NOTE: Okay, in case any of you are wondering, I forgot to put this notice up back in Chapter 9. I don't own the character Heishin! He is a character for Yu-Gi-Oh! games and such (on Forbidden Memories ® and ((Slysheen)) on Dark Duel Stories ®. (Am I supposed to use the ® mark or the © one? I think it's the ®, but I can't be sure…yeah, I'm pretty sure it's that one…it's used on games. Oh, and this chapter is longer than I foresaw it would be. It thought it would be about as short as the last one, but apparently not. It's about the size as my other chapters! Okedoke, now that that is established, we'll get on with the story.

Disclaimer: In my dreams, I own Yu-Gi-Oh! In my dreams, I'm flying. We have now established that dreams aren't reality. Therefore, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Clear? Crystal.

Chapter 13: Me, Myself and a Princess

The Nubians had officially stayed for a month in Yami's palace. That was their minimum limit of stay. As much as Yami wanted them to go…they couldn't. That is, not until he picked a wife. That, my friends, could take an eternity. Or not.

Yes, again, Yami was angry with Malich. It was, yet again, his idea, to take the women out separately, just to spend time with them each and get to know them. Malich said that this would help him choose faster. It didn't. Or did it? This is an account of one set of dates that Yami went on throughout the month. One with Sentis, Miaa, Isis and Teana.

No, this is not two-timing. No relationship is yet established. As said before, he was just getting to know him. The princesses were aware of this. There was no anger of hatred. No…everything was calm and fine….


(Sentis)

Yami took Sentis down the palace steps. He didn't tell her where they were going. It was his surprise. See, these dates were also a series of tests, in a way. This is why Yami walked with her. His wife would have to get used to it, and not ride in the chariot all of the time. He was Pharaoh. That was how he wanted it. No questions asked. Period.

Presently, they arrived at the bazaar. (Sentis hadn't minded the walking. She passed Test 1.) As they walked through the crowd, commoners bowed slightly, but continued on with their shopping. Yami liked it this way. He didn't like people taking the time to bow to him.

They browsed through the goods at the bazaar. Sentis eyed some of the jewelry, and tried certain pieces on, just to see how they looked. Yami was astounded. Sentis really was beautiful. At one stall, Yami approached her.

"Is there anything you desire here, or somewhere else?"

She looked up at him in awe, "What?"

"Do you wish to have something?"

Sentis blushed, "I couldn't accept any gifts, my lord," she said, "I just…I just…."

"Please, I insist," Yami replied, looking at her kindly.

"Well, if you say so," Sentis looked among the jewels on the stand. One caught her eye, "Oh!" She picked it up. It was an extensive and elaborate necklace. Yami fastened it to her neck to see it on her. When she turned around, it was as if Nut in all her sparkling beauty had descended upon the land. The sun danced off the jewels and lit up her face. Sentis' eyes sparkled in happiness. Yami was truly amazed.

"D-did you want this?" he inquired.

"Well, um…does it look good on me?" she interrogated back.

"Good? Good? It looks beautiful!" Yami exclaimed, not being able to control himself, "I mean, you make it beautiful!"

Sentis went totally red at the praise, "Why thank you." Yami took out the exact amount of gold to pay for it, and they walked off toward the outskirts of the city. Away from the means of civilization and a crowd of people, Sentis looked down at her necklace time and time again, "Did you really mean what you said? About me looking…."

"Beautiful? I meant every word," Yami replied, looking now into the setting sun. And that's when Sentis felt her heart flutter. With the blood red, yet majestically violet sky in the back round, and the setting sun beyond the desert, Yami's deep violet eyes shone. With his royal purple shirt and gold bands, he looked like a true and stately king.

