:Hi guys! How are you guys? I'm sorry this is a little late, or still like ten months late, but I had a sore throat and my birthday is coming up! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I worked hard on it! Have fun reading!

The scene was set, the floor covered in a pale tan powdery color that would brush along the feet of others and stain their soles, around the area stood stationary trees, small plants, and a few beautiful flowers that would bloom only in the harshest of deserts. The background consisted of moving skies, the sands in the back flowing with the breeze that someone could almost feel to think they were in the ancient time.

Small buildings were stationed around the area, one building standing to tower over them all, the most beautiful and elegant of buildings. One that was built as if to shout out; Yes! I rule this village! These are my people! All of the buildings were constructed of tan blocks, taking the image of sand as heat rolled across the stone. Around this particular building of power, a young figure stood in front of it, a broom clutched in their hand as they swept the front of their home. Sidewalks hadn't been common, but they were there in front of that house to prove their wealth as well.

This particular person had no need to sweep, but no. They wanted to, they had not the desire of wanting to be royalty so they took up the task of doing some chores to help the servants. Their father, the chief was pleased to have such a hardworking offspring. The person looked around, the broom still in their hands. The wood, looking smooth and firm as they moved the stick of the broom to one hand to place a hand on their hips.

The person's hair flowed down to their back, their beautiful face reading annoyance and worry as they moved their eyes around the desert; "Oh, where is he?" They clicked their tongue for a moment, searching more. "He probably overslept or forgot about me, the pathetic idiot..."

They resumed their sweeping, not noticing as nearby bushes began to rustle at the statements. The bushes swayed, a tanned hand peeked around the corner of the green, and with a jump a tall man rose from the moving bushes with a smile and grabbed the unsuspecting person with a loud laugh-

Or that was supposed to be the case...Mai felt her temper rising as she watched as the royal prince had jumped out of the fake green leaves and wrapped his arms around Yugi, freezing as soon as he did so. She clutched the script in her hand tightly, waiting as she viewed the cheeks on her two actors faces turn a bright red that rivaled the visiting royal's eye color. She glared at the two, reaching for a megaphone that had been resting on a table and bringing it to her lips.

"Cut!" She screamed, causing a majority of the students to jump in fright at the sudden outburst. The minority who didn't jump just sighed, looking at the two people locked in an embrace with a worried or tired expression. How many times had this been now? It was only eight in the morning, and they had repeated this one scene more than six times now. This was the first thing that happened in the play, the first!

Yugi and Atemu quickly backed away from each other, with the smaller one placing his hands behind his back as he tried to calm himself. His attire resembled that of which he wore a long time ago when he had been brought to a lunch with the royal next to him. A long tanned dress with a shawl over his shoulders which connected to his wrist bracelets and on his feet resided matching slippers. His hair laid on his back, a few strands making their way over his shoulders as he looked down and licked his lips. Why was he making such a big deal out of this?! All they had to do was hug in this scene! Stop getting so nervous!

Atemu ran a hand through his hair, breathing out and pulling at his collar as his face denied his request of returning to his normal tanned color. His torso laid bare, excluding a line of fake mail over his stomach and on his lower body rested a long white cloth, resembling a skirt, but was supposed to be half a toga of some sort. His shoes had leather banded sandals and on his wrists were leather bracers. He shot a quick look to Yugi, biting his lip at how he looked. His prince of the sun looked simply stunning that outfit, and he truly wanted to tell him that but...

Mai stomped forward to the two flustered teens, her body clothed in a long tanned robe to resemble a female Egyptian priestess. She felt that since all of her actors were clothed in their costumes she had to dress up too, to only complete the mood of course! She unrolled the script held in her once clutched fist and smacked her hand on the open page.

"You have read the script, right?!" She snapped, knowing full well that Yugi knew it by heart and the royal had proved that he did. Still, the two in question nodded. "Then tell me where it says that Khu and Wahankh hug and then freeze as if they just got struck by a cold breeze!" She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself as she placed a hand on her forehead.

It's okay, it'll be okay. Mai sighed, thinking of the past couple practices. They had been doing fine in all the other scenes, the fighting, the interaction between the characters, even the atmosphere they would put out was fantastic! She was blessed to have such dedicated and talented actors, but...She looked to them, noticing how they were avoiding the eyes of the other. She wanted to yell at them again...

