AN: I made it on time! (Then again, it IS Spring Break…) Well, hope you enjoy the next part of PT.

Thanks to…

dragonlady222: This 'other side' of Ryou is quite commanding. And I agree, the Pharoah can be an idiot sometimes. Poor Bakura…all he did was save the prince. Thanks for the review!

The Vampire Prince: Yup, Ryou's growing into a good prince. I hope Kura's okay, too. Thanks for the review!

Chapter Four: Monster

Ryou was short of breath now, and growing worried. He had checked all the dungeons and he hadn't found Bakura. For some reason, though he barely knew the thief, he felt scared of what may have happened to him and that he may be too late.

The child cursed under his breath, using language any normal prince wouldn't have known. His heart felt like it was in his throat, clogging his airway, making his world spin.

He didn't know where to check anymore. Gritting his teeth and refusing to give up and cry, the little prince sprinted up the stairs and made his way toward the guard's barracks. The soldiers would know where Nyq was, wouldn't they?

The sun hit the child's vision full blast and blinded him for a moment. However, because Ryou knew exactly where he was going, he kept running, not fearing any collisions since no one would dare run into him.

Slowly color returned, and he saw the granite courtyard expand into a large arena filled with long buildings. He kept running, heading straight for the open field in the middle of the gargantuan soldier's quarters. Dust was everywhere, and it was collecting onto his white tunic and gold cape.

Maverick's red hair was bobbing in the distance, his practice sword brandished in his hand. A few weeks ago, Ryou would have been fascinated by the man's swordplay, but after seeing Bakura and Alec fight, Maverick didn't seem very remarkable.

"Maverick!" Ryou called, running up to the soldier he had once looked up to. "Do you know where Nyq is?"

The redhead blinked, his sword halting in midair. Confusion was writ all over his face. "Excuse me, my prince?" he asked, as if he had heard wrong.

"The Crown Prince! Where is he?" Ryou demanded to know.

Little did the child know that many people were not used to him sounding like actual royalty. Having him demand something was shocking to them.

"T-The blacksmith's forge," Maverick stuttered, and quickly added, "my prince."

Ryou called back a 'thank you' before taking off again. The sanded walls of the barracks blurred into the background as he focused on the trail that would take him to the blacksmith's.

Please don't be too late…he prayed, begging Ra to slow the cycle of the sun in hopes of granting him more time.

Smoke and burnt metal reached his nose before the forge came into sight. It was huge, complete with three different areas where crafting and smithing was done. The first one, used for shodding horses, was faced out toward the entrance. The other two were hidden in the back, and the little prince knew Nyq was in one of them.

Ryou slid to a stop and ran right in, being instantly thrown back into the dark and stifling heat. He slowed a little, feeling his way by throwing his hands out in front of him. It was difficult to breathe with the stuffy air. Sometimes he scuffed his feet on scattered tools and little metal scraps. It didn't occur to him that he didn't know what he was going to do when he found his brother.

Red flared into his vision, and he saw a crouched form, positioned right in front of the fire. Gold was donned on the person's head.

"Nyq!" Ryou shouted, stalking right up to the Crown Prince.

Surprised, the elder straightened. Most of him was engulfed in shadow, except for his face. His golden eyes grew wider as they took in Ryou.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked in an incredulous voice.

Ryou was about to throw an insult back until he saw, behind his brother, sprawled on the ground, the crippled body of the thief.

He fought hard against the flood of tears. He wasn't crying, not in pain and fear, but in anger. Anger for what had been done to his rescuer.

The snowy hair was clearly no longer white, being sullied so much from the ground. The trembling naked form was covered in burns, dirt, and bruises, and some things that looked like welts. His hands were bound in some metallic rings, and there was something terribly wrong with the teen's left shoulder.

"Ryou! Get out," Nyq ordered, planting his feet firmly. When his brother didn't move, the older one shoved him. He was very very tempted to show his younger brother a world of hurt after his failure in civilly breaking in the new slave. In his wrath he had done terrible things, but it all felt so good to take revenge on that smirking little bastard. "Are you deaf? I said get out!"

Ryou fell to the ground backwards, but his eyes never left Bakura. "W-why…why'd you…do that to him?" Ryou stammered, his own body aching just from seeing the thief's wounds.

Nyq let out a snarl. "He won't fcking break! Damn the bastard!" In his fury, Nyq turned and kicked the teen lying on the ground.

Another scream tore into the air, wrenching the child's heart with an iron grip. The little prince gave a small cry, pain taking over his mental state. He saw Nyq kick the thief again, demanding silence.

He grabbed the first thing he saw, which happened to be a sword with its tip still in the furnace. With a scream of his own, Ryou drove it deep into his brother's side.

Without seeing his brother fall, Ryou rushed forward and bent down, pulling the thief's head onto his lap. He heard his brother gagging but he chose to ignore him. The thief's eyes were shut tight as he shook, his body rigid with pain and cold. How can he be cold in this place? His breathing was labored, and it hurt Ryou to see him like this. With a wavering hand, the little prince touched the thief's face. He quickly withdrew it as the teen flinched, his body cringing. Ryou choked back a sob as he pulled Bakura closer.

"Nyq, you monster!" he screamed, his eyes slammed shut. He didn't care that his brother was in agony, possibly dying. How could he have done this to his thief? Ryou sobbed as he yanked his cape off, using it to warm the teen and cover his exposed form at the same time. As he pulled his arm back from tucking the cape around Bakura's waist, something cold brushed his elbow.

Bakura cried out, recoiling in pain. Ryou stared at the shoulder, disbelief clouding his mind.

"Nyq…what…" Ryou carefully examined the shoulder his hands shaking. What he saw confirmed his suspicions, and threw him into a rage. Melded right into the skin was a silver plate taking up the entire left shoulder, front and back…with the little prince's name engraved in it.

AN: Reviews, please? I hope it was good enough…