Author's Note: I had a dream about this story. I took it as a telepathic message from my followers, screaming, "UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE!"

So, I updated.

I humbly present you with the next chapter.

Chapter 14

"He'll be here in a week."

"A week…" Yugi echoed. She didn't hesitate to ask directly after, "Could you read me the letter?"

The Pharaoh was surprised at this request but nodded, unraveling the scroll and reading aloud:

"To the Pharaoh of Egypt, Our Holy Land-

Sincerest thanks to you for your request of my presence at the palace. I must admit that I am not surprised at this proposal. I expected something of this nature before long, being that my lovely younger sister, Lady Yugi is within your palace.

I thoroughly apologize for any inconveniences Yugi may have caused you. Her blindness renders her helpless, and it's obvious that she needs constant care and attention.

Fortunately, I have the time next week to receive her. She won't have to burden your court anymore. I will repay the court with a donation for your patronage towards my little sister.

This exchange must go smoothly. Lady Yugi may tell you lies about me, being that she is a bit of a wild child. Her blindness, although unfortunate, has not resolved her temperament, which is famous in our family.

Rest assured, she is in good hands with me. If the exchange goes well, you can be made certain that I will use the Motou family's riches to better your kingdom.

Again, apologies for the incommode. I will arrive within the week.

-Lady Yugi's brother and Heir to the Motou family"

"You don't believe any of that, do you?" Yugi cried fearfully.

"Of course not!" Akunumkanon exclaimed, shocked that Yugi would even consider that he would believe her brother over her.

Yugi took a sigh of relief.

The Pharaoh added, "It's obvious that this letter isn't his real thoughts on the matter. He hopes he won't have to use drastic measures if he plays the innocent card."

"That snake!" Atem hissed. He would have said worse, but Yugi was present.

Akunumkanon nodded and transitioned, "We have a week then, a week to decide how we're going to go about this with your brother, Lady Yugi."

"What do you mean?" Yugi inquired, her face expressionless.

The Pharaoh swallowed before explaining, "I doubt he's going to be as calm and cooperative as he says he will be, especially after we announce to him that Atem wishes to marry you."

"Probably not," Atem commented with a slight growl.

"Then, we should form a plan," the Pharaoh proposed.

Atem thought aloud, "We don't have to have him sign the contract willingly, right…?"

Yugi cut in quietly, "I know my brother is a terrible person and does not deserve any grace, but I prefer you'd not torture him to sign the contract."

"I wasn't implying torture," Atem assured. "I was implying trickery."

Yugi blinked. "What?"

"I like this idea, Atem," Akunumkanon urged, "Elaborate."

Atem smiled almost deviously, explaining, "We could get him to sign something that appears to not be the marriage contract. That way, we'll get his signature easily."

Yugi surprised both Atem and the Pharaoh by laughing. She stuttered through her laughter, "I- I mean not disrespect, but I doubt- I doubt you can trick my brother."

"Lady Yugi is right, unfortunately," Akunumkanon told his son, "If you want to trick someone as clever as Lady Yugi's brother, you'll have to be very, very cunning about it."

Atem gave them a look. "Are you insinuating that I'm not as smart as Yugi's brother?"

The Pharaoh adverted his eyes. Yugi just sighed.

"You are, aren't you? How dare you two! You especially, Yugi!"

"Of course I'm not doubting you," Yugi assured quickly, "I just know my brother very well, and he's…"

"Smarter than me?"

"No. Make no mistake, you are smarter than him."

Atem smiled at the praise. "What were you going to say then?" he inquired.

"I was going to say he's…" Yugi finished, "… crafty."

"Crafty?"

"And a threat to everyone around him." Yugi turned towards Akunumkanon, stressing, "Please make sure there is plenty of security when he arrives. Warn everyone. If anything happens to anybody, I cannot help but feel solely responsible."

"I will," the Pharaoh agreed, realizing it was important to Yugi that he does this.

Yugi faced Atem again, taking his hand and telling him in a hushed tone, "I can't lose you. Ever. So I need you to be careful."

Atem's face softened at this. "Of course. I promise, you won't lose me."

