I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters and plots.

However the following characters (their powers and such) used in this fan fiction ARE mine:

Lady Aurora Phoenix

Lady Natara Fear

Lady Sapphira Star

Blaze

Chaos

Havoc

Now I know this will be different from typical stories thus the reason it is in the fantasy genre but I wanted to give Atem a family and have a way to keep an eye on him even while he was nothing but a spirit in the Millennium Puzzle... This way I could do just that. This is my first fan fic so forgive me if it is not to your liking.

"Bakura vs. Lady Phoenix"

"What is it you want, Bakura?" Atem demanded as he struggled to keep the dagger from his throat.

"Is it not obvious? I want your puzzle, Pharaoh," Bakura spat out. "And I will have it one way or another. Either duel me or die."

"Like you give me much of a choice," Atem snarled at his captor. "Let me go, now!"

"I am not one of your pathetic servants. I do not take orders from you." The dagger jabbed harder against Atem's throat as a guard attempted to move forward. "I told you to stay back or your precious Pharaoh gets it!" His threat was cut off as he let out an agonized cry. A streak of white light shot passed his arm forcing him to lose his grip on Atem. "What was…?" he gasped in anger. Atem, who had fallen to one knee, looked at an object just in front of him. A silver staff with a rose shaped tip. Carefully embedded in the folds of the rose was glowing crystal orb. Atem swiftly stood and turned toward the entrance of the room. There she was. The white stranger, in her long white gown and cape, was lounged carefully against the edge of the doorway gazingwith a lack of interestat her nails.

"How considerate of you to host a celebration in my honor," she said lightly. Then she looked up at Bakura with her blue eyes blazing in anger. "However, a dead Pharaoh was not on my list of gifts. It would be in your best interest for you to leave."

"Is that so? And just who do you think you are?"

"Why, the life of the party," she answered with a casual shrug and a light, sly smirk as she moved away from the doorway. "The name is Lady Phoenix. Lady, Aurora, Phoenix," She added, dropping the sly look and replacing it with a dark glare. "Not that you have heard of me. Does it really make a difference? You were told to leave."

"And just how do you expect to make me leave?" Bakura asked smugly. He stepped back slightly as her eyes glowed white. Raising her hand, her staff flew from its resting place and landed back in her hand.

"You really want to test me? That would not be very smart. I have been asleep for a very long time, and my Powers are greatly rested," she warned him. The white aura surrounded her as she readied herself for battle. Her cape floated lightly as a small breeze spun around them. Two people with powers only imagined by most. The crowd in the room watched in surprise as the two squared off. No one knew what Lady Phoenix was capable of. They werecertain they were about to witness her Powers first hand, though.

"Diabound! I call on you for this battle!" Bakura commanded. For the first time since she arrived in the room, Lady Phoenix looked shocked. She had seen several uses of Power in her lifetime, but never had anyone been able to conjure a monster before. "Ok, so you call upon monsters to do your dirty work," she remarked with a small disbelieving chuckle. "Sorry, I do not play by those rules. I fight my own battles, and if you were half a man, you would as well." The King of Thieves' eyes widened at her insult.

"Why fight when I can send another to fight for me? Face it. You attempt to protect the Pharaoh is admirable, but you have no idea what you are up against."

"Hate to be the one to inform you of this, but neither do you," Lady Phoenix returned as she stood straight. Waving her staff in the air in a slow circle over her head, a dark cloud formed over her. Lightning could be seen coming from it and the storm grew larger. Bakura's eyes grew dark. He was not about to have his plans foiled by this stranger. This female stranger.

"Diabound, Attack!" He ordered. His creature surged forward at a deadly pace. Lady Phoenix eyed the monster with a raised eyebrow.

"You think the beast frightens me? Sorry to disappoint you," she said confidently as her staff began to glow. The crystal within the rose tip sparkled in a rainbow of colors. "Crystal Rose Shock!" She leveled her staff at the advancing beast and it was instantly enveloped in rainbow light. The watching crowd shielded their eyes from the brilliance. "Send this creature back to the place from whence it came!" There was an explosion and when the light faded, Bakura's strongest creature was no where to be seen.

"Impossible!" Bakura shouted in fury. "No one can defeat my monster!"

"Looks like someone did. You underestimated me. Care to try again?" Lady Phoenix knew she was baiting him but she did not care. Her energy had been pent up for too long. She was ready to release it. With an enraged shout, Bakura lunged at her. "Now that is no way to treat a lady," she scolded as she raised her hand. A blast of power struck the King of Thieves square in the chest and enveloped him. "Be gone, infidel!" Again the room was filled with white light. Just as quick as the attack began, it was over and Bakura was gone. With the rush of the battle over, Lady Phoenix fell to one knee, her staff clattering to the floor.

"Are you all right?" Atem asked as he raced toward her, his eyes and voice filled with fear and concern. Gently, he reached for her arm to steady her. She remained on her knee before him.

"Yes, Pharaoh. I shall be all right. It was just too much too soon. I did not expect to have to call upon such strong powers in this battle. To be honest, I did not believe he would attack me," she said smiling ruefully. Atem could feel the fine tremors in her hand. He knew she had reached her point of exhaustion. He also knew she would not admit it to him.

"Please look up at me," he pleaded softly. Hesitantly, Lady Phoenix raised her eyes to meet his. The emotions she saw there both confused and frightened her. She knew she had to get away. She could not allow herself to stay. Quickly, she lowered her gaze to his neck where she saw a small trail of blood.

"You have been hurt, Pharaoh."

"It is nothing. I will be fine." Lady Phoenix shook her head.

"You helped me. Now I am returning the favor." Before he could stop her, she raised a hand to his wound. A small white light covered the wound. After a brief moment, she removed her fingertips from his neck. Reaching up, he felt no trace of the wound. She had healed him with a touch. With a sigh, she struggled to keep her voice steady. "Now please, Pharaoh, I beg your permission to leave and return to my room. I must rest."

Atem swallowed hard, trying to hide his response of emotion from her tender touch. "As you wish, lady. Do you need assistance back?"

"No. I shall be fine." Atem nodded and helped her to stand, and returned her staff to her. Then helplessly, he watched as she slowly left the hall and headed back to her room.

"Pharaoh…" Isis was stopped in mid sentence when Atem raised his hand. Without a word, he retreated to his own bedchamber. He had too much on his mind to handle whatever it was Isis had to say to him.

"This could be a good thing as well as a bad thing that she is here," Mahado commented softly.

"She could help us," Priest Set nodded.

"And that would be bad, why?" Mana asked.

"That is what would be good. The bad thing is what she is doing to the Pharaoh. He was preoccupied with this morning's events. He should have been able to sense Bakura here. Then again, we all should have. Especially me, "Isis answered quietly.