Ok…updated...anyways I've been really stressed out lately, to many family issues. Eh, I need a break! Anyways…this is my favorite chapter.

Chapter 1

Friendship:

"Mudder! Mudder!" Nariko's little voice cried out with fright. Nariko stood in the middle of a rather large crowd that had gathered for the annual festival.

Tears filled the five year olds eyes and slipped down her face.

"Mudder Mari! Where are you?" She cried out. She turned in every direction, peering at every face.

"Mudder!" she screamed, now panicked.

It was Nariko's first real outing away from her isolated home and she had been overwhelmed by the sheer adventure of it all. She could barely keep her eyes closed during her mandatory afternoon naps. There was so much to see and do, and for a curious five-year-old, a good deal of mischief to get into, too. She had been wandering by her step mother's side, glimpsing at all the action taking place around her. Her bright violet eyes widened at the belly dancers and the fire jugglers entertaining in the street.

"Stay by my side Nari..." Mariasha had said to the little child. But Nariko had heard nothing.

She had glimpsed a shiny object sitting on a near by stand, beckoning her to it. She pealed from her step mother's side and half jumped, half ran, to the stall.

She was afraid to touch the shiny necklace, afraid she would break it. So instead she just admired it with her eyes. After taking her fill of the small trinket she turned around only to find she was lost.

Bakura had already gotten himself into mischief. His Father had given him a good swat on the backside to make him sorry he'd misbehaved, then carried him over his shoulder like a sack of feed and placed him on a smooth boulder, far away from the singing and dancing. He ordered him to stay put and allow him to complete his work without any more interruptions, and that while he was busy he could use the quiet time alone to contemplate his sins.

Since Bakura hadn't the faintest idea what the word "contemplate" meant, he decided he didn't have to obey that order.

Nari had watched the father beat his child. She felt sorry for the funny looking boy with whitish hair. She knew she surely would have cried if her step dad Zahur had smacked her bottom, but the white haired little boy hadn't even grimaced when his father smacked him. Nari decided she would talk to the boy. She waited till his father left then picked up the hem of her dress and ran up behind him.

"My papa would never smack me!" She boasted by way of introduction. Bakura glanced at the small black haired girl and gave a snort.

Nari wasn't daunted by his silence.

"My papa's dead." she announced "Since before I was borned."

"Then how would you be knowing if he would smack you or not?" Bakura retorted, still not turning to look at her.

"I just do...you talk funny, like something's stuck in your throat. Is there?" Nari asked peering over the young boys shoulder to take a peek of his face.

"I'm not from here...I came from another village, you talk funny too."

"Why won't you look at me? I'm not ugly!"

"I can't." Was his simple reply.

"Why can't you?" Nari asked. She twisted her robe into a wrinkle while she waited for his answer.

"I can't talk to strangers..." he led off.

Nari wrinkled her small nose and pushed herself up onto the rock.

"I'm no stranger...I'm Nariko, Nari for short. Who's you?" She asked sitting beside the boy. Silence greeted her and she gave him a soft nudge in the ribs. He flinched a little then turned to face her.

"I'm Bakura."

Nari smiled a soft yet wide smile. "Ello Kura. Now we isn't strangers no more!" Nari giggled. Bakura gave the girl a puzzled look.

"We still are, cuz we isn't friends yet."

Nari's smile grew larger. "Wanna be friends?" She asked scooting closer to him. He moved away from her body and slipped to the floor.

"I don't know. I'm a thief. Thief's don't have friends."

Nari studied him for a moment, a look of sure puzzlement on her delicate face.

"A thief? My mudder told me about dem. They steal." She said with innocence. Bakura nodded his little head.

"Yeps! My daddy's a thief, And I'm gonna be one just like him, someday." Nari giggled.

"Well, you gots to be big and strong for stuff likes dat!"

Bakura snorted.

"I'll be the toughest there is! You wait and see! Everyone will know my name."

Nari smiled at him. "I'm sure you will."

Then with out warning the girl stiffened and her smile disappeared. A soft whimper escaped her lips as she stared with fright at her foot.