Yugi nodded and held Atem's hand up to her cheek so that it would caress her face. She loved the feeling he gave her. She wished it to never be gone. She silently vowed that she'd never give it up without a fight. And, if that meant disposing of her brother for good-

So be it.

Though, she hoped it wouldn't have to come to that.

-transition-

"Yugi, I have been thinking…"

"About what?" Yugi questioned Atem as they sat with Isis and Mahad at the long table in the dining room a few days later.

Atem's crimson eyes gently grazed Yugi's face as he supplied, "About the day we unofficially met."

"You mean in the courtroom?" Yugi asked, a shade of pink infiltrating her face at the memory, "What about it?"

"You wanted to go home."

"I… I did say that, didn't I…?" Yugi thought back to that day. She had been so afraid and confused. Her world was a blank canvas that had been splashed blood red before she could even get the chance to discover herself. The painter of her life had been pushed away, her brother taking control. But, somehow, she had been able to run away with her canvas, finding a new environment to quietly turn the red into innocent pink. "I suppose why I said that was because I was so mixed up about life. I had had a plan to get your help, but it all melted away with my anxiety when I actually arrived at the palace."

"Hmm…" Atem mulled this over. It made sense. He had said some things as well he hadn't meant in the shock of everything that day.

"I had been wondering that, too," Isis intercepted from across the table.

The couple didn't seem to hear her. It had been like that all week. Isis and Mahad ate meals with Lady Yugi and Atem because they were invited as company, but soon, they would be forgotten when Yugi and Atem started whispering things of endearment towards each other. Most times the Item Bearers would leave about halfway through, hardly noticed at all.

This was not an inconvenience for the two, though. Being the romantics they were, they would forget the food in front of them and lean on their hands to watch the romantic scenes in front of them. It was as entertaining as a drama preformed on stage, and both Isis and Mahad had to keep their Aww!'s to themselves.

The relationship between the two was still quite innocent. Rarely would they begin to kiss, and if they did, Isis and Mahad were not allowed to leave anyway.

The Pharaoh had made it quite clear that they always needed a supervisor.

At least until the wedding predicament had been solved.

"Lady Yugi?" someone interrupted a warm moment between Yugi and Atem.

Yugi turned toward the voice and asked, "What is it, Priest Seto?"

Seto swallowed before stating dryly, "The Pharaoh wishes that I inform you that your brother is currently at the front gate of the palace."

"What?" Atem snarled, protesting, "But it's only been five days!"

"I thought he'd do something like that…" Yugi admitted, "… Show up unexpectedly, when we're not prepared."

"I figured that as well," Seto agreed, "He's always one to take advantage of weaknesses."

"Then, we must go meet him, of course?" Yugi inquired, praying with all her heart that the answer would be no and that him coming early was all just a dream.

"That'd be best." Seto sighed, pledging, "You're not alone, Lady Yugi. We're all going to keep you safe."

"And everyone else safe?"

Seto gave a rare smile. "Yes. And everyone else safe. I promise."

-transition-

Atem wanted Yugi to sit down when her brother was led inside for fear that she may faint again, but she insisted on standing tall when she faced him after all this time.

Accordingly, Atem stood next to Yugi, holding her hand firmly.

The two were not alone as they stood. On their left and closest to Atem was Akunumkanon. After all, he wasn't going to let his son and son's fiancé stand without being right by their side. On the right and directly next to Yugi was Seto. The Pharaoh reasoned, since he knew the most about this character besides Yugi of course, he should stand as well.

The rest of the court had been requested to attend as well, consisting of the entire security staff, the Item Bearers, Mana, and even some other dignitaries they hardly knew, all of whom wanted to support the royal couple.

Slowly, through the same door Yugi had been dragged through that fateful day she had arrived at the palace, her brother walked in, accompanied by a few scouts of his.

Yugi stared straight ahead, knowing exactly where he was despite her lack of seeing ability. She felt the eyes of everyone in the courtroom shift to one side.

That had to be her brother.

"Hello, Brother," Yugi greeted, her tone steady but ice.

"Yes," Seto added-

"Hello, Yami."

Author's Note: FINALLY!

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOSH! AHH! WHY THE HECK IS IT MY NATURE TO STOP THERE?

(To be fair, I've had that cliffhanger in my mind forever.)

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