Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh
Atemu sighed as he glanced around his study. This project was not going well at all which means he was going to have to make a couple of decisions he really wasn't a fan of, however there was going to be no getting around it.
"Father, you used to tell me that sometimes making the right decision meant choosing the course of action that would make you most miserable. When I was a child I thought you were messing with me but now I'm really not so sure." Atemu said aloud to the empty office.
No one answered but then again he wasn't expecting anyone to.
Atemu rose from his seat and opened the door and waved over a nearby servant. The servant immediately came over, "Can you please go and fetch High Priest Seth for me, tell him to meet me in my study. I have something very important to discuss with him." Atemu said firmly.
The servant bowed in acknowledgement before he turned and sprinted down the corridor. Atemu then took his seat back behind his desk. This desk had been built as a gift from a neighboring kingdom for his great grandfather and it was truly a work of art which was why it was still in the palace four generations later.
Atemu was drawn from his musing by three sharp knocks on his door. Atemu recognized the knocks as belonging to Seth. "Enter." Atemu called out.
The door swung open to reveal High Priest Seth. Seth inclined his head in respect before striding confidently into the office, pushing the door shut behind him with a firm click. "You wished to see me Pharaoh." Seth stated.
Atemu nodded, "I did. Please, have a seat there are several things that I need to discuss with you." Atemu said. Seth sat without any further prompting.
Atemu sighed before he just decided to just jump right in. "Seth I am going to be leaving the palace for several weeks. There is something that I have been working on and it has come to a point where I can no longer progress without leaving the capital." Atemu said frankly.
Seth nodded, "Would you like me to accompany you on your journey Pharaoh? And what of the throne in your absence? Are you going to finally marry your God Chosen so that he may rule in your stead?" Seth asked.
Atemu sighed once again, "No, Seth I do not wish to have you accompany me. This is a journey I will be going on alone. As for my God Chosen, no I will not marry him solely so he can rule in my absence. Perhaps after I come back marriage would be something Yami and I can discuss further but not before I leave. What I am proposing is that Seth, you are in charge while I am away. Of any of the priests I trust you the most and I am confident that you will allow the gods to guide you in making wise decisions." Atemu said.
Seth nodded once, "I am honored that you would consider me for this role Pharaoh. And I will perform it to the utmost of my abilities. I will not let you down my Pharaoh." Seth said firmly.
Atemu nodded once again, "Excellent. I will inform the council of my decision and my impending trip later today. Now, if you don't have any further questions then you are dismissed." Atemu said turning his attention back onto various documents that were scattered around on the top of his desk.
"Pharaoh, I do have one other question." Seth said, drawing Atemu's attention back onto him.
"Go ahead." Atemu said.
Seth seemed to contemplate how he wanted to word his question for a moment before he finally spoke, "Would you tell me why you are still hesitating when it comes to marrying your God Chosen? Has he dared to reject you Pharaoh?" Seth asked, his voice sharpening as he asked his second question.
Atemu smiled slightly in the blatant show of concern from the normally indifferent and stoic priest. "Not that what happens between my God Chosen and myself is any of your business Seth, as I have told you before. But no, Yami has not as you so eloquently put it, rejected me. Marriage is not something that I am yet ready to discuss with Yami. Has our relationship progressed? Of course it has. However, at this time I do not think that marriage is the best decision to make. This is something that I have thought a great deal about and prayed a great deal about. I am confident that now is not the right time for such a conversation. Like I said perhaps after my journey the time will be right for such a conversation. Does that satisfy your curiosity Priest Seth?"
"If you say so, it must be so. I will take my leave Pharaoh." Priest Seth replied before he rose to his feet, bowing his head in respect once more before he exited the study.
Atemu then turned his attention onto the next important project that he had set himself for the day. As my father often said, do not put off for later what you can accomplish now. Time, despite belief to the contrary is not an infinite resource and you can run out of it with no warning so always take advantage of the time you do have.
