Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the characters (unless otherwise stated) Kazuki Takahashi does, nor do I make any money from these stories.

04

Atemu stepped out of the house and into the sunlight but Yugi was nowhere to be found, none of the guards had seen the small teen leave, for a moment Atemu began to panic, but then he smiled, he knew where Yugi was. Getting on his horse Atemu rode out to the oasis, the one where he'd first met Yugi.

Yugi arrived panting; he'd run all the way from the town. Falling to his knees he started to cry. He'd had to get away he couldn't take being in his old home anymore so he'd come back here where he felt more comfortable, he couldn't go back to the palace either, in the short time he'd known the prince he'd developed strong feelings for him, feelings he was sure would not be returned…

"Yugi." Atemu whispered walking towards his love, Atemu had fallen hard for the little one, he hadn't known him long but he knew he would spend the rest of his life with Yugi.

Yugi tried to run but Atemu grabbed his arm "Yugi! Wait, please."

Yugi stopped and hung his head "What?" Yugi asked sadly

"What's wrong? Why did you run?" Atemu paused as he gathered Yugi into his arms "Why do you run, from me?"

Yugi sighed, "I couldn't just stand there while he lied, not only to me but to the pharaoh as well." He looked up at Atemu "And, I could no longer bare the looks the high priest was giving me."

Atemu's eyes narrowed "What looks?"

Yugi turned away from the handsome prince "It was a mix of lust and loathing, like he wanted to take me, devour me and then just as quickly kill me." Yugi shuddered.

Atemu was incensed, "He will pay for that! Nobody touches what is mine!"

Yugi's eyes widened, "Umm Atemu?"

The prince not realizing what he had said, looked at Yugi "What is it little one?"

Yugi realizing that Atemu had no idea what he had just said started to laugh; annoyed Atemu asked "What is so funny Yugi?"

Still chuckling Yugi looked at him "You just claimed me."

"I did?" Atemu asked surprised

"Yeah, when I told you about the high priest you got angry and said 'Nobody touches what is mine'".

Wrapping his arms round Yugi again Atemu smirked "Do you mind?"

With a small blush Yugi shook his head "No, I don't mind at all."

"Good" Atemu said with a grin "Then it is settled, you – are – mine." He punctuated each word with a kiss to Yugi's nose.

"As you are mine?" Yugi asked shyly

"Yes Yugi, as I am yours."

Aknamkanon was still angry when he reached the palace, "Has my son and Yugi arrived back yet?"

"No sire, do you wish for us to go and look for them?"

Aknamkanon thought for a moment "No not yet, give them some time."

He walked to the throne room "Please have all the guards that accompanied me today bought to the throne room."

"By your command, my pharaoh"

The pharaoh was deep in thought when the throne room doors were thrown open and the guards assembled before him, they were six in total, he looked down at them and he saw the one he'd spoken to earlier, the one that seemed almost happy to destroy the home of the high priests former lover.

The pharaoh stood and as he walked along the line he offered each guard a parcel of 5 gold coins, but each one refused the pharaoh's gift, confused the pharaoh sat on his throne "You!" he pointed to the guard he'd spoken to at Yugi's old home "What is your name?"

"Bomani sire." The guard bowed low

"Well then Bomani perhaps you can explain why your men have refused the parcel of coins I have just tried to give each one of them."

"May I speak freely sire?"

The pharaoh dismissed everyone from the room except the five guards and Bomani "Now, you may speak freely."

Bomani sighed, "It is not that we don't want it sire, Ra knows our families could certainly use the money, it's just that we don't think we deserve it."

Aknamkanon looked at the guards and noticed that they were still on their knees and looking a little uncomfortable "You may relax if you so desire, you have had a long and tiring day."

Gratefully the guards sat on the floor laying their weapons beside them, close at hand should they be needed for the defence of their pharaoh.

He turned back to Bomani, "Explain." Was the pharaoh's simple command.

Bomani sighed, "When the high priest began looking for a home for his lover we tried really hard to keep him from knowing about the death of Yugi's grandfather, but one of his spies informed him, we could do nothing but obey his orders." Bomani stopped and looked at the pharaoh, his unshed tears shining in the candlelight. "It happened while his grandfather was still alive, my mother was dying I didn't have time to see to her needs, so Yugi, without my asking did it for me and when I asked why all he said was 'I know you are busy protecting our pharaoh and his family and can't always get away, it was my pleasure to help." He wiped his eyes "I tried to offer Yugi payment but he refused so when he was made homeless we all rallied round to help him."

"You, I can understand, but why the others?" the pharaoh asked, stunned by the fact that the apparent kindness of one boy could turn his battle-hardened warriors into caring people.

Bomani looked to the other guards and nodded, each one stood up and had a similar story to tell of Yugi's kindness, before and after his grandfather died, all except for the last guard who could not tell his story so Bomani told it for him…

"Minkah had a beautiful child, a girl Banafrit she was a year old…the child brokers, they came and took her from her mother's arms, the mother, Minkah's wife killed herself in her grief, Yugi tried to save her, and he almost lost his life doing so. Sire, Yugi has played a part in all of our lives…"

The pharaoh stood "Say no more, Yugi shall become a member of my court he will want for nothing ever again." The pharaoh looked thoughtful, "But tell me Bomani what exactly are these 'child brokers'."

Bomani sighed again, "They are people who go round taking children, from new-born up to two years of age from the peasants and hand them over to the wealthy classes for a high price."

"WHAT!" the pharaoh roared "Why was this not bought to my attention?"

"The high priest sire…" he never got to say anymore.

The pharaoh got up from his throne and looked at the men before him, again he had the parcels of money in his hands. "I am sure that Yugi would want you to accept these, so please take them and make your families lives a little easier."