Disclaimer: Nope, Yu-Gi-Oh! Characters aren't mine. Story/other characters/and such are.

Tsuki: Everyone having fun? Good.

Bakura: I think I am too…is confused

Tsuki: huggles Aw he's starting to like it! Anyway, lots-o-fluff this chapter.

Aré sat on the cot, watching Bakura as he paced back and forth before her. Bakura though he did not have a conscious but apparently he did for her was arguing with that damnable little voice. He was weighing the pros and cons of letting his little "I am the Great Thief Bakura" secret out.

"Bakura please stop pacing, you are making me nervous."

He stopped and took a deep breath as he approached her, sitting down next to her. Shakily he took her hand in his. Bakura could not believe the way he was acting, it was all so strange for him o be like this. Love could really change a man after all.

"You are shaking."

"Arétut…I…I'm not who you think I am."

"You mean your being a tomb raider."

"You knew?"

"Yes. I knew from the moment I saw you, I'm not completely shut off from the world you know. That is why I gave Lord Djal a different name."

"And that doesn't bother you?"

She smiled. "No."

"Well then this makes it easier. Arétut…I love you."

"Are you sure you are not making a foolish choice?"

Well that was not the response the young thief had been hoping for. "What?"

"Lord Djal owns me Bakura."

"You aren't his slave Arétut."

"Please stop calling me that. Lord Djal and Lord Rudiju call me that. You usually do not."

Bakura pulled away and stared pacing again. Why was she trying to make this difficult. If he wanted to he could simply take her away from here. He was a thief after all…he could steal anything, including beautiful young women. But kidnap was such a harsh word.

Aré's emotions got the better of her and she decided to let experimentation show her the feelings she craved from the young thief. She stood and grabbed Bakura's hand, ending his bout of pacing once more. She turned Bakura to face her and stepped close to him.

Without even a hint of warning Aré pressed herself against him, lacing her arms around his neck. She lifted her head, offering her mouth to him for a kiss.

Without even first processing the situation, Bakura covered her lips with his own, one of his arms sliding around her waist, the other burying itself into her hair. He pulled her closer to him, feeling her mold her body to his. Her complete compliance and that fact that she was responding to his actions made Bakura moan into their kiss.

That moan reached Aré's ears and her mind seemed to cloud a little. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, letting her fingers mesh into his hair. And she felt all the same things she had before. Aré felt safe, and she felt like she was actually worth something and not just someone's pleasure toy, and most importantly she felt love.

Was she really going to throw away the things she felt for Bakura simply because she was afraid of Djal? No, of course not, that would be foolish.

If they had not needed air, Bakura would of lived in the moment forever, but they did, and he reluctantly broke their kiss, the both of them slightly panting. He studied her a moment, noticing the change in her eyes; they had fogged into a deep turquoise color.

"Do you love me Aré? Or am I simply on a fools quest for your heart?" (poet isn't he?)

"You already have my heart Kura."

Bakura smiled at the affectionate nickname she had tacked on to her sentence.

"And…I love you. When summer comes and you are gone, and Lord Djal has done what he intended from the start…he may have my body, but you will always have my heart."

Bakura shook his head in defiance. "No, it won't be that way. I won't allow him to hurt you like that, to steal your innocence. Aré I don't understand how you can be so blind to his corruption."

"I am not blind to it. I must simply coexist with it, be a part of it."

"You've already accepted the fate that's being forced on you…haven't you?"

"From the first night he touched me I did. I have no other place in the world."

"Yes you do. It's with me. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you, anything to keep that freak from having you and ruining you. I promise I will."

"Do not make promises you can not keep."

"Aré, there is so much you don't see in yourself. You're stronger than you think, maybe not physically, but your spirit is strong. You can't let him kill that. All you have to do is walk out of this place and never look back."

"you make it sound so easy."

"Aré it is you just-"

She placed a finger to his lips, silencing him. "Please no more talk of it."

Bakura did as he was asked. He kissed the finger that was on his mouth and sighed, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

"But are you not going to do something?"

Djal stopped his writing, looking up to Rudiju.

"Is it not your responsibility to watch her? I paid for her ownership so she is mine. You are the one who wanted extra for her innocence. Let that boy take it from her, I could care less."

"You insisted that he not go near her earlier!"

"Well I did some thinking. Only good comes out of it for me. You are just out a little gold."

"We had a deal!"

"If you want the rest of your gold then you will hold up your end of the deal yourself."
"What if she runs off with him? Or worse yet, what if he simply takes her away? Then what?"

"She will not leave. I have the girl terrified of the outside world. And again, you go deal with it yourself."

