This story contains TRIGGER WARNINGS for rape, violence, blood, physical and emotional abuse, suicide (mentioned). READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

This warning applies to the story in general. NO SPECIFIC WARNINGS FOR INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS WILL BE GIVEN!

Chapter 29

The moment Atem entered the throne room applause erupted. Yugi too, standing in front of a chair not far from Atem's, was clapping as Atem strode down the aisle, crook and flail crossed in front of his chest. About two thirds of the northern nobles were present at this meeting. The delivery of food and weapons had strengthened Egypt and let them free even more sectors.

Atem sat down on the throne out of dark brown wood and placed his hands on the cheetah-shaped armrests. A servant with a scroll in his hands called for one noble after another to come forward. They reported news from their homes but mostly they told with sparkling eyes how much the conditions of their sectors were improving. Now they were free from their invaders and were receiving enough food to let no one starve. No more rape, no more terror, no more people taken from their homes with a bag over their head.

"My niece and nephew may have been executed in secret after the Atlanteans took them," a middle-aged man said, even though his expression made it obvious how much it pained him. "But I will give all I have to avenge them!"

"I have no doubt that you will. All of you will get the chance to punish the Atlanteans for killing your loved ones, if it happened in secret or not," Atem said and the nobles uttered sounds that were something between cheers and battle cries. A few more reports, all containing similar things, followed.

"Thank you all. I'm glad to see that Egypt is regaining its strength," Atem said. "But this isn't the only reason why I decided to have this meeting. As you all know, the second part of the annual fertility ritual will take place in two days. I'm hereby inviting you to stay until that ceremony and its following feast are over. May we celebrate Hapi's blessing and the coming flood together!"

The suggestion was met with more applause. It was obvious in everyone's eyes that all those battles, despite being successful, had taken their toll. A celebration was a welcome break from all the fighting. Even Bakura, a few chairs away from Yugi, had a small smile on his face. Yugi saw it in everyone in the hall and felt it like light flowing through his veins: Hope had returned – and peace would follow soon after.

On the next morning, Atem woke Yugi by nibbling on his neck. He planted dozens of kisses all over Yugi's skin until Yugi had shaken off sleep and was able to engage in another rehearsal before the big night. Both noticed that their performances and stamina had improved significantly ever since the success of the mission. It was no surprise to Yugi but Atem was genuinely taken aback.

"We trained a lot, there's no problem in our relationship, and our injuries are no hindrance," Yugi said, one hand on his bandaged thigh. They were lying next to each other, arm in arm. "I think we're all set."

"So it seems," Atem said. "I'm not quite sure what Hapi's standards are but I think recently our sex has been pretty impressive."

"I agree," Yugi said and gave Atem another kiss before they got up. Servants helped them into their clothes and assisted with their make-up and accessories. When Yugi stepped out into the corridor, he found Atem holding a short piece of rope and Taia tugging on the other end. The rope slid out of Atem's hand and Taia spun in circles, proud of her victory.

"Isn't she cute when she's happy?" Atem said. "I mean, she's always cute but…"

Taia approached Yugi and nudged his leg with her head.

"Oh sweetie, I can't play with you now. But you can come with me if you want."

"Be a good girl," Atem said and petted her head. Taia lay down with her belly up and like always, Atem bent down to rub it. Yugi chuckled.

For some time now, Yugi's heart fluttered whenever he saw Atem playing with the pets or reading or just looking at the sky. Yugi couldn't quite explain what the feeling was but he knew he adored Atem's pomegranate scent, the gentility of his hands, the sound of his deep voice…

Once Taia could be convinced to get back up, their ways parted. While Atem attended another meeting with the other nobles, Yugi and Taia made their way to the food storage. It was a large hall right at the edge of the mansion's grounds, made out of sandstone.

A group of people were loading carts with sacks and crates. They bowed to Yugi as he passed, then continued their task. Inside the hall stood dozens of tall shelves, all of them filled with food supplies. The windows were high up and rather small, making the hall no brighter than it would have been at sunset.

Despite it being early, it was already warm enough for Kisara to tie her hair into a tight bun. She was talking to a man and telling him, which supplies were still missing from their cart.

"Good morning," Yugi said once the man had walked away. "How is the food distribution going?"

"Rather well, Royal Ornament," Lord Seto said, stepping out from behind a few barrels. Like Kisara, he was holding a board with a scroll tucked to it and a charcoal pencil in his hand. "The north will be fed for at least another month, which should give us enough time to defeat Atlantis. We even have a little more food than that so theoretically we could increase some of the rations. But it'd be a risk and I don't think we should get cocky because of our current success."

"That's why I thought we could try to smuggle some food into occupied sectors." Kisara came closer. "If successful, it will go to people who need it most. If not, we'll at least send a sign and the Egyptians will know that their Pharaoh cares about them. It could boost their fighting spirits."

