Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the characters (unless otherwise stated) Kazuki Takahashi does, nor do I make any money from these stories.

35

"Well?" Masika demanded, angry that the goddess had turned and spoken to the pharaoh as if she weren't even there.

"Well what?" the pharaoh asked, quietly angered that she would demand anything from one of Egypt's goddess's.

"Why does he not have to kneel?"

Ma'at looked at her "Two reasons." She said sharply. "The first, as goddess of truth and justice my item is the scale, Yugi is the holder of the scale therefore he need not bow to me."

Masika looked at the goddess "Pathetic." She said, "I would have him show his respect by bowing at my feet at all times."

Ma'at glared at her "Then perhaps it is a good thing you are no goddess or future queen!"

Indignant at Ma'at's rebuff Masika ignored the murmurs that were going round the throne room in reaction to the goddess's statement.

"What's the second reason?" the girl hissed

The goddess smirked "That is the best one of all and I'm sure Yugi would like to hear it as well."

"I would?" Yugi said in surprise.

Atemu looked at his father as saw the twinkle in his eye "What's going on father?" he asked quietly

Aknamkanon turned to his son "Wait and you shall soon see."

Ma'at turned back to the girl "I will not have my own son kneel before me."

"WHAT!" Yugi and Atemu shouted at the same time.

Ma'at laughed, "You heard me."

"Yugi why didn't you tell me you were the son of a god?" he asked angrily.

"Silence!" A new voice commanded. The throne room went quiet as Ra stepped forward and stood beside the pharaoh "Atemu there is no need to be angry at Yugi."

"Why did he not tell me? Did he not trust me?" Atemu asked, his anger fading into hurt.

"I didn't tell you because I didn't know!" Yugi half yelled at Atemu.

"I. SAID. SILENCE!" Ra roared, Atemu, Yugi and everyone else in the room fell silent "That's better, now, I suggest we let Ma'at finish what she was saying."

Ma'at smiled at Ra "Thank you."

The goddess walked over to Yugi and Atemu "Atemu there is no need for your anger, Yugi genuinely didn't know." She chuckled.

"I've only been his mother for four days, I haven't had a chance to tell him yet."

"But why great goddess?" Yugi asked.

Ma'at chuckled again "Well, you needed a female member of family to agree your marriage contract with Atemu."

"Yes but…"

Ma'at held up her hand silencing Atemu "The only way that Yugi could have a binding contract was for someone to adopt Yugi and become his mother, I chose to do that for you both."

She knelt before Yugi and held out a papyri scroll "Here."

Shaking, Yugi took the scroll from the goddess and read it through. Atemu placed his arm round Yugi "What is it habibi?"

Yugi turned tear filled eyes to Atemu "I…It's a marriage contract."

He said, quietly passing the scroll to Atemu so he could read it. Atemu's eyes widened as he read the scroll through and saw that it was indeed the contact they needed, signed by both his father and Ma'at.

He tightened his hold on Yugi then looked at Ma'at "When did you do this?" Atemu asked unable to keep the gratitude from his voice.

Ma'at smiled, "The adoption a few days ago. The contract the pharaoh and I finished last night."

Masika stood there stunned, "This has to be some sort of a joke! There is no way that a pathetic peasant can become the child of a goddess!" she said stamping her foot.

Ra looked at her "You are right."

Masika gave a triumphant smirk in Yugi's direction "Then he should be punished for blasphemy." She said haughtily "Leaving mine as the only valid contract."

"Not so fast girl!" Ra snapped.

"But you said…"

"I said that you were right in that he is not the son of a goddess, with Ma'at's adoption of Yugi, with my full blessing I might add, Yugi became a child of the gods." His eyes narrowed "And we will watch over him and Atemu."

Aknamkanon, Ma'at and Ra laughed as Yugi launched himself at Atemu sending both himself and the unsuspecting crown prince crashing to the floor. "We can finally get married Atemu!" Yugi cried happily as he nuzzled Atemu's neck.

Atemu was about to yell at Yugi for his undignified behaviour when what he had just said registered in his mind, he looked into Yugi's tear-filled eyes and, not caring who was watching pulled Yugi into a heart-stopping, soul-searing kiss.

When the kiss ended Atemu stroked Yugi's cheek "I know habibi aay'i and I cannot wait for that day to arrive."

Unfortunately, their tender moment came to an abrupt halt.

Masika had pulled herself from the shock of seeing Atemu kiss the teen like that, like she wanted him to kiss her. "I challenge the peasant slut for the right to marry crown prince Atemu!" Masika declared.

"You will do no such thing!" Aknamkanon said.

"You don't have a choice pharaoh." Masika replied smugly, "We both hold marriage contracts, it is well within my rights to issue a challenge."

Angry, Aknamkanon stood up "You forget girl, your contract was drawn up by a traitor to Egypt and it's crown, Yugi's however was drawn up by the goddess Ma'at herself!"

"I care not for the gods pharaoh." The girl said, "I will be Atemu's wife and Egypt's next queen!"

Ra looked at her "I would be careful child, to show disrespect to the pharaoh is one thing but to do so to the gods?"

They were about to start arguing when Yugi shouted, "STOP!"

From his position on the floor he looked at Masika "If you think I am going to lower myself and fight a female you are sadly mistaken."

"Coward!" Masika spat.

Yugi narrowed his eyes "Fine, but we wait until your parents arrive."

"What! Why?" Masika asked.

Yugi didn't answer her.

"Answer me damn it!" she yelled.

"Take her to the dungeons." Aknamkanon ordered.

Two guards held Masika by the arms and led her away.

'When my parents arrive they'll be sorry.' She thought to herself as she surprised everyone in the throne room by allowing the guards to lead her away.

Aknamkanon sighed "What a day!"

"What a horrible girl!" Ma'at said, although no one voiced it they all agreed with her.

Ra turned to Yugi and Atemu who were still sitting on the floor,

Yugi in Atemu's lap and noticed that they both looked quite comfortable.

"The ceremony will be in two weeks." Ra said.

"Two weeks! There's no way everything will be ready in time." Shimon said before Aknamkanon could say a word.

Ra looked at the old man "Two. Weeks."

"Why so quickly?" Yugi asked.

"Because I am tired of all these silly interruptions, we in this room can see how happy you two are together and I'm sure the pharaoh wants to get this over and done with before anything else happens."

Aknamkanon nodded his agreement.

"Oh right." Yugi said feeling guilty that everyone had been put to so much trouble.

"But what about Masika's challenge?" Atemu asked.

Ra smirked "It won't happen." He said as he vanished.

The guards, under the watchful eye of Shada led Masika down into the dungeons; the girl wrinkled her nose at the stale musty smell that seemed to come from all around her

She looked into the cell she was led too, "What in Ra's name is this?" Masika demanded, "The pharaoh said I'd be placed in one of the more comfortable cells."

"And so you have been." Shada said.

The girl glared at him "I would not call this comfortable!" she looked round the cold room, hastily strewn straw the floors only covering, "How is this comfortable?"

"It has a sleeping mat." Shada answered casually. It was a good thing the guards were still holding on to her tightly as she tried attack the priest.

"Masika?" a tired voice asked.

Masika stilled "Uncle?"

Habibi aay'i (Arabic): Beautiful beloved.