Just because I'm so damn nice (and because my life will be a living hell through this entire month) I will just update early.

I hope you're prepared for what I have prepared for you. If you get confused, please let me know and I will do my best to clear it. I have fixed the mistake with the years in the chapter "Her name" by the way. So now it should be right.

Oh, and before I forget it: there will be a few possible parings in the past, but (almost) none of them will be picked up in the future. You understand?

I hope so.

I won't keep you here anymore, but don't forget to REVIEW once you've read this through. And if you are good reviewers I may update once again this month (if I have time)

Welcome princesses of France

One year, two years… it even took five years before anything unusual would happen again. Princess Yuniko turned thirteen and Malin was always by her side, as the princess's shadow. Sometimes the slaves and servants would wonder what the two talked about, or if Yuniko even acknowledged the girl. But those who were closer, like the princess's family, her friends and the council, knew better. Malin had given her life to the princess and always stayed by her side as the princess's nurse, and she trained eagerly to be the best female fighter of them all in order to protect her. But she had one yet undefeated opponent: the princess herself.

It was strange really. The princess was as home with weapons of all kinds. Even the guards lost to her even when they tried to win. Malin though was the best in throwing knives. Her skill was superior even to the princess. But fighting with knives and throwing them was two different things. Throwing knives did no harm if they didn't hit their target.

"I bet even blades are afraid to hurt our innocent princess," Samuel had said once when he had watched the two girls fight.

Another scary thing with the princess, the guards soon found out, she was amazingly strong. She could handle a 5 feet long sword with ease, and it was even longer than her. For her standard weapon though she had a 3 feet long blade instead. It was easier to carry around that sword if it ever would be needed.

Her father, the king, was surprisingly enough satisfied with his daughter's fighting skills. Atemu had for sure believed he would be beheaded if his father found out that he let his sister fight with real weapons. But he got no explanation to why it was fine to him. But Atemu soon got another problem.

"Marry?" he repeated from what his father had just said.

"How old are you now? 23? You can not stand watching your sister for the rest of your life, you need a suitable wife at your side to give birth and continue our blood line."

"And knowing you, I bet my life you have one behind your back," Atemu sighed.

"Not behind my back," the king chuckled. "But I know what you mean. Yes, I have already thought of one who should be exactly what our kingdom needs. She is the princess of France."

Atemu raised his eyebrows in surprise. He knew his father and the king of France was writing to each other, but he had never thought of this being their topic. He had heard the French princess was beautiful, but he doubted she was even half as beautiful as his sister.

"The least I can do is meeting her after all," Atemu said calmly.

"I knew you would see this through my view," the king said, chuckling. "I have already sent a letter a few weeks ago and invited the king and his two daughters here. I promise you they are both high beauties."

"The king has two daughters?" Atemu questioned. "I believed he had just one."

"No, oh no. He has two, with three years difference."

"Not enough to beat Yuniko's and mine difference at ten years," Atemu joked.

The king smiled broadly at his son. They were good friends. It was Yuniko who was the rebel, and against the king she met no defences. She was his daughter after all, and she didn't use that fact against him. It would just harm herself in the end. But in reality; the thought of actually going against her father had never crossed the young princess's mind.

"They will arrive shortly. Even today if we are lucky."

"Why did you wait till the very last moment to tell me?" Atemu asked more surprised than angry.

"So that you would have no chance to go against my decision."

Atemu just smiled and shook his head. His father really was sly and awere of the new times. More and more often there were reports about princesses and princes who broke away from the throne to marry someone else, someone who was not of royal blood. The king desperately wanted to avoid such a fiasco in his family.

"You can say they are beautiful, but do you not think we have a higher beauty in our land than they can ever bring up?"

"Now you are very unfair, my son," the king said and smiled sadly. "I said it before; you can not stand watching your sister for the rest of your life. It will break you in the end. She is just as royal as you, and your sister. You can not change a fact like that."

"What do you mean, father? I never wished Yuniko was not my sister."

"I know Atemu. I know."

Atemu tilted his head slightly in confusion at his father's expression, but said nothing. Instead he bowed for his father and left.

"I know, Atemu," the king whispered when his son exited the throne room. "I know, but seemingly you do not."

Yami was so much more concentrated the next day in school. He noticed more things, like the hidden undertones his teachers used whenever they spoke. He didn't know why, but he caught himself searching his classroom every now and then for things he didn't know. And his friends noticed his strange behaviour.

"You're feeling better now, Yami?" Jono asked carefully cheerful at lunch break.

