Mena had once again done herself up, as she was supposed to, to escort the Pharaoh through the kingdom. She pulled at her freshly combed through hair anxiously. Yesterday had been an absolute disaster as far as she was concerned. She wanted to have a good time and meet a new friend, not be worried about her 'orders' or upsetting someone. She had threatened his life and made herself sound even more insane than she actually was. If he was anywhere near 'happy' to see her, she would be damn surprised.

She arranged her robes for the day over the bright necklace that shone proudly from her neck. If there was ever an inanimate object to hate, it would be the one that made her an absolute slave to others. It took away her freedom and free will, and trapped her in that life. She always made absolutely sure she had it covered.

She pulled on the other jewelry she was given in order to look like something more. After all, the Pharaoh couldn't just be seen escorted by anyone. She had to at least look the part. She put coal around her eyes and put a desert lily in her hair as the final touch, and for a bit of perfume.

She shoved her door open and skipped out of the room, ready to go search for her babysitting job. As she came around the corner that separated the doors, she nearly fell over with laughter. The poor royal was pushing against his door with all his might, and then trying to wiggle through the small gap he had made. It was indeed a comical sight. Mena shook her head and pulled the door open in one swift motion, and the man tumbled out onto the marble floors with a large, 'OOMPH'! He laid on the floor for a moment while she stood over him with a large grin on her face.

"Very nice, Pharaoh Atem!" She gave him mock applause. "That was a very nice show, but we must get going. Apep is surprisingly large you know, not just a small blemish on Egypt's fair skin." She said it with a comical smile on her face, but a bit bitter.

Atem attempted to scramble up, but she held out her hand gently for him and he pulled himself to his feet. He noticed she was in a much better mood today; or at least appeared to. Perhaps she had been ordered to be a little friendlier. He hardly doubted the King would want her to upset him at all. He snapped out of his daze and followed her down the large halls. Her hair was long, he noticed. It was perfectly clean and white, shining brilliantly in the sunlight. It swept back and forth as she kept her brisk pace. Her robes flowed behind her, barely touching the ground. Today she had been adorned in many bangles and other gold accessories. She hardly looked the same as she had yesterday. Atem shook his head and took in a breath. He needed to clear his mind. He shouldn't be thinking such thoughts… Mena turned her head to look at him. She raised a brow.

"Everything alright, Pharaoh Atem? You needn't walk behind me you know. You're royalty; I'm supposed to walk behind you." He stared at her for a moment, caught off guard. He hardened his gaze a bit.

"I don't take a whole lot of thought into the traditional rules. You may address me however you choose, and I will be very happy to walk behind, beside, or in front of you." She held his gaze for a moment and he moved up to walk beside her. "Better?" He asked.

"You're very intriguing, Pharaoh Atem…" She squinted her eyes a bit. He chuckled a bit.

"I think the same could very well be said about you." She gave a small, 'hm' in amusement and they were silent for the rest of the journey until they arrived outside.

They stopped right at the front gates. "How would you like to travel today, Pharaoh Atem? Caravan, horses?"

"Horses, of course. I don't believe in making such a fuss. Two guards and us should do just fine. My friend Mana will also be joining us, if that's alright."

l…l

Mena could hardly believe it. Not only did he want to ride horses with minimal guards or servants, but he was asking her permission to take along a friend. He was unreal! She looked at him with a confused frown for a moment and realized she was making him uncomfortable.

"Oh! Um, of course. I'll have someone bring us horses, and I'll summon some guards. He nodded his head.

"My friend should be joining us soon…" She held back a laugh as he added a soft, 'I hope'. She approached one of the gate guards with a smile. She liked the gate guards. They were by far the friendliest, as well as the strongest and the most brave. They had to be, in case someone tried to enter the palace without permission. Unsurprisingly, this happened fairly frequently. She asked one of them to get a servant and request five horses and two guards from the palace. She turned back to walk to the Pharaoh and spotted a young girl running excitedly towards them, waving her arms and yelling. Meanwhile the man was massaging his temples, slightly embarrassed.

l…..l

Atem tried to hide his blush as Mana sped toward them like a mad woman. Mena looked at the sight as though she wasn't sure what exactly to make of it. Mana finally reached him excitedly and Mena began her way back to join them.

