Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh, Rurouni Kenshin, Yu-Yu Hakusho.

means flashback

I want to be a Princess…

Chapter 1: Enter the Prince…

Mokuba skipped along next to Misao as they made their way to Seto's study. Misao giggled as he happily chattered on excitedly about how everyone in school jumps out of his way when he's walking down the hall, even teachers!

"It's just like that with Aoshi!" she laughed. Mokuba smiled up at her but the simple beauty of his young face was suddenly marred by a sad and troubled expression.

"It would be nice if Seto and Aoshi became friends…Seto needs a friend… that'll help him smile again," he said sadly as he pushed open the door. Misao ached for the little boy. The child's hidden pain was easily visible to her despite all his smiles earlier! She had heard tales of Gozaburo through Aoshi and her friends and she could very easily imagine the abuse they must've endured under his rule.

She had asked Vicky-sensei many times if there was a way to get them out of all that darkness but her advice was a vague and wise as always: "Patience! If there is a way it will present it self!" She banished dark thoughts from her mind; here and now of course was a way for her to reach out to the Kaiba boys. Aoshi must've seen it too or he wouldn't be sitting at a Go board telling Seto stories about his childhood. She smiled down at Mokuba…

"You know I have feeling that they're gonna be really good friends!" she declared confidently putting a firm reassuring hand on his shoulder. Mokuba smiled again and skipped over to Seto's desk and pulled out his brother's duel disk from a cabinet behind the desk. He changed the hologram size setting to "Indoor" and changed the mode from "active dueling" to "card demo" and placed the first dragon on the disk.

"Wow!" Misao's eyes went wide as the first Blue Eyes roared to life occupying most of the room despite the change in the size setting!

"Yeah he has the only three of these in the world! And wait…" Mokuba removed the Blue Eyes and placed the Blue Eyes Shining Dragon in its place.

"Oh this one is beautiful! I bet Aoshi would like it! He likes dragons but panthers and tigers are really more his thing!"

"It's the opposite with Seto! He likes tigers but dragons are his thing!" Mokuba giggled…

The two laughed and Misao plopped down to the couch in Seto's opulent home office as Mokuba went to put away the duel disk.

"Ok! It's your turn now!" the little boy exclaimed happily as he took his seat next to her. Misao sighed the only good part about her childhood memories was Aoshi. She wasn't sure that she wanted to revisit all that pain and she certainly didn't want to upset Mokuba. But she did want him to trust her and she did want him to be aware that she understood his pain and that she could help him.

"Did you know that my last name wasn't always Makimachi?"

"No! I didn't! What was it before?"

"It was Omura. My grandfather changed it to his last name when he gained custody of me!"

"Oh wow…I didn't know that…"

"Yep! Ok well I guess I'd have to start with the day I met him…" she began reluctantly turning back the hands of time.

Domino City approximately fifteen years ago…

A tiny little girl in a faded and dirty school uniform that was two sizes too big for her made her way alone in the wee hours of the morning to Domino elementary. Limping slightly she tried not to think about this morning's beating instead she concentrated on the book she had hidden inside her shirt. It was a story about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Misao loved it! Her favorite part was the part when King Arthur sails away to Avalon.

She was going to go there too! Today! Today she would return the book and walk to Maiden's Peak and wait until sunset then fly away to Avalon! King Arthur was a good king he wouldn't mind having a stupid and ugly little girl in his court. He would take care of her because that's what good kings and knights do! They take pity on ugly stupid people like her! She smiled cheerfully, the pain on her leg and her back started receding somewhat as she planned what she would say to good King Arthur when she met him!

She arrived early and the gates were still closed. She just shrugged and went around the back. There was a dumpster on the other side that was hidden from the street and she could sleep behind it until the trash truck came. It always came before the bell rang so it would give her plenty of time to rest and still not be late for school. As she settled herself in her little spot behind the dumpster she again congratulated herself on finding it!

