Chapter 20

Sunlight streamed down on a small village, warming everything in its path. The clarity of the sky along with its warmth drew a lot of the village's inhabitants out to mingle and enjoy the sunlight. The many men and women of the village called out to friends or chatted happily in the marketplace. Children ran in between the adults, calling out to each other as they ran. Standing on the front steps of his mud bricked house was a young boy. The boy was rather tall for his age and had rather dark hair. He watched with wide eyes as the other children in the village ran past. The boy smiled broadly as he watched them run past.

"Haji you know you can join them if you want to." A voice inside the house called.

Haji turned to face his mother. His mother, a tall lady with long dark hair, had a kind smile on her face as she observed her son. Haji almost bounced over to her.

"But I am going to meet my friend by the river mother, you know my friend from the next village."

His mother, picking up a clay pot from the table, thought for a moment.

"Ah yes I know who you mean." She said, "Well, why don't you bring him here and you two can play with the other children in the village."

"But mother we always play at the river, it's our secret base." Haji pulled an invisible sword from his belt, "If we are to one day become great warriors then we have to practice."

Haji swung his invisible sword down clearly slaying some unseen horror before him. He cried out in victory, punching the air. He turned to his mother, who was placing the pot on another table.

"See, if we are to become the greatest warriors in all Egypt we must train. And our training plan is top secret so no-one can find out about it."

His mother smiled, "Well alright but as long as you remember to be careful near the river, you never know what might be in there."

Haji sheathed his pretend sword, "Don't you worry mother, nothing can touch me!"

"Well off you go then," His mother replied, watching as Haji began to hurry from the house, "And don't forget to be back here by sundown!"

Haji jumped down the steps of his house and broke into a run. He ran through the village until he reached the edge of it. He paused, taking a look over his shoulder, after all it was very important that no one discovered the top-secret base. But he saw no one. Breaking into a run once again he made his way across the desert until the river came into view. Moving to the bank of the river he continued to run, the water splashing slightly beneath his feet. As he ran an eagle soared over his head effortlessly. Haji smiled and stretched out his arms, pretending to soar just like the eagle. He continued his journey for a while longer before a sight caught his eye. Up ahead of him was a small boy.

"Hey!" Haji called.

The boy turned and waved as he approached. The boy was the same age as Haji but alike Haji his hair wasn't dark. It was ashen and long, quite long.

"Haji," The boy greeted, as Haji came to a halt beside him, "I've been waiting for you! You'll never guess what my father got us."

Haji's eyes lit up, "What is it Bakura?"

Bakura grinned and held something out to Haji whose widened. In Bakura's hand was a small wooden dagger. Haji took it, examining it closely as Bakura held his own out in front of him.

"Father said if we were serious about being warriors then it was time we practiced with something real." He said, "Not that these could do much to anything but the sand."

"This is amazing." Haji replied, swinging the dagger down as if striking something, "With these we'll be the best warriors ever and when its time for us to have real swords then we'll be unstoppable!"

Bakura nodded his agreement, "Well then training master, what shall we start with today."

Haji thought for a moment, "Let's start with the basics. Even true warriors like us have to review the basics from time to time."

The two boys began their training, moving their wooden daggers this way and that, perfecting their moves. As the day progressed they mocked a fight between them, a fight which Bakura won. Out of the two of them Bakura seemed more of a natural when it came to swordplay. But as the sun began to set they stopped, knowing that it was time to head home. As they said their goodbyes Haji made to give the dagger back to Bakura but he would not have it, insisting that Haji keep it. Grinning Haji thanked Bakura before agreeing to meet here again in a couple of days' time. With that the boys went their separate ways, both returning to their respective villages. Haji couldn't wait for their next meeting to practice once again with their new wooden daggers.

However, when their next practice day came Haji arrived at the river only to find Bakura wasn't there. Haji stood at the riverbank watching the water stream past, occasionally he would glance upstream hoping to catch sight of his friend, but Bakura never appeared. He waited, he waited all day but as the sky began to hold an orange tint he sighed and began walking towards his village. He didn't suspect that anything could be wrong until he reached the village. Normally his village was full of smiling people and laughter, but on this day it was not. People were talking in hushed tones, hurrying to their homes. Haji looked around, this whole sight was surreal to him. As his house came into view he saw his mother standing on the front step.

"Haji!" She called, her voice was oddly firm, "Come inside right now."

Frowning Haji did as he was asked. He felt his mother's firm hand on his shoulder guiding him into the house. He was directed upstairs whilst she and his father remained downstairs. Sitting on the stop of the mud bricked stairs he could see through the doorways other children most of whom were sitting on the roof tops of their respective houses with their families. It seemed no one was wondering the streets at the moment. From his position on the stairs he could just hear what his parents were saying.

"Are you sure?" His mother was saying.

"I'm almost certain," His father replied, "No one seems to know exactly what happened but Kul Elna was attacked last night and people are missing, vanished without a trace."

"But surely there must be some trace?"

"There's nothing. Just a lot of people missing. No trace, no idea who the perpetrators are or where they might have gone."

"You mean they could come here?" His mother sounded frightened.

"I don't know but I won't let anything happen to you or Haji."

Haji's eyes widened as he listened and fully understood what his parents had said. Moving out on the rooftop of his house he looked off into the distance, in the direction of Kul Elna. Even from this distance he could just see traces of smoke rising from the ground. If people were missing did that mean… did that mean Bakura was gone? Sinking to the ground, his eyes locked on the horizon as a single tear fell from his eyes.

