Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Of The Night ❯ Fires of War ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

BB-You’re not dense. I probably should have said time travel in the beginning. I wanted to have the group go back to Bakura’s time to see how he actually did live or survive.  I figured it would give everyone....even Ryou ....a different perspective on Bakura.
YamiAlex: Well, hello! Long time no see! Welcome back to Bakurasgirl’s stories with twists and turns
Fires of War

Yugi, Glenn, and Seto looked over the balcony in horror as a series of fireballs plummeted from the sky into the city. Yugi held onto Seto’s hand as he looked into the city with worry. “This is terrible, Seto! What are we going to do? What if Ryou, Aten, and Bakura are down there?”
Seto narrowed his eyes as he heard Pharaoh Yami’s commands to deploy the soldiers.  “I hope they are not. The soldiers said they didn’t find anything during their march.”
Joey and Glenn ran onto the balcony to see a thick plume of black smoke coming from the city. “What the hell?” Joey gasped.
“Bakura was a master thief, though, Seto,” Yugi said, looking up at the CEO.  “He wouldn’t go near Yami’s guards.”
Yami looked down at Anubis below. “Slaughter the insurgents! Bring me the heads of those who would rise against me!”
Glenn bit his lip nervously as he heard people’s screams of panic and pain rise above the palace walls. “I hope our friends aren’t down there. They don’t stand a chance.”
Seto sighed. “I won't give up on finding them.  I just hope that they are not among the dead when the smoke clears." Seto bit his lip nervously. “If Ryou dies, I'll never be able to forgive myself for not having found him."
“Where are Rhett and Kai?” Glenn asked Yugi.
“They’re taking their nap, but I don’t think they will be sleeping for much longer with all that noise.”
If Aria, Aten, or Ryou are down there, they don’t stand a chance. If Aria is down there with Kailani, that baby won’t survive that slaughter. I can’t just sit here and do nothing! Seto darted away from the group.
“Where are you going, Seto?” Yugi asked.
“To find the others!”
Joey gasped. “But you’ll get killed out there! Seto! Don’t go! Seto!”
The CEO ran down the hallway towards the palace’s staircase. Yugi and Yami tried to convince me that I lived in the past. I didn’t want to believe it was real, but....how the hell do I know the way to the palace stables? Perhaps they were right.
Seto ran to the arena and grabbed a horse as a battalion gathered to destroy the invaders. Seto rode with the next battalion of soldiers into the streets.  Dead townspeople were scattered along the ground. Wounded men were holding their arms and trying to flee among the chaos.  Seto watched as an injured woman held her shoulder and staggered towards him. She looked up at him in pain.
“Help me, High Priest!”
“Who is attacking the city? Have you found them?”
“Caped men....One holds a golden scepter.”
Seto’s eyes widened. Has Aten’s yami returned? I thought he was eliminated! Seto dismounted his horse and examined the woman’s shoulder. A blade had slashed across her shoulder. The woman crumbled to the ground as her shoulder bled profusely.
Seto held material against her shoulder as the woman looked up at him. “Hold on, lady.”
Seto watched the woman’s head slowly lower to the ground and her body relax. Her eyes stared at him, frozen open. Seto sighed and lowered his head.
The CEO mounted his horse again and rode forward as he saw dead soldiers littered the ground with dead citizens. Seto saw two figures on horses wearing purple capes.  One of the figures held the Millennium Rod.
“Marik?”
The other mounted figure turned his head and slashed his sword through a man’s throat. Seto saw Malik raise his head and laugh above his dead victim.  
Seto’s eyes widened as Marik raised his Millennium Rod over his head and held a child with his right hand. “MARIK! NO!”
Seto watched with horror as Marik stabbed the child with the dagger of the Millennium Rod. Marik’s spiky blond hair was sprayed with blood. “What has gotten into him?”
Marik threw the child to the ground and pointed the Millennium Rod at Seto. “DESTROY HIM!”
Seto saw purple-caped individuals race towards him. He turned his horse around and rode his horse away from his enemies. Malik’s voice raised above the crowd.
“Don’t let him get away! He is the High Priest of Egypt! He will be a valuable captive!”
Seto looked above him and saw a bolt of lightning streak across the sky. Another bolt of lightning struck the ground near him as he raced away.
Seto looked over his shoulder as he saw Malik gaining ground. “Malik, what’s gotten into you?”
“You cannot escape the Tombkeepers!”
Seto heard the Egyptian soldiers race towards him. A battle ensued behind him as he raced toward the palace.  
Malik gained ground on Seto’s steed. Seto’s blue eyes narrowed angrily at the wild eyes of the Egyptian. Malik grabbed a whip and snapped the cord at Seto’s back. The CEO screamed as he gripped onto the reigns tightly. He grit his teeth against the pain.
“Malik, stop!”
“I will stop only when you are dead!” Malik snapped as he whipped Seto’s back again.
