The Stolen Heart

By Anime-2000

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!. :D If I did, I would have totally changed the ending.

Arewordsspacedlikethis? Tried to fix it. Honest, I have!

It's true. Anime-2000 is still alive. And is slowly recovering from writer's block. Blegh, I should've written down all the relationships and such before starting on this chapter. So, blame my laziness if perspectives are messed up. Also, I didn't get much time to proofread and kinda hurried through it. (Why am I updating it, then?) Please forgive me for that, too.

Baku/Mana is an ultra-rare pairing? No doubt about it! I googled it and got nothing! Except for a couple of fanfics, mine being one of them. I guess it's mainly because the idea is pretty much impossible. XD

Bakura scowled as he circled around his Diabound. "Tch…" His god was different.

But he already knew that. After all, his ka was always evolving. Today… Today, that was not the case. Usually, he would feel that powerful emotion of hatred growing in his heart. That beautiful hate was what gave Diabound its strength, its form. Bakura enjoyed watching his guardian spirit transform; he found pleasure in seeing his own emotions shape his creation. Diabound depended on him as much as he depended on it.

But something was different today.

It was as if that power was slipping.

He called his ka back and, with one last huffy sigh, he sat down where he stood. He regretted that decision. Amun-Ra was being exceptionally cruel today as he sent his blistering rays down upon the desert sands. Egypt was so hot this morning. Almost unbearably.

Bakura sighed and wished that Heka would let him back in the house.

So what if he broke her mirror? She had a dozen more—all exact duplicates; every single one was identical right down to their golden-gilded frames. With a low growl, he cursed her vanity. And obstinacy. And fickleness. He hunched over his legs as he racked his brain for more Heka traits that he could condemn. There was just no reasoning with that woman.

"Hmmm…" But back to Diabound. What was wrong with Diabound?

The soft sound of a small foot sinking in the sand behind him caught his attention. His great beast sprang out from him in a white flourish to defend against the intruder. Heka's surprised shriek kept Bakura from allowing his ka to completely eradicate her. For a split second, he almost wanted to. Through gritted teeth, he shook that thought out of his head with a "Tch." It's the hatred talking, he reminded himself before getting up to face her.

The ebony-haired woman had her hands pressed to her mouth. He laughed as Diabound retreated behind him. "I'm allowed back in, then?"

Heka lowered her hands to her side and gave him a stern look. With an unimpressed "humph!", she strode over to him. "And here I was, ready to apologize, and you go and spring that monster on me!"

"Diabound is a god," Bakura corrected her heatedly. Odd. Already, he was growing tired of bickering. His brain had been baking in the sun for far too long.

Heka rolled her eyes impatiently. "Anyway, I came to call you in for lunch." Bakura made no effort to reply and walked past her. Heka stood silently for a moment as she watched Diabound return to its master. "Bakura…?" Her voice held a concerned curiosity to it. "Have you noticed a change in Diabound lately?"

Bakura winced inwardly at her observation. On the outside, his face had a dark frown etched on it. "What about it?"

Sighing, she said, "Nothing." She shook her head and repeated, "Nothing. Maybe I was just seeing things."

That's what he hated about her. Whenever she saw some major flaw concerning him, she would always hide her knowledge. He wondered why. Was it because she thought that he, Bakura, was incapable of taking criticism? Was she afraid that he would do something stupid to prove her wrong? How insulting.

Without appropriate reason nor thought, he turned back around and snapped at her, "What do you see? What's wrong with it?" Heka was startled by his sudden brusque reply. Realizing his blunder, he apologized stiffly and said again through clenched teeth, "What do you think is wrong with Diabound?"

She studied him for an impossibly long time. The white-haired thief was had almost been positive that she was trying to read his mind, had she not suddenly said, "What do you think about?"

He blinked stupidly at her question. What did he think about? "What do I…? What's that have to do with anything?" he demanded, an annoyed expression appearing on his face. Heka raised a darkened brow, and Bakura shrugged. "Fine, revenge. Obviously. You know that. And right now, I'm hungry. I'm thinking about food."

As he was about to go back into the house, she grabbed his arm and stopped him. "What else?" she asked. Bakura gave her a quizzical look. She gave a long, exasperated sigh and said, "I know you do not have a mind like Rasha's! You are more complex—you are Bakura." When he said nothing, she pressed on, "Do you think about that girl, Mana?"

In an instant, he had jerked his arm away from her. Before he could retort, she said, firmly, "Maybe that's why your ka is weakening."