Months past and yet that true fate of Kul Elna was unknown. No one seemed to know what had happened to the village of any or its residents. No survivors had come forward and no one had travelled there, all were fearful of what might be found there. Haji grew, but even as he grew older he did not forget his childhood friend. He was determined that someday he would find out exactly what happened. He would occasionally venture down to the river where they'd once played but every time he did he found no one but himself. That was until the day when Haji was only a few days away from his sixteenth birthday, he found himself heading towards the river only to find someone else there. The person seemed to be a similar age to him although perhaps slightly shorter. His hair was rather long. Hair that was…. Ashen. Haji broke into a run only to stop a few metres away from the boy. His eyes widened and he stared at the boy for the longest time before speaking.

"B-Bakura?"

The boy turned to face him and Haji could almost feel his face go pale. There in front of him was his childhood friend. Not much had changed about Bakura however the warmth in his eyes was gone, replaced by a sharpness. A sharpness which was almost unnerving. For a moment the two friends stared at each other. But after a long silence Bakura spoke.

"I've often come back here, thinking that one day I might bump into you."

Haji approached cautiously, "I did the same. We must have just missed each other."

Bakura made a noise of agreement before turning away, looking out at the river once more. Haji moved to stand beside him, he stole a glance before turning his gaze to the river as well. They stood there in silence before Haji spoke.

"What happened in Kul Elna? I heard it had been attacked but none knew exactly what happened."

"The Pharaoh made the greatest mistake of his life." Bakura replied, pure hatred in his eyes, "He sacrificed my entire village for those millennium items."

"Millennium Items?" Haji frowned, "What's that?"

Bakura looked at him, "Those mystical items the Pharaoh and his friends wear that protected this land from the invaders."

"I always thought that was just a story to make the Pharaoh sound powerful."

"Oh no my friend they are very real, and they were made from the blood of my village."

Haji stared at him, his eyes wide, "What?"

Bakura nodded, "That night in Kul Elna. The Pharaoh got his cronies to round everyone in the village up and boiled them alive, using every single piece of them to create those items."

He was going to be sick but Bakura wasn't finished.

"Everyone thinks the Pharaoh is the great saviour, but he is far from that. He destroyed my life and I will get my vengeance."

Taking a breath Haji steadied himself, "Well the rumour is the Pharaoh is not long for this world so once he dies then its over."

Bakura shook his head, his eyes on the horizon, "It's not over. Not until I have those items, they belong to me. I hear that he has given his item to his son, and I will get it off him. Once I have them all I will crush the prince like the insect he is. All those with the items will not be spared from my wrath."

There was a pause. Haji not knowing what to think or say and Bakura was too angry to say much else. A long pause followed before Haji spoke again.

"All this time… what did you do? How did you survive?"

"Simple. By robbing the former Pharaohs of their possessions."

"Bakura that's sacrilege."

Bakura rounded on him, "Like I care? After everything the Pharaoh has done to me."

Haji moved back, his hands up in defence, "I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that."

Bakura eyed him for a moment before once again setting his eyes on the horizon.

There was another long pause before Haji cautiously approached once again pulling an object from his waist band. He held the object in his hand for a while, turning it over and over. A fond smile stretched across his face. Gazing at the object for a moment longer he looked back at his friend moving to his side once again. He waited until Bakura turned to face him once again before holding the object out to him. Bakura looked at him for a moment before his gazed turned to the object in his hand. Haji saw the recognition in his eyes as he gazed at the small wooden dagger in his hand. Seconds past in silence before Bakura looked up, looking directly at Haji.

"You kept it?"

Haji nodded, "It was a constant reminder of our friendship over these last few years."

Bakura considered him for a moment before reaching for his own waistband and drawing out his own wooden sword. He held it up for Haji to see who, upon seeing it, smiled.

"It served as a reminder to me of not only my father but you and the life I had before it was stolen." He said, placing the dagger back in his waistband.

Haji smiled still, replacing his own dagger in his own waistband. Time past and the pair of them sat on the riverbank, still staring out over the water.

"So what will you do now?" Haji asked, "Do you need a place to stay? I'm sure father wouldn't mind if you stayed." He thought for a moment, "In fact why don't you tell father what happened? If word gets out about what the Pharaoh did then that might topple him and the prince. No one would want to follow a royal family which claim power from bloodshed."

Bakura looked at him, "No, you will tell no one you have seen me. If you do then I am dead and then I can't get my revenge."

"But Bakura what happened to your village is inexcusable. Egypt deserves to know what happened."

"And Egypt will know." He said darkly, "Once my plan comes to be then everyone will know."

Haji frowned, he couldn't be sure what his friend was talking about. But after all these years he was determined to help. Bakura had gotten to his feet, dusting himself off. Getting to his feet as well Haji watched as Bakura sorted himself out and turned to him.

"I must go." He said, "There is much to do but be assured my old friend that whatever comes you shall be spared. You are after all the only true friend I ever had."

Bakura turned and began to walk away. For a moment Haji merely watched as his friend retreated but he broke into a run, calling out to him.

"Wait! Bakura let me help you."

Bakura paused and turned around, he made no response but considered him once again.

"You can't hope to achieve this own your own and I can help."

Bakura shook his head, "You cannot accompany me my friend but keep coming here, one day we shall meet again. When we do I shall be one step away from achieving my revenge."

Without waiting for a response Bakura turned and walked away. Haji was left standing by the riverbank watching as his old friend disappeared from sight. His mind played over what Bakura had told him. Part of him simply couldn't believe that someone who'd sworn to protect Egypt and its people would be capable of committing such a violent act, but Bakura wouldn't lie. He'd seen it all too clearly in his eye that everything he had said was the complete truth. Why would he lie about his whole village being boiled alive? Surely a sight like that is something that wouldn't leave one's mind. Shaking his head, he turned and began walking back towards the village, he couldn't even begin to imagine what Bakura had been through but he would try to stand by him, after all that's what friends did.