Cheyenne: Whoot whoot! *Has just written Chapter Two, but again is feeling like writing.* So… ya'll probably think I'm insane *Insert laughing smiley face* Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. *Grinning* Ya never know!

Atem: *Sighs* She's only insane when she's exited about something.

Cheyenne: *Blushes*

Asoka: Who's Anzu?

Cheyenne: Ah, yes, well, I made you… so I don't suppose you know who Anzu is.

Atem: HOW COULD YOU PUT HER IN THIS STORY?!?!

Cheyenne: She's good for a plot twist later on.

Atem: -_-

Asoka: Cheyenne has a plot twist? *Looks scared*

Cheyenne: Flames are bad. Please, upon entry, leave your torches on the doorstep. Thank you!

THE stick of DOOM: *Doesn't say anything because he is a stick.*

((Supermegaawesome side note: Thank you, Natoya and Alice456 for the reviews! *Feels happy* And yes, I really don't like girly characters xD I prefer my characters to have a personality beyond: ZOMIGODZ DA PHARAOH IS HOT! =D I've seen a lot of fanfics like that (don't worry, Natoya, yours is definitely not one of them ^^) and it kind of annoys me =) She's kind of based off of me in that regard, since reading, history, and writing are my biggest passions ^^ ))

//Asoka//

Asoka looked at the doorway, where the Pharaoh had vanished with High Priest Mahado. She couldn't help but feel disappointed, for he wasn't nearly as stuck up and arrogant as she had expected a Pharaoh to be. Asoka blinked her azure eyes once, and stood up; brushing a strand of her jet-black hair behind her ears. She wished she could put it up, for it reached mid-back length. But alas, she knew she could not. It would not be proper.

Since when have I cared about proper? Asoka thought, but then felt guilty. Since my father went out of his way to provide me with this opportunity. I mustn't shame my family.

Asoka stood up, and walked out of the room after finished up her studies; maybe an hour after the Pharaoh had left. She knew there was now a new guest in the palace. What would she be like? Asoka thought privately, thinking that maybe this girl could be a friend to her?

"But Pharaooohh!" A whiny, shrill voice echoed down the hallway in which Asoka found herself walking down.

"No!" Asokas' attention immediately zoned in on the conversation. Muffling her footsteps as best she could, Asoka crept over to the end of the hallway. Crouching down on the stone floor, Asoka looked around the corner to see two figures. One, she recognized instantly as the Pharaoh for his spiky, tri-colored hair and golden jewelry. The second was a woman Asoka knew she had never seem before in her life. The woman's hair was cropped short, and angled… different. It looked like her hair would fall off her head!

"Plllleeaase?" The woman asked again, reaching towards the Pharaoh. Asokas' azure eyes wandered to the pyramid-shaped object that hung around the Pharaohs' neck.

A Millennium Item? Asoka thought to herself.

"I said no!" The Pharaohs' voice was sharp, and angry. Suddenly and without warning, the strange-looking woman reached out, and grabbed the Millennium Item. The Pharaoh let out an outraged cry, as he shoved the woman back.

"Fine, keep it!" The woman spat. "It's not like it has any value! That stupid father of yours must have given it to you to save him the trouble of throwing it out himself!" The lady stomped down the hallway, and suddenly Asoka realized who this must be. Lady Anzu, the visiting princess!

Bitch, Asoka glowered. She returned her gaze to the Pharaoh, who looked like he had just been slapped in the face. Asoka watched as he spun around, and stomped back to his own room. Asoka knew she should leave him alone, but she could not bear to see anybody that upset. Careful to keep her footsteps as quiet as she could, as crept down to the Pharaoh's room and opened the door a crack, wincing as it made a small noise.

"I hate that woman!" The Pharaoh suddenly said with venom scorching his voice, as he sat upon his large bed. "I wish she would just… die or something!"

Asoka didn't know what to do, so she opened her mouth and said: "I could shove her off a cliff for you?" Immediately, she felt like biting the words back as the Pharaoh snapped his head over to her in a surprised fashion. Though his violet eyes were still distressed, Asoka could detect a hint of amusement sparkling in them.

"Asoka? Sorry, I… thought you were someone else."

"Would you like me to get Mahado?" Asoka offered. "He'll probably know more about this than I do."

"No, please stay. Tell me, how would you go about shoving her off a cliff?"

Asoka couldn't help but grin. "First, I'd lure her to the cliff. Then, I'd say something that would make her look over it, and then I'd just push her off!"

"That's all well and good, but how would you go about luring her to the cliff?" Atem asked mischievously.

"I'd tell her you summoned her, and that you might not be there when she arrived."

"You're hired," Atem laughed now, and Asoka could not help but laugh with him from where she stood in the doorway.

"I'd require something, though."

"And what is that?" Atem asked, surprised.

"My own library of course!" Asoka laughed again as his surprised expression. "Or at least unlimited access to the one here!"

"Of course," Atem said with a teasing glint in his violet eyes. "Granted."

Asoka felt like blushing, but she knew she should not.

"I'm having a dinner party tonight," Atem began casually. "Would you mind attending?"

"Of course not Pharaoh!" Asoka breathed, feeling bewildered. She knew what an honor this was.

"Very good. And please, feel free to call me Atem."

"Yes Phar- I mean Atem."

Atem smiled, and stood up. "You must go get ready! The dinner begins in less than an hour."

Asoka nodded, and left the room. Unaware of the pair of blue-gray eyes watching her.

______________________________________________

//Atem//

Atem left his room suit, and walked down the hallways of his palace. Amazing, how fast Asoka had been able to make him forget his black mood. Not even Mahado could do that! Atem smiled to himself. Yes; indeed the gods had answered his prayers when they sent Asoka. For now he knew that she was not just tricking him the whole time, but that she was genuine. Genuine… Atem shook his head full of spiky, tri-colored hair.

Pull yourself together! He snapped mentally at himself. You're the Pharaoh. You're supposed to be above such thing! Atem took a deep breath, and walked into the dinning hall. The seven High Priests (and priestess) were already there, chatting amongst themselves. Atem could tell that they were no fonder of Anzu, than he was himself. As quickly as he could go without seeming paranoid, Atem made his way over to his seat and sat down.

"Pharaoh!" A high, shrill voice rang out as another door open to reveal Anzu.

Damnit! Atem thought, but he forced a small smile. Anzu tittered, and pulled up a chair next to him. Next, she started chattering aimlessly about stuff that Atem knew he could not careless about. There for, he stopped listening to her altogether, and started listening to the conversations among the guards. Honestly? This was MUCH more entertaining.

"Pretty one, ain't she?" One of the guards said, with a slight chuckle to his companion who looked at his like he had a second head growing on his shoulder.

"Are you blind, man? Her hair looks like it's going to fall off her head!"

"Not her! Asoka." The first guard said.

"Ah… yes, she is at that. Nice figure on that one, wouldn't mind bedding her!" The second guard replied, nodding his head in agreement.

Atem felt a small twinge of anger, and a fierce protectiveness overwhelmed him. What right had they to speak of Asoka like that? He caught himself then. Why was he so uptight over this? Why did he feel so protective of someone who had only been here a day? It's just because she helped you, Atem thought. You feel obliged to help her, after what she did for you. Yes, that was it.

Suddenly, the doors sprung open and Asoka walked in, looking simply radiant. Her jet-black hair hung in silky waves down to the middle of her back, and her azure eyes were light. She wore a dress of pure white, with some golden thread sewn in around the hem. Depicted in thread, was the Nile river.

"Thank you for joining us, Asoka." Mahado said, breaking the stunned silence.

Asoka blushed. She looked unsure of what to do next, until Isis waved her over, and the young girl took a seat next to the High Priestess.

"Atem!" Anzus' whiny voice broke Atem out of his trance, and Atem turned to glare at her through narrowed violet eyes. "You are NOT to call me that!"

"But-" Anzus' faze darkened, and she cast a anger-filled look over at Asoka, who stared back at her with an equally angry look.

Atem saw Asoka return her gaze to the room around her, which seemed to emit a golden shine. Hieroglyphics adorned the walls, and Atem understood why Asoka was transfixed. It was quite a sight to behold.

