[04.02.04] I originally wanted to repost a grammatically correct version of this chapter, but I accidentally deleted it instead ;;;; So if you've already read this, sorry. Je sux0rz. But in case you're wondering, CHAPPIE 3 DOESN'T LIKE MEE!! ;_______; But I am having a deathmatch with it and I intend to win it!! GARRR!!! So, read on ppl!!!

[ s o r a k i t h e t o r m e n t o r ]

PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIKE MEE!!!!!! XD I did NOT expect any reviews; you do not understand how happy they made me...actually all other authors out there probably understand. AND I LOVE YOU ALL TOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

[Warnings]: This is a Seto/Yami fic. That means shounen-ai (boy/boy lovin')!

[Disclaimer]: I don't own yugioh; it belongs to Kazuki Takahashi, Konami, and all those other godly people.

The Kirby dance [(^_^) ( ^_^ ) (^_^)] means some kind of setting/time change

Engaged: Chapter 02

My Pharaoh, this is your fiancée. You remember Anzu, correct? She is the daughter of the niece of the father of the uncle's second-cousin's friend twice removed who was a previous High Priest.

She's related to the former High Priest of the Millennium Rod.

Seto's eye twitched. Don't relate my position to her'

Anzu stepped towards Yami and bowed her head. I will be more than your fiancée, my king. I will be your friend. [an:|| *twitch twitch*]

Yes, I have a feeling that you will make an excellent friend and bride, indeed. Yami walked up to the young woman and lifted her chin up with his index finger. And an excellent queen for Egypt.

Yami turned towards his high priests and his single priestess. His eyes flashed with sudden determination and he nodded his head at Mahado. This is the only way to forget'

My priests, I accept Anzu as a prospective bride. The king turned to Anzu and smiled.

But, my nephew— Akunadin was cut off once again, but this time it was by his own son.

I believe Yami understands what he's doing, Seto spun around and stalked off towards his own chambers. He stopped at the doorway leading into the main corridor. He is Pharaoh.

Yami watched Seto leave with pained crimson eyes, not paying attention to his new soon-to-be wife who was clinging to his arm. this is the only way I can forget'

forget that I am in love with Seto Kaiba.'

[(^^) ( ^^ ) (^^)]

Seto Kaiba tiredly walked into his chambers and plopped onto his bed. His arms were stretched out at his sides, his robes thrown carelessly over his tan body, his headdress rolled off his head and onto the floor, and his Millennium Rod was tied to his waist, completely forgotten for the moment. He body was completely stress-free, but his mind couldn't have been less relaxed. But for the past week, everything in the palace had been so perfect.

The construction of Yami's tomb was ahead of schedule, the tomb robbers were on a break, Anzu was being a perfect soon-to-be queen, and Seto had even stopped fighting with Mahado.

it was all too perfect

He sighed. After a week of seeing Anzu with Yami, Seto just couldn't deny it anymore. He had fallen in love with his cousin. His lifelong rival. His king.

Seto sat up and untied the Millennium Rod from his waist and stared at the golden scepter in his hands—the chunk of metal that had made him a high priest. It brought him into the small circle of people with shadow powers. It had brought him closer to his cousin.

All his life, Seto had been trained to put everything aside for the Pharaoh. That his sole purpose in life was to protect the pharaoh. Seto hated it. And he hated Yami. The crimson eyed boy had been the sole reason that he would never rule as Pharaoh. Seto always imagined what it would be like if Yami were to accidentally' fall off his balcony. But he just had to accept the fact that he was stripped of his possible power simply because his father had an older brother. And now the brunet had to wait on Yami like a slave.

Seto Kaiba was no one's slave.

But after over five years of watching Egypt flourish under Yami, Seto began to change his outlook on the younger boy. Yami had ruled so the wars went un-fought and the tombs went un-robbed. [an:|| those aren't real words, but we can ignore that minor detail for now] As young as the king may be, there was not one other person in Egypt—Seto included—that would be better for the position. Seto had to accept that he was second best.

That hatred for the pharaoh slowly had turned into respect. And sometime in the past week since Anzu's arrival, Seto finally realized that the respect had turned into something much more. Possibly even love. But what does a teenage boy know about love.

