Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh

Chapter 2

Four years later Taka sat in her room on her bed. She was now fifteen. The room was beautiful with red silk bedding a feather blanket and pillows, a view of the courtyard and market, but... she was locked in.

Their mother died a week after they went to the market that day, four years ago. Jinan had remarried a woman, who thought all young ladies should be proper, who took along her snobby daughter. The woman's name was Christine, and her daughter's name was Tanya (they were both from a foreign country) Christine had brown hair that was always in a bun and she wore small glasses. She always wore elegant clothes. Tanya had long blonde hair with light blue eyes. She looked nothing like her mother and got her looks mostly from her father, whom her mother divorced. She was only about twelve. Christine would lock Taka in her room when Taka would fall asleep, or act up during her 'behavior classes'.

"You must learn to behave," Taka mocked her and scowled.

Seto had left the kingdom leaving Taka and Mokuba with these horrid people. He swore he'd return but he hadn't yet.

"Ha! So much for your brother who's supposed to grow up to be a 'fine king' as your mother always said," said Jinan one day.

That was the day Taka had punched him. That's how she ended up in behavior class. She was now locked in her room for two days with only her maid bringing her meals. There was a slight knock at the door.

"Miss Taka?" it was her maid, Kioko.

"Come in," she grumbled.

Kioko was in her late twenties with beautiful light brown hair that went to her shoulders, and green eyes. She wore what the castle maids usually wore as an order from Christine... rags. She set a tray on an end table and stood by Taka's bed.

"Why are you still here? Aren't you supposed to leave right away?" asked Taka.

"Yes my lady. But I've seen how you're always locked in this room and I know something that might help," said Kioko.

"What?"

"There's a secret passage in this room that leads out into the market after awhile," Kioko moved over to Taka's dresser and pulled away a wall curtain. There was an indent in the wall that she pushed and part of the wall moved.

Taka got out of her chair.

"How did you know about this and not me?" asked Taka.

"Your mother showed it to me when you were a child... she told me it was for emergencies," Kioko took a torch that was on the wall of the passage and lit it.

"Well I'm going," Taka took the torch and was about to go in.

"Well my lady you'll need this," Kioko threw a hooded cloak over her.

"Thanks. Cover for me," she took the torch and walked in.

Kioko smiled and watched Taka go down the passage before she covered the hole with the curtain so it was unnoticeable to others.

xXx Taka xXx

After awhile Taka stepped out into the courtyard. Where she ended up wasn't the best place in the world. It was in some bushes and she had to push through them. She stumbled out and let out a small annoyed cry. She stood and brushed herself off before pulling the hood up. She fixed her silver crown. It looked like vines weaving together. She walked out into the market. While she wandered the market she stopped at one stand. There were weapons. She and Seto trained when her mother was still alive but when Christine came... it ended. She touched a sword but kept on walking.

'Oh how I hate Christine," she thought with a scowl.

She turned into an alley and sighed. She heard a crack behind her and turned. Three large men stood behind her.

"Now what's a pretty girl like you doing wandering around alone?" one asked.

"None of your business," she growled.

"Oh, a moody girl we have now?"

"Yeah... is that a problem?"

One of the men ripped off her hood.

"The princess!"

"Well I guess we can take our anger out on her," the one who took off her hood said with a smirk.

"What!" she backed up into the wall.

"Your step-father raised the taxes for us so now we're all suffering down here," the last one grabbed her arm.

"Let go!" she pulled away.

"Let her go!" a young voice from behind them said.

The men turned to see a boy who looked about sixteen stood there. He was quite muscular and shirtless. He had sandy blonde hair and violet eyes. He had quite a few scars on his body though.

'Malik?' thought Taka, remembering the boy who bumped into her four years ago.

"What's a boy like you going to do about it?" asked the leader (the first one who spoke).

"I said leave her alone," he growled.

The second one to speak ran at him. But Malik dodged and elbowed his back.

"Why you little!" the third guy punched Malik.

Malik jumped back and kicked him in the face. The leader didn't even bother trying and took off running. Malik walked over to Taka and held out a hand. Taka took it and got pulled up.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

"What are you even doing out here? Don't you know that the place got dangerous after your mother died?"

"Yes, I knew!" she snapped, "But how would you like being locked in your room forever!"

Malik stared at her for a second.

"Come on, I'll lead you back to the castle," he said softly.

"No! There's a way I have to take so I'm not seen by the guards," she said.

"Alright then. Let's go."

Malik began walking, but Taka pushed ahead and lead the way. Malik smiled when she pushed ahead.

"Why are you locked in your room?" he asked out of no where.

"Jinan and Christine put me in 'behavior classes' for punching Jinan and I still won't behave so Christine said 'the girl needs discipline!' so now I'm locked in my room for... I think a day and a half now," she said.

Malik laughed. Taka turned and glared at him for a second but kept walking. They came to the bushes where Kioko stood looking out for Taka.

"My lady!" she said, her voice filled with panic, "Lady Christine is coming to your room this minute! A servant came and told me so we have to hurry!"

Taka looked at Malik and hugged him.

"Thanks for your help," she let go, "Bye!"

Taka and Kioko went into the tunnel and disappeared from view. Malik turned and walked his own way.

xXx Back in Taka's room xXx

Taka got in and took off the cloak. Kioko covered the tunnel again and helped brush Taka off. Taka then sat in her chair as the door opened and waited for Christine to come in. She moaned with annoyance when she seen it was both Jinan and Christine.

"Great news Taka," said Christine, who looked unusually cheerful, "Your getting married to the prince of the Southern Kingdom... Bakura!"

Tanya stood behind her mother grinning at Taka.

"What?" she exclaimed, "I can't marry Bakura! He's my best friend!"

"Well you're lucky you're not getting married to his younger, twin brother, might I remind you that you hate him," Tanya said in her usual annoying voice.

Tanya was talking about Ryou, and yes, Taka did not like him at all. She was lucky he was marrying some other girl named Sora or something.

"Well still, you pathetic little gremlin! I am not marrying someone I've known all my life and has been a best friend!" Taka stood.

Taka had known Bakura since she was a child. He would visit and the two would play. But they never thought of each other as lovers or anything. Even now that he's sixteen and she was fifteen. They only thought of themselves as friends.

"Mommy! She called me a gremlin!" cried Tanya.

"Taka that is quite enough!" said Jinan threateningly.

"You will marry that boy, Taka! We have made arrangements with his father already," Christine took her daughters hand and walked out.

Jinan followed and they closed the door. Kioko was sitting on Taka's bed the whole time and looked at Taka to see her reaction.

'If only Seto was here,' Taka thought with a sigh, 'he wouldn't allow this.'

Once again if anyone has a better idead for my story's name please help me out. Thanks alot