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

Bakura and Ayah snuggled in a cozy cave, hidden from Priest Seto and his guards. Shadow Spirit lay in a corner breathing deeply from his heavy run. The horse glared and Bakura, You'd better be grateful that I ran as fast as I did, tomb robber, because if I wanted to I could have just as easily let those fools take you. Ayah's head rested on Bakura's well-muscled chest. He ran his fingers through her soft chestnut-brown hair. "I have something for you." he whispered softly into her ear. She rolled over and looked at him, "What's that?" she asked. Bakura pulled out the heart-shaped ruby necklace from his sash. "Wow! Its so beautiful, Bakura!" Ayah exclaimed as he handed it to her. "Beautiful just like you." he smirked.

She traced the burning red ruby delicately with her finger. Even in the darkness of the cave, the jewel burned bright just like a blazing fire. Ayah latched the precious treasure around her neck. Her stomach grumbled hungrily, Bakura's too. "Sounds like we'd better grab us some grub." Bakura said standing up. He started to whistle for his horse, but Shadow Spirit was already at his side. No need to whistle! I'm not a dog, ding-dong! And do you think I LIKE to take orders from you...hell no!, the stallion's eyes flared.

Bakura got at the horse's back and reached down to help Ayah up. They abandoned the safety of the cave to fill they're empty stomachs.

They rode the nearest village they could find, the tiny town of Rushag. Delightful scents of food flouted into their nostrils from a nearby tavern. They climbed off of Shadow Spirit and entered the brightly-lit building. The demon horse snorted feeling rather rejected, Fine! Don't BOTHER getting ME anything scrumptious to eat! I'll just go fend for myself! He trotted off in huff to find some tasty green morsels.

The thief and his lady sat themselves at round wooden table. Bakura slammed his fists onto the table causing Ayah to jump in alarm. "Waiter! Get us some spicy chicken legs and mashed potatoes now!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Geez, Bakura. You don't have to yell at the waiter like that." she said squinted her eyes and rubbing her ears in pain from the tomb robbers rude harshness. "Sorry, beautiful, didn't mean to startle you like that." he apologized.

The waiter brought over two steaming hot plates of mashed potatoes and tasty chicken legs. Bakura opened his mouth wide and ripped into the chicken like a savage. Chicken juice dribbled down the sides of his mouth. "Bakura! Didn't your mother ever teach you table manners!" Ayah said trying to sound stern while stifling her laughter. He grinned mischievously, "Nope." Then added sadly, "Never had the chance." "I'm sorry, what happened to her?" Ayah asked concerned. "My family, my entire village was sacrificed to create the sennen items." he said with anger starting to rise in his voice. "That's so sad." said Ayah. "I barely managed to escape, but as a five year old, there was nothing I could do but watch them burn." Bakura's blood began to boil over with fury. "How awful!" she exclaimed. In her mind, she pictured a terrified little Bakura. The thief slammed his hands on the table and rose from his seat. "The Pharaoh's father did this to me. So now I'm going to make Pharaoh Atem's life a living hell just as mine was!" He stormed out of the tavern and called for his horse. "Bakura!" Wait!" Ayah shouted after him. But when she reached the door he was already gone.

Ok. Number one – how dare he leave me here and number two – his night of hell is over, he's got me now. The Pharaoh didn't do anything to him. She saw a black horse running towards her. "Sorry, I got overloaded with anger and had to let it out. I would never leave you behind." Bakura said. Ayah climbed aboard Shadow Spirit's back. "You'd better not." she said warningly. He grinned, "You're so cute when you're mad."

"So...where are we going?" she asked him. "To the tablet of the sennen items. We have the rod and ring so far. I need a quiet place to ponder over how to get the others." Bakura replied. "Why do you want them." she questioned. "To unleash the greatest dark power imaginable. I want that power." he replied. He grinned and looked over his shoulder at her, "Then you and I can focus on important matters." "Mmmm..." Ayah thought dreamily. Deep in her heart she knew that Bakura must be stopped from gaining those evil powers, no matter how much she loved him.

They arrived at the place where the tablet was kept, the place where Ayah had spotted Bakura and felt a bit of a connection to him.

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

Bakura! Ayah was afraid he would see her. She tried to push unpleasant thoughts of torture out of her mind. Well, I guess whatever he does to me, I deserve it for injuring him. She stopped moving forward and accidentally a small frightened gasp escaped her lips.

The king of thieves looked up to see a gorgeous woman wearing a sleeveless beige dress standing before him. "Well, well, it's not everyday that I see a sexy female watching me from nearby." He smirked and stood. Ayah frowned; she refused to be charmed by this thief. "Maybe my dream can come true after all." Bakura advanced toward Ayah. Ayah turned and ran from the shadowy room back into the foggy daylight.

"You can run but you can't hide, beautiful!" Bakura pictured her running naked like in his dream. Ayah popped out from a building behind him and jumped onto his back in an attempt to choke him. She wrapped her legs around his and secured her arms around his neck. "Then I will fight!" she shouted. She was surprised at how thick his neck was. He didn't flinch when she yanked as hard as she could. Bakura untangled an arm from his neck. He planted kisses on her hand up her arm. She detached herself from Bakura's back. "I know you like me. I see it in your eyes. Just give me a chance, beautiful." Bakura flashed a mischievous smirk. "I like the pet name, but my name is Ayah." She couldn't fight the feeling that was beginning to take shape within her. The thief king did charm me. She thought.

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

Finally! the Pharaoh thought. "Shhh! Here he comes!" Atem told his priests. They readied themselves. When Ayah and her thief had entered the chamber and descended the stairs, the priests and Atem jumped out from behind the pillars. "Ayah, please stand back!" She backed up to the side stunned. Bakura laughed dangerously, "Well...look whose here. Pharaoh. And his priests." "It's time to duel the old fashioned way, king of thieves!" Atem shouted pointed his sword at Bakura. "Kind of unfair don't you think, Pharaoh. I don't have a sword to fight you with." The Pharaoh tossed him an extra sword he had brought along with him. "Now, it is fair." Pharaoh Atem stated. Bakura picked up the sword. "You'll find that you will lose this sword fight, Pharaoh!"

Author's Note: The sword fight had begun! What will Ayah do?! You'll have to wait till the next chapter. Rushag is a name I just made up from off the top of my head. Happy Halloween! Please review!