Disclaimer: don't own any Yugioh material, related ideas, and must I say it, characters.

Author's note: Thanks much to all the views and reviews! You guys are great :) hope you're liking it!

I rather like this chapter. Let me know what you think about it? Liking the fluff? There's plenty more to come!

Just another afternoon

Atem was admittedly bored. He found discussing his list of set rules a rather tedious and precarious process. He had expressed his will and opinions, and now the Guardians were hammering out the details of the policy.

Why was he there again?

"Look," Atem interrupted, "Here's the list." He read out the twenty set ideal laws they had managed to inscribe. "Any additional laws can be added later. What is there to decide?"

Mahad said definitely, "Loopholes, Pharaoh."

"I thought we went over that," Atem pointed out. "I think we're done."

Mahad, Seto and Shimon went over the rules again — with critical eyes. At random, the phrase, 'Everyone's a critic,' crossed Atem's mind. He exchanged a long glance with Mana, raising an eyebrow. Mana raised one shoulder in a half shrug, 'Mahad will be Mahad,' she seemed to say, and indeed, it was true.

Mahad sighed reluctantly and Seto nodded certainly. "All seems to be in order," Seto said, "Your ideals are all very well off."

Atem nodded in consent of the compliment. "Very well, if all seems well with you, Mahad, Shimon," they both nodded, Mahad more confident now. "Isis, Karim, Shada, Mana? I believe we're all in agreement?"

They each nodded their approval, and Seto rolled up the scroll of laws written in ancient Egyptian. He passed them to Atem, who passed them to Shimon, who tucked them safely away inside his sleeve.

"Good. The rules will be announced in one week. All details on the Ball — whatever you'd like to call it — can be handled tomorrow morning. Meeting adjourned," Atem dismissed.

Mana sprung out of her chair, twisting around to get the feeling back into her numb limbs. Meetings were one of the great perks of being a Guardian that she detested.

Mana and Mahad left the room with Atem, Mana skipping alongside her companions down the high-ceilinged, elaborate stone hallway. "So," she said conversationally, "What are we doing today, Atem?"

"Whatever you'd like, Mana," Atem replied.

She put on a pondering expression. "Hm," she wondered, "What to do today?" Suddenly she perked in excitement, "Oh! Atem, let's go swimming!"

"Swimming?"

"Yes! Can we, please?" she cried in excitement.

Atem wasn't so sure. Swimming didn't sound nearly as fun as it had when they were kids, but Mana's big, aquamarine eyes were so eager that he smiled and said before he could stop himself: "I suppose."

"Yes!" Mana cheered, "I'll meet you there!"

She skipped off to her room to get ready, leaving a rather nervous Atem in her wake. He sighed, "What have I gotten myself into?"

Mahad chuckled, "Mana has a way of making the both of us do anything she likes."

"Don't I know it," Atem agreed wholeheartedly, "I can't help but say yes to her. It's like it's impossible to say no."

"Mana's attitude is contagious," Mahad said. "Mana is rather like a sister to me, and I imagine your feelings for her are very strong."

Atem did a double take. Mahad's expression was blank, and he appeared not to notice his Pharaoh's glance, but Atem had known Mahad for a very long time—and a Magician never revealed his secrets.

"Yes," Atem agreed cautiously. "She means very much to me."

Mahad nodded like he had known the answer. "I know I'll not be joining the two of you for a swim. If I came, Mana would make me get in the water as well." They stopped outside Atem's room, where Mahad bowed. "I'll prepare the room for you." Then he looked up with a slight smile, "Do enjoy yourself, Pharaoh."

Atem smiled dryly, "I'm sure I will, Mahad. Thank you." Entering his room, Atem took a deep breath and readied himself for a swim.

Mana looked up at the blue sky overhead, thinking.

The outdoor pool that had been added to the palace was very large. Its shape was peculiar: three large triangle pools set together at their points with one at its center, each connected through the narrow channels at each tip.

The water was as clear as the river Nile and as blue as the sky. The surrounding area held several covered pavilions and, Mana had discovered, lounge chairs. The tall walls of the palace made sure it was private, and the pillars surrounding it made the entrances seem father away, so everything seemed to peaceful. They had the area all to themselves today.

Mana had her feet in the water, swinging through the cool currents. She was studying what one of the maids had called a 'bathing suit' or a 'swimming suit.' It was made of odd, slippery feeling material. She found it strange that they only covered the torso, and had asked that a skirt be added to it — she almost felt, well, naked.

Though she did like it; it was sleeveless, as all swimming suits were. Red and completely covering her torso, abdomen and pelvis area (she found the ones they called 'bikinis' very revealing and self-conscious), it had a short flaring skirt attached to it, much like her usual dress. There was a strip of gold along the seam area, making it look more like a top and skirt.