"I don't know," Yami admitted. "Though I start to feel quite worried about Ryou. He and Bakura haven't been in school ever since Yugi got into hospital. I should stop by later to see how they're doing."

"That didn't answer my question, but whatever. Why worried about your arch enemy all of sudden?"

"Not Bakura, Ryou," Yami corrected, once again scanning his surroundings for something he did not know.

"Then… how's your mother?" Otogi asked just to keep the silence away.

Yami stopped and stared at him for a second. "I don't know. She's been… different ever since yesterday. Until then I have never heard her say a word as proof she loves us…"

"Us?"

"Me and Yugi. But last night she cried her eyes out and said she loved us. I still don't know why, but I guess it is a change for the better."

His friends nodded in agreement. Though it was just Jono and Honda who had actually met his mother, the others had heard a few things, and none of them liked what they had been told.

"Is there going to happen something today?" Yami asked them all suddenly.

"Not what I know," Jono said blinking.

"Well, I don't think it can be called a 'happening'," Honda begun. "But there are those new girls that will transfer to our school today."

Yami blinked as he took another bite of his half-eaten apple. "Yes, I heard something about that I think. But it was yesterday so I'm not sure."

They continued to talk about various things. Once Yami happened to glance over his shoulder at the road outside the walls and noticed a woman taking a walk with her children.

'Yugi.'

Yuniko was in the courtyard talking with one of her father's councilmen, a surprisingly young man named Honda. But Honda didn't listen, and if he did her words passed him by. He was busy watching a cute girl on the other side of the yard. Malin had to roll her eyes at him. It was all known in the castle that Honda was crazy in cute girls, but she and the princess wasn't in his interest, partly out of respect for the royal family.

Yuniko gave up after two sentences and just talked her time away about unimportant things. Suddenly she was cut off by calls from the great wall and turned to watch the fuss. Honda lost sight of the girl he had been watching and now the princess had his full attention.

"So they are here?" Honda said quietly.

"Who is here?" the princess asked curiously.

"His majesty informed us the king of France with family would come for a visit a couple of weeks ago, and maybe they will stay for some time. His daughters, I have been informed, can not sleep in the same room, and the only rooms the king could suggest that is wall in wall is the ones on her majesty's floor. Yet I have no doubt young Malin will disobey to lend her room. I believe her to be welcome in Milady's room."

"Malin is always welcome into my room," Yuniko said simply. "But if it is the king of France he should not lay his eyes on me now, it would not be a good first impression."

Honda nodded in agreement. The princess and Malin had been out riding with Kay again.

"Your majesty better return to her room and change," Honda suggested and the young princess agreed.

"I will see you soon," Yuniko greeted and walked straight up to the entrance on her way to her room. But before she reached the entrance she looked up into the sky to see Guardian fly away from her.

"Princess?" Malin asked as she followed her friend's gaze.

"Guardian will not watch over me anymore," Yuniko said lowly with a sad smile on her face. "He leaves me."

Malin looked after the shadow of the golden eagle who the princess loved so dearly. The golden eagle was very old by now.

"Goodbye, my Guardian," Yuniko said before she once again started walking, with the knowledge Guardian would die in peace.

At the great wall the king of France and his family were invited as the king he was though the sudden appearance. None of them noticed the two young girls in boys clothing quietly entering the castle.

Yami had another class than his friends and waved goodbye to them as he made his way over to the other school-building where he would have his usual extra English class. Jono happily waved to him in return and turned, just to jump out of his shoes in fright.

"Very funny," Bakura hissed.

"Bakura! You… you look like…"

"Hell? I know!"

Bakura was ghostly pale and had fresh bruises on his face and arms. His eyes were red from crying and lack of sleep, his voice were hoarse and he smelled like he hadn't bathed in a month. His cloths were disorganized and he had a problem walking in a straight line.

"I'm just here to gather my schoolwork and tell the situation for Ryou's teacher. It has gone so far I have to force-feed him," Bakura sighed at the half scared expressions around him.

"Is it really that bad?"

This time everyone except Bakura almost literally jumped out of their shoes.

"You too Kaiba? You look like you haven't slept for a few days!" Otogi burst out.

"Thanks for noticing. I'm just here to get my schoolwork. Mom's waiting for me, so excuse me."

"What's his problem?" Honda whispered to Jono.

"I bet his worried about Yugi and Malik as well," Bakura muttered.

"Malik?" the others questioned staring strangely at him.

