Xantcha: FINALLY it's up!!

Bakura: Took you long enough...

Xantcha: Yeah, but I changed my mind part way through, so I had to rewrite.....

Ryou: ...Anyone who reviews gets....uhh....*Xantcha whispers to Riyo* GETS BROWNIES....Hm, that's a recipe I haven't tried yet...

Bakura: ...Oooooh, Ra...

Xantcha: ...*smiles innocently* there is one SURPRISE COUPLING! Forgive me if characters seem o/c....I'll look at it later, okies?

~~~Xantcha Mirri Ojanen, Egyptian Wanderer~~~

A dark cloaked figure hurried through the bustling streets of Cairo, Egypt. Slipping down one alley and appearing in the next, the figure was not spotted as it searched for it's prime target. Finding a local stall that hadn't any visitors, the figure came from behind the counter. Crouching near the counter in darkness, it listened to the conversation of the two owners.

"Well?! Where is it?"

"I'm sorry, I tried but, she.."

"What do you mean, but?! I told you to kill her and take her enchanted item! We could take over even the pharaoh's court with that power!!"

"I'm so sorry, master....but she is much more powerful than you would first expect..."

"Let me get this straight, you let her -know- what you were up to, and now, if I'm correct, she will be looking for us here to get revenge! Idiot, we'll be murdered!"

"What if we left tonight? We could escape her wrath, perhaps....."

"Very well, we leave tonight, after the sun sets....perhaps we will get another chance to kill her in the near future...."'IF it is possible....'

The figure growled and stood up. 'Do they know what they are up against? Damn them...' The figure removed two small dagger-like objects, called sai's, and threw them at her targets. The smaller one died on impact of the heart, but the other only suffered a punctured lung. The older looked up at the person approaching him, and hissed. Slowly, painfully she took the dagger out of his partner's heart, and turned to him. A female voice whispered into the darkness as she threw the weapon. "Power is only given to those who can control it, fool." The man gasped as the sharp object came towards him.

"Ra dammit..."

Everything was dead silent as the figure retrieved her weapons and retreated to the darkness. When she believed she was in the clear, she removed her hood. Crimson eyes clashed with white hair as she looked into one of the old antique mirrors her second victim had at a stall. Sighing, she traced her face and glowered. "Why am I cursed? All nobles had wished for my hand, and I was told I may refuse them all. But then, HE offered...." The woman threw the mirror onto the table, smashing it. Well, Xantcha, you've done it again, haven't you?! Oh well, like I care." She had once believed in superstition, but so far as she was concerned, she always had bad luck now. "Now, to ask the locals where the palace is...."



Everyone at the palace was rushing around wildly, excited of the upcoming festival. He, of course, had chosen to go to the market. "Being in one place all the time must have SOME toll on the mind...It is better to get around and see the sights than to die with regrets." He had inherited the throne only 4 years ago, when he was fourteen. His father was killed in a shadow game, and there was only him to take on responsibility. The Priest Seth, of course, helped out since he was his ally from birth. And when he was 16, he met a tomb-robber, who he found was the holder of the millennium ring. Bakura, the tomb-robber, had killed the priest who originally held the item as self defense, and he had decided on letting Bakura stay in the palace and help him with war tactics and councilling. Seemed that long ago, the two had grown up together until they were each 6. They were separated under sad circumstances. The once tomb-robber was known now as a friend of the pharaohs. He brought his brother Ryou to the palace after joining the council.

The last person to join the council was the one who held the millennium cloak. He was found beaten badly after a war, and Bakura found out that he had been from a neighboring ally country, only wishing to help in the war. His name was Marik, and he had a small brother that had been hiding near by, called Malik. He had joined the council at the pharaoh's request soon after. Yami sighed as his ruby red eyes observed the commoners.

'So much to be happy about, and yet, I cannot keep from wondering what the princess is doing......' He had suggested the arranged marriage as a way to keep the two parts of Egypt together in such a dreadful war. In this, the people would be happy and Egypt would have a strengthened connection. He had been told that the princess however, was not exactly ecstatic about meeting him, never mind getting engaged. 'Maybe I was too rash....I should have discussed it with her.....'

Seth ran frantically down the halls, searching for Yami. The pharaoh had suddenly gone missing, and he did not want to bother the servants and guards with the not-so-great news. While running, he heard his name being called. "Hey, Priest! Wait up, I have a message for you!!" Seto turned around to meet face to face with Marik, and he looked like he was in a panic too.

"You've got to listen to this...Southern Egypt's princess has gone missing! Three of her councilors and a guard are here to talk to Yami." Seth stopped and sighed.....what to do? "Listen, go tell Malik, Bakura, Mai and Ryou to help me search for the pharaoh. Make sure no one hears of this, and keep the councilors and guard busy." With that much, he tore off towards the front entrance. 'I'll bet he's at the market...'

Yami wandered down the streets, walking amongst his people and enjoying the sites and celebrations. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young women with white hair. He stopped and went to get closer to take another look, but he lost her among the crowd. "Where did she go? I swore she looked familiar...." While talking to himself, however, he was pulled into a dark alley.

"WHAT IN RA ARE YOU DOING?!" Seth hissed. "We've been looking all over for you!" Yami sighed and chuckled lightly. "What? Did you not enjoy the shock of not seeing me in the palace? Come now, Seth...I have had enough of the damn place. I wish to see things other than four walls and a few doors." Seth sighed and rubbed his temples. "Come on, Yami, I'll tell you what I heard from Marik..." Suddenly, a scream was heard. Yami immediately ran out to search for the location of it, but Seth grabbed his arm. "We can't! We have way too much to..." Yami suddenly broke free of Seth's hold and sprinted. Seth gasped, shook his head, and followed the young ruler.

Gasping for air, Xantcha hissed as another bandit came towards her. 'Won't they ever give up?' Her arm was already torn up badly, and she was up against too many of these men to fight much longer. 'If only I had brought my magic elixirs...' Suddenly from out of nowhere, a figure in a brown cloak came from her right side out of the corner of her eyes. He called out some Egyptian spell, and the bandit fell. The others suddenly fled, realizing how futile it was to stick around. Xantcha slowly got up and walked towards the brown cloaked figure.

Sword drawn, she noticed another figure in a blue cloak come in from behind the other. She slowly let her weapon down to her side and glanced over at the two. "I thank you for helping me. I am thankful for your help in that battle." A deep voice came from the brown cloak with a reply. "It was not a problem, I merely scared them off, that is all." Xantcha smiled gratefully. "Well I am glad that whatever you used works, that is for sure." The blue cloaked figure sighed and muttered something into the other's ear. Xantcha tensed up as the brown cloaked figure removed his cloak.

All Xantcha could do was gape. The man that had saved her not even a minute ago was the cursed pharaoh himself. Xantcha caught herself staring, and immediately glared at his friend. "And, let me guess....You wouldn't happen to be Priest Seth, would you?" She was rather sarcastic, and Yami blinked twice as Seth took off his cloak hood. "Hmm, how did you guess? And I bet my item that you are..."

Xantcha had heard enough, and she growled. "Quiet, priest. You don't want to go there." She didn't want to meet them, and she certainly didn't want the pharaoh to recognize her. "I am here on important business, hmm? Go pester someone else." Seth laughed and smirked."And I suppose that is a threat, hm? I sorely doubt that you would cause any trouble. Isn't that right, pharaoh?" Xantcha hissed as she turned away. 'I come here to assassinate him, and then he saves me?! Ra help me...' She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Much as she hated it, she owed him one.....And much as she hated it, he HAD helped her....

Yami observed the woman I front of him, and rose as eyebrow. 'She almost seems to be fighting herself.....' He looked over at the young priest and blinked. Sighing, he slowly took Seth to the side while the young women contemplated something.

"Seth? ...Who is she? I know that you know, but you haven't been explaining much lately...." Seth chuckled as he glanced at Xantcha. "You do not recognize her from 6 years ago? She was 10 and you were 12...she is the princess, don't you see?" Yami sucked in breath and chanced another look at the young woman. 'She is very beautiful....How could I have not known? No wonder she is so torn...' Yami sighed than looked at the priest head on. "Then why did you not tell me? I would have liked to have known....." The priest chuckled at this. "Well, you had best let her know that you understand who she is." Yami nodded and walked over to the princess.

Xantcha hissed ,frustrated, as the pharaoh talked from behind her. "Lady Xantcha, you had best come with me to the palace." Seth smacked his head and sighed as Xantcha whirled around, glaring. "Oooooh Really?! And what am, I, a loyal SLAVE?!" Xantcha was now infuriated, and was about to leave when Yami sighed. "I apologize....I just....am surprised to see you here is all...." Seth came up from behind her and smiled. "Besides, your guard and councilors are waiting to see you..." Xantcha gasped. "WHAT?! They followed me HERE?! Argh....." Xantcha sighed and shook her head. "Maybe it is for the best that I accompany you to the palace then..." Yami smiled then nodded at her and walked in front of her.

"BUT ON ONE CONDITION!" Yami jumped in surprise with Seth as she yelled at them from behind. She walked up between them and glared at Yami icily. "YOU tell ME exactly WHY you suggested the union!" Yami shuddered under her glare and sighed "I merely wanted the...ne, OUR people happy and restore connections as it was in the past..." Xantcha hissed and passed them completely, growling. "Well DON'T expect me to accept this, PHARAOH..." Xantcha was especially sarcastic on the last word. The group returned to the castle, with Xantcha slightly ahead, scowling.

When the trio arrived at the castle, the others were tedious in the visiting room. When Xantcha arrived, the guard and councilors were all relieved. The first one was Hilary, and she was ready to give her a mental beating. "SO where were YOU and the PHARAOH, hmmmm?" Xantcha got nudged slightly and she suddenly hissed as Hilary giggled. The other two laughed as she scowled. Kurry came up to her and smiled graciously. "I suppose those two found you, hm? Well, I thank you very much. We were panicking and wondering what to do....Xantcha, I'm sooo happy to see you! You don't know how worried we were!" Xantcha sighed smiling as her guard, Riyo, walked up. "Well, how is the little one doing? You had us going...Ra, we were all in an uproar! At least the servants and people didn't find out."

Xantcha growled when she was called the 'little one', but she let it pass. She looked over at the last of the three councilors. She has light brown hair, with one green and one blue eye. (A/N Sound familiar? Lol....I just had ta put you in, Gunner! : P) She walked up to her councilor and the duo-color eyed woman smiled. "Well, look at what the King dragged in! Ah well....I was hoping that we would be able to settle this into stone WITHOUT your complaining...." Xantcha frowned at her (A/N Sarcasm...) FRIENDLY rival. The two had met not even a month ago, but she had to accept her councilling since her other three friends insisted. She was in charge of war councilling, Serenity, Hilary and Kurry were her advisors, and Riyo was her personal guard. If anything happened, Riyo was usually there to protect the princess. Yuna was the less friendly of the bunch, but she did have good strategies.

Xantcha nodded. "Well don't expect me to agree with all of this. I might NOT have a say, but I tell you, I'm gonna go kicking and screaming all the way. Not literally, of course." Seth all the while stared at the war councillor. He sensed a similar magic to his own, and found her eyes intriguing. Yuna looked up and caught his stare and blinked. Xantcha observed the two's behaviors and giggled. Yami smirked as he and the princess caught each other's eyes. Both knew that something was up, and Xantcha would tolerate him because she wanted to see what would happen. All of the others laughed until Malik came in the room. "Hey guys, you hungry? Supper's ready...Oh, hi, Lady Xantcha..."Suddenly Malik and Kurry's eyes locked onto the others. Malik went red and Kurry went a light shade of pink. Malik scooted out of the room as fast as he could as the others started to laugh.

Riyo was laughing hardest as the chef came in to see the princess. They had met before when she had traveled a year ago. "Oh, hey Duke! How's it going?" Xantcha was curious to how he was doing until he stared at Riyo. "Uhhh...I'm...fine.....thanks...." Duke was suddenly called out by one of the servants, and Riyo was a nice shade of crimson. When the others started to smirk, she sighed. "Oh, DO shut up, won't you?" That set everyone off. Xantcha could sense that this place would not be so bad after all.

Xantcha: ^__________^ Well, did it go good?! Did I have okay ideas? Did it suck? THEN REVIEW PLEASE!!!

Ryou: *is in the kitchen*

Bakura: *smirks* Yuna WILL kill you, ne?

Xantcha: ...But it's a cute couple!...Right, Yunie? *ducks butcher knife that's thrown* That's the spirit!!

Bakura: ....Didn't you have something to say to Riyo?

Xantcha: HAI! There's a reason you don't have the Sai's YET, Riyo....I'm working on the plot, kitto? You'll see....

Bakura: I'll do it for my aibou...Read and Review! ....