She wanted them to act like what they were supposed to! Khu and Wahankh were supposed to be lovers! They needed to act like they could hold each other with no fear, they needed to be able to look each other in the eye, they needed to act in love. Mai scratched that last part, no no. They did the last part fine. She crossed her arms, thinking. Any act or scene that involved those two near each other sent them into a frenzy or stunned expression. They couldn't act out the first bit of the play, hardly the near of act one, they could not even dare to sing the song in act two, and lord forbid she dare try to make them kiss in act three!

Both of them had asked her to scratch that part! Both! She could understand Yugi, but the prince? He wanted to scrap it too? She agreed not to make them practice it today, but they needed that scene! It was one of the most popular scenes in act three, no...It was the most popular! To suddenly scrap it was a giant no go! So many people would be looking forward to that kiss.

But they won't be able to. She added to her thoughts with a inaudible growl. If they can't even hug each other without acting like fools then they wouldn't be able to kiss. She had to think, what could she do to convince them make up? To force them into getting used to each other... She allowed a smirk to creep upon her face, she had the perfect idea.

"Alright..." She turned back to face them, clapping her hands with an eerie smile. "Please, come with me for just a moment." She placed down the script and began to push both boys to come along with her with her hands, one of each of their backs.

Yugi blinked in surprise as the teacher began to push them, what was she going to do? He had to admit, he hadn't been happy either when they messed up the scene again, but what could he do? It wasn't his fault that...that...He stopped his thoughts, making them disappear. Stop that, do not think that. He turned his eyes to the royal, making out a confused expression of his face. His face was scrunched up, as if he was thinking that the teacher was planning something. He had to admit, the expression made Atemu look funny.

Atemu could have sworn that the director was going to kill them, he had seen the exact same look on Seto whenever he caused mischief around the palace with Mana. It usually lead to a lecture or a sudden story to tell father. Either way, it never ended well. He looked to Yugi, finding those beautiful eyes to already be on him as he rested his eyes on him. The stunning boy blinked in shock at being caught, darting his eyes away before Atemu could make even the smallest attempt at conversation. Well, how could he come up with a conversation? He hadn't been able to speak to him correctly since the kiss and that small discussion in the dressing room...

What had that been about? Why in Ra's name did Yugi not want him to apologize? What was his prince of the sun hiding from him? And the smile, the look in the small boy's eyes when he had turned to look at him. He had been caught almost speechless at the sight. It was so different, as if he had viewed a new part of Yugi, one that he wanted to see more often. The emotions he could have placed, one of them...He shook his head. No, but could it possibly be?

If it was what he was thinking, what would he do? He thought of the bet, suddenly feeling guilt rise up in his throat. Did he really want to do that to Yugi? He felt the urge to clutch at his chest, but resisted it as him and Yugi were thrust into a room with a sudden push.

The two boys gasped, steadying themselves as they landed in the room and turned around to their director as she slammed the door. Yugi ran to the door, banging on it and yelling for their directors name, to this she responded;

"Once you two have stopped acting like you can't even look at eachother," The two boys heard the sound of keys locking the door. "I'll let you out." The two felt their eyes widen as they heard footsteps walk away from the door, no way...

Yugi backed away from the door, turning around and leaning his back against it. He stared at the floor, feeling his hair spike up slowly. He couldn't believe it. Ms. Valentine had actually locked them in a room together! Did she know how bad that was?! He looked to the pharaoh to be, his face mixed with amusement, confusion, and a bit of panic. However, all in all he seemed calm.

He had to think, he was supposed to be panicked, he was supposed to be freaking out and wanting to get out. But he had to remember, he wasn't like that anymore when he was with the prince, was he? No, that had changed. He gulped, feeling his face turn warm. He was stuck in a room with Atemu, a person he didn't want to be locked in a room with, but at the same time did. This caused his heart to hurt, this was so confusing! Why did it have to be like this?!

Did Seto tell her to do this? Atemu pondered, thinking of his adviser for just a moment. He had recommended the exact same strategy to getting him close to Yugi, but for a teacher to do this was a bit odd. He found it amusing, this situation, honestly what would the others tell him to do in this predicament? Confess his undying love? He had done that, hadn't he? He looked around, well he was also confused, that was another thing. What were they supposed to do in here?