It was as if someone had punched him square in the jaw. "W—What?"

"You care about her," Heka stated simply. As Bakura opened his mouth to deny it, she continued, "And I don't care how, dear, but it's more than you love us." She did not seem hurt by this fact. Actually, she seemed happy. Heka smiled at him. "And that is enough to push some of the hatred out of your heart."

Glowering at her, Bakura said, "Are you saying what I think you are…?"

"Only if you're thinking that that compassion in your heart is what's turning Diabound back to its original form," Heka said, placing her hands on his broad shoulders. "After all, your ka is powered by that hatred, right? It grows from it. And that love, however small it may be, weakens your hatred. And without that negative emotion, Diabound starts to… unevolve."

"Impossible!"

She clapped her hands together and said, cheerfully, "Oh, I'm ecstatic!"

Shaking his head slowly, Bakura murmured, "But I… That can't… What can I do…?"

Heka twirled around and laughed, "I haven't the slightest clue, but I do know that you won't die a horrible, spitefully cruel death that I was positive you would suffer now that you're going down this road!" Bakura stared at her witheringly. She was giggling like a girl. It reminded him of Mana… Oh no—wait—it did not! It did not remind him of her! He was not thinking about her! "And not only that, you're healing so well, too! Everything's working out perfectly!" She patted his head lightly and straightened his white, spiky locks of hair.

He was still numb with disbelief as the short woman skipped back inside.

Bakura fell to his knees. His mind did not seem to register the scorching ground anymore. All he could think of was what Heka had told him. It couldn't be… he thought desperately. Kuru Eruna… I have to avenge it… Diabound can't weaken… I can't! All this new information was spinning around his mind at dizzying speed. "D-dammit." Bakura laughed softly. What was he supposed to do now?

With all his strength, he smashed his fists into the sand before him and let his forehead rest on the hot sand. His skin burned. "Yeah… Just damn perfect…"

(-)

Mahaado, too, had noticed a change. But it was in his student. Mana had become more and more withdrawn lately, often choosing to spend her free time by herself in her room rather than with her friends. Even when Atemu had offered to play with her, she only smiled and politely declined. Afterwards, he found her sighing languorously as she walked around the palace halls aimlessly.

She would look up every once in a while and scan her surroundings vaguely before drifting back off in her own little world again. She spent time inside and out, but she always seemed to be looking for someone. Waiting for someone.

Who could it be?

He wondered whom she was expecting to see every time her eyes darted up and out a window during her lessons. Every once in a while, Mahaado would follow her on one of her walks without her knowledge. She passed by every single person she knew in the palace without so much as a glance at him or her. They were not the ones she was seeking.

The holder of the Millennium Ring grew concerned. His mind was pushing back the final possibility, but it soon broke through his mental barriers:

It was Bakura.

What could have happened between them for her to be awaiting his arrival so anxiously? Mana never did tell him. She failed to answer Atemu's questions, too. That was rare. Mahaado watched her from behind with silent worry as she rested her arms on the balcony railing.

Mana did not look back, but only sighed as she said, "Master, are you there?" Mahaado said nothing. Finally, Mana peered over her shoulder to see her teacher standing several meters away. He did not move or make any sign of embarrassment of being caught following her. She never expected him to. Smiling slightly, she asked him with a shadow of her former mischief, "Am I late to my next lesson, Master Mahaado?"

With a vague shake of his head, he brushed away her little concern with a simple "Not yet." Mana turned her head back around as he walked forward, finally stopping at her side. "But it does, in a way, bring me to this topic: I have been observing a deviation in your daily routines…"

Her eyes fell on her teacher, sliding from his face to the golden Ring hanging from his neck. Even if his eyes were not directed toward her, she could not bring herself to meet them; Mana felt less comfortable with him than she had ever felt before. "And what's that?"

"Your thoughts are wandering towards that thief."

In an instant, her face was tinged with pink, and she suddenly became entranced with a blemish on her shoulder. "What thief?"

"Bakura."

"What—" Mana caught herself and turned away. She cleared her throat and, with more respect, asked, "What do you mean by that, Master?"

Raising his brows, the priest turned to her. By the way she was answering with questions, he could tell that she was trying to dodge his own. Did she honestly think that he would not catch on? Fine, he would go straight to the point. "You like him, don't you?"

