A/N: I don't own YGO

Uh..*gets bombarded by rotten tomatoes and leftover spinach* Eep! I'm sorry! I lost my inspiration for writing over the last two..months. I just didn't care anymore; it's as if writing fics served no purpose in my life..*sighs* Probably no one's reading this, but at least I can get my emotions out. Currently, I'm trying to reestablish myself. Hopefully, my writing hadn't become too rusty over my..uh, break^_^

Also, I'd like to mention the votes. The Yami/Yugi coupling won by far, with 19 votes; Yami/Seth received 1, and a threesome (Yugi/Yami/Seth) had 2. Thanks to everyone who contributed! ^_^

P.S. Check out my two YGO quizzes ("Which YGO character are you" and "Who's your YGO boyfriend) at my site: '' (don't forget to take out the quotation marks in the URL!)

~*~

From the last chapter:

-Yugi and Joey arrived at Paradise Island, where they met Mai

-Yami forces Seth into telling him about Ryou and Bakura's "activites"

(the last two paragraphs of chapter 13)

"Dammit, Seth! Just tell me! I need to get my mind off Yugi! Fine, fine! Don't tell me! But at least _do something_ to distract me or else I'll have your head!"

Well, that was certainly unexpected, to say the least. And Seth knew Yami was far from joking this time. So, caught in the turmoil and hoping to keep his head intact with his body, Seth did the only thing he could think of: he kissed Yami.

~*~

Crimson orbs widened generously at the contact. Soft, velvet lips pushed firmly against his own, and for a moment, Yami couldn't breathe. It was like sinking into the great Nile River, only deprived of fear, anxiety, and apprehension. He felt.he felt.as if he was floating. Involuntarily, Yami slipped his arms around the other's neck, pulling the body closer, but was pushed back instead.

The river turned to a flood.

"What the hell?!" Fury and irritation radiated off the monarch's face like that of a farmer who lost his prized oxen(1). Yami grabbed Seth's arm and yanked him closer, until they were nose to nose. "What was that for?"

Cool azure eyes stared back at him, though in truth the high priest was unnerved in finding a suitable explanation. Finally, after escaping from Yami's iron grip, he muttered, "Well, m'lord, I kissed you because you insisted that I do something or you shall have my head. Second, the push was necessary as you and Yugi belong together."

Seth paused at Yami's pained expression, then quickly added, "It's not that I didn't enjoy the kiss.but I'd rather not interfere with anyone - especially your - love life. I'm sorry if I caused any discomfort in my actions."

The trademark smirk he had expected from the young ruler did not surface.

Instead, Yami shook his head slowly, eyes focused on the ground, not staring at it but staring through it. Any emotion in those sharp, red eyes was shadowed by golden locks as the pharaoh bowed his head in shame. "No, Seth. It is I who should owe you an apology. I did not mean to prolong that..kiss. Do not feel repentant for pushing me away..you speak the truth: Yugi and I are together..I will not betray him and I know he will not to me."

Seth mentally gave a sigh of relief. At least the pharaoh knows what loyalty and trust was now. But it was interesting still, to see this sudden change..Before the little angel ever came along, Yami would have thrown morals and any beliefs of love out the palace window and into the Nile. Yep, that's would he certainly would have done. Now..it's as if Yami's soul was revitalized with the universal ethics of love; he did not follow lust or desire anymore, but instead was willing to stay true to his partner.

"Well, my pharaoh, I'd glad your eyes have been reopen." Seth laid an encouraging hand on the other's shoulder.

"Thank you, Seth, for showing me the truth." Yami closed his eyes, and if the alabaster lamps shone in just the right angle, they would reveal shimmering tears dwelling on the thick lashes.

Yami inhaled deeply before standing erect, pulling over the pharaoh- mask once more. "I must go now. And I'm sure you, high priest, have your duties to attend to as well."

Seth watched as the young king strode out of the archway, listening to the echo of footsteps until it became no more than a faint ring. The high priest turned towards the window and, facing the vast Nile River below, cried for the second time in his life.

~*~

He awoken to a farrago of incomprehensible noises, some louder than others, but all which he could not fathom. Twin streaks of black lashes fluttered open to reveal dim amethyst eyes, still bleary from indisposed waking. With a yawn, Yugi sat hunched over in the bed, and it was only when he rubbed his eyes did he remember where he was.

"Joey? Mai?" The boy called out quietly, and when no answer came, a feeling of apprehension descended upon him.

Silently, Yugi slipped out from under the silk blankets and trekked across the cheetah-skin rugs. A commotion to his left compelled him over there, and brushing the curtains aside, he found Joey..in an apron?

"Morning, Yug," the blonde waved cheerfully, or at least attempted to while holding a trio of eggs. "Breakfast'll be ready in a few minutes."

Yugi was speechless at the sight of his friend in a pink apron lined with yellow and violet streaks. Oh, and don't forget the big, red heart in the center, with the goddesses Isis and Hathor on either side. What was more amusing was the fact that Joey was working over an enormous cauldron, tossing in random things that he assumed was edible.

