Anaya's Creator: Bonjour people! (French) I love reading the reviews, so keep 'em coming! R&R! No Torru I can't put you in the story seems you'd only cause poor Akina more trouble than already she has.

Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.

Run, Run, Run as Fast as You Can

Later it was around an hour until sunset Akina awoke in Kesi's room surrounded by Kesi, her three siblings (well, they were the only ones left at home, the rest had all been married off), and her mother and her father.

"Kesi has informed us that that the prince is looking for you. He's even put a heavy price on your head. If you still have any hopes of getting to the Rogue's Village tonight you had better leave as soon as possible," said a tall boy around age thirteen. He had the top of his head shaved off and the rest of his head had hair pulled back in a ponytail. And his gentle yellow eyes shone softly. He was Kesi's younger brother Odion. (A/N: Yeah, it's Odion from the show, just younger and with no tattoos on his face.)

"But first, Akina, please tell us all that is going on," Kesi's father requested. His skin was the color of light coffee, and his wavy hair was almost all white, except for a few stubborn strands of black. He had dark troubled eyes, not yet hardened by his age, and a short white beard and mustache.

Akina let out a heavy sigh and began to tell them the story of everything that had happened. She started from reading the letter she had received that morning to Kesi all the way to running from the stranger on a horse that had been following her.

"Ha-ha, Akina! You've been kissed! You owe me three silver coins!" Kesi shouted.

"This news is certainly striking." Kesi's father said softly. Then he got up from the chair he was sitting in. "Everyone, help Akina gather her things. And hurry, we don't know how many people are aware that Akina stays with us, so the palace guards could be here at any moment. Hold on a moment, where's Atsu?"

"He probably went out to fetch more water. He normally does at this time of day. Nothing to worry about," Kakra said.

So everyone helped Akina gather her belongings, water, and food that she would need for the journey, not knowing that Atsu's disappearance was something to worry about.

A while later it the sun had almost finished setting, and Akina was in the stables double checking her bags on Joshua, who had returned his tiresome diversion ride. Despite his long ride earlier, he had told her that he was more than happy to go on a distress ride to Canaan that night. Just as she was about to go inside to say good-bye to everyone and give them her blessing, Atsu walked in.

"Ma'am can I talk you some?" he asked timidly.

"You already have, I don't mind talking some more with you before I go. Please as I've told you several times before, call me Akina." she replied.

Atsu smiled innocently and led her outside the stable. "So, you're going back to Canaan tonight?" he asked, ignoring an opaque figure that was walking towards Akina from behind.

"Yes, back to the Rogue's Village, my second mother needs me there." Akina answered, not seeing a dark figure in back of her.

"I'm sorry Akina. She'll have to wait because you aren't going back there tonight."

"What do you mean Atsu?" Suddenly, three small bags of gold were thrown at Atsu's feet and before Akina could run someone's arms seized her around her waist from behind and held her firmly against him. She knew instantly what had occurred, Atsu had betrayed her. "You traitor..." she growled.

"I am truly sorry milady," Atsu said, tears filling up his huge black eyes. "We need the money." And with that Atsu picked up the bags of coins and crept back into the pub.

"Why did you run off, darling?" whispered Yami's voice harshly in her ear.

"I won't..." Akina started to say, but he cut her off.

"You can't refuse me," His hands grabbed her shoulders and forced her to turn around and face him.

"Oh yes, I can! I have vowed to have only loved one man my entire life."

"And that will be me; I will be your dearest love for eternity." Yami said as his arm slid around her waist once more, still holding her against him and kept the other on her cheek, his face close to hers.

"I never said that man was my dearest love."

Yami blinked.

"The man I loved was my father!"

Yami continued to stare at her, confused.

"The day I saved your life, mine changed forever. I reached home and found that my father had been murdered, I vowed then and there never to love another man as long as I lived."

"You're just incapable of love now; however, one night in my bed and you will wonder how you ever survived without me."

"You ingrate! I DIED THAT DAY AND I WILL NEVER LOVE AGAIN!" Akina exclaimed. Bloodcurdling anger was coursing through her now, an unbearable hatred pounding in her temples, putting her in an uncontrollable state of mind. She grabbed Yami by his tunic, "And you can die to for all I care," she hissed in a dangerously low voice. She kicked him low and threw him against one of the walls, and Yami groaned as he hit the wall. Akina whistled loudly through her teeth.

Joshua immediately came bursting out of the stable. As the unicorn trotted towards her she jumped on. To show off a little, Joshua reared onto his hind legs and gave a loud whinny. (A/N: Like in those old cowboy movies.)

