I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS FROM YU-GI-OH! THE CREDIT GOES TO MR. Takahashi (I cannot spell his name!)

The Pharaoh awoke from a very unrestful sleep. He felt extremely concerned about Ayah. He had no clue if Bakura had found her on time and where she was now. Thoughts flowed through his mind of Bakura. Atem frowned, I respect her wishes, but I won't give her up without a fight.

His thoughts were disturb as Priest Seto entered the bed chamber. "Please forgive me Pharaoh, but news of Ayah, the sun princess, just cam in." Atem sat up in his bed with excitement, "Is she ok? Where did Bakura take her?" "Mahaado stayed nearby just in case that thief never showed up." A look of disgust crossed over Seto's face as he said the word 'thief'. "He saw Bakura enter the tomb. He stayed a few minutes longer to make sure she was all right. Mahaado overheard that something happened to her, but Bakura was able to revive her. Then Mahaado returned to the palace and gave the information to me." The Pharaoh left his bed to put on his tunic and cape. "Why didn't you tell me earlier, Seto." Atem pulled the tunic over his head and looked around, but Seto was nowhere to be seen. He finished dressing and left his chamber.

The Pharaoh passed one of his servants on his way to the throne room. "Please let all the Priests know I want to discuss something with them in the throne room. I will be there waiting." The servant bowed, "Yes, my Pharaoh. I will contact them now." The servant left to fulfill Atem's request.

The Pharaoh sat in his gold throne hoping that someday, sometime she would come back to him. Her feelings for Bakura have been magnified, but I sense that she is still torn. He rested his chin on his hand. Five Priests entered the room and gathered around the Pharaoh. Atem sat up and looked around at each of them. "Where is Seto?" he asked. "My Pharaoh, he left with some guards on a search for the sun princess." answered Priestess Isis. "I guess he already knew what I was planning." Atem said. "You want us to go on another Ayah search, Pharaoh? We are prepared." Priest Shada stated. The others gave a nod of agreement to the Pharaoh. Atem stood, anxious to start the search. They could hear Windlord's faint whinny in the background. The horse could sense his master's feelings from a thousand miles away. "Beware of Bakura. I know he is planning something and leave him to me. I want to have a duel with him, but a different kind of duel." Atem pulled out an object hidden behind his throne. In his hands he held a beautiful sword. Its blade shone threateningly and the fiery red rubies embedded in the gold handle shimmered. "Where did such a gorgeous object come from?" asked Mahaado. "I noticed its sparkling handle peeping out from behind the throne. And the hilt it was in too." the Pharaoh replied. Atem tied the sword hilt around his waist. Hieroglyphs were inscribed on the red surface of the hilt, spelling out P-H-A-R-A-O-H A-T-E-M. On the opposite side it read W-I-T-H L-O-V-E A-Y-A-H. "Ayah must have slipped it behind there." he said sliding the blade into the protective case.

::::::::::Flashback:::::::::::

Atem had brought Ayah back to the palace from the destroyed village of Kuruelna. The horse she had ridden felt a strong urge to get away and she had been whisked away on the ride.

"A Pharaoh like you should have an elegant sword." Ayah said gently kissing Atem on the cheek. She went off in search of a sword worthy enough for Pharaoh Atem. She discovered a dirty, abandoned sword incased in a just as filthy hilt on top of a junk pile in a storage room. "There is more than meets the eye." Ayah thought to herself, then went to thoroughly clean it. As she cleaned and uncovered the sword's beauty, she knew this weapon would suite him well. She could feel its power in her hands.

Now, she sat in the palace garden among the lotus finishing the gift for her Pharaoh. She inscribed his name and a message on the hilt. "Finished. Now, where should I hide you?" she said to the sword as if it were alive. Ayah went deep into thought, "Hmmm...how about behind his throne. I'm sure he'll see it there." She hid it behind his throne where she knew he would find and let a small bit of the handle stick out, just to make sure he'd see it. She hummed a happy tune as she went to see about a bath.

::::::::::End Flashback:::::::::::

Atem and the Priests left the throne room and headed for the stables to mount their horses and start the search. Mana came bouncing excitedly over to the Pharaoh. "Please let me help, Prince. Is there something I can do to locate Ayah?" "You are needed here in case Bakura decides to show himself while I'm gone." the Pharaoh said to her. Mana's silly expression turned serious, "Don't worry, Pharaoh. We'll defend the palace if he appears."

Mana watched as Atem and the Priests rode off into the sun. "Good luck!" she called and waved after them.

Atem's violet cape blew majestically in the wind. You wanna fight, Thief King, then you got one!

Author's Note: Stuck point. Any suggestions for the next chapter would help.