Hyfen: Now if we could only teach you to play dead...
V.V He's so ice to me *sniffle* Anyways, here's the reviews... even if there were significantly less than usual... Oh, and special thanks to koori-chan for beta-reading the last couple of chpaters!
To ObiWanGirl: Whee! Lovvu chappie! *huggle* Here's the update!
To Taddybear: *grins* Very hot ^_^ Glad ya enjoyed!
To Yugi-obsessed: Here ya go
To Pan-Chan83: Yaoi site? Me first to look? ...COOLIES!!! *grins widely* Glad ya like this fic so much, hope this chapter lives up to scratch!
To One Winged Tenshi: *grins* A bit of Nile scene in this for ya ^_^ Hope ya enjoy!
To trekkie-54: *grins* yes, a daily dose of fluff is very important! And I updated as soon as I could for ya!
To Dutchess Murasaki: Yes, you credit-hog, it was you *grins* Needed it though! can't wait for the fic! Glad ya liked that last chappie too!
Promises of Ryou and Bakura lemon and lime scenes have been proven to make Bazu work faster!
To Smarty1: Here ya go!
To Miami-chan: Here ya go!
To DarkWolf193: Happy belated birthday! *huggle*
To CrazyAboutYugi: Glad ya like it!
To 'Ling Ling': *snigger* Else what? Nyah, no need to find out!
To Dark-AmethystUnicorn: Hello again ^_^ *snigger* Reonet's still the same then? Heh, she'll probably like this one for a lil bit at least ^_^ Glad you're takin the time to review now! *huggle*
To Hatshepsut: Pharaoh of Kemet: O.O Wow... you're reviewing my fic? I must say, I've heard great things about you! *bows deeply* Thank you so much for the kind words! Drop me an emailand I'l have a look at your stuff once I've clawed through my current 'to read' list! Many thanks for the review!
To Chaotic Bystander: *grins and huggles back happily* Glad ya like it!
To rebelphoenix: *grins with a big sweatdrop* ^_^V I tink you'll find stuff to criticise this time... I hope you do!
To blazing kodachi: *grins* Ya know ya love 'em really, deep down!
To Shade25: Don't worry, plot will develop! *grin* Much much-ness to come soon!
To Ashu-chan: *grins* Here's the update for ya! *winks and subtly points to note* Take care!
To RavenWulf: *grins* So many wanna know about the goat! Maybe we'll find out ^_^
To Bluey-chan: ^_^ *huggles back* Glad ya liked! Here's another chappie!
To Anna: Whee! *huggle* Glad ya like it! *grins* Everyone wants damage for Set *snigger* Just have to wait and see!
To yamiyugifanadic: *grins* I'm glad to have fans like you! Hope you enjoy this!
This chapter is dedicated to my Yugi. You know who you are, and you know how much you mean to me. But this time, it's my turn to be Yugi. Take his words to heart.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Yugi gave a small squeal of terror as Yami began to make his way toward him, turning and splashing out into the river in the hope of escaping. Of course, as you move nearer the middle, it gets deeper… a fact Yugi had forgotten at that moment.
Stopping as he realised the water was now up to his chest, Yugi turned round and fixed imploring, wide eyes on Yami. "Truce?" he asked hopefully.
"No chance," came the chuckled reply. "I don't really think you're in a position to negotiate, little one."
Giving a small 'eep' of fear, Yugi began to move sideways, hoping to get around Yami and back to the bank before he could get caught. Needless to say, this plan failed miserably, and he soon found himself pinned up against Yami's body, the Pharaoh having removed his cloak and netted Yugi with it, pulling him in.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Masika hummed softly as she skipped along the beaten path, the tune being one her grandmother had taught her a long time ago. She was in unusually high spirits today, and hadn't even bothered grumbling about how she and the other trainees had to bathe in the Nile every day while Set – she refused to acknowledge his full title – was permitted to bathe in luxury, in none other than the Pharaoh's personal bath. For some reason she couldn't fathom, the sun seemed brighter, the birds louder and the air sweeter than usual today, almost as if the Gods were especially pleased about something. Maybe, she considered with a small giggle, they'd found Set's bad day yesterday as amusing as she had.
Allowing herself to bounce to a halt, scuffing some dust up around her white cloak, Masika stopped to inspect the berries on a nearby bush. They certainly looked tempting, she mused as she reached out and delicately took two of the purple berries lightly between her fingers, examining them.
