The Thief and his Willow

The Thief and his Willow

As a warning. In this chapter we meet many female characters who have been slaves for a long while, so they talk funny compared to proper Rye. So if you see a misspelled word or a word that doesn’t even exist in their speech, it’s probably intentional. Hah.

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Chapter Five: First Day of Hell

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Shyly, Rye found herself amongst many of Zorc’s hard-working slaves. Bakura stood by her. He had insisted she work in the kitchens. Rye has not done much cooking in her lifetime, so she prayed she do a fairly fine job.

Bakura opens the wide doors, and immediately the delicious scent of food entered both his and Rye’s nostrils. Rye has not eaten in a many while. That night before, she had fallen asleep in Bakura’s arms, so he told her. And she awoke in the bed Bakura had promised her. Slaves ran here and there, carrying large trays of food, from breads to fruits, meats to vegetables. A fire stood in the middle of the large kitchen area, boiling a large pot of ‘something.’ Rye took a guess that it was some sort of stew or soup.

And standing there, hovering over the pot, was a rather large woman. She demanded orders from the other cooks and passers. Rye immediately knew that it was she who was in charge of that kitchen. She wore a large white robe, it wrapping loosely over her chubby form. Her brownish gray curls were covered by a rag tied poorly underneath her chin. She stirred the substance of the pot with a large, metal spoon. Rye has never seen such a device in her entire life.

“Ladia,” the lady yells at a passing woman. “I nee’ more ginger spice for the stew! Hurry now!”

“Yes Ma’am,” bows Ladia. She hurries off, and at this time the large woman took notice of Bakura. She stops stirring and steps off a large stool.

Wiping her hands on her robe, the lady walks up to Bakura and Rye. “Well, well, well, if it ain’t Bakura. What brings you to my turf?”

Bakura smirks. “I bring this lovely lady.” He shoves Rye forward. “She’s the slave I had been promised by Zorc, and I want her to start working immediately. Think she can find a job working with you, Hana?”

Hana must’ve been pretty important, Rye guessed. The lady did not even bow in Bakura’s presence. She was one tough cookie!

“Bakura, ya know we could always use more extra ‘ands.” Hana eyes Rye up and down. “So, this is the one I’ve been hearing about. Ya know, she’s already popular. I still can’t believe it myself -- the fact that Zorc gave you one o’ us for your own use.“ Rye did not want to be popular. But how would she have known? “She’s very skinny. Is she a hard worker?”

“She better be,” Bakura smirks. “And if she gives you any trouble, just let me know.”

“Right then,” Hana takes Rye roughly by the arm. “Come on then, sweetie.”

Eyes widening, Rye turns to Bakura for help, but by the time she looked in his direction, he was already gone. Hana dragged Rye to a small rack of aprons. She tosses one to Rye, demanding that she put it on and follow. Fidgeting with the apron, it takes Rye a few seconds to figure how the bloody apron should fit around her body. Plus, she had to keep up with Hana. For a large woman, that Hana sure could move.

Hana has been a servant to Zorc for over fifteen years. When Bakura first came along, Hana and he became close quick, for the both of them are quite strong. Bakura, being male, was stronger than Hana, but Hana could take care of herself easily. She is a great chef, and since Zorc was not fond of large-bodied women, Hana was given the role of ‘head chef,’ as she liked to call herself.

She leads Ryou to a back area where many women were kneading dough. Taking Rye’s arm, Hana places her in front of a countertop covered over in flour. Grabbing a big chunk of dough from a large woodened bowl, Hana places it in front of Rye.

“Here sweetie,” Hana said. “Knead the dough until very soft, like Mallie is doing there.” Hana points to a young girl. The girl was, indeed, that same Mallie Bakura took in not long ago. “When its soft enough, roll into biscuits. Hurry now! Come on!”

Obeying, Rye goes to work. She kneads the dough best she could, hating the yucky feeling of dough sticking between her fingers. What a nasty job!

The girl named Mallie kept her eye on Rye, watching the woman with interest. “You’ve never done this before, have you?”

Rye turns to Mallie. “Is it that obvious?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it,” smiles Mallie. “Bakura brought me in last week. I was meant to be a sex slave, but after he discovered I was only fifteen, he demanded I work as a cleaner and cook.” Mallie rolls a ball of dough and sets it aside. She could see Rye’s astonishment. Was Bakura really that friendly?

“He did that for you?”

