"My answer is no. You cannot marry that boy."

The young prince, kneeling before the pharaoh looks up in shock and betrayal. His father, the King of Egypt, had just denied his request. His advisors, present at the meeting, look at the young prince in discuss. The only one that shows any real sympathy is eldest of the seven. Shimon Muran. The only who knew the extent of the emotional attachment the heir to Egypt had for the common boy.

"Father. Reconsider your-"

"Atem! Enough!" The king puts a hand out to stop his son from pleading his case. "This discussion is over! Done!"

The young prince stands, facing his father siting in the throne. "The bond me and Yugi have goes beyond that of anyone can fathom. You can have me meet many suitors but none will take his place."

"Give it a rest." The Priest, Seto, shakes his head and crosses his arms. "The pharaoh has said what needs to be said. Personally, I agree with his choice. Your relationship with him is disgusting and disrespectful to the crown and the country. He's doing you a favor."

The young prince turns to leave. There was no way he was going to change his father's mind. Which meant he would have to think and weight his options. What he worried was how he would tell Yugi.

How would he even explain this whole situation? His father said no and only one person seemed to back him and the boy up. Seto was in his father's ear which made this much harder.

"And Atem?"

The prince stops but doesn't turn as he moves he watched the wall from the corner of his eye, purplish red eyes narrow.

"I want you both to stop sneaking about. I know what you both are doing, and I don't like it. You're the next King, heir to Egypt. Act like it."

Atem winces at that comment, but doesn't let his father know he actually hit a nerve. He knew about their relations. How did he know?

He leaves the hall. Didn't matter what anyone said. This didn't change a thing. He and Yugi would be together.

~XxX~

Dark, midnight, which meant the prince could wander. He looks from his bedroom door, when he sees the hallway clear of anyone who may see him leave. He makes his way through the palace, his gold sandals on the stone floors and be moves, and his red cape flowing behind him. All he has to do was make it to the main entrance of the palace, unnoticed like he did every night.

He makes it outside. As far he knew no one saw, and there his lover was coming up the stairs to greet him.

"Yugi." It was almost a whisper as they both embrace, sitting on the steps, a passionate kiss shared between the two. "By the Gods, I've missed you."

Atem stands, helping the young teen to his feet. "Come, before someone sees."

~XxX~

"You talk to him today?"

"I did." Atem only shakes his head, he clips the purple cape over Yugi's shoulder and then clips a gold crown over his forehead. The eye of Horus adorned the front, just as Atem's did. "He doesn't approve. And with his advisors in his ear, I don't see things changing."

Yugi stands and looks into the wall mirror, he loved being with Atem, he always adorned him in his royal clothes when he stayed over. The prince's way of making Yugi feel equal, that he belonged. Even if the king didn't agree, Atem wouldn't just quit. He was stubborn in his own way. He always did what he felt was right and did it to the end. Atem would find a way around this too.

He always did when it came to Yugi.

"Maybe… You should go above your father's head." Yugi points to the Future Pharaoh's DiaDhank. "You're the keeper of the Egyptian Gods. Maybe they can do something?"

Purplish red eyes stare into purple eyes as the pharaoh stands from his bed, grabbing him by the hand. They both rush out of the palace to the closes shrine. "You might just be right."

If Atem couldn't change the Pharaoh's mind about the relationship, maybe the Gods could.

~XxX~

They take off from the palace, hands held tightly together.

No one noticed the priest watching from his window as the two males set out towards the city limits, on the prince's horse.

He also noticed the prince's two best friends watching him leave. Mahad and Mana. The magician and magician in training. They then took off in a different direction but he had a feeling they were going to meet the prince and his lover at a rendezvous point.

He shakes his head, as he watches the two leave. He didn't have a problem with the relationship itself, it was just unprofessional for the royal family. It seemed to set a bad review for the family that he served, along with his ancestors before him.

Seto didn't like this, but he decided to let them go and warn Atem's father about the two running off. Mahad was going with him, the pharaoh would make him explain.