Angel: Editing is horrible, but at least it takes far less time than writing the original :D. Crystal, do the disclaimer.

Crystal: (sighs) Fine. Angel does not own Yugioh. At least not until the court case is over.

Angel: Stupid court case.

Lonely Heart In Egypt

Chapter 2: The Romantic Pasts of the Royals

Crystal was amazed. She and Yami had reached the gardens, and they truly were beautiful. The plants were colourful and thriving. This reminded her of the gardens at………

"My lady?" Yami asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yes, my pharaoh?"

Yami raised his eyebrow. "Could you please call me by my first name? I feel uncomfortable to be addressed so formally in private situations."

Crystal smiled. "I understand how you feel. But only if you also call me Crystal."

"Well, only because you insist," Yami replied, a slightly mischievous smile crossing his face. "Anyway, back to what we were doing, do you want me to show you the labyrinth? The gardens in the centre are even more beautiful than this one, and we are even less likely to be disturbed."

"Anything you say my liege," she said with a flourishing bow. Yami frowned at her, and she chuckled. "Sorry Yami."

His frown remained, but he didn't look cross. "You can start your story now if you like, as it will take a while to get there."

"Well, forgive me for not telling you the whole story, but I feel a little odd narrating personal stories to someone I barely know. Anyway, what I will tell you is that Seto has had a crush on me for some time. Even though he is a priest, he wants to marry me. Father agrees with the match, as Seto is a fairly well-spoken person, and knows the intricacy of politics very well, but I find myself uneasy about the whole dilemma.

She paused for a brief moment. "Something's not quite right about it. I've known Seto for years, and he's never shown the slightest interest in marrying me until a few months ago. It is frankly rather strange."

Yami looked thoughtful at her words. "I agree. I doubt I know my cousin as well as you seem to, but such a sudden change in his affections is most unlike him."

Crystal looked surprised. "I was unaware that Seto was your cousin. You don't look at all alike." Yami smiled at this, but Crystal held up a hand to prevent further comment. "Yami, do you get the feeling someone is watching us?" she asked, a slight edge to her voice.

Yami looked slightly surprised at the question, and remained silent for a few moments before answering. "Come to think of it, I believe I do."

Crystal smiled and shook her head ruefully. "I thought as much. Mana! Come out, I know you're there."

Grumbling, a Duel Monster stepped out from around the corner, a slightly sheepish look on her face. Yami instantly recognised her as the Dark Magician Girl. He vaguely remembered Mahaado talking of her one afternoon a long time ago – he remembered teasing him about it. But the Dark Magician Girl was quite beautiful in her own way. Her emerald coloured eyes sparkled in the same way as Crystal's did when she was happy, and her long gold hair was pulled neatly-ish into her hat. However, her outfit was far more modest than Yami had expected from stories told about this particular Duel Monster. She was dressed in a rather strange outfit of pink and blue, though admittedly, the skirt was rather short in comparison with her long legs. But other than that, her outfit was far more modest than he had been lead to believe.

"Yami, this is Mana, my fun-loving and fiercely loyal guardian. Mana, this is Pharaoh Yami," Crystal said, interrupting Yami's thoughts

Yami was startled when Mana spoke. "It is good to meet you, my lord," she said with a respectful bow.

"You can talk?" Yami asked with a raised eyebrow.

Mana sounded irritated, "Of course I can! Just because some Duel monsters can only speak through the mind doesn't mean the rest of us can't talk 'normally'."

Yami looked embarrassed at her sharp words, and bowed. "I apologize, Mana. I did not mean to be rude, but I have had rarely spoken with Duel Monsters other than Mahaado, so my judgement on this particular issue is clouded."

Mana shrugged. "Oh, don't worry about it my Pharaoh. You're not the first to assume such, though you are the first to apologise for it. Sorry for spying on you two, but Crystal's used to it by now. Crystal, I'll be around if you need me," she said as she raised her staff in mock salute.

Crystal shook her head in exasperation, but a smile still crept onto her face. "I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you then," she replied in amusement. "See you later."

Mana chuckled. "Honey, you know me too well. Farewell Pharaoh," she said as she waved to the pair and left.

After she'd gone, Crystal grinned at Yami, who took her arm again and continued towards the centre of the labyrinth. "Well that was Mana. She is quite protective of me, even though Father does not trust her. He doesn't let go off on my own, even with her around," she said with a sigh, a sad note creeping into her voice.

Yami noticed that she seemed upset, and decided to attempt to cheer her up. "Do not worry," he said kindly. "I'm sure that he'll learn to trust the two of you soon. Personally, I think that if she is anything like Mahaado, your father should be more worried about how reckless you will become in the knowledge that she is always there to cover you."