"That's a great idea!" Yugi said. "I'll ask Ryou if we can do that. He knows the other sectors better than us."

"Of course. He's in… Well, I'm not sure if by now it's his or Lord Bakura's office. But he's there."

"Thanks. I'll see you later." Yugi made his way towards the exit, then turned around. "By the way: It's great to see you guys work together. You're an amazing team. And a great couple."

A shy smile spread on Kisara's face while Lord Seto cleared his throat and walked away.

Together with Taia, Yugi approached Bakura's (or Ryou's) office next. The scents of papyrus and ink were like a welcoming hug. Shelves lined the walls and were filled with hundreds of scrolls. A large desk stood in the middle of the room, stacked with piles of documents.

"I don't know how you manage to find anything in here," Bakura said just as Ryou pulled a scroll out from under some pens, pots, and rulers. "But it seems to work."

"It does," Ryou said with a grin.

"Good morning," Yugi said and both turned to him.

"Royal Ornament," Bakura said, gave Yugi a nod, then left the room. Taia approached Ryou and he petted her head.

"Hey there. Do you need anything, Yugi?"

"Your advice. I just talked to Kisara and Lord Seto, and they had an idea," Yugi said and repeated what he had just heard.

"That does sound good! We better keep the deliveries small, just in case, but…"

Ryou took a long scroll from another pile, swept some things to the side with his forearm, and spread the papyrus over the table. He turned to a shelf while Yugi examined the map of the north. Ryou placed a wooden box on the table, removed the lid, and revealed blue stones. They placed one on each sector that was still controlled by Atlantis. With a heart heavy like lead, Yugi put one on Tamiat. His fingers traced the road south but winced when he read two words:

Sobek's Bridge

For a moment, Yugi could once again feel the ground vibrate beneath his feet, and hear Otogi's voice telling him to do whatever he said. Cold seized Yugi like a cloak of ice.

"There, I think that's all," Ryou said and pulled Yugi back into the present. They discussed which sectors would be the easiest to reach and infiltrate. In the meantime, Taia lay down in a corner and chewed on her rope. Yugi and Ryou spent almost all morning considering potential dangers, the benefits of choosing certain sectors, and who to trust with the missions.

"Great. I'll show the results to my brother later," Ryou said and scribbled one more thing on a small piece of paper. Yugi rose from his chair and rolled his head from one side to another, stretching.

"I'm glad you and Bakura get along so much better now. I'm meeting with Jou for some training now so see you later."

Yugi patted his thigh and Taia got up, the piece of rope still in her mouth. Yugi brought her back to his and Atem's chambers where her lunch was waiting for her. While she took a midday nap, Yugi changed into a simple tunic and took off his jewellery.

He made his way downstairs and outside. As soon as he left the building, Yugi felt the sun burning on his skin. It was no wonder that everyone else seemed to have agreed to taking their lunch breaks early, preferably in a shaded place.

The training grounds were empty and the only sound were the chirping cicadas. Amerys had secured a spot inside a tree for himself, his limbs dangling from the branch he was resting on. He gave Yugi a slow blink, which Yugi returned by waving a hand.

Yugi approached a corner where weapon racks stood and found Jou and Mai, arm in arm, their faces glued together in a kiss.

"Excuse me?" Yugi said and both turned their heads to him.

"Ah, Yugi. Bad timing!" Jou said and Yugi laughed.

"Sorry. But we did agree on training today."

"True that. Let's see how long we'll last in this heat."

"In any case, I'm ready for a good show, boys," Mai said, took a seat on a bench, and crossed her legs. After some warming up, Yugi and Jou grabbed their weapons, and started the first match. Yugi won but barely. The heat made it hard to react quickly and both were drenched in sweat already. Just two rounds later both had trouble breathing and they decided to leave it at that for today. Just as they had sat down next to Mai on the bench a group of three approached them: Honda, Shizuka, and Anzu.

"Hey guys, need a drink?" Honda asked and patted the small barrel on his shoulder. They came closer and Honda placed the barrel on the ground. Shizuka removed the cork from its side, and let water run into cups on a tray. Anzu added a few herbs from a pouch and then they distributed the refreshments.

"Have you been doing that all over the mansion? That's so nice of you," Yugi said and took a big gulp. The herbs gave the water a note that was like a mix between mint and lemon. The others sat down on the ground in a semi-circle. They talked, laughed, and emptied more cups in the meantime.

"It's almost like in old times back in Tamiat," Yugi said with a melancholic smile. The others nodded and for a moment everyone was silent.

"Do you think things will ever be like they used to…?" Shizuka asked.

"Probably not," Mai said, one finger running over the edge of her goblet. "Too much happened."

Everyone focused on some point in the distance, forced to accept the truth in her words. Jou emptied his cup, then wiped his mouth.

