Note: Yes, I said the updates would be delayed, well I lied...I've had more time on

my hands then I thought...So...Here I am writing again...Plus, it helps keep my mind

off of family issues...so...I hope you're happy...ok...now I'm trying to keep my

promise and make this update as long as I can...so be happy!

Also, something went wrong with my computer, so this update may be messed up...sorry!

Chapter 23

Strong boy:

Kuni stared down into the clear water of the Nile. "Bakura has to be dead...He

Couldn't have lived through that. There was no way." She whispered to herself. But for

some reason, guilt rushed through her. Waves of it. Like it was the ocean and it was about

to swollow her whole. She kept dwelling on the fact that she could have been wrong, and

that she was ruining Avila's life in some way.

"It's not too late to turn back now. But what about the Pharaoh!" She gave a frustrated

cry and slapped her forehead. "I'm tired of this! I need to get over this. I did the right

thing! That's all that matters!" Kuni turned around, and studied the boats deck. Men and

woman lounged around, waiting for their long journey to come to an end. Children ran

around, kicking small balls and playing with wooden dolls.

A part of Kuni didn't want to leave either. But if it was for the safety of her friend, then

she was willing to give Egypt up. She'd rather live out her days knowing they were safe

then having to worry all the time about being caught then murdered. "I did the right

thing." She whispered to herself, giving a small smile of satisfaction.

"Miss! Miss!" A young girl rushed to Kuni's side, a doll dangling from the crook of her

arm. Kuni, frowning with worry at the urgency in the child's voice, knelt down in front of

her. "What is it child. Why do you like so worried?" She pushed back a strand of the girls

dark hair and studied her clouded brown eyes. "Miss Avila needs you! She's losin the

baby! Master Malik sent me!" She grabbed Kuni's hand, urging her towards the ladders.

But Kuni needed no help, she was rushing towards them with haste.

She felt her body drain of warmth, a chill running down her spine and touching the tips of

her toes. If Avila lost this child, Bakura's child, she would have nothing left. No hope. No

strength. Nothing. The unborn child was all that was keeping her sane, and if she lost it

now, there was nothing that could save her.

Kuni pushed open her friend's cabin door, only to have it run smack dab into Mali's chest.

"What's going on!" She screamed, trying to make her way into the cramped room. Malik

grabbed her with his arm and brought her into his chest, kicking the door shut.

"She's...She's...What is she doing again Adonis!" Malik asked in a low confused whisper.

Adonis looked up from his task and sighed. "She's hemorrhaging." He went back to his

task, ignoring the shriek that came from Kuni. "No! No!" She shouted, shaking her head.

Malik brought her closer into his chest and ran his hand down her back for comfort.

"Ssshh...Avila is resting. Don't wake her. We don't need her freaking out on us too..."

Kuni buried her head into his chest and heaved a sigh. "You know what this means

right?" Kuni whispered, choking back her fright. Malik gave a grunt, understanding her

question. "Bakura is going to kill me." He muttered.

Avila gave a moan of pain as she tried to move her head. Her whole body felt stiff and

hard, as if a rather large man was laying on her. "Bakura...?" She asked, as she managed

to lift her head a little. She felt a cool hand push her back into the cot, then place a wet

cloth onto her forehead. "I'm sorry Avy..." Kuni whispered, as she pushed away wet

strands from her face. Avila forced her eyes open and stared up at her friend in confusion.

"What happened to me...?" She shoved the wet cloth off her forehead then struggled to sit

up. "No! You must rest." Kuni urged as she once again shoved her friend back down.

Avila looked around her and gave a frustrated sigh. "What's going on! Did I faint again?"

This time when she sat up, she caught a glimpse of her body. "Who put my in this dress!"

She asked as she gripped the tattered brown gown. "It was all Malik could find. Everyone

knows you're female now. After the scare you put us through." Once again, Avila was

shoved down into the bed.

"Scare...?" Avila asked, furrowing her brow in confused thought. "You don't remember

what happened?" Kuni asked, raising a brow. Avila shook her head and sat up once again.

This time Kuni gave a frustrated sigh and helped her up. Avila flinched at the sharp pain

she received and placed a hand to her stomach. Her eyes widened and she looked up at

Kuni. "My baby! What happened! I remember...Blood...Lots of it! What happened!" She

screamed, gripping the bed sheets. Kuni sadly bowed her head. "Adonis said...You may

have lost it." Kuni whispered, not wanting to look at Avila. "He says the stress and

depression you were suffering from, caused you to lose the baby." Kuni looked up then

with teary eyes. "I'm so sorry Avy. Adonis tried his best, he says to wait and see.