Masika shook her head and flounced away. Not ripe, and at any rate she didn't trust the berries from that particular type of bush. One of her friends had had some before, and – though it hadn't exactly been poisoning of any description – she'd wound up feeling very poorly. No, stick with what you know. If it's not broken, don't fix it. That was the way their entire nation's society worked, and that was what she intended to keep to. After all, if the philosophy didn't work, they wouldn't be so powerful now, would they?
Masika stopped skipping once again, her ears pricking up as she heard a voice from the other side of the bushes. It sounded almost like the Pharaoh, who she hadn't seen for a long time, excepting that there was a younger boy with whoever it was. And since Yugi had died, she reasoned, there was no way the Pharaoh would be with a younger boy. She'd seen how much it had torn him apart – there was no way he'd love anyone else.
Curiosity, however, got the better of her, and she tentatively parted the bushes, poking the smallest amount of her head through that was possible. Peering out, she scanned the river quickly, hoping to catch sight of whoever it was.
"I don't really think you're in a position to negotiate, little one."
Masika's head snapped round to face where the voice had come from, unconsciously leaning further forward as she did so, and a small gasp escaped her lips. It was the Pharaoh… and he definitely had someone with him. Whoever it was was currently being pulled up against him in his cloak, giggling happily. Masika sighed softly, feeling her heart sink – she really had thought that the Pharaoh had been in love with Yugi… but apparently he wasn't that different from most other men.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Yami smiled down at his love, gazing deeply into his eyes. "And now for your punishment," he whispered, leaning down slowly. Yugi obligingly tilted his head up to meet the Pharaoh, and the two's lips soon met, a soft moan rolling through Yugi as he felt the cloak being lowered so his head was now free. It draped across his upper back, pulling him more tightly against Yami, and he slipped his arms round the Pharaoh's shoulders, smiling as he felt the Pharaoh moan at the gentle contact.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Masika almost squealed in surprise as the cloak lowered, revealing the younger boy, catching the sound in her throat at the last moment. She felt her breathing pick up slightly as the enormity of what – or more precisely, who – she'd just seen began to sink in. Her knees began weakening, and she slowly began tipping forward. At that moment, her arms - which had been holding the bush apart - were already too far behind her to be able to stop herself in time, and she cringed as she dropped, bracing herself for the impact.
Only the impact never came. Suddenly suspended in mid-air, Masika allowed one trembling eyelid to lift slightly, and saw that she had, indeed, stopped falling. Blinking curiously, it slowly dawned on her that her cloak had apparently snagged on the bushes, holding her up. With a small laugh, she tried to spin round so she could untangle herself, reaching over one shoulder and flapping vainly at whatever had caught her. Growling in frustration as it time and again evaded her fingertips, Masika began scrabbling at the air, her swings getting wilder and wilder.
"Do you want me to let go, or are you intent on clawing my arm off first?"
Masika's chest suddenly hitched, and she froze mid-swing, her eyes wide as she stared at the ground in front of her in horror. Who had just caught her? How long had he been watching her? What if he was a molester? What if he had a weapon? She couldn't scream for help, that might make the Pharaoh come over, and it could endanger him… but she was in danger too…
Breathing in shakily, Masika swallowed hard, and finally managed to find her voice. However, she was unable to do anything useful with it. "P… Please, don't hurt me," she whispered, silently praying to every God listening that he'd listen.
The owner of the male voice noticeably paused, and sounded almost surprised when he finally did speak. "If I'd wanted you hurt, I wouldn't have caught you."
Masika felt herself gradually being lifted up, the stranger taking his time so as not to scare her or throw her off-balance, and she held onto the bushes for support as she was nearly vertical. Once on her feet, she stared at the floor once again, not even daring to turn round. "Uhm… than… thankyou… I…"
"You were watching the Pharaoh, weren't you?" The sentence was spoken as a questioning statement, rather than as an accusation – the stranger knew she had been, and apparently didn't seem too bothered by it. He just wanted her to admit or deny it, so he could form a quick opinion of her.
"I… I… yes…" Masika replied, hanging her head shamefully.
"You're from the palace, aren't you?"
Masika spun round in surprise. "How did you know-?"
And stopped again. The figure behind her really wasn't the big, strong, threatening man she'd been expecting.
"My name's Lateef," he answered, as if it were a reply to the question.
"Uh... I'm… I'm Masu…" Masika replied, immediately mentally kicking herself for telling this stranger her special nickname.
Lateef nodded, smiling. "How about we give the Pharaoh and Yugi some peace? I guess you've got a few questions."
Again, Masika's eyes widened in surprise. "Yugi? It's really him???"
Lateef gave a small laugh. "Yup. In the flesh. Care for an explanation?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Yami grinned as the kiss parted. "We've been seen, you know."