Passing on back to the palace, after their brief "date," they proceeded by the Mage Temple (just on their way, mind you). Seto was, yet again, walking about the grounds. This time, though, he was truly going back into the temple. He began walking up the stairs, then stopped and turned to face the two temporarily. Again, Sentis' heart fluttered. She was surrounded by hot (though that's probably not the word thy would've used back then) guys. She blushed as they made their way back to the palace.

Yami had seen her blush when Seto had looked at them. He knew that the poor girl was confused with her feelings. So, he'd proceed as planned, and she what she made of her love life.


(Miaa)

Yami and Miaa had a picnic, in a way. The servants had just packed them a lunch and the two had set off for their picnic spot. Some date. Well, it suited them, if they were just getting to know each other. So, they found a shady place under a bunch of palm trees near the Nile and opened up their lunch. Miaa and Yami sat against the back of an exceptionally large palm and began talking as they ate.

"So…." Miaa began hesitantly.

"Yes?" Yami inquired.

"I don't know. I was just trying to start a conversation," Miaa replied, half rolling her eyes.

"I see. Well then, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, I don't know, I was seeing if you had anything to talk about!" Miaa replied.

"Uh huh," Yami said, biting a cob of corn.

"Fine, I'll just ask you something then," Miaa pouted, "Now, let's see…." She closed her eyes for a moment in deep thought. Then, he head shot up, "What do you think about this whole ordeal?"

Yami choked on a mouthful of corn, "What?"

"I said, what do you think about this whole ordeal?" Mia inquired angrily.

Yami put the corn down, "Well…I'm not exactly sure. I mean, I could say that it came as a complete surprise to me a month ago, and I wasn't very happy about it then. But now…."

"Now what?" Miaa looked at him, with her eyes half closed.

"I-I…think it's…well…." A loud cry interrupted him.

"Alright guys, everybody in!" someone cried. The two royals stood up and looked on the Nile. They saw splash after splash occur and wondered what the heck was going on. Yami began walking over to the crowd (Yes, there was a small crowd of people waiting to jump in).

Yami approached a blond's back and tapped him on the shoulder ready to interrogate him. The blond turned around.

"Jono!" Yami cried out in surprise.

"Hey! What brings you here, Yami?" Jono replied, perfectly calm. However, the people around them were shaking nervously and glaring at Jono. They wondered how a peasant could talk to the Pharaoh this way.

"Jono, what's going on?" Yami inquired. Miaa began walking over, seeing the peasant she had met not long ago.

"Oh, this, well…see, today is officially the day where all us teen peasant people meet and kinda just hang together; get my drift? We hang out on the shores and in the river, swimmin' and all that," Jono explained.

"Ah, I see," Yami replied.

Jono turned around to the group, "Y'all can hop in now," then he turned back to Yami as the crowd rushed away, "I'm kinda the overseer of the bunch, ya know? I make sure everything's okay." Then, Jono leaned over close to Yami and whispered, "Yeah, this is also where people like me can try to hook up with girls and all that." All Yami could do was laugh. It was so like Jono to think up that idea.

"What's so funny?" Jono inquired.

"Yes, that's what I'd like to know," Miaa stepped up. Jono took a good look at her and went red in the cheeks. Yami stopped laughing. He smiled slightly, seeing his friend.

"Yes, well, Jono, this here is Princess Miaa. Miaa, this here is my best friend, Jono. I believe you have met briefly, have you not?" Yami inquired.

"Yes, a tad," Miaa offered out her hand. Jono took it, as was customary, and kissed it, blushing the whole time. Yes, now Yami knew which princess Jono wanted reserved for him, if Yami could hook him up. Of course, that was pretty okay with him. He didn't have any real feeling for Miaa, and he was pretty sure she had no grand feeling for him either.

So, out of the good of his heart, and the curiosity/cunningness of his mind, Yami made up an excuse to leave them alone, "I just remembered some important things I have to take care of as of now. Jono, will you please lead Miaa back to the palace when she wishes to leave? I must go down to the square and some temples. Thanks," Yami walked off, leaving Jono stranded, not having even given an answer.

"I-I-" Jono couldn't speak. Miaa stood there equally speechless.

Then, she turned to him, "Well, are you gong to…." Jono had just turned around to look at her. He had such soft brown eyes and a pleasant smile. It was a nice look…for a peasant. That thought broke her ideas. He was a peasant. That was it. Period. No feelings, no matter how handsome he was.

"I s'pose you'll wanna be goin' then?" Jono inquired.

"Well, actually, I'd like to see how this whole peasant time off thing works," Miaa said, losing control of her vocabulary.

"Well, okay then," and he led her off nearer to the Nile. They didn't return to the palace until after dinner.


(Isis)

Yami asked Isis where she wanted to spend their date. She told him that she wanted to see the pyramids. Yami was impressed and satisfied.

So, they took a walk to the Nile and crossed over it by means of a bridge. As they neared the pyramids, Isis grew more exited. She had always heard of Egypt's legendary pyramids, and had longed to see them herself.

See, Isis was someone who longed to know the world and all its secrets. She wanted to see the world and learn as much as she could about it. So, we're free to say that she likes to learn. (Can't imagine what she'd be like in a school )

Presently, they reached the pyramid grounds. They could see the many guards protecting the pyramids from…say, tomb robbers (one of whom we know VERY well)? Isis ran to the nearest one and ran a hand down some of the rock.

"It's wonderful," then she looked up to the top of the pyramid, "and it's so gigantic!"

"I'm glad foreigners appreciate our works," Yami walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head and smiled. They walked around and looked at the many other pyramids. Isis marveled at each one. Even though they all looked pretty similar, Isis saw a difference in each of them.

They finally reached the end of the line of pyramids and walked towards the last one. Isis stopped a ways back from it. Yami looked at her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just taking in this magnificent structure. This is the most amazing pyramid of them all!"

"Really?" Yami looked at it. Yes, he knew whose pyramid it was. He knew whom resided in all of the pyramids, coated with an ancient spell used to protect the bodies from decay. "Well, I'm sure my parents would thank you for that compliment."

Isis looked over at him, stunned, "This…is theirs?"

"Yes," Yami replied simply, staring at it. He seemed to be staring through it, though. It was as if he was searching for the hidden chamber containing his parents' bodies.

Suddenly, he turned to her and took her hand, "Would you like to see more?"

"More? What else is there to see?"

"Did you ever wonder, or foresee you walking THROUGH a pyramid?" Yami inquired.

"Oh!" Isis cried. It would be the experience of a lifetime. She would be one of the only people in the empire…the world…to walk through one of these wonders. Yami took her over to the pyramid. The guards had no questions as he passed through the gateway. But, soon in, they came to a dead end.

Isis looked on, "Well, that was unexpected."

"Yes, this is the only pyramid here that has this special ability. Not many people know how to enter…."

"How many is not many?" Isis inquired. Yami stopped, and for a bit of support, counted off his fingers.

"One…two…three…aw, forget it!" He turned around, "About three of four, you know…around there." Yami turned again and began fiddling with the door. He found an indent in the slab of stone and ran his finger down the line. Immediately, inscriptions appeared, along with more indents and hieroglyphics.

"Who knows?" Isis inquired, further curious.

"Um…me, of course, Shait, he's the Millennium Temple guardian, Heishin, he's the head mage, who also designed and thought of this extra accessory…." At this time, he removed the Millennium Puzzle from his neck and set it in a triangular indent.

"Whose the fourth?"

"Who said there was a fourth?" Yami replied as the Puzzle started to glow.

"You said there were at least three other people that knew, besides yourself," Isis replied, digging in.

"I said nothing of the sort," Yami replied. At that minute, the stone slab disappeared and the Millennium Puzzle fell back into Yami's hands. Isis gasped. She really wasn't expecting that. But, she also wasn't going to give up on knowing who else knew about this section. Somehow, she felt an urge to know.

"Come on, PLEASE tell me?" Isis begged.

"There's no one, I swear," Yami replied, a little shaky.

"Humph," Isis crossed her arms. She won't feel like that for long, Yami thought. Together, they walked down the pathway. Corridors branched off in every direction, but Yami seemed to know where exactly to go: straight. After a good fifteen minutes of walking in a straight path, Yami turned to the right. A minute later, a dead end appeared.

"Why are we here?" Isis inquired, completely confused.

Yami made no answer. He felt the left wall and finally, his hand ran over a small line that went in a triangle (it was dark, he had to feel to "see"). He pushed in this small indentation. Surprisingly, it went in easily. The stonewall rolled back and there appeared a curtain of yellow sparks. Yami led Isis through the curtain, and stepping into the chamber, Isis gasped.

They were in the tomb of the previous Pharaoh. Around them, gold was piled; processions of the king and queen. Hieroglyphics lined he walls. In the center stood two caskets, side by side.

"This…this is…."Isis started.

"The center of the pyramid: the tomb of my parents," Yami added solemnly. Isis never imagined this. Sure, she had had a small chance of going into the pyramid, but actually being led to the burial chamber! That was the chance of a lifetime!

Yami walked over to the caskets and began unfastening the bolts.

Isis walked over, "What are you doing?"

"I wanted to see them again. I haven't for many years," Yami replied.

"But…how can you actually see them as they were…." Yami had opened the casket. Isis cut off her sentence with a gasp. More yellow sparks danced around Yami's father, whose body had been perfectly preserved. He wasn't mummified or anything. Yami then opened his mother's coffin. She too had a perfectly preserved body.

"H-how?" Isis choked. She was enjoying every minute of this learning experience.

"Magic. That's one of the good things about mages," Yami replied.

"Oh, is that all we're good for?" someone's voice replied. The two looked up at the entrance. Seto walked through the curtain.

"How did you get in here?" Isis began. Then he face lit up, "He's the other person who knows? Why does he know how to get in here? He's nothing more than a…."

"Mage? Yes, I'm well aware of that. I think the king is too. You don't have to point that out," Seto replied looking quite coldly at Yami. Then, he walked over to the coffins. "So, the spells have worked. That's good…." He left off and Isis swore she saw warmth come into those icy blue eyes of his.

"Yes, well, just make sure to close them on your way out," Yami said, taking Isis' arm and leading her out.

"Yeah, whatever," Seto replied.

Back out in the corridor, Isis inquired hotly, "Come on, Yami, please tell me why HE knows how to get in here! WE didn't leave the passage open or anything, did we?"

"No. He's supposed to know, for one reason or another ( )," Yami replied.

"Oh…what reason?" Isis pressed on.

"No reason….." Yami replied, not thinking.

"What?" Isis exclaimed looking at him strangely. By that time, though, they had exited the pyramid. Yami didn't answer her. They walked back to the palace in silence. But all the way, Isis was liking Yami better and better. And soon, this feeling would grow OVER liking. It would grow to love.


(Teana)

(( Ah! Awesome date! Hehe! Man, they REALLY get to know each other here….))

Teana and Yami sat on one of the banks of the Nile River, right on the edge. The banks were a tad elevated above the river itself, acting as a small ledge. They were alone; no one was in sight for blocks. Right now, they were looking at the sun that was beginning to set. It really was a glorious sunset; full of pinks, reds and purples. There was a gentle breeze blowing through the air, and it slightly ruffled Teana's.

Yami started the conversation, "I'm not sure I have such a great memory of this place," he looked over at her and smirked.

Teana blushed, remembering the incident, "I'm sorry about that. I mean, we didn't know you couldn't swim."

"That's what Malich said…." Yami replied, thoughtfully.

"Yes, well, it WAS pretty funny, though," Teana giggled.

