Disclaimer: Yet again, i don't own YuGiOh or any of its characters.

Note: I had a hard time with this chapter. that's probably why its so short. Also, I'm sorry for not having written it sooner, I honestly just finished it three minutes ago. I've been procrastinating; sorry. So to all of those who read this, thank you, and I will delay you no longer. Enjoy. I apologize greatly for the fact that this chapter doesn't want to load. I'm very sorry for delaying your reading

Junjou

Chapter 13

"Now why couldn't you just explain that before without running off?" the smoke had begun to clear from Atemu's face as he sat; watching Masi hesitantly unravel her tale to him.

She chuckled uneasily, "Are you kidding me? How could I answer you when you gave me that look!?" Her knees were drawled to her stomach, arms wrapped around them, pulling them closer. Her eyes shifted to her feet as her chin found rest on her knees.

He moved beside her, but she neither seemed to acknowledge it, or care for that matter. He tried to put a hand on her shoulder, but found it shrugged away. "Masi…"

"Yes my Pharaoh?"

"What's going on with you?!" he seemed so puzzled.

A tear strolled her cheek, "I don't deserve to be here."

His eyes widened, "What? What do you mean by that? Because he did that to you?"

"No, because I kissed him back."

He blinked; somehow not remembering whether or not he had known that. "Masi… your life was at danger."

"Not the whole time… once his dagger dropped, I could've done anything."

"First you say it was all an accident and now you say you wanted it?! Make up your mind!" he seemed to be catching fire again.

Bakura's words rang through her head again and she inaudibly screamed behind tears.

Atemu seemed confused by the sudden outbreak and fell to a blink.

"I just. You. Me. I love you Pharaoh. I really do… but what he said to me… it really hurts to think," she gripped her head.

"What did he tell you?" concern coated his words.

"That I didn't know what I want…"

'I think my little fit is what caused this… hmm… she doesn't know what she wants huh? Between me and him.'

"And… my heart was completely against my doing all that, but I don't know if my mind was just in self-preservation or what, but… my mind didn't object."

"Masika… I'm not going to say that you have to tell me right now what you want. It's quite evident that you feel guilty for having done what you did, and that is understandable."

She looked him eye to eye for the first time that night, crying fear to stern concern, "Atemu."

He extended his hand to her; happy when she accepted it, he pulled her into his lap, holding her perfectly in his arms. "I promise I will not add this to my hate for him. I don't want you to fear my reactions, and I apologize for my actions earlier – for scaring you."

She smiled lightly, "You don't need to apologize. Pharaoh's aren't supposed to."

"But I am clearly in the wrong, you deserve an apology. But aside from that; I want you to be at peace with your heart. I know it'll be difficult with you having your current duties here, but if you want to spend a few days in the village to think things over, I would be more than happy to allow such," he kissed her forehead gently; watching to make sure she didn't cry again.

She did.

"I'm sorry," he started again, but she silenced him with her lips pressed to his.

A questioning grunt passed his throat as they fell back onto the sand, making out. He felt her tears fall to his cheek; he pushed her away a little, parting their lips only barely. "Why are you crying?" he wiped a tear from her eye, but it was only replaced by another one.

"I'm happy," she smiled, nibbling on his lower lip.

"I can tell," he uttered before their lips met again. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer and rolled them over. Pulling back, sitting up, he rested his palms to her bare stomach. "You know, you never told me why you're wearing dancer's clothes," he winked devilishly; much more seductively than any of those accursed thieves; not to mention, it was much sexier too.

"Bakura's idea… apparently its easier to seduce a person who's barely wearing anything," she rolled her eyes.

His brow raised.

She gulped as he pulled her up to her feet.

"Shall we prove it?"

She returned his devilish smile, "I have to do some things at home first."

"Say no more," he whisked her onto his horse and off to the house they rode. "Be quick," he smiled.

Rolling her eyes she jumped off the horse and walked in her house. Seeing it mostly tidy, she smiled and began to sing gently to herself. As she moved around her house, digging for a box she allowed herself to dance to the music that was pulsing through her veins. "I'm glad I didn't waste my childhood in the books."

"Where'd you learn that?" the rich voice came up from behind; scaring the life out of her and almost making her drop the box she'd just picked up.

"Atemu!" she jolted, trying to hide the fact she'd just been belly dancing.

He took the box from her hands, asking again.

"When I was a kid, one of the dancers at the palace would babysit me, and I just picked it up," she flushed.

"Pharaoh!" Seto barged in the door, just as the sun's rays were beginning to greet them.

They both bolted awake, looking to Seto slightly angrily, "What?"

"There's a problem in the city," his words quick; almost incoherent.

Atemu jolted and left the room after him, only stopping to grab his jewels and crown.

Masi rose slowly, making her way to the balcony to look out at the city.

"Masika," Mahado called from the doorway.

She turned meeting his concerned eyes with half awake ones, "What is it Mahado?"

"They need you down there too," he didn't seemed as rushed as Seto.

She followed him calmly as he explained what was going on. In the village a shadow creature had surfaced and was wreaking a great havoc in the streets; a few villagers had even been killed.

"We've managed to catch the man whose ka was responsible, and we brought the villagers," he motioned to the bodies being carried in as they came into view. "Pharaoh is in the throne room; you may want to watch, the trial is about to begin," he opened the door to the throne room and took his place alongside the throne as she walked up to Atemu.

"Masika, go."

"Nope. I'm stayin' here. I want to watch the Sennen trial," she folded her arms stubbornly.

"I don't want you to watch this."

"I'm going to, whether or not you want me to."

Angrily, he sighed, allowing her to stay.

The trial ended quickly, Seto sealed the evil ka in a stone slab and the guards carried it away. The Pharaoh was probably the only one happy to see it move so quickly; the man putting up a minimal fight.

Masi on the other hand seemed slightly unnerved; to her there was something wrong. "Atemu?"

"Hn?"

"I think I knew him."

The whole council turned to look at her.

"I think he worked for Bakura."

A glint set into Seto's eyes and he left swiftly for the library.

'I'd swear he's going to marry the library,' Masi rolled her eyes.

"We'll look into it, there's no way this could be coincidental if it was one of Bakura's men," Isis stated, following after Seto with the rest of the council.

"Atemu?" the soft voice appeared behind the throne.

"Mana? What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to watch the trial!"

"Is something wrong?" Masi saw her slight cowering.

"No!" she straightened. "I'm just curious about what's going on. Everything is jumbled to me."

"What do you mean?" Atemu was just as confused as Masi.

"Well. What's going on with that guy? Are you two okay? You were acting strange yesterday. What happened when you were with Bakura? I need details here!" she sounded like a fangirl on high… which seemed to be enough to make the couple laugh.

"The council is looking into that guy to see what exactly is unraveling. And yes Mana, we're okay," he wrapped his arms protectively around her, accidentally revealing the love-bite that Bakura had marred her skin with.

"What's that?!" she pointed.

Masi covered it quickly, "Nothing."

"Don't lie to me!" she bounced.

They sighed. "That's what happened with Bakura," a hiss hidden in his words.

"Oooh! I bet Atemu's going to kill him for that!"

Atemu smiled, "Actually. No. I'm not."

She blinked, seeming hard of hearing, "Wha-?"

"He promised he wouldn't; that's all," she leaned into his warm embrace, earning a gentle kiss for doing such.

Silently Mana snuck off while the couple seemed to get lost in their kiss.

"Hmm!" the light lit in her brain. "What about the prince?! Don't we still have to do those negotiations?!"

Dulled crimson stared back at her, a silky voice purring in her ear, "That can wait." His teeth found their way to her earlobe, nibbling gently at the flesh.

"Atemu," she giggled, pushing him away, "not in public."

He snickered, whisking her off her feet and carrying her away.

'At least we're settled…. This is still pretty crazy though. I guess he really doesn't like that Bakura touched me.'

"This will be excellent! The plan is almost all in place!"

"Master Bakura, are you sure this is going to work?"

The white-haired thief looked at his subject, malicious intent painting his face, "Who are you to question me?! But yes, I am most certain. Not only will we be greatly rewarded, the Pharaoh will cease to be, and his pet will be mine for good."

The lower thief merely gulped at the bloodlust in his superior's eyes.

"This is going to be wonderful," he smiled, overlooking his plans once more.