New Author's Note: Well I finally got around to taking a second look at this story and so I have begun to fix everything and make it better. So I have been doing some revising and hopefully soon I will have the next chapter out. Thanks for sticking with me for so long I really appreciate it! Luv ya!

Author's Note: Thank You Lethe Seraph and Kate for reviewing! I apologize Lethe Seraph about my spelling, I was just so excited to get my first fanfiction started that I neglected some mistakes. But what she said was "Fool listen hard and listen good." Sorry again I hope this chapter is better!

Disclaimer: I forgot to put this in last chapter, but I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, but I wish I owned Bakura !

Desert Nights: Two Deserts Combined

Chapter Two: Forbidden Love and Icy Arguments

All the arguing in the hall was echoing and beginning to give the young prince quite a royal headache. He started rubbing the sides of his temples in an attempt to alleviate some of the pressure, but it wasn't helping.

"SILENCE!" he bellowed, slamming his fist on the arm of his throne.

The hall became immediately quiet and all eyes turned to the prince.

"This constant yelling and bickering is getting us no closer to solving the problem at hand," he said sternly. "Now can we please address this like a council of mature individuals, and not like a group of children?"

The few men who were still standing quickly sat down on their cushions beneath them. It was safe to say that Prince Yami wasn't too pleased, when a messenger came running into the hall exhausted. He bowed to Yami and everyone waited for him to catch his breath so that he could relay his message.

"Forgive my intrusion, sire, but there has been another robbery!" the winded man said urgently.

The pharaoh leaned his head on his hand and rolled his eyes out of annoyance and disappointment.

"This is becoming ridiculous," Yami muttered. "Where at this time?" he asked aloud.

"It was the tomb of Commander Melnoh. A witness said it was the two notorious thieves Bakura and the Darkest Angel once again," the messenger replied.

"This just proves our point! We should send out more troops to protect our families tombs!" one of the nobles on Yami's left said.

"But that would leave the villages surrounding the palace uprotected and susceptible to attack!" another noble argued from Yami's right.

"I was under the impression that Melnoh's tomb was already under protection of the royal army," the priest closest's to Yami's left said cooly, looking up to the prince.

Yami nodded, "As was I, Seto," he looked to the messenger. "Were the gaurds not doing their jobs?"

"Yes, sire they were all working according to your orders, but the thieves used some sort of magic to put the guards into unconsciousness. We believe their minds were sent to the shadow realm, as they have not woken up yet to any of the other priests counter spells." the messenger answered quickly and afterwards dismissed by a wave of the Pharaoh's hand.

"Prince Yami, what is there we can do? The forces around the palace are dagerously low, and as we all know the Roman's always has it's eye on our land to add it to their growing empire," the priestess closest to his right said quietly and unemotionally.

Most of the priests looked to her surprised, because they had forgotten she was there. In all the arguing that had ensued she had not once said a word, but rather listened and took everything in that everyone said. Yami looked to her while she just sat there motionless on her cushion, with a stoic look on her face. She wore a traditional priestess gown which was white and came down to the tops of her feet. Around her waist was a gold belt with a katanna tied to her hip from her parents home country of China. Around her head was a small band that went around the center of her forhead and in the center of it was a small diamond. Her blonde hair fell in waves behind her back and she had stunning blue eyes that held a fire of energy behind them.

"The palace is strong enough to hold it's own and it would be unwise to attack us head on anyway," Seto said.

"The palace may be able to hold it's own, but as it has been said before the villages wouldn't hold for more than five minutes. We must always be prepared for anything and we must think of the people," she argued calmly.

"The people are not our problem when there are more pressing matters to attend to. How will it look to the other countries if we let two thieves run rampant across Egypt doing as they please while we do nothing to stop them?" Seto argued back.

"How will it look if we leave ourselves open to attack just so you can protect the dead! The foundation and prosperity of every country is built by the people that live inside of it!"she replied raising her voice slightly.

"So, you would preferably leave our ancestor's unprotected, before they can cross into the after life, Kalahari?" Seto asked coldly glaring at her with his stumbling blue eyes.
"So, you would leave countless living people to die before they've even had a full life, Seto?" Kalahari countered just as coldly..

Kalahari looked at him, her eyes dark, but still dancing with excitement; it seemed like she was almost challenging him. Well, Seto never backed down from a challenge before and he wasn't about to let this one slip past him. The other nobles looked over to them as it seem they argued about the same thing they were just shouting about a moment ago, but instead of shouting at one another Kalahari and Seto were merely acting as if it was just a normal discussion. This had always proved entertaining in the past for everyone, including the prince, as they waited to see who would crack first and let their tempers get the best of them.

"We should not be forced to look like we can't even handle two lowly thieves," Seto said.