"But we can make new memories. They will be great too," he said. "Besides, let's not dwell on sad things. In a few days the second part of the fertility ritual will take place and we'll get a nice banquet out of it!"

"True," Anzu said, chuckling with the others. "I can't wait to see the dancers the priests chose. Maybe I can learn a few things from them."

"The other way around it's more likely. Everyone wishes they could dance like you. Including me," Yugi said. "If I had any say in this I'd have asked you to dance at the banquet."

"That's so nice. Maybe one day…"

They continued speculating about which foods would be served and how to get a large portion of their favourites. While everyone joked, Yugi looked at the light reflection of the small puddle in his cup. As much as he wanted to focus on the positive things, he couldn't forget about an important part of Tamiat: Otogi.

Right now Otogi was alone, convinced that everyone was his enemy and plagued by nightmares of his violent father. Just for one moment Yugi wished everything could go back to normal, to the time before Yugi had ever considered going to the palace.

Yugi knew there was no sense in thinking about it now, suppressed the thought, and joined the other's discussion about which type of honey cake would be served at the banquet.

On the evening of the next day, Yugi and Atem were getting ready at Hapi's temple. After being bathed and doused in perfumes, Yugi was clad in a thin, transparent tunic and a black skirt over that. Hung with golden jewellery and covered in make-up, Yugi met Atem in a corridor. He wore the same, except for the nemes headdress covering his hair. They took each other's hands and leaned their foreheads against one another.

"Just so you know, this time I'm not harbouring a secret that could ruin this ritual," Yugi said and enticed a nervous laugh from Atem.

"That's good. When we're together later I … I really want to show Hapi what I feel for you…"

Atem looked at his sandalled feet and despite his royal clothes he reminded Yugi of a shy boy. Yugi felt warmth rise to his cheeks.

"And what's that…?"

Atem inhaled but before he could speak, the high priestess approached them. She had a staff in her hand and a leopard fur wrapped around her upper body.

"My Pharaoh, Royal Ornament, are you ready?" she asked. Yugi and Atem exchanged one last look before both answered:

"Yes, we are."

Yugi's heart was drumming throughout the whole procedure. In the last light of the sunset, Yugi and Atem attended a prayer at the temple's chapel. The nobles had crammed themselves into the small hall where they all knelt and asked Hapi for his blessings. More priests spread incense and chanted songs as Yugi and Atem put the lotus belts on each other's hips, like they had done at the first ceremony.

Holding hands and surrounded by guards, singing priests, and musicians, they made their way outside the temple. The street was crowded and people cheered and wished them luck. By now the sun had set and the night slightly cooled the land. The moon was full but despite its glow, many were holding torches, illuminating the way.

Yugi and Atem entered an open palanquin. People lined the way throughout the city and outside of it. At one point guards blocked the path for everyone but the palanquin and the priests. The entire area would be off-limits to make sure that no one but Hapi and his priests witnessed the ritual.

They approached the branch of the Nile that had been chosen. Three tents had been erected, the first two right next to one another while the other one was a little further away. After dismounting, Yugi was led into one of the tents while Atem entered the one beside it.

Clouds of incense wafted through the inner. A smiling priestess bowed, then held out a small bowl to Yugi. Inside was a liquid with a reddish tint.

"So that's…?" Yugi asked.

"Yes. Please drink it all and keep in mind that the effects are normal. It will help you feel closer to Hapi."

Yugi took the bowl and downed its contents. At first, it was sweet but it left a bitter aftertaste, like medicine. Next, the priests took off Yugi's sandals, jewellery, and clothes. By the time Yugi was naked he was starting to feel dizzy.

"This way, Royal Ornament," the priestess said and her words sounded strange and a little slower than a moment ago. Behind another flap stood a padded table. Yugi lay down with his stomach first and the feeling of the silky cushions against his skin was a lot stronger than usual. His face turned to the side, he focussed on one of many oil lamps, its flame dancing even though he felt no wind.

"Hapi, god of the life-giving flood of the holy river, hear our plea!" the priestess said and shook a sistrum three times. She prayed to Hapi to accept Yugi as the Pharaoh's chosen partner, her words now barely understandable to Yugi. She repeated her prayer over and over while Yugi felt a hand run over his back, sending a pleasant shiver down his spine. More palms touched his legs and arms, the sensations more intense than they'd usually be.

Warmth gathered in Yugi's crotch, especially when one of the hands gently squeezed his butt. An object, coated in a liquid, was slowly shoved into him and Yugi groaned. The object was pulled out and pushed in over and over, causing Yugi's member to harden.

Yugi's fingers dug into the cushion he was lying on. He begged the priests for more, even though he had no idea if the sounds he was uttering were actual words. A burning desire rippled through him, so well-known and yet so different this time.

The priests seemed to use a different object a little later, at least it felt bigger than before. Yugi's inner muscle stretched and he relished the sensation. His hips were moving back and forth and he was more than ready for someone to take him. But then the priests stopped their wonderful treatment.

Instead, they helped him stand up. The whole world seemed to be spinning and he almost fell. Yugi didn't understand why the priests guided him outside, over the grass until he felt something wet beneath his feet. They were now at the shore of the Nile. More priests had gathered here, playing drums, lutes, and tambourines or holding torches.

Everything Yugi saw was a little blurry but he recognised the high priestess with her staff. In her speech she said the words "divine", "Hapi", and "union" but everything else was no clearer than it would have been underwater.

Surrounded by more priests, someone else emerged from the other tent. It was Atem, wearing nothing but his nemes headdress on his head. He too was staggering and needed the priests to hold his arms.

Just seeing Atem sent a delicious spark through Yugi's groin. Atem's body was slim but the muscles on his arms, legs, and abs were well-defined. His member was perfectly erect, a reminder of Atem's stamina and passion. Yugi longed for all that as if he was about to starve.

Yugi stumbled forward and threw his arms around Atem. His dark skin was so smooth, yet the friction between them was oh so raw. Atem returned the embrace and pressed his mouth against Yugi's, clumsily but hungry for more.

Yugi grinned as he was enjoying Atem's hands running over his back and arms. His mind was engulfed in a cloud but Yugi knew that he and Atem belonged together and always would. Both needed each other like they needed air to breathe. Their kiss intensified like the fire within Yugi.

Yugi felt more hands on him and the priests did their best to gently separate them. Yugi wanted to protest but then he remembered why they were here. The priests guided them into the Nile until Yugi felt cool water covering half his calves.

The priests made him go down on all fours and the position started another current of excitement within Yugi. He was more than ready to become one with Atem, even more so in a position that was so natural most animals knew it. Atem knelt down behind him, grabbed Yugi's waist, and rubbed his crotch against Yugi's.

Yugi wanted to both curse and call the gods' names but his tongue wouldn't obey. Atem's manhood slid inside Yugi and Yugi groaned in response. How hot and pulsating Atem's member was! Yugi's core seemed to envelop it perfectly like they were made for each other.

Atem thrust into Yugi over and over in an age-old rhythm, sending spirals of pleasure through Yugi's stomach. The songs the priests played and sang grew quicker and louder but no drum could have matched Yugi's rapid heartbeat.

The blood in Yugi's veins was hotter than fire and wilder than any storm. Yugi wished the sensations could last forever, wanted to always be the one Atem chose to mount and make his. Yugi's fingers dug into the mud as he was doing his best to counter Atem's forceful pushes. Sweat was running over his forehead.

Yugi knew his climax was just about to hit him and he wanted to race towards it with all he had. Atem rammed into him, tickling a particularly sensitive spot, until it happened.

For a moment full of bliss, Yugi seemed to be flying. Hot and cold tremors shook his body and something shot out of his own manhood.

Dark and white spots stained Yugi's vision. His arms buckled so that he ended up with his forearms inside the water. Yet, Atem was still thrusting into him. If he had been able to, he'd have asked Atem to give him a break but it wasn't necessary.

Priests pulled Atem back so he slid out of Yugi. Yugi could see what happened next between his legs, albeit upside down. Atem rubbed his member back and forth and only a little later a white liquid emerged from it and dropped into the Nile.

The priests cheered and the high priestess said another prayer. The others repeated her last words and then the musicians and singers changed to a slower and gentler song. It happened to match Yugi's feelings. He was burned out and the sweet satisfaction mixed with tiredness.

Hands helped him stand up and led him back to dry ground. All of them now approached the third tent. Before Yugi and Atem entered, the priests wiped their skin clean off mud and any other liquids.

The floor inside tent was covered in soft rugs. Behind another flap stood a bed made out of dark wood. Its sheets had a zigzag pattern of blue and green.

Yugi and Atem dropped onto the mattress. Yugi's entire body felt heavier than a boulder and with his last strength he cuddled up to Atem, their connection now more stable and tender. The high priestess blessed them and waved her staff, then she and the others left the tent. Before their last steps had faded away, Yugi had already fallen asleep.

Yugi woke with a slight headache and a sour taste on his tongue. Despite having slept well, he was feeling exhausted and his limbs were heavy. The distant rustling of leaves and chirping of birds were the only sounds. The tent's top was crimson, immersing the inner in a light that reminded Yugi of dawn – even though it had to be in the middle of the day.

Next to him, Atem yawned. Yugi moved towards him, pecked his cheek, and both wrapped their arms around one another.

"That went a lot better than the first ceremony, huh?" Atem said and Yugi chuckled.

"I mean, it always feels amazing with you but this time… Honestly, I think not even a god can doubt that you're very, very fertile."

Atem couldn't suppress a proud smirk.

"I hope you're right but we know that's not the only thing the gods will judge." He heaved a worried sigh. "Even if they still hate me, I was at least able to show them that I'm able to choose one of the most kind-hearted and strongest people of Egypt to be at my side."

