Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Meskhenet ❯ Akhet ( Chapter 3 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Part 3

Akhet (Flooding Season)

It was mid-noon, the hottest and driest time of day , especially during summer. The wind was warm and stilled, and the leaves of the surrounding palm and fruit trees remained lifeless. The scorching Egyptian sun beat down mercilessly on the little group assembled on the rooftop, seated under a large, white linen canopy in hopes of getting a little shade and coolness.

"I hate this game!," Seto muttered irritably as he took the small sticks in his hands and shook them. Sure, he was a champion at Chess and Duel Monsters (or should he say the Shadow Games?) but Senet?! No!. That infernal vixen, Nephthys, had won three times in a row!. This, as well as this maddeningly hot weather, was not helping his mood!.

The lady of the house watched as her disgruntled opponent tossed the Senet sticks onto the game board for his turn… "Only two black sticks, Pentaware?," she raised an eyebrow. "That won't be very much help in moving you up the game-board."

Kaiba glared at her. "Just take your turn already, Kitsune," he snapped.

"I will," she answered coolly, leaning back and crossing her legs. She took the playing sticks in her hands and shook them… "Ahhh, five red sticks. I'm afraid I'm still in the lead, Anu," she purred.

The children, Asha, Khu and Kiya, who were seated on a small pile of cushions, playing with Tahemet, Kuribo and the other kittens, all looked up and giggled!. They knew noone yet had ever bested Nephthys at Senet!.

"Hmmph!," the young CEO crossed his arms in indignance when the lady of the house won the game for the fourth time in a row. "I let you win, Fox lady!."

In response to this bluff, she leaned forward and rested her small chin on the tips of her fingers. "Of course you did, Anu." She gave him an irritatingly patronizing smile.

"Umayma is still the Queen of Senet!," Mariasha cheered.

"Traitor!," the young man called back, and she laughed!.

Si-Amun and Mutnodjmet, who were also seated under the shady canopy, fanning themselves and sipping their wine, laughed too.

"I'm sorry, young man, but you'll need a bit more practice before you can beat our Nephthys," Mutnodjmet chuckled.

"Quite a bit more practice," her husband added with a grin.

Nephthys laughed and hid her smirk behind her fan. "Now now, I think our anu has had enough humiliation for one day."

"I wish you'd quit calling me that!," Seto snapped.

Soon, the kittens, all played out, had fallen asleep in their basket, and little Khu and Kiya began to yawn and stretch from their spot in the shade.

"I'm bored," Khu complained, scratching tiny Kuribo behind the ears.

Kiya rubbed her eyes in response. "Bored, bored," she repeated after her sister.

Their grandparents looked at eachother in amusement.

"Oh, poor deprived little darlings," Mutnodjmet smiled.

"Indeed," Si-Amun chuckled. "Aren't we just such terrible grandparents, boring them like this?."

At this, the lady of the house closed her fan with a smile that suggested she had an idea. "I know," she said. "Since nobody seems to be in the mood for games anymore, why don't we all go down to the riverside and have lunch there?."

Perfect, after all, the harvesting was over for another year, so there was plenty of time to enjoy one's-self until the floods subsided and Peret(67) arrived.

Mariasha smiled and nodded eagerly, and Khu and Kiya, thrilled with the idea, jumped up and down in excitement, clapping their small hands. "Yes! Yes!. Swimming too?! Swimming too?!," they pleaded in a chorus.

"Now what would an afternoon by the river be without a swim, hmm?," Nephthys laughed warmly, taking Asha's hands and guiding her over to sit in her lap.

Si-Amun and Mutnodjmet agreed, but Kaiba crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. Great, another dip in the filthy Nile!. Well, let them all be eaten by the crocodiles, he thought. He had no intention of setting foot in that river again!.

**********

The afternoon sun sparkled on the Nile as the children jumped and splashed in the water like little porpoises. They had asked Si-Amun and Mutnodjmet to come in and join them, but the elderly couple declined, joking that hippo-hunting was still legal in this area!.

From her spot on the shore, Nephthys watched Mariasha playing with Khu and Kiya... She couldn't help but smile with a mother's pride, for this was the first time the child had taken off the bandages that covered her scars, even if it was only to go swimming. Usually, she would just change into dry bandages afterwards…

"Well, I am going in," the lady of the house laughed, getting up from her chair and setting her fan down.

Seto crossed his arms with a smirk. "Hmmph, what are you, five?. I can't believe you're going to degrade yourself by playing in the water with those little rug rats!."

In response, she picked up her fan again and swatted at him with it. "Mind your manners, Pentaware. A boy's ears are on his back. He listens best when he is beaten,(68) and that goes for any man!."

"Oh really?," he scoffed. "And where might a girl's ears be then?."

The answer was another swipe to his head with her fan, which he managed to dodge this time.

"Ooo!!! I don't know why I even bother with you sometimes, Anu!," she shook her head in exasperation, then went to join Asha, Khu and Kiya in the river…

Kaiba watched them play in the water from his spot in the shade of the canopy and palm trees… For a moment he thought of the porcelain tiled, chlorine filled, heated pool back at his mansion, where one could swim and float undisturbed for an entire afternoon if they chose… When they were younger, whenever their foster father was away, he and Mokuba would spend hours jumping off the diving board, having water fights and playing pirates, and it had been such fun sneaking up on the servants and pushing them into the pool when they weren't looking, then threatening them with everything from unemployment to a court summons if they ever told Gozaburo!. Of course, that was before the demands of his company and his job had made such things impossible…

Just then, he was brought out of his memories by a cold splash of water to his face!.

"Hey!," he sputtered, brushing his wet bangs from his eyes. He glared up to see a giggling Khu and Kiya!. "What was that all about, you little water-rats?!."

In response, they each seized his hands and pulled an astonished Seto towards the river.

"Come pway wif us in the water!," they urged.

"Uhhh, I don't think so," he tried to pull his hands away. "I already had one bath today!."

Nephthys, who was just emerging from the river, holding Asha's hand, laughed at this. "Nonsense, Seto Kaiba. One must bathe at least three times a day in order to remain one with Ma'at."

"Yeah! Come pway!. Come pway wif us, Uncle Setty!," the little ones cheered.

