Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Thoughts

"Speech"

Chapter 3

Atem was chasing his twin around the courtyard when Yugi had vanished. "Yugi? Yugi?" Atem couldn't find him. Then he heard a giggle and little six-year-old Yugi landed on him. They both tumbled down to the ground, laughing.

"I caught you," Yugi giggled. Atem smiled at him and laid back down and continued to laugh. They both abruptly sat up when they heard her voice.

"ATEM! YUGI! WHERE ARE YOU?" Mana bounded into the courtyard, searching for her friends. Yugi and Atem looked at each other with scared expressions. Last time she found them, they were forced to play what she wanted to play. And she wanted to play with dolls. Yugi didn't mind it so much, but Mana and Atem usually fought when this happened, and the dolls broke. It always made him cry. His mother took the time to make them, and he was starting to learn how.

"ATEM! YUGI!" Mana arrived at the spot where her friends were just a minute ago. She looked around quizzically. Two little beings tried not to giggle as they stared down at the girl from their spots in the tree.

In the shadows, two adolescents stared at the three children in the courtyard.

"Why are they so mean to her," Isis asked, face etched in concern.

Mahad smiled. "They're boys," he replied. He looked at her and took her hand. "Do you not recall how many times Seto and I ignored you?" He kissed her hand.

Isis sighed. "Unfortunately I do," she groaned. Mahad looked at her face and saw her expression hadn't changed.

"Would you like me to tell her where they are," he asked. Her eyes lit up, knowing the two "twins" would feel betrayed.

"Such a sacrifice for you to make, Mahad," she stated.

"One I'm willing to make for you," he said as he kissed her hand again. She giggled and told him to go.

Mahad stepped out in the sunlight and walked slowly to Mana. She saw him coming and turned around, throwing up her arms. Mana ran to him and cried.

"Mahad! Atem and Yugi are being mean again," she wailed. Mahad smiled and looked up into the tree. Two pairs of eyes stared back at him. He smiled even more and those eyes widened in horror. They shook their heads, but Mahad bent down next to Mana's ear and started whispering.

"Well, if you can't find them, then why not come to the kitchens with Isis and me for a snack," he suggested. He could tell the boys in the tree were getting mad.

"Mahad! How could you," Atem shrieked. Yugi slapped his forehead and sighed. You're on your own now, Atem, Yugi thought. Mahad looked up with a smile. Mana followed the voice.

"There you are," she exclaimed. Then she looked confused. "Where's Yugi?" Mahad looked closer. Indeed the smaller, gentler looking doppelganger of Atem's was missing from his previous spot in the tree. Atem glanced over and started freaking out.

"YUGI! YUGI! YUGI! YUGI! YUGI! YUGI! YUGI! YUGI!" Atem cried for his friend as he climbed down. Mana's voice joined his. Mahad just smiled and left them. He found Isis where he left her, with her arms wrapped around Yugi.

"You do realize that they're going to upset the whole palace, and probably tear it apart, looking for you?" Yugi nodded. He understood that. But it wasn't entirely his problem.

"What did you tell Mana," he asked changing the subject.

Mahad smiled and Isis did too. "What makes you think I didn't tell her you were in the tree," he countered.

Yugi rolled his eyes. "Because I know you. You wouldn't betray us like that. Atem just doesn't think. Anyway, how's your training," he asked. The trio started walking away and down the corridors towards the kitchens.

"Good, actually," Mahad replied. "Becoming a sorcerer is hard, but it's also fun. And you?"

Yugi smiled brightly. "My lessons are coming along great. Master Shimon complimented me the other day for being a bright student. Though, Atem didn't like it and wouldn't talk to me for the rest of the day," he added sadly. Mahad and Isis looked at each other and rolled their eyes while smiling.

"The Prince was always one to overreact," Isis commented.

"Yes he is," Yugi agreed with a smile. Then he changed the subject. "How's your training with your mother," he asked Isis.

Isis groaned and rolled her eyes. "She could be a little more polite. 'No Isis, you do it this way! No Isis, you can't do that! Isis do this! Isis do that! Not even a please or thank you or even a 'Good job honey'! It's irritating." Mahad and Yugi exchanged glances and stifled their laughs. Isis saw this and smacked them both on the head.

"Ow," they responded emphatically, holding their heads. Isis gave them a sneering smile.

