Yugioh belongs to Kazuki Takahashi

Yugioh belongs to Kazuki Takahashi. /cries/

Kisara wakes up with a start. It is late into the day and the sun is beginning to set. She holds her head, trying to remember the events that have just passed. She snaps out of her thoughts when Seto enters.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, walking up to the bed that she is on.

"I'm fine," she assures him before asking, "What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

She turns her head to look at the window and holds her knees close to her chest. "All I remember is Aknadin…and he said that he killed Mana…This is all my fault. I was too late."

"Do not blame this on yourself. You did the best that you could do."

"But…my best friend…she's gone," Kisara says, almost a whisper and she hides her face into her hands, starting to cry.

"Kisara…" He wraps his arms around her, comforting her the best that he could. He hates to see her cry.

"I wish there was something I could do," she sobs.

YGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYG

Atem looks himself in the mirror. He is wearing the same as always, only with a red cape instead of navy blue. The time is almost here for him to get married to Teana. He walks over to the window and sighs, looking at the full moon.

Today is just not a good day to get married especially when he has lost both of his friends. He just isn't in the mood but he knows that he has to do this because of his father.

"Mana…I wish you were here," he says out loud, knowing that Mana always did something to cheer him up or something.

"Pssssssst….." His eyes widen and he starts to look around for the source. "Pssssst…"

"Who's there?"

"Prince!" the voice whispers loudly. Atem's eyes scroll left to right in search of the person but still he could not find who is calling him. The voice calls him again, leading him to the balcony. He looks down and gasps, seeing a small girl hanging for dear life. Not only that; that small girl is Mana. "A little help here!?" He immediately grabs her arm and pulls her up to safety.

The small Mana drops to her rump, breathing heavily before sighing in relief. "I thought you would never find me."

"You're…alive?" Atem asks, looking at her with shock.

"Of course I'm alive. Why wouldn't I be?" she asks before looking at what he's wearing. "What's up with the fancy clothes?"

"You have to answer my question first. Why are you…?"

"Small? Aknadin thought he killed me when he actually turned me into a kid. I can't do anything about it right now because he has my wand," she explains, getting up on her feet. She is wearing exactly what she always wears except her blouse isn't hanging off her shoulders. She is short--only waist high to Atem. "Now, why are you dressed like that?"

"I'm…getting married Mana." Mana stands across from, speechless. She tries to speak but no words come out and she starts panting. Atem looks at her worriedly. "Mana?" She doesn't look well and her face is pale not to mention the sweating. Her eyes roll back and she faints, landing hard on the floor. "Darn it Mana…" Atem mutters to himself, rushing over and lifting the small girl in his arms. "Mana, wake up." He shakes her lightly but it is no use.

He nearly jumps, hearing a knock at the door. "The ceremony is about to start my king," Shimon announces.

"I'll be there shortly." He turns his attention back on Mana who is just waking up.

"…huh? What just happened?"

"You fainted and now I have to go." Mana springs up to her feet, hearing that.

"But you can't get married to Teana!"

"I must."

"But is it what you want?"

"It doesn't matter," he answers walking to the door. "It's what my father wishes."

"No, wait!" Mana calls after him but it is too late. He is already out the door. 'He can't go through with this. He'll just be miserable if he does!'

YGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYG

Teana walks outside, heading to the throne room. There is a pond with lily pads on one side and pillars on the other side. She is wearing a long white gown and her gold crown. She also has a lot of gold jewelry on her wrists, neck and ears. This has to be the best day of her life for soon she would be getting married and no one would stand in her way.

'No Mana…' she thinks and she chuckles. 'That monster actually did me a favor. Now I don't have to hear her annoying--'

"Hey, Teana!" she hears a familiar voice call and she shutters. It is impossible for her to hear that voice. Slowly she turns around and gasps with shock.

"YOU!" Teana yells, pointing to Mana then she slowly lowers her finger. "Er…what happened to you?"

"That guy took my wand and turned me into a kid. What does it look like?" she replies flatly.

"Oh great! Now you'll ruin everything!"

"Listen to me! Just think before you go through with all of this! Do you think Atem wants this?"

"Well of course he does. He loves me and now we're going to get married."

"But he's only doing this because--"
"Look low life," Teana interrupts Mana, causing Mana to grunt because of what she is referred to. "You're just jealous because I'm marrying your crush."

"WHAT!?"
"It's true. And now you're mad because a low life like you can't be with him now."

"If you call me that one more time…"

"You'll what? I'm twice your age."

"Do not underestimate me because of my age and height."

"Puh! You're even more of a low life than when you were older!"

Mana clenches her fist, her eyes blazing with a fire meaning only one thing. Teana has just ticked her off. This time, she isn't going to hold back. Even for Mana's fall frame, she dives at Teana, knocking her into the pond. She stands up, looking down at Teana who screams.

"Look what you did to my beautiful dress! You truly are a low life!"

"SHUT UP!" Mana goes at Teana and Teana at her and they start to fight once again. Teana slaps Mana, causing her to fall under the water and she pins her down. Mana struggles to break free and she does by scratching Teana's arm. She surfaces for air before turning her glare on Teana. Her attack stops when she the guard with the muscles and beard grabs her by the back of her shirt and lifting her up into the air.

Mana stops and groans, seeing who the guard is. 'Why is it always the same guard?' she thinks to herself. Teana gasps, seeing Atem coming their way. He probably knew something was up since she wasn't at the wedding yet. She quickly gets up while Mana watches helplessly as Atem approaches her.

She closes her eyes, knowing that she is in deep trouble. She never wanted for it to happen this way. She feels herself being handed over and carried inside. When she opens her eyes, she sees that she is being carried under Atem's arm.

He carries her to her room and places her down on the bed. Mana looks at him with guilt before bowing her head, looking down at her feet.

"Sorry," she apologizes.

"Why would you do something like that?"

"I was only trying to help."

Atem sighs, holding his head and walking a few steps. "You're even worse as a child," he mutters and Mana's head shoots up.

"But I--"

"Mana I'm getting married to Teana, understand?"

"No I don't understand. Why get married to someone you don't even like?"

"I'm not going over this with you again. You're staying here until the wedding is over with." He walks out of her room, closing on the door and leaning on it.

Flashback

Days before, Atem and Mana stand on the balcony, looking out over all of Egypt. There is a nice breeze blowing calmly to help them deal with the burning sun beaming down on them.

"I'm getting married soon," he says.

"Why?"

"You already know why Mana."
"No I don't. You've only told me that your father wants you to marry her. But why do you? Is this what you want?" Atem doesn't reply. He is starting to think back on her question. Yes, it is his father wish to marry Teana, but did he really want to marry her?

"Yes," he replies.

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"I know when you're lying."

"Why can't you ever stop bothering me about this?"

"Well you're always bringing it up. And I know it's not because you're excited about it or anything. I know you're starting to think whether you should go through with this or not."

"You think you know everything don't you?" Mana looks over at him, her head slightly tilting back and a bored expression on her face.

"You never answered my first question."

"Yes I did."

"Truthfully."

"I don't know how many times you've asked me this question."

"And I don't know how many times you've lied to me about the same question," she counters and he looks at her, slightly annoyed. But it is true. He has been lying to her all this time. Mana turns her head to look out to the sky.

"Why do you care?" he asks.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"No," he replies, completely confused and she turns to leave, her bangs hiding her face and a smirk across her lips.

'Then I guess you'll never truly know how I feel,' she thinks before walking away, still leaving a questionable look on Atem's face.

End Flashback

It is this memory he is recalling standing in front of Teana, about to get married. Shimon is presiding over it all.

Atem looks over at Teana who is smiling at him and he returns the smile. But on the inside, a lot of thoughts are going through his head. Why did Mana care so much?

Flashback

Atem grabs Mana's hand and both run through the halls, laughing. Mana is running away from her lessons while Atem is running away from his daily lecture. They stop, looking around for a place to hide. Both jump a little, hearing their names being called from not too far away.

Atem looks quickly for a place to hide. First at the large pots. He shakes his head. That would be the first place Mahad would look in. It is time for a new hiding place and his eyes go over to a door. He drags her to the door and both go inside, closing the door behind them.

Mana groans, not liking the place he chose to hide. It is really small and with them both being in there, it is crowded and really dark. It is so dark, that they couldn't see their hands even if they put it right in front of their face.

"Prince, you're stepping on my foot," she complains.

"Well move over."
"You're not really good at finding hiding spots," she says, trying to maneuver herself into a more comfortable position. She stumbles a bit, causing her lips to land on his and they stay that way. They probably would've stayed that way until the door opens. Mahad gasps and his eyes nearly pop out of his head.

"MANA!" he yells, causing them to pull back quickly.

"I can explain!" Mana exclaims but Mahad grabs her arm and drags her off.

"You're doing the whole throne room!"

"What!? Come on!"

Atem slowly raises his hand to his lips and wonders what this strange feeling is that is overcoming him. He doesn't have time to think about it for too long because Shimon is coming his way.

"You're highness! It's time for your lecture! Now let's get started shall we?"

'Mana…'

End Flashback

'It took me this long to realize this…' he thinks, while Shimon continues doing the ceremony. They were outside on the balcony where all the villagers can see. The priests were all there to witness this too.

"Teana, do you take our king to become your husband?" Shimon asks.

"I do," she replies, tears forming in her eyes.

"My king, do you take Teana to become your wife and our queen?" There is a great silence through out the kingdom as they wait for his answer. Teana looks at him, nodding slightly for him to answer. He turns his head to Shimon who does the same.

"I…" A pained scream fills the air and everyone looks around to see what it is. A guard falls at the palace gates and none other than Aknadin, is there.

End of Chapter 9. Hope you enjoyed and please review!