The young CEO finally managed to get his hands free, but, figuring those kids would be nagging him all afternoon if he didn't go with them, he tossed off his shirt and started rolling up the ends of his green trousers. No sense in getting the expensive material wet again. So much for not setting foot in that river again!.

The lady of the house gave him that irritatingly knowing grin again. "Oooh, how sweet! 'Uncle Setty!," she crooned teasingly.

Oh no! 'Uncle Setty?!' That was even worse then 'Moneybags' or 'Rich boy!'.

"Uncle Setty!," the girls cried. "Uncle Setty, come on and pway wif us!."

"Ohhh, I'll play with you alright, you little monsters!," and with that he picked up Khu in one arm, Kiya with the other, and charged into the Nile waters!. Finally, he plunked the giggling, squealing little girls into the shallow water!. Splash!.

Laughing, Khu and Kiya swam back up to the surface. For such young children, they were both quite remarkable swimmers!.

Seto tried to hightail it back to the shore before they could reach him and get their revenge… but Nephthys and Mariasha cornered him!.

"I don't think so, Pentaware," the lady of the house smiled mischievously.

"Let's get'em!," the girls cheered in unison!. And before he knew it he had Khu clinging to him with her arms around his neck, while Kiya had attached herself with her arms around his waist. "Get'em, Lady Neffy!. Get'em, Ashy!."

Hooting with laughter, Nephthys and Mariasha began splashing poor Kaiba mercilessly, determined to get him as drenched as they all were!. '

"Aim upwards, Miw-Sher!," the lady of the house laughingly instructed her foster daughter. "His hair is still partly dry!."

Oh no! Not the hair too!. In spite of himself, Seto couldn't help but laugh as he tried to avoid being splashed by Nephthys and Mariasha, while trying to free himself from Khu and Kiya at the same time… It was the first real, genuine laugh he'd had since Mokuba was taken from him, and since he'd arrived in Ancient Egypt… and Nephthys noticed it too…

"Well, I do believe we've finally made our sullen little wanderer laugh for the first time," she chuckled as she and Asha continued to splash him, and Khu and Kiya continued to use him as their jungle gym.

"Hey!," Kaiba called to Mutnodjmet and Si-Amun halfheartedly. "Can't you two call them off or something?. I'm getting eaten alive!."

But, even from their place on the shore, the wise, elderly couple could hear the long dormant laughter in his voice, like Ra's light breaking through darkness, and see the smile of happiness on his face…

"Sorry, young man, we are but lowly servants," Mutnodjmet teased with a wink.

"Yes," Si-Amun added with a knowing grin. "And what kind of servants would we be if we went against our mistresses wishes?."

Hmmph! Yeah right!, he thought as he unsuccessfully tried to dodge more of Nephthys and Asha's attacks. Well, he'd just have to take care of this situation himself, as usual…

Finally, now nearly completely soaked, he managed to gently shake Ku and Kiya off into the water again… but Mariasha, hearing the splashes and giggles nearby, and realizing her opportunity, rushed forward and jumped up onto Seto herself, her arms around his neck.

"My turn!," she cried in triumph!. "I am Sobek, master of crocodiles!. All the crocodiles obey me!. Come on!. Let's get them, Seto!"

Taking the cue, the young CEO grinned, and growled playfully at Khu and Kiya. "Grrr!!!," he teased. "I'm a big fierce crocodile, and now I want to eat a couple of bratty little kids!."

"Eeek!!!," the little girls squealed in delight and mock fear!. "Neffy, Neffy, save us!."

The lady of the house grinned. "Ahh, but I am a crocodile too, my dears, and I am also hungry!."

Barely able to contain their laughter, Seto and Nephthys chased the giggling, squealing girls through the water, onto the shore, then back into the water again. The children, Asha, Khu and Kiya, whooped with joy, thrilled to finally have gotten their usually dismayingly austere guest to play with them!.

They remained by the river for the rest of the afternoon… Seto and Nephthys giving more rides to the three children and having more waterfights with them, all under the amused eyes of Si-Amun and Mutnodjmet…

Soon, it was time for lunch… Everyone who had been swimming dried themselves off with linen towels and changed into dry clothes. Kaiba, of course, was not to thrilled at having to change back into a shenti, but at least he hadn't gotten his shirt completely soaked, and his trousers would not take as long to dry this time…

Lunch was fresh bread, raw vegetables and cooked, cold fowl. Everyone sat on fresh straw mats, similar to tatami, and was served beer and fruit juice with their meal.

"Do you remember when we went to the ocean last summer, Umayma?," Asha asked her foster mother.

Nephthys smiled softly. Yes, she did remember. It had been the first summer after her mother and father had died, and they had all decided a trip to the family's small villa near the shores of the Red Sea would do them allot of good. That had been Asha's second encounter with grief, though less violent and traumatizing then the first, and she was very proud of her child's resilience.

"I was really unhappy for a long time after Grandmother and Grandfather died," the little girl added. "But visiting the Red Sea made me feel better."

"Me too, Miw Sher," the lady of the house reached over and tenderly brushed her bangs away from her bandaged eyes.

Little Khu looked at Seto with curiosity. "Have you ever been to the sea, Uncle Setty?."

He nodded slowly. "Yes, I have... Back where I come from, we had a summer house overlooking the Sea of Japan…" Here his voice trailed off somewhat… It had been that very place he'd retreated to after his loss to Yugi… For the millionth time he wished he'd taken Mokuba there with him instead of leaving him alone at the mansion… He remembered how much his little brother had loved to play along the beach and collect shells there when he was little…

"We loved to play along the beach and collect shells there," Asha smiled. "There were so many different sizes and shapes, and the seaweed felt really funny. The water smelt like salt, and the air did too!."

"You really had fun there, didn't you?," the young man observed…

The little girl nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes!," she answered with a laugh. "We loved it there!. I didn't have to see the villa by the ocean to know I loved it!."

"My little brother loved our summer house too," he said with a faint smile…

At this, a knowing look came over Asha's scarred face… "Do you think you'll go back there… when you return to Japan I mean?..."

