Chapter Nine - A New Friend

Aria's POV

Aria pulled Yugi towards the Nile River. Even though it would normally be filled with crocodiles, this particular part had always been croc free, Aria had theories on why that was.

As soon as they reached the water's edge, Aria let go of Yugi's hand.

They waited for the others to catch up.

"Next time ya gunna run of like that, warn a guy, would ya?" Joey was doubled over panting.

Aria couldn't keep the smirk off her face as she spoke, "Sorry, Joey…. Though we didn't run that far… plus Yugi was the one ill so shouldn't he be the one out of breath, and not you?"

"I'm no good at running AND it is hotter here than I'm used to." Joey said defensively.

Aria thought for a second, "True… but none of the others are out of breath and they aren't used to the heat."

As if she had jinxed it, Tristan and Ryou caught up, both out of breath and clutching at stitches in their sides.

Joey raised an eyebrow at Aria as if to say 'you were saying?'

"Tristan is out of shape, and Ryou is…well… Ryou is Ryou." Aria folded her arms over her chest, frowning slightly.

"I'm not out of shape… I'm just not a good runner, it's not my fault…" Tristan muttered.

"What sort of comeback is 'Ryou is Ryou'?" Joey asked.

"A not very good one, that's what." Tristan answered.

Aria clenched her hands into fists.

Marik, noticing Aria's knuckles turning white, decided it was time for him to be peace keeper, "That's enough, all three of you. Just cool it and relax."

Aria death-glared at her protector, causing him to jump back in alarm, then she smirked, seeming to have gotten an idea.

"Yes why don't we cool it… After you two."

With this she pushed both Joey and Tristan into the river.

Everyone, apart from the two boys, burst into laughter as Joey and Tristan's heads burst up from under the water.

"Who knew the Princess had this kinda side to her." Joey said, shaking his wet hair out of his eyes.

"Well that's not a surprise, she has known Marik since she was little. And he's like the king of things like this." Tristan replied, spiting water out.

The blond nodded in agreement.

The two boys climbed out of the river and took their shirts off.

"Whoa, what do you two think you're doing?" Téa said covering her eyes with her hands, "There are girls present."

The two boys looked over at her, confused.

"So?" Tristan asked.

Téa didn't look pleased by this reply, "So, we don't wanna see two shirtless guys… well we don't wanna see you and Joey shirtless anyway."

Aria couldn't help but laugh.

"But it's hot…" Joey whined.

Everyone laughed this time.

"Joey's right, it is hot." Marik said, taking his own shirt off.

This didn't bother Aria; she'd seen Marik shirtless plenty of times in the past.

Ryou decided to also take of his shirt, followed a few minutes later by Yugi. Aria looked at each of the shirtless males in turn, taking in their appearances.

Wow each of them - well apart from Ryou - has a six-pack, well-toned chest and muscular arms… Marik has the most muscle… then Tristan and Joey, they're about even… actually I'd say Yugi just about has more muscle then them… he even has a slight tan which combined with his muscle- wait why am I even thinking about this? Snap outta it Aria, you are a princess; you can't afford to get distracted by thoughts like that, not while your kingdom is in trouble like this.

"You ok, Aria?"

Yugi's voice broke through her train of thought.

"Huh? Oh yeah, just thinking that's all." She replied with a smile.

Shortly after that everyone had settled down to do something; Joey and Tristan were mucking around in the river, Téa sat with her feet in the river, her shoes and jacket discarded beside her, Kaiba sat in the shade of a tree, still fully clothed much to Aria's surprise, talking on his phone, Marik was lying beside the river one of his hands rested on his stomach (the other was in the river) with his eyes closed, Yugi was stood a little away from the group appearing to be talking to himself.

Aria, her leather jacket still tied round her shoulders like a cape, walked over to Yugi.

"What ya doing, Yugi?" She asked curiously.

"Oh, me and Yami are practicing something. He wants to be able to become more corporal so everyone can see him." Yugi replied, gesturing to the air beside him.

"Yami?" Aria tilted her head in confusion.

Yugi nodded, "His real name is Atem, but I've always known him as Yami or as the Pharaoh or simply just Pharaoh…"

"Oh I know who you're talking about now; Marik told me all about Pharaoh Atem. Wait, is he here now? I thought he was dead." Aria said looking around.

Yugi gave a small laugh, "He is dead, and it's only his spirit that's here. When we went to the tomb I was able to put his soul into this key for a certain amount of time… I don't know how long for though… or why I was able to do this…"

Aria just nodded, still looking around for Yami.

"We haven't had much progress so far… so I don't think you'll be able to see him yet… sorry." Yugi sounded disappointed.