He looked around the area, noticing how she had shoved them in the dressing room. A simple place to remember where you had locked up your actors, no big deal. He rethought the lines of the play in his head, trying to review the lines mentally, it didn't work well, however what else was he to do? He glanced to the beauty near him, finding him to be moving away from the door to a nearby dresser and grabbing a nearby thin book. He panicked, only on the inside though.

He was alone with Yugi! What could they do?! How could they convince the teacher that they were okay with each other if she locked them in there?! What-

Atemu dodged as a book flew at him; "W-What?" He looked near him to where the book had fallen, it was a left out script of the play. He knelt down to pick it up and dust it off from the bits of the floor that had attached to it.

"She's mad at us because we can't really..." Yugi spoke to him,waving his own script around in a circle. "Communicate well..." He kept his eyes away from Atemu, not daring himself to actually look at the royal. It would so much easier to go back to hating this guy... "So, let's practice a little."

Yugi directed his eyes to a nearby table and pointed at it; "Go stand behind that like it's bushes." Atemu blinked at the sudden orders, before nodding and doing as he had order. "I'll say the line and then you can...um.." He let out a small cough, his cheeks dusted with blossom. "Do the...thing."

He threw the script on a nearby dresser, placing his hands behind his back as his hair began to turn completely back to normal. "Oh, where is he?" He clicked his tongue as instructed a long while ago when he had first practiced the role "He probably overslept or forgot about me, that pathetic idiot."

Atemu gulped, licking his lips before he jumped from behind the dressing table and wrapped his arms around Yugi, knowing what he was supposed to do but freezing as soon as he did this. He felt Yugi stiffen in his arms, this was going to take some time to get used to.

Yugi breathed in, trying to get some air back into his system as he placed his hands on Atemu's and moved them away from his waist. He looked up at the royal, noticing how the other male's cheeks began to flush, he breathed out.

"L-Let's do that again..." Yugi stuttered, shooing the prince away and watching as he went back behind the dressing table. He coughed in his hand and repeated the line, going a tad bit faster to speed up the process.

Atemu repeated his previous actions, however instead of grabbing Yugi, he missed by an inch and ended up tumbling onto the floor next to him, his face becoming glued to the material beneath him. He heard the sound of laughter, bringing music to his ears and filling his heart to the brim with happiness, almost to the point he felt as if it was going to burst. He lifted himself up on his knees, tossing an eye back to Yugi to find him smiling and giggling.

"Th-Third..." Yugi held a hand up, trying to restrain his giggles and shook his head. "Third times a charm?"

Atemu nodded, smiling as he felt the small awkward barrier between them slowly crack as he walked past Yugi to his position behind the table. He waited patiently, the words coming out of his interest's mouth slowly, as if wanting to draw this out as much as possible. Was he teasing him or trying to annoy him?

As soon as the final word was spoken, Atemu abandoned his hiding place, launching himself at Yugi and lifting him into the air with a smile. In response to this the boy being held began to giggle, placing his thin arms around the royal as he was swung around in circles. He felt the air going over his face, forgetting everything except this small happy moment as they circled around.

Atemu slowly placed Yugi down, his own smile pasted onto his face as the other tried to silence his giggles. They had done it! They actually did what they needed to!

"I-I did it." The royal breathed out with his grin growing wider. Yugi smiled in agreement.

"Y-Yeah." Yugi giggled once more. He only did that sort of hug with Joey! So, it was a bit odd to do it with Atemu, but it was fun and...He tried to erase the next thought. Don't think about anything that compliments him, just don't.

Atemu moved his eyes to the nearby script, moving to it and taking it into his hands. He flipped through the pages, looking for a scene that he remembered they would also get flustered on, well...there were a lot of those but...

"What about when Wahankh is about to leave and he..." Atemu trailed off, knowing that his little prince knew what he was about to say.

Yugi felt his face light up, knowing the next word that was supposed to have come up. Yes, he..he hadn't forgotten about it but still. He nodded, feeling his heart begin to hurt from how hard it was pounding.

