Anaya's Creator: Aloha people! This is the seventh chapter, I think. R&R!

Mukyuu Tenshi: Marik may be in the next chapter, I'm not sure. I need to get everyone back to Egypt first. Don't worry his role gets a lot bigger later.

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

The Rogue's Village

It was sunset and in the fading light Akina could see a small village not too far ahead of her and at the doorstep of the farthest thatched hut she could see a small fire at the entrance and a huddled figure that seemed to be waiting for someone.

The figure must have heard the sound of Joshua's hoof beats because in a few moments, the figure had jumped up and began running towards the approaching unicorn and rider.

Akina didn't bother waiting for Joshua to slow down; she immediately leapt off the horse and ran to the running figure. She ran past the small garden of herbs in back of the house and threw her arms around her second mother.

"You're finally home, darling. It feels as if you left years ago, even though it has been only two full moon cycles," the woman had a sweet melodic voice that seemed to linger in the air after she spoke.

"It seemed like forever to me as well, Mother."

"Come by the fire, I have made tea. We can talk some while Joshua rests up; Jehovah knows he's earned it." The woman put an arm around Akina's shoulders and led her over to the glowing fire.

As they sat down, Akina saw that her second mother had changed very little since she had left. Her hair was still a light sandy blond combined with several streaks of grey and her eyes were wise water colored blue. She had once been one of the princesses of the island of Cyprus. On her way to a foreign fiancée she had no desire to wed; her ship had been blown to Canaan by a harsh storm. Being the only survivor and having no idea where she was, she had resolved never to even attempt to return to Cyprus. So she had wandered endlessly in the desert until a traveler found her and took her to the village and took her in.

"So Aden found you, Mother?" Akina asked.

"Yes, and ever since he came here I've been preparing for your arrival," the woman said handing Akina a cup of herbal tea from a pot that had been boiling over the fire. "If you will excuse me daughter, I will go inside and get some balsam for that old wound you have on your knee." She turned around and went inside the hut.

Akina sat back against the wall of her home and remembered when she had first arrived in this village seven years ago with the Egyptian soldiers:

"Where is the headman of the village?" one of the guards had asked one of the villagers.

"The big tent," he had replied.

The guards had taken her to the headman's tent, explained that she was an orphan from Egypt, had turned back for Egypt, and left her there.

Later that evening...

"My children," the headman had said. "Tonight we have an outsider among us tonight." He had summoned her to his side. "Will someone give this child a home?"

"I will," a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes had stood up.

"Marvelous Terentina; I am sure that you will give her a joyous home."

Ever since that night Terentina became her guardian. Having no children or husband of her own, she had protected Akina like a dedicated crocodile protecting her nest of eggs until they hatched. Akina had no memories of her first mother except the stories her father had told her, so she had always had a strange gap in her heart that she guessed a mother would have filled. Terentina had helped fill that gap, thus becoming her second mother.

"All right daughter, show me your leg, and let me see that nasty wound of yours," Terentina said.

Akina lifted her right leg and pulled back the cloth so that her knee was exposed. Close to the outside of her leg, right behind her knee, was a puncture wound about the width of her finger. Even in the dim fire light Terentina could see the wound clearly, it still had not healed. Akina had gotten it when she had gone hunting with the men of the village and ran into a particularly violent desert boar. As she began to apply the balsam Akina told her all the happenings in Egypt.

At the end of the story, Terentina gave a heavy sigh. At last, after several moments of silence, she spoke to her daughter.

"Aki, I don't know what to tell you. All I can say is that if this man has followed you here, he shouldn't be here until sunset tomorrow. We will deal with that when the time comes. Until then you go get some sleep, I haven't moved your cot; and I will unpack Joshua."

Akina threw her arms around her second mother, happy to finally be home, then got up and went inside the hut for some sleep.

Back with Kesi and Serenity, Yami decided that it would be best if the group rode through the night, in order to reach the Rogue's Village as soon as possible. Serenity was riding with her brother (hands still bound together) and Kesi (hand also tied) was now riding with Priest Jahi and the two were getting to know each other, because even though they were Akina's best friends, the two had never actually met in person, only through Akina's stories about them.