"Hi Pharaoh! So how's your friend? Are you excited to see the kingdom? I needed to get out of there! Plus Mahado is busy so I don't have to do studies! What else are we doing today? Where's that girl at?" Mana had a constant stream of questions and things to tell him in the short time they hadn't seen one another. Mena finally reached back to them.

"Hi there! I think I've seen you before but I can't remember who you are." Mena offered her hand to Mana. Mana paused for a second and was deathly still and quiet.

"Oh my gosh! You're the girl from last night, aren't you?" She said a little awed. Mena's kind look faltered a bit but she picked it back up.

"Yes, my name's Mena. Let's just forget about that incident shall we? There's more to me than one night." Mana blushed a bit, not meaning to offend her.

"Mena? My name's Mana! Almost the same! Nice to meet you! I'm Priest Mahad's protégé. I study under him and I'm learning a lot. I've been friends with Atem for a long time now." The girl smiled gleefully, trying to recover from her mistake. Mena smiled surprisingly warmly.

"You remind me of one of my friends, you two would get along very well. Ah, here come the horses. The guards should be here momentarily-"she sucked in a breath of air with a hiss as she saw the guards approaching. The warm smile that had graced her face earlier had fallen.

l…l

She stopped in the middle of her sentence. Nothing could take her gaze away from the scene approaching her at this moment. Of all the guards that could have come with them that day, and there were many, the two that had attacked her yesterday had been the ones chosen. They were still far off in the distance, but Mena could still see the menacing grins plastered across their faces. She snapped back into reality for a split second and composed herself.

"If you'll excuse me Pharaoh Atem, Mana…" She didn't even glance at their shocked and confused faces as she walked away. She was too focused on her current targets. She wasn't going to risk losing her composure or opportunity.

Subconsciously she shifted into her mode of huntress. She dipped her chin low to her chest and her back straight as she walked lightly across the ground, barely making a sound. Her hands were gripped, white knuckled behind her back. Her eyes picked up a threatening glint in the Egyptian sun. When she was only a few paces from the guards, they stopped in their tracks, frozen as they spotted her. The cocky, evil smiles on their faces were long gone.

"Hey sweetie, come to have a good time again?" One guard growled nervously. The other gurgled what Mena could only imagine was some sort of laugh.

"Gentlemen, I suggest you walk back inside." She spoke, only her mouth showing any sign of movement as her gaze held them hostage. The larger of the two gave a loud gulp and took a shaky step backward. The other held his ground and glared back.

"You can't threaten us. You don't have any power. You're under the King's orders not to harm anyone." He smirked and gave a dark chuckle. "We should be asking you to walk back inside for us…" Mena was silent and then began to laugh loudly. Her head rolled back in near mania.

"Oh! Oh dear guards! You seem to forget I'm under the reign of the Pharaoh at the moment! The only order I have controlling me is that I am not to leave his side or attempt to escape. There are no laws protecting you right now." The men pushed backwards in horror. "Now, I won't ask again. Go back inside." They turned and ran for their lives toward the palace. Mena smirked devilishly and calmly followed them. She disappeared into the shadows, and the men's screams were quickly silenced.

l…..l

Atem and Mana watched as Mena confronted the guards at the entrance to the palace. They seemed nervous and uncomfortable as they spoke to her. Eventually, the guards seemed to hurry back towards the palace and Mena followed. Atem frowned and turned to Mana.

"Do you hear screaming?" Mana shook her head.

"Sorry, no." Atem looked back at the gates, uncertain. He could have sworn he heard the two men calling out. Eventually, Mena walked back out from the gates with two new guards. She was running her hands through her hair and straightening her robes. She looked a little frazzled. She met the two with a smile, but something seemed a tad off.

"Hello! Sorry to have kept you both waiting…I had something to take care of. These fine men will be accompanying us today." She gestured to the two new guards who seemed a bit pale. One had a clammy sweat on his brow, as though he had just been sick, or was going to be. "Let's be off, shall we?"

