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Chapter 10

Yugi wore his best purple silk and jewels. The phoenix necklace gleamed on his chest; the ruby stared around and caught the sun in an almost blinding light. Yugi had decided to visit Malik before he was to meet with the Princess.

Malik was propped up in bed and eating small amounts of food. He smiled when Yugi entered and indicated for his little friend to sit on the bed beside him. Yugi crawled over to his side and smiled at Malik. He was heather looking and the Healer had announced he would be let out today.

"How are you feeling?" Yugi asked timidly. Malik still had a bandage of rough material wrapped around his wrist and side.

"I'm much better." Malik beamed, flexing his wrist to show it didn't hurt. "Why are you so dressed up?"

"The Princess, Amber-Lee, invited me to lunch." Yugi explained, playing with the edge of the sheet. Malik smiled.

"Fitting in already? You always did seem appealing to all." Yugi gave him a sad smile. "Don't worry Yugi, you'll be great! Just go out there and show that Pharaoh you're not someone to be pushed around so easily." Yugi smiled and laid his head against Malik's shoulder.

"I really don't want to stay here. It just isn't home…"

"I know how you feel." Yugi lay down for a while and just basked in the warmth of his friend.

"My Prince…" A nervous servant was standing in the doorway, staring at the floor. Yugi noticed the position he was in and blushed lightly sliding of the bed.

"Yes?"

"The Princess wishes your company in the gardens…now…" Yugi nodded and turned to Malik.

"I'll see you later." Yugi smiled.

Malik waved his hand in a mock superior way. "Go woo the Princess." He grinned. Yugi's blushed darkened and he turned away from Malik and followed the servant, flattening his crinkles and tiding himself.

The servant led him to a pair of opened doors that led into a beautiful room. The Nile seemed to stop in the room; the walls and roof were made of silk hangings, creamy water flowers floated in the crystal water, steeps of smooth pearly stairs led down and into the water. Large birds stood in the water, bathing and taking deep drinks. Siting on a steep with her feet dangling in the water was Amber-Lee. She was watching a bird and paying no attention to the servant and Yugi.

"Um…Princess…" The servant seemed nervous as he spoke, cowering back away.

"What?" Amber-Lee looked up and saw Yugi. "Ah Yugi, you are finally here." She pulled her feet out and climbed back up the stairs. "You can go." She dismissed the man with a wave of her hand. He scurried off. "Come and sit, are you hungry?" She indicated to the silver bowls filled with food that sat around the steep she had been sitting on. Yugi sat down and gingerly took of his sandals and dipping his feet in. Amber-Lee sat next to him.

"This place is beautiful…" Yugi admired.

"My great-grandfather built it for his chief-wife." Amber-Lee said, picking up a peach and delicately biting it. "Help yourself." She offered. Yugi picked up some fruit and ate it cautiously. Amber-Lee had the air of one who was dangerous. "What do you think of my Brother?"

Yugi stiffened and fidgeted with his hands. "Um…I really don't know the Pharaoh too well…"

Amber-Lee smiled. "Don't worry Yugi, I understand…" She studied her nails that looked into the water. "My brother has changed since I left…"

"You left?" Yugi asked before he could stop himself.

"Wen I was six, that is how I meet Bakura…I ran straight into him." Amber-Lee chuckled, a dark way that made Yugi uneasy still.

"I have never left my home, until now…Do you think…do you think I will be able to go back home?" Yugi asked, trying to keep the hope out of his voice.

Amber-Lee looked to Yugi. "My brother seems to…hold some interest in you, but if…worse come to worse I will help you get back home." She promised quietly, her eyes held her word and Yugi nodded, trusting her.

Jou was studying a wall that had the story of a late Pharaoh carved into the surface. He was so ingrossed with his reading he didn't notice Prist Seth approaching him.

"I did not know dogs could read." A taunting voice ran in Jou's ear and he spun around, ready to yell at him but saw it was the Prist. Seth smirked at the frustrated blond and traced a part of the wall with a long finger.

Jou turned to leave but the same voice caught him.

"Are you not going to fight back?" He was taunting him, trying to make him snap. Jou had never met the prist till now but he had heard of him and had disliked him for a long time.

"I would believe it to be rude to fight with a loyal servant of Ra." Jou snapped, his temper rising. Seth smirked.

"But for I to fight with a dog is nothing against my position." Jou hated him more and more.

"Seth!" Jou sighed in relief when they were interrupted by the Pharaoh; he bowed and was happy to not look at the Prist.

"Yes Atemu?" Atemu threw a look over at Jou and took Seth aside out of earshot of Jou, who slipped off when they had turned their backs.

Jou decided to go see Malik. On his way he saw a guard who looked a lot like Malik. The guard was talking to the Bakura. Jou caught bits of their conversation.

"…She seems to think we are…I think the Pharaoh knows…There is something odd…" Jou frowned at the strange conversation.

What did the Pharaoh know? Who was she? What is odd? Jou's curiosity got the better of him in many situations, this was one of them. Marik and Bakura had already slipped off although Jou was yet to notice as he stood and pondered.

"Jou," Amaya approached Jou cautiously, but when he didn't answer her she tapped his shoulder and he jumped.

"Amaya, don't do that!" He snapped after he got over his panic attack. Amaya waved him off.

"Well don't ignore me then." She teased lightly.

"Oh I am so sorry." Jou grinned light-heartedly.

"Well you should be. Were you on your way to see Malik?" Jou nodded and Amaya smiled. "So was I, come on." She took his arm and dragged him to the room Malik was staying in while he recovered.

Malik was sitting up and picking at a small bowl of plums. "Amaya, Jou!" He grinned when the two entered and sat by his bed. The three talked for hours until the Healer's assistant came to dismiss Malik.

Amaya and Jou took him back to the room that the three and Ryou shared.

"Is Yugi back yet?" Malik inquired once he'd settled down on his bed.

"No…" Amaya sighed.

Yugi laughed as Amber-Lee dragged him into the cold depths of the Nile.

"Al, its cold!" Yugi whined Shivering to prove his point.

"Well then you should be happy." Amber-Lee smirked.

Yugi gave her a mock-glare and slashed her. She splashed back and swam closer.

"That is a…interesting necklace." Amber-Lee commented, briefly touching the Phoenix."

"Thankyou." Yugi smiled, fiddling with the Phoenix.

"It suits you." Amber-Lee complemented, swimming around the Prince. Yugi looked down at the necklace and looked at Amber-Lee.

TBC…

HD: AHH! Sorry it sucked! I just didn't know what to write! Next Chapter Yami and Yugi will properly meet.

COH: please review.

Alvar: pwease!

Bea: how desperate…

Cole: she's your Hikari.

HD: lots of thanks to:

Takaramono Kaiser: Thanks! There will be more puppyshipping soon and Lemon, just please don't strangle me!

PLEASE REVIEW!

HappyDevil, Bea, COH, Alvar and Cole.