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.

12

Seto stopped his struggling and looked at the pharaoh "What?"

"The guards have gone to get him."

Seto paled "How did you find out?"

"That is no business of yours, but I wonder what he will say when he sees you here?" Aknamkanon asked him knowing exactly what his brother would think.

"He would think that I told you of his whereabouts." Seto said quietly, he no longer struggled he just hoped that the pharaoh would remove him from the room before his father arrived, Seto knew and was in fear of his father's volatile temper.

Aknamkanon turned to Bomani "When Akhenaden arrives I want you to keep a particular eye out for young Yugi."

Bomani bowed "As you command my pharaoh."

He turned to his son "Atemu go stand by Yugi."

When Atemu reached him Yugi suddenly went pale "What is it Yugi?" Atemu asked him worriedly

"It's Akhenaden." He gasped

"What about him?"

"He is close." Yugi closed his eyes as he fought back the wave of nausea that threatened to overtake him. He heard Ma'at speak to him.

"Do not worry child I will give you the strength to deal with this"

"Will it get any better?"

"It is not usually this bad but Akhenaden is the exception to the rule" Ma'at was silent for a moment then she whispered, "You must confront Akhenaden with everything the child brokers have done."

"Everything?" Yugi whispered

"Yes child everything." Yugi opened his eyes to see everyone looking at him with concern "Are you alright Yugi?" Atemu whispered

"With Ma'at's help I will be."

Atemu wondered what Yugi meant but before he could ask an angry Akhenaden was dragged into the throne room.

"What is the meaning of this brother!" he almost yelled at the pharaoh

Aknamkanon looked at his priests and with a cold voice "Why has he not been chained?"

Mahad bowed "We did not think that a member of the royal family should wear chains pharaoh."

Aknamkanon glared at the young priest "He has murdered one of my palace guards that in itself is enough, bind him!"

Several guards had to hold the priest while they tried to put the chains on him. "ENOUGH!" the pharaoh shouted, "Akhenaden cease your struggling, there is no defence for what you have done!"

Akhenaden looked at his brother "Whatever my worthless son told you is all lies!" he spat "Now release me!"

The pharaoh sat back on his throne satisfied that his brother could not escape "Seto has told me nothing I have many sources, my brother."

"Then what is it I am accused of?"

"Firstly why did you kill one of my guards?"

"The fool thought he could command me, me the brother of the pharaoh, he tried to force me to return to the throne room." Akhenaden's voice was harsh

"He was carrying out my orders, why did you not listen to him? You knew he was one of my personal guards."

Akhenaden didn't answer him.

"Secondly why was I not informed that Seto was your son?"

"It mattered not he was a good priest."

Aknamkanon stood "You know the law! Only the pharaoh's bloodline can have two members hold an item at the same time, you knew this!"

"I didn't think it mattered." Akhenaden said nonchalantly

Aknamkanon was beginning to get extremely angry at Akhenaden's blatant disrespect for the laws…his laws. He turned to his priests "Let it be known that from this day no matter who they are, only one family member can hold an item at any one time."

"What about Yugi?" Akhenaden sneered "What becomes of his item if he and the crown prince marry?"

Yugi and Atemu blinked 'marry' they both thought 'what bought that on?' Atemu thought to himself

"What are you getting at?" the pharaoh asked just as confused

Akhenaden scoffed "Oh please, we can all see the way that Atemu looks at the street-rat eyes full of love." He turned to Atemu "If you want the street-rat just take him he's not worth anything, none of them are."

The priests stepped back, they could see the shadows start to surround Atemu, "Calm down Atemu." The pharaoh urged his son.

Atemu ignored him keeping his focus on Akhenaden "What gives you the right to belittle Yugi so?" He seethed, "You who has done so much harm to others."

Akhenaden's eyes widened as he noticed the shadows thicken and creep towards him he'd forgotten how powerful Atemu was even without a millennium item. He looked up when he noticed they'd started to retreat back towards the prince, Yugi had his hand on the young man's arm "Atemu please, calm down."