Crystal blushed and then glared at the Pharaoh. Yami looked rather nervous at being the focus of her glare. "I did not mean that you were reckless! I meant that you could become reckless, though I doubt that could ever happen to you and…………"

Crystal laughed as Yami tried in vain to say what he meant, "Don't worry about it! I know what you meant. It's sweet how you don't want to insult me, especially considering your reputation."

Yami, who had raised an eyebrow at the beginning of the sentence, felt his anger rising again. "My reputation? What, pray tell, is it at the moment?"

"Oh, just that you don't care about anyone other than yourself," she answered carelessly, sounding slightly sarcastic. She punctuated her disbelief in that sentence by rolling her eyes at him. "But I somehow doubt the truth of this statement," she said with a chuckle.

Yami pouted at this, and tried to look angry at the same time. The result was a rather adorable expression that caused Crystal to laugh again. Yami raised an eyebrow at the unexpected reaction, but she just shook her head when he asked for an explanation, and started laughing as he pouted yet again.

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A short while later the pair reached the centre of the labyrinth, and Yami helped Crystal to sit down on the edge of the fountain in its centre. Apparently oblivious to their surroundings, the pair continued talking.

"I think one of the main reasons Seto is so persistent is because my father is trying to find me a husband at the moment. What I said to my Father earlier about being bored around every gentleman in indeed true. Whenever we go to visit some prince or king, Father always makes me spend time with the 'prospective suitor' and often he shows me around the palace. It gets rather tedious at times, particularly when I am enjoying myself before my father introduces me to the blessed royal family member."

"Does that mean you consider me a possible husband?" Yami asked, sounding rather nervous at the prospect.

"Well, I………I have always wanted to see the palace here, anyway," she said quickly, avoiding the question, and turning away so that Yami couldn't see her blushing. In doing so, she missed the slightly hurt look on his face.

Yami wondered why he felt hurt. 'She is just a girl...alright, a very beautiful girl...but why should I care about who she choses to marry? Why should I care if she considers me or not? But for some reason I do care. Dear Ra, I have only just met the girl. I can't have feelings for her already...can I?' Yami thought to himself. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he almost didn't hear her next words.

"Yami, are you having an arranged marriage or something?"

Yami looked slightly startled by the question. "I do believe I am. I just don't know whom to, as my advisors haven't chosen yet. As a matter of fact, that is what Isis and I spoke about before."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that because I was spending time with a girl of my own free will, I am apparently in love with her. Isis would assume this as I rarely spend time with any girls unless I am forced to, because I am very against this whole marriage idea. But then again, I do not know what goes on in that woman's mind. But I digress. I was bored, and your father requested that I accompany you, so I decided to show you around."

"Well I am glad you did."

Yami blushed, but Crystal didn't notice, as she was gazing about the garden in wonder, seemingly having only just realized where they were. "Yami, is this the garden you spoke of?"

Yami smiled in amusement at her wonder. "Yes. Are you surprised?"

"It's gorgeous! The flowers are so beautiful!"

"Not half as beautiful as you," Yami said softly as he moved to stand beside her. She looked pleased and surprised at the compliment, but then realized that Yami seemed unaware that he had even said anything, which made her feel sad.

Crystal sighed. 'Why do I feel this way? Why do I want his approval? To think that love...or rather affection, at first sight is actually possible? Dear Ra, who would've thought?'

'Are you trying to tell me that you don't believe in love at first sight?' an impatient voice interrupted her thoughts.

'Mana, that was rather rude of you. And I don't suppose I do. It seem like you only love someone for their looks. Affection at first sight I do believe in, but not love. Even affection seems superficial.'

'Well, I think our dear Pharaoh also seems to be sweet, smart and protective. And I do believe you think the same way. That isn't superficial.'

'I didn't ask for your opinion, Mana.'

'Fine. But I think you do 'like' Yami, no matter what you say. I would too. He's cute, smart, and he's a Pharaoh. What's not to like?'

'Mana.'

'What?'

'You know perfectly well what. Anyway, even if I did like him...'

'Which you do.'

'...I wouldn't know what to say. And Mana, stop that!'

'Fine, I'll stop it.'

'For some unknown reason, I severely doubt that.'

'Hey!'

Angel: How about that? Wasn't that sweet?

Yami Ang: (sighs) Depends on your opinion of sweet.

Angel: So sue me if I can't write romance. (mutters) Or just can't plain write.

Yami Ang: I'm trying to, but sadly I can't afford the legal fees. I'm already half paying for the case over who owns Yugioh.

Angel: You agreed to pay for that. I didn't make you. It's not my fault that you want to date Kaiba or something and that I need to own Yugioh to do that.

Yami Ang: Uh-huh, sure. Everybody, please review!