I...I

They began their journey around the kingdom in the large market of Apep, a guard rode in front and in back of the trio, with the Pharaoh in the middle and Mena and Mana on either side. Atem noticed this kingdom was incredibly different than any other he had to visit. Usually, he was flocked by people, barely able to move through the street without people bowing, begging, or shouting all around him. They even went as far to kiss his hands and feet as he passed. He had never liked that part. However, once they had calmed down, he liked the trips because he could talk with the people and wonder on his own.

These people however, avoided him like the plague. They actually ran from their group and scurried inside their homes. The vendors on the market streets that were shouting moments ago were silent as they passed by. A small child pattered out into the street in awe of the horses and reached out to pet one. He had barely stretched out his small arm before he was swept up by his mother and scolded as she ran away. Atem pulled on his black horse's reigns and spoke,

"Stop." Mena pulled in front and turned her horse to face him. The guards stopped dead in their tracks, waiting silently.

"Is there something wrong Pharaoh Atem?" Mena questioned softly. She had been trying to tell him the history and state of the market as they walked through, he supposed trying to take his mind off the silence, and also trying to cover up her own oddities. He still was unnerved by her behavior. He frowned,

"Yes, actually, there is something very wrong here. What is the matter with the people? I've never seen anyone run like this unless there was a shadow demon! Why are they so terrified of us?" Mena shifted uncomfortably, but didn't give an answer. He sighed and slid off his horse. He followed the direction the mother and boy had taken, and found them pressed against a wall in an alley. The boy was staring wide eyed at the Pharaoh and the mother whimpered as she held him tightly. Atem knelt down on one knee and held his hand out.

"Little one, would you like to see the horses? You needn't be afraid." The boy sucked in an excited breath and wiggled loose from his mother's shocked grip. He ran to Atem and took his hand as his mother cried out his name in fear. "Don't be afraid, I won't harm your son." He led the young boy to the large beasts and hoisted him atop. The boy squealed with glee and carefully ran his small fingers through the stallion's mane.

Atem looked over at Mena who had her mouth agape in shock. She closed it, seeming to realize what she was doing, but kept her confused face. He noticed people seemed to emerge from their homes, talking softly amongst one another. After another moment, he plucked the boy from the horse's back and set him back on the ground. The boy waved goodbye innocently to the horse and to Atem before running back to his mother. He gave the woman and the child one last warm smile, and took his horse by its reigns and led it as they continued along the silent market.

Mena, still ahead of the group, hesitated as she watched the Pharaoh calmly walk towards a produce stand. He looked up at her and motioned for her to dismount from her horse. She paused, seeming unsure as she looked at the eyes around her, but slid off her horse and followed Atem's lead. He looked back at Mana, who had already done the same and seemed preoccupied with talking with her horse. He chuckled and plucked an apple from the stand as he handed a gold coin to the pale vendor. His horse whinnied softly and he handed the black creature the sweet fruit. Atem turned to Mena, whose brow was still furrowed curiously.

"Would you like an apple? They look delicious, and Ra knows it would feel good in this heat." Before she could answer him, the vendor squeaked out behind the wooden stand,

"Oh! My Pharaoh! Please, take this bag of apples for free, and any more you would like, for that matter." Atem frowned lightly.

"That doesn't seem fair to others. Here." He handed the man more coins as he accepted the bag of rosy fruit. The man uneasily smiled back.

"Th-thank you!" Atem smiled back and bowed his head slightly in thanks. At this, the whole market seemed to snap back into its rhythm and bustle.

"Pharaoh! Over here! Would you like some beautiful jewelry, my Pharaoh? Some wine, My Pharaoh? Do your horses require water, my Pharaoh?" Atem lit up and beamed as the people became more approachable and began to smile and wave at him. Very few still seemed afraid, but still they roamed the streets, no longer cowering in corners. Mena pulled her horse into a trot as she caught up to him and got away from a jewelry vendor.

