I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter One- Desert Discovery

Atem looked furtively around as he snuck toward the stables. No one in sight: Perfect. He stole into the stables, led his horse out, and mounted it before guiding it to the gate where a guard opened it. As the hooded teen passed, the guard whispered, "Be safe, my pharaoh."

"Thank you," he whispered back as he urged his horse into a trot. Once out in the desert, he changed the trot into a gallop. He grinned as he rode across the open land. He needed this! He may be the pharaoh, but he was still a teenager and deserved to have fun- considering what Siamun told him that morning:

Atem gaped at his advisor and the solemn court. "I must choose a woman to wed?" he repeated.

"Yes, pharaoh. It is high time that you give the kingdom a queen and an heir to the throne. You must make a decision in three days."

The thought of having to choose someone made his head hurt. There was no one he had a romantic interest in! I could choose Isis or even Mana. Hmm, yes. Mana could make a fine queen and a wonderful mother. I will ask her when I sneak back in.

Bakura stood at the entrance of a newly discovered tomb, heart pounding with excitement. He always got this feeling when about to plunder a new tomb. It wasn't the treasure within that he desired, though he did take what he found. It was about defeating or avoiding the traps and memorizing their triggers with his customary ease that excited him. It was this skill that made him such an accomplished thief. There is no trap I can't avoid or defeat, he thought as he stepped up to the entrance and carefully scanned it and first several steps as he always did. He saw nothing and entered with confidence. He surveyed every foot before him and the walls as well. He stepped on a stone and felt it sink. He immediately took a few steps back and waited. Nothing happened.

Heh, seems we have a failed trigger, he thought. He approached the sunken stone, put his foot down on it hard, and smirked. Incompetents.

Suddenly, there was a rumbling before dust and gas came down from above and the walls. Bakura was enveloped by the gas before he decided to retreat. He dashed through the cloud, coughing until he reached the open space of the desert. He continued to run before stopping. He drew in several lungsful of air before straightening. The world then began to spin and he felt dizzy and strange. The world went black as Bakura passed out.

Atem gave a howl of joy as his horse pounded across the sands. He felt so free! This was a freedom he didn't experience very much. He knew he would be getting a serious reprimand from his court were they to learn of his sneaking out. But, I need to get away every now and then. Luckily, I befriended a guard who has a teenage son and understands my desire to get out.

Silver-white and beige caught his eye and he reined his horse to a stop. He got down and led his steed toward the colors. He drew closer and he gasped. It was an unconscious young woman! He knelt down and cradled her upper body. Spiky silver-white hair trailed down to her waist, but some of it framed her smooth tanned face. She wore the simple dress of a commoner but wore shoes like his own. She's pretty. I wonder who she is and if she's already married. Gods, I hope not! He rubbed a cheek and said, "Wake up. Please, wake up."

A soft moan came from her and her eyes fluttered open to show pale lavender eyes. "Oh," she groaned as she sat up and cradled her head. "My head," she groaned in a firm, mature voice that Atem found as attractive as her looks.

"Who are you? How did you get out here?" Atem asked.

The girl slowly lifted her head and looked right at Atem. She saw the crown as the hood had come down, gasped, and threw herself face-down on the ground. "My pharaoh," she said.

Atem gazed at the kneeling girl. Her face looked a lot like the thief king Bakura except for her gender. He went to both knees and tilted her head up with one hand. "Listen. I want to know what your name is and how you got here."

She opened her mouth, closed it, and after a moment her eyes went wide. "I…I don't remember. I don't know my name or how I got here. My whole life is gone!" Tears filled her eyes and spilled over.

Atem smiled in sympathy as he gently brushed away the tears. "Don't worry. I'll help you. I think I'll call you Kura for now."

"Kura?" she asked.

"You remind me of someone named Bakura, so I decided to give you a variation of that name. Plus, it seems to suit you."

Kura smiled slightly and blushed at the comment. "I'm honored," she said, grateful to have a name.

"Now as to your living arrangements." Atem took her hands and pulled her to her feet and toward his horse. "I believe you will come with me. You will be my guest at the palace, at least until you remember your family." He placed her on the horse before getting on himself.

"My pharaoh, I-I don't know what to say. Thank you." She put her arms around his waist as he snapped the reins and the horse took off.

"It's my duty to care for my subjects. Also, I like you. You're very pretty."

Kura blushed, but said nothing. She dwelled on her situation and felt sick at the fact that she had no memory before waking up in Atem's arms. She recognized him and knew of the sacred court and daily life, but anything about herself was a blank. This is awful. What if I never remember? What will I do? She felt tears burning in her eyes, but blinked them away. I'm going to be all right, she told herself. The pharaoh's taking me home with him and he's said he'll help me. Of course I believe him; after all he is the pharaoh. And rather handsome, too. Kura blushed harder as she recalled him admitting that he liked her and saying she was very pretty.

Atem rode into the city with his passenger and as he approached the gate, it opened and he rode through it before bringing the horse to a stop. He got down and helped Kura down.

"Pharaoh!" an angry elderly voice called.

Atem turned to see his court coming toward him, Aknadin leading the way and was clearly the one who had called out.

"Pharaoh, we were worried sick about you. You know your place is in the palace," Aknadin scolded.

Atem sighed. "I know that, but I need to get out and away for a little while and it turns out that it was good that I did." He stepped aside and gestured at Kura. "I found her unconscious in the desert."

The court's stern looks melted at their guest. Siamun bustled past them and up to Kura with a warm smile. "Welcome, young lady. What's your name?"

"I'm…not sure. The pharaoh calls me Kura."

Siamun looked at Atem, confused. "She's lost her memory so I gave her a name and said she will be my guest here until she remembers."

"What if I never do?" Kura asked, voicing her worst fear.

"If that happens, then I would like to have you as my consort," Atem answered.

Kura was flattered. They had just met and he wanted to marry her one day. I like him too and it sounds nice to be his wife and queen one day.

"Pharaoh, with all respect, you don't know anything about her," Siamun protested.

"Of course he doesn't," Kura cut in. "As I don't know either."

Atem smiled. "I do know that she's not afraid to speak her mind. To me, that shows strength of character and what I would want in a wife and queen."

"Well," Siamun said. "If she does not remember in three days, then she will become your consort."