Kaiba turned away and watched as a marsh bird few out of the water, it's wings sprinkling drops into the air that caught the late afternoon sun…

"No… No, I don't think so, kid…" he said quietly…

**********

Days turned into weeks, and soon it was the second month of Akhet. Everyone in the village, and Nephthys's household, became excited with the approach of the main event, the Festival of Opet.(69) That is, everyone but the disgruntled, brooding young CEO from the future they had taken in, especially since he was told he would be taking Asha, Khu and Kiya to the festivities…

"Why should I have to take the little monsters?," Seto demanded the morning of the festival, after everyone else had finished breakfast. "I thought I was supposed to be a guest, not a babysitter!. Why don't you get those old servants of yours to do it?."

Nephthys rubbed her forehead in dismay. Was this ungrateful little wanderer going to be picking arguments with her for the rest of his stay here?. By Eset, it was like pulling teeth from a crocodile, trying to get him to agree to do anything!.

"We have been over this since last week, Anu," the lady of the house repeated her explanation. "I have given Si-Amun and Mutnodjmet the day off, and I myself have patients in town to attend to."

"Let me get this straight, you've given your servants the day off, but you yourself are working on a holiday?."

"People still need to be cared for on holidays, Pentaware!," the young woman snapped. "Besides, I have no desire to see either Per-aa or Priest Set carried on golden litters and worshipped as though they were greater then the Gods!."

At this, Kaiba nodded and rested his arms on the breakfast table. "I see," he replied. He couldn't help but agree with that. Yugi Moto was far to overrated by everyone as it was, even back in Domino City. "But you're still going to that party at Esetnefret's, aren't you?."

"Yes, I should think so. After all, I was invited, and it would not be good manners to refuse."

The young CEO took a sip of his drink … "I want to ask you something, Kitsune."

"By all means," she complied, raising an eyebrow.

"Why… Why didn't you tell Esetnefret about… about what I did?…" Even though the lady of the house had saved him from the wrath of that freak in the turban, he thought she would have surely told her friend that he had tried to steal the Millenium Torque from her.

She leaned forward and rested her chin in her hands. "You really want to know, Seto Kaiba?."

He nodded in response…

"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm not exactly sure why. You certainly would have gotten a good beating for stealing the wretched thing, but don't think even for a minute did it merely out of pity for you," she answered wryly.

The young man crossed his arms with a cynical grin. "Hmmph!. I wouldn't dream of it."

**********

Later that morning, Seto, carrying little Kiya on his shoulders, Khu and Mariasha made their way into town for the festival… With the numerous brightly colored decorations adorning each and every house and building, the atmosphere was even more lively then usual. There were more food stalls selling sweets and other celebration meals, more street performers, acrobats, jugglers and magicians. Little Khu and Kiya were especially delighted with the performing animals and the various toys and trinkets for sale, and Asha pleaded for Kaiba to read some of the papyrus manuscripts out loud to her, which he agreeably complied…

"The House of the Prince is in festival; the voice of those who rejoice is in the great place. The gods rejoice when they see Ra when he ascends; his rays flood the lands,"(70) the young CEO recited out loud… It still astounded him that he could read ancient Egyptian, as well as understand it, as though it were in plain English, but he suspected it had to do with his connection to Set…

"Aren't those wonderful words, Seto?," Asha smiled. "They're just perfect for the festival!."

He nodded as he led his group over to a snack vendor for a little early lunch. "Mmm hmm, it's just to bad they don't have Braille here, kid, otherwise, you could have read that out for yourself."

"What's Braille?," she asked, curious.

Seto bit the inside of his lip in thought. He wasn't exactly sure how to explain a twentieth century concept to a child from ancient times.

"Well, It's a method of using raised letters and numbers, even pictures, so blind people can read and understand them… at least in my time… uhhh… country," he managed to correct himself.

Asha smiled at that.. "Are they like raised hieroglyphics then?." Her foster mother sometimes took her to buildings and structures that had raised hieroglyphics in order to teach her how to read without sight. She loved the feel of the words and pictures under her fingers!.

Kaiba nodded slightly. He was about to answer that he supposed there was a similarity, if you wanted to look at it that way… Then, all of a sudden, the crowds of people in the market began to grow more and more excited. Hurriedly, they all made their way along riverside as if expecting some grand spectacle…

"Here they come!."

"The procession is approaching!."

"It should not be long now!."

Moments later the crowed parted on either side of the road, and a splendid procession of royal soldiers, driving golden painted chariots appeared, they were soon followed by groups of acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians…

Next came the dignitaries as well as the priests of Amun-Ra, whose job it was to carry the sacred Barque from the sanctuary at Karnak to the temple of Luxor…

After the priests with their Barque had passed, there came a line of trumpeters and drummers, all announcing the arrival of the Pharaoh himself…

"Hail, Lord of the Two Lands!," the people cheered. "Hail, mighty Heru!."(71)

"Hail, Son of Amun(72) and Beloved of Ra!. Hail, Per-aa living forever!."

The young CEO wrinkled his nose and made a face as he watched the short, porcupine headed Pharaoh bloody living forever ride by in his own gold and silver, jewel-studded chariot drawn by two magnificent white Arabian horses and surrounded on all sides by royal guards and officials. Yup! It was pathetic little Yugi Moto alright. A dog with fancy titles and extravagant clothes and trappings was still a dog!. Even in this life the runt still needed swarms of bodyguards and admirers to boost his ego!.

"Hey, kid," he put a concerned hand on Mariasha's scarred shoulder. "You alright?." He didn't know how the little girl could have brought herself to come to the festival after what had happened to her.

In response she squeezed his hand and smiled reassuringly. "It's alright, Seto. Khemet is my home now." Yes, this empire had greatly wronged her, but it had also saved her and taken her in the way her foster mother had done... She could forgive the Khemetans, in fact she believed she had forgiven them the day Nephthys and her family adopted her…

After the passing of the Pharaoh the three girls began to grow more excited. Asha shuffled her feet in anticipation and Khu began to hop up and down excitedly while little Kiya wriggled about on Kaiba's shoulders.

"It is Queen Tiaa!. Hail, Great royal wife!."

"Hail, Mistress of the Two Lands!. Hail, Beloved of Eset!."

He stared in astonishment as the Queen of Egypt, the Pharaoh's principal wife, was brought forth in a litter even more elaborate then Esetnefret's, painted gold and silver, and carried by four strong Kushite bearers…

"Tea!," he gasped in disbelief. "Tea Gardener?!." If learning that Yugi was once Pharaoh had shocked him, seeing that big mouthed, friendship ranting hypocrite lounging on overstuffed velvet cushions and dressed in fine linen, sporting jewels and precious stones, surrounded by fawning attendants and handmaids, was enough to make him feel nauseous!.