"We are not dealing with a just two lowly thieves. They're using black magic to break past our many barriers. They're too wise to the ways that things work here, they know too much of the ways we work," Kalahari said calmly, shifting in her seat.

"So what your saying is that they worked in the palace before?" Seto asked questionably.

"It's a possibility," she shrugged.

"That's preposterous," he scoffed. "If anyone worked here why would they leave? Slaves are here for life."

"What if a slave escaped?"

"Unlikely seeing how Prince Yami treats even the slaves here with equality," Seto said rolling his eyes.

"Maybe Prince Yami does, but that does not go for everyone else," she stated.

Yami raised an eyebrow at the fact they were speaking about him as if he wasn't even there.

"Slaves are not equals, if they were equals then they wouldn't be slaves in the first place," Seto scoffed again.

"Slaves are human just as you or I. They live and breath and die just like us!" she said her voice raising slightly.

Seto sneered knowing that he was getting to her.

"All right hypothetically speaking, if one was a former slave, what would they be after?"

"Revenge most likely," she shrugged. "Revenge to anger the people they despise or that have treated them badly in the past."

"Then what's kepping them from attacking another tomb? I still say we need to send out mre troops to protect the tombs," Seto said flatly.

"That's your opinion, I still say we need to protect the people," Kalahari said just as flat.

"So we're back to square one?" he paused and shifted in his seat. "Then what do you suggest we do Kalahari, instead of having this argument all over again?"

She smiled, "I suggest instead of thinking like noble we put ourselves in their places. If we think like a thief then maybe we might have a better understanding of what they'll do next."

"Then why not just ask a thief?" Seto rolled his eyes.

"We could, but it's doubtful that they would tell us anything. There is honor even amongst thieves," Kalahari answered.

"You think they have honor?" Seto questioned haughtily.

"Oh, come off your pedestal Seto! You judge a person by their status in society, you don't see that they're just people and honor less or not people are human! You talk of as if they were grains of sand for you to walk upon!" Kalahari growled furiously, losing her temper.

Seto grinned knowing that he had won the battle of wills.

"Kalahari, calm yourself," Yami said with a wave of his hand. "Now explain to us what you mean for us to think like thieves."

She turned back to the prince.

"I believe that we should send somebody in as another thief, an under cover agent perhaps."

"You do understand the consequence if that some body was caught?"

"Yes, but we could also gain a lot of information to plan for future attempts," she replied

"Then it's settled you and Seto can be our undercover agents," Yami stated with a smile.

"WHAT!" they both shouted. "Why would you send me?"

"Kalahari you say that Seto doesn't know the way of the people so why not show him yourself? And Seto, you say that there is honor amongst the lower classes wouldn't this be a good chance to try to prove Kalahari wrong?"
"But, but-" they both stammered.

"But nothing, I believe we are finished here everyone's dismissed," Yami said.

He stood up and walked out of the room leaving no room for argument. Seto and Kalahari could only stare at each other dumbfounded. A few of the other priests and nobles snickered at them thinking the two never got along in the first place. When everyone walked out leaving them, they were the ones that burst out laughing.

"They actually believed us?" Kalahari laughed astonished.

"Must have been my convincing performance," Seto said haughtily.

"Hm, really?" Kalahari questioned looking over at him with a raised eyebrow.

She stood and walked over and then sat in front of him while the smile on her face was devious.

"Finally no more sneaking around," she stated.

He returned her smile and they began to lean into one another for a kiss.

"Sneaking around where?"

Their heads snapped to the door where Prince Yami was standing with a smug grin on his face. He waited to hear their answer leaning on the frame of the large door way.

"Uh, um, well..." Kalahari trailed off giving Seto a fleeting look.

Yami smirked at their discomfort. He had noticed their friendliness out side of their duties as priests. Although it was forbidden, he had caught them twice being more than friendly. Priests and priestesses were forbidden to have relationships with each other, because some feared that it would interfere with their duties or anger the gods.

"I just wanted to let you know that you will be leaving tomorrow at dawn. You both will need to meet with Jounichi and Honda before you leave to get some supplies."

"Yes sire" they both said

Yami turned and left smiling to himself. It wasn't everyday one got to fluster Seto. Kalahari let out a relieved sigh and turned back to Seto.

"That arragant prince is going to see stars one of these days when I get through with him" she growled.

"You don't have the courage to strike anyone let alone royalty" Seto scoffed
She gave him a cold glare and raised her head highly. Then she pushed him over and walked out of the hall.

"Hey! That doesn't count!" he called after her.

He stood and ran after her. She threw back a hand at him behind her back and continued walking. He grabbed her around her waist.

"When you wave I would appreciate it if you would use more than one finger next time or I might just get the wrong idea" he whispered in her ear.

"Fine then next time I'll use two," she whispered back.

He chuckled softly and moved to walk beside her. They continued to walk and talk for the rest of the day, enjoying the company they shared.