The Stolen Heart

By Anime-2000

Disclaimer: Anime-2000 owns the characters that you never see in the original Egypt/Memory arc. The rest that everyone can identify, however, belong to Kazuki Takahashi and all other respective owners.

The Memory Arc is basically when Yami Yugi regains his memories, and he goes back in time (in his memories) and relives the moments when he was reigning as king.

Oh yes, to avoid some confusion, I know that there are a variety of way to spells the names in Yu-Gi-Oh, just as many of you know. I'm using the spelling that I saw first or am more familiar with. Like the village of Kuru Eruna, which in Shonen Jump magazine is Kul Elna. But the former is the term I'll be using. Okay, everyone?

And of course, the rest of the chapters in The Stolen Heart, as well as this one, will be longer than the first chapter. (20 pages for this chappy—yeah!) After all, the first chapter was more like an introduction. Enjoy!

Nobody paid more attention to him than they would an average man. To the eye, he was completely normal. He was no different from anyone else walking down the streets of the marketplace. Merchants barely noticed the tufts of white hair sticking out from under the hood of his red jacket, and their customers did not see the pale scar under his right eye. Yes, no one noticed him because no recognized him.

The great Bakura. The all-mighty King of Thieves. The man who controlled Diabound, a godly ka-spirit. The most notorious tomb raider there ever was. The bandit who was beaten by a little girl…

Almost a week had passed, and the memory was still etched in his mind. He relived every painful, humiliating second when he slept. The girl's face burned his eyes every time he closed them, and he felt rage whenever he heard the name 'Mana'… or anything sounding relative close to the name.

Bakura took a deep breath and sighed, shutting his eyes as he rubbed his temples with a hand. Her dark blue eyes bore holes into his brain. How could she have done this to him? She was child, barely entering her double-digits! He could not take her off his mind; he dreamed those horrible moments at night.

The white-haired tomb robber blinked and shook his head slightly to clear his mind. No, he had not become obsessed with her. Bakura just wanted revenge. He wanted to hurt her like how she hurt him. Maybe more. Definitely more. He would make her pay and prove to her that he was superior to her. Mana, he promised her as he strolled down the dirt path, vaguely glancing at the trinkets that were on sale, what happened that night was a stroke of pure luck on your part!

With that done, Bakura felt more at ease. He had come to the bazaar to take his mind off of her after all There were always fascinating merchandise on sale as well as the ordinary, everyday products and food. Not only that, the people here could be most interesting as well. Oh yes, and they usually did not notice if he helped himself to a "free sample."

The woman was busy attending to her other costumers to notice when his handsnagged an apple from one of her baskets of fruit as he passed by. It had been a while since he had one. He did not have breakfast, and this would probably serve as his lunch. The fruit was refreshingly sweet. As he sank his teeth intothe appleagain, he heard an infuriated cry. The voice belonged to a man. Bakura finished his sad excuse for ameal and tossed the core aside.

He had heard the roar at his right, and looked around to see a couple of young boys race away from the red-faced storekeeper. They were heading toward him. "Stop them!" ordered the man, pointing a finger at the little shoplifters. Bakura studied the fat merchant carefully. His many chins shook as he yelled, and he seemed out of breath from such a short run. He had evidently lived a comfortable life, most likely having servants and slaves. The man looked as if he had never lifted a finger to work in his entire life.

In contrast, the skinny, emaciated boys ran like demons were chasing them. Their eyes round with fear as only one clutched their prize tightly: a small chunk of meat. "Menkh, hurry!" the older one cried as he rushed past Bakura. He held their steal.

Thinking quickly, the more experienced bandit made a rough estimation of the entire scene. This whole fiasco could end in his favor.

In an instant, Bakura's hand jerked up from his side, like a cobra striking, and closed his fingers around a clump of the second one's brown hair. The boy screamed and struggled wildly, tears streaming down his cheeks. "No—Let go, let go!" he wailed, and his big brother hurried toward them. Bakura ignored the din of both of them made as he dragged the crying child to the man. "Let go!" the boy persisted, trying to pull away despite the pain that must have been shooting through his skull.

Bakura had his head down, but he looked up through his thick bangs at the merchant. Up close, he seemed larger than the tomb robber had thought. Bakura loathed him even more. It seemed unfair that he had always had to fight for everything. Occasionally luck did favor him, but he did not like people who were born into such luck. Especially the pharaoh and his priests. People like them did not deserve such power to abuse.

