Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh.

Jan 2020: An update! Hurrah! Thank you to those of you still reading. Even more thanks to those of you who review; your messages keep me going at times when I have hit a hard author's block. There was a guest reviewer early in December, but I was having a hard time muddling through this chapter. Then my friend and fellow YGO writer Demeted Insane Spirit reread my story and left a very inspiring review, so when I finally had a day off work, I pushed through and finished! I hope everyone had good holidays. My new job has me working constantly, so I have less time to write these days, but I will slowly update my stories, one at a time haha. Especially this one, which has now spanned half my life!

Rated M for Bakura's foul mouth and some mature content

Summary: When Marik begins stalking Téa and ruining her life, Ryou Bakura offers up his home. He wants her safe at any cost, but Ryou is continuously plagued with illnesses. Téa finds herself left with only Yami Bakura for protection, but the tomb robber is far from anyone's savior. As Marik's attacks grow worse, Téa finds that not everything is as it seems...

Sanctuary

By: Chi Yagami

As she had predicted, Téa dreamed of Ancient Egypt. It was nothing she had seen in the visions, however; instead, she dreamed of Marik Ishtar. She was running through the streets of an old Egyptian village, Marik giving chase close behind. The area was deserted, and though she called for help repeatedly, no one appeared.

The hairs on the back of her neck bristled. Glancing over her shoulder, Téa spied a pyramid looming in the distance. Why was she just now noticing it? Surely she would have seen something that large from the corner of her eye before now... She shivered, a foreboding feeling creeping down her spine. But then she heard Marik's voice, and she quickened her pace, sprinting away from the her pursuer.

Just when Téa had thought she could run no farther, she heard a commotion up ahead. A stampede of horses, ridden by bandits, was headed straight for her! She wanted to turn around, but then she heard Marik calling her name again, so she willed her legs to keep moving.

She thought perhaps the riders would pass by her without incident; if she was lucky, they would think her insignificant. But luck wasn't on her side, even in her own dreams it seemed. The horses surrounded her, enclosing her in a circle. The bandits riding the animals leered at her, and it was only then that Téa realized she had been running through the streets in her pajama shorts and small top.

"Well, well. What have we here, men?" one of them cheered, running his eyes up and down her bare legs.

"An escaped slave, perhaps," said another.

"Such pale skin," said a third man with a deep voice. "So exotic."

It didn't occur to her to wonder how she could understand them, as they surely wouldn't have spoken Japanese in Egypt. Téa was too frightened by the realistic smells and sounds to realize this might all be in her head.

"You won't lay a filthy hand on her," a fourth man commanded.

Téa recognized that voice. Marik stepped into the circle from between two horses. She hoped he had been trampled, but unfortunately he was now closer than ever.

Several of the men chuckled at the newcomer, others eyed his bizarre clothes and jewelry. The bandit closest to Téa spoke. "Here for your woman, little boy?" he mocked. Then he roughly grabbed a handful of Téa's hair and yanked her towards him. "Perhaps she prefers the company of real men."

Marik scowled and reached into his pocket, drawing out a dagger. Several of the men laughed at his small weapon, and they brandished their spears. Uncaring, Marik drew back his hand and flung his knife in Téa's direction. She tried to duck, but the man still held her by the hair. But not a second later, his grip slacked. She quickly moved away from him, farther into the open circle, but not close enough for Marik to touch her. The man who'd held her captive looked to his chest, where Marik's dagger had lodged itself in his skin.

He fell off the horse, dead. Téa recoiled, horrified.

A harsh tension ripped through the air and settled over the remaining bandits. They eyed the enemy with new apprehension. Marik stepped towards Téa, but she moved in the opposite direction. "Stay away from me," she hissed, voice catching and revealing her fear.

Marik continued to advance on her like prey, and she continued to move away; they danced around each other in a circle, the other men watching carefully. Téa had side-stepped Marik for the third time when she felt a hand grip her shoulder from behind.

"What is the holdup?" a harsh voice demanded. Téa gaped in surprise when she saw that the arm gripping her belonged to none other than Bakura! But he looked different; his skin was darker and he had an even more dangerous aura about him. It was the Bakura from her visions, the Bakura of the past. His long gray hair ran wildly down his back, and he had a scar under his right eye. He wore a rich red robe that he had most certainly stolen from a noble, and underneath the open robe, Téa noticed that his tan, muscular chest was bare, absent of the Millennium Ring.

"Why is Raul dead?" Bakura asked gratingly, his eyes still on Marik.

"Oh, was that his name?" Marik asked, feigning regret. "Well he should have thought better before he put his greasy paws on my prize."

"Prize?" the bandit king repeated, finally looking at Téa. She flinched under his calculating eyes and watched as that formidable gaze roamed over her blue eyes and pale skin, lingering on her exposed shoulders and legs. He was frightening, but Téa couldn't seem to move her feet. "You mean this?" he inquired, speaking of Téa as though she were common garbage.

"Yes, damn it," Marik snarled impatiently. "Now get your hands off of what's mine."

Bakura laughed, and it was a cackle more sinister than Téa had ever heard from the Bakura she knew. Because it's not the Bakura you know, she reminded herself. This man would kill a thousand lives before his soul was sealed in the Millennium Ring. This man had unfamiliar eyes that shown of blood and plunder; this man, she reminded herself, did not even know her.

"You might be new here, so let me give you some advice," the thief offered, though the threat laced in his words was quiet evident. His fingers dug into the skin on Téa's shoulder hard enough to bruise. She would have flinched, but Bakura's grip was so strong that she couldn't budge. She was too afraid to move, and besides, if she did manage to escape the thief, the only place to go would be towards Marik.

"Never pick a fight with the King of Thieves," Bakura cautioned. "It will be your last."