Seto’s knees tightened around the horse to prevent himself from falling off.  Marik’s angry voice raised above the crowd.
“Get him, hikari!” Marik growled as his horse darted toward Seto.
Seto coaxed his horse faster to escape the advancing Ishtars. “Marik! Snap out of it! It’s me!”
“The only thing that I will snap is your neck!” Marik threatened.
General Anubis raced towards Seto with his sword raised. “You shall not harm our High Priest!”
Marik raised the Millennium Rod above his head. A dark haze surrounded him and Malik. Anubis’ sword cut through the haze as the Ishtars laughed.
“Escort our High Priest back to the palace.”
Seto grit his teeth against the pain as he felt tiny drops of blood trickle down his back.  His horse raced towards the palace gates. “I couldn’t find any of my friends. I hope the Ishtars didn’t slaughter them.”
Seto rode through the gates and dismounted his horse.  He leaned against his horse as his back burned from Malik’s whip. A moment later, Joey, Yugi, Glenn, and Aria’s sons ran to his side. Joey wrapped his arms around Seto tightly, making the CEO scream in pain. The blond quickly released his husband and looked at Seto’s back. Rhett and Kai gasped at the sight of Seto‘s back.
“Seto, you need to see the doctor for that! Let’s go!” Joey took Seto’s hands and helped him  walk.
“Who did this to you?” Yugi asked.
Seto winced as he walked toward the palace. “Malik.”
The group gasped. “Why would he do that?”
Seto looked down at the two children. “Marik and Malik are not themselves. I don’t know what happened to them, but they are the ones responsible for the raid.”
“What do they hope to gain?”
Seto turned to Joey. “I saw Marik kill a little girl.”
Joey swallowed nervously. “Marik would never hurt a child!”
Yugi bit his lip. “It’s like Battle City all over again. The Ishtars....they’re out for blood.”
“Did you find Ryou or the others?”
Seto sighed. “No, I didn’t. When the smoke clears, hopefully they will not be among the victims.”
*********************
Ryou looked towards the city as he stood outside Bakura’s oasis.  “What happened to Marik and Malik?  Why are they attacking the city?” Ryou touched his stomach as he thought of his missing daughter. He hoped that Aria wasn’t still in the city with her baby.  ‘I can look for her, but where do I start? The desert will take days to search.’
Ryou heard the happy playing of the child Bakura nearby.  Ryou turned his head and saw the boy kicking up the sand with his bare feet. The tattered clothes of the child flapped around him as he ran. Heaven watched the little boy run around. She tried to crawl to the child, but her lack of a leg hindered her mobility.
Aten moved beside his mother and put his arm around his mother’s shoulder. “Mother, why do you think my  father invaded the city?”
“I don’t know, Aten. I wish I understood more.” Ryou placed his head on his son’s shoulders.
“How are you feeling?”
Ryou sighed. “I didn’t sleep so well last night again, but that’s to be expected.”
Aten turned his head to see Little Bakura covering his eyes and scream. Heaven hit the sand towards Bakura again, spraying sand in the child’s face. Aten left his mother’s side and kneeled beside Heaven.
“Heaven, that’s not very nice,” Aten said.
Little Bakura rubbed one eye and glared at the baby girl. Little Bakura balled his fist and kicked sand in Heaven’s face. The baby began to cry as Aten tried to clear the baby’s face free of sand.
“Bakura, don’t do that,” Aten scolded.
Bakura’s lip curled in anger and slapped Heaven’s head. “How do you like that, dumb baby?”
Aten grabbed Bakura’s arm angrily and tightly. “Touch my daughter again and you will pay!”
Ryou turned to see Bakura trying to pull from Aten’s grasp. “What is going on here?”
“He hit Heaven for hitting sand into his face.”
Ryou approached Bakura. “Bakura, why did you hit her?”
“She’s a dumb baby! She got sand in my face!”
“She’s only a baby, Bakura. She doesn’t know any better. You are older. You set the example for her. Aten, you can let him go.”
Ryou brought Bakura into his arms. “It’s not nice to hit.”
Bakura folded his arms defiantly. “She started it! I only finished it!”
Aten brought the crying baby girl into his arms. “That sounds like Father Bakura, alright.”
Bakura turned and stuck his tongue out at Heaven, making her cry more. “Dumb baby.”
“Heaven is not dumb, Bakura!” Aten protested.
“She is dumb! She’s a baby! I don’t like babies!”
Ryou looked at Bakura. “Why don’t you like babies?”
“If my mommy didn’t have a baby, I would not live in the alley!” Bakura looked with contempt at Heaven. “I especially hate crying babies.”
Ryou bit his lip nervously. //Stop crying, Ryou, or I will give you something to truly cry about!// Bakura’s former voice resonated in his head. “Bakura always hated it when I cried. If I cried while he beat me, it would enrage him more.”
Bakura tried to hit Heaven from Ryou’s arm. Ryou took Bakura’s hand.
“Sweetheart, we don’t hit.”
