Disclaimer: if I owned Yugioh… heck, we all know I would have made it vaseshipping.

Author's note: Why do I do this every time, you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

Thanks to:

Hinata001 for adding this to their story alerts and favorite stories list ^o^ you rock!

That's all ^-^ please review, peoples! What you like, what you don't, what you want to see more of… you know, anything, really—except swearing. It is much appreciated if we keep swearing off my pages. Thanks!

Another ball?

The trap was set.

Atem wasn't so sure how he felt about it, either. It mostly involved him, since Mana couldn't do much about it. He was the bait and the trap? He wasn't so sure he liked the idea, but Mana had talked him into it and he wasn't about to back out.

Besides, it could be fun, he thought vaguely.

Another ball/dance/party had been scheduled, to his father's delight—he thought it was all because Atem wanted another chance at one of the princesses, but that wasn't it at all, not even close. He was just helping out a friend.

The good news this time was that he didn't have to dance with every princess there; just the ones he wanted to, and then he could decline all he wanted. Halleluiah.

The gold throne he sat on wasn't exactly the most comfortable chair in the world, but he had gotten used to it long ago. Sitting on it now, he remarked that his first moments in the chair, he'd had to discipline himself with an iron fist. A numb bottom? That was nothing. Parties were much scarier.

That made him think about how much he had changed in the last five-thousand years, with a few more years on top of that. Thinking about change made him think about Mana—and what he was going to do about that situation. He was quite sure he liked Mana as something else, but the big question was how it would affect their relationship.

He saw her every day. If it didn't work out, then what? He didn't want to loose Mana as a friend.

It was a big problem that he would have to solve later, because at the moment the ball had begun.

The formal speech he gave announced that there would be fixed dances at the beginning, and that revealed his next surprise: all the princes of the kingdoms had been invited as well. That would keep the princesses occupied, Atem thought in satisfaction.

Atem, as arranged, was dancing with Mana first, and in the first phase of their brilliant plan, Mahad had to dance with Isis. Seto was with Kisara (naturally), Aknamkanon and Amisi, and so on and so on.

Mahad about blushed his robe off when Atem announced his partnership. Atem had never seen Mahad blush before. Mana was right, this plan was pure brilliance.

Mana and Atem were too busy watching Mahad and Isis to pay attention to much else, including each other. While they danced, their eyes were glued to the Guardians whenever they got the chance, hissing comments to each other.

"Do you see his face?"

"He's blushing again!"

"Wait, did Isis just laugh a little?"

"They dance perfectly together!"

It was bad enough that they were spying on them; now they sounded like two girls gossiping—which, in Atem's case, was even worse.

"Do you think they'll spill it any time soon?" Mana wondered.

"Their feelings? I doubt it," Atem replied. "Mahad is very good at keeping his feelings bottled up."

"Ra, you're right," Mana cursed, "We've gotta upgrade the plan!"

"Whoa, right now?"

"Yes, right now!"

"Well what do you suggest?"

Mana bit her lip, looking around. "You have to suggest it to him," she said, "If you say it, he usually listens to you."

"Whoa, whoa, wait, what? Suggest what?"

Mana lifted her eyes to heaven. "Suggest him and Isis, of course! Son of Horus, Atem, you can be so dense!"

"Suggest him and Isis?" Atem asked in horror, "I'm not suggesting that! Mahad would blow a fuse! It would be like lighting a bomb! You do it!"

"Me? He won't listen to me!"

"Mana!"

"Atem!"

They argued quietly as they turned together, and eventually, but not surprisingly, Mana won. "Just kind of slyly suggest it!" Mana told him, "Mahad will listen to you!"

"But—"

As the dance ended, Mana played her final card: she kissed his cheek, hooked her arm with his and towed him away. Atem just blushed and blinked a lot, thinking that he would never win against his best friend.

Mahad stood beside Isis near his gold chair, and the two talked quietly. Atem took a hesitant step forward, thinking he would much rather sit in his uncomfortable throne than do this. Mana gave him a little prod in the back, and Atem had to consent.

Just as he had expected, Karim was the next to take Isis into a dance. Mahad looked disappointed, and maybe, just a little jealous. Atem stood beside his long time friend, "Enjoy the dance, Mahad?" he asked.

Mahad glanced around at him suspiciously, "Yes."

Atem nodded, "I'm glad. You know, Mahad, I've wondered why you haven't ended your, ah, single life."

Mahad did a double take, "Pharaoh?"

Atem felt rather uncomfortable, but he kept on a calm façade. "There is a double purpose to these balls, Mahad. While my father throws them to help me, I have other ideas." He gave Mahad a significant look, "It isn't just me in need of a wife, and I think we both know who each of us has in mind for the other."

Mahad's face actually colored with surprise. He had no idea what to say. While Mahad had been hinting at the Mana idea for a while, the Pharaoh was now hinting at someone for Mahad.

Atem cleared his throat, "I think I'll ask Mana to dance. You might want to think on the idea of a future wife."

Hurriedly, Atem seized Mana's hand, tugging her onto the dance floor and twirling them away while Mana held in a smile and a giggle.

Mahad stared after the Pharaoh in surprise. He had a sneaking at suspicion who he had meant.

"That was classic!" Mana beamed, her clear emerald eyes dancing. "Oh, you really got him, Atem!"

Atem shook his head in horror, "Do you have any idea how awkward that was?"

Mana nodded vigorously, "I was standing right there, you now. I heard everything. You played it right, though, Atem, I'll give you that."

He sighed, "I'm never going to live this down."

"Not with Mahad you're not! One day he'll thank you," she beamed.

Atem just groaned. "You get the next awkward situation."

"Alright, fine, if it makes you feel better," she grinned.

Atem smiled. No matter what Mana did, he could never be angry with her, and if he did, he couldn't stay angry at her—not for long. He had known her too long to ever hold a grudge against her.

"You know, there's a thing that helps people get revenge," Atem said conversationally. Mana cocked her head, and Atem grinned, "It's called 'karma.'"

Mana just shook her head, "You wish."

Atem and Mana moved through the swaying bodies, moving gracefully together. Mana sighed, like she had been thinking about something, and Atem's attention turned back to her. When she looked at him, he raised his eyebrows in an obvious question.

Mana gave a little half smile, "I'll tell you later."

Hehe, Mahad and Isis… *O*

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ANYwho, thanks for reading and make sure and to put touching a cactus on your bucket list.

-Anevay