"The new guy in Yugi's and Ryou's class," Bakura explained. "You have culture too, Jono. Don't say you don't remember the platinum blond guy from that day."

Jono blinked dumbfound at him.

"Just forget it," Bakura muttered and rubbed his red eyes. He looked so tired a teacher who walked past gasped and more or less ordered Bakura to go straight back home, ending with Bakura hoarsely yelling he would just gather his homework and then be on his way. None of them noticed the two girls that were coming from principal's office.

The French king and his daughters were shown to their rooms so they could change cloths and take a bath after the long travel. Malin was gently shooed out of her room along with her few belongings and cloths. It was just because she was prepared for it Malin managed not to get angry. Yet she thought it was strange she and Yuniko didn't know of the French family's visit. From that she could tell Atemu did not know either. He never hid anything from his sister.

In the princess's room the young nurse changed into a pale purple dress with high neck and long arms. The wide skirt reached her knees as was common for the servants. A full-length skirt would just be in the way when they worked. Yuniko on the other hand had to wear a full-length skirt. But it didn't really matter what she wore, she looked graceful and elegant in everything she dressed in.

The young nurse helped the princess to tie the blue ribbon that would make it seem Yuniko was thinner than she was. It was just fashion, something the princess just followed if it was comfortable. When looking at themselves in the huge mirror Yuniko nodded in satisfaction. Her dress was so pale blue it looked almost white, and the dark blue ribbon made it look even whiter than it was.

When both girls were fully dressed a steady hand knocked on the door.

"Enter," the princess called just loud enough for the slave outside to hear.

"Lady Yuniko," the very young slave boy Mokuba greeted and bowed as he was expected to. "His majesty wishes your presence in the throne room to welcome the king of France and his daughters properly."

The princess nodded at him with a slight smile before she sighed. Mokuba was an errand boy with messy, black hair and grey eyes. He had lost his family to the force of nature during a storm and Atemu had saved him, taking him into the castle and had to place him with the slaves, but in difference to the others Mokuba was very careful to always appear clean in front of any of the royal siblings.

"Mokuba, can you tell us why they are here?" Malin asked for her princess.

"I do not know. All I know is that they will stay for some time."

"We know that too," Malin said.

Yuniko took a rock candy from a small bowl on her desk and handed it to Mokuba. "You said you liked them," she said when Mokuba looked at the candy uncertainly. But at her words he smiled and took the candy in his mouth.

Mokuba happily sucked at the sweet peppermint candy as he led the way to the throne room as he was ordered to. Even if Yuniko certainly didn't need anyone to show her the way as she and Malin knew it way better than anyone else, it was not polite to not let the young slave lead the way. He was cute, in his own way, and was more of a partner in crime than an admirer of the princess. He even dared to say he was the princess's friend, and both the princess and Malin agreed.

When they reached the throne room Mokuba bowed quickly for the guard as he gave the two girls over to him, before he turned and bowed deeply for the princess and lightly kissed her fingers as a sign of respect.

The guard announced the princess's and her nurse's presence before they were allowed inside.

"My dear daughter," the king greeted the princess as she reached the two thrones.

The two girls walked straight up and curtsied elegantly before they took their places, Yuniko on a white pillow at her father's feet and Malin standing behind. Atemu glanced down at her lovingly before his gaze returned to the people in front of him. Their guests had yet to honour them with their presence and he was starting to get impatient.

"His majesty, Nicolaus III Lukas of France. His daughters, the princess Mai Valentine and princess Tea von Lily," a guard announced from the giant doors and let the French royal family in.

Yuniko's father rose from his throne and greeted his friend with open arms.

"My friend, I am highly honoured of your visit. Let me present my heir, my son the prince Atemu."

Atemu stood and bowed deeply for their guest. It was a tall man with warm brown eyes and dark hair. His face was wrinkled from weather, wind and age even if he wasn't too old yet. Atemu guessed his duty as a king had aged him faster, or his daughters were no angels.

"And this is my daughter, the princess Yuniko."

Yuniko stood gracefully with one hand on Malin's. Not that it was needed, it was simply a show that they held on to for reasons unknown. But a princess should, according to Yuniko's father, be something delicate like a doll of glass.

Malin had her eyes on her princess's heel and curtsied with as much elegance as the princess.

"Who is the other girl? She surely can not be your daughter," Lukas questioned.

"Malin came here five years ago and simply befriended my daughter. Since then she hasn't left my daughter's side for anything," Yuniko's father said. He had long ago decided the story about Malin should stay untold, and everyone in the castle had agreed.

