WARNING: LITTLE GORE IN THIS CHAPPIE.

I Love One of Them

Khalfani entered the palace with the two escorts. He entered the royal chambers where Pharaoh Yami sat on his throne, twirling his fingers around his dangling lock of blond hair. A scowl crossed Yami’s face and he bit hard down on a nail, deep in thought.

“Your Excellency, this man has news of the two thieves you have been searching for.”

Yami looked down at Khalfani who kneeled before the teenage pharaoh. “This better be good news! I hate having my precious time wasted on people with false information!”

Khalfani bent his head. “The news I have for you, my king, is no fraud. It is real….and it comes with a price.”

Yami leaned forward growling. “What kind of price?”

“A fair price, my pharaoh. You are looking for the two thieves. I am seeking profit.”

Yami stood up and slowly descended the three stairs to Khalfani. “Tell me this news.”

“The thieves Bakura Itemri and Marik Ishtar are at my Inn, my lord. They will be there, if you wish to come and claim them.”

“What are they doing there?”

“They are enjoying my girls. So, they are pleasantly distracted.”

Yami’s scowl turned into a grin. “They are with your girl, are 2they? Well, that will play into our hands nicely.” Yami turned to his servant boy.

“BRING ANUBIS HERE NOW!” Yami grinned. “For your payment, you will be given five hundred pieces of silver. You did this kingdom a great service.”

Anubis ran into the royal hall and kneeled before his step-brother. “You called, my Pharaoh Yami?”

“The two thieves Bakura Itemri and Marik Ishtar are at this man’s Inn. Take the best of your army. Surround the house. But, I want them brought back alive so I can punish them myself!”

*******************

Bakura woke up the next morning with Aria crying. Bakura had made a soft bed for her by Rayna’s side of the bed. He picked up the baby softly and rocked it. The baby cooed in Bakura’s arms.

Rayna leaned over to him and kissed his arm. “You’re so gentle with her.”

“Well, I feel like she’s mine. Maybe Marik was right. How many people around here have white, spiky hair? Not many. I’m the only one.”

Rayna smiled. “I’m glad you’re the only spiky white-haired boy around here…..Daddy Bakura.”

Bakura blushed as he looked down at the daughter, he had to guess, that was his.

In the next room, Kesi opened her eyes and saw Marik fast asleep beside her. She smiled and kissed him on the forehead.

“I love you, Marik Ishtar,” Kesi said tying her skirt at a knot by her side. She tied a thin scarf around her breasts, which were more tender than usual. She looked down and her stomach protruded slightly. It wasn’t too noticeable.

She went downstairs and saw Aziza teaching a five year old boy how to pour the cheap wine.

“Morning, Kesi!”

“Hello, Aziza! Good morning, Basi!”

The child looked up at Kesi. “Hello, Kesi!

Kesi sat beside Nubia on the couch. “Where is Khalfani?”

Nubia smiled as she waved her feet back and forth. “He’s not here! If he’s not here, he can’t give me a man to please!” A sigh of relief escaped the child as Khalfani walked in with a large man reeking of alcohol.

The man pointed at Nubia. “I want her.”

N8ubia’s eyes opened wide as she looked up at the tall man. “Do I have to, sir?”

Khalfani grabbed Nubia’s hair. “I don’t care if you are ten years old! You will earn your keep like the rest of the girls! Now get upstairs and do what we taught you!” Khalfani slapped her and she whimpered.

Kesi stood up angrily. “You can’t strike her!”

Khalfani struck Kesi across the face and she almost landed on the floor. “I would not mind teaching you a lesson in manners in front of all these women, Kesi! It just proves my power over you! I own you! ALL OF YOU!!”

Basi clutched onto Aziza and whimpered.

“If I have to make an example out of you, Kesi, then I have no problems doing that!”

The door burst open and Anubis walked in with his sword drawn. The women and children screamed.

“Where are the two thieves?”

“Upstairs, general,” Khalfani grinned. Kesi stepped in front of the stairs.

“No, don’t hurt them. Please!”

Anubis growled. “And why is that?”

Kesi looked down in submission. “Because…I love one of them.”

Anubis turned to his guards. “Isn’t that sweet?”

Anubis turned and ran his sword through Kesi’s abdomen making her gasp. The women and children screamed frantically.

Kesi looked up at Anubis, her eyes wide and her body shaking. “Marik……..”

Anubis pulled his sword up, cutting her from abdomen to the base of her neck.

Kesi’s body twitched as her blood spilled from her body. Her eyes looked up into the ceiling as she let out her last breath.

Anubis looked down to see her entrails pouring from her wound. He removed his sword and let her body fall and allowing more of her inner organs to sickeningly slide out of her body. Aziza and Nubia ran to Kesi and stroked her hair.

Anubis looked down at the dead girl. “Her death will please Pharaoh Yami.” He turned to one of the guards. “Give the man his payment.” A soldier threw Khalfani a large bag of coins. “Now, we have to get our prey.”

*************

Bakura and Marik heard the screams of the women below. Marik jumped out of bed quicky and looked down the steps. Kesi was on the ground in a puddle of blood!

Bakura gasped and grabbed Marik. “Snap out of it, man! We have to get out of here!”

“Bakura Itemri! Marik Ishtar! Here I come!”

Bakura ran into Rayna’s room.

“What happened?”

“Anubis is here! Kesi is hurt!”

“She may be dead! Oh no! KESI!!!!!”

Bakura grabbed Marik.”I hate to say this, but forget her, Marik! If we don’t find a way out of here, Yami will have our heads cut off by sunset!”

“Kesi….why?”

Bakura looked at the baby in Rayna’s arms. If Anubis knew the kid was his, Anubis would kill the baby.

“Bakura, take the baby!”

“WHAT?!”

“Take her, Bakura. If Anubis finds her, he’ll kill her! I don’t want her to die because she looks like your daughter.”

Bakura looked at the crying baby. He didn’t really have a choice.

Anubis banged on the door to the room.

“I’ll bring her back, Rayna.”

Bakura took the baby in his arms and looked down. The streets were surrounded.

Escape was not going to be easy.

Marik grabbed Bakura’s arm. “We can’t leave Rayna here! What if Anubis kills her?”

Bakura looked down at the street and down to Rayna. She would not be in any shape to flee from the soldiers below. “Marik, I couldn’t assure her safety!”

“I’M COMING FOR YOU, ITEMRI!”

Bakura handed Marik the infant. “Treat her with care, Ishtar” Bakura helped Rayna out of the bed and looked down. His horse was not tied to his post! There was no reason to tie the beast…it was loyal to Bakura.

Bakura whistled to his steed and it galloped through the army as if panicked.

Bakura used a rope in the room and tied two dirty sheets together. He tied the rope to the sheets and tied it to a protruding wooden bar outside of Rayna’s room. He grabbed a handful of the stolen gold and shoved it into his pocket.“You DO realize what will happen if we are caught by Anubis, don’t you?”

Rayna nodded. “Yes.”

“I’M COMING IN TO GET YOU BOTH!”

The baby started to cry in Marik’s arms.

“Shh…baby girl. Be strong.”

Bakura gripped the white material. He turned to Marik. “I’ll meet you at our hideout. We’ll distract the army so you and the baby can escape. Ready, love?”
Rayna nodded and wrapped her arms around Bakura. Bakura put the dagger in his mouth and they jumped out of the window. They swung on the material and landed beside the horse. Bakura removed the dagger from his mouth and growled. “Rayna, on the horse!” Rayna mounted t8he horse and turned back to see Bakura dodging and ducking the soldiers’ spears and swords.

“BAKURA! COME ON!”

Bakura ducked, spun around, and jabbed a soldier in the arm, making him drop his sword. Bakura grabbed the fallen sword and ran towards the horse. “RUN! RUN!”

