Azzure-And we're back with another chapter.

Malik-And seeing as we haven't lost Bakura yet I'm going to say we're doing well.

Azzure-Disclaimer please.

Malik-Alright, Miss Azzure does not own Yu-gi-oh, but she wishes that she did.

Azzure-I can't lie, his comment is true.

Atem

He flopped down on the bed and groaned, every muscle in his body was complaining from the stressful traveling he had done for the last several days. Oh, how it was good to be home. "So how'd it go?" He looked over to see Yugi's cheerful amethyst eyes watching him curiously; the boy himself was sitting on the window sill looking out over the courtyard leaning back and forth without a care in the world.

"If you keep doing that you'll fall out the window." He remarked calmly, his head still on the bed. Yugi made a face at him but smiled and stopped leaning but continued to tap his legs against the wall.

"So…?" His cousin said slowly and looked at him expectantly as if prompting him to go on.

Atem groaned, "Yugi do we have to talk about this now?" The boy continued to stare at him, and Atem could have sworn that his eyes double in size. "Yugi I'm really not in the mood at the moment. Can't we talk about something else?"

Yugi pouted, "Aww come on Atem! Please!" He moved off the window sill and sat down on the bed beside his cousin; Atem was sure that once again his eyes had doubled in size making them four times the size they normally were.

He groaned, "No Yugi."

"Please?"

He reached up and pulled the pillow down over his face, "No."

"Pretty please?"

"Nope." Atem answered as he closed his eyes right before Yugi removed the pillow. He wasn't planning to give in; he knew every single one of his cousin's tricks."

"Ateeeeeeem!" He whined, "Pretty pretty please!"

"I don't think so." Atem said, his eyes still firmly shut, "It's definitely not happening."

"Oh come on pretty…" He paused in his whine and for a moment the room was silent. Atem cautiously opened a single eye and saw the boy sitting on the bed frowning, when he noticed Atem watching him he frowned, "What were we arguing about again?"

Atem laughed silently at his lucky break, Yugi couldn't bother him if he didn't know what they were talking about. Suddenly a thought crossed his mind, what were they arguing about again?

He wanted to know how your trip went and what you did. A voice commented quietly.

Atem smiled to himself; yes, that was it. He found it odd that he had remembered it so easily; it was almost as though someone had reminded him… He started to close his eyes when he snapped up into a sitting position, what just happened? Hello? He called silently, are you here? When he received no reply he sighed and placed his head in his hands, he'd lost her again.

Yugi sat up and gave him a weird look, "Are you alright Atem? You're acting kind of strange?"

Atem looked at Yugi in momentary shock before he realized that he had yet to tell his younger cousin about the voice in his head. "I…I'm fine." He paused before continuing, "I'm really just tired from my trip Yugi." His cousin leaned up against him and rested his head on his shoulder, Atem sighed. "Listen Yugi…"

His cousin cut in, "I understand if you don't want me around right now, all you have to do is say something."

Atem smiled and pushed down on Yugi's hair, flattening it, "I do believe I already asked you to do that several times if I remember correctly."

Yugi gave him a playful smirk and brushed away Atem's hand allowing his hair to spring back up, "Alright, I get the point." He hopped off the bed and headed towards the door, "I get when I'm not wanted."

Atem laughed as he stared after his cousin just as the boy was nearing the door he spoke, "Yugi…"

The boy turned and leaned against the frame, "Yes?"

Atem smiled, "I promise I'll tell you about my trip in the morning alright?"

Yugi's calm expression broke into a grin, "I'd like that; I really would." He stepped outside and waved once again before closing the door behind him, "Night Atem."

Atem watched the door close with a smile, "Good night Yugi." He listened as Yugi's footsteps retreated down the hall, then when he was sure they were gone he sighed and walked over to the window. He sat down on the sill and gazed out into the night sky, it was so calm and comforting out. But as he gazed out there he felt a pain in his chest, while he was still in here he knew somewhere out there people were waiting for him, but he wasn't coming. And he had no doubt that they didn't understand why.

