Shandy: All right- who's ready for child adorableness and backstory!
*silence*
Candy: It doesn't matter- reviews!
whitlaw123: Here's more!
KawaiiFanficLover: You'll find out next chapter. ;)
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Ryou waved goodbye to Adrien as she entered her room to go to bed, though she couldn't help but feel depressed every time she had to do this.
Her bedroom was decorated with white and baby blue, the colors her father had somehow figured out were her favorite. Besides her clothes, all of her other stuff was still packed and not out in the least. It was large and empty, with a large window by the head of her bead. The blankets were as smooth as silk and yet as soft as velvet.
She never planned on ever unpacking, unpacking meant claiming this as a home of some sort, whereas her real home was in Japan.
"Bakura?" She asked. "We're alone… do you want to talk now?" Bakura appeared before her, sitting down cross legged with his arms crossed, a very rare pondering face sitting upon his features. It made Ryou's heart pound in an enjoyable way. But, several seconds that felt like minutes passed before he spoke.
"Tenshi, if I were to… show you something, would you promise not to run away? Or scream? Or hate me? It's not big, just a small part, but-"
"Of course I'd promise, 'Kura." Ryou replied with a smile. Bakura but his lip, a rare sign of uncertainty that only Ryou ever saw.
"Are you sure?" He asked. "It's very shocking and it might be a little blurry, and I'd hate that I have to show you because I know that you've probably already figured it out, but-"
"Bakura, I'm always sure when it comes to you." The spirit's mouth twitched a small smile before he began to fade away.
"You'll have to come to my soul room- whenever you're ready." Ryou gasped in delight, having never been in her other's soul room before, and hurriedly did everything she needed to do before situating herself under her bed sheets and closing her eyes.
She felt the familiar tug on her soul that usually happened when Bakura took over, but this time, she could feel that her body was currently soulless and not under the control of the other spirit. When she felt steady, she opened her eyes and leaped off of her bed that was now in a new room- her soul room.
Her bed looked just like the one she had back home, and the layout to her room in Japan was very similar. The desk to her right held things that she never wanted to let go. Against the foot of her bed was a pile of stuffed animals that had been her favorite growing up or represented her favorite things. Across from her desk sat a closet that held her memories, and scattered across the room were small things that relayed an important memory. She payed no attention anyway as she ran toward the door across from her, pausing and taking calming breaths before opening it to the hallway that connected their souls. The soul hall.
The light from her room illuminated the floor and the wall adjacent to her own, which held it's own, ancient looking door that appeared to be made out of wood, whereas hers was of a shiny metal. She slowly walked over to the old-wood door and lifted her hand up. She knocked on it timidly and politely three times, and then waited patiently.
"Come in, Tenshi." Bakura's voice spoke. Ryou grabbed the handle and carefully pulled it open. She walked inside and gasped in awe.
A throne surrounded by jewels were the first things she noticed, resembling that he was, and still is, the King of Thieves. A few of his favorite knives and weapons were hung up on a wall, and a target lay next to that with several tears in it- most of them around the bulls eye. Bakura now appeared like he had a body, and he was clothed in his own clothes. An expensive looking red robe and a loincloth, from when he was alive in Egypt.
However, Bakura wasn't looking at Ryou. He was staring at a very worn box with great hesitation. Eventually he moved to sit down on his throne with it and motioned Ryou to come forward. Ryou did so with a bounce in her step, Bakura settling her down on his lap.
"What's in there?" She asked, pointing to the box.
"That's what I'm going to show you." He said, and he actually sounded like he was alive, his voice not sounding as though it was through some strange filter. It made her smile grow and eyes sparkle in delight.
"I can't wait!" He chuckled and opened the lid on the wooden box, revealing… tablets. Small, stone tablets that could fit in the palm of her hand.
"You see, Ryou, I don't just know the basics of my past life, as so many others believe." He pulled out a tablet and showed it to her. She grabbed it with both of her hands so that she could examine it closely. On it was a picture of a woman that looked to be her twin. "Each of these tablets relate to all of the memories that I share the specific person on the tablet. I used to watch them over and over again, but…. I haven't touched any of these since I met you." He admitted.
"Really?" Ryou asked.
