Disclaimer: sorry folks—Kazuki Takahashi owns Yugioh!

Author's note: ^o^ you know, even I didn't expect the dream with Yugi… hey, I had to bring him in some time!

Responses/thanks:

Me: thank you much! ^D^ the fact that you're always reviewing makes me feel like a good writer! I'm a keepin', I'm a keepin'! XD

Aqua girl 007: hahah bleep! (The bleep reminds me of X-files!) -I didn't see it coming either ^O^

Otaku-Entinty, thanks for adding this to your story alert subscriptions ^-^

Well, that's all for that… this story is turning out longer than I thought it would. It will be the first story I have that will have a full-on ending! Huzzah!

Here we go.

Preparation

Mana asked him a million times if he was hurt when she heard about the man's 'attempt' to hurt Atem. "Mana, I'm fine," he assured her. She didn't seem too satisfied.

Interrogating the man got them almost no where. He told them the same things over and over again.

"He's watching me," he would say, near hysteria, "If I say anything he'll kill me!"

It wouldn't help if Atem pointed out that he was already dead, so he didn't.

The Guardian's replies were always the same: "He can not harm you here. We have made sure of it. Just tell us what you know."

He would then cry, "No! He'll find a way! He always does. He's going to destroy me!"

Eventually, Atem knew they would have to resort to violence if they ever wanted to get anywhere. He didn't want to, but knew that eventually it would have to happen.

For now, he allowed the man to rest and think, protecting him. He was the only asset they had for the moment. He needed to be protected until he decided to talk.

The wedding was in two days. He hadn't seen Mana since yesterday, and not only was he constantly questioned and pestered about the wedding, details, details, blah, blah, blah—no one would leave him alone! Every second, someone was there filling him in on last second plans, telling him this and that.

The food wouldn't be ready, the banners were torn and they had to make new ones, the Guardians were too busy to help, Mana was being difficult—every second of every moment, he was constantly being battered by complaints and problems.

"Oh, almighty Ra!" he finally yelled, flinging out his arms for space as servants crowded around him. "If you have any problems, talk to the Guardians!" he bellowed as he stormed away.

The servants hurriedly dispersed, apologizing left and right, running off for fear of angering the king further.

Ten minutes later, he was hurrying away from the Guardians, who were quickly gaining on him. He ran around a corner, only to find himself at…

A dead end.

He grabbed his head, looking around frantically, "There's no where to hide!" he hissed to himself. He could hear the Guardians behind him, calling for him to come back. Atem ran his fingers hysterically through his chaotic hair. Where was he supposed to hide?

Something grabbed his cape from behind, yanking him back.

He was pulled into something dark. Looking around him, he found himself in a closet that he was sure hadn't been there before.

Atem opened his mouth to speak, but someone clamped a hand over it before he could. "Shhh!" someone said quickly, "Don't say anything, Atem, or they'll find us!"

Atem shut up immediately. The Guardians passed them moments later, and they sat silently for several minutes after, just to make sure they didn't come back. They heard Seto's voice down the hall: "Where in Set's name did he go? Pharaoh!"

The two in the closet chuckled to themselves. "You made the closet door look like the wall?" Atem hissed, "Genius, Mana!"

She giggled, throwing her arms around him. "Thanks, Atem!"

They stood and Mana turned on the light, wrapping her arms around him again. "I haven't seen you in forever!"

"Forever is a long time, Mana," Atem grinned.

"Oh, you know what I mean," she said dismissively, her arms slung around his neck.

"I think we need a way out of here," Atem told her. "If we leave and they find us, we'll both be sucked into all this planning again."

Mana rolled her eyes, "The maids said I'm being 'difficult,' but I just wanted them to stop poking me with the pins!"

Atem grinned, "They've got to make sure the dress fits, Mana."

"Then they're really bad at it," Mana pouted, "It hurt!"

Atem kissed her forehead, "Don't you want it to fit, though?"

"Yeah…" she muttered, but suddenly brightened. "I've got it! I know how we can get out of here!"