"Wow!," Khu cried as the crowds continued to throw flowers and praises to the royal couple. "Look at the Queen!. When I grow up I wanna' be beautyful, just like her!."

"Berful! Berful!," little Kiya giggled, swinging her tiny legs in excitement.

The young CEO frowned slightly. "I don't think she's that pretty."

Mariasha was about to say that she wished she could see the Per-aa and Queen for herself, when the people began to chant another name…

"Hail, Set!."

"Hail, High Priest of Amun!."

"Hail, heir and first friend of Per-aa living forever!."

Seto's eyes went wide and he gasped in shock and astonishment!. Riding in his own fine chariot, surrounded by his troops, sem, w'rer and web priests(73) was the figure he had seen in his nightmares the night he had stolen the Millenium Torque… How could he forget that face?, after all, it was his too…

He glanced down at Mariasha in concern, but although she remained holding his hand, she seemed unaffected... Obviously, Nephthys had not told her who was responsible for the order to destroy her village…

Kaiba glanced back up… It was his own eyes he saw staring back at him… The high priest had stopped his chariot and was looking directly at him…

"Set…" he whispered… A few months ago he never would have imagined this happening… He never imagined he would be staring his own past self in the face…

The young priest sorcerer's mouth turned up into a twisted smirk as he studied his future incarnation… Then, with a dismissing nod, he turned his face away and signaled his chariot on…

Mariasha felt a change in her newest friend… His breathing sounded heavier and his hands were shaking…

"Are you alright, Seto?," she asked, concerned…

"Yeah, you seemed really scared of that wizard man, Uncle Setty!," Khu added.

Little Kiya swung her tiny legs back and forth in reply. "Wizawd man! Wizawd man!. Uncle Setty's scared of wizawd man!."

"Hey, kid!," the young CEO reached up and poked her gently in the side, making her giggle more. "No making fun of me, or else no more piggyback rides!. Besides," he added under his breath, "I wasn't really scared of him, I just don't like him. I don't really like that Pharaoh much either. In fact, I hate that guy!."(74)

Asha chuckled softly and Khu and Kiya laughed. "I hate that guy! I hate that guy!," they cheered, liking the sound of the words.

Seto shook his head in amusement at them… then a frown slowly formed on his face… "They weren't really wrong, you know," he told himself. "Admit it, Priest Set frightens you, in fact, he frightens you more then Gozaburo or Pegasus ever did… Fancy that, being afraid of yourself…"

**********

It was evening before the little group arrived home… The children, especially little Kiya with her brand new doll, had all had a marvelous time at the festival. Nephthys had given Seto a fair sum of money to treat them to whatever they wished and they were delighted with the sweets, toys and new dresses they had gotten…Still, Asha, Khu and Kiya were all exhausted and played out from the excitement of the festivities. In fact, little Kiya had nearly fallen asleep on Seto's shoulders.

Kaiba had to smile to himself as he adjusted the youngest little rug rat on his shoulders, then glanced down at a drowsy Khu and Mariasha… He wondered what these three children would make of a place like Kaiba Land?… What must a modern day amusement gaming park look like in the eyes of people from ancient times?… On one hand, they might be impressed and awed by it, but on the other, they might be absolutely terrified!.

They headed along the river and up a pathway lit by elegantly carved stone lanterns and thousands of little darting fireflies…

"Ahhh!!!," Khu crowed. "Look at the pretty fireflies, Kiya!." She reached up and gently tweaked her sister's dangling foot to get her attention.

Waking up, the little one rubbed her eyes, then she laughed in delight at the sight of the fireflies all around them. She soon began squirming and squealing to get down and join Khu, so Seto carefully lifted her off his shoulders and set her down. Soon, the two little girls were running up and along the path, chasing the little specks of light.

"Look! They're all over the place!. They're really twinkly!."

"All over the place!," Kiya repeated after her sister. "Twinkly winkly!."

The young CEO continued to hold Mariasha's hand as they made their way to the front courtyard of the villa…

The young girl smiled almost whisfully… "I remember, when I was little… I liked to chase the fireflies too…But now I just like to listen to the crickets at night…"

Seto tilted his head thoughtfully. He couldn't hear the crickets that well, so how was she able to?, he wondered. "Yeah, I'm surprised you wanted to come to the festival today, kiddo," he answered bluntly.

"Ahhh, well, I don't need sight to enjoy the Festival of Opet." A knowing expression appeared on her face.

Kaiba was silent for a few moments… Finally he spoke up again. "How can you bear it?," he blurted out. "If I'd lost my sight I'd feel absolutely worthless!. I don't know if I could go on with a handicap like that!."

The girl brushed a few stray bangs of dark hair away from her bandaged eyes. "Well, are you not the one who encouraged me not to be ashamed of my burns and scars, and who inspired me to come out of hiding behind my bandages?."

"Hmmm," he bit the inside of his lip… He couldn't really think of anything to say to that…

"When I first got here, it was terrible," Asha continued. "I knew my mama and daddy were gone. My burns hurt so much, and I could not see what was happening to me… I remember, I cried and yelled all the time. I even hit and kicked anyone who tried to touch me..."

The young CEO raised an eyebrow. He couldn't imagine this good natured, resilient kid as a screaming, kicking, ungrateful brat!.

"But Grandfather and Grandmother (May Eset watch over their souls) Umayma and Si-Amun and Mutnodjmet would not give up on me," she said with a thoughtful smile. "They tended my burns and taught me to find my way around the villa and the town… They also taught me how to trust, and that not all Khemetans were like those who destroyed my village…"

The young man was about to reply, when he heard Mutnodjmet's voice calling cheerfully from the opened doorway.

"Hello, children!," she greeted them as she made her way onto the veranda. "Did you have a good time at the festival?."

Khu and Kiya immediately stopped chasing their fireflies and ran to hug their grandmother. "Yes we did!," they cried happily in unison. "Yes, we did!."

The children, Asha, Khu and Kiya, spent over ten minutes chattering about the festival and showing the elderly woman the toys, sweets and new dresses they had gotten… Finally Mutnodjmet raised her hands to shush them…

"Alright, alright," she chuckled in amusement, lovingly tussling each of the girl's hair. "You can tell Si-Amun and I the rest once we get inside. It is time to get ready for dinner. That is, if you three haven't already stuffed yourselves silly," she teased.