"Oh, come now we don't have time of that, do we?" Akina muttered as they began to gallop away. Yami got up and tried to follow; however, Aden soared down from the pub's rooftop and flew wildly around his head, distracting him until Akina and Joshua had ridden a safe distance away then flew off to join his master.

Hearing the retreating hoof beats Kesi and her father stepped out of the pub. Kesi could still see her best friend disappearing in the vastly growing darkness. She dropped slowly to the ground and began to sing:

"I pray our Gods will protect you, and watch the roads you ride

For one more road calls you to ride, its long and beaten path

Who knows how many more, till your journey is complete?

May the Gods help you to be wise, and strengthen my faith in you

See every remarkable place, conquer every challenge. Ra...

Lead her to where she'll be safe."

Yami approached the singing girl and locked his arms around her putting a hand over her mouth. "Not a word," he whispered as he forced Kesi to her feet. "You're going to help me snare my runaway bride." Slowly, he half-dragged Kesi back to the palace.

Meanwhile Akina was getting closer and closer to the outskirts of Thebes. From there she kept rode eastward, keeping the guiding star at her right shoulder. She rode through the night.

A few hours later, Joshua had slowed to a trot and Akina found she had left Thebes far behind her.

"Walk," Akina requested, and Joshua slowed to a walk. We'd better take it easy now, Akina thought. We still have the whole night to ride through and we need to get as far away from Thebes as we can before morning. We must at least make it to the oasis, and then we can rest. There was a small oasis about midway between Egypt and Canaan within the Wilderness of Shur. It was nothing but a small farm with a well, that made a huge profit out of tending to travelers such as her, but since she knew the family that lived there, she'd be safe. If she could make it there by high noon at the latest tomorrow, just one more day of riding and she'd be home at last. Then if the prince truly wanted her he'd have to find her then get through her people, and her second mother was no pushover.

Joshua suddenly gave a loud snort, jerking Akina from her thoughts. "What?" she muttered cantankerously.

Joshua pounded the sand, telling her that he wanted to go faster.

"Hey, if you want to go faster and wear yourself out, I'm not stopping you." she said. To her surprise Joshua quickened to a fast bouncy trot. Hardly able to keep her eyes open, Akina tied herself to the saddle so she wouldn't fall off the horse if she happened to fall asleep, which eventually she did.

When Akina awoke it was dawn and she was in a small cot in a small adobe room with reddish walls. She got up from the cot and saw a small breakfast waiting for her with a girl with waist length red hair and brown eyes staring her. She had a pale face and two bangs as long as her face were hanging in front of it.

"Greetings Shizuka," Akina said.

"Hey girl, I was wondering when you'd wake up! What's with coming to us in the middle of the night?" the girl asked with a laugh.

"I got here last night?"

"Yeah, you were sleeping on your horse when you arrived. Your birdie woke us up with a loud screech so loud it could be heard all the way in Damascus."

After chuckling slightly at Shizuka's gross exaggeration, Akina realized she was very hungry and began to shovel down the food in front of her.

"So what's with coming here in the middle of the night?"

"A mad suitor's after me," Akina took a breath and began to eat some more.

"Won't take no for an answer, hmm?"

"You got it,"

"Who is it this time? An unfortunate thief you shamed by beating him?"

"Nope, the prince of Egypt,"

"You don't say!" Shizuka put a hand to her mouth.

"I do say, and in case he and his goons come here looking for me I was never here."

"Don't worry; you came from Thebes last night right?"

Akina nodded and finished up the glass of goat's milk.

"They don't have unicorns, so with their horses they won't be here until nightfall. You'll be in Canaan by then. You could even rest here for a while here." Unicorns found in the dessert could go for hours riding at a fast trot or even a canter. They could also go for days with little food, rest, or water.

"I can't afford to risk it. This one means business. He's even put a price on my head back in Thebes. He'll probably try to do the same thing with you and your mother too." Spying her pack in a corner of the room, Akina got up and slung it over her shoulders.

"Your unicorn rested while you were sleeping."

"Wonderful,"

"Anything I can get you before you set out?"

"Some more water couldn't hurt."

"I'll grab some for you, and you round up your animals."

A few minutes Akina and Shizuka were outside by the well saying good-bye.

"Someday I will repay you for all you have done," Akina said.

"No need, your friendship is more than enough," Shizuka said, hugging her tightly.

The girls parted and Akina mounted Joshua, turned him in the direction they were headed in, and replied, "I meant I'll repay you unless I can't find you or if I don't remember too." Then she cantered off.

"As long as this oasis is here you'll always know where to find me!" Shizuka shouted, waving madly at the back of the departing unicorn. "Be safe and courageous Mighty Sea," she added in an undertone.

Anaya's Creator: As you can probably tell, this is far from over between Akina and Yami. Chapter 6 is on its way. Keep reviewing!

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