girl, what the hells is your problem?"

"I'm sick of you picking on Nadija. I get it you don't like him." I hissed. Bakura stared at me with lower eyelids, got up and started to walk away.

"Fine do what you will, you stupid girl."

I jumped up and ran after him and grabbed him by the arm, "You can't leave."

"The hells I can't!" he shouted then tried to shake me off. "Get off of me!" His palm shoved into my face and pushed hard against my cheek. I pulled back and ground my heels into the sand.

"No! You can't go. You have to see my father." I yanked hard, but the pull and push made me slip and we tumbled down on top of each other. Bakura automatically shoved me off panting. He glared at me as I explained the council meeting then sneered.

"So that's why the good clothing," I shook my head and he let out a harsh laugh. "Well I'm not going."

"You have to." I told him and he spat on the ground.

"No I don't. Who's going to make me? You? You're just a foolish girl who doesn't know a thing. Why the hell should I go? You're going to leave me behind anyway."

I flung sand at him, "No we weren't!" I jumped up and ran for the tent. I couldn't take it. He had been cold to me all this time, why should I care what he did with himself. After what I did for him, he should be worshiping the ground under my feet. I dove into his tent and threw around what I could get a hold of. If he wanted to be a jerk, I could be one too. Let him get his own water and take care of himself if he so wanted. I reached for the bucket to fling it thinking that it would be empty, but found it still with water. Huh? He saved the water? I heard the flap flip and Bakura stood at the enterance, huffing some.

"I just ate you idiot, you could have run a bit slower."

"You saved the water?" I asked and he gave me a confused look then nodded.

"I said it made sense," then he sat down on the mat, and crossed his legs. "What is your problem anyway? You've been acting like a bitch all night."

I flushed and looked away, "You don't understand."

He shrugged, "Not like I would care to. But you're gonna tell me anyway."

I barked a laugh, "Ha! What makes you think I would?"

He looked around, "I don't see anyone else here, and beside, toads make good things to rant at."

I blinked and he started to fool around with the blanket with his fingers, picking the bits of wood that got caught in there from the wagon. I sat down and held my knees again. My voice quivered as I talked about what Akila had said, what had happened at the oasis when I found him. About what Nadija had told me, and I blushed when he asked.

"Would you have kissed him if I didn't come in?"

"I don't know," I answered and he scowled.

"Don't, I don't like him."

I rolled my eyes, "I thought you don't care."

"I don't," he said, and tossed the blanket aside and threw the dirty cloth at me so I could wipe my eyes. "But dressed like that you don't look half bad, for a Witch of slim."

I blinked harder and wiped my eyes as he closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "So what's this council meeting that you keep blabbing on about?"

I softly explained the way it worked to him and Bakura picked at his vest and ears. Sighing now and again, he seemed resigned to the fact that he would have to do it. I gave him a weak smile, "I'll be outside the tent you know."

"You had better," he said getting up. "So I just go in, answer a bunch of questions, and then what?"

"I'm not sure. It's different for every meeting. If it was a trial they would decide weather you lived or died."

"Nice," he muttered as I stood up. We walked slowly back to the feast, most of the dancing had died down and the women were cleaning. I spotted Nadija and my sister by one of the wagons, and noticed that her top had been removed. Quickening our pace we shot by them Bakura grunting something like, "I hope yours fill in more."

I shot him a dirty look but he was too busy watching everything being cleaned up to notice. My father's tent was quiet, but I could see smoke from the pipes of many of the older men wafting out. Lamps had been lit around the outside to bath the place in light. I told Bakura to wait outside then walked in, greeted by the council. Women were not allowed in a meeting, but they could come in before and after one. They were also allowed to wait outside and listen. I bowed to my father as I spoke.

"The boy, Bakura, he's come to see you as you requested father."

My father nodded, and I waved Bakura in whispering, "Just be honest."

"Kukuku, honest…right." He gave me a smug grin and strode in as if he owned the place. My father didn't like this and gave a grunt before he spoke. I slipped out and watched the shadows from inside, holding my breath. I knew this wasn't going to go very well the minute Bakura didn't show humility when he came in.

"Sit boy." Bakura didn't move.

"Did you not hear our leader Musad," said one of the older men. "He said to sit."

"I heard him. But I'm no dog to be talked down to. He's not my leader," Bakura spat back and stayed standing. "I'll stand."

"You show disrespect," said another man, leaner and thinner then the first. Bakura cocked his head.

"You're not showing me any respect, so why should I show you any?"

I slapped my palm to my forehead thinking, the idiot! He's going to get himself hanged at worst. At best he'll be left here. When I dared to look however my father's shape had settled back. This was a good thing which meant that Bakura had shown that he wasn't one to be bullied and wouldn't easily be swayed by others.

"Do you have a name?" My father asked and Bakura nodded.

"Then why don't you say it?" asked another man, this one I knew as Hasjinn; A talker and braggart who always had to kiss up to my father so that he could show how powerful he was to the other men. Bakura just shrugged.

"You didn't ask me to tell you."

I held in a chuckle as he continued, "How about we make a deal. I answer each of your questions, and there's what twenty of you in here, but you have to in turn answer one of mine each."

The men muttered as my father nodded, "A fair trade. Very well, each of us will ask you a question, and in turn one question may be asked from you. But be careful how you ask because it can be no more then one. Your replies must be honest, or, if we find you in a lie, you will be left here in the sands."

Bakura's shadow's shoulders shook with a silent chuckle, "Very well. I'll start with this old man here." He pointed to Baal, one of the tradesmen and a close friend of my late grandfathers. Baal was an old man, and liked fine wines from the south. He drew in a pull from the old pipe and asked slowly.