“He sure did,” Mallie continued. “Sure, working ‘ere in the kitchens is tough. There’s been plenty a times already where I did something wrong. I’ve cut myself with knives, I’ve burned breads and rolls. But, this life ain’t so bad, I guess. Not only do we cook for Master Zorc and Sir Bakura, but we cook for ourselves, as well. But we can only eat when we are told, and if we don’t do anything wrong or disobey the Lord or Hana. Wit’ you, its probably an exception.”

“What do you mean?” Rye asks. “Am I that special?”

“You were chosen. Bakura took you, when he could’a gone with any other. But nope, he chose you.” Mallie could see a frown form on Rye’s lips. “Don’t worry. Bakura gets to decide when ya eat, and I’m sure he’ll feed ya up properly.”

That was a sad though, to Rye. She did not want to be told when she could eat, but that was her main bother.

“So you’re the girl Bakura chose, huh?”

Turning heads, Rye and Mallie watch as a black-haired young woman steps next to Rye. She was also to make biscuits.

“Yer a pretty thing,” the girl giggles. “I can see why he chose you. Lovely white hair, a straight nose, a nice set of kissing lips, and I’m sure there are perfect white pearlies hiding inside of your mouth, am I right?”

Rye was shocked by this woman’s sudden interest in her. “I beg pardon?”

“Ooh, and she’s proper, too.” The black-haired lady bows. “A fine princess, you ‘re.”

“Rye, this is Venus,” Mallie introduces. “She can be a real pain in the butt. Gave me crap too, when I first started working ‘ere.”

“Ya can call me V, if ya like,” Venus grins. Rye could see the grease on her teeth, and suddenly Rye felt very sorry for all the women working for Zorc.

Rye curtsies, still holding a large amount of dough. “It’s nice to meet you, V.”

“Very proper indeed,” Venus giggles. She turns dough in her hand like a pro, Rye noticed. Venus made three more rolls as Rye continued working on only her third. “Better keep up the pace, Miss Princess. Don’t wanna fall behind.”

What seemed like hours were only minutes. Rye had trouble keeping with the other girls, and only accomplished making twenty or so rolls and biscuits before Hana came and gave her her next challenge: cutting vegetables. As Rye was given her first knife, she suddenly felt afraid. She did not want to cut herself, like Mallie has.

Given carrots, Rye begins to copy the women around her, dicing the carrots into circles before throwing what she cuts into a bowl. She was very careful, and luckily she did not cut herself. As the day went on, Rye was given more to do than just cook. She was assigned cleaning dishes. She thought it’d be a simpler task, but she had not expected the dishes to be so large! But then she remembered Zorc’s appearance: demonic, eerie, and wretched. The dishes had to be washed using over twenty women, and large buckets of icy, soapy water. Rye did her best not to get drenched head to toe in filthy dishwater.

After a many long day, Bakura soon returns for Rye. He gets stares by the women. Many of them still had to continue with work. Again, Rye got off lucky.

“How’d she do?” Bakura asks Rye before he fetches her. He watches as she scrubs away at a rather large bowl. He stood beside Hana, who was taking a short water break.

“Not too bad,” Hana laughs. “The girl needs lots of practice. She acts as if she’s lived in a palace all her life!”

“A palace, eh?” Bakura eyes Rye. “It is true, she has not been a slave for as long as some.”

“Well she’s all yours,” Hana makes her way towards Rye. Bakura stands, and he notices as soon as Rye knows he has come back for her, he could see a sign of relief draw over her face. Bakura smirks, holding back a chuckle.

Indeed, Rye had much to learn.

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As soon as she was back in Bakura’s chamber, Rye found herself collapsing. Bakura stood right by her side, searching for signs of injury. The girl was madly drained, and famished.

“You did good today,” Bakura says. He walks over to a small silver tray covered by a lid. He takes it in hand as he turns to find Rye lying on her own bed. “Hana said you worked very hard, even if you were rather slow.”

Bakura leans over Rye. She looked about ready to pass out, but she kept her eyes on Bakura. “Sit up!”

Taken back, Rye slowly demands. She gently comes to her knees, and rests her hands properly over her legs. Bakura couldn’t even react to how she sat. Exhausted from the day, Rye still managed to look beautiful as ever. Bakura sits in front of her, and sets down the large silver plate. He lifts the lid to reveal a mountain of fresh fruit and two plates of chicken breasts.

Already, Rye could feel her mouth quenching. She stared longing at the food, watching as Bakura took a grape in hand and popped it into his own mouth. Was he teasing her? Rye dared to snatch a slice of orange, or a chicken leg. But she kept calm as Bakura took a chicken leg for his self. He takes a swift bite, peeling a large chunk of meat before chewing and swallowing wildly.

