Chapter 3

"Who was that?" the voice greeted as she walked into the house. The sound of her father's voice faded her smile at first note.

"What are you doing here? I thought you weren't going to talk to me until I 'learned my mistake'," she hung her cloak and sat on the opposite side of the room.

"I wasn't. Your mother is making me apologize. I shouldn't push you away from the family, but I want you to understand that everything we do is for your best interest!"

"But Father, you were trying to run my life. You were still telling me what I could and couldn't do even though I'm legally an adult."

"I worry about you making the wrong decisions, that's all."

"But you worry so much that you make the decisions for me," flames of passion burned in her eyes, she would win this argument!

He was silent for a while, "I guess you're right, I shouldn't be making your decisions for you. But do please tell me who that was that dropped you off."

Her gaze shifted, anywhere but his eyes.

"Was it that stranger you met the other day?"

A slight nod. 'What am I doing? Am I this afraid of my own father that I'm letting him walk all over me right after I said that I needed to make decisions on my own?!'

In a calmer, reassuring tone he asked, "Tell me about him, will you?"

"You won't judge will you? I know you don't approve of me being with a person from the Palace."

A shudder passed over him, but he covered it with a fake smile, "For you, I won't judge. I don't approve, but I'll listen. Just so long as you know what you're getting yourself into."

"I don't, and that's what I'm loving about it."

He seemed to catch fire, "Masi! I trust you to make your own decision and you don't even think about it?!"

"Father. Please, he lives in the palace," she sighed, avoiding that he was Pharaoh was going to prove rather hard. "This is only the second time we've met."

"Hmm. Why don't you come home for this explanation, I'm sure your mother would definitely love to hear this."

Fear seemed to take hold for a second. What would happen if in midst of her reminiscing she noted that he was Pharaoh? She couldn't possibly. "I don't think mom should concern herself. I'll tell her when I have more to share."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean we've only met twice. I just barely know him, there's no real information to share," she was only half lying. There wasn't much information to tell them about the person they know most about. And his feelings and emotions that he shared with her were strictly confidential.

"So why did he give you a ride home? Where were you two? Why did you seem so giddy when you walked in the door?"

Did the questions ever end?

"Well, he offered to give me a ride home, and we were just chatting on the outskirts of town, sometime after you left he showed up."

"Why were you so happy?"

"I was excited to see him, is that so bad?" She remembered how he held her, how he smelled, the feeling of his lips against hers; she couldn't help but let that goofy smile grace her lips again.

"What did you two do?" he raised a brow.

"Nothing, I mean, we hugged and stuff, but nothing more than that," she could suddenly smell him as though he were in the room with her. "He smells good," she mumbled to herself.

"So you hugged?" he disbelieved.

"Yes. That's all, but you're changing the subject! Will you promise not to tell me what I can and can't do?"

"I won't order you around, no, I am not the Pharaoh. But I do still want to meet this boy."

"I'm not so sure that'll be happening anytime soon," she smirked.

"At least tell me his name," he reasoned.

"He goes by Amun."

He gave her a glare as though she were lying.

"Because he lives in the Palace he has to have a separate name when he leaves the Palace."

A light understanding nod came from her father. He sighed rather heavily before hugging and kissing his daughter. "I'll see you at work tomorrow," he took his leave.

'Yay! I didn't have to bring Pharaoh more into this than I needed!' She smiled to herself as she readied for bed, sleeping with her Pharaoh-scented cloak once more.

She woke up early the next morning, being one of the first people at the shop she decided to organize things and clean up. 'I'm so happy, I can't wait to see the Pharaoh again. I just can't believe we grew so attached in the course of two days! And not to mention that I didn't even know he was a Pharaoh! And I made him fall into a pond… can't I get killed for that? He wouldn't kill me… would he? Nah! No way. Little mister 'I know I'm dead, but I just had to come and see her at least once more'. There's no way he'd kill me. Not if he's that infatuated. Wait. Can't infatuation be a bad thing? I hope I'm not all he thinks about. If I am… I could be jeopardizing the country!'

"Masika!" her mom tapped her shoulder, scaring her.

"Yes mom?" she caught her breath.

"I've been calling you, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just deep in thought."

"It's that boy isn't it?"

"Dad told you didn't he?"

"Of course! Amun is his street name correct?"

"Yes," she didn't know how to react, her mom wasn't supposed to know yet.

"Well, I hope you two are happy together," she left her and resumed her work. Masi stood frozen for a few more instants before turning on the fire and beginning work.

"I see you already got the stove on, good job Masi," her father patted her on the back.

"Thank you," she smiled to him, still daydreaming of the Pharaoh.

"We have no specific work today so just make things for the townspeople," he seemed nice today.

"Okay," she worked diligently and happily as well. The happiest at work her family had ever seen her.

It had been some hours, late into the day when Old man Akii dropped by the store. "Excuse me?" his soft words almost went unnoticed, but he was answered. He began to chat away about delivering goods to a neighboring city.

"Masi, Old man Akii needs some help. Tomorrow you need to go with him to Luxor, he needs someone to take the carriage as he's getting too old himself. But you won't be alone, him and a few of the Pharaoh's guards will accompany you."

"Why do we need the Pharaoh's guards?" she questioned. Luxor wasn't that bad of a place.

"There's been word of Bakura around these parts and he's just taking caution."

"Oh, alright."

"Tomorrow at sunrise, we'll be meeting the guards outside the palace walls."

A slight nod and a smile were returned to him.

'I get to see the Palace! Well, the walls at least.' She couldn't help but smile.

Once Old man Akii left her father came up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I understand you'll be at the Palace, but don't be drawing attention to you or Amun, alright?"

She nodded. As though she could possibly draw more attention to the Pharaoh?

"My Pharaoh," Seto questioned, holding some papers in his hand.

"Yes Seto?" he replied coolly.

"I need to know how many guards you want to go with the traders to Luxor tomorrow."

"Four should be fine, how long will they be away?"

"A few days at most, they're leaving at dawn, so I'd suspect they'd be back by nightfall the next day."

"Last thing we need is Bakura to show up," he decided it was better to leave his sentence unfinished. Either way it didn't matter as Seto changed the subject.

"May I ask you a question my Pharaoh?"

"Yes," he wasn't sure he wanted to answer.

"Where have you been sneaking out to these past few days?"

"I just needed to get a little air, that's all, it wasn't much more than that."

Seto didn't seem to believe it, but he accepted it, anyway. "I will return when there's more news," he left.

'I miss her already, and the sun has barely begun to set.' He sighed. 'I may have to go visit her. Knowing Seto, he'll have the whole Palace on lockdown so I won't leave. Hmm. I don't know.' He turned the thoughts over and over.

"Oh Pharaoh!" Mana sang as she ran into the room with a cheeky grin.

"Yes Mana?" he seemed so despondent.

"Ooh! You saw her again last night! Tell me everything!" she jumped him with a hug.

He laughed trying to adjust to the added weight.

"What happened last night?" she poked his cheek, expecting a lengthy explanation as he had been out longer that night.

"Nothing."

"Liar! Atemu! Don't lie to me. Something happened, why else would you be so absolutely dazed?"

"Mana, have I ever told you that I hate it when you read me?"

"Yep!" her light spirit couldn't be broken.

Heaving a heavy sigh he agreed, causing her to jump down off him.

"Every word Atemu!"

"Okay fine. But I must tell you, what happened between her and her father I'll avoid most of that."

"He knows!?"

"No. He doesn't. I'll explain… now from the beginning," he started off with the details, but still avoiding mentioning the kissing as much as he could. It took a good while for him to recall every event but he finally managed to tell her everything.

"Sounds like a long night," she sighed, smiling cheekily again.

"It really went by a lot faster. Why are you so giddy?"

"I'm excited for you Pharaoh!" she hugged him. "Are you going to see her tonight?"

"I don't think I can," his spirits sank.

"Why not? I can cover for you!"

"I told her I wouldn't come to the oasis, that I couldn't."

"So go to her house! You know where she lives!"

"Wouldn't that be a bit awkward?"

She froze for a second, thinking, "Not for you! You're the Pharaoh!"

He dug his face in his hands, "I'll think about it."

"Just tell me, I'll cover for you!"

Masi wandered around the streets of town, the sun had since set and she had nowhere to be. "That bath was just what I needed," she smiled as she walked down the street to her house. She felt good, the best she had in a long time, even though she wasn't able to see the Pharaoh that night, she got to take a bath, a long soothing, head clearing bath. Exactly what she needed to get him off her mind.

Sighing gently she opened her door, blindly hanging up her cloak and collapsing onto her bed, conveniently located not too far from the door, and under the window looking outside on the right side of her house. She sighed heavily, "its great to be home, and clean, and happy."

"I bet it is," the voice scared the life out of her as she jumped nearly two feet off her bed. She turned to see the Pharaoh sitting in her kitchen; she hadn't smelt him or heard him; a first.

"Amun!" she nearly passed out.

"I didn't mean to frighten you," he came to sit by her side.

"I thought – you – you said," she tripped over words.

"I know what I said, Mana's covering for me," he couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

"Where's your horse?"

"I didn't bring one."

She looked stunned. "You walked?"

"Yes. And I'm proud of it!" he stood confidently.

"Erm. Okay. Have you eaten dinner?" her stomach rumbled.

"No. Mana's telling Seto that I'm sick and I refuse to allow anyone in my room. Even the healer."

"You're crazy."

"For you."

She laughed, nodding.

"I'm glad you came though, I thought I might have to go three days without seeing you."

"What do you mean?" a question sparkled in the crimson eyes.

"Tomorrow at dawn –"

"Don't tell me you're going."

"To Luxor? Yes. I'm going. I'm in charge of the carriage. Old man Akii is too old to do it himself."

"You can't go!" he shook her by the shoulders.

"I have to. Why not?"

"Bakura—"

"I know all about him, I'll be fine. My intuition says I'll be fine. I'm perfectly okay."

"Just be careful," he kissed her forehead gently.

"I will," she grabbed her stomach. "but about dinner."

Knock, Knock.

She flipped again. The pharaoh was in her house and someone was at the door! What was she to do? Frantically she pushed him into a corner and ran to the door. "Oh, hi Mom."

"Would you like to come home for dinner?" she asked politely.

"Erm," she thought on her feet, "I ate already."

"No you haven't. You just came home."

"Mom." Her eyes said she was hiding something.

"He's here isn't he?"

"No!" she lied.

Her mom gave her a knowing look. "Fine, when you're ready to introduce him, we'll be waiting," she turned and left. Masi closed the door, trying to breathe.

"Why does this always happen to us? Why can't we have just one night alone without my parents yelling at me?"

"We did. Day before yesterday, when we met," he came out of hiding.

She walked into the kitchen, grabbing dinner supplies and beginning to cook. "I'll make my specialty, I haven't had it in a long time."

"Hmm. I like specialties," he laughed, laying on her bed.

"Comfy?" she watched him tangle himself in her sheets.

"Miraculously yes, these aren't the same type of linen as in the Palace. They're very comfortable," he snuggled more into the fabric, causing her to erupt in laughter as she set dinner on the makeshift table. "What's so funny?"

"You're just like a little kid sometimes, it must be because you never really got out of the Palace much," she smiled as they began eating.

"This is… great!" he seemed to wolf it down.

They ate in silence as the night grew on, leaving Masi with confused thoughts. "Amun?"

"Hmm?" he looked up to her, they'd long since finished eating, but never really felt like getting up.

"Never mind," she didn't want to seem rude. She needed to be heading to bed if she expected to be prepared for tomorrow's venture, but she didn't want to be without him. She stood up from the table, heading back over to her bed, to sit more comfortably.

He followed her silently, sitting behind her, pulling her into his lap, "What's wrong Masika?"

"It's nothing," she leaned back into his warm embrace, breathing in the intoxicating scent. A smile graced her features at her ability to be so comfy.

"You're probably tired, should I be leaving?" he questioned her sleepy figure.

"I'm tired, but I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay," she sighed, pushing more into his embrace. He happily accepted her as his arms tightened their grip, blowing a gentle kiss to her neck he smiled to himself.

"You and I both know I can't stay all night," his voice carried sadness.

"I know, but can you stay as late as you can?" she seemed to beg.

He turned her in his arms so he could look her in the eyes. A smile graced him as he pressed their lips together in an unrelenting kiss. Gravity taking its toll caused them to fall to a laying position, still holding each other as they had been, still kissing. A soft whimper passed the pharaoh as her hand began to toy with his hair, twisting it around her fingers, soft golden bangs tickling her face as she did so. His own hands began to find their own way around, tracing gently up and down her sides, pulling her closer as the kiss continued to deepen. Not too long after, she found herself pulling away, unable to breathe; her nose refused to give her air. They released from the kiss, still laying on her bed, he lifted himself up, giving her some air. If anyone were to pass the window at that moment and see the Pharaoh straddling her so intoxicated as he was, they would assume she'd done something to him. Granted, kissing is doing something, and may very well be more potent or intoxicating than actual alcohol.

"Hmm," he plopped beside her on the bed, laying on his back, gazing at her ceiling. "I like it down here."

"I can see that," she smiled, poking his nose lightly.

"What was that for?" he lifted his head.

"I just felt like it. That's all," she yawned. It was then that the Pharaoh realized that he had been over for a greatly long period of time.

"You should be sleeping, and I should be going," he started to get up, only to be held back by Masi's great grip on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry for holding you here for so long," she felt bad, keeping the Pharaoh from his duties.

"It's quite alright, I enjoy my time with you. It's not like I was being held hostage! Goodnight Masika," he gave her one last goodnight kiss before getting up and grabbing his cloak.

"Goodnight Amun," she smiled, rolling over in her now pharaoh-scented bed.

His wink went unnoticed as he took his leave.

It was the Pharaoh who came outside the palace walls to thank Old man Akii and Masi for making their journey to carry the goods, and to see them off and pray for their safe journey.

'There they go,' he thought tenderly as he watched this new infatuation of his ride out of sight. He turned and walked back inside his beautiful palace, staring at the gold walls. Allowing a smile to pass over him, he decided to reacquaint himself with this palace.

"Atemu?" Mana seemed surprised.

"What is it?" he turned rather slowly.

"Why aren't you hanging with Masika?"

"She just left with Old man Akii, she's accompanying him to Luxor," he declared.

"But, it's dangerous."

"Guards are with her, besides, I tried to stop her, but Seto and Akunadin would know something is up when I simply say that I don't want her going."

"That's true. I'm sorry."

"Its okay."

"Nothing big happened last night huh?" she seemed depressed.

"Do you shape your life around mine?"

"Let me answer this nicely: Everyone in Egypt does."

"I mean do you shape your life around my personal one?"

"No, I just like to hear about it."

"I see…"

Mana seemed to fall behind as he walked, almost as though he was so upset it would rub off on her. He wasn't upset, he felt perfectly fine; splendid even. 'Why does she think I'm upset? Just because I didn't tell her about last night doesn't mean she should think I'm upset. Why would she worry about such a thing? Sometimes I think I'll never understand her.'