AN: I'm still deciding on some things in the plot, and this chapter here is something I ended up changing at the last minute. I hope you enjoy! (Please don't kill me over the title).

Thanks to…

casaragi: Hehe, I did, too. I guess jealousy is new to Bakura, since he's probably been able to steal most of the things he's wanted, though what he wanted was probably all tangible in the past. Thanks for the review! I don't think the ending of this chapter will really 'catch' you, though.

dragonlady222: Yeah, Ryou will definitely get some from his brother. Bakura, due to his jealousy, may stick close by, or may not. Read on to find out, lol. Thanks for the review!

Mystik Genie: You know, it's your review that made me decide to update a day sooner. Lol. I was already like, 'Maybe I will…' but when I read yours, I was like, 'Alright! I'll do it!' Thanks for the review! Though I don't think this is one of the best chapters I've written, because I revised the ending at the last minute…I hope you like it.

Shamise: You're welcome! Heh, your thanks seriously added fuel to my tank for updating sooner (read the above reply). Thanks for the review!

The Vampire Prince: Hey, thanks a lot! Yeah, Bakura was shocked beyond reason when Ryou didn't refuse his brother. I'm glad I'm making some progress on character development, eheh. Thanks for the review!

Anime WarriorSkye: Marik is well on the way to recovery, though he is in no condition to fight. Lol. Yay for Bakura indeed! Thanks for the review!

Chapter Fourteen: Beginning of His Death

"Stupid! I said down block!"

Thwack.

Ryou winced, the wooden play-sword biting into one of his legs. Nyq ruthlessly continued his onslaught, shouting whenever he messed up a command. As punishment, he had earlier stated that if the child did not play attention to orders, then he had every right to hit him.

"Up, you hopeless idiot! Keep your sword arm up!"

Thwack!

There was a clatter as Ryou's weapon fell to the floor. He held his hand tightly, fighting back the urge to cry. This was too hard, he wanted to quit.

"Pick it up, Ryou," Nyq said, turning away and resuming his fighting stance. When Ryou didn't move, and just glared at him with wet chocolate eyes, Nyq scoffed. "Do you want to learn or not? Are you always going to be a wuss?"

Ryou said nothing, hurt by his brother's words. He wanted nothing more than to be able to protect the people he held close, but all this time and effort seemed worthless. He wasn't improving in the whole week he had been training, and it hurt. Not only physically, but emotionally. Why couldn't he be as good as Bakura? Or as fast as Alec? Or as determined as Marik? He wanted to get stronger, but he wasn't getting any better.

"Either quit wasting my time, or pick that thing up!" Nyq snarled. "If you want to be strong, you had better start getting use to the pain."

Without a word Ryou bent down and gingerly lifted the sword. He blinked back tears as he tentatively assumed the fighting stance his brother had taught him.

And away they went again.

At a distance, from the watchtower of the Palace overlooking the grain fields where Ryou and Nyq were sparring, stood Bakura.

Marik was next to him, leisurely leaning against the railing as Bakura continued to gaze at his little prince secretly.

"No, no, Ryou, keep your feet moving," Bakura muttered, his brow furrowed. "That's right, good low block…side step! Ugh, no, no. Ryou, you've got to-"

"BAKURA!" Marik shook the thief's shoulders, trying to avert his attention to him. "Bakura, Ryou can't hear you right now. Quit coaching him when he can't even hear you!"

There was a pause as Bakura shut his mouth, but his lavender eyes followed the two forms in the fields.

"If the fact that Ryou chose Nyq over you, which he really didn't but you like to think he did, really bothers you, then tell him!" Marik was fed up with Bakura's rants at how Nyq was the worst teacher in the history of Egypt, or how Nyq was so pathetic in his ways as a fighter that he only felt confident when he towered over someone who didn't even know how to hold a sword properly.

Bakura heaved a sigh, frustrated. He felt restless, with all this energy and jealousy (though he denied it) coursing through his system. And besides, today, his left shoulder didn't hurt as much as usual. "Maybe I'll go for a horse ride, or visit the city."

"To cool off?"

"What do you think?"

"Don't take your angers out on me, Bakura," Marik warned, slightly frowning.

Bakura clenched his fists and made a sound. "I so need something to strangle right now."

Marik gave a small laugh, already halfway to the staircase. "Find something to strangle in the city. Come on."

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In the Wheat Fields a Few Hours Later…
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Nyq let out a yawn, dropping his sword behind him. "Geez, I didn't even get a decent workout."

Ryou stared at the ground, embarrassed and utterly humiliated. "Nyq, stop," he begged, clenching his fists.

The older looked at the little prince without actually looking at him. "Do…you want to try again after dinner?" There wasn't a reply. Nyq cleared his throat, explaining, "The only way someone as bad as you is going to get better is more training. So how about we try again tonight?"

"Okay."

"But we can't do it in the wheat fields. It'll be too dark, and lighting a lamp in wheat field isn't exactly the smartest thing to do." Nyq smiled. "How about…let's try the training grounds?"

Ryou immediately shook his head. "Not there…please."