Tch. He hastily pulled himself out of his spiteful thoughts before they got out of hand and redirected his attention back to the current situation. Hiding his anger with a pleasant voice as he yanked the sobbing boy up to the man, he asked amiably, "Were these boys causing you trouble, sir?" With a flick of a wrist, he had the little boy facing the merchant.

The older one stopped next to Bakura and held the meat in front of him. Tears were welling up in his eyes as well as he begged, "Please let him go! We… We couldn't afford it, but that's why we stole it!"

Rolling his eyes, the captor of the boy's younger brother thought, No kidding.

"Our father's sick…" he continued as the tears started to spill. He bowed his head down to the ground and said, "And he can't work on the farm. Mother was trying to manage everything, but she… She died last week…" He started to cry. "We have no way to pay off our debts with Father ill, and we thought that if we could get him some good food, he would get better and could start working again…"

The furrows on Bakura's brow deepened as he listened to the story. This narrative seemed to pop up more often lately. He had heard it before, quite often in the streets, actually using it as an excuse when he was younger and less experienced. But this time it seemed to be an honest explanation. It could still be a trick, he reminded himself. Ah, but what does it matter? It doesn't interfere with my plan.

"They could work for it," suggested Bakura, feigning kind interest and released the younger one's hair. "It shouldn't take too long." He watched the boy fall to his knees and scramble to his older brother. It was a pitiful sight that made him sick. They had a family. And they were struggling to keep it together. It was… unjust.

The meat seller snorted and shook his head slightly. "I already have enough people working for me," he replied brusquely as he snatched back his property. "I don't need another two grubby brats clawing at me for money. Now off with you two! You were fortunate to have this guy around," he told him, jabbing a thumb at Bakura. "If I had caught you two, I would have beaten you senseless!" Bakura managed to stop himself from laughing, but he could not help but smirk under his cream-colored hood. Who was this guy kidding? He could not even catch either of the two, let alone land a punch on them.

Wiping their eyes, the boys mumbled a less than heartfelt apology and hurried off.

"Scum," said the fat man and turned to Bakura. "So, thanks for catching them for me."

Bakura's eyes narrowed. For you? His dangerous expression was abruptly replaced with a broad smile. "Hmm? Oh yes, no need to thank me," he said and chuckled, shaking his head. "Kids these days, huh?"

"Since you helped me out," the vendor said, leaning on his makeshift wooden counter, "I'll give you a five percent discount on a purchase. No, you look like a sturdy young man who's been working out," he suddenly corrected himself, waving a hand and leaned a little closer. "I'll make it ten just for you. How about it?"

"I can't refuse an offer like that." With a small nod, Bakura pointed to a sizeable hunk of meat hanging from the ceiling of the stall and said, "Then, I'd like that big one behind you."

"That one now? Yes, a good choice!" exclaimed the man before he even looked back. He turned around to see which one the man donned in red had requested. "Uh… Could you be a little more specific?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.

He never expected to be talking to thin air. "Sir?" he asked and glanced around. "Where are you?" Then, he looked down, and his face blanched. His sack of money from his sales was gone. He heard fading laughter and looked to his left to see a red coat flapping as the wearer ran away with his money.

"THIEF!"

(-)

Menkh stared up at his brother with his dark brown eyes as they slowly made their way home. He massaged his head, where the tall stranger had grabbed his hair, with a hand. "I'm sorry, Anhotep. I should have been more careful."

Anhotep shook his head rubbed his own head. "No, it's fine…" he said and forced a grin. "We weren't cut out for stealing anyway. We're just a couple of farmhands." His smile faded. "And so is Father. All I'm worried about is if we lose him, too…" Menkh sniffled again. Anhotep walked silently, in deep thought.

His little brother gasped, "Look, Brother!"

Coins fell from above. The precious metal brushed their skin and fell with light chinks on the ground around them. Menkh squealed in delight, kneeled down, and began to pick up the shining treasure. Stunned, Anhotep, too, fell to his knees. He tilted his head up but only saw the blazing Egyptian sun hanging above him in the blue sky. He looked forward and saw a figure in a crimson coat standing before him.

"Hey, Kid." He recognized the voice belonging to the man who had thwarted their robbery. Menkh's eyes were directed upward, too, and he clamped onto Anhotep's arm. The man stepped forward; his shadow fell upon the two brothers. The older boy saw that under the light hood of his jacket, the stranger had unnaturally white hair, for someone as young as him, and hard blue eyes.

