Alverna: Chapter 21. And I know I said I would update on Monday, but I have one thing to say to that.

Marik: Curse you writhers block?

Alverna: No. CURSE YOU WORK SCHEDUALE!

Mokuba: What?

Alverna: I had to go into work early and didn't get off until late.

Joey: Ouch.

Alverna: Yeah. Anyway, I don't own Yu-gi-oh, just the plot, and enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 21: In your face

"WHAT!"

That time, Atemu and Yugi stayed firmly on the ground, compared to the engagement announcement. It was after breakfast the next morning, and they had just told their friends that Yugi was pregnant.

"How is that possible?" Joey asked while gapping like a fish.

"Do we really need to explain that concept?" Atemu asked with a concerned look.

"No!" Joey blushed. "Ra. What I mean is, Yugi is male. How can he be pregnant? I know he hasn't taken the spell that allows him to conceive yet."

"We don't know." Yugi answered. "But since I'm pregnant, I think you three should get checked out as well."

"Why?" Malik asked, looking as confused as Joey.

"Because," Ryou explained, a bit exasperated, "since we believe we came from the same area, we also might be able to have kids without use of a spell."

"Oh." Malik and Joey looked down, feeling stupid. Bakura and Marik also had the same feeling, but they weren't about to admit that.

"That is a good idea." Joey muttered.

"I wonder if Isis has told father yet." Yugi mumbled.

"Did she say she would?" Seto asked.

"Yes." Atemu nodded. "But she might wait until we're with him."

"Prince Atemu." Honda spoke from outside the tent, not being able to hear the people inside due to a silencing spell.

Atemu stood and went to the entrance. He pulled back to flap of cloth that was the door and nodded to his friend.

"Honda." Atemu said. "Does father need to see me?"

"You and Lord Yugi." Honda replied, his eyes widening before adding in a whisper, "How did you know?"

"You seem to be summoning myself and Yugi to my father a lot lately." Atemu replied.

"True." Honda admitted. "I am also to escort you and Lord Yugi to him."

"Alright then." Yugi said from behind Atemu. He had heard the conversation.

"Can we come?" Bakura asked as he appeared behind Yugi.

"Yeah." Marik added.

"Honda?" Atemu asked. Everything depended on what his father had said.

"To a point." Honda replied. "Like, outside of the tent."

"That works." Malik said as they all filed out.

When they got there, Atemu and Yugi entered the tent while Honda kept anyone else from entering.

"Good." Aknankanon looked away from Isis as the two came in. "You're here."

"Is everything alright?" Atemu asked as he glanced between the high priestess and his father. "Nothing has happened?"

"Define nothing." Yugi muttered under his breath.

"I heard that." Isis said cheerfully, making Yugi groan. He had forgotten that Marik's sister had good ears.

"Isis says you two have something you should tell me. Something that will majorly affect our future." Aknankanon said.

"Yes." Yugi nodded his head, took a deep breath, and spoke again. "I'm 2 ½ months pregnant, or 13 weeks."

"Did you secretly undergo the spell?" Aknankanon asked as his eyes widened at his future son-in-law's statement.

"Nope." Yugi shook his head.

"The baby is very well developed for its current stage of life." Isis picked up. "Yugi has done everything to the letter for caring for a developing fetus, even thought he didn't know until last night."

"You're right about one thing." Aknankanon sighed as he shook his head. "This really does affect our future."

"We scheduled to stay in Japan for 6 months." Atemu reminded them all. "That puts us right around the time you're due."

"Oh, great." Yugi could just picture them traveling home with a newborn infant.

"Maybe you could travel back before you're due." Atemu said, as if he could sense what Yugi was thinking about. "Stay for three months and then head back with some other members of the court."

"Would that be acceptable?" Yugi asked. He knew the Japanese's ways very well, but he didn't know what to do in a scenario like that.

"We'll find out when we get there." Isis replied. "My Millennium Necklace isn't showing me any journey home plans right now."

'Oh joy.' Atemu thought.

"We'll work things out." Aknankanon sighed again. "You wish the camp to know?"

"Yeah!" Yugi grinned. "I can't wait to see Tea's reaction."

"Same." Atemu agreed as he chuckled at his fiancé's enthusiasm.

"Alright then." Aknankanon nodded. "It will be announced before we depart in half an hour."

"Works for me." Yugi chirped.

"Me too." Atemu grinned and pulled Yugi into a tight hug. "I can't wait."

"You just want to see Tea freak out." Yugi playfully punched Atemu's arm as they left the tent.

