A/N: Dearest reviewers, thank you for the messages. Dislami-chan, I'll heed your request in another chapter so don't you worry about that.

This chapter is more of a slight background, no lemons today. Sorry! And if you don't already know, I'm not following a linear plot line.

For several years, Ayda had eluded Sinbad and his merry band of followers. Ever since they met at his third dungeon, Sinbad and Ayda's paths have crossed time and time again. And each and every time they met, Sinbad had asked her to join his crew of misfits without fail. She staunchly refused him, still angry at having lost the dungeon to him and finding him absolutely unbearable.

Sinbad, on the other hand had immediate interest in this mute girl who traveled around and danced on the streets for a living. Especially when she showed up and challenged him for his third dungeon. She was too cute, and he said that to her, in the patronizing tone she came to despise. And when her sword dance translated to an even match in swordplay against Sinbad, he started to really develop an interest in her. On a whim, he had invited her to join his group. He flashed his trademark grin, the one that shone bright and blinded anyone it was directed towards. It was the one that made every girl swoon. He was confident in her answer. Then she had flipped him off and walked away.

As the years passed by and they grew into adults walking their separate paths, Sinbad had made it a game to see how far he could go before Ayda cracked and tried to hit him.

"Now what a coincidence seeing you here in Balbadd, Ayda," Sinbad called to the dancer shopping in the street markets. "Surely, this is destiny?" They had crossed paths once again, and he made sure to not let her go without some form of interaction. She was picking fruit from a vendor, but hearing his silky smooth voice made her lose any appetite. She placed the apple down and tried to walk away.

Sinbad strode easily to walk beside her. She kept her gaze straight ahead and her lips tightly closed in a grimace.

"It's been awhile Ayda, you've become even more beautiful in the time I haven't seen you." And she had. Her dark hair had grown to waist length. Her skin was velvety smooth and she had grown into her supple curves. Her lips were fuller, though they still held the same frown he was used to seeing on her when he was in her presence. But it was her steadfast eyes that caught his attention every time. Dark lashes framed a stormy sea in her eyes. They were tiger eyes, because her gaze was as powerful and as focused as a tiger's.

There was silence on her part, but Sinbad was not deterred, used to her lack of words.

"So how many djinn have you got so far? Two? Three?" He raised his purple brows in genuine interest.

She glared at him, and made a dash into a less crowded street. He followed after easily. It seemed she wasn't trying too hard to escape today. She seemed less spirited, but he knew how to fix that.

"It couldn't be that you haven't conquered another dungeon could it?"

Ayda stopped and turned around, signing with her hands about how much she wanted to strangle him.

He wasn't fluent in sign language, though he made it a part of his education to learn, he knew enough to know she wanted to hurt him.

Sinbad grinned. "You can't still be mad about that dungeon where we first met, are you?" The right nerve struck.

Eyes flashing, she raised her hand to slap him. He caught it and held her wrist close to his lips. He snaked an arm around her waist, bringing her body close to his. "Ayda, dear, you should really consider joining me." His gold eyes bore into her gray-blue ones. "You're always welcome."

She tsked. He smirked. Then she slapped him with her other hand and escaped.

For a long time, she never spoke a word to him, choosing instead to communicate with only sign language. Her favorite gesture to give Sinbad was a standing ovation with her middle finger. After all, Ayda was never one to waste words on people she did not like. And Sinbad, she definitely did NOT like. She hated him from her teenage years to young adulthood.

That is, until he saved the orphanage she had adopted as her home at a time when she felt too helpless to save it herself. After that, she slowly began to change her mind about him. Although her first words to him were, "Are you and Ja'far going out?" Her second ones were, "...Thank you." And she smiled brightly for the first time at Sinbad. He had blinked, momentarily speechless.

In that single moment, Sinbad didn't even know what hit him; especially since all he could do in response was splutter, "I-I like women!"