AN: Holy cow, can't say I didn't get sunburned from my trip to Peru! It was sooo fun, yet so tiring. On the first day, I was dying from the flight. And when I came back, I got really lazy about everything (not a good thing). That would include updating PT, and I'm really sorry for not getting on top of things. Here's the next chapter!

Thanks to…

casaragi: Wow, you must really not like Nyq. Lol. A pure 'accident' to end the Crown Prince's life, huh? Spooky, if you think about it. Could Ryou really take a life? Thanks for the review!

Shamise: No problem, and thank you! It was really really cool. I even got to visit a desert! (I nearly died of heat, but I didn't stay long enough to experience the nighttime weather). Thanks for the review!

FlyingShadow666: I was hoping to update sooner, but I fell behind. Sorry. I had a great time in Peru. I think the most fascinating part for me was the desert. Oh, my god! Lol. It was pretty sweet. Thanks for the review!

dragonlady222: Hey, I think so, too! Ryou with a bow sounds much more exciting than him with a sword, because then Bakura and Marik and Ryou would have swords, you know? (Well, Bakura's got knives, really). Thanks for the review!

Anei Aikouka: I don't think the healers could keep Bakura in bed But I agree wholeheartedly with you. I'm glad you liked the chapters, and I hope you enjoy this next one. Thanks for the review, and I hope you had fun camping!

Chapter Eighteen: Stirring

There was the sound of a solid thud as Bakura hopped off of the fencepost he had been sitting on. Glancing up at the sky, the thief noted the fast-approaching sunset. It was time to finish. He crossed the open yard in no time with his wide strides, closing the distance between him and the prince.

"Ryou, I think it's about time we head back in," he said, ruffling the child's hair. "It's late enough as it is. A little longer, and the sun will disappear as will your vision."

Ryou regretfully nodded, taking off the arrow he had just notched on his beloved bow. He was still getting used to firing the weapon, but already his aim and speed were improving. Just recently, he had been able to string and unstring the bow alone, as he was doing now.

The teen watched him, feeling a little pride and accomplishment. In a short period of time, Ryou had learned the basics of archery much faster than he had the basics of swordplay. Watching the child butt heads with the challenge of bettering himself further each day made him realize just how badly Ryou had yearned for the power to protect.

Carefully placing the waxed string into his pouch, Ryou slung his bow over his shoulder and asked Bakura, "Does Marik have night watch again?"

Bakura nodded, leading the way back inside. Their footsteps echoed freely in the empty hallway as night continued to fall.

"He gets off sometime in the early morning," Bakura went on, stretching as he walked. He was cautious of his left arm, since it still pained him sometimes if he taxed it too far. "We can wait for him before we leave, but he said that he would probably be too tired to go."

Ryou bit his lip, thinking. "And you? Do you still want to go?"

"If you're having second thoughts, we don't have to."

"That's not the question, Bakura," Ryou stated, pausing in front of their destination. "Do you want to go?"

Bakura gave the child a mischievous smile. "What do you think?"

Shaking his head, Ryou entered his room as he called behind him, "You can never give a straight answer." Bending down in front of a chest located at the foot of his bed, the little prince gently stowed away his bow and arrows. Then he stood up and grabbed his cloak.

I guess we're going, Bakura thought, picking up his own cloak.

For the last few weeks, once every seven days, Bakura and Marik made an effort to provide Ryou every chance to visit Cairo. Of course, it was always at night, and never before a big day. They took care to make sure no one knew of the little prince's midnight excursions, and to ensure Ryou's identify be kept secret throughout the entire trip. Despite the simplicity of it all, the two teens were struggling with keeping it a secret.

It was also getting to be a thing that Bakura really looked forward to.

"-kura…Whiteylocks!"

Bakura jolted to attention, looking for the person calling his name. Already standing at the balcony, ready to leave, was Ryou.

"You don't respond to your own name, but to Whiteylocks?" Ryou asked, scrunching his nose as he giggled.

Bakura growled playfully, treading softly onto the balcony. "You've got white hair, too, smart one."

Before the child could make a comeback, Bakura pulled him close and jumped.

Ryou gasped, surprised at first before he felt the exhilaration of flying as Bakura leapt for the tree next to his room. When they landed safely, Bakura released him and they both scaled down the somewhat withered tree until they reached the ground. From there, it was flat out ducking and sprinting until they reached the Palace Gardens.

If father saw me now…Ryou thought, referring to sneaking out to see Cairo. It had been a while since Ryou had had a crash in with his father. The reason for why he had always struggled with understanding his father hadn't occurred to him until the dreadful fire incident.

He was always trying to appease someone who obviously didn't give a damn.

The Pharaoh was as cold to his sons as he was to the rest of his royal court. Only in public did he try to act like an actual parent. When Ryou had come to this conclusion, the initial emotion was anger. What kind of father was that pathetic sod who sat on the throne of Egypt? His desire to be a good parent only sparked when it looked great for his image in front of the people. Otherwise, there seemed to be no connection between Ryou and the Pharaoh of Egypt.

Then the thought of 'dying alone' had hit the child. Without friends or family, which the Pharaoh had none of, who would be with the man if he were dying? Compared to all other deaths, dying alone seemed to be the worst. In fact, that was Ryou's greatest fear.

A shiver ran down the child's spine. He didn't want to think about it, especially not on a special night like this.

"Ryou, hurry up!" Bakura whispered, standing with his hands together to boost the prince over the gated gardens.

I can't live my life trying to please father forever, the little prince thought, slowly moving toward the thief. For now, I think I…I should try to live the way I want.

The little prince dashed right up to Bakura, solidly placing a foot on Bakura's handhold.

For the split second during which Bakura could see Ryou, he saw a small smile of satisfaction before he launched the child up and over the gate.

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On the outskirts of Cairo
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"Listen, Roman¸" a voice hissed with spite. "We do things my way."

"I don't agree with this…plan of attack," a thickly accented man earnestly argued. "It's taking everything too far, for such a small palace guard."

"Sure, if you only looked at the personal bodyguards of the Pharaoh. But they have the barracks of the Egyptian army established and based around the Palace, foreigner! Against their force of fifty hundred, what do we have?" The speaker shoved his face closer to the Roman soldier's. "Fifty. We have fifty men, not all properly suited for a fight."

"We can use a special unit to annihilate the Pharaoh, Ari," the foreigner insisted. "We do not have to blindly rush in and launch a surprise attack that will surely end in failure."

There was a ripple of murmurs that obviously agreed. Ari fought down a wave of anger as he was reminded of the fact that over half his meager forces were Romans. The only thing that made him bear the humiliation of allying himself with the main enemy of Egypt was the thought of smugly achieving his revenge as Bakura watched on in envy.

"Fine, a special unit…only of seven men."

"Five."

Ari gritted his teeth, his patience almost at an end. "Five then…but we attack tonight. You and I included. You pick two members, I'll pick one."

Turning away to find his most trusted companion, Juno, Ari narrowed his eyes and balled his hands into fists as he thought, Bakura, I will do what you have failed to do.

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AN: Sorry about it being so late! I'll try to update by Sunday night (as in, I'll do it no matter what). Thanks for the reviews, and thanks for the great support!