Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Identity ❯ Bandits in the Woods ( Chapter 1 )

Identity

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from YGO

Summary: Secrets are dangerous things, especially if you're dealing with a false identity. All has gone well for Bakura Ryou, until Kaiba Seto comes into his life. A sort of medieval/Chinese sort of setting. Slash warning Kaiba Seto/Bakura Ryou.

Pairings: Kaiba/Ryou, Anzu/Honda, Jou/Mai, Shizuka/Yugi

Chapter Title: Bandits in the Woods

Author's Notes: Another pathetic attempt at a YGO fic (though this time it's a chapter fic). Honestly, with the `success' rate of my first one, I seriously feel that I'm degrading the wonderful anime that is YGO. I also know that, while Kaiba/Ryou might not be that popular, I still think that it's a cool pairing and I'm going to write more about them.

---- Bandits in the Woods ----

A well-oiled sheath was strapped onto a coarse leather belt, hanging next to the hip as its owner continue his trek through the woods. In half an hour or so, he would reach the capital city, Domino, where he was sent to work for a wealthy lord. It wasn't that he didn't like it, in fact, he was quite used to the idea of working for a noble with limited pay. It was more the idea that no one knew anything about this particular lord, who had been shut up inside his castle by his parents ever since birth that troubled him.

Kaiba was not a very sociable person, yet he preferred knowing details about the people he was meant to work for and get to know them personally. Strictly speaking, when he said that he wanted to `get to know them personally' he really meant it in a professional sort of way. He wasn't about to have a whole family of nobles after his blood.

This neck of the woods was very peaceful, even though Kaiba had heard rumours that a group of bandits resided here. Of course, looks can be deceiving and the gods knew that Kaiba had had many run-ins where he had mistaken what he saw for what was real. Since then, he had never trusted anything without first getting to know it in detail. Which brought him back to the problem of his employer.

The Bakura line had been serving the empire for countless generations already. They were extremely wealthy and respected - though most of this respect was earned through the people's fear of them. From what he had already heard, the late lord of the castle had had trouble conceiving a male heir - having conceived three daughters beforehand. It wasn't until he was about seventy did his first son arrive and he was so excited, he died of a heart attack. That wasn't before he named his son: Ryou.

So now, twenty years later, Bakura Ryou, the youngest of all his siblings, headed the Bakura household. His sisters still lived at home, which was uncommon for married women, and were perfectly happy for their younger brother to organise affairs while they enjoyed themselves and spoiled their greedy husbands rotten.

Kaiba's senses suddenly sharpened. Or perhaps it was just his thirst. He had long run out of fresh water and his water skin was empty. The sound of running water met his ears and, from the soft trickling sound it made, it sounded like a small creek. It didn't seem too far away from where he was, either.

Hand on his sword hilt, Sir Kaiba Seto set off quickly in the direction of the creek.

--------

If there was one thing Anzu hated more than getting her dress soiled, it was bandits. Yet here she was, faced with both, during her stroll along the creek bank. Already her new yellow dress was muddy from stumbling through the water's edge and her hair was getting tangled and plastering to her face. She wasn't squeamish about these things, but that didn't mean she liked it.

"Come back here!"

"You wish!" she yelled over her shoulder, hitching up the bottom of her skirts and dragging herself a bit further. "As if I'm going to listen to you!"

"Have you got a death wish?" one of the bandits roared, swinging his sword.

"No - ARGH!"

Cursing her bad luck and the rocky creek bed, Anzu tripped over a particularly large, hidden rock and fell headlong into the water. As she struggled to raise herself, a sharp pain in her ankle - the one that had tripped on the rock - told her that it was jarred badly. Her hands hurt too and she realised that they had grazed on the rocks and were seeping blood into the creek. Panting, Anzu knew she wouldn't be able to get very far until the bandits caught up with her. She resigned herself to whatever was going to happen.

"What the hell -"

In a great swish of clothing, someone had somersaulted over her head towards the bandits, wielding a long blade. In several, incomprehensible strokes, the newcomer had downed all five of the bandits and they dropped onto the ground in senseless heaps. Shrugging, the stranger turned back to her.

