Chapter Ten:

The journey back to the north end of Domino was a silent trip. The five teens were achingly silent around each other, avoiding Khepri's eyes and staring at the floor or each other. Khepri wasn't sure if she could have strung a sentence together even if they had wanted to talk to her: her thoughts seemed to be like beads on a broken necklace, dropping and rolling away before she could recapture them.

She had kissed Kaiba; she remembered that all too clearly. Khepri had no intentions of ever telling anyone about that mistake. Because that's all it was, a mistake. She had been caught up in the argument, and the absinthe had loosened her up just enough. Khepri had always been guilty of acting before thinking, and how was this any different? A small part of her mind defiantly maintained that she had just been proving her point. He had kissed her back, hadn't he? Quite passionately too.

Perhaps that was the most disturbing part. Seto Kaiba had kissed her back. She had enjoyed it. Yes, she had, Khepri admitted to herself. For an instant in the car, there had been nothing else in the world but his lips on hers. No Maatkare, no Kamenwati, and as strange as it sounded, no Seto Kaiba. Just a beautiful boy, his lips caressing hers.

The train pulled to a stop, and the others rose. Khepri slowed joined them. They exchanged no words as they exited the train and station. Khepri was sure she could manage walking back to her townhouse by herself, but to her great surprise, Yugi split with the other three and instead turned to the right with Khepri.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Yugi spoke.

"I'm sorry about tonight," he said, almost shyly.

"Why are you sorry?" Khepri asked heavily. "I am the liar here."

"Tea is really the only one who is hurt," Yugi replied. "I understand what you're doing and why you are here. You can't help it. But Tea is a little tired of all the crazy stuff happening around here and you did lie."

He didn't mean it harshly, but it still sounded that way to Khepri. "I truly am sorry," Khepri said finally. "I didn't mean to hurt her or anyone, and the Sennen item was not the reason for my friendship. I like you all for who you are, not what you are."

"Give Tea some time," Yugi said as they arrived at the front gate to her townhouse. He took her hand in his and squeezed it gently, before stuffing his hands in his pockets and walking on down the sidewalk. Khepri watched him until she could no longer tell his figure from the darkness, and then opened the gate.

Khepri had blissfully forgotten that she did not live alone, something she realized as she walked up to the door. All the lights were blazing in the house, and she saw a dark shadow pacing in the living room, the shape muffled through the curtains. But she did not need to see the figure clearly to know that Awan was waiting for her.

Khepri slid her key into the lock and cringed as the door squeaked open. Awan literally pounced on her as she stepped onto the threshold, swinging the door shut behind her.

"Where... were you?" Awan nearly growled, panic, anger, and relief marring his normally open and happy face.

"I'm sorry," Khepri said immediately, truly apologetic. "Tea and I left school early, we went out. I was with friends all night. I should have called."

"Or checked your phone!" Awan added, the anger receding from his voice. "It's three in the morning, Khepri. Did you really forget for that long?"

Khepri's stomach twisted with guilt and shame. How could she have forgotten to call Awan? How long had he waited for her at the school?

"Khepri, do you need to be reminded of how important you are to the clan?" Awan continued. "Your kaa is..." Suddenly he blanched, and broke off midsentence.

"What about my kaa?" Khepri asked, suddenly curious.

"Nothing, I misspoke," Awan said quickly, before sighing heavily. "You are lucky I only contacted your brother, little miss."

"What?!" Khepri burst out. "Why did you call Rashid?" Her brother, born only ten months before her, was a stern and gruff young man. Most teens his age were: boys became men at 14 in the Maatkare.

"Rashidi managed to get a flight from Chicago to Tokyo," Awan continued. "I could not bring myself to call your father right away and tell him I had failed to protect the daughter of the clan. He will be here tomorrow afternoon." He looked down at Khepri. Her hair had frizzed from the rain, her makeup smeared and running down her cheeks.

"You should go and ready for bed," Awan said gently. "It is not my place to lecture you, only keep you and the book safe." With that, he left the hallway, closing his bedroom door behind him.

Rashidi is coming, Khepri thought, unsure of how happy she would be to see her brother. He was aloof enough at home, and the two siblings had not contacted each other since leaving home. Dejected and truly ready for sleep, Khepri began to climb the stairs.

"And Khepri." Awan poked his head out of his room. "A boy saw you leaving school early today. You have detention for skipping your classes tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, Awan," Khepri said acidly, and the door shut once more.

KbN: Sorry it's so short, but more is coming. I'd like your ideas on a concept! I'm debating on having a sort of spring dance at the school... If it happens, then I need to start writing it in as soon as possible! You can vote in the poll on my homepage or you can message me/leave your thoughts in the review you leave ;) Thanks for your input!!