"Oh come on…" Yugi's cheeks were tingling. "It took a lot of kindness to try and repair your relationship with the south and you improved your reputation in the north by showing what a strong leader you are. And I… I could only do what I did because you make me feel…" Yugi had a particular word in mind but he replaced it with: "Appreciated."

"Is that so? I don't think you need me to be that brave and amazing."

Atem brushed Yugi's blond bangs out of his face. His fingertips were a little rough from his archery practise but they couldn't have been more tender with Yugi.

"But I do. It's always been like that. Me needing others to get anything right."

They began a discussion, both insisting that the other one was a much more wonderful person than they thought themselves. After a bit of back and forth, both realised they were still too exhausted for a quarrel like this and left things as they were. Yugi placed his head on Atem's shoulder, caressing his stubbly jaw with one hand.

In the quiet a thought occurred to Yugi and despite him not liking it he knew he had to bring it up.

"You know, I've been wondering… When all this is over I'm not sure where my place would be so… Do you think I could come back to the palace with you…?"

"Of course you can. My residence is big enough so you can have whatever rooms you want. The library will be at your disposal too. You'll have anything you could wish for."

"Thank you," Yugi said, feeling ungrateful for not looking forward to it. It'd be a luxurious life after all and he cared deeply about Atem. But the palace wasn't his home. Tamiat was.

Yet, Yugi could guess what would happen to Tamiat. Otogi would lose his title and someone else would receive it instead. Probably another noble, a second child or sibling of a lord or lady. Yugi wouldn't be able to stay and provide for himself, considering the only job he had been trained for. He'd have to stay with Atem, take care of Amerys and Taia, and be pretty and charming whenever he was in public with Atem. Shouldn't that be enough for a mere whore?

"Why don't we sleep a little longer? The feast won't start until tonight and my head is still feeling pretty heavy," Atem said.

"Mine too," Yugi said and closed his eyes. He pushed his thoughts away, focused on Atem's warm body, and soon drifted back to sleep.

Yugi and Atem returned to the city in the early afternoon but the people in the streets were already celebrating. Music sounded from nearly every corner and the commoners danced and sang. The high priestess had informed them that heralds had proclaimed the success of the ritual in the early morning.

By the time the sun was nearing the horizon yet again, spreading a rosy glow, Yugi and Atem were ready for the banquet. Both wore their lotus belts and scarlet shendyts, albeit Atem's skirt had slightly more elaborate embroidery. Yugi's hair was decorated with flowers while Atem was wearing his usual nemes headdress.

Over a dozen tables stood in the garden, surrounded by cushions in all shades of blue, red, and yellow. The nobles had been seated near Atem's table while Yugi's friends sat a little further away with low-ranking priests. The high priestess held a speech and confirmed that Yugi and Atem had performed the ceremony as intended. After that, Atem opened the banquet and the servants brought plates and bowls of steaming food.

Everyone ate, drank, and laughed. Even Bakura looked less grumpy than usual, though he was still rather taciturn. Ryou on the other hand didn't mind chatting with the other nobles or answering their questions concerning Busiris. Kisara was sitting next to Seto and the two were probably discussing another maths problem, judging from how they were taking turns scribbling on a piece of paper.

Yugi remained at Atem's side, receiving congratulations and watching his friends from afar. Asa, Neema, and Kashto were sitting next to nobles, flirting and chatting. Mai was checking in on all three alternately, maybe securing deals like she was used to doing it. Jou and Honda were doing what looked like drinking games while Anzu and Shizuka were braiding each other's hair.

Yugi enjoyed having all of them around him, seeing them safe and happy. Once this war was over, Yugi wanted it to always be like this.

When every noble had talked to them, Yugi and Atem decided that they wanted to play some rounds of Abtu Sheta. They moved to another part of the garden with many small tables that had different game boards on them.

At first, they sat at different tables and played against any noble who was interested. Yugi won all of his matches but dragged some of them out so the conversation wouldn't end too abruptly. Yugi noticed that the way the nobles looked at him had changed. They focussed a lot more on his eyes and face and only occasionally glanced at his body. They also spoke a lot about politics when he had expected nothing but questions about his and Atem's private life.

After a while, Yugi and Atem decided to play against each other. The guests gathered around their table, whispered, and placed their bets. Yugi chose the turtle-shaped pieces while Atem went for the fish. The pond-like game board was set up, the match began, and soon Yugi was so absorbed by it he ignored all the people around them.

By now Yugi and Atem knew each other so well they could see through each other's tactics. Whenever they played against each other, the biggest challenge was coming up with a strategy the other one couldn't decode, at least immediately. It was a long, slow game in which every move had to be considered carefully.

One by one, they claimed each other's pieces and it was only through an elaborate trick that Yugi's turtles conquered the entire pond as their territory. The nobles clapped, those who had won their bet more enthusiastically than others. Atem too was a little surprised but he grinned.

