Disclaimer: moi-moi819 does not own Inuyasha, Yu-Gi-Oh!, or any of their titles therein.

Okay, now that that's out of the way… You guys need to talk to me here! I love that you're adding the story to your "Favorite Story" and "Story Alert" lists, but PLEASE review as well! It only takes like a minute or two! And, you can add the story by clicking the little box under the review box. Kill two birds with one stone! (That metaphor is very violent and horrible when you picture it XP). The only circumstances where you don't have to review are when you're fighting for your life (i.e. choking on a chicken bone) or unconscious. If you're not doing one of these things, please, PLEASE review! Thanks! Let's get on with it!

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Kagome stopped her running before leaning against a wall and panting heavily. What the Pharaoh had said had gotten her so nervous and flustered that she didn't know how to react. So, she ran. Slowly, Kagome sank down to the floor.

It wasn't that the Pharaoh frightened her. She just wasn't used to men paying her any form of attention. Sure, she knew that she wasn't the ugliest thing to ever be born on this side of the Nile, but she wasn't exactly Hathor* reincarnated.

"You there!" Kagome looked up then to see Priest Seto approaching her. She stood up and waited for him to get close. "What are you doing lurking about the corridors peasant?" Seto spat. Kagome narrowed her eyes at him before looking away from him. What was his problem?

"That is none of your concern, priest. Either way, you won't have to worry about me. I'm leaving the palace today. You had some nerve snatching me from my home like that," Kagome snapped, now glaring at him.

Seto didn't flinch and fired back. "You are lucky I didn't have you taken to the dungeon. I know all about you. You're nothing but a thief. You do not belong in the palace or in the kingdom period!"

Kagome glared up at Seto, speechless. Her hand itched to make contact with his face, but she restrained herself. She doubted the Pharaoh would be merciful if he found out she had struck his high priest. Seto smirked when she didn't respond. He knew he had won this round.

"If you feel I really don't belong here priest, then escort me out. Or do you have to get Pharaoh's permission before you do anything?" Kagome teased. Seto's triumphant look fell and was instantly replaced with a scowl. Feeling proud, Kagome smirked before walking off. Seto glared at her back while clutching his Millennium rod. That girl had some nerve. Frustrated, Seto stormed off down the hall.

~:~

"Up and now down! To the side and back around!" Mana sang as she moved the fish around with her newly learned levitation spell. She was practicing by the Nile and the sun was high in the sky. Mana kept this up for some time until she heard the sound of rustling grass behind her. She turned sharply, letting her concentration break and the fish fall back into the river. "Who's there?"

"It's only me," Kagome says and steps out. Mana lets out a breath that she didn't realize that she was holding in. She turned her attention back to the Nile in search of a new fish. "I saw what you did. That was amazing."

"I'm not that great. Mahad is the master. I'm just his apprentice," Mana says modestly.

"Either way, you're pretty good. Um, can I have a try?" Kagome asks. She didn't really expect to be able to do what Mana had done; she only wanted to get a closer look.

Mana raises an eyebrow at her. Only those with some sort of magic could perform sorcery. Deciding to humor her anyways, Mana smiled and gave her the wand. Kagome took the wand in her hand before looking it over. Seeing nothing special, Kagome gave the wand a wave. Just like that, the Nile began to part before splashing back together with a loud splash. Mana's eyes widened as she stared at Kagome in shock. Kagome's jaw dropped as she handed Mana her wand back. Oh boy.

"You… you can do magic?" Mana asks and takes it.

"I didn't know I could. Is that bad?" Kagome asks.

"No! Not at all! Hey! Maybe we can get Master Mahad to teach you!" Mana exclaimed happily. If Mahad would teach Kagome, then Mana wouldn't have to go through her lessons alone and she and Kagome could become good friends. It would be nice to have another girl around her own age.

"I don't know…" Kagome says, sounding unsure.

"Come on Kagome! You have to!" Mana says and takes her hand. Mana drags her away from the river bank and towards the palace then. Kagome tried to keep up with her pace, but was having some difficulties. How was Mana so fast? Did she spend a lot of time running?

"Mana! Please slow down!" Kagome cried out.

~:~

"I don't understand, Mana. Repeat yourself, but slower this time," Mahad says and shakes his head slowly. Mana exhales loudly before going back into her tale. As she spoke, understanding sunk in for the priest. With wide eyes, he looked to Kagome in shock. He watched her hard, looking for something. Kagome gave him a weird look while waiting for him to find what he was looking for. "This is unexpected, but you are right Mana. I can sense a sort of magic within her. If you wish Kagome, you may train here in the palace under me alongside Mana. With the proper instruction, you may become a wonderful priestess. You may even serve in the Pharaoh's court."