"I didn't really think so," Yami smiled, "But now that I look back on it, yes, it was pretty funny." He shared a small laugh.

"It's like Isis always says, 'you've got to learn to have a laugh.' Now I know what she means," Teana said.

"She's right, you know," Yami replied.

"Yes…. So, can you swim now?" Teana asked mischievously.

"Yes, why?" Yami looked at her confused.

"Cause you need to now!" and she shoved him in playfully. Yami let out a yelp and splashed into the slow moving river. (Down river, there were cataracts and rapids.) Yami surfaced and spit out some water.

"Very funny," he said, half sarcastically.

Teana rolled her eyes, "Just a bit of fun. Here, let me help you," she held out her hand.

"No, let me help you!" and with that, Yami grabbed her hand and pulled her into the river as well. She quickly surfaced.

"Hey! What was that for?" Teana cried out and splashed him. Her held up his arms to block the water, but it didn't help much. He just splashed her right back. Her hair was drenched and hung limply from her head.

"You deserved it," Yami replied, smiling playfully. Then, just before she was to yell at him, he said, "You know, you look very pretty when you're wet."

Teana head popped back, "What?"

"I said…."

"I heard what you said, but…what's that supposed to mean?"

Yami swam a little ways over and cupped her chin, "Do you know what the words, YOU'RE PRETTY, mean?"

"Yes, but…wait a minute," Teana started as Yami let go of her chin, "what do you mean, 'YOU'RE PRETTY'? Before it was…."

Yami interrupted, "Put two and two together." Teana went red. No one had complemented her like that before. Personally, she thought that her sisters looked WAY prettier than she did. She looked just like a regular person, in her opinion. What was he getting at?

The current was slowly carrying them downstream. Finally, Yami swam over to the ledge and pulled himself up. Then, he turned around.

"Are you coming?" he inquired.

"Yes, just a second," Teana replied. But, by this time, the current was stronger as she was nearing the rapids. She tried swimming over, but she couldn't.

"Y-Yami, I can't!" Teana said, when she was quickly plunged underwater as the start of the cataracts began.

"Teana!" Yami cried, searching for her. He ran up the stream, nearer to the rapids and looked for her. Her head surfaced.

"Help!" Teana cried out.

"Here!" Yami bent over the ledge, holding out his hand. Teana tried getting closer, holding out her own hand. Their fingertips were a centimeter away. They continued reaching for each other. Teana swam a tad forward, and before she went underwater again, Yami grabbed her hand and began pulling her toward the ledge. Teana reached the shelf and using her other hand, helped herself up. But she didn't do as much work as Yami did. He pretty much pulled her up. And when he did, she popped right up out of the water and landed, sitting upright, half a foot from Yami.

Yami didn't let go of her hand. Teana stared into Yami's deep violet eyes, which were reflecting the sunset (which had almost ended).

Teana's head moved a couple inches closer to his. He did the same. By then, they were just an inch apart. Then, suddenly, Yami started their lip-lock. Teana kissed him right back and put her arms around his neck (Yami had let go of her hand finally). Yami took his hands and placed them on the base of her head. They didn't stop making out. Nope. Not by a long shot, and not for a while.

It was a minute after the sun had completely gone down, that Teana pulled her head back and stared in shock at Yami, completely surprised at what she had just done. She blushed, and Yami even reddened a tad. But they couldn't see each other in the dark. Teana stood up, as did Yami, and they walked back to the palace in silence; the whole way, trying to hide their faces from each other, in a form of (half) embarrassment.


Dude! Why does Tea(na) always end the chapter making out with a guy! Geez! I mean, it's cool and all, but still! It's cool…that's the point. Anywho, I have to say, that was an awesome ending, if I do say so myself. Anyway, please review! It's kinda pathetic, I have a goal of at least 20, yes 20! reviews. And here I thought I'd have more of a goal by now… oh well. The next chapter is TOTALLY AWESOME!