“Tell her to stop crying! Cry Baby!”
Aten walked into the oasis with the baby. Ryou felt Bakura relax and huff.  “She didn’t hit sand in your face to be mean.”
“I don’t like her.”
“I like you, Bakura,” Ryou said with a smile. “I know you’re not a bad boy. Your father was very mean to kick you out of his home.”
Bakura sighed sadly as his anger seemed to melt away with Ryou’s confession. “My daddy always said I was a bad boy. He said I was a bad om- um....omen.”
“You are not a bad boy, Bakura. You’re just confused and lost. I just want you to know that hitting is not very nice.”
Bakura lowered his head. “My mommy liked me, I think. She cried when daddy closed the door.”
Ryou caressed Bakura’s cheek. “A mother loves her child, Bakura. I have no doubt that your mother misses you.”
“Do you think she is hurt?”
Ryou looked into the desert. “I don’t know, baby. When the smoke clears, we’ll return to the city. I still haven’t found my friends....or my little girl.”
“You have a baby, too?”
Ryou looked at Bakura and nodded. “Aten is my son and my daughter is Aria.  Aria and Aten are nineteen.  They will always be my babies no matter how old they are.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know, Bakura,” Ryou sniffled, his mind filled with worry for his daughter’s safety as well as her family. “I pray that she is safe, wherever she is.”
********************
Bakura gripped the horse’s reigns as he raced towards his first sanctuary from Yami’s guards.  Bakura sighed as he thought of Marik riding that horse slaughtering people in a blood-lusted rage.  “That’s not Marik. Ishtar would never recklessly ride through the streets slaughtering people in cold blood.” The wild eyes of his lover came into his mind’s eyes and he sighed with resignation. “Perhaps he would.”
Bakura shook his head. “No, Marik wouldn’t kill indiscriminately.” Bakura paused. “Perhaps he snapped.  Marik and Malik have always been slightly.....insane. Maybe it just caught up with them.”  Bakura looked around cautiously.  “I have to get Ryou to the doctor’s in a few days for his appointment. If I take him to a doctor in this time period, they will ask too many questions.”
Bakura saw a sand dune before him.  The thief rode around the dune and dismounted his horse.  He was amazed to find the entrance exposed.  He carefully walked down the stairs and into the dark tomb.  The thief stopped as he heard a sound beyond the reach of the sunlight.
Bakura narrowed his eyes as he cautiously stepped off the stairs. He held his breath as he stepped into the quiet darkness.
A heavy object hit against the back of his leg as he felt a fist punch his cheek. The thief fell onto the ground and felt a thin figure jump on top of him. The person wrapped his hands around Bakura’s neck and squeezed.
A baby began to cry nearby as he grabbed the wrists of his assailant. Bakura felt the tip of a blade against his temple.
“State your business!” an angry male voice growled.
Bakura blinked as he tried to look at his assailants in the dark. “Umi?”
The hands strangling him quickly withdrew. “Daddy?”
The thief sighed in relief as the point of the blade withdrew from beside his eye. “Aria Kanika?”The hands which tried to strangle him grabbed his shoulders and hugged him tightly. “Daddy? I’m so glad to see you!”
Umi stepped into the sunlight streaming down from the steps. In his arms he held Kailani.
Bakura wrapped his arms around his daughter and kissed her cheek. “Baby girl, I am so relieved you are alright!”
“I thought we were stranded here alone,” Aria said.
“No, your mother and brother are waiting in my Oasis.”
Aria stood and helped her father to his feet. The teen went to a corner and began to strike flint to produce a fire.  Bakura watched as a fire slowly came to life in a golden torch on the floor.  
Umi stood in the sunlight trying to soothe the crying baby. “Kailani, it’s only Papa Bakura.”
Bakura walked over to the newborn and kissed her forehead. “Don’t cry, baby girl. Nobody will hurt you.”
Aria turned to her father.  “Father, have you seen my boys?”
Bakura looked at Aria. “Rhett and Kai are not with you?”
Aria slowly shook her head. “No. I don’t know where to look. They could be anywhere.”
Bakura walked toward a large decorated sarcophagus laying on the floor.  Scattered around the corner of the tomb were children’s toys and jars of food offerings and clothing. “I’m surprised to see you at one of your father’s earlier homes.
Aria folded her arms. “Umi, Kailani, and I just appeared here.  We have no idea how we came here.”
“That is still a mystery to me, too,” Bakura said, grabbing the corner of a brick slightly protruding from the bottom of the wall. “Marik and Malik may hold the key or more answers, but I’m not about to walk up to them and ask them anything at the moment.”
Umi watched Bakura remove a mud brick from the wall and another above it. “What are you doing?”
Bakura chuckled. “My little hidden armory, Umi Aquarius Tsunami.”
“Have you found Marik and Malik?”
Bakura nodded and looked up at his daughter. “I don’t know what happened to them, but they changed.”
Aria stood behind her father. “How have they changed?”
