Arabian Nights

I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh! Or Aladdin.

Now before you ask why the hell I'm posting something that has nothing to do with the other stories that I desperately need to finish, think of this as one of those things that won't let you sleep, let alone write something else. This story is loosely based on Disney's Aladdin. Just read and review and you'll see what I mean.

:~*~:

A boy sprinted frantically through the bazaar. His wild tri-colored hair was whipping around behind him. The thundering sounds of guards that were hot on his trail pushed him to go faster. He ducked around behind a corner, yanked a maroon colored cloak off of a clothes line as he ran. He stopped next to a group of women conversing and pulled the cloak over his head and shoulders.

"Morning, ladies!" the now cloaked youth said breathily.

"You seem to be on the run a little early today. Are you losing your touch, Yami?" a woman asked.

Yami tried to look offended. "Absolutely not! I like to mix things up. Besides, I can out run them as long as they don't catch me first."

As soon as those words left his lips, a burly man grabbed him from behind. "Gotcha!"

"Oh, shit…" Yami cursed, facing his captor. The man got right in his face, almost pulling the shorter youth off the ground.

"That's right, kid. Now that I have you right where I want you, you won't be getting awa-," the man was cut off by a vase landing and shattering on his head. He released Yami as he fell to the ground, unconscious. Landing neatly on his feet, Yami looked up the side of the building to see a small monkey dancing around, making excited noises.

"A perfect hit. Nice work Honda!" Yami called up to the primate. The monkey chirped again before scaling the wall and jumping onto Yami's outstretched hand. After Honda had situated himself on the youth's shoulder, Yami took off again, aiming for the main streets, saluting to the women as he passed.

Yami ran until he came to the main strip of the bazaar. The road was surrounded by people waiting to see something. Yami leaned next to a small gathering of men looking over the others in front of them, to try and get an idea of what everyone was waiting for.

"So, where is this one from?" one asked.

"She is apparently from some far off land. Not that it matters. This will be the fifth suitor that the prince will turn down this month," answered another gruffly. At that moment, a woman astride a fine steed came into view. She had short brown hair and piercing blue eyes, but it looked like she was trying her hardest to avoid the eyes of the people gathering on the streets.

Yami rolled his eyes and turned to leave. Suddenly, he came face to face with the royal guard once again. They sneered at him as he backed up slightly to try and get the form of the much larger man to fit into his field of vision. Deciding that he didn't really like what he saw, Yami whirled and shouldered his way through the people behind him and out into the empty street. He tripped on some unseen obstruction, falling to his knees right in front of the advancing princess.

"Oh, bowing before your new queen before the wedding is even planned? I like to see that someone shares my assurance of becoming the prince's bride," she said with a smirk. Yami rolled his eyes, honestly trying his hardest to contain his laughter. He knew of the struggle in the palace to try and find the prince a spouse and that this woman had about as much chance of success with him as camels had at flying.

"I mean no disrespect, Miss, but I would advise not to get your hopes up," he said calmly. "The prince has a reputation of turning suitors down with a bit of flare. Watch where you tread."

"Are you giving me advice on how to approach the prince?" she asked, slightly offended.

"I just wouldn't want you to go into the palace unprepared. Now that I have passed on my wisdom, you may go ahead with your pursuits."

With that, Yami turned and attempted to leave, only to be stopped by the princess' guard. He whirled him to face her. The woman was scowling at him, her brown hair falling over her eyes as she looked down at him and creating menacing shadows across her fair features.

"You have the gall to speak to me in such a manner?" she questioned. "I will not take this from some street whelp! I will have the prince! Just you wait!"

With that, she waved her arm to her guard, signaling that she was finished ranting. The guard, who was gripping Yami's upper arms at the time, picked him bodily off the ground and threw him roughly to the ground. Yami rolled a little before settling on his side and deciding against getting up immediately. The people surrounding him laughed at his misfortune while the princess turned up her nose and rode her steed through the palace gates.

Honda, who had been watching his master speaking to the royal woman, hopped over to the still youth and nudged him, chirping lightly. Yami rolled over with a quiet moan of pain. He stared after the princess for a moment before standing back up on his feet. Sighing, he knelt back down and allowed Honda to clamber back up onto his shoulder.

"I hope the prince knocks her flat on her ass…" Yami muttered to the chimp. Honda made a sound that was slightly less enthusiastic than usual, but still wordlessly comforted Yami as the two of them made their way down the street and into the shadows.

:~*~: Inside the Palace :~*~:

Pharaoh Aknamkanon walked briskly through the palace halls. He was searching for his son, who was supposed to be seeing the princess, but at the moment, he couldn't find either of them. He supposed that with any other child, that would have been a good sign while a prince was choosing a suitor, but when it came to Atemu, the silence was anything but good. Rounding a corner, the Pharaoh approached the gardens.

"AHHHHHH!" came a shrill scream. Startled, the Pharaoh broke into a run out toward the sound.

Coming out into the sunlight bathing the gardens, Aknamkanon saw the princess on the ground with his son's feline companion on top of her. The boy in question was sitting beside the fountain with his arms crossed over his chest and a smug expression plastered on his face.