Atem felt a single tears slide down his cheek, why did it have to be so hard? He let his head fall back and rest against the wall, what were the gods hoping to accomplish by making him choose? What if he wasn't making the right choice? Would they do something to fix it? The stars sparkled in the distance, what would Mahado do if their positions were switched? What about the other priests? Would they stay with Yugi like he was? Or would they deem that their cause was more important? He groaned and grabbed at his head, he had so many questions, and none of them were ever answered. Whenever he tried to find the answer to one of them there would be half a dozen more that would join them, all without answers.

He pulled his legs up close to his chest and rested his head on his knees; perhaps, instead of thinking of more questions he should be trying to answer some of the ones he had. He let his mind wander to the events that had happened with Yugi, that voice that he had heard in his mind; it wasn't the same as the other one. But the question was how was it different? It had come exactly the way the other had; but it had sounded different. He frowned and bit his lip, it…it wasn't nearly as feminine as the first one, it was still light and higher, but not near as high as the first. It reminded him on Yugi's own voice, could that have something to do with it? Could there actually be two voices in his head?

Atem shook his head and hit against the frame; or I could just be going crazy, he added sarcastically to himself.

I wouldn't go that far. He jumped and practically fell out the window, only the quick reflex of his hand catching the window frame saved him from the fall.

He paused a moment to reassure himself that he had heard the voice, he wasn't quite sure which one it was but he knew how to find out. He took a moment to choose his words, he planned to start a conversation with this creature, and this time he planned to get some answers out of it. But first it was time that he let it know what he thought of it just popping in and out of his head like that. Would you stop that! I just about died by falling out of my window.

I'm quite sorry about that I assumed that you were expecting it. He was surprised to hear that it actually sounded sincere in its apology, but why would he be expecting it?

Why would I be expecting you to be in my head? He asked, after a few seconds when he didn't hear anything he started to get nervous that it had left again. He, he corrected himself, this one was a he.

He was reassured a moment later however when he heard it again, I just thought that… Ah never mind. Atem frowned; he was so close to gaining something.

He prompted this voice. No, you're fine what is it that you were you going to say?

No, it's really nothing. He sounded nervous and slightly frightened; besides, it wouldn't be wise to tell you anyway.

Atem sighed; he knew more that he was letting onto; he was trying to hide something and Atem was determined to find it one way or another. Alright, then can I ask your name?

There was a slight pause before he answered, ah…well…you see…I don't think that would be wise to speak of either.

Atem frowned and twirled a piece of string between his fingers; he was definitely hiding something, and he could tell that he wasn't about to give it up easily either. Then what am I supposed to call you?

You may call me whatever you'd like Prince Atem. Atem jumped again, this one knew his name too.

He frowned, now that he thought about it maybe he had been imagining two voices in his head, perhaps this was the same one, they were quite similar, but that still didn't answer his question. How do you know my name?

Ah…well…I'm afraid that…

Not another word! Atem jumped as he heard another voice in his head, this one he had definitely heard before too, and now he knew for a fact that the two definitely were not the same. You say another word and I'll have to kill you, and we both know I don't want to have to do that.

I wasn't going to…

No! He flinched as it growled again, just be quite.

Atem frowned; now there were two of them, and to him that meant twice the possible information. So I suppose that I can't know your name either hm?

Obviously not, if he can't tell you then what makes you think that I can? She sounded slightly annoyed so Atem decided to lighten the subject.

What should I call you then? He hoped that this one had more of a preference than the first, well actually she was the first, but not in this conversation. He shook his head, this was getting confusing; they needed names.

I don't care, just pick something.

Atem groaned, so now he had to pick something. Uh…well… He racked his brain violently for ideas; he had to think of something. What about Siti and Sefu? What do you think of those?

Really? Is that really the best you can come up with? He flinched at her comment, he knew they were last minute but he didn't expect them to be that bad.

Please excuse her; she's just very irritated at the moment. Once again he sounded sincere; I myself am fine with the names. Regardless of what she says I believe that Sefu will do just fine.

Alright…fine…I'll deal with Siti… She paused in midsentence and Atem once again became fearful that they were gone again. She returned a moment, Sefu, we've got to go. Now!

