Hotaru: *smiling* welcome to the 14th chapter of "Slave's Pride"

Bakura: *arm in a sling* yeah whatever.

Hotaru: *smirks* you should've known better Bakura.

Yami: what did he do now?

Hotaru: tried to light me.

Bakura: she moved.

Hotaru: I suppose your motto would be "GIVE a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day. SET a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

Bakura: no...but that's not half bad!

Yami: I need a motto...

Hotaru: "Common sense is the most uncommon thing in the world."

Yami: YEAH!

Bakura: how about you, Hotaru, what's your motto.

Hotaru: *blushes* well...

Yami: come on! Tell us!!

Hotaru: "I don't look at the glass half empty. I don't look at the glass half full. I just want to find the guy who drank from my glass so I can kick the shit out of him!"

Bakura: hmm...good motto

Yami Hotaru: mine is "Silence is golden.BUT SHOUTING IS FUN!"

Bakura: Hn, it WOULD be.

Hotaru: relax Baku-Kun, she's not here to torture you

Yami: then why's she here?

Yami Hotaru: I need somewhere to chill for a while, till Marik comes back.

Hotaru: I thought Malik was your boy toy

Yami Hotaru: nah he's too soft for me. Now Marik...MMMM that's my kinda psycho!

Bakura: where'd Marik go?

Yami Hotaru: knife store.

All: O.o?

Yami Hotaru: sadomasochist.

Hotaru: ENOUGH of this talk...it's bad for my poor, poor, poor rating.

Yami Hotaru: *shrugs* Hotaru does not own anything.

Hotaru: thank you Yami

Yami: *pouts* I do it better

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

Bakura was walking home when he heard a loud, feminine, scream. He ran the rest of the way and saw Safiya on her knees with her head in her hands.

"Safiya, are you alright?" He asked rushing to her side. She curled up into a little ball and started crying.

"How could I let this happen" she muttered.

"You had no control over it." Bastet said softly. Bakura looked up, just noticing the goddess.

"Bastet? What did you do to her" Bakura growled.

"Imparted the truth" she replied. Safiya was still sobbing. Bakura rubbed her back gently (I'm sorry but the thought of him being gentle is weird to me.) She uncurled herself and wrapped her arms around his neck, sitting in his lap, and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Bakura" she sobbed.

"It's okay, love, what ever it is." He whispered. "So tell me, what is it?" Her head snapped up and she stared at him. No way could she tell him the truth! The odds of him accepting her, as she was, was slim enough but with child?!

"I..." her eyes darted around until they landed on a small, sharp, stone. She looked up at Bastet.

/ could you...? /

// why won't you just tell him? //

/ He'd never take me after learning that! Now please! / Bastet quietly picked up the rock and handed it to Safiya. Bakura was nuzzling her so he wouldn't notice. She held the rock against her palm and squeezed her eyes shut as she tore it across her skin. The bleeding was instantaneous, as was the onslaught of more tears. She held her hand out to show Bakura while throwing the rock away without him noticing.

"I accidentally fell." She said. He lifted her hand gently and licked away the blood. She giggled a little. "That tickles."

"There now" he said calmly. Her tears slowed then stopped but the uneasy feeling still stayed with her.

"Bakura do you trust me" she asked.

"Of course."

"Then would you mind if I went to the City, with Malik?" She asked. He tilted his head to the side.

"Malik?" she gave him a soft look. "Of course I wouldn't."

"Thank you." She got up but not before kissing him (on the lips) and smiling. She looked over at Bastet. "Go get him, please." Bastet smiled evilly, showing her fangs.

"I'd love to" she disappeared inside the house then a loud yell was heard accompanied by hissing. Then Bastet walked out smirking with an unconscious Malik over her shoulder. "He got scared."

"Hmm, I'll bet." Safiya said in an unbelieving tone. She looked back at Bakura. "I'll be back soon, I promise." With that she and Bastet began to walk towards the city.

"What are we doing" Bastet asked.

/ I wish not to speak out loud while Malik is with us / Safiya furrowed her brow.

// he won't hear anything, he's out. But whatever you wish. // Bastet sighed.

/ Oh so now you listen, but how do you know that I'm.../ Safiya couldn't bring herself to even think the words.

// a little cow told me // Bastet smiled. Safiya rolled her eyes.

/ If Bata can't tell me, why would she tell my half sister? /

// I haven't the foggiest, but she did. So, who do you think the father is? // Bastet looked at her. Safiya mulled it over then sighed.

/ I hope it isn't him / she looked at Malik.

// you never know //

/ We're going to get him a little preoccupied / Bastet tilted her head to the side.

// how? //

/ I have an old friend who would love to meet him /

// anyone I know? // this time Safiya smiled

/ Maybe /

*~*~* in the City *~*~*

As Safiya and Bastet entered the city, Bastet disappeared and Safiya picked up Malik.

"Hmm now where was she?" Safiya muttered looking around. She spotted the girl she was looking for and walked over. "Yanagi!"

"Safiya? How are you? I barely recognized you with all those scars" she said.

"Well what can I say, I work hard to live." Safiya replied putting her arm behind her head and smiling. The girl had long blond hair that was pulled into two French braids. Gray-blue eyes. And she wore some simple garments and a necklace of the cat form of Bastet that had jade gems for eyes and gold claws. Yanagi frowned.

