I'm back! So sorry for the wait! I know its been ages, but I lost my inspiration for a while and I didn't want to write something that wasn't that great for the sake of updating. I wanted to make sure I was giving everyone a quality story ;) Now that I'm working on this again though I think it will be easier to keep going ^^ Hope you all enjoy, it's a sad one!

Atem rushed to the court, finding his father at the foot of his throne. "Father! Father wake up!" He shook the pharaoh and squeezed his hand, but Aknamkanon remained unconscious. "Get him up to his bed now!" the prince shouted, the servants hurrying to assist their ruler. Mahad and Seto entered the room as the pharaoh was being carried away. "Mahad! Please you have to help him! Use whatever magic you have, just make him better," Atem cried, flinging himself into the magician's arms. "They are taking him up to his room, please go help!"

Mahad knew there probably wasn't much he could do; he wasn't a healer. But as Atem looked up at him with tears in his eyes, pleading with him desperately, there was no way he could refuse. "I shall try my best, my prince." He bowed and quickly took off in the direction of the servants.

"My prince," Seto spoke up, "is there anything I can do for you?" The situation was very grave indeed, and even the hard-hearted guardian felt the need to offer comfort.

"Can you stay with me while I wait?" Atem asked, grateful for the offer of help.

"Of course, anything you wish."

The two of them sat silent outside of the pharaoh's room, waiting for any kind of news. Atem was trying his hardest to remain calm, but his apprehension was obvious as he twisted his rings around his fingers, his tell-tale nervous habit.

Seto felt helpless not knowing what to say. He knew if Mahad was here he would know exactly what words of comfort to offer the prince; his resentment of the magician had returned with full force. He thought about putting an arm around him or taking his hand, but that would probably serve to make the situation needlessly awkward. The guardian chose to remain quietly by his prince's side, hoping his presence was enough.

Soon the door opened slightly and Mahad stepped out. "The pharaoh wishes to see you, my prince. We did everything we could, but I'm afraid your father is very ill. It seems he has lost the will to live," the magician said somberly. "I am very sorry."

Atem stood and nodded in understanding, brushing past Mahad as he entered his father's room. The pharaoh lay in his bed, a cool cloth covering his forehead. As the prince approached him, he noticed how pale his father was, how shallow he was breathing. He slowly knelt by the bedside, attempting to keep his composure.

"My son…you have come," Aknamkanon said in a whisper.

"Yes, father, I'm here and you are going to be okay. I'm sure the healers can help you somehow," he said with feigned optimism.

"No, not this time, Atem." The pharaoh tried to sit up with what little strength he had and pulled the millennium puzzle off over his head. The small effort drained him and he sunk back down onto his pillow coughing. "I want you to have this, my son. It belongs with the ruler of Egypt."

Atem's eyes widened as he realized the implications of taking the puzzle. "No…no, I don't deserve it. This is all my fault. If I had just married Isis like I was supposed to…"

"Atem listen to me. This is not your fault," the pharaoh interrupted. "It is I who should not have pushed you into something you did not want. This was a long time coming. It is about time I pay for the misdeeds I have committed."

"Father you cannot die!" Atem clutched his father's hands, tears of desperation beginning to fill his eyes. Aknamkanon pulled his hand out of his son's grasp and placed it on his cheek. Atem was taken aback as his father looked on him lovingly for the first time in ages.

"You have become a man before my eyes, my son, and I am proud to say you have grown into a far better man than I. I know you will protect this kingdom with honor, no matter what darkness may befall it. My biggest regret is that the consequences of my actions fall upon you."

Atem was confused by his father's words; Egypt was at peace now, so what darkness did he speak of? "What do you mean father? FATHER!" The pharaoh's eyes had closed, his breath slowly leaving him. "NO! Father you cannot leave!" The prince frantically tried to stir his father, but to no avail. He laid his head on Aknamkanon's chest, finally letting out all the tears he had held back. The pharaoh was gone.

Atem sat silently on his balcony, dangling his legs off the edge through the bars like he did when he was little. The evening air was particularly cool and the prince shivered as he gazed up mindlessly at the stars slowly emerging against the darkening sky.

"It looks like you could use something to warm you up."

The prince turned his head at the gentle voice behind him, smiling softly as Mahad laid a blanket around his shoulders. "Thank you," he said quietly as the magician sat down beside him.

"So when are you going to come out of this room and be among people? It's been almost three weeks already since the pharaoh's passing." Mahad watched Atem, looking for any change since the last time he visited. The prince had on none of his usual adornments and his face was clean of makeup; it was clear he had no intentions of leaving his room. Atem did seem less sorrowful, thankfully, but by the look on his face there was undoubtedly something on his mind.

Atem looked away from his friend, staring off into the distance again. "It's not my father's death that has me seeking seclusion, not anymore. Yes, I am still mourning his loss. I do not think I will really have any closure until they are finished with the embalming and he can finally be entombed. Now, though, I feel nothing but uncertainty." He pulled the blanket tighter around him, as if the extra security it provided shielded him from his apprehension. "I'm not ready to be pharaoh. Before, I would never have said such a thing. I thought I could handle anything, but now I realize how weak I truly am. How am I to run a kingdom when I don't even understand my own heart, when I hurt everyone I am close to?" He looked down at the millennium puzzle around his neck, tracing his fingers along its sides; it felt as if it weighed a hundred pounds. Whatever secrets it held, he would never be worthy of them.

"Atem, look at me." Mahad reached over and took the prince's hand as the other boy turned to face him. His violet eyes looked weary. "You will truly be a great ruler. You are the strongest person I know. Instead of bending to the will of others, you stand up for yourself and make your own choices, yet you never fail to think of your people. That is the mark of a true leader. Do not doubt yourself or your abilities. You may not see it yet, but everyone around you can see your strength and potential. Don't tell me that I am just saying this because I am your friend. You can ask anyone."

The prince felt a small sense of relief, hearing that others believed in him so much. He remembered the lecture Seto had given him on taking control of his own life and he couldn't help but smile a little. No one had ever yelled at him like that before in his life. For some reason this thought reminded him of things that he had not yet settled, things that needed to be said to the person beside him. "I believe you Mahad, but there is something I have not resolved. I hurt you, and you can say you are fine all you wish, but I know you too well not to see what is really behind those words. I am sorry, and I only hope that you can forgive me."

Mahad felt a stab of sadness in his heart remembering the day Atem ran away from him, but he had since come to terms with the reality of the situation. "You have been long forgiven, my prince. How could I be angry at you for something that is not your fault?"

Confusion flashed across Atem's face. "What do you mean by that?"

The magician heaved a sigh. "You cannot help that you do not love me the way I love you."

Atem opened his mouth to object, but promptly closed it. He knew what Mahad said was true; there was no point in trying to make something work that was not meant to be. He looked at his friend apologetically. "I do love you," he said quietly, shifting closer to the magician. "I know that what I feel for you is more than just friendship, more than just the bond of brothers, but…something doesn't feel right. I'm not sure why."

"Perhaps in another time and place, we could have been together," Mahad responded, crushing pain in his chest as he tried to get the words out, "but here, now, I think there is someone else who has captured your heart." He knew it was time to let go. He could have stayed quiet, he could have found a way to keep the prince for himself, but he loved him too much for that. He could see Atem suffering from his conflicting emotions and wanted to set him free; he owed him that much.

"What? Someone else?" Atem was genuinely taken aback by the comment. A hint of realization flashed across his mind, but the emotions inside of him were in such turmoil he couldn't make sense of it right away. He simply looked at Mahad as if waiting for an explanation.

"You really don't know, do you?" Mahad shook his head, an unexpected smile spread across his face. "It makes me very happy, knowing you were willing to bury your emotions so deeply in order to protect me. However, I think you should know that a certain intolerably arrogant member of the court cares for you very much…and I suspect you care for him too."

"Seto…" Atem whispered to himself. He tried to wrap his head around the magician's words, but it seemed too impossible. "No…you're wrong, you have to be. Seto doesn't care about anyone but himself. Playing with me is only a game to him…isn't it?" He looked up at Mahad wide-eyed, his dam of carefully pent-up feelings collapsing and rushing forward all at once. Seto had once told him he loved him, but he thought it had been a joke, that he was purposely trying to hurt him. What if it hadn't been? "H-how do you know this? Did he tell you?" Atem asked, his head spinning. The magician nodded and the prince looked away, staring intently over the edge of the balcony at the ground below. It all made sense now, why Seto had been so angry with him, why he had been so distant as of late. "I've made a terrible mistake…"

"Do you love him?"

Atem heard the question, but the answer didn't come so easily. He knew he had feelings for Seto; it wasn't something that could be denied. He assumed they resulted from purely physical urges and nothing more. The heat that developed between them simply from a challenging look, the way his body reacted so readily to his touch, Seto made him completely lose his senses when he was around. As he continued to think on it, though, he realized there was more to these feelings. Seto had worked his way under his skin and consumed his thoughts. He was like no one he had ever met before, the only person who could go toe to toe with him in an argument, the only one who could get his blood boiling, the only person who truly treated him like an equal. He felt alive with Seto. "I…think I do." Atem remained silent a moment before turning to look Mahad in the eyes, his own clouded with regret. "I wanted it to be you…I wanted it so badly. I kept telling myself that I was confused, that he was confusing me, but…" He was cut off as Mahad suddenly wrapped his arms around him, pulling him tightly against his chest. The magician buried his face in the crook of Atem's neck, holding him almost desperately, as if he felt it would be the last time. The prince returned the embrace, stroking Mahad's long hair, trying to soothe him.

Mahad clung to Atem, breathing in his scent, savoring every last touch. "I have only ever wanted your happiness," he whispered softly, fighting to keep the tears back. "If that means letting you go, so be it." He pulled away, putting on a weak smile as he saw the look of concern on the prince's face. "I'll be fine. You should go to him. I'm sure he's been worried about you."

Atem brought his hand up to touch Mahad's cheek, lightly running his thumb across his soft skin. "You are far too kind, my friend. I'll never deserve you." He kissed the magician gently on the forehead, a piercing pain running through his heart as he felt the wetness of tears on his hand. The prince stood and walked to the door, turning just for a moment to look back at his friend. Mahad had himself wrapped in the blanket, his head down and his hair cascading over his face, hiding his countenance. Atem had the urge to rush back to him, but he knew in the end there was nothing he could do to stave off the inevitable sorrow that came from unrequited love. His presence would likely make things even harder. Forcing himself to turn away, he opened the door and rushed down the hallway, his sadness slowly being replaced with resolve. He finally understood where his heart truly belonged.

And here our story officially takes the scandalshipping route. Obviously I adore Mahad, and this story is more about him than anyone, so of course there will be more going on with him for all the rest of you who love him too :) As for you Seto lovers, next time you will all have a lovely treat! Quick little history note: ideally, the embalming process took around 70 days to complete, hence the long time-lapse. The preservation process was very intricate. They didn't just take out their organs and wrap them up and be done with it XD Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed and please keep them coming! I appreciate it so much ^^