Aknamkanon watched the scene with interest then turned to Akhenaden "It would not matter Yugi would still not be a blood relative."

"That is still no reason to shackle me, release me!"

"No it is not, but the main reason you are here is." Aknamkanon motioned to the guard to bring Seto forward the guard stood Seto beside his father and forced them both to their knees.

"Seto up until now I have been lenient with you because I do not yet know your full involvement with the child brokers, the decision regarding your fate will be decided when that has been established." He turned to Akhenaden "You, I have learned are heavily involved. what I want to know is why?"

Seto looked down "I took Yugi's home, because not only would it give Jou a place to live but it would give them a place to meet."

"Silence Seto!" Akhenaden growled

Seto looked at his father "No I will not, we have been discovered I am tired of this it is time for the truth."

"You will say nothing!"

Aknamkanon motioned to a guard who nodded and before Akhenaden could react he had a gag placed over his mouth.

"Continue Seto."

"It was a couple of years ago, a noble couple came to the temple and asked us to pray to the gods that the woman may conceive, they had been trying for years with no luck, that's when the baby brokers came into being." Seto paused "At first the only babies used were those whose parents couldn't afford to keep them, the children would have normally been either killed or left somewhere, their fate unknown, our way was better at least the children stood a chance. The nobles paid a fee and the parents would be given but a quarter of the price paid, my father and his friends keeping the rest. But after a while when things began to improve for the people babies became scarce that's when they started to just take the children, I wanted no part of it then but my father threatened to tell you it was me doing it all, then he threatened to have me thrown out of the priesthood, and, it was he who gave me the money to buy Jou's freedom, but he became angry when he discovered that Jou and I had become lovers."

The pharaoh looked at Seto and wondered why the sudden acquiescence, then he noticed the tired, defeated looked Seto had on his face, in fact his whole body seemed to sag in defeat.

"For your honesty Seto, I will not sentence you to death."

Seto looked up at his pharaoh trying to hide his smirk "Thank you pharaoh."

Yugi leaned towards the pharaoh and whispered something to him, the pharaoh nodded. "However you will be banished from Egypt." Seto looked up in shock "Wh…what?"

The pharaoh ignoring Seto carried on "You will be escorted to Egypt's borders and given enough food and water for 3 days, where you go is your concern, but know this should you re-enter Egypt you will be put to death along with those that aid you."

He turned to his guard "See to it that Seto has left Egyptian soil by nightfall."

The guard bowed "By your command." He helped Seto to stand before leading him from the throne room.

Still kneeling Akhenaden glared at Yugi as the priests and Atemu spoke quietly to the pharaoh "What did Yugi say to you father?"

Aknamkanon smiled "He just told me to look at Seto's face, I looked and saw the smug smirk, he thought he had gotten away with it, I was going to let him stay within Egypt's borders but after seeing that I changed my mind."

A guard walked into the throne room and bowed before the pharaoh "What is it?"

"The prisoner is waiting upon the food and water you allowed him to take with him then he will be ready to leave."

"Has he taken anything?"

"No pharaoh but he wishes to pack a bag."

"No, he is only to take the clothes he is wearing, a cloak and a sturdy walking staff along with the food and water he is allowed."

The guard bowed again and left the room "Karim."

"Yes pharaoh."

"Please see that my orders are carried out, also inform Seto that

if he wishes Jou may accompany him."

"Pharaoh?" Karim said in surprise

"I will allow that one concession now go, we will await your return before proceeding further."

"As you command." Karim bowed and left the room.

"Bomani please remove Akhenaden's gag."

The guard did as requested then went to stand with Yugi again even though the irate priest was still bound he was taking no chances with Yugi's safety.

"You have condemned Seto!" Akhenaden yelled at the pharaoh.

A.N

The next chapter is going to be warm and fuzzy in most parts, a necessary break before we get onto the business of Yugi telling the pharaoh just what the baby brokers got up too, don't worry it's nothing too bad.