I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, or any other show, brand name, song, or anything else in that nature (if used). I do, however, own all OCs and the Millennium Medallion. Constructive criticism is accepted and very much appreciated! This is not recommended for children under the age of 13. People of the internet, you have been warned. Enjoy!


Chapter 4: Deny or Accept

I ran through the dark and quiet streets, searching frantically for any sign of Bakura. My cloth covering my head and face was blowing in the wind as I searched the city for him. I became even more hopeless for each corner he wasn't at. I could feel tears swelling up my eyes. I was about to give up all hope when I heard a mournful groan. I whipped around, and saw him sitting on the ground with his back up against a building a few feet away. I ran over to his beaten body, completely overjoyed.

"Bakura," I gently shook his shoulder, trying get him to look at me, "Bakura, can you hear me?" He looked up, and his eyes were clouded with confusion and pain, and his hair glowed bright silver in the moonlight.

"W-who are you," he murmured, "and how do you know my name?" I removed the cloth that was covering my face, and his face brightened slightly.

"I-I remember you," he went on, "y-you're… the princess…" I nodded, relief washing over me. He was alive, but he was still in danger from his injury on his head. I led his beaten body over to one of the few wells in the desert, and gently set him down.

After I made sure he was still with me, I began yanking on the rope. After the wooden bucket came into view, a pulled it out, and set it next to Bakura. I kneeled down next to him, and began soaking a rag I had brought in the water. I ringed it out, and began cleaning up his wound. I sighed with relief when I saw that it wasn't as bad as I had originally thought.

"Why?" the peasant mumbled. I looked at him.

"Why what?" I pondered.

"Why," he repeated, "why would you help someone like me?" My face felt hot, and I found it difficult to speak.

"W-well," I tripped, "I-it was wrong of my father to treat you that way. So this is my way of saying sorry." He nodded. I let him drink the unused water, and I threw the wooden bucket back to the wet darkness from which it came. My finger began throbbing, and it was stinging. I looked at my hand, and noticed that the bucket had given me a splinter. The skin around the little piece of wood began to turn red when Bakura peeked over my shoulder.

"It looks like you've got a splinter," he noticed. He walked in front of me, and then held out his hand. "Will you let me take it out for you?" I wasn't sure how to answer, but I could still tell that my face was still red. I nodded, and surrendered my hand to him. When he grasped it, his hands still felt a little wet from the bucket. He looked at my finger, and began squeezing out the wood. It just made it hurt a lot, and I began begging him to stop.

"Calm down," he mumbled, "I'll stop in a second." He did as he promised, and the pain wasn't as bad now. He pulled my finger closer to his face. At first, I thought it was just to get a better look, but he clenched his teeth on the splinter, and then began pulling it out. It wasn't a painful as when was squeezing my finger, but it still hurt. When it was out, he spit the annoying piece of wood onto the ground, never to be seen again. He looked at me with a smile.

"And that's my way of saying thank you," he teased. I wasn't sure if I should be outraged at him, or fairly thankful.

"By the way," he went on, "you never answered my question from earlier." I found it extremely difficult to breath. He was serious? I thought about it. It would be nice to leave my painful past behind, and Bakura seemed really dedicated, but how would Father react? He would definitely be extremely upset, and he'd probably sent out a few hundred search parties. I looked at my feet.

"C-could I," I asked, "do you need an answer right now?"

"Well," he answered, "I was hoping to leave tomorrow night, so if you're not here at this well when the moon is setting, then I'll be on my way." I agreed. Bakura looked toward the east. I just shrugged it off. I had gotten a much better look at the peasant boy, despite the darkness. His pure white hair was like nothing I've ever seen before, and by look of his muscles, he was quite fit. I stopped myself. Was I falling for him? No. I can't! And yet, I feel drawn to him. Bakura looked at me.

"Hey Fukayna," he asked, "It's almost sunrise. If you sneaked out, you had better hurry home." My admiration turned to panic as I followed his gaze towards the pink desert sky.

"Thanks Bakura," I panicked, "but I really need to go! If I get trouble twice in a row, my tomb will be the Nile!" He nodded with a grin, and I ran back towards the palace.


I yawned as I sat on a stone seat while I watched Atem and Mahad running around in the garden. They were playing some sort of tag, with her brother playing as "it". I had stayed up all night with Bakura, and now my eyes were pretty heavy. I placed my elbow on my lap, and I began to nap in my hand when someone pulled my arm from beneath me. I woke up before I fell forward. I opened my eyes to two giggling children in my face. I groaned with annoyance.

"Why don't you go bother Father?" I growled and looked up at the pharaoh who was watching with a smile on his face. He must have not heard me, because he was still wearing it as he walked over to us. When he patted Atem on the head, anger swirled from my heart, desperate to surface. Wouldn't it be fun to make Brother cry for mercy as blood gushed out of his belly? I could feel a grin on my lips. I forced it away when Father looked at me. He gently shooed the children away. Much gentler then what I would have done.

"Fukayna," he casually said, "I see that you're wearing the Millennium Medallion. Do you like it?" I wore a fake smile and nodded.

"Father," I asked, "why are we not allowed to be with the commoners? It just feels… as if… we have less freedom then them because of it."

