Kawaii-hikari3: Ah, seems that this is getting more interesting…

All: ::nods::

Kawaii-hikari3: ::smiles:: Seems love's in the air, ne?

All: ::nods again::

Kawaii-hikari3: ::smiles widely::

Yuugi woke up the next morning to find himself alone in the room. He sat up and yawned a little. He blinked and looked around, hoping to find Yami somewhere. Finding no sign of him, he closed he eyes. 'No way am I gonna go looking around again. I almost got completely lost last time!'

"Hello there, cutie!" Mana said happily as she poked her head into the room. "Pharaoh asked me to watch you while he was in his meeting."

"Oh." Yuugi said as he sat upright. She sat beside him and looked at him brightly. Yuugi gave a gentle smile as she stared at the door, giving an angry look.

"Oh, it's Anzu…" She grumbled as Anzu walked by, not hearing Mana's cold comment. Mana looked at Yuugi and whispered something into his ear. "Watch out for her, Yuugi. She's eviiiiiiiil!"

"She seemed kinda nice to me." Yuugi said honestly.

"Trust me, she's ANYTHING but nice!" Mana pouted. "I tried to give Mahado a flower once and she beat me to it! I was so mad at her I tried to use a spell on her, only to find out my spell didn't work."

"You like Mahado?" Yuugi asked.

"Oh, no!" Mana laughed. "He and I have a sibling relationship and that's all."

"Ok." Yuugi nodded as he stared at her. He sighed as she gave a curious look. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and gently smiled at him.

"Was the pharaoh always so…distant?"

"Well…not always…he used to be a happy and loving kid, but he lost those feelings after his mother died. To be honest, I haven't seen him anything but angry or blank for years." Mana said, as she put a hand to her chin and thought about it.

"Angry?"

"Oh, he has a nasty temper!" Mana said jokingly. "He's not that bad. He can control his anger, but…I wouldn't get on his nerves if I were you…"

Yuugi nodded silently as he stared at the wall. He couldn't believe that Yami could be like that. When he was explaining his past to him last night, he heard sadness in his voice. Yuugi's thoughts drifted as Mana stared at him. Mana gave a smile as she watched Yuugi.

"Mana! Mana!" Seto and Jounouchi called out and found her staring at them in shock. "Pharaoh's looking for you."

"What's going on?" Mana asked as she stood up.

"Well…" Jounouchi said. "Seems like da tomb robber who broke in last night's hiding 'round here."

"Pharaoh needs you and Mahado to find him." Seto said.

"Alright. Alright, I'm going!" Mana said as she ran off. Jounouchi looked at Yuugi and noticed the thoughtful look on his face. Jounouchi waved a hand in front of Yuugi's face and Yuugi blinked and stared up, blushing slightly. Seto rolled his eyes as he watched them.

"What ya thinkin' 'bout?" Jonouchi asked, giving Yuugi a sneaky look.

"Nothing important." Yuugi said and sighed.

"Come on, you can tell me!" Jounouchi smiled.

"I was worried about the pharaoh." Yuugi said.

"Why are you worried about him?" Seto asked.

"He looks so…distant and unhappy."

"Well, of course he is. He's stuck defending all of Egypt and can't spend his time worrying about much else." Seto said coldly, as if angry at his cousin.

"Seto…" Jounouchi sighed.

"What? You expect me to say that nicely?" Seto said sarcastically.

"Oi!" Jounouchi got up and wrapped an arm around Seto's waist. "Ya gotta chill."

Seto stayed silent as he stared at Jounouchi in shock. Yuugi watched as Jounouchi gave Seto a goofy look and rested his head on his shoulder. Seto smiled as he hugged Jounouchi a little. Yuugi smiled a bit. Seto and Jounouchi walked out and left Yuugi alone again.

Yuugi laid down again and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't understand how everyone thought Yami was this cold, horrible person. Yuugi saw someone else enter the room. He glanced at the doorway to find Yami walking towards him.

"Yami?"

"Yuugi, I see you're awake."

"I'm still tired, though."

"Go back to sleep then." Yami said as he sat beside Yuugi. Yuugi nodded as he curled up under the sheets and drifted back to sleep. Yami stared at Yuugi for a while, smiling a little. He gently caressed Yuugi's cheek before he got up and went to cheek on Mahado and Mana's progress on finding Bakura.

"Pharaoh!" Mana said as she ran up to him. "We've found him, the tomb robber! Although…we do have a slight problem…"

"And what would that be?"

"Ryou's fallen in love with Bakura. Mahado's trying to pull Ryou away from Bakura as we speak." Mana motioned for Yami to follow her. They both ran to the place where Bakura was. They found Bakura tied up, Ryou hugging Bakura and Mahado trying to pull Ryou away from Bakura.

"NO! DON'T HURT HIM!" Ryou screamed as he squeezed Bakura's waist.

"Ryou, let go of him. He's a cold-hearted tomb robber!" Mahado said angrily.

"HE'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Ryou screamed loudly.

"Ryou, let him go!" Mahado said as he pulled at Ryou again.

"What in Ra's name is going on here?!" Shimon walked into the room and grumbled.

"Seems like Ryou's fallen for a tomb robber." Mana said.

"WHAT?!" Shimon screamed as he joined Mahado in pulling Ryou's waist. They both successfully pulled Ryou away and Ryou started kicking and screaming. Yami sighed as he walked over to Bakura.

"Ah, if it isn't the pharaoh." Bakura said, laughing a little. "You need something?"

"For you to return everything you stole."

"I haven't stolen anything lately." Bakura said. "Besides this cutie's heart…maybe he stole mine…I'm not sure which…"

"For some reason, I believe you…" Yami said. "But, you have stolen before. Which makes you a criminal."

