Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh or any of the characters.

Dedicated to Shinofangirl. I hope this story is to your liking.

I'm going to make this announcement now. This is a time fic so the time changes halfway through. Thus it is a character death fic because of that.

This is going to be a medium size story with different size chapters. I've been working on this almost constantly for several months. That is very different for me. Warnings will be posted at the beginning of each chapter so please pay attention to them. I don't want to reveal too much about this story and hopefully everyone will like it.

Warnings: Yaoi mentioned (maleXmale) and violence mentioned

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Chapter One

He had waited like every day before for Ra to finish his journey and for all the people to retire for the night. All but the few guards he left to protect and patrol the palace. He knew it was dangerous and could lead to deadly consequence should anyone but he know of the slight windows of opportunity to sneak in and out of the palace, but he couldn't bring himself to fix it. He needed to leave at night. He needed to see him; the beautiful child of Ra that claimed he was nothing more than a normal man. Removing all the jewelry and expense cloths that showed he was more than what he told his secret lover, he excitedly dressed in nothing more than a white loincloth, not caring that his chest was bare for all to see. No one would know and the less recognizable he was the better. He removed his DiaDhank and placed it beside the rod on the table. Now he was ready for his normal night with his lover.

Seth moved carefully through the quiet halls, knowing that all the other servants of the pharaoh were either in the rooms resting or whatever they did in the night. His bare feet collided quietly against the cool stone. He had grown used to not wearing anything to protect his feet, but the many nights he spent walking between the palace and their cave allowed him to ignore the pain of the uneven terrain and warming sand. It was nearing on the time for harvesting, when the days were hotter and the sand stayed warm longer and felt like walking through the many blankets and pillows that lined his cousin's chambers. He reached the side door where he knew the guards would not be for another minute.

Quickly, he ran through the courtyard and out the secret passageway used to transport the pharaoh in an emergency should he need to be snuck out of the palace. He squeezed through the tight passageway before coming out in the dark part of the market. He glanced out of the opening, making sure no one was around before moving the boxes away from the path. Pushing them back, he moved along the shadows of the buildings until he reached the edge of the market. The guards patrolling would not think twice to lock him for the night in the dungeons should they catch him. For the people's protection, no one would be allowed outside while Ra slept. His eyes had long adjusted to the night and his mind guided him to the one place he was the happiest. Everything he did in the cave would bring shame to his pharaoh and could even risk his lover's life. No one could find out about his night outs. He knew he should stop seeing his lover, but he couldn't bring himself to stop.

Finally reaching the mouth of cave, he didn't see the light flickering inside. For the first time, he had reached the cave before his lover. Walking deeper into the cave, it was difficult to see. He reached to the right and took one of the candles that they kept. Bending down to light it with the stones, he carried the small object into the haven. Blankets and pillows lined the uneven floor between two large rocks. He placed the candle on the flat part of the rock that already had dried wax from their previous nights. The light flickered in the wind that came from the outside, causing shadows to dance along the uneven walls. He paced back and forth, nervously wiping his hands along his loincloth. What was taking his lover so long? Could this be a sign that he should stop coming?

Just finishing another pace around the small area, he saw a figure staggering into the cave. His eyes widened as the figure nearly collapsed near the mouth of the cave. Quickly running to his lover, he held him up by his arms. "Jono? Are you ill?" he asked before noticing the drying blood on his back. "What has happened to you?"

"He was angry," the blond man whispered.

All intentions of another loving night vanished from Seth's mind as he helped the wounded man over to the candlelight so he could see more clearly. He gasped at the long angry welts and cuts that ran down Jono's back, still bleeding in some areas. "We need to get these cleaned and treated," Seth whispered. His heart throbbed in his chest, scared of showing Jono who he really was and losing his lover at the same time. He knew he had no choice and had to risk everything, including sneaking a wounded man back into the palace with the risk of the guards seeing them.

"I will be fine," Jono mumbled into one of the pillows, closing his eyes.

"You are stubborn. Can you stand?"

"Let me rest."

"I cannot risk that. I cannot lose you. Come now, Jono, stand up." The brunet helped pull Jono to his feet. Blowing the candle out, he walked side by side with his lover, keeping one arm just above his waist and the other holding Jono's arm around his neck. The blond hissed from the pain that radiated from his back.

They traveled carefully through the town, making their way back to the passageway that would lead them into the palace. Seth didn't know how they could make it through without causing Jono any additional pain, but the passageway was small and sometimes rubbed against his back when he walk through it. As they got closer to the palace, Jono's steps seemed to halt. "Where are we going?"

"I am sorry. I have lied to you. I am not just a farmer."

"You work in the palace."

"Not exactly. We can talk once we reach my chambers. Please understand, Jono."

The blond sighed and allowed his lover to lead him through the very narrow passageway in the wall leading to the palace. He tried to hide his fatigue and pain as they made their way into the courtyard. The brunet stopped, glancing from side to side and spotted two guards with torches near the side entrance to the palace. He groaned, knowing that they would be there for most of the night. Normally Seth didn't come back until Ra began his journey. He was about to risk being spotted when a woman in white walked around the back of the palace. "Guards," she shouted. "I think I have spotted someone over here. Come with me."