"Well played, Royal Ornament," he said.

"Thank you, my Pharaoh. How about another round?"

Atem agreed. A servant shuffled the cards, dealt them out, and set the fish and turtles back to their starting positions. The second round went similarly to the first one, albeit fewer nobles stayed to watch. Yugi and Atem however, were still enjoying themselves.

In the end both had only one piece left. This was a special case that had to follow certain rules: every card that wasn't used to move the pieces was taken from the deck so only the cards that had to be used right after drawing them remained.

Yugi's eyes widened at the one he had picked: it was one with a hand, which allowed him to remove one of his opponent's pieces. Just what he needed…

"I think I won this time," Atem said and revealed his card – the same as Yugi's. Yugi's jaw dropped, as did Atem's when Yugi showed what he had gotten.

"So… Does that mean none of us won?" Yugi said.

"Apparently. It's strange though. I never heard of a game of Abtu Sheta ending like that."

The nobles nodded and whispered, not sure if this was a good sign from the gods or not. Yugi and Atem exchanged looks and Yugi knew that Atem thought the same as him: better distract everyone before they reached the conclusion that this was a bad omen.

"How about we dance, my Pharaoh?" Yugi said, a little louder than necessary.

"Certainly."

Both rose and walked back to the area from before, arms linked. Yugi reminded himself to apologise to Atem later. He preferred not to dance in public but it had been the first thing to come to Yugi's mind. At least it worked and the nobles were now back to cheerful chatter and giggling behind feathered fans.

They assembled in a semi-circle around the two. They were now standing right before the musicians. While a servant was giving them instructions, Yugi whispered some advice into Atem's ear. Atem nodded and they were about to get into the starting position when…

"Let me through! Please!" someone almost shouted and everyone turned their heads. A soldier was begging two royal guards to speak to Atem. Eventually, they got out of the way and the young man rushed towards Atem. He knelt down, his expression filled with dread, his limbs shaky.

"Speak," Atem commanded.

"The Atlanteans are here!" he blurted out. "They have their dark magic with them! Those orbs that burst into fire! They're burning down every village they pass!"

It was as if those words slit everyone's throats. Yugi didn't dare to breathe. He had been so sure they'd drive Atlantis out before the bomb delivery, that the generals wouldn't consider those bombs worth a country that had just defeated them. The victory of their last mission had made them careless and Yugi wanted to slap himself for it.

All eyes were on Atem, his face now a much lighter shade of brown. Yugi followed his first instinct and took Atem's hand. After a few shallow breaths Atem squeezed back.

"Bring me my weapons. And my horse. They're here because of me and I will not use those commoners as my shield," Atem said, his voice quiet but firm.

"Bring mine too," Yugi added and a servant immediately started moving, worming through the crowd.

"And mine as well! I will not let those bastards threaten my people!" Bakura said and another servant made his way to the building. A murmur swept through the crowd and more nobles called for their servants.

"I'll go too! The north stands together!"

"I faced them once and I will again!"

"I will not stay here like a coward!"

Jou grabbed Honda's cup of beer and placed it on the nearest table with his own. He gave Honda a pat on the back, then pulled his arm.

"We'll go too! I could kill ten Atlanteans, even if I had drunk twice as much!" he proclaimed.

"Don't count me out!" Anzu said and followed them.

Everyone dropped their shawls and other accessories and hurried towards the forecourt. Servants – many of them wobbly on their feet – were leading one horse after another towards the nobles. A middle-aged woman handed Yugi his spear and gave Atem his bow, arrows, and sword in a sheath. They mounted their horses, as did Lord Seto and Kisara right behind them. Surrounded by guards, they galloped through the open gates. They passed groups of commoners who cheered as they passed, their smiles proving they were unaware of the news.

As soon as they passed the city walls, Yugi knew where they needed to go. Columns of smoke rose from several faint glows on the ground. They followed the main road into the nearest village and found it burning. The smoke from the houses made Yugi cough and his eyes water.

Egyptians were screaming, calling for help, and trying to save everyone and everything they could. The only ones who weren't panicking were pale-skinned and had blue sashes attached to their uniforms.

Atem stopped his horse and jumped off it, as did everyone else. Atem took his bow and arrow, and shot one of the soldiers right through his neck. He tumbled over the ground, a red puddle forming beneath him. Yugi didn't feel sorry.

"AS THE PHARAOH OF EGYPT AND GOD ON EARTH, I COMMAND YOU TO STOP!" Atem yelled, drawing all attention to himself. He looked over his shoulder. "Help these people out! Quick!"

The others obeyed. Jou and Honda were the first ones to dash towards a group of four Atlanteans who had pinned a woman to the ground and torn off half of her dress. They killed the Atlanteans and the woman ran off to sob in her friend's arms. Kisara and Anzu threw their knives at soldiers who were tying up a bunch of children and Lord Seto was engaged in a fight along with Lord Bakura and other nobles.

