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"YugiOh A Time to Every Purpose"

Act II: Egypt

Chapter 21

Knock knock knock

"...ummm...may I...come in...Master? Mahad...? I mean...can we...speak...? Teacher?" The girl's tentative strains could've told any fool of what her feelings towards the tall, dark man seated at his workshop bench experimenting with various tinctures and elements at his disposal within this, his underground palace laboratory.

Any fool perhaps would've easily seen that Mana was in love with him. But not this oblivious sorcerer, whose sole focus was his duty to the Pharaoh and spells he would conjure to protect the kingdom.

Why the knock today? What now, Mana?

"Enter."

Mana carefully opens and scoots into the doorway at his one word command. She just as carefully attempts to close it without making so much as one peep of sound to disturb her adored tutor in the magical arts as she so often did. sigh And usually got her ear chewed off for it, too.

"...Ummm..." It's all the lovestruck girl could manage to sputter out. She was so awed whenever she was in Mahad's presence, nowadays more than ever, especially when he was so handsome against the dark room's dim lighting.

"Yes, Mana, speak." He commands again, simply, never turning to face her. This was good because Mana's face, at the mere sound of his voice, always turned her a variant shade of red instantly. She had more than just a crush on her older mentor.

"Master Mahad...I hope I'm not bothering you. I was only...wondering..." She pauses for what seemed like an eternity as his dark eyes fall on her questioningly.

"...Yes?" He prompts her, totally unaware of his young protege's feelings towards him. He was always too busy with duty to notice the little girl who was continually at his side.

"...wondering..." Mana wishes she could hide her head in her hat. She was so embarrassed as she feels the red blush crawl up her back, through her neck and up until her cheeks were a rosy pink, even on tanned skin.

"..Wondering...?" Mahad's patience was longer when he spoke to Mana but even that, for a busy minded alchemist was wearing thin quickly as his deep eyes slit even further at her blank expression up at him.

"I-was-wondering-if-the-Pharaoh-and-the-Queen-seem-to-be-acting-strange-to-you-today."

It all comes out in one big splat. Mana was relieved to have gotten out the whole entire sentence in her adored teacher's presence for once.

"Strange...? What do you mean by 'strange' Mana? Explain." Mahad puts down the two vials he was experimenting with to pay full attention to Mana. His concern was now piqued at the mention of his leader and friend.

"Well, I didn't know who else to tell besides you, teacher, but..." Mana feels that blush again within Mahad's penetrating gaze. She averts her eyes before continuing her speech.

"...for one, the Queen didn't seem to remember which side little 'Yami' likes to feed from-and he's a very particular baby that one!" Mana raises a finger. Her red cheeks suddenly redden further at the thought of discussing such intimate details with a man. For some reason she couldn't explain, she was embarrassed, though she never had trouble telling Mahad anything else before.

"...And?" Mahad didn't consider this tidbit of information either embarrassing nor important. Womens' behavior was a mystery beyond any magician or vizier and was, at any given moment, subject to change.

"And then, the Pharaoh didn't stay to help her like he always does. So I had to help the Queen with little Yami. She seemed to have such problems too! He was so troublesome-a very disobedient little prince, who bites and squirms without his father's firm hand and authoritative supervision. Yami even bit my finger! See! He was so upset!" Mana shows off her left forefinger where the naughty prince had, in a fit, taken a nip at.

"Yes, well, perhaps Pharaoh had more important things to do this morning than tend to babies." Mahad chauvinistically comments. He considered watching and tending children to be women's work, though he knew the new Pharaoh had his own novel ideas about such matters, now that he had returned to them from his exile. He spoiled his new wife and obviously spoiled his new son as well, from the sound of it.

"I thought so, too, but when he came out from his wardrobe, dressed all funny in the wrong clothes, I didn't know what to think! He couldn't even get his crown to stay up and I had to help him with it! He's normally so good at that! He seems so different today than our Princ-I mean, Pharaoh. He didn't even ask about the status of the sanctuary for the Queen and Yami to hide in, that he's ordered us and Shimon to construct in case of an emergency."

"Still..." Mahad considers her words, brushing her off as the girl's own silly fancies. After all, she was still just a child herself, despite all the vast knowledge of magic he had imparted to her during their sessions.

"And then, after I finally helped get Queen Teana dressed, she wasn't her normal fashionable self, either! She didn't even know where her jewels were! Imagine that! The only thing she managed to put on right was the Pendant that Pharaoh recently asked you to forge from a shard of his Puzzle. And Pharaoh marched right into her dressing chambers, announcing that they should go somewhere, after both of them asked me so many odd questions about things I don't quite understand-about Priest Seth and somebody named 'Kisara.' Then Queen Teana called Pharaoh 'Yugi" and told me that she'd watch over the little prince all by herself today. And they went running out the door!"

"Priest Seth, eh...Hmmmm...This may require my involvement after all." Mahad closes his magic book. His interest was piqued at the name of the keeper of the Millennium Rod. They didn't get along very well, so the mere mention of the man was enough to grab Mahad's sought-after attention.

"Let us monitor the situation our way." Mahad stretches out his hand to Mana, brushing the Millennium Ring around his neck as a magical staff, in aqua shades, appears in it. He places his other hand on the girl's shoulder briefly as they both begin to glow. Mana closes her eyes as the pair of them disappear in an aqua and cerulean orb of magician's light.

Mana trusted her mentor entirely, unnoticing in this moment that Mahad's eyes flashing, as though he sensed another's presence, as the pair fade into the light...

