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.

A quick reminder, as I did before I'm not using any any Japanese words…you know the usual 'aibou' and 'hikari'. As I figured that as this was set in Ancient Egypt they wouldn't use Japanese (although I did stick with Yugi's name I will admit that much).

07

It wasn't long before Yugi relaxed under Atemu's gentle ministrations, "Why are you doing this Atemu?"

Atemu leaned his chin on Yugi's shoulder "I don't want the palace servants touching you antyw ari."

"Could I not just bathe myself?"

"It is not the done thing Yugi."

Yugi turned to Atemu, "Then who will bathe you?" he asked shyly.

Atemu dropped the cloth and wrapped his arms round him "You if you want too." He said quietly as he drew Yugi in for a sensual kiss.

Yugi jumped when someone hammered on the bathing room door

"Prince Atemu! Are you in there? Your father is waiting!"

"We'll be right there!" Atemu said, angry that their 'quiet moment together' had been interrupted, they didn't get that many of them as it was.

He sighed, "Come on Yugi, before they drag us from the bath."

Yugi giggled as he wrapped a towel round himself and went to find the clothes that had been laid out for him earlier.

Yugi looked at the clothes and gasped, they were beautiful! Atemu heard Yugi's sharp intake of breath "What is it Yugi?"

"These clothes, are you sure they are for me and not you?"

Atemu chuckled "Yes habibi they are for you, you will be an item bearer soon and you need to look the part." He held out his hand

"Come, get dressed before father gets even angrier at me."

The two teens dressed and quickly made their way to the throne room, when they arrived the doors were opened for them, again as Yugi entered he quietly thanked the guards, the guards were surprised when prince Atemu also quietly thanked them.

"There you are Atemu? What on earth kept you two?" Seeing the slight blush appear on Yugi's face the pharaoh shook his head, "Never mind just come up here."

"Yes father."

Atemu sat on the seat next to his father and Yugi stood off to the side and just behind Atemu as he usually did.

"Yugi" the pharaoh commanded, "Stand before me."

Nervously Yugi walked down the few steps and stood before the pharaoh, he bowed "What is it you wish of me my king?"

"You may rise Yugi."

Yugi stood straight "As you know we have had to find a new Wielder of the rod, and as Kalim now holds that position, I need a new holder of the scales."

"Yes my pharaoh."

"I wish for you to take that position if the scales will allow the partnership, do you agree?"

Yugi bowed again "If you and the scales think that I am worthy my pharaoh, I accept."

The pharaoh was impressed, Yugi had had little warning that this test was about to happen but he was answering him with a clear and steady voice.

"Shimon bring forth the scales."

Yugi watched a man almost as small as his late grandfather was, walk over to him carrying a large red cushion on the cushion lay the scales.

"Yugi, if the scales accept the partnership we will know almost immediately, we will also know if they don't." he looked at the young one "Do not worry, you will be safe at all times."

"I am not worried my pharaoh."

The pharaoh smiled "Yugi, take the scales into your right hand."

Yugi did as he was commanded and closed his eyes, almost immediately he could feel a warmth invade his body, and he heard questions in his mind, instinctively he answered them with his mind.

Knowing what was happening the pharaoh, Atemu and the rest of the item holders waited patiently until the test was over. It wasn't long before Yugi opened his eyes "We are one." He said, as he spoke it sounded as if two voices had spoken as one.

The pharaoh and Atemu stood up and walked towards Yugi.

"What of your relationship with Atemu?" the pharaoh asked

Yugi looked up at the pharaoh "It has been accepted."

"You are sure?"

Yugi nodded "It was strange, I could hear a voice talking to me, asking me questions…it asked me if I would give up Atemu for the power the scales would give me."

"How did you answer?" Isis asked Yugi

"I said I didn't need or want power I wanted love, the kind I had with Atemu."

"What else?" Isis asked

Yugi looked down "I kind of said that if they couldn't accept it they would have to find someone else."

Aknamkanon chuckled "I think we have a new scales bearer." He turned to Yugi "Even though you are not a priest you will stand with them during all meetings."

"All meetings?" Yugi asked surprised

"Yes Yugi all meetings, part of your job now is to aid me in my decisions." He looked at Atemu and then back at Yugi and winked at him mischievously, "And keep my son out of trouble…"

"Father!" Atemu said a little indignant, the pharaoh and the priests just laughed as Atemu's cheeks coloured slightly.

Pharaoh Aknamkanon stepped back to his throne and watched as the other priests congratulated Yugi…all except one,

Akhenaden and Aknamkanon couldn't help but wonder why, he'd also noticed that Yugi shied away whenever Akhenaden got too close to him…

When he thought Yugi and the priests had had enough time he called his court to order.

"Yugi do you still wish to stay for the judgment of Seto and his lover?"

Yugi kneeled before his pharaoh "Yes sire I do."

"Stand Yugi, you have shown me enough reverence today, go stand with the others."

Atemu watched as his little love walked over and joined the priests. He would have to congratulate him later. Atemu smirked to himself, in his own way of course.

Aknamkanon called for the guards who bowed before him. "Bring the prisoner Seto to me along with the one they call Jou."

"At once pharaoh." The guards left the room and the pharaoh nodded at Isis and Mahad who took the opportunity to quickly run through what Yugi would feel if there was a blackness in someone's heart. Yugi nodded his understanding.

As Seto and Jou were bought into the room and Akhenaden moved closer Yugi started to shake, Mahad noticed and grabbed Yugi's arm. "Are you alright young one?"

"No." Yugi gasped, "Evil is present, the darkness far outweighs the good, it will grow if left unchecked."

The pharaoh stood "Remove Seto at once!"

"Not Seto pharaoh." Yugi said weakly

"Then who Yugi?"

To the shock of everyone in the room Yugi pointed to Akhenaden and whispered "Him."