Two hours later Atemu had finished the document he had been drafting. He rose from behind his desk and stretched. Perfect timing. I finished just in time to head to my council meeting. Atemu thought as he walked out of his office, again he waved down a servant.
"Please see to this message is brought to a messenger. Tell the messenger that the message is of the utmost importance and that I said for him to ride swiftly." Atemu said.
The servant accepted the sealed letter from Atemu and bowed, "Yes, of course Pharaoh." Before he turned and sprinted down the corridor. Atemu watched as the servant sprinted out of sight before he turned and headed to the throne room for the council meeting. With any luck this meeting would only take a couple of hours and he would be done sooner than normal so he would have more time to talk to Yami.
Yami sighed as he longed on the bed in his and Atemu's room once again. He was supposed to be in lessons but once again Yami had opted to skip. This pressure was really starting to get to him. He honestly didn't know how Atemu handled all the stress and the high expectations. Everyone around him demanded excellence and Yami was trying, he really was but he just couldn't take it. The stress of everything had continued to make him ill and it had actually resulted in him vomiting this morning.
He absolutely refused to go and see Priestess Isis about this since he knew it was just stress. He just needed to find another way to destress so that it would stop making him sick. Then he would be able to resume his demanding lessons.
Then again Yami found himself quite relieved Atemu hadn't decided to discuss getting married yet because if he had then Yami would actually have duties that he had to attend to instead of just demanding lessons. And those duties Yami wouldn't be able to just skip because he couldn't handle the stress of them.
He reached over the end table on his side of the bed and picked up Yugi's letter once again. He still hadn't sent Yugi a reply. His mind swam with hundreds of things he could say to Yugi but when he picked up a quill to draft a response all those thought left him. There may have been so much he wanted to say but there was so much more that he knew he couldn't say. Which was why more than a week had passed and Yami still hadn't written Yugi back.
It was cowardly Yami knew that but at least if he didn't reply he couldn't write the wrong thing. He wouldn't accidentally tell Yugi how much he missed him. How he thought about him almost every single day. He wouldn't accidentally hurt him by telling him how things were going with Atemu. Of course, if Yami did talk about his relationship with Atemu he would over emphasize how happy he was but the concern with that was that he would end up causing Yugi pain, which was the last thing Yami wanted to do.
Yami was drawn from his thoughts by a light knock on the door. Yami sat up on the bed, "Enter." Yami said firmly. Yami was shocked to see Atemu walk into the room, normally Atemu was done much later than this.
"Atemu, you're done early." Yami said.
Atemu smiled, "Yes, well I just finished up with my council meeting and decided to spend the rest of the day with you. I hope that is alright." Atemu said.
Yami smiled and set Yugi's letter aside once again, "Atemu, of course that's fine. I enjoy spending time with you." Yami said.
Atemu sat down on the bed beside Yami, "Although I will admit I'm curious why you weren't in lessons. I checked for you there first and your tutors informed me that you had not shown up today." Atemu said. His tone wasn't scolding or harsh, merely curious.
Yami sighed, "It's not that the lessons are hard or anything. I understand the material and I can do it. It's just, I don't know. There is a lot of pressure and lately I think the stress has started to get to me. It's literally been making me nauseous. So, I decided to skip lessons today so I could destress." Yami said.
Atemu nodded, "I understand how stress those lessons can seem. And I really wish I could tell you once the lessons stop and you are helping me on the throne things would get easier however at the same time I'm not going to lie to you. There are literal days where I wonder how I'm not bald. Please, if you are feeling overly stressed do take breaks. I don't want you making yourself sick." Atemu said.
Yami nodded, resting his head on Atemu's shoulder. "I won't." Yami said.
Atemu wrapped his arm around Yami's shoulders and for a moment just held Yami close. "Hey Yami?" Atemu said suddenly.
"Hmm?" Yami replied.
"One thing that always helped me to destress was taking a swim. What do you say you and I go for a swim?" Atemu suggested.
Yami nodded, "That sounds nice." Yami said.
