Crossing The King of Thieves

Disclaimer: I guess I should stop these things since we all know I DON'T OWN YU-GI-OH!

A/N: Special thanks to ACIDFLOWER and Yami Sango for reviewing. You guys are the best. And ACID, don't worry. I still love you, girl. Just keep me updated! ^_~

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Chapter 4: Danger Times Three

"Kyra," Father chuckled as I tried to lift his sword. "That thing's too heavy for you and too dangerous." "But if I'm supposed to help you and Papa, don't I need a weapon?" I asked. Papa glanced up from his book and frowned. "I'll be training you in something else," he said shaking his head. "Jou, you shouldn't encourage her to handle stuff like that unshe\she's ready if she wants to." Father removed the sword from me and put it out of reach as he lifted me in his arms. "I know, Seth," he sighed. I had moved to their quarters for now unless Atemu wanted more with me with that fist of his. Being alone terrified me now.

Father carried me to their bed and sat down. Papa looked at me and chuckled. "You're so cute," he said. "i could just eat you up." I giggled then. "Oh, so you like to giggle," he said lifting me in his arms and began tickling me. I laughed hard then. "Papa, stop!" I cried. He hugged me and chuckled. "That's my girl," he said kissing my cheek. I noticed a few faint bruises on his neck that he was trying to cover with his clothes. I knew he was still getting it from the pharaoh. Father had learned of it recently and he was pretty mad...but not at Papa thankfully since it wasn't his fault.

"Bedtior lor little girls," Father announced. I whined and pouted. "Kyra," he warned. "I won't be afraid to spank you if you don't do what I say." I nodded and sighed. It was worth a try. I kissed Papa's cheek before lifting my arms to Father. He lifted me in his arms and carried me to a hammock made for my bed. "All right, sweetheart," he said tucking me in. "Where's my kiss?" I giggled and kissed his cheek. "Good night," he said. "We love you." "I love you too, Father and Papa," I said as I snuggled beneath my warm blanket and fell asleep.

Outside the palace, danger lurked in the shadows.

Bakura was using a blade to shave a stick into a dagger at his hideout. It was usually safe to walk around at night and he enjoyed it. Sitting in the shadows was nothing unusual for him. As King of Thieves, he was known to be illusive. Beside him sat a stolen bag of treasures yet to be sorted through. Right now, he had other things on his mind.

"That damn pharaoh stole my child," he growled underneath his breath. "He shall pay for this. I swear it!" He threw the dagger suddenly when he heard a chuckle. "Who goes there?" he demanded. "I do," a male saidman man stood his spiky platium blond hair came in the moonlight holding the homemade dagger. He studied Bakura frowning. "Your aim is poor," he said seriously. "If I asked for your help, I would've said something," Bakura said sternly. The man chuckled. "Ah, but it seems you do," he said sitting in front of him. "You mentioned something of the pharaoh stealing your child. I myself have a grudge on the pharaoh and wish him killed."

Bakura studied him frowning. "The child was to be my heir," he said seriously. "Putting a female as the Princess of Thieves to replace you?" the man asked chuckling and shaking his head. "How times change. The child is rather young." "I do what I must to train her," Bakura said sternly. "Children must obey their masters." "True," the man said. "Are you willing to kill to gain what you want...including the riches involved?" "I have considered it," Bakura said. "I wish to join forces with you, Bakura," the man said. "Together, we can be one. However, you could die trying to get past the guards." "Who are you?" Bakura asked in confusion. "My name is Malik," the man said. "I was once a prisoner for the pharaoh, but escaped before I was sentenced to die for murder myself. I'll help you with no cost."

Bakura studied Malik a moment and held out his hand. "It's a deal," he said seriously. Malik smiled and shook Bakura's hand.

The next morning, Papa took me in his private chambers to learn how to use Sacred Magic, an art used by high priests and Magicians. He lifted me in a chair and smiled. "I managed to talk Shadi into letting me handle you awhile," he said seriously. "But you have to do everything I say and listen,ersterstand?" I nodded. He removed his hat and placed it on my head as a bit of a joke. It was too big and slid down my face a little. He chuckled at the sight and took it off. "First of all, since you have long hair, I need to pull it back or your hair will catch on fire at times," he explained and used a black leather strap to do so. He fixed the ponytail and smiled. "There you go," he said touching my cheek. "Now, I'll teach you some basic spells first. Then we'll get into the heavy stuff when you're ready."

I nodded and he began teaching.

That afternoon, I was taking a nap when Father walked in from his shift exhausted as usual. He removed his armor and laid on the bed sighing heavily. I stirred in my sleep and looked at him a moment before sliding down and curling up beside him. He turned over and put his arm around me. "How was your time with Papa today?" he asked. "I learned how to create fire on my own," I said proudly. He chuckled. "Papa said that he would train me even more too," I said. "I'm glad to hear that," he said when we heard a thud outside. "Stay here," he said sternly and grabbed his sword walking outside to find one of the guards bloody and limping to him. "The King of Thieves," he whispered and died on the floor.

Father bent down and examined the wounds. "What the hell?" he whispered finding a small letter attached to an arrow in the man's heart. He read it and frowned. "He'll stop at nothing to get to her," he whispered and turned to see me standing in the doorway watching the scene. He walked to me and held me close. "You have to be marked, child," he whispered. "Only then will Bakura not touch you again." "Mark me?" I asked in confusion. Papa walked to us after the embalmers took the dguarguard away. "It basically means you will go under a ritual type thing and will be marked as mine and Jou's daughter as a member of our family," he said seriously. "You have no marking about you meaning you're an orphan. If Bakura truly wanted you, you'd have his marking. But he doesn't and your father and I do. Understand now?"

I nodded and they held me close.

That night while I slept, Papa read the note left by Bakura and Malik. "It says they'll strike again soon," he said. Jou nodded and sighed. "If the revolt isn't enough, now our enemies have become greater," he said seriously as he laid back in the bed. "rrowrrow will be better," Papa said. "We can finally claim Kyra as ours and maybe things will be better." Father nodded slowly. "I understand, love," he whispered and kissed Papa gently. "I love you Seth." "I love you too, Jou."

Three enemies have become ours.

Three people would rather see us die than be happy together.

Were we truly running out of time?

I could only imagine...
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To Be Continued...
Next Chapter: Kyra goes for the ritual and makes a risky move to protect her new family. Bakura and Malik discover more between them than just revenge.