Bakura: -walks in and holds up a sigh- LIME ALERT! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED –and exits again-

Atemu held back a gasp as he took in the sight of once proud shoulders, slumped in defeat and sorrow. Long strong limbs were wrapped around himself as Seto gazed out the windows, unaware of anything else. The deafening silence was unbearable as Atemu and Seth stepped into the office.

Crimson eyes briefly glanced over to his cousin, seeing a nod of understanding, before he carefully made his way over to the CEO. His heart clenched painfully as he stopped just behind Seto. He wanted nothing more than to pull the other into his arms but he knew that he would not be welcomed just now.

"Seto?"

His body visibly tensed when he heard Atemu's voice from behind him. He didn't even realize that anyone else had entered his office. He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that all his senses had shut down allowing him to withdraw within himself.

"Seto?"

He closed eyes, not wanting to turn around and look into those intoxicating blood-red orbs. Staying strong was the answer to his questions; he couldn't break down, not now not ever.

"Seto, please look at me."

That deep baritone voice washed over his senses like silk and honey. But he couldn't give in. He needed to just stay firm and the other would walk away. What was he here for anyways? Didn't Atemu have Seth now? Was he here to rub it in his face and tell him that it had all been some sort of cosmic joke?

Atemu sighed when he realized that he wasn't going to get a response out of the taller man. But he wasn't going to give up. He needed to tell Seto how he felt and the truth behind why Seth was here. And if it took him another three thousand years to do so he would. He was Seto's now, not Seth's. Fate had shown him that when their time together had been cut short. But he had the rest of his life now and he wanted Seto to stand beside him while he faced any new challenges that might be thrown his way.

"Seto, love, I know you don't want to see me right now, and I understand that but please just listen to me before you throw this….us…away."

The crimson-eyed teen took a deep breath, "I'm sorry. I did not mean to 'forget' about you as you put it. It was not my intention. I was merely happy to see Seth again. To know he was alive and well. And I won't lie to you, I do still love him…I always will, but you are the one that has my heart and soul now. It's you I want to spend the rest of my life with. I mean that Seto. You are the only one I want. I love you Seto."

He took a chance and stepped up beside the one he was addressing and the pain in his heart doubled when he saw the other had his eyes closed, not looking at him. He reached out and placed a bronzed hand on one of the tensed arms crossed over Seto's chest. When it was not brushed away, he continued, taking it as a good sign.

"Seto, you were the one that gave me a new life. You took the time to teach me about your world, you were the one that came after me in the Shadow Realm when I needed to get away. You were the one that needed me then just as I need you now. Seto, you over looked my weaknesses and still loved me. I can not thank you enough for that."

Pausing, Atemu took another chance and wedged himself between the window and Seto's body. Crimson eyes looked up into the face of his lover, wishing the other would open up his eyes.

"Seth was telling the truth, he did not come here to take me away from you. And even if he had, I would not have left you. I told him that, and now I'm telling you. You, Seto Kaiba, have my heart and soul now, my home….my home is no longer in Egypt, even though a piece of Her will always be with me. No, my home is here in Japan, with you and only you."

Seth stood quietly in the background, knowing that Atemu had to do this by himself. He could tell that his other self was fighting a battle within and that it was between his heart and mind. Even with the link cut off, he could easily read the signs.

He smiled inwardly. Atemu's words were painful to hear, but he also knew he had given up his right to the Pharaoh's love a long time ago. And he had been truthful in what he had told his cousin. He was happy for him. Here in this world, Atemu could live a normal life that he had been denied so long ago.

Atemu had done his part in saving Egypt and the rest of the world for that matter, so now it was time for him to give something back to the one that had given up so much for others. If Seto wouldn't take Atemu back well then he was just going to have to make his future self see the error of his ways. He just hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"Please, Seto, look at me." Atemu said, bringing Seth out of his musings.

"Gods, Seto, I love you. Don't do this to me, to us." The smaller teen couldn't take it anymore. The silence was just too much. Hanging his head in defeat, he leaned forward, placing his forehead against the chest of the taller man as tears gathered in his eyes and slid silently down his face.

Seto opened his eyes, but he still refused to look at Atemu. While quiet sobs were shaking the other's body he tried to stare out of the window, silent, unmoving. "I love you", Atemu whispered into his chest. "I love you, I can't go on without you, I can't live without you, I can't…"

"No", Seto interrupted him. Atemu's breath hitched, he looked up. "No," Seto repeated, slowly shaking his head. "This is going nowhere. You can go on talking and talking and still I can see you jump at him with that expression of utter joy and love. No."

His hands crept up to the collar of Atemu's shirt, gently tugging the other upwards, finally daring to look at him. There was something inside of him that was burning. Burning, like his jealousy had earlier scorched his soul, the way it still did now. But this burning wasn't unbearable, it was simply urging him on, urging some streak in him that could be described only as desperate ruthlessness. He needed to know, he needed to feel, and that flame inside of him seemed to burn away his mercy, his humanity, eat away all weakness. And his shattered heart welcomed that hardening force.