"I'm impressed, Pharaoh Atem. You seem to have accomplished something very few kings have, and even less Pharaohs have." Atem cocked his head.

"Oh, really? And what would that be?" She smiled and leant in close.

"You've become personable and approachable to the people." She whispered as she held his eyes captive. Her breath smelled sweetly of flowers and honey. He felt his face grow hot and he cleared his throat.

"W-well, that's just how I feel I should be. I don't think I'm much more special than anyone else." Mena's head reared back as she laughed.

"Dear Ra! Don't let anyone hear you say that! There would be an uprising if the people knew you believed that! You are the Pharaoh after all. That's why there are special rules pertaining to you, you know. It's so that everyone knows you're special and all powerful." She spoke the last words rather bitterly, he thought. He shifted uncomfortably.

"I know why the rules are there, I just have better faith in my people than past rulers have. I don't think I must be feared in order to be respected. Nor do I believe I must force my power over them constantly to remind them who I am and what I am capable of." Mena's eyes grew soft as she was silent for a moment.

"Those are very wise words, Pharaoh Atem. You are definitely different than other rulers…" She held his gaze, and his breath caught in his throat.

"Pharaoh! Pharaoh! Look what I found!" Mana squealed gleefully behind them and they both turned around. She held up a small blue book happily as a very elderly man wobbled beside her. She handed him the proper amount for the book and she ran up to them. "It's a magic and potions book! The man said it was very old. It has all sorts of things I've never seen before! I hope Mahado will know some of them…"

l…..l

Mena watched the two look over the book and converse over some of the spells and depictions. They were both definitely interesting individuals. Atem was truly unique. Of all the kings, Pharaohs and rulers she had met, he took the cake. She could see he was to be the beginning of a new age. He wanted nothing to do with the older rules and laws. He believed in much more beyond just himself and the people he loved. He had a heart, something truly rare in her time, she believed.

Mena was suddenly ripped from her thoughts as she saw something dark dart in her vision. She looked up and sensed an evil presence. She sucked in a breath and narrowed her eyes. She knew exactly who it was. She pulled her hood over her head and covered the bottom half of her face. Looking over at the Pharaoh and his friend, she knew they weren't paying attention to her, and she slipped away from the group into a dark alley.

"Come out. I know where you are." A low chuckle answered her voice and there was a pause. A boy tumbled behind a wall and panted for breath. He had long white hair and a scar on his face. He looked up at Mena with large blue eyes.

"Thank goodness you're here! Someone just attacked me!" His small, high pitched voice called out to her. She didn't move.

"Stand up. No games. Your innocent appearance isn't fooling me, Bakura." The boy leapt up and the once pure face was gone, now a menacing grin. His face had become sharp, demon like in its features. His voice was deep and growling.

"Ah, I see you know me. Hmm if that's the case, then why are you here? Surely you know what I'll do to you." He chuckled again. Mena's hands balled into fists.

"I know exactly who you are, and what you do. You should have been dead years ago, for more reasons than one. Your white hair betrays you."

"Hmm, maybe I should have died, however I'm alive now, and I have a goal to accomplish. And you seem to be in my way currently." He leapt at her with a dagger, ready to slit her throat, and she quickly dodged. As he flew by her, she grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. She kicked the dagger from his hands.

"I will tell you that your goal is in vain, and that nothing will be accomplished by this goal even if you were to succeed. I will kill you for all the crimes you have committed." He looked up at her in surprise for a second and then kicked her away. He pulled a new dagger from his robes and slashed at her face. Again she pinned him to the ground, however this time he had a wild smile on his face. Her hood fell to her shoulders in pieces as her face was exposed. He laughed under her arms.

"As you said to me, your white hair betrays you. Now I know who you are. There were many stories of you in my home as a young boy; the captured assassin goddess." She hissed at him and drove her hands hard into his neck, hoping to squeeze the life from him. He choked and spluttered for a moment, and then kicked her hard against her head. While she was dazed, he scrambled up. "I will leave, dear assassin, for now. But I promise you, I will return to fulfill my destiny and my goal. And I will make sure you die."