Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

The next day Taka grabbed the cloak angrily and stood. Christine told her there was going to be a banquet for her and Bakura the following night and she had to be on her best behavior.

'Or what?' she had threatened.

'Don't talk to me like that you foul girl!' Christine snapped as she slapped Taka.

She growled and when she was about to go through the passage Kioko walked in. She gasped in horror causing Taka to turn.

"Miss Taka! You are not going back out there after what happened yesterday!" she exclaimed softly as she closed the door.

Taka had told her about the man after Kioko asked who Malik was.

"Kioko..." sighed Taka, "I want to see him."

"That boy! He is not fit for you Taka! I know you don't want to marry Bakura but at least find someone better then a peasant," Kioko said.

"What! I don't like him that way," Taka blushed, "Don't worry though I'll be back before sundown."

Taka stepped into the passage and disappeared from a fidgety Kioko's sight.

'She better not get into trouble or I'll be put to death," she thought worriedly.

xXx outside xXx

Taka breathed in the late afternoon air and walked into the market, where she approached the nearest stand.

"Excuse me," she said to the manager.

"Hmm?" the man looked up at her.

"Have you seen a boy about sixteen around here? He has sandy blonde hair that's kind of wild and he has violet eyes," she explained.

"Why you lookin' for him? He's not worth lookin' for," the man laughed.

Taka growled and grabbed the man by the front of his shirt.

"Just tell me where the fuck he is and I'll leave you alone!" she threatened.

The man gulped and was about to speak.

"Taka?" Malik's voice came from behind her.

"Malik?" she turned to face him.

He looked at her then the terrified shopkeeper.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.

"Looking for you," she said as she blushed.

The shopkeeper left that area and went back to business. Malik stared at her.

"As he said... I'm not worth looking for," he turned and was about to leave.

"Wait!" Taka grabbed his hand.

Malik turned and looked at her.

"Can we... I..." she sighed, "can you just take me somewhere? I want to be away from the castle for awhile."

Malik stared at her for a second but nodded. He took her hand, which was still holding his and began walking. Taka followed. Malik lead her out of the market towards a small hut. They walked in and Malik sat down. Taka sat across from him at the small table. The hut was cozy. It had one bedroom and the rest was the kitchen and the small table with three chairs. There were two beds on the floor in the corner of the room and one in the room.

"Why did you want to be away from the castle?" Malik asked softly, surprising her.

"My step-mother... her and Jinan arranged for me to marry my best friend and I can't stop it," she said, "my brother would've though... but he disappeared one night."

"Seto?" asked Malik.

"Yeah."

They were in silence for awhile when Rishid and Ishizu walked in.

"My lady!" gasped Ishizu when she seen Taka, "What is she doing here Malik."

"Ishizu, she..."

"It's alright Miss Ishizu," said Taka, "I asked him if he could take me somewhere."

Ishizu bowed slightly to Taka and began doing something in the kitchen. After a minute she brought Taka a cup of tea.

"Thank you," said Taka.

Ishizu sat down with a cup of her own. Rishid brought out another chair and also sat down.

"My lady why would you want to come to our home?" asked Rishid.

Taka took a sip of the tea. She put it down.

"To get away," she said simply.

Rishid nodded, understanding. Taka looked out the window awhile later.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed, "I told Kioko I'd be back before sun down!"

"Malik take her back to the castle so nothing happens to her," Rishid told Malik.

"Ok," said Malik as he stood.

Taka stood and they walked out of the hut. Malik took her hand again and they hurried through the market. Taka tripped.

"Ow!" she said quietly.

Malik helped her up again and smiled. Taka smiled back and they continued. They came to the bushes and Malik let go of her hand allowing her to leave. He then sighed and walked back towards the hut.

When he got there horses were tied outside. He cocked his head to the side in wonder and walked in.

"Ishizu Ishtar," a man said from inside, "Your taxes have not been paid and I've been ordered to come get them."

It was Yukio. He was the captain of the guards and extremely fierce. He had sleek brown hair and dark green eyes. He was tanned, like everyone else, and wore tough looking armor. He and four other men stood before Ishizu and Rishid.

"Please Yukio," pleaded Ishizu, "we need a little more time."

"It has been well over a month since they were due Ishtar," grumbled Yukio.

"Just one more week please!"

Yukio hit her causing her to fall to the ground. Ishizu cried out.

"Ishizu!" Malik ran at Yukio but one of his men stood in front of him.

Malik took out that man and the other four. He was about to help Ishizu when a sharp pain hit the back of his head. Yukio hit him, hard, with the sheath of his sword. Malik collapsed onto the ground unconscious. Ishizu screamed and covered her mouth, tears flowing from her eyes where she sat.

"I guess your brother will pay the taxes for you," Yukio smirked and picked Malik up by the hair, "I'll just sell him to a slave trader and give the money to the king," he dragged Malik out of the hut by his hair and threw Malik onto his horse.

Ishizu began to cry knowing she couldn't stop it. Rishid kneeled beside her and held her close.

xXx at the market by a slave traders stand xXx

"Hey Nicolas," Yukio said.

The trader's assistant turned. He was young and was the traders slave.

"Yes?" he asked quietly.

"Get your boss," Yukio ordered.

"Y...yes sir," Nicholas bowed slightly and walked through a curtain.

After a minute Jules, the slave trader, stepped out. He was a large man with black hair and brown eyes, extremely sore on the eyes to look at.

"Whaddya want?" he grumbled.

"To sell you a slave," Yukio tossed Malik to the ground.

Jules checked Malik out. He checked Malik's muscles, his face, and a few other things.

"He'll be strong when he wakes up," said Jules, "I'll give ya five hundred fer 'im."

That was more then Ishizu had to pay.

'I'll just keep a little to myself,' he thought with a grin.

"Done," Yukio held out his hand and Jules dropped a bag of money into his hand.

Yukio put the money in his pocket and rode off.

xXx and hour later xXx

Malik awoke and looked around. He was in a tent sort of thing on a hard mat. Jules walked in.

"You're finally awake, you little maggot," Jules laughed and lit a cigar for himself.

Malik glared at him. He got up and went at Jules. Jules simply moved and the next thing he knew he got hit on the back with what felt like a club. He got hit a few more time then punched in the face. His lip was bleeding and he felt blood on his back and chest also. He coughed and Jules dragged him and put him with a few other slaves to be sold.

"That's a lesson slave!" Jules yelled, "Never attack your master!" he locked him in that small crowded room and Malik could hear him walking away.

He coughed again and blood spattered on the ground.