Anaya's Creator: Another update!

Malik: No Kaiba today, he had to work. Yey!

Mokuba: Just us three today!

Anaya's Creator: Mirthful tears: I liked your constructive criticism review. I'm not offended at all. In fact, it was quite useful; however, could you define underdeveloped characters (explain what you mean to me I don't think I know exactly what you mean). Sorry, since Akina's now blind she's going to be talking to animals more often, especially Aden, because she needs them to help her get around. Akina's weaknesses: 1. quick temper (Almost all chapters); 2. her warrior sense of honor and duty (that'll be seen in last chapter); 3. her loyalty to her mother and friends (Chapter 8, 9, or 10); 4. and her inability to make a lie sound convincing (this chapter). I'd really appreciate it if you would keep reviewing.

Malik: Anaya's Creator does not own Yu-Gi-Oh.

Anaya's Creator: And Nthn5 you may want to skip this chapter, it's not appropriate for you. Why? Because I said so!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

"So, I'm blind then," Akina said sighing. She heard someone walk over and touch her hand, she pulled it back.

"It's Marik," a voice said. Marik grabbed one of Akina's hands and placed something long and circular in it.

Akina ran one hand over what was now in her other and was able to guess it was a rod of some sort, and at one end was a carved wooden dragon.

"It's a staff... to help you get around." Marik said. He was slightly grateful Akina was blind at this moment, she couldn't see the light blush he felt spreading across his face.

"He carved it himself," she heard Jahi say. Marik went even redder.

"You did?" Even behind her scared shut eyelids Akina's eyes lit up. "Thank you so much." She got up from the bed; Terentina helped her place the staff in the crook of her arm and use it to find a wall; and walked to the entryway of the room. Just before she exited she asked, "Could someone help me find my room?"

Hours later, Akina was fast asleep in her bed, unaware of someone sitting on the window ledge watching her, debating on whether he should wake her or not. Moments later, he stepped silently down from the ledge into her room, crept over to bed and lightly shook her awake.

"Who's there?" Akina whispered hoarsely, sitting up and grabbed her staff.

"It's Marik." He placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Akina, silenced by the kiss, dropped her staff onto the bed, and stretched her hands toward Marik's face. They were fishing around in the darkness, so he caught them with his own and held on to them.

"Come with me," Marik said, ending the kiss and pulling her off the bed. He picked up her staff, put it in her hands, and led her towards the window. He stepped over the ledge and began to levitate himself outside it, feeling the window ledge this is where Akina hesitated. "Don't be afraid. Trust me, I won't let you fall," he told her sensing her uncertainty.

Letting all doubt giving away, she let Marik guide her onto the ledge and into his arms, which she felt encircle her. "Where are you taking me?" she asked putting her arms around him.

"I'll tell you when we get there." Marik tightened his hold on her and began to fly upward, not letting go until their feet were on solid limestone once more.

"Marik, why are we on the roof?" Akina asked, completely guessing where they were.

"How did you know where we were?"

"A lucky guess, but why are we here?"

"I wanted to show you something,"

"But Marik, I can't see."

Marik took Akina's hands in his, "That doesn't matter." He led her to the eastern part of the palace. "Be careful, we're close to the edge," he said when they reached the end of the roof. Keeping a hand on her shoulder so she would know where he was, he to the back of her. "Turn your head this way," he instructed turning her hand with his hands, then placing them around her waist so she wouldn't fall accidentally.

In the distance, the stars began to fade and the sky slowly became bright red as the sun began to rise.

On the insides of her eyelids, Akina saw a bit of a glare form in the black. She turned on the balls of her feet and put her arms around Marik's neck. "You wanted to show me the sunrise?" she asked.

"Yes I did Aki, but..." He was silenced by Akina rising on the balls of her feet once more and silencing him with a long passionate kiss, which he returned longingly. Both of them were so lost in the moment that they had completely forgotten of the possibility of someone watching them.

"Big brother, what have you done..." said a soft voice from the shadows.

When he needed air, Marik reluctantly broke their kiss. "As much as I want more of this, I need to get back to the temple before my father finds out I am gone or he'll have my hide." He gave her a last quick playful kiss and levitated them back down to the window in Akina's room.

As Marik left her, Aden came and sat on her shoulder. At the expression on her face, he gave an indignant screech.

"What do you mean I have a silly grin on my face?" she argued.

The rest of the day Kesi, Serenity, and Terentina took Akina around the palace until she had the whole place memorized. After this it was time to break the news about being blind to Joshua, which didn't go very well...

He was rearing onto his hind legs, his nostrils flaming, and hooves flailing dangerously.

"Joshua, calm down," Akina ordered sternly; however, all this did was make Joshua even madder. Kesi could see in the eyes of this usually well composed unicorn was unmatchable rage. If anyone was dumb enough to approach him, he would kill.

"Let go of me," Akina demanded. (When Joshua began going wild, Kesi and Serenity had grabbed her arms and pulled her out of harm's way.)

Kesi and Serenity shook their heads and tightened their grip even more. As Akina struggled more to get to Joshua, Kesi pressed a point in Akina's elbow. Instantly, Akina's knees and elbows gave way. She dropped to the sand, arms now hanging useless at her sides.

Meanwhile, Terentina approached Joshua, but she stayed far enough back that she wouldn't be killed by the rampaging unicorn, withdrew something from her pouch, and blew it in the horse's nostrils. Joshua immediately stopped beating the ground with his hooves. His head dropped and eyes shut, he had no idea what hit him.

"Sleeping powder, Mom?" Akina asked.

"You got it," Terentina answered.

Kesi pressed another point on Akina's body and Akina was able to get off the ground and stand up, arms and legs now useful again.

"What'd you do that for in the first place Kesi?" Serenity asked.

"Father taught me certain points on the body that you can press to alter the way the body works."

"I see, and it obviously works"

That night Akina was lying in her bed not sleeping. If I can't see what will happen to my fighting skills, she thought glumly. I'd probably have to ride Joshua with someone else now so I'll know where I'm going. I don't want to depend on others to help me! She had this great pitiful attitude going. Finally, she got out of bed and decided to go for a walk perhaps that would help her sort things out.

She silently walked out of the room and into the lonely deserted hallways. Aimlessly, she wandered the endless passageways not caring where they led her. After a while of this she turned around, she thought she had heard someone following her, not that simply turning around would do anything since she could no longer see.

Then from her left there was a sudden small "meow".

Akina jumped. "Oh, just a cat," she muttered as she heard it meow again. She continued her walking, but then tripped over something soft and furry around her ankles. In the distance she heard someone try very hard to stifle laughter, there was defiantly someone following her.

"Come out, I know you're following me," she demanded as she struggled to her feet. There was no answer; if you had been there you could have sworn she was speaking to the walls.

The cat gave another "meow", this time it was more impatient.

"What, you darn cat, what?" She felt it wind around her ankles, then walk away, giving very loud purrs as it did so. "You want me to follow you?"

The cat gave a loud purr.

Akina rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, I will. Don't get your tail twisted up." She followed the cat's purring down many corridors and hallways. Not knowing where she was going, she put all her faith in the cat.

When they had reached their destination the cat gave a loud meow and disappeared. Akina felt around where she was. She was at a large doorway; on its edge she could feel a tablet with strange markings on it.

Well, since that cat led me here, I might as well go inside, she thought and stepped inside the entranceway.

"Hello," she called. "Is anyone here?"

"Um Aki, what are you doing in my chamber?" said a voice.

Akina turned quickly, "Who's there?" she asked warily.

"Marik and you happen to be in my chamber. What are you doing here?"

"A cat led me here. Was it yours?"

"I don't have any pets, Mokuba has a cat, but it's just some stray he found in the kitchen."

"But why would it lead me here?"

Marik approached her and she felt him place a hand on her cheek. "I have absolutely no idea, but I'm glad it did."

Akina pulled his hand off her cheek and held it in hers. "I want to show you something. Take me outside."

Marik turned and reluctantly led her out of his room and took her outside.

The stars were shining brightly and the moon was now a pale waning gibbous. They were now standing in one of the palace gardens.

"We're here. What is it that you wanted to show me?"

"Look at the stars, tell me what you see."

"Well, I see..." He tried looking at the stars, but his eyes kept wondering back to Akina. "I see beauty, great beauty."

"I mean do they form pictures... in your eyes?"

"Some of them,"

"What do you see?"

"A dragon, a powerful one, a stream of water, a winged horse, and a woman so lovely she surpasses all."

"Andromeda, the beautiful Greek queen?"

"I have no idea who that is, but no." He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Akina's hands to Marik's chest as she kissed back hungrily. She felt his arms travel around her waist and press her to him. She could feel him gently pull her lips apart and enter her mouth with his tongue. At first she was timid, but he kept enticing her and soon she was battling with him for control.

Marik withdrew from her mouth and traveled down her neck as her hands went to his hair. He could feel her hands get lost in it as she made soft circles with her fingers. He heard her moan slightly as his hands traveled up and down her back. Then he stopped kissing her just long enough to breathe and return to her lips.

Both of them felt their knees give way and the couple fell to the ground still kissing passionately. Marik crawled beside Akina, shifted onto his side, leaning over her slightly, and rubbed a hand across her stomach lovingly. He stopped kissing her to see her head tilt back in pleasure, but then her hands slid to his cheeks and pulled him back down to her.

"My love," Marik moaned as he claimed her lips again. Suddenly, Akina pushed him away.

"Someone's watching us. I can hear footsteps running back to the palace."

"I'd better get you back to your room." Marik got up and pulled Akina off the ground.

"No need, I can walk."

"It'll be faster." He handed Akina her staff, which had fallen earlier.

"Fine," Akina put her arms tightly around Marik and they levitated back to her window.

"Good night my love," Marik said as Akina stepped back inside her room.

Akina said nothing, but gave him a sweet kiss full of longing and stumbled back to her bed, and not a moment too late, for as soon as she fell on the bed she heard someone enter the room. Her ears listened as the footsteps came closer. Someone shook her and she lifted her head.

"Who's there?" she said fumbling for her staff, but two hands grabbed her wrists, halting her search.

"It's Yami," He let go of her wrists, sat down on her bed, placed a hand on her hair, and felt the sand that settled in it. "Why is there sand in your hair?"

"Well I... couldn't sleep... so I... went for a walk... and I... must have wandered outside because... I tripped... going down some stairs... and fell on sand." Akina lied (something she wasn't very good at).

"Right," he said in a strange tone. He got up and began to leave the room, but before he exited he said, "Forgive me for disturbing you. Good night, Akina."

So Mokuba was right, she does love Marik... he thought as he fell on his own bed.

Mokuba: And that's the chapter!

Kaiba: That was a long one.

Malik: When did you get here?

Kaiba: That's irrelevant.

Anaya's Creator: Keep reviewing!

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