Laughing, they all followed Mutnodjmet inside to prepare for the special festival dinner… However, Mariasha, upon not hearing the sound of Seto's heavier footsteps, stopped and rested her hand against the doorframe. She turned her head and called in the direction she thought she could just make out his breathing…

"Seto?," Asha called. "Aren't you coming in too?."

Surprised that she could sense he had stayed behind, Seto averted his eyes away from her unseeing gaze… "Uhhh… In a minute, kiddo… Don't wait up for me, alright?…"

"Hmm, alright," the girl shrugged. "But you should come in when Umayma arrives, 'cause that's when we start dinner."

After she had gone inside, he still remained on the pathway to the veranda… He crossed his arms and frowned slightly as he studied the fireflies… He remembered how every summer his parents would take Mokuba and him outside at night to look at the fireflies… He could almost see his little brother, three years old and laughing with delight as he chased the twinkling insects around the yard…

Asha had mentioned once loving to watch the fireflies too… Poor kid, now all she could do was listen to the crickets… but she hadn't seemed to regret it all that much…

"Are you not the one who encouraged me not to be ashamed of my burns and scars, and who inspired me to come out of hiding behind my bandages?."

It was then that he remembered her words to him… He shut his eyes for a moment and concentrated on the sounds around him… The chirping of the crickets and the calls of the night birds… The warm summer wind rustling through the palms and the rushes… The gentle rushing of the river, and the soft croaking of a frog or two in the distance…

He then opened his eyes again… How strange that every sound seemed amplified when you shut your eyes and concentrated… He guessed it was pretty much the same for Asha…

"They're beautiful fireflies aren't they?. The most we've had this summer, I believe." A familiar female voice and the scent of lotus perfume distracted him from his thoughts…

Startled, Kaiba turned around to see a slightly smiling Nephthys approaching him… He blinked in surprise at her appearance… In contrast to her usual, simple outfit of a headband, plain white shift and bare feet, she was dressed in a fine linen dress which went past her feet, flowing in the wind behind her, and a transparent shawl threaded with gold and silver. On her feet were gold painted sandals and she wore a necklace and earrings made of gold, silver and all sorts of different, brightly colored beads which she had also braided into her silky black hair… Remarkable… With her outfit, striking green eyepaint outlined in kohl, lips and fingernails stained with henna,(75) she definitely looked like something out of Hollywood's portrayal of ancient Egypt. With her presence and charisma, she could have put Elizabeth Taylor to shame, even without the good looks, fancy clothes and jewelry!.

"Oh, it's you. How was the party, Kitsune?," he asked. Not that he really cared, but anything to keep her from seeing that she'd startled or surprised him.

She laughed, but her raised eyebrow indicated she had seen right through him. "Frivolous," she answered, but festival parties usually are, especially when Esetnefret gives them." The she changed the subject. "Did the children have a good time at the festival?."

"Yes," the young CEO nodded. "They loved all that junk food and the entertainment. They were pretty excited to see the Pharaoh and the Queen too, though I can't see why!. Self indulgent peacocks, the two of them!."

Nephthys laughed again. "So, you've seen Per-aa and Queen Tiaa too, have you?. Well, I'll admit they are dismayingly spoiled, and I had my doubts at first about a pampered fifteen year old, far to obsessed with the Shadow Games then is healthy, and his sheltered half-sister(76) being given power over an entire empire, but they are fair and competent rulers at the very least."

"Are they now?," he grinned cynically. That spineless runt may be King of Games and world champion at Duel Monsters, but that was because dueling was the only thing he even remotely knew how to do!. He doubted little Yugi Moto could even run water by himself, let alone a kingdom!.

The lady of the house crossed her arms. "Indeed," she said in light defiance. "Under their reign, Egypt has become as peaceful and prosperous as it ever was. Besides," she added with a smile. "Tiaa is an old friend of Esetnefret's and mine."

"You don't say?."

"Yes, in fact the three of us were very close when I was growing up in Waset, and Tiaa and Esy were children in Akunamukanon's harem. The young queen really isn't as prissy or lazy as she seems. In fact, she is quite an accomplished and spirited dancer."

Seto rolled his eyes at that. "Hmmph! Whatever!." And with that, he turned from Nephthys to enter the house…

"You saw someone else at the festival, did you not, Seto Kaiba?," he heard her say behind him…

At this, he stopped and his back stiffened slightly… Slowly he turned to face Nephthys again…

She nodded, as if she already knew without him answering her. "It was the high priest, Set, wasn't it?."

"How… How did you know?…" he demanded.

"The high priest always accompanies the Per-aa on holy occasions like Opet," she shrugged. "It is common knowledge. Don't tell me you were surprised?."

Kaiba sighed in exasperation. "Of course I was!. It's not common knowledge for me!. I'm a guest here, remember?," he shot at her.

Ignoring that, the lady of the house adjusted her shawl against the nighttime chill. "Tell me, Anu, what did you think of the high priest?… He is your past self after all…"

"I think he looks like a big mouthed loosing chump!," the young CEO snapped, crossing his arms. "And there's no way anyone could possibly compare him to me!."

At that, Nephthys shook her head with a smile. "You have a point there. Now that I know you better, I do not see how I could have mistaken you for Set that first day... However... I believe Isis was telling the truth..."

Seto studied her intently… Finally, he asked "Why did you cancel your betrothal?."

"I beg your pardon?." Her eyes widened.

Kaiba mentally patted himself on the back. Now it was his turn to shock her!.

"Why did you cancel your betrothal to Set?," he asked again, though more forcefully. "Was it because of the kid?."

She sighed… "So, you were eavesdropping during Esetnefret's last visit, were you not?."

"Yes," he answered decisively, as if he had had every right to have been doing so. "So, talk straight. What happened between you and Set?."

Nephthys shifted her gaze away from his and studied the direction that lead down the river to Waset… Seto noticed with surprise that this was the first time since they had met that she did not look him directly in the eyes while speaking to him…

"I am surprised Set's future incarnation does not know or remember anything about him, and what happened between us," she said quietly. "Yes, when he ordered the attack on Asha's village without Per-aas orders, I was furious, and I annulled our betrothal… but, even before that, I was having my doubts about him…"

"Ooo, how tragic!," Kaiba rolled his eyes with sarcasm. "A romance gone bad!. So, what else did Romeo do to make you dump him?."