"Pharaoh!" Apparently Anzu didn't think the same thing.

"What?" Atem asked irritably.

"Just checking," Anzu said with a stupid grin, as she launched into another conversation about something stupid.

___________________________________________

//Asoka//

Asoka felt like punching Anzus' nose in the whole time through the dinner. She hadn't even been here a day, and already that… Asoka calmed herself down. She hated Anzu, and Anzu clearly hated her. But why? Asoka had a reason for hating Anzu, but what reason did Anzu have for hating Asoka?

"Isis… is Anzu really the daughter of that tribe leader?" Asoka asked the High Priestess.

"Yes," Isis replied, with a nod of her head. "The Pharaoh can't stand her; and I don't mind saying that the rest of us can't, either!"

"I don't blame you!" Asoka said, keeping her voice under control. "I mean, did you SEE what she did ear…li…er…" Asoka trailed off, and looked down.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, it's just…" Asoka shook her head. "She's just a b-witch, that's all!" Asoka was careful to sensor her use of language.

Isis laughed. "No argument there."

"Pharaoh!" Anzus' shrill voice cut through the conversations, and everyone looked up at her. Anzu had a haughty look on her face, and Asoka looked at Seto, Mahado, and Shada. All three priests looked like they wanted to strangle her, Seto especially.

"What, Anzu?" Atems' voice was clearly irritated.

"My daddy says that our wedding should be set in about two month's time."

"WHAT?!" Atem roared, standing up in his seat with a murderous look in his violet eyes. Asoka knew she had to do something. Pushing her chair back, she ran up behind the Pharaoh.

If he tries to strangle her…Seto won't be too happy. I'll bet he wants to do it himself! Asoka laughed inwardly at that, but she also knew that it could spell potential war between the tribe and their city.

"Atem," Asoka said quietly, putting a restraining hand on his shoulder. Even though she knew he was stronger than her, Asoka knew she would have to at least try.

It seemed to work, as Atem relaxed a little. "Anzu, since when am I to marry YOU?"

Anzu tittered again, all the while looking like she could strangle Asoka. And she would have, had the Pharaoh not been standing right between them. "Why, Pharaoh! I thought this had all been arranged when your father was negotiating with my father! You remember, all those years ago!"

"Yes, and you're still a bitch!" Asoka could not hold back her anger any longer, but she was satisfied when the Pharaoh said that. Anzu narrowed her eyes, and before anyone could react, she shoved the Pharaoh aside and held a dinner knife to Asokas' throat. "Is it because of HER? I saw her come out of your room! Is she your lover now?"

"What the h-"Asoka began, but was cut off as Anzu grabbed her. "Let go of me!" Asoka yelled, elbowing Anzu in the gut. This seemed to work, for the princess let go of her and groaned. Asokas' appearance looked disheveled, but she turned to face Anzu with a fiery anger in her azure eyes.

"No! I was in there because of what YOU did!" The young noble said, and Anzu started to move towards her again when Atem stepped between them.

"ENOUGH! Anzu, you will return to your tribe. You are no longer welcome here!" Atems' filled the room, and even Seto looked uncomfortable, yet still amused by this whole thing.

"You'll pay for that, Pharaoh! I don't know if you've bothered to learn this yet, but we're no longer just a tribe!" She laughed, maybe more like cackled. "Several years ago, we discretely took over a small, neighboring country. Our forces were great then, but they are even greater now!" Anzus' eyes burned, as she inched towards the doors. "You'll be sorry, Pharaoh! You, your kingdom, and that little slut will pay!" She yelled, looking almost insane with rage as she bolted from the palace, stealing the stallion of a patrolling guard, and riding out of the city.

Asoka blinked, and looked at the stunned faces of those all around her. "Did what just happen, happen? Or did I just go insane and imagine the whole thing?"

Atem exhaled, and turned to fix his violet eyes on her. "It happened."

Asoka blinked, and shook her head. "That was… really odd." Suddenly, she noticed a sharp pain on her right arm, and she lifted it up to set a long, crimson cut that stretched from just above her wrist, to just before her elbow. "That bitch!"

The room around her went blurry, and the last thing she saw was Atem, yelling her name as the world around her went black.