"I see, so when you were ten, Jonouchi, who is your older brother, went off to become a soldier in the pharaoh's army, right?" Kesi asked.

"You got it!" Serenity answered. "You have five siblings, two older and three younger, and have helped your father work his pub."

"That's right,"

"I met Kesi on her way to Egypt when I was about eleven. When did you met her?"

"Around the same time, only I met her in Egypt. She stayed at our pub whenever she was in town."

"Interesting,"

"It is, isn't it?"

In the morning she awoke to the smell of Terentina's delicious cooking. She stepped into the main room of the hut, (the bedchamber in the hut was only a small side room) and smelled desert carrots, herbs and meat blending together in a thick broth.

"I need you to go get some more water from the well," her mother requested. "We'll be needing more water for Joshua. Take your time and say hello to the village children while you're gone. They'll be happy to see you."

Akina took the clay water pot and wandered towards the well in the center of the village. As she walked several of the village children surrounded her.

"Akina, you're back!"

"Where did you go?"

"How long are you going to stay this time?"

"Did you bring us back any candy?"

"One at a time, kids, one at a time," Akina said as she reached the well and sent the bucket to fetch water.

"Children, children," said an old cracked voice. The voice belonged to a short man only four feet tall. He was dressed in wool red robes and had grey hair that stood up in triangles and beard; and his eyes were alight with a sparkling brown (Yugi's grandpa). "She shall explain everything to us tonight at our village Feast of the Full Moon, tonight."

"Akina, do we have to wait that long?" whined one of the children.

"You'll have to; however, perhaps you can come by and see me today when your mothers and fathers don't need you." Akina replied, filling her clay pot and setting it on her shoulder.

She was halfway home when she found herself face to face with her village rival.

He had long black hair and shocking green eyes, and in his hand he was tossing small bones as if they were dice.

"Well, long time no see 'Village Champion'," he said mockingly.

"Well Duke, you haven't changed a bit, still can't bear the thought of being beaten by me," Akina retorted.

"The title 'Village Champion' should not belong to a woman. Fight me if you dare."

"Duke, do me a favor and don't waste my time."

"Then we'll let the sheep bones decide," he threw the bones to the ground. "I'll even let you win if there's a tie."

"Very well then,"

The bones rolled and finally they stopped.

What? I got the highest roll, but that's impossible! I'm the best in the village with dice! Duke thought as he saw his roll.

"Well then," Akina said. "The title stays with me." Then without another word she walked off.

The rest of the day passed by in boredom, but Akina was glad for that. After being at the Egyptian palace, escaping from there, and riding for two days straight, probably being pursued by Yami, a day of boredom felt like a blessing.

Often, a child from the village would pass by and talk to her or ask her to talk to their pet on their behalf. Farmers would bring their sick or lame livestock to Akina and Terentina for diagnoses and treatment. Even an occasional guy who had gotten too big for his britches would stop by and challenge her for the title of 'Village Champion'. She beat them all. (The title 'Village Champion' was given to the warrior in the village that was unbeatable.)

Night had fallen once more on Yami and his riders. Kesi and Serenity had gotten tired of getting to know each other and simply slept most of the time.

Off into the distance they could see a large roaring bonfire, after two days and one night of searching, they had at last found the Rogue's Village.

Back in the village, a huge bonfire was alight and cackling for all to enjoy. The villagers sat in a wide circle around an inner circle of splendid foods. There was boar, goat, several fruits, pastries, vegetables, breads, and an assortment of other foods all prepared by all those capable of cooking.

"My children," the headman said, "Let us give..."

"Headmen," interrupted one of the sentries. "There's a band of riders headed our way. They are riding eight horses and have two women with them."

"Well then," the head man said. "Go welcome our visitors. I guess we will all have to wait to get befuddled by the feast we all worked so hard to prepare."

A while later, two sentries escorted a small band of travelers to the outer edge of the circle. The villagers parted do that one of the riders could get off of his horse and walk to the center of the circle by the headman.

Akina took one look at the rider and immediately felt her stomach turn inside out. The man next to the headman was Yami.

Anaya's Creator: Well, how did you people like it? R&R and tell me what you guys think. If you also have any ideas or complaints, tell me!