Hotaru: *on the phone* *nods* right, no, yes

Yami: I wonder how long she can keep this up. It's a good thing Bakura's in the hospital or he might do something stupid

Hotaru: *hangs up the phone* okay that was the hospital, they say that our wonderful little Bakura is driving them insane and that we have to take him home.

Yami: oh Geez!

Hotaru: but he won't come home till I throw out every Listerine pack in the house....

Yami: so are you going ta do it?

Hotaru: what are you, Nuts? If I do then he has ta come home!

Yami: okay, disclaimer: Hotaru doesn't own anything

Hotaru: gee I don't even have to ask anymore

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It had been a year and Bakura had beaten all the resistance out of Safiya. She never spoke unless spoken to and she even took her punishments in stride. Bakura didn't even bother to touch her anymore. It was one thing when she fought but now all the fun was gone. Safiya had locked her own mind and memories away, so she wouldn't be tempted to fight back, so it was like a completely different person was walking around in her body. Malik still enjoyed torturing her though.

"Hey cat girl, come here" he said. Safiya looked at him for a moment but didn't move. She hated Malik with a passion; he was the one who still forced her to do things she despised. And since Bakura wasn't here she felt she didn't have to listen to him. "Come here or I'll tell Bakura you hit me." Those were the magic words. She was at his side in an instant.

"What is it" she asked in an almost dead voice.

"Go to the city and find Bakura" he ordered. She stared at him for a minute

"Why?" she asked. He stood up and looked down at her. He raised his hand to hit her. "Alright, anything else you need?" He smirked.

"No, that should be all. Now go" he said. She nodded and walked outside and started the semi-long walk to the city.

*~*~* in the palace *~*~*

The last year had been wonderful for the flourishing country, but Yami couldn't help but notice how detached his friend Seto had become. He never came out of his room except when Yami called for him, and even then he sounded only half awake. Several times Yami had asked what was wrong but Seto would just change the subject.

"Seto, my friend, tell me. Is this about Safiya" Yami asked. Seto looked at him in surprise.

"Yes" he answered before he could stop himself.

"She's not dead, if that's any consolation" Yami replied. Seto nodded sadly and began to space off again. "Why don't you go for a walk outside? The fresh air might make you feel better." Seto got to his feet and walked outside. He walked around the streets, not even paying attention to where he was going, when suddenly something caught his attention. It was a girl that looked just like Safiya! He ran over to her and looked her up and down. Safiya did the same, then with a quick look of fury brushed past him. He followed after her. Finally getting fed up with the stalker, she turned and looked at him.

"WHAT?!" She barked.

"What's your name" he asked, ignoring the obvious resentment.

"You're not my master, I don't have to answer you" she said scanning the area in hopes of finding her master. She'd rather take the pain he threw at her than stay with Seto. Seto was the one who'd condemned her in the first place. He'd given her to Bakura, the way she saw it Atsu was just an accessory to the crime. Seto could've, at any time, let her go. She spotted Bakura and turned to leave when Seto reached out to stop her. She cringed. He was shocked; the Safiya he knew would never cringe at anything.

"You can't be her" he muttered. She looked up at him.

"Well? Aren't you going to hit me?" She asked surprised that he hadn't already.

"I don't hurt people" he muttered walking off.

"Liar" she yelled. Everyone stopped and stared at her. A slave calling a Priest a liar? That was insane! Seto whipped around and glared.

"WHAT did you say to me" he hissed.

"I said-" she stopped as Bakura gave her a look that said 'shut up or I'll kill you.' She fell silent and Bakura Ran over to her.

"My apologies, obviously this slave will be punished." He looked at Safiya "beg his forgiveness." She gave Seto a steely look and crossed her arms.

"I don't kiss dirt for anyone" she replied. Bakura gave her a look of pure rage and she bowed her head a little. "Please forgive me."

"You're forgiven, but don't you ever talk to me like that again" Seto snapped. Bakura yanked her away into an alley.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" he spat.

"I-" she was stopped as he punched her in the jaw.

"Shut up! You had no right to talk to a priest like that" he growled.

"You should be happy I didn't say worse!" she retorted before being struck again. This time she fought back by punching him in the stomach. He doubled over and glared at her.

"That's it!" He jumped on her and knocked her out. He stood up and held her in his arms as he began his walk home. Seto had watched this entire thing take place and was smirking when something caught his eye. Safiya's arm was hanging limp to the side and on it was the mark of the Goddess Bastet. He stared for a minute but when he blinked Bakura disappeared into the crowd.

"OH RA! What did I just do" he gasped.

"Seto!" Atsu yelled.