What!? Atem was shocked she couldn't be serious, he hadn't learned anything. Wait! You can't leave yet!

I'm sorry Atem, but we have to go. Sefu said, one again with a large amount of sincerity in his voice. Atem was finding it very hard to hold anything against him; Siti on the other hand was another story. It was a pleasure of talking to you; perhaps we could talk again sometime.

Atem pressed his hands tightly over his ears as if it would keep them from leaving, you can't leave! I have so many questions, you have to help me! But before he had even finished his sentence he knew that they were gone and he was alone once again. "At least I know I'm not going crazy now." He muttered to himself as he pressed his head down onto his knees, "Although I learned as much as I have during every other time I've tried to figure anything out." He paused for a moment then groaned as he realized that once again along with his few answers he had picked up another boat load of questions.

Yugi

He sat in his bed absently tapping his legs against the side where they hung down towards the floor; he sighed and flopped down onto his back so that his eyes were staring up at the ceiling. He knew that Atem wasn't in the mood to talk because he was tired from his trip, but he'd been gone all week and Yugi wanted to spend time with his cousin. He sighed and walked over to the window where the moon was rising high into the sky, there wasn't any use whining over it right now because it was obvious that it wouldn't make a difference.

He continued to gaze out the window; of course right now he had a bigger problem of the fact that he wasn't the least bit tired, but was however bored out of his mind. He got up from the window seat and walked over to his dresser where he pulled out the hand drawn image of himself that he'd gotten from Mana, he smiled and set it down on the table before walking over a stack of paper nearby. He lifted up several of the sheets and revealed a half-finished drawing that he had started a few nights ago, he smiled and carried it back over to the table where he picked up his quill and went to work.

It was several hours later that he finished the drawing and held it up so to see it. The picture was of Mana, of course it wasn't near as good as the one she had drawn of him, but it was by far the best project he'd ever done. He smiled and set it down next to hers, then he wandered over the window and glanced out into the sky, by now the moon was high and nearing its peak only to be covered by the clouds, dimming its light and making it harder to see anything on the grounds below. He squinted and frowned as he thought he saw a couple of shapes making their way through the courtyard, it was much too early for the guards to be changing shift. He rubbed his eyes and blinked before looking down again and shaking his head, there was nothing there. He must have been seeing things because of the weird lighting.

He sighed and returned to the table where he picked up both pictures and held them against his chest, "I wonder if Mana is up." He commented quietly to himself, "I mean it is late, but maybe she's still up." He knew that the likelihood of her actually being awake was rather low, but something in his head told him that he need to try anyway. Besides, what would it hurt just to take a look?

He picked up his drawing and stuck his head out the door, the hall was dark and empty, and he knew the next guard change wouldn't be for several hours yet. He stepped out into the hall and quietly shut his door behind him before moving slowly along towards the dungeon. He had to pause several times on the way down because of the sounds of movement emitting for several of the rooms. He held his breath as the newest sound died away and he slowly continued down the hall, this wasn't near as easy as he had thought it would be, but he was almost there.

He came to the dungeon steps and slowly glanced around the corner looking for the guard that normally sat at the table, but there didn't seem to be one out tonight. It just makes it easier for me I guess; he thought as he slipped around the corner and into the darker blackness.

As he made his way through the maze of cells he couldn't help but think about how much darker and spookier it was at night, but he wasn't going to stop now. Not when he was this close!

He was nearing Mana's cell when he heard voices coming down the hall behind him, feelings of fear rushed through him and his eyes flashed red as he hurriedly looked around for someplace to hide. He finally settled on a small crack a short distance down the wall, and on the same side as Mana's cell. He crammed his small body into the whole just as two figures walked down the hallway, he craned his neck to try and get a better view of them as he held the picture to his chest; this was not what he had had in mind when he decided to come down here.

He held his breath as the two figures moved closer, he could see them more clearly now and was able to describe them based on the few features available to his eyes. One was considerably taller than the other by at least a couple heads; he was obviously the older of the two and larger in size as well. Although he wore black clothing that covered most of his body, Yugi could make out a bit of skin from where he looked up, and what he could see was muscled and strong. He shivered as he pushed himself back further into the hole, he really didn't want to be noticed now.