"Who—who are you?" stammered Anhotep when he had summoned enough courage to speak.

"Does it matter who I am?" asked the man. His eyes swept the coins on the ground with a cool gaze and told him, "I've paid you. Now I need you to deliver a message for me."

The two boys did not understand this act of kindness. The same word floated in their minds: Why? They stared at him long after he gave them the message.

"I can turn into a sadistic maniac when people get on my bad side," he told them, finally, as his patience began to wear thin.

They did not take the hint.

"Get moving!" roared the sadistic maniac.

(-)

Valley of the Kings.

He smiled deviously.

His playground.

"Bakura!" Heka squealed and waved to him. The white-haired tomb raider looked away from the hidden tombs to see her racing to him. She was a few years older than him but was only three-fourths his size. Her long black hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. He wondered why. Despite Heka's beauty, her hair was her most prized feature, and she took ever opportunity to show it off.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed the scar on his cheek. "We were so worried after you disappeared for six days! Oh! You have another wound on your face!" Another kiss. "At least it's healing all right."

"Heh, if it leaves a scar after it heals, he'll have one on both sides of his face." Bakura laughed sarcastically at Hakim's remark as he approached them.

The large, muscle-bound man strolled leisurely toward the two, but a younger, more energetic teenage boy raced past him crying, "No fair! She gives Bakura two kisses the moment she sees him, but I have to beg for one!"

"That's because Bakura's so much more handsomer than you are, Rasha," Heka teased and pushed Bakura away. "And at least his scars enhance his good looks!" Bakura grinned and surveyed the three people in front of him. Lovely Heka. Impulsive Rasha. Strong but courteous Hakim. It was great to be back among those he actually trusted. Ironic that they were no-good, crypt-robbing scoundrels like him.

"Heka is right, though. Uh—about your absence, of course," Hakim said as he walked up to Bakura, pretending to disregard the other two as Heka brushed Rasha's long black bangs away and planted a kiss on his forehead. "We thought that the guards in that tomb had actually caught you! Then, these two boys came along and told us to meet you here by this tomb." The big man rubbed his stubbly, brown beard and looked back at the large cavern, which served as a royal resting place. "Now, then… if Rasha's ranting was right, then this would be…?"

Folding his arms across his chest, Bakura smirked and said, "The former King of Egypt rests in this crypt. We raid it tonight."

(-)

"Oh, poor Prince," sighed Mana, looking sadly at the exhausted pharaoh, "you're really stressed, aren't you?"

They were on one of the many balconies overhanging from the palace. He had his arms folded and resting on the stone hedge that lined the half circle. The afternoon sun beamed down on them radiantly, but the young king took comfort in the warmth. "All of the priests have been stalking me endlessly since that thief's intrusion. Guards are at my side every waking moment, and I'm positive someone's watching over me as I sleep," Atemu sighed, dropping his colorful head in his arms.

Mana sat on the hedge and looked down at her shoes as she dangled her legs in front of her. She turned to face the Egyptian ruler, who looked up listlessly to survey the kingdom before him. "I wouldn't call it stalking," she said, smiling sympathetically.

Atemu looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Then what would you call it?" he asked gruffly.

"Uh…" The brunette hesitated for a moment and stared up at a lone cloud in the sky thoughtfully before returning her attention to her friend. She shrugged and admitted with an embarrassed giggle, "I dunno." When Mana saw her friend's head lower again, she said, "Atemu, they're doing this to protect you! You know that, right?" The pharaoh nodded somberly. Mana grinned and threw her arms up above her head. "Great! Let's get those gloomy thoughts outta your mind. Since Master Mahaado's spending his time going around from one tomb to another, I have a lot more free time to make sure you do!"

The king agreed with a smile. "That's good. We should do something together, then." Mana was pleased to hear the words in her mind spoken by his lips, and she was relieved to see him happy again.

She nodded enthusiastically, "Uh huh! Let's play Hide-and-Go-Seek! You can be it, since you're pharaoh and all!"

"Aren't we a little old for that?"

"Oh please!" Mana pleaded, pressing her palms together in front of her face. "It's the only game I can beat you in!"

Giving her a playful looked, he said, "You can't hide in the pots in the hallways."

Mana pouted and placed her hands on her hips and made a face at him. "You can't make up rules like that!"

"I'm the pharaoh, remember?" Atemu wagged a finger at her and reminded her, grinning triumphantly. "Besides, even if you do hide there, I'll just find you eventually, you know?"

