Anaya's Creator: Aloha people! I love reading your reviews, so much fun! 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.

Nacht:

"Good people, I have come to ask a favor of you," Yami announced. "I seek a young woman with green ..."

"There is no need to harass my people, Your Highness," Akina said standing up from the circle and stepping into the center. Her hand was on the hilt of a long sword tucked into the belt of her long brown robe.

"Akina, I have been searching for you," Yami said walking over to her; however, just as he got close enough Akina unsheathed her sword and pointed it at him, daring him to move any closer.

"Yeah, I'll bet you've been searching for me," she spat. "Won't take no for an answer, will you?"

Yami shook his head.

"Fine then, Duke, lend him your sword." Akina said.

"Why?"

"You'll see,"

Duke walked over to Yami and handed him his sword. "I hope you know what you're doing," he said to Akina as he passed her.

"All right then, Your Highness, if you truly want me, you'll have to fight and defeat me." She slipped into a fighting stance and prepared to fight the prince.

"I don't think this is necessary." Yami told her slyly.

"What you give up before we begin then?"

"No, just turn around,"

Akina turned and saw that her mother, Kesi, and Serenity were being held by guards with swords at their throats.

"Your Highness, leave them out of this. They have nothing to do with this!" Akina screeched.

"On the contrary Akina, I can assure you that no harm will come to them if..." Yami said.

"If what?"

"If you surrender to me unconditionally, return with me to Egypt with me, and do what ever I command you to from this point onward."

Akina glared daggers at the prince. Never did she hate anyone else more than she hated Yami in that moment, except for the men who had murdered her father, but that was irrelevant.

"You have until three," Yami threatened, putting up three fingers. "One,"

"You coward! You're just like every other arrogant, selfish, brainless peacock of a suitor I've met!"

"Insults will get you no where Akina. Two,"

"Akina, don't worry about us," Kesi shouted.

"We'll be fine," Serenity hollered, following suit.

"Daughter, don't do it! All that matters to me is your happiness."

"Three,"

"Fine!" Akina shouted in defeat. She threw her sword at Yami's feet, walked over to him, and put her fists together in front of her at neck level to show her surrender. "If you won't harm my friends or my mother, I will return with you and do whatever you ask. You have my word," she said icily. Hatred was burning in her eyes and throughout her body.

Yami pushed her hands down and put his right hand gently on her chin. As he nuzzled the side of her face with his, he whispered in her ear, "Prove it to me."

"What?" Akina growled.

"Kiss me," he whispered.

Akina took a painful half glance back at her mother and friends, then placed her hands on the sides of Yami's face and kissed him.

Yami's right hand moved to her cheek and his left encircled her waist, pressing her to him. A soft involuntary moan only Akina could hear escaped his lips. She could tell he had been longing for this moment for a long time. Meanwhile, she wasn't enjoying this one bit.

Everyone in the village's jaws dropped and mothers covered their children's eyes. Kesi was extremely baffled, Shani let out a horrified gasp, and Terentina felt tears come to her eyes, she was very glad Joshua and Aden weren't here to see this.

Akina broke the kiss, forced Yami away from her, and immediately dropped to the ground gagging and spitting.

Yami smirked at her. "Now, now love, is it really worth all that?" He tried to put his arms around her, but Akina shoved him away.

"You disgust me!" she exclaimed in utter revulsion. "Keep your word and free my mother and friends. I gave you mine."

"Not until you come back with me to Egypt," he snarled.

"Then why are we standing around here?" Akina picked herself off the ground and walked towards her home.

"Where are you headed?" Yami demanded.

"Home, to get my things!"

"Akina, my courageous child," the headman said. "You have only been here one night. At least stay so that we may have the rare honor of feasting with you. And your guests may join us."

"Headman, I have done nothing courageous or worth honoring."

"I must beg to differ, child; you have just saved your guardian and friends from a horrible fate. You think that is worth nothing."

Akina stayed silent.

"In your absence you seem to have forgotten what honor and courage truly are."

"It's the knowing that you may not succeed at something, but giving one hell of a try any how."

"Yes, now stay and feast with us, forget tomorrow and enjoy yourself."

Akina turned around and sat down beside her mother, Kesi, Serenity, Yami and his soldiers. When they all had settled down, the headman said a prayer, and everyone began to feast.

The feast was savory and well prepared; however, it all turned to sand in Akina's mouth so she didn't eat much. Jonouchi and the other guards were stuffing their faces, while Yami and Seth ate some of the food.