The lady of the house raised her eyes to the stars and stared as if she could see her entire past playing out in front of her… "He just wasn't the man I had loved and agreed to marry anymore…" How was it, she asked herself, how was it that Set, the little boy who had been one of her closest companions and playmates as a child, had become a ruthless military strategist and tactician, dangerously obsessed with the Shadow Games?…

"Hmmph," the young CEO shrugged. "Well that's what you get for trusting someone. They'll all let you down sooner or later."

At this, Nephthys looked back at him again. "Whatever you say, Anu," she answered quickly, brushing off the subject. Then she hurried swiftly past him and headed up the walkway towards the house. "Anyway, It's time to go inside. Si-Amun and Mutnodjmet may need some help preparing dinner."

Seto watched her as she entered the house… He had to admit it was pretty unbelievable that his fox-faced, snake-eyed, so-called 'past self' had ever been in love or engaged to Nephthys… Not that he actually liked her in any way, but even the vixen was too good for someone like that…

"Well, better that loser, Set, then me, I guess," he muttered to himself. He for one would rather be stuck in an elevator with those morons, Yugi and Joey, for a week then get married, or even engaged for that matter!.

With a silent grunt and a shrug of his shoulders, Kaiba made his way up the lamp-lit walkway to join Nephthys and the others inside…

**********

In what seemed like no time at all, it was the last month of Akhet… All of Khemet, including Nephthys's family, were starting to get things in order for Peret, while enjoying the last month of the farming holidays before the flood waters began to subside and it was time to get ready for planting and sewing…

That day found Seto seated on one of the stone benches in the courtyard with Mariasha. He had told her and the other children about the story of the cranes, and how the superstitious Japanese believed that if you made one thousand you would be granted a wish. Khu and Kiya, naturally, begged him to make paper cranes for them, and Asha had been curious as well… It had been slightly difficult making a bird out of papyrus paper, as the stuff was a bit different from modern day office paper, but he had finally managed to make one each for Khu and Kiya. Now, he was working on Mariasha's…

"How did you learn to make paper cranes, Seto?," the little girl asked with interest.

He studied the half-formed bird in his hands… "My mother," he finally answered. "I remember, she taught me how to make them for Mokuba when I was little… I'm surprised I still remember how after all this time…"

When the paper crane was finished, Kaiba placed it into Asha's hands. "Here you are, kid."

The girl smiled as she ran her fingers along the bird's wings, neck and beak… "It's beautiful," she breathed…

"It's just a silly paper bird," the young CEO shrugged…

It was then that he heard the sound of wheels against the ground nearby… It sounded like it was coming from the other side of the house…Could it be a car or something?. No, this was ancient Egypt for pete's sake!.

"Oh!," Asha's head perked up. "Umayma is exercising the horses!."

"Horseys! Horseys!," little Kiya cheered, and Khu laughed!.

Mariasha clutched her paper crane in one hand, and Seto's hand in the other. "Let's go visit them," she urged.

"Yes!," Khu added. "Sheshi and Khyan are two of the best horses in Khemet!."

Of course, Seto liked horses about as much as he liked cats, so he wasn't to eager to go, but, after all the pleading and prodding from the children, his halfhearted protests were soon overruled…

They headed out of the courtyard and around the back of the villa to where the small stables were… Near the stalls and barn was a rather large exercise area, and Seto immediately glimpsed Nephthys, a heavier looking shawl draped around her shoulders, driving a chariot that was somewhat similar to the ones he'd seen at the festival procession, only simpler and less decadent…

"Well, hello everyone," the lady of the house called out in greeting as she signaled the horses, to a walk, then a standstill. "Come to visit the horses, have you?."

Kaiba tilted his head in mild interest. "Hmm, I didn't know that woman drove chariots here."

At this, the children laughed and Nephthys leaned her arms against the edge of her chariot with a mocking grin.

"Didn't you, Pentaware?. Well, I must confess that chariot driving is not encouraged to the women of the royal court, but my people are the ones who provided the Khemetans with horses and chariots in the first place."

The young man raised an eyebrow. "Your people?. I thought you were full Egypt… eh… I mean Khemetan?…"

"Indeed," she answered, brushing a few stray bangs from her forehead. "And that is what the royal court believes too, but my family has always had Hyksos blood in it."(77)

"Hyksos?," the young CEO crossed his arms in thought. "I think I read about them in history class… Weren't they driven out of Khemet or something?…"

Nephthys nodded somberly. "Yes they were… The royals and their armies anyway… Hmmm, they introduce horses, superior weaponry and millitary tactics to this country, not to mention better methods of working the land, and Ahmose expels them like common criminals."

Seto lifted little Kiya up to pet Sheshi while Mariasha and Khu petted Khyan… "Now I know why you saved that kid," he said quietly… It made sense. Both the vixen and the kid were of outside races in Egyptian society… Even he, himself, knew what it was to be an outsider…

"Well, perhaps, but it was not the only reason," the lady of the house said, looking at Asha. After all, with her late parents being Hemu Neter and a priestess of Eset and Hathor, how could she not have loved and cared for the child?…

Kaiba noticed the troubled look on the young woman's face… and in an uncharacteristic gesture of tactfulness, he changed the subject… "So, where are you planning on driving these two nags?."

"They are not nags," she answered defensively. "And I was planning to drive to my favorite oasis after I finished exercising them."

The young CEO crossed his arms with a shrug. "Hmmph, I see."

"Would our most honored guest from the island of Japan care to join me on this fine day?," Nephthys leaned easily against the edge of the chariot, a wry smile on her face. "The weather is warm, but just cool enough so the animals will not be sluggish." It was more of a challenge then an offer, and Seto knew it!.

The children giggled and playfully nudged eachother at this, while Kaiba leaned forwards to look his hostess in the face.

"Well, I don't know, Kitsune," he answered with a smirk, lowering his voice. "Was your Priest Set a good chariot driver?."

She grinned. "Indeed, he was. One of the best in Khemet, as a matter of fact… Of course, if you are to scared, Seto Kaiba..." her voice trailed off tauntingly…

Oh, alright! He'd bite this time!. After all, if Isis was right, the more he saw and learned about this place the sooner he could leave, and start thinking about his revenge on Yugi, Pegasus and the Big Five.