"May we have your real name from you boy?"

I smirked seeing Bakura's shoulders droop some. He knew he wasn't going to trick these men easily. "I was called Bakura."

There was a soft murmur from the men, and then Bakura's voice rang out, "Who are you people?"

"We are traders from a small town far from the capital city."

Bakura nodded and thus the question came from the next man beside Baal, "What brought you to this oasis Bakura?"

"I was on the run from people that ruined my village." He replied then asked. "Why are you traveling this far?"

"Profits were down and we were going to visit a village that would buy items that other cities didn't want."

"So in short you were dumping your excess baggage," Bakura sniffed. The man's voice sounded annoyed.

"That is not right, but think what you wish."

"Are you from here, Bakura?" The third question was rather simple. He answered that he was from around the area. The turns went in quick succession. Where were his parents, he said they were gone, how long had they been gone, he wasn't sure. How did he get to the oasis, he walked. Did he have any family anywhere else, he didn't know for certain but he didn't believe so. What was his intention of staying on the oasis; to die there was his response. This gave pause so Bakura launched into his own set of questions in the silent lull.

How long had they been traveling, for many weeks replied the men. Who was their leader? Musad who had taken over after his father Donkor had passed on. Where they headed back to their home now, yes, and what was the name of the town, Chissi, a place that most did not know of. What did they carry with them; tools, cloth, spices and goods from the east, and whatever other traders traded them for. Were they intending on leaving him behind?

"That depends on how you answer tonight," said the fat man that had been the last to ask the question. Bakura nodded and sniffed as the next set questions assaulted him. He answered them as quickly as possible, keeping his eyes upon my father the whole time. Has he ever been the capital, no and he didn't intend on ever going. Who was his father, a man that most of them could only wish to be. Did he have any siblings, yes, but he wasn't going to tell them their names. Did he know why he was with them, yes because the girl with the green hair had explained it to him, and if that was so how much did she tell him. Enough that he knew that she was the daughter of Musad. And so on until it came time for the last two questions. Bakura's questions were more about the people in the camp, and how important they were.

"What is the name of your village Bakura?" asked Jahi my father's closest friend. Bakura stared hard at him as he spoke softly.

"It was Kul Elna." The whispers grew harder and Bakura stared at Jahi. "Why is it that you care what the name of my village was?"

"Because we were traveling there to sell our goods," Jahi explained to Bakura. I dared to peak my head in the tent flap, low so no one could see. Bakura stood ridged, his fists were clenched, and I could see the muscles beneath his skin quiver. His voice was cold, harsh and mocking.

"Then you're a bunch of fools."

The whispers grew harsh, and nineteen pairs of eyes glared upon the boy that stood before them. My father raised his hand to silence them and looked carefully into Bakura's eyes. I think he was a bit taken aback at the hardness to this child's face, because my father flinched some and his tone became kind.

"Bakura, you say we are fools for traveling to your village. It is not far from here, tell us why you feel that we are fools."

"Because you'll be traveling to a dead town," Bakura spat out then turned and walked away. Voices cried out for him to stay, asking what he meant by that, but my father just let him leave. I knew what he would do next. Have someone scout out the village and see if anything was a miss there. Bakura walked quietly in the moonlight. The fires were dead, the horses fed, and everyone was sleeping. It was the hour when the dead patrolled the night. I followed at a slow pace and, after a while, he asked.

"Aren't you going to ask me what happened?"

"No I heard it," I told him and he shrugged. There was something different in him now, he had kept something, but he knew it was going to be discovered soon enough. When he headed for the tent I grabbed his arm. He tried to shake me off and gave me a hard glare.

"Why not sleep outside tonight?"

"What? Why bother, you'd hate it." He said and ducked his head in. I grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled back.

"But I want to and I won't hate it."

"Fine. Then you sleep out here," he shoved me away.

"No," I grabbed him by the waist this time and he pulled at my arms.

"Get off me you crazy girl. What is wrong with you?"

"I want to know what happened to Kul Elna," I said and he stopped then gave me a hard shove to the ground glaring at me angrily.

"Don't you ever say that name, Witch of gnats! I'll cut your tongue out if you do."

"Then I'll write it," I spat back and got up. "That's what you were drawing on the floor wasn't it. Your village. You said you were the only one from there. What happened?"

"Why do you care!"

"Because of what you said, you said you wanted to die. If you're the last person alive from there, then you're the only one that knows the history of the city. And if you die it's lost forever. No one will remember it!" I blinked hard and glared at him. "And I did not go for three days of hell watching as you screamed with delirium and tried to run away." I held my fists at my side and trembled. "What rights have you to want to die? You survived for a reason, so don't go throwing that away. The gods had a reason for you to be saved."

He made a sort of snuffling and snorting sound then grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me down to the oasis. "You want to know…it was destroyed, by an army. They came in and killed everyone. I got away…and that's all I'm telling you." He tossed me onto the ground, and I found it rather soft. I laid there quietly terrified of what he was going to do, but, to my surprise he just lay down, and rested his head near the back of my neck and said quietly.

"My brother and I would sleep like this, when the nights grew too cold." Then the snappiness that I had grown accustomed to returned. "So don't go thinking I'm going to try anything. You're not good looking enough to do anything with."

I kicked him in the leg, and he let out a chuckle. For the longest time I just laid there watching the stars turn in the sky. After a while I drifted to sleep only to be woken by something heavy lying just over my arm, and was surprised to see Bakura had wrapped an arm around me. He snored softly, and I closed my eyes ignoring the flush that was heating my face.