"You're picky, little brother. What about the stables?"

The younger prince didn't object.

"Then I'll see you there after dinner, Ryou."

"Okay."

The Crown Prince parted ways with him, to go to his room to change for supper. Ryou also dragged himself toward his room, hoping that Bakura wasn't in there. If he was, it would pain Ryou to face him. Bakura seemed to be mad about something, and it only made it harder for Ryou because he was having a great struggle with the physical toll on his body already.

He feebly pushed open the door, and found no one in his room. Ryou didn't question the whereabouts of his thief and Captain, for he was relieved that his failure today would not be witnessed by the very people he was trying to look after. He quickly changed into a tunic with a cape over it, so that he could just pull the cape off when Nyq and him resumed their sword lessons.

Dinner was absolutely painstakingly slow. Ryou didn't eat much, knowing that he would regret it later that night, but he couldn't help it. Just thinking about how much progress he was making made his stomach churn.

It wasn't fair! Why couldn't he be good at swords, or fighting in general? Why did he have to be so pathetic and useless? He was useless enough at home, and now even in battle? Ryou stabbed a grape on his plate, and missed.

The grating of the fork against the plate made everyone look up at him in surprise. Ryou blushed as Nyq, who had been conversing with Alec, frowned. The little prince quietly set his silverware down and excused himself. He would just go wait at the stables for his brother.

As soon as he stepped out of the dining hall, the cool night chill wrapped itself around his body. Ryou shivered, pulling his cape closer around his body as he trekked toward his destination. It was only when he got there, and was sheltered from the winds by the creaking walls, that he noticed that he had forgot his sword.

Cursing softly, the little prince heaved himself to his feet again. He would have to go back and get it, wouldn't he? As he stepped out of the stall where he had been trying to keep warm, he noticed the stables were quite empty. Most of the horses were missing and the little light provided by the many oil lamps were not enough to banish shadows from the crevasses.

Ryou looked up and down the only wooden structure in the premises of the Palace, trying to catch a glimpse of a stablehand. All he saw was stacks upon stacks of straw, even in the loft it looked like. He shrugged, and was about to return to his room to retrieve his sword when Nyq and Alec walked in.

"Oh, Nyq…and Alec." Ryou's face fell, and he averted his gaze from Alec. After Bakura had beat him, he wasn't sure how he was supposed to act in front of the white man.

Nyq sensed his brother's uncomfortable air, and quickly said, "Alec is here to help you with the training."

There was a mute nod from Ryou as he scuffed his foot against the ground. "I forgot to bring the sword," he murmured. He didn't want Alec to be here! It was hard enough to bear with his brother criticizing him. "I'm going to go get it now."

As he moved to leave the stables, Nyq extended an arm and held him back. "You won't need it tonight. This training is to toughen you up." The Crown Prince gently pushed him back. "Get ready."

The warning was not adequate, no where near. Ryou found himself staring at the ceiling as he struggled to breathe when Alec tackled him. Then, everything that goes up must come down, and down came Ryou with a thunderous crash.

Everything flashed white, then there were spots of black.

The child hacked up half of his dinner, unsteadily bracing himself on his hands and knees. Nyq was talking, probably telling him why he was doing this, but it wasn't registering to Ryou. He couldn't hear anything as his stomach felt like it had been punched out and then back into place.

"Get up," the accented voice commanded. "All you have to do is dodge my blows."

"I-I can't," Ryou whimpered, trembling. "You're too fast."

Something made contact with his stomach. He slid back, on his side. That definitely left a burn.

Ryou started crying. Why was Nyq letting the white man do this to him? Wasn't he his brother? Why was his father's bodyguard hurting him? How come Nyq wasn't helping him?

Where's Bakura?

There was echoing as heavy footsteps drew closer to the fallen prince. Ryou shrank away, scared of being hurt, scared of being kicked. Rough hands jerked him up, shoving him against a stack of straw.

Ryou found himself staring at gray eyes. He slammed his eyes closed, his entire body tensing in anticipation of a blow.

He had guessed right. Alec drew him back and smashed him against the wall of hay.

Then there was a yelp and a scream. Ryou grunted as he fell to the ground. When he came to his senses, he realized why Alec had suddenly released him.

The shards of a shattered oil lamp were scattered to the right of him. His mind trying to think through mud, Ryou's eyes followed the short trail of flame directly to the haystacks behind him.

He blinked.

"Ryou!"

The little prince, as if in a dream, turned to face the person who called to him. It was his brother, who stood on the other side of the fire.

Who stood on the other side…

Ryou lurched to his feet, panic-stricken, and whirled around in a complete circle. The fire had blazed its way across the stacks of straw and set fire to most of the ones on the first floor, sending some of them toppling. And blocking his escape.

Ryou fell to his knees, his mind numb, as he came to comprehend that he was trapped. Trapped in the burning stables of the oldest structures of the Palace, with no way of getting out.

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AN: At the last minute, I redid the entire ending of the chapter. I hope it didn't turn out too bad…please review! I think the next chapter will be up by Friday night.