Disclaimer: is there one of these at the beginning of every chapter? Ra! Well, don't own Yugioh in any way at all.

Author's note: Yes, Hamon is my OC ^0^ specifically created because I've seen Bakura used again and again and well… as much as we all love him, he's done and defeated—I might bring him in later, but we'll see where it goes.

Angel's Riot: I know! Poor Atem! v_v Always having to save the world. Ah, Mahad, he's so fun to write! XD Ah! You're right on the Slifer thing—Ra, time to go do some editing! Thank you so very much for, once again, a great and informing review!

xMocha: Hahaha (good ol' Shimon!) I just had to add it in. Shimon is strangely fun to write. Thanks for complimenting my use of Mahad ^O^ Yes, Hamon is my OC—he's a bum haha. Thanks for reviewing!

Aqua girl 007: I'm glad you noticed that little detail! I knew I put it in there for a reason ^D^ Stinkin' Soul Collectors!

Me: thanks! I'm so glad you're liking it!

Also thanks to JakeKontan for adding this story to their favorites!

Well, that's it… yep. On with the duel!

Ah, wait for it… (I just can't help myself)

Dia-ha!

A Duel

"Slifer! Thunder force attack!"

A build of energy build inside Slifer's mouth, and he fired a huge sphere of crackling, white hot energy. The black dragon countered with an attack of its own, dark and groaning with terrible energy.

Slifer's got through, throwing Hamon and the dragon off balance.

"You're outmatched, Hamon," Atem said, folding his arms. He would give him no opportunity to surrender. He didn't deserve it.

Hamon readjusted himself and his mount, glaring at the Pharaoh. He was a fairly tall man with and a cocky air; his hair was light and his nose was rather pointed. His eyes were a common brown—all in all he appeared to be a common man, but the crown on his head said differently.

"We'll see about that," he snarled, "I'm just trying out my new dragon for later. If I can finish you now and take your soul," he shrugged, "Then all the better."

"So, what," Atem folded his arms, "This is just a trial run? A little fun on my wedding day?"

"Ah, yes, I am sorry about that," Hamon sneered, "But good things come to those who wait, and I have waited long enough."

"Be gone!" Atem demanded, flinging out his hand, and Slifer sensed the unspoken command. He fired again, and amazingly the dragon dodged it. The relaying attack the black dragon sent was smacked away with a flick of Slifer's tail, barely fazing him.

"You're fighting a god, Hamon," Atem called, "Back down and I'll send you to the Dark Realm in a less painful way than before. Continue to fight and you will receive no mercy."

"Mercy?" Hamon shrieked, "I don't want your mercy! I was retribution!"

Darkness gathered around Hamon, coming from everywhere around him. The black dragon seemed to be sucking it in, rearing its head as it felt the power course through its veins. With a roar, it grew and turned those beady black eyes back on Slifer.

"Pharaoh!"

Atem heard the cry from behind him and knew who it would be. He had to stop Hamon before they arrived and were threatened; before they were hurt. This was his fight.

Holding his diadhank before him, Atem closed his eyes and offered his own energy to Slifer. The sky crackled with thunder. He flung a fist forward, his amethyst eyes flashing angrily, "Slifer the Sky Dragon!" he roared, "Lighting strike!"

Inside Slifer's mouth, the hissing, fizzing white energy grew larger than Slifer had ever produced, gaining power from Atem's energy as much as from Slifer's.

Meanwhile, Hamon's black dragon was creating a blast of its own. The darkness Hamon had summoned strengthened it while he offered his own energy, just as Atem had done, to strengthen it for one final attack.

The noise became almost unbearable. The snapping and crackling of Slifer's thunder, and the groaning and shrieking of the black dragon's. Until finally, the attacks were launched, taking off at incredible speed.

Darkness collided with light. Both opponents were thrown back with cries of shock, and while Slifer caught Atem, Hamon went down with his dragon.

When the noise and lights of the colliding attacks faded, Atem looked around. Hamon was no where in sight. It was as if he had just vanished.

He groaned, pushing himself up from Slifer's back and stumbling. Two arms caught him on either side; Mahad and Mana stared at him in concern. "Pharaoh," Mahad said, "Are you alright?"

Atem nodded, "I think so."

"Where did that sorry son of Set go?" Mana demanded, her brows drawn down angrily.

"I don't know," Atem said, sort of mumbling.

"Atem?" Mana asked, her manor changing completely from anger to worry.

Atem's eyes slid shut and he collapsed. At the same time, Slifer faded, leaving Mahad and Mana holding their unconscious king in midair. Both magicians quickly supported their king further. "He's exhausted," Mahad said, "We must get him back to the Palace."

Atem awoke feelings sore and tired. He pushed himself up, but someone quickly hurried to his side, "Oh, no, Atem, you lie back down and rest right now!"

He looked around. He was in his room—it was night and he wore nothing but his kilt. "Mana, I'm—"

"Don't even give me that," Mana rolled her eyes, "Lie down before I make you!"

Atem grinned and complied, settling into the pillows. He had barely even settled when he sat up abruptly again, "Mana! I know who the man was!"

Mana sat down beside him, pushing him back and feelings his forehead. "You do?" she asked.

"You remember that stuck-up king Hamon?" he asked, "The one who's daughters were, ah, disturbing-ly rude?"

Mana tried not to smile, "Oh, yeah. That guy? It was him? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Atem said, "He told me himself. He said he's the leader of the Soul Collectors. He kept going on about revenge and punishing those who had banished the dark souls to the Dark Realm, something about releasing them." It was getting increasingly hard to remember. He frowned, "He… said he wanted my soul."

Mana froze, looking up to meet Atem's eyes.

Atem shook his head angrily at himself for worrying Mana, "Mana, I didn't mean to worry you. I'm sorry."

"No," Mana said, "You were right to tell me."

Mana looked down. They wanted her Atem. She had just got him back, only that day he had been made hers, and someone wanted to take him away from her again.

She felt an arm snake around her waist as Atem pulled her into the bed beside him. They lay on their sides facing one another, and Atem touched their heads together. "Mana," he said gently, making her look at him. "We'll get through this."

Mana touched his face and smiled. "You're right. You and I are in this together."

She snuggled closer to him, fully realizing for the first time that they were married. He was really truly hers now.

Unexpectedly, Mana kissed Atem. "Hey guess what," she told him, grinning.

"What?" he asked, kissing her again.

"You're mine forever," she informed him, touching his bare chest gingerly with her fingertips. "You don't mind that, do you?"

Atem chuckled, pulling the covers up over them, "Unless you have any reason to object."

Their lips met in a long kiss. Mana felt her head go light and her heart pound in her chest. She curled into him, feeling very content to be with Atem forever.

"Hm," she pretended to think, "Forever with Atem, my best friend… nope, sounds just perfect."

Atem's arms around her were warm and strong. "Then that makes two of us."

Aw, all lovey-dovey and cheesy! We haven't had some of that in a good while. Well, hope you liked it. More to come yet—don't worry, this story isn't over yet! Almost, though. Two more chapters, I think.

Then make sure you check out The Return of the Pharaoh!

-Anevay

PS: oh, and make sure you don't eat too much candy before writing. It tends to make a hectic story that doesn't make a lot of sense.