"Atemu," he whispered, eyes narrowing at the sight of his love's wide ones, "Words are not enough. Not nearly enough. You need to show me. Show me. Show me now"

Seto's shirt slipped out of Atemu's fists as his hands unclenched and he inched back in shock. "I…I…"

The other's eyes hardened. "You what?"

"It's just…we…are not alone," Atemu mumbled.

"So he's there?" Seto questioned rhetorically, throwing a quick glance over his shoulder, where Seth was still standing at the door, eyes dark, looking forlorn.

"So what? He is there. I can't believe words, I just can't. It's tearing my soul apart to know the way you looked at him. I need you to show me. Me."

"But…but…I ca…" the crimson-eyed boy breathed, scared.

"Atemu," came Seth's quiet voice from the background. "You know what you have to do." And slightly strained he added, "Show him."

"No!" Atemu said stubbornly.

"Yes!" Seth cried.

"You cannot ask me to do that!" the former pharaoh spat at Seto.

"You cannot ask me to trust you like this!" Seto shot back.

"You must do this now!" Seth added, walking over to them both. "You must do this Atemu, or this will never be fixed."

Fresh tears slid down Atemu's cheeks as he leaned forward towards Seto.

"I'm sorry, Seth", he whispered, as he started kissing Seto's neck with heartbreaking gentleness. The blue-eyed boy moaned deeply as Seth bit his lip, looking away. Atemu slowly, enticingly, worked his way down, as shaking fingers worked to undo Seto's shirt, giving him access to the other's well-toned chest.

Then Atemu stepped back in front of Seto, wiping some of his tears away and stripping down. Both Seto and Seth stared at him, unable to tear their eyes away.

"I offer you…" Again the spiky-haired boy's voice hitched. "I offer you my body." He pulled away the last of his clothing and kneeled down before the CEO. "For you to take. I'm yours. Forever. I can only give you my self; I own nothing in this world. All my belongings are yours, given to me by you. The only thing I can give you is my body, is my heart, my soul. Take it now and see that I speak the truth. I love you." That said he hung his head, arms wrapped around him self, shame filling him like never before. But at that moment he would have done anything Seto had asked of him to prove his sincerity to the one he loved.

But when Seto saw Atemu kneeling in front of him, completely vulnerable, willing to give him everything, and Seth averting his eyes again, left hand gripping his right arm in a painful gesture, the flames in Seto's heart were quenched, suffocated. He felt he could breathe freely again, without the cruel hand of jealousy squeezing his heart painfully. The flight of cruelty was gone, replaced with renewed trust. The knowledge that nothing in the world could ever take Atemu away from him.

"I apologize", he said softly as he kneeled down before the fallen Pharaoh, "I shouldn't have made you do this. I'm sorry, Atemu." Leaning slightly to the side, Seto picked up his shirt and gently helped the other back into it.

Eyes still averted, Atemu quickly pulled on his shirt, then stood up so he could step back into his pants. Feelings of being mocked lodged in the back of his mind but he tried to push them back, knowing that it had been necessary.

Sighing, Seto pulled the smaller teen to his chest, pale fingers running through the other's silky tri-colored locks. Gentle kisses were placed on Atemu's head, while he whispered apologies. A sudden clearing of someone's throat made him stiffen. Icy cold eyes turned to look to the emotionless mask of his look-a-like.

"When are you going back to your time?" Seto growled out, while tightening his hold on his love.

"As soon as I can find a safe way back. I will not stay any longer than I have to."

Giving Seth a curt nod, Seto turned his attention back to the still quiet Atemu. "Let's go home, love." When he felt the other nod his head against his chest, he quickly led the small teen out of his office, not once looking back to see if Seth was following them or not.

Seto ran his hands over his face as he sat on the edge of the bed listening to the sounds of the shower running. Atemu had been abnormally quiet the whole ride back and had retreated straight to their room, leaving Seto to deal with finding Seth a room to sleep in. He was just thankful that Mokuba had not been up at the time. Now was not the time to deal with the questionings of his younger brother. He had far greater things to deal with at this moment.

His body craved to go join his love under the warm water but his mind told him to stay put and let the other have some time to himself. Something was bothering the crimson-eyed teen and he had a feeling that it was his doing. Maybe he had pushed Atemu too far.

Noticing the sudden silence, he relaxed his posture and waited patiently for Atemu to emerge from the bathroom. Sapphire eyes watched carefully as the crimson-eyed teen walked out of the bathroom, with a fluffy midnight blue towel wrapped around his waste. Beautiful exotic eyes never once looked at him while their owner pulled out a pair of black silk pajama pants. Seto looked on with passion as the towel was removed revealing shapely legs only to be disappointed when they disappeared beneath the dark fabric.

Biting his bottom lip, Atemu crossed his arms over his bare chest and silently stood before Seto, unable to fully look him in the face.

Sighing, Seto held out his hand; "Come here Atemu."

Stepping forward, Atemu took his hand and was startled when Seto pulled him into his lap. A pale hand gently took a hold of his chin, turning his face so crimson locked with sapphire.

