Desert Flower


She awoke to a bright light. Bakura woke up too. A sillohuete stepped into the cell and caused Tiana to shrink back. “Uncle Malik?” “Yes its me. I’ve come to get you out of this mess.” “No.” “What? Dare you to disobey me?” “I’m not leaving. I do not trust you.” Malik smirked. He had expected this so naturally he had a plan. “If it makes you feel better I’ll see if I can get Bakura free too. Besides my sister can’t wait to see you.” Tiana still didn’t trust him but the offer of Bakura’s freedom as well convinced her. “Fine. But come back when he can be freed.” Malik nodded and left to see Yami. Bakura looked at her.”Why? Why are you trying to get me out?” “You are my first friend and for some off reason I trust you.” “Really?” “Yes. Don’t ask how I know but I think fate has something to do with our crossed paths.” Bakura smirked and sighed. “You are very different from any girl I have met. Well you are the only girl friend I have at least. The other girls I know are my momther and grandmother.” Tiana blushed and looked away. “Well my only family left is Malik and his sister Isis.” “Oh. Not to be rude but since how I am normally..how old are you?” Tiana looked at him. “Why?” “No reason. Just curious.” “Well in that case......I am 16. You?” “17.” Tiana started to giggle. “Whats so funny?” “Nothing.” “Thats what I thought.”

Malik wlked back down to the prison. “Well Tiana it looks like you both are free. Now come with me and tell your friend goodbye.” Bakura and Tiana looked at each other and smiled. He went one way and she went the other. When she arrived at her uncle’s estate she felt even more sad. There were walls surrounding the place. She cheered up abit when she saw Isis. Isis was always kind and understanding in a way. “Hello Tiana.” “Hello Isis.” Malik stepped between the two and walked inside with them following.

Later that night Tiana looked out her window. “I wonder what Bakura is doing now?” she thought aloud. She looked out and saw a familiar figure on the other side of the wall. It was him! Her heart lept with joy. He was okay. THen she saddened. How could she possibly be able to get to him with the wall? She thought about it for a minute. “I am going to so hate me.” she muttered as she disguised herself as a commoner. She snuck downstairs quietly ut stopped. Isis was standing in front of the door. Tiana looked up at her and saw Isis smile and let her pass. “Thank you.” “Your welcome now go before Malik finds out you left. I’ll cover for you.” Tiana smiled. Isis was a very nice person.

She snuck out of the estate and saw him run towards her. She took off her disguise and was left with her clothes from the day before. Bakura stopped in front of her and smirked. “Sneaking? One might suspect you for a thief.” “Shut up. We need to get away from here for a bit or else my uncle will see us.” Bakura nodded. “I know the perfect place.”

Tiana looked around the small cave. “You go here often?” “Yeah. I live here.” “Oh.” Bakura looked at her. “So how is your family?” “Malik scares me. Its like he wants me for something evil not to make sure I’m okay. Isis, his sister, is nice. She is the one who saw me sneak out. I swear she can look into the future. But she let me out as if she knew something.” Tiana shook her head and blushed. “What have you done today?” “Came back here and waited for nightfall to try and find you.” She smiled. They sat there and watched the fire die out. She looked at the sky. “Ack! I must go. My uncle is bound to wake up and find me missing.” Bakura ran with her back to the estate and watched her go back inside. He left when she got back up to her room and waved to him. He ran out of site.

Malik woke up and walked into Tiana’s room and saw her asleep. He grinned evilly. ‘A few more days and I can be powerful and you will be dead!’ he thought. Isis sat in her room and cried because of Tiana’s fate. She dried her eyes and would try to explain everything to her tommorow.

When Tiana woke up in the morning she saw Isis siting on her bed. “Tiana there is something you must know and I will tell you. Meet me outside the estate today and you can go with me to do the shopping.” Tiana nodded. “How did you know about Bakura?” “I will tell you later. Now get up and get changed.” and with that isis left Tiana alone. Tiana quickly dressed herself in black and went downstairs. Malik was waiting at the foot of the stairs for her. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?” “Yes I did uncle. And it is a nice room.” “I will give you a tour of this place so you know where places are.” “Thank you.”

An hour later Tiana came back with Malik. “This certainly is a nice place. You have done well.” “Thank you Tiana.” Isis walked out and Tiana follwed. “Tiana what you are about tho hear may shock you but you must be strong and listen to me.” “Yes.” Isis and Tiana walked to town while Isis explained. “Your uncle Malik does not want you. He mearly seeks your powers. And he will stop at nothing to perform the ritual. It also includes you dying. I know that you will not die but you will be torn away from the one you call Bakura. I can see into the future. The gods have blessed me so I can help you. Malik will do the ceremony tonight instead of the next full moon. he is too impatient so listen. When you see Bakura tonight take some clothes and food and stay with him for a while.” Tiana looked at the ground.”I understand Isis. Thank you.”

They returned three hours later with food and some new clothes for Tiana. Malik greeted them and then retreated to his room. He pulled on his cloak and chanted a spell that would help him in his extraction of her powers. He looked at his book of spells and looked around his room. It was the perfect spot to hold the ceremony. “You will not live long now Tiana.” he chuckled.

It was night time and they had just eaten. She went up to her room and looked out the window. Malik and Isis went to thier rooms and all lights were extinguished. She quickly packed her clothes and looked out and saw Bakura waiting. She waved and ran downstairs. Isis was down there and handed Tiana enough food for two for a couple of weeks. Tiana hugged her and smiled and left. Isis turned around and Malik was right behind her. She let out a scream and startled Tiana. “Bakura, we need to run! As fast as we can! My uncle knows!”

Once at the cave they sat down. Bakura looked at her tearstreaked face. “He wants to kill me! He wants to take my powers and I don’t even know what they are. I was warned and was instructed to stay with you for a while. I’m so scared Bakura.” Bakura took her in his arms. “Your safe here.” Tiana looked up at him and smiled. He looked at her and then heard a noise outside. They put out the fire and went back further in the cave. She and Bakura held onto each other for dear life. The noise came closer. She closed her eyes and chanted a spell and it twitched and died. They let go and saw that is was only an asp. Bakura looked at her. “What happened?” “I don’t know.” “Oh.” Bakura threw the dead snake out and saw her shaking like mad. He put a blanket around her and pulled her close.

She shook her head. “Now I know what he is after.” she said softly. “I can protect myself and thats what he wants. He has many enemies and with my magic he can be almost unstopable.” Bakura looked into her ice colord eyes. “Tiana, as long as your here you will be safe. I hope.” She relaxed and closed her eyes. He laid her down gently and kissed her forehead. Then he too, went to sleep.

The next morining Malik was gathering all his best men. “You need to find Tiana. You all have seen her when I showed her around. Bring her back and I’ll inform the pharoah of a little escapee. Now move!” He and his men spread out to find her. Malik went directly to the palace.

Bakura shook her and she sat up. “What?” “Morning.” Tiana smiled and brushed her hair out of her face. Bakura watched her stand up and stretch. ‘She has a great body. CUT OUT THAT THINKING!!!’ he thought to himself. She looked at him and he blushed. She sat down and squeezed his hand gently. He looked at her and blinked. She rolled her eyes and took out two pomegranates. “Here.” she said as she handed him one. Thier hands touched briefly as she handed him the fruit. They ate and sat there. Bakura looked at her face. She was sad about something. “Whats wrong?” “Nothing. I just never really knew about my fate until last night before I left.” “Oh.”

Yami sat and listened to Malik. “Bakura broke out and he kidnapped your niece?” “Yes sir.” “Wel when I catch him I know where I can place him so he will not escape.” Malik left and Yami smirked. “Soon Bakura, soon you will be stuck.”

After a week of looking, no one found them. Bakura and Tiana had learned alot about each other at that point. “Bakura, if you get caught again. What will happen to you?” Bakura looked sad. “I will be locked away in the Sennen Ring.” Tiana hugged him and smiled sadly. She looked up and saw a look of emptiness. “Whats wrong?” “Well the only family I have left is gone. I am alone now.” “How?” “It seems like your uncle went to my mothers and demanded to see me. Her and my grandmother put up a fight but died. Now all I have left is this.” He pulled out a small gold ring with a single black stone in it. She gasped. Tears started to well up in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around him again and held him while he cried. She wish she could have stopped it. ‘I’ll kill you uncle. You have brought nothing but sadness an you will pay!’ she thought, making it a silent vow.

Bakura stopped crying and looked at her. “You must think I’m weak.” “No I don’t. I see someone hurt. Thats all.” Bakura looked at her face. ‘She is really meaning it!’ Tiana felt his arms wrap around her and pull her close. She smirked. “What are you doing?” He grinned evilly and kissed her. Her eyes went wide then closed and she returned the kiss. They broke apart and looked away from each other. Tiana turned around and saw him blush. She giggled. They laid down next to each other and then eventually fell asleep.

Malik’s men drew close to a cave and silently apporached as well as the pharoah and his men. Malik was behind them all and nodded. Yami and Malik nodded to thier men and the men charged.