Frowning, Mana wanted to face him and ask, snappishly, "That's none of your business!" But she held it back; it would be foolish. She would have seemed too defensive, and Mahaado was not the one to blame for her confused feelings. Besides, she did not quite understand his point of view yet. How stupid would she look if she began shouting at him for something she did not understand? "What's wrong with him? Is he really a horrible person?"

Again with the questions, Mahaado noted as he brought a hand to his face. His fingers cupped his chin as he said, pensively, "You know what I mean, Mana, don't you? I'm not fully denouncing him just yet. Although, I do wonder about where his thoughts lie. What does he perceive the world and us as?"

That was it? Mana had expected something different… Cheering up at his words, she said, "Bakura told me that royalty was a fantasy. He said that true reality dealt with death and hardships. But… I do know that royalty has its difficulties, too… Like Atemu being betrothed to one of his cousins… He doesn't even like her!"

"We're digressing, Mana," Mahaado said with a wave of a hand, as if brushing the pharaoh's problem away, and leaned closer to her. "What else did he tell you?"

"He says…" Mana scowled as she tried to recall her experiences with the Thief King. She looked up at the man with her sad eyes. "He also said that because he's trying to bring up the crime that Atemu's father tried to hide, he's labeled as evil…." With a sudden fervor, she added on, "But I told him what you once said to me, about emotions and their power!"

Mahaado smiled behind his hand. At least Mana had paid attention to his lessons. "And you think that is the source of his power?"

Gloomily, she replied, "Master, you know that as well as I do! Before yesterday, I knew almost nothing about him, and you would only give me the basic facts!"

Mahaado gave her a small, guilty smile, allowing Mana that victory.

She continued, "Infinite hatred like his is powerful. It's really bad, I know, but I think he likes it. Even if we try, I don't know what will happen… He's beyond hope, isn't he?"

"Well, who wouldn't want such power?" Mahaado asked her, lowering his hand to the banister. "When revenge is the goal, a person could go through extreme torment just to avenge someone or something."

"You sealed away your power, Master," Mana said, smiling slightly at him. "You did that to prevent the evil power of the Ring from escaping! But Bakura…?"

He answered, "Bakura and I are two completely different people, Mana."

Looking down at her clasped hands, Mana said quietly, "Okay, I know… but I don't want something bad to happen to him. He was a good person. Then that aversion took control of him, and it's destroying him from the inside out." She pulled her palms apart and rested her head on them. "But he's really not a bad person. I mean… At least he brought me home, right?"

Nodding, Mahaado placed a hand fondly on her head and said, "I know. But past experiences shape the man the child will grow into. Even if he isn't evil, the memories that haunt him are. Either ways, I won't allow a thief to harm our pharaoh. Atemu is your friend; you must understand that such—"

Mana clapped her hands together and gasped. "Atemu!" Mahaado made no reaction to his apprentice's sudden outburst. He stood patiently next to her as she babbled on, "Oh, I forgot about him completely! He must be angry with me! I gotta go find him…" She turned to him and gave a quick, hasty bow and bolted off.

Sighing, the priest called after her, "Mana!" The girl looked back but did not slow her pace. "You can do that after your lesson!"

"Muh—my what?" Mana asked bluntly. He had to be joking. Then again, when did Priest Mahaado joke about his student's lessons?

"Ahead of you!"

Blinking in confusion, she turned her head back around just as she stumbled into one of the large pots in the hallways. She promptly fell in, headfirst. "Ooh! Ow!" The holder of the Millennium Ring closed his eyes and massaged his temples as Mana's legs kicked helplessly above her.

Inside the pot, Mana mumbled angrily to herself as she straightened her dress. An embarrassed scowl appeared on her red face as she asked sheepishly, "Ah… Master?"

(-)

He glared at her and then turned his head back around as he headed for the door. "Bakura, stop!" Heka grabbed the hood of his overcoat and yanked back. Not having expected that, the man fell backwards and into her. He should have seen it coming, though. "You're acting like a child!" She pushed him upright and spun him around to face her.

Again, she was met with a baleful glower. "Ah, so what are you supposed to be? My mother?"

That blatant insult did it. Heka looked hurt. She bit the insides of her lips and cast her gaze downwards to their feet. "No… But I thought I was the closest thing you had to a mother since that… day…" There was really no word to describe the day when the Millennium Items were forged. Painful memories arose whenever they tried to label it, so that day was left unnamed. It simplified life a little and made their losses a little easier to bear. "I mean… Bakura, for Isis' sake, I raised you…"

Snarling, he pushed her back. It absolutely infuriated him whenever she would weaken to his callous remarks about her maternal abilities. He wanted her to put up a fight, to yell back at him like she used to, when he was younger. Why couldn't she stick her face in his and threaten to throw him out if he kept on being an ingrate?