"Fine! I'll go hide somewhere else, then," said Mana, jumping up unexpectedly. Atemu warned her to be careful, but Mana just skipped from his right to his left. She twirled around to face him and said, "No problem."

"MANA. Come down from there!" Seto's voice sent a shock through the girl's body. Mana lost her balance and wobbled precariously while Atemu panicked and held his arms up; he was not sure how she would fall nor when to catch her.

It was Mahaado who came to her rescue. He looped an arm around her waist and risked being smacked several times by Mana's flailing limbs as he pulled her to safety. His apprentice grabbed onto him tightly, her eyes still large from fright. "Really, Seto, it was unwise to have alarmed her like that," he told the other priest. "You should have made your presence known or have just grabbed her like this—" He lifted Mana up a little as an example before setting her on her feet. "—And then advised against the action next time."

Seto rolled his eyes. "Please, if it had been you, you would have done the same thing."

"Oh no, allow me to elucidate my advice," Mahaado replied intelligently, "I clearly told you what you should have done. Not what I would have done." The younger priest gave him the coldest glare Mana and Atemu had ever witnessed and walked toward the young ruler, purposely bumping into the holder of the Millennium Ring as he strode by.

Mahaado frowned and said, "By the way, my lord, I have come back to give you my reports on the tombs that I had visited…" He gave Mana an exasperated look and added on, "And I also had to check up on my apprentice to make sure she wouldn't get into any trouble." Mana smiled at him innocently.

"Never mind that, Great Pharaoh," Seto said harshly and glared at Mahaado. "The ambassadors that we have been expecting have arrived early. They wish to have a word with you immediately."

The older priest gave him an incredulous look. "I came all the way from the Valley of the Kings!"

Seto cleared his throat loudly. "The ambassadors came from another country."

Mahaado bit back the heated reply on the tip of his tongue, bowed, and said coolly, "Then I will check the last tomb on my list and come back with a full report." After knowing him for many years, Mana knew that Mahaado tried to avoid confrontation with another priest if it was in his power.

Atemu's eyelids drooped half closed. "Hmm, of course," he said, his tired attitude returning instantly. Mana frowned, angry to see that her work had been reduced to nothing in merely a second. "Very well, then. Lead me to them, Priest Seto," he sighed again. With a glance back at Mana, he unexpectedly said, "On second thought, tell them I will see them later." Mana's face brightened.

To their disappointment, Seto shook his head slightly and said, "I advise against that. It is crucial that we have their side if war should ever arise against us. And now, as you may have been informed, there are rumors of an attack against Egypt…"

"All right, all right!" Atemu gave in and held a hand up to silence the Millennium Rod holder. His expression was a cross between annoyance and frustration. "I will go now!" He looked at her apologetically and said, "Maybe later, Mana, when there is time."

Mana nodded and bowed respectfully to him. "It would be my pleasure, Prince," she said formally. Then, she looked up and winked. Atemu smiled and followed Seto inside.

Perhaps they would slip out later when no one would be looking and head to the bazaar or the Nile. She smiled mischievously and thought to herself, Or we could reschedule the Hide-and-Go-Seek game with the priests in the palace. Hehe.

"'Prince?'" asked Mahaado, looking down at his impish student. "He is a king now."

Laughing quietly, Mana headed towards the entrance to the palace and shrugged. "Old habits are hard to break, I suppose."

(-)

He could not be sure why his pupil had wanted to come with him to the final tomb that he had to check before nightfall. Mahaado was behind schedule. One of the guards that had been accompanying him had triggered one of the many traps in one of the previous tombs, and it took several hours to both escape with their lives and reset the trap. And now, the sun had set. Ra had made his way across the sky.

But that was not the point. Why had Mana insisted on coming? She had asked him after the incident on the balcony, and he reluctantly agreed. It was unlike the girl to traipse among the dead rather than walk with the living. He could not fathom an explanation as they entered the crypt, but her reactions to the cool chambers in the burial place answered his questions.

Mana gawked at the walls, at the hallways, at the traps. There was writing on the walls, and she could identify many of them, but there were still hundreds that she could not make out. She was actually glad to have come. At first, it had been something to kill time with. Somewhere she could go while her friends were busy. Now, she felt excited to be inside something so important. Of all the vaults Mahaado had taken her to, it was Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen's!