“Marik and Malik calling for bloodshed and slaughter.”
Aria and Umi exchanged uneasy glances. “That doesn’t sound like either of them.”
Bakura removed a third brick. “I couldn’t get close enough to see if Marik had succumbed to bloodlust. Malik was joining Marik in the rampage and I know he can’t get bloodlusted.  Only yamis are affected.  Marik usually just wants to grab Malik and fuck him raw and senseless when he gets bloodlusted.”
Aria closed her eyes. “Ew, dad! I didn’t need to hear that!”
“Blood doesn’t do that to me, but it has been known to spur....amorous desires.”
Aria put her hands over her ears. “I definitely didn’t hear that!”
Bakura removed another brick and reached into the wall. “I don’t know what happened to the Ishtars, but we’re going to need some help.”
“Bakura, have you found anyone else?”
Bakura removed a sword from the wall. “Ryou, Aten, Heaven, and Robbie are with me. We also have a guest.”
“A guest?” Aria asked.
Bakura removed two daggers and a mace. “You’ll meet him. I haven’t found anyone else. According to some soldiers, the High Priest was looking for someone with white hair.”
“It must be Uncle Seto!”
“I don’t plan on walking up to the palace gates to talk to the High Priest. Yami will have me thrown into the dungeon.”
Aria grabbed a mace from the ground. “What if we do visit the palace?”
Bakura looked up at his daughter and stood on his feet. He put his hands on her bare shoulders. “No, Aria. Do not go to the palace. Yami is dangerous.”
“Seto might have answers.”
Bakura shook his head. “No, your safety is important.”
Aria sighed. “I want to know that Seto is alright.”
“If Seto is the High Priest, he is capable of caring for himself. Yami won’t harm him.” Bakura kissed his daughter’s cheek. “I don’t want any harm to come to my little girl.”
Aria smiled. “Even at nineteen, I am still your little girl?”
“You will be my little girl until the day you die,” Bakura smiled. “I would do anything to keep you safe. I can’t keep you safe in the palace.”
Umi looked at the weapons on the floor. “Hidden weapons in a child’s tomb?”
Bakura grabbed the two daggers, sword, and rope.  “As I said, I had lived here at one point. There’s only one exit here. I had to make sure that I could escape from here with weapons.”
Aria took Kailani into her arms and handed the mace to Umi. “Do you know where to find Marik and Malik?”
“Kaemwaset knows more than he is letting on. I never trusted him after hearing how Marik spoke about his father. Marik and Malik must be there. Kaemwaset may need some...persuasion to tell me what I need to know.” Bakura grinned as he touched the tip of dagger against his finger.
********************
Bakura held the reigns to the horse as Aria held Kailani in her arms.  Umi walked beside Bakura and wiped his sweaty brow. “Bakura, how did you live in this heat all the time?"
Bakura shrugged. “I had ways to keep cool even on the hottest of days, compliments of my wading pool."
Aria looked around her as the baby girl slept in her arms.  She looked ahead and saw the oasis slowly come into view. “I feel like I've been here before. I remember being here."
“I don't think I have ever brought you here," Bakura said.
Aria and Umi saw Aten and Robbie standing in front of the Oasis. Aten ran towards the horse as he saw Bakura approaching. When the Egyptian saw his sister, his face lit up with a smile.
“Aria! Umi! You're safe!"
When Aten reached the horse, Bakura stopped. Umi hugged Aten, laughing. “It's nice to see you!"
Aria dismounted the horse and hugged her brother with a smile. “You have no idea how great it is to see you!"
Robbie limped from the foliage of the oasis and limped toward the group excitedly. “Umi! Aria! Oh my god!"
Umi ran towards Robbie and hugged his friend tightly. “You're safe!"
Aten kissed Aria's cheeks. “Where did Father Bakura find you?"
“We were in a tomb in the desert. Have you seen the boys?"
Aten's smile slowly faded. “No. I don't know where Rhett and Kai are."
Aria sighed and lowered her head. She cuddled Kailani against her chest. “Aten, I'm so worried about them. What if they are alone and hungry?"
Bakura turned toward the city. A thin whisp of smoke hovered over the city. “I will check the city. Aten, I want you and Robbie to keep an eye on everyone."
“How do I introduce.....you?"
“Keep an eye on Bakura," the thief said as he grabbed the horse's reigns. Bakura mounted the horse and handed the weapons to the teens. “Protect Ry and the others until I get back."
Aria watched her father ride away and turned to her brother. “What does he mean by that?"
Aten and Robbie exchanged glances. “You may be in for a little bit of a shock. Follow me."
Aria and Umi followed the teens into the oasis. Aria heard a little boy and Ryou laugh. When they emerged from the brush, Ryou and a little boy stopped playing and turned towards them.
Ryou gasped and jumped to his feet. “My baby girl! You're safe!" Ryou ran and hugged his daughter.  Tears fell down his cheeks as he embraced his daughter. “Sweetheart, you are safe! Are you alright?"
