I wish to thank Rachael Hyuuga and Sakamoto Akemi. Thank you both so much for reviewing. It means a lot to me! I hope that this chapter is as good as the first!

Also, I wish to apologize to ALL of my readers for the delay in posts. I have been so busy with everything. All has been explained in my profile updates. I am really sorry about that though. I promise to try to work on a little of the next chapter tonight and throughout the week. Please be patient with me!

Please review!

- A. Moonbeam

Chapter Two

In the Desert

Ten years later, Malik and Sagira were fifteen and Bakura was twenty. They each had a different view upon their village. Sagira believed that it was a safe haven, a place where she could live without fear of dying in the desert heat. Malik believed that no where could be better, for their Little One, their sunlight, hovered around everyone day and night. Bakura, however, was by far the strangest when it came to the adopted siblings. He believed that no matter what, there was something darker hidden beneath the streets of this little village. He could not believe that everyone could be happy under the rule of the Pharaoh; he would not believe that the same man who slaughtered his entire village could have such loyal and happy followers. Bakura never realized that it wasn't the Pharaoh that made these people happy; it was the girl Sagira who they worshipped.

Even though the people of the village were prospering, the entire country of Egypt was falling ill with a new disease. The physicians at the Pharaoh's palace worked day and night to find the cures, but so far there was no luck. The Pharaoh had left with his court and started his holiday earlier. The people of Egypt did not forget such a thing. However, Sagira's village was not touched by the sickness. They still worked and lived as if everything were normal. It was almost as if Sagira kept the illness at bay. Well, that was the case for a while longer.

In the end the entire village took sick and it was only Sagira, Malik, and Bakura who were untouched. Manu could not sit by and watch as his children were at risk. He would not allow them to die the same way that his beautiful Anku had just that night. He would not allow them to suffer as she had. Manu told Malik to pack their bags with food, water, wood, matches, and whatever else would be needed until they could find their own shelter. Manu also handed over the last of their gold, the entire village had entrusted their money to him and he would now give it to his children.

"I will not let anything happen to Sagira." Malik promised as he took the gold from his father and ran towards his room and siblings.

He would pack and take his brother and sister into the desert where they would be safe. Until night fell, they would ride. Until night fell, they would head towards the Golden City where the Pharaoh lives. Malik looked at the sleeping form of his sister, she had been worn lately from trying to make medicine to make the people sleep and to break the raging fevers throughout the village. She would not leave without a fight if she awoke.

"Bakura, we have to leave. Father has given us gold and we must use that to get Sagira to the Pharaoh's palace." Malik ordered as his brother sat up from his own bed on the opposite wall from where Malik and Sagira's were pushed together.

Bakura had never wanted to be too close to the siblings that came before him in the household. Sagira always offered to have his bed moved closer to her and Malik's, but he would never listen to her pleads. Bakura seemed to be the only one that was beyond Sagira's control. However, at night he would sometimes awaken and see his two adopted siblings curled beside each other, it was comforting to see them feel safe in each other's arms. No one ever knew that the real reason Bakura would not move his bed to theirs, was that he feared becoming attached to another human being. He was a first hand witness of how a human life could be so easily taken away from a loved one. He had promised himself he would never become attached to another human being again and have them lost to him forever. He would not have his heart broken once more, his soul ripped, he would not allow the Pharaoh to take another loved creature from him.

"She will not get the Pharaoh's pity, Malik. She may have everyone here wrapped around her little fingers, but the Pharaoh is cold hearted." Bakura growled and clenched his fists into his blankets.

Malik shook his head. He had seen his sister's affect upon the Pharaoh, he had heard the promise he made her that day. Malik knew that the Pharaoh would have to help her, if he didn't he would be breaking a promise he would have rather kept in the end. Malik bared his teeth in pain at his bags. He could not find any of Sagira's clothes, at least none that would fit her. I will just have to work when we get somewhere. I shall buy her something new with a little of the gold I have from working the fields. Then I will work again and again to fetch Sagira all she needs until she goes to the palace. Malik thought sadly as he packed away a few of his own clothes and went to fetch blankets and wood and food and water.

Bakura was sitting up in his own bed by now and watching the sleeping form of the girl he was suppose to call sister. However, he could not feel the appropriate brotherly love that Malik was capable of. He could only feel the deepest desire to take her as his wife, to bed her, to make her push out his children. The white haired man could not stop himself from wishing he had the claim of husband over her. He wanted her by his side forever.

Yet, Bakura also knew that he would never be able to force anything upon Sagira for as long as she lived. She was too sweet, too kind, and most of all too loving for her own good. It would get her in trouble out in the desert. Bakura would have to find a way to get Malik to change his mind about going into the desert with her. Going down the Nile would be safer than going into the unknown sand!

Sagira shifted upon her pallet, her eyes fluttering open as she felt herself being moved. She shifted her face upwards towards the person who held her and knew that the arms around her were the arms of Bakura. Malik was standing at the foot of her bed with three bags thrown over his back. She blinked for a second before everything became clear.

They were taking her away.

They were not going to let her cure the people.

