Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Yu-Gi-Oh. However, I do call the following characters my own:
Khasara
Matthew
Nye.
Thanks to my devoted readers Yamis Girl 4everandever, Cheeky-eyes, Anorenthunbound, and thanks to my friends and editors RoMi IshUraTarMeshi and Viet grl.
Hope you enjoy reading this story. Please R&R. Thanks again.
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Chapter Eight: Day Out on the Town
Khasara was mentally kicking herself the whole time she traveled through the town with Atem. She was not use to being so nice to someone so quick, and to someone she knew almost nothing about. She hated every minute that she had to bite her tongue to keep her little play going. Khasara was starting to think that she would not be able to pull it off long enough to find her way back to the present.
They had slowed their ride down to a walk now as Atem pointed out specific little shops and places, but Khasara was only half listening. she was mostly just looking around at the peasants walking the streets going about their daily business. She would watch the hustle of the baker getting his bread from the oven to the table, the rushing of the farmers bringing their produce into the market, the shop keepers busy with their shops, and the customers bargaining and buying. It was all strange to Khasara yet she felt completely at home. It was then she looked up ahead at Atem and noticed that he had stopped.
"Well here is the tailors shop, they are the best in town." He commented, swinging a leg over the horse and sliding down to the ground, seeing him get down Khasara did the same. Tying the head of his stallion Atem walked to the right side of Khasara's horse, and was about to reach up to help her down when he noticed she was not up there. He turned to see her waiting at the head of the gelding when she spoke.
"Shall we go in then?" She said with a smile, again mentally kicking herself and walking towards the door to the shop. Atem let out a sigh and smiled, she was definitely different that was for sure, not very lady like and so independent. He walked towards the door, reaching for the handle before Khasara did.
"After you Princess." He said gesturing in the door. Khasara nodded her head in thanks and walked in.
"So she's a princess huh? Very interesting," whispered the dark voice of Bakura who stood in the shadows of an alley way watching Atem and Khasara enter the shop, "that could come quiet in handy later." He said with and evil chuckle, putting his hand to his now bandaged cheek before he disappeared into the shadows. Atem sensed a dark presence and turned around scanning the crowd, narrowing his crimson eyes into a glare. Khasara saw his stop out of the corner of her eye and looked out into the crowd then back at him.
"Is everything alright my lord?" She asked trying to add a little interest in her voice. She then felt a warning bell go off in the back of her mind, and the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. When he did not answer her, Khasara tried to get his attention once again. "My Lord"
"Yes everything's fine I assure you." He said turning back to her, and then walked further in the room. 'Bakura if you're planning something don't get too happy. I will find out one way or another.' He thought to himself, Khasara watched him walk past then looked back out in the crowd. Something was not right she could feel it, but she shrugged it off and followed Atem. 'Whatever it was it's gone now,' she thought.
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Matt awoke once again and looked around at the still darkened sky. Day light did not seem to come quick enough for him. He sighed and rolled over trying to go back to sleep, hoping that it would help make the time go by faster. The dream he had was still fresh in his mind, and he turned it over repeatedly trying to figure it out. Pulling the blanket closer to him, he lifted his head a tad and looked over at Nye. The horse stood peacefully sleeping, his mind untroubled by things.
"Wish I could sleep like that." Matt muttered. Nye flicked his ears at hearing the sound of Matt's voice then relaxed once again. Matt sighed and laid his head back down, slowly his eyes began to close and sleep captured him once again.
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"OW!" Khasara yelped as a pin stuck the back of her thigh. "Why don't you jab that thing a little harder next time, I don't think I'm bleeding yet." She mumbled unable to stop herself. Atem chuckled at the miserable look on Khasara's face as she stood on the pedestal while the tailor busied himself with the gown she had on. Khasara shot a glare at Atem.
"What's so funny?" She asked with irritation carving its way through her voice.
"Oh nothing." He answered putting on an innocent look and smiling.
"Yea, uh huh, sure." Khasara said rolling her eyes, and jumped again as another pin poked her. "OUCH"
The pack of Khasara's newly made clothes were strapped neatly to her horse as they robe back to the palace. She was glad that was over, there were tender spots were she had been stuck that she now gently rubbed with her hand. It made her feel like a human pincushion, but at least now she would look the part of a princess and would not receive anymore weird looks from the people. Atem pulled his horse to a stop in the courtyard and Khasara followed and slid out of the saddle.
"Have the horses put away and the lady's clothes put in her room." He ordered the stable boy who ran up to grab the reins of the horses. The boy bowed before leading the animals off. Khasara watched, and for a moment she could have sworn that the horse she had been riding was Nye. Seeing Atem start walking towards the palace dragged her from her train of thought and she quickly caught up with him. Set met them at the door with a stern and irritated look on his face.
"My Pharaoh, might I have a word with you?" He questioned, Atem nodded then noticed Set looking towards Khasara. "Alone if you please." Khasara taking this as her chance to leave bowed, mentally kicking herself again, and turned on her heel and made her way to the guest wing. Atem could feel the tension in the air between the Priest and the 'Princess', and watched Khasara walk out of sight before turning to Set.
"Yes Set?" He asked his friend with a slightly confused look on his face.
"My Pharaoh, forgive me if I seem rude by gesturing my concern. But I think that spending all day in the city with this girl...er..I mean the Princess was not a very wise move. Especially when Bakura is still wandering about and could attack at any moment. The rest of us also express the same concern and we wish that you spend more time with the matter at hand than her." Set said gesturing toward the direction to which Khasara had left. Unknown to them she leaned against the wall just out of sight listening to the whole conversation. 'So even as a Princess he still hates me. Well strike another point for them home girl, cause she still got it.' She laughed to herself. Atem listened to his friend's request, and found truth in it but there was another matter at hand as well as the thief.
"I understand your point Set, but I assure you that my time spent with the Lady Khasara has not deviated me from my duties to this country. She is our guest and has full right to my attention, and your respect," Atem said eyeing his cousin, he knew that Set did not like Khasara,"And I promise that I shall spend more time with current problems that with the Princess. Was there anything else that I could help you with Priest Set?" he went on. Set took a step back and bowed.
"No my Pharaoh, that is all." He said covering the disappointment in his voice.
"Very well then, we will discuss these matter later. For right now it is late, and tomorrow is a new day." Atem stated and turned to make his way to his royal chambers.
Khasara let out a sigh and quickly regretted it when she heard a little giggle come from behind her. She spun around, and came face to face with the dark teal eyes of another girl.
"You know it is not polite to listen to conversations that one was not invited to converse in." The girl commented, putting a darkly tanned hand to her mouth and letting out another giggle. Khasara went slightly pink, then collected herself and stood tall.
"And might I ask the name of the one who was spying on me?" She asked the girl, the brown haired Egyptian bowed.
"My name is Mana, milady." Mana said rising from her bow and smiling. Khasara slightly bowed her head.
"It's an honor to meet you Mana. I'm Princess..." but she was cut off.
"Khasara, I know. It's a pleasure to meet you too." Mana smiled again. Khasara gave the girl a confused look.
"My master Mahado told me that you would be staying with us for the time being"
"Oh, I see." Khasara stated. She the looked down the hall and became slightly confused as to where she was and how to get to her room. Mana leaned over to look Khasara in the face. "Can I help you find your room Princess?" Mana asked innocently. Khasara let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Mana.
"That would be most helpful, and I would appreciate it if you just called me Khasara." She stated.
"As you wish Prin...oh, I mean Khasara." Mana said putting her hand to her mouth at her mistake. Khasara gave a small laugh at the girl's reaction.
"Lead the way Mana." She said gesturing down the hall. Mana smiled and turned around leading Khasara down the hallway. They passed a few doors, but it was hard to tell which on was the door that she had left from this morning. But then as she looked down the hall at a door she somewhat thought was her room, and when Mana walked past Khasara stopped and went to grab the handle. Mana noticed that Khasara had come to a halt and turned.
"Lady Khasara that is no longer your room." She stated. Khasara turned and looked at the girl.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"The Pharaoh Atem had you moved into the royal guest suite further down the next hallway." Mana answered and turned to once again lead the way. Khasara let go of the door handle and followed behind the girl. 'So I get to stay in the suite, this is going to be sooo awesome.' She thought to herself. Mana lead her to another corridor then turned to the right off the hallway they were on, and stopped in front of the first doors on the left. She turned back to Khasara.
"This is your new room milady." She said and pushed the doors opening, stepping aside with a bow. Khasara's jaw dropped as she peered into the room. There was a huge bed with red sheets accented by gold colored pillows against one wall with a large chest at the foot of the bed, for personal storage Khasara guessed. A gold mirror, dresser, and vanity with black and red inflection sat on the opposite walk facing the bed. And as Khasara stood in the doorway looking across the room, she could see the colors of the garden, which was over looked by the balcony. She slowly walked into the room, the walls matched the color scheme perfectly. It consisted of the natural sandy wall with a border with a black, gold and red pattern circled the room. 'This place is gorgeous.' She thought. Mana stood up from her bowed and watched Khasara.
