Author's Info: Okay, this chapter was initially in only two parts, but I've broken down the second "part" into three "chapters" so it's not as long. This is part one of three in this immediate timeline. You finally get to start understanding why there's all this tension between Akara and Seto, and the next part is Akara's backstory. I'm still working on transcribing Sando No Jigoku, so please be patient if you read that. There's just not much time in the day for transcribing.
The "what"s: Listening to the album A Day Without Rain by Enya and thinking about how crazy my weekend has been. I'm amazed I got any transcribing done at all.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, no matter how much I wish I did. Honestly, I get where some of you are coming from with Kisara, but I'm also not entirely convinced. I think it gives me exactly the amount of leeway to make this work with Akara and still have some sort of drama that doesn't mean there's anything romantic between the two.
Extra Note: I've had over 100 views total on Destinies of the Divine Descendants. That's really good, all things considered. Thanks to those of you who are reading (especially those who have read all the way through). Comments really do help guys, so let me know how you think I'm doing.
"Lady Akara, if I may be so bold, where are we?" she heard the High Priest ask as she dismounted. She looked around at the small valley that ran between the cliff wall and the Nile River. Nearby she could see the small cabin she sometimes used to escape from the palace during times of extreme stress. She led Kepi to the water and allowed her to drink.
"You are in a place called Rahotep. My father had it built as a place of escape whenever a member of our family or the Millennium Court becomes overwhelmed. Not many know about it, and most that do have never come here. I come here from time to time to be able to think, and to be by myself for a while. You should consider yourself lucky; you are the first person besides my brother I have taken here."
"And why would you take me all the way out here, Lady Akara?" he asked as she led Kepi to be tied. She made sure there was plenty of grass for both Kepi and Ahmose before turning and looking at him seriously.
"You said you wished to speak with me, and I believe I had already made it quite clear I was going horseback riding today. I was already intending to come to this place, and I did not wish to change those plans simply because you decided to accompany me. If you do not like this place, you are more than welcome to return to the palace. I, on the other hand, will remain here for a time." She knew she was being rather cold, but she was growing tired of his patronizing tone. Here she did not want to hide her feelings and emotions; she would not allow her heart to be closed to her last sanctuary. Not even the High Priest could change her feelings regarding this place.
She saw the surprise on his face at being addressed in such a manner, especially from her. She just stood her ground at looked at him angrily; she was done with his cold attitude, and she hoped to make him leave her alone for good. Anger began to cloud his face, and a smirk tugged at her lips. She knew he would not be able to hold back his temper any longer than she could; once one of them snapped, the floodgates would open. All she needed was for him to reply to her cold words and she would finally be able to tell him exactly what she thought of him.
"You may be the Princess of Egypt by birth, but you certainly do not act like one!" he snapped. She smirked coldly.
"And you would know how a Princess of Egypt is supposed to act how?" she replied angrily. "For your information, Guardian Seto, there is only one person on this planet who has managed to aggravate me so completely! For someone who knows absolutely nothing about me, you act like you know every aspect of my life! Just because my brother deems you his friend does not mean you are suddenly my confidante, and you certainly have learned nothing about me from him or any of the other members of the Millennium Court. You don't know anything about me, not my personality, not my past, and certainly not my hopes for the future! You're just some orphan who happened to get lucky!" she spat.
"And what would you know of hardships, Princess?" he spat back angrily. "You, who have never tried to live beyond the walls, who has never had to deal with ensuring you have enough to get by from day to day, what can you hope to know? I have seen my home burned to the ground, and I have known trials you could not even begin to comprehend. I have also seen what these Shadow Creatures can do when they aren't controlled, and you have no idea of the dangers that may yet come. I suggest you learn something about your people, Princess, for you know very little considering all your studies."
"I know more than you think, Priest," she snapped. "I am aware of things that would make your skin crawl, and I know a fate you would never understand. You say you saw your home burned to the ground, but I know what it means to be shackled like a slave. I know what it means to carry dark burdens upon one's shoulder and never have a soul to share them with. I know what it means to have one's sacred duty come before everything else, even love and happiness. You say your life has been one difficulty after another, but you have no idea of what lies ahead. You have yet to have your devotion tested, or to understand what it means to truly have no one able to share your fate."
They both glared at each other coldly, neither willing to back down while their anger continued to flare. Suddenly, Akara saw Guardian Seto take a step back in astonishment. She wasn't sure why, but his expression had changed from anger to confusion and anxiety. She noticed him take a step toward her and backed away from him.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked angrily, only to find her voice was shaking. In truth, her entire body was shaking. She felt weak, and she wondered fearfully if her careful mask had broken. She lifted her hand to her face to feel her expression only to find it was wet. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized why he was looking at her strangely: she was crying, and she hadn't even been aware of it. She turned away from him in an attempt to preserve what was left of her dignity, but she knew the damage had already been done. For him to see her so weak, to see behind her carefully crafted mask, she knew there would be no recovery. She was now at his mercy, and there was nothing she could do to prevent him from taking advantage of it.
"My lady, what ails you?" she heard him ask. She tensed, aware that he had come even closer. She wiped the tears from her face and turned to face him. "Perhaps we should return to the palace. You are not yourself—"
"On the contrary, High Priest," she said, her voice faint, "this is exactly who I am. I told you, you know nothing about me. Few in that palace do anymore, and those that do would not easily betray my confidence. You should consider yourself lucky; I do not permit tears, even in front of them. As you said before, I am Princess of Egypt, and a princess does not betray her weakness before anyone. Despite your prior statement, it is at this moment that I am behaving as a princess should not."
"My lady, I do not understand your meaning," he said. Akara could see he was struggling to find words. He was still shocked by her sudden outburst, as was she, but there was something else that bothered her more. For once, the High Priest was not making derogatory comments about her actions. He was actually concerned. This was even worse in her mind, for she was sure he pitied her, and that he would later use this moment against her. "We should get your back to the palace. You need to rest and—"
"Spare me your pity!" she cried angrily. "I neither want it nor need it. There is nothing wrong with me, and I have no desire to return to the palace at this time. No amount of imploring or persuading will change my mind, so save your precious breath." She turned away from him yet again and took a deep breath. This was only going to get worse, and he had already seen her at her weakest. She would have no choice but to explain some time soon, so she chose to end the agony quickly. "What is it you wished to ask of me, Guardian Seto? Why agree to follow me out into the desert?"
"My lady, I'm sure there are better times for us to discuss such matters—" He stopped when she raised her hand for silence. She took a deep breath and faced him, her gaze intense as she studied him.
"No, I would hear it now. After all, there is much you and I have yet to discuss, it seems. This is the best place to begin, and we have more than enough time for other matters after." She watched his reaction silently, and when she saw he was going to begin, she motioned for him to follow her. She went into a small, shaded courtyard and sat. She saw he was about to sit on the ground, but she shook her head. "Here we are equals. For the moment, I am not Princess Akara, and you are not Guardian Seto. We are merely Akara and Seto. It is easier to talk that way."
"My lady, I cannot—"
"I must insist," she said, her voice taking an authoritative tone before softening into one of a tired, but ordinary maiden. "Why is it you wished to accompany me? There is little love lost between us, and I would be lying if I said it wasn't etiquette that kept us from losing our tempers completely before the entirety of the palace. Why have you then sent out repeated requests to speak with me outside of lessons, when such time is more than suitable for anything you wish to ask of me? Why have you made repeated visits to my personal chambers?" She noticed his hesitation before beginning, so she waited patiently.
