Chapter 7

The next morning Seto and Jou reported to the Pharaoh. They recounted the adventure they had had the night before then waited for him to absorb the information. "So you both escaped unharmed?" Yami asked. Jou and Seto nodded. "That is good. So what do you plan to do now?"

"Take a group of soldiers into the desert to find Bakura," Seto answered immediately.

Yami smiled slightly. "I thought as much. You don't think anyone who was in the tavern last night will have warned the thief then?"

"Otogi said the guy was pretty secretive so I don't think that anyone else would know how to find and warn him," Jou reasoned.

Yami nodded. "How long do you think it will take to find the oasis?"

"Well the desert's an awful big place…" Jou said before trailing off.

"I doubt the oasis will be more than a day's ride from here," said Seto. "The thief would have to carry provisions otherwise and if he was forced to make a quick escape he would be in trouble without said provisions. If we ride on swift horses we should have the thief apprehended in two weeks at the most."

Yami nodded slowly as he looked for a flaw in Seto's reasoning. "You'll want to lead the search party I presume," he stated more than asked his cousin.

Seto nodded. "If I start making preparations now we should be able to set off before sunset."

"Very well, I leave the preparations to you. Take care Seto. If you have not found Ryou after two weeks please return here so that we can rethink what is to be done."

Seto stood and bowed to his king. He then headed towards the exit but stopped when he reached the door. "Aren't you coming Mutt?" he asked, turning to look over his shoulder at Jou.

Jou was taken aback by the question. "What? You actually want me to come with you?" he asked incredulously.

"Of course," Seto replied with a smirk. "I need someone to entertain me." He then left, chuckling softly.

Jou's shock turned into anger. He jumped to his feet, hand clenched into a fist. "Why that…How dare he? When I get my hands on that stuck up little…" He stopped his furious half sentences when he realized he was about to curse in the Pharaoh's presence.

Yami smiled calmly at him. "You need to work on finishing your insults or Seto will eat you alive."

Jou nodded, blushing slightly. "I just wasn't expecting it that was all. I'll have the best comeback ever ready next time he insults me though."

With that Jou left the pharaoh to his thoughts. Yami shook his head, an amused smile on his face. Those two were at it again. He pitied the poor unfortunate soldiers chosen to help them on their mission.

"Oh…oh that feels good Ryou," Bakura said, his eyes closing.

Ryou smiled behind Bakura's back, his skilled hands continuing to massage Bakura's shoulders. "Do you feel more relaxed now?"

"Yes. Where did you learn to do this?"

"My brother Seto is always tense. I saw someone give him a massage once and he was a lot less stiff afterwards. One time when he was really stressed I thought I'd try to help him loosen up. I didn't do too badly since he let me do the same thing the next time he got all stressed out. Obviously practice makes perfect."

Ryou was quiet after that. Remembering Seto made him miss his brother. They had only been separated a day and a bit but Ryou knew that he wouldn't be seeing him for a long time. If he went back to the palace to see his brother Seto wouldn't let him leave and he could not have that happen. He would never be able to see Bakura again if it did since the thief would most likely be killed on the spot if he ever again set foot in the palace.

Bakura became worried when Ryou lapsed into silence. "Do you miss your brother?"

"Yes," Ryou said softly.

"What job does he have? If he's a servant I'm sure he won't be missed if I brought him here to live with us," Bakura said, not liking the idea of having to live with Ryou's family but willing to make the sacrifice if it would make Ryou happy.

Ryou bit his lip as his hands stilled. He'd avoided talking too much about Seto in case this question came up. "Seto's the pharaoh's cousin."

The muscles that had been relaxed moments ago suddenly tensed. "Brown hair, blue eyes, superior look on his face?"

"Sounds like Seto."

Bakura turned around to face Ryou. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" he asked, a hint of anger in his voice.

Ryou looked down so that his bangs covered his eyes and said nothing. Bakura stood up and began to pace, cursing under his breath.

Finally Bakura stopped pacing. He stood with one hand moving through his spiky hair, his back to Ryou. Ryou got up and put his arms around Bakura's waist from behind. He stayed quiet, his forehead resting on the thief's shoulder, while he waited for Bakura to talk.

"I didn't think the pharaoh was related to anyone with white hair," Bakura eventually muttered.

"He's not. I'm actually Seto's adopted brother."

"Either way they're going to have every soldier in the country looking for you," Bakura said gravely.

They were both silent for a moment. "Did you never wonder why I was in a posh room that couldn't have been a servant's?" asked Ryou.

"Strangely enough the idea that you were related to royalty (even if not by blood) never did occur to me. Looking back I don't think that I was actually thinking clearly. All I could think about was how much I needed you, how nothing would or could stop me from having you." Ryou blushed at this. "I'm usually quite methodical when I make my plans but the memory of your beauty threw me off entirely. I never thought about the consequences of my actions. People are willing to let the theft of gold go but if you steal a person you'll be hunted to the ends of the earth."

"Do you regret bringing me here?" Ryou asked dejectedly.

Bakura spun around and wrapped his arms around Ryou's waist. "That is something I shall never regret angel. You are my treasure. I'm the only one allowed to touch you, hold you, kiss you, love you."

Bakura ended his passionate speech by crushing their lips together. Ryou smiled into the kiss, his arms moving to wrap round Bakura's shoulders as he moved with the kiss. When they broke apart they stayed close and gazed into each other's eyes. Ryou saw burning desire while Bakura saw unwavering devotion.

They stayed that way until Bakura smirked and gave Ryou a chaste kiss. "Any other secrets you've been keeping from me would be best told now," Bakura said as he moved to nip Ryou's ear.

"There aren't any I can think of at the moment," Ryou replied. "But then how can I think when you're being so…"

"Desirable?" Bakura whispered into his angel's ear.

Ryou shivered. "That's the one."

Bakura chuckled. "We better put that desire to some use hadn't we?" he said before capturing Ryou's mouth and dragging him down to the ground where they proceeded to kiss each other hungrily until the midday sun became too much to bare and they headed inside for a little light relief on the soft, comfy bed that resided in Bakura's humble room.

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