"Aww, upset I killed one of your men?" Marik mocked, pulling another dagger from his pocket. "Going to avenge his death?"

But there was no compassion in Bakura's eyes. "Hardly," he replied, sounding bored. He held out a hand to one of his men, who handed him a spear. "But after less than a minute, I have concluded that I simply do not like you."

Marik didn't even have time to move before the thief king had thrown the spear. Téa screamed but found that she couldn't look away even as Marik was pinned to the ground, the spear protruding from his stomach. Despite everything he had done to her, Marik's death shook Téa to her core. She stared at his body in shock, until the hand still bruising her shoulder forced her to turn away.

"Not even a single tear," Bakura commented, roughly dragging a finger across her cheek for evidence. "Must not have been your lover then."

He chuckled at the disgust spilling across her face and released her shoulder. "Well then, it looks as though I have spared you from this imbecile." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I saved your life, wouldn't you agree?"

The men all chuckled darkly at his words. Téa wasn't sure what to say that wouldn't get her killed. But he seemed to be waiting for an answer, watching her expectantly with those piercing eyes. "Thank you..." she said shortly. She tried very hard not to look at the bodies of the two dead men.

Bakura's smile grew wild. "So, wouldn't you say... that perhaps you owe me?"

Téa paled as the bandits laughed and leered at her. But she'd die before she let any of them know terrified she was. She forced herself to look Bakura in the eye. "Perhaps," she agreed, glad that her voice sounded even and unaffected.

His eyebrows rose slightly as he appraised her, taking in her crossed arms and lifted chin. But his eyes were drawn to her bare skin again, and Téa couldn't help but shiver.

"And how will you repay me?" the bandit king asked smugly, leaning close. He ran a finger down her arm, and Téa's skin burned at the touch.

This felt awfully familiar.

Bakura grew closer still, his other hand toying with her hair. "I can think of a few ways," he whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

The hand on her arm roamed across her back before dipping lower to tug at her shorts, and Bakura bit down hard on her ear. And Téa felt her body flaring up all over, and she screamed in pain.

Screaming, she sat up haphazardly. Her heart was pounding like crazy, and Téa was surprised to find a blanket on her legs.

"What the fuck are you shrieking about so early in the morning?"

Bakura–the real Bakura, she noted with relief–walked into the living room, staring at the girl on the couch. Téa, still trying to understand why she was on the sofa with a blanket, took a moment to process his words.

The dream came flooding back, and she blushed from the roots of her hair down to her toes. Noticing her pajamas, Téa hurriedly threw the blanket over herself as she curled into the couch. "Bakura!" she cried, surprised to see him.

He caught the shock in her voice. "I do live here," he replied dryly. "Care to tell me why you were shrieking like a banshee?"

"Uhh..." She blushed darkly. "I had a bad dream..."

Bakura watched her carefully, but Téa refused to elaborate. She couldn't possibly tell the tomb robber he'd hit on her in her dreams! As her breathing calmed, Téa cursed herself. This was her own fault for asking Bakura to elaborate on his past. And now her dreams were mixing things she had seen from the unwanted visions with Marik's stalking and Bakura's lewd comments.

Bakura didn't appear convinced, his eyes narrowed at her thoughtfully. However, Téa was relieved that he chose not to inquire further into the contents of said dream. She had no plans to divulge such details to anyone, especially him! She clutched the blanked tighter, until Bakura left and went to bathroom. Téa sighed, lowering the blanket. She didn't remember falling asleep, but she must have grabbed it at some point. Surely Bakura hadn't...? She shook her head.

It was a little past ten when Téa had finished her morning routine and finally checked the clock. She had slept in much later than normal, but after all of the commotion last night, Téa supposed she had been up rather late. Not to mention how exhausted she'd felt after this first week back practicing. Thankfully she didn't return until Tuesday, so she had plenty of time to recover. Hopefully, it would get easier each day after this.

Bakura was prowling about the kitchen when she entered, finally dressed and ready to prepare breakfast. "There's no food," he commented sharply. Oh, right. She needed to go grocery shopping. Well, she would do that after visiting Ryou.

"I'll go shopping this evening," she told him. She began jotting down a grocery list on a scrap piece of paper.

Bakura groaned. "And what am I supposed to do about meals until then? Do you want me to starve?"

Téa rolled her eyes and tucked the list into her purse. "Don't give me that. I'm sure you went longer on less food back in Egypt. Your stamina can't be that low."

She stood at the counter, shoving other items into her bag and gathering up her keys. It wasn't until the hairs on the back of her neck prickled that Téa realized Bakura had never answered. She turned to see where he'd gone, only to find him right behind her, pinning her in place. She regarded him carefully, unable to prevent the slight fear from crossing her face. She knew it was just Bakura, but after that dream last night that had sent her screaming... "Bakura?"

He leaned in, effectively trapping her between the counter and his own body. The curved tile was digging into her side, but Téa was much more aware of Bakura's hips pressing onto her own.

"Don't worry about my stamina, Téa," he told her with a sly grin. "I have plenty."

Téa choked, coughing loudly, and quickly wiggled out from under him. Her movements caused some very noticeable friction, and although Téa blushed darkly, she also heard Bakura's quick intake of breath and spied the slight darkening of his cheeks. It seemed his little trick had backfired. Serves you right, Téa thought smugly. She smiled sweetly, primly swinging the purse over her shoulder before flouncing away towards the front door.

She giggled to herself as she headed outside, the image of Bakura's slack jaw and pink cheeks fresh in her mind. "Come on, tomb robber," she said over her shoulder. "We'll grab lunch on the way to the hospital."

