Seto stared at the puddle across from across the room, it was on the pooled floor and smeared on the sheets of his bed, not to mention on his robe was stained beyond repair. Seto took a deep breath as he moved towards the mess. If it hadn't been what it was, he would have gotten a servant to clean it up but this wasn't just a wine slip this was gossip waiting to happen. Seto pulled the sheets off his bed and used them to wipe up the slip from the floor. Seto removed his soiled attire and added them to the messy pile and wrapped it up. Seto put on a plain tunic on and looked around his room for a place to hide the articles until he could dispose of them himself. Seto rushed over to a very large vase in the far corner of his room and shoved the items inside it, just as a servant knocked on his door.

"You may enter." Seto said as he moved away from the vase to prevent any suspension.

The servant brought in a tray of food for Seto and a pitcher of water. The servant didn't say anything to Seto she just set everything down and began to leave until Seto stop her, "Could you get have someone bring me new sheets." She looked over as the bare bed and nodded before he left. Seto took the pitcher and drank directly from it; he hadn't realized how thirsty he had been.

Seto moved onto his balcony and looked towards the courtyard and saw Mahado teaching his student Mana how to freeze water in midair. She had the general movements down but her execution was still sloppy. Seto watched the pair entire time the servant quickly and quietly returned with the sheets and made up his bed for him. Seto's eyes wondered across the yard and saw Atem walking with a young woman he recognized from the banquet, the night before.

They appeared to be having a pleasant conversation but Seto couldn't help but wonder why she was still inside the palace walls when he was sure that Atem blew the off the woman brought to the palace the night before off. She was a very beautiful woman however Priestess Isis still had her beat but she was very beautiful. Seto shifted uncomfortably as he watched the Pharaoh and the woman sit on the edge of the fountain.

"Maybe he's trying to convince her to become one of his concubines." Seto thought as he continued to watch.

The woman seemed really shocked at was Atem was telling her but it wasn't the: I can't believe you're asking me this look that Seto's was used to seeing and doing himself. Moments after Atem stopped specking the woman throw her arms around Atem and kissed him. Seto was taken aback by her uncontrolled actions but Atem only seemed to encourage them.

"I'm so glad to see you're up and well." Isis said as she appeared by his side.

"Do you have any idea what's going on down there?" Seto asked he was gestured to the pair.

"Atem selected her are his bride." Isis told him, "It's a shock to everyone. It didn't seem that anyone had caught his eye last night. But when they were being dismissed he pulled his aside and now this. I have to say I'm looking forward to the upcoming future."

"Have you foreseen something to be excited about?"

"I'm not sure of it completely but I have had a vision of a child being born. There were many midwives around so I'm sure it had to be a royal birth."

"So she's the one that's going to produce the Atem's heir?"

"Possibly." Isis answered, "Are you feeling alright. I'm sorry I only assumed when I spoke earlier."

"Sore, but nothing that won't dull over time." Seto told the priestess,

"More than likely from being on your back that whole time." She replied.

"What?" Seto replied quickly.

"When you were asleep on the floor….you were laying on your back." Isis explained.

Seto nodded quickly and moved away from the subject, "Isis do you ever have visions of any of us?"

"Not directly. When I do have a vision pertaining to the holders of the Millennium Items it's more of the after effects of their actions or in some cases at an angle that I can't see the face of the person." Isis looked at Seto intuitively, "Why do you ask? I was certain that you already knew that."

"I did…but I was just making sure." He said moving away from the balcony and Isis.

Isis followed him back inside, "I'm sensing you mean something else, Seto."

"It's nothing." Seto said as he noticed the new sheets on his bed, "What do you know about the woman Atem has selected."

"She comes from a small village south from here." Isis told him, "I haven't had the time to interrogate her since we've been taking care of our own."

It took a moment for Seto to realize she was taking about his hung-over state, "Oh, I'm sorry about that I was very reckless."