"Are you all right, lady?" he asked in deep, rich tones.

"I - I'm fine," she stuttered, trying to regain some dignity while half in the water. "And I'm not a lady. I work for a noble - as a serving maid."

"That doesn't look too good," he commented.

He was regarding her injuries with the air of a professional. She winced as she moved her ankle in an attempt to stand it up. Failing utterly, Anzu gave up and let out a growl. The stranger smirked and, in one swift motion, picked her up and carried her to the base of the nearest tree. He had strong arms and she noticed that he smelled of dewy grass.

"Thank you," she muttered as she was settled. "My name's Anzu."

"You can call me Kaiba."

"Well, um, Kaiba," Anzu said, wringing out the hem of her dress, "what brings you out here? It's not common for someone to be walking out here without a purpose."

"I prefer to keep my purposes to myself," Kaiba replied flatly.

"Suit yourself." Anzu stood up shakily. "Well, I'd better get going. My mistress will be wondering where I got to. See you around, Kaiba."

He opened his mouth as if to offer help, but she waved him away and limped off in the direction of the city, leaning on trees for support. Shaking his head, Kaiba followed at a distance, just to keep an eye on her. It was a good thing they were heading in the same direction, otherwise he would have been torn between following her and going his own way.

--------

"Ryou! You HAVE to help me!"

The young lord Bakura smothered a groan and an exasperated sigh. When he had succeeded the family affairs at fifteen years old, his sisters had been around twenty-five or so. He never expected to have to manage petty, trivial family affairs like who owned what in the family or what amount of allowance was given to which couple. But being the head of such a large household was like that.

His sisters and brothers-in-law never left him in peace. He had a job to do, but that didn't stop them from badgering him day in, day out to solve their measly problems. Mika, Ryou's third oldest sister - and the most annoying - swept into his study, bringing with her a strong smell of lavenders. Ryou fought the urge not to cough and sneeze. He HATED the smell of lavenders. Mika seemed not to notice, however, and stood right in front of his desk.

"Ryou!"

"What is it now, Mika?" he regarded her with a calm expression.

"Anzu has been gone for a while now and the weasel doesn't look like she wants to return any time soon," Mika whined. It was strange to see an almost thirty year old woman whine like a child. "I demand some punishment when she returns!"

"She might have had an accident on the way back, Mika," Ryou said evenly. "I'm sure she didn't intend to take so long. It is, after all, her afternoon off. Leave be, Mika."

His sister stormed off angrily. Ryou passed a long, pale hand over his face and through his white-purple hair. He sighed as the sound of Mika's footsteps died down the corridor and he was left in relative peace. Soon, his other sisters would be complaining about something or other, which they would probably bring to him and then he would lose valuable working time. He hated it when that happened.

Then again, Anzu HAD been gone a long time. The two of them had grown up together, along with another one of his serving men, Honda. He knew her very well, and she was not one to be late for anything. Before she had left the castle grounds, Anzu had told him that she would be back by noon, and yet it was two hours past already. Perhaps something HAD happened to her while she came back?

"Honda," he said crisply, setting down his writing tools, "see to it that none of my sisters, mother or the first lady disturb me. If they inquire, say that I am resting."

"Yes, my lord."

The tall, tanned serving man bowed low before opening the door for his master. Ryou stood up, straightening his light blue tunic and smoothing out the creases and exited. Honda followed him, closing the study door and holding a light blue cloak in both hands.

---- End of Chapter One ----

A/N: first time writing a YGO chapter fic, so bear with me. There may be Yamis in this fic (though I'm not too sure about Malik and Marik, because I haven't seen them yet). Bakura no Yami will appear at a later stage and Yugi no Yami will as well.

Also, though this fic may seem to be a yaoi piece, I assure you it is not graphic and those who do not approve of lemon or lime may rest assure that there will be none here. The romance here is more like fluff - doesn't get very far, if you know what I mean. Got the idea for this story after watching a Chinese show called `Better Halves' which is really funny.

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