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.

21

After an uneventful night, the group ate breakfast and collected their things together and loaded up the horses ready for the last leg of their journey, with luck they would make the palace before nightfall. The guards were fairly happy to be going home not noticing that the prisoners were closely watching them. "When do we make our escape?" Kasiya asked quietly so he wouldn't be heard by the palace guards

"What are you talking about boy?" Kamenwati asked roughly

The boy looked at him "We are going to try to escape aren't we?"

"No we are not."

"Why not?" he asked confused "I heard you were tough men that would do anything to stay free instead I find cowards!" the boy spat bravely.

Kamenwati narrowed his eyes "Listen to me you little runt look around you, there is nothing for miles we wouldn't last long in the desert with no provisions and any of the towns and villages along the way would slaughter us before aiding us."

"Why not attack the guards and take theirs? Then we wouldn't need them"

Kamenwati laughed, "Simple there are twenty of them and there are four of us."

"Five you have me to help you." The boy said defensively

"Drop it kid, there will be no escape."

Bomani walked up "What is going on here?" he asked, the suspicion easily heard in his voice

Kamenwati shrugged his shoulders and jerked his thumb towards the boy "The xrd wanted to know when we'd make our escape"

Bomani raised his eyebrows "And?"

Kamenwati scowled, "I told him we're not." seeing his captors surprise he went on "I am not stupid we wouldn't get far, besides, I'd rather face the pharaoh than the people of this country."

"Is there any area of Egypt that you haven't taken children from?"

Kamenwati shook his head and Bomani sighed before walking away.

It wasn't long before the now mounted group moved off, well aware of the eyes of the people of el-Amarna watching them closely. The people had known they were there and had let Bomani know exactly what they thought of their presence outside their town walls.

Flashback

The group stopped setting up their camp and watched as a greeting party walked through the main gate "What is your business here?" the elder asked

Bomani walked towards the town leader, the men with him raised their swords in protection "You would threaten one of the pharaohs personal guards?" Bomani asked

"I will ask again why are you here, with them?" he hissed as he pointed to the prisoners

"We are taking them to be dealt with by the pharaoh, they will pay for their crimes." Bomani said

"You only have four there were six of them."

"Two are dead and in that crate over there."

"What of the boy?" the old man asked suspiciously

"The boy tried to aid in their escape while we rested in Abydos."

The old man looked at the boy "Is that Kasiya of Abydos?"

"Yes, his family turned his back on him, he is going to face his pharaoh."

The old man snorted "I am not surprised seeing as his own family were victims of the brokers."

"What!" Bomani said in shock

"Two years ago his stepsister was taken." The old man looked at the group "You can stay here but I warn you, you are not welcome within the walls of el-Amarna step foot inside and you will be dealt with." The old man turned and walked away

"The same applies out here old man." Bomani called out "If one of your townspeople steps foot within our camp they will be killed with no mercy or hesitation."

The old man turned and nodded in agreement "So be it." he stated as he re-entered the towns gates.

"Old fool." Bomani muttered to himself before turning and getting everyone to settle down.

"Atemu." Yugi quietly said

"What is it habibi?" Atemu asked looking at the small youth lying beside him

"When do you think Bomani and Minkah will get back?"

Atemu turned to Yugi "Why, are you worried about them?"

''It's not that, I just want this to be over so we can get back to normal."

Atemu chuckled and rolled over onto Yugi, he sat up so he was straddling Yugi's hips "And what would you call normal ari?"

"Well I would be able to give the scales back to the pharaoh."

Atemu looked hurt "Do you not like being an item holder? Do you…" Atemu paused and looked Yugi deep in his eyes "Do you not like being here with me?"

Yugi worried his bottom lip for a moment tears starting to form "You know I do Atemu but when this is over what use am I to anyone?"

Atemu looked shocked "What do you mean?"

Yugi sighed "Atemu I don't belong here you know that I agreed to have the scales to help find and deal with the baby brokers." He pushed Atemu from him and climbed from the bed, he walked over to the window before carrying on "And you know as well as I do that eventually you will have to leave me for a female so you can produce an heir." He turned to look at the one he loved "So I am going to leave before it gets too hard."

Atemu virtually ran to Yugi and pulled him into a fierce hug "No, please Yugi, I don't want a woman, the mere thought makes me sick to my stomach." He pushed Yugi away slightly while still keeping a tight hold on him "Don't you see how much I love you, how much I want you here with me?" Atemu said, his voice cracking and tears falling with every word. Atemu pulled Yugi back to his body "Please Yugi stay with me."

They were disturbed by a knock on the door the two broke apart and were still trying to hide the evidence of their tears when Atemu bade them to enter. Pharaoh Aknamkanon walked into the room and instantly knew something was wrong.

"What is wrong with you two?" he asked

"Nothing." Atemu said quietly before turning away

Aknamkanon not believing his son in the slightest walked across the room and sat on the bed "Don't lie to me Atemu, what is going on here?"

Yugi sighed, "I told Atemu that when this was over I would return the scales to you and leave the palace."

"Why?" the pharaoh asked surprised "When you took on the position of scale barer you knew it was a position held for life."

Yugi bowed his head and said quietly "I can't stay, not now."

"Why not?" Aknamkanon was beginning to get annoyed why wouldn't these two just give him a straight answer?

Atemu looked at him "He says he wants to leave before it gets too hard to do so."

Surprised Aknamkanon looked at Yugi "Why would you want to leave? I don't understand."

Yugi stayed silent

"Tell him Yugi!" Atemu demanded, "Tell him why you wish to leave."

"Yugi?"

Sighing Yugi looked at the pharaoh "Pharaoh, I love Atemu more than I can say, but I know that eventually he will have to leave me for a woman so he can provide Egypt with an heir, something I cannot do." Yugi stopped to wipe a stray tear "And I could not bear to stay and see Atemu with another, so I decided I would leave before it became too hard to do so."

"Is that all?" Aknamkanon asked

"Isn't that enough?" Atemu snapped, Aknamkanon forgave his son's harshness he knew he was hurting.

"What I meant Atemu, Yugi was if that was all that was worrying you put your fears aside you will not be forced to leave Atemu."

"I won't?" Yugi asked surprised "But what about Egypt? She needs an heir."

The pharaoh smiled "We will work something out don't worry." He stood up "Now I will leave you to discuss your futures." He turned to walk out of the room

"Father?" Atemu said

Aknamkanon turned "What is it Atemu?"

"What was the original purpose of your visit?"

Aknamkanon chuckled "I came to let you know that Akhenaden's execution will be carried out this evening and I'd like you Atemu to attend."

"What about Yugi?"

"No, Yugi will stay here, this is not for someone as gentle as he to witness." With that the pharaoh left the room.

Yugi bowed his head "I'm sorry Atemu I only wanted to spare us both even more upset."

Yugi jumped when he felt Atemu's strong arms wrap round him in a comforting embrace "No harm done mrwt, I just wish you had spoken to me before finally deciding."

Yugi relaxed into the embrace "I know but I was afraid."

He felt Atemu's arms tighten round him "It will not be as easy to leave me as you think ari I love you and I don't intend on letting you go." He paused and lifted Yugi's face to look at him "Ever." He whispered as he gently pulled Yugi into a gentle and heart-warming kiss.

Unknown to the three Ma'at had been listening in, she'd felt the unhappy air surrounding Atemu and Yugi and decided to find out its cause. She had heard everything that had been said between themselves and to Aknamkanon, 'hmm' she thought 'I think I need to speak to the others'. The goddess vanished.

The two spent the rest of the day talking about what had happened and soon it was time for Atemu to leave and witness the execution of his uncle, he was saddened that it had come to this but knew that the man had deserved it. Atemu still felt shame that a member of his own family could stoop to such acts. "Promise me Yugi, promise me you'll be here when I get back."

Yugi smiled "Of course I will, I told you, now I know I will not be made to leave you I won't." Yugi stood on tiptoe and pressed a gentle kiss to Atemu's lips "Now go before the pharaoh complains that you are late."

