AN: I love the spring breeze nowadays. It feels really nice at night, and the sun is great in the middle of the day. I like how the sunlight lasts longer, too. It really puts me in a good mood! I hope you enjoy the spring days, too!

Thanks to…

casaragi: Hehe, touch Ryou and you die, you thugs! Lol. Ryou is growing up fast, but he's not the only one growing, right? Bakura's learning, too! Thanks for the review!

Tails7651: Really? That's great to hear! I'm also glad that Ryou escaped from those guys…Thanks for the review!

dragonlady222: Yeah, I was going to do a little side story on Sera, but it would have had no relevance, really, to the story. She was really desperate, but selling out Ryou is definitely not going to sit well with anyone, especially Bakura. Thanks for the review!

FlyingShadow666: Erk, sorry! Lol. I try not to leave too many, but it's hard to find a good place to cut off! I don't want chapters to be like, ten pages long with updates every two weeks or so. I'll try to update sooner this time, like…say, Monday night? But no guarantees! I'll try hard, though! Thanks for the review!

Another AN: I don't know why everyone assumed that Bakura killed the thugs…maybe I portrayed it like that? Ehehe…Either way, they aren't dead. So…please read on!

Chapter Twenty One: Insight

What a stupid girl, Bakura thought cynically, wondering as to who the hell she was. He looked her over, unsure of what to say.

"They aren't dead," Bakura stated plaintively. He didn't know how else to put it.

The girl took a step back, still heavily panting. She had obviously been running to get here, but why?

Irritated, Bakura didn't like the fact that he didn't know who all these people were! "Who are you?"

The girl's eyes widened. She didn't say anything for a moment, her gaze going from Bakura to Ryou.

Bakura could feel Ryou tense up in his arms. He pieced two and two together. Immediately, he tightened his hold and growled, "If you want your companions to stay alive, then leave now."

Before the girl could protest, Bakura stood up and glared at her. "Go fetch someone to help them," he said, watching the girl's expression turn to surprise. "Linger any longer and I may just kill them."

Tears of confusion and hate appeared as the trader girl ducked her head and turned tail to find help. Halfway down the alleyeway, she stopped for a second and yelled back, "You'd better take good care of Ryuza! Make sure you don't lose sight of him again, ya hear? It's dangerous for a kid like him alone in the streets." Then she was off again.

Bakura watched her go, unconsciously shifting Ryou to his right side to ease the pain on his plated shoulder. You don't have to tell me that.

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At the Palace…
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Marik braced himself against the door with his men as the Romans on the other side tried to force their way into the dining hall. Behind him, a handful of archer stood at ready in case they failed to hold the enemy at the doors.

This is bad, Marik thought, soaked in sweat as he gritted his teeth. It was pure luck that the Pharaoh had been looking for Ryou that night, though on any other given night it would have been really bad. The route to Ryou's room was through the dining hall, where soldiers had made the Pharaoh halt. If the Pharaoh had been in his room, he would be dead by now.

We lost half the guard to the city festival…and no matter how many flares we set, no one's going to come since they thinks it's part of the party. Our forces were halved again during the surprise attack, where the Romans opened the main gate and flooded in.

The Captain glanced back for a brief second before turning back to the door. The Crown Prince was no where to be found, and Alec was still at the Pharaoh's room. Both were probably not going to survive the night.

No matter what, Bakura…Marik tightened his hold on his longsword. No matter what, you mustn't come back till sunrise. It should all be over by then.

Sending a prayer to Ra, Marik slowly exhaled and grimly encouraged his men.

However, they all knew what he knew; their chances of seeing tomorrow were close to none.

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Cairo
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The small candle flickered in a dark room, revealing two silhouettes on the bed. A basin of water and a few clothes were placed on the stand resting next to the bed. Sitting on the bed was a topless prince, and kneeling next to him was a thief.

"Bakura, I want to go home," Ryou murmured as the thief carefully soaked his exposed stomach.

The thief didn't hear him. He was frowning at the large bruise adorning the child's midsection, speckled with little splinters, regretting not hitting those thugs a bit harder. He dipped the cloth in water again and tried to coax the chips of wood out.

"Bakura, I want to go home!" Ryou whined, trembling slightly now.

"You should've been more careful," Bakura muttered, obviously not heeding the child's words.

"Bakura!" Out of frustration, Ryou brushed off the thief's arm and shouted, "I want to go home!"

There was a yelp as Bakura landed in a sitting position, cradling his left arm. He winced as his shoulder froze, sending a flare of pain up his limb. His muscles were still sore from the fighting it had sustained just moments before. Bakura would have barked back, but he felt he had no right. He was still a little mad at himself for losing sight of the prince in the crowd.

"I want to go home!" Ryou cried, pulling his legs in and sobbing. "I want to go home!"

Bakura bit back a sharp reply, clenching his jaw against the hell his arm was giving him. "We're going to leave for the palace soon," he said, his right hand groping blindly for the wet cloth he had dropped. "But not until I see to that wound of yours."

"My stomach's fine!" the child shouted, pushing Bakura away. He wanted to feel the comfort of having guarded walls and gates between him and the dangerous people. He never wanted to set foot in Cairo again.

He had been scared for his life for the first time that night. It had been different this time because he had been alone, and without power. Easily separated from his guardians, easily caught by the bad people. Usually he had authority. In the Palace, no one dared to disobey him or hit him or even yell at him except his brother and father. Yet outside, as a normal person, he didn't even have a voice.

Is that what it means to be a civilian of Egypt?

Someone wet gently touched his cheek. Ryou blinked, reeling back from his thoughts. With a worried look, Bakura was cautiously checking the slap that Ryou had received earlier for crying.

Instantly, Ryou felt absolutely dreadful.

"Eh? What's wrong, Ryou?"

His head bowed away, Ryou was crying again.

Bakura felt a pang of guilt. "Does it hurt?"

When the small hand reached out and took the damp cloth from Bakura's hand, the thief was a little surprised. Still confused at Ryou's sudden change of manner, Bakura didn't say a word as Ryou couldn't bring himself to look at his eyes.

"I'm sorry," the child whispered. "I…" Ryou gently rolled up Bakura's left sleeve as the thief frowned. "I'm acting like Nyq, aren't I?"

With a shaking hand, Ryou took care to not press too hard as he cleansed the blood-drenched shoulder of the thief he had taken more than just the life of.

And it only further pained and pleased him to know that he didn't mind.

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AN: It's not over yet! Marik's still in trouble, as is everyone else! Please review, and tell me what you think of the ending of this chapter (if it was at all confusing). Thanks for reading!