Disclaimer: Ah, Yugioh. Don't own it, but I sure wish I did.

Author's note: Sorry, guys… X-files obsession again… you'll probably see some fics on that too. Oh, boy, look at this chapter… should be, interesting…

Thanks/responses:

Angel's Riot: haha I think Mana is one of my favorites to write, and Aknamkanon and Mahad are just awesome. Ah, yes, you are correct in noticing that I used the word 'collect' quite a bit, but it's kind of unavoidable. Sorry if it was annoying—I'll try and change it up. ^O^

Me: I'm glad the plot is making it interesting, along with the usual fluff! X)

Aqua girl 007: you bet your eye things are getting interesting! ^D^

Princess atemma: yes, I usually update once a day. Sometimes twice, but not usually. And sometimes I miss a day cause of homework and various other problems, but when that happens (like yesterday, for example) I'll post two chapters to make up for it.

IMPORTANT: And yeah, I was going to do something along the lines of the Hangover but decided against it… for various reasons. A) it would have totally taken this story down a different track and b) it would have made it longer. Anywho, this is probably more likely to happen in my opinion. Sorry if I disappointed you.

I think that's it… yep! Might as well get along with the story, so…

Mush!

A Bachelor's Party

Atem wasn't sure if he was dreading it or looking forward to it.

Strangely enough, Seto and Mahad seemed to be excited for it, which couldn't be a good thing.

"I don't really want to go," Atem confessed to Mana.

She laughed. "Oh, just get over it, Atem! I'm sure it will be fun. Anything embarrassing, well, I won't be there to see and neither will anyone else, so it won't matter."

He made a face, "Fine. But I won't like it."

Mana gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Right," she agreed. Atem could swear he heard a layer of sarcasm in there.

Atem sighed, shaking his head. I might as well get this over with, he thought.

He stopped at the door, making a face. He glanced back the way Mana had gone and found her peeking around the corner at him, grinning and looking like she was about to giggle. She motioned for him to go in, mouthing: 'Go on! Don't be ababy! Suck it up!'

He pointed at the door, raising his eyebrows, and she nodded. Mana wiggled her fingers at him before disappearing. Atem made a face after her and finally went in to the room.

As promised, Aknamkanon wasn't there. As much as Atem loved his father, he knew that it would be a bit…. awkward if he went to Atem's bachelor party. Shimon wasn't there either, and Atem inwardly relaxed.

It was just Mahad, Seto, Karim, Shada and him.

"And I thought you were going to do something inappropriate, Seto!" Atem called over the yells.

Seto grinned, swinging his sword. "I was! Mahad wouldn't let me!"

"Thank Ra for Mahad!"

To the left, Mahad smiled. Seto just laughed, "Oh, you would have liked my idea."

"I highly doubt that," Atem replied dryly.

"There's nothing like the adrenalin rush of battle," Shada said loudly.

Karim agreed, "And this is only the first stop."

Down near the newer Egypt, they had taken him (blindfolded, no less) to a sort of staged battleground, where spirits could battle all they wanted, simply for the fun of it. Atem definitely liked this idea over what Seto would have planned. He didn't even want to ask what Seto had been thinking.

Atem's sword ran through an 'enemy' and he continued to slash. He wasn't even remotely tired, which was one of the perks of being a spirit.

He was in disguise, seeing as people would have talked if they had seen the Pharaoh out an about. Not only that, but the 'enemy' would have been hesitant to attack him if they had known he was the Pharaoh. Then there were those Soul Collectors, who wanted his soul and all.

Instead of his usual kingly attire, he wore a plain white headdress to cover his chaotic hair and a simple white tunic with a black belt gathering it at the waist. He also wore black sandals and adornments, on his wrists, upper arms, ankles and neck.

The Guardians were wearing plain robes as well, to Mahad's dismay. None of them wore their headdresses and gold. Seto's brown hair was exposed and Mahad's short chestnut hair hung in the open, which was the source of his discomfort. He felt a bit naked without his headdress and staff. Karim was bare-chested as usual, and Shada simply wore a tunic with the sleeves cut off.

A man dashed forward to engage Atem in combat, at which he gladly obliged. The man made a thrust that Atem dodged and replied to with a double slash and a thrust.

They just kept coming back, and that was one thing that made the battle all the more exhilarating.

They went through each era of battle: they used chariots, swords, spears, knives, axes. They battled on ships and in the air. Eventually they used guns, grenades, cannons, tanks, and even heavier artillery than that.

Atem was enjoying himself immensely.

He particularly enjoyed the ships and up in the air. Modern warfare was so violent and they battled so far apart that he didn't find it as engaging and fun as old-fashioned warfare, with swords and knives and well, combat and actual skill. They didn't stay in the modern war battles very long.

Now they were paint-balling and laser tagging. This could be his favorite yet.

First up: paint-ball.

It was Atem and the others against another group. They were completely focused and ready. They were aware that they hadn't had barely any experience in this sort of thing, but what the hey—it was still a strange form of war.

They even wore strange clothing: padding all over them. Atem had replaced his headdress with a sort of helmet that he was surprised covered his hair, and they all wore glasses.

Atem hit three of them almost straight off, before ducking behind a barrel. Mahad grinned at him. "Well done, Pharaoh," he hissed.

"Mahad, I told you," Atem replied, "Just call me Atem here."

"But it would be—" Mahad began.

"Mahad, here I'm not a pharaoh," Atem told him, "I mean, I am, but if someone heard you calling me that, our cover could be blown."

Mahad sighed, "Very well."

Atem raised his eyebrows, "Well?"

"Very well… Atem," Mahad managed, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

Atem nodded in approval, "Don't get hit, Mahad."

"I don't plan to," Mahad smiled.

"Are you girls going to sit there talking or are you going to shoot someone?" Seto yelled, standing and hitting two of the opposing team.

Atem and Mahad grinned, joining Seto.

Laser tag. Atem had never had so much fun.

His aim had improved since the first gun he had picked up. Now he felt he could shoot anything. He just wished he could go against Seto in a game of laser tag—he was a demon. It would be an actual challenge, and a good one.

Seto took down four of the opposing players in a mere twenty seconds. Mahad caught on quickly, taking down just as many in the space of thirty seconds. Atem's record was closer to Seto's—they weren't sure who was better.

Karim and Shada were a bit slower to catch on, but as soon as they did, they were fast and accurate. The lasers zoomed between players: Shada out, Karim out—now it was Mahad, Seto and Atem against four other players.

Sure, they were outnumbered, but their skill made up for it.

Mahad took one out, and then Seto, and last Atem took another. The remaining man refused to back down. There was something about him that bothered Atem. His eyes were beady and strangely dark.

Those beady eyes roved between the three of them, strangely confident.

The man knew he was taking a risk, but…

Atem's eyes widened, sensing the man's thoughts, and he brought the laser gun up, but it was too late.

The man's arm flashed forward and he pulled the trigger, but the laser gun was different than the others. And instead of firing at the torso, where he should have, he shot the wrist.

Atem felt something burning his wrist and cried out in pain. He couldn't move, and he heard as much as felt the hot laser burning him. The Guardian's stared in surprise, and after a moment, horror. Mahad was the first to react. He threw his arm forward, casting a spell. The man was thrown backwards, smacking into the far wall.

Unfrozen, Atem straightened, seizing just above where his wrist hurt and growling angrily. He dropped the hurt wrist and reached towards the man, using his magic.

The man felt himself flipped over and then zipped through the air towards the man he had attacked—when he looked up, he found himself gazing into the angry amethyst eyes of the Pharaoh.

"Who are you?" the Pharaoh demanded in terrible anger.

"I-I—" he spluttered.

Atem felt the same force he had felt the day the man at the gate had challenged him—the force, he assumed had destroyed the other man. Frowning, he cast a layer of protective magic over them. The force abruptly stopped.

"Seto, would you please carry this man?" he asked.

The man screamed as Seto threw him over his shoulder. Mahad placed magical bonds on his wrists and ankles so he couldn't escape, then turned quickly to Atem.

"What has he done to you, Pharaoh?" he asked in alarm.

Atem held up his wrist. His face was contorted in pain. Gently, Mahad held just above the injury, examining it.

There was a strange symbol burned into Atem's skin—it was a djed, or the representation of the human backbone, which was symbolic of stability and strength. Not only that, but it associated the person it was on/near with the god Osiris.

"Why put a djed on the King?" Seto demanded of the man.

"Because he needs to be marked," the man stuttered nervously, afraid they would hurt him. "So we know who he is, even when he's disguised!" he was almost falling over his own tongue to tell them everything. "So everyone knows he's one to be captured!"

Atem cursed in Egyptian under his breath, "The Soul Collectors. We were right."

Mahad conjured a cloth from the air, speaking a spell over the wound and covering it withthe cloth. "We have to get you home. It needs to be cleaned. It's not safe for you out here."

Cliffhanger! I know I didn't update yesterday, so I'm updating soon. Soon as in today. so don't worry just yet.

Review please ^-^ let me know if it seems rushed or anything… or if it needs anything.

-Anevay