I am SO on a roll guys! PLEASE keep reading, adding, and reviewing! Tell your friends! Spread the love! I am going to come up with a juicy cliffhanger if you don't!

Author's Note: It is really helpful to me to write and reread this story listening to Middle Eastern themed music. It helps put it in perspective and plus it's just simply beautiful work. My picks? "Sandcastles"- Mummy Returns Soundtrack, "Desert Rose"- Sting, and obviously the entire Prince of Egypt Soundtrack, since it kinda inspired the story and is very loosely based on the Prince of Egypt ideology. If you have these songs or want to buy them, play these songs as background noise as you read. You might love it!

I DO NOT OWN any of the listed songs or Yu-Gi-Oh!

Resting her gently on one of her outdoor couches, Bakura smirked at his childhood friend. She had blossomed. Here she was, despite all she had endured and was set to marry a prince. And what had he become? His expression quickly faded as he thought of what all he would soon be forced to explain to her. She would want to know what he had been up to all of these years. He wouldn't lie and add to his sins.

Hoping she would awaken on her own, Bakura tried to ignore his impulse to reach out and touch her. She looked so pristine, like a doll or a statue. Though he had disturbed countless tombs and graves, how he hated to disturb her. However after waiting several minutes, he decided he had waited long enough. He entered her room seeking water and brought a dish out to where she lay, splashing her face with the liquid. She soon started to stir, wiping her eyes as she sat up. He placed a hand on her back to ease her.

"Bah!" she wailed as she shook off the water and stared at her long lost companion who was now beside her after so many years apart. "Bakura! How did you find me here?" she exclaimed.

"Surprised to see me much?" he laughed. "I snuck in. How else?"

"But how did you know I was here in the palace? Or even in the city?"

"Your father whisked you away on a white horse. Once I learned that only nobles have horses like that, my possibilities narrowed."

"My goodness. Where do we start? It's been so many years!" she said.

"Yes and you look the same as you did back then, only taller…and prettier," he said blushing slightly. "Do you still dance?" he asked earnestly. She had been a fine dancer.

"Occasionally. Atem does not let me dance usually. He says that is the job of the pleasure servants. If I do its..."

"Only for him?" answered Bakura.

She nodded.

"Well if I were a prince I don't suppose I'd want the rest of the world to have what's mine," Bakura presumed.

(A/N: ^^^^ Dramatic IRONY!^^^^^ bwahahaha)

"What happened there?" she asked to change the subject, pointing to his scar under his eye.

"Ah. Its nothing." He did not want to talk about the fight he had endured that had nearly cost him his life. She decided not to push the issue. She did not know his temperaments. "What I want to know, first and foremost, is how you are the future Queen of Egypt?"

She sighed. "Oh it is such a long story Bakura…"

"I have all night. I don't plan on going anywhere until you tell me everything," he said, squeezing her hand. "Summarize if you wish."

"Well, after my father took me from the village, he brought me here under a guise to be raised as his niece and receive a fitting education. During that time, the previous pharaoh became infatuated with my mother but would not marry her because he believed she had a missing husband, my supposed and nonexistent long-lost father. He adored me as well and wanted me to marry his son, Atem. We became engaged shortly before he died about 3 years ago. Then his brother, Atem's uncle, became king until-"

"-Prince Atem is old enough to rule. Yes I heard that part already today."

"From whom?" Anzu inquired.

"Mana?" Anzu made a scowl and moved on deciding to avoiding asking how he stumbled across one of the concubines Atem never chose to visit. On more than one occasion he had tried to have her removed from the position to make her simply a royal magician in training, but the Mistress of the Harem never dismissed her. He had assured Anzu on numerous occasions that he never used his harem and that it remained in existence for tradition's sake. Anzu didn't know if she believed him. She didn't want to know the truth, frankly.

"Anyway, Atem's mother Isis recently returned from banishment and my father was once her guardian. He loved her secretly and was smitten when she returned. So much so that he revealed to her that I was truly his daughter, not his niece. Isis believed this was harmless information and they told the king. Aknadin was not pleased and is currently reviewing the marriage contract." She stopped there. Bakura did not need to know yet of Seto, Amane, and so many others court dramas.

"What was the Queen banished for?" asked Bakura.

"She was sentenced to death for conspiring against the previous king's other and more prized wife, as well as their child, Atem's older half brother, Prince Ryou. He was never found," she said sorrowfully.

"I see," Bakura said regally. For some reason, hearing that name sounded oddly and indistinctly familiar. He disregarded it as nothing.

"So what has become of you?" Anzu asked. "I feared you might be dead."

"After you were taken from my grasp, I tried to survive by hiding in a well. I avoided capture and stumbled into the desert, scrounging for a living. I resorted to stealing just enough to get by. I needed food and couldn't eat. I needed clothes and couldn't sew. I guess you can figure out what my profession of choice is," he said coldly.

"So, you became a thief?" she asked softly. He nodded.

"A band of thieves took me in and I had no choice but to follow them. The group split after several years of disputes and somehow, I found myself as the leader of one of those clans. No longer were we stealing just for survival. It has become something I've nearly been consumed by. But in order to make it here to the Royal City, I needed money Anzu. I felt as though I had no other option. At first I felt ashamed, but now, I've found myself rather proud of my accomplishments," he said slyly, wiping blood from his dagger. "We have accumulated great wealth. Wealth enough for a king."

Anzu gulped. Her old friend had certainly changed, but could she blame him? Seeing the circumstances, she really couldn't, but seeing him with that bloody knife scared her. He had almost undoubtedly killed guards here in the palace tonight, making him a wanted man. He could do as he pleased with her at any moment. He was clearly not a man who lived by any laws, but he seemed to have some sense of respect for her. Was it because they had been friends or because she was now considered royalty?

"You did just come here to see me, right?" Bakura laughed at her sudden fear.

"Yes, but now that you mention it, kidnapping you would fetch a handsome reward…" he thought, placing his hand on his chin. Then he smiled to show her he wasn't serious. If there was one person in this godforsaken palace he wouldn't slaughter, it was her. For so long the royal family had been his sworn enemy for destroying his home and ripping apart his family. He came to find his old friend only to discover she was soon to marry into the family he do despised. He held back any slight feelings of resentment he felt towards her as she nervously approached him and placed her hand on top of his. He wondered why she got to be the lucky one. Why was it that he was the one dumped in the desert and left for dead, abandoned in a city full of murdering soldiers, and resorted to becoming a thief? But it wasn't her fault.

"Is something wrong then?" she sensed his unpleasant thoughts.

"You are lucky you have not seen what all I have seen in the world Anzu," he said bitterly.

"I am sorry I could not bring you with me Bakura. I thought of you for so long…."

"What bothers me the most Princess is how you and your mother are the most prospering of Kul Elna refugees while the rest of your people are...slaves!" he spat, glancing towards the construction area near the palace where Jethro, her uncle, was slaving away.

"Saying it that way makes it seem as though I don't care! In case you haven't noticed, I am not queen yet, and only then would I be in a position of power to free them! Revealing where I come from now would do more harm than good and I cannot appear overly eager to become queen either!"

"Defensive are we?" Bakura asked, leaning closer to her, making her uncomfortable. "Your uncle is among them. I have seen him with my own eyes." Her eyes popped.

"You lie!" she gasped.

"I may steal, but I never lie! Would you like me to take you to him?"

"I-I-I couldn't. I couldn't..." she stammered. Atem would never understand or allow it, no matter what explanation she invented.

"Is it because of me that you can't go?"

"Atem wouldn't like it. I'd have to sneak out I suppose..." she thought aloud.

"Ah yes, fine conspiring we have here! You've only been around the new me for thirty minutes and already you want to run away with me!" he mocked, grinning. "Is it that bad here, darling?" he asked, running a hand through her hair. She was all he needed to be complete. Anzu was confused by his sudden affection.

"I'll have you know that I am well treated here! The King-" Anzu was interrupted by Bakura's fingers over her mouth to silence her.

"Yes, I know, I am not good enough for you, Princess. You'll have only a pharaoh or a priest. But tell me dear, do you know what they call me across these lands?" She shook her head no.

"The Thief King," he said menacingly. He then lifted his hands to his chest and his ring began to illuminate. His hair began to fly about as though it were in the wind as the energy rushed to the Millennium Item.

Anzu's eyes widened with anticipation as the light washed over her and left her in a dreary state. In a futile attempt for balance, she reached out for Bakura and gripped his chest, consequently grabbing the ring. As she slumped down from her upright, seated position to her side on the couch, she tugged a golden feather loose from his item. Bakura unknowingly lifted her and carried her to her bed, where he tucked her in and admired her for a moment. He hated that he had let his temper get the best of him in front of her like that. He was simply jealous, jealous that he hadn't had the luxuries she had been blessed with. More so, he was jealous he hadn't had her along side him during his trials. That would have changed everything. He would be a different man.

He hoped that he would be able to see her again before her fate was decided for the both of them. Either way, he did in fact plan on taking her as his hostage. It would be a way to get back at the royals for destroying his town and enslaving his people yet become reacquainted with Anzu at the same time. He would hope she would comply and simply go along with his plan. He would assure her she would be safe with him. He wouldn't allow any harm to come to her.

Bakura tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek softly in an unusual display of what was left of his compassionate side. A sudden noise startled him as he heard footsteps from the next room, Anzu's music room and foyer. He dashed to the balcony and climbed over the edge, not pausing for an instant as he leapt. Still clutching the balcony's underside, he glanced down to see just exactly how far the drop was and how he should prepare himself for the fall. It was then that he gasped with shock: one of his feathers was missing from the Ring. It would not damage it, but he wanted it back nonetheless, unsure of how it might affect the Ring's effectiveness. He would have to hope Anzu had kept it in her hand so that she might return it to him.

Unfortunately she had loosened her grip as Bakura had carried her to her bed and dropped it in the patio room. It had rolled by the doorway and lay there as the catalyst for the lost prince's truth.

Atem was panicked. He had been lounging on his own balcony when he had seen a bright light emerge from below near Anzu's. He hadn't been able to see clearly in the dark with only the moon for a light, but he had thought he had seen a figure there, a manly one. If any harm were to come to Anzu, he would never forgive himself. The prince emerged through the bedroom dorm only to find his beloved safe in sweet slumber. He examined the room quietly and tried not to wake her as he searched, looking for any signs of suspicion. As he entered the patio room, the shiny golden trinket caught his eye. He picked it up and examined it. As he did so, his own Millennium Puzzle seemed to act like a magnet, pulling it near.

'This must be part of a Millennium Item!' he thought to himself. 'But which one?' He had seen his own, his mother's Millennium Necklace, Aknadin's Millennium Eye, Shadi's Millennium Key, and Seto's Millennium Rod. Perhaps it was from the Millennium Ring? Yes, that had to be it! But ….that had been his half-brother's item! He had been far too young when Ryou had vanished to remember what had happened to his Ring. He would have to consult Shadi in the morning to discover its whereabouts. Surely he would know.

Atem then skimmed the balcony for the shadow he thought he saw but found nothing conclusive. Still he was worried. He returned to the hall and grabbed several guards to safeguard her balcony and foyer for the evening. Confirmed that his fiancé was safe, he headed back to his quarters.

Upon his arrival, he was greeted by several delicate female voices coming from his bed.

"Your Majesty, we're so glad you returned."

"How we missed you!"

"Come keep us warm Sire."

The prince smiled and crawled into bed.

In the morning, Seto dressed quickly and headed to his father's dining room to discuss his talk the previous night with Anzu.

"So, how did it go son?" Aknadin asked as Seto sat before him to eat breakfast.

"Well. She is in fact unhappy in the arrangement, just as I knew her to be. I sense that she does however have a warped sense of loyalty and honor to her word. She is prepared to be queen, even if it means marrying Atem. But, she said, given the choice she would chose me over him," he said confidently with a smirk, crossing his arms in front of him. "Therefore, she could keep her promise to Egypt and be happier with me at her side."

"Well done then!" the regent replied, raising his glass to Seto. "Then as a reward, today I shall announce your commencement as High Priest." Seto was thrilled. All of his life he had dreamed of reaching this zenith of his profession. He would now have access and power to so much more...but then a thought came to him.

"But, if I am claimed High Priest, then won't that make me ineligible for the throne?"

"The Priest position could easily be replaced. You as king, never! It is time my side of the bloodline received some recognition!" Aknadin wailed.

"Father, are you sure this whole ordeal isn't really about you getting some sort of revenge on your brother and Atem?" Seto questioned cautiously.

"Why does it matter? You agreed to help for likewise selfish reasons! To acquire your pretty princess!" Aknadin said, forcing harsh realization to sink into his son's skin. Seto scowled. "Perhaps if you had a brother you would understand what it's like, going through the life I endured with Aknamkanon. He was always the favorite son. To our father, I was never good enough! He said I would never amount to anything! You and I together will prove him wrong, Seto!"

"Father please, I don't know if its worth turning the palace upside down…"

"For Anzu and for our honor? I would argue those are two damned good reasons!" Aknadin roared.

"But Atem has done nothing wrong other-" Seto was cut short.

"Other than being a spoiled brat! You sound like your mother. You're too much like her, always seeing the good in people, even those you despise. And she's dead now. So what does that tell you?" Aknadin snapped. Seto jolted out of his chair, sending it backwards with his anger. He stormed from the room without a word. As he was leaving, a servant ran into him.

"Watch where you're going!" Seto barked.

"Excuse me sire, I apologize. However I have a note for you," the boy said, bowing and offering his hand with the note clutched. Seto snapped the parchment and waved his hand to dismiss him.

Seto,

Meet me in the small gardens at 11. Atem will be at archery practice on the opposite side of the palace. Dispose after reading.

-Anzu

The ink on the note for Seto Anzu had handed her servant boy had barely dried when Atem came barging into her suite.

