A/N: I don't own Yugioh. I got a couple requests for Yami/Yugi and Ryou/Bakura couples, so that's what it's going to be! Actually, that's what it originally was (and still is). The whole affection thing was just an ironic twisted my messed up mind came up with. I'd also like to thank all those people who reviewed^_^ Thanks!

~*~

A Moment in Time

Yugi's eyes fluttered open as the first few rays of Ra shone onto the Earth. The temperature had already risen to a tolerable level---warm with an occasional breeze to ease the heat. Already, it seems that his fever had subsided. The lad didn't know how; perhaps it because he had a strong immune system, but the latter seriously doubted that. Yugi closed his eyes once more, wanting to enjoy coolness of such luxury, but then realized he was lying on something.or someone.

The young one's eyes snapped open and were met with a face full of beige wool. Purple orbs traveled upward to the resting expression of Bakura. The other's chest was rising and falling subtly, arms wrapped around Yugi in almost a loving way.

Yugi gasped silently as he tried to pry out of Bakura's embrace, careful as to not disrupt the thief from his slumber. But as soon as he thought he was free, a pair of hands grabbed him around his waist in a death hold.

"Just where do you think you're going?" It was a sneer, a demand, a question.

"N-nothing." Yugi stared at the golden ground, refusing to look into Bakura's irate eyes, which had changed from dark brown to a frightening blood red.

"Nothing, eh?" Bakura turned Yugi around and tipped his head up sharply, noting with surprising relief that the illness was gone. "Look at me."

The latter did as told, for fear of another beating.

"Don't think you can lie to me, because it isn't working. I know you were trying to escape. What do you take me for---a monkey?"

"I wasn't trying to escape!" Yugi exclaimed before covering his mouth in astonishment at his own words.

Bakura arched an eye brow, tightening his hold on the boy before him.

"Then what were you trying to do?"

"I." Yugi trailed off, unable to answer that inquire. And the other's grip was excruciatingly painful.

"So I was right. And don't deny it." Bakura grinned sadistically, scaring Yugi half out of his wits. "But don't worry. I'll make sure you'll never be united with your precious Yami again."

The tricolor haired boy felt his eyes glazed over with a watery substance at the mention of his love's name, but he bit back the tears and allowed Bakura to lead him onto the horse. Somehow, Yugi knew there was no way for him to escape this.this.demon, so his only hope laid on Yami.

***

Heavy, synchronized footsteps marched outside of Ryou's tent, traveling to and fro across the campground. The white-haired boy groaned and rubbed his head, momentarily searching through his memory for a recollection of the night before, just to explain why and where he was.

Chocolate brown orbs shot open as soon as he realized that, no, he was not deserted out in the desert, but among the imperial soldiers and the pharaoh himself!

The flap providing entrance to the tent was flipped open, and a teen with crimson-black hair standing erect in various directions entered.

"Good morning, Ryou." Yami kneeled beside the other's bedroll, staring him in the eye as he does so frequently at court with the royal officials. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Y-yes. Thank you for asking, lord---er, Yami," Ryou ducked his head slightly and blushed as he remembered that the pharaoh insisted that he call him by his first name.

Yami nodded in approval, still watching the albino. "I'm glad to hear."

After that, an awkward silence reigned for a few moments. Ryou had taken a sudden interest in the distasteful coloring of the tent and the young king continued his gaze on him. Finally, Yami spoke.

"Ready for breakfast? We have a long day ahead of us."

Ryou inclined his head, then summoned up enough courage to ask, "W- what exactly will we be doing, Yami?"

The pharaoh gestured out at the herd of men traversing across the sand.

"Come. I'll tell you at the morning meal."

***

The brown-eyed boy listened intently as the king began his story, from the time he first met Yugi to when Bakura kidnapped him to avenge his father. So far, the royalty stated dismally, the only clues they have are a set of hoof prints leading to the Nile.

"And that's why I'm on this search," Yami concluded, sighing deeply. "Yugi means the world to me. Heck, I'd give him my palace, my wealth, my position, all of Egypt.even my _life_ to him."

Ryou patted the other teen on the back as if to give condolence. Strangely, the slave was secretly glad that the pharaoh didn't like him _that_ way. Although the young man was ruler of a great land, Ryou felt like they didn't belong together.and especially not in the way Yami had described his bonds with Yugi.

"We should get going now." Yami rose from the log he sat on, the same one from just a day ago, and handed his dish of remaining bread, dried fruit, and nuts to a servant in waiting. Then, when he saw that Ryou had finished his plate---or as much as he could eat, anyway---the monarch took it and passed it to the same servant.