Lukas nodded at the princess's friend before he took a step to the side to present his own daughters.

"My friend Loutus, this is my older daughter Mai Valentine."

He held out his hand and one of his daughters stepped forwards and took it. She was brought in front of Atemu, who bowed more out of habit than anything else. But he had to admit this woman to be beautiful. Her blonde hair was curly and hung loosely over her back down to her hips. Her skin was pale from the hours she spent inside instead of outside enjoying the blessings of the sun. She was dressed in a long cerise dress that brought out the colour of her purple eyes.

"It is an honour to meet you, monsieur Atemu," she said with seductive voice, giving the young prince her hand. Atemu had to steel himself to not flinch; he hated when girls used that voice towards him.

"The pleasure is mine, my dear princess Valentine," he answered calmly with a smile and softly kissed her fingers.

"And my younger daughter Tea von Lily," Lukas addressed and brought his other daughter forward.

When Yami walked into his last class he was surprised to see his seat taken by a girl he had never seen before.

"Excuse me? You sit at my place," Yami told her politely.

The girl looked up at him with eyes wide with playfulness and temporary nervousness. She quickly rose from the chair.

"Sorry! I didn't know. This seat was free, or so I thought…"

"Hey, hey, calm down," Yami calmed her stumbling apologizes. "I won't hit you just because you took my seat. You're new here?"

"I am, uh, Anzu Tea Valentine Mazaki Gardner," she presented herself.

"That was awfully lots of names," Yami commented and took her hand in greeting. "I myself am named Yami Atemu. The pleasure is mine."

"My sister would love you," Anzu said more out of loss of words than anything else.

"You have a sister?"

"One year older so she's in final grade. Her name is Mai Valentine Mazaki Gardner. She's something of a hot bimbo, but she's real nice and smart when she wants to be."

The bell rang and Anzu quickly searched for a seat anywhere near her new friend. Yami was thrown into sudden depression at the mention of a sibling. All his attention was thrown back at Yugi by an instant, and his former attention was long gone.

Nothing betrayed Atemu's thoughts when the girl stood in front of him. She was a sun-skinned brunette with playful blue eyes, dressed in a light purple dress. Her hair was straight and reached not longer than to her shoulders.

"Prince Atemu," she addressed sweetly. "It is very interesting to see you in person," she said with a smile as she curtsied.

Atemu blinked out of surprise, but then smiled as his eyes softened and he bowed, going with the game.

"I see you have heard something of me," he said and his smile could be heard in his voice. "Too bad my father has not told me anything about you or your sister."

As both of them stood up they smiled at each other, Atemu kissing the girl's fingers when the hand was offered to him.

"Yuniko, give your greetings to our guests," the young princess's father told her.

The treasure took a few steps forward to stand in front of the other two princesses. She smiled brightly and curtsied along with Malin, who looked more or less disgusted.

"I certainly hope your visit here will not be in vain," Yuniko said. "As I hope your rooms fit your needs."

Malin sensed rather than saw her king glare at his daughter, and couldn't help but smile. The princess did well in impression this far.

"The rooms are very pretty," Tea said and curtsied in return.

"Indeed," Mai said and curtsied as well.

The small talk was soon over and everyone was allowed back to their rooms since it was getting time for supper soon.

"Let me show you back to your rooms," Yuniko offered and curtsied for the other two princesses.

"Very kind of you," Tea said kindly.

"Yuniko."

"Yes dear brother?"

Atemu let his eyes glide between the three girls in front of him swiftly. "I wish to talk to you later."

"As you wish, brother," Yuniko smiled before she curtsied in respect and left with the other three girls following her heels.

Out in the corridors all the formality dropped from all three princesses.

"Your brother sure is hot," Mai said and licked her lip. "Can you tell me where his room is located?"

"His majesty has given orders we are not to tell you if he does not allow it himself," Malin said sternly.

"Be quiet, mademoiselle. No need to get involved in royalties' business," Mai scolded kindly, but Malin scowled anyway.

"But Atemu at least is not one of those boring lusty men who thinks of nothing but bed life," Tea said with a smile.

"Brother is still virgin as far as I know," Yuniko said unembarrassed. "And who would know better if not me?"

She turned around to the shocked guests and smiled brightly.

"You are one strange little mademoiselle," Tea said with wide eyes.

"No, my princess is the ruler of Scotland, nothing less," Malin said simply.

This time the older girls stopped dead in their tracks and stared wide eyed at the two younger ones.