And then, as he chewed on his food, Bakura took a small plate before holding it out towards Rye. Feeling happy, Rye greedily accepted the plate of food, and began to madly attack a small chicken leg. Bakura watched, fascinated with Rye’s hungry appetite. She had changed, he noticed, only briefly as she ate the skin off that chicken leg. When she realized how rude she had been, when she realized Bakura’s violet eyes never strayed off her, Rye slowly swallowed before whispering, “Sorry.”

“Why be sorry?” Bakura asks. “After all, you must be starving. Eat.”

Smiling, Rye eats. She goes from the chicken leg to an orange slice, not caring that the juice ran down her chin. She did not care that Bakura watched her as she ate. She only cared that her stomach grew warmth and happy from the food it was being welcomed. She was even more delighted when Bakura offered her some white grape wine.

After a moment, Bakura disappears into another room connected to his bedroom. Rye pondered where he had gone, and soon found herself sitting on her bed with a full stomach. Shortly, Bakura returned.

“I’ve drawn you a bath,” he said flatly. “The water is heated. Come, before it gets cold.”

Startled, Rye swiftly stands to her feet, and allows Bakura to lure her into a tiny water room. She looks at a nicely heated bucket bath over a put out fire. It looked refreshing. Smiling, she turns to Bakura and thanks him. But when he does not leave, she stands there nervously.

“E--excuse me, but aren’t you going to leave?”

“Why?”

Rye was shocked by Bakura’s daring comeback. “I--I am sorry, but I will not bathe if you are watching me.”

Fast as lightening, Bakura’s hand found its way over Rye’s hair, tugging her close to him. He gave her a daring glare. But he says nothing. He only eyes her, watching as her braveness shines. She glares back, trying her best not to feel afraid of Bakura. After all, according to Millie, he was a pretty decent man.

Shortly, Bakura smirks. He gives up, releasing Rye’s hair gently. He gives a bow before exiting the room, slamming the door behind him. Rye stands for a moment, catching her breath. She turns to the tub and slowly begins to undress.

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Rye sinks further into the water, allowing the darkness of the room to shadow her nude body even more so than the water had planned. Nothing shined but the softness of a single candle, casting Rye’s shadow off the walls surrounding her. The water was very warm, and she sighed, enjoying the feel of being clean.

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Outside, Bakura sat upon his bed while twirling a small knife in his hand. It has only been five minutes since he exited his water room, but he could not help but think of what awaited him behind that door. He could imagine Rye’s smooth, nude form in his head. He imagined Rye’s hands running along small, perfect breasts. He could see her fingers brushing past perky nipples, washing the pinks tips gently before moving slowly down her abdomen before reaching the softness below. He wanted to run in there. He wanted to rip the clothes from his body. He wanted to join her, and take her!

But he did not.

He curses. Why’d he have to be so fucking kind? And why did he choose her? What was it about her that his heart desired? He could not have her, even if his body craved hers. He wished to enter, to be inside her for hours upon hours, not even answering to any of Lord Zorc’s calls.

But he could not.

Again, Jalal’s words mimicked in Bakura’s mind over and over, laughing at him. Laughing because he could not have what he craved for.

A rage enters Bakura. He stands to his feet, slowly making his way over towards the water room. He stops at the door. He presses an ear to the door, and upon hearing soft splashing, he could feel his groin harden. Ever so slowly, Bakura puts a hand on the door handle, and gently he slides the door open only a crack, peeking an eye into the darkly lit room. He sees Rye, only her back, glistening with water. She had her arms crossed over her bosom, but sadly she was not facing his direction, so he could not see what she was hiding. He could only see her damp white hair, it sticking to her wet back, almost shining from the candlelight.

And as swiftly as he opened that door to have a peek, he was already closing the door soft as a mouse. He turns around, finding a hand caught down his purple kilt. He growls as he slowly gives his body what it desires. With his mind thinking of Rye, her wet hair and back, swiftly Bakura lets his hard-on have its pleasure. He turns to his cup, still half full of wine. He grabs it, and sticks it under his kilt. The kilt slightly rises, showing his bare behind briefly as he explodes in a wave of ecstasy. His fantasy orgasm ends as fast as it had began. With his body satisfied, Bakura places a now half-full cup back where he had it before. He sits on his bed, trying to hide his still slightly hardened erection as he awaited Rye to come out of the water room.

His body was satisfied, but a part of Bakura still was not.

Somehow, some way, Bakura promised that soon the willow would fall for the aching thief.

-Chapter Five End-

Here’s chapter five! Stay tuned for more!