"Don't be sorry, maybe I'll get to meet him soon. You two just keep practicing and I'm sure you'll get the hang of it." Aria said with a wink, making Yugi's cheeks flash crimson.

Aria then turned and walked back over to the others, leaving Yugi to practice on his own with the ancient spirit.

For some strange reason, I feel like we're being watched… I've felt like this since I brought Yugi out here… I'm sure it's nothing; I'm probably just getting paranoid.

As soon as the thought entered Aria's mind, the bush she was passing rustled and moved.

"Huh?"

Slowly and cautiously she walked towards it, feeling the eyes of all her friends on her back.

"Aria, get away from there. Let me handle this." Marik shouted over to her.

Aria shhhed him and crept closer to the moving bush. When she was an arm's distance away, a small furry creature jumped out and tackled her to the floor.

Aria giggled as it licked her face.

"My Princess are you ok?" Marik asked, walking over to her.

Aria sat up, holding a wiggling puppy in her arms, "Yeah, of course. It's just a cute ickle puppy." She stood up, trying to hold the energetic puppy still.

"It looks really thin and dirty. What should we do with it?" Joey asked.

"Oh you poor thing, you need lots of love and care and I shall be the one that gives it to you. Marik I'm keeping him." Aria said hugging the puppy to her chest.

"Let's think about this a little more, Aria, you don't know where he's been - he might be carrying diseases." Marik said.

"How do you know it's male?" Tristan asked.

"I know he doesn't have any diseases because my Millennium Pendant said so, and trust me it's a boy. He needs looking after and I'm going to be the one to look after him."

As she spoke she walked over to the river, knelt down and carefully placed the squirming puppy in the water. Then, she started to wash the puppy as best she could with just her hands.

"What breed is it?" Joey asked as everyone gathered around Aria.

Aria managed to get all the dirt and sand out of the puppy's fur. Gently, she lifted him out of the water.

Immediately the puppy shook his fur dry and wagged his tail.

"He's a German Shepard, I think… but he has black fur with brown markings… and one of his eyes is blue while the other is brown, how odd…" Marik commented.

"It's not odd, it's adorable." Aria said, hugging the puppy tightly.

The puppy seemed to enjoy the hug as it licked Aria's cheek.

"Well if you are indeed going to keep him, he'll need a name and collar. Here, for now use this as a collar 'til we can get him a proper one."

As he spoke Marik took off his golden choker, adjusted its size and put it around the puppy's neck.

The puppy's tail wagged even faster and it barked happily.

"I think he likes it, Marik… but as for the name I have no idea, does anyone else?" Aria said, looking at everyone in turn, the excited puppy in her arms.

"What about Pharaoh?" Marik suggested.

"No, it's more of a Joe." Joey said.

"I say it looks like a Mutt." was Kaiba's idea.

"Na, it's a Lucky." Ryou offered.

"We should call it Nile 'cause that's where we found it." Tristan said.

"How about Atem?" Téa recommended.

"Why not call it Tiragon?" Yugi asked.

"Where'd that name come from, Yug?" Joey asked his small friend.

"It's the name of this dragon card, Aria said she thinks the puppy is cute and the baby version of Tiragon is cute, plus when the puppy's all grown up it could be a guard dog so needs a name fitting of one…. But it's a silly idea for a name, sorry…." Yugi's voice slowly trailed away.

"Tiragon… I like it! Hello my little Tiragon."

The puppy wagged its tail, happy with its new name.

"You really like that name?" Yugi asked.

"Of course I do." Aria said smiling.

Yugi's face light up with a huge smile, making everyone laugh.

Tiragon barked happily, his tail wagging at a hundred miles an hour. After the laughter and barking had subsided, Joey's stomach growled loudly, causing another round of laughter.

"Why don't we head back and eat? I'm sure little Tiragon would appreciate that too." Marik suggested, receiving a bark from Tiragon. "I'll take that as a yes." Marik laughed.

They then all turned to head back to the healer's house. Aria looked around them, Tiragon in her arms.

"What's wrong, Aria?" Yugi asked.

"Nothing… I just feel like we're being watched… but I'm sure it's nothing… lets go."

She then led them back to the healer's house.

Thief King's POV

The Thief King and his band of thieves were sat upon their horses atop of one of the cliffs near the healer's house, watching the Princess and her friends.

"Master, why is it you are bothering to spy on the Princess if you have no intentions of kidnapping her yet?" one of the Thief King's men asked.

"Because I am trying to figure out the best way to take her, without the other brats getting in the way… and I think I have just found it." The Thief king replied with a grin, his eyes on Aria and Yugi, who were laughing at the puppy in the Princess' arms as they walked.

"Now it's only a matter of time before the throne is mine. Follow me, my men; it's time for us to take the first step towards our bright future."

The Thief King turned his horse and rode towards the setting sun.