Hello don't kill us. I have multipule good excuses for not updating.

Only one of which is true.

Hey! Back me up here! Anyway we haven't been updating cause KQ's been on another German exchange and I was (and am) writing a commisioned story. -smiles- It's my first shot at angst.

Angst? You could've fooled me. Two pages in and you have a comical scene.

Don't yell at me. MALIK! Make her leave me alone -sobs on Malik's shoulder-

M: Leave her be.

Not likely. Thanks to the reviewers. dbox you rock.

A: -faints- Holy Ra it rhymes!

-KQ laughs manically-

Um KQ can we get on with the story.

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-gi-oh. Damn shame

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Duke looked doubtfully at Akeifa. "You'll cheat." He told him flatly. Akeifa looked shocked. "How did you guess? What gave me away?"

"The events of last night." Joey said quietly. The Thief King's eyes narrowed to mahogany slits. "So you remember that do you?" Three heads nodded.

"What about your friends?" He asked indicating Yami and Seth.

"They know nothin'." Joey assured him. Akeifa relaxed.

"Good." Returning his attention to the priest and the Pharaoh, the albino asked, "Will you join us?"

"If you don't cheat, then yeah." The two boys agreed. Akeifa sighed dramatically.

"You guys take the fun out of life." His sister tapped his shoulder.

"The guys are here." She then turned to Joey, Tristan and Malik, "us four'll sit elsewhere." The girl then turned to Hotempt, "You can have my seat."

"Cheers." The brown haired thief replied, sitting.

"Come on you lot." The black haired girl walked over to the empty table with the boy's in tow.

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"Hah! I got Hathor! Beat that!" Duke crowed. Seth took the dice.
"I can't beat it, but I can equal it." The priest replied and proceeded to do so.

"Right. So three of us threw Hathor." Geb stated, "We roll again." The other two nodded. Akeifa was sulking. "Me the King of Thieves, not allowed to cheat. What's the point of having the title?" He muttered bitterly. Seti patted his shoulder.

"There there. You can cheat later." He said comfortingly. Yami nudged Seth, just before the brunette took the dice.

"Can you use your magic to see who that guy is?" Seth was puzzled.

"Yes but why? We already know his name, what more do you want?"

"I think he's hiding something." Yami confessed, "just try."

"All right." Seth sighed. Akeifa's pendant blazed. The Thief King thumped a fist on the table. "Didn't your mother teach you that that was rude and prying?"

Seth winced and turned to Yami, "He knew I was trying to See and his defences are strong. It would take a while to wear those things down at any rate. And he would probably react badly." The Pharaoh sighed.

"Forget it. Just enjoy the dice game." Seth grinned and rolled his second Hathor.

"Thankyou gentlemen for your generosity." Was all he said as, smirking, the collected his winnings.

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The three boys were uncomfortable. Neftis had been staring at them constantly. They didn't like it. "So um, how long have you been Queen of Thieves?" Tristan asked, desperate for some kind of conversation.

"Two years," She replied distantly, "Since I was 16." Her gaze was still fixed on them.

"Is it hard?" Joey asked out of curiosity. The girl gave a hollow laugh.

"Of course not. You've just got to keep an eye on all the female thieves, defend your position, steal things, keep up with the King. On top of that you have to avoid all soldiers and police." She replied sarcastically, "But the spoils are defiantly good."

"What spoils?" Malik asked, intrigued. Neftis gave Malik a withering look.

"Spoils from personal thefts and my 20 share of everyone else's robberies." She told him, "Thieves den here. Thief Queen sitting with you, that kinda adds up to stolen goods."

"Yeah stupid." Tristan scolded, cuffing Malik's head.

"So um, what do you guys want to do?" Joey asked. Neftis held out some dice.

"Wanna play?" The boys grinned.

"You're on!"

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Akeifa glared at Seth over the table. "You cheated." He decided. Seth glared back at him. "No I didn't. I was just lucky."

"I'll say." Duke muttered grumpily.

"Come on Akeifa, it's not like he's coming again." Se-Osiris said sympathetically. The blonde thief then turned to Seth, "You aren't are you?"

"Probably not." Was the cool reply.

"There you see," Ores said triumphantly. "He won't be here on Friday which is the official gambling night of the week." Akeifa visibly brightened.
"Good. I feel better." Yami turned to Duke.

"What's the time?" He asked, remembering Lilita's threat.

"I have no idea." The boy replied confidently. Yami hit his head on the table.

"Relax." Akeifa ordered, "It's almost midnight. This place is only just picking up."

"Midnight?" Yami yelped jolting upright.