At the end of the feast, Yami allowed Akina and her mother to return to their home to get their things, but they had to be accompanied by soldiers to be sure they wouldn't escape last minute.

Akina found Joshua and Aden some ways from the house, but at seeing Akina Joshua cantered to her with Aden riding between his ears.

"Hey guys look, Yami has found me and now I'm under oath to go back to Egypt with him and be his servant. If you two don't think you'll be able see me that way, you'd better leave now and roam free." she told them.

Joshua tossed his head and Aden gave a loud screech and twisted his head back and forth, they both meant that they would stay with her come hell or high water. Akina threw her arms around Joshua in appreciation and couldn't help crying a little as Aden settled on her shoulder.

Terentina, who had gathered all their things, was watching this with softened eyes then went up to them and threw her arms around her crying daughter.

After recovering themselves, the group of two women, bird, and unicorn went back to the soldiers. Outside the village, the other soldiers had pitched camp. Kesi and Serenity were sitting around the fire, but at Akina's approach, they leapt up and tried to hug Akina as best they could with their hands tied together.

"Aki, it going to be okay. Don' worry the prince got no idea who he's tampering with," Serenity soothed.

"What you did was really great for us. If I had been in your shoes, I would have done the exact same thing."

"Kesi and I've talked it over. We'll go with you all the way to Egypt and..."

"And we'll stay with you long afterword," Akina's mother finished.

"Thanks everyone," Akina muttered. Then she looked beyond the circle of her friends, and saw Yami staring at them while sitting with some of his other soldiers around the fire. Catching Akina's gaze, he called her over to sit by him.

"Give me your wrists," he said when she had sat down. Akina complied and put her wrists in front of her like she had at the bonfire. Yami took two pieces of rope and tied one around her wrists and one around her ankles. "So you don't run off," he said when he had finished. Then he ran his hands along her calves under her robe.

Akina leaned back, hitched up her feet and had kicked him hard in the chest, all in a matter of twenty seconds. Yami fell back into the sands, his soldiers laughed, and surprisingly he laughed too.

"She's a feisty one, eh Your Highness?" one of the soldiers remarked as he got up to tie Terentina's wrists together.

"Indeed," Yami said getting back up. Then he turned to Akina, her mother and her friends. "You all had better get some sleep. We leave at dawn. Akina, you sleep with me tonight."

"Oh joy," Akina said exasperatedly. "Have you forgotten I can't walk, no thanks to these ropes you've tied around my ankles?"

Yami didn't answer, but placed his arms under Akina's arms and knees and carried her into the tent he and Seth shared. "What?" Akina stammered.

"Aww, Aki's being carried." Serenity teased.

"Serenity, as soon as I'm out of these ropes, remind me to kill you." Akina retorted as Serenity laughed at her best friend's threat.

Inside, Yami laid her down, sat beside her, and stroked the side of her cheek tenderly with his knuckles. "Don't fret, my dear," he purred. "You will adjust to this."

"That I doubt!" Akina spat as she shoved his hand away and turned away from him.

Late at night, Akina was still tossing and turning in her insomnia, thanks to her predicament. She hadn't slept at all.

I really hate this, she thought furiously. I'm supposed to go back to Egypt and serve this spoiled palace brat! Only Jehovah knows how long I'll be serving him. What the hell does he plan to do to me? What about Marik? Will I ever be able to see him again? Will Kesi or Serenity ever be...

Suddenly, Akina sat bolt upright, not knowing what had jerked her from her thoughts. There was a shuffling sound outside the tent and slowly, cautiously, a shadowy figure entered the tent. She squinted at the figure, debating whether to yell or not, but saw the figure was her mother.

Terentina put a finger to her lips and Akina stayed silent. Silently, she moved over to her restless daughter and looped her arms around her. If her hands would have been free, she would also stroked Akina's hair, knowing that she would find this comforting. Softly, Terentina began to sing:

"Sleep now, dear daughter, rest now, no tears

Dream as you're calmed by the sea

Drift and rest within my ocean lullaby

And Jehovah will guide you for all time.

Hesitantly, Akina joined the song, their voices blending in perfect harmony:

"This ocean, it rocks me so gentle and calm

It lulls me to sleep every night

Jehovah, never leave me I need you to stay

Here by my side for all time."

Finally, Akina was able to fall asleep, soothed by her mother's song. Terentina slowly got up and left the tent. From then on both of them sleep peacefully, not knowing Yami had heard their song.

Anaya's Creator: Well, that's the eighth chapter folks. FYI: Nacht 'night' in German.

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