I don't own Yugioh. If I did the Pharaoh would be dead.

Note: flashback chapter

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The sun was at the tip of the sky, its highest point of the day. Nefertiti was walking through the market dawned in her peasant attire. This was her first time out of the palace without guards since she was a child. As she passed an alley, a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her in, and another hand covered her mouth.

"So, the high priestess has wandered away from the safety of the palace," came the voice of her captor, "I know someone who would love to get a hold of you."

Fear flooded through her, but she didn't act upon it. She knew she could get away, that her ka was stronger than his. All she had to do was summon it…

Nevertheless, she let him take her to whomever he was referring to. It never crossed her mind that she may never see her brother again, the only one in the palace she truly cared about. He sat behind her on horseback, still keeping an arm around her waist to make sure she didn't get away from him. It wasn't like she would try anyway. Only an idiot would jump off a horse in full gallop.

When the dust cloud that surrounded them finally settled, they were in front of a small house by an oasis in the middle of the desert. He walked the horse around to the back, jumped off, and tied the reins to a palm tree. Afterwards, he helped her off and led her into the dwelling, keeping a hold of her wrist the entire time. His eyes scanned the room.

"Damn it, he said he'd be here. I'm going to kill the bastard," he muttered as he bonded her hands with a thick piece of twine.

"You really don't have to do that. I'm not going to try to escape."

"And I'm supposed believe you?"

"Well, let's say I tried to run. You would then mount your horse, chase me, and catch me before I was even a league away. It would be a pointless waste of energy."

He opened his mouth to respond, but stopped when the sound of hoof beats came to their ears. Her captor pulled her into a corner and sat her down before walking out the door. Nefertiti sighed and brushed a strand of hair out of her tanned face. She then leaned back against the wall with another sigh.

In walked the man who her kidnapper had been speaking of. His long red coat billowed behind him as he walked up to her with long strides. He knelt in front of her and brought her face closer to his with his rough hand. "So, Malik was telling the truth. You really are the high priestess chosen by the gods."

"You…you're Bakura," she stuttered, her prior fear coming back to her.

He smirked then turned to Malik. "Would you like to keep her or is she mine to take?"

"I figured you'd want her. You could get a large ransom off of her."

"True." He pulled her off the ground and to the door. "You have my thanks. When I receive the gold for her ransom, you will get your fair share."

Bakura took her back to the city, to the very edge of town. He ushered her into a building that was not much bigger than the one he'd taken her from. Once inside, he untied the rope around her wrists, turned, and entered another room. Nefertiti stood there, blinking, stunned. What was he thinking? Leaving her alone near the populated area of the city? To where she could easily run?

He returned with a falcon perched on his arm, a note in its beak. After whispering a few words to the bird, it flew out the open door, which he shut behind it. The King of Thieves looked at her with another smirk.

"I'm surprised you didn't run. You had no bonds, the door was wide open, yet you stayed. Why?"

"Why? I honestly don't know. It might be the fact that you left, giving me the chance to do so, that shocked me to the point I could not move."

"That was an accident, so let it be known it won't happen again."

"Right."

He shook his head. "I'm not a palace official so there is no need to speak to me that way, priestess."

She remained silent this time. All that she could think of saying would be something she'd use to respond to orders.

"Do you fear me?" he asked, slight curiosity in his voice.

"I have reason to. All that I've heard from the palace guards of the things you have done gives me all rights to fear you."

"It's good to hear my reputation has spread deep into the palace, but that doesn't answer my question."

"Why do you want to know?"

"I know what you're doing. You're trying to avoid answering me, aren't you priestess? Your response won't change the way I treat you. Does that comfort you?"

"Part of me fears you and the rest of me knows I have enough power to at least attempt an escape."

"You really think so? I know your power is great, how could it not be? However, you aren't the only one with that kind of power." He let his aura rise, causing her to step back. With a laugh, his energy returned to normal. "Don't worry, I won't use my ka against you. The fight would be too difficult."

"I thought the guards were blowing their stories out of proportion or maybe they were just weak, but your ka is truly powerful."

"Thank you for your recognition, priestess. It is fine to get such credit from one as powerful as yourself."

"You're mocking me," Nefertiti stated, offended.

"That's what I do to my captives, I mess with them. But you should consider yourself lucky. I don't plan to torture you; all I'm using you for is gold, nothing else. I'm actually being very lenient on you."

"Are you sure you don't need anything else from me? I'm sure I can get the gods, or at least Ra, on your side."

"A generous offer, priestess. Would you really up hold it though? I thought you were loyal to the Pharaoh."

"Well yes, but it's getting dull in the palace and he's becoming arrogant. I wouldn't mind changing sides."

"Do as you wish."

"You confuse me, tomb robber."

"How so?"

"I always thought you were heartless, only out to destroy the kingdom, but I can sense this presence in you that's not evil at all. It's almost sad."

"You're reading too much into it." He started to walk away.

"Bakura…" she called after him; he paused. Why was that so familiar? "What do you wish me to do?"

He turned back to her. "Follow me." With that, he led her to one of the smaller rooms in the residence. "You can sleep here, but for now…" He sighed, at a loss for words. 'What's happening to me? Have I lost my touch? What is it about her that's making me act this way?' "…just stay here." The King of Thieves left the room and closed her within.

Late in the night, Nefertiti broke the lock on her door and tentatively made her way to the front of the house. Tiptoeing the entire way, she moved in silence to the wooden door that, to her surprise, wasn't blocked or guarded. As her hand touched the door knob, another pair of hands grabbed her shoulders.

"Where are you going? Did you really think I'd let you get away that easily?"

"I wasn't trying to escape."

"Do you expect me to believe that?"

"It's a full moon tonight," she stated looking up.

"And…?"

"It's a tradition for the priests to sit outside and pray to Khons for protection and guidance on the night of the full moon."

"Let me guess, you pray for the Pharaoh's protection."

"Well typically, but tonight I plan to pray for myself and for you."

Bakura's hands slowly dropped from her shoulders. What she had said dismayed him. He didn't think she'd keep to her word.

"I told you I'd get the gods on your side and I plan to do just that. So, will you allow me to briefly step outside?"

"Go ahead," he permitted.

"Thank you, Thief King." She exited the abode and sat beside the doorway. Nefertiti looked up into the sky then bowed her head and closed her eyes. She started whispering words of praise to the god of the moon, Khons before her requests.

"Gracious Khons, please guide me through this time and tell me why I feel like I know this man even though I don't recall ever meeting him before. And please protect the two of us. If you would, God of the Moon, please help Bakura and side with him, even though his acts might not be the most honest. Thank you, God of the Night."

After a few final words, she stood and returned to the house. Bakura, who had been standing by the window, nodded then went back to his room. She tilted her head as she watched him before following his example of going to sleep.