The Pharaoh sighed. I'm getting too old for this…

Approaching the youths, the Pharaoh ushered his son's leopard off of the squealing princess. Once the offending weight was off her, the brunette princess stood and fled from the feline and his master. The pharaoh attempted to call to her.

"Please princess! Come back, I apologize," he called. The princess stalled and turned back to the Pharaoh and his still smug looking son.

"I beg your pardon, but I will not condone an attempt on my life. Even if it your son who made the attempt!" she called back as she ran from the gardens. Aknamkanon sighed again, placing his hand over his eyes as he spun on the balls of his feet to face his son.

"Atemu, what do you have to say for yourself this time?"

The spikey haired youth huffed slightly and looked his father straight in the eye. His crimson eyes were glowing with an unhidden distain as he stared the Pharaoh down.

"She said she liked animals," the prince said simply.

"So you sent Rishid on her?"

The prince smirked. "He just wanted to play. Isn't that right, my pretty kitty?" Atemu asked the leopard in a high, sweet, childish voice. Rishid purred deeply and ran his body along Atemu's calf, seemingly very pleased with his performance with the princess. Aknamkanon huffed. Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared down at his son.

"Atemu, you can't keep rejecting these suitors. You know the law as well as I do and it should be clear to you that you only have less than a week before your time is up," the Pharaoh said crossly.

Atemu stopped rubbing the spot behind Rishid's ears and looked down at the ground solemnly. He stared at the concrete garden path for a moment before glancing behind him into the fountain.

"I know," the prince whispered simply.

"Then why do you refuse every suitor that comes to call?" The Pharaoh's anger had yet to ebb as he waited impatiently for his son's reply. Atemu began to absentmindedly stoke his leopard in a soothing manner. Keeping his eyes on the water, Atemu answered:

"Because I don't want to marry just because the law says I should. If I marry, I want it to be with someone that genuinely cares about me ."

Aknamkanon looked puzzled for a moment. "It looked like Anzu cared about you. She was polite and generous when we first met her. And then I leave you alone for 15 minutes and come back to find that you were letting Rishid use her as a human chew toy."

"You missed the whole first part of the conversation that we shared after you had left," Atemu sighed, further confusing his father. "I really tried this time to get along with her. I led her to the gardens so we could talk and get to know each other. I asked her what she like to do and what she sought in a husband."

"What did she say?"

"She came back with: 'Oh, I love to ride horses and sing. And my ideal husband is strong, kind, of noble birth, will give me everything I desire. There is nothing worse than a man who doesn't dote on his lover'," the prince said in a high, supposedly feminine sounding voice. Resisting the urge to smile, the Pharaoh urged his son to continue.

"What happened next?"

"She leaned over and tried to kiss me! She whispered something about her man having to be handsome too. I had a hard time listening though."

"Why?"

"I was pretty preoccupied trying to avoid her wandering hands," Atemu said bluntly. Now the Pharaoh understood what had made Atemu act in the way he had. His son had never been one for touchy-feely emotions. He rather disliked being touched unless it was someone close to him. Normally, a complete stranger would never even get the chance to place a hand on his shoulder. Regardless of that fact, Aknamkanon felt that he still was required to reprimand his son for his outrageous behavior.

"Atemu, I think I understand your motives, but that does not condone what you did to Princess Anzu. I think you owe her an apology."

"Why should I have to be the one to apologize? She came onto me, remember?"

"Yes, but she couldn't possibly know that you like your personal space. I think it was an honest mistake. Besides, you have to think about what she could say to her father once she gets back home. Word travels fast in this world, especially among nobles. How do you think other countries would look on us if the princess of Nubia were to go home saying that the prince of Khemet was a barbaric fool?"

"I really don't care what she has to say."

"I know you don't, and that is what worries me. Honestly son, when are you going to start acting like the prince you were born to be?"

Atemu turned and glared at his father. "Well maybe, if I'm such a disappointment, you should just go find yourself a new heir!"

"I'm not saying you're a disappointment! I'm simply saying that there comes a time when royalty must start to act a little more mature than you are acting now!"

"Well forgive me for not meeting the expectations of the king!"

"That's just the thing, Atemu! You have surpassed all the obstacles that I have set in place for you. I could not have asked for a brighter, more capable son. But there is still one thing that you must accomplish. Marriage. Your ancestors all had to do the same thing that you are doing now. I had to do the same thing as well. Now the time has come for you to do the same thing. It is the duty of the prince!"

"Well then I guess it is also my duty to inform you that the prince is taking a vacation. I won't be putting up with this anymore."

Atemu stood from the fountain and stormed away, his leopard following right on his heels. Aknamkanon sighed in exhaustion. Sitting down on the fountain ledge that his son had recently vacated, the Pharaoh put his head in his hands and let out a long drawn out breath.

"What am I going to do with him?" he asked himself.

"Penny for your thoughts, Sire?" a new voice asked.

