Hey, sorry I took so long. I was reading the Hunger Games book. It's really epic and I just cannot stop reading it! Then again, it's not like I've never liked anything to do with stories depicting games that are deadly... (clears throat) like the Saw... and... uh... do I really need to type it down? Review please!

Atem woke up the next morning. He sighed deeply, seeing it was still somewhat dark outside, but the clouds on the East were showing pinkish colors. He could feel how aching his throat felt from the crying he was doing and how raw the skin surrounding his eyes were. There were so many things on his mind that kept throbbing his head. The idea of perhaps banishing or killing his own flesh and blood.

It's already plain and obvious that Aknadin no longer looked at Atem as family, if he had at some point in the past. He remembered the dream from last night of the day he witnessed his own uncle use his sword to cut his father's hands, so they would release from the edge of the cliff, and Seth trying to save him before he bit his cousin's hand and fell to his doom. It registered that Atem was saved by some sort of cliff edge that broke his fall before ending up at the foot of the cliff. If not, he would possibly have died.

It must be painful for Seth to accept that his father killed his dear brother and tried to kill his nephew. Seth would never dare hurt Atem to save his life. Seth loved him like his own brother and best friend. That was why Seth told Atem to hide himself after discovering who his uncle's murderer truly was. That was why he demanded Atem to overthrow his father off the throne. Someone has to. Someone has to be king and it isn't going to be a cold-blooded murderer.

Atem knew this.

The young prince got up on his feet and quietly rolled up his mat. He put on his man's skirt, used a belt to tie it, then a white linen cloak from the basket for desert travel. He made sure his whole hair and face was covered completely before slipping on his sandals and swiftly tiptoeing out of the Inn room. Everyone was still asleep: Solomon, Yugi, Mana, and Mahad.

Atem quietly slipped onto the streets in the waking morning where the streets were barren and only the wind could be heard. He was able to take a good glance all around the buildings through the little light arriving at this time of night. Many of the houses were just hard bricked sand, one or two open windows and a curtain for a door, a line for the linen clothing to dry, and the empty market stands that were no longer filled with food or supplies. This was the first time Atem had ever seen the streets and market like this.

It was very cool this time of night. Atem realized at this moment he didn't know where to go. He wanted to meet with Seth, but he was probably at the palace and there was no way to go inside, unless he was attempting suicide. Atem felt so stupid and kept wondering, standing still in front of the palace wall which was fifty feet away, what he should do. How could he sneak inside the palace? He stood there, longingly wishing to be a ghost and invisibly sneak inside the palace. Then again, how would Seth be able to see him? A smile crept up Atem's lips.

"You won't be able to get anything by standing there," a voice responded, which made Atem's eyes widen. He turned his head around different directions until he noticed, hiding in the shadows, was a mysterious stranger, who wore no clothing on his body. The long white hair, though, was a giveaway to revealing himself in the shadows. He bit an apple, which he held in his hand.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Atem asked suspiciously.

"A friend... or a foe... I suppose you can never tell," the stranger smirked in a mysterious way, biting another piece of the apple. He waved it in the air. "Want it?"

"I'm-" Atem answered before this stranger threw the apple and he caught it in his hands. "Okay?"

"Take it... think of it as a gift."

"What are you trying to persuade me?" Atem asked with furrowed eyebrows, biting into the apple.

"You still don't trust me... after my little gift? It could've been poisoned."

"Except you bit into it... two times. I'm not that stupid to suspect if it's poisoned or not. I know this much, you're a thief. You lurk in the shadows to seek for anything to steal... you rob houses... sneak in through windows... why should I trust you? This apple is one of the tricks thieves use to barter up a partner in crime, so that they may steal something for themselves. In the end, the partners split, one may steal the loot if he can, and they both never see each other again."

"Ooooo, that stings. Though, why wouldn't you be a thief, since you are also lurking in the shadows? I know you are hiding something."

"Should that be any of your business?"

"You are wanting a way inside the palace. I can see it. How could you not be looking for something?"

"What makes you think that? I could be sight-seeing."

"For one, it is not morning, nobody is around. Two, you are covering yourself in a cloak, hiding every bit of your facial feature and body. Three, you are scanning the walls as if searching for any weak spot to sneak in, which I can give you," the stranger tempted Atem, who rose two eyebrows. "I am a thief after all. I've been in and out of these walls. I have watched that king stuff his face full of food and goods. I've seen these people act like wealthy pigs, while we starve and eating the crumbs off the floor like dogs."

"What will you want from me?"

"What makes you think I want anything?"

"You're a thief, thieves want things in return."

The stranger let out a dark chuckle, saying, "I suppose you are very good. The only thing I want in return is the king in my hands."

"Killing his majesty will make you worse than a common thief," Atem declared with furrowed eyes.

"It will never matter. I will be out of this town by the time it's over. What I want... is revenge," the stranger said, the last two words being harsh and dark. Atem blinked a few times, wondering what this stranger could possibly mean. "Have you ever heard of Kul Elna?"

"Yes, it's the town over there," Atem replied, pointing to the West. "What about it?"

"I guess you didn't know... you must be foreign or haven't been here in years. It's in ruins now. The Pharaoh sent out his army to destroy it, came out of nowhere and for no apparent reason," the stranger explained as Atem looked at this stranger with pity. "I saw it all... my family and I once lived there... we were happy. I saw it burn to ashes until there was nothing left. I escaped, thanks to my dying mother. I have sought for vengeance since then."

"Why? Why would he?" Atem asked in almost a whisper.

"He says that it was because the bandits, who killed his brother, lived there, but I know better. My father was one of them," the stranger explained in a deep dark voice. "He worked for that blasted Pharaoh... paid a goat and a sheep to kill the young prince and his father. First, it was just the young prince, who's dead now. My father pulled his bow to kill the prince... he could have done it, but didn't. I saw him crying to my mother, saying that he failed, because of the young prince reminded him of me, the way he cried and curled in a small ball out of fear." Atem kept his face still, trying hard not to show any emotion. The bandits... one of them was this strangers father and... he let him live. "Of course, he was lucky that the Pharaoh's blasted son was there or he would've had my father's head. But... he was paid a few more goats to make one last attack. My father refused the offer, saying he would not do the Pharaoh's dirty work. The other bandits from Kul Elna agreed though. My father watched close by, wanting to save the prince and his father, but by the time he came, he watched as the Pharaoh killed his own brother in cold blood." Atem swallowed the saliva down his throat, feeling the huge lump that was about to burst. "After that... he massacred my home... and he says lies that the bandits killed them, but I know it was that blasted Pharaoh. I want his blood!"

"Killing him won't make the pain go away, but I can promise you that justice will befall him. I will make sure he pays for those citizens of Kul Elna, if you lead me to the palace."

"I want to be the one to do so."

"If it is you, you will suffer and die in the desert. If it is me, you will be safe and I shall reward you with plenty."

"Really?" the stranger asked, letting out a sarcastic chuckle. "And where shall you get this plenty? You are no more special than me."

"The boy your father saved... was going to kill... the prince... he's still alive."

The stranger's eyebrows furrowed at Atem, studying him to see if he was serious. There was no denying he was.

"How do you know this?"

"Because I am him and I feel that you could be an excellent ally. You are a thief and seem very cleaver by the way you talk and bargain. You hate the Pharaoh, enough for me to trust that you want him off the throne as much as I do," Atem explained, knowing half of that was a lie. In reality, he wanted to avoid kicking his uncle off the throne. "I will lead a rebellion and if I win, I will be sitting on the throne and will have the power to punish him for his crimes."

"Is that so?" The stranger asked in a serious tone, rubbing his chin. "What do you plan to do?"

"Death penalty. Should that be enough?"

"I want him to die slow and painfully. I want him to suffer."

"That depends on what I think he deserves. I will give him a chance to somewhat redeem himself. I will give him the chance to commit suicide, if he truly is sorry. If he isn't, he will run. Once he leaves the dungeon, you may do as you wish."

"Very well," The thief smirked with satisfaction. Atem can see he doubts suicide will be on Aknadin's mind. "I shall guide you to the inside of the palace without any guards knowing. I also will help you with planning your treason, so you may guide your soldiers inside and arrest the Pharaoh. In return, I shall have the liberty to avenge my hometown, if he leaves the dungeon, the kill will not be held against me, and you may flourish me with whatever food you have, not that I really count on that happening. I will accept it if you must."

"Then, we have a deal," Atem agreed, both men shook hands. "What is your name?"

"Bakura, the king of thieves. You may've heard of me."

"I have. This makes me grateful to have you as an ally."

"The pleasure is all mine."

"Here, take this," Atem offered Bakura his man skirt. "The cloak will be enough to cover myself. You must not look like a slave."

"Very well," Bakura replied, taking Atem's man's skirt and wrapping it around his waist, then tying it with the belt. "Follow me."