"What's wrong with you girl?" Bakura asked as he noticed her sudden change in mood.

"There's a bee!" She gasped through clenched teeth.

"So? Then swat it!" he sighed as he noticed the small bee flittering around her left ankle.

"I'm afraid to, I might miss. Then it will get me for certain." Bakura frowned at the dilemma a long minute.

"Want me to swat it for ya?"

"Would you want to?"

"Maybe I would," he answered "How old are ya?" He asked, stalling for time while he gathered his courage to go after the bee.

"Five summers. You?" She asked, her eyes not leaving her ankle.

"Eight summers."

"Who's you here with?" His hand snaked out but then pulled back.

"My step mudder." Nari choked out as the bee fluttered to her ankle.

Bakura was running out of time, and things to say.

"I know everything." He boasted, sneaking closer to the girl's side. "I even know how babies are made."

This had caught Nari's attention.

"My mudder said that one of the gods brought babies to woman and stuck them in their stomachs. Then the woman raise them as their own."

Bakura laughed.

"Nopes, wanna know how babies really get into the mommies tummy?"

Nari shook her head with anticipation.

"Once they get married, the papa spits into his goblet of wine and then he makes the mama take a big drink. As soon as she swallows, she's got a baby in her belly."

Nari made a grimace over that thrillingly disgusting information. She was going to beg him to tell her more but instead she gave a scream.

Bakura leaned closer. Then he let out a whimper, too. The talk about birthing was immediately put aside. The bee had perched itself on the tip of her sandal.

"Are you going to swat it away?" Nari whispered.

"I'm getting ready to." He answered while watching the bee with weary eyes.

"Are you afraid?"

"No. I'm not afraid of anything. I didn't think you were either." His brown eyes flashed up at her with admiration.

"Really? Why cause?" She said with a slight grin.

"Because you're not crying..."And with that his hand flashed out and smacked the bee. Nari flinched as she felt his warm hand glide across her foot. The bee disappeared and Bakura gave a small grin.

"You need protecting... I'll marry you if you want." He asked, all trace of humor gone from his voice.

Nari's eyes widened.

"But I'm just a little girl, I can't marry yet." She slipped off the rock and stood in front of Bakura. "I know, when you get older I'll come back for you."

Nari wrinkled her nose and gave an unsure smile. "Uh, where are you going?"

He looked down at his sandals and gave a sigh.

"I don't know. Where ever my dad takes me."

Nari nodded her head as if she understood, but she really didn't.

"Will you spit in my goblet when we marry?" She asked turning the subject back to the earlier one.

He gave a brisk nod.

"yes'em. I'll put a baby in your stomach."

Nari smiled. "I'd like a baby. It would be better then my baby dolls!"

Just then Bakura's father ran up the steep hill to where they sat. "Well, looky here. Not even ten and you already got yourself a whore. What's your name lass?"

Bakura narrowed his eyes at his father, whom he resembled.

"She's not a whore! She's my wife! I'm gonna marry her...and her name is Nari!" The man just chuckled and bent in front of Nari. He tilted her chin upward and smiled, "you're a pretty little thing," he remarked while glancing at his son. "How old are ya?"

Nari pulled away from his hand and stepped closer to Bakura.

"I'm five summers." She whispered while falling into Bakura's side. He placed a hand in front of her as if shielding her from danger.

"Heh, already found love have you son? It won't last. You're too young to understand what love is. Now come on. We're leaving." Nari's eyes widened as she realized her new friend was already leaving her.

"Don't worry Nari...I'll come back for you, I promise."

Nari looked down at her sandals and began to twist a lock of her black hair around her finger. "Alright...don't take to long." She whispered

Bakura smiled and pulled her into a hug. " I won't be long." he pulled away and began to walk away.

"Wait!" Nari yelled and she dashed over to him. "Don't forget about me ok?" And with that she pecked him on the cheek.

Bakura started turning a dark red then briskly turned away to hide it. "I won't...I promise."

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Ok there you are...I'm sorry it took me so long. To many issues!

Anyways...i'll update as soon as I can...