Four days till Christmas!!!!!!!

Chapter 13

Bakura growled in annoyance. The guards would pick to hold their little party right in-front of his cell. He had hoped that the mass alcohol consumption would put them all to sleep but by now he had given up that hope. They were having too much of a good time to sleep.

Bakura leaned back against the wall and idly watched them. They had been doing practically the same thing all night and it was starting to bore him to sleep. He was just about to let slumber take him when one of the guards shouted something. He cracked open an eye and saw that they were all staring in one direction. He turned to see what they were staring at and his heart suddenly froze.

Bakura could recognize those eyes anywhere, at any distance, in any light. He couldn't believe Ryou was down here. Why was he down here? He wasn't trying to rescue him was he? This was bad.

When all the guards turned to him Ryou felt like running. That wouldn't have done him any good though (they would have chased and caught him easily even if they were drunk) so he fought his flight reflex and stayed where he was, the gears in his head quickly turning.

"Whoever you are come over here right now!" one of the guards demanded.

Ryou bit his lip and followed the order. He walked to stand an arm's distance from the first guard staring at him. He was glad he had placed a veil over his face after all. Strands of white hair kept escaping from it when he had tried it on and had considered not bothering. It was a good job he had decided to be extra cautious or they would have realized who he was right away. Now, if they were drunk enough, they wouldn't realize at all.

Ryou heard something stirring and turned his head slightly to the side. He bit down harshly on his lip when he recognized the mess of white hair. Bakura's cell was right here in-front of the guards! If he thought quickly maybe he could make up a plan to get Bakura out.

"What's a pretty thing like you doing down here?"

Ryou's attention quickly returned to the guards. They were all staring at him with the same emotion, an emotion that was easy enough to identify. Lust.

Ryou tried not to tremble under their gaze. He only just managed to succeed.

Suddenly, a plan formed in his mind. "I-I was just trying to find my brother."

"Brother?"

"Yes, I heard that he had been arrested and I wanted to see him." Ryou hoped they believed the story and would do what he thought they would.

One of the guards on the other side of the table smirked. "You can see your brother if you're willing to pay the price."

"I don't have any money with me."

"That wasn't the sort of payment I was after."

Even though this was going as planned Ryou still dreaded what he had to do. And right in-front of his lover! He just prayed that this would work.

Ryou walked over and took a seat on the man's lap. The other guards catcalled as the one Ryou sat on licked his lips. Ryou shuddered. "What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"I think a kiss for me to show you where your brother is and a little dance to keep the others quiet will be payment enough."

Ryou lifted up his veil and kissed the man quickly, before he could think about giving Ryou a much more embarrassing task. He then pulled the veil down again and jumped backwards. In the noise made by the men as they watched Ryou dance, like he had seen done by the women on his travels with Seto, nobody heard the quiet clatter the keys made as they hit the floor.

Bakura would have rather had his heart ripped out than watch this, watch his angel do things for these scum that should only be done for him. He started dancing on the spot but was moving round, giving the filthy bastards a chance to touch him. True they only had time to brush their fingers along the fabric of his clothes before he recoiled but they still should not have dared to touch what belonged to Bakura, the Demon Thief.

Bakura was almost too consumed by rage to notice the set of keys kicked his way but the clink of metal on metal caught his attention. He smiled to himself as he realized Ryou's devious plan. Bakura was glad that he had managed to convince the guards that he didn't need to be chained up tonight. They had accepted that there was no possible way of him escaping when they were all partying in-front of him. They would regret it later.

Bakura edged forward, constantly checking that all eyes were on his Ryou. Bakura reached through the bars and grasped the keys. He managed to catch Ryou's eye and the angel danced to the side so the guards wouldn't be staring at him as he tried to open the lock.

When one is a master thief one often learns a thing or two about locks. That was why Bakura opened his cell on the first try. He slipped out and headed behind the guards at the opposite side of the table to where Ryou was still dancing. Bakura picked up one of their swords and methodically knocked them all out with the flat part of the blade. He was glad that they were all drunk and captivated by his precious angel otherwise it would never have been that easy.

Ryou stopped dancing the moment all the guards were out cold. He flung himself into Bakura's arms, burying his face in his god's neck. The arms that wrapped around his middle were a blessed relief. His god was a merciful, forgiving god.

"We need to go angel," Bakura whispered in Ryou's ear.

Ryou reluctantly pulled away. They took each other's hand and ran to the exit, the few prisoners who were awake calling for them to come back and free them.

They reached the courtyard without any trouble. Bakura breathed in the fresh night air gratefully as Ryou led him to the stables. While Ryou saddled up an available stallion Bakura looked up into the sky. The stars seemed more beautiful than usual that night. Then again when you've been imprisoned underground for days on end anything would be beautiful.

They walked to the gate together. They stared into each other's eyes before the open gate, sadness etched on each face. "I won't ask for you to come with me; the life of a hunted thief is no life for you."

"I would love to be with you but I would miss my brother if I left. And anyway, they'd just send more soldiers to bring me back." Ryou felt tears prick his eyes. "I don't want this to be the end – please tell me we'll see each other again."

Bakura stroked Ryou's cheek lovingly. "I make no promises Ryou. I hope it is not the end but I can not make promises." Bakura thought for a moment. "You said you and your brother travelled didn't you? Are you likely to travel again?"

"I don't know. Seto has found a lover of his own in the palace so maybe there will be an end to the travelling."

"I will go south where I am not known. If you do travel again I will try to find you." Bakura kissed Ryou's forehead, thinking that would be enough of a goodbye.

Ryou too could think of nothing more to say so he stood on tip-toe to catch Bakura's lips. They put all their love into the kiss since it might be the last they shared. Tears streamed from Ryou's eyes and when they pulled apart Bakura licked up every last drop of the salty liquid.

It was time to go. Bakura mounted the horse and turned it towards the open gate. He blew Ryou a kiss before setting off into the night. Ryou quickly closed the gate and then hurried back to his room. He changed into his night clothes and stuffed the garments he had been wearing before under the mattress. He then crawled into bed and closed his eyes, his tears wetting the pillow as he tried to keep the image of Bakura in his head as long as could before sleep claimed him.

Sorry for the sad ending. Not long now until the end of the fic.

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