"Milady," someone called suddenly and Yuniko turned to see Mokuba running towards them. "Milady, his majesty sent me to tell you to behave more like a child," Mokuba said out of breath.

"Oh," Yuniko said as she blinked cutely. "Then I need to send you back with my answer, take your time to tell my dear father it is too late. His majesty Lukas's daughters already know of the secret."

Mokuba smiled broadly. "Can I have another candy if I do?"

Yuniko smiled kindly. "Of cause, anytime Mokuba."

"You call a simple slave by name?" Mai cried out.

"Of cause, why not. After all he is my friend."

"You are beyond strange, mademoiselle," Tea commented.

Yuniko seemed to be hit by a thought and Malin caught the hint. The young princess started to giggle before she started to dance ahead. Malin grabbed her skirt with both hands and started to spin around to make the material fly around her.

"Come and dance with us," Yuniko called as she half ran, half danced ahead.

The older princesses looked at each other in question. This young princess was just one big mystery for them both.

"This is your rooms," Yuniko and Malin said in union as the opened the two doors. "We hope they serve our guests right," they continued as they curtsied.

"Merci," Mai said, nodding her head to Yuniko who held the door to her room open.

"Thank you so much," Tea smiled to Malin who held the door to her own room open.

"Does my lady wish her room cool or warm tonight?" Malin asked politely.

Tea turned to her then glanced up at the ceiling in thought.

"I enjoy my bedroom warm, why?"

Malin took a step inside and pointed at a rusty piece of metal close to the ceiling. Behind it a hollow space was visible. "That thing is what mostly controls the temperature in here. If you close it completely the room will be as hot as a midsummer day, if the hole is completely exposed I am sure you would freeze to death. I can close it a little more since I myself enjoy my nights a little cooler."

Malin agilely jumped to a chair to a desk to the old grandfather clock to reach the piece of metal and cover the hole a little more.

"That should do it," Malin said as she jumped down at the floor again.

"Mademoiselle?" Tea asked the young nurse before she went out of the room. "How come you know of that? Are there one in every room?"

"Of cause not, your majesty. This is simply my room," Malin said and left, giggling away with her princess on the way to the other's room, leaving Tea in a loss of words.

The young princess entered the library where she had been told her older brother were at that evening. She had left Malin in her room, with the promise of a soon return. The sun was almost set and she was a little tired, but she was determined to find out what her brother needed to tell her.

"Brother?"

"There you are!"

Yuniko yelped when strong arms lifted her op from behind and soon she found herself in Atemu's strong embrace, him smirking down at her. She giggled at his playfulness.

"You wished to talk to me, brother," she reminded him softly.

Atemu glanced around himself to be sure no one was around, eavesdropping.

"I got a letter from one of the slaves, Mokuba, this morning."

"From Mokuba? Why? It must have been sneaked in here."

"Indeed," Atemu almost whispered as he walked up to one of the wide windows. "It is from the last person to ever be welcome into this castle again."

Yuniko's eyes widened. Her brother's voice were tense, something that was definitely not usual. "From who?"

"Mother!" Atemu breathed.

Yuniko paled, but a smile made its way over her pale features as she tried not to cry out in pure happiness.

"She will come back here in five years, the time it takes for her to walk here from London, and when that day comes you have to be ready for anything since you are the one she has to talk to. She wrote she will have our two younger sisters with her."

"I have little sisters?" Yuniko breathed wide-eyed.

Atemu nodded, smiling at her happiness. Little sisters meant she had someone more to take care of. He placed her back down on the floor and knelt in front of her.

"We have, but until then she warned that something may happen, and it will not be something pleasant. We have to wait and be prepared for anything sister. But promise me you will not tell Malin about this."

"Why not?" Yuniko questioned with eyes wide from confusion.

"Not because I do not trust her, but simply to keep her safe. If word ever spill out Malin will not be harmed since she knows nothing about mother."

Yuniko nodded in understanding. Five years sounded so long though. She wasn't sure if she could actually wait for so long.

"I trust you," Atemu whispered lovingly. "If you ever need to talk about it, you know where to find me."

The young princess nodded as a tear of pure bliss fell from her left eye. Atemu hastily wiped it away.

"Show no sign," he whispered into her face. "Show no hint."

The treasure nodded once again and kissed her brother good night. "I love you, brother."

"And I love you, my little treasure."

When Yuniko went to bed that night, with a happy smile on her face at the thought of seeing her mother again and the sight of a sound asleep Malin at the edge of her bed, she had no idea what five years meant. A lot could happen, and even more could change.