Isis laughed, "Seto, it's obvious to everyone that what happened was nothing more than the Pharaoh's childishness coming out and you were the target. There's nothing you could have done to stop it."

Seto mind wandered back to the act that had taken place an hour ago as Isis continued to speak, "I told him to leave you alone for the rest of the day. Since you don't look banged up he must have listened."

Seto laughed nervously and thought, "Atem did the exact opposite Isis."

"I'll leave you now. I have many things to catch up on. I hope to see you at tonight's feast." Seto nodded as he looked back toward the courtyard and watched Atem and the woman interact, "If I didn't know better I'd say that's the look of jealously." Isis said before closing the door.

"Jealously. I'm far from jealous. Jealous of what? The obvious vacant affections Atem is showing this woman? I've seen him woo numerous women and it's all the same." He told himself as he watched them from the balcony again. Seto's heart pounded harder in his chest as he watched the display it was like watching a servant clean the same vast over and over again but why was he having this sudden feelings of angry and hatred towards the woman, "I'm not jealous. I can't be jealous. There's nothing to be jealous about."

Seto forced himself to leave the balcony again and find something to occupy his time with but no matter what it was he could stop thinking hateful thing toward the woman Atem was paying so much attention too.

Seto left his room and made his way towards the courtyard to possibly steal Atem's attention away for a moment just to relax his nerves. He didn't have anything really to say to the man that I had taken his virginity but he wanted his attention if not for a moment. Seto peered out from behind a pillar into the courtyard and discovered Atem was sitting alone.

Atem looked up and noticed a shadow casted against one of the stone wall and recognized it as Seto's slim silhouette. Atem smirked at Seto attempt to spy on him as he slinked over to surprise his friend. Seto heart was pounding hard inside his chest again as he hide behind the safety of the pillar, oblivious to Atem awareness of his presents. Seto peaked around the pillar again only to become face to face with Atem.

"I honestly didn't except to see you up so soon." He said, "You've always been a quick healer."

"…"

"How are you feeling? I hope you're not too sore because I was hoping to take you again tonight."

"Who was that woman?" Seto finally was able to ask.

"OH! Her. Since I have to get married and produce a proper heir I'd figured why not get it out of the way now. I'm tired of all the banquets being about finding myself a Queen."

"Do you think that was wise for you to pick a random girl?"

"I've only know two women that aren't typical and one is our Priestess Isis." Atem said, "So my future Queen is really nothing more than a glorified concubine. If I could I would have just selected one of my children from them to be my heir but can't break tradition."

Seto felt a sense of relief at Atem harsh words, "Yes, it wouldn't be tradition if it was broken."

Atem smiled at Seto and said with a laugh, "To be honest if I could I would have you as my Queen wouldn't that be something? You as would finally have your proper place as my everything."

"What do you mean?"

"If I could Seto I'd have you as my Queen and I would have you have my heirs. It would be perfect. They would be perfect." Atem said as trailed off as the end, "Won't that be something? Remember when we played Pharaoh and Queen when we were young."

Seto had never been fond of those games, Atem was get much too detailed to the point it was demeaned inappropriate.


"So you'll be my Queen and I'll be the Pharaoh." Atem instructed as he held out one of his mothers headdresses for Seto to wear.

"Why do you always want to play this game?"

"Because I need to practice being Pharaoh that's why!" Atem told his Seto, "Put it on!"

Seto reluctantly covered his brown locks with the white and gold headdress, "Now what."

"Rub my feet." Atem ordered, "Then get me something to eat."

"…So this is what you think a Queen does all day?" Seto asked as he allowed Atem to prop his feet onto his lap.

"My father enjoys it when my mother does it for him."

Seto absolutely hated going any were near Atem's bare feet and touching them was like asking for a bruise or a black eye. Atem had always been quite ticklish when it came to his feet but demanded to have them rubbed for Ra knows what reason. Seto was only kicked three times in the stomach before Atem decided he had enough and want to eat now.