Aria kissed her mother's cheek. “I'm alright, mom. How are you?"
“I was so worried about you," Ryou sobbed as he pulled away and wiped his teary eyes. “I didn't know if we would ever find you. I hoped that you were home."
“Umi needed some help with Kailani, so I had to leave the bedroom. A bright light filled the room and we found ourselves in a desert tomb."
Ryou sniffled as he continued to cry. “I didn't want to think that you had died in that attack in the city."
“What attack?"
Aten stood beside Ryou and brought his mother into his arms. “Malik and my father attacked the royal city. They were killing anything that moved."
“Malik? Why would he do that?" Aria asked.
Aten caressed his mother's hair as he sobbed harder. “Mom, it's alright, Aria is safe."
“Who are you?" the little boy asked.
Aria and Umi looked down at the young child. “Who are you?"
“I'm Bakura Osiris Itemri," Bakura's eyes went to the baby in Aria's arms. “You have a baby," he added flatly.
“Bakura, this baby is too young to do anything to you," Robbie said. “Heaven didn't mean to get sand in your eye."
Aria approached the boy and looked down at him. “Bakura? You are Bakura Itemri?"
The boy nodded. “Bakura Osiris Itemri Ibn Darwishi."
“Umi, what is this? Is this really my father as a little boy?"
Umi raised a curious eyebrow. “He has spiky white hair and he sounds a little naughty."
“We don't know how this happened," chimed Robbie. “Somehow we are in Egypt five thousand years ago when Yami is pharaoh and Bakura is a little street urchin."
Ryou sniffled. “Marik is a little boy in the Ishtar mansion.  Bakura and I went to see him."
“How can Marik be a little boy and attack the city killing everything in his path?" Umi asked.
“My father is an adult here just as Father Bakura. Father's child self is here as well as Bakura's child self."
Bakura stepped toward Ryou cautiously. He looked up at Aria as he hid behind Ryou.
Ryou looked down at the young boy and caressed his hair. “She won't hurt you, Bakura. This is my daughter, Aria Kanika and her husband, Umi Aquarius Tsunami."
The boy waved sheepishly. “Hello."
Aten released his mother and walked over to the toy the adult Bakura had dug up from the ground beside the lake. Bakura had hid a small treasure chest of his toys and excavated it after a little searching. The boy's eyes had lit up with happiness and begun to play with a toy horse on wheels.
Aten sat on the ground and pulled the tiny horse on wheels. Bakura's eyes went to the toy. Bakura ran towards Aten and grabbed the toy. Aria watched the boy put the toy on the ground and run around, pulling it behind him. Aten looked at Heaven sleeping peacefully on a blanket.
Aria watched the little image of her father play happily. “Is this real?"
Ryou nodded silently. “Where did your father go?"
“He went to ride into town to check the damage in the city."
Ryou bit his lip nervously. “I shouldn't let him go alone."
“Father Bakura told Robbie and I to keep an eye on you, Aria, and the kids. He doesn't want anything to happen to you."
Ryou closed his eyes, remembering Malik's angry eyes and Marik's bellowing voice calling for more death. “Marik, Malik, what happened to you?"
**********************
Bakura rode to the city where women were holding their slaughtered loved ones and cried. Children were walking around the streets with blank stares at the chaotic world around him. Men carried the dead and piled them along the road. Bakura cautiously walked his horse towards Khalfani's. Bakura dismounted his horse and stepped into the brothel.
The women and children were huddled in the corner, shaking. One of the women turned her head and saw Bakura in the doorway. “Are you with those savages?"
Bakura shook his head. “No, do you know anything about those who attacked the city? Have they attacked before?"
A little boy nodded as he looked at Bakura. “They haven't attacked in many moons, sir.  They have been quiet."
“They hailed their new leaders," one of the young women sobbed. “They claimed the Ishtar family as their leaders."
Bakura slowly approached the women. “You need not fear me. I'm not here to harm you ladies."
The women slowly stood as they realized the stranger was not pulling out a weapon. “Please do not harm the children. They have been through so much under Khalfani's fist.”
“Meret-amun, I won't harm you."
The woman started at him inquisitively. “How do you know my name?"
Bakura sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “If I told you, you wouldn't believe me. Who were those men who attacked the city?"
“Tombkeepers," the little boy said, standing in front of Bakura. “They are the pharaoh's servants. They are to take care of his tomb when he passes into the west. They claim Pharaoh Yami is not the true king."
Bakura crossed his arms. “Tombkeepers. Malik was forced to undergo the initiation when he was a child.  Why did they choose the Ishtars as their leaders?  The Ishtars have been Tombkeepers for millennia since Yami's death."
“They want to put an Ishtar on the throne of Egypt," the woman said. “They were slaughtering people all around them proclaiming the Ishtars their new pharaoh."
