Author Note: The sequel was never finished, so it won't be reposted. Sorry. And no, yelling update soon at me will not make any difference at all. But as requested, this story is back.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, it's characters, locations or any of it's plots etc. This is a fanfiction done for fun and nothing more. Case Closed.

Prince of Egypt; King of Games

Chapter One: An Annoying Cousin

"Seto?" Seto ground his teeth at the sound of his cousin's voice. He drew in a breath as a response. Atem took this as the sign to continue. "What are you doing?" Atem asked.

It was an innocent enough question. Seto knew his younger cousin well enough to realise that. He didn't have anything against the young prince. Now was just a bad time. He had a lot of studying to do, and if Atem was around, he wasn't likely to get through even a quarter of it. Seto sighed. "Studying. Go away." He ground out.

"Aww. You can't talk to me like that, Seto. I'll tell father." Atem chirped.

"You wouldn't--" Seto began, turning in shock and horror. The Pharoah would not be impressed by that lack of respect for the prince. Seto was met with Atem's cheerful grin.

"No. Not really. But I love seeing your face when I say that." Atem chuckled.

"You are the most evil, infuriating, little ... BRAT I've ever met!" Seto snapped. Atem had done his usual wind up, and once again, he had fallen for it. Everytime he promised himself that he wouldn't be fooled again, and every time Atem managed to pull it off anyway. Worst of all, it was with the EXACT same strategy too. Atem stepped forward, grinning, but at the same time, pulling that Ra-forsaken innocent look the whole time. Seto narrowed his eyes. He'd seen that look one too many times to believe it was innocence. Sure enough, Atem grabbed the papyrus he was working on, and rushed out of the room before Seto could react. "ATEM!" He roared, rushing out after his enfuriating little cousin. He rounded a corner, and crashed into the Pharoah's brother, Aknadin, his master. Aknadin straightened himself out and crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the boy in furious expectance of an explaination. Seto gulped. He was in SO much trouble for that. He was suppossed to be in his chamber studying. Not running around the palace, let alone crashing into his father. He cast around his mind for an excuse, a plausible one, to spare him the thrashing he'd undoubtedly get.

"UNCLE!" Atem chirped behind Seto, and rushed past his cousin to embrace his uncle tightly around the waste. It was as high as the little pipsqueek could reach.

Aknadin cast a disgusted look at the prince, which only Seto noticed. It was quickly replaced with the mask that he used for dealing with his brother and nephew. Feigned affection. It disgusted Seto to no end. He felt sorry for the ignorant young prince. "Hello Atem. You're cheerful today." Aknadin remarked using a light tone.

He's cheerful EVERY day. Seto thought sourly. Atem's antics were going to get him thrashed as soon as the prince was gone. Aknadin would just be thinking of a way to make the prince leave.

"Of course I am. I got Seto to play with me again. See?" Atem held up the papyrus that he had stolen.

The Gods must have liked him today. Seto couldn't believe what he was seeing. Atem was deliberately drawing Aknadin's anger toward himself, instead of on Seto. No. He can't be. It's just a coincidence. Atem doesn't, can't possibly, realise what's going on. He's just being his usual, irritating self, and trying to rub it in my face.

"Now, Atem, I think you should give Seto his papyrus back and let him continue his studying." Aknadin said in a firm, reprimanding tone of voice.

Atem pouted. "Alright, Uncle Aknadin." Atem said quietly. He turned to Seto. "Here Seto. I'm sorry for disturbing your studying."

He had almost sounded dejected. Seto couldn't help but feel ... something. Was it relief? Gratitude? Pity? He took the papyrus that Atem held out to him, and checked it, to ensure it wasn't another prank. Everything was fine. "All is forgiven, your highness. Though you should not apologise to me." Seto replied.

"Can you play with me after?" Atem asked hopefully.

Seto looked at Aknadin. He turned back to Atem, and was about to speak, but Aknadin cut him off. "I'm sure Seto will be delighted to keep you amused once he's finished the papyrus he's suppossed to be working on, my prince." His eyes fixed on Seto's, and Seto understood. THAT was his punishment for running into the man. To spend the rest of his day with Atem, as soon as he finished his studying. Seto bowed his head, to show he understood, and to show respect. "You may return to your studying now. And remember what you are to do after."