"What do you want to do with me?" Bakura asked.

"How about this, if I let you live, you work in the palace and don't touch anything. If you steal a single thing, I'll lock you up." Yami said.

"Why are you being so kind to me?" Bakura asked.

"It doesn't matter why." Yami said. "Do you accept my offer?"

"Sure. As long as I get to be with cutie over there." Bakura said, smirking.

"Fine. I'm not in the mood to kill you anyway." Yami joked. "Ryou, there's no need to be upset. He's not going to die."

"He isn't?!" Shimon screamed in shock.

"He'll be working in the palace, as long as he doesn't steal anything." Yami said. "You can let Ryou go now. I think they want to be alone."

Mahado let Ryou go, smiling a little. Shimon's arms went limp after he heard Yami's words. His eyes were wide and his mouth was dropped to the ground. Ryou ran up to Bakura and hugged him tightly. Bakura smirked as he watched Ryou. Yami untied Bakura and left. Mana and Mahado smiled at Yami, while Shimon was still left in shock.

Yami sighed as he walked off. He stopped and summoned his Kuriboh from the shadow realm. Kuriboh nuzzles Yami's cheek and greeted him happily. Yami smiled a little as he watched his loyal monster bounce around in the air. Kuriboh stared at Yami and blinked, as if wondering if something was wrong.

"Kuriboh, I need you to do me a favor." Yami said. "Would you mind keeping an eye on someone for me?"

Kuriboh started to jump around in excitement, wanting to do as Yami asked. Yami nodded and led Kuriboh to Yuugi. Yami pointed at Yuugi.

"Would you make sure nothing bad happens to him?" Yami whispered. Kuriboh nodded and Yami walked off. Kuriboh floated towards Yuugi and studied him carefully. Squealing a little, Kuriboh snuggled beside Yuugi. Yuugi felt something rubbing against his cheek and opened his eyes. Yuugi saw the little fluffy ball and stared at it.

"KURI!" Kuriboh screamed happily as he snuggled against Yuugi's cheek.

"Hey! That tickles!" Yuugi giggled as he was smothered with snuggling. "Aren't your friendly!"

"Kuri! Kuri!"

"Where did you come from anyway?" Yuugi asked as he held Kuriboh in his hands gently. Kuriboh squealed some more and Yuugi smiled widely. Kuriboh jumped to Yuugi's chest and snuggled him some more. Yuugi giggled at the soft fur rubbing against his arms.

"Kuri! Kuri! Kuriiiiiii!"

Mana walked into the room and stared at Yuugi for a moment. Kuriboh saw her and squealed happily. Mana giggled as she sat beside Kuriboh and Yuugi. Yuugi gently pet the top of Kuriboh's fur, smiling widely.

"Seems like pharaoh doesn't want you in trouble, Yuugi. He made his Kuriboh look after you…" Mana said, smiling.

"How can you tell this is his?" Yuugi asked in shock.

"Pharaoh always had a very affectionate Kuriboh. And, his was always a darker shade of brown than the other Kuriboh's." Mana said with a sigh. "Seems like pharaoh's father never liked his Kuriboh."

Yuugi stared at Kuriboh, gently rubbing his fingers through the fur. Mana put her hands out, asking with body language if she could hold Kuriboh for a minute. Yuugi handed Kuriboh to her and she smiled as Kuriboh snuggled against her cheek. Mana burst out laughing as Kuriboh started tickling her ear.

"K-Kuriboh! S-stop! HAHAHAHA!" Mana gently pushed Kuriboh away, calming down. Kuriboh bounced around in the air as Mana tried to catch him with some spells.

"Come here, Kuriboh…" Mana laughed as she tried to catch him with another spell. Kuriboh bounced around as Mana panted from using so much magic. Yuugi laughed as Kuriboh hopped by his shoulder and snuggled him. Yami walked into the room and watched as Mana and Yuugi laughed as Kuriboh bounced around and snuggled them.

"I see Kuriboh's been entertaining you two." Yami said, chuckling lightly.

"KURIIIIIIIIII!" Kuriboh jumped into Yami's chest and nuzzled him. Yami smiled a little as he patted Kuriboh's head. Yuugi watched Yami carefully as Yami motioned for Mana. Mana got up and stood beside Yami.

"Yuugi, could you please wait here for a moment?" Yami asked and Yuugi nodded silently. Yami, Mana and Kuriboh left the room. Yami turned to Mana, gently rubbing Kuriboh's fur.

"Something wrong, pharaoh?"

"Not really. I was just wondering…did you notice that power that Yuugi was emitting?" Yami asked as he looked towards the room where Yuugi was.

"I did actually." Mana nodded. "It's strong, whatever it is."

Yami nodded as he continued to stare at the room. Mana smiled as she motioned for Yami to go in and talk to Yuugi. Yami walked into the room and saw Yuugi sitting silently. His eyes seemed sad and longing. Kuriboh went towards Yuugi and nuzzled his cheek.

"Is something wrong, Yuugi?" Yami asked.

"Hmm?" Yuugi glanced at Yami. "Oh. I'm fine."

"You look upset." Yami said.

"It's nothing…" Yuugi said as he got up and began to walk off. Yami noticed tears in Yuugi's eyes and felt his heart stopped beating for a moment. Yami turned to follow but Yuugi ran off. Yami watched helplessly as Yuugi sped off.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Yuugi screamed.

"Kuriboh, can you follow him for me?" Yami asked. "I need to make sure he's alright, but I don't want him to know he's being followed. If you find him, find me and I'll use shadow magic to get over there."

"Kuri!" Kuriboh nodded as he ran off to find Yuugi. Yami ran off in another direction, hoping to find Yuugi before he found the guards.