Yugi looked round, splashing the water about him in his startled panic, but saw no-one. He turned back to Yami, his wet hair swinging about as it spun behind him. "Where?"
Yami grinned. "Masika. You may remember her from the palace. She's gone now."
Yugi bit his lip and looked up at Yami, concern in his eyes. "Would she…?"
Yami smiled again. "No, the secret's safe… though she's probably dying to ask questions." Yami knew Masika, as he did the other trainees, fairly well. Being as they were treated as priests, they spent a lot of time in contact with him, and Masika had spoken to him quite often. Always curious, always smiling, and always careful about what she said to anyone. When he said the secret was safe, he was certain. Leaning down to kiss Yugi again, Yami murmured softly, "It's not like it matters now anyway," before trapping Yugi's linen-soft lips under his own, the two boys melting into each other once again.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Masika's eyes widened. She really couldn't believe it. "So he's back?"
"Yes."
"For good?"
"For the foreseeable future, at any rate."
Masika sat silent again, contemplating and digesting all that had been told to her. Yugi was back, or so this Lateef said. She'd seen what was apparently him, right in front of her own eyes. But then, she'd seen him murdered in front of her own eyes too. "…the son of a God?"
"That's right."
"But… Set… he…"
Lateef noticed Masika's hand fisting by her side. "I know," he whispered in a soft, reassuring tone. "And I'm sure he'll pay for it. But they're together again now, and I've never known the Pharaoh to be happier."
Masika glanced up at Lateef, a gentle sparkle in her eyes. "…really?"
"Definitely."
*~*~*~*~*~*
With a faint sigh, Yami broke away from his and Yugi's kiss, smiling down at the younger boy. Gods, how he loved him… and yet…
"Yami? Is something wrong?" Yugi looked up at his love with concern written deep in his violet eyes, seeking an answer from the Pharaoh. "You sounded so…" Yugi supposed 'sad' was the closest word, but… it wasn't quite that. There was more than that. Somehow his smile gave the same emotion as that sigh.
Yami met Yugi's eyes, and he knew he couldn't bring himself to lie to the boy, no matter what. He could feel his heart beginning to tear as he tried to begin to speak, and bit his lip softly. "Yugi… I love you so much… and yet…"
"But Yami," Yugi whispered, laying one hand on the Pharaoh's chest. "I love you too."
"Yugi," Yami continued, holding one hand up and sighing deeply. "I don't deserve you… you're the son of a God, and I'm only a man. You should have so much more than me, and I-"
"Yami!" Yugi interrupted, sounding almost cross, though his expression softened instantly. "Yami, when I was a slave, did I deserve you, even though we didn't know I was the son of a God?"
"Yes, Yugi. Even then, you still deserved everything you could ever want, and-"
Yugi cut Yami off again. "Then why does it matter now?" He stepped a little closer to the Pharaoh, and rested his head on his chest. "Do I still deserve everything I want?"v "Yes."
"All I want is you, Yami. I don't care about whether I'm the son of Ra or Osiris or Amun or any of them. I'd give that up for you at the drop of a coin." Yugi looked up at Yami, a faint trace of tears in his eyes. "You're all I want, and you're more than good enough for me. Pharaoh or not, slave or God, we've always been good enough for eachother." Yugi ducked his head down again, one tear trickling from his eye as he spoke his heart. "Yami… please don't doubt… don't doubt us, or our future… don't doubt yourself… I love you, and you deserve me for that, if not for everything else."
Yami stared down at Yugi, forcibly choking back a lump that had formed in his throat. "Yugi…" Yami was utterly stunned. He hadn't expected Yugi to be so… "I…"
"Shhh, Yami…" Yugi whispered, nuzzling his cheek against the Pharaoh's chest. "You deserve me, deserve so much more than me. And you'll always have me."
Yami stood silent, his arms wrapping round Yugi and pulling the boy close. He felt tears slip down his face, and sniffled softly, burying his face in the boy's hair. "Yugi," he choked. "I'm sorry… sorry for saying that… Gods, I love you so much…"
Yami felt a faint nod from the boy in his arms, and heard a slight sniff from him, realising he was crying too. "I love you too Yami, equal by measure. Always…"
The two stood there, crying silently in each other's arms, and a single thought ran through Yugi's mind. 'Somehow, I'll show you just how much you really mean to me…'
*~*~*~*~*~*
*whew* So there's that and al there is to it! Good? Bad? Mediocre? Boring? Please let me know, methinx Bazu ish in need of constructive criticisms!!!