I'll just blame it on raging hormones' Seto knew he was lying to himself, but what else could he do? His only love interest was not only his rival/cousin, but he was engaged. To a very friendly woman.

Maybe I can have Yami if Anzu goes for a nice, long swim in the Nile. And she never comes back. I wonder if Yami would believe me if I said that sharks ate her. Wait, there aren't any sharks in the Nile,' Seto sighed and slumped in his seat on the edge of the bed. Even the sharks are against me'

[(^^) ( ^^ ) (^^)]

Yami sat in his chair in the throne room, bored out of his mind. There was supposed to be a meeting about the pharaoh's tomb (couldn't the blasted thing wait until he died?) but the coldest of the High Priests was nowhere to be found. So the meeting had been cancelled.

Yami sat alone. He was free from his duties, his high priests and his fiancée.

Was he doing the right thing? Was engaging Anzu really going to solve any of his problems? Could he ever forget his feelings for Seto?

So many questions and absolutely no answers.

Mahado had assured Yami that the engagement was for the good of Egypt. And Yami would not disappoint his own country. She had raised him on her banks and helped him rule with the mighty power that coursed through the Nile. And now it was time for the young king to return the favor. To provide Egypt with a crown prince and the promise that she would never be forgotten.

But a little voice inside his head refused to leave him alone. It nagged at him endlessly. Reminding him that he was using Anzu. Reminding him that he still loved another. And by the looks of things, he loved Yami, too.

Yami suddenly stood up. All his life he had sacrificed everything he wanted for the good of his country. The least Egypt could do was let him be with the one he loved. And if she wanted an heir, she would get one. He just didn't know how. There was always a concubine, but that option didn't seem too enjoyable. Well, at it wouldn't be fun for a gay guy.

Yami exited his chambers and marched to Seto's. He was going to tell Seto Kaiba exactly how he felt.

[(^^) ( ^^ ) (^^)]

Akunadin stepped into his son's chamber to see the young high priest sitting silently on the edge of the bed. His head bowed, the empty blue eyes that gazed at the Millennium Rod were framed by locks of brown hair that glowed with the light from the setting sun.

The old man walked briskly toward his son, but Seto made no movement to acknowledge his father's presence. The High Priest of the mind-reading Millennium Eye was unnerved. He couldn't see anything in Seto's mind. Either the young Kaiba had learned a new and powerful magic in the past three hours, or he was dead. Neither one was the case. Seto's mind was just completely empty. Just like his eyes.

He knew how strongly Kaiba felt for Yami, but did Seto? Akunadin approached his son wearily. He was not looking forward to this confrontation.

I love him, father.

Okay, so Seto did know. This was going to make everything a lot harder for Akunadin. He stood in front of his son and sighed. Forget him, Seto.

The young priest's head snapped up, his once empty eyes now filled with a mix of confusion and horror. Father, how can I forget him? How can I deny the very feelings that I have just discovered?

Akunadin dropped to his knees and clutched Seto's hand in his own. Please, just forget him. Think of him as nothing but your pharaoh. Please, my son. He was begging.

Just forget him.

Seto suddenly pulled his hand away and stood up, sending his father tumbling backwards. I love Yami. I won't forget him and I won't lose him to that woman. The sapphire-eyed boy began walking toward the corridor but stopped at his father's next whispered words.

Don't do this to him

Seto spun around and stared at his father. Akunadin was still on his knees, staring at the spot of the bed that had been previously occupied by Seto. Tears flowed freely from his one grey eye, rolling down his wrinkled cheek and quietly splattering onto the stone floor. He turned to his son and whispered again, the words barely audible through the choked sobs. Don't do this to Yami

Kaiba narrowed his cerulean eyes. Don't do this to him? What about me, father? Am I not the one being denied his love because of some woman who does nothing but spout inane speeches about the power of friendship?

what about me?

This is for both of you. Akunadin slowly closed his remaining real eye and sighed a heavy sigh. Seto, do this for Yami.

Seto waited for his father to continue.

My son, the fist rule you ever learned during your training to be a high priest was to protect the pharaoh. No matter what happened to you, your purpose was to always protect the pharaoh. This time, you have to protect the pharaoh from himself.