Deep in thought, Mana was jerked into reality as someone suddenly dove past her and into the pool with a splash, dousing her. She cried out in shock, surprised at the amount of water. Through the blue, Mana could see who it was.

Atem's head popped out of the water, grinning. "Did I scare you?" he asked, feigning concern.

"No," Mana said automatically, "Maybe."

Atem chuckled, and she drank it in. She had missed him so much. She still couldn't seem to get over the fact that he was really there, and Mana beamed at him instinctively. He was her best friend. Nothing he ever did could make her care for him less.

Standing, Mana jumped, plunging herself into the cool water. When she came up, she found Atem grinning at her. "See?" she said, "Isn't this fun?"

Atem grinned, darting forward and plunging the both of them under. They went into a game of underwater tag, which Mana had been fond of when they had played as kids. She found it no less invigorating now than she had then.

Gasping, they both came up for air, which Mana used to her advantage. She turned and swam away as fast as her sea-legs could carry her, laughing. Atem plunged after her quickly. He was fast, Mana thought, but he had always been fast. Diving under again, Mana kicked herself away. She felt Atem wavering over her and kicked into hyper drive, moving faster than she had before.

Looking up, Mana had to breath, and when she came out of the water she found a wall before her. Atem popped up behind her, and Mana squeaked in fear. She moved away from him, but it was no use. There was a wall at her back and Atem in the front. She put her hands on the edge of the pool and attempted to haul herself out, but Atem was quick.

Flitting forward, he was directly in front of her in seconds, pinning her to the wall. Screeching in half delight and half fear, she made a lame attempt to escape, pushing on his chest and knowing it was no use. She stopped pushing, her eyes closed as they both laughed. When she opened her eyes, her heart sprinted in her chest and she swallowed.

Atem's amethyst eyes were so close she could see the individual lines in the iris. She tried to take a deep breath. Tried to control the feelings raging inside her.

Mana had suddenly realized how, well… how handsome Atem was. No, she corrected, not handsome: attractive. He was attractive.

His bare and rather muscular chest was right at her fingertips. His strong, confident face mere moments away. And unless she was mistaken, that was his heartbeat under her palm. He was attractive, Mana realized with a shock. She had always known he was good-looking — most everyone did. She had just never really thought about it before.

Mana wanted to slap herself. If she started thinking like that, she would never look at him the same again.

While her heart rampaged in her throat, Atem's was uneven and rapid under her hand. It may have been the game, it may have been their proximity – she just wasn't sure.

"Tag," Atem breathed, "You're it."

Atem drifted away, and finally Mana could breathe.

What had just happened? Atem wondered. His heartbeat was almost stuttering in his nervousness. As Mana had made her realization, Atem had made one of his own. The realization of how beautiful Mana was.

He had always known her to be pretty. But as Mana had discovered of Atem, he had discovered of her how pretty she really was.

Mana wafted forward, looking tired. "I'm hungry."

Atem smiled, "Aren't you usually at this time of day?"

Exiting the pool, Mana's eyes were involuntarily drawn to Atem's chest – at which she mentally slapped herself again. While Mana wrapped the towel around herself, Atem took it and rubbed it through his chaotic hair. "What would you like to eat?" he asked her.

Mana shrugged, "I don't know, whatever."

A waitress brought them sandwiches and drinks, and, later, ice cream. After eating, they continued their day of swimming. Tag, more tag, and games of diving to get the umbrella pole, by the end of the day they were exhausted.

Atem didn't think he could get quite this tired as a spirit, but he was. He and Mana talked and laughed at the side of the pool, staring down at the lit water. "I really enjoyed today, Mana," he said sincerely.

"And you didn't want to at first," she grinned. He laughed slightly, drifting off and closing his eyes. "What's up?" Mana asked.

Atem just smiled, looking up at her. Slowly, he set his hand over hers. "Nothing," he said truthfully. "Everything is perfect."

Unexpectedly, Mana leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Good."

Amethyst met aquamarine, and they smiled.

After showering, Atem crashed on his larger-than-king-sized bed, practically sinking into it. The Afterlife was more perfect than he could ever have imagined. Only the first week and he was already in heaven.

Heaven, he thought, ironic.

He had missed Mana's presence for so long, he just hadn't realized it. He had realized a lot of things today.

The most important of all was Mana.

He put his hands behind his head, deliberating his actions. It seemed that every day his feelings for Mana grew. And possibly, hers for him. The question, of course, was how exactly he felt about her.

All in all, he thought, it had been just another afternoon.

You like? Sure hope so! As always, it was super fun to write. R&R... ConCrit appreciated... yep, you know what to do :) more to come, as always.

-Anevay