He rushed toward the prince, taking the script out of the royal's hands and taking in a deep breath. "Okay..." He whispered, placing his hands on Atemu's shoulders, trying not to stare at his bare torso, he was well built...Sweat had begun to trail down the man's neck, the moisture on his body making it shine and- He felt his face begin to burn again.

Atemu began to sweat, Yugi was so close to him! He knew what he was signaling though, that was what Khu had to do. He wrapped his arms around Yugi's small waist, noticing how well they fit together in each others arms. He felt as if the smaller male was meant to rest in his arms, he was so warm. He looked in between them, noticing a good gap in the middle with a chuckle.

Yugi blinked at this; "W-What?" He let out a gasp as Atemu suddenly pulled him forward, making their chests barely touch as their lower halves of their bodies did. He looked up, knowing his face had to be more velvet than even the darkest shade of red.

"We have to be closer..." Atemu answered, a small smirk moving onto his lips. "Shall I start?"

"Start what?" Yugi was glad for the small gap between their torsos, his heart was going to explode any second! He watched the royal lick his lips, making him lick his own in response.

"The...Well..." Atemu felt his mind draw a blank as he stared down at the person wrapped in his arms. The lines! The...The...He felt entranced by the look of Yugi's eyes, their amethyst gaze searching his own to find any sort of emotion that he could hold onto for support, his cheeks lighting up in the most beautiful shade of red, his lips parted just enough to let him reply quickly if he dared to speak to him, and he could see the sweat rolling down his forehead, giving him a shining look, but that was nothing new. Yugi was always shining in his eyes, as if he brightened up every room. No, he did brighten up every room...

Yugi couldn't breath, he could feel his body become weaker. Was he shaking maybe? He felt so defenseless in his arms, as if he needed to be protected by this taller person. This royal, this prince, this pharaoh-to-be, this...He breathed sharply, noticing how said person laid their forehead against his own. They were so close! He felt the royal's arms tighten around his small body. Oh no...

He looked into the eyes of the other, their eyes slightly darker, were his eyes the same in a way? Becoming darker as this happened? He felt his eyes drooping without his command, what was happening? He could barely see Atemu's own eyes begin to close as well, he was affected too? He could feel Atemu's breath on his lips, almost-

Knock Knock!

Atemu and Yugi snapped out of their daze, forcing each other away as if they were the same sides of a magnet trying to be connected.

"You two done in there now?" Mai's voice rang out, the sound of keys unlocking the door rung throughout the room. "I've left you in there for a good half an hour, so come on out!" She walked away, leaving the two boys within the room scared half to death and breathing heavily as they tried to recollect what had almost happened.

Atemu could barely register what had went on. He had almost kissed Yugi again! And it was as if he had...He felt his belly begin to churn pleasantly, his heart wanted to do a marathon, his mouth had gone dry...Was it hot in this room? Who turned on the heater? He could see Yugi's face, he could tell he was thinking almost the exact same thing.

What was wrong with him?! Yugi asked, panicking within his thoughts. He was going nuts! He had almost...almost...He couldn't believe it! He had gotten so upset over it before, and now...now he had leaned in as if he...He felt a strange affection rise up in his chest like guilt, crashing over his other emotions in waves as he tried to calm himself down. This was insanity! If he had kissed him...

If he had kissed him, would he have lost the bet then and there? He looked to the royal, finding him to already be staring at him with a stunned expression. No, no. He couldn't let him know, but the royal wasn't stupid like he had previously thought long ago, he would figure it out soon if he kept this up. He had to try harder, he had to-

"Yugi." The said person's eyes widened as the prince smiled shyly, causing his emotions to go crazy once more. "I believe we should do as she asked, alright?"

Yugi nodded, watching as Atemu walked to the door and opened it, finding it unlocked and waved at him to follow. The prince took a risk, whispering one sentence as the smaller male came close enough.

"Shall we go, Khu?"

:Sorry that was kind of short, but it was cute right? And man, Yugi is taking it hard! I feel so bad for him, falling in love is so confusing at first, isn't it? Wait, did I say love? Hehe~ Anyway! I hope you enjoyed, look forward to next week's because that will be the day you guys finally get to witness the performance of The Red Nile! See ya then!: