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.

30

The pharaoh, along with the council, two remaining priests and his advisor Shimon all waited in the throne room for Mahad to arrive with Atemu and Yugi, as they waited Ra appeared, and as one the royal court bowed to the god. "Stand all of you." Ra commanded

Aknamkanon stood and looked at Ra "Why have you come to us lord Ra?"

Ra sat on one of the benches and motioned for Aknamkanon to sit next to him "Well I've been thinking." Ra said thoughtfully

"What about?" Aknamkanon asked

"Do you remember how angry Atemu was when you made him watch the execution of Akhenaden, and the method used?"

Aknamkanon sighed, "Yes I remember, it took Yugi showing him the damaged he'd caused for him to see that the sentence was just." Aknamkanon looked at Ra "What is it you are trying to say lord Ra?"

"Well I was thinking, as it was Atemu's future husband that was attacked why not let Atemu sentence Jahi?"

"What!" Aknamkanon said surprised,

The god chuckled "Well it would show Atemu just how much thought goes into deciding on a fitting punishment."

Aknamkanon thought for a few minutes "I never thought of that, and I could guide him if necessary." He looked at the members of the royal court who all nodded in agreement "Alright we will let Atemu decide his fate."

Ra stood up "That is all I ask." He moved away from the pharaoh then turned to him "By the way young Yugi is going to come to you with a request."

"And?" the pharaoh asked

"Ma'at would like that you grant it."

"Very well."

With that said the god disappeared.

'I wonder why she would want me to do that?' Aknamkanon thought to himself. Aknamkanon's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Mahad, Atemu and Yugi "You wanted to see us father?"

"Yes Atemu, Yugi please come here." The two young men walked over and sat next to Aknamkanon "Atemu as it was your future husband that was attacked I, with advice from Ra, have decided to let you set Jahi's punishment."

"But father I've never done…"

"I know that son but lord Ra and I feel that you need to learn the correct and fair way to punish people for their crimes, while I am still here to guide you." He paused "Tell me what was your first thought after he had attacked Yugi?"

Atemu hung his head "I wanted him dead." He said quietly "I wanted him to have the same painful death as Akhenaden."

"And now?" Aknamkanon asked

Atemu looked at him "Well after I'd cooled down I thought that as he had failed I would still have him killed but I'm just not sure how."

The pharaoh chuckled "Now you see why I always have the prisoners thrown in the dungeons first."

Atemu looked at him with a frown

Aknamkanon chuckled again "To give me time to calm down so I can deal a punishment that fits the crime, just as you will now do."

"What are the options he has pharaoh?" Yugi asked

Aknamkanon sighed, he'd rather not tell Yugi but as an item bearer he knew he'd have to find out eventually, "Well there is the crocodiles, the dogs, snakebite, impaling, strangling…" as the pharaoh reeled off the list of punishments the greener Yugi turned, the pharaoh having noticed stopped and said "There are a few more but you don't need to know about those just yet."

"Why not?" Yugi asked

The pharaoh looked at him kindly "They are rarely used but you will learn about them in your lessons as an item bearer and a member of my court."

Atemu was talking quietly to Yugi and by the time Karim and the guards had returned with Jahi, Atemu had decided his punishment. He just hoped his father would allow it.

Jahi was bought before the pharaoh and forced to kneel, Jahi looked up at Aknamkanon and sneered, "You know you won't have anything done to me." He said, "You haven't the heart to sentence a former member of your council."

Aknamkanon sighed, "You are right I do not."

Jahi smirked "Then I am free to go." He said whilst trying to stand up.

The guards pushed him back on his knees and this time it was Aknamkanon that smirked "But I am not the one sentencing you."

Jahi's eyes widened "Then who?"

"Me." A voice said Jahi recognised the voice as that of prince Atemu.

"A child!" he shrieked, "I am to be sentenced by a child!"

"No." Aknamkanon snapped "You are being sentenced by Atemu the crown prince of Egypt and fiancé of your intended target!" Aknamkanon turned and nodded to his son, Atemu stepped further forward

"Is there anything you wish to say before I pass judgement?"

Jahi glared at him "Only that I'm sorry Osiris interfered."

"Defiant to the end." A voice boomed out, everyone including Jahi turned and were surprised to see the gods Ra and Osiris standing in the room.

Aknamkanon bowed "Ra, Osiris why are you here?"

Before either one could answer Osiris felt small warm hands on his injured hand he looked down and was surprised to see Yugi tending to the wound. The rest of the court looked on wondering what in Ra's name was Yugi thinking just walking up to a god and touching him like that! Meanwhile Yugi without a single thought snapped the arrow that had gone through the god's hand "This might sting a bit." Yugi whispered as he pulled the imbedded shaft clear and then watched in fascination as the wound healed up leaving no trace.