They were going to destroy the entire village when they took away their sun.

They were taking her to the Pharaoh.

"No!" Sagira screamed and scrambled away from Bakura. "I cannot leave as long as there is breath drawn in this village!"

"Sagira, my dearest sister, please!" Malik pleaded as his lavender eyes liquefied. "Please, come away with us. Father has asked me to take you away so you do not die! If you die here everyone else will follow!"

Sagira shook her head, tears glistening upon her cheeks. She could not leave the people that had taken her in as if she were their own. She would not leave them to suffer as long as there was a chance they could be saved. Her mother, her father, her friends! They were all in bed being boiled alive from the inside! She couldn't just let them die that way! She would not! However, Malik made an interesting argument in the end. He wanted her sage and he was right that the people would die even quicker if she were to die among them. She wouldn't allow them to have a quicker death in there was a chance that someone else could create the cure that alluded her the entire time she tried to save her loved ones.

In the end, Sagira stood up with her head hung low and grabbed her cloak that lay upon the end of her bed to cover her feet while she slept. Malik and Bakura both breathed a sigh of relief as she walked in front of them out of the house. Perhaps it would be easier to get her to the Golden City, to get her safe!

The desert was hot during the day. The sun seemed to bake and even Sagira squinted her eyes other than allow her blind irises to let in that much light. Malik was at the lead, Bakura following the two siblings. Sagira knew that her horse was tied to that of Malik's and Bakura's. It was normal; they always led her horse even though the horse knew that she had to follow the others. Sagira smiled as she remembered that her mother had always wanted someone else to lead her horse for fear that she would wander off into the desert and never return to them alive.

Anku had always worried about the strangest things. Sagira, though blind, was not foolish. She knew her way around the village and to the fields and Nile banks that she would never have gotten lost in the end. She had always been able to find her way. And her horse knew that Sagira was blind. The beautiful white animal and known for a long time that Sagira could not see and had taken it upon herself to make sure that Sagira was never injured when they went on a ride. As of right now, the horse knew that Sagira needed shade and tried to bank to the right for she knew of a place where the Nile was not crowded by crocodiles.

Sagira felt her horse shift and knew to trust the animal. However, Malik just pulled on the rope that tied Ain, Sagira's horse, to his own. Sagira lifted her head to where her brother sat upon his own stead and opened her mouth to speak. "Malik, Ain knows where there is water. That is why she is trying to go right. Allow her to lead us to it."

"We cannot stop yet, Sagira. If you are thirsty I will pass the water skin back to you." Malik said and even though his words were harsh, Sagira could hear the weariness in his tone.

"Malik, we are far enough away that it will be alright to stop. Besides, none of us have eaten this morning. We must eat or we ourselves will become sick." Sagira argued and Ain stopped in her tracks.

Bakura came up beside Sagira and looked at her. Even though she was blind, her emotions were always clearly read in those grey orbs. For that Bakura knew that Malik would stop and allow her to feed them. It was the least he could do after forcing her to leave the only home she had ever known and to return to the desert where she had been left to die.

Bakura had actually persuaded Malik to stay close to the Nile for a cooler breeze if only for Sagira. Malik was very happy that his sister had come without incident and as such, Bakura believed that was the reason for his wavering control over his own actions. Bakura followed quietly as they made their way towards the water's edge and smiled at the running river. It was a beautiful sight; light vegetation, few trees, and the breeze are always a strong relief to the desert heat.

Ain knelt down to the ground for Sagira to slide from her back and once the young woman's feet were on the ground, Ain moved to the river to drink her fill.

Sagira moved towards the shade of one of the larger trees that hung delicately over the Nile River. From here Sagira moved carefully about until she found an area suitable enough to start a fire. Malik brought her the food and wood so she could get herself ready. She felt herself fall into the familiar task with ease and felt better than she had since she had fallen asleep the night before. Sagira carefully lay the firewood out and then felt around for the flint to light it. Once a nice fire was burning, Sagira moved to the food bags. She smiled to herself as she realized what food Malik had brought. Pork, beef, and lamb were the only salted meats he had, a few eggs, flour, three apples, and one loaf of bread.

"Malik, there is not enough food in here." Sagira finally stated as she turned her face to the river where she could hear her brother's splashing.

"That's why we have salt in another pack. I am trying to catch a fish." Malik stated and his words were accented by a loud splash.

Sagira listened to the boys as she boiled water for three eggs to harden. From there she was going to slice an apple for another part of their meal. Once the eggs were on and the apple was sliced, she moved with deliberateness towards the water. She knew already that Bakura and Malik had scared away all of the fish but the crocodiles were probably curious by now. Ain would tell them, of course, but Sagira was still frightened of the fact that the man eating animals may come quietly.

"Brothers, come out of the water. I would rather you both not ruin your clothes." Sagira stated, even though she knew they were both naked, her toes had found one of their tunics.

Malik would never dream of letting his sister know that he and Bakura were nude before her and as such, moved away from the water. He quickly dressed and threw Bakura's to him. Bakura shook out his hair, the white locks plastered to his face and neck. Malik threw his own hair away from his body and moved closer to the fire. He could already smell the eggs and saw the apple slices. Perhaps he should have grabbed more food as Sagira suggested.

With a splash, both boys jumped and saw Sagira walking towards them with a large fish in her hands. Both boys looked at each other, brown and lavender orbs growing wide in shock and admiration. Sagira handed the fish to Bakura who reached for the knife to start cleaning it. Malik moved closer to Sagira and gave her the water skin, if only to see how cold her skin was after she was submerged in the water. Yet, Malik was shocked even more when he realized his sisters' skin was not wet at all. It seemed that the fish had just jumped into her arms.

"How did you manage that?" Malik questioned gesturing to her dry appearance.

"One does not have to actually get into the water to catch a fish, Malik. One just must know how to wait and the currents that bring the fish to you." Sagira replied as she began to pass out the hardened eggs.

Bakura shook his head at his segregate siblings as he continued to clean the fish. They were nearing a caravan route that used to go straight through his village. Perhaps there were enough people that had taken over the village and would allow them to live there for the time being. Looking over at Sagira, Bakura had no reason to believe that anyone would turn them away. There was no reason for it.

Even though Malik wanted them all to go to the Golden City, Bakura would not lose Sagira to the same man who killed his entire family. He would not allow for that Pharaoh to take away another person that he loved. HE WOULD NOT ALLOW IT! Bakura shook himself to rid his mind of the thoughts, looking back at Malik and Sagira (talking and laughing and eating their meal) and knew that he had to protect them both. They didn't know what awaited them in the desert. Sagira would be picked out of their little group if thieves found them and she would be stolen. Bakura couldn't fight them all off.

"Bakura!" Sagira exclaimed and the said boy jumped from his thoughts, the knife falling from his hands.

"What?" He questioned as the others laughed.

"Come and eat, Brother. You will need your strength. Malik has just said we aren't to stop again until nightfall." Sagira smiled sweetly and passed him his egg and three slices of the apple.

What a meal. Bakura thought sullenly as he bit into the egg.

"Malik, I will need to train you to fight. The desert is dangerous for Sagira and I cannot protect you both at the same time." Bakura said as Sagira was cleaning the pot they had used in the river and giving their horses the last of the apple.

"I was thinking of that very same thing while packing, Bakura. Perhaps we could put these swords to use?" Malik questioned as he nodded his head toward a pack that was still on his horse.

"Perfect. We shall start training when we stop for rest. It will make you stronger if you learn while fatigued. At least that is what my first father taught me." Bakura smirked broadly as he started to cover their fire with sand.

"Who knows? I come from a farmer and his wife. We never found a reason to pick up weapons but we always had them just in case." Malik shrugged as he stood to put the food and water pack back on the horses.

Sagira came back moments later with her horse in tow. She knew what the boys had planned and she knew the Bakura would not allow for her to go to the Golden City to become the Pharaoh's puppet. She also knew that there was no way for anything to happen to them as they trekked across the desert. Her brothers were loud enough they would scare anything off before it got to them. Sagira smiled at the thought and moved quickly to mount her horse. Her brothers would be done chatting soon and ready to leave but she wanted to leave now. The crocodiles were coming down the river and she would rather be far gone by the time they got there.

Bakura moved carefully through the desert. He knew that they were coming closer to his village and if anything was to be done it was now. Malik had actually come along in their sword training. He would at least make a little damage on an opponent if it came to that. However, Bakura was sure that Sagira was not intent on letting them become the victims of a mugging. Bakura had noticed that Sagira will tell them to go a different direction than the way they are going.

News travels fast in the desert. Bakura learned that there was no life in his old village. People actually thought the place was cursed. Perhaps that would serve their purposes quite well. Bakura was pleased that there would be no way that they could be harmed in his old home, no one to make him do things that he would never do before. Yet, in the end they would have to stop by a close village to regain some source of food. They were running low. In the end he knew that Sagira would need food and Malik wanted to buy her some new clothes or at least cloth to make herself a dress.

Bakura smirked as he rode faster, hearing Sagira's squeal of delight at the breeze blew into her face. Malik rode up to join him and probably to ask to stop at a village.

"Bakura, we need to get food. You know this part of the desert better than I. Find us a village to rest and buy food."

The young white haired man knew that the lavender eyed boy wanted to protect his sister. Bakura wanted to as well, but there was nothing that he could do right now. There would never be anything he could do. Sagira thought of him as a brother which she continued to remind him of on a daily basis. Bakura clenched the reins tighter in his hands and changed their direction to a nearby village. Malik moved back to make sure Sagira knew where they were going.

Sagira moved carefully along, listening to the heartbeat of her horse and the sounds that surrounded her. She noticed that Bakura was muttering to himself about something. Malik and Bakura had become practiced in whispering low so she couldn't hear. It was only slightly infuriating but she realized that this was how many people felt normally. It calmed her to think that some people, not being blind, had some disadvantage that she could pity. Sagira smiled to herself as she allowed her horse to lead her where she needed to go, that was following her brothers.