Seto didn't understand.

Seto, if Yami returns your feelings, he will endanger Egypt. Yami loves this country, Seto, and you know he would never intentionally hurt her. But if you and Yami were to act upon your feelings, he will endanger Egypt. The lack of an heir would cause the lack of a future king. Egypt may be flourishing, but she is in no way ready to handle a period of anarchy.

The old priest stood up and walked toward his son. I know that knowledge will hurt Yami. And I know you hate seeing him hurt. So, please, Seto. Akunadin sternly grabbed his son's shoulders. He was begging now. Please, reconsider this.

Seto was in shock. He had never thought of what Yami felt about the whole ordeal. He knew the young king would do what was best for his country, but how much would Yami sacrifice? Would he give up his own happiness? Was that something Seto would even do?

Seto's father was right. He would end up forcing Yami to hurt Egypt and then hurt himself. This whole time, Seto had thought of no one but himself. His love for Yami had blinded him to the long-term effects. Yami would probably hate himself for putting himself before his country. Seto had been selfishly thinking about himself the whole time.

But love was selfless. And is Kaiba was being selfish, he wasn't feeling love. So he shouldn't make Yami miserable because he was lusting.

Seto inwardly sighed. Emotions were too complicated.

Seto was snapped out of his musings by his father's strained whisper. Don't do this, Seto.

The tall brunet glanced down at his father, his eyes once more empty and emotionless. His heart wrenched in pain, but he wouldn't show it. He needed time to figure out his exact feelings all over again. He locked his cold azure eyes to his father's tired grey one and whispered his answer.

I won't.

[(^^) ( ^^ ) (^^)]

Kaiba's shoulders were still in his father's grip when the young king quietly entered the chambers. Kaiba, Akunadin. Am I interrupting anything?

The oldest priest quickly released the death grip on his son's shoulders and turned to his sovereign. No, my pharaoh, not at all. Do you need to speak with my son?

Yami nodded.

Then I shall be on my way. If you should require my assistance, I will be at the temple of tablets. With that said, the old man exited the room, leaving the two young men all alone. Both stared intently at the ground. Kaiba was the first to break the awkward silence.

Is anything the matter, my pharaoh?

Yami flinched at the formality. He gazed at the taller brunet with his crimson eyes. Why didn't you attend the meeting?

I didn't feel up to it.

Why didn't you inform me?

Kaiba stubbornly refused to say more than a few words. It wasn't necessary.

Yami walked up to Kaiba and placed his hands on the brunet's forearms. He could be stubborn, too. All of us were worried about youI was worried about you

Kaiba released himself from Yami's grip and walked to a pile of scrolls that sat on his desk. Yami's ruby eyes gazed longingly at the priest as he began to rummage through the papyrus. There was to need to be. You have your country's future to worry about.

The pharaoh was crushed by the priest's next cold remark. Worry about your fiancée, not me.

Yami turned away from Kaiba and walked to the balcony. He parted the silk curtains and gazed out into the night sky. The stars glittered the sky like diamonds on lush black velvet. The young king stood there and admired the work of the gods. Anzu will make a beautiful bride. And she will produce beautiful children. [an:|| she can't have kids if she's DEAD!!!! *cackles*] He turned to the high priest. Don't you agree?

Kaiba had stopped moving and was now staring intently at his desk. I'm not ready to do this, father.' He pleaded mentally. Why can't I just have him?'

The young king walked back to the high priest. Kaiba soon found his face resting in Yami's hands and his pained cobalt eyes locked with questioning crimson ones. Kaiba, what is it?

He was lost. He didn't know what to do. Kaiba stared at Yami, totally lost in the smaller boy's crimson orbs. It suddenly came back to him in the form of a few words.

protect the pharaoh from himself.

Kaiba snapped back into reality. He sneered at the pharaoh. What is it that you want?

Yami smiled shakily at his high priest. I want you.

[(^^) ( ^^ ) (^^)]

And There's Chapter 02! More total crap!! This chapter is all talking, but the next chappie will be packed with lovin action and angst. Well, attempted at least.

So, yeah. Review and tell me what you think, please. And send me more Seto/Yami sites (thank you to all who already did—you know who you are)

==Soraki over and out.