Yugioh belongs to Kazuki Takahashi.
It is a hot day down in Cairo, Egypt. The sun is beaming down on two children that were playing in the palace walls. There is an eight year old girl with brown spiky hair, aquamarine eyes and tan skin running away from a tri-color haired ten year old boy with amethyst eyes and tan skin. He also wears a crown on his head, representing that he is royalty.
"You can't catch me!" Mana yells, looking back at him. Atem grins. He could catch her alright and he could've caught her if he wanted at anytime. He is a very fast runner indeed but he decides to slow it down a bit to make Mana happy. She never likes it when he catches her.
"Mana, look out!" he warns but it is too late. Mana falls to the ground, having hit another person. She has brown shoulder length hair, blue eyes and pale skin and she appears to be Atem's age. Mana rubs her head and looks up while the girl glares down at her with cold.
"Who are you and why are you playing with my future husband?" the girl asks.
"Huh?" Mana asks as Atem helps her to her feet.
"Ah, I see you've met Teana," says his father Akunamanon approaching them all.
"Teana?" Atem asks, looking at the girl.
"Yes son. She is princess of another part of Egypt. Soon when you become king, she will be your future wife," his father explains. Atem stays silent, not knowing what to say as his father leaves. Mana walks around Teana, examining her up and down while Teana continues to look at Atem.
"Uh…my name is Atem," he says outstretching a hand and she shakes it.
"Nice to meet you and uh…who is this?" Teana asks, watching the girl encircling her.
"That's my best friend Mana."
"Mana eh? She doesn't look royal to me." Mana stops, standing in front of her with a smile.
"That's because the pharaoh took me in after my parents died. And ever since I came here, I've been studying to become a magician," Mana says.
"Humph…you think the pharaoh wasn't just feeling sorry for you?" she asks with a smirk and Mana narrows her eyes, turning red.
"What did you say!?"
"You heard me." Atem, seeing this get out of hand, stands between them.
"That's enough you guys," he says, stopping the argument.
Teana turns away, but turns her head to them both. "I should be going now. I'll see you later," she says, blowing a kiss to Atem who blushes while Mana sticks her tongue out at her as she leaves.
"I don't like her one bit," says Mana, folding her arms.
"Aw come on Mana, she seemed nice."
"Mana, wake up this instant!" calls a voice from outside of her room. Mana groans, taking the blanket off of her messy hair and yawning, rubbing her eyes. She already knows who is knocking at her door. Her Master, Mahad. He has been teaching her magic since she was eight years old. And now, eight years later, she still couldn't get out of bed on time for her lesson.
'What a weird dream,' she thinks to herself before shuttering at the thought of Teana. She hasn't seen her in eight years and is glad too.
"Mana, I won't call you again!" yells the voice from the other side, banging on her door.
"I am coming! Just a second!" Mana shouts, quickly getting up and putting on her clothes which are a white shirt that starts at the shoulders, a gold belt with a ruby in the middle, a white pleated skirt which is inches above the knee and finally a white hairpiece. She goes up to a mirror, fixing her hair into its normal and style and then puts on a gold necklace with a ruby in the middle, which used to belong to her mother.
"Mana! Must we go through this everyday?!" Mahad yells and he sighs. Mana never likes her lessons, feeling that it's pointless and boring. And usually she would hide when he leaves her alone to study.
Mahad is a very close friend of Mana and Atem. Whenever he was free, he would hang out with them when they were little. But it was pretty hard now, being one of the royal priests of the new pharaoh.
Atem had taken over after his father passed away from a sudden illness. He was a great leader, but whenever it came to listening to lectures or reading scrolls to learn more about being a great pharaoh, he was just as bad as Mana and sometimes, he would also sneak away.
Mana finally comes out of her room, saluting to him with a bright smile. "Ready Master!" she exclaims and he rolls his eyes.
"You should've been ready minutes ago. Did you oversleep again?" Mana opens her mouth to explain but he raises his hand to stop her before she could even sleep. "No matter. Let's get on that studying now shall we?"
Atem sits in the throne room on his throne, resting his chin on his hand with a bored look on his face, listening to his assistant lecture. Being the new pharaoh could be quite boring but at least it came with new wardrobe. He is wearing a crown with the eye of Horus in the middle, along with the Millennium puzzle which hangs around his neck, symbolizing his power. (I can't describe the rest of his wardrobe but you know what it looks like)
He closes his eyes, thinking of how it might be not having so many responsibilities. Sure he is eighteen but he just feels that this is all too much for him. Because of his father's sudden death, it gave him little time to prepare for becoming pharaoh although he is doing a great job.
"Your highness," says Shimon, one of his most trusted assistants and he opens his eyes. "You should've paid more attention on my lecture. I'm afraid that you'll have to read these three scrolls."
"But Shimon…"
"…I don't want to read these scrolls," Mana complains to Mahad, in the studying room.
"That's what happens when you don't listen. Seriously Mana, how do you expect to be a great spell caster if you don't ever listen?"
Mana groans. "Aren't there other ways?"
"You're reading the scrolls Mana," he says, heading toward the door. "And don't leave until you do." And after saying that he leaves, making Mana grin. That is her cue to leave and have some fun, away from all the hard work.
She gets up from her seat, looking out the door to see if the coast is clear before making a run for it. Where is she running to? To the throne of course.
'I bet Prince is just as bored as me. Maybe he would want to hang out with me.'
Atem groans, just getting on his second scroll. The first one had taken him forever to read. Who knew becoming a pharaoh would be so hard. He didn't see how his father did it.
He looks down at the other long scroll that lay on the ground and shrugs his shoulders, dropping the one in his hand. "There's no way I'm reading all that."
"Ah, ah, ah," comes a feminine voice from all directions. "A pharaoh always does his work."
Atem smirks to himself. "Not today Mana. Come out." Mana comes out from behind a pillar, her hands behind her back.
"Too much work eh?" she asks, leaning on the throne.
"Way too much work. And what about you? Shouldn't you be studying?"
"Yeah but I got bored and came here. Say, why don't we take a break?"
"But we're supposed to be studying."
"Aw, a little break won't hurt. We'll be right back I promise." Atem groans, knowing that they probably wouldn't be back soon. Whenever Mana did something mischievous, she would always involve him too.
"I don't know…"
"Fine, stay here bored for the rest of your life," Mana says turning away. Atem looks at the scrolls then back at Mana who is starting to leave.
"Wait," he says, quickly getting up and she smiles. "I'm coming with you."
Mana jumps into the Nile while Atem sits and watches his best friend. They always used to do this when they were little, although they wouldn't be there for long because his father used to send guards out to find them and bring them back to the palace.
She surfaces and smiles at Atem who smiles back at her. "Come on in! The water's nice!" she yells, waving her hand.
"I think I should pass," Atem says, even though he wanted to join her so badly, wanting to have as much fun as she is having.
"Are you sure? You're missing out!"
"It's not pharaoh behavior." Mana begins to make chicken noises and she splashes some water on him.
"Cut it out Mana or I will be forced to take action."
"Chicken!"
"That's it," he mutters to himself and he quickly gets up and dives into the water, joining her. He splashes water on him and she splashes back, both of them laughing. "You're gonna pay for that!" Atem swims over and grabs her while she struggles to get away. They were so much into their fun, not even noticing Shimon, Mahad and a woman standing there watching.
"Ahem," Shimon clears his throat, causing them to stop and look at the three, standing on the shore.
"I see you have refused to do your studying once again," says Shimon. Atem's eyes go over to the woman standing beside him. She looks so familiar to him. Mana, on the other hand, already knows who she is and she narrows her eyes at her.
"T-Teana," Atem says, and he gets out of the water.
"I see you've remembered. Since you know that, I suggest you do know that you will be getting married to her soon." Mana grunts.
"It's nice to see you again my king," says Teana, wearing a gold crown with the eye of Horus on her head and a long white dress and a lot of gold jewelry. Atem starts to feel a little embarrassed, standing in front of her, soaking wet.
"Well then, let's get you dried up shall we?" Shimon says and they leave. Mahad looks down at Mana with his arms folded and she smiles nervously, knowing the consequences of her actions.
"It's nice to see you again," Teana says, walking with Atem inside the palace.
"Yes, likewise. I haven't seen you in eight years."
"How are things going? How's your father?"
Atem lowers his eyes. "My father passed a year ago," he reveals and she gasps silently.
"I'm sorry," she apologizes.
"It's alright." They stop in their tracks, facing each other.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know you better Atem."
"Yes and so am I." She hugs him and he hugs her back while Mana watches far away with a calm look on her face. She stands there watching the two exchange words and laugh with each other and she sighs, knowing that she wouldn't be able to spend time with Atem as much now that Teana is here. She turns away as they hug again and goes to her Master who is calling her.
First chapter done and more to come. Review please.