"I had them all memorized." He admitted. "I always guessed that the Pharaoh had just lost his version of these when the Puzzle shattered, which made me hate him even more. How could he lose something as precious as his version of what I have?"
"I came upon them while I was looking for a weakness in his stupid maze of a soul room." He continued. "Stuck in a hidden room were a bunch of tablets that were bigger than me, each of the Duel spirit that belonged to the people of his past. Before I could explore further, the almighty idiot decided to enter that room." He scoffed. "The goody-two-shoes couldn't see any of it. All he found was what awaited him behind every door of that just as stupid maze. It made me want to puke!" Bakura shook his head in disgust, as Ryou listened curiously, and he waved his hand.
"But that's not what I wanted to show you." He sighed. He selected another tablet and showed it to Ryou. This time it was of a Duel Monster that looked like Obelisk the tormentor, only he had a snake coming out of his stomach. "This one explains how the Millennium Items were created, from my perspective, of course." He glanced at her. "Do you want to see it?"
"Yeah!" Ryou said enthusiastically, forgetting about her question on the twin in the tablet. "As long as it's okay with you."
"Alright, but as a fair warning, at some point you might want to close your eyes." Ryou was about to ask why when a light began to shine from the tablet and it enveloped them.
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When Ryou could see again, both her and Bakura were floating spirits in the middle of an ancient town in the desert. A child-like version of Bakura was eyeing some expensive meat that was for sale. Ryou could hear the kid's thoughts.
'If I could steal that, papa would agree to take me with him on his next mission!' He thought with glee. He walked over to the vendor, lost in the crowd for a moment before appearing next to the stall. There, in the shadows, he waited for the perfect opportunity to steal it.
When he did, Ryou and Bakura followed him back to his house. The little kid had burst through the door in celebration, showing his father his prize and talking about how he did it excitedly. His father ruffled his hair.
"Good job, Akeifa." He spoke. "You'll make for a great thief one day, just like your mother." The boy practically beamed.
"So, does that mean that-" A barrage of pounding fists were heard on the door. The two of them froze.
"Open in the name of the Pharaoh of Egypt!"
"Hide, my boy, now!"
"But, father-"
"I don't want you to get hurt. Go!" The little boy presently named Akeifa nodded and rushed to the hiding place, which was inside the wall. His father opened up the door with his knife flashing in his right hand, but before he could use it, he was knocked unconscious and it fell into the ground. Akeifa held a hand to his mouth to remind himself not to make any noise.
"Wasn't there a little brat who lived here?"
"Probably was playing on the streets with the others. Come on, let's bring this guy to Priest Aknadin." They walked off, and as soon as they were gone Akeifa broke down the hidden door and picked up his father's knife. It felt heavy in his hands, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He peaked out of his door and saw the last of the guards heading to the temple that was in this town.
'Don't worry, I'm coming to save you, papa.' He thought. He took off like a shadow into the night, always remaining out of sight and not making a single noise, which was impressive for a five year old. He followed the guards down into the temple and found his own secret passage into the room they were using for whatever it was. He peaked in with as much stealthiness he had and observed what was going on.
They were in the ritual portion of the temple. The High Priest was reading out of a book as some other priests obeyed his orders. The guards were printing the people down to a large pot that was full of melted gold. Though, he couldn't help but notice that the gold looked off.
That was when one of the priests killed the thief standing between them and encouraged his very soul to go into the pot of gold. Akeifa was scared stiff and could not move his body or turn his eyes away as he recognized the man they had just killed.
His father.
The knife he held in his right hand was suddenly very heavy and very important to him. His right hand was itching for him to just run in there and kill everyone for killing his father.
But he couldn't. He could hear every soul in that pot speak to him. Then he noticed that it wasn't their souls- it was their ka. Their ka weren't being sacrificed for whatever reason.
"Don't." They begged in a mere whisper. "You must wait many years before you can revenge us. For now, stay alive."
And so he just stood there. He watched as the last of them were killed, watched as the gold was poured into the molds, watched as they were taken out and Aknadin put on his eye. Watched as they all left. Only then did he find himself able to move into the room. He could feel all of the ka now.
"What do you want me to do?" He asked, voice neutral.
