AN: I was going to update sooner, but I've been caught up with school all week. I slept in all Spring Break, and then had to get up at seven in the morning! Which is really hard after all that sleeping in… Anyhow, one class took up all my time. I mean, the teacher would tell me that he was going to be in the classroom at eight in the morning to let me in to finish my tests. And what a surprise, he wasn't there half the time. Geez, thank god it's Friday.

To apologize for the late chapter, I sort of combined two into one, and made this one a little longer. Please enjoy!

Thanks to…

flyingshadow666: I'm sorry it took so long to update! School is really hard right now, because my extracurricular activities are throwing everything off. I need to start organizing my schedule more neatly! I'll update by Sunday. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks for the review!

dragonlady222: Yes, Ryou is really making strong bonds, and with great people. The prince he is becoming is maturing as well. Thanks for the review!

Mystik Genie: lol. You're an entertaining one. I'm sorry it took so long to bring the next chapter. I really had no time at all this week. I promise the next chapter, Nine, will be up by Sunday. Thanks for the review!

Anime WarriorSkye: Marik's still kind of cute in his own sort of way though. I'm glad I don't have really short chapters…I know when I first started posting, they were kind of short. This one is kind of long, though, this chapter…Thanks for the review, and I'm sorry it's late! Stupid school is ruining my life sometimes…but I know it'll help in the long run.

The Vampire Prince: They do, don't they? But that just goes to show how much they care for Ryou, though Bakura may not seem like it. This chapter is a little longer, so I hope you like it. Thanks for the review!

Chapter Eight: Foiled Again

"Out only for lunch, though. We have to be back before dinner…mainly because I have night watch duty tonight," Marik explained once again, when they were making their way toward the city.

"Sure, sure," Bakura said, waving his warning away. "Let the kid enjoy his day."

Ryou, who was obviously not used to be outside palace walls, couldn't believe that no one gave his little entourage weird looks. Three hooded figures walking in broad daylight in the busy streets of Cairo attracted no special attention whatsoever, and that was a little hard for him to wrap his head around.

But the child didn't dwell on that train of thought for very long. Soon, his attention was averted toward the many vendors in the street. Tents were pitched high enough to provide shade for customers, with small tables boasting intricate wares. Sometimes they sold food, others fortunes, but for the most part, it was accessories such as jewelry and small weaponry.

Watching the child eye the many goods in the market, Bakura pointedly stopped at one particular one that had seemed to captivate the young prince.

"I want to look at some things," the snow-haired teen bluntly explained, looking at a small dagger.

From the corner of his eye, Bakura saw Ryou brighten as he slowly went over all the rare artifacts and accessories before running a hand across a particular ivory charm. Carved to match the shape of a hawk, the vendor enthusiastically said it brought good health to anyone who carried it.

Of course, Bakura didn't believe what the man had to say, but the way Ryou gazed at the charm told him the child believed it.

Marik watched Bakura study the little prince, regretting the fact that he had only brought enough money for lunch. Bakura, on the other hand, had an entire different matter in his mind.

I won't see him again after this, he argued mentally. I'm leaving him after the meal…I might as well buy him something to remember me by. But what if he didn't want to remember? A stubborn Bakura smugly smirked as he rebelliously thought, Too bad.

Wordlessly, Bakura dug a hand into a pocket and dug out a small bag. It clinked as he threw it on the table. He swept the charm off the table as the vendor, after looking at his payment, humbly bowed.

Little did the thief know that the charm he had bought for the prince would be treasured far more than his crown.

Ryou happily skipped ahead, wary of not straying too far from his companions. Mingling with the common mass of people sent thrills of excitement running through his veins, making him giddy with excess energy. The way Marik and Bakura bickered like an old couple, and laughed and joked with each other made the little prince really enjoy the morning.

Eventually they reached the center of the main district, where a grand temple stood. On either side of the entrance stood a thin tower with a pyramidal top. The obelisk had hieroglyphics running down all four sides, striking further awe into the little prince who carefully examined them.