"That boy is dangerous. As I told you he pulled a knife on me."

"He is one boy."

"You are too careless Djal."

"And you are too greedy Rudiju. We all have our flaws. Now I have work to do. If you intend to get your money, go handle the matter."

Month later…

"Does this hurt?"

"No, not really."

"This?"

"A little."

"What about this?"

"Ow fuck! Enough!"

"Watch your language Kura, you are in a temple after all."

"Fuck the temple."

"You are in a terrible mood today."

"Yeah, well I'm tired of this damn shoulder still hurting. It's been almost four months now!"

"Healing takes time, and you have no patience."

"What do I need with patience? Besides four months is a long time. Are you sure you're doing this right?"

She stood back with a look of hurt on her features. "What is with you?"

"Huh?"

"Your attitude is becoming unbearable. You know I did not have to help you that night. I could have just pushed you out and let you get…er…slave…trader…nated."

Bakura burst into a fit of laughter while Aré glared at him. "And now what is so funny?"

"Slavetradernated. That's not even close to a word darling." (A/N: Yes, slavetradernated, my word.)

Aré sighed and walked to the window, "Well at least you laughed for once in awhile. I am sorry it was at my expense though."

Bakura approached her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, and rested his head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for being so difficult. I'm just thinking kind of hard."

She leaned back into him. "About what?"

Bakura stayed silent. He was thinking about taking her away from his place, but how to get her to agree to it without a fight.

"About nothing really." He took her hands and tugged her to the door, and down the main hall, stopping at the temple's entrance doors. "Now come on."

"Where are we going?"

"Outside."

"Again? We were just out there this morning."

Bakura smiled teasingly. "You aren't scared are you?"

"Of course I am not." To prove herself Aré walked up to the doors pushing them open.

"Well what are you waiting for, go out."

"I am waiting for you silly."

Bakura took her hand and pulled her out into the warm desert air. Aré smiled as the sun washed over her face and Bakura noticed how she glowed in the light. He was entranced again. She started walking towards their favorite path in the courtyard. but he kept her walking straight. Aré thought nothing of it and continued walking with him until they reached the front gate. She became alarmed and turned to Bakura, who only smirked, and encircled her in his arms to keep her where she was.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking you outside."

"We are already outside."

"This is not outside. Outside is freedom, it has no walls."

"I am not running away with you Bakura."

He tried to brush off the comment, no need to start a yelling match. "I promise we will come back before sunset. Besides you might change your mind."

"I will not change my mind. The world is dangerous and my place is here."

"Wait."

"What now? Don't want me to let go of your hand?"

"Well yes that was part of it but what if someone recognizes you? You are know throughout Egypt as a wanted man."

Bakura touched the scars that now decorated his right cheek. "I'm sporting a new look now. I'll be fine."

She clung to his side as she let him lead her out, his arm snugly around her shoulders.

"Where are we going exactly?"

"Just to town."

Bakura proceeded to lead her done the path towards town.

Feeling her slightly shaking he tightened his grip on her. The farther they went down the path, the more nervous Aré became.

"I want to go back."

"You've come this far, why go back now?"

He kept leading her along, refusing to let her give up. If he did not show her now that the world was not horrible, then she would never leave with him. They had talked about it a few times but Aré always changed the subject when it came time to decide. Bakura was anxious to leave the temple. But Aré was the only person he had ever loved and had loved him in return, he could not leave her there.

"Relax Aré, I'm not going to let anything hurt you."

Aré buried her face in Bakura's shoulder, refusing to look at the approaching town, and trying to hold back tears. She was terrified.

"Bakura…"

Bakura ignored her, continuing to guide her along. He felt bad for practically bringing the girl to tears but he was determined to show her how wrong Djal was. As they reached town, he pushes Aré away some but kept a tight hold on her hand. She closed her eyes and let Bakura lead.

"Open your eyes, closing them isn't going to help any."

Aré obliged , and cautiously looked around. She pressed herself back into Bakura, taking reassurance in having him there. People were everywhere. Aré had never seen this in all her life. She had been raised in Rudiju's temple from before she could remember and then in Djal's temple from the time she was fifteen. SO naturally, she had never been in a crowd before, having barely been let out of the temples at all. Aré's breathing quickened the slightest bit.

Bakura placed his free hand on her shoulder and leaned down a bit, placing a kiss on her neck. "It's alright, you're safe with me." He smiled as he felt her relax, even if it was only slight. Bakura began pulling her along the streets, mixing them into the crowd. He had noticed her looking around intently at everything, noticed how she was quickly relaxing.