She didn't care that it smelled bad or that it made her hair and uniform dirty it was way better than sleeping at home! Especially on days like this one! Besides her father was always saying that she was nothing more than trash so it made sense that she was so comfortable in the dumpster. She smiled; after today it wouldn't matter! Today was a good day she could feel it!

The beeping of the garbage truck backing into the alley woke her up a couple of hours later. She got up quickly and sneaked away before the garbage men noticed she was there. She walked into her school just as the first bell rang signaling for everyone to get inside the building. She hung back in a shadowy corner waiting for most of the students to go inside. She always made sure she went in last so she wouldn't have to listen to her classmates complain about how bad she smelled.

She walked in quickly and quietly and hurried towards her classroom. She stopped as she noticed a tall boy standing in the hallway trying to get someone to give him directions but the kids around him just ignored him or ran away from him or both. For a moment her mind imagined he was one of those guys that played samurai in old movies! He looked so good in the simple blue uniform he seemed unreal! Like a movie star…

'Why are they being rude?' Misao puzzled as she hid behind the water fountain to watch the tall boy. His black hair was tied up in a long ponytail and his opened jacket swirled around him dramatically as he turned looking for someone to help him. She was certain he was new here because she would've noticed someone like him before! She wanted to go over there and talk to him but she was so dirty and ugly how could she possibly stand next to someone who looked so…so…heroic!

'I bet his uniform is new and he smells good!' she thought wishing that she was as pretty as a princess so she could go up and talk to him. She wondered why someone so cool-looking would go to school here. The second bell rang and the stragglers disappeared into the classrooms or up the stairs leaving the boy practically alone in the hallway. He shoved his bangs out of his face and seemed to growl in frustration.

'Oh no! They left the prince all alone! Rude bunch of spoiled brats!' Misao cursed at her fellow Domino elementary students. She wrestled with the decision of whether she should go over to help him or not. She was already late for class and it really didn't matter after all she was going to Avalon today! She still didn't feel quite worthy enough to talk to the young prince. He sighed in frustration and looked down at the ground with a sad looked on his face.

'Well that does it! The frog in the story helped the princess after all so why can't I help him! Hang on Prince there's a frog in this pond that can help you even though she'll never be a princess!' she declared to herself and screwing up her courage she marched over to where the boy was standing.

"Hi! You look lost! Can I help you?" she asked cheerfully. The boy blinked in surprise. She just smiled up at him and prepared herself for him to send her away telling her she was much to dirty and ugly to be seen anywhere near him because surely that's what he was going to say…

"Wow, you really want to help me? Here I thought nobody had either guts or manners in this school!" the prince declared in a voice more deep and serious than any boy she'd ever met. She looked around the now empty hall way surprised then pointed to herself incredulous and for the first time in her life completely at a loss for words. He chuckled and she melted at the sound of it…

"Yeah you! Nobody else in this corridor is there?" he said and laughed again. Misao smiled in absolute delight taking his attitude towards her as confirmation that he was indeed a prince in disguise attending her school!

"Listen I'm supposed to be in classroom 6-B but I can't find my friends and all these stupid doors have are letters and some of them don't even have that! Can you really help me?" he asked looking frazzled again. She smiled happily…

"Of course I can help you! I know where everything is around here!" she cheered "come follow me!" she skipped along next to him as she led him up the stairs giving him a rough tour as they went. She congratulated herself for spending her recesses indoors hiding from the students so she wouldn't get into fights! She knew exactly where to take the prince because of it!

"So what's your name?" he asked suddenly. It brought Misao to a halt again she smiled cheerfully up at him 'Wow! He really is a prince! Only a prince would care to know my name!' she thought.

"Misao!" she replied loud and cheerful. He smirked…

"Well Misao, are you always this cheerful?" he asked still smirking in that way that was filling Misao's little stomach with nervous butterflies. She couldn't get any words to come out of her mouth so she just smiled…

"I'll take that as a yes…" he said and laughed. Suddenly Misao felt like singing but she refrained she didn't want to annoy him with her bad singing and her endless chatter 'after all he is a prince!' she reasoned as she tried her very best to behave! She screwed up her courage again because she just needed to know his name. She would have to tell King Arthur about him!

"So…um…what's your name?" she asked shyly worrying at the same time that she didn't know any sort of protocol for asking a prince his name or even if it was allowed!

"Aoshi…" he replied solemnly. She smiled at him 'Wow! That's a cool name!' she thought and found herself saying it out loud; he smirked. She spotted his classroom finally and pointed to the door.

"There you go Lord Aoshi! This is your class! I'm glad I was able to help you!" she declared cheerfully. He smirked…

"Well thanks a lot Misao you're a lifesaver!" he turned and walked towards his classroom throwing a rather serious sounding 'See you later!' over his shoulder. She slapped her hands over her mouth to keep a squeal of delight from reverberating through the empty hallways. She happily skipped and danced her way to her classroom. When she arrived the teacher scolded her in front of the class for being late but Misao paid no attention and with a dreamy look on her face took her customary seat all the way in the back by the window.

When recess came she returned the book to the library and ventured out to the yard to try and get a glimpse of Lord Aoshi. She was certain once he heard from the other students how pathetic she was he wouldn't talk to her any more but it didn't matter she just wanted to look at him again! She made her way stealthily towards a tree at the other end of the yard; there was a very small bush right next to it that she would be able to hide behind and watch for Lord Aoshi to appear.

'There he is!' she thought happily as she spotted him entering the courtyard. He was with two other boys that she recognized. The redhead was called Kenshin and the rooster head was called Sano. She liked Kenshin he had been nice to her once when some boys pushed her in the mud he had helped her out and made them apologize. The other had also been nice to her once when some of the girls had been picking on her because of her uniform he had dumped a bucket of dirty water on their heads!

'Of course the prince would surround himself with nice people!' she smiled but her smile faded as she heard voices approach her from the side. She slithered back further into her hiding place. She ground her teeth angrily as the three girls planted themselves in front of the bush and blocked her view of the prince!

"What is that smell?" the haughty voice of a sixth grade girl said first. Misao bit her lip and said nothing she didn't want to get in trouble while the prince was watching! She didn't remember the names of these three but she knew what they were famous for! They went around spreading rumors and gossiping and saying bad things about other people and getting people in trouble and getting away with it. It looked like finally it was Misao's turn!

"It's just the stinky weasel from 3-A," replied one of the other girls in a haughty tone referring to the nick name most kid's in the school used to address her. It was the main reason why she stayed inside. She hated being called names even if she deserved most of them! So of course she got into fights no matter how hard she tried not to! But she was determined to be at her best today! The prince had said she had manners and even if it wasn't true she was going to try her best not to disappoint him!

"Ugh! Go away Omura! You're going to poison that bush with your stench!" one of the girls said. Misao wrapped her arms around her knees and sat there not looking up determined to neither get in trouble nor give them the satisfaction of bossing her around. She clamped her mouth shut and sat there staring fixedly at the ground refusing to budge no matter what names they called her! Her father did far worse then they ever could!

"Watch out Yumi! If you touch her you'll stink for a hundred years!" a new voice said full of wicked glee.

"Shut up Shuura!" replied Yumi with a touch of fear in her voice as she backed away from Misao. Misao looked up then and her eyes went wide. The Kamiya sisters had entered the scene! She loved looking at Kaoru Kamiya she always looked like a princess! But Shuura was her favorite! Shuura could beat up boys twice her size and totally get away with it! She had hit one boy once who had made her drop her food on the floor and took his money to buy her a new lunch! She liked Shuura! Misao hardly ever got a chance to bring food to school so her help that day had been heaven-sent!

"It's not very nice to pick on little kids Yumi!" Kaoru intoned gravely her fists on her hips. Shuura cracked her knuckles in agreement smiling wickedly.

"You know what… I feel like giving you a hug Yumi!" Misao piped up cheerfully. She stood, opened her arms and launched herself over the bush at the girl. Yumi and her cohorts screamed and ran for their lives. Misao sighed; they were most likely going to tell the teacher and despite the fact that she didn't fight she knew she was going to get in trouble. She turned and smiled at the Kamiya princesses who were both laughing hysterically…

"Thank you!" she cheerfully exclaimed and bowed politely to the two girls. 'One must be polite to royalty after all!' she thought as she began to excuse herself.

"Where are you going? Recess isn't over yet…" a deep familiar voice said. Misao turned in surprise 'Oh it's the prince!' She was frozen to her spot! She racked her little brain for something to say.

"Come and play with us…" he ordered. She smiled 'but I can't play with the prince!' she thought feeling more dirty and unworthy than ever! But oh how she wanted to!

"Well don't just stand there! Come on!" he said grabbing her by the elbow and pulling her along with him. Eyes wide with shock Misao allowed Aoshi to pull her towards the courtyard. In no time at all Misao found her self playing volleyball on the girls' side and she threw herself whole heartedly into the game picking up a few scrapes and a few more bruises in her heroic saves! The boys won but not by much! Shuura was very encouraged by their close score!

"Ha looks like we found our selves a secret weapon! You boys just wait next time we're gonna leave ya in the dust!" she declared ruffling Misao's hair and telling Misao she had to play with them again tomorrow. Misao smiled gratefully up at her allowing herself the brief illusion that she could come and play with them every day. She knew better! By tomorrow they would have forgotten that they played with her and she would be in King Arthur's court by then anyways! But for now…

"Sure!" she piped up cheerfully. The bell rang and every one began filing back in towards their classrooms. Misao hung back as usual as the others made their way in. Lord Aoshi stopped and walked back to where she had sat on the ground.

"Recess is over now…You have to go inside," he said sounding a bit amused "you'll have to wait until tomorrow for a rematch!" he added and Misao giggled slightly. 'Only a prince could be noble enough not to make too much of how bad I smell or how ugly I am!' she thought.

"Oh no! I'm just waiting for everyone to go in! I'll be along in a minute!" she explained enthusiastically. He shrugged then reached down and grabbed her elbow again pulling her behind him.

"You'll be late if you do!" he declared seriously pulling her towards the mass of students siphoning into the main building. Shuura was shouting at them to get going! She walked quietly next to her Lord Aoshi her heart beating wildly. Standing this close she could tell that his uniform really was new and he really did smell good! She bit her lip and hoped that no one would say anything!

"Eww! Smells like garbage!" said a fifth grade boy. Misao shrunk down feeling like she wanted the earth to swallow her.

"Did you say something?" Lord Aoshi responded angrily. Misao looked up to see Lord Aoshi lifting the boy that made the comment off the ground by his shirt. Behind Misao Shuura cracked her knuckles as she made a fist and glared wickedly at the offender. The boy stammered out a frightened apology. He glared at the crowd that had turned to watch. Those kids turned away pretending they hadn't heard or seen anything.

"You don't have to take stuff like that from those jerks!" Lord Aoshi declared forcefully. Misao smiled nervously she didn't want the prince to get in trouble! She usually could deal with most jerks just fine on her own. Sometimes when they were bigger than her it was hard but these guys were nothing compared to what her father subjected her to on daily basis.

"Oh no! I mean…I was just trying not to get in trouble! But don't worry I can take care of myself!" she affirmed fervently. She didn't want to disappoint the prince either after all he had said she had guts too! He laughed and she was again disarmed by the sound of it!

"Wow! You actually know how to laugh!" Shuura commented to Aoshi. He growled at her in annoyance and Shuura just laughed…

"Hey Misao! I bet you're gonna be the greatest comedian in the entire world! I'll bet you're gonna be more famous than Whoopi Goldberg! Anyone who can make Stone Cold other there laugh… has got to be a comedy genius!" Shuura laughed as they finally made it into the building. Misao looked up at her in confusion. She didn't know who Whoopi Goldberg was but she assumed she must be really funny if she was famous. She didn't understand either what Shuura meant by with her comment to Lord Aoshi.

"Ah... Shuura I don't understand…why would Lord Aoshi not know how to laugh?" she asked thoroughly perplexed. Aoshi laughed again…

"Well Aoshi doesn't ever laugh or smile! He's like a Vulcan! No emotions whatsoever!" Shuura explained before heading up the stairs "well at least we thought so until today! Catch ya later Misao!" she shot over her shoulder as she shoved past some rather large sixth graders that were taking too long to go up the stairs. Misao giggled as she watched her go up the stairs nearly starting a fight with just about every boy she ran into!

"She is the weirdest girl you'll ever meet," Aoshi stated seriously shaking his head. Misao giggled 'Of course she's different! She's a princess!' she reasoned but didn't say so out loud. Princess Shuura had been rather forceful when she told her not to give her any honorifics and that she better not give her sister any either. She was one princess Misao didn't want to make angry!

"Well I'll see you later Misao!" he said seriously and walked up the stairs. She waved cheerfully as she said her goodbye and for a moment she began to doubt whether she was supposed to go to Avalon today or not! She arrived in the classroom with plenty of time to spare, sat down and looked out the window. The teacher arrived and asked if someone wanted to talk about the book they read. To everyone's surprise Misao raised her hand first…

'…And why shouldn't I! After all if I can talk to the Prince I can talk to these losers!' she thought happily as she read her report on King Arthur…

Her story stopped there for a moment. Mokuba's arms were wrapped tight around Misao's waist and tears rolled down his face. She stroked his hair softly as she held the little boy.

"I can't believe you were going to jump off that cliff! It's almost as tall as Kaiba Corp. tower!" he sobbed. She held him a little tighter…

"I didn't see it that way… I thought it was just a good place for a boost so I could reach the setting sun by using the wind to fly away to Avalon," she explained gently stroking his back.

"But you must've known it wouldn't work! You must've guessed what would really happen!" he looked up the shock and fear in his face broke her heart. For a moment she regretted telling him that story.

"I wasn't coming back to father's house again that was all I cared about then," she added "you know you're the only other person I've ever told that part of the story to…"

"Did you tell Aoshi? What did he say!" Mokuba asked eagerly wiping a tear away from his face. She nodded.

"Yes, but not for years! In fact it wasn't until last year just before we got together that I actually told him!" she replied. Mokuba looked confused for a moment then recalling all the gossip magazine articles he read about Misao he remembered…

"Oh right…you guys weren't always together. You were gonna marry that creepy politician! But you called it off at the last minute…" He recited but she cut him off.

"You're jumping ahead of the story!" she said with a chuckle. Mokuba smiled again…

"Sorry…" he said softly and she pulled him close to her again.

"Anyway to answer your question: He reacted much the same way you did! He wrapped his arms around me pulling me close and you know something…" she dropped her voice to conspiratorial whisper.

"He gives the best hugs ever!" she whispered mischievously. Mokuba giggled and the two shared a brief laugh that lifted their hearts.

"He saved your life…" Mokuba said softly realizing that somehow Aoshi must've stopped her from committing the act. Hope began to blossom in the youngest Kaiba. If Aoshi could save Misao from darkness maybe he could save Seto…

"He did…More than once in fact! Funny thing was that he didn't realize it until I told him…but again we're getting ahead of ourselves!" she pointed out cheerfully.

"Ok… so what happened next?" Mokuba asked happily allowing himself to be held by his favorite singing star more curious than ever to find out how Aoshi saved Misao.