"What's the plan, Mana?"

Atem and Mana had popped into vase after vase, and as Mana did the spell again, moving them from vase to vase, Atem felt the vase moving.

They shared a wide-eyed glance. They heard voices as the vase was moved. "Oi, this one's heavy," said a man, "Come help me, would you?"

Quickly, Mana waved her wand and they disappeared, only to reappear in what was probably the same closet they had started in. And just their luck, they heard footsteps headed their way.

The couple scrambled around a lot before finally hushing up when Mana pushed him to the ground, her covering his mouth while he covered hers. The footsteps came closer and their eyes widened—they knew they were about to get busted.

"Wait a minute…" muttered the low voice of Mahad. "This closet…"

The door flew open, and Mahad glared at the bride and groom as he found them in a strange position. Mana sat nearly on top of him, with one hand clamped over his mouth while the other pushed at his arm, which was covering her own mouth. Atem, for his part, was in a semi-sitting position, trying to fend of Mana.

"What's going on in here?" he asked suspiciously.

They scrambled to their feet, nearly stumbling over each other. "Nothing," Mana said quickly, "Just this—bye!" she beamed as she seized Atem's hand and waved her wand at the same time, causing them both to disappear.

Mahad blew out a gusty breath. They were gone again. Great.

He closed his eyes and honed in on Mana's magic, trying to find them…

When he found where they had gone, he turned on his heel and marched away. That Mana.

Sure enough, Mahad found them in a pond in one of the remote gardens of the palace—wrestling in the water.

"Atem!" she shouted, and she screeched, "Eee!"

He heard the baritone voice of the Pharaoh laugh before there was more splashing. When he came upon them, he found Mana had gained an advantage and had her arms and legs wrapped around him from behind, effectively dragging him down while making it impossible for him to get anywhere near her.

"Mana!" the Pharaoh cried, "Come here!"

"You think I'm gonna come just cause you tell me? Make me!"

"I will!"

Mana shrieked as Atem managed to untangle her, pulling her around front. He tackled her so they both went underwater.

Mahad barely had to raise his staff to bring the two out of the water, where they floated suspended in the air, blinking at Mahad like children. They beamed innocently, but Mahad didn't buy it.

"Pharaoh, I'm surprised at you," Mahad scolded.

Atem shrugged, "Sorry, Mahad. I couldn't help myself."

Mana squirmed in the air. "Geez, Mahad, put me down! I don't want to be poked with pins!"

Atem reached over and took her hand, "I'll make sure they don't poke you anymore, Mana."

She stopped, defeated, "Oh, alright, but I'm not gonna like it!"

Mahad let them down. "Come on, you two," he said, folding his arms. "Seto has been looking everywhere for you, Pharaoh."

"I know," Atem replied dreadfully.

They dropped Mana off back where she was supposed to be getting fitted for her dress. Isis had a few stern words for her before they both entered the room again. Mahad dragged Atem to the throne room, where Seto, Shimon, Aknamkanon and the other Guardians waited.

"Where have you been, Atem?" Aknamkanon boomed.

Seto was in his face next, "Don't you realize that the wedding is in two days?"

Atem sighed. He decidedly hated preparation.

Shimon steered him away, where he was sure to have other agonizing duties to attend to.

The Pharaoh collapsed onto his bed, having already changed. He buried his face in his pillow. "I hate weddings," he muttered, then elaborated, talking to himself, "Well, not the event itself—just the planning that comes with it. I never want to do this again."

Good thing he wouldn't have to.

He fell asleep quickly, as he had the night before. The dreams came again.

This time he could tell he was dreaming. The edges of the picture were fuzzy and he couldn't get a clear picture on anything. From what he could tell, he was looking in on a dungeon.

"When are we going to attack?" someone asked.

"Soon," another snapped, "Not to worry. We'll attack soon. Sooner than he thinks."

That's it for tonight, people. I'm tired and off to bed. Hope you liked it ^o^ review please!

And remember not to go taking other people's candy when there's a do not touch sign—I learned that the hard way -_-

-Anevay