Three Years Later……..
Bakura and
Marik rode to
Marik growled at the children playing with dead rats in the
streets. The economic situation had not
improved through the years. Yami kept
the nobles’ pockets lined with gold and saw that the lower classes enjoyed
playing with dead rats and eating them after for want of food. Bakura took some of the gold from his latest
robbery of a noble’s home and distributed around the slums.
When the wealth was distributed from one bag, they rode to
see Rayna. The
brothel had been kept clean. The girls
were dressed in the finest linens. The
place was free
of rats and insects. The new owner had
insisted that children were not permitted to ”work”
like the older girls. The children were
not permitted to pleasure customers. The kids were permitted to clean and to
learn how to mix drinks. Khalfani demanded even the five year olds pleasure the men
who came in looking for sex. The new proprietor monitored the children closely to make certain they were
healthy and were properly clothed.
Bakura and Marik jumped off of their horses and the women
crowded around them.
Bakura picked the girl up. Three years ago, the girl would
wince when he picked her up and held her.
The men used the little girl as their own personal punching bag.
A moment later, a three year old with white, spiky hair
emerged dressed in white linen with a tattered pink cloth for a belt. Bakura picked up the little girl. “Hello,
Aria! How’s my little girl?”
“Mommy updtairs!
She ted that I no tan stay up dere wif her! Mommy ted me dat she is workting!”
“Mommy’s working, hmm?
Look what I have for my little girl!”
Aria’s eyes lit up and she squealed. “A
DOLLY! For me, daddy?”
Bakura nodded. “That’s for my little girl.”
Aria clutched the doll against her chest. “I love my daddy!”
The boy growled into her neck and listened to her
squeal.
Bakura handed the girl to Marik. “Hold this.”
Bakura rushed into the brothel and ran up the stairs. He stopped outside of Rayna’s
as a moan of pleasure escaped from her.
Bakura reached for the doorknob and stopped. Her current lover was not
harming her. That is what mattered. Bakura waited outside of the door and leaned
against the banister.
A final cry of release escaped the room and a few minutes
later, a tall man left the room with a satisfied grin.
“She’s quite a good one.
She’s got the most perfect ass in the world!”
Bakura narrowed his eyes.
“Yes, she does. And if you ever hurt that perfect ass, your ass is going
to me mine….and it will be left far from perfect.” Bakura removed his dagger.
“Do we understand each other?”
The man’s eyes went wide and he nodded, terror evident in his
eyes.
Bakura growled. “Perfect. Now go.”
Bakura watched the man scurry out as he entered Rayna’s
room.
Rayna’s room was covered with a blanket to
keep the room warm on cold nights. In
the corner was a bed for her daughter.
”How are you feeling, love?”
Rayna smiled and stroked his cheek. “Not
bad. I have enough money to buy myself a
new veil and I have enough to buy our daughter a little treat.”
“I bought her a doll today.”
Rayna wrapped her arms around Bakura
tightly. “Thank you, Bakura!”
The white-haired boy laughed. “Don’t thank me. Thank General Anubis.”
“YOU ROBBED GENERAL ANUBIS’ HOUSE?”
Bakura shrugged. “I did
not rob it! Marik and I robbed it,” he
added proudly.
“He’ll tear you apart!”
Bakura spread his arms wide. “I’m still here and in one
piece, Rayna. Don’t you worry,
my little Lotus flower. He’ll never
catch me! After all….I AM BAKURA! Tomb-robber, thief, murderer, and Defender of the Common Folk!”
Rayna rolled her eyes. “You’re awfully confident! Too
confident!”
“I have to be confident! Confidence gets you away from Yami’s
guards. Cowardice gets you killed. Give
me confidence any day!”
She giggled as Aria ran into the room. “Mommy!
Daddy diff me this!”
Rayna smiled. “It’s very nice,
sweetheart.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes, dear?”
Aria held the doll close. “Why don’t you
live wif me and mommy?”
Bakura sighed at the sad face looking at him. “Because, sweetheart, the soldiers are
looking for daddy. If I live with you and mommy, I could put you, mommy, and
everybody else in big trouble.”
“I wan you to live wif us, daddy,”
the little girl whimpered.
His heart split in two. “I cannot, baby girl. Mommy would get in a lot of trouble because
she knows me. You would get in trouble,
too. I can’t have my little girl stand
before the pharaoh and be hurt because she is my daughter.”
“I no det hurt! Why I det hurt?”
Bakura looked up at Rayna. “Because you are my blood. You are my child. You would get hurt really bad. I’m keeping
you safe with me not living with you.
You’ll understand when you get a little older, Aria.”
Aria sighed sadly. “I miss you at night, daddy.”
Bakura bit his lip, trying not to fight back his tears. “I miss you all the time, my precious
jewel. But daddy cannot live here
without placing people in danger.”
Bakura brought the girl into his arms and hugged her. “I love
you, baby girl.”
“I love my daddy,” Aria sighed and nuzzled into Bakura.
**************
Bakura and Marik rode past the training area where new
recruits for Yami’s guards were being trained.