As Ryou hesitantly reached out to touch one, a temple priest came down on him. Furious, the holy man shouted, "Mangy cur! Get your hands away from this sacred relic!"

Startled, Ryou quickly took a step back and nearly tripped. Bakura and Marik both caught him. Bakura started toward the priest with malicious intent clearly written on his face, but Marik hurriedly steered the child and the thief away. At a safe distance, Ryou looked at his two guardians and grinned. "I've never been talked to like that before."

Bakura stared at the child before he burst out laughing, while Marik suppressed a smile. This thief's peculiar behavior today was really starting to confuse him…first he buys the prince a gift, then he gets angry about someone insulting the child? It was all so confusing… Especially because the scene of Bakura making a outrageous comment about the little prince resembling a girl still lingered in his mind. Marik ushered them away from the temple, murmuring something about lunch.

As they continued their way to the tavern that Marik had in mind, they strode up a well-trodden street. Ryou led the way, looking this way and that, as Marik and Bakura walked side by side behind him.

Marik said something to Bakura, right before someone rammed into Bakura's left shoulder. An icy chill ran up his arm, so cold that it burned. The thief winced, grabbing his shoulder. Marik moved to assist him, not realizing that he was actually worried about the thief, but Bakura shook his head as Ryou, who had been a few steps ahead of them, turned around.

"What's the matter?" he asked, having unquestionably no idea about Bakura's collision.

"Nothing," Bakura said plainly, straightening, clearing any sign of pain in his eyes. He glared at Marik as the captain hesitated. It hurt like hell, but he wasn't going to let it ruin Ryou's possible last day with him.

Marik stared at the thief, his face blank as his mind was baffled. What was with this guy? Wasn't he just a common thief? Before Ryou grew suspicious, Marik shrugged and pointed down the street. "We're almost there. Let's hurry."

They took their afternoon meal in an open, yet covered, veranda overlooking the busy bodies that rumbled about the town square. Ryou couldn't stop watching all the people as they chatted, laughed, hollered, screamed, chased, bickered, and greeted each other. There were too many things happening that he wanted to watch. The lives of normal people were such an interesting and foreign thing to him, and he wanted to see what his brother always referred to as the 'inferior' race.

They don't seem any lesser than us…except our clothes are more fancy, Ryou thought, puzzled.

As he intently watched all the people from under his hood, Marik and Bakura engaged in a rather controversial conversation on government.

Ryou, in hopes of learning something that could make him useful around his home, turned away from the view and faced the thief and captain.

"-monarchy has been standing for quite some time," Marik said.

"Monarchy?" Bakura exclaimed in disbelief. "You call this a monarchy? If the Pharaoh doesn't do something soon, there's going to be rebellion."

Marik frowned, his eyes narrowing. "You are talking treason, Bakura."

Grinning, Bakura leaned back in his chair. This guy…is so clueless. "Treason is for diplomats. I'm just a thief who does what he wants."

"I'm sure," Marik muttered, taking up his glass of water.

"What's a monarchy?" Ryou asked curiously. When both the pairs of eyes looked at him funny, the child looked down. "Am I supposed to know?" he shyly asked.

"It's…" Bakura paused, seeing Marik smirking. He scoffed. "You explain, Marik. I don't think I could give him a straight answer without any bias." Then the thief got up, stretching slightly. "I'm going to see what's taking them so long to bring the food out, m'kay?"

Marik nodded, and engaged into a lecture with his prince, who intently paid as much attention as he could.

Bakura leisurely made his way downstairs, entering the loud and cool clay tavern that was situated beneath the veranda where they were taking lunch. As he poked his head into the kitchen to find someone who he could complain to, short stubby black hair caught his eye.

Immediately, Bakura forgot his current objective and strode angrily toward the black-haired man who was huddled in a corner with another kitchen maid.

What felt like decades ago was in reality only a week or two. Previously, before his capture, Bakura had been sheltered by a gang of street rats and thieves for a short while, and one of the members were standing right there.

"Ari…" he growled, his hands reaching for the man's neck.