Meanwhile, Yugi and Atem gave more orders to get water from the nearest branch of the river and to bring any wounded people to Ryou. The Atlanteans exchanged a few commands themselves and a little later they made way for three people: Dartz, followed by Kek and Otogi. Hot rage surged in Yugi at the sight of Dartz's scarred face and Kek's vicious grin.

"Oh my, what an honour. It's the Pharaoh himself," Dartz said, playing with his bronze dagger, its blade covered in blood. He looked at Yugi. "And his little fucktoy. As you can see, I was just paying you back for that stolen shipment. Lucky for us, another one arrived in Tamiat a few days ago, this time from my father. And this is only a fraction of it."

Dartz pointed behind himself at four carts that were full of small leather balls. The sight froze the blood in Yugi's veins. With all those bombs, would they be able to set all of Busiris on fire?

"If you attack another one of my subjects…" Bakura said, stomping to Atem's side, "I will murder you on the spot, Atlantean."

"Oh really?" Dartz said as if Bakura had spoken of the weather. He turned to Atem. "Listen, Pharaoh. I'm sure you understand what this means. We could have a battle but you'd lose and thousands of people would be killed. It was a nice back and forth but now it's time for you to surrender."

The last word was like having his heart ripped out. Yugi wanted to yell at Dartz, wanted to slice at him with his spear, wanted to chase every Atlantean away by himself. But his eyes darted to those four carts filled with bombs.

"Hesitant, huh?" Dartz snapped his fingers in Kek's direction. "Give them a reminder."

Kek took a bomb from the black leather pouch around his hips, held its fuse into a torch, and threw it at a group of commoners.

They shrieked and most hurried away but an old man with a crutch couldn't make it. The bomb exploded into a ball of fire, left a black trace of soot, and pushed the old man over. He rolled over the ground, whimpering, one side of his body raw and bloody. Already, a few rushed to help and Ryou was one of them.

"Oh, it's the pretty one!" Kek laughed. "I wondered if we'd get to finish what we started at that oasis…!"

"Shut your mouth or I'll-"

"Brother!" Ryou said to Bakura, a firm look in his eyes.

"Well, Pharaoh?" Dartz said, ignoring the others. "What's your decision?"

Bakura glared at Atem while everyone else had an expression of terror on their face. Yugi wished he could have urged Atem not to give in to those filthy bastards. The reality of the situation made Yugi want to vomit.

Wood crackled, people called for help, ash and embers floated through the air. It smelled of destruction. The grip around Yugi's spear tightened so much it hurt.

Atem had his jaw clenched. His eyes were burning like the fires around him. He was feeling nothing but hate towards Dartz but Yugi knew that a part of it was also directed at himself.

It was like a dagger in Yugi's stomach when Atem took his bow, quiver, and sword, then dropped them all to the ground. The sound was minor but it still tore Yugi's soul apart. Dartz's lips curled into a smirk.

"Very well. Then please, lead us into the city. We'll discuss everything there."

Yugi shot Otogi a helpless glance but before their eyes could meet, a broad-shouldered Atlantean approached Yugi. Yugi wrestled with him for his spear and lost.

They rode back into the city. The moment the commoners saw the blue banners all music and laughter died. Those who didn't immediately get out of the way were kicked or pushed by Atlanteans. The horror in the commoners' faces was obvious and all Yugi could do was the same as Atem: hold his head high and hide his fear.

At the mansion everyone dismounted. Dartz barked some commands and his soldiers swarmed the buildings. He then turned to Yugi and Yugi forbade his trembling legs to take a step back.

"We've still got a bone to pick, don't we, little whore?" Dartz said and tapped the scar across his face. "I can't wait to find out what you're capable of. If it's enough to satisfy a Pharaoh you might just be good enough for me…"

Atem wrapped one arm around Yugi's shoulder but Yugi barely felt it. His body had gone numb.

"You will stay away from him," Atem hissed with more venom than a cobra.

"I will treat him like the very thing he's been all his life: a worthless little slave. You hear?" Dartz nudged Yugi's cheek. "That's all you'll ever be, no matter what your slave-trading parents told you."

"They were never slave-traders!" Yugi said, wondering himself from where he took the strength to speak so steadily. "They taught me all their lives that slavery is the worst that anyone can do to another person. I do not believe your lie!"

"By the gods, it seems the only way to shut that big mouth of yours is to shove a dick or two into it, huh?! We can arrange that. Trust me, I will make you beg for my mercy," Dartz said with a demonic glare. He gestured Otogi to come over. "You know this place, right? Lead my soldiers to the royal chambers. They will search everything for weapons and then the Pharaoh and his whore will stay there until we've taken care of everything."