"Why don't I have any fond memories from growing up with you?" Seto muttered to himself.

"What was that?" Atem asked him a moved closer to Seto who in turn move farther away, "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Seto told him as he evaded Atem as he moved around the pillar always staying out of Atem's reach.

"You're acting different towards me." Atem said as he followed Seto, "I hope nothing has change between us."

Seto stopped and looked at Atem, "It's impossible for nothing to have changed."

"What do you mean?"

"What we did." Seto told him, "I can never think of you the same again."

"I hope it was never negative." Atem whispered to him as he reached out to take Seto's hand.

"I can't help but feel as if you've taken something from me. I have this feeling of emptiness yet something else is there."

"I've taken the last of you purity that's why." Atem told Seto, "Ever since I first discovered it. I've wanted nothing more than to take yours."

Seto felt Atem lips brush against his but pulled away quickly, "So now that you have that part of me. Now what?"

"I want you more now than ever. I wanted nothing more than to take you again even after I left you."

"Atem I don't think we should-" Atem yanked Seto forward and pulled him towards the stables. Seto pulled away from Atem, "Where are you taking me?"

"To the stables." Atem said sheepishly, "Come on."

"No, let me go. I've wasted too much time today. I have to go and inspect the damage to the Bastet temple."

Atem released Seto's wrist and looked at him, "Are you sure it can't wait?"

"It's already been too long already." Seto as he moved away from Atem only to remember that he didn't to go to the stables to get his horse unless he walked.

"Well, I'll come with you then." Atem said as he walked towards the stables, "Are you coming?"

Seto reluctantly followed Atem inside of the stables.


"It's about time you got here." Mahado said when he noticed Seto approaching his apprentice and himself, "And you brought the Pharaoh with you. Good, now you can catch up on your praise. I'd suggest praying for a male heir from your Queen."

Atem disappeared into the back of the temple leaving Seto with Mahado and Mana. There were slaves cleaning up the last of the destroyed stautes and pottery. It amazed them all that one man had done so much damage.

"What's that on your neck?" Mana asked Seto pointing to a red mark on neck.

"What?" Seto said slapping his hand over his neck

"It looks like a- ummm a bug bite." Mana said as she turned her attention back to the Statues.

Seto noticed she was blushing a bit but it wasn't as noticeable on her tanner skin. Seto moved away from the pair and went in search of any type of reflective surface. The temple had looked so picturesque but now it looked like a war zone. The vases that once had beautiful flowers adorning them were shattered and the flowered were withered and smashed. The statues of Bastet were mutilated and nearly unrecognizable. The Seto stared up at the statue, "You gave that man's wife a child and then took them both away from him. I suppose you'll learn from this." He said to the faceless figure.

"It doesn't seem right." Atem said and placed a hand on Seto's shoulder causing Seto to jump, "Did I scare you?"

"Every day." Seto thought to himself, "Are you done?"

"Never. Oh yes I am." Atem said as he nudged Seto towards the exit.

"I'll see you later on then." Seto said moving away from Atem.

"You're not coming?"

"Not until I've finished my work here." Seto told him.

"What's the point? Just get some of the slaves to build new sculpture and clean up this mess. I don't understand why you have to be here as well."

"Well, we have slaves working on all those things you've stated however without the proper instruction and guidance it would never be completed."

Atem thought about Seto's words for a moment before he had a brilliant idea, "I'm going to send some soldiers to do this supervising. There's no real reason you should be outside the palace walls anyway." Atem told Seto as he pulled him towards the exit, "Mahado, I'm going to send some soldiers to supervise the reconstruction of the temple. Once they arrive and want you and Mana back."

Mahado made a face at Atem's unusually order. The Priest had always been responsible for the temples and tombs since the lower class responded better with them around. Mainly since they were generally aware of their work ability and had the slaves work in shifts to prevent injuries and mistakes.

The soldiers were the type to whip a dying old woman.

"As you wish, Your Highness." Mahado said with a bow.


TBC

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