A/N: Sorry for the delay. Here is chapter four! The ending of this story is near!

Warnings: Bakura, with references pertaining to him as such. And probable typos.

Chapter Four: Further in Debt

Mahad was off, spurring his horse as fast as it would go and following the faint speck that was what he suspected to be the hawk Mana frequently used. He kept his eyes solely trained on it, never letting it out of his sight, and watched as it suddenly plunged toward the ground, with a new purpose in its sudden change of direction. Mahad stared and watch it disappear over the horizon, his eyes widening. What was he doing? Had he been not leading him the way toward Mana? Was he hunting for prey, instead, something that such a bird was known to do? Mahad grit his teeth in annoyance. He shouldn't have expected any different from an animal. Mana might have placed her full confidence in them but that didn't mean he had to or that it wasn't a careless decision.

He reined in his horse to a full stop. Where to go now? Mahad had to act quickly. More than likely, Mana had already been swallowed up by the sand storm and the trouble would be finding her, that is, if she had survived. But Mahad quickly pushed that thought away; it was absurd. Mana knew how to take of herself. So therefore, no need to worry over such trifles.

Mahad heaved an impatient sigh and kept riding toward the direction he'd remember seeing the hawk. Even though a useless feat, it was still his only one. He pushed the horse as fast as it would go, looking for any sign of the sandstorm. After riding for several minutes and swiveling his gaze this way and that, Mahad was able to finally catch something that indicated the storm. Over to his right, there was brown smudge that bordered the horizon, its dimension not compatible with that of the ground below it. He veered the horse sharply in that direction and chased it down furiously, for he saw, within a short amount of time, that the sandstorm was retreating from Mahad.

He continued riding. Not stopping, never stopping. He couldn't stop. Mana was out there. Poor Mana, all by herself. He had to get to her.

After what seemed an endless, unmeasured amount of time, Mahad found himself to be sweating profusely and his horse to be panting with labored gasps. He pulled back the reins a bit and stopped for a moment to rest, mentally apologizing to Mana for his weak need for a reprieve. He had only taken a few gulps of fresh air to calm his rapidly beating heart when a bit further to his right, he heard the screech of a hawk, maybe of the hawk. Mahad's face shot in the direction, gripping the leather bridle once more, feeling his fingers tighten around it instinctively.

His eyes narrowed in the direction, examining the horizon for any sign of what would be Mana. There was a small disturbance in the distance but without hesitation to study it even further, Mahad instantly rode toward it, knowing innately it had to be Mana. The horse heeded to his abrupt and somewhat harsh command obediently and bolted where Mahad's grasp urged him.

It wasn't long before Mahad had to force the horse to skid to a stop, upon approaching a large dip in the ground that formed a small ravine. Mahad's eyes scanned below into it. The bottom of it had a layer of drifting sand from the aftermath of the storm, as did several other places. The sand drifted through the air, making it appear as reddish brown fog. The miniscule stream that wove its way through small valley was slightly sordid with the sand that blew into it.

Maybe… she's down there? Mahad thought to himself. Without wasting another moment, he urged the horse to jump down into the ravine. And, after it did so, he set the horse at a slow and easy pace as he searched the depths of the ravine.

Mahad continued through the ravine, his eyes scanning the edges of the ravine carefully. If Mana was caught in the storm, she would seek shelter and this ravine was probably her best bet for shelter. So, she would more than likely be curled next to one of the ravine walls. But, that was if she was even down here.

His horse reared back slightly, stopping, and Mahad looked up, pulling back on the reins. The horse snorted, pawing the ground with a hoof. Mahad tried urging him on but the horse resisted. It was then that Mahad realized there was someone nearby, someone just ahead. Maybe just in front of them. Mahad squinted his eyes trying to see ahead through the thick screen of foggy dust.

"Who's there?" Mahad called out, half wary and half hopeful. Maybe it was Mana or maybe it wasn't. "Mana?" He saw a dark figure appear through the fog and, as he watched, he saw it coming closer and closer. It was moving toward him. Mahad braced himself, gripping the bridle tightly, all the while calling out, "Mana? Is that you?"

Shortly, the dust parted, revealing the figure more lucidly. And Mahad saw it was most certainly not Mana. He was surprised he even remotely hoped it could be Mana; the shoulders were too broad, the neck too thick, and the entire body was quite tall, too burly and masculine to be Mana. Rather, it was a man, probably a thief or a murderer from the looks of it, on top of a horse. His skin was tanned, like any other Egyptian and the large muscles within his chest ripples smoothly beneath the taut skin. He wore only a violet kilt that matched for his equally violet and violent eyes. His hair was of a dusky white- unusual for any person especially for one that held the appearance of one so young. And, on his face, just below right eye, he bore a scar that stretched down his face, one that failed to heal overtime, only coupling with his frightening aura.

"Who are you?" Mahad demanded of him, his own composure maintaining a threatening element. The main remained silent, simply smirking. "I am a high priest of the pharaoh and I demand that you answer me. Now!" The man only flashed his teeth, grinning quite madly.

"You were looking for something, or rather, someone?" asked the man in a low, gravelly voice. He urged his hores forward and turned it slightly to the left, allowing Mahad to see what was draped over the horse and in the saddle behind him. And Mahad saw a small, unconscious figure, with ropes binding her wrists and ankles. Undoubtedly, Mana.

"Mana!" Mahad exclaimed, making a movement to hurl himself toward her. But, instantly, the man holding her captive pulled out a knife he had hidden somewhere and placed it threateningly to Mana's throat. Mahad froze, his gaze never leaving the blade of the knife.

"I'd watch yourself, if I were you," the man warned. "I happened to have found this pretty little lady caught in the sandstorm. I would say, if it weren't for me, she would be dead now. I saved her. You, on the other hand, would have been too late."

"Well that's very kind of you," Mahad said through gritted teeth. "Too bad that knife you have at her neck would deem all of your effort meaningless." The man chuckled.

"You're a smart puppet of the pharaoh. I'm surprised he lets you think so much." The man's expression turned hard, cold and utterly livid. "When you follow him so blindly."

"What do you want?" Mahad barked at him, tiring of his antics.

"I'm not as evil as your people would like to think of me. I've just saved one of you even if you've done an irreparable wrong to me. So know this: you are even further into my debt." He sheathed the knife and grabbed Mana by the collar of her shirt, throwing her small body to Mahad who caught her securely in his strong arms. After reassuring himself that Mana was fine, Mahad looked back up to the strange man.

"My name is Akefia," he said. "Remember it, for we shall meet again."

Sorry that this chapters happens to be shorter than usual. I plan that the next chapter shall be this story's last. And, if not the next then the one after it. It was fun while it lasted. Thank to everyone who's supported it. And, please review this chapter!

-NuitSongeur