The two got up and headed to a pool that Yami didn't even know was in the palace. They stripped down and climbed in. Atemu longing against the edge of the pool while Yami swam a couple of quick laps before he swam back over to Atemu and rested against his side.
"This is nice." Yami said.
Atemu's hand slipped around Yami's waist and Atemu pulled him closer. The two sat in silence before Atemu decided to just dive in and discuss what he'd been meaning to tell Yami. "I'm going to be leaving in about a week. I'll probably be gone almost a month. There is something that I've been working on and I've hit a bit of a road block and can't continue from here." Atemu said.
Yami was quiet for several moments, "Is this the part where you say we need to get married so I can rule for you? To be perfectly honest Atemu I really don't know if I can do that." Yami said.
Atemu pressed a kiss to Yami's brow, "And I would never do that to you. You and I are not ready to get married yet, period. That isn't even taking into account you being thrust into the role of coregent. I have actually spoken to the priests and set up to have Priest Seth being in charge in my absence." Atemu said.
Yami nodded, he was extremely relieved to hear that he wasn't going to be expected to run a whole kingdom next week.
"I'll miss you." Yami mumbled.
Atemu smiled as he nuzzled into Yami's hair, whispering in his ear, "I'm not going leave you here all by your lonesome beloved. That would be cruel." Atemu said.
Yami pushed Atemu away from him slightly so he could look into Atemu's eyes, "What did you do?" Yami said. He knew that tone that tone Atemu had used meant that Atemu was up to something.
Atemu smiled, "I sent an invitation for a close friend of yours and his god chosen to come here and spend time with you while I am away." Atemu said.
"You mean Yugi?" Yami asked, he was almost afraid to hope that the answer was yes.
Atemu smiled at Yami again, "Yes I invited Yugi to come and visit. I know how much you miss him every day. I thought that you being able to actually see him would be good for you." Atemu said.
Yami crawled onto Atemu's lap and pressed a firm kiss to Atemu's lips, his tongue slipping into Atemu's mouth. When Atemu did stuff like this it made Yami really believe that he wasn't just saying it when he said he loved him.
Atemu was the first to pull away although he was smiling widely. "What was that for?" Atemu asked.
Yami smiled, "That my beloved God Chosen, was for being an absolutely amazing man. I just had to kiss you." Yami said.
Atemu chuckled, his hands resting on Yami's hips since Yami had moved onto his lips. "Well, if you just had to kiss me then who am I to stop you?" Atemu teased.
Yami pressed his lips once again to Atemu's, his tongue once more darting out to explore Atemu's familiar pallet. Atemu's hands were massaging Yami's hips as both men lost themselves in the kiss. All too soon the two broke apart because they need to breathe.
Yami pressed another quick kiss to Atemu's lips, "Do you think we could head back to our room and continue this?" Yami whispered, grinding his hips into Atemu's to demonstrate exactly what he wanted to continue.
"After all," Yami added, pressing a kiss to Atemu's collar bone, to the spot Yami had discovered never ceased to drive Atemu nuts, "I'm going to be without you for almost a month. We might as well make good use of the time that you are still here." Yami said.
Atemu chuckled as he stood up, Yami's legs wrapped firmly around Atemu's waist. "What my God chosen wants, my God chosen shall have." Atemu replied.
Atemu gave Yami's ass a firm squeeze as he strode purposely down the corridor heading back to their room. He and Yami could have a late dinner tonight since right now they were going to enjoy each other.
Meanwhile in Domino
Yugi sighed as he sat under the tree he and Yami used to spend hours sitting on together. He missed Yami every single day and today was no different. His god chosen had tried to get him to go and do something with him, however Yugi had made up some excuse that he wasn't feeling well. Truth be told he felt fine. He just wasn't feeling sociable. Ryou understood like he always seemed to and went to do whatever he often did to entertain himself.
Yugi glanced up when he saw what looked like a royal messenger ride quickly into Domino. Yami wrote to me. Yugi thought as he sprang to his feet and raced over to the messenger.
"Message for Yugi Mutou." The messenger called out.