"Master, what does this say?" she exclaimed, pointing to an illustration on the wall. Before he could answer her, she flitted to a different picture on the wall across from the first. "Oh—oh! What's this? And that—look at that! What does it say?"

Mahaado shook his head and smiled, both pleased and amused by Mana's exuberance. "How am I to answer your questions if you don't allow me to speak? And be more respectful inside a tomb. Especially since this is Atemu's father's."

The girl blushed and waited for her teacher to catch up to her. Unlike his student, Mahaado took his time and did not hurry through his tasks. Mana just simply did not have the patience or time to be so slow. She had mentioned that to him before, but he only rolled his eyes and assigned her more work.

"Let me guess," Mana said, pressing her finger against one of the carvings. "That is the former pharaoh, isn't it? Does it tell of his reign over Egypt? Maybe Atemu is up here somewhere, too!" With that, the brunette girl raced down the hall with her hand sliding along the wall.

After that, the men were blessed with a few minutes of quiet peace.

"Mana, come back before you get lost," Mahaado called out to her wearily but quickened his pace. "And be careful…! There are many traps here that you don't know about." When he received no response, he began to grow worried. "Mana?" He broke into a run. The guards behind him sped up, too. "Mana! Answer me!" Still, there was no shout of reassurance back.

Instead, there was a terrified shriek.

There was a dead silence after that. The dusty air in the tomb reeked with trouble.

"MANA!" Mahaado should have known something like this would happen. Yes, actually, he did. Even if it was suppressed in his subconscious, he realized that this was the greatest fear he held in his heart since the moment they had stepped inside the pyramid. It may have been a long shot, but by some incredible luck (incredibly bad luck), it had happened.

She screamed again. He could hear her, but where was she? Further along this path? Or from the other side of the wall? "Put me down—! Ma—Master!" Sounds of a struggle. She was definitely ahead.

He ran faster. "MANA!"

(-)

Meanwhile, before Mahaado realized that his apprentice was missing, Mana was fine, eagerly looking for hieroglyphs that she could recognize. Then, she realized she was lost.

She glanced around but only saw the dark chamber. "Master… Mahaado?" Her stomach gave a lurch, and she swallowed. Still, even in the darkness, Mana reminded herself to remain calm. Despite the fact that she would remain in here for minutes… at most hours. Mahaado would find her eventually. However big this tomb may have been, he would still be able to find her!

Unless she had stumbled into some secret, hidden chamber. Then it might take days… weeks… months… They may stop searching for her after months… Never mind that—she would die after weeks! She might spend the rest of her days in this damp, dark place. Unknown in this room. With a mummy possibly in the next room… But what did it matter? Wait, she may be punished in the afterlife for trespassing. No, the gods would understand her predicament. She had done nothing wrong, and her heart was not burdened by wrong deeds that would outweigh the Feather of Truth that would judge her… At least, she did not think… Had she lived a good and virtuous life?

Mana shook her head free of those thoughts. What was she thinking? She was still alive now, and her first priority was to find either Mahaado or a way out; not counting all the good deeds she had done in her life! She took a deep breath and looked around more closely. There had been no sudden movements in her surrounding or any sound of heavy stones falling, so she was certain that none of the traps had been sprung.

If nothing had changed, then there had to be a pathway back out. If she retraced her steps, she would bump into Mahaado again sooner or later. Then all will be well, and she would not let his arm out of her death grip until they were out of the tomb. Yes, she had that to look forward to. As for now, she would stay calm and keep her mind from becoming clouded with fear. She would be all right. Isis, help me… she prayed silently to the goddess…

What was the priestess, Isis, doing now? She wondered that as she sprinted down the hallway. She had always been kind to Mana, and the girl respected her greatly. Maybe someday Mana would reach her rank; she could be a great magician and priest—just like Mahaado! And she would be able to talk Atemu all she wanted and not be driven away because the pharaoh had 'important business with the priests to attend to.'

Mana was relieved to find that she had been able to take her mind off her present dilemma. Her eyes had become accustomed to the dark. Things weren't so bad, she told herself and took a deep breath and blew it back out. She had been holding her breath for a while.

She was excited when she heard, faintly but still human, voices around the corner of the hall. A faint light glowed, and Mana ran towards it. She would have shouted out.

But an uneasy feeling kept her from doing so. The voices were unfamiliar. Anxiety clutched her heart, and she backed away. She should be running back, away from the direction she was facing. No matter how loudly her mind advised her, she could not. Her feet were blocks of stone that melded with the floor underneath her.