...And others into the shadows.

"Don't you think it would have been wiser to have left the baby with Mana, Tea? Who knows what we're going to face for Serenity's sake. It might not be safe." 'Pharaoh' Yugi says over his shoulder to his 'Queen.'

Tea stops in the hallway, amidst their running sprint. A two year old wriggling package was not so easy to hold and race with at the same time.

"No! I couldn't leave him." Tea shouts in a loud whisper so ferociously that Yugi is taken aback.

"Tea, I know how you feel..." Yugi pauses in his run as well, touching the little toddler's tiny fingers that grab a fairly strong grip around his own. "But when I told you that I thought I caught a glimpse of Joey racing into the palace grounds with a fainted woman in his arms, I hardly expected you to bring our-their-baby with you." Yugi's mouth was complaining, but his hands and eyes were playing with little 'Yami.' The pleasant babe cooed at his 'da-da's' low voice, in a whisper.

"Well, you couldn't expect me to leave him-all by hisself, could you, da-da? Ooooh, you're so adorable!" Tea was googling baby-talk at her 'new' son. She smooched a big, wet kiss on his head, much to the child's giggling approval and delight. She hugged him close, cuddling him tightly.

"Tea, let's be serious and meet with Joey. He may need our help." Yugi is astounded and somewhat frightened by how quickly Tea had gotten over her timidity with the child. Her motherly instincts had kicked in with a bang.

"You lead and we'll follow, da-da." Tea is embarrassed immediately by her own continued use of the baby talk. Her eyes divert from Yugi the minute she says them, realizing that this bouncing baby was not really hers and his. He was Atem's and Teana's. After all, they were the ones married.

Well, I can borrow him while I'm here at least, can't I? Both of my little men...

Tea smiles, her eyes tracing her 'husband's' fine shoulder blades and tanned muscular arms and legs pumping as she tags along behind him. She and little Yami both watch in awe.

Anywhere you go...

Tea smiles as the baby in her arms somehow makes her feel so proud to be Yugi's girl.

"Your Majesties!"

Several men who were the Pharaoh's royal guard bow down low on one knee before Pharaoh Atem and his new Queen.

Yugi nods for them to stand as the speeding horse carrying Joey comes to a halting stop before them.

"Captain Jono! You're back!" The men call out to their leader, joy on their faces for his safe return.

"Captain Jono?" Yugi and Tea mouth the title to each other. Atem certainly never told them about this! Joey was his Captain of the guard?

"Captain Jono? Uhh, yeah, that's me, I guess! Got my own fan club it seems, too! Boy, that was some ride! I can't believe we actually got back in one piece, Trigga!" Joey's loud voice bellows as he smacks his horse's rump proudly.

"Joey! I mean, 'Jono', is that Mai?" Tea, rather unqueenly like, rushes out into the still billowing sands, to Joey's horse's side. Yugi was close on her heels, shocking his elite guard by physically taking the dark haired woman from Joey's tired arms as he hands her down to him.

"Yup. She's all right-just passed out. You wouldn't believe where I found her! Sheesh! Anyways, you're lookin good, Tea! Whose kid's that?" Joey was so close a friend that he already knew that this was Tea and Yugi, despite their clothes, jewels and tanned skin-not to mention the baby in tow.

"Meet 'our' son, Yami, 'Captain Jono.'" Tea proudly introduces the babe as Yami punches Joey's shoulder.

"Whoa...way to go, Yuge." Joey smirks with a wink at his friend.

"What happened to Mai, Joey?" Clearing his throat, all businesslike, Yugi asks as his faithful servants, immediately and without order, usher their king into a room with a bed for the unconscious woman.

"Don't know exactly. I saved her from some spooky guys in robes and cloaks, trying to roast her. Then she did something and then kinda passed out. I don't really get it. It took all night for us to get here, after me and the horse had a little understandin' going on. She's breathin' and all, but Mai still hasn't come to. You can fix her up now that we're here I hope. I'm sure glad that I made it to you guys, cause I figured, if I was me, in ancient Egypt, then, you'd, well, be yous again. And, boy, am I pooped! Riding horseys all night is tough. yawn "

Joey's fatigue was more than mere physical, though he would not let on differently. Both Tea and Yugi knew that Mai's condition and this mission for Serenity were both weighing heavily on his soul.

There's pain in your eyes, Joey, behind that strong smile.

Yugi's thought is one Tea shared. They exchange a look over Joey's head as he kneels at Mai's bedside. He squeezes her unconscious hand in his tightly.

"...is sickie, mama?" The baby boy points to Mai's unconscious form on the bed.

"Yes, Yami, she's 'sickie.' But she'll be better real soon. Cause we're gonna take good care of her-you and me. Da-da and Uncle Jono are going to go help a friend now. They'll be back soon." Tea's commanding words were more directed at Joey than her toddler's curiosity. Joey lifts his head to look into Tea's eyes with a grateful smile.

"We'd better go find Kaiba, Joey. I'm sure he's already got it all figured out how to find and save Serenity." Yugi states assuredly, believing in the man he called his friend.

"He had better." Joey grumbles as he stands. "Tea?"

"We'll be watching Mai, Joey. Don't you worry. I'll send word for you the minute she's up. She's in good hands." Tea giggles as her baby's hands tickle her tummy. She wraps the child up in her arms as they both wave a fond goodbye to 'da-da' as he leaves with Joey.

"Good luck, guys..." Tea whispers as the Pharaoh and his Captain of the Guard bound out of the room.