"Guilty." Atemu admitted. "But you said you wanted to see that to."

"Yeah." Yugi sighed. "This is going to be great."

"Wonder what the announcements about?" One of the guards said as he mounted his horse and quickly went up next to the pharaoh's carriage.

"Don't know." Another said as he took his place next to his friend. "But the pharaoh said it was important."

"Atemu's finally come to his senses and is going to make me his fiancé." Tea smugly said to the guards. "That's what's going on."

"Did he tell you this?" Honda asked behind Tea.

"No." Tea said disdainfully. "But he doesn't need to. I knew he would tire of the brat and come to me. It was only a matter of time."

"Here we go again." The first mounted guard muttered to his companion.

"Got any wool?" his friend whispered back.

"Here." Honda past some up to his two guard friends.

"Thanks." both of them whispered.

After the long journey and listening to Tea saying that the prince would tire of his fiancé and leave him, they bought some wool at the first market they could find. Worked great as earplugs.

"Attention." Pharaoh Aknankanon called from the steps of his carriage. "It is time for the announcement."

Everyone quieted down as High Priest Mahad, High Priestess Isis, High Priest Seto, with Joey behind him, Prince Atemu, and Lord Yugi stood on opposite sides of the pharaoh.

"It was discovered last night that Lord Yugi is 2 ½ months pregnant with Prince Atemu's child." Aknankanon announced, receiving surprised gasps and mutters from the entire company, excluding those who already knew.

"About time!" Bakura shouted near the back of the crowd, making Ryou slap him upside the head as Marik and Malik doubled over in laughter while some of the crowd chuckled as well.

"Oh Ra." Yugi muttered and resisted the urge to bury his face in the top of Atemu's kimono.

"It's not that bad love." Atemu whispered gently.

"Blame the hormones." Yugi replied. "Remember, my moods are all over the place."

"Duly noted." Atemu said with humor in his voice.

"Move out!" the shout came, making Yugi and Atemu do a mad dash for their carriage before it started moving.

Tea was furious. How could a male be expecting a child? It was unnatural. Why hadn't Atemu dumped the freak when he found out?

Tea growled. She needed to put her plan into motion now.

"Wow." Yugi said as he stared out the window.

It was two weeks later; they had arrived in the capital city.

"It is amazing." Atemu said as he kept his arm around Yugi, his hand resting on Yugi's stomach.

"You seem to be doing that a lot." Yugi commented as he touched Atemu's hand.

"I just want to protect you and my child." Atemu smiled back before placing a chaste kiss on Yugi's forehead.

"You're so sweet." Yugi giggled.

"Don't let the whole world know." Atemu gave Yugi a mock glare. "It would ruin my reputation."

"What reputation?" Yugi teased back, and instantly regretted it.

"Do you yield?" Atemu asked as he tickled Yugi mercilessly.

"Yes!" Yugi gasped. "I yield! I yield! Please stop!"

"Alright." Atemu stopped and pulled Yugi into his lap and stroked his hair as the younger calmed down and caught his breath. "baHebbak, Little One."

"baHebbak, amiry el wasim*." Yugi muttered as his breathing slowed down even more. In less than two minutes, he was asleep.

'Well,' Atemu thought, 'he will need it.'

Being pregnant taxed Yugi's strength. He was starting to become tired very easily and had to use the bathroom more. Atemu really hoped that the people of Japan would accommodate to Yugi's needs. He needed a little slack.

"Wake up Yugi" Atemu said a couple hours later as he shook Yugi's shoulder.

"Hm?" Yugi blinked a few times as he pulled himself out of sleep. "What?"

"We're at the palace." Atemu whispered as Yugi rubbed his eyes.

"We're back in Egypt?" Yugi stared at Atemu for a few seconds. "Oh! The emperor's palace in Japan. Right."

Yes, Yugi had been getting slightly forgetful as of late. Another part of the pregnancy and hormones.

"Yes." Atemu nodded. "I hope you're ready."

"Ready as I'll ever be." Yugi sighed.

"Whoa." the driver of the carriage said, pulling the horses to a stop.

"Shall we?" Atemu asked.

"Yes." Yugi replied as the door opened… and a flash of magic came rushing threw the carriage.

* baHebbak, amiry el wasim- I love you, my handsome prince

Alverna: CLIFFHANGER!

Yugi: Review if you want the next chapter by Friday.

Atemu: Otherwise, you'll have to wait until next week.

Next Chapter: Some people are missing.