"Atsu I just saw Safiya" he said. 'SHIT!' Atsu thought as he ran over to Seto.

"That wasn't Safiya" Atsu said quietly "Safiya died."

"She's not dead I just saw her!" Seto insisted.

"Bakura sent me a message about five days after we left Safiya with him. Seto, she got killed by a scorpion. It happens" he said. Seto gaped and his eyes grew dark.

"Why didn't you tell me" he asked.

"I didn't want to upset you" Atsu answered. Seto glared at him.

"You liar" he hissed. "That was her! You just wanted to keep your comfortable room at the palace. Well I'm going straight to Yami with this!" Seto ran off towards the palace and Atsu followed behind him. As soon as they were away from the public Atsu muttered something and a bright light flashed. When it faded, Seto was on the ground close to death.

"Oh shit, that was the wrong spell. I gotta hide this before someone finds out" Atsu muttered pulling Seto down an alley and towards the Nile. He thought that Seto was dead. As he pushed the tall young man into the water he prayed that a Crocodile would get him before anyone saw.

*~*~* with Safiya *~*~*

She cried out as another kick landed in her ribs. She looked up at Bakura and Malik with pain filled eyes. She was beyond crying now. Malik stepped on her back then looked over at Bakura.

"That's enough, we don't want to kill her" Bakura said. Malik looked almost heartbroken over it. "You can have her tonight Malik." This put that sadistic smile back on his face.

"I guess your right." He agreed. Bakura squatted down and lifted her head to look at him.

"The next time you talk back or strike me, we will kill you" he warned. "Understand?" She nodded and he dropped her head. Malik stepped on her a final time as he and Bakura walked back into the house. She crawled to the river and began to wipe the blood off. Her face was bruised and a trail of blood was running from the side of her mouth. Her breath was uneven and ragged. Her wrist was twisted from falling on it and her back was covered in bruises and scratches from various activities (anyone with a naughty mind probably gets it.)

"Normal Masters use whips; I just had to get an owner whose friend is as evil as him." She bristled at the mention of Malik, thinking of what lay in store for her as soon as she returned to the house. She sighed and turned to leave when she heard something coming from the reeds. "who's there?" Another low moan led her to a soft spot in the reeds where she found, of all people, Seto lying half conscious. His forehead was bleeding and his eyes were glazed over. She gasped.

"Seto? Seto can you hear me" she asked shaking him lightly. He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Who's Seto?" He asked. She helped him to his feet.

"Come on, let's get you to the-" she stopped, thinking about what she was gonna say. If she took him to the house then Malik and Bakura would...She smirked. "Let's get you to the house." He leaned on her for support as she led him to the house. 'If they get another slave to beat on, maybe they won't hurt me so bad' she thought with another smirk. As they entered the house Bakura flipped out.

"WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE?!!" Bakura yelled. Safiya calmly pointed to Seto.

"He has no memory of anything and he's strong."

"So?! You're more fun to torture, among other things" Malik said with an evil smirk. Safiya couldn't believe it!

"WHAT?!! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!!" She yelled. "Oh I get it you only keep me around so you can sleep with me and make yourselves feel like real men! Well ya know what-" Malik was at her throat in an instant. He growled and squeezed harder on her throat.

"Shut. The hell. Up. Before I kill you" he hissed. "Or him." He nodded over at Seto. Safiya smirked.

"Like I care" she muttered. Bakura smiled evilly.

"Let's see if she does" he pulled out a golden dagger and held it to Seto's throat. He began to pull the blade across the skin. Seto let out a small cry of pain, then Safiya broke down into tears.

"Stop!" She whimpered. Bakura stopped and looked at her. "I'll do whatever you want just leave him alone." Malik smirked and pulled her away into his room.

"If she acts that way around you, maybe you're worth keeping" Bakura muttered looking at Seto. Seto didn't understand why, but for some reason he was mad about the way they were treating that girl.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hotaru: well...?

Yami: um...interesting.

Hotaru: oh and Tsunamimbw, remind me never to make Ryou mad...he scares me now. And Al, glad ya like the story, and Malik can be just as naughty *wink* I love a man with a motorcycle! Mmm. Meryaptemun & Meruru-chan, I KNOW! It WAS an evil cliffy but that's okay, it makes it funner! Hope your feeling better Meruru-chan. Passing out from laughing too much is NOT fun. I've done it before...Jake made fun of me about it too.

Yami: *shakes his head* you're EVIL!

Hotaru: *sigh* alright finish this chapter and I'll go retrieve Bakura

Yami: *smiles* okay! REVIEW!!!!!