Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Identity ❯ Orphans ( Chapter 7 )

Identity

Disclaimer: I don't own 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 setting. Slash warning Seto/Ryou, a little Yami/Ryou.

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

Chapter Title: Orphans

Author's Notes: YAY REVIEWS! I'm so happy to have even SEVEN reviews! Thank you so much to the people who reviewed this story and I love you all! No, this story will not be taken down, because I love writing it so much. I'll continue writing it until the end, cos I believe that, one day, people will notice it and read it! I'll be even happier if they review!

Oh yeah, I will be using Japanese honorifics from now on, partly because I want to and they sound better than `lord' and `lady' blah, blah. And Ryou will continued to be addressed in male terms until the secret is made public (in the story).

ENJOY!

---- Orphans ----

Kaiba walked along the streets in Tomoeda, the city where Ryou's business trip had led them. The young lord was in a meeting with the resident overlord about several thefts throughout the town recently. Since the case was not a very serious one, he was excused from the meeting to go through the town and inspect it for any signs of the thief.

"Meet me back here in an hour or so," Ryou had told him.

Tomoeda was much smaller than Domino, the capital and the people much more secretive, possessive and easy to suspect than the residents of the capital. So far, he had received at least six glares of distaste, two rude gestures and a couple of rude remarks. It seemed that Tomoeda residents weren't all that friendly either.

"Oi, you kid!" a nearby person yelled. "Be careful!"

"Sorry!"

A ten-year-old child with long black hair slammed straight into Kaiba and fell back onto his backside with a loud `oomph!'. Kaiba blinked once, before bending down to help the child to his feet. The kid had a ragged appearance, his hair was matted and dishevelled, his face grimy and unwashed and his clothes were tattered and worn.

"Here, kid, let me give you a hand."

"No don't touch me!" the kid exclaimed, scrambling to his feet on his own. "From the looks of you, sir, you must be new to this place. Respected people NEVER help a street kid like me. You'll just dirty yourself, sir."

He flashed a cheeky grin at Kaiba, dusting his ragged clothes with his hands.

"I'm not a respectable person, kid," Kaiba said roughly. "What's your name?"

"Call me Mokuba," he replied brightly. "I don't have a last name. What's yours sir?"

"First of all, don't call me `sir'," Kaiba said. "You can call me Kaiba."

Mokuba's eyes widened and he started clapping with glee, much to Kaiba's surprise. People began staring at them, or at least, at Kaiba. They obviously didn't think much of the street kid practically dancing around in the middle of the street.

"You're that sword-person from the capital!" he cheered. "You are! You are! You're Kaiba Seto, aren't you? WOOHOO! I finally get to meet you!"

There's something wrong with this kid, Kaiba thought, looking at him strangely. Mokuba stopped his little dance and looked a bit red.

"Sorry, it's just that you're my idol and I've been hearing about you from heaps of the older people and I've been wanting to meet you and all . . ."

"Where are you parents, Mokuba?"

"Dead. I live on the streets," Mokuba said, tracing patterns in the dirt with his feet. "Have been for thirteen years, Kaiba-san."

Mokuba reminded Kaiba of himself, orphaned at a young age and forced to live on their own. Kaiba himself had been lucky, having been found by his sword master and raised. However, Mokuba had lived on the streets for thirteen years, his whole life, without a home or a proper family. Empathy stirred within Kaiba and he made the boy an offer.

"Would you like to come with me, then?"

"What?" Mokuba gaped.

"Would you like to stay at my home?" Kaiba repeated. "I work for Bakura Ryou, the visiting lord, but I'm sure he won't mind if you stay with us."

"Yes please! Thank you Kaiba-san!"

--------

"Good morning Yugi-sama!"

"Good morning, Shizuka-chan."

Yugi smiled politely at his fiancee, who bowed her head modestly, with a slight blush. She was a pretty thing, with chestnut brown hair and large hazel eyes, a petite body and slim build with an unassuming air of innocence around her. Jounouchi was actually quite fond of the girl himself, but it was her loud-mouthed and proud sister he disliked.