"Yes Master." Seto muttered. Aknadin walked away, while Seto glared at the back of his head. Nothing he did was good enough for his father. Having to call the man Master instead of Father was indeed an additional sting to the situation.
"Seto?" Atem's voice jogged him from his thoughts. Seto looked down at his cousin. "I really am sorry. I didn't think he'd be back until tomorrow. I never meant for you to get into--"

"Save it Atem." Seto sighed. "Thanks."

"For what?" Atem asked, tilting his head to the side and frowning in confusion.

"For getting me off the hook." Seto replied. "Even if it was your fault in the first place."

"I'm so--"

"Stop. Apologising." Seto ground out. His cousing then lowered his head. Seto's mouth dropped in a silent gasp. He had upset the prince. The prince was about to cry. And there came Mana, skipping up the hall toward them. Seto's mind screamed at him to stop the inevitable before the girl reached them. "You don't have to apologise to me, Atem. You've got a higher rank. You're not suppossed to apologise to someone lower than you. It's not that I don't accept it, it's just that I'm suppossed to be beneath you!" Seto said quickly in a panicked, hushed tone. Atem shuddered. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no! If Mana sees him upset around me like this, she'll know it's my fault, and she'll tell Uncle Aknamkanon, and I'll be thrashed in no time. "So when I'm finished studying, what do you want to do?" Seto asked quickly, praying to whatever Gods were listening, to help him out of the mess he was currently in.

"Will you play hide and seek with me?" Atem asked hopefully.

The Gods must REALLY like him today. "Of course. Anything you want." Seto replied in relief. Just DON'T start crying! "Oh, look, it's Mana. You can play with her until I've finished." Seto said quickly. The two friends greeted each other cheerfully, and rushed off to play in the palace gardens, much to Seto's relief. But as they left, Seto caught a sly, cocky glint in Atem's eye. He didn't just-- He did! I can NOT BELIEVE I FELL for it! That little ... RUNT! He was FAKING it! Seto groaned audibly. The score for today now stood, Atem: 3, Seto: 0. And it was only the morning. Seto returned to his chamber to finish the day's studying. He was going to have to even the score. But he had to do it in a way that wouldn't hurt Atem. ... Too much. Just so Atem would understand that he was no pushover to wrap his little finger around.

Despite his silent rant, Seto wasn't too bothered. Normally he couldn't stand playing games with Atem. He like to think he was too old for that nonsense. But, it was more fun than sitting in his chamber all day at his desk, learing about all the different Egyptian Dieties and their semblances. In all honesty, Seto was for once, looking forward to playing hide and seek with his cousin. Another honest fact was that it was his favorite game to play with the prince. The reason was simple. The whole idea of the game was that Atem would hide somewhere in the palace grounds, and Seto would then spend the time searching for him. Although when Seto played hide and seek with Atem, he PRETENDED to be searching for the prince, when in truth, he was stretching his legs and thinking. Thinking of ways to try and impress his father. Thinking of some means to make his father see him as a son, and not a mere servant or student. Thinking of how he would get all his studying done in time, if he hadn't been told by Aknadin to go play with the prince.

This was another thing. Aknadin hated his energetic, no HYPER, nephew, and he failed to hide it to all but the prince. So when the youth, who seemed to adore his uncle, for what reason still eluded Seto, was being his usual perky self and chattering away to the man, Aknadin would dump the child onto Seto to deal with. Yes. It was true. Aknadin would make Seto amuse Atem, to keep the boy out of his way. Knowing how much his father hated the child, Seto couldn't help but wonder about Atem's safety in Aknadin's pressence.

Now that he thought about it, Seto couldn't recall a time when Atem had ever been alone with Aknadin. Was this a coincidence? Or was the entire palace thinking the same thing he was? That Aknadin could be a threat to Atem. After all, until Atem was born six years ago, Father was the heir to the throne. Would Father do anything to Atem? Seto sighed and shook his head. Maybe he'd have to keep a closer eye on things. But he'd have to pretend he was ignorant. Either way, now was the time to finish his papyrus that he had been working on. He looked at it again. How Atem had managed to swipe it and tear down the palace corridors without damaging it was still a mystery to him. With a sigh, he sat down at his desk and got back to work.