Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh, Yu-Gi-Oh, please be my Valentine :) (so no, I don't own it)

Author's note: I know Valentines was a few days ago (hate the day) but I decided that Yugioh is my Valentine! Even if it is late. Anywho! Have I told you guys how much I love you all? I got some really great reviews yesterday/today, so here are my special thanks:

First of all to an anonymous reviewer under the name me (very original, by the way) I love you to death right now! Your review definitely made my day ^O^ I'm glad you're liking it! It's always pleasing to hear that someone enjoys your stories! (Even if you don't own the characters. Go figure.)

Also again to Aqua girl 007, your reviews have kept me writing! The plot of The Return of the Pharaoh? That, my friend, is introduced in these next few chapters!

Other thanks to: BakuraLOLZ99 & Amara Nyx, who added this story to their favorite stories/story alerts!

Whoo, that was a lot of thanking! Well, keep reading and enjoy the chapter, but in the mean time, I've got homework! (Snuggles into to bed to procrastinate)

Planning

Atem sat, deep in thought.

The man's soul had been dark, that much he was sure of. But how could the dark soul of a thief have escaped the Realm of Dark Souls?

There were many names for the place of dark souls: Dark Realm, Dark World, Realm of Dark Souls, Darkness—there was no way out and no way in unless sent or brought.

So who had brought that man out and who had destroyed him?

Whoever they were, they had broken nearly every law Atem had set into place.

Mahad tried to jog him from his thoughts. "Pharaoh," he urged, sitting at his left with Mana beside him, both looking anxious.

Seto sat at the right, watching his king with uneasy eyes. "What are we to do?" he asked softly.

No one liked the circumstances that had just presented themselves. They didn't know much about what they were facing, so they couldn't act on it in any way, which was probably the most frustrating part.

Mana didn't like the way Atem was acting. He sat with his eyes down, brow furrowed and arms crossed. It was like he was in a whole other world, thinking about something completely different and lost in his own thoughts. It was almost as if he hadn't even heard Mahad.

She liked it when he was carefree and happy. She liked it when he was with her.

Now, he was back in business mode—pharaoh mode.

She just wanted her friend.

"Atem," Mana said quietly, earning a sharp glance from Mahad, but she ignored him. Atem looked up, only because it was Mana speaking, and met her eyes. They shared a long glance, and Atem took a deep breath, relaxing.

He nodded. "I don't think there's much we can do now but wait and see what unfolds."

"A very wise decision, my Pharaoh," Isis said in her soft-spoken voice. "We do not know much yet."

Atem nodded and sighed, "I think there is one thing we can do. We'll have to call my Court of Kings in."

"But it hasn't even been announced," Shimon said, standing beside him.

"I know," Atem agreed, and continued rather reluctantly, "We've going to have to throw… another party."

Inwardly, Atem and Mana both groaned. What fun this would be.

"But in the mean time," Atem said, "I think we need to be prepared for any possible attacks, just to be safe."

The Guardians and Shimon murmured their consent. "We will arrange for a training session," Shimon agreed, nodding, "When shall we train, Pharaoh?"

"As soon as possible," Atem said, looking around at his Guardians, "Tomorrow."

Atem dismissed them, and he and Mahad shared a glance, nodding. Several things passed between them.

Atem and Mana locked eyes. After a moment of silence, Mana stood and moved over to him, holding out her hand and smiling. Atem looked up, thinking that though things were serious, he could still enjoy himself.

He took her hand, returning her smile, and together they went outside.

Atem studied their linked hands, thinking, when Mana nudged him. "Come on, Atem, don't go into pharaoh-mode on me."

He couldn't help it—he laughed, "Pharaoh-mode?"

"Yeah," Mana agreed, "Whenever you're being all pharaoh-ey you get this serious look on your face and you can't seem to think about anything but being the pharaoh." With a shock, he realized she was right. Mana continued: "When you're with me, you can't go into Pharaoh-mode. You're in Atem-mode."

"Atem-mode."

"Yes. You being you. Not the pharaoh."

They stopped, and Atem considered his long time friend. "Alright, Mana," he agreed, "I won't go into pharaoh-mode. When I'm with you, we do whatever you want."

At that idea, Mana beamed, "Really?"