"Yugi-sama."

Kujyaku Mai was a generously formed, tall and honey-blonde woman with bright purple eyes. She had a bold sense of fashion, wearing bright and flashy colours to match her outgoing and vibrant personality. Upon first look, Mai seemed all right to contend with, but once Jounouchi had actually talked to her, she got on his nerves.

"Mai-san."

"Oh look, what are you doing here little boy?"

"No on asked your opinion Mai," Jounouchi snapped, lashing out at her.

"Ooh, the boy can bite!"

He growled, further adding to his reputation, in her eyes, as a dog and a boy. She laughed wickedly and clapped her hands, applauding his act. This caused him to flush darkly and for Yugi and Shizuka to intervene.

"Jounouchi, don't argue with her," Yugi said firmly. "If you carry on like this, you'll end up doing something rash, like strike her. You and I are both well aware of the fact that it is against our morals to strike women. Let it be, Jounouchi."

"Yeah, all right," Jounouchi grumbled reluctantly. "But only for you, Yugi."

Mai looked ready to say something about it, something along the lines of `the dog's all bark but no bite', but Shizuka interrupted her with a stern look. She then went to shrugging instead, once and very lightly. In her eyes, Jounouchi wasn't worth the trouble. It was entertaining to watch him stumble and stutter during their arguments. Next to them, Yugi and Shizuka had already started a conversation.

" . . . Yes, Tomoeda is a fairly problematic city, and it's unfortunate that we don't have a very good check on the offenders there. We've sent Bakura Ryou over there to handle a larger case that came out of nowhere."

"Really? I've heard a lot about Bakura-sama," Mai gushed, smiling. "Is it true he has excellent skills in almost everything?"

"Everything," Yugi confirmed. "Except, maybe, in the marriage department."

They all laughed at that, though Jounouchi's face quickly drew back into a frown when Mai looked towards him. The conversation progressed onto Bakura Ryou, for some strange reason, seeing as no one really knew much about him.

"We could ask Yami," Jounouchi suggested. "He and Bakura are good friends."

"That's a good idea. I've never really talked to Bakura before, but Yami and he are always together. Perhaps he would have some idea about why Bakura is so anti-social. It's not healthy for someone to be like that."

"Well, why don't we go find him then?" Shizuka asked eagerly.

--------

They found Yami in his study, reading from an old scroll. He ushered them in quickly, ordering Seii to fetch some chairs and settling them down comfortably around his desk. Yugi asked him the question.

"I'm not really sure, actually," Yami confessed. "It's come up once or twice in our conversations, but he's always avoided it. He's said something about an incident that happened a while back, but that's about all he's ever said about the topic. Anyway, why the sudden interest?"

Yugi laughed nervously, scratching his head.

"Oh nothing, we were only wondering."

"Hasn't he ever shown interest in any women?" Mai asked curiously.

Yami frowned.

"Not that I know of. He's reserved. I don't think anyone's managed to get really close to him except two servants, Kaiba Seto and myself. Anzu, Honda and I took years to gain his trust and even that trust isn't complete. Kaiba Seto, however, may have a chance. They got along surprisingly well within a week of meeting each other."

They all contemplated this. Jounouchi looked at Yami through narrowed eyes, causing the Prince Regent to look at him oddly. The blonde duchy heir shook his head.

"I was wondering, Yami . . . you're alone too."

"That's right . . ." Shizuka agreed.

"That . . ."

". . . is none of your business," Yami interrupted, before Yugi could say anything. "I don't intend to marry anyone. Besides, my children, if I have any, would not inherit anything. The title of `Prince Regent', perhaps, but nothing more. I see no point."

"But you have liked someone before, haven't you?"

"A long time ago, yes. But that's the past. Now please, if there is nothing else, I have to get back to my work."