Ryou was about to open his mouth to protest that he was also a slave, but Yami arrived with a reason before him.

"It was just a plate; no big deal. Besides, you didn't think that I _didn't_ know how to receive dishes from others, just because I'm pharaoh, did you?" Yami winked and grinned with satisfaction as the other boy flushed.

"Alright, let's set out."

Yami called to one of the men to sound a low, mellow horn, indicating the continuation of the search. All men mounted upon their horses and waited patiently for a command from their leader.

"Get on, Ryou." Yami pointed to his own white stallion, smirking inwardly as the albino half gawked at him.

"M-me?"

"Yes. Why? Don't know how to ride a horse?"

"N-no.it's not that."

"Then get on."

Hesitantly, Ryou ascended onto the creature and cautiously wrapped his arms around Yami.

"Don't be afraid." Yami murmured, then, after making sure his troops were behind him, snapped back the reigns and flew into the ever-stretching desert of Egypt.

***

A teen with snowy white hair, or possibly just a shade darker, could be witnessed dashing along the Nile on a dirty beige mare with a tricolor haired boy in front of him. This is what the man with a sandy hue of clothing saw from the mountain peeks, hidden away from view even from the great tomb thief himself.

The man quickly descended from the ridges and slipped through a narrow passageway between two large rocks. All throughout the path was a dark abyss, until the traveler arrived at the speck of sunlight. Yet, the road ended to a sharp drop---about a good 30 feet. But the man expertly leaped out and fell softly onto the sand, his body standing in what seems like a cat posture after a fall.

A few minutes later after a brief run, the man kneeled before what seemed to be his leader. White shoulder length hair framed a narrow face, half concealing one eye. His commander was more lavishly dressed than he, in a silk robe and leather sandals. The man glared down at his own tattered rags, grimy with week old dirt, but didn't protest.

"Master Pegasus, I've just spotted Bakura and another boy with him." The man reported, kneeling before that of higher position. "They are traveling along Nile on a beige mare."

"Ah, very good Reikusha," the leader Pegasus grinned, releasing a menacing cackle. "Very good indeed. Bakura's falling right into my trap, and I know exactly what I want from him. Now, alert the clan between the Nile and Nubian Desert. We're going to go for a little hunt."

"Right away, sir." Reikusha bowed curtly, then hurried off to carry out the command.

Meanwhile, Pegasus shook his head in amusement.

"My dear Bakura, even after all those years you've worked for me, you still haven't learned to stay one move ahead of your enemy. Unlike me."

***

Bakura knew something was wrong the moment a pack of horses came charging at him, kicking up a violent sand storm in the process. Stallions and mares of black, brown, and gray surrounded his own creature in a tight circle, destroying any hope of escaping. The only white stallion in the group stepped forward, its owner being.

"Pegasus."

Pegasus emitted another of his annoying laughter, tossing a bundle of pallid hair back.

"I see you haven't forgotten me, Bakura. It's been a long time, hasn't it? Oh, I did hope we were able to make a compromise someday, but I guess not."

Bakura growled, unconsciously securing his hold on Yugi. "What do you want, Pegasus?"

"Nothing, nothing at all. Just little Yugi there."

Yugi's eyes widened at the request, gripping the saddle until his knuckles turned white. He seemed to be a magnet for kidnappers.especially those that want him.

"Well, too bad, _Pegasus_." Bakura spitted out the name for emphasis. "You can't have him."

"Really? I so very much doubt that." The sinister head of the group waved his hand at his men, beckoning them to step forward. "Take care of this imbecile."

Bakura's eyes widened at a sharpened metal spear aimed right at his head and would have hit its target if he hadn't rolled to the ground, taking Yugi with him. But, in a flash, a ring of arrows besieged the two, daring them to move. Bakura growled, knowing that he had lost. No way can he defeat all thirty of Pegasus' men by himself. Reikusha advanced into the circle and dragged Yugi with him. The latter tried to retaliate, but only earned himself a slap across the face.

The tomb robber was about to threaten, or even make a deal, with Pegasus before something hard struck him on the back of his head. Groaning, Bakura's vision blurred as the last thing he saw was Yugi being dragged away from Pegasus' men.

~*~

YK: Yay! Another chappie finished!^_^

Yugi: I got kidnapped _twice_?! How pathetic is that?!

Bakura: Very pathetic

Yugi: .I wasn't asking you.

Pegasus: I got a part! I feel like a gleeful schoolgirl!

YK: Ah, first, you being a schoolgirl is a very scary thought, and second, I just needed someone to play the bad guy

Malik: I could have been evil!

YK: You already have a part

Malik: Oh

YK: Please R&R everyone! I really appreciate it!^_^