A/N: Yeah, I know. I'm getting annoying but don't forget! Ryou or Malik?

Chapter 11: I Know

Atemu's POV

Perhaps if I had the power to turn back time, I would have gone back to the time when I first met Bakura. Fine, partially it was my fault. I did lie to him, I hid under another name and that, perhaps, led to the worst moment of my life. I don't know why he did it. I never did. All those raids we did, I just followed him. Maybe because I was scared at that time to scare him away with my title. Being a prince isn't all good, you know.

Why is it that whatever I do, I always end up being hated or hurt? I wanted to have a friend who doesn't treat me like a prince and then he hates me, he rapes me and uses it back at me. I needed my father's guidance as I heal and then he dies. Now that I'm pharaoh, I wanted to have a peaceful celebration then Bakura suddenly crashes it. Sometimes I wish I wasn't Atemu, the pharaoh. Sometimes I wish I could just be Aoujii, a nobody who met this person without being hated or hurt.

But I guess this is my destiny. Some sort of test by the gods to see if I'm worthy enough to take over. I wonder what mark I got.

A knock caught my attention. Who can that be? Perhaps Seth. Oh well, he is still my cousin so I can't strangle him to death just to release my frustration. Bakura, is this your revenge?

"Come in," I answer. I could hear the door open from the balcony. The air at night is really refreshing.

"My pharaoh," guess I was wrong. It was Mahado. I turn around and smiled at my best friend. But knowing he knows me better than I know myself, I could see he saw through my smile.

"I won't lie to you, Mahado. I'm not alright," I finally told him. I could sense him from behind me, even when he walked beside me to appreciate the view. Something was troubling him, too. I wonder what.

"Do you feel well, Mahado?"

"Yes, my pharaoh."

Titles, titles. It's annoying.

"Here we go again. I told you that you're forbidden to use titles while in private, haven't I?" I told him. He mumbled an apology and then looked away. Something definitely is troubling him.

"I know you're worried about something, Mahado. Are you alright?" I asked. He looked at me and aside from my suspicion being confirmed, I could see he was gloomy.

"I know what happened, Atemu," he said. Happened? To what— by Ra! How? All color drained my face as I continuously gape at him. How on earth did he know? Did Isis tell him? But she promised she wouldn't tell anyone. Did she lie to me?

"The signs were apparent. I know what Bakura did to you," he said and placed a hand on my shoulder but I broke away. He stares at me in surprise but he doesn't move. I take a step back. I can see myself again. I can see myself following Bakura inside a tomb. Then the guards appeared. I can see myself falling from my horse after hiding my wound. I can see myself being pushed to the bed—

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean to bring back bad memories, Atemu," I heard Mahado say. But I couldn't control it anymore. These tears that desperately wanted to fall all these years won't allow myself to control it. They want to fall down already, to release inch by inch the hurt I feel.

I never answered. What am I doing? I am their pharaoh. I can't cry in front of them. Crying in front of anyone is like an unforgivable sin. Pharaohs are forbidden to do that. But what can I do? All these years I denied everything that happened. I forced myself to believe that I never met Bakura. I told myself the ambush never occurred, I never fell into the river, I never saved anyone and I never got hurt. I tried to forget everything and then when I was about to recover, he suddenly comes back.

I felt two arms wrap around me and I open my eyes, seeing Mahado hugging me, hoping I would stop crying. But I can't. It never hit me that the more I deny things the more I get hurt. It never hit me. Until now.

"Everything will be alright, Atemu," he whispered in my ear. I want to believe that, honestly. But now that Bakura's back, he's after the items. He's after nothing else but the items. He would release the darkness. No, Mahado, everything will not be alright. Not anymore.

I broke the hug and attempted to run away. Ironic, isn't it? I, the pharaoh, was fleeing from my own chamber and from my best friend. The pharaoh, who was supposed to be strong and courageous, was running away. But before I could even leave, Mahado took my hand, preventing my escape. I turned around and he pulls me towards him.

Before I know it, he had snared my lips into a kiss. I guess somehow he realized what he just did and he broke away.

"Mahado?" I asked, hoping he would meet my gaze. What was going on? Why did he kiss me? Was it just an accident? No, it can't be. It was too calculated to be one. Why did he kiss me?

"Mahado, please talk to me," I tried again. No response. I grasped his chin and forced him to lock gazes with me. "What's going on? I don't understand—"

Then he kisses me again, this one harder than the first one and he pulls back quicker than a blink of the eye, leaving me breathless. "Mahado?"

"I love you, Atemu. I am in-love with you, my pharaoh," he said, "I'm sorry," and then he dashes out of the room.

I was about to run after him when the gravity of his words finally hit me. He was in-love with me? And why was he sorry? What for?

I open the door to my chamber to get out only to see my cousin in front of me.

"Yes, Seth?"

"Must I remind you…"

I forgot. I was supposed to be resting. But I need to talk to Mahado. This is important, I can't sleep now.

"I know I have to sleep but this is important—"

"By orders of High Priest Akunadin and vizier Shimon, you must get your rest today," he said. Was this day truly not my day?

I sigh as I head back to my bedroom when he pulls me back. Honestly, what is it with the pulling backs? I look at him. What does he want?

"Yes? Do you need something?" I ask.

"I apologize for failing to protect you earlier from Bakura," he said.

"You don't need to, cousin. Bakura's entry was not expected," I answered. Although his presence did cause a lot of mess.

Seth nodded at my answer, to which, I don't know. Suddenly he leans towards me and kisses me on the cheek. "Goodnight, cousin," he says and then he was gone. I stood there, still stunned with his action. It never happened before.

What exactly is going on?

End of Atemu's POV

Mahado's POV

The elders once told us that people would do the foolish things when in-love. Does running after the one who hurt the one you love to kill him count? Perhaps, perhaps not. I may never know. But I'm going to do it still. For my pharaoh… for Atemu.

"I love you, Atemu. I am in-love with you, my pharaoh."

Was it hard to believe that? This will probably be the last time I'll see him. I'll be off by dawn, training. It was my fault why that fiend managed to ransack Pharaoh Akunsunammon's tomb. If I hadn't been so careless, Atemu would have been spared of the hurt at seeing that ungrateful thief. What did Atemu ever do to him? He paid thirty gold coins and this was the reward he gets for helping?

Bakura, you will not live long enough to see the forthcoming days. This I promise you. I will not allow you to hurt the pharaoh again. Never.

"Farewell, Atemu," I said as I nudged my horse to run. I know Isis was watching me. She knows. But she cannot stop me.

End of Mahado's POV
A/N: Did anyone manage to get the plot of this chapter? Just asking…

Coming up next: the anticipated (no, it's not a lemon but it will be coming soon) event of the season! You have to guess coz' I won't tell you. :snicker: