Why hello there! I'm back today with another chapter. :) I'm sorry that its so short. and almost completely Ati-centric. I wanted to add Pharaoh in here more and Bakura but it would make the chappie wayyyy too long.

But Atem is finally arrived. and so is his staff :)


"We're finally home," Maani smiled, "it feels so good to be back."

The other girls chorused similar thoughts, Ati nearly gagged as she heard their happiness to see the pharaoh.

"Oh, I can't wait to dance for our beautiful Pharaoh, I love the look on his face when we're dancing…" one girl was grinning.

"Oh, I know. This will be the best celebration yet. But we have to bring the new girl… what's her name again? Ati? … to go see him, since she's not from here, he can either let her stay or send her out in the morning…" another seemed to be liking that idea.

"I hope he lets her stay. She's in no condition to be traveling."

"Well she should have been more careful than to let herself get kidnapped by thieves."

'Let myself get kidnapped. Haha, that's rich,' Ati couldn't help but smile.

They rode inside and left their horses in the stable with a young girl named Mana. "I'm glad to see you all returned home safely," she was so unusually happy. "OH! What happened!" She ran over at first sight of the injured Ati, who was still covered in bruises. "Are you okay?"

Ati shrugged, "I will be now that I'm away from those thieves."

"You were kidnapped by thieves!" Mana was in shock.

Ati nodded.

"Here, let me get you to the infirmary. Master Mahad will definitely be able to help," the girl was tugging on Ati's arm instead of helping her off the horse.

"Uhm… miss?"

"Oh! You can call me Mana!"

"Well Mana, do you think you could help me down? I have a twisted ankle so it's a little hard…"

"Oh, right!" Mana smiled and helped her down off the horse. "Mother Maani, don't worry about Ati, I'll take her to Mahad!"

"No Mana, not yet. She has to see the Pharaoh," the woman stopped the young girl.

"Why? I'm sure he won't mind if she's treated for her injuries first," Mana didn't want to waste time.

"She's from a different palace, we'll need to know what the Pharaoh plans to do."

"Well he'll let her stay here of course! He's not that mean," she muttered the last part under her breath, "Besides, even if he wants her to return home to her own palace, he won't let her leave until she's healed."

"Don't speak so casually about our king," Maani was ready to raise her hand and put the girl in her place.

"I'm sorry Mother Maani, but I've known him since I was a child, since before he was a Pharaoh."

"Regardless, he is a Pharaoh now, I don't want to catch you giving him less respect than he deserves ever again. Understood?"

"Yes, Mother Maani," Mana seemed upset.

Ati on the other hand was happy to find someone to casually speak about the 'great king'. Although she spoke highly of him, she wasn't swooning with respect like some of the people she was going to have to live with, and she could respect that.

"Come Ati, let us go see the Pharaoh," Maani waved her hand for Ati to follow.

Mana slowly released the girl she was helping stay standing, "Are you okay to walk?"

"I guess," Ati shrugged, it didn't seem like this 'Mother Maani' was going to be very lenient now that they'd returned to the palace. She was much nicer when they were outside palace walls. Ati limped after the woman and followed behind her new sisters.

It was a long limp to the royal court where Ati would have to stand before the Pharaoh and receive his decision. Once they finally got there all the girls waited off to a side while Mother Maani and Ati walked up before the Pharaoh and his court.

"What is this?" the Pharaoh was blinking stupidly as the two approached.

"What happened to this girl?" one of his court exclaimed.

"Seto, calm down," another, one carrying a scale put his hand on Seto's shoulder.

"Look at what's happened to this woman Karim!"

The Pharaoh silenced the two and stood. He walked down slowly to the girls, despite the warnings of his court.

"Mother Maani, what has happened?" He looked at Ati, "I'm sorry, I don't believe I've seen you here before…"

"She's from one of the southern palaces," Maani stated.

"And she's made it all the way here? What happened?"

"Kidnapped by thieves, from the look of it probably that one with the silver hair."

"Bakura," he hissed.

It took a lot for Ati to keep a straight face. She didn't like people, especially not this evil man before her, speaking ill of the one she loved.

"I'm sorry that this has happened to you," he looked sincerely apologetic, but she didn't believe him.

"It is not your fault my Pharaoh," she apologized, turning her gaze to the floor.

"No, everything that happens in this country is my responsibility. That makes this my fault," he sighed. "Well, I guess we'll let you stay here, at least until you're healed. If you still wish to leave at that time you may."

She nodded, "Thank you, my Pharaoh."

A small 'told'ya' could be heard from the back of the room where the small girl named Mana was standing.

"Mana," the Pharaoh spoke, "please escort her to the infirmary." He turned to his council, "Mahad, you may go with her."

He nodded, "Thank you Pharaoh."

"Mother Maani, please set up a bed for her," the Pharaoh turned and returned to his throne.

"Yes Pharaoh," she bowed and left.

-…-…-…-

"So tell me, what exactly happened to you?" Mahad stared at the girl he was treating.

Ati glanced to the side, her long hair falling out of its bun and cascading down her body, "It's not something I'd really like to talk about."

Mahad stared at her hair, "at least they didn't cut your hair.."

"That was how they grabbed me," she muttered sarcastically, "like they would cut off something that was useful for dragging someone around." While Bakura had fiercely grabbed and yanked at her hair, he didn't dare attempt to rip out any of her hair by dragging her around by it.

Mahad nodded, uttering quiet, 'oh' before continuing his treatment. He cleared his throat, "did they, uhm, do anything other than beat you up?"

Ati nodded, pretending to be ashamed.

"If you'd like we could give you an exam to make sure they didn't damage you…"

She shook her head, "No. I feel fine. My ankle and my head are really the only things that hurt."

"Just because you feel fine doesn't mean you are," Mahad tried to reason with her, but it wasn't going to work. She only allowed one person to see down there and that one person was far away. "Alright, if you change your mind, let us know alright?"

"Yes Master Mahad. Thank you," she tried to smile. She was already wishing for her 'kura back but she knew she was already in and had to finish her part before she could talk to him again.

She winced when he snapped her ankle back into place, "Sorry but I didn't have much of a choice, does it feel better now?"

She nodded, it was feeling better now that the pain was receding.

"You won't want to walk on it for at least a few hours. You can rest here until then."

She nodded and laid down as he took his leave. She was alone now, with only her thoughts, ''kura you bastard, I think you overdid it. I'm gonna be stuck in this damn infirmary until I can walk properly. That's only gonna make us lose time. Well I guess it's okay that the Pharaoh doesn't suspect a thing. I was two feet from him. So close…'

-…-...-…-

Bakura awoke, feeling like he'd received a slap in the face, "huh what?" He didn't usually wake up from his afternoon naps without interruption from Ati. "I wonder if she reached the palace yet…" He summoned his Diabound and sent him searching for her.

A couple hours later the monster returned to the village, and told Bakura that she had indeed made it inside the palace.

"Good, we'll await her first communication." Bakura dismissed his Diabound.


Sorry there's so little Bakura and Atem.

Good or Bad, please review! :)