Mana jumped around happily, ecstatic that she would have someone to share her lessons with. It got boring being Mahad's only student. Kagome blinked unsure. Everything was moving fast, maybe too fast. She had powers? How could she not know this?

"Do not worry, Kagome. Should you choose to stay and train, you would be well cared for and protected. I'm sure you'll be able to catch up to Mana with how much she slacks off," Mahad says. Mana pouts and folds her arms from behind him. Kagome looks to Mana before smiling. The decision shouldn't be hard. If she left, she would be stealing and running from guards anyway. Here, she'd get every and anything she could ever want.

"I guess I can stay for a few lessons. Just to find out more about it," Kagome says. Mana goes back to her cheering and Mahad smiles pleasantly.

"That's good. This is fortunate timing for you Kagome. I happen to have an extra wand stored away. I had a feeling Mana would break hers so I was prepared," Mahad says. This was great. Now, Kagome had a reason to stay in the palace. If the gods favored them, he and Isis wouldn't have to work to hard o get Kagome and the Pharaoh together.

"Hey! I'm not that irresponsible Mahad!" Mana objects. Kagome lets out a small laugh at Mana's behavior. Mahad waves her off and begins to search for the extra wand he had stored away. Kagome smiled at the sight. She would have to get used to this. This was what her life would be like for a while.

~:~

"Watch this," Mana says before filling her sac with the water she had collected. Kagome watches her curiously as she ties the sac tightly and taking her wand. "I learned how to make things levitate and I'm going to show you." Mana then proceeded to make the sac float in mid-air as she stared at it in concentration.

"That's great, Mana," Kagome says.

"I'm not done yet. Wait for it," Mana says and swings her wand back before quickly swinging it forward. The sac of water is then sent flying a good distance away from the balcony they stood on. Mana and Kagome watch it disappear before looking at each other. "Now, it's your turn. But, I doubt you'll beat my record. I got it all the way into a merchant's cart once."

Kagome got that feeling like this was a bad idea, but banished the thought. She really wanted to learn more about this power she had. She quickly filled her own sac before picking up her wand. Shaking out herself, Kagome pointed her wand at the sac. Mana watched and waited, but nothing happened. Kagome felt a sweat drop form before she started tapping the wand.

"Try focusing on the sac. Picture it floating in your mind," Mana helps. Kagome does what she says, but fails. Her brow nits in frustration before she sighs. "Your powers. You have to draw them out. Maybe the wand needs some breaking in?" Mana takes Kagome's wand before pointing at the sac. It takes some time, but the sac does begin to float in the air. Mana sets it back down and gives the wand back to Kagome. "Try again."

Kagome breathed deeply before searching for something inside herself. She tried to mimic what she had done earlier and after a few seconds, the sac started to shift. Mana watched happily as the sac slowly lifted off the ground. Biting her lip, Kagome lifted the sac higher. She moved the sac around, trying to get a good hold on it.

"Swing back, and let her go," Mana encouraged. Kagome tried to move the wand back, but momentarily lost her focus. Light a burnt out bulb, the sac wiggled in the air as the magic surrounding it flickered out. At once, Mana and Kagome headed to the edge to look over at the falling sac. They heard the splash before some manly groaning was heard. They looked at each other before ducking down quickly.

"Mana!" a man's voice cried out. Mana covered her mouth to stifle her giggles and Kagome smiled as well.

"Maybe we should try something else," Mana suggests.

"Maybe you're right," Kagome agrees. The two head off the balcony and away from the scene of the crime quickly, laughing the whole way. Kagome couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much.

~:~

That evening, as everyone sat at dinner eating peacefully, Mahad spoke up. He cleared his throat loudly to get everyone's attention. He looked straight to the Pharaoh as everyone slowly stopped what they were doing. "My Pharaoh, if I may, I would like to make an announcement," Mahad says. Atem gestures for him to continue and Mahad nods once. "I would like to announce that Kagome has agreed to stay here in the palace as my student and learn the arts of magic."

Some clapping and applause are made by most of the guests at the table. Seto remains quiet and watches quietly along with Aknadin. Atem takes a drink from his glass, hiding his smirk. Isis looks and Mahad with a mischievous look. Mahad gives her a smirk before taking a sip from his drink. No one noticed the secret messages being passed. Kagome smiled nervously, not used to the attention. With all the congratulations and encouraging smiles she was getting, maybe this decision wouldn't turn out to be so bad after all.

Mana taps Kagome under the table before arranging her food. Kagome looks at her before looking down at her plate. 'I want to show you something after dinner.' Kagome looks to her and nods before going back to her own plate. Like a child, her curiosity burned at the back of her mind for the rest of the meal.

The rest of dinner went off peacefully with some chatting here and there. With the knowledge that Kagome would be adding to the large palace 'family', everyone had something to say. After dinner, Mana took Kagome's hand and led her away before anyone could approach them.

"Mana, where are we going?" Kagome asks.

"You're going to love this. I promise," Mana says. She takes Kagome through a few corridors and up a few staircases before stopping at a door. Mana uses her wand to unlock the door before pushing it open. As soon as she did, a breeze swept through and blew their hair wildly. They stepped outside to see the moon shining brightly with the stars.

"We're on the roof. Does anyone else come up here?" Kagome asks.

"I doubt it. That door's always locked," Mana says and looks up at the moon. "I like to come up here when I feel like being alone. It's nice and quiet and night."

"It really is. Thanks for sharing this with me," Kagome says.

"Anytime. If you're going to be staying here, I think we should be good friends. It'll be nice to have someone to have fun with when Pharaoh is too busy," Mana says sadly. Not saying anything, Kagome put an arm around Mana's shoulder in a half-hug and smiles at her. "Besides, if we do spend time together, I'll be able to teach you how to do your magic better!" Mana says happily. Kagome sweat drops with a sigh before hanging her head. She wasn't going to forget that one slip-up, would she?

~:~

As Kagome walked back down the stairs and through the last corridor, she rubbed her cold arms. Why didn't she come back inside when Mana had gone in? She sighed as she remembered just how beautiful the moon had looked. It was worth it…

Kagome turned the corner before stopping at the sight of someone else. It was then that she realized that she had run into the Pharaoh. "I'm sorry, Pharaoh," she says and tries to inch her way around him. But, he wasn't having that.

"Are you following me?" he asks her with narrowed eyes. Kagome stops and gives him a strange look. He raises an eyebrow at her and Kagome looks around as if the answer would fly out at her.

"What would give you that idea?" she asks.

"I think it's rather strange that you just happen to be coming around the same corner that I am at the same time. Are you sure you were not just waiting for me here?" he asks her. Kagome opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when she noticed his teasing look. She closed her mouth and looked away from him then. Of course he would only be teasing her.

"You're so funny. I'm dying of laughter inside," she answers dryly.

Atem chuckles lightly before speaking, "I'm glad I caught you. You left dinner in such a rush I didn't get to personally congratulate you."

"Oh… thank you, Pharaoh. I hope I do well," she says, all annoyance gone.

"If you want, I can teach you what I know," he offers her. Kagome raises an eyebrow at him before shaking her head. He waits for her answer, completely serious. Once she notices this, she shakes her head in the negative.

"Thanks for the offer Pharaoh, but Mana is already helping me. Maybe another time," Kagome says with a small, charming smile. "Good night, my Pharaoh," she says slyly with a wink before leaving him alone. Atem turns to watch her leave, momentarily star struck. Kagome tried to hold in her laughter. She didn't know where that had come from, but it was worth it to see the Pharaoh's stunned face. He was usually so composed that to see him speechless was priceless. 'He's not the only one who can leave someone breathless. Two can play that game.'

Atem continues on to his room with a smirk. He probably deserved that. The young Pharaoh continued to smirk all the way back to his room. He got ready for bed on autopilot as thoughts of Kagome's behavior ran rampant in his mind. 'A challenge? If that is what she wants, I'll happily contend. I wonder who shall give in first?'

~:~

*Hathor- the Egyptian goddess of love and beauty.

So guys, what do you think? Don't expect a long story out of this. The most I'll do is 10-13 chapters. And even 13 is a bit of a stretch. But, one thing's for sure… I WILL finish this! I'm tired of reading good Yu-Gi-Oh!/Inuyasha crossovers with Yami Yugi/Atem/Kagome pairings and they're never finished! It's is an outrage! So, for all the Yami Yugi/Atem/Kagome lovers, I WILL finish this! *Eternal Fire of Rage burns brightly in the background*

Review please! ^.^

Edited: 6/13/12