--------

Ryou opened the door to his room with a sigh. Today had been an exceptionally long day and he hadn't gotten much work done. The case he had been faced with was a series of thefts, nothing serious, only that a rather expensive artefact had been stolen from an antique store. Each of the thefts had occurred at nighttime, and each victim had been knocked unconscious on the back of the head.

He planned to use a simple baiting formula to try and lure the thief out into the open. That meant he would have to be careful of what he did, have it all flawlessly planned, before the thief struck again. There was no pattern as to when or where they would strike next, so Ryou had to be prepared. He couldn't make it too obvious, and yet he had to let the thief know there was something to be stolen.

"Are you busy, Bakura-sama?"

"Kaiba-kun." Ryou looked up to see the other man standing at the doorway. "No, of course not. Come in. Is there something you need to see me about?"

"I just wanted to show you someone I found on the streets today," Kaiba said, ushering a boy from behind him. "This is Mokuba. He's an orphan and I wanted to ask your permission to let him stay with me in your house."

"It's your choice, really, Kaiba-kun," Ryou said. "I won't disapprove."

Mokuba looked up at Ryou a little shyly. He cleared his throat a little, getting some of his usual cheer and vivaciousness back as he did so. Ryou looked down at him curiously.

"Are you really a man?" the boy asked. "You look like a girl!"

"Mokuba!" Kaiba said warningly, his face livid. "What have I told you about speaking out?"

"Sorry," Mokuba mumbled.

Ryou flushed darkly, avoiding both pairs of eyes. Mokuba was sharp-eyed. It would be hard to keep him from suspecting something going on. However, if he continued to blush and shy away at the questions, it would seem even more suspicious. He settled for laughing it off.

"It's all right," he said lightly. "A mistake often made, really. I don't mind."

"Sorry about that, Bakura-sama."

"Not at all, Kaiba-kun. He's very bright and lively."

Mokuba's tattered clothing had been changed for a nicer set of greens and browns, not much different from Kaiba's blue. The boy could hardly keep still, shifting from foot to foot, practically hopping with excitement. Kaiba explained how they met and what went on afterwards, up until Ryou himself had come back. The young lord nodded.

"Mokuba," Kaiba said, looking down at the boy. "If you're going to learn how to sword fight, you may as well start stretching and warming up."

"Cool!" Mokuba cried, clapping his hands.

"Trust me, Mokuba," Ryou said in amusement, "you won't be laughing for very long. Sword fighting is a very precise and accurate art and it takes years to master it. You've started late - I was half your age when I first began."

"I am a very strict taskmaster, Mokuba," Kaiba said seriously.

He and Ryou caught each other's eye and broke out into smiles. Mokuba looked at them both a little fearfully, but then shrugged and called excitedly for Kaiba to hurry up and start teaching him how to fight. Ryou chided him gently, though firmly, about being impatient.

"Would you like to join us for a demonstration, Bakura-sama?"

"If you would like to," Ryou replied. "I need a break from work anyway."

--------

"Ow! That HURTS!"

"That's good then. It means you're stretching."

"But it HURTS!"

"You're too stiff. We need to loosen your muscles and joints up."

Mokuba whimpered when Kaiba pushed his back further down into his stretch. He'd never thought sword fighting was so PAINFUL. In the last half-hour, Kaiba had made him do various stretches and exercises that needed him to use muscles in areas he had never used before. Ryou stood aside and watched them silently.

"Good, that's done." Mokuba sighed in relief. "Now, we need to train your balance and stance. Stand up and spread your legs out like this. No, a bit closer in. Yes, that's it - now it's sort of like a sitting position in mid-air. Hold out your arms straight in front of you. Stiffen those legs up, Mokuba! I shouldn't be able to kick them out of place!"

With that said, Kaiba gave him a kick on the calf, making him topple over. He got to his feet again, grumbling for all he was worth, complaining something that sounded suspiciously like he was about to kill someone. Ryou was amused, as was Kaiba. They both knew Mokuba's threats were idle - he couldn't lay a finger on them even if he wanted to. With an impatient snap from Kaiba, he was back in the previous position, a little better, because Kaiba wasn't complaining as much.