Bakura looked at the bloody wall beside him. “So the Tombkeepers are behind this. They must have been the ones who brought Marik and Malik into this world.  Somehow they brought our family along with them. I knew Kaemwaset knew more than what he let on."
Bakura sighed. “If Marik sits on the throne, Yami will no longer be king.  I won't be whipped. Marik wouldn't stick me in the dungeon and have me killed in cold blood. That boy won't have to suffer my death."
“How could you be dead when you are standing and talking to us?" the boy asked.
Bakura looked at the curious glances of the women. “Don't mind me. I thought the Tombkeepers started with the Ishtar family. I didn't realize they existed before the first Ishtar was locked inside the tomb to tend to Yami's corpse."
“Their leader is fearsome. He is very mean," the boy said.
“Who is their leader?"
The women bowed their heads. “His eyes and hands burn with an unholy fire."
“What is his name?"
“He has no name," a woman said. “He is never referred to by name, but we have seen him occasionally towards the tomb-builder's quarter.  He has been known to wander through the streets, but nobody dares follow him."
“Have any of you ever solicited him for sex? Have any of you approached him?"
The women shook their heads. “He does not come for us. We avoid him and his fiery eyes."
“Where does he go in the quarter?"
“He visits the house of Itemri."
Bakura narrowed his eyes. “What do my parents have to do with this leader? Thank you for your help, ladies. I will reward you." Bakura left the brothel and mounted his horse. “What did the Tombkeepers do to Ishtar to turn him and Malik into inhuman killing machines?  If they already have a leader, why would they not want to put their own leader on the throne? Once again, there are more questions than answers." Bakura rode towards the tombbuilders quarter.   He stopped his horse outside the Itemri house and looked inside the mud-brick home.
“Dakarai, we must say something!  We cannot allow this to continue! What about Snefru? What are we going to do for him?"
Bakura's father lit a candle on his altar to Osiris. “Snefru will grow up to be a strong boy.  That is something that every father wants for his son."
“My darling, how can you justify fame in exchange for bloodshed?"
Bakura held his breath as he watched his father bow before his altar to Osiris.
“Snefru will be powerful when he reaches the age of manhood. He will rise to power someday and rule Egypt."
Bakura saw his mother's eyes rise to the window. Bakura quickly turned away from the window.
“We cannot encourage death of innocent people. What if he kills Bakura?"
“Then that is one less urchin on the streets."
Bakura's eyes looked down at the ground. “My father was so quick to protect Snefru.  Even when I saw them on the streets, it seemed that he worshipped Snefru and my sister."
“Can you reason with him, Dakarai? Convince him that shedding innocent blood is no way to gain a throne?"
“Sometimes, unfortunate sacrifices must be made.  Bloodshed is unavoidable in war."
Bakura narrowed his eyes. “My father must be connected to this Tombkeeper leader."
Bakura heard the baby cry in his mother's arms and sighed. “I should return home to Ry. I can't return home empty-handed. I have more mouths to feed now. Time for me to work my magic," the thief grinned as he rode toward the merchant quarter.
*********************************
Yugi cautiously entered Yami's throne room and saw him looking down at the city from his balcony. Yami turned when he heard Yugi's sandals tap against the ground.
“My son, what are you doing here?"
“Yami, do you know who I am?"
Yami raised a curious eyebrow. “You are my son. Who else would you be?"
Yugi sighed. “Nobody. I heard from Seto that the fighting below was fierce."
Yami crossed his arms and snorted with derision. “Those who will challenge my reign will suffer the consequences.  I will not allow anyone to take my rightful place as pharaoh or question my authority."
“What if the invaders come to the palace?"
“If they do, they will rot in my dungeon. You have no need to worry. My Puzzle will keep us safe."
Yugi looked with wonder at the Millennium Puzzle dangling from Yami's neck. “Where did you get that?"
“You have seen me wear this all your life. Are you feeling alright?"
Yugi nodded. “Yeah, I'm fine. I guess...maybe I'm just worried about the attack."
“Great Pharaoh, I have news."
Yugi turned and saw a tall, heavy-set man bowing before the pharaoh. He held a spear tightly in his hands. “Who are you?”
The general grinned. “Your lordship does not recognize General Anubis?”
Yami looked down at Yugi. “Perhaps the doctor needs to examine you."
Yugi shook his head. “No, I'm fine."
“My Great Pharaoh, it appears as if those of the Noble House of Ishtar have risen against you. Several peasants have said they have identified an Ishtar as one of the combatants."
“Kaemwaset does not have the fire of war in his veins." Yami narrowed his eyes as he approached Anubis. “Bring me the Ishtar family."
Yugi looked up at Yami. “Don’t hurt the Ishtar family, Yami!”
Yami glared at Yugi. “I said that I would not allow anyone to challenge my authority. Anyone who challenges me shall suffer. Yugi, please listen to me.” Yami approached Yugi and stared down at his shorter counterpart. “I rule not by mercy, young son. If you show your enemies mercy and compassion, it will be your downfall. Compassion is for the weak. Mercy is for the pitiful.”
Yugi shook his head. “No, Yami. That isn’t right.”
“Bring me the Ishtar family. Immediately, Anubis.”
*********************************
Marik slept quietly as he held onto his toy horse. The stuffed animal was tucked tightly against his chest as he sucked his thumb.  The distant meowing of a cat in the house made his eyelids flutter.
Marik's eyes shot open as he heard his father screaming from down the hall. The angry growls of General Anubis echoed through the hallway. “Get the boy!"
Marik held onto his toy tightly as the little boy trembled in fear. Soldiers began kicking down doors in the Ishtar household searching for him. “Father?" The young child raced under his bed and shivered.
He screamed as he saw the Egyptian soldiers kick down his door. “Father! Father! Help! Somebody help!"
The soldiers grabbed the boy's bed and tossed it into the expertly-decorated wall. Marik ran towards the open door holding his toy. The little boy saw soldiers binding his father's arms.
Tears streamed down the child's face as he backed away.
Two soldiers ran from the room and grabbed the boy's arms. Little Marik screamed and struggled to keep hold of his toy. Anubis grabbed Marik's toy and held it in the air.
“You are still playing with toys when you should be devoting yourself to your studies and learning your place in the Nobility of Egypt's ranks?"
Marik sniffled. “Don't hurt my horsie!" Marik screamed as he struggled to pull his arms away from the soldiers' grip.
Anubis threw the toy over the railing onto the first floor of the Ishtar home. He grabbed Marik's side lock of youth and gripped it angrily. Marik winced as the two soldiers wrapped the boy's wrists behind his back.
“Don't hurt my son, Anubis!" Kaemwaset bellowed.
Anubis turned to Kaemwaset. “Prisoners have no right to demand anything, Kaemwaset."
“Somebody help us, please!" Marik screamed loudly, praying someone would hear him.
Anubis turned to the child. “Hold your tongue, young boy, before I remove it with pleasure."
Marik sobbed and struggled as Anubis grabbed him and carried him down the stairs. The child's whimpered as General Anubis draped him over the horse's back.
Marik struggled with his rope until he found a sharp blade pressed against the side of his throat.
“I will cut it if you try to escape."
*********************************
Bakura left the fire and stepped into the desert. Ryou was sitting on a cloth looking up at the stars. The yami watched his husband’s hair flow in the wind. Bakura slowly approached Ryou and stood beside his husband.
Ryou looked up at his yami and put his hand on Bakura’s leg. “Hello, angel.”
Bakura smiled down at him and sat beside his husband. “Are you alright?”
Ryou looked towards the city with a heavy sigh. “I’m worried about them, Bakura. What could have happened to Malik and Marik?”
Bakura looked up into the starry sky. “Something must have made them snap, Ry. When I saw Marik on that horse, there was something in his eyes that I have seen only rarely.”
“What do you think it was?” Ryou asked as he looked at his husband.
“Rage beyond control. Fury without boundaries.”
Ryou took Bakura’s hand. “What can we do?”
“Marik and Malik have to be at the Ishtar home. Where else would they be?”
“Marik hated his father. Why would he seek refuge there?”
Bakura sighed. “It’s a place to start.”
Ryou placed his head on Bakura’s shoulder. “There has to be something we can do for them.”
“The weapons I retrieved from the royal tomb should help us if either one of them strike.”
Ryou’s hand rested on Bakura’s thigh.  “They may be our way to get back home.” Ryou paused as he rubbed Bakura’s knee. “Do you think time in this world is advancing at the same rate as back home?”
Bakura put his arm around Ryou’s shoulder and kissed his lover’s forehead. “Dr.Zira will have a hell of a time calling us up and confirming our appointment in a few days.”
Ryou began to rub Bakura’s inner thigh. “I love you.”
Bakura smiled and kissed Ryou’s lips. “I love you, too, my angel.”
Ryou sighed into the kiss, reaching up and burying his fingers in Bakura’s white hair. Ryou closed his eyes and caressed Bakura’s cheek. The hikari laid on the blanket and looked up at Bakura with a smile. “Beautiful boy.”
Bakura leaned over and laid beside his lover. Bakura’s hand caressed Ryou’s chest and drifted down to the baby bump. “How have you been feeling?”
“A little tired. I didn’t sleep too well last night.”
Bakura grinned and lifted Ryou’s tunic. He leaned over and kissed Ryou’s belly. “Hey, little fighter, let your mommy get his sleep.” Bakura’s fingers glided across Ryou’s stomach. Ryou caressed Bakura’s white hair draped across his chest. A quiet lullabye and Bakura’s breath brushed across Ryou’s skin.
The hikari closed his eyes as he felt a light tap against his belly. “Bakura, was that you?”
The yami looked at his hand and felt a tap against his finger. “No. That was.....him.”
Ryou sat up and looked at his stomach. He rubbed his stomach and felt a very light tap. “Oh my, Bakura! It is!”
