Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. I only wish I did. My bed is cold and lonely, and it could use ten or so attractive men...

Ch 4: Why the Sultan Has Issues.

Serenity slowly sat down on her bed and blinked at the two older women. "So... what are we going to talk about?"

Kihal sat down as well, folding her hands into her lap. "We are going to talk about the Sultan. About yourself. About the Prince. There are many things you need to know..."

Serenity blinked. "Why? What do I need to know? I'm no one important..."

"You may grow to be someone very important." Nerla sat next to her sister. "Very, very important. You see... the young Prince needs someone else to depend on, other than his brother..."

"He has that new Prince, Marik..." She smiled, and giggled a bit. "He seems very enamored of him..."

Kihal chuckled. "Yes, it appears that Prince Malik's prince has appeared. He seems to strike me as somewhat like a Sultan from almost a hundred years ago... he only married once, for heirs, and had exclusively male pleasure-slaves..."

Serenity giggled faintly. "I see... but I don't know if the Sultan will allow his little brother to run off with the foreign prince..."

Nerla shrugged. "There are many years left before Malik comes of age. We will just have to wait and see..."

"Mmhm." Serenity suddenly blushed faintly. "Um, Kihal, Nerla... there isn't any way that the Sultan could- could be like that, is there? I... just want to know..."

Nerla actually laughed, throwing her head back. "Is his preference of a special interest to you?"

Serenity only blushed brighter. "I only asked because he seemed so alone..."

Kihal shook her head, and her attitude became more somber. "No, the Sultan is not attracted to men. Then again, the Sultan does not seem to be very attracted to anyone, male or female."

"He works himself too hard, too long," Nerla nodded, also sobering. "Sometimes I think he forgets he is a man."

"Sometimes, I think he forgets he is human at all." Kihal shook her head. "He refuses to even have dancers, like his father did. His father... well, some say it should be death to speak ill of any Sultan, living or dead... But the Sultan Ishtar was not a true ruler... He was more concerned with his own advancement, not the well-being of the city or it's people.

"He started war, after war, after pointless war, leeching the city and countryside of its resources, destroying the hope of the people, and serving only his greed and lust for more power. He had two cravings in life- power and women.

"He had seven wives... three died in childbirth, three of... other causes, and one still lives to this day." Kihal glanced at her sister, who sighed and nodded. "Nerla. She bore the Sultan a third son, but he died when he was less than a year old."

Nerla nodded, head bowed. "My experiences with the former Sultan were... less than pleasant."

"I'm so sorry..." Serenity reached over and took her hand. "Is there anything I can do?"

Nerla shook her head and gave her a brave smile. "I'm healing. I shall recover fully. At least I am still alive."

Kihal hugged her sister. "This is true. But... even with his surplus of wives, the Sultan managed to have an illegitimate son. Malik. He will never be able to be Sultan, though Rishid believes it is possible that he will have heirs to the throne." She shook her head. "Malik is not interested in women. The Sultan lives in a dream world. Rishid never wishes to marry. He does not wish for any sort of intimacy. He refuses to fall in love."

Serenity shook her head. "Why are you telling me all of this? I can't do anything about it... I'm a thief, not some princess..."

"You have a fire that the Sultan has never seen in a woman before," Kihal leaned forward. "He admires it, or he would not have spared you... If we work this right, we will save you, and him in the same movement."

Serenity shook her head. "I don't know how! I've never had any sort of training... I wouldn't even know where to start!"

Kihal and Nerla exchanged glances. "You start," Nerla said with a smile, "by learning how to dance."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

"...and my third wife, the fattest, you know..."

I don't care about your wives, you old fool... Rishid let his mind wander to keep himself from screaming in frustration. I don't have any wives... I don't see why anyone should have more than one... Father had seven, but Father was a vile beast.

"...I picked her out of my harem, you see, the had the green eyes of a tiger..."

I doubt you've ever even seen a tiger... Rishid discreetly glanced out the window. I have... often... The scars across his back from the hunt he'd gone on three years ago ached for a moment with remembered pain, and he shook his head. I hate idiots who brag about stupid, pointless things... I never brag... Of course, I don't have much to brag about, except Malik... and Serenity, since she is beautiful... He tried to squelch that thought quickly. Where did that come from?!?

"And then there are my children..."

Just kill me now!!!! I don't want to hear about any of this! I don't have any children, what could possibly make me want to hear about yours?!?

"...my thirteenth daughter..."

Is she as stupid as you?

"She's about your age, you know... a year or two younger..."

Oh, God, no...

"Perhaps we should set up a marriage..."

"I doubt that that will be necessary." I will die first! Rishid controlled his expressions well, and not a bit of his nearly frantic rage and desperation showed. "My Lord Ishaku, we are on excellent terms, and should one of my enemies offer a daughter, I would be forced to accept her as my first wife... perhaps we could arrange something for Malik..."

"Hmm..." The old fool actually looked as if he was considering it. "Well..."

Malik chose that moment to burst in, holding Marik's hand. "We wanna get married!"

As Ishaku's jaw dropped, Rishid's head hit the table. What have I done to deserve this?

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Serenity, blushing, watched as Nerla and Kihal fussed over her, testing colors and fabrics against her pale skin and auburn hair. "Is all of this really necessary?"

"Yes," both older women said as one.

Serenity sighed and looked at the ceiling as the women muttered about colors, patterns, her skin, her hair, jewels, gold, everything. "Why?"

"Because... if the Sultan will find you desirable, if he will take you into his bed, he will never be able to harm you." Kihal glanced at her. "We've learned this by watching him. He is too kind and too gentle to have you destroyed, even if he tired of you in bed."

"Which I, personally, doubt would happen." Nerla examined Serenity, head tilted to one side. "You're exotic... you're feisty... you'd be perfect for him."

Serenity blushed brightly. "I... if you think so..."

"I know so," Nerla nodded. "Now... Kihal and I are going to teach you how to dance... We'll make your costume tomorrow, it'll be no challenge for either of us... we just need to get the fabric..."

"Which we already have..." Khial was scribbling notes on some scrap paper.

"Yes... so, this will be very easy." Nerla's eyes were gleaming. "Oh, this will be wonderful... Kihal was one of the old Sultan's dancers, you know... She's the best..."

"I was the best," Kihal corrected. "I think this girl could be better..." She eyed Serenity with a trained gaze. "Hm. Yes, I do think so... How flexible are you, child?"

"Very..." Serenity admitted with a little shrug.

Kihal's smile grew. "Excellent. Yes, my dear, I think we will be able to talk the Sultan into keeping you for a very long time..."

Serenity blushed, but didn't argue. It had to be better than dying, right?

A/N: What can I say? Poor, poor Rishid... :: snickers:: Next chapter, more of Rishid's issues, and Fun Things to do When You Have a Death Sentence...

nicole purple: That's not the point... :: shifty eyes:: Mak mak! Mak mak mak mak! Besides, Bakura does not have bunny ears, you sayjian wannabe! Grrr... :: glares::

Leaf Zelindor: Whee! Now stop bothering me! Gah! It's horrible to have a fic-stalker as your roommate... :: sighs, pets::

Marik: :: purrs happily::

Paladin Dragoon: Yes, poor Rishid is very deprived... :: waves a bit:: And you now see why... :: pets him:: He has issues...

Rishid: ..... :: sighs::

Daimeryan Rei: . Thank you! I was once told I write like I speak, very descriptively and full of detail. :: grins:: I only try. Yes, Marik is very blunt, but we like him that way! It's fun... :: giggles more:: Poor Serenity... she's a street brat, no chance of being a frail little waif for her... fortunately, Rishid likes that... XD XD