"We will take care of ourselves." They all answered in one voice, which would've sent a shiver down anyone's spine. "You, however, are our key. You must go and steal all that we would've. You must go and make your town proud. Make them fear the name of Kul Elna, and if not that, then the name of Akeifa Touzouku, son of Set and Arizel Touzouku, member of Kul Elna." Akeifa nodded and left the temple without another word. Then he looked down at his father's dagger.
"And I'll do it all with this."
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Another memory came to rise up, but Bakura held his hand and paused it. Ryou looked green, her hand that was holding Bakura's shaking with how tight she was holding in.
"K-Kura?"
"Yes?" Bakura answered. Ryou swallowed.
"Can I hug you?" Bakura sent her a weird look but shrugged.
"If you want to-" Instantly he was attacked into one by Ryou, who had tears escaping her eyes. Bakura stood there, frozen. "Ryou?"
"That was terrible! How could they do that to you! To them?" She cried. "I'm so sorry, Kura! If only I had been there to help!" Bakura eventually hugged her back and began chuckling a little in mirth. "What's so funny?"
"It's just that you were."
"Pardon?"
"Fu said that others were sacrificed and reborn as well, right?" Ryou nodded. "Well, you were one of them."
"Really?" Ryou asked. Bakura snapped his fingers and suddenly they were back in his soul room. Ryou sitting on Bakura's lap, and he sitting on his throne. Ryou watched as Bakura put that tablet back down and reached for the one in Ryou's hands.
"This'll have to be the last memory I show you tonight, you do need to get some sleep." He chuckled when she blushed. The bright light came at them again, but this time, Ryou was ready for it.
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The ten year old Akeifa huffed as he lugged his prizes toward the temple in Kul Elna. He had made it an effort to show his family just how well he was doing to fulfill his promise while he got stronger.
As he passed the ruined and empty town, he heard a faint scuffling noise behind him. He pretended not to notice, and when whatever it was was right behind him, he dropped his stuff, pulled out his father's dagger and held it up to their throat, pinning them to the ground. Then he blinked. Below him lay a dirty, sand covered girl that couldn't be any older than eight. Her large green eyes stared up at him in fear, tearing up. A rumble from her stomach hit his ears as she opened her mouth.
"I-I-I'm-m s-sor-ry!" She exclaimed. "I-I thought th-that you h-had f-food in y-our bag a-and the N-Nile s-s-swallowed up my home a-and no one will give me a-any food! I-I'm sorry, p-please d-don't kill me!" Akeifa just stared at her in shock. Wasn't he like this when he first started out? Only he had actually stolen things and succeeded instead of being caught. With a nod, he stood up and held out his hand to help her up.
"I'm Akeifa." He said. "Akeifa Touzouku, last living member of the town of Kul Elna." The question of who she was went unasked, but she held his hand and he helped her up.
"I-I'm Rahimat Adiba, of one of the villages by the Nile." Her stomach growled again and he quickly fished through his bag and pulled out a few dates.
"Here." He said, holding it out to her. She stared at him in awe for a moment before grabbing one, and then the other one, and then the last one. He looked through and pulled out a handful of gold coins and gave them to her as well.
"You can use this." He told her. Rahimat took them as though she was being offered the most precious thing in the world. Then he hauled up his bag and continued on into the temple.
It was after his visit when he heard her following him again. Her turned around to look at her, and she froze, her hands tightly fisting the coins he had given her.
"What do you want?" He asked. Rahimat swallowed nervously and seemed to fidget in her place. He huffed and continued on. He had almost left the town when he turned around again to face her. "What is it?"
"Uh…" She swallowed and started fidgeting again before holding out her hands to him. He could see some of the gold coins sticking out of them. He gave her a 'are you crazy' look and Rahimat looked down at the floor and mumbled something.
"What?"
"If I go back home with this." She replied a little louder. "They wouldn't just kill me, they'd send me to the Pharaoh to be dealt with."
"Why would they want to kill you?" Akeifa asked, though he already had a ransom over his head.
"B-Because they say that I'm a-a freak, a-a-a demon." Rahimat sniffed. "They just didn't try to until the Nile destroyed my home." She fidgeted a little. "Other towns feel the same… but you're different."
"Huh?" He asked.
"N-Not only did you help me, y-you look like me!" She smiled innocently and Akeifa felt color come onto his cheeks.