Yugi, Atem, Otogi, and half a dozen soldiers entered and made their way upstairs. Taia barked at the invaders and Amerys too arched his back with a hiss. While the soldiers checked every vase, box, and corner, Otogi grabbed a scroll in a long wooden case from a table in the drawing room.

"Is that the scroll that came with the Phoenician shipment?" he asked. He flinched when Yugi placed a palm on his upper arm. There was still a minty scent that surrounded Otogi, albeit much fainter than it used to be.

"Otogi," he said, his voice trembling with fear and urgency. "I know you only ever wanted the best for Tamiat but you've got to help us! Please, for all that we once had…!"

"Help you?!" Otogi spat. "Like you helped me when you betrayed me? Caused the rebellion? Stole those goods on Tomb Island? None of this would have happened if you had just accepted that you're a stupid little boy who needs me to tell him what to do."

"I know! But… You can't want what Dartz is doing!"

"Of course not. But I need to free Tamiat from its shackles. And now it seems I'll get something even better than that."

"What do you mean…?"

"You'll see soon enough. All that matters is that I will be able to pay back the royal family for what they did to mine all those years ago."

"My lord," Atem said, his posture straight and trying to sound as calm as he could. "If my ancestors caused you harm, know that I do not wish to repeat their mistake. Whatever issue there is, I'm willing to resolve it peacefully."

"Whatever issue… You don't even know!" Otogi narrowed his eyes in disgust, his fists clenched as if he was about to punch Atem. "You don't even know what your ancestor did to claim the crown for himself! Not that I'm surprised. After all, I'm talking to someone who caused a war because he couldn't control his cock."

Atem ground his teeth and Yugi wasn't sure if he was suppressing his anger or his shame. Yugi stepped closer to Otogi and noticed how gaunt his face was, how the whites of his eyes had a reddish tint. He was so different from the person Yugi had once kissed so passionately and yet he still had to be somewhere beneath all that bitterness.

"Please, Otogi. What can we… What can I do to calm Dartz's wrath?"

Otogi laughed, disgusted as if he were talking to a roach.

"You can't. But if you want some advice, remember all you learned in your training. Seems like Dartz will be your first real customer."

Otogi left the room and as soon as the soldiers had confiscated every potentially dangerous object, so did they. Once the last one closed the door behind himself, it was so quiet Yugi could hear his own heartbeat. Again, he hardly felt it when Atem pulled him into a hug, squeezing him as if he was about to slip out of Atem's arms.

"I won't let anything happen to you. You will not have to go through the same thing as Heba did," Atem said but Yugi knew he wouldn't be able to protect him. The mere thought of what Dartz's revenge would look like made Yugi's lungs shrink. It would be a hundred times worse than what Otogi had done to him before he had gone to the south. Dartz had harboured his hate for Yugi for a long time and once he released it, nothing but Yugi's torment and complete humiliation would satisfy it.

"Is it selfish?" Yugi whispered. "Worrying about myself when all of Egypt is at stake?"

"That doesn't matter."

"W-When he… Will you hate me then? Be disgusted…?"

Yugi pressed his forehead into the curve of Atem's neck. That was the second most terrifying thing: Atem never looking at him the same way ever again. Him being hesitant and revolted at every touch. If Dartz wouldn't kill them.

"Of course not!" Atem said and lifted Yugi's chin for a kiss. "You're my everything, Yugi. Dartz won't change that. Ever."

"You're my everything too…!" A sob emerged from Yugi's throat. His fingers dug into Atem's skin, never wanting to let go. "I don't want this! I don't want anyone but you, Atem! I only want you because I…"

"What…?" Atem asked. Yugi let a shaky hand run over Atem's cheek, looked into his gentle scarlet eyes. It all seemed so obvious all of a sudden and this time Yugi wasn't afraid of saying it. In all that fear and guilt the words felt warm and sweet on Yugi's tongue:

"I love you, Atem."

Atem stared at him. A slow smile spread on his face and he leaned his forehead against Yugi's.

"Is that true? Really?" Atem asked with so much hope and innocence it seemed out of place.

"Yes. It is."

"I love you too, Yugi," Atem said and for a moment it was as if they were enveloped in warmth. "I love you so much and I want to be with you forever."

For a little while they just stood there, arm in arm and their lips pressed against one another. Of course Atem was the one, of course they belonged together. If they hadn't been dealing with a war, they'd have realised it so much sooner.

But as reality returned, their happiness faded. In a way, what Dartz would do to Yugi would be even worse now. Now Yugi wouldn't be able to lie to himself and pretend that Atem had only been a customer.

"Yugi, whatever happens: You'll always be the most wonderful person to me and I care more about you than my own life."

"And you please remember that I know you've given Egypt all you got and that you want to protect your people from any harm."

It was silent. Yugi knew there was nothing they could do. Nothing but enjoy what might be their last moments together and feel more helpless and terrified than they ever had.