"Daughter," he answered, "some commoners do not approve our reign, so they try to harm us in any way possible. That's why I was worried about you when you with the peasant." I slanted my eyes. His name is Bakura, not the peasant.

"But Father," I persuaded innocently, "we were friends. Why must Atem be the only one with others his age? Is it forbidden for a princess to have friends?" I tried to look as innocent as I could possibly be. It seemed to have worked.

"Well," he answered, "Mahad's parents are very highly ranked, not to mention I've known them since my junior. The commoner probably doesn't even have a family."

"Then he must be lonely," I kept going, "doesn't that make it even more right?" He shook his head.

"You are at the age now where men will become very interested in you," he explained, "and if you are married, they must be fairly worthy. Although, it is unnecessary, for Atem will be pharaoh some day, and I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem convincing Mana to be his queen!" I could tell that he was joking about Atem and Mana, but he clearly would rather his son pass on our bloodline. He placed his hand on my shoulder, smiled, and shook as he stood up. He's getting old. And knowing Father, he'll wish to die a pharaoh, which means it'll take Atem longer to climb to the top. However, if I stay, there'll be no way of gaining my rightful place on the throne. Perhaps the highest authority I could obtain would be becoming a member of the secret royal court, in which I would have to swear absolute loyalty to my brother. The thought made me want to stab something. Anything.

I left the children to play another day, for now. As I made my way to my chambers, I heard a hard panting behind be. I turn around to see Ati, now retired. His tail was wagging as his now-white muzzle smiled. I could feel my spirits as I imitated it. He always was my soft spot. I bent over to pet him. I loved animals much more then annoying children. They were quieter, and they listened much better then them, too.

When we reached my chambers, I invited him on my bed, but his old bones weren't like they used to, and I had to heave him up. I sat down next to him. For once, I was happy. Maybe I should stay. However, the happiness reminded me of Bakura. I could feel my bitterness pointing the finger at Father, but mostly Atem. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be in this mess. If he wasn't born, then Mother would still be alive and I would already be reigning as Queen of Egypt.

I stood up and walked over to my table, and picked up a knife holder. I sat back on my bed on the opposite side, and Ati crawled next to me again.

"Ati," I mentioned as I pulled out the blade, "weapons, like this knife, are like your teeth and claws. They decide who has the right to live, and who are better dead. They decide who's strong, and who's weak. They can end a life in an instant. Just like that, you're dead." I smiled as I ran my finger over the edge, careful not to cut myself. I set the knife down when I heard Atem come barging in.

"Sister," he yelled, "Father wants to see Ati!" I slanted my eyes in suspicion. Ati snuggled closer, his old and beaten body shivering. It most certainly wasn't cold, which made my anger rise.

"Why?" I asked as I stroked the old dog. Atem shrugged.

"Don't know," he answered, "Father just said that he wants him." Soon four guards followed my brother inside. I heart began to race. What did want Ati for? The rusty-furred hound pressed even closer, and he began whining. I wrapped my arms around him as the guards came closer. However, one grabbed his scruff and dragged him off the bed.

"Stop," I ordered with a panic, "don't take that hound!"

"Sorry, Princess," they shrugged, "but these are orders from the pharaoh." And without another word, they stormed out, with Atem leaving to find Mahad, and Ati yowling in pain.

I refused to let them take him so I followed them. It wasn't hard, considering they ignored poor Ati's howls of panic and pain. When I ran into the room they entered, I yowled at the guards to stop. I heard a short yelp, and I felt something warm and wet on my cheek. When I opened my eyes, I saw the guards each had a machete in their hands, and one was stained with blood. I ran my finger through the sticky substance on my face, and then looked at my hand. Blood. My body began to shake as I looked at the floor. I saw Ati's limp body, still oozing out the red liquid. By the look on his face, he had gone through complete hell. I looked the guards, my eyes burning with anger and hurt. I turned around and ran, towards to throne room.

I ran inside the great empty space, my expression outraged as I stared at the pharaoh.

"Father," I cried, "how could you?! How could you kill Ati?!" Atem's eyes watered with regret, but Father's was expressionless.

"Fukayna," he explained without standing from his throne, "Ati was old. He had to be put out of his misery. Not to mention that he was retired and useless." His words only made me angrier.

"But I loved him," I protested, "He was my friend! My only friend! And now he's gone!"

"Daughter," he went on, "if you love animals so much, then how about I get you a new pet? Something better then a dog. How about a beautiful leopard or majestic lioness?"

"No," I protested, "I want Ati!" Tears began rolling down my cheeks as I ran out of the throne room. How could Father order an unfair death? Ati was old and retired, but not useless. He was my one anchor for staying. And I loved him. Unlike the others, he was always wearing a friendly smile, one that I couldn't resist. As I walked into my chambers, another smile came into my mind. Bakura… It was that moment when I decided to go with him. But first, I had unfinished business to attend to. I grabbed the knife I had left on my bed, and smiled as it sparkled in the Egyptian light.


A/N: I didn't originally want to kill poor Ati. For the record, love animals. For those of you who know their dog breeds, he was a Pharaoh Hound. I was looking through my sister's Dog Fancy magazine, and they had an article on the breed. Plus I needed something to push Fukayna over the edge. Anyway, please leave your comments, and I'll update as soon as I can!