The two guards hurriedly followed the woman he recognized as Ishizu. This was his only chance. "Stay quiet," he whispered to Jono, who was beginning to fade. Seth now supported most of his weight against his body. Quickly half dragging his lover through the courtyard, he moved back into the side entrance and into the palace.

Sneaking into the palace earlier than normal posed tremendous strain on the young priest, not to mention the worry he had for his lover. Out of all the times Jono showed up at their cave covered in bruises and cuts he never was like this. He knew of his father's dangerous side when the heat seemed to make him lose his ability to rationalize. He remembered that one of those moments brought them together. He had just arrived home after accompanying his soldiers to quail a dispute in a neighboring village when he spotted a person kneeling in the middle of the desert with nothing to cover him. He immediately went to him only to discover that the young man was tied to a pole almost delirious from the heat. He shed all his jewelry and most of his clothes to hide his identity in order to move among the common folk. He remembered that way past Ra's journey when the man became aware of his surroundings. Seth couldn't tell him who he really was, too intrigued by the man's gold hair and honey colored eyes. He was sure the gods were testing him and he passed. His reward was the man who should have been a god. Ever since that day, Jono and him would meet in that cave, loving like there was no tomorrow. For some days, Seth believed that to be true.

Jono worked hard in the grain fields on top of dealing with his father's abuse. Seth would feel guilty of everything he went through, but fear plagued him. He feared the blond's reaction to who he truly was. Would he lose his lover and never see him again? Something that he thought he could live with and understand, but as days went by and it became harder to be separated from his lover, he knew he could never accomplish that fate. Jono would often express his desire to free himself of all the pain, but he had trouble finding the right words to tell the blond who he truly was. It seemed the gods had other plans and he could no longer hide behind the lie.

The long walk up to his room only posed one problem but the guards patrolling the hallway directly outside his chambers didn't see as he pulled Jono into a dark corner. Once the guards were out of sight, he pulled the satin drapes to the side and entered inside. The room was still lit with the candles on various desks and torches on the walls. The drapes leading to the balcony flowed slightly with the breeze. Placing Jono on the bed faced down, he moved around the room for his healing ointments. "Seth," Jono breathed, turning his head towards the brunet. "This is dangerous," he commented, finally aware of his surrounds.

Seth sighed, kneeling beside the bed. "We are safe. This is my chambers."

"You live in the palace? Seems big for a servant."

The brunet frowned and placed the ointments down on the ground. "I am not a servant. I am a priest. He retrieved the water basin and brought it over to the bed, not sure if he wanted to know Jono's reaction.

"Sometimes truth is difficult," the blond mumbled, looking at his lover. "I knew who you were. Just because you take all your jewelry off and change tunics does not hid your most defining feature, your blue eyes."

Seth sighed before helping Jono out of his blood soaked shredded tunic. He glared at the damaged done, vowing to do worse to the person or persons responsible. "Why did you stay with me?"

The blond hissed at the sting from the water against his sore, heated flesh. "The love you have must be sincere. You are risking a lot to be with me." Closing his eyes, he relaxed to the gentle touch. "Plus, I did not want to lose you. I love you too much."

The brunet paused before reaching down to rinse the cloth in the now slightly bloody water. "I would not leave you," he spoke softly. "Not even if the gods willed it." He continued to clean the blood off Jono's back, realizing that most of them had already started to heal. "Who did this to you?" he asked, applying the ointment.

Jono hissed again, feeling the burning on his skin. "My father. He was not in the right mind. Blamed me for his lack of wine this morning. Like we could afford it."

The priest frowned. "Stay with me."

The blond blinked and looked over at his lover. "Even I know that is not possible."

"I'll get you a place among my guards and you will house with them. You will never have to see your father again."

"I cannot leave him. He will die without me."

"He almost killed you tonight. He deserves nothing less. When has he ever showed you love or compassion? He brings you nothing but pain. I offer you something better. Something that would allow you to remain secretly close to me. Do not deny that this would make you happy."

"I have never fought before."

"I will teach you."

"Seth, please, you are risking too much. How do you plan on training me while keeping me out of the eyes of others. They would know we are lovers."

The priest coaxed his lover to sit in front of him on the bed and wrapped a cloth bandage around his chest. "You can stay here during the day and at night we will sneak back to the cave for training. All you have to do is impress the pharaoh and with my recommendation you will be a guard."

"I do not know about this."

"Please, Jono," Seth begged, pressing his body against his bandaged back, nuzzling his neck. "I do not want to lose you to the afterlife. I could not go on."

Jono smiled softly, bringing his hand up to run his fingers through his lover's soft locks. "Alright. We will try it your way. However, if it becomes too much, I will return to my father."

The brunet kissed his lover, pleased that he was seeing things his way. "You will have to heal first. You should rest." Seth lied down on the bed, allowing his lover to snuggle close to him. Avoiding his injuries, he placed his arm around him and held him close. He didn't know if he could get Jono trained enough to impress the pharaoh, but he prayed that his cousin would listen to him this time.

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I hope everyone liked that. The next chapter should be ready by Friday. Please stick with me. I know it might be difficult to see where this is going right now. Thank you for reading. Please review.

Angel Dove