"Thank you Yugi but it was not necessary, I'd forgotten it was even there."

Suddenly realizing what he'd just done Yugi turned pink "Um thank you for saving me." He whispered

Osiris lifted Yugi's chin to look at him and chuckled "What else could I have done young one."

Ra also whispered something to Yugi causing the young man to giggle, Aknamkanon cleared his throat and blushing again Yugi went back to his station.

"So." Aknamkanon asked again "Why are you here?"

"We have come to hear prince Atemu's ruling."

"Couldn't you have heard it in your own realm?" Atemu asked nervously

"We could, but as Osiris here is the injured party we wanted to be here in person and see that he would be dealt with accordingly."

Having the god's here made Atemu even more nervous about his judgment, Ra seemed to have sensed this "Do not worry prince Atemu we will except the punishment you have chosen."

Atemu nodded and looked at Jahi "For your crimes against me, my father, Yugi and the people and god's of Egypt you will face a public execution." Atemu paused looked at the god's who merely nodded, he continued, "You will be taken from this place and staked out under the shadow of the palace walls."

"Is that it?" Jahi asked mockingly

"No that is not it!" Atemu said angrily "Once tied there will be a small wooden barrier placed round your body then two scorpions placed on your chest, as the sun's rays get hotter the more agitated they will become." Atemu looked at him and smirked "The longer you can stay still the longer you may live."

Jahi looked at him wide-eyed "Sco…scorpions?" he asked shakily

Atemu nodded "That is if the sun does not kill you first."

"Wh... what is the barrier for?" Jahi asked

Atemu smirked "We cannot have the scorpions escaping before their work is done, besides the people need to be kept safe."

Ra turned to the guards "When was the last time he ate or drank?"

One of the guards bowed "He has not had any refreshment yet."

"Then see that he gets none."

"As you command mighty Ra." The guard said

"Take him away, the punishment will begin tomorrow at the sun's first rays." Atemu commanded. After bowing the guards dragged a struggling Jahi away.

Aknamkanon dismissed the court and when the room was empty apart from himself, Yugi, his father and the god's Atemu let out a loud exhale, "Please father don't make me do that again."

Aknamkanon chuckled "Tell me how did you think of that?"

"That idea came to me when I was talking to Yugi."

"Me?" Yugi asked in surprise

"Yes I thought of it when we were talking after father said that list of punishments and you mentioned that you were glad you only had to watch out for the white scorpions when you lived at the oasis."

"Oh." Yugi said quietly

Ra walked up to Aknamkanon, Atemu and Yugi "I think Atemu that that was a good punishment, and we look forward to seeing Jahi in the afterlife."

"He's not going to like it is he?" Yugi asked

"No he is not." Ra and Osiris vanished.

Aknamkanon turned to Yugi "What were you thinking walking up to a god like that and touching him without his permission?"

Yugi looked down thinking the pharaoh was angry "I didn't think, I just saw he was hurt and wanted to help."

Atemu chuckled "Sorry father but Yugi can't help the way he is."

"No I suppose not." He sighed

"Besides." Atemu added with a grin "It looked like Osiris didn't mind."

Aknamkanon shook his head, "Is there anything else before I retire to my study?" He asked, suddenly remembering Ra's mention of Yugi's request.

"Yes pharaoh there is." Yugi said

"What is it Yugi?"

''Well you know you said I had to move from Atemu's chambers?"

"Yes I remember, what of it?"

''Well." Yugi said nervously "I was wondering that if there is a royal guard hut free might I move in there and leave the palace altogether?"

The pharaoh frowned "Why would you want to do that Yugi?" he asked

Yugi explained to him about wanting the people to witness the move as he was now a member of court and that it was the crown prince he was joining with it would be the proper thing to do.

Reluctantly the pharaoh agreed "Alright Yugi, I will allow this but at the first sign of trouble you move straight back in here agreed?"

''Agreed pharaoh and thank you." Yugi bowed then looked at the pharaoh and Atemu "I'll have Atsu and Sadiki assist me in the morning."

"Alright they can go home and return at first light." Aknamkanon said

"I'll go and tell them." Yugi bowed again and left the throne room.

Aknamkanon looked at Atemu "You're not happy about this are you?"

"No." Atemu said shaking his head "Why did you allow it father?"

Aknamkanon sighed "When Ra first came to say about you deciding Jahi punishment he also told me Yugi would have a request for me and that Ma'at would like me to allow it, why I do not know."

"I see." Atemu said knowing that his father would not go against the gods wishes "Goodnight then father." He turned and walked towards the door

"Goodnight my son."

A.N

In Egypt specifically, scorpions range in colour from almost white (Buthridas) to yellow and light brown (Scorpionidae) and range in size from eight to ten centimetres, not counting the tail. Of these, the Buthridas is the more poisonous, while the Scorpionidae is relatively harmless.