Slowly, the man said, "Yes?" as he glanced over his shoulder.

Hands loosely wrapped themselves around his neck as someone playfully choked him. The man laughed before pretending to run out of air. "Bakura! Please! Release me!" he gasped, waving his arms wildly in front of him.

The maid gave the man a happy look before scuttling off. Bakura saw the man wink at her before she left.

Bakura let go, his eyes glinting in vivacity as his friend faced him and smiled in complete relief.

"Geez, you have no idea how worried I was about you," the man called Ari started, his shoulders sagging.

"Don't even," Bakura said, shaking his head. "You were the reason I got caught and branded as a slave, you idiot."

"Are you mad about it?" Ari asked, concern heavy in his voice. "I really didn't mean for you to get caught, Bakura. Did they try to break you?"

The thief waved it off, trying not to recall any experience of being 'broken in'. More like killed, he thought heatedly, but he pushed that thought away. "Those papers we stole…the ones that resulted in my capture. Why did we even bother stealing those? Were they really worth risking your life for?"

Bakura was curious as to what exactly they had stolen. Ari had even gambled his life for some hieroglyphics written on papyrus. If Bakura knew Ari as well as he thought he did, then he knew for sure that the Egyptian street rat would not put his life on the line unless it was something very important.

"It's…needed for Yami's plan," Ari whispered, looking down. "I'm sorry, Bakura, I really didn't mean to get you caught."

"His plan, huh? To retake his territory? So the gang's still at it?"

Ari blushed. "You mustn't speak of it so carelessly," he sadly said. "Please don't mock our hard work."

"My bad," Bakura murmured, looking away. He felt a pang of guilt when he realized he really didn't care about his old life with the other thieves and street rats. Their struggle…it was just ridiculous to him now. It's a good thing I'm leaving tonight, then.

Ari sighed dejectedly. "I wish I had the time to sit and chat, but I have to get started. Tèa wants some kid assassinated tonight. The gang really could use your help," he added, looking hopefully at his friend.

"I didn't agree to kill anyone when I became a part of it," Bakura frankly stated.

"It's the first step," Ari whispered, enthusiasm racing through the twenty-three-year-old's voice. "We've just started, though, so it's just a measure of revenge."

"I'm not a part of it anymore," Bakura quietly said. "I'm out."

Ari couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Did they really break you to become their dog?" Ari scornfully said, suddenly a little cross. "Are you actually a slave now?"

Bakura gave a small smile, amused, as his eyes dangerously flashed. "Me, a slave?" The thief sighed, shaking his head. "Besides, I'm leaving them today. I'm leaving Cairo today."

Taken aback for a second, Ari quickly recovered. "Then does that mean we won't be expecting any help from you even-"

"Nothing." Bakura inwardly sighed.

Ari studied his friend, who he probably wouldn't consider a friend for much longer, so he switched subjects. "Well, then, it was nice seeing you, Bakura. It really was." He gave a genuine smile as he said, "I'm really glad you're okay. You have no idea. And now…"

"I know. No ties left uncut. So who is it?" Bakura asked, getting ready to leave as well. He didn't want to keep his two companions upstairs wondering about his disappearance just yet. "Who are you going to silence tonight?"

"I don't know his name. He's a guy that, er, imprisoned Tèa's lover, I think…" Ari frowned, trying to recall his assignment. "He's the one Tèa spotted about a week ago, patrolling the palace."

As Bakura was waving a farewell, he jerked to a stop. "How old is the target?" he asked, a little unsure as to why he was even asking.

"Hm…ah, I believe he's some militant officer."

"Description?"

"All I know is that he's some sort of high-up guy who's got the night shift tonight."

Bakura stared at the man before he broke out laughing. Ari was incredulous as Bakura murmured, "I can't believe this."

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AN: Wow, that was long. Sorry if it was two long. Think of it was two chapters in one, though, for being late. I hope to update before Monday of next week. Please leave a review! They're always really nice to see. - I'd like to know if it was a little confusing. If so, I'll try to clarify.