Just to say thanks to my reviewers, kate and SSABFF

Chapter Three: From Strangers to Dangers

Aria's POV

Aria walked into Yugi and Ryou's room, she had changed into the clothes Yugi had brought her. Though she had decided to keep on her Egyptian jewellery and was wearing the jacket as a make shift cape.

"What is this material? I have never seen anything like it before." She asked, fiddling with the bottom of the skirt that only went to just above her knees.

"It's leather…" Yugi was staring at her, a light blush on his cheeks. His stares made Aria blush.

Why is he always starring at me… I'm not pretty or anything… I don't even look remotely attractive… wait why do I care if he thinks I am or not, I hardly know him… yeah, so what if he's nice and kind… oh stop it, Aria, you're a princess, you can't be…

"Are you ok, princess Aria?" Ryou asked, snapping Aria from the argument she was having with herself.

"Um…er… yeah of course I am…why do you ask?"

"No reason…" Ryou had looked like he was going to say something else but had decided against it. Aria began to fiddle with her pendant; it had the shape and appearance of the front face of the millennium puzzle.

"That looks really good on you, princess Aria, even better then I could have imagined." Yugi blushed as he spoke.

Aria's cheeks flashed crimson; she turned her head to the side using her hair to hide her face. Ryou laughed quietly to himself, Aria noticed the book in his hand.

I wonder what it's about… must be pretty funny, he's normally really quiet.

Yugi seemed to read her thoughts, "Ryou what book is that anyway?" Ryou held up the book, showing them the cover.

A World Of Darkness And Misery… that doesn't sound funny at all… or the type of book I'd expect him to read…

"That was Bakura's favourite, right?" Yugi asked, confusing Aria.

Isn't Ryou's surname Bakura?

Ryou nodded, his mouth set in a hard straight line.

"I thought Bakura was you're surname, Ryou?" The white haired boy didn't answer; he just went back to reading his book.

"It is… but it's also the name of the person he has feelings for…" Aria saw the look in Yugi's eyes that said 'please don't ask any more questions.' She nodded to show she understood.

"So, Yugi, what do you have planned for the rest of today?" She looked at him, hoping she had successfully changed the subject to something easier to talk about for Ryou. Yugi's smile told her she had.

"We were planning on just chilling here for the rest of today, maybe have a look around the place. This is the perfect time for you to get to know everyone better." Aria nodded. She had trusted her safety to strangers, nice strangers, but strangers nonetheless so getting to know them was defiantly a good idea.

"Why don't I come with you, that way you won't feel as nervous?" Yugi offered. Aria nodded again, she liked the idea of having him with her.

But why… he's just as much a stranger to me as the others are… why does it make a difference that he'll be with me…

"Shall we go, Princess Aria?" Yugi asked as he walked over to the door. Aria nodded yet again and walked over to him.

What's wrong with me… why can I only manage nods… dammit, what about him is making me unable to even form simple sentences… I'm a Princess for Ra's sake I shouldn't be behaving like this around a commoner… let alone one I hardly know…

Yugi led her to the room next to theirs; she could tell it was the one with a side-room for Téa so it must belong to Joey and Tristan.

Yugi knocked then walked in, Aria followed him closely. Tristan and Joey were spread out on their beds flipping through magazines; Téa could be heard unpacking from the side-room. Aria could see neither Joey nor Tristan had even started to unpack, she guessed they were waiting for Téa to do it for them.

"Joey, Tristan, Téa, why don't you all tell Aria a little about yourselves." Yugi said, loudly enough for Téa to hear from the other room.

"Sure thing, Yug, I'll go first." Aria was captivated by Joey's strange accent, she still hadn't quite gotten used to it. "Well… um… I guess I should start with how I met Yug… well that's simple enough I was manning him up when he taught me some stuff about friendship and we became friends… then I went with him to Duelist's Kingdom to save his Gramps and so I could get some money for my sisters eye operation, she was going blind, then I entered Battle City with him and was a finalist in both-"

Aria could tell this was going to be a long explanation when Yugi's voice cut in, "Hey, Joey, why don't you tell us the short version."

"That's if it has one" Tristan added causing Joey to throw his shoe at him. Aria couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Ok, Tristan you next." Yugi said obviously trying to move things along before Joey ended up murdering Tristan.

He nodded before speaking, "Well, I used to help Joey bully – I mean man up Yugi…"

Yugi snorted at this and muttered, "Yeah man me up, seemed more like bullying to me." Aria looked between the three boys.

"Yeah but you forgave us for that, right Yug? I mean we were trying to man you up… we just used a bully technique to do it…" Joey's voice held a hint of worry.

