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.

08

"This is outrageous!" Akhenaden shouted "The child has the scales for five minutes and he thinks he knows how to use them!"

"But Akhenaden." Isis spoke quietly "The scales took only a third of the time they would normally have done to choose Yugi as their bearer."

"So what!" he snarled, "That proves nothing!"

Shada was the next one to speak, "Do not forget Akhenaden that the scales have also allowed the relationship between Yugi and prince Atemu to continue."

Akhenaden looked at Aknamkanon, "You should never have allowed it, the prince and a worthless street rat, unforgivable!"

Aknamkanon stood up "That is enough!"

He stepped down from his throne "Atemu take Yugi back to your rooms and make him comfortable."

"Yes father." Atemu took a still weakened Yugi from Mahad and led him out of the throne room.

"Guards!"

"Yes pharaoh."

"Take these prisoners back to their cell."

"By your command pharaoh." They bowed and escorted the two men out of the room.

Aknamkanon sighed, "What happened?" he turned to his only priestess "Isis do you have any idea?"

"I'm afraid not my pharaoh, the only one who can tell you is Yugi himself."

"In that case." Aknamkanon said thoughtfully "We will defer the sentencing until we get to the bottom of this." With that said he left the throne room.

Atemu sighed softly from his position on his bed, his fingers stroking through the soft hair that was pooled in his lap where Yugi had rested his head and fallen asleep. There was a gentle tap on Atemu's door "Enter" he called softly so as not to disturb Yugi too much. Aknamkanon walked in and walked over to the bed.

"Is he okay?" Aknamkanon asked

"I honestly don't know father."

Aknamkanon sat on the edge of the bed "Did he say anything at all?"

"Not much, just that it hurt, and to tell you he was sorry."

"What hurt I wonder?" Aknamkanon absently said aloud.

"Where are the others?" Atemu asked

"I had the prisoners taken back to their cell and dismissed the court until we can figure out what is going on with Yugi."

"Has Akhenaden calmed down yet father?"

Aknamkanon chuckled "No Atemu he was still as mad as hell."

Then they both heard a small voice whisper "I am sorry my pharaoh." Yugi sat up and looked away from the pharaoh and Atemu "Maybe I should not have been given the scales."

"Nonsense!" a voice said, "You are the perfect one to wield my item."

The small group turned and saw the goddess Ma'at standing by the window.

The pharaoh stood and bowed, Atemu spoke quietly and with reverence "Please excuse that I do not bow my goddess."

Ma'at waved her hand "It is fine, Yugi needs you more than I need you to bow."

The goddess moved towards the bed and sat on the edge and looked at Yugi, she smiled "Child I chose you because when you held the scales I could sense that there isn't a shred of malice in your heart, I also know what you were going to say concerning the lover of the former high priest." She stroked Yugi's cheek "And given what they had done to you I knew there was no-one better than you to keep the balance of the court."

"Please." Yugi whispered, "Why so much pain?"

For a moment, the goddess herself looked pained, "I am sorry young one but that was your final test, now it will be easier for you, this I promise."

"Can I ask test of what?" Yugi said quietly

"The goddess chuckled "It was a test to see if you would still say the truth even under duress, I'm sorry child but it had to be done."

She looked up at Aknamkanon "Trust in Yugi's words pharaoh and he will not lead you astray." She turned back to Yugi "Rest young one you have a lot of work to do in the coming months." She walked away from the bed and faded.

It took a few moments before Yugi had gotten over the shock of actually being visited by one of the gods, once he had Aknamkanon sat down on the bed again, "Yugi, can you tell me what happened in the throne room?"

"I'll try." He shifted slightly so he could look at both Atemu and the pharaoh. "When the priests came down to congratulate me on passing the scale's test I could feel anger coming from Akhenaden, he blames me for causing Seto to be stripped of his priesthood and his position of 'Wielder of the Rod'. When we gathered together and Seto and Jou were bought into the room, Akhenaden's anger became even greater, then…" Yugi stopped and closed his eyes

"Yugi you called Akhenaden evil why?" Aknamkanon asked.

Yugi turned to the pharaoh, "When his anger became too strong, he let his guard down and I was overwhelmed by the feeling of resentment that Seto had had to work hard to get where he was but I was getting it all handed to me."

"That still doesn't answer my question Yugi, why did you call Akhenaden evil."

Yugi sighed "I don't know how to tell you." Yugi looked at the pharaoh who could see the hurt in his eyes,

"Just tell me Yugi." Aknamkanon said softly

"The child-brokers…he knows who they are,"

"Are you sure Yugi?" Aknamkanon asked, his voice had turned hard but Yugi knew it wasn't directed at him.

"Yes my pharaoh."

Akhenaden walked down to the dungeon the guard stopped him "My lord may I inquire your reasons for being down here?"

"I want to talk to Seto." He commanded

The guard bowed "This way my lord"

They reached Seto's cell "Open the door."

"I'm afraid I cannot."

"I have just given you an order!" Akhenaden bellowed, "Open the cell door!"

"Not without the pharaoh's express order." The guard answered before walking away

"I will have your head for this insolence!" Akhenaden yelled.

The guard ignored him; he was following his pharaoh's orders that's all he cared about. Like many in the palace he didn't care much for either Akhenaden or Seto they always thought themselves better than everyone else even the pharaoh.

"Seto!" Akhenaden called to the former priest "How could you let that upstart get the better of you?"

"It wasn't deliberate father, have you come to get us out of here?"

"I do not care for your infatuation Seto, it is you I'm worried about."

Seto knew that Akhenaden didn't agree with his relationship with Jou and had told him so on several occasions and Seto figured that he would use this situation to finally be rid of him.

"Do not speak of Jou like that he is not an infatuation he is my lover!"

"He won't be when I have Aknamkanon put him to death." Akhenaden snarled.

Seto crossed his arms over his chest and smirked "Haven't you got to get passed Yugi first."

Akhenaden moved closer to the bars "Do not test me Seto, it would not be in your best interests."

"Father you will get both me and my lover out of this." he paused and walked closer to the bars, but not so close that his father could reach him. "Or would you like the pharaoh to know exactly what your involvement is with the child brokers."

Akhenaden's eyes narrowed "You wouldn't dare."

Seto looked his father in the eye "Try me."

Ma'at, Goddess of Truth, Balance, Order...