The horse galloped away as Bakura turned he horse down an alley full of familiar murderers and thieves. Bakura grinned and threw a handful of gold at them. “HOLD THEM OFF!”

Rayna was amazed as the men grabbed weapons and barricaded the soldier’s entrance into the alley.

“How did you do that????”

Bakura grinned. “I know all of Cairo’s thieves and murderers. We…back each other up if we need help. Besides, this is the poorest area of Cairo. Those men will not mind risking their safety for a single piece of gold!”

Rayna looked back as the sound of men’s screams were heard.

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “Besides, I’ve risked my life for them before. That’s how I got a scar on my right arm.”

Bakura saw the gates of the city and is horse quickened its pace. A group of soldiers charged at them as they neared the city gates. One of the soldiers fired an arrow and missed them.

“Come on, girl,” he prodded his horse. “Almost there…..”

A soldier threw a spear and it whisked past Rayna’s hair.

“They’re getting closer!”

Bakura turned around and threw his dagger hitting a young soldier. He spun the horsearound and galloped towards the dead soldier.

“What are you doing?”

Bakura leaned down and grabbed the dagger from the body. “I’ve had this since I was ten! I need this!”

The horse galloped away again and neared the city gates. “That’s it, girl! That’s it!”

A soldier shot another arrow and Bakura arched his back in pain.

Rayna looked down and saw an arrow protruding from Bakura’s upper arm. She grabbed onto him to keep him from falling off the horse.

They rode out into the desert and the soldiers ended their pursuit. “Home…….girl,” Bakura whimpered as pain radiated through his arm.

The horse took Bakura and Rayna to the underground hideout.

Bakura squinted and whimpered as he lead the horse downstairs.

Rayna tied the horse to a wooden bar and saw Bakura lay down in a pile of hay. Bakura’s eyes squinted as sweat formed on his forehead.

“So tired…..”

Rayna looked around for water and found a pail filled halfway. She took a cloth and dipped it into the water.

She kneeled beside Bakura and wiped his face. “Bakura, I’m sorry.”

“About what?” he asked weakly.

“You’re hurt.”

Bakura shrugged. “This isn’t the worst wound I suffered in my life, Rayna. I’ve been living on the streets since I was four years old. A street kid learns how to suffer quietly.”

Rayna looked down and saw a chalice. She dumped it into the water and brought it over to him.

“Drink, ‘Kura,” she whispered as she brought the chalice to his lips. He drank thirstily and laid his head back down.

“I’m going to have to take the arrow out of your arm.” Rayna said.

Bakura nodded and grit his teeth. She held the back of the arrow and pulled it out with a cry of pain from Bakura.

When the arrow had been removed, Bakura moaned. Rayna bandaged the wound,laid down beside him and brought him to her.

“This is where you live?”

Bakura nodded. “It’s an abandoned tomb of a royal child. It’s been my home for a little while.”

Rayna looked around at the inscriptions. “It’s nice.”

Bakura smiled. “It’s home.”

She laid beside him until they heard the sound of an approaching horse.

Bakura grabbed the dagger beside him and struggled off of the bed. A horse descended and Marik appeared with the naked infant in his arms.

Rayna ran to him and took her child.

“You were hurt, Bakura?” Marik gasped as he looked at the bandaged arm.

“Arrow in the arm. Not bad. When we get to Cairo again, we need to stop at an apothecary.”

Marik squinted his eyes for a second. “Wait! Wait! WHEN we get to Cairo??? We’re going back? After what we went through to get out alive?”

Bakura nodded. “We’re going back to Khalfani’s place,” Bakura growled. “That snake betrayed us to Anubis! Besides, it’s up to us to open that place under new management.”

Marik looked up at Rayna holding her naked, crying infant girl. Rayna’s dress was thin, almost transparent. Her body was dirty. Khalfani refused her water to bathe after she gave birth. Rayna’s hair was unkept and she looked terribly thin from malnutrition.

“You’re right, Bakura. Time to put that place under new management.”