Finally: No, she thought, whirling around just as they turned the corner. That wasn't Mahaado or the guards! She ignored the shocked cries and dashed away as fast as her legs would permit her. Mana had to find Mahaado now. This time, it was more urgent. She had to tell him—warn him! Those were tomb raiders!

They were pursuing her. And they were catching up. Oh. My. Gods. They were going to kill her—she was certain of it! As soon as they caught her—As soon as she was in their grasp.

A strong had reached out and grabbed her bare shoulder. Mana shrieked. She screamed as loudly as she could, and the hand yanked back on her. The girl fell hard on her back and bumped her head against the stone floor. "Owwww!" Mana groaned, clutching her throbbing head. Large hands grabbed her arms, right above her elbows, and pulled her to her feet. She was dizzy, and her head still hurt, but she still tried to yank herself free.

The light was held up to her face. After being in the dark for so long, Mana's eyes hurt from the sudden brilliance of the lamp. Her pupils shrunk and she jerked her head away, shutting her eyes.

"Huh, just a girl!" a young man's voice whispered, surprised. "See, Heka, I told you that secret passage would take us nowhere! She couldn't have wandered in very far, so I'm willing to bet we're back where we started!"

Heka was a woman. Mana could tell from her voice. She hissed at him, "You're the one that lost track of Bakura's whereabouts! If it weren't for you, we'd… um… Well, we'd still know where he is!"

"Stop this pointless arguing!" the man who held Mana commanded, quietly. The other two's bickering ceased to a silence. "At this rate, we'll never find him! And now look what else we have to deal with!" He lifted the girl in his hands a little, and he sighed. "Let's just finish our job and leave him to do his."

Mana felt his grip loosening. It was now or never. She sprang back and rammed herself into her captor. He gave a grunt of surprise and let go. Mana took her chance and turned and ran past him.

Her heart was pounding furiously. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her in the dark, hoping fervently that she would not crash into a wall. Master…! she thought desperately, wishing he could hear her thoughts. All she wanted was to see him again. If she could be at his side again, she would be safe. He would know what to do. Mahaado would stop those tomb robbers with his ka.

They were not following her. But if what they said was true, then Bakura would be roaming the crypt, too. He was the man who crept through her window that night. Mahaado had told her about him. He was a thief, specializing in raiding tombs, like this one. Now, Mana realized that not only should she find Mahaado for her own safety, but also so Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen would be able to rest in peace.

"MANA!" She heard her name being called out by Mahaado's voice. She felt weak from relief. Oh gods, thank you…!

THUNK

Both of them fell back, hard. In the dark, it was impossible to see who it was, but the person she had run into was a man. Mana was hesitant, and she quickly crawled to her hands and knees. "M—Master…?"

A chill ran down her spine. No, it was someone else. Not Mahaado nor any of the guards. This person—this man's presence was unnerving. An aura of hate surrounded him. Must have been Bakura.

Slowly, she got to her feet. She would not reveal her position if he could not hear her. Unfortunately, the thief knew that fact, too. It was dead quiet. The silence felt like a weight that would crush her. She inched back, gradually creating a greater distance between them.

Her heel caught on an uneven tile. The usually soft chink and scuttle of her feet as she tried to regain her balance was deafening. She clamped a hand over her mouth in horror, her eyes widening.

(-)

Bakura laughed softly. He could see the fear in the girl's large eyes. Having been in the crypt far longer than she had, he was already used to the dark. Everything was still for a moment. Bakura felt like a cat toying with a mouse.

Time started to flow again. Mana whirled around ran. Bakura bolted after her. In less than a second, he had her trapped in his strong arms. "It's dangerous for a little girl to be all alone in a crypt like this," he murmured in her ear. Her struggles increased, but he had her arms pinned down to her sides. Her legs kicked helplessly under her.

"Put me down—!" she screamed, trying frantically to squirm out of his grip. "Ma—Master!"

"Oh, so that priest is here too, eh?" Bakura asked, smirking in the dark. "Is he trying to protect this wretched tomb from me? He'll have to try very hard, especially if he couldn't protect you!"

"MANA!" Mahaado's voice again.

Mana turned her head to look back at him. Her eyes were narrow and defiant. "He knows I'm here! He'll wipe the floor with you in a Duel!"

This time, Bakura's laughter was unrestrained. "HA! How cute. You honestly think he stands a chance against me!"

The girl's dark face flushed in anger. She bit his arm.

His hold on her weakened as he gave a startled grunt. She was certain she had not hurt him, but all she needed was a chance to get away. Mana pushed him away, but before she could run, he had a hold of her arm again. Agh, the same trick doesn't work twice, I know, but it should work once per person…

Light flooded the hall. Mana held up a hand to shield her eyes, but she peeked through her fingers. She jerked her hand away when she saw who had come to her rescue. "Master!" she exclaimed, delighted at the sight of her teacher and the guards carrying warm, blazing torches.

"Mana!" Mahaado blinked when he saw who was standing behind her. "Bakura!"

The thief grinned darkly. "In the flesh," he announced and pulled Mana back to him. She gasped and clawed at the thief's arm as he wrapped it around her neck and added, "And ka."

Instantly, the torches were snuffed out. A colossal white figure illuminated the large hallway. Diabound stood behind Bakura. It seemed a little different than the last Mahaado had seen it…

"Hey," the white-haired tomb robber said, smiling scornfully. "Let's play a game."

"A game?"

Nodding, Bakura said, "Yes. Since you're going to chase after me and battle me anyway, let's make it more interesting for our audience." With that, he motioned to Mana and the guards. "Don't worry. The rules are simple."

Mahaado watched in wonder as Bakura's great ka slowly sank into the floor until it disappeared. Suspicious of the thief's intentions, he muttered, "What's this?"

"The main aspect of the game," replied Mana's captor coolly. "Now, will you play or not? I warn you, though… The more time you take deciding, the more damage Diabound will do. To the tomb…" Bakura grinned maliciously. "Or to your precious mummy."

"…!" Mahaado stood silently, absorbing this psychological blow that may as well have been physical.

"Master!" Mana cried, shaking her head. She was trying her hardest not to burst out in tears. "Don't accept it! This has to be a trap! Please don't—!" Bakura's arm tightened around her throat.

"Yes, Priest," he said mockingly. "Save your own life and run or stay and die defending everything here." He grabbed Mana's chin roughly and turned her to face him. "This girl's life is in my hands, it's true, but it's really up to you."

Priest Mahaado's hands clenched into fists at his sides. He closed his eyes and said, "Fine. Explain the rules."

"Master!"

Bakura nodded, satisfied. "Good. Basically, all you have to do is try to catch me. If you do, you'll win, you get the girl back, I'll be caught, and all that good stuff." Mana blinked and looked up at him to see whether he was being honest or not. "But if you don't catch me, and I make it out of this place, then good luck to you then because you'll have a heck of a time getting out with your life!"

There was more to the game than just that, Mahaado knew, but there was no more time. Bakura gave him one last condescending look before he disappeared into the darkness of the hallway. Mahaado looked back at the guards and told them, "Go back to the entrance. If any more thieves try to get in, stop them. I will go after Bakura alone."

The guards looked at him with concerned expressions. "But, Lord…" Mahaado had been kind to them, and Mana's perpetually sparkling personality was a pleasure to be around. They did not want to leave the priest or his apprentice in such danger. But they had to obey his orders. "Yes…" they said at last. "Yes, Lord Mahaado."

Mahaado went after Mana and Bakura.

(-)

His arm had switched from a choking hold around her neck to an iron-strong grip around her waist. Bakura carried Mana at his side like some large, rolled up rug. And yet, despite her weight, he was going at an incredibly fast speed. Then again, she was not that heavy.

"Put me down!" she yelled at him, pounding her fists against his chest.

"I should," Bakura snorted. "Then, you can die in the traps just like that priest of yours."

Mana stared at him, wide-eyed. "That's what Diabound's doing?"

"Clever girl, aren't you?" came the sarcastic response. Part of Bakura's mind was working on the plan. The other part was figuring out what he was going to do with her. Sure, he had planned to have his vengeance, but he had not expected to see her, much less have her in his grasp, so soon. He wanted revenge to be brilliant, not obvious and hastily thought out! Well, this should be proving a lot right now, Bakura thought to himself scathingly.

Looking back, Mana could see Mahaado had managed to catch up to them. Bakura did, too. "Hey!" he shouted back. "Remember all the traps you've set? As the pursuit leads deeper into the crypt, Diabound will set them off. Know what it feels like to be a tomb robber!" he laughed, "Can you feel the adrenaline?"