Now, she would back down whenever the situation became too tense. Her weakness made it impossible to release all that pent up rage building inside of him.

"Well, it doesn't matter anyway!" he told her, his hands hovering before him as if he were unsure what to do with them. He just stared at them. "I steal and hurt. I steal, hurt, and kill. Don't you see? I've killed so many people that I don't even hesitate anymore when a life—other than my own—is in danger because of my actions!"

Her mouth was a straight line, keeping the protest behind her sealed lips. Bakura smirked bitterly. Well, Heka did not need to know what happened in the tomb.

"And none of that is your fault." Heka shook her head slowly, as if uncomprehending. Bakura continued calmly, "It's not your fault because this is what I choose to be. Don't tell me you've forgotten, Heka, that I swore to avenge Kuru Eruna. If I had allowed you to replace my mother, my hatred would have never been able to be grow so rapidly; that wound would have healed without so much as a scar, and Diabound would never have been the god that it is now."

"You fool!" Heka shrieked at him.

That's right. Fight back. His smile grew as she bombarded him with her rage.

"This is why you will suffer! It's because you're so STUPID!" She stepped forward and struck his face with a loud slap. "Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?" Heka cried and lowered her arm. "The gods have given you a new chance! If I hadn't found you, your dead carcass would probably still be rotting in Kuru Eruna!"

Feeling no remorse whatsoever, Bakura yelled back, "I never wanted to be rescued! I felt at peace! All that trauma obliterated all of my sanity! Everything around me changed! How did you expect me— And then you come along and try to 'save' me—and this is what happens! I realized that this is my destiny—"

Another slap was swiftly delivered to the other side of his face. "Destiny?" screeched the black-haired woman. "Destiny is the gods' will! You were destined to be saved! Sure, I come along, and that's a coincidence. But what about that girl? You can't tell me that that was a coincidence!"

As he pressed a hand against his reddening skin, he said dangerously, "Don't you dare bring her into this, woman. I don't care about her. Plain and simple."

"Liar." Heka snorted, "I've told you that she is the reason your hatred keeps ebbing away. Maybe you weren't destined to avenge our village."

It was all Bakura could do to keep himself from striking her. Heck, he had her shoulder clenched tightly in his hand, with the other first drawn back behind him. He should have, seeing how she landed two blows on him in less than two minutes.

"Go on!" Heka spat, giving him a clearly disgusted glare. "Hit me!"

But after all these years, he supposed he really did owe Heka a great debt, even if it was unwillingly. He let go of her and allowed his other arm to fall limply at his side. "The only thing that's keeping me from reaching my full potential is you. All of you. This feeling that's always hampered me… That is your fault. Yours, Rasha's, Hakim's…" He shrugged and turned around. "And maybe that brat's…"

"Love, you mean?" Heka laughed bitterly. "Love is not a bad thing."

"It's getting in my way," he said coolly, and walked out the door. "I don't need it, and I don't need you. I don't want to see any of you again."

(-)

"Were you hurt?"

Mana snorted indignantly at Atemu's question. She had come to the marketplace to take her mind off of that humiliating debacle, not be interviewed by the Great Pharaoh about it. "No," she told him firmly and sped up, walking ahead of him.

Atemu smiled and pulled his white hood down further over his golden bangs. He had managed to tame that wild hair of his and bind it down into a thick ponytail. His outfit was what a common merchant would wear. Even Mana had to admit that it was impressive how he had not blown his cover yet. "Oh." His grin widened, and he caught up to her. "In that case, it was funny!"

Shaking her head fiercely, she cried, "No, it was not!" Her face her flushed into a darker shade of pink as she turned to him. "How can you be so mean, Atemu?"

Her voice had risen in volume. Commoners were beginning to look in their direction. Murmurs had started to float into Atemu's ears. The young pharaoh placed his hands on his friend's mouth. "Mana, please stop. You're going to blow my cover." Mana sighed angrily and nodded, signaling that she would submit just this once. Laughing heartily, Atemu looked back at their audience and waved an arm at them. "Just a lover's quarrel. Nothing to see here! Move along."

When the disappointed spectators had dispersed, Mana gave her king a strange look. "I wish you wouldn't say that…"

His eyes widened slightly at the comment. "What do you mean, Mana?" he asked, a look of genuine bewilderment replacing his smile. "That's what we always say when we attract too much attention here."

It was one of their many, beloved inside jokes, but when he said it this time, Mana felt uneasy. She felt as if she were betraying someone. She frowned. Bakura? She looked up at the azure sky. No… Curse this blush that was creeping across her face!

So why, then, was he constantly invading her mind?

"You don't look well." Atemu's concerned expression replaced the thief's smirking face. The brunette bit her lower lip. "Should we head back to the palace?"

She frowned. "No, it's nothing…"

How odd; she saw him again. Bakura. Why was he appearing everywhere she looked? Mana rubbed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. When she looked up again, Bakura was still there. Her jaw dropped. But he paid no attention to her. She wanted to yell out his name. Mana wanted to wave her arms and get his attention.

But she could not when the pharaoh was standing right in front of her. You know, the pharaoh standing in front of her that had just seen her face blanche. "Mana, what's wrong?"

The Thief King had disappeared. "It—it's nothing!" Mana shook her head, but the movement seemed mechanical.

"Is there something behind me—?"

"NO!" shrieked Mana just as he was back to turn back. She gently pushed him aside and rushed forward. "Sir!" she called back to him, remembering to withhold Atemu's name this time. "I'm so sorry—I'll explain later, I promise!"

And just like that, she disappeared into the crowd. Atemu shook his head slightly in disbelief. What was wrong with that girl?

(-)

He was there. He was there! She saw him this time—she was positive that it was him! But where did he go? Mana came to a halt and looked around frantically. There were so many people. Where was he?

A flash of crimson caught her eye. Mana jerked her head around to see the familiar red coat, but bustling merchants immediately blocked her view. "Bak—" She hesitated as she stepped back to avoid collision. Was it him? For a split second, she was unsure. But if the abeyance held out any longer, she would lose him in the throng of storekeepers and customers.

She gave a low, irritated growl. That was not going to happen. She breathed in deeply and shouted out, "BAKURA!"

For the briefest of moments, she saw him one more time: the white-haired, arrogant thief with the white crossed scar under his right eye. He stared back at her with this inexplicably stunned expression on his face. This time, she would not let him out of her sight. Mana rushed forward, shoving past the many faceless strangers that were in between them. He was right in front of her. He stood mere inches away. She reached her arms out and wrapped them around him in a tight embrace.

The tomb raider gasped as her body collided with his. He staggered back and looked down at the brown mass of hair. "Y—you… Mana." He gaped at the girl as she looked up at him.

"You lied!" she hissed, her face twisting into a hurt frown. "You said you'd see me within a week, Bakura! I waited for nine days!" As she was about to pull away, he held her closer to him.

"Tch." He gave her a scornful look. "Why would you trust me?" Mana listened to the low laugh rumble from his chest and out his mouth. "Stupid girl." There was a fondness in his voice that made her immediately forgive his words. After all, Bakura had difficulties saying anything affectionate without making it seem condescending.

Squeezing her eyes shut tight, Mana replied, "Why would you lie to me?"

"Isn't that what I'm good for?" he asked sarcastically. An embarrassed sigh escaped from Bakura and he pushed her away. "Don't start crying on me now." Mana just laughed and rubbed at her eyes vigorously with the backs of her hands. "Seriously, it annoys the hell out of me because I don't know what to do."

"Okay, okay…" Mana beamed at him. "I'm just glad to see you. Really glad."

Bakura's eyes softened for the briefest moment before hardening again as he responded, "Bah."

(-)

Mana reached out. Bakura snorted at the expression on her face. True, there was no one there to see them. Heka was not home. He was beginning to regret that argument he had with her and hoped that she had not actually relayed his message to Rasha and Hakim. The two men were nowhere to be seen. That was not a good sign. (Not that it bothered him, of course.) "What in Horus' name are you doing?" he snapped as she took a step closer to Diabound.

"Am I touching it? Your ka?"

"Oh. Still can't see Diabound yet, can you?"

Shaking her head, Mana admitted, "Okay, not yet. But I'm close. The shape is defining. I can see hazy wings… A snake…?" Bakura's ka looked down at the girl with apathetic disinterest. She did not seem to pose a threat to Bakura, and she emitted no dangerous aura. The magic within her had great potential but was not fully tapped into yet. Diabound's wings flapped lethargically as Mana's fingertips brushed against its lower, snake half.

She knew she had made contact immediately. Pleased with herself, Mana giggled and held her hands out to the great white spirit. "Hello!" she called out to it. "I'm Mana!"