The Pharaoh's head came up. Before him, he saw his head adviser, Pegasus. The silver haired man had been in his court for years and had always been one of his most trusted men. Aknamkanon sighed once again.

"It's Atemu. He refuses to choose a suitor. I honestly think that the next person I set him up with will be murdered."

"Maybe you should give him some time to go out and choose a bride for himself. He has been saying that he wanted a choice in the matter."

"True, but the law is the law. He has less than a week before his time is up and I have to force him into a marriage. That will just make him more upset than he already is. I've tried to be reasonable with him, but he won't listen to a word I say. He just gets angrier with each suitor that passes through the front door."

"What should happen if you have to force him into a marriage after the week is up? Who would it be to?"

"I can't seem to remember. There is a law somewhere that states who the heir should marry if a suitable spouse is not found within the allotted time, but I can't recall who it would be. I may have to give it a glance."

"Do not stress yourself, my Pharaoh. I shall look into it for you. I will find a solution to our dilemma and get back to you when I have answers."

"Thank you, Pegasus."

Pegasus nodded and bowed as he began to back away from the monarch. Walking back into the palace, he strode briskly through the halls to his private study. The Pharaoh had been kind enough to grant him a place to do his studies and keep his belongings. As the heavy door closed behind him, he yelled back into the dark room.

"Bakura, where are you?" There was a loud bang and some cursing from an unknown location in the rear of the room.

"Stop yelling, damn it! I'm right here!" shouted a young, white haired boy as he came strolling down the stairs holding the top of his head.

"What happened to you?" asked Pegasus, skeptically. Bakura growled at him through clenched teeth, taking his hand off his head, checking for blood.

"All your yelling made me hit my head on the bottom of the desk I was under."

"Why on earth were you under a desk?"

"I dropped a scroll under it and I had to go and find it, being the model citizen that I am. But enough about my accomplishments; how was your meeting with the Pharaoh?"

Pegasus chuckled. "Atemu-boy is still giving him grief about the whole suitor deal. I can practically see his hair greying as time wears on."

"Heh, I'm looking forward to the day that prissy-princey finally snaps and ends up feeding the latest suitor to the guard dogs. This palace needs some drama."

"I have to agree with you. Seeing Atemu getting all bent out of shape like this is the most fun I've had in a long time. He sent his leopard on the princess of Nubia today. I watched the whole thing from the window. That smug little brat gets to have all the fun," Pegasus said leisurely.

"Agreed. So what brings you back to the 'Dungeons of Knowledge' so early today, anyway?" Pegasus' smile fell into a frown. Putting his hand to his head, he dramatically exclaimed:

"I promised the Pharaoh that I would look into who becomes the prince's spouse if he should fail to meet the time requirement. Such a bore, really."

"Well as long as the old geezer is in charge, it's not like we have a choice in the matter, now is it?"

"Ah, Bakura, you always have such a way with words."

Bakura smirked before leading the way over to the monstrous shelves with thousands of scrolls lining them.

May as well begin this painfully long search. The sooner I get this out of the way, the sooner I can get back to my true conquest… Pegasus thought as he pulled the first of many scrolls off the shelf.

:~*~: Later That Night :~*~:

A shadow crept through the royal gardens. The figure pulled his hood tighter around his head, further blocking any light that would land on his face. Running silently over to the palace wall, he began to climb the tree next to the obstruction. About halfway up the trunk, he was pulled back down by a sharp yank on his cloak. He landed on his feet, somehow managing to stifle the cry of alarm that threatened to spill from his lips.

Whirling around, the cascading moonlight lit up the face of the Khemetian prince. Atemu was looking down at the furry face of his leopard, Rishid, who had the hem of his cloak between his jaws. Atemu sighed, kneeling down to the level of his feline companion.

"I'm sorry, Rishid. I really am. But I have to do this; otherwise I may never know what it is truly like outside the walls of the palace. I have to at least try and live my life for myself, since I know that as long as I stay here, I will never have the option," Atemu whispered in sorrow. He pulled the cloak from the jaws of his leopard, gently stroking his ears as he did so. Atemu felt tears starting to prick at his eyes as he saw the expression of sadness in the golden orbs of his companion. The prince pulled the cat's large head close to his own, whispering softly.

"I'm going to miss you. Take care of father for me, alright?" Rishid purred lowly in reply. Atemu smiled solemnly, kissing the tip of Rishid's nose, before turning and clambering up the tree again. Rishid put his paws on the trunk of the tree and gave his master the final push he needed to get over the wall. Once over, Atemu glance back down at the leopard staring back up at him.

"Goodbye."

:~*~:

A/N: Well, this is another of my dump heaps. Actually, I take that back. I'm rather proud of this one. I thought it would be fun to do this and I was right. I will be adding some very interesting twists to this storyline and you will just have to read and see what you think.

Quick Question: Can anyone tell me why the monkey is named Honda? There is actually a little bit of a stupid reference behind it!

If you know the answer to this question, post it in a review and I swear on the fact that I take a ridiculously long time to update that I will dedicate the next chapter of any of my works to you. This is not a complicated question, just give it your all with the two or three brain cells you have and it should come to you!