Just then, the ceiling above them trembled. Blocks of stone fell, one by one. Bakura darted out of their way easily. A huge stone cube would have flattened the thief and his hostage, had Bakura not leapt away before they were crushed. Mahaado had more difficulty than Bakura, but made it through the trap anyway.

"Bakur—Bakura, why are you doing this?" she asked the tomb raider as he sped up. She glanced behind them and was glad to see Mahaado was still alive.

"I hate him," he answered her bluntly. "I hate all of the priests—the pharaoh… I hate you, too." He looked down at her with a stern glower.

"Was it because I hit you with that vase?" Mana asked, stunned at his disturbing answer. Her own expression was sad. "I'm so sorry." Bakura stumbled but quickly regained his footing. He seemed to slow down.

People rarely apologized to him like that. They usually were unconcerned if he hated them or not or even why he loathed them so much. "Tch," muttered Bakura, much to Mana's dismay. It's too late for me to be able to believe that.

(-)

Mahaado scowled. This was not right. This was insane. Now, he had to think like a tomb robber. As much as he wanted to, he could not run recklessly into danger. He had to be careful. Like always.

He had lost sight of Bakura again. And Mana. If we ever make it through this, I swear I'll never allow Mana inside a tomb again until the day of her death!

From the corner of his eye, Mahaado caught a glimmer of light. It faded as quickly as it had appeared. Mana's shriek echoed ominously, but Mahaado knew that as luck would have it, she would be safest with Bakura, who was one of the best tomb raiders ever. It was a hard fact to admit.

(-)

"Heh." Bakura skid to a stop in the larger chamber and turned around. He pulled out an arrow that had pierced his hood and examined it carefully before throwing it away over his shoulder. No blood. It had barely missed his skin. "He's taking a while," he informed Mana with a wicked grin. "Think he died in the barrage of arrows?"

Mana felt numb; her limbs dangled limply under her like a rag doll. "No…" she said faintly, her eyes still wide. Even now, she wondered whether it was truly safe or not. Bakura thought that her voice seemed a little less certain than before. "No! No, of course not!" Never mind.

The Illusionist Mage bolted out of the dark hallway. Mahaado appeared after it. Bakura's pale blue eyes narrowed dangerously before taking on an amused look. "Still alive, eh?"

"Return the girl." Mana admired how her mentor could still keep a calm expression on his face after all that.

Bakura raised an eyebrow at Mahaado's spirit. It was a strangely clad humanoid figure with a childish physique. Mana felt angry at Bakura's skepticism. In spite of its small appearance, she knew it had the ability to be incredibly powerful. "Oh, so we're fighting ka to ka now?" asked the thief.

The ground underneath them trembled.

Collapsed.

The tiled floor split and fell down to a seemingly bottomless pit. Mahaado jumped back onto stable ground. His ka hovered above the gaping hole in the ground. Mana panicked and clung tightly to Bakura's waist. He was the only that was unworried.

"Illusionist Mage!" Mahaado called out, and the little magician instantly dove down after them. Mana reached a hand out to it.

An alabaster-white snake whipped out at the ka. "No—NO!" Mana cried as it trapped the Illusionist Mage in its white fangs. The snake head thrashed around wildly and finally released it, sending it soaring upwards.

Diabound appeared under them. Bakura landed on his ka's back with Mana right next to him. She realized that he had let go of her, but she could do nothing. If she jumped, she would have plummeted to her death. The Illusionist Mage flew to her in another attempt at rescue.

"You lose, Priest!" Bakura announced, his voice resonating in the chamber. "Who did you think you were? Defeating the King of Thieves at his own game? HA!" He stretched a hand out, his palm facing Mahaado. "Attack, my great beast!" he roared, "Spiral Wave!"

The attack swirled toward the priest, knocking his ka out of the air. "MASTER!" Mana screamed, jumping forward. Bakura grabbed her arm to keep her from leaping off right into Diabound's Spiral Wave. He wondered what happened to her common sense. "NO!" She could not see her teacher anymore. "Master Mahaado!"

Something snapped inside of her. And her mind refused to take in the scene before her eyes. The ruins of the darkening chamber. The great, demonic ka she stood on. Bakura's derisive laughter as they faded into the stone walls of Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen's crypt.

Not that it's relevant to the storyline here, but I find it funny how Atemu is struggling and questioning what his name is in the recent English Shonen Jump magazines, and yet us fans are just writing it down and using it so easily because we were impatient and read spoilers and translated manga scans! Almost makes me feel bad.

R&R!