Her magic was strengthening. Even now Bakura felt the power within her growing stronger and stronger. He was surprised that she had not already surpassed the priest who held the Millennium Ring that he so desired. She could pose a serious threat to him in the future… But then again, he doubted it. She would not be his enemy… would she?

But first, she had to improve before her magic would concern him. Besides, he did not think she would turn on him… Still… He asked her, "Hey, you're trying to be a magician, aren't you?" Mana's eyes widened in surprise at his sudden question, and she nodded. "You're not working very hard, are you?"

Her cheeks darkened into a shade of red. "I do work hard!" she snapped at him and made an immature face at him. "I guess…" Sighing, she shrugged with a look of sheepish sadness on her countenance. "Sometimes, my mind drifts off." Mana shrugged again and almost comically, said, "Oh well!"

He watched her with silent interest. As much as he hated to admit it, he did feel an attraction to this girl. Bakura sighed. Could Heka be right about him? That was the one thing he refused to admit. He could not go back to her and say, 'Hey, ya know, you were right. Sorry 'bout all that… Let's be friends again!' He shuddered mentally that the thought.

"Don't get me wrong—I… I really wanna be a mage—a sorcerer, like—like Master Mahaado!" Mana suddenly spoke up again. Bakura blinked and then rolled his eyes at the name. Why does that damn priest come up in almost every single one of their conversations? She laughed softly and stepped away from Diabound. "Although… I just realized that I'm kinda scared to be a full-fledged magician. There's so many things that I have to do. And I don't know how I'm going to cope or understand everything. My aspiration is to be a priestess… But the idea itself is just so… overwhelming…! I still have so much to learn!"

Grinning mischievously, he asked her, "Will you be judging the souls of sinners, too?"

"I guess I might have to…"

Bakura chuckled and said, "Just because you're a magician doesn't mean you have to be a priestess." Mana's face was a picture of confusion. "Oh, come on!" he said encouragingly albeit impatiently. "What do you think Heka is?"

Shaking her head fervently, the brunette exclaimed, "No, no! I know that I don't have to be a priestess in order to know magic, but…" Her face was flushed, her eyes were open and sparkling. Bakura smiled at the ambivalence that her face displayed. She seemed so vulnerable. He wanted to protect that expression. That face. That girl. Mana. "What are you… saying, exactly?"

"Hmmmm…"

Feh, it's not like I had to come back. Bakura stared at the small house, which Heka called home. I don't belong here anymore. Not after what I said to her… If Heka came back at that moment, he would have a hard time explaining what he was doing at her house with Mana at his side.

"Bakura?"

But he should leave soon. He could take Mana with him… could he not? Bakura looked down at her. "Do you really want to stay languishing in that palace?"

Mana could not believe what she was hearing. Was Bakura actually impying…? "I wouldn't mind… terribly…Why?"

"Didn't you say that you're afraid to be a priestess? And you still think that you have a lot to learn, right?" he asked, smiling rather deviously. Mana's brows met.

"I didn't mean it like that."

He knew that she was no fool. But he also knew that she was waiting for him to broach the question that both of them had on their minds. "I've done some thinking about leaving this godforsaken place, stealing from foreign tombs, you know? May pose more of a challenge." Mana giggled. "They say you learn most from traveling… so what do you say? Wanna run away with me?"

(-)

Quickly. She had to get there before anyone caught her. Mana sighed a silent, aggravated sigh. Although she wanted to reach her destination as soon as possible, she had to make sure her movements were light and soft. In the dark, tranquil halls, her footsteps seemed so loud. Mana grimaced, feeling as if the sound echoed so piercingly that everyone in the palace would hear her.

Still, Bakura must have had an even harder time avoiding suspicion… With Diabound and all… she tried to reassure herself. Somehow, it failed to help. Not like he would even care about it! Mana thought anxiously, remembering the Thief King's personality.

Blunt. That was Bakura. If he felt he was superior to his opponents (and not just playing with them) he would go right up to them and challenge them right then and there. The direct approach was dangerous, but that obviously did not faze Bakura. His ka was nearly invincible, he himself was a strong fighter, and fear was not something that got in his way.

It was true that Mana admired this, but it was also somewhat of a bane. She was amazed that Heka's long, lustrous black hair was not already streaked with gray and white from years of dealing with Bakura's escapades.

Why were her footsteps so loud? It sounded like there was someone else running with her! Her breath caught, and her idle thoughts left her instantly. She backtracked a few steps, but there was nowhere to hide. The second set of footsteps stopped, too.

A cool, nervous sweat formed on her skin. Slowly, she looked back over her shoulder. Her dark eyes widened at the sight of her young king. "A—Atemu…!"

She was met with an equally surprised expression. In the dim light of the moon, she could barely make out his features, but she could tell that he had been following her since that meeting all of the priests, including the pharaoh, attended adjourned. That was when she had left. Initially, she had stayed because she wanted to speak with Mahaado one last time before she left, but at the last possible moment, she decided against it. What was she supposed to say, anyway?

His reply was far from brilliant. But it still brought a blush to Mana's cheeks. "Mana…" he said, almost exasperatedly. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Well, umm…" His Mahaado impression was flawless. He even had Mana stammering to explain herself. "Okay… Atemu, you're probably not going to understand anyway if I tell you to see this in my perspective, so I'll be honest…"

He frowned. "What are you talking about?" Mana grinned and looked up. Atemu knew she would not reveal this little secret that she had been hiding ever since she had come back that afternoon. "Come on, you promised me you would tell me what was going on!"

"Mmn…" Mana wanted to turn around and run, but Atemu's stare held her where she stood. He was pharaoh, okay. He was also her dear friend. And she did promise him… She ran it past him hastily, "Fine, here it is: I know you think I'm crazy for this and you'll probably tell Master Mahaado, but it'll way too late when you do because I'm leaving now with Bakura, and everything'll be okay because think about-if I take Bakura away, you won't have to worry about him raiding any more tombs here, and I know he's Master's main concern, seeing how skilled Bakura is at his work-and I'm going to miss everyone here, you, Master, but…but…" Mana floundered there and finally closed her mouth.

Atemu blinked and said, "Okay… Wait…. What do you mean you're leaving with Bakura…?" He stepped forward, as if afraid she would run away before he had a chance to oppose her decision. "The guy's dangerous! And a criminal! How can you possibly think of running away with him? You only know him for so long, and then you just choose him over us—me, Mahaado… all of us?"

Mana wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "I know I sound selfish and stupid…" Atemu froze, confused and hurt. As he opened his mouth, she let go and said firmly, "but I do want to stay with Bakura." The tri-colored-haired boy's eyes seemed to plead Why? and she answered him, "Look, he's not a bad person. If he lived the same life as you did, he would not be this way. I'd explain more, but I don't have any more time."

"Don't do this."

"I'm sorry…Prince." She gave him a weak attempt at a smile. Atemu copied her. "But Bakura seems to be changing. And I don't want to see him suffering anymore because of something in his past that he had no control over. It's not fair. Besides," she told him with a wave just as she whirled around and ran down the hallway, "it's our fault, too…"

The young ruler of Egypt watched her until she was gone, his legs rooted to the ground. The golden puzzle hanging from his neck seemed as dull and heavy as lead.

He heard footsteps behind him but did not acknowledge the new presence.

"My lord, have you seen Mana?" came the uneasy voice of Priest Mahaado. His concern increased when all his pharaoh did was sigh dejectedly, shaking his head. "Pharaoh Atemu?"

"Our fault…?" Atemu said quietly, absently. He smiled down morosely at his Millennium Item. "Blame linked from one trauma to the one preceding it. If we are at fault for the misdeeds of one scarred from our actions, who do we blame for our own misdeeds?"

Mahaado took only one second in realizing what Atemu meant.

(-)

Bakura sat on the stone blocks that served as a railing to the balcony. "You're late," he said, smirking. The moonlight struck the alabaster, shining form of the great Diabound behind the thief lord. Mana could almost see it.

"I was… just saying a few goodbyes…" Mana said sincerely. She nodded as he motioned for her to come to him. "I might not see them again for a long, long time."

As she drew closer to him, he said slowly, "You know… Even if you do come back, they might not welcome you with open arms…"

"Really?"

"You betrayed them. Considering you ran off with the greatest tomb robber of all time…" Bakura grinned as Mana attempted to muffle her giggles behind her hand. He shrugged and stood up, looking back at Diabound. "But you can come back here any time you want."

Mana's brows rose. "No kidding? You'd let me visit here again? But you hate this place!"

Shrugging, the white-haired man rested his hand on the docile snakehead of his ka. "I'm a thief. There's nothing more rewarding—nothing that I value more—than my freedom after a good plunder. It's like an added bonus when the bumbling guards can't catch you as make off with all of the loot." He chuckled as his great beast's wings stretched out slowly. "So I don't see a point in keeping you caged up right beside me. I'd probably drop you off nearby. I'm not accompanying you in, you know that?"

Nodding again, Mana answered, "Yeah… I kinda figured that out…"

The atmosphere was rather tense around them. Mana wondered whether Bakura was stalling, in case she wanted to stay. Why would he do that…? She looked at him thoughtfully. Did Bakura not want her to regret her mistake by giving her more time to think about what she was doing? Was it because he still felt unsure whether he could trust her or not? She frowned. Maybe it was because he really did not want her to go with him?

"Will ya quit staring at me like that?" Bakura's order snapped her out of her thoughts. He extended a hand to her. "All right, come on. We'll go before we attract any more attention." He rolled his eyes, as if embarrassed by the words coming out of his own mouth.

Reaching for his rough hand tentatively, Mana asked, "Are you sure you want me to come?"

"What's the matter?" Bakura's face split into an almost conceited smile as he taunted her gently. "Having second thoughts?"

Scowling, Mana gave an annoyed grunt and said, "Of course not!"

"Then you know my answer."

Mana beamed at him. Just as her hand grasped his, a voice shattered the silence of the night. "YOU!" Both of their heads jerked towards the balcony entrance.

Mahaado glared, his blue eyes positively blazing. Though his aura was flaring up dangerously, he still seemed composed, despite having shouted at them a moment ago. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked venomously.

She had no doubt whatsoever that Atemu had relayed her message to him. Mana had anticipated that, but she had hoped that they would have left long before then. "M—Master, I—"

"No, not you." Mahaado's stare was, now, clearly directed towards Bakura. "You. Wretched thief. What do you think you're doing with my apprentice?"

Bakura laughed loudly. "Well, looks like we were caught! Does it matter anyway?" He grinned at Mahaado challengingly. "What can you do about it? Are you gonna send that pathetic excuse of a mage at me?"

The priest was not backing down. Mana had never seen her teacher so angry before. "Do you honestly think you can come storming into our lives, seduce my student just for an underhanded blow at the pharaoh, and think I would stand idly by while you do so?"

Snorting, Bakura snapped caustically, "Oh you think you're so clever? Of course that's all I wanted to do!" His fists were shaking at his sides. "What the hell do you know? You're the same as me!"

"You?"

"Master… Bakura…" Mana's pleading was in vain.

Mahaado turned to her, his countenance beseeching. "Mana, don't go with him. You can't trust someone like him!"

"Why? Just because you say so? Because you're her master and better? I'm sick of you royals thinking you're better than everyone else just because you have those bloody Items! What if I had one, too?" Bakura jabbed a finger at Mahaado. "You—Priest Mahaado, you've always annoyed me! Now you're really making me mad! I claim what's rightfully mine, the stolen blood of my villagers! Diabound! Spiral Wa—"

"Stop!" Mana shrieked, flinging herself at him.

Bakura stumbled back from her weight and fell over the railing.

Staring in incredulity at what had just happened, Mahaado rushed to the place where the two had been standing. "No… Mana!"

Suddenly, shooting upward was a colossal statue-like being. Mahaado stepped back. He knew it was Diabound immediately. In the palm of its clawed hand were his disciple and the tomb raider.

"Damn priest!" yelled Bakura, positively enraged. He could feel the hatred, anger, loathing… All of those deliciously blackening emotions sweep into his heart again. He could feel them flowing into Diabound. With power like this, the entire palace would be rubble in a matter of seconds!

If he hadn't remembered the girl at his side, that is. The brunette clung onto his arm tightly, her eyes looking up at him in horror. He glowered at her and then back at Priest Mahaado. If he had it his way, those two large sapphires of hers would never affect him. Bakura sighed. But he did not. "Diabound! Let's go!" he called back to his giant ka.

(-)

Atemu arrived just in time to see Mahaado slam his fists into the pale stone railing. He looked around. The night was illuminated only by a gibbous moon and no stars. There was no point in asking what had happened to Mana.

The crimson-eyed youth already knew. He groaned quietly, his knees hitting the floor under him dully as he lost feeling in his legs.

By the frustrated, devastated way the priest growled, "Dammit… That's twice… That's twice he's won her away," Pharaoh Atemu knew she was gone.

Ah, finally finished. Yesh, yesh…

Whoa… Four chapters and it's longer than the first fic in my 'Magic Trilogy.' XD And the next chapter's the last! Questioning how Anime will finish this in one chapter? You have all the right to.

R&R, please!