Aré was lost in her own little world. She was impressed by everything she saw and soaked it all up; the ware in the street stalls, the smell of various foods, the glint of the jewelry and other luxury goods. And for once she forgot her fear. Her current interest was on a simple gold chain that laced around an Eye of Horus charm.

Bakura smiled as he watched her, then an idea struck him, making an all to familiar smirk tug at his lips. He leaned in close to her, whispering, "Do you want that?"

She snapped out of her daze and turned to face him. "I have no money and even if I did, I could not afford it."

Bakura simply shrugged. "Okay…"

As Aré turned away, the thief's smirk grew wider. Money? Who needed money? Money were for those who wanted to live life without challenges…Bakura adored challenges. Stealthily, Bakura reached out, snatched the necklace, and pocketed it in his cloak. The vendor wouldn't miss it at all. He tightened his hold on Aré's hand, intertwined their fingers and pulled her in another direction, all without looking back. "Come we have lots to see."

They spent the whole day in town, Bakura showing Aré absolutely everything. As he had promised, they were making their way back to the temple just as sundown was starting.

"Thank you Bakura, for taking me out and for keeping your promise."

"I would never break a promise to you, I love you."

Aré's eyes and smile brightened at the simple three words and she snuggled into his side, sighing contentedly. "I love you too Kura."

They soon reached the temple, had dinner and now found themselves in the window ledge, Aré sitting in Bakura's lap. He was nuzzling the back of her neck, placing light kisses from time to time.

"Did you have fun today?"

"Yes, I did."

Another kiss to the crook of her neck. "And are you still afraid of the outside world?"

"As long as you are with me…no."

Bakura reached into his cloak pocket, drawing out his easily earned trinket. "I have something for you." He dangled the simple gold necklace in front of her receiving a gasp from the surprised girl.

"Where did you get that?"

"Town."

Her eyes widened a bit and she shifted her position so that she was looking at him. "Did you steal that?!"

"Steal is such a strong word, more like borrowed without intending to return."

"Bakura!"
He placed a finger to her lips, silencing her tirade before it even began. "Do you know what this is worth?"

Aré shook her head.

"No where near the amount a vendor will ask for. If you ask me, they're the thieves and hey, they work for Pharaoh."

"Still, you should not have taken the risk. What if you were caught?"

Bakura smiled at her and clasped the necklace around her throat, then gave her a chaste kiss. "You're worth the risk Aré."

A blush was his reward and he pulled her forward so that Aré was resting against his chest, her head tucked under his chin. "Thank you."

They sat together for a while quietly content in each other's arms. Bakura's fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on Aré's back, every now and then his fingers lacing themselves into her hair. Bakura shifted a bit, his body was trying to betray his rational mind again. Even his senses were. He could feel every curve of Aré's body as she lay against him, hear her steady breathing, smell the familiar jasmine and honey. Total sensory overload.

"Kura…"

He shook his head, trying to clear it and be at least semi-coherent. "Yes Aré?"

"I am tired. I think I will turn in early."

"Uh yeah okay, you do that."

"Are you alright Kura? Something wrong?"

"No, I'm f-fine, just fine. You go on."

She kissed his cheek and got off of him, making her way to the door. "Goodnight."

"Night."

As soon as she rounded the corner Bakura rolled off the ledge and onto the floor, making sure to striker his left shoulder. He winced and smiled all at the same time. Sure it hurt, but it would take his mind off of Aré. "Damn, damn, damn, shit, shit, shit, fuck, fuck, fuck. Dammit Arétut…you don't even have a clue what you do to me…" The young thief let out a relieved sigh as the fog in his mind lifted. "Breathe Bakura, breath…bad thoughts out, good thoughts in, no wait! Good thoughts out! Um, death, torture, getting my ass kicked by one of Pharaoh's boot lickers…that's better. Wait a moment, now I'm talking to myself again! Not a good habit…"

Quickly Bakura flipped himself up onto his feet and rubbed at his shoulder. "Bad Great Thief Bakura, keep those thoughts at bay…at least for now." He finished composing himself, then headed off to bed as well.

Bakura: What do you think you're doing to me?!
Tsuki: smiles Sexually frustrating you

Bakura: That and making me extremely…ew…fluffy sounding!

Tsuki: Cry baby, don't worry you get laid…

Bakura: mood brightens I do? When?

Tsuki: A) only if you're good, B) I'm not telling you C) could depend on the reviewers, for they hold the ultimate power.

Bakura: You're no fun.

Tsuki: Hai, I am, you just can't appreciate my methods of fun making.