Ryou was only too happy when Téa finally entered his hospital room that afternoon. He had been waiting all morning, perhaps a little more impatiently than usual for him, but he was eager to share the good news with her. His heart lit upon seeing her walk through the door, though the feeling was somewhat dampered when Bakura came slithering in behind her with a scowl.

The thief sneered, and Ryou's mood soured.

"Ryou! You're looking so much better today," Téa exclaimed, dragging a chair to his bedside.

He smiled and reveled in her closeness. "Yes, very much so! Actually, the doctor said that my health has improved tremendously. In fact, I get to go home tomorrow!"

Téa's eyes sparkled with joy as she clasped her hands together. "Oh, Ryou, that's wonderful!" She leaned in to wrap her arms around him in a loose hug.

He let out a deep breath and placed his own arms around her in turn. In Téa's arms, Ryou felt whole. He felt safe, he felt right, and he felt as if he never wanted to leave this warmth. She made to pull away, but he tugged her closer. Let me have this moment. She would not return his feelings, but he would cherish every second he was given with her, every touch, every sensation.

He couldn't wait to get out of this bloody place tomorrow. Although Téa had yet to mention Marik all week, Ryou would feel much better watching over her himself. Bakura had certainly spent more than enough time with her the past few days. Not that he deserved it.

As Téa began telling him about the diner where she and Bakura had stopped for lunch, Ryou's gaze hardened. Aside from the simple knowledge that this was Bakura, it sounded terribly much so like a date in his opinion. But it wasn't, he reminded himself. Téa was just being nice to pick a place she thought he would enjoy. Still, he couldn't wait to get home and be by her side again. Then Bakura could crawl back into his hellhole and leave the two of them alone.

"Ryou?"

His attention snapped back to Téa. She was studying his face, biting her lip. His eyes were drawn there, and he found it difficult to swallow. "Y-Yes?"

"I asked if you were feeling all right," she repeated, bringing a hand to his forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever... You do have heavy bags under your eyes, though, oh my gosh!"

Bakura turned in their direction, his gaze narrowing at the two. "Trouble sleeping?" he scoffed. "Weak."

Ryou blushed under Téa's unwavering look. "I... I may have had a nightmare or two..."

She patted his hand sympathetically. "I didn't sleep very well either." Téa offered no further explanation, but Ryou caught the faint blush spreading across her cheeks. He frowned.

To Ryou's great pleasure, Bakura disappeared sometime after that, leaving the room with a glower. Some poor souls in the hospital somewhere would likely have to deal with him, but Ryou didn't care. He was gone for the moment, and Ryou was all alone with Téa. Just how it should be.

For the next few hours, the two played a few games that Duke had left for Ryou during his visit last night. The others had all visited him in turn over the week, leaving gifts and well wishes. But none of them compared to her. Téa won a fair amount of games, but Ryou proved to be quite good at the mini version of Dungeon Dice Monsters. He watched fondly as Téa put away the game after her latest demise. Her hair was almost reaching her shoulders; it would need cutting soon. She bit her lower lip while shuffling the cards together, and Ryou longed to feel her lips against his own again. It hadn't even been a real kiss, but he supposed it was better than nothing. Not that he would ever get another chance; Téa had made her feelings perfectly clear when she had admitted it an accident. She was dressed down today in jeans and a loose shirt, owing to her exhaustion from the day before. Ryou wished she had worn leggings or dress... she did have the nicest legs.

The door slammed. Bakura was leaning against the wall next to it, scowling in Ryou's direction and practically hissing at the nurse who had followed him into the room. Ryou blushed and pulled his head out of clouds. He knew the Millennium Ring couldn't read minds, but sometimes he got the feeling Bakura knew what he was thinking.

"We'll come get you tomorrow, okay?" Téa was saying, gathering her purse and jacket. He didn't like her use of the plural we.

"I can't wait," he told her, smiling brightly as the nurse began her routine.

Téa grinned. "I'm going grocery shopping tonight, so I'll pick up the ingredients for your favorite cream puffs!" His heart fluttered. She remembered! "We can make them together when you get home!"

"That sounds amazing," he responded. And really, it did.

Just...

"Let's go already," Bakura growled from the doorway, sweeping from the room.

Téa looked after him and sighed. "I guess I'd better go catch up with him..."

"Take care of yourself, Téa," he pleaded, squeezing her hand.

She squeezed back before stepping away. "You too, Ryou. Just think! One more night, and then you're out of here tomorrow!"

"Provided his health keeps up," the nurse interrupted. "Now go on, miss. I need to change the bandages."

Ryou regrettably watched Téa leave the room; she gave one last wave at the door, and then she was gone.

"You've improved so much, dear," the nurse chatted, checking over his shoulder. "I know you're excited but don't push yourself, you hear me?"

He sighed. Right. No pushing himself. He needed to get out of here. He could handle one more night, right? Even though she and the tomb robber will be alone together again? He shut the little voice out. Everything was fine; he may not trust Bakura, but he trusted Téa. Mostly. No, he had to trust her for the time being. He would sit back and rest up here for one more night. He refused to be trapped in this place any longer.

. . .

"I can't believe you were banned from the supermarket!"

It sounded ridiculous, but Téa supposed it shouldn't surprise her that Bakura had gone and gotten himself barred from the major grocery chain. They had gone there straight from the hospital, but now they were having to go to a different place due to Bakura's childishness ("A shopping cart race, seriously? What are you, five?"... "Yami did it, too, I'll have you know!").

Téa parked the car in the lot of a smaller but fairly priced local grocery. Several things would be slightly more expensive, but she didn't want to drive out of the way just to find something cheaper.

"Don't wander off," she instructed, not caring when Bakura sent daggers her way in response. If he wanted to act like a child, she would treat him like a child.

They entered through the sliding doors, and Téa immediately sensed a change in the tomb robber's posture. He straightened, eyes darting around repeatedly. One might mistake it for nervousness, but she knew he was probably checking the place for danger. This was both comforting and depressing; she relaxed just knowing he was here and would keep an eye out for Marik, but it was rather disheartening that they had to take precautions for such a menial task as buying food.

An enticing smell drifted under her nose, and Téa decided it wouldn't hurt to hit up the little coffee shop at the front of the store, before proceeding to pick up the groceries. Making sure Bakura followed, she headed for the counter and scanned the menu.

"Hi! Welcome to Burton's Cafe, how may I help you?" The man behind the counter had a deep voice, but he looked young, perhaps in college. Bakura glared at him, but somehow the barista didn't notice, or chose to ignore it. He seemed to only have eyes for Téa.

"Hi!" she replied warmly, trying to ignore Bakura's building annoyance. The barista grinned at her playfully, and Téa blushed. "Erm, I'll have an iced green tea, smallest size, please." She glanced at Bakura from the corner of her eye. Catching her gaze, he dropped his scowl and arched a quizzical brow at her. "Ah, and one black coffee, smallest size too, please." Would he drink it? Possibly. Would she be in trouble if she ignored him and didn't buy him anything? Surely. Better to eat the money now than face Bakura's wrath later.

"May I get a pretty girl's name to go with this order?"

Oh, he was a flirt. Téa wasn't interested, but the compliment also wasn't unwelcome. Beside her, Bakura had crossed his arms and was drumming his fingers furiously. "Téa," she said, hoping the drinks were made quickly so they could leave before Bakura blew a fuse.

"An equally pretty name," the barista replied with a wink.

Flushed, Téa quickly paid and moved to the side, Bakura stomping up behind her. "Why did you give him your name?" he demanded.

It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. "He needed it for the order."

"You didn't have to give him your name," he scowled, continuing to glare at the young man as he prepared the drinks.

"Would you have preferred I gave him yours?" she asked dryly, rolling her eyes when his only response was to scowl deeper.

Three long minutes later, the man called out Téa's name, and the order was ready. She picked up her tea, only to find a phone number scrawled on it. Looking up, the barista grinned at Téa and waggled his eyebrows. Oh. Her blush darkened.

When she didn't immediately return with the drinks, Bakura appeared next to her. He caught her flushed face and the drink in her hand. Then he noticed the phone number. One minute the drink was in her hand, and the next, it had splattered across the floor.

"Bakura!" She gaped at him. This was a new level of low, even for him! He shrugged, picking up the now-empty cup and throwing it in the trash bin.

He turned to the man. "Well?" he barked, startling the barista with his sharp tone. "Aren't you going to get her another one?"

Mortified and eager to get away, Téa shook her head. "That quite all right, I don't think–"

The barista's flirty demeanor was replaced by a cold glare. "No replacements."

Seething, Bakura snatched up the remaining cup of black coffee and began to drag Téa away.

"Bakura, what the hell was that for?" Téa berated, hitting him on the arm to let her go. "I was really looking forward to my tea! Why would you do that?"

He stopped walking and turned so quickly that Téa almost ran into him. "I would have preferred to send him to the Shadow Realm," he admitted bitterly, not quite meeting her eyes. Looking to the coffee, he shoved the cup into Téa's hands. "Here."

She blinked. What had that poor man behind the counter done to warrant Bakura's murderous tendencies? He had been growling the entire time, ever since the man had first smiled at her... Oh. OH. She was certainly blushing a lot tonight; Bakura was upset some guy had flirted with her! She tried not to think of reasons why; best to assume Bakura just didn't like the look of him. Still... He controlled himself. And gave her his drink...?

"I don't like black coffee," she told him, trying to give it back.

He refused to take it. "Whatever. Go dump a bunch of sugar in it or something!" His ears were pink, and he still refused to look at her.

Cheeks still pink as she tried not to smile, Téa went back and doctored up the cup of coffee. Although she had just wasted a few dollars on the tea still spilled all over the floor (the barista had gone to retrieve a mop), Téa was touched by Bakura's offer. She added copious amounts of half-and-half as well as sugar.

They quickly left the cafe before the barista returned.

Téa picked up a basket in one hand, the coffee in the other. Bakura silently followed her around the store. He wouldn't show it, but Téa suspected he may be embarrassed from the scene he had created earlier. Sipping her sweetened drink, she looked to the vegetables. She looked at the coffee in her right hand and the basket in her left. She would just have to put the basket down on the ground...

The shopping basket was tugged out of her surprised grip. Bakura grunted, clutching it tightly, as if daring her to pry it from his fingers. Téa felt herself blush yet again. "Thank you," she said quietly, afraid if she spoke too loudly, Bakura would realize how nice he was being and retreat into his menacing persona.

She sipped on the coffee as she scanned the produce. They would need leeks, potatoes, radish, lettuce, squash... She pulled the full list out of her purse. The potatoes were closest. She stuck the list between her lips to free her hand and grab a baggie.

Both the list and coffee were suddenly relieved from her. At her questioning glance, Bakura merely shrugged, securing the list in the hand that held the basket. Surprising her even further, he took a drink of the coffee. Bakura grimaced, not used to the sweet flavor. Téa decided to not point out that he had just shared a cup with her, touching her mortal germs. The coffee had been for him anyway, and Téa was too shocked to say anything. She quickly examined the spuds and selected some good ones, not wanting to draw any further attention to Bakura's unusual actions.

When she was done, he refused to give her back the basket, instead allowing her to only take the list. Téa again said nothing aloud, but inside her thoughts were stirring. She was on a shopping trip with Bakura. Bakura. And he was carrying the basket for her, sipping out of a cup they shared and drinking coffee she had expected him to scoff at. Well, he had made a face at the coffee, but he hadn't complained like she would have thought. These were all things she would expect from Ryou or Yugi, or even Joey. Not Bakura, King of Thieves.

Although, Téa admitted that helping her grocery shop was something Bakura would do before she could ever think he might hand over his Millennium Ring. It almost seemed like a thing of her imagination. Something she could have dreamed. But though she could not clearly recall the visions she had seen, the nausea had certainly been real. As had their conversation after.

Still, this was a rather domestic scene for the ancient spirit. He continued to hold the basket for her as they made their way down the aisles, passing the coffee back and forth between the two of them. She'd never had a boyfriend before but... she glanced at Bakura. Is this what it would be like?

Téa choked back the thought.

He turned in her direction at the strangled noise coming from her throat. She coughed pointedly, avoiding his eyes and instead selecting a pastry dough for Ryou's dessert. "Ah... Bakura?"

"What?" he asked crisply, glaring at the dough and filling which now cluttered one corner of the basket.

"What dessert would you like?"

He fixed his eyes upon her, and Téa forced herself not to look away. She blushed for the umpteenth time. "I'm making some pastries for Ryou, so... I thought you might like to pick out something...?" She trailed off undecidedly.

"I don't really like sweets," he said after a long pause.

"Oh."

The rest of the shopping was completed in silence. It was not terribly uncomfortable, but Téa knew that both of them were distracted by their thoughts. Bakura practically tossed the purchased groceries into the back of the car, and Téa prayed the fruit wouldn't be bruised. She frowned at Bakura as he piled into the car next to her, but he merely snorted in exasperation.

It wasn't until they were home, with the groceries all put away and Téa starting on a dinner of meat and rice, that Bakura spoke again.

"Sugared dates."

She paused in her cooking, the meat continuing to sizzle in the pot. Bakura was lounging against the opposite counter. He faced her, but he was staring at the floor, sounding as if he had been deep in thought.

He looked up and found her looking to him in confusion. "You asked what dessert I like..." Bakura sounded as if he regretting admitting such a thing. He probably saw it as some sort of weakness.

Téa quickly returned to the meat before it cooked too much; after all, Bakura liked his rare. "I've never heard of sugared dates," she offered, hoping to placate him.

Indeed, Bakura appeared to relax. He continued to lean on the counter, more leisurely, as he watched her prepare dinner. "They were a delicacy back in Egypt."

She wished she had known at the store... "Do you want to go back and get some...?"

He scoffed, turning away from her. "Don't be ridiculous. I told you I don't eat sweets."

Téa huffed in amusement. "I'll add it to the list for the next trip?"

"I get the feeling you are determined, and I won't be able to stop you," he replied with a roll of his eyes. But his tone was light and a smile threatened to spread across his lips.

She grinned. He might not show it, but Téa was sure Bakura wanted those sugared dates next time. Would he come with her again? She hoped so.

If Téa noticed his distractions all night, she was wise not to comment on them.

After dinner, she had tried to go to bed, but sleep would not come to her. Less than an hour after she had disappeared into her room, Téa had come running back into the living room where Bakura sat watching TV. She had been covered in a cold sweat and mumbled something about not being able to sleep. Bakura had sighed and nodded with his head at the spot next to him on the couch. Téa had sank into the cushions with relief, grabbing the blanket and curling up right there. He realized too late that he should have told her to sit at the end of the couch. But now she was fast asleep, curled into a ball next to him, her head practically lolling onto his shoulder.

Bakura sat stiffly, his arms crossed and feet propped up on the coffee table. Having her this close was very unsettling, but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to wake her.

He had almost felt ashamed of his performance in the coffee shop earlier. Almost. Almost, because he was Bakura, damn it to Ra, and he would do whatever he damn well pleased. And if he wanted to send some greasy weasel to the Shadow Realm, he should be allowed to do so! But he hadn't. Bakura wasn't sure why he had acted the way he did, but there was something about that coffee server that Bakura had not liked. It had nothing to do with the man's interest in Téa Gardner, definitely not. Still, normally, Bakura would not have cared at making such a scene, but Téa had been so upset at losing her tea. He hadn't asked for the coffee anyway, so he had pushed it back to her, no big deal.

Except that she had acted as if it was a huge deal. The surprise had been written all over her face. However, she had also been grateful and... happy. She hadn't said anything, but Bakura could tell. He had been around the girl long enough to read her moods, and Téa had been very, very pleased. So he had shared his drink, even though it had been his and Bakura never shared with anyone. He had carried the basket, even though Bakura never helped anyone. And he had told her about his fondness for dates. A small tidbit that one might find insignificant, but Bakura was not used to telling others about himself, certainly not such frivolous details.

He had spent most of the evening pondering over his own actions. He was starting to regret everything he had done, for acting so soft and vulnerable in front of her, in front of strangers.

But then she had gone and taken care to cook his meat rare. To add dates to her shopping list for next time. To thank him for his help with the shopping, even though she knew he would scoff. To smile at him as if she was genuinely happy to spend time together. To fall asleep on the couch next to him, not at all worried he might kill her while she slept. To trust him.

Yes, Bakura's thoughts were distracting him so profoundly that he failed to notice Téa shifting in her sleep, until the weight of her head upon his shoulder startled him.

She slept soundly against his side, unaware of the panic that had settled across her companion's face.

Shit. He really should have forced her to sit farther away. Her weight at his side was heavy and warm, and Bakura did not appreciate how his stomach lurched in response. He wasn't used to having people so close. And Téa was close, far too close. Close enough for him to spot the few freckles that dusted her nose. Close enough to smell her vanilla shampoo.

For Ra's sake he scolded himself. Bakura unfolded his arms, stretching and preparing to wake the girl.

Until Téa slid from Bakura's shoulder onto his chest.

Somehow, she had tucked herself into his side. Her head rested just short of where Bakura's heart was beating frantically inside his chest, and dear Ra certainly that pounding should have woken her up, right? Her left hand had curled around the font of his shirt where his Ring rested underneath. Her other arm had fallen somewhere between Bakura's back and the cushions, and he had no doubt she would go numb from the angle. The blanket had slipped from her shoulders in the move, pooling around her waist and threatening to fall off onto the floor.

Reaching around Téa's shoulder, Bakura pulled the blanket up, tugging it back around her. His arm lingered awkwardly, before he swallowed hastily and let it settle around her frame.

She hummed in content, burrowing further into Bakura's body heat.

What the fuck are you doing?

But he had been asking himself that question for a while now.

He tolerated her, he had grown used to her. The idea had once been preposterous, but there was no point in denying it any longer. He was tolerant of Téa Gardner; he let her into his personal space without any serious repercussions. He shared coffee with her. He held her shopping basket, he gave her his coat, he flirted with her... He protected her.

Bakura felt ill.

He liked her.

He liked her, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do to stop it.

Bakura had half a mind to shove her onto the floor in disgust. This was Téa Gardner, cheerleader extraordinaire. She liked friendship and weakness and Ryou. They had nothing in common. She wasn't even pretty.

He glanced at her again. Okay, so she was fairly pretty. Very pretty.

His throat went dry. Fuck.

The second half of his mind liked what it saw, apparently. Fucking useless. He closed his eyes in frustration and let out a deep breath. What the fuck was he supposed to do now? His mind supplied several options, but he quickly squashed all of them. It was too late for this. He was tired. That must be it. I'm so damn tired I've deluded myself into such thoughts. Yes, that sounded reasonable. He just needed some sleep, then he would wake up to find everything as it should be.

Bakura fell into a restless sleep, his arm tugging her closer instinctively.

. . .

The Egyptian village was again deserted, but this time, Téa was completely alone. Not even Marik chased after her.

She recognized it immediately, glad to be armed with the knowledge that this was a dream. Although, seeing those two men die in her previous nightmare had felt very real. Still, she felt braver knowing that, at some point, she would wake up.

Téa walked around the streets slowly, checking everywhere for any sign of someone. Curiosity killed the cat, you know, she reminded herself. It would be safer to pick a spot and stay there. But something was telling her to keep moving, so she did.

She rubbed her hands along her arms for warmth. The desert was certainly a cold place. It wasn't quite nighttime, but thick clouds lingered above, blocking most of the sunlight. She was once again clad in her pajamas, but at least these covered her properly. A cold wind blew through her, however, and she shivered on the spot. Looking around, she sucked in a quick breath.

Somehow, she had left the village and approached the pyramid she had seen in the distance last time. When had she walked all the way out here? Looking behind her, she could barely see the village. The wind blew sand across her face, and Téa trudged forward. Perhaps there was an entryway she where she could take shelter.

"How do people even get in here?" she grumbled fifteen minutes later. She had walked the perimeter, but there didn't appear to be a doorway anywhere. She had never personally seen an Egyptian pyramid, but she guessed this was one of the larger ones. It wasn't old and weathered like the pictures she had seen in textbooks, but rather, it was clean and white. She suddenly wanted to know what Bakura thought of the pyramids today. Humming, she leaned against the structure while deciding what to do next.

Téa heard the crumbling first, and then the wall behind her disappeared.

She was falling, tumbling down a dark passage. She covered her head and tried to grab on to something, crying out when part of the rocky wall cut her palm. Finally, she hit a solid floor and stopped moving.

Her left hand was screaming in pain, blood dripping from the cut. She had probably sustained bruises from banging around during the fall, and she had landed hard on her right leg. Groaning, she carefully sat up and looked around.

Wherever she was, it was incredibly dark. The only light seemed to be coming from another room very far away. Gingerly, Téa stood. She flexed her left hand and winced from the pain there. "Damn dream sure feels real," she muttered, limping towards the light.

Weren't pyramids highly decorated on the inside? Though there wasn't much light, Téa could see enough to know that these walls were dark and bare. Perhaps only the main tombs were decorated? She seemed to walk forever, but surely the pyramid hadn't looked that big. Slowly, though, she drew closer and closer to the light source. The brightness was hidden around the corner, and Téa stepped forward to see what was there.

A strange man stood alone in the large room, the Millennium Ring around his neck glowing brightly.

This was not Bakura, not even the thief king she had dreamed of before. Téa had never seen this man currently wielding the Ring.

"I sensed your approach," he stated suddenly, not moving from his position in the center of the room. Like the rest of the pyramid, here too, the walls were devoid of any hieroglyphics.

"Erm. I'm terribly sorry," Téa apologized, backing away. "I didn't mean to intrude, honestly."

"You were summoned here because you are connected to the Millennium Ring," he informed.

"I'll just be– wait, what?" She paused, then took a few steps into the room. "What do you mean I'm connected to the Ring? I want nothing to do with that!"

The man appeared to raise his eyebrows in humor. "That is not a choice for you to make any longer, Téa Gardner."

"How do you know my name?" she asked, curious and nervous at the same time. "Just who are you and where am I?"

He spread his arms out. "You're inside the pyramid; I thought that was obvious."

She crossed her arms, not liking his tone. "Aren't pyramids usually full of treasure and sarcophagi?"

"Yes, usually. But the treasure lies above us, Miss Gardner," he explained, gesturing to the ceiling. "We are far beneath the upper chambers."

That explained the dark walls. "And who are you? Why are you hanging out in this creepy basement place?" Did pyramids even have basements?

He smiled. "I have been waiting for you. My name is Mahad."

The man was not threatening, but Téa kept her guard up. This Mahad currently held the Millennium Ring, so even if he acted harmless, he could send her to the Shadow Realm with a flick of his wrist. He was dressed in plain robes, but he wore gold jewelry that suggested he was either a noble, or had stolen from one. He held a large cane in one hand that reminded Téa of something, though she could not discern what.

When she said nothing, Mahad spoke again. "I am one of the six priests tasked to guard the Millennium Items by Pharaoh Atem."

Téa did not recognize the name, but she assumed Atem was likely the reigning pharaoh during this time period. And this Mahad had been tasked to guard the Millennium Items...

She gasped. "You're the priest Bakura killed... The Dark Magician!"

Téa could see the resemblance now, in his face and the staff he held. This was the man Bakura had killed to gain the Millennium Ring.

"Come here, Miss Téa, let me see your hand."

Anxiously, she crept towards the man. Amused, he sped up the process by crossing the room to reach her, and took her hand. Balancing his staff in the crook of his elbow, he placed Téa's wounded palm between his own. A gentle warmth encased her hand and fingers, and when Mahad released her, Téa's palm had healed. All that remained was a scar.

"I was a very powerful magician, and a close friend to the pharaoh," he told her. "I guarded the Ring with my life, and I sacrificed myself to prevent the darkness from awakening."

She rubbed her palm in awe before looking at him curiously. "You mean Bakura? But he was able to kill you and take the Ring."

"So he was. I failed Pharaoh Atem in this respect. But my sacrifice was not in vain; my magic and spirit lived on to aid the pharaoh in the battles to come."

Téa bit the inside of her cheek. "Pharaoh Atem... Is that Yami Yugi?"

Mahad did not answer her, but he did offer a small smile. "You have been summoned here because you are connected to the Ring," he repeated. "There is a message for you."

She found it hard to wrap her brain around the things he was telling her. "But I'm not connected to the Ring! Bakura still possesses it. This is just something I'm dreaming up, something my brain is throwing together while it tries to sort stuff out. Though I will admit I could not have ever guessing dreaming this."

The magician dropped his smile. "I am not a dream. I am a memory."

Her brows furrowed. "But I've never seen you before. At least, I've never seen your past human self before."

"Ah, but did I say I was your memory?" he replied in smart voice. "This is the face of Mahad as he was known to the thief Bakura. This is the face I am using to communicate with you."

"Erm... the face you're communicating with? You mean you aren't the Dark Magician?" This was becoming far too confusing.

"More or less. I am the Will of the Millennium Ring, and I appear to you using Bakura's memory of my previous owner, a face you are somewhat familiar with."

She gawked at him. That didn't even make any sense. The will of the Millennium Ring? Did that mean the evil powers contained with the Ring? That's who she was speaking to!?

"I don't really understand," was all she said. Téa didn't want to reveal her thoughts yet; what if the evil entity killed her for figuring it out? "What do you mean when you keep saying I'm connected to the Millennium Ring?"

He tilted his head. "Haven't you realized?" He regarded her dumbfounded expression. "Bakura placed it around your neck. He gave partial ownership to you. He was allowing you to use the Ring to protect yourself, should you need it. You wielded it, used it to relive Bakura's past experiences in Egypt. You and the Millennium Ring are now connected."

Téa gaped in horror. "But... But... But I didn't want to use it! I wasn't even trying to use it! Those images popped into my head without my consent!" She was terrified at what this man, this thing was telling her. Terrified, and angry.

"Even so, you and the Ring are now bound together, whether you like it or not."

She searched his face for any trace of humor but found none. "But Bakura still owns the Ring!" she tried.

Mahad waved his hand and magically conjured a chair for him to sit upon. "Yes, he is still the current possessor. But by allowing you to use it, he has given partial ownership to you. Not complete, but he has allowed you to wield the Millennium Ring should you wish it."

"Well I don't!" she argued, crossing her arms. She did not fail to notice he had conjured no chair for her, too. She stood over him, seething. "I refuse to be part of your evil scheme, whatever it is. Let me go! Stop haunting my dreams! Is this what Bakura sees every night as he sleeps?"

The thing, Mahad, whatever it was, chuckled. "Hardly. Like I said, you were summoned here. I summoned you here using our connection."

"Here?" she squeaked in a small voice, backing away slightly.

"My dear child, just where do you think you are?"

She glared. "You said we were underneath the pyramid!"

He examined his nails lazily. "Yes, so we are. The pyramid at the center of my ring." He gestured to the Millennium Ring around his neck, to the pyramid shape within the circular design.

"You mean I'm inside the Millennium Ring!?" she shrieked, covering her mouth.

"Of course. Well, your mind is, not your physical self." He appeared to think for a moment. "Your body is still asleep on the couch with the tomb robber."

That was of little comfort to Téa. Somehow, the Millennium Ring had used its evil powers to not only force a connection with her, but now it had snatched her mind and planted it inside of the dark object.

"What do you want with me?" she inquired, her voice all but a horrified whisper.

"Oh do calm down already," Mahad sighed, finally summoning a chair for as well, which Téa immediately sank into. "I said earlier, I have a message for you."

"Why should I believe anything you are saying right now?" she asked with suspicion. "I still think this could all be one bad nightmare brought on by Bakura's past and Marik's stalking. And even if this is real, you are the manifestation of the darkness inside the Ring! You have evil intentions. Bakura told me that the priests had to exert a lot of mental energy to control the Items without being controlled in turn. You want to turn me into one of those dark puppets, don't you?"

She had revealed everything now, and it was only a matter of time before the darkness snuffed out her life.