The smaller boy flinched as he realized his fair-haired friend just invited a jeweled turtle shell to join the rest of the stew.

"So.uh, Joey, do you need any help?" Without waiting for a reply, Yugi grabbed a wooden spoon from the table and began stirring the concoction. "By the way, where's Mai?"

Joey plucked off a couple of bruised grapes and dropped them into the pot, much to Yugi's distaste. "That's what I was wondering. I mean, she was the royal cook and all..you'd think she'd know how to make breakfast.

"But when I woke up this morning, all there was was this note," a gesture to the sheet of papyrus beside him emphasized the point, "telling us there's food in the storage room and to make ourselves at home."

Yugi paused in mid-stirring and glanced thoughtfully at the paper. "Well..we should be thankful to be fed and sheltered..but I still can't help but wonder where Mai went."

There was an introspective silence after that, save for the bubbling of the broth and the sundry mutters of by-passers outside. Finally, the taller of the two shrugged, "Nah, don't worry about her, Yug. Mai's a big girl; she can take care of herself."

"Yeah..I guess your right."

"Oh, and the turtlish-chicken-shelled-ruby soup's ready."

~*~

"To the living son of Horus, may his splendor reign over Egypt for eternity.."

"No, no..that sounds lame.."

"To the great falcon-headed king, whose magnificence measures with his godly father, Ra.."

"That's even worse.."

If there was nothing more Mai hated, it was writing. She simply couldn't get the words right! It's not that she wasn't talented; she just didn't know how to start! Even in this quiet environment, a private room in a motel, she couldn't form the words. To make matters worst, this was a letter to the great pharaoh himself, which called for an even higher caliber.

Briefly, Mai wondered why she didn't bring her scribe along or even hire one. She had the money, and scribes these days would do anything for a few pieces of silver.

Sighing, the royal cook - or so she claimed - dipped the ostrich feather into a small palette of ink and attempted to start the difficult task.

"To his majesty, ruler of the Land of Nine Bows(2), son of the great Amun- Ra, bringer of peace and prosperity, may he live forever in health:

As my lord requested, I have searched across the Land of the Nine Bows for his royal one's abducted lover. The Anubis regiment followed the trail of the malefactor to a campground west of the Nubian Desert, but did not succeed in locating Yugi. Pegasus - may his soul be eaten by the Devouress - and his men were captured and are currently placed under surveillance by the captain of the regiment.

I have personally interrogated the possessed tribal leader Pegasus for the whereabouts of Yugi; he was uncooperative during the time and demanded to be released. Even under the eyes of threat, lies and ignorance continued to escape his mouth. I hope your majesty does not demur, but I gave him a beating for that.

It wasn't until the second moon that, after starvation, whipping, and lack of sleep, did the evildoer confess: he does not know where Yugi is. The boy was said to have escaped the campgrounds with one of Pegasus' men and disappeared south. I ordered a pack of the best hounds in Egypt and, with the help of the Anubis regiment leader, followed the scent to the legendary city, Paradise Island.

Under the identity of a baker and former royal cook, I dwelled at Paradise Island for six days, and on the seventh found Yugi and the boy who worked for Pegasus. Currently, they are safe under my wings, thus your majesty does not have to place concern on the matter.

My mission is complete. I shall return Yugi and the other boy Joey to the royal palace in approximately three sunrises. May Ra grant us a safe journey. Until then, let the great Amun watch over the Land of the Nine Bows.

With respect,

The Eyes and Ear of Pharaoh"

Mai sat back and reread her work; it was a decent enough report, if she did say so herself. Then, marking the sheet of papyrus with her cartouche, she folded it in thirds and placed it in the folds of her robe.

"Now to find a messenger," she muttered as the door shut with a click. "Can my life get any more hectic?"

Finding a messenger wasn't as hard as she'd thought it'd be. Egypt's bazaar offered not only a variety of goods, but also services beyond imagination. Mai wrinkled her nose in disgust as she passed "Heaven Pleasures", a tavern that lives up to its name with its pack of infamous whores.

Rounding the corner of the dirt path, she was confronted with one of the Anubis foot soldiers.

"You there! Where is your captain?"

The soldier nodded to show respect and, after making sure the coast was clear, whispered, "He's in that tavern place, being pleasured by those whores. But don't tell him I told you that or else he'll have my tongue!"

Mai wanted to slap the commander for participating in such a vile activity, but settled for mumbling something incoherent. The soldier looked discomforted, then asked reluctantly, "Is..there a problem, m'lord?"

"No, no," Mai waved the concern away; there was certainly no need to frighten the poor lad. "I just need this to be delivered to his majesty, may he have eternal health and prosperity." With that, she withdrew the papyrus from her sleeve.

"Oh, of course! I can make the trip and back in less than two sunrises." Then he added in a hush tone, "Did you find the pharaoh's lover?"

Mai hesitated. Should she confess her results to this boy? What if word got out that Yugi was found? Gossip in Egypt spread like wildfire, and someone will surely attempt another abduction. Mai shook her head; Pegasus and Bakura have both been captured, so protection would deem unnecessary.

"Yes, but don't let your tongue loose," she warned and wagged a finger. "This doesn't have to be public knowledge."

The soldier nodded, content with being entrusted with such an imperative secret. "My lips are sealed. Ma'at(3) will see to it that I keep it safe."

"Good. Now go."

At the command, the soldier dashed off, bumping into several people along the way and producing several angry yelps. Possibly the fourth sigh escaped Mai as she trudged down the road, intent on returning Yugi, along with his companion Joey, back to the pharaoh.

~*~

It had been so long since he last cried..so long that the memory was only a faint wisp of scattered recollection. "Never cry, for it is only for the weak and pitied. Never cry, for it deems you powerless and blinds your good logic. Never cry, and you shall not experience the pain, sorrow, and tragic in this life." The words weaved through his mind until it had spun a sturdy web, recapturing unwanted memories of the past.

Cerulean orbs blinked as they stared out into the far horizon, where Ra was making its daily trip to the West Lands. Today, the sun god was bathed in a cloak of burgundy, outlined by rays of orange and yellow. Darkness had crept from the corners of the earth, spreading outward until the great Nile itself was only a faint contrast to the blackness.

Blackness..

He was black. Not his skin or his hair. His heart was black. His soul was black. He had long ago been burned in the fires of the Underworld, where he had been cursed with the treacherous of all curses: solitude.

True, he gave advice to others, let it be love problems or cures for ailments. But in reality, it was he who needed the most counseling.

Seth laughed bitterly at the irony of it all. Why should he preach about the concepts of love and loyalty when he himself doesn't even believe in it? The earlier incident reoccurred to him, and he smiled sadly at his own actions. The young pharaoh had learned a valuable lesson..but he? He was once again assaulted by the demons called "Solitude" and "Despair". Was his life destined to be like this? Will he always be alone..forever watching from the shadows as lovers bonded. Was this the price for his telepathic powers? If that's the case, then Seth would trade every ounce of it for a piece of love.

A tear fell and splattered onto the window sill.

Yami and Yugi found each other. So did Ryou and Bakura. It seems everyone in Egypt was being favored by Hathor, goddess of love. Him? His name was Seth, god of the underworld, the malicious evildoer. No divine being would want to bless him.

Briefly, Seth wondered why his parents gave him such a cruel name. "Never cry, for it is only for the weak and pitied. Never cry, for it deems you powerless.." The chant returned to him as more tears found their way to the ground. Ah yes, he remembered now. His father had taught him that, and his grandfather had taught his father, and so on. Crying dishonored the family; Seth was a royal blood, one of the highest in Egypt, in fact. A high priest like him should not - cannot - impress weakness on the people of the Nine Bows. That was why he's name was Seth, the god that never weep(4). That was why his father taught him to never cry and never love, so that he may not have to experience the pain of heartbreak.

But then..why did he feel such great lament right now?

Seth bit his lower lip as he recalled the first time he'd cried: the day his mother died. He had only been seven floods age at the time, and seeing his mother make her journey to the West Lands wholly saddened him. It wasn't that he didn't believe in the Egyptian religion; when he died, he'll see his mother again. But that would mean waiting at least thirty years under Osiris would grant him passage to the Afterlife..and that was just too long.

So he cried. And his father had beaten him soundly for that. It appalled Seth to no end when he saw his father shed not a single tear. Didn't he feel anything for his dead wife? Was this..pride, honor, whatever..more important?

From that day on, Seth promised himself he'd never cry again. And he had failed to keep that promise.

But he had a good reason, right?

No..just because he felt empty and lonely and..and..every other negative sensation did not justify those tears trickling down his face. Just because everyone else can cry and be happy with their loved ones did not mean he could.

It was his destiny to be alone. He would need to accept that.

Seth wiped his eyes roughly with the back of his hand. His father would have scolded him harshly for being weak. Too bad the old man fell off the palace building and died(5).

"Never cry, for it is only for the weak and pitied. Never cry, for it deems you powerless and blinds your good logic. Never cry, and you shall not experience the pain, sorrow, and tragic in this life."

His father's words returned to him, and Seth allowed it to consume him as he accepted the truth: he would never be loved. His life would forever be shadowed by solitude.

~*~

YK: That was a short chapter..

Yami: Yay! I'm not in love with Seth!

Seth: *sniffs* I'm not loved..Wah!

YK: ...yeah...anyway, plz review if you like this fic!^_^ And the terminologies used in this chapter are listed below:

(1)Well, "oxen" was better than my first idea, which was "chicken"!

(2)"Land of Nine Bows" refers to the land of Ancient Egypt

(3)Ma'at: goddess of truth

(4)I've not sure if the Egyptian god Seth ever cried or not..if I'm wrong, feel free to correct me^_^

(5) Er, I was trying to correspond Seth's father's death to the manga plotline. More will be revealed later^_^