"But is it coming along? Are you learning a lot," Yugi rephrased his question. Isis nodded.

"The Millennium necklace allows them to come more clearly." She touched the golden ornament at her neck. "And Mother has been helping me to decipher what is past, present, and future. It has been helpful, but her yelling at me is not going to make me learn faster." Both of her companions nodded and Mahad opened the door to the kitchens.

The atmosphere was bored and slow, but grateful. It was in the middle of the afternoon and there hasn't been many people asking for cold water and snacks. It made the staff happy to have a break. They all looked up when three young people walked in. The head-chef smiled as she greeted them.

"Hello, dears. What can I do for you," she asked, her old voice cracking and caring. Yugi smiled and ran to her for a hug. She laughed as he snuggled against her soft, pillowy body. "How about some nice juicy strawberries and grapes?"

Yugi nodded and joined the other two children at the table. Just as the old lady started getting the food, Atem and Mana burst into the room and ran to her, tears in their eyes.

"Grandma! We can't find Yugi," Atem cried. She wasn't really anyone's Grandma but the children, even the older children call her Grandma. She looked after all of them when their parents couldn't.

"We looked everywhere," Mana sobbed.

The old lady smiled and looked over at the other children who came in earlier. They were all smiling, while Yugi tried to look guilty. "Have you bothered to search this room," she asked. The two children clinging to her shook their heads and glanced about the room.

"YUGI!" The poor child was tackled and he fell off his stool, taking his attackers down with him. They all started laughing, and the old cook chuckled with them. Then she noticed the other kitchen staff left. Probably dozing in the courtyard, she told herself.

"Yugi, where'd you go," Atem asked, the hurt apparent in his voice. Yugi looked at him and gave him a hug. He gave Mana a hug after that. Then hit Atem on the head. "OWW! What was THAT for," Atem cried.

"For you giving away our position," Yugi stated. "Mana wouldn't have found us if you didn't react on the assumption Mahad told her anything about where we were. Think next time please!"

Atem glared at him. "You can't treat the future king like that," he whined.

Yugi rolled his eyes. "Sorry, milord. Next time, thinking would be helpful, your highness. And have more faith in your people!" Atem and Yugi glared at each other until everyone turned to Grandma when she 'ahem'ed.

"You hid from Mana…Again," she asked, authority in her voice. Atem and Yugi looked at the floor ashamed and nodded. Grandma turned to Mahad and Isis, who bore guilty expression for they knew they were next. "And you two didn't do anything? You're sixteen! You should know better!" The teens nodded and looked at the floor. Mana just stared at them all, a smug expression on her face. "And as for you, young lady." Mana turned. She didn't expect to get into trouble like them. "You have to do what they want to do too, not just what you want to do. If you did that, maybe they wouldn't hide on you as much. Did you think about that?" Mana shook her head. Grandma looked at them.

Then Seto walked in. He stared at the group with astonished eyes. "Is this a bad time, Grandmother," he asked. The old lady shook her head.

"No, dear," she said. "You're just in time for a snack." Seto smiled along with everyone else.

Thirteen nights later, Yugi and Atem were sitting in the courtyard. Atem cried while Yugi held him, trying to be strong for him. "Why di-did sh-she ha-hav-ve t-t-to d-di-die," he asked his friend between sobs.

Yugi stroked his hair, trying to calm him down. "I don't know. I guess Osiris decided she did all she needed to. But your mother's not really gone, Atem. She's still the people's hearts, Mana's heart, my heart, my mother's heart, your father's heart, and in your heart. And she's probably happy, up there in His garden. Queen Anippe will watch over you. So don't worry," he said, hoping this would make his identical friend feel better. Atem sat up, wiping away his tears. Yugi held his other hand, waiting for Atem to say something. He was going to, Yugi could tell. He wasn't the prince's best friend for nothing.

"Do you think she suffered?" Yugi was shocked. He didn't know how to answer that question.

"Umm…I don't think so. My mother said the illness was fast-effecting." He didn't know if this was helping. "She stayed with her and said she didn't show any signs of pain."

Atem looked up at his friend. "Thank you Yugi," he said as he hugged him. "Yugi?"

"Yes, Atem?"

"Will you stay with me tonight," the prince asked. He didn't want anyone to see him cry, but he didn't want to be alone either.

Yugi smiled. "I'll even cry with you," he promised.