Mahad, however, merely snorted. "Stop with the theatrics, please. The Darkness has fled, purged from its original vessel. I know not where it went, though I have my suspicions. You are correct though, one must possess a Millennium Item with great care. Millennium Items feed on the will and emotions of their bearers, usually hatred and anger. However, I now rely on something much stronger, something the Darkness knows not."

Téa's brain hurt. He was talking in riddles she could not understand. "You just spat out a load of waffle, but you're saying you aren't the dark essence which all seven Items are said to possess?"

He smiled. "Bakura taught you well."

She sifted through his words again. "What do you mean by the darkness leaving its original vessel?"

Mahad did not grace her with an answer.

She growled, but tried again. "If you aren't the darkness, what are you?"

"I was forged in evil, long ago, that much is true. For centuries my powers were rooted in wickedness, like the other Millennium Items. But over time, the blood sacrifice has weakened." He paused to see if she was following.

"Erm... Oh, wait! Shadi said something! Something about the Items losing their mystical powers. That's why Yugi and Yami had to be separated!" And Ryou and Bakura, too, she recalled.

He nodded. "The evil deed which once ruled us has grown weak; the powers are fading, and soon the Millennium Items will be nothing more than ordinary tools. Unless..."

Téa breathed in deeply. "Unless what?"

"Unless they are re-powered."

Why did that sound familiar... Téa struggled to remember the conversation with Shadi. Duke had suggesting refueling the Items, hadn't he? But Shadi had replied that innocent lives would be sacrificed. Bakura had told her, too, that the Items were forged from the slaughtering of his childhood village.

Mahad leaned forward in his chair, his stare piercing into Téa.

"My message is this: The Darkness is coming."

Her entire body was submerged in a coldness upon hearing those words, as if something horrible lay behind them.

"What..." she asked timidly. "What is the Darkness?"

Mahad did not answer her, but he did rise from his chair. Téa stood, too, and then a wind was picking up inside the room. Her stomach rolled, and that's when she felt it: the nausea. It was exactly the same as when she had seen the vision's of Bakura's past. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force it away and keep her dinner down. Several long moments later, Téa heard a man scream, and her eyes flew open.

The nausea was nearly unbearable. The wind had vanished, along with the room she had previously occupied. Now, she was in a different room, another tomb from the looks of it. A man lay crumpled upon the floor, presumably the one who had screamed, and towering over him stood...

"Bakura!" she gasped. It appeared he couldn't hear her.

She looked closer. Not the Bakura she knew, but past Bakura, with his long gray hair and scarred right eye. The man on the ground looked similar to the one she had just spoken with. Mahad!

The thief king grinned wickedly, kneeling down to snatch the Millennium Ring from the dead body. But just as he pulled it away, a large blast sent Bakura flying into the stone wall, his body crashing against it with a sickening thud.. Mahad's spirit energy, the Dark Magician, had risen from his fallen body. Another bright light flashed, and the entire tomb seemed to disintegrate before Téa's very eyes.

She fell to her knees, unable to watch any longer. Wake up! Wake up, she commanded, pinching herself. Just as another bout of nausea rolled over her, Téa heard Bakura speaking. Though her vision blurred, she could tell they were somewhere in the desert, no longer inside the tomb. Bakura was covered in blood from the battle, but he had been triumphant: the Millennium Ring gleamed between his fingers.

"And now, I have the power to destroy the pharaoh and all who stand with him!" Victoriously, he placed the Ring around his neck.

Téa fell against the sand, unable to support herself. She felt ill, so ill. She needed to throw up. She needed to wake up. She dazedly watched from her position on the ground, as Bakura tested the powers of his new Millennium Ring.

She coughed, her head pounding. Tears formed in her eyes from the pain. Wake up, Téa! Wake up!

A dark miasma began seeping out of the Millennium Ring, and Téa blinked, trying to focus on it. The black shadow continued to grow, until it filled the sky. It took the form of a shape she did not recognize. A monster, her brain supplied through her haze. An evil monster that had come out of Bakura's Ring.

The Darkness is coming.

She woke up, leaning over the edge of the sofa as far as she could against whatever was restraining her, and emptied the contents of her stomach onto the carpet.

"What the fuck...?" came Bakura's groggy voice. His arm, she realized, was around her waist and had prevented her from leaning farther. He sat up with her and spied the vomit. "Shit! What the hell is going on?"

Téa couldn't stop shaking, but she was relieved the nausea was passing. She coughed, barely registering that Bakura had climbed over the back of the couch. She stared at the remains of her dinner, but not really seeing them. Her mind was flying through a thousand different thoughts. A towel dropped into her lap, and Téa looked up to find Bakura had returned. She tried to thank him, but the words wouldn't come out. She wiped her mouth and tried to get up, but she didn't have the strength to stand. She watched as Bakura withdrew his Ring from underneath his shirt, and proceeded to send her waste to the Shadow Realm. Well, that was one way to clean up.

She stared hard at the Millennium Ring, portions of her dream coming back to her. Other pieces were missing, as often happened with dreams, but Téa felt they were probably very important pieces. What did it matter? It was just a bad dream, a nightmare, like before, she reminded herself.

She allowed Bakura to fuss over her, whining about interrupted sleep and would she tell him what the fuck was going on already. He brushed her cheek with the back of his palm, presumably checking for a fever. He looked over her face, catching her terrified expression as she recalled certain things she had dreamed. He sighed, grabbing her hands and squeezing them reassuringly, and somewhat, painfully.

"Damn it, woman, tell me, what happened?" he implored, a hint of desperation buried under his frustration. Anxiously, Téa tugged her left hand out of his. She turned it over and stared in alarm.

There was a long scar running across her palm.