The parents smiled in amazement at the momentary reminder of the life they had created. “Can we assume that is a good sign?” Bakura asked.
Ryou leaned over and kissed Bakura on the lips.  Bakura closed his eyes at the surprise kiss by his lover. Bakura leaned forward and kissed Ryou until he once again laid beside his lover. Bakura’s right hand continued to caress Ryou’s stomach. Ryou buried his fingers in Bakura’s hair and rubbed his back.
The thief kissed Ryou’s neck and moved a corner of Ryou’s tunic to kiss his chest. “Is Bakura asleep?”
Bakura nodded. “Yes. Kailani, Heaven, and Bakura are asleep. That boy,” Bakura said, resting his head against Ryou’s chest. “Even now I can see the seeds of hatred growing in my younger self. He’s angry that his father hurt him, but I know what truly is happening in his heart, his mind.”
Ryou caressed Bakura’s hair. “He’s feeling alot of things now.”
“I remember sleeping in the alley and wanting to cry. I remember being confused at first and not really knowing what to do or think.”
Ryou kissed the top of Bakura’s head. “Maybe we can help him, yami.”
“Can we really change him? Can I make myself into something different?” Bakura raised his head. “Do you think it could change us and our past?”
Ryou shrugged. “I don’t know. It could.”
Bakura looked down at Ryou. “I know I can’t take back all the things I have done to you, but perhaps I can stop it where it started.”
Ryou caressed Bakura’s hair. “If we are here, could anything we do here impact us when we return to our time?”
Bakura sighed. “IF we can return to our time.” Bakura felt the baby tap against his hand again.
Ryou shifted his back on the ground. “Easy there, little one,” Ryou whispered, rubbing the side of his stomach.
Bakura chuckled. “You know we don‘t need Dr. Zira to tell us the gender of the baby. We just need to plant some wheat and barley seeds.”
Ryou raised a curious eyebrow. “We have to garden to find out?”
Bakura grinned. “When you have to pee, just pee on the seeds. Depending on what seeds grow, we’ll know for certain.”
“Yami Bakura Osiris Itemri, that is gross.”
“It’s worked for thousands of years in Egypt, Ry,” Bakura grinned. “Then again, this isn’t a typical situation. It works for women. I don’t know if it would work for a guy.” Bakura kissed Ryou’s chest. “Especially one as handsome and perfect as you.”
Ryou closed his eyes as Bakura’s kisses drifted down Ryou’s chest and down to his stomach. The hikari relaxed as his lover’s lips lightly touched his stomach. Bakura’s hands slipped lower on Ryou’s stomach and teased the area around the edge of Ryou’s tunic.
The hikari closed his eyes as he felt Bakura’s lips drift lower. Ryou whimpered as he felt Bakura swallow around him. His back arched as he felt his body fill with pleasure. Ryou felt Bakura’s tongue explore his arousal and his lover’s lips kiss his inner thigh.
Bakura kissed up Ryou’s body and kissed his lover’s lips. The yami propped himself on his knees and elbows to prevent placing pressure on his lover’s body.
Ryou let his hands drift down Bakura’s body until he heard Bakura whimper. The yami’s breathing quickened as Ryou’s hands caressed him. Bakura’s hands reached down to Ryou’s leg and caressed his lover’s skin.
Ryou wrapped his legs around Bakura’s hips as the yami guided himself into his lover. Ryou whimpered as he released Bakura’s manhood and wrapped his arms around Bakura’s shoulders. Ryou kissed Bakura’s neck as the yami raised his eyes to look towards the oasis. Ryou’s warm breath brushed across his yami’s skin as he breathed heavily with Bakura’s movements.
Bakura looked down at Ryou and caressed his cheek. “Are you alright?”
Ryou giggled as sweat dripped down his face. “Do I look alright?”
Bakura slowly thrust into Ryou’s body as he kissed his forehead. “I think you look just perfect.”
Ryou smiled. “Same here.”
Bakura kissed Ryou’s lips.  Ryou reached between him and Bakura and stroked his arousal.  Bakura continued to thrust into Ryou’s body and make his lover whimper. Ryou’s breath quickened as he felt his body tremble.
Bakura felt his lover climax with him. Bakura buried his face in the juncture of Ryou’s neck. “You’re so beautiful, Ry.”
Ryou kissed Bakura’s ear as he looked up into the starry night. “Bakura?”
Bakura raised his head and looked down into Ryou’s eyes seeping crystalline tears. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
Ryou sniffled and started to cry. “I want to go home.”
Bakura removed himself from his lover and laid beside him. “Don’t cry, angel. We’ll get home.”
Bakura cuddled his husband against him. “Now, now, Ry. Calm down. Close your eyes and go to sleep.”
Ryou closed his eyes and fell asleep in Bakura’s arms. Bakura’s ears and eyes remained vigilant until he fell asleep beneath the stars with his husband.