As the figures didn't move however and seemed to in place, his interest got the best of him and he leaned forward to try and get a look at the other figure. As he had determined earlier, he was much shorter than his friend, but that didn't stop him from looking just as intimidating. Of course, Yugi told himself, just about anyone who was better at fighting than he was looked intimidating, even Joey intimidated Yugi slightly. He was going to get through this; he was going to see who this was and he was going to be brave. Brave like Atem and Mana would in a situation like this, because they were the bravest people he knew.

He craned his neck again and leaned slightly to the side to get a better look, the shorter one had curious stubborn ice blue eyes that wandered around the hall as if looking for something specific. He frowned as he noticed that they still hadn't moved, why didn't they…?

"G…get away from me!" He stiffened as he heard Mana's voice cry out from just past the wall next to him.

"Quiet please, we need your help with something very important." The voice was from the figure who had by now almost completely vanished from Yugi's view, the shorter one still in sight, "This might be our only chance and we can't get caught!" His eyes widened as he continued to hide in the crack, he sounded worried, but what was he looking for?

"And if I don't want to help you?" He was relieved to hear Mana's voice again, this time much softer so as not to call any attention to them.

"Look sheila, this is really kinda important n' stuff so if ya wouldn't mind helpn' us out." Yugi frowned, this was the first time that he had really heard either of them speak, and also the first time that he realized that the shorter one had an accent. But although he concentrated and focused he couldn't determine just where he was from, his whole way of talking was alien to Yugi. He had to really focus to even understand half of what he was saying, and why in the name of the Egyptain gods was he calling Mana sheila? That wasn't her name.

"Mana." She said clearly, "My name is Mana." Yugi could imagine that she was glaring at them right about now.

The teen shrugged and nodded, "That's very nice sheila, now if you would be willing t'…"

He was interrupted by Mana's voice, "Mana."

Yugi saw his eyes narrow and glint with a dangerous look as he frown, "Look sheila…"

This time he was interrupted by his own companion, "Calm down, we're not here to argue with this girl. We have a task to do and whether or not she's willing to help us doesn't destroy that fact." The boy scowled, "Do you understand?" He nodded glumly and kicked the stone softly with the toe of his boot, his ice blue eyes glinting angrily. The man turned back towards Mana, "We don't want to hurt you or get you in trouble in any way, but it would helpful if you could give us some information."

Yugi leaned back and caught sight of a hole in the wall that peered into Mana's cell; the girl was watching the older man, her arms crossed over her chest. "What is it that you want?"

The man gave a sigh and relief filled his dark blue eyes as he watched Mana, "We're looking for a friend of ours, and we have reason to believe that he's down here."

Mana nodded, "Well what's he look like?"

The smaller one jumped in, "He looks a lot like a sheila actually, and not really that hard to miss."

Mana frowned, "Sheila?"

The older man nodded, "What he's saying is that to most people our friend appears to be female rather than male."

"Oh I see." Mana frowned, and looked thoughtful for a moment before looking back up at him, "Does he happen to have red hair?" The older man nodded and Yugi felt himself stiffen, could it be that they were looking for that other prisoner? He had said that he had friends, but were these the people he'd meant?

"Is that him?" She stood up and walked over to the bars where she pointed towards the cell forward and opposite of hers where the other prisoner was being held. Both men turned and started towards the cell, all the while Yugi leaned out of the hole as best his could and watched the scene before him.

"Oh my…!" The speaker was the boy with the unusual accent as he stared into the cell, "He's not… You don't think he's…" He let his voice trail off several times as he tried to end his questions, but found quickly that he didn't want to speak the last few words.

His friend however was hard at work looking at the lock; he held it in his hand and bent down over it, squinting at the inside. The ice blue eyed, strange accented boy watched him worriedly, "Is he alright Raph? He isn't… you know… is he?"

The man, he'd been called what was it Raph?, didn't look up from the lock, "We'll be fine, now if you want to be helpful see if you can get some information on how this happened while I try and get this open."