"Oi, how do I look like you?" He asked, huffing.
"Our hair!" Rahimat said proudly. "We both have white hair!" He turned around instantly, looking hard enough to notice that, indeed, her hair was also white. How had he not noticed?
"Well, you should keep it." He said sternly, trying to find out how to make the eight-year-old girl leave. "If you give it back, you might not get it back."
"Why?" She asked.
"Cause I'm going to be the best thief there ever was!" He proclaimed, putting a fist to his chest in pride. "And girls like you have no business with thieves like me!" But instead of the fear he expected to see in Rahimat's eyes, they seemed to sparkle in awe.
"Really?" She asked. "Y-You are?"
"Of course!" He scoffed. "I'm gonna make everyone fear my name! Even the lousy Pharaoh!" He spat at the sand below him.
"All on your own?" She asked. Akeifa decided that she was a weird and strange little girl to be in awe of a future master thief.
"What other way is there?" He asked. "Besides, I got the whole reputation of the nastiest thieves in all of Egypt to uphold."
"Wow!" Then a thought seemed to occur to her. "Do you know how to treat your wounds?" Akeifa blinked, shocked. In all honesty, he had never thought of that.
"…No…" Rahimat giggled and walked right up to him without a fear in the world.
"What if I repay you by doing that!"
"Huh?"
"After you go and steal from some nasty lords, or even the mean bazaars on the streets, you come back and I'll be there to patch up your wounds! My mama was a healing priestess and I was her apprentice." She smiled up at him in pride as he thought.
Well, she did bring up a good point…
"And I know how to do laundry and tidy up!" She added as an afterthought.
"Can you cook?" He asked suddenly. He was starting to miss some good old cooked meat. He had only eaten fruits for the past few months.
"I've helped my mama with it." She said. "But I'm sure I can figure it out!" Akeifa was starting to see a new, fun life with Rahimat in his dark, lonely little cave just a small ways away from the Nile.
"Are you sure?" He asked finally. "That you want to be working with the future king of thieves?"
"Sure! It sounds like a lot of fun!" She said, and it looked like she would've clapped her hands had they not been filled with gold coins. He took off his bag and offered her to put the coins in there. Then he pulled the bag together and began to walk through the desert on their way to Akeifa's, and now Rahimat's, home.
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When they got out of the memory, Ryou was not only tired, but too excited to fall asleep.
"That's how we met?" She asked excitedly.
"Yeah." He chuckled. "Silly, right?"
"You saved my life!" Ryou said, beaming.
"And you saved my life many times after that." He added, placing the tablet into the box and closing it up.
"Really? Can I see?" Ryou asked. Bakura laughed.
"Can I be in control at school tomorrow?" He asked in turn. Ryou pouted, they both knew the answer to that, and then proceeded to yawn. Bakura picked her up and left the box on his throne, walking her over to her soul room.
"Hey, 'Kura?"
"Yes, Ryou?"
"Do you… want me to call you Akeifa?" She asked. He scowled and shook his head.
"Akeifa is long dead." He said softly, laying her down on her bed. "I'm Bakura now, tenshi." Ryou yawned again and nodded, snuggling into her blankets.
"Ok, night 'Kura…"
"Sweet Dreams, my hikari." And he walked back into his soul room. He picked up the box and stared at it with a scowl. He opened it up and pulled out a tablet that had a figure that looked like Yami on it. His hand involuntarily clenched it tightly as he growled.
He wanted to stay with Ryou. Forever. He didn't want to have to leave her a second time. The problem was that, no matter what, he hated the Pharaoh and didn't want to help him.
"Of course, the gods would torment me so." He seethed. "In order to stay with the only person in my entire existence I care about, I have to help out the idiot who I would rather go through a million hells than even suggest helping him."
Marinette's words from a while ago came into mind.
We'll never find a solution if you two fight!
He slammed the tablet into the box and almost threw the lid shut, stomping over to his desk and almost slamming it into one of its drawers. Then he walked over to his wall of weapons and grabbed his father's dagger and threw it at the target, earning a satisfying Thud and a bullseye. Then he grabbed another knife, one that Rahimat had made for him later on in their lives, and threw it as well. It hit right next to his father's dagger.
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