"How long do I have to do this for?"

"Until you get perfect balance and stance."

"That's how long?"

"However long it takes."

"It might take forever!"

"If your balance is that bad, maybe it will."

Mokuba grumbled. That, and also concentrated on his stance. It helped when he closed his eyes, he soon found out. About ten minutes later, he wasn't moving at all. Ryou and Kaiba watched him carefully, slightly worried. Someone as active and impatient as Mokuba couldn't possibly master something so precise and attention seeking as this exercise. Finally, Ryou smirked.

"Kaiba-kun, your little apprentice has fallen asleep!"

"MOKUBA!"

The boy didn't wake up. Fed up with his behaviour, Kaiba used the flat side of his sheath and smacked him over the head - hard. Ryou barely kept from laughing out loud as Mokuba toppled over, landing face first in the dirt. Kaiba sighed when Mokuba jumped up, wincing as his sore muscles screamed in protest, and glanced about him anxiously.

"Huh? What happened?"

"You fell asleep Mokuba."

"I DID?"

"Yes, you did." Kaiba looked at Ryou, who shrugged. "Perhaps you're tired. We'll continue tomorrow."

--------

Malik Ishtar threw down his game pieces with a flourish.

"You lose, gentlemen."

Takao, Takeshi and Touya groaned in unison, tossing down their own game pieces in defeat. They were over at the foreign lord's manor, gambling. It was a lucky thing for them that Ryou was away on a business trip in the next town and wouldn't be home for another week or so. Otherwise, he would certainly punish them for gambling away money that didn't belong to them in the first place.

Malik's offer was too good to be true. He promised that, whatever they lost, he would take charge of it. It was only then did they gamble to their heart's content, mindlessly piling on more and more money on the stake. This was probably their thirtieth round of this particular game and they were getting tired of losing to the young lord.

"We'd better be going, Malik-sama," Touya said, standing up. "Our wives are going to throw fits if we don't get home soon."

"You're not going anywhere."

They turned around in surprise at Malik's smooth voice. He was still sitting at the table, looking very smug and satisfied about something. From behind them, six guards grabbed a hold of their arms, keeping them in place. They cried out in protest, struggling with their captors.

"You owe me six hundred thousand pieces of gold," he explained. "I'm not about to let you all go so easily."

"But you said -"

"That I'll take charge of it. But that doesn't mean you don't owe me. It was my money you borrowed to gamble away and now you'll have to pay it back."

"Where are we going to get six hundred thousand pieces of gold, Malik-sama?"

"Last I heard, Bakura household treasury has more than enough to cover that cost."

"Ryou-sama will murder us for sure, if we take that money!"

"Then you will work off this debt working for me." Malik smirked. "How about it, gentlemen? Pay or work?"

Takeshi had decided a long time ago that he had only married Bakura Miyuki because of the money and the good life. He wouldn't go back to working like a common peasant any time soon. A look at Touya and Takao told him that they felt the same.

"We'll pay."

---- End of Chapter Seven ----

A/N: another chapter finished!

Chika: MOKIE-CHAN! * Glomps *

Mokuba: @_@ HELP ME NIISAMA!

Seto: Get off him!

Chika: SETO-SAMA! * Glomps *

Seto: oomph!

Ryou: Hey! * Frowns and pouts *

Chika: aw . . . Ryou-chan . . . here, you can have your Seto-sama back!

Seto and Ryou: ^ _______________ ^ * huggles *

Chika: aw . . .!

Mokuba: * turns to audience * Please review this chappie, cos this girl's running out of ideas very quickly for this fic and she needs inspiration . . . on second thought, if she's gonna torture us in any future chapters, don't review!

Chika: MOKIE-CHAN!

Mokuba: * runs away screaming *

Seto and Ryou: * still huggling * ^____________________________^