Mirage ran along the slanted hills of desert sand, her short white wavy hair bouncing by her jaw. She clutched a brown bag in her hands smiling brightly as she made her way over the next hill and rushed down to the village of her birth, Kuruelna, city of thieves.
Rushing down she ran quickly through the village. Dust swirling at her every step.
Waving at a few people she finally dashed into a house near the far side of the village.
"Father! I brought some dinner!"
A man stood up from a chair behind a worktable.
He smiled "Thank you Mirage, can you come here for a moment?"
Mirage looked up and walked over to the worktable and climbed onto the table with her small arms. She watched curiously as her father picked up a golden box, he held it out to her.
She took it and eyed it curiously "What is it?"
Her father smiled and urged her to open it "you'll see."
She smiled, excited then slowly unclasped and lifted the lid off of the box.
Gasping, she jumped back a little as a small cobra slithered out, it's back was gleaming with black, gold, red and white scales. She breathed out in awe as it spread its hood, along with two small wings, one feathered and the other like a bats.
It was very small, maybe less than a foot long. It stared up at her as if waiting for something, and then surveyed its surroundings.
Mirage looked up at her dad in wonder "Wow, it's so pretty! I like it the most!"
Her father smiled "I knew you would, that's why I made him for you."
Mirage looked completely amazed, she leapt on her father encircling her small arms around him in a hug.
"Thank you!"
A small background on her father, he was a skilled craftsman and often sold his works in secret to people in higher castes, even the pharaoh himself. But he also worked in secret on a special case; he created monsters. Not just any monsters, but those that anyone would use in battles, these monsters would actually live in the world and be taught by their masters. They were never kept in stone tablets like those of the ones used by the pharaoh and his court. Mirage's father believed that it confined the monster and it's true ability, that being out in the open, the monster would be able to live freely and discover the best ways to use it's strength in the real world. And it was true, her father, Heisoel, owned and sold (to only select thieves and people) some of the most powerful monsters in the world.
Many were harder to train than regular monsters though, he created them and they would sleep in a suspended animation until someone wanted one, they'd basically care for the monster from birth. Then they would be able to teach it to battle like any monster!
The power and strength of the monster depended on its owner. If the owner's heart had a pure intention (whether it be pure evil or pure good) and had faith in it's monster, the monsters strength could be unrivaled. The owner had to have a strong will, and understand that they needed to trust in everything, not only their own strength but also the strength in the monster.
A weak heart could not control the monster it held.
His monsters were also one of a kind; there were no two monsters the same. Mirage loved her father's monsters, they were unique, and had feelings and lives of their own. They were much like pets as well. Like a dog kept for hunting, or a rabbit kept for watching, they could feel their masters pain and knew when their master needed comfort or when he or she needed space.
His monsters were definitely special, and Mirage loved having a father so skilled at bringing these creatures to life.
Her father smiled as he watched her touching, getting a feel for the monster he had given her.
"It's so wonderful father, what is it called."
He smiled simply, and kissed her head "I think you can figure it out for yourself, my little Mirage."
She smiled happily "Serphamira! You named it after my last snake didn't you father!"
He laughed and kissed her head "It's a male Serphamira, and I think he suits you perfectly. Be sure to give him a good name, and take good care of him Mirage! Never doubt him."
Mirage stroked its head smiling, "Heisoel, I want him to be named after you father."
The night was a very inky black that night, everything was dark, but the night was filled with merriment as the thieves took out on the streets, singing to the houses as they went by, promising good fortune and safety for those inside.
This city took pride in their unity; working together was all that mattered. Everyone knew everyone here, and there was neither caste nor rule over them. They were all an important part of life, so singing in the streets and promising good fortune meant that the bonds between them would never die.
Mirage stared out her open window at the thieves as they danced on by her house, she sang back in echo to their words, they laughed and waved to her and continued on. Smiling, she sat back in her bed and blew out the candle.
After only a moment, she heard someone outside calling to her. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking out her window; her golden eyes fell to the ground below.
Her eyes met with the maroon eyes of a boy, his white hair shone in the moonlight as he grinned up to her.
"Hello sleepyhead!"
She glared down at him in a scolding way "Bakura! What are you doing here! It's really late and my father thinks I am asleep."
"Let him think that then." Bakura said, grasping a worn out groove on the side of the stone house and making his way skillfully to the top.
Mirage sat back as he slid easily through the square window. Bakura and her had been best of friends and nearly the only children of the city, he was 2 years older than her, but it didn't really matter.
"I just wanted to come see the new monster your dad created." He grinned at her.
Mirage stared at him in surprise "How did you know he was creating one?"
"I stopped by earlier to say hi and see if you could come to the river swimming with me, but you weren't there, and he told me he was working on a new monster, your so lucky you get a dad giving you such great gifts!"
Mirage smiled happily "Yes I am."
Bakura smiled and then reached to a pouch on his side "Speaking of which, I almost forgot."
He pulled out an object wrapped carefully in an old cloth and handed it to her.
Mirage opened the cloth, her face filled with happiness as she lifted up a necklace.
"Happy 10th Birthday Mirage."
The string of the necklace was made with ox hide, it had the feathers of several types of desert birds on it, and small wooden beads, and in the center was a carved woodenhead of a cobra.
Mirage smiled excitedly and hugged him. "Oh thank you so much! I love it."
She handed it to him then waited as he tied it from behind; admiring it, she smiled at him gratefully.
"Did you make it?"
Bakura blushed but nodded smiling. "I wouldn't have money to afford something for you, and I definitely wouldn't steal something for your birthday."
Mirages eyes brightened with happiness "I couldn't have asked for anything better."
He grinned "Thanks, but hey, your father made something for you. Do you mind if I see it?"
Mirage nodded and leapt off the bed, she picked up the golden box off of the table in the corner and ran back to the bed. Pulling herself up with her small arms, she set the box on the bed between them and opened it.
Bakura's smile faded to a look of awe, he touched the small snake-like monster and stroked it.
"That's amazing, I'm always in for a surprise when I see what your father has made."
Mirage smiled proudly "I know!"
He smiled back, and then he turned his attention back to the little Serphamira.
They both watched the little monster for a while, when the merry song from outside was interrupted abruptly by a loud scream.
Hope you enjoyed it…yeah, I know most people would kill me for my OCxBakura since everyone seems to love Bakura right now, but I don't exactly care.
Mirage, Serphamira's, Heisoel © meBakura © YuGiOH!