Jadira: Hey peoples. Sorry it took me so long to update. But like I said on my profile, one of my good friends recently committed suicide, and I've been taking it pretty hard. But I decided that I wanted to remember him as the funny guy he was, instead of thinking of him being dead. So I'm updating. Thanks to chibikuro rose-sama, ctaladywantya, and sweetchica55 for the reviews. You guys rock!

Tate: I need to get out more.

Jadira: You do the disclaimer.

Tate: What! No way!

Jadira: I'll tell them your secret…

Tate: 0-0 NOOOOO! OK, fine. She does not own Yu-gi-oh. But she's totally obsessed with it.

Jadira: Thank you. Now, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh, wish though I may.

Chapter Two: The new girl

When they entered the pub and pulled off their hoods, the entire building went quiet. Marik smirked. "It would seem that our reputation precedes us."

Bakura grinned. "So it has.'

Yami glanced around for a minute. Spotting an empty table in the corner, he grabbed Yugi's hand and dragged the shorter man towards it. "We'll be over here," he called back to his friends.

"Don't be too loud-we're in a public place," Malik called after them, knowing Yami all too well. Yami turned his head back and stuck his tongue out while Malik tried to look innocent. Predictably, as soon as Yami and Yugi sat down, the people at the tables around theirs moved to different ones.

Bakura led the way for the rest of them to a table by the shuttered window. As they made their way to their seats, whispers followed them.

"…really strong…"

"...heard they're not human…"

"…threw a man twenty feet…"

Bakura and Marik smirked as they heard the titters. Ryou and Malik looked slightly uncomfortable, as did Jou, while Kaiba didn't react at all. They sat at the dingy table as a bored waitress sidled up to them, showing more skin than her clothes covered. "Can I get you boy's anythin'?" she drawled, hand on her hip.

"Six beers," replied Marik, tossing several coins towards her. She snatched it up and headed for the bar. Marik leaned back in his chair and propped his boot-clad feet on the table. Malik and Ryou pretended to gag at the stench of his feet. Bakura snickered.

"Do you ever bathe Marik?" he asked.

Marik smirked. "You of all people should know the answer to that Kura." He laughed at the light blush staining his lover's pale cheeks. Malik and Ryou raised their eyebrows, obviously confused.

"Dare I even ask?" Malik spoke up.

"Yes well-" Marik began.

"NO!" Bakura interrupted, covering Marik's mouth with one slim, pale hand. "I don't think they need to know about that. Besides, they're too young."

Ryou snorted. "Oh please Kura, we're not as innocent as we seem." Malik emphasized the point by slinging an arm around Ryou's shoulders and pointedly nibbling his neck. Bakura's muddy eyes widened slightly-he'd had no idea the two were together! The teens giggled at his look of bewilderment.

The barmaid suddenly plopped their drinks in front of them. They each grabbed one, Ryou sniffing a bit at his. Kaiba smirked at him. Marik sighed and raised his mug. "Well, here's to centuries as a vamp."

"Cheers," echoed Bakura. Ryou and Malik clinked their mugs together; all of the people at their table suddenly developing depressed looks. The six companions took long swigs of alcohol and sighed again. They sat in silence for a moment until a sudden commotion outside drew them from their thoughts.

"Stupid girl! Get back here!" a slurred voice was shouting.

Bakura's eyes narrowed. "Stay here," he ordered his friends. "I'll be just a minute." None of the others dared protest, knowing how Bakura was. He hated when men picked on women. Kaiba shrugged. Bakura called it honor-Kaiba called it weak.

Bakura stepped out into the bustling street, keeping to the shadows. Barely a moment later, someone bumped into him and fell to the ground.

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The girl raced through the marketplace, expertly weaving and dodging through the crowd. A loud voice followed her.

"Stupid girl! Get back here!"

The girl ignored him and continued to run. She glanced over her shoulder, still running. Suddenly, she ran into something solid and rough. She fell to the ground with a groan.

The girl glared up at the incriminating object, eyes widening a bit.

Above her stood a tall, imposing figure in a long black cloak. His hood was thrown off, revealing long, spiky white hair, extremely pale skin, and brown eyes with a hint of red. He looked slightly confused.

She gasped. This man (if he could truly be called a man) and his companions were well known around the village. They were much stronger than an average human, and were said to have unpredictable and bad tempers.

"Girl! I'll get you this time! You'll regret this!" the voice shouted again, this time closer.