Malik...He went insane with worry." Kuni placed a hand on Avila's, trying to comfort her.

But Avila just stared at her friend, her face pale and her eyes glazed over. "No...No...No!"

She shouted, pushing Kuni away, causing her to land on the floor with a thump.

"No! I can't lose my child!" She screamed, cupping her stomach with both her hands. "I

can't lose...this...child..." Avila didn't cry. It was as if she couldn't cry anymore. Sadness

had left her body, and all that was left was anger. "This is the Pharaoh's fault!" She

shouted, pushing the sheets away and flinging her legs over the edge of the bed. "No!"

Kuni jumped to her feet and pushed Avila back down. "You need to rest!" But Avila

ignored her and shoved her hands away. Kuni took a step back and bit down on her lower

lip. "Please...Avy...Don't hurt your self. You need to rest. You may still be pregnant. And

if you get up now...You'll lose what little hope we have left." Avila froze from her actions

and looked down at her stomach. "Alright...But I refuse to sit her for more then three

days."

"Well!" Avila asked, lifting her head up to examine the healer. The old woman looked up

and gave a shake of her head. "I'm trying to communicate with the child. Please refrain from

speaking." The old woman placed her hands on Avila's stomach and began to chant under

her breath, as if the words could somehow cause a response. "This is obscured." Adonis

muttered from the door way. "In all my years of medicine I've never seen this!" Malik just

shook his head. "You Romans...So stupid!"

"Ah ha!" The old woman cried. Avila's head shot up and she stared at the old woman.

"What! What is it!" She cried, a smile breaking over her lips. "You still carry the child

love. And it's a strong one at that." She gave a nod of her head, then moved her hands.

"Would you like to know the sex of the child?" Avila shook her head while tugging her

ragged dress down over her hips. "I already know what it is!" She placed a hand to her

stomach and smiled. "It's a strong healthy boy."

The healer just raised her brow in confusion then shrugged. She'd let her believe what she

wanted. "Well, my work here is done..." She gathered her belongings then rushed out of

the cramped room. Kuni, who sat at the edge of Avila's bed, holding her hand, gave a

laugh. "All this time we were worried and it was fine all along. Should have known! It's

Bakura's spawn!" Malik frowned and crossed his chest with his arms. "It's not funny...I

was worried sick!" He leaned into the door frame and scowled and Kuni. "Oh knock it off

you big baby! Besides...it was fun watching you freak out! Wait till YOU are the father!"

Kuni gave a snicker then turned her attention to her friend.

"So...Do you feel better?" Avila nodded her head and sighed happily. "I'm relieved that

everything is fine with my child...and it was a false miscarriage. And these pass three days

have helped me." Kuni raised a brow in question, causing Avila to laugh and pull out a

scroll, which unrolled and tumbled to the floor in length.

"What in Ra's name is that!" Malik asked, taking a step foreword and examining the

parchment. Avila beamed with delight and shook it open more. "Baby names!" Malik

jumped back in fright and groaned. "Thank Ra Bakura isn't here for this...He'd faint."

Avila smiled and began with the first name. "Abasi?"

Kuni frowned and wrinkled her nose. "Sounds too...stupid...next!" Avila took a piece of

chalk and scratched off the name. "Atum?" Malik snorted from the door way and shook

his head. "Sounds to close to Atemu...It's just missing the E." Avila hastily crossed that

name off as well. "You guys are going to have something wrong with every name!" Avila

cried once she reached the middle of the scroll. Kuni shrugged and gave a yawn. "Believe

me...This is better then what Bakura would do...He'd just tell you to name him Bakura

Junior."

Bakura jumped from his horse happily. "Finally! Alexandria!" he shouted, grinning

at his surroundings. And from his source of information, the boat had yet docked. He had

time to spare. He looked at all the well stocked stands of goods and smiled. "I wonder if

they have anything worth stealing..." He mused as he made his way towards jewelry

merchant.

"Ah! Good day sir. Would you be interested in a diamond necklace?" Bakura studied the

small, well decorated piece of jewelry then shook his head. "No...do you have any

emeralds?" The man studied Bakura for a moment then smiled. "Why yes I do...Only the

best!" Bakura stood back, crossing his arms over his exposed chest, waiting to see the

right gift worth gracing Avila's neck. "How is this for you sir?" The man held up a simple

gold chain that held a well cut emerald heart. As the man held it, the sun reflected off the

emerald, casting a wave of dancing colors over Bakura's face. "I'll take it!" And with that,

he slammed a bag of gold down, not noticing that he had just purchased a gift the honest

way. Thankfully, he was too entranced to notice his stupidity.

Avila gave a sigh of happiness. "We're here!" Kuni shouted, jumping with delight as the

great city of Alexandria came into view. Then it hit Avila. Now that they were in

Alexandria, they would be moving onto another boat, heading towards Rome, their new

home. "Why do you look so sad? I thought you would be happy to get off this boat." Kuni

stared at Avila with puzzled eyes. "We're half way there..." Avila whispered, looking

down at her feet. Kuni looked away, twisting her hands together. "oh...that's right..."

Avila turned her back on the city and gave a groan. "I don't want to leave...Please

Kuni...Change your mind and let me go back home...Please?" Avila turned to face her

friend, giving her the best puppy face she could muster.

"Aw Avila! Please don't stoop that low." Adonis cheered beside her. Avila jumped a little

then smiled at the doctor. "Oh! Adonis...How are you today?" Avila smiled, leaning back

on the railing. "Aw...I'm doing well. And you? You look like you're doing better...The

baby?" He looked down at her stomach and smiled. "Haku is doing well..." She beamed,

using the one baby name she honored above all. She had taken away the M and replaced it

with an H. In memory of her little brother. She didn't know if she could stand calling him

Maku and not cry. "Haku? Sounds just right for a strong young boy...But how do you

know it's a boy?" he asked, raising a brow. Avila just smiled and cradled her stomach. "I

just know. Bakura was the father. Only makes sense for his son to be strong."

Adonis shrugged his shoulders then smiled. "Well...if you say so." He studied Avila's face

and couldn't help but enlarge his smile. Her shoulder length hair was free of its usual

thong, flying in the breeze. Her green emerald eyes shone with a glimmer he had not seen

before, and her face was flushed from excitement. Adonis couldn't help but fall for her

beauty. "Where do you plan on going after we reach Alexandria?" Kuni asked, breaking

him of his trance. Kuni stared at him, noticing the trance like way he was staring at Avila.

But Avila hadn't noticed. She had been to busy melting over her unborn babe.

"Well...I plan on jumping onto another boat, which heads straight for Rome. I do believe it's

the same boat you two are staying on." Avila looked up and gave a sigh of relief. "Thank

you Ra. If I were to have another scare like I did just a week ago and not have a doctor, I

would freak!" Adonis gave her a warm smile and bowed his head. "I just like to help."

Kuni looked from Adonis to Avila and smiled faintly. Avila needed another love life, and

Adonis looked like a nice enough man. Someone who could support her and a child.

Heck, maybe even Malik and Kuni. "I'm just going to go pack the rest of our

belongings...We'll be docking soon." Kuni rushed off, hiding a smile behind her hand.

"Watch your step!" Adonis wrapped his arm around Avila's waist and helped her carefully

walk down the ramp. "I need to get used to being on land now!" She laughed, actually

excited for once. A smile on her lips, a smile that Kuni hadn't seen for weeks. Kuni

nudged Malik and grinned. "Aren't they cute together!" Malik frowned, then glared at

Kuni. "So...We're a matchmaker now aren't we?" Kuni frowned and crossed her stomach

with her arms. "You make it sound like a bad thing. Avila needs love and happiness...I

was only helping the both of them. Besides, she's going to have a baby. She needs someone

to support her!" Malik just shook his head. "Sometimes, Kuni...You can be really naive.

Don't you think he can support her." and with that, Malik pointed to the white hair thief

who stood on the dock, glaring at Adonis who just happened to still have his arm wrapped

around Avila's waist.

WOOT! GO YUNIE! Yunie rocks! oh ya! I'm bad! Oh ya! Oh ya! Ok...enough of

my dancing...so...what did you think...oh! Bakura's back and he just got a rude

awakening! Anyways, read and review...and I mean it! Last time, Yunie sat here for

days without a review! sobs