Atemu chuckled "Alright I'll see you soon." Atemu turned and left.

Shaking his head Yugi looked out of the window "I wonder am I doing the right thing by staying here?" he asked to no one in particular, as he wasn't expecting an answer from the empty room so he jumped when he got one.

"Do you really think you or Atemu would be happy apart?"

Yugi turned to see the goddess Ma'at standing behind him he bowed his head "I know he loves me but if I stay how will Egypt gets the heir she needs?"

Ma'at sat next to him on the bed "What makes you think she would get her heir if you left?"

Yugi looked at her "Child, understand Atemu is so in love with you that it would literally break his heart should you leave."

"But…"

Ma'at put her hand up "No Yugi forget Egypt think about your own happiness." She smiled "And do not worry about an heir for Egypt we gods are working on that."

"You are?" Yugi asked surprised

"Yes and you are to say nothing of my visit here tonight or I'll tell Atemu you were still planning to leave after you promised him you wouldn't."

Yugi bowed "As you command my goddess." Ma'at smiled at him and stroked his cheek lightly "Go prepare yourself for Atemu's return." Yugi blushed as the goddess disappeared.

Atemu stood on the balcony next to his father, he was surprised to see Bakari standing there as well "Why are you here Bakari?" Atemu asked, Bakari ready for the question handed Atemu a piece of papyri *I Asked for the pharaoh's permission so that I could tell the women of the town that he had been made to pay for his crimes and know it to be the truth, I can honestly say I witnessed it. * Atemu nodded.

The pharaoh turned to the guards "Bring Akhenaden forth."

The guards bowed and left Aknamkanon turned to Atemu and asked him quietly "Did you and Yugi sort it out?"

Atemu nodded "Yes but I'm not sure he's comfortable, he thinks he's denying Egypt her heir."

The pharaoh sighed "Don't worry he'll come around, you know it's in Yugi's nature to care."

Atemu smiled "I know."

They stopped talking when the guards appeared with Akhenaden. The pharaoh looked at him "Any last words before you die?"

"Still trying to scare me brother?" Akhenaden said with a sneer

"No." Aknamkanon said as he signalled for him the be thrown into the empty snake pit, Akhenaden was about to say something when the snarling of dogs reached his ears, he turned to look at them and could see they were almost insane with hunger, and the blood still oozing from his wounds were driving them into a frenzy.

The gate was pulled open Akhenaden screamed "AKNAM…" before he was silenced by one of the larger dogs tearing at his throat. Atemu had wanted to look away but knew that as the crown prince he had to stay and see this through.

He shuddered as one of the guards spoke "Shall we retrieve the dogs sire? Akhenaden is dead."

"No let them eat their fill." The pharaoh replied before walking back into the throne room.

"If you will excuse me father." Atemu bowed and left the room

Bakari held a piece of paper out to the pharaoh # was it wise to let him watch?" #

The pharaoh looked at him "Perhaps not, but he will have to do something like this when he becomes pharaoh."

#I'm glad Yugi didn't have to see that. #

"As am I." the pharaoh said "Goodnight Bakari."

#''Goodnight my pharaoh." #

Atemu entered his room "Yugi are you here?"

"Where else would I be at this time of night?" he chuckled he stopped when he saw Atemu "Atemu are you alright?"

"No, I am glad that father didn't make you witness that Yugi, it was horrible."

"That bad?" Yugi asked softly

"Enough to give me nightmares."

Yugi smiled sadly "Come here Atemu." Yugi held his hand out and Atemu took it and sat on the bed, Yugi climbed behind him and started to massage his shoulders.

"Hmm that feels good." Atemu whispered and Yugi grinned as he felt Atemu slowly relax under his hands

"Come let's go to bed you'll feel more relaxed."

Without arguing Atemu readied himself for bed, he lay beside Yugi who for a change had his arms wrapped protectively round Atemu's shoulders "Goodnight habibi." Atemu whispered

"Goodnight my love." Yugi returned with a smile. It wasn't long before both boys were asleep.

Mrwt = love

ari = Partner

Xrd = Child