"You're not a slave are you?" she asked.

"Yeah" Safiya answered. The girl growled. "But ya know its okay now. My Master and I are pretty close. But this one's a bit of a problem." She dropped Malik and watched him land on his back. He groaned.

"Oh really? How?" She asked.

"Look at this and take a guess" Safiya said pulling on the collar of her shirt. There were long scratch marks on her back from finger nails. Malik sat up slowly, blinking his light purple eyes. He looked at both girls then jumped up and ran. Safiya was way ahead of him though. She pointed a single finger at him and he froze. With a flick of her wrist he was once again beside them, this time hanging upside down.

"Put me down" Malik yelled. Safiya crouched down and looked at him, eye to eye.

"Malik, you should know by now that I WILL NOT kill you. But that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun does it?" she replied running a finger across his chin. She sighed and stood, turning to Yanagi. "So what do you want me to do to this one?" Yanagi asked. "I can torture him, teach him a lesson. You name it?" "You always were a good merchant. I am gonna go with setting him up in your store and teaching him some manners. If he gets too rough beat him." "You know very well I don't beat people. Especially with little Yumi runin' around" Yanagi sighed. "You're policy might have to change for this one" Safiya said "I guess I could look after him for a while. I ain't gonna charge you a price for this little treat cause i like the way he looks." She replied "I am not some damned cow you are auctioning off here!" Malik screamed trying to break loose of the binding spell. Safiya smiled and flipped him right side up. "Well you're yanagi's now" Safiya purred. She smiled, and left, leaving Yanagi and Malik to get better acquainted. "You know I ain't gonna help you with anything!" Malik stated in a melancholy tone. "Good! I ain't asking for any of it! Me and Yumi have been on our own for a while; we'll deal without your help." "Yumi?" Malik questioned her. "She's my daughter. She's 10 and will fend for herself. Just leave her out of this. You can hassle me all you want, if you touch her I'll have to hurt you." "Understood" Malik said simply. Yanagi smiled deeply. 'I don't know what it is about him, but I like his spirit.' Yanagi thought to herself and began her work again. Safiya had stayed back long enough to see this. She sighed and smiled, starting the journey home.

// do you think it's wise to leave him with her? She seems to be falling for him // Safiya huffed at the sudden mental intrusion.

/ Look, I know Yanagi. If anyone can "handle" Malik it's her. Besides, it's working just as I planned. She's a great mortal. She can find the good in anyone, even our deliciously evil Malik. /

// you trust very easy // Safiya's mind raced back to the night she and Seto had talked. 'Seto, I love you. But I don't trust anyone anymore. So from now on...you're on your own.' The words made her sick to her stomach. More words flashed into her mind. 'I...can't trust anymore. I think I've had all the trust beaten out of me. S'not like you care. After all you and your friend were the one's who did it.' She sighed.

/ I can't believe I ended up like this / Bastet noticed the depressed tone

// the child will be fine //

/ It's not the child, it's me. I ended up with two lovers and a guy who is more than likely the father of my poor child. Okay so the kid has a little something to do with it. /

// you WILL have to choose one you know // Safiya sighed as she approached the house.

/ I know, but I'll hide this as long as I can till then. / Bakura was sitting by the well waiting.

"Welcome back" he said. She smiled.

"Problem solved"

"Where's Malik?" he asked.

"With a friend of mine." She answered.

"She won't kill him will she?" he asked.

"No, she won't. But I already told you everything would be ok. Don't start doubting me now." She replied. He nodded and pulled her closer, kissing her neck.

"I'll never doubt you again" he whispered. Normally she would've loved this but not now. Her mind was elsewhere. Bakura understandably noticed this. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing really, Bakura?"

"Hmm?"

"Have you ever thought of being a father?" she asked.

"No way!" he said. She sighed and sank into his arms.

/ This won't be easy. For me or you, but I think...Bastet I think I might have to do something to save both me and my lovers. /

// what are you saying? // Bastet was really confused.

/ I don't want a child /

// but-//

/ I know how people look upon those who do it. But if it was an accident... /

// but how? How would you do it? //

/ would you help me? / Bastet was silent for a moment and Safiya got comfortable in Bakura's lap and arms. He sighed and buried his face in her hair. 'Ra, I'd love to be a father for her' he thought silently.

// I don't think that it's fair to the child, just tell Bakura. He'll understand. //

/ No he won't! /

// if you don't tell him I will // Safiya began to panic.

/ NO DON'T! / She could feel Bastet push past her in her own mind and take over.

"Bakura?"

"Hmm?"

/ No please NO! / Safiya begged.

"I want you to father my child."

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

Hotaru: I think I'll stop there

Bakura: what an...interesting chapter.

Hotaru: right well, if ya hadn't guess / text / is Safiya to Bastet and // text // is Bastet to Safiya. Oh and Yume don't worry. Lots of Malik and Yanagi in the next chappie. TTYL Folks!

Bakura: you're softening up my best friend!

Hotaru: I had to. He's got to find love, cuz I'm that kind of writer, but he can't do it if he's a total Asshole

Malik: I am not an asshole!!!

Yami Hotaru: yes you are, Mali baby, yes you are.

Malik: *blushes* uh okay maybe I am a little.

Yami Hotaru: *smiles* now say the slogan.

Malik: *blushes more* REVIEW!!!!