"That's me." Yugi replied, holding his hand out for the scroll. He really wanted to know how Yami was doing. He really hoped Yami had adjusted well to life in the capital and that he got along well with his god chosen. He would be lying if he said a selfish part of him didn't hope that Yami told him things aren't romantically developing between the two but if they were and the Pharaoh was who made Yami happy than Yugi would be happy for him. He might not like it. He might not think it was fair but he would be happy for Yami because he knew that if the reverse was true Yami would be happy for Yugi.
The messenger did not wait for a reply and instead turned and rode right back out of Domino. Yugi turned and headed back over to what he liked to call his and Yami's tree. He sank down under the tree his eyes locking on the royal seal on the letter. With shaking hands Yugi broke the seal and unfurled the letter.
Yugi frowned slightly when he took in the elegant script. This letter was not written by Yami. A part of Yugi was hurt that Yami himself had not written to him before he shook that feeling off. The letter was still addressed to him and would be bringing news of some kind. And he was desperate to hear how Yami had been.
Yugi Motou,
I hope that this message finds you well. My God Chosen has spoken very highly of you and he is incredibly fond of you. As it so happens I will be leaving on a trip to the outskirts of our kingdom and I will be gone for almost a month.
I do not wish to leave Yami alone here in the palace and since he has not really forged any close friendships I have decided that it would be prudent to extend an invitation to you and your god chosen, I believe Yami told me his name is Ryou, to come and stay at the palace while I am away.
If you are able to come please arrive before next Friday since I would very much like to meet you both before I leave on Saturday morning.
Sincerely,
Pharaoh Atemu
For a moment Yugi just froze as he starred at the letter, his mind racing to process the information that was contained in the letter. The Pharaoh was going to be leaving town for a whole month and he didn't want Yami to be alone so he was inviting Yugi to come and visit.
He was going to get to see Yami.
Yugi quickly got to his feet and sprinted off to find Ryou. He needed to tell him to start packing since they were going to the capital and they had to be there by Friday.
I can't wait to see Yami. Being able to see him face to face will be way better than a letter possibly could have been.
Meanwhile back with Atemu and Yami
Yami and Atemu were snuggled up in bed together, the sheets pooling around their waists with Yami resting his head on Atemu's chest, Atemu's hand was lightly massaging Yami's back.
"You aren't worried Ate?" Yami asked suddenly, disrupting the peaceful atmosphere.
Atemu gave Yami a look, "Should I be worried?" Atemu asked.
Yami sighed, "No, but you know how I feel about Yugi. You don't think inviting him here is tempting fate?" Yami asked.
Atemu pulled Yami closer, "Yami. I love you and I trust you. I also trust in the gods and know that what is meant to be will be. I trust that my God Chosen will not betray me. And because of that I see no reason not to invite Yugi out to visit you. I know how much you have missed him. I think you two being able to see one another will do you both a world of good." Atemu said.
"You don't think you should have waited to invite Yugi when you would be here?" Yami asked.
Atemu chuckled, "Yami you don't need a babysitter. I trust you." Atemu said and when Yami opened his mouth to ask something else Atemu cut him off, "Are you planning on betraying me?"
Yami quickly shook his head no. He wasn't planning on betraying Atemu. "No, not of course not Ate." Yami said.
"Then like I said there is nothing for me to worry about. Now, let's get up so we can grab some dinner, unless you want to stay and snuggle some more." Atemu said.
Yami snuggled up into Atemu's arms, "Can't you have the servants bring us some fruit. I'm not quite ready to stop snuggling with you. You, Mr. Pharaoh, make one comfortable pillow." Yami said.
Atemu chuckled as he tightened his arm around Yami. He muttered a spell under his breath to send a message to the kitchens requesting a tray be brought up to their room. He didn't use magic often as a rule since his father had taught him that overuse of magic made one lazy but he didn't want to let go of Yami quite yet to get a servant.
Things were definitely changing. Atemu just hoped he was able to cope with what the future tossed his way.