The girl glanced behind her, terror evident in her features, still sitting on the ground. When she glanced forwards, she was startled to see a pale hand sticking in front of her.

She stared at the man's hand with trepidation. He nodded and spoke, his voice laced with a slight accent. "I wish only to help you."

The girl was still slightly in shock as she grasped his hand and was heaved to her feet.

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Bakura clenched the girl's hand and pulled her to her feet. He took a moment to look over her.

She had long, light chestnut hair with gold streaks running through it, which she wore in a long braid that hung halfway down her back. She kept her eyes lowered, staring at the ground. She wore a long, simple dress of white linen with a slit up either side, showing part of her shapely legs. Her skin was tanned slightly, seeming to glow in the setting sun. Her hands were tied tightly in front of her, a long piece of rope trailing from the knot like a leash.

Bakura's thoughts were interrupted as the owner of the voice caught up to them. "Fucking girl! Get back here!" A man with dark tan skin loped up to them. A mop of black hair fell into his dark eyes. He was obviously drunk.

Bakura's lip curled in obvious contempt.

The girl looked frightened. She backed up until she bumped into Bakura again. He was a bit surprised at her reaction, and wondered who the man was. He decided to voice his thoughts. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded coldly.

The man glared at him. "None o' ya damn business," he snarled, words till slurred.

Bakura growled and stepped forward. He grabbed the front of the man's rough tunic and lifted him several inches off the ground. The man's eyes widened ion fear.

"I'll ask just once more," Bakura growled. "Who the hell are you?"

"The name's Yutaro," the man replied rudely. "And that little slut is m'neice.

The girl kept her head bowed and didn't respond.

Yutaro suddenly leaped for the girl and tried to garb her arm. There was a sudden bright flash of lavender light, and Yutaro was thrown backwards. He and Bakura stared at the girl. She looked just as bewildered as they did.

"What did you do ?" Yutaro growled. The girl didn't respond. He snarled again.

Bakura spoke up. "That's it! If this girl is so troublesome for you, why don't I take her?"

"What are you talking about?" replied Yutaro, still a bit drunk.

"I'll take her as a servant. I'll even pay you," Bakura said, removing several gold coins from a pocket and tossing them to the vile man.

Yutaro glanced from the coins to the girl, a doubtful expression on his face. Bakura stepped forward and lowered his voice. "Were I in your position, I would accept. Refusing me is not wise."

The man nodded, mind made up. He snatched up the coins and turned to go. But before he could walk off, Bakura called after him, "What's her name?" he asked.

Yutaro stared at him, perplexion written all over hi features. "Jaide." He ran off into the crowd.

"Jaide," Bakura echoed, glancing down at the girl again. "Goodness. A fitting name." He picked up the discarded length of rope and led Jaide to the pub where his friends waited.

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Jaide felt nervous but relieved as she followed her new 'master' through town. They entered the inn again, and were greeted by a relatively large group of people. Bakura noticed that Yami and Yugi had joined the others at their original table.

As Bakura sat down, Jaide took a minute to observe the group. Bakura sat next to a tall man with dark skin, spiked platinum blonde hair, and dark lavender eyes with hints of red. Across from them sat two shorter men who looked slightly younger. They looked almost exactly like the men across from them, but their hair was less wild, and their eyes held no red.

At one end of the pine wood table sat another pair of look-alikes. The taller one had tri-colored hair, black and red, with gold streaks running through it. His eyes were a deep crimson. The much shorter man next to him had the same hair, but only his bangs were gold. His eyes were violet, and he had an air of innocence.

The last two companions sat opposite them. The taller one had brown hair, cold blue eyes, and what seemed like a permanent frown. Snuggling up to him was a blonde with amber eyes, blonde hair, and was obviously playful, as he kept nibbling the brunette's ear lobe. The brunette had an arm around the blonde's shoulders.

Bakura's accented voice cut through the chatter of his friends. "Everyone, shut up for a second! I'd like to introduce you to Jaide. "I just bought her from her uncle." He waved a hand towards Jaide.

"Jaide, this is Ryou-" his look-alike, "Marik-" the taller platinum blonde, "Malik-" the shorter platinum blonde, "Yami-" the red-eyed fellow, "Yugi-" the short one, "Seto, or Kaiba, whichever-" the brunette, "Jounouchi, but call him Jou-" the blonde, "And I'm Bakura."

Jaide nodded, quickly lowering her gaze to the dirty floorboards.

"You can sit if you want," said the one called Yugi, grinning at her. She shook her head. Yugi shrugged and went back to talking with his companions.

