"And the distribution of grain, Pharaoh? You know this issue must be sorted out now, in case of famine. Your Father made this mistake, and then, in the disaster that followed..."

The High Priest's voice trailed off, seeing that the Pharaoh was plainly not listening, glancing around with listless eyes at the empty hall.

"Pharaoh?"

Still the Pharaoh did not attend him, and Set, while knowing perfectly well that Atemu's word was law, couldn't resist the temptation, also knowing that he, as the Pharaoh's cousin as well as High Priest, could get away with it.

So, ice-eyes still blank as ever and smirk hidden carefully away, he jabbed the Pharaoh in the side skillfully, thereby winding him without causing any actual bruising.

Now the Pharaoh attended.

Atemu whipped around, eyes losing their thoughtless gaze and a scowl gracing his features.

"Set! What was that for!"

"You weren't listening, Pharaoh."

"Its boring, Set. And I've no idea of what you said for the last half hour."

Set bowed mockingly, glancing toward the servant who sat at a discreet distance away with parchment, quill and ink in grasp.

"Which is why I took pains to insure everything recorded, Pharaoh. You will be able to read everything at your leisure."

Atemu scowled further, and this time Set could not hold back the smirk.

"I could have you hanged for such liberties."

Set's smirk grew – he knew the Pharaoh would do no such thing; unlike his father, Yami Atemu was not a cruel man, despite the similarities is looks.

"Kindly inform me of what had you so distracted, Atemu."

Now a dreamy look floated onto Atemu's face – a look Set knew all too well.

"Yugi", they said simultaneously.

Set sighed.

"Finish later", he said, before bowing once more – properly, this time – and walking off, reasoning that as long as Yugi was on the Pharaoh's mind, he would get no work done at all no matter how many times Atemu was winded. However, in spite of the pressing duties at hand the Pharaoh was distracted from, it was impossible to resent Yugi for it. The ex-slave and now lover to the Pharaoh was just too... nice to dislike.

"And your own relationship, Set?" Atemu called after him.

Set scowled again deeply, hating the jibe. Atemu had seen the the blonde noble in hot argument, once, and from then on had got the foolish idea that the two were a couple.

"You're mistaken, Pharaoh, said Set, stopping but not turning around. "I dislike the noble intensely... and his father is certainly not much better; you should see to that, also. I dislike the way he... presents himself in Council."

"Because he tries to better himself over you?"

Although the Pharaoh's voice held a light tone, both males knew the subject was all too serious; Council was no joking matter, and any person within the Council had high standing in the eyes of the public.

"No", Set replied, and it was the truth. He did like to be on top of things, but... "I dislike the man because of his manner, and his arrogances."

"And you're not arrogant with your own power and standing?"

"I may be, Pharaoh. But I'm never ruthless with that power."

Set continued on, steps echoing in the near-empty hall, and picturing the frown on the Pharaoh's face. Set did not earn a rebuke, though – well Atemu knew and appreciated his quick judge of character. The only problem was, one did not get kicked out of the Council simply at another's whim, no matter how accurate that whim normally was. Once nominated and taken the sacred vows for the Council, you were there for life as long as you upheld the oath and obeyed the law. Set had just made a weighty claim, but had not outright accused the man of subject doing anything wrong (though he was dangerously close to it). Until he was accused and offered reasonable proof of doing anything wrong, Set could not touch him.

Musing as he was on such thoughts, it was admittedly the High Priest's own fault when he ran straight into another in his path coming fast from the opposite direction.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm- oh, its you. Not sorry, then."

Such an impudent voice... it could only be-

"Katsuya, watch where you're going", Set said, curtly.

"You bumped into me!"

"Perhaps if you were not walking so fast, I wouldn't have", Set pointed out. "Though walking might be an understatement."

The blonde flushed; by his rumpled appearance and still heavy breathing, it was obvious he had been near-running, and good manners would state that this was forbidden indoors unless a good reason was given.

Set arched an eyebrow, waiting.

"I was looking for my father", said Katsuya with as much dignity as was possible while scrambling up none to gracefully.

"Try the tavern", was Set's reply in sarcastic tones. "Mind you, I suppose it would be hard to know which one, exactly... and it would be foolish to ask around, since its probably impossible with each person seeing him in a different one already - and not quite noon yet, either."

His disdain was made clear, and Katsuya flushed further, looking down at the ground as though it fascinated him. Set suddenly felt bad, but was too proud to take back his words.

"The Honeyed Flower, I believe", he all but mumbled before walking on, making an effort not to appear hurried.

Back in his apartments within the palace, he discarded his heavy robe of office, already rumpled with the heat. His sleeping chamber was clean despite his forbidding the servants to clean it – the last servant had been sent back nearly in tears from his harsh rebuke, while Atemu joked that Set enjoyed his privacy too much. Set did not relent, and refused any other servants to help with the cleaning and airing of his rooms; he did like his privacy, and wanted nobody meddling with his personal scrolls or artifacts.

"Katsuya son of Gahiji", he muttered. "Ha! Even the name shows his own arrogance." (1)

He scorned at such nonsense – the Pharaoh was as a God, and could thereby love whom he wished, but Set would not stoop to loving a Noble's son, even if he did like him 'that way'. Being the Son of a Noble might be in high standing with the majority of Egypt, but the title paled in comparison to that of High Priest.

"And anyone a relation of that man... it doesn't bear a second thought."

Set produced blank parchment and began to write, sctatching furiously and doubly angry now with the awareness that his thinking betrayed him.

1 'Gahiji' in Egyptian means 'hunter'.

Well, this is the first chapter thus far; any thoughts or ideas people may want incorporated? Please review!