Atem and Marik woke to someone knocking on their door.

"Go see who it is Marik." Atem murmured and reached across the bed to Marik who was half-asleep, and shook him tiredly.

At his touch, Marik jolted awake and tumbled off the bed, and on to the cold, unforgiving limestone floor. "Wha?" Marik looked around confused and discovered he was on the floor. His back throbbed from making contact with the wretched concrete floor. The knocking continued a bit more rapidly.

"Marik get the door." Atem mumbled impatiently; still lying in bed.

Just because you're the Pharaoh doesn't mean I'm your servant forever! Marik thought bitterly and sluggishly got to his feet and opened the door. Amun was standing there, clearly looking embarassed.

She spotted Marik and his ruffled up messy bed-head and apologized. "I'm sorry to disturb you both, but Ra has risen the sun. It is time to awake to a new day."

Marik grumbled, "Yeah we'll be out soon." He closed the door rudely in her face, and stumbled over to Atem. "Get out of bed, Amun's waiting and we have to go back to the palace today." He prodded Atem slightly, hoping that he'd wake up and crash to the floor like he had.

Atem sat up groggily. "Okay, okay, I'm up." Marik was disappointed when Atem didn't tumble to the ground.

Atem stood up and looked in a small mirror on the cherry brown table. He fixed his hair so it would be spiky as usual and look epic. "I'll see you outside when you're ready, but don't take too long."

Marik nodded and Atem walked out of the room, closing the door behind him leaving Marik by himself. He plopped down on to the bed after Atem left. No harm in a few more minutes of sleep, is there? Marik thought as he blacked out.

Meanwhile, Atem walked out of the room and down the hall to the living room where Bakura still lay on a sofa. He kneeled beside him, and all was silent for a few moments until Amun walked in.

"Good morning Atem," She greeted him cheerfully.

"Good morning," He returned it, and stood up.

"Where is Marik?" Amun asked as she looked around.

"He's still probably getting ready." Atem said with a bit of humor. "I thank you again, for your hospitality Amun, but we should leave for the palace immediatly."

Amun nodded sadly, but smiled. "I understand. I'll go ge the chariots ready." She walked out the door into the bright, warm, life-giving sun.

Atem glanced at Bakura one more time with concern, then followed Amun out. "I'll help you." He volunteered, and pulled a chariot to the front of the house from the a small stone shack from the back of the house.

"You don't need to, My Pharaoh. I'm fine doing this by myself." Amun protested, taking the chariot before he could fully pull it to the front. 

"No, I insist. Just because I'm Pharaoh, doesn't mean I can't help my subjects and friends, or does it? It's my duty to help the subjects anyway." Atem simply went back and led the chocolate stallions over to the chariot and strapped them in. He then led the black stallions to the chariot, and strapped them in, in front of the chocolate stallions. "Marik should be ready by now..." Atem said and looked around, but Marik was no where in sight.

"Perhaps one of us should check on him?" Amun suggested then volunteered, "I'll go."

"No, it's alright. I'll go find him." Before she could protest, he walked inside. "Marik?" He called and walked towards their room they had stayed in last night. "Marik, are you ready? We have to get back to the palace now, and we're waiting on you!"

Inside, Marik was still in bed asleep. He stirred as Atem called and knocked on the door, but didn't bother to answer.

Could something have happened to Marik? I hope he's alright, since he's not answering the door. It's all quiet in there too... Atem thought, sick with worry. He slowly opened the door to the room, and saw Marik asleep in the bed. He grew furious, "Marik! Get up!" 

Marik shot up out of bed like a firework, and crashed to the floor again. This was the second time he had fallen off the bed, and on to the floor in a single day. He landed flat on his back and sluggishly sat up. 

"Very funny..." Marik grumbled. "Can't I get any sleep around here?"

"You've ahd enough sleep for now. You can have some more time to sleep when we get back to the palace. Now hurry up and get ready to go." Atem left the room, closing the door behind him, but stayed right outside waiting for Marik to come out.

Inside, Marik got to his feet, off the cold stone floor and looked into a small mirror on a table. "What's the point of getting ready, and fixing my hair if on the way to the palace it'll just get messed up again from all the cursed desert wind and sand?" He muttered to himself grumpily, and placed his hair into place anyway.

He came out five minutes later and murmured, "I'm ready..."

"Good," Atem replied and led the way to the living room with Marik following. "We have to get Bakura on to the chariot carefully." He said carefully slowly, to make sure Marik would understand and not be reckless. "I'll take his shoulders, and you take hold of his legs."

Marik simply nodded and grabbed hold of both of Bakura's legs. Atem grabbed both of his shoulders and hauled him up with Marik's help. Bakura was limp and heavy.

Maybe he is dead...Marik thought. If he is dead, then we would just waste a bunch of time, taking him back to the palace for no reason. Then there goes our ticket back home... I can't believe I'm asking this, but please don't let him be dead...

"Good morning, Marik." Amun greeted him as they struggled carrying Bakura outside.

Marik quietly muttered something, inaudiable so no one could catch what he said. He was obviously, in a sour mood today.

They walked carefully, and Marik let go of Bakura's legs gently, as they reached the luminous chariot, glowing in the light of Ra. Marik must have thought he placed them gently, but Bakura's legs hit the ground with a sickening thud.

Atem shot a glare at Marik, then pulled Bakura into the chariot as gently as he could until he was completly in. Atem held him up as Marik climbed into the chariot, then surrendered Bakura to his care. Atem grabbed the reigns with a firm grip, and Marik held Bakura in one arm, and the side of the chariot with the other.

Amun stood in the front of her home, smiling sadly. 

"Thank you again Amun, for your hospitality." Atem said truly grateful for about the millionth time. "But we must return to my palace. I hope we may meet again someday."

Amun nodded sadly, then bowed. "Farewell, til next we meet."

Atem nodded back, then flicked the reigns. The horses were off, and into town they went.

The streets were already croweded and streaming with people looking at stalls, buying and selling multiple diverse items in the market. The people all acknowledged Atem and the others, and got out of their way quickly as they said, "Long live Pharaoh Atem!"

You mean 'Long live Pharaoh Marik,' Marik thought evily. When I get my hands on those God cards, I'll be the Pharaoh, and rule the world! No mercy to the current Pharaoh, and anyone who gets in my way will be crushed like a bug. He shook his head, snapping him out of his dark thoughts.

A few minutes later, Marik thought he heard a familiar voice calling to them from behind. 

"Atem, could you stop the chariot for a second?" Marik requested him.

Atem pulled on the reigns, signaling for the horses to slow down and stop. Gradually, they did, then Atem turned his head to look at Marik. "What is it? Is something wrong with Bakura?" He asked with concern.

Marik didn't respond immediatly, he just kept looking behind them at the crowd of people. His eyes scanned the crowd for the source of the familiar voice, but found nothing. "I thought I heard someone calling to us; someone familiar." He continued searching the massive cluster of people.

Atem turned  around completly with the reigns still in hand, and scanned the crowded market-place. "I don't see anyone. Maybe you were just imagining it, since you're so home-sick?" 

"No, I'm sure I head it." Marik insisted. "Someone we know, is here."

Suddenly the crowd parted to let a boy wearing strange clothes through. He was breathing hard from running, to try and keep up with the chariot and horses. Atem and Marik's eyes both widened as they both realized who they were staring at.

"Yugi?" Atem said in disbelief.