Neko2: Hello everybody! I found out in a interview in Shonen Jump with Kazuki Takahashi that Yugi actually does have a dad but he is living away from his family on business. I have an announcement to make about this story.

Yami: What embarrassing thing do I have to do now?? Oo???

Neko2: Let me see…you have to become sexually confused and dress in drag. :D

Yami: … Has not registered what Neko2 just said. Then it clicks and he grows red in the face with embarrassment WHAT????!!!!! THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL THAT I AM DOING THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Neko2: Geez Yami! ;;; Can't you take a joke? Or maybe you don't know what that is. Oohhhhh I have an idea I'll tell you after the chapter is over.

Yami: Oh no, I don't like this and F.Y.I. I do know what a joke is.

Neko2: Anyway, what I was going to say is that Ryou will be playing the part of

Nehebeka, a fellow Nubian slave.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I have been posting some of my artwork on deviantart. I'm going to post some illustrations up there.

Yami: You have also been playing Falsebound Kingdom. --;;

Neko2: True. But lets start on reviews. Glances at papers

Latias gang:

 Neko2: Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

Yana 5:

Neko2: Thank you. It is a cool story. .

Yami: Do you know how arrogant that sounded?

Neko2: Sorry ; It is not my story. Although I am going to make certain modifications.

Yami: Should I be scared?

Neko2: YYEEESSSSSS MY PRECIOUSSS  is imitating Gollum 

Yami: squeaks Eeep O.O runs and hides behind chair

Neko2: I'm only kidding!!! --;;;

Kitty Neko:

Neko2: I have been thinking about that. The songs help me tell the story, but I may not have the cast sing them in future chapters. And I don't use ones that don't move the story along, like, there was this one that Amneris sang called "My Strongest Suit" that I did not use. But I need to use the reprise. They'll be incorporated in other ways. The story was originally an opera. Now it is a musical. I made the characters sing be because I can see them saying those things. For example can't you see Yami saying something like

"Nothing is an accident

We are free to have it all

We are what we want to be

It's in ourselves to raise and fall" with all his destiny talks?

The lady Winged Knight:

Neko2: Yeah, Yugi will do that from time to time. GO HEAD TALKERS!!!!!

Yami: How many heads have you talked off? The lady Winged Knight certainly talked off a lot.

Neko2: Oh I don't know…100…200…300…goes on for hours

Yami: Will you stop?!

Neko2: Only if you do the disclaimer.

Yami: All right, fine! Neko2 owns didilly squat!

Amneris sat in her room; her blue-gray eyes were glazed over as she drifted deeper and deeper into thought. Absent-mindedly her right hand began to fiddle with a golden necklace, a nervous habit of hers. She heaved a heavy sigh as she reflected over the night's events.

'It's not like him to show such pain…grasping his head and standing like that…' she worried.

There were times when she really wished that she was not a princess. This was one of them. She wished that the phrase "be yourself" applied to her, but it did not. As a princess, she had to be what others expected her to be. She had to be brainless and self absorbed. She prided herself on her ability to masquerade that. However, that was not what she felt. Even though she surrounded herself with women, she desperately was lonely. Oh how she wanted someone who would understand her but no one would. Sometimes she envied Marik, the palace scribe. They were the only ones besides the priests that could read and write and she did not trust that priest Kaiba. 

Being able to read meant being able to express one's feelings, an ability that Amneris desperately wanted. That added to her list of reasons why she did not want to be a princess. Princesses should not know how to be literate. She tapped her fingernails on the surface of the desk and glanced from the desk to the floor, and back to the desk. Suddenly she had an idea she motioned to a white haired boy with eyes the color of warm dark chocolate truffle named Ryou whom, along with Yugi, had been brushing her auburn hair.

"Ryou" she called.

"Yes, my lady?" he replied.

"Find Marik and tell him that I wish to see him immediately!"           

"Yes, my lady," with that he left.

Marik, Amneris, and Atem had all been friends since childhood; this was how she knew she could trust him. A loud knock at the door told her that Ryou had returned with Marik.

"You may enter."

"Your highness, what is your wish?" he asked in a mocking tone, making her smile. She loved it when people treated her like a person rather than a princess.

"I wish to write a poem to express myself," she stated.

"No better way," he replied. "Now, what's the first line?"

"Hmmm…I may leave a great impression," she stated. Marik quickly scratched that down then paused ready for the next line.

"As I race through a succession

Of the latest crazes, chase the newest fad"

She felt as though she was on fire.

"I feel better when beguiling

Find that fashion keeps me smiling

But in my heart I know it's rather sad."

Yugi stopped brushing her hair, choosing this moment to chime in.

"That a life of great potential

 Is dismissed, inconsequential"

To say that Amneris was surprised at Yugi's understanding how she felt was a huge understatement.

"And only ever seen as being cute

So flutter I'll to deceive."

Yugi sighed.

"Oh no. No, you must believe

That one day you're bound to find"

Then Amneris caught on to what her slave was trying to say to her.

"A stronger suit."

Amneris now felt so much better.

"Marik, you may leave now. Thank you," she stated as he handed her a medium sized stone tablet with the poem written on it.  Amneris now turned to Yugi, who immediately cast his gaze down. She lowered her head so that she was staring up at him.

"Yugi, please look at me!' She pleaded 'I would much rather you treat me as a friend rather than a princess."

Yugi formed his face into what he hoped was a puzzled look. He knew exactly how she felt. However, to reveal this would mean saying that he was the prince and heir to the throne of Nubia. He had almost let it slip to Atem tonight but had stopped himself just in time. It was the warm and caring look in Atem's eyes when he gazed into those crimson orbs that made him feel that he could tell the prince anything. It was extremely difficult under these circumstances to keep reminding himself that he could not.

"But that is what you are Your Highness," he asked hoping he sounded confused. The words "Your Highness" felt foreign on his tongue, as he had never had to use them before he was captured.   

Amneris bought it. She gazed at the beautiful leather slippers on her feet.

"I guess I never should have expected you to understand. You have no idea how hard it is to be seen only for what you are and not who are," she sighed.

"You might be surprised." Yugi stated flatly. Then he mentally smacked himself 'that's three times tonight!'

"Really?" Amneris asked slightly confused. Yugi gulped.

"A slave is rarely made out to be anything else but, it's not who we are."

"That's true. I never thought about that. Thank you Yugi, you are the first person to understand me," she replied thankfully.

Just then the door swung open revealing the crowned prince Atem standing confidently in the doorframe. He made his way towards Amneris sneaking a glance at Yugi, who ceased brushing the princess's hair. Atem place his hands on Amneris' shoulders and whispered something in her ear. She blushed.

"Atem, we're to be married in three days! Can't you wait till then?" she cried.

"But Amneris we've been engaged for nine years!"

Amneris glanced at her feet as she contemplated her fiancée's point.

"Good point!" she cried and hurried to her bedroom.

Atem however, felt differently. He did not really want to have sex with her. It was just a way of getting a chance to talk to Yugi. There was something he desperately wanted to say but was scared of Yugi's reaction. If the boy did not react the way Atem hoped, the pain he would feel would be like a thousand daggers piercing his heart.

"Do you like it here Yugi?" he asked gazing into the shorter boy's lavender eyes. 'That was a really stupid way to start. Great job Atem,' he thought.

Yugi remained quiet contemplating how to answer such a question.

"Atem sweetie?" called the princess from her bedroom in a singsong voice. He flinched and cast his fiery scarlet eyes in the direction her voice came from. One thing he absolutely detested was when women gave him cutesy little nicknames like sweetie, honey, and least of all pookey. He rolled his eyes in utter annoyance.

"I will be in there in a few minutes, I am getting ready!" he lied though his teeth.

Without thinking he gave Yugi a tender kiss on the lips then immediately pulled back to see a shocked Yugi staring back. He fumbled in his mind for a reasonable explanation. He hadn't noticed the Yugi had kissed back. 'Oh shit Atem now you gone and done it! He will never like you now!

"Atem, there is a perfectly naked woman in here!" cried the princess with annoyance. However, Atem was too busy cursing himself in his own thoughts to hear her.

Yugi's sweet melodious voice overrode his thoughts calling him back to reality.

"Your highness, why…why… did you… do… that?" he stuttered as he asked with his big lavender eyes growing wide with curiosity, a look that Atem found absolutely irresistible because it was so cute.

"Because I love you." He whispered quietly.

Neko2: Ooh a cliffy! I am so going to get flamed for this chapter.

Yami: is picking petals off a flower he loves me…he loves me not…

Neko2: Now RR If there is less then five reviews Yami has to wear a dress next time! :D

Yami:  I HAVE TO WHAT?!