"My Lord, she is not properly dressed!" cried Anzu's head maid and the one in charge of dressing her as he headed for her bedroom. "She is in her undergarments!"

"It matters not! I am soon to be her husband!" he replied. 'I hope...no, I will be with her no matter what my uncle says,' he thought to himself.

Anzu was indeed still in her daintily clad evening dress that was rather sheer. She seemed afraid that he was there now, standing at the doorway and nearly colliding with the servant. He watched him leave and closed the door behind him as he neared Anzu at her vanity. She clutched her chest both out of modesty and discomfort.

"Are you alright Anzu?" he asked, touching her shoulder. He could almost feel the skin for her dress was so thin. It aroused him…

"Yes, Atem I am fine, just startled that you are here so early and before I could dress. Is something wrong?" she asked, trying to seem innocent. She was not going to tell him about last night. She remembered only fragments anyhow, as Bakura's magical Ring had somehow caused her to black out.

"I saw a light from near your balcony last evening and came to check on you. You were asleep, but was everything as it should have been last night?" he pressed further. She then saw in his hand he held a small golden item. The feather! She had pulled it off of the Ring when she fainted! He must have found it when he came to check on her. She decided to play dumb.

"Yes, I went to bed at my usual time. I didn't wake up until a few minutes ago, sire," she assured him sweetly.

"So you know nothing of this?" he raised the item she had noticed. She squinted and pretended to analyze the feather.

"No. I have never seen that before," she told him.

"It was on your floor last night," he replied.

"Well I can promise you it is no jewelry of mine that I am aware of. Perhaps someone gave it to me as a gift and my maid forgot to tell me?" she suggested convincingly. "Why would that be of suspicion anyhow?"

"Anzu, I do not mean to frighten you when I say this but I believe someone was in your room last night," he said sadly. She gasped and clutched her hands to her mouth. "This belongs to a Millennium Item, the Millennium Ring. I know you have seen mine and some of the others here, but do you know of their importance?" he asked.

"They are powerful objects that allow you to duel with monsters for leisure or stakes, as well as possess people or otherwise manipulate them if the user knows how," she responded.

"Seto taught you well then. I suppose he isn't a good for nothing cousin after all then. Anyway, the Millennium Ring belonged to my half brother, but when he…died, I do not know what happened to it. I assume Shadi, your father, possesses it because I have not seen it on any other royal or guardian."

"So perhaps my father came to check on me?" Anzu offered, anything to distract Atem.

"Perhaps. I will consult Shadi and discuss the matter with you later, my sweet," he said, cupping her face in his hands as he kissed her. She half-heartedly kissed back, as always.

She thought for a moment about what all Atem had said as he eyed her for an instant. He recalled that the feather was from the Millennium Ring that had belonged to his dead brother, Ryou. Bakura's Ring looked the same…but Atem had said Millennium Item only belonged to Royals! What on Earth? Maybe when Prince Ryou disappeared Bakura had stolen it or discovered it somehow? Or maybe Bakura's was a fake? He was a thief after all…

"Atem dear?" she asked as he turned his back.

"Yes?"

"Do you have a picture of the lost Prince Ryou? I have never seen what he looks like and have always wondered. Is there any resemblance?"

"I was three when he vanished, so I don't really remember. He had lighter hair than I, I do remember that much."

"Was it white?" she asked nervously.

"Yes, as a matter of fact. How did you know that?" he asked suspciously. She was too smart for her own good.

"I just assumed that to be the most extreme of lighter. How peculiar on an Egyptian," Anzu muttered quickly. Thankfully she was fast with her responses and distractions.

"His mother was Greek. I'm sure there a painting somewhere. Father had them removed when he died; he couldn't bear to see his face around the palace as it reminded of him of his...failure to keep my mother restrained. We'll look tonight, alright Anzu?" he decided. He hated thinking of his mother as a killer. He knew it was true, what all she had done to the previous Queen and she had had some part in her brother's demise, but he seldom dwelled on the issue. She had done it so he could be King and for that he was grateful for her sacrifice. Isis had also removed the subject from his memory in great detail before she was exiled all those years ago so that it would not haunt him as it might have otherwise. Only in recent years had the memories come flooding back. Seto had often given him sly ridicule for it, but had refrained since Isis's return.

"Alright," she said quietly, somewhat disappointed. This was going to bother her all day, but soon she would truthfully tell Seto all that had occurred last night.

One thing was for certain, Anzu knew that that particular feather came from Bakura's ring last evening, the one had had always had since the masked man brought six year old Bakura to them that day in the market. If her father found that the feather in question was indeed from the same ring, the authentic Millennium Item, Anzu was going to have a great deal more questions to ask.

It's getting good...

Oh yes my friends.

Very good. =)