"So what should we do with her?" Marik asked rather heartlessly. "It's not like we need a slave."

"Don't call her a slave," Bakura snapped. "She'll be our servant and help clean up around the manor. Gods knows we nee it." He muttered the last part.

Marik rolled his eyes. "Maybe we should give her to Duke when he gets back," he said. "He gets so lonely, he could use a pleasure slave."

Bakura shrugged in response, not noticing Yami's frown. "Sure he can have her. It's up to him what to do with her."

"When's Duke getting' back anyway?" asked Jou.

"A few days," Kaiba replied. "Him and his stupid 'business trips.' It's not like it's actually business."

Malik and Marik snickered. "Yeah, we all know he goes to see the ladies."

Yugi and Ryou frowned at them. "No, he told us he can't stand being here," said Yugi.

"What? Why not?" questioned Yami.

"Well," began Ryou. "He says he doesn't like being around us all because we're all together, and he's got no one."

"Oh…" they all frowned unhappily.

Gradually, the conversation drifted to random topics, while Jaide stood stoically and silently, seeming rooted to the spot. It was nearly six o'clock by the time the men were finished with their drinks, and the sun had long since set.

Bakura stood and stretched his arms before laying several coins on the table to pay for the drinks. Then he turned to Jaide, still standing in the same spot. He glanced at her feet, then turned back around to face Ryou. "Can you and Malik go and buy her some sandals? She may be our servant, but walking on the hot sands with bare feet is just cruel." The two nodded and accepted another few coins from Bakura's pocket.

"We'll meet you back at the manor," said Malik. The others nodded and headed for the stables where they had left their horses.

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Ryou and Malik led Jaide through the lantern-lit marketplace. Every so often, she would hear one of them muttering sweet utterances to each other. Finally the cheerful couple stopped in front of a small tent displaying many different pairs of shoes. Ryou and Malik skipped towards the nearest shelf and started examining the shoes.

Jaide hung back by the entrance, unused to seeing sop many nice things. She was unsure of what to do.

"Jaide, what about these-Jaide?" Ryou turned while holding a pair of sandals, looking for the girl. He scowled when he realized that she was standing outside, head still bowed. Ryou handed the shoes to Malik and went over to Jaide.

"Why don't you come with me and Malik and pick out a pair?" he asked gently.

Jaide bit her lip and nervously followed Ryou back to where Malik stood. Wordlessly, he handed her the sandals, and wordlessly, she slipped them on her feet. She took several steps after tying them on, and nodded her approval at the soft feel of the leather. 'They're so soft!' she mused to herself. Ryou handed the coins to the shopkeeper and left, holding onto Malik's hand. Jaide followed, trying not to trip over the rope still trailing from her wrists.

Several stars had sprouted in the sky by the time they reached the horses, so Ryou and Malik were able to walk freely without their protective cloaks. They paid the stable boy, and both had already mounted their respective horses-Ryou's a chestnut roan, and Malik's a gray mare-before they realized that Jaide had no horse.

Ryou took pity on the girl and leaped off his horse. He held out his hand to her and smiled. "You can ride with me," he said.

Jaide nodded and Ryou frowned again. 'Why won't she speak?' he wondered. Before helping Jaide onto the horse, he pulled a small but sharp knife from the folds of his robe. He took a step towards the girl, but stopped when he saw her flinch and shy away from him. Her heart was beating wildly while she wondered, 'Is he going to kill me?'

Ryou scowled when she flinched, but took another step. "Don't fear me," he whispered. "I'll not harm you."

Jaide bit her lip. Deciding that she had nothing to lose, she held still, squeezing her eyes shut as he got closer.

Ryou reached out, and with one swift strike, cut through the bonds on her wrists.

Jaide stared down at her arms, then gratefully glanced up to Ryou. He smiled again and offered her a hand up onto the horse. "Hold on tight," he instructed as he sat in front of her. Jaide nodded and immediately latched onto him-she'd never ridden a horse before, and found her perch to be a bit too high off the ground.

Malik and Ryou kicked their heels into their horse's sides, and together they rode off into the desert.

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Jadira: Well, there's the second installment to my story. I hope you guys liked it.

Tate: I suppose since your friend just died, I'll be quiet for now. But have no fear…(in Arnold Schwarzenegger voice) I'll be back…

Jadira: 00 oookaaay……Well, y'all know what to do right? Press the button. It's so pretty…the pretty little button…. See ya next time!