"Atemu," he whispered as he placed a kiss on his forehead. "I did not mean to make you feel ashamed earlier. I didn't think about how it would make you feel, I was only thinking of myself. Forgive me."

"I would have done anything you would have asked. I just didn't know you wanted that. But I meant what I said; I am yours to do with as you wish. For now and forever."

"I know." Seto leaned forward and captured Atemu's lips in a sweet, gentle kiss.

"I love you, Seto."

"I love you too, baby." He said between the kisses he trailed down his bronzed neck.

"Show me, please. I need to feel you, all of you, inside of me, around me. Please."

Atemu's honeyed silk voice sent shivers of lust down his body as he gently rolled them over on the bed. Darkened sapphire looked on longingly at the beautiful man beneath him. He could believe he had almost lost this priceless jewel.

Their first time had been madness and feverish desire. Every single move or thrust had held unbelievable passion. Back then they both had wanted this just as much, hadn't been able to hold back. The need for touches had been stronger than anything, the desperate attempt to get closer to each other, more and more, until there was nothing between them, nothing but heat and sweat and whispers of shared love.

Now it was different. Looking down onto Atemu's flawless body Seto felt almost like he didn't have the right to touch, as if his pale fingers could taint Atemu's dark skin, as if his passion could smother the other. Hadn't he come close to that before? Hadn't it been his jealousy that had overridden the gentleness he held for the other boy?

Never again, he swore to himself, another bitter lesson he had learned. Love had only been invading his once so controlled life for such a short time, and yet he had already been going through so many of its infinitely different nuances. He doubted a whole lifetime would be enough to get to know all of them.

For now he settled for getting to know Atemu's body. There were so many things he had failed to notice the first time they had made love. It had been too fast; he knew that now. Not that he regretted it, no, quite the opposite, but still, there were so many more things they could do. For the first time ever it occurred to him that it might take him a whole lifetime to learn all the secrets of Atemu's body.

For example Atemu's neck. He had explored it many times with series of little kisses, but he had never tickled gently just beneath the hair-line, he had never licked it and then blown air onto the wet spot to elicit pleasured shudders. After those new discoveries Atemu sat up to strip his lover of his shirt. Atemu's eyes were dark as he let his hands explore Seto's shoulders and hair in return.

While during their first time Seto had been mainly concerned with Atemu's chest and groin he now discovered the full beauty of the other's back. He let Atemu lie down on his stomach and leaned over him. The skin there was silky smooth, his frame was delicate, his shoulders neither very broad nor very small, just right in his opinion. On his right shoulder blade Seto found a miniscule birthmark, which he kissed in utter abandon.

His tongue then found its way to Atemu's spine, starting between his shoulders and tracing its path down to the small of his back, where it lingered a little longer, its owner enjoying Atemu's moans and small movements. Then it danced along the rim of the smaller boy's pajama pants.

"Ihhh," Atemu complained, "That tickles!"

"Hmm, does it?" Seto smirked and started a full assault on Atemu's hips and lower back, biting, nibbling, tickling, until Atemu was trembling with laughter, trying to fend him off, turning around in the process so they were now face to face.

Seto looked up with a smile twinkling in his normally serious eyes, hair slightly disheveled, which gave him an almost mischievous expression. Atemu found that utterly cute. He pulled Seto towards him and kissed him.

"Do you forgive me?" Seto whispered against his lips.

"Of course," Atemu breathed.

"Do you still want me?" the taller man asked, almost timidly.

"Hna nb-i h3ty" (with all my heart)

"Hnm-i. Wi mri r iri-k mAA mrw-t-i." (Unite with me. I wish to make you see my love.)

"Sn-i" (Kiss me)

While he did exactly that, Seto undressed Atemu completely, his own clothing following soon. And once again began the gentle dance of desire. It was a controlled desire this time, gentleness lingering in each and every one of Seto's movements. He was afraid of damaging his lover through his lust. Afraid, now he had found out that he indeed had the power to do so. He, the one who had always delighted in power was now afraid of it.

Yet what did that matter? What mattered were Atemu's moans and panting breaths, his kisses and caresses, his skin, his lust. All that mattered was Atemu.

Seto couldn't hold back any longer. He wanted more, wanted this night to last forever, but felt the end approaching. He clung to every second of their lovemaking, trying to prolong it, but finally surrendering to their desire and with a last forceful thrust completed their pleasure.

"Where is he?"

"Uh….I do hope he is sleeping"

"He couldn't have heard us, could he?"

"Are you still angry with him? You know it really wasn't his fault he came to the future"

"He shouldn't have been trying to spy on us at all."

"Come on, you know you would have done the same."

Seto frowned as his hand stopped stroking Atemu's hair. "I would not have done that. But it doesn't matter."

"You know, since he now is here you could as well make use of it and let him teach you some things?"

"What things? How to predict the floods of the Nile?"

"Stop making fun of our priests and culture. I thought you had already learned that lesson?"

Seto cringed. "Alright, alright. Now what were you really talking about"

"The rod of course. The Sennen Rod. It's not just a item you use for communication, you know."

He sighed as Atemu drew himself closer to his body; "Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this?"

Dragon and Desidera: Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews!