Mahaddo's soul tablet was left standing in the throne room. Atemu, exhausted both emotionally and physically, retreated to his room. There, he found a note on his bed. It was from Simun.

Pharaoh,

There are two princesses due to arrive here in three days. As such, there will be a welcome banquet, and they requested a ball afterward. To whom shall I send invitations?

"Ugh. Just what I need, more women. SIMUN!"

"Coming sir." The little man called, summoned by the spell Atemu had put into the yell. "What is it?"

"Send invitations to anyone in the second and third levels of the city." Atemu was referring to the middle classes of his people. At the moment, he couldn't get the lowest class in there without getting run out of the city, but he'd try.

"Second and- but Pharaoh!"

"And the upper level." The youth added hastily. Knowing Simun, he'd send for Isis if he didn't get his way.

"Very good. I'll have them written up immediately."

"Fine. Oh, and, Simun?"

"Yes?"

"There's a boy in the stables, name of Ryou. See to it that he gets new clothes and attends the feast."

"Stable bo- Yes sir." Simun left as fast as he'd arrived. Atemu flopped backward on the bed and groaned.

"I wish you were here Mahaddo." A sudden though struck him. He would go and visit Bakura again. He didn't bother going into the guardroom this time, but went straight to the cell.

"Leave." He ordered. The pair of guards left. "Bakura? Are you awake?"

"Of course I am. Those rock-headed guards wouldn't shut up." A cranky voice responded. Atemu grinned in spite of himself. He opened the door and stepped in, not bothering to shut or lock it. After all, he now knew that Bakura wasn't going to hurt him. He found the would-be Tomb Robber curled up in a corner, hugging his knees to his chest.

"Ra." Atemu whispered, shocked. "What happened to you?"

"Your guards happened. Help me up. I don't think I can get up on my own."

"My guards did this?" Atemu asked, extending a hand.

"Yes, your guards. They- where are we going?"

"Upstairs."

"I can see that. Where upstairs, and why?"

"My room, and so I can heal those injuries, you can get a bath, and I can have someone to talk to."

"He died, didn't he?" Atemu stopped dead in his tracks.

"H-how'd you know?"

"I can sense magic, and all the guards ran off about an hour ago. How did the rest of the day go?"

"We-we had fun. He died with me, in our secret place."

"What was the magic?"

"His last request was for me to turn his body and soul into one of my Ka monsters so he can guide me."

"And you were able to do it?"

"Yes. Now Mahaddo's the Dark Magician."

"I-I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Come on before one of the- oops."

"Going somewhere cousin?" Seth asked, savoring the look of shock on his cousin's face.

"Yes. My rooms."

"Isn't that the Tomb Robber? Where are you taking him, pray tell?"

My rooms. Now go away."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because your Pharaoh just told you to. Ask Isis to come to my rooms, and have a maid get a bath going." Atemu and Bakura ran off while Seth fumed over being ordered around. Finally, the brunette stormed off to do as he was told.

"Who was that?" Bakura wanted to know.

"High Priest Seth. My irritating cousin."

"You two are related?"

"Unfortunately yes. Up here…eep! Turn around!"

"Why?"

"Just do it!" Atemu yelped, shoving Bakura back down the stairs and dragging him behind a potted palm. Simun hurried past. "Drat. He's going to be going back and forth here forever. We'll have to find an alternate route."

"Whatever you say Pharaoh."

"Call me Atemu."

All in all, it took them the better part of an hour to get back to Atemu's room. When they got there, Isis was sitting on the bed, and a maid was just leaving.

"It took you long enough." Isis commented dryly. "New friend Atemu?" The youth nodded.

"This is Bakura."

"And what did you want me for?"

"I need to find him something to wear."

"I'm on it." Isis said, and left.

"Who was that?" Bakura asked.

"Isis, the only Priestess to be chosen by a Millennium Item, and the older sister of the Captain of the Palace Guard."

"Okay then. Hey!" Bakura found himself being shoved into another room, where he was faced with a large tub full of steaming water.

"Strip down and get in. Soap's in the corner, and towels are on the rack right there." Atemu instructed. Bakura cautiously dipped a finger into the water, and yanked in back.

"It's hot!"

"Of course it is. Wash everything. Hair and skin. I'll check when you're done, and I'll get you back in there if you don't."

"But-"

"He will, you know." Both young men jumped at Isis's voice.

"Isis! Don't do that!" Atemu yelled.

"I'll try to remember that. Here. These will work for everyday, and these for the big fuss in three days." She handed over a basketful of clothing. Atemu accepted it gratefully.

"Thanks. Hey! Where are you going?" He grabbed Bakura's shoulder. "I want you undressed and in that tub before I can count to ten."

"But-"

"One."

"But-"

"Two."

"Alright!" Atemu grinned and yanked the curtains back to hide the tub. A startled yelp alerted him to the fact that Bakura was in the water.

"So, have you come up with a plan for getting out of the festivities?" Isis asked.

"Actually, I'm going to go. I arranged for Bakura's brother to go, and I want to introduce Bakura to some of my friends."

"I see. Do you need help setting up a place for him to sleep?"

"No, I've got it covered. Thanks."

"It's my pleasure Pharaoh. Good night." Isis left.

/About twenty minutes later/ Bakura, still rather damp, emerged from the other room. Atemu, who had been reading a letter from Yugi that had arrived by hawk a few minutes before, looked up.

"See, you're still alive." He joked.

"That's easy for you to say." Bakura grumbled. "I think I shrank."

"You did not. Come here so I can deal with those bruises." Bakura obeyed, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Will this hurt?"

"Mmmm…not really. It might feel a little strange though."

"What do yo-oh." Bakura's question was cut short by Atemu, who released the spell he'd started, and let it wash over the Tomb Robber in front of him. To Bakura, it felt as though dozens of tiny hands were running over every inch of his skin. When they found a cut or bruise, there was a small flash of pain, akin to an ant bite, and then it was gone. The entire process took about five minutes.

"There. As good as new." Bakura nodded his thanks, deciding not to ask just how Atemu had healed him. "I set up a bed here too. "

"Um…just wondering, but why are you doing this?"

"Doing what? Combing your hair, or bringing you here?"

"You are not-actually, I guess you are." Atemu picked up a comb and began working tangles out of Bakura's hair. "Why did you bring me up here? OW! Be careful!"

"Because you do stuff like that. You yell at me, stand up to me, and you could care less that I'm the Pharaoh. I need someone like that around. It keeps me in touch with reality."

"Wonderful. I get to be the Pharaoh's spiritual ground."

"And my friend." Atemu added. "There. All the knots are out."

"Gee, thanks. And do I have any hair left after you tried to pull it out?" Bakura growled, gingerly tugging at his hair.

"Yes, you do. Come on, I set up a bed over here." Atemu led his rather reluctant companion to a bed near the balcony.

"Why do I get the feeling that there's more to this than I think there is?" Bakura asked, dropping onto the bed with a happy sigh.

"Because there is. I want you to came with me to the welcome gathering for a couple of princesses in three days. I want to introduce some of my friends, and to have something to concentrate on other than how bored I am."

"Excellent. Rumor has it that the food is superb. Good night Pharaoh." Bakura rolled over onto his belly, a clear indication that he was done talking.

"Good night Bakura. Call me Atemu."

"How 'bout Yami? It fits you." Atemu was a little startled when Bakura said this. Yami was a special name that Yugi and Mahaddo called him. Somehow, when Bakura said it, it felt like Mahaddo was back.

"Yami will be fine." He said. He climbed into bed, and both were asleep in moments.