They were right in front of him and Yugi watched nervously as the younger went back over to Mana, "Can I ask you a few questions?"

She shrugged, and almost looked as though she felt sorry for them, "Sure I guess."

The boy glanced back over his shoulder repeatedly, his eyes looking far less sure and more nervous and concerned, finally he seemed to work up the will to ask the question, "H…how long has 'e been down here? D' you know?"

Mana moved closer to the bars, "Maybe a week in total, but not really that long." The teen bit his lip as Mana moved closer, "They did drag him out at different points though, I heard someone say that they were trying to interrogate him or something along those lines."

He nodded, sinking to the ground with his eyes focus on the stones and dirt, "That'd make sense I guess…" He let his voice trail off as his eyes flickered over to Yugi's hiding place, his ice blue ones seemed to lock with Yugi's amethyst own and for a single second Yugi held his breath as he knew that his presence had been given away.

"Are you alright?" Mana's voice seemed to break the trance between the two and the other looked back at her rubbing his head sheepishly.

"Yeah, I think so. Just thought I saw somethin', but I guess it's nothin'." Yugi let out a breath of relief; maybe he hadn't seen him after all. The teen quickly took his gaze off Mana however and returned it to the cell over his shoulder, he looked back several seconds later to see Mana's raised eyebrow and sighed, "I'm just worried I suppose…" He didn't seem to know exactly what he was trying to say, "I mean sure we fight n' all, but e' really is a nice guy."

Mana nodded and was just about to speak when the man emerged with the redhead draped over his shoulders sort of like a scarf, "We should go Valon."

The teen nodded and rose to his feet before starting to follow the man around the corner, but before he vanished he glanced back over his shoulder at Mana and bit his lip. "Um… 'ey Raph."

The man peered back around the corner, the other man still draped limply over his shoulders, "Yes?"

Valon gestured at Mana, "Can we take 'er with us mate?"

His friend looked unsure for a moment before he walked over to the lock, "Alright, but we'll have to be quick."

Mana raced over and blocked it, "No! Wait!" Both men froze in their tracks and watched her; she blushed and shook her head, "I can't leave."

The younger cocked his head, "Why not?"

Mana's blush deepened, "I wouldn't get to say goodbye to someone…and I can't just leave him alone here."

"Then we'll just take him with us too."

He nodded as if all the problems were solved, but Mana shook her head, "That won't work, he's not down here." She pointed up, "He lives in the upper parts of the palace, and besides" She bit her lip, "I don't think he'd want to leave his cousin."

"So you're just going t' stay down here then?" He looked slightly hurt, "Ya sure that you don't want t' come sheila?"

Mana nodded, "I'm sure." She looked around her cell, "Besides, no one ever notices me down here; I'll be fine I'm sure."

The two men looked hesitant before the older shook his head, "It's you choice, let's go Valon."

The boy waved before he rounded the corner, "G'bye sheila."

Mana waved as the two quickly rounded the corner and vanished out of sight, out of her view Yugi emerged from the shadows of the hole, "You should have gone."

She spun around, her green eyes wide, "You heard that!?" He nodded and she sighed looked at the ground sheepishly, "I didn't want to hold them up that's all."

Yugi frowned, "But you could have been free."

She shook her head, "I could never be free if I left you alone here." She leaned her head against the bars where hers was only inches from his own; they both stared at the ground sheepishly and didn't meet each other's eyes, each with their own thoughts and blushing cheeks.

The moment was broken however when a bell rang out over the whole palace and caused Yugi's eyes to open wide, "No!"

Mana looked startled and quickly scanned the surrounding area, "What!?"

"That was the bell to signal the guard change." His heart was beating hard in his chest, this wasn't good.

"What…what's so wrong about that?" She finished her question and it took her a moment before she realized what the problem was, "Oh no!"

Yugi nodded, "I don't know how they managed to get in here in the first place, but with all the guards moving around they'll have a hard time getting out unnoticed. Someone has to do something." His head was whipping around as his heart beat wildly.