"I hope this room pleases you milady." She stated.
"Oh, yes. This room does more than please me," Khasara answered turning back to Mana, "If you happen to run into his majesty would you please tell him that I send my thanks for such a glorious room." Mana smiled and bowed.
"If there is anything you need Prin...er, I mean...Khasara I will be glad to be of some service." Mana added before turning to leave the room.
"Thank you Mana." Khasara said still looking about the room, Mana smiled and left closing the door behind her. Once Khasara heard the doors close, she ran and jumped on the bed lying on her back she stared at the ceiling and let out a sigh.
"Wow, this is so awesome. I could defiantly live with this for a while." She said sitting up and looking about, that's when she noticed that her pack of clothes had been brought in and set on the dresser for her. Khasara got up and went thought the neatly folded pile. She found a gown and pulled it from the others, quickly she took off her jean outfit and slipped into the gown. It was royal blue in color that fell to the floor covering her now sandaled feet, the v-shaped neck was just high enough to hide things but still accented her neck. The neck line lead to the shoulders and the long bell-sleeves, it was trimmed in a golden colored fabric, with a wide sash that wrapped around her waist to match. She tied the belt and walked to the balcony. The garden burst with color, and seemed to blend with the room above it. 'Yup, I am defiantly going to enjoy this.' She said letting out a sigh, and leaning on the railing watching the sun set behind the horizon. Again her thoughts went back to Matt and Nye. She wondered if they were ok. Were they worried about her? Were they lost in the tomb somewhere, or had they made it back to the station an caught the train? 'They're fine.' She said out loud more to convince herself than anything else.
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Matt's eyes snapped open at the bright sunlight shining onto his face, morning had finally come. He sat up and looked about, Nye stood lazily at the trough, and to Matt's enjoyment steam from an oncoming train could be seen approaching the station. He jumped up with excitement, bouncing up and down in his sort of happy dance.
"YEEEEE-HAWWWW! We finally get to go home!" He shouted wrapping his arms around Nye's neck, and giving the horse a big kiss. Nye stood still half wanting to run from the man's sudden weird behavior. When Matt finally realized what he was doing he stood up straight and wiped his mouth with the back side of his hand, and quickly got a drink of water.
The locomotive pulled closer with each minute, and the closer it got the more Matt wondered how he was going to tell people what happed to Khasara.
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Atem sat in his study looking over scrolls and other assorted things, his head pounding from stress and annoyance. He placed his elbow on the desk, resting his head on his hand and staring at the scattered things on the surface.
"What am I to do," he asked the desk, "Bakura is still on the loose, I have a country to run, and now I have to keep the Princess safe or it will mean war between us and the upper kingdom." He sighted and closed his eyes. A few moments later he heard a faint knocking at his door. He lifted his head and looked towards the sound. "Who is it"
"It is I, Mana, your majesty." came Mana's voice as she slightly opened the door, and stuck her head in.
"Oh, Mana, come in." Atem said sitting up straighter in his chair and waving her into the room. Mana slowly walked into the study stopping just before his desk and bowed.
"I came to tell you that Princess Khasara sends many thanks for her room." She rose from her bow and clasped her hands behind her.
"Thank you Mana.," he said once again looking down at his desk. It was then that the letter from the upper kingdom King caught his eye. He held it in his hands and looked up as Mana turned to walk from the room. "Oh Mana. Could you give this to the Princess for me? It's from her father, I think she should have it." Atem stated leaning over the desk stretching his arm towards her. Mana turned around, nodded and quickly took the parchment and skipped out of the room quietly shutting the door behind her. Atem let out a another sigh, and leaned back in his chair staring out over the balcony
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Finally the dark hand of writers block as lifted its grip from my little mind. hehe. Yay and update finally..woohooo (throws a small party). and sorry that it took soo long...I really tried to break free from the blankness that filled my brain, but it didn't work out the way I wanted it to.
Anyway, Yay! Matt finally get to catch the train, he's been trying to do that for what the last 7 chapters lol. And Set still dosen't like Khasara...what's his problem? Atem seems just a wee bit stressed out huh..poor guy. Then the decendant of the upper kingdom princess, Khasara (oops did I saw that out loud...oh darn -gives an innocent smile-) is starting to worry. Then throw in the theif Bakura and whatever he's planning to the mix. Things don't look to good for the to be heros of this story. But we'll have to wait for the next chapters to find out. Until then ttfn: ta ta for now.