Bakura and Marik stopped to watch the young children watch two soldiers
spar with swords.
Marik’s eyes gazed upon a small boy about Aria’s age holding
a small dagger.
Anubis watched the two soldiers spar until
one managed to knock the other off balance. The soldier placed the sword
against the fallen soldier’s throat.
Anubis laughed and clapped. He turned to
the crowd of small children. “Very well done. These are the swordsmanship skills I expect
all our soldiers to master. If you
cannot master these skills, you will be drilled endlessly until you get it
right!”
The child cringed at the fallen soldier shivering as the
blade pressed against his neck.
“Akil!
Aten! Front and center!”
A tall eight year old, full of muscle, stood out from the
crowd. Aten, a skinny
three year old with blond hair and large purple eyes.
“Raise your weapons!”
Both boys raised their weapons. Marik’s eyes widened and he
let out a chuckle. “That skinny kid doesn’t stand a chance!”
“Face each other!”
Akil and Aten faced each other as the
skinny boy’s body quivered.
“Fight!
Akil’s dagger sliced through the air as he
screamed. Aten raised his dagger quickly
to block the other boy from slicing into his head.
Aten shrieked as the metal slammed together. Akil slashed his
dagger low, trying to stab his opponent.
Anubis grinned as he watched the two boys
sparring. “Notice my son not giving his
opponent a moment to contemplate his next move.”
Aten jumped backwards, trying to dodge the metal.
“Fight back, Aten!” Anubis ordered.
Aten cringed and jumped as the dagger almost slashed his
legs. Aten grabbed the dagger tightly
and brought it down, barely missing Akil’s
shoulder. Akil
bought his elbow up and slammed Aten in the jaw. The little boy wiped the corner of his mouth,
finding a trail of blood trickling down his lip. The older boy knocked Aten down, kicking him
in the stomach.
“Fight me, weakling!” the boy growled.
Aten staggered to his feet and panted as sweat came down his
face. His breathing was ragged as he
lunged at Akil with the blade. Akil dodged and
slammed the handle of his dagger into Aten’s back, making the small boy fall
down and grip his spine in pain.
“Get up, Aten!” Anubis growled.
Aten clenched his eyes shut as tears emerged from between his
eyelids. Marik jumped off his horse and
Bakura grabbed his cloak.
“Are you stupid? If we
go in there, we’ll be killed!”
“But that kid!!”
Bakura pulled Marik back. “We can’t help him, Marik! We’ll be killed as soon as we get in there!
That place is crawling with soldiers!”
Anubis stood over the fallen boy. “Get up, Aten!”
“My back! My back hurts!”
Anubis kicked Aten’s leg. “Get up! I didn’t raise you to be a weakling!”
Aten struggled to get on his hands and knees. Akil stood over
Aten and laughed.
“I beat you again! I will always beat you!”
Anubis picked up Aten by the neck. “You
will not grow up to be weak! Once again
you have forgotten the lessons I have taught you! You will have no supper tonight! Instead, you will remain out here all
night! You will not eat until the sun sets
tomorrow! During that time, you will fight every recruit and
every soldier! You will learn to be a
heartless killer, Aten, even if I have to starve you to the point of death!”
Anubis carried Aten to a platform made of
unpolished wood. “KNEEL!”
Aten kneeled on the wood.
Sharp splinters dug into his knees.
“This will teach you discipline! You will remain on this platform until after
I have had my supper. You, my boy, will
not eat nor drink until tomorrow’s sunset.
Maybe now you will learn discipline!”
Aten lowered his head.
“If you move from this platform or attempt to move, I will
take the whip to your back like I did the last time! Understand, boy?”
Aten nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“I CAN’T HEAR YOU, SOLDIER!”
“Yes, General Anubis!”
Anubis growled. “I should whip you for such
insolence! I am your Commander! You show
me respect!”
“Yes, General Anubis!”
Anubis stepped off the platform. “Report to the kitchen!”
The recruits ran to the kitchen Anubis
turned to Aten. “Keep your head up, boy.
If I find you here asleep with your head down, I will keep your head up
by force if necessary.”
Anubis left the boy kneeling on the platform
shaking.
Marik growled low in his throat. “That
bastard! I should slit his throat!”
“NO! Marik! We don’t
know him!”
“But, Bakura, he is a kid!
Anubis is being unfair!”
Bakura rubbed his arm.
“Nothing about Anubis is fair! Marik, we are leaving.”
“I’m coming back to see him!”
Bakura slapped his forehead. “You are a stubborn jackass
sometimes, you know that?”
“I’m coming back with or without you!” Marik said jumping
back on his horse.
“Love, listen to yourself!” Bakura pleaded, grabbing the
reigns to Marik’s horse. “Why are you willing to risk your freedom for him?”
Marik looked at the child kneeling on the splinter-covered
platform.
“It’s just a feeling. I just have to do this, love.”
Marik
rode off
for the Oasis.
Bakura followed him.
‘I’m going to have to come along,’ Bakura thought. ‘I don’t want to lose
him to Yami’s guards. I love him too much.’