Yugi smiled, "of course I forgave you, you've helped me out lots of times since then, how could I not forgive you?" Joey sighed with relief.

"Hey! I was talking! So listen, anyway, Princess, I became friends with Yugi when Joey did and supported them both through all their little adventures…" this got angry mutters from Yugi and Joey about how they were saving the world, Tristan spoke louder ignoring them, "and I met Joey's sister Serenity and fell in love with her, we go out now but she has school work so couldn't come with us." Tristan got another shoe thrown at him; obviously Joey didn't like the idea of his sister dating Tristan.

Téa walked in at that point, "Ok, my turn, well I have been friends with Yugi since we were both little and became friends with Joey and Tristan when Yugi did, and have always dreamed of being a dancer so for the past year I have been in New York, in America, at a famous dance school. That's about it for me…"

Aria nodded, she felt she knew them better already not from just what they'd said but from how they acted around each other.

"What about Ryou? I still don't know much about him." She asked, looking at everyone. No one said anything.

Finally Yugi spoke, "Ryou isn't very open with his past… you will have to ask him about that but I'm afraid he will only tell you when he feels it is the right time…"

Aria nodded, she understood about people's personal space and that some didn't like others poking in their past.

Marik is like that… he hates his past being brought up… but one day I hope he feels that he can tell me, I would like to know more about him. He is like a brother to me after all…

"Ok, so what about you, Yugi? I've learnt a little about you from what others have said but you haven't told me anything yourself." Aria looked into his eyes, at once she found herself transfixed by the intensity of his eyes, she blushed.

"I live over a game shop owned by my family, I work their part time. I'm the King Of Games, meaning I'm the top-ranking duelist in I think it's the whole world… my dad's away a lot as he's a businessman and my mum works at the game shop with my Grandpa. I'm twenty-two-and-a-half and used to own the Millennium Puzzle. I have saved the world many times from many people, with the help of my friends. Also I… I used to have a boyfriend but he…. Moved away…" Yugi stopped speaking and looked down.

Aria laid a hand on his shoulder, "I believe there's one more person I need to get to know? Seto right?" Yugi nodded, he looked relived that she didn't press him for details.

She smiled, she did know when it was time to let a conversation drop and that had felt like the right time.

Yugi left the room, with Aria right behind him. This time after he knocked he didn't just walk in, he waited. The door opened but was immediately closed. Yugi knocked again; this time when it opened he jammed his foot in it so it couldn't be closed.

"Kaiba, Princess Aria wishes to know more about you. Please talk to her." The door opened fully, Kaiba went and sat on one of the two beds in the room.

He raised an eyebrow at the princess, "What is it about me you wish to know, Princess." His tone was ruder then that of his friends but Aria let it slide.

"About you in general, at the moment we are strangers and I can not trust my life in the hands of strangers. I already know a little about Yugi and the others. All that is left is you, Seto Kaiba." She put some authority into her voice, with a person like him that was the only way to be taken seriously.

Kaiba looked her up and down, then smirked to himself, "You know, Princess, you act very much like someone I once knew. He was a great duelist, one of the only people worthy of my respect." He paused before continuing, "As you wish I will tell you about myself, my mother died after my little brother, Mokuba, was born. My father in an accident a few years later. My brother and me went to live in an orphanage until one day I beat Gozubro Kaiba in a chess game; he had agreed to adopt me and my brother if I won. He then made me study very hard so that one day I could run his company. When that day came I changed the company into one of gaming, I invented the duel disk system used by duelists today. I have helped Yugi out on occasions when it fitted with my purposes. And only came to Egypt as a favour to Yugi, I owed him so flew him here in my jet. Is that enough?" Aria nodded, she had learnt plenty about the young multimillionaire.

She and Yugi left Kaiba's room, as soon as they were outside of it Aria spoke, "Yugi, do you mind if I go for a walk, I always think better when I go for walks. I'll be really careful and will stay close to the hotel."

"Sure, but be back before it gets dark, please."

Aria of course nodded, she had no intention of staying outside at night when there was someone after her. Aria left the building and looked around. She had never been so far from the palace so didn't know the area but she did recognise some of the buildings from books she had once studied.

Aria wasn't paying full attention to where she was going so walked straight into someone. She felt strong masculine hands steady her by gripping her upper arm.

"You should really watch where you're going, Princess, there are a lot of nasty people out there that might just want to ruin that pretty face of yours."

Aria paled.

That voice… no… it couldn't be… could it… but how… how did he find me… and where is Marik… what did he do to him…