Mana reached through the bars and placed one hand on his cheek. He looked back over at her and she smiled, "You go help them."

Yugi looked at her, his eyes filled with fear, "I don't think I can." His voice was fearful and tense.

Mana shook her head, "You can, I know it."

Yugi sighed, "Alright, I guess I'll try." He turned to leave but felt the page in his hand, he raced back over, "Wait…!"

Mana shook her head, "You should go."

He pressed the paper into her hands, "Take this." Then he smiled and took off around the corner.

Mana blinked and looked down at the paper, a thin smile spread across her face and she hugged the paper to her chest. Yugi let out a sigh of relief from where he was watching from in the hole before continuing down the hall.

He had raced through several hallways and almost been seen by at least five guards by the time he found them. They were hiding around the corner, having just narrowly escaped the guard that Yugi had dealt with only moments before. As he crept closer he knew that they were arguing, "We got get out of here Raph."

"I know Valon, but we can't really do that right now can we?" He sounded cross and slightly annoyed, and Yugi saw his friend shrink back at his tone.

"Sorry mate." He looked down at the ground, "I was only tryin' t' help." He gave a slight smile in spite of the situation, "We're in a real fix aren't we?"

He sighed, "Yes, yes we are." He shook his head, "If something would just distract those guards so that we could sneak by them…" He let his voice trail off and shook his head, "But that would be too much to wish for I suppose."

Yugi's eyes widened a distraction? He could do something like that without getting caught; he pulled pranks on Atem all the time when he wanted to get his attention. He snuck around through the shadows and took in the situation, there were two guards in the hall, and a large courtyard just out of a set of windows and a door, there was another door on the other side of the hall that would do nicely for what he had in mind. He crept around to a door on the other side of the wall and soundlessly slid it open; he crept through and shut it behind him. Then he crossed the room, pausing once to pick up a stone from one of the tables, "Here we go." Then he pressed his ear lightly to the door on the other side.

When he was sure that there was no one on the other side he pulled it open and gave a few practice throws before throwing the rock at the window. It crashed through and into the courtyard causing the guards to leave their posts and investigate the sound in the yard. He saw the two exchange confused glances before taking the free moment and silently racing down the hallway, Yugi followed them like a shadow.

They completed the act several more times, first they would pause at the corner and make a comment about the guards. Then Yugi would creep through the rooms and throw stones to keep their attentions occupied. And so it went on until they left the palace building and snuck out a wicker gate in the back of the wall. Yugi hid in the shadows and watched them go, but he was surprised as just as they were vanishing through the gate Valon turned around.

He looked around in the shadows but couldn't seem to find anyone; he shook his head and whispered into the darkness, "Thanks a lot mate, who even you are. Ya helped us out a lot."

Yugi smiled as he passed out through the gate, carefully shutting it behind him, then crept out and fixed the latch. He couldn't help however watching them through the crack as the vanished over the dune; he hoped that where ever they came from they'd get back alright.

His heart beat painfully as he thought of redhead; yes he really hoped that they would all be alright.

He looked up and around at the darkened sky and palace walls, not a sound broke through the night's silence and Yugi was amazed at how peaceful it was. He let the low soft breeze blow through his hair and suddenly realized how tired he was. He glanced up at the moon through half closed eyelids and sighed, it was already sinking lower in the sky. Even if he went to bed now he'd only have a few hours at the most of sleep before the bustle of life started in the morning.

He sighed and headed inside, of course he didn't have to help Mai tomorrow in the kitchen because Atem was back, so maybe he could sleep in… He shook his head; whatever happened in the morning was something he shouldn't worry about. He yawned again, at the moment he should just go and collapse on his nice warm soft fluffy bed.

It took him just a few minutes to creep up the stairs and he collapsed on his bed without even bothering to take his shoes off, so within seconds he was curled up in a small ball with his eyes closed dreaming comforting thoughts as the time passed around him.

Azzure-Your turn Bakura.

Bakura-Very well, be sure to hit that bloody review button on your way out, and we hope that we don't see you again at the next chapter.

Azzure and Malik-….

Malik-We'll work on the not so positive stuff…

Azzure-Please do…