"Yes," Atem smiled, "Really."

"Okay then," she said, "Let's play tag." She pecked his check and danced away, crying: "Tag! You're it!"

Atem, the dignified pharaoh, took off after her with his cape trailing behind him. Mana was as lithe as a cat, skittering away from him whenever he got closer. Atem was as sure footed and crafty as a fox, darting here and there to get a chance at her.

As time passed, Atem tossed his cape aside, dashing away from her as she reached out to grab him. They laughed delightedly, tagging one another and generally looking like small children, but they didn't care. They were enjoying the game immensely.

The pair sprinted through the corridors, using people as obstacles. They ran through gardens, jumping over potted plants and hiding behind trees. They ran through Mahad's study, laughing manically and surprising Mahad, who was trying to sort through spell books.

"Um…" he trailed off uncertainly as Mana, giggling, darted past him so that he had to hold up the books he held to avoid dropping them. Atem quickly followed, bounding out the door after her. Mahad heard Mana's giggling and the Pharaoh's deep laugh echoing down the corridor. He shook his head and couldn't help smiling, turning back to his books.

The laughter and smiles of the servants followed them wherever they went. And when they tumbled into the kitchen, almost on top of each other, the kitchen staff could only turn away chuckling and smiling to themselves.

The head chef, Calpernia, waved her spoon at them so that they scurried from the room. But as they left, she told the kitchen staff: "I'm surprised those two aren't already married."

The next place they ran through was the throne room. Shimon was going over a list of the Pharaoh's Court of Kings when he suddenly lost his balance as something ran into him. He waved his arms around frantically, trying to regain his balance. Just as he gave up, beginning to fall, someone caught him.

Looking back, Shimon found the Pharaoh holding his arms to support him. Atem set him back on his feet, grinning and dipping his head, "Shimon." After which he bolted after the sound of Mana's giggling, disappearing through a side curtain.

Shimon just shook his head.

Mana stayed on Atem's tail after he tagged her. They ran the length of the palace and back, tripping through the guard station and almost falling into the pool. Not only that, but Atem followed Mana up to the roof, where they had to move slowly and carefully.

Mana, of course, managed to nearly trip several times. On the final time, Atem dashed forward at her scream, wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing them both carefully down from the roof.

"Guess I'm it!" Mana replied cheerfully as they got down, at which Atem quickly dodged her.

The final place that they managed to careen through was the room where Isis, Karim and Shada all sat discussing the past events. They fell into silence when Atem leapt on the table between them and sprinted from the room with a delighted Mana on his trail.

Mana finally managed to catch him as they entered the Plum courtyard. She sprang on his back, pushing both of them into the fountain at the center.

Soaking wet, they sat up in fits of laughter. Mana pounced on him again, gently this time, hugging his shoulders. "See how much fun it is in Atem-mode?" Mana asked, smiling.

Atem just laughed, taking her hand and pulling them both from the fountain. While Mana rung out her dress, Atem shook his head like a dog and scattered water everywhere.

Mana held up a hand to shield herself. "Atem!" she exclaimed, grinning.

He just smirked. "Are you going to dry us off?" he wondered.

Mana drew her wand from the air, waving it and speaking a spell quietly to dry them. "Better?" she asked him.

Atem smiled and twisted his fingers with hers. They fell into an easy stroll, moving along the garden pathway.

"Atem?"

"Yes, Mana?"

"I have a feelings these 'Soul Collectors' are dangerous," she said seriously. "Even though we don't know who they are, I just have a bad feelings about it."

Atem looked Mana over, seeing the change that had overcome her. He had to remind himself that it had been five-thousand years since they had been young. Over all those years, of course Mana would change—with age came wisdom, and Mana had acquired more than he had realized.

"I do to, Mana," he agreed softly, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "But everything is going to be alright."

Snaking her arm around his waist, Mana smiled up at him gratefully as he rubbed her shoulder. As with everything he said, Mana believed him.

For some reason this took me like an hour to write! But it was well worth it ^_^ You know what I'll ask—review! Let me know what you like and what you want to see in this story!

Well, until next time, go watch some X-files! (Don't own that, either. Big Surprise.) It's healthy for you!

-Anevay