"I'm not scared of this primitive, horsedrawn jalopy!," he snapped, accepting her challenge. "Let's go, vixen!."

**********

Within minutes Seto found himself clutching the edge of the chariot as Nephthys raced the horses through the dry terrain on the way to the oasis… Being used to high tech, state of the art helicopters and limousines, he found it extremely rough and uncomfortable, but there was no way he was going to whine to Nephthys about it!. He'd prove he could handle anything his irritating young hostess could!.

The lady of the house smiled to herself as she eyed him grasping the edge of her chariot. His face and expression may have been characteristically unemotional, but his tight, white knuckled grip was as if he were holding on for dear life!.

"Care to take the reins, Seto Kaiba?," she offered with a grin, or rather shouting over the noise of the chariot wheels. She knew full well that this arrogant, egocentric crocodile would never admit his nervousness.

Biting his toung, Kaiba accepted the reins… It was strange, but for a moment a feeling of warmth and familiarity rushed through him as his hand made brief contact with hers… Then it was gone, and he was in charge of driving the horses…Well, if his underdressed lookalike, Set, could do it, then he was positive he could too…

Instinctively, he adjusted his position, planting his feet firmly and spreading them apart for balance… Nephthys watched him with interest, and then approval. He had caught on faster then she had thought…

The young CEO held on as tightly to the reins as he could without pulling on them and stopping the horses… Gradually, the feel of the reins in his hands and the rumbling of the noisy chariot became more and more familiar… In spite of his initial discomfort, he was beginning to believe he really had done this before…

Soon, a bit of green, standing out against the usual brown, orange, yellow and red of the desert, appeared… As the chariot drew closer, he realized that this must be the oasis Nephthys was talking about…

Remembering how his hostess had done it, he took a feel on the horses reins and lowered his voice, signaling them to slow and halt…

"Well done," the lady of the house nodded in approval as they descended from the chariot. With Seto's help, she unhitched Sheshi and Khyan and led them to the small lake to drink and graze…

As Sheshi and Khyan rested, Nephthys stroked their necks and brushed the tangles from their manes…

The young man gazed around the lush, grassy area… It was beautiful, he had to admit… Flowers and reeds grew around the edge of the sparkling lakeside, which was as clear and clean as the river… There were no other houses or people around for perhaps miles…No wonder Nephthys preferred places like this over the hot, crowded marketplace or the decadence of the Egyptian royal court…

"Quiet, secluded, not a sign of anyone else… I like this place," Kaiba stated.

Nephthys laughed as she turned from the horses. "Well, not quite, Anu," she answered.

He raised an eyebrow… "What do you mean?."

"I mean, we are not as far away from the rest of humanity as you think."

"Hmmph, I was afraid of that."

She laughed again, and before he could protest, she had quickly seized his hand and was leading him away from the oasis…

"Hey! Hey!," he cried, dragging his heels and trying to free his hand from her surprisingly strong grip. "What do you think you're doing?."

"Calm yourself, I just want to show you something, Pentaware."

They headed at least a minute back into the desert… Soon they came across what looked like a tiny village of ruined huts. "Worker's houses," Nephthys explained. "They were abandoned when the projects were finished."

What projects?, the young CEO wanted to know, but before he could speak, he found himself being led out of the little abandoned village and up a dusty, dry, rocky hill… It turned out to be a cliff, overlooking what looked like an empty, dry valley, surrounded by walls and caverns…

The young man's eyes widened and he gasped in astonishment once he recognized this place… It was the Valley of the Kings!. From what he'd learned from his tutors, and at school, it was supposed to be a sacred place, at least to the Egyptians, meant for hiding the tombs and treasures of dead Pharaohs after the pyramids were deemed to impractical.

The lady of the house nodded when she saw the expression on his face. "You know this place then, Seto Kaiba?."

"Yes… I think so…"

"Hmmm, I thought you would." She brushed a few stray bangs of dark hair away from her forehead.

Seto shook his head. "No, it isn't that," he answered. "This has nothing to do with Set or all that past life nonsense. It's just that, where I come from, we learn about places like the Valley of the Kings in school."

Nephthys raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You must be joking. Only the royals and members of the priesthood are supposed to be aware of the tombs here."

"Hmmph, not where I come from," was the blunt reply.

"I see, so they teach you about tomb robbery where you come from?. That's the only way your people could possibly know of The Valley Of The Kings."

"No!," Kaiba snapped, offended. "Remember, Kitsune, I'm from at least five thousand years ahead of this time. Your present is our history."

Calmly, the lady of the house smoothed down her dress and brushed the desert dust from her skirt. "Relax, Anu. I did not mean to offend you, in fact I have nothing against tomb robbers really."

What?!. The young CEO looked at her as though she'd sprouted a tail and horns before his very eyes. "But you're apriestess!. Shouldn't you want to protect the tombs from being robbed?."

"Why do you think I am no longer a member of the priesthood, Seto Kaiba?," she answered. "I may have been part of the cult of Eset, but my beliefs differed from most of theirs."

"You believe in letting people rob graves and tombs?. That's disrespectful!. The dead need their possessions in the afterlife and…" Suddenly he gasped and his face went pale!. Where on Earth had that come from?. What the hell did he care if some rich dead person's tomb was robbed or not?.

Nephthys gave him a wry look. "You sounded just like Set when you said that, you know?." Then she sighed. "Theft of the dead's burial places is a terrible wrong, of course, Anu, but think about it, is it not a greater crime to starve the living?. We arrive on this earth with nothing but ourselves, so why would we not leave the very same way?. What does a dead Pharaoh like Akunamukanon need gold and silver and jewels for?. Better royal treasure be used to feed, clothe and care for the people of Khemet then to adorn a mummified body."

Seto said nothing in response, but nodded, the only sign to show he agreed…

There was silence between them for a few moments… Finally, the lady of the house decided to change the subject.

"Your Japan must be an extremely amazing place though," she smiled encouragingly, adjusting her shawl around her shoulders. "Especially thousands of years ahead of this present time."

"Heh, not really," Kaiba muttered, crossing his arms and seating himself down on a large rock.

Nephthys chuckled and shook her head in amusement as she seated herself down, gracefully as any queen, beside him. "Anyway, before I forget, I wish to commend you on your kindness to the children. They seemed to really love those papyrus birds their 'Uncle Setty' made for them," she grinned.

The young CEO couldn't help but grin too. "I'm glad. You know, they really are good kids."

"Yes, they are," she smiled warmly.

Suddenly, Seto remembered something. "Oh," he exclaimed, reaching into his trouser pocket. "I was teaching those little ankle biters how to make cranes for themselves and I made an extra one… You can have it if you want…" He pulled out the paper bird, a little flat and rumpled from being in his pocket, but still beautiful and well made.

Nephthys graciously accepted the paper crane. "Thank you," she smiled as she gently spread it's wings out to admire it. "It looks just like those marsh birds on the river."

Kaiba just shrugged. "Forget it. I have no use for the silly thing anyway." But the hint of a smile on his face told her he was glad she liked it.

There they both remained, seated on the rock overlooking the Valley of the Kings, watching in silent contentment as Ra began it's journey downwards and the moon, along with the first stars, appeared in the desert sky…

Next

(67) The season of growth after the flood waters reside.

(68) An actual ancient Egyptian saying. I feel sorry for those boys!.

(69) The Opet Festival, also called the "Beautiful Feast of Opet" became one of the most important yearly festivals of the Theban area. The word "Opet" means "secret chamber" and it refers to the private and secluded rooms adjoining the holy sanctuary of Amun of Luxor in the innermost chamber of Amenotep III's temple. These rooms stood on a low mound considered to be the original Mound of Creation which rose out of the primeval waters. The Festival of Opet is the birthday of the Kingly Ka, and through special rituals at this time the divine kingship was regenerated and the king's right to rule re-confirmed.

The Barque of Amun of Karnak would leave the sanctuary in a gleaming procession that would take Him to the sanctuary of the Luxor Temple located over one mile to the south. It was a grand spectacle, coming at the time of the second month of Akhet, the Inundation, and so was associated with both the flood season and fertility arising from the rich black soil. During Hatshepsut's reign, the barque was carried on the shoulders of wab-priests the entire journey. However, by the time of the later New Kingdom, both journeys were sometimes made by river. The procession was accompanied by dignitaries and priests, soldiers, singers, acrobatic dancers, drummers, musicians, and chariots of the king. Booths of food and drink for offerings lined the route from the river to the temple. After arriving at Luxor, the icons were moved into the shrines within the temple. Among the religious rites performed were the ritual repetition of the coronation rites of the King and offerings made by the King to Amun-Ra.

Much of our information about this festival comes from the beautifully engraved scenes on the walls of the great colonnade of Amenhotep III at Luxor Temple. The western wall shows the southward procession from Karnak to Luxor, and the eastern wall shows the return journey. This boat procession is still practiced today, in a slightly different guise. Every year during the Saints Festival, a boat is carried from the Mosque of Abu-el-Haggag into the streets of Luxor.

(70) Passage from the Pert Em Hru, "Coming Forth By Day", original title for the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

(71) According to ancient Egyptian mythology, Heru/Horus, the falcon headed god and son of Asar, Egypt's first king and god of the underworld, and Eset, took the throne after the death of his father, therefore all kings were believed to be the embodiment of Heru.

(72) Said to be King of the Gods. Another of ancient Egypt's main Gods and deities.

(73) Highest to lowest ranking in the priesthood.

(74) How can you tell by now that Khu and Kiya are the ancient Egyptian counterparts of Ayame and Suzume from "Rurouni Kenshin"? He he!.

(75) Red paint or paste used by the ancient Egyptians in place of modern day nail polish and lipstick.

(76) According to ancient Egyptian custom, the king, and some upper class men, often had many wives and concubines, including their sisters, half-sisters and even daughters, in order to preserve their lineage and keep the royal line as 'pure' as possible.

(77) The Hyksos were a group of mixed Semitic-Asiatics who settled in northern Egypt during the 18th century BC. In about 1630 they seized power, and Hyksos kings ruled Egypt as the 15th dynasty (c. 1630-1521 BC). The name Hyksos was used by the Egyptian historian Manetho (fl. 300 BC), who, according to the Jewish historian Josephus (fl. 1st century AD), translated the word as "king-shepherds" or "captive shepherds." Josephus wished to demonstrate the great antiquity of the Jews and thus identified the Hyksos with the Hebrews of the Old Testament. Most scholars do not now support this view, though it is possible that Hebrews came into Egypt during the Hyksos period or that some Hyksos were the ancestors of some Hebrews. "Hyksos" was probably an Egyptian term for "rulers of foreign lands" (heqa-khase), and it almost certainly designated the foreign dynastys rather than a whole nation. Although traditionally they also formed the 16th dynasty, those rulers were probably only vassals of the 15th-dynasty kings. They seem to have been connected with the general migratory movements elsewhere in the Middle East at the time. Although most of the Hyksos names seem to have been Semitic, there may also have been a Hurrian element among them. The Hyksos introduced the horse and chariot, the compound bow, improved battle axes, and advanced fortification techniques into Egypt. At Avaris (modern Tall ad-Dab'a) in the northeastern delta, they built their capital with a fortified camp over the remains of a Middle Kingdom town that they had seized. Excavations since the 1960s have revealed a Canaanite-style temple, Palestinian-type burials, including horse burials, Palestinian types of pottery, and quantities of their superior weapons.Their chief deity was the Egyptian storm and desert god, Seth, whom they identified with an Asiatic storm god. From Avaris they ruled most of Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt up to Hermopolis directly. South to Cusae, and briefly even beyond, they ruled through Egyptian vassals. When under Seqenenre and Kamose the Thebans began to rebel, the Hyksos pharaoh Auserre Apopi I tried unsuccessfully to make an alliance with the rulers of Cush who had overrun Egyptian Nubia in the later years of the 13th dynasty (c. 1650 BC). The Theban revolt spread northward under Kamose, and in about 1521 Avaris fell to his successor, Ahmose, founder of the 18th dynasty, thereby ending 108 years of Hyksos rule over Egypt. Although vilified by the Egyptians starting with Hatshepsut, the Hyksos had ruled as pharaohs and were listed as legitimate kings in the Turin Papyrus. At least superficially they were Egyptianized, and they did not interfere with Egyptian culture beyond the political sphere.