"Damn," Seth muttered in agreement. "We've gotta go." Akeifa raised his mug to the priest, "See yah Sirah." He replied. Seth turned, confused. "Your name." Akeifa chided. Yami stood and tapped Duke's shoulder.

"Come on we're leaving." Duke sighed and followed suit.

"I hope I play again." Seti toasted the black haired boy.

"May good fortune be with you." He said solemnly.

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"Ha! I win." Joey declared happily. Neftis gave him a sly look.

"But I haven't rolled yet." She said innocently.

"You really expect to throw Hathor? Hahahaha." Tristan looked at his friend.

"He's getting cocky." He moaned to Malik.

"He's been like that since he rolled 11." The platinum blonde replied gloomily. The brunette sighed, "If this keeps up I'm going to have to kill him."

"Fight you for the right." Malik warned.

"Wait and see." Neftis told Joey. The dice skidded across the table.

"Thankyou very much," Neftis told them gathering up the money, "I appreciate the service." Joey just gaped at the dice. Malik smirked.

"Well looks like he doesn't have to write a death wish."

"What a pity." Tristan agreed.

"You three." Yami called. The boys looked towards the Pharaoh. "Come on, we're leaving," Complaints and protests rose from the group as they hauled themselves to their feet.

"Ta lads." Neftis stood and walked back to her table. Hotempt moved to a seat further down. Neftis nodded her thanks as she sat.

"Did you cheat?" Akeifa asked conversationally, eyeing the money bag she held.

"Of course."

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"Well that was fun." Seth announced as they walked back to the palace. Yami glared at him, "Are you crazy?" He demanded, "That guy."

"Akeifa." Duke put in.

"Knew that you were the High Priest and that I was the Pharaoh. He saw through your spells and we have no idea who he is."

"Yeah we do." Tristan muttered. Yami whipped around.

"What? You do? Tell me!"

"But, but…" Tristan protested. Yami bared his teeth in a predatorial snarl.

"No buts, just tell me."

"Hey! Leave him alone. I'll tell you if you promise not to act on what I say." Joey offered.

"Just tell me damn it!" Yami howled.

"He's the King of Thieves so stop shouting." Malik snapped.

"He's the what?" Yami yelped.

"Do I have to repeat myself or has the beer made you stupid." Malik retorted.
"I'm just shocked that's all." Yami replied haughtily.

"That would explain why he's got such powerful magic at his disposal." Seth mused. "I don't feel so stupid now."

"Wonderful." Duke moaned. "Just what we need, a more arrogant High Priest."

"Don't be think, that's impossible." Joey commented. The platinum blonde sighed.

"If only that was true." He said wistfully. Soon the troop strolled out of sight.

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"They're gonna make our lives miserable." Akeifa prophesised as they walked home. Neftis laughed.

"Come on. Let's just hope they don't come back. I don't think I could stand the high company." She looked at her brother. He had been wrong. An Osiris's fire or two and here he was joking. It was hard to believe he'd been so upset earlier.

"By the way," She remarked causally tossing her hair, "What was said outside that place?"

"Huh?" Akeifa looked blankly at her. Then it clicked. "Well we were outside the hideout that the three idiots came from and, well, we over heard a little plan that they had going."

"What's so serious about a little plan?" Neftis asked pulling a key out of her purse. "It can't be as much of a threat as the Horus-damned-imperial troops."

"It involves the... How did you say it, Horus-damned-imperial troops." Neftis stopped. "How?" She demanded eyes narrowing.

"The leader's daughter is among the women trying to become the Great Royal Wife's head of household. If she's picked, shell be the Queen's most trusted friend and confidant. If she says there's a thief problem in the Lower City then bam, we're very dead and walking to the afterlife." Her brother replied.

"Bugger." Neftis pronounced inadequately, unlocking the door. "May Sehkmet damn them to eternal torment." Turning back to her brother she looked down. "What are we going to do?" It sounded almost like a plea. The white haired thief put an arm around his sister's shoulder. "I have no idea." He confessed, to her and the stars.

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Yay chapter over. dbox you're right. We're gonna have to throw some description in.

By the way, it's shorter. No we are not getting lazy...

Y: Could've fooled me.

Adele punches Pharaoh.- Hey KQ's friend wanted it to be shorter so hey! it's shorter.

M: wohoo.

Do I have to hurt you? -Malik backs away fearfully- Good.

As for the HP thing, we have decided to finish typing it up first. That makes it easier to update. Bear with us or esle -ties Yami and Yugi to chairs- we will force feed them coffee.

A: Whats so bad about coffee?

Makes them hyper.

K, A